Stay for Dinner |
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Rockland has a host of great restaurants. In the last decade, we've become famous as a foodie town, without losing the gritty fried past of a working city. We sail from the center of town. You can walk to everything from Windjammer Wharf and the municipal parking lot. Many places close from 2-5. Some serve late. Many are busy. Reservations are recommended in the summertime, especially on weekends and around the festivals, North Atlantic Blues Fest, Lobster Fest, Maine Boats Homes & Harbors Show and Summer Solstice.
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Ada's KitchenWe are glad that Ada's Kitchen is close to our wharf. Their classy but homestyle homemade Italian pastas and pizzas are delicious, the bartenders are great, the staff and service top notch, and the place has good vibes and lots of outdoor seating on the street and behind in the parking lot that used to be the wharf of olden times. Ada's keeps their kitchen open until 9:30! Which is a special thing here in Rockland.
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Claws - to-go & outdoor seatingClaws, located across the street on the water side is a great seafood place and does a deal on doubles.. Outside tables, some shaded, some enclosed, with a nice water view, and fantastic food. Run by a fishing family, everything is fresh. They have heat on their deck, and roll down windows, as well as take out service for lobster, crab and shrimp rolls from 8:30 am onwards. You can watch Bufflehead sail in and out from here!
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The Landings - to go and outdoorA short walk from the our dock, or a drop off at their dock is the Landings restaurant. On the water with great fried seafood fare, and a wizard chef making tasty, creative specials out of fresh local food, seafood, meat and vegetables; my crew's favorite place to go eat.
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Atlantic Baking Company has great ready made sandwiches, cookies, breads, coffee, etc. All made in house and fresh, I eat their sandwiches daily.
Clan MacLaren specializes in awesome fresh made-to-order sandwiches, has other treats and a selection of good beverages, including local beers and sodas. Run by a fishing family, they have some good chowdah. I eat their sandwiches whenever I get the chance. (I get the "Bufflehead," Pastrami Reuben with extra Guacamole and Jalapeños.) Rock City Coffee is roasted here in town, often available at the roastery and in their great cafe as well with foods and treats and other beverages which adjoins a great small bookstore in the back! Hazel's Take Out is a mile and a half out of downtown, where Rte 17 and Old County Rd meet, not far from the town swim beach at Lake Chickawaukee, they have lobster rolls, burgers, fish, fried seafood, awesome "Garbage Fries" and more. Family run with quickly made, fresh delicious affordable food. Good Tern Natural Food Co-Op is a great local market. Local farm fresh produce, sandwiches and treats as well as a full selection of organic produce, good bread, coffee, wine and beer and bulk grocery supplies. Member owned and operated for many years. They're on Rte 1 just N of downtown. Claws, located across Rte 1 on the water side, is a "lobster shack" and so much more with great seafood and land food. Outside tables, some shaded, some enclosed, with a nice water view, and fantastic food. Run by a fishing family, everything is fresh. They have heat on their deck, and roll down windows, as well as take out service for lobster, crab and shrimp rolls from 8:30 am onwards. I love the popcorn shrimp. Maine Street Markets is a downtown gourmet market with daily homemade hot lunch options as well as some premade and made to order sandwiches and prepared foods, smoothies, coffee, and a small grocery with some great local and upscale products as well as cold beers, ciders, wines... The Wine Seller is located on Tilson Ave, right close to the pier and has a great selection of wines and some of our local beers. Very convenient as it's right next to the municipal lot, across from the public bathrooms. Me Lon Togo is an excellent African restaurant with great vibes and food run by an interesting and talented immigrant chef. North Beacon Oyster has numerous fresh local oysters and a compact interesting delicious changing menu of local treats and sustenance cooked well. Classy but cool. Suzuki's Sushi is one of the best in the nation, maybe globally. The New York Times agrees with me. Keiko trained with the masters in Japan, and found the freshest sources of freshest seafood here to make exquisite goodness. Ada's Kitchen, is located just up the harbor trail from our dock, and features fine pizza and italian food as well as craft beers and fancy drinks in a comfortable modern space with great service. Sammy's Deluxe offers local delicacies and standards in a homey vintage neat way. Justifiably world famous, Primo is worth visiting just to view the gardens where they raise much of the vegetables, pork, chickens, eggs, fruits, herbs, flowers, micro greens, and so much that multiple-award winning chef, Melissa Kelly, and her talented tight team turn into the finest fare. Pricey and amazing. Top notch. Hazel's Take Out is a mile out of downtown, where Rte 17 and Old County Rd meet, not far from the town swim beach at Lake Chickawaukee, they have lobster rolls, burgers, fish, fried seafood, awesome "Garbage Fries" and more. Family run with quickly made, fresh delicious affordable food. Bleeker & Greer on Rt 1 in Rockport has a lot of very good cheeses, meats, bread and meal essentials. Uproot Pie Co for pizza. (whose wood-fired-oven-on-a-trailer I helped build) at the Rockland Farmer's Market, 9am-1pm. Flatbread Pizza in Rockport. Wood fired, good ingredients, thin, crispy crust. Great pizza nice vibes with lots of booth seating, and a cool bar. Many more places are up to Camden and Rockport, two highlights are Long Grain, in Camden, a locavore Asian restaurant. Since 2009, serving "honest food," seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Although many consider Long Grain a Thai restaurant, their dishes are inspired by many different Asian cuisines and cultures. Thai and Vietnamese street food, fare served in small eateries in Singapore and meals on dinner tables in Indonesia and Japan can all be found here. For Breakfast and Lunch in Camden the Boynton McKay Food Co. offers tremendous breakfasts, lunches, baked goods, and more. Chef Brian Beggerly raises and smokes his own bacon, and other cuts, he cooked at Primo for years, and makes great food fresh and quick. Out in Lincolnville, at the bottom of Youngtown Rd is the Youngtown Inn, in the rural beauty of the hills is the Youngtown Inn, in an 1810 house, this French Chef owner operated B&B has been practicing gracious hospitality for over 20 years here. |
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Stay for Days |
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Rockland has been a transportation hub and travel stop for summer-people, year-rounders, flatlanders, locals, visitors and tourists, for transport and trade for so long that there's many places to stay.
Within Rockland, there are not only the 3 Historic Inns, but several B&B's, vacation rental houses, and larger hotels. The next few towns have many more additional options. If you're looking for more time here, more privacy, or a kitchen of your own in a vacation rental, check out SummerMaine, they've been in the vacation rental business here 20 years, and have a network of great places, and deep knowledge of the area. Closest to our dock is the recently renovated Rockland Harbor Hotel, you can walk across the street onto the harbor trail and to us, or watch us from your balcony. Also with a water view, on the quieter end of Main St, newly built with great art & a roof deck, in a snazzy industrial chic modern retro style, is the boutique hotel, 250 Main. Nearby, Ripples is a B & B offering casual comforts in a homelike hotel with vintage charm. Just out of town by the big Movie Theater (In contrast to our 1920's restored, updated, Strand Theatre. downtown.) The Hampton Inn, is out on our Rt 1 corporate strip by the car dealerships and Dorman's Dairy Dream. Also out of town, but away from the noise, on the water, overlooking their world class golf course, is the Samoset Resort, a complete resort with full facilities, spa, pools, conference rooms, and a great location. There's been a resort there since the early 1800's though the current buildings were built in the 70's. On the way to Rockport, the next town North from Rockland is the Claddagh Motel and Suites, and between Rte 1 and the water in Rockport are Glen Cove Inn & Suites, The Ledges by the Bay, Inn at Strawberry Hill, and Oakland Seashore Cottages. Keeping on into Camden yields a diverse range of hotels, inns, and B&B's. There are many VRBO, Air BnB, and other rentals available. Just up from Camden lays Lincolnville, with several coastal options, and tucked into the gem of the Camden Hills, the Lincolnville Inn B&B is a sweet Inn in an old farmhouse, that since 1993 has been offering gracious hospitality, run by a French Chef and his family. There's also a few campgrounds, on the water are Lobsterbuoy campsites, south of Rockland is directly on the ocean shore, looking out at the islands we sail. Megunticook Campground, is Rockport between Rt 1 and the Bay. Up in Camden is the Camden Hills State Park campground. I'm sure I have missed some options, and I haven't even gotten into Camden and Lincolnville's variety or the tremendous local boom in AirB&B options. Do you have a rental option locally to let people know about? Let us know, and we will be happy to list you here too. |
