Chefs seeking to create within the context of #Maine Coastal Cuisine must respect entrenched expectations while at the same time seeking opportunities to introduce elements of surprise, and occasional open rebellion. Such is definitely the case at Blue, where the playfully inventive talent of Chef Esau Crosby brings unexpected twists to familiar Maine staples such as grilled swordfish and mignonette sauce. On a recent evening, the marinated & grilled swordfish was served with an inspired housemade ketchup based in retrieving the condiments’ pre-Heinz history, while the punchy & peppery mignonette offered fresh counterpoint, rather than drab camouflage, for a half dozen perfectly shucked and presented Robinhood Cove oysters. The music mix in the dining room offered a subtle clue to what was going on in the kitchen, offering an unusual (for Maine restaurants!) mix of jazz ballads from John Coltrane to Billie Holiday turning familiar tunes inside out, thereby making them new again. There was something both slightly sad and slyly humorous about seeing the same ole “Garden Salad" (yawn) listed as a daily "special", while from the regular seasonal menu we thoroughly enjoyed playful riffs on beet salad, here served as a colorful composition with pea shoots, cashews and shaved fennel; and in a second salad, baby greens were brought into perfect harmony with roasted local apples. The wine list was equally as playful. Yes, there were the inevitable California Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and Cab Savs (double yawn), yet we were pleasantly surprised by the presence of an excellent Loess Grüner Veltliner and a delightful Argiolas Armentino from Sardinia. With regret, we must report the one sour note for our otherwise memorable evening at Blue, and that is the clumsy performance of the two Grey Havens (triple yawn) Innkeepers, who would be better advised to let the excellent front-of-house staff do their thing unencumbered by their bossy & boorish attempts at conducting, sort of like like beginner tuba players barging into a jam session among seasoned pros. In sum, we will happily return to Blue for as long as Chef Crosby performs at the heart of the mix. As for the Inn, well, the front porch does offer a lovely view of coves and offshore islands. For us, that will be "Inn" enough!
Google user
One of the best meals of my life! The owner squeezed me in (I booked a room, but had not booked a dinner reservation since I wasn't exactly sure of when I'd arrive). The service was excellent and the food was incredible! I ordered everything off the specials menu (app, meal and dessert) and every single bite was perfect!
Mindy Flack
One of the best meals of my life! The owner squeezed me in (I booked a room, but had not booked a dinner reservation since I wasn't exactly sure of when I'd arrive). The service was excellent and the food was incredible! I ordered everything off the specials menu (app, meal and dessert) and every single bite was perfect!
Gabrielle Burke
Blue will be our go to for the rest of the season they are open. We went with friends not knowing what to expect. Our friend expects a cocktail a certain way and the bartender delivered!! The dinner was delicious and Service was amazing. We definitely will become a regular.
Christine Gerzon
Lovely setting with an ocean view. The meal was top notch as were the drinks and the service. Wish we could eat there every night.
Kim M.
What can I say but wow! Lovely room with an incomparable view topped by delicious food. Every bite from the chowder, beet salad, and lamb to the blueberry crisp was a delight...and it doesn't hurt that they have a top notch bar! The Grey Havens Inn is a treasure. We enjoyed every moment.
Will G.
My wife and I came here on our first night in Maine during our honeymoon. I had been looking for spots to stop for dinner around different attractions we'd be visiting during our trip, and this one came up because it was near Reid State Park. The spot looked amazing (it's located in a charming coastal inn), and the menu looked up our alley as well. However, they required reservations, and given that my wife and I were set to be driving around the coast all day we didn't know if we'd be in the area in time for dinner.As luck would have it, we found ourselves on Georgetown Island right about 7:30PM. Driving by the inn where BLUE is located (it's right along the road to Reid State Park), our jaws dropped. The grounds are just beautiful. We knew we had to try to go, even though we didn't have reservations.We went inside and asked about open tables. The staff, while visibly busy, were happy to offer us bar seating once spots opened up. In the meantime, we were invited to sit on the deck overlooking the cove above which the inn stands. Being able to sit there and watch the birds and boats was sublime!Another group, who evidently had a table reserved, opted to sit at the bar, so we were offered their newly open table. They sat us down within 30 minutes of arriving and had a waiter attending to us promptly. My wife and I, coming from the west coast, were interested in the local seafood options and we had a lot of questions. Our waiter was knowledgeable and personable. He talked us up to not only getting the salmon and pollock, but also the special for that evening, which was freshly harvested oysters from Robinhood Cove (which I believe come from Glidden Point Oyster Farms). He also convinced us to get two desserts, the special blueberry crisp and their lemon curd trifle.The setting is incredibly romantic, especially in the evening as it starts to get dark. Warm lighting, soft music, and wood-paneled everything makes for a cozy coastal cottage feel. It's only an hour from Portland, which would make for a great weekend dinner out of town. Even though it'll be awhile before I'm back in Maine again, this spot is top of my list for my next visit!
Samuel Grodman
We had a fantastic dinner, dessert, with a breathtaking view, all while taking in a live string quartet
lauramkp2
We had the opportunity to dine at Blue this evening. Everything about our experience was perfect. The food was outstanding and the service was great. Just as we were finishing our dessert, we were treated to an unexpected surprise- a concert by a group of string musicians visiting from Florida. They were absolutely the highlight of the evening. We had a wonderful time and will definitely return!
Wayne
We had dinner this past week at Blue. The hospitality of the staff and the beauty of the location makes Blue a worthwhile visit. The dinner itselfdid not live up to our expectations. We ordered the white fish of the night. That fish turned out to be Pollack with a mountain of breadcrumbs on top. It could have been better. We shared a salad that was decent. The wait staff was friendly and prompt.
Beautiful location and great server and bartender. Unfortunately, slimy salad, extremely small portions for the price, and unimpressed with our last experience here. VERY overpriced for the amount of food they give you.
842kathleenc
Lucas is so personable and professional. Meal was perfect!! Thank you for a wonderful evening, view is phenomenal!!!!
Clinton Alexander
A FANTASTIC little restaurant. Nestled inside the Grey Havens Inn. The quiet atmosphere surrounding the property makes for the perfect ambiance. The food was fantastic and the service great!
Margaret Coughlin
First of all the view! Relax on that porch and treasure the quintessential Maine view. Unbelievable. And dinner was quite good we both had the halibut special. Deliciously prepared. Potato and cauliflower accompaniments were wonderful. Tried the merlot and it stood up! Salad with pears was great starter. Service was perfect. Dana led the team but both owners were present and paying close attention. Helping and engaging. Blueberry crisp dessert missed the mark but otherwise we are committed! Look forward to return visit next week!
walktheworld4
Let’s start with the views! Make time to sit on the lovely porch and enjoy quintessential Maine views. Rocking chairs and all. Dining room is all warm wood and cozy. Bar tucked the corner is fully stocked with a wonderful bar tender stirring up some interesting cocktails and serving from a nice wine list. If you can snag a seat you can eat there and enjoy the company and the vibe. Dinner was delicious. Halibut perfectly cooked with a warm lemongrass sauce that was bright and tasty. Sides were well seasoned and great compliment to the fish. Salad was fresh and tasty. Edana was attentive server and the owners were circulating and insuring all guests were happy. We were! We have already returned for cocktail on the porch. Dinner again next week. A gem in Georgetown Maine.
Chefs seeking to create within the context of #Maine Coastal Cuisine must respect entrenched expectations while at the same time seeking opportunities to introduce elements of surprise, and occasional open rebellion. Such is definitely the case at Blue, where the playfully inventive talent of Chef Esau Crosby brings unexpected twists to familiar Maine staples such as grilled swordfish and mignonette sauce. On a recent evening, the marinated & grilled swordfish was served with an inspired housemade ketchup based in retrieving the condiments’ pre-Heinz history, while the punchy & peppery mignonette offered fresh counterpoint, rather than drab camouflage, for a half dozen perfectly shucked and presented Robinhood Cove oysters. The music mix in the dining room offered a subtle clue to what was going on in the kitchen, offering an unusual (for Maine restaurants!) mix of jazz ballads from John Coltrane to Billie Holiday turning familiar tunes inside out, thereby making them new again. There was something both slightly sad and slyly humorous about seeing the same ole “Garden Salad" (yawn) listed as a daily "special", while from the regular seasonal menu we thoroughly enjoyed playful riffs on beet salad, here served as a colorful composition with pea shoots, cashews and shaved fennel; and in a second salad, baby greens were brought into perfect harmony with roasted local apples. The wine list was equally as playful. Yes, there were the inevitable California Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and Cab Savs (double yawn), yet we were pleasantly surprised by the presence of an excellent Loess Grüner Veltliner and a delightful Argiolas Armentino from Sardinia. With regret, we must report the one sour note for our otherwise memorable evening at Blue, and that is the clumsy performance of the two Grey Havens (triple yawn) Innkeepers, who would be better advised to let the excellent front-of-house staff do their thing unencumbered by their bossy & boorish attempts at conducting, sort of like like beginner tuba players barging into a jam session among seasoned pros. In sum, we will happily return to Blue for as long as Chef Crosby performs at the heart of the mix. As for the Inn, well, the front porch does offer a lovely view of coves and offshore islands. For us, that will be "Inn" enough!
One of the best meals of my life! The owner squeezed me in (I booked a room, but had not booked a dinner reservation since I wasn't exactly sure of when I'd arrive). The service was excellent and the food was incredible! I ordered everything off the specials menu (app, meal and dessert) and every single bite was perfect!
One of the best meals of my life! The owner squeezed me in (I booked a room, but had not booked a dinner reservation since I wasn't exactly sure of when I'd arrive). The service was excellent and the food was incredible! I ordered everything off the specials menu (app, meal and dessert) and every single bite was perfect!
Blue will be our go to for the rest of the season they are open. We went with friends not knowing what to expect. Our friend expects a cocktail a certain way and the bartender delivered!! The dinner was delicious and Service was amazing. We definitely will become a regular.
Lovely setting with an ocean view. The meal was top notch as were the drinks and the service. Wish we could eat there every night.
What can I say but wow! Lovely room with an incomparable view topped by delicious food. Every bite from the chowder, beet salad, and lamb to the blueberry crisp was a delight...and it doesn't hurt that they have a top notch bar! The Grey Havens Inn is a treasure. We enjoyed every moment.
My wife and I came here on our first night in Maine during our honeymoon. I had been looking for spots to stop for dinner around different attractions we'd be visiting during our trip, and this one came up because it was near Reid State Park. The spot looked amazing (it's located in a charming coastal inn), and the menu looked up our alley as well. However, they required reservations, and given that my wife and I were set to be driving around the coast all day we didn't know if we'd be in the area in time for dinner.As luck would have it, we found ourselves on Georgetown Island right about 7:30PM. Driving by the inn where BLUE is located (it's right along the road to Reid State Park), our jaws dropped. The grounds are just beautiful. We knew we had to try to go, even though we didn't have reservations.We went inside and asked about open tables. The staff, while visibly busy, were happy to offer us bar seating once spots opened up. In the meantime, we were invited to sit on the deck overlooking the cove above which the inn stands. Being able to sit there and watch the birds and boats was sublime!Another group, who evidently had a table reserved, opted to sit at the bar, so we were offered their newly open table. They sat us down within 30 minutes of arriving and had a waiter attending to us promptly. My wife and I, coming from the west coast, were interested in the local seafood options and we had a lot of questions. Our waiter was knowledgeable and personable. He talked us up to not only getting the salmon and pollock, but also the special for that evening, which was freshly harvested oysters from Robinhood Cove (which I believe come from Glidden Point Oyster Farms). He also convinced us to get two desserts, the special blueberry crisp and their lemon curd trifle.The setting is incredibly romantic, especially in the evening as it starts to get dark. Warm lighting, soft music, and wood-paneled everything makes for a cozy coastal cottage feel. It's only an hour from Portland, which would make for a great weekend dinner out of town. Even though it'll be awhile before I'm back in Maine again, this spot is top of my list for my next visit!
We had a fantastic dinner, dessert, with a breathtaking view, all while taking in a live string quartet
We had the opportunity to dine at Blue this evening. Everything about our experience was perfect. The food was outstanding and the service was great. Just as we were finishing our dessert, we were treated to an unexpected surprise- a concert by a group of string musicians visiting from Florida. They were absolutely the highlight of the evening. We had a wonderful time and will definitely return!
We had dinner this past week at Blue. The hospitality of the staff and the beauty of the location makes Blue a worthwhile visit. The dinner itselfdid not live up to our expectations. We ordered the white fish of the night. That fish turned out to be Pollack with a mountain of breadcrumbs on top. It could have been better. We shared a salad that was decent. The wait staff was friendly and prompt.
Restaurantji Recommends
Beautiful location and great server and bartender. Unfortunately, slimy salad, extremely small portions for the price, and unimpressed with our last experience here. VERY overpriced for the amount of food they give you.
Lucas is so personable and professional. Meal was perfect!! Thank you for a wonderful evening, view is phenomenal!!!!
A FANTASTIC little restaurant. Nestled inside the Grey Havens Inn. The quiet atmosphere surrounding the property makes for the perfect ambiance. The food was fantastic and the service great!
First of all the view! Relax on that porch and treasure the quintessential Maine view. Unbelievable. And dinner was quite good we both had the halibut special. Deliciously prepared. Potato and cauliflower accompaniments were wonderful. Tried the merlot and it stood up! Salad with pears was great starter. Service was perfect. Dana led the team but both owners were present and paying close attention. Helping and engaging. Blueberry crisp dessert missed the mark but otherwise we are committed! Look forward to return visit next week!
Let’s start with the views! Make time to sit on the lovely porch and enjoy quintessential Maine views. Rocking chairs and all. Dining room is all warm wood and cozy. Bar tucked the corner is fully stocked with a wonderful bar tender stirring up some interesting cocktails and serving from a nice wine list. If you can snag a seat you can eat there and enjoy the company and the vibe. Dinner was delicious. Halibut perfectly cooked with a warm lemongrass sauce that was bright and tasty. Sides were well seasoned and great compliment to the fish. Salad was fresh and tasty. Edana was attentive server and the owners were circulating and insuring all guests were happy. We were! We have already returned for cocktail on the porch. Dinner again next week. A gem in Georgetown Maine.