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There are so many seafood options in Bar Harbor, Maine, the gateway to Acadia National Park. It can be hard to know where to dine when you are amongst a lot of tourist restaurants. But don’t worry—I have visited Acadia a bunch of times, and my favorite place isn’t a tourist trap at all. The most delicious seafood restaurant in Bar Harbor is The Loft Raw Bar and Seafood Grill.
The Loft Raw Bar and Seafood Grill
This seafood grill is not noticeable from downtown Bar Harbor; instead, it’s a little hidden, and once you find it, you will be glad you did. You can find the restaurant by going to the second floor of Bayside Landing. Once you walk in the door, the friendly team will greet you and get you seated. The lively atmosphere and music of the grill will already get you excited to dine.
The Food At The Loft Raw Bar and Seafood Grill
The Loft offers modern seafood dishes made fresh. They cook in three spots: the main kitchen, the Raw Bar, and The Seafood Shack. You can have your own dish, but the plates are definitely big enough for sharing.
They are infamous for their Raw Bar, which features oysters. Their daily selection of oysters is always sourced from the beautiful coast of Maine. They typically have 5 different varieties. All oysters come served with your choice of their house-made mignonettes and ices.
We enjoyed a few items, including the Ahi Poke Wonton Nachos, which had fried wontons topped with cucumber, onions, ahi poke, scallions, tobiko roe, and pea greens and then drizzled with spicy aioli and unagi sauce.
The fish was so fresh, and the flavors were explosive. When eating this dish, I felt like I had traveled right back to Hawaii.
Next, we enjoyed the Seacuterie Board, their seafood take on the Chacuterrie Board. It was clever, innovative, and downright delicious.
The Seacuterie featured local pastrami, smoked salmon, herbed mackerel, smoked scallops, smoked mussels, and pickled vegetables, served with housemade toast points.
They also offer a variety of entrees such as Brown Butter Seared Scallops Risotto and flatbreads, including the Crab Rangoon FlatBread. You can’t go wrong with any of their dishes!
The Cocktails
They have a variety of high-end cocktails that you can pair nicely with your meal. The Wicked Effen Summer features Effen Cucumber Vodka, Mint, Blueberries, Sour Mix, Simple Syrup, and Soda.
You can also try the unique “On Another Level” Oyster Shooter, which has Vodka and Scratch-Made Bloody Mary Mix Topped with a Fresh Maine Oyster!
Daily Happy Hour At The Loft Raw Bar And Seafood Grill
If you want a good bang for your buck, visit during their daily happy hour, which runs from 4 to 6 p.m. They offer $5 Draft Beer, Draft Wine, Well Liquors, Half-Priced Flatbreads, Sushi Burritos, and a $12 Taste of Acadia Oyster Flight!
When Are They Open?
They are open seasonally, from May to October. You should check their website for up-to-date information. I, for one, cannot wait to visit again this summer!
When Is The Loft Raw Bar And Seafood Grill Located?
They are located in downtown Bar Harbor on the second floor of Bayside Landing, next to Testa’s Bar & Grill.
There is so much to do when visiting Acadia National Park!
If you are looking for the perfect place to stay, here are 13 Great Places To Stay Near Acadia National Park.
Take This Sunset Happy Hour Nature Cruise In Bar Harbor during your stay! It is the perfect activity to enjoy before dinner.
Take the scenic hike around the Ship Harbor Trail, or for a more challenging hike, hike to Acadia’s Fire Tower On Beech Mountain. For a unique experience, Hike The Bar Island Trail At Low Tide.
Stroll around Jordan Pond before trying a Popover At Jordan Pond House.
If you want to try some lobster roll shacks, read my guides on Abel’s Lobster and The Travelin’ Lobster, which are a short drive away.
End your day with a unique yet delicious Lobster Ice Cream.
After exploring Acadia National Park, you can visit some of Maine’s State Parks!
The Acadia National Park Collection
Where Do You Want To Travel Next?