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✔️Breakfast ✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
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Distinguished fine dining overlooking Frenchman Bay in downtown Bar Harbor awaits you at the historic Reading Room Restaurant. 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 of Frenchman Bay.
Upscale-casual restaurant at the Bar Harbor Inn, offering seafood, steaks & live piano music.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 1 Newport Dr, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 288-3351
Website: http://www.barharborinn.com/dining
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Reading Room | Bar Harbor Inn Restaurant
Smart casual attire preferred, but not required. Reservations are recommended for all parties and are available through OpenTable. Please note we are not able …
Reading Room Restaurant at the Bar Harbor Inn
The Reading Room Restaurant | Restaurants | Waterfront Dining | Luxury Dining Bar Harbor | Ocean View | Anniversary Dinner | Date Night.
Reading Room Restaurant at The Bar Harbor Inn – OpenTable
The Reading Room offers guests of the Bar Harbor Inn, visitors to Bar Harbor, and our dearly loved regulars a distinguished fine dining experience …
Reviews
Kira Gnanamurthy
I had one of the best filet mignons in my life here. My husband and I absolutely loved dinner here, one of our top favorites. The view around sunset was beautiful, we were lucky and it was raining earlier so we saw a rainbow along with the sunset. The crab cake appetizer was delicious, our entrees of the land and sea were absolutely amazing (lobster and filet were cooked to perfection, the filet just melted in your mouth), and the mocha espresso cake dessert was light and perfect way to end the evening. Our waitress (Haley I think) was very kind and helpful. We loved her! There is also a live piano player, very nice touch. Overall experience here was 10/10
… moreCallie Addington
A great experience! Overall, food was a solid 4/5 stars, but the service was awesome! I had the short rib and I did not have a single complaint. My boyfriend got the Land & Sea and was slightly disappointed at how little lobster he got. When they said “lobster tail” we imagined a bit more than he got. However it tasted great ♀️ blueberry pie was DELICIOUS.
… moreJennifer St.Clair
We visited the Reading Room in Bar Harbor with a party of five, and the entire experience was beyond a 10. The views alone are sweeping and magnificent, but what truly stood out was the impeccable service from everyone from the delightful hostess to our server, Haley.
Every detail felt thoughtful, the wine, the table settings, including the little palate cleanser between courses, which was a delightful touch.
We had the seafood appetizer plate with lobster and crab and oysters and shrimp. We had the filet mignon, and it was one of the most tender, perfectly prepared cuts I’ve ever enjoyed—simply outstanding. My sister couldn’t stop raving about the fresh oysters, and every seafood dish at our table was a hit. I also tried the compressed pear salad, and the balance of flavors was both unique and refreshing.
The meal was finished off with espresso martinez! Mmmm. The atmosphere sealed the night for us—the live piano music created an elegant, relaxing backdrop that elevated the whole dining experience. Truly an unforgettable evening filled with incredible food, gracious service, and a setting that couldn’t be more memorable.
… moreEvery detail felt thoughtful, the wine, the table settings, including the little palate cleanser between courses, which was a delightful touch.
We had the seafood appetizer plate with lobster and crab and oysters and shrimp. We had the filet mignon, and it was one of the most tender, perfectly prepared cuts I’ve ever enjoyed—simply outstanding. My sister couldn’t stop raving about the fresh oysters, and every seafood dish at our table was a hit. I also tried the compressed pear salad, and the balance of flavors was both unique and refreshing.
The meal was finished off with espresso martinez! Mmmm. The atmosphere sealed the night for us—the live piano music created an elegant, relaxing backdrop that elevated the whole dining experience. Truly an unforgettable evening filled with incredible food, gracious service, and a setting that couldn’t be more memorable.
Angela
We love fine dining and made reservations at the Reading Room in hopes of a really fantastic experience. Reviews seemed good, but overall it didn’t live up to the hype. Food was okay at best. The best part was the bread and blueberry butter and the blueberry sorbet. I order the prosciutto wrapped cod – it had a very hard outer shell and basically came out cold. I pick out the cod and ate it despite the temperature and left the prosciutto. The green beans were good and seasoned well.
We had a 6:30 reservation and waited probably 20 minutes to be seated. There was a reservation that was over 20 minutes late for their reservation that got seated before we did – they should have had to wait since they were so late. Just my opinion. When finally seated – we were in the back corner of the restaurant next to the window. Glad to be next to the window, but not a great table. My husband basically had a view of the door next to the hostess stand.
We also found it difficult to understand our server. He was pleasant enough, but it definitely altered our experience because my husband couldn’t understand a word he said and I was understanding about 70%.
Overall, not a place that I would book again, though I might try their terrace next time. Disappointing for what I expected to be an exceptional experience.
… moreWe had a 6:30 reservation and waited probably 20 minutes to be seated. There was a reservation that was over 20 minutes late for their reservation that got seated before we did – they should have had to wait since they were so late. Just my opinion. When finally seated – we were in the back corner of the restaurant next to the window. Glad to be next to the window, but not a great table. My husband basically had a view of the door next to the hostess stand.
We also found it difficult to understand our server. He was pleasant enough, but it definitely altered our experience because my husband couldn’t understand a word he said and I was understanding about 70%.
Overall, not a place that I would book again, though I might try their terrace next time. Disappointing for what I expected to be an exceptional experience.
C. Anthony Gore
Wentworth by the sea experience for me. Better perhaps they really cared for my wife and I. The chef came out greeted us. He prepared my favorite anniversary meal “Rack of Lamb” and it was outstanding. I definitely recommend it. Try it, you will love the experience.
… moreKirstin Hoy
Service was great and the view of the harbor is beautiful. The piano player was also nice.
The scallops were perfectly good and absolutely delicious. The crab cake was decent but I’d probably get a different app next time.
Reservations are HIGHLY recommended.
… moreThe scallops were perfectly good and absolutely delicious. The crab cake was decent but I’d probably get a different app next time.
Reservations are HIGHLY recommended.
James Duke
Stayed at the Bar Harbor Inn and Spa and ate our last night’s meal at this special spot overlooking the water. Got a res at 5:45pm to soak in the scenery before sunset. Sabrina our waitress was fabulous. Incredible soups and our entrees were top shelf. I had the Lazy Lobster which was out of this world. Highly recommend this place!!
… moreSarah Rosen
Amazing! Made reservations ahead of time and was blown away with the view! Simply stunning with the boats coming in and the gorgeous sunset. Our dinner highlights were the oysters, scallop dinner & blueberry pie dessert – also pianist kept the mood fun & enjoyable! Highly recommend for both adults & kids.
… moreAtish Gandhi
The Reading Room at the Bar Harbor Inn was an unforgettable dining experience! The elegant yet cozy atmosphere set the perfect tone for a special evening. The lobster was a standout—perfectly cooked, tender, and bursting with fresh, coastal flavor. The blueberry pie was an absolute highlight, with a flaky crust and vibrant Maine blueberries that made every bite pure bliss. The service was impeccable, attentive, and warm, adding to the charm of this iconic spot. Paired with their expertly crafted cocktails, the meal felt like a celebration of Bar Harbor’s culinary best. Highly recommend The Reading Room for anyone looking for a refined, memorable meal! We can’t wait to return.
… moreCalico
My boyfriend and I dined here July 23, 2025 and had an absolutely stunning time! We are pretty big foodies who love a beautiful view, vibe, amazing service, and most of all great food. It’s often hard to find somewhere that has all of these things but this place has nailed it. Everything we got I attached pictures of. But I want to talk about the service. The service we received was amazing. We oftentimes feel overlooked in nicer places bc we are young but our server Suzy made us feel seen, appreciated, and was so sweet! B it the thing that set this place apart from other restaurants were the server assistants Kerone, Henry and, Vinet. They were the most gracious, attentive, and personable people. We loved talking to them and they never made us feel like they were trying to escape conversation with us haha. I could go on and on about it how amazing these people are but I will end it with this; to management at the reading room, you have the most beautiful and genuine staff, these people are what make this restaurant more than just a place to eat.
Thanks, Faith and Reed
… moreThanks, Faith and Reed