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Reading Room Restaurant at The Bar Harbor Inn, Bar Harbor, ME

Reading Room Restaurant at The Bar Harbor Inn

4.7
4.7
1646 Reviews
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Top tags:
The Reading Room offers guests of the Bar Harbor Inn, visitors to Bar Harbor, and our dearly loved regulars a distinguished fine dining experience overlooking Frenchman Bay.

Serving breakfast and dinner daily, the Reading Room is a one of a kind dining experience. Delectable local Maine cuisine and attentive service are surpassed only by the magnificent panoramic ocean views.

Start your evening with locally farmed oysters while deciding between our signature Beef Short Ribs or Filet and Lobster Tail fresh from the boats on the Harbor. Linger over a slice of Maine Blueberry Pie while you enjoy a crafted cocktail and soft piano music.

Smart casual attire is preferred, but not required. We do not accept parties exceeding 6 people. Please note that we are not able to guarantee tables by the window.

We look forward to seeing you!



Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Elegant Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American
  • Hours of Operation
    Breakfast Daily 7:00 am–10:30 am Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (207) 288-3351
  • Website
    http://www.barharborinn.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Zachary Dallessandro
  • Location
    1 Newport Dr., Bar Harbor, ME 04609
  • Neighbourhood
    Bar Harbor
  • Parking Details
    valet parking available
  • Entertainment
    Live piano nightly from 6-10 p.m.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,646 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Maine

    Romantic

  • Maine

    Great for scenic views

  • Maine

    Contemporary American

  • Northern Coast

    Best Overall

  • Northern Coast

    Best Food

  • Northern Coast

    Best Service

  • Northern Coast

    Best Ambience

  • Northern Coast

    Best Value

  • Northern Coast

    Great for fine wines

  • Northern Coast

    Romantic

  • Northern Coast

    Great for scenic views

  • Northern Coast

    Good for special occasions

  • Northern Coast

    Lively

  • Northern Coast

    Most Booked

1,646 Reviews

  1. JennyP

    Central Coast

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 4, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lobster was fantastic!! Service and atmosphere was top notch!

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  2. MikeS

    St. Louis

    25 reviews

    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on November 4, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Of all of our meals in Bar Harbor, dinner here was far and away above the rest. Beautiful table-side views of the harbor, exceptional service, food was outstanding and the pianist was a nice added touch. Highly recommend securing a reservation at this fine dining experience inside the Bar Harbor Inn.

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  3. LouB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Reading Room is a superb restaurant in a superb hotel. The staff were attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable on the menu. The kitchen and bar provided exquisite fare. Well done!

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  4. SteveC

    London

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    A little pricey but beautiful setting with great view and service. Special mention for exceptional service from Suzy and Kenroy.

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  5. JohnF

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 1, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our 20th wedding anniversary was spent there with a beautiful dinner, piano player, with amazing drinks and food. Very special.

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  6. RobertB

    Maine

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 29, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful room, excellent service and tasty food.

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  7. OpenTable Diner

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great wait staff and food. Matches the rest of the hotels top notch reputation

    Is this helpful?

  8. maryk

    Nashville

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a birthday reservation on Saturday at 6:00 pm. I checked in the day before to confirm and the person helping me suggested changing the time to 5:15 pm to take advantage to the beautiful scenery outdoors. So glad we diid! It was amazing. The service was outstanding and the food was even more so delicious.

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 27, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious food with nice presentation. Nice ambiance.Will be returning.

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  10. KellyA

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 27, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fabulous service and delicious food! I will definitely be back!

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  11. DebraH

    New York Area

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on October 24, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The service staff is excellent smiles and helpful no matter what!!

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  12. JAAM

    Exclusive

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on October 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outstanding experience. Perfectly prepared food served by polite and very efficient servers. Beautiful location with spectacular views of harbor.

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  13. Binky

    Greater Boston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on October 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As always the quality of the food, atmosphere, and service is consistently A+. As a local, this is my go-to fine dining experience several times a season. Well done!

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  14. GeorgeL

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 22, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent dinner in an amazing environment. The view is unmatched in Bar Harbor. The service is what you'd expect in a landmark building. Could not have been better. The piano player added to an already spectacular ambiance. The food was outstanding. The Knife and Fork Caesar salad was unique and delicious. The scallops and short ribs were both outstanding, as was the Coconut Panna Cotta. This was our most memorable night in Bar Harbor.

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  15. TomB

    Las Vegas

    21 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on October 21, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our waiter was a bit weird but the food was excellent and we had an enjoyable evening

    Is this helpful?

  16. OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta Metro

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 20, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A beautiful spot in the center of Bar Harbor. Restaurant is located and an elegant hotel. Had tables available for a cocktail before dinner. Dinner was amazing everything about it! Augie our waiter was amazing, super friendly and knowledgeable. In fact we found out he used to be a chef at the hotel would definitely recommend this spot for a nice romantic evening

    Is this helpful?

  17. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 19, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Agradable, bien atendidos y complacidos de la cena.

    Is this helpful?

  18. MindyB

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 19, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    If you’re looking for a beautiful setting and top-notch food in Bar Harbor, this is the place to go. The scallops were superb.

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  19. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 19, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5
    I did this for my fiancé birthday.. I felt like I didn’t belong there that I was beneath ur normal clientele from the time I walked in, I couldn’t even tell you what our waitresses name was she got our drinks took our food order and served us and at NO point did she even come over and ask how our dinner was the helpers that were there were more attentive to us then our server who we tipped her 20% of our bill.. I also asked for a cake/pie for his birthday through open table which was sent to the restaurant, and nothing was said to me at all nor was my request even acknowledged. Food was good view was beautiful but service was only fair at best!

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  20. RachelA

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 19, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Compressed watermelon was delicious, short ribs was absolutely delightful, duck confit was under-seasoned, desserts tasted like they were bought from the store. They didn't have dessert wine available. The atmosphere was nice, quiet and romantic, but we were shoved in the back corner and didn't really get an area with a good view out the windows. Overall, great one time experience, but probably wouldn't visit again based on the food/price range.

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  21. JaneD

    Charleston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on October 17, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was amazing and we really enjoyed the music. Thank you for a wonderful evening!

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  22. DianeC

    Cleveland

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on October 17, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a wonderful anniversary dinner. The service and food was exceptional as always. Looking forward to our next visit.

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  23. BetsyQ

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 17, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of the best meals ever! In an elegant yet comfortable setting, our supper was served with grace and efficiency. The “land and sea” was delicious, and the blueberry pie was the perfect ending to a delightful experience.

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  24. DonnaE

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 17, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is the best restaurant with a combination of superb food & spirits with beautiful and memorable ambiance. Service was excellent.

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  25. GaryG

    Orlando

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on October 17, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were pleasantly greeted upon our arrival. We were very pleased to be seated by the windows with a panoramic view of the bay! Our server Tyler took the best care of us. The lobster bisque was the best I ever enjoyed. The seared scallops with lobster hash and the rack of lamb with root vegetables were outstanding. The blue berry pie was good but unfortunately not the best in Bar Harbor. The pianist was delightful. A wonderful evening

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  26. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 16, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Would give a 5-star review but steak was overcooked so we had to send back - they made it right and we eventually enjoyed our surf and turf! Great atmosphere and lovely view of the water.

    Is this helpful?

  27. JenniferF

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 14, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent service and ambience. Fine dining with all the details.

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  28. OpenTable Diner

    Western KY

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 14, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We visit the Bar Harbor area every two years. We always dine here one time. Fabulous! Spectacular views, food, and service!

    Is this helpful?

  29. SusieC

    Austin

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on October 14, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful food, service, and location! Amazing meal!

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  30. Catherine

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 12, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely dining experience with beautiful views of the harbor at sunset, delicious food, and outstanding service.

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  31. Bronco

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 12, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was an amazing experience! The ambiance was perfect with a piano player, our server Sabrina was superb and made our experience very memorable.

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  32. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 12, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    All around great no complaints. Beautiful views fantastic food flavorful.

    Is this helpful?

  33. Svsmith

    New Mexico

    46 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    46 reviews

    Dined on October 11, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Classic fine dining in a nice setting. We appreciate the restaurant asking people to dress up a little. It adds to the evening. Live Piano music was a nice touch.

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  34. OpenTable Diner

    Louisville

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on October 11, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The entire experience was wonderful! From the drinks with a view to the delicious dinner. Highly recommend!

    Is this helpful?

  35. LorettaZ

    Memphis

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on October 11, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food with a beautiful view! The service is excellent!

    Is this helpful?

  36. Rooo

    Orange County

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on October 10, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is a beautiful setting...round shaped window provides expansive viewing of waterfront. The service is prompt. The food is delicious

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  37. LTillery

    Atlanta Metro

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 9, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    We visited the Reading Room to celebrate my parent's 50th Anniversary and my mom's birthday. When we walked in they had a fire going and the windows boasted a beautiful view of the harbor. They had a wonderful pianist and the ambiance was excellent. My father ordered the lobster with mashed potatoes, my mother had the swordfish and I had the salmon wrapped in a puff pastry. My salmon was extremely dry. My mom's swordfish was one of the best I've tried and my dad enjoyed his lobster. The biggest issue (besides my dry salmon) was that our server was terrible. He would visit the table and then disappear. He barely checked on us. I had to go find him to get him to bring the check and when I did, he gave me a horrible look. In the end, my parent's enjoyed their meal and that's what matters. It's just a shame to have such poor service at such a nice place.

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  38. IlonaP

    New York Area

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on October 8, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything about our experience at The Reading Room was outstanding. Highly recommend dining here.

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  39. TimothyT

    Cincinnati

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on October 8, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent Food, Excellent Service, Large Table near us was quite loud which dimished the romantic ambience since we could hardly hear each other. The Staff was wonderful!

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  40. LizK

    Tampa

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on October 8, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a whole wonderful meal to the end of a wonderful trip with special friends!

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Safety precautions

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Reading Room Restaurant at The Bar Harbor Inn is rated 4.7 stars by 1646 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Google Map for Reading Room Restaurant at The Bar Harbor Inn

1 Newport Dr., Bar Harbor, ME 04609

Additional information

  • Neighbourhood
    Bar Harbor
  • Hours of Operation
    Breakfast Daily 7:00 am–10:30 am Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American
  • Dining style
    Elegant Dining
  • Dress Code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking Details
    valet parking available
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Zachary Dallessandro
  • Entertainment
    Live piano nightly from 6-10 p.m.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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