Coastal Maine Restaurant Week is back again! This annual foodie event runs from October 24th – 30th and features a great selection of restaurants all up and down the southern Maine coast.
For restaurant week, participating establishments offer prix fixe menus for $25, $35 or $45. This is a great way to try out old favorites, or sample something new at a restaurant you’ve not tried before. This year sees several restaurants in Kennebunk and Kennebunkport participating.
Here’s a quick view of who’s included this year from the Kennebunks:
Hurricane in Dock Square has been a firm favorite with locals and travelers for years. This popular restaurant is offering an open three course menu for $45. Their menu is varied and includes seafood and meat choices. Capture a window seat along the river if you can!
Stripers Waterside Restaurant at the Breakwater is on Ocean Avenue. Situated right on the water, this beautiful restaurant is heavy on the seafood, including lobster served several different ways. They do also offer a good selection of non-seafood entrée’s including steak, chicken, pork and a vegetarian pasta option. Their prix fixe menu is $35 each.
Ports of Italy in Kennebunkport is new to the area this season as well as being a first time around for them in Coastal Maine Restaurant Week. This authentic Italian restaurant is offering a three course $35 prix fixe menu. Choose from a selection of Antipasti, Salads, Handmade Pasta (including Spaghetti with Lobster) or a meat entrée. Teri’s favorite is their Porchetta; suckling pig in a rosemary reduction with herb potatoes and roasted vegetables. Delicious!
Federal Jacks is participating once again this year with a $25 prix fixe menu. They’ve created a special menu just for restaurant week. Choose from a selection of starters. Entrée’s on offer include Calamari Linguini, Grilled BBQ Chicken with a Bacon Risotto or Braised Steak Tips Dianne with garlic mashed potatoes. Save room for dessert. You can choose from Bread Pudding, S’Mores or a flourless Chocolate Cake!
Ocean 95 at the Nonantum has also created a special $35 prix fixe menu for the occasion. Their fare really reflects the autumn season. Appetizers include Seafood Bisque and Fall Salad with pumpkin seeds and cranberry stilton cheese. Entrée’s on offer are a Hangar Steak, Baked Stuffed Haddock with a cornbread and seafood stuffing, or a vegan/gluten free Grilled Vegetable Curry. Again, save room for dessert. You have a choice of Apple Crisp, Chocolate Stout Cake or a Gingerbread Cake. WOW!
On the Marsh in Kennebunk is offering a $45 prix fixe menu. We love this restaurant for any fine dining experience. The setting is beautiful, quiet and intimate. The menu offers a good selection of seafood and meat choices prepared perfectly and artistically presented. If you can only choose one to try this year, we would encourage you to dine here.
Finally, Academe at the Kennebunk Inn on Main St. in Kennebunk is participating again this year. Chef/Owner Shanna O’Hea’s $45 prix fixe menu offers a miniature version of her Lobster Pot Pie as one of the appetizers. She’s also got Spring Rolls and a Butternut Squash Soup to choose from to start your meal. Entrée’s include a Beef Bourguignon (another of Teri’s favorites!), Duck Confit or a lovely vegetarian Tart with mornay sauce, Gruyere cheese, carmelized onions, roasted apples and prosciutto. If you saved room for dessert, you can choose from Chocolate, Peanut Butter AND Banana bread pudding, Pineapple, Cranberry Upside Down Cake or a selection of Homemade ice creams and sorbets. And because they want you to come back again, they’re also giving a $10 gift card good towards future visits.
We are very pleased to have such great restaurants and their chefs represented in this year’s restaurant week. We hope you’ll get the opportunity to try a couple yourself. We’ll see you there!