The room was tidy and overlooked the river. Falling asleep to the sound of water rushing over the old mill dam was very special. The restaurant below the hotel had the best coffee and espresso in Maine. No hyperbole. The best.
We had a fabulous meal in the restaurant over the weekend. It is a “you get what is fresh and in season” menu with a few decisions for the guest to customize. People may unfairly consider this restrictive whereas we thought it highly pragmatic and forward thinking. If there’s only a few wines, it’s because they are good. If there’s only a few options on main courses, also good. The service and food was excellent overall. In terms of hotel experiences, we enjoyed the self service entry and checkout. No lines, final bills, awkward barriers in or out.
There are a lot of hidden gems in Maine, and people ramble about culinary experiences that punch above their weight class. Our experience was a nuanced, sensory joy just being around salt of the earth locals and a weekend getaway that firmly cemented itself as just a time when everything felt right.
We’ve done a lot of Michelin dining, and sometimes the se donner de grands airs (putting on airs) is cloistering and decimates mirth and the quiet smiles of a thing done consistently well because it’s the right way to live. This experience lets you love Maine.