This is the place to go when on Vinalhaven island if you want a fancier dining out experience than other current options. Having said fancier, it isn't pretentious as this is a casual island restaurant. But they have excellent dishes and a very nice bar. You should reserve a table in the waterfront dining room. In the summer on Fridays they have Maine oysters. I've eaten the braised ribs with outstanding mashed potatoes and most recently the osso bucco pork that was perfect. We split the pumpkin crème brûlée for dessert, which was outstanding. The staff are locals and very friendly and knowledgeable. If coming to visit the island, make a reservation and have a great time. Open late-May thru mid-October.
Alexis E
On my last night on island I decided to treat myself to a solo meal at the bar after reading multiple reviews of Dot & Millie's. I love food, I love to eat, I love a good cocktail......so I was SO excited to try this place. I was not disappointed. My entire meal start to finish was *absolutely sublime*. I ordered Millie's Medicine and yes, it's exactly what the doctor ordered: tasty, refreshing, not too sweet & not too tart. I then ordered the lobster pasta for dinner and oh my.......what an incredibly balanced, subtly nuanced dish this is. Delicate, light, and oh....I could *taste* the ocean. It literally brought tears to my eyes. Bravo! Luckily I saved room for desert because the homemade sour cream ice cream with chocolate cake was WOW. The perfect ending to a perfect meal. Thank you, Dot & Millie's. Oh, and in case you haven't noticed: Dot & Millie's is on an ISLAND; not easy to get goods from here to there, and there are 2 (??) summertime restaurants open for dinner, seasonally, for part of the week........ So before you write a review complaining about prices & crowd accommodations & such......maybe consider where you are and have some perspective. A little respect for the locals & their way of life, especially in the rapidly changing Gulf of Maine.
George
Garden salad with roasted corn, cherry tomatoes and bits of lobster was tasty but too small.They charge six dollars for bread and then if you order it they bring you more than two people can eat with lots of butter too cold to spread on it.The airline chicken tasted pretty good, but it was on the dry side and you needed a steak knife to cut it. Came with a very small portion of green beans. I don't care for them over-cooked but these were slightly undercooked, to my taste. Even so, I would've appreciated a more decent-sized portion.Before you get there, they repeatedly warn you via text that you can only have a table for 90 minutes and then your time is up. A well-run restaurant can usually get by without pushing this message so aggressively. Most people eat too fast and some people like to spend a couple of hours at dinner. It usually works out.The prices were reasonable (except charging for bread). Waitress was attentive.Will definitely look around for another restaurant in this wonderful town.Date of visit: August 2023.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 3
Julie P.
We had a wonderful and friendly server. All four of us got the lobster and pasta approx $30. The flavors were delicious. The serving was petite, but alas, lobster dishes tend to be like that. Our friends had raw oysters and the charcuterie board as an app and my husband and I shared a burrata salad that was so good. The charcuterie board looked simple, nothing too fancy. Our rhubarb cocktails were scrummy! I drank it so fast. We shared a wonderful dessert! Compliments to the chef! I highly recommend choosing the harbor side of the dining room. It is quieter and the view is amazing!
Destination596724
Garden salad with roasted corn, cherry tomatoes and bits of lobster was tasty but too small. They charge six dollars for bread and then if you order it they bring you more than two people can eat with lots of butter too cold to spread on it. The airline chicken tasted pretty good, but it was on the dry side and you needed a steak knife to cut it. Came with a very small portion of green beans. I don't care for them over-cooked but these were slightly undercooked, to my taste. Even so, I would've appreciated a more decent-sized portion. Before you get there, they repeatedly warn you via text that you can only have a table for 90 minutes and then your time is up. A well-run restaurant can usually get by without pushing this message so aggressively. Most people eat too fast and some people like to spend a couple of hours at dinner. It usually works out. The prices were reasonable (except charging for bread). Waitress was attentive. Will definitely look around for another restaurant in this wonderful town.
Muscka E
We really enjoy Dot & Millie’s! Through the years they continue to maintain their good customer service and high quality food. This is the fanciest restaurant in the island. Great for a date night, family dinner, anniversary/ family celebration. Reservations are require as the restaurant has limited sitting. It was 5 of us. We had the chicken and potatoes, lobster ravioli, frites plate, and lobster roll. We tried all desserts, and the favorites were: Lemon pie, and sour cream ice cream. Drinks were amazing: Lemon soda, elderberry vodka ( it’s been so long since I had it ?), vodka tonic, amongst other drinks. 10/10 As usual we had a great time. Forgot to take pictures, before eating as we were busy having a great time ☺️
Michael Soper
If you plan to visit Vinalhaven, make sure Dot & Millie's is open and you have a reservation. Because there is nowhere else decent to eat. You've been warned. We loved the food and atmosphere here. You'll get a strong vibe of islanders-come-first, tourists-can-be-tolerated. Perhaps they are not self-aware of their behavior. Don't let it wreck enjoying good food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Scott S
Terrific meal and neat little gem. Really the only nicer restaraunt on VH. Staff was friendly and accommodated a vegan patron by making a veggie ravioli (minus mushrooms). I did request ahead of time.
Patti P
We had high expectations based on reviews and were disappointed. I ordered two appetizers for dinner, the chowder and crab cakes and both were bland and tastelessness. My friend ordered the same and with two beers the tab was nearly $100 which wasn’t cheap for what we got. Canceling reservations for this evening and instead opting to go to grocery store and pick up something.
Jessica Mulcahy
First visit of the year and it seems even better than I remembered. Amazing chowder (and huge bowl!) and crab cakes with the sauce & greens. The mussles were so large and fresh and I was drinking even the broth. The short rib is so tender and delicious. But it's the rhubarb cosmo I can't stop thinking about. Wow. Great food.
So, my first time here in Vinalhaven and Dot & Millie’s was recommended by a friend who’s visiting and came with his parents. They totally delivered. Ordered a salad (fresh) that came out VERY fast. We ordered the Spinach and Cheese Ravioli and Lobster Pasta—both were fresh and delicious. They close beginning of October (8th) until Memorial Day. Check them out!
Betsy Kreiter
Great food, service and atmosphere.
Val F.
This is the best restaurant on the island, look no further. The food, ambiance , and wait staff are great! We had the crab and corn cakes for an appetizer and they were delicious. We each ordered the lobster pasta and it was yummy! For dessert we split the chocolate cake! The cocktails were wonderful! We are going back tomorrow for dinner:)
Val F
Everything we have had is yummy! Owners and staff are great! Cocktails are great too! Friendly atmosphere here!
K.O. Myers
A small but thoughtfully chosen menu with ample choices for vegetarian and carnivorous diners. Entrees were excellent, and desserts were unusual but delicious.
This is the place to go when on Vinalhaven island if you want a fancier dining out experience than other current options. Having said fancier, it isn't pretentious as this is a casual island restaurant. But they have excellent dishes and a very nice bar. You should reserve a table in the waterfront dining room. In the summer on Fridays they have Maine oysters. I've eaten the braised ribs with outstanding mashed potatoes and most recently the osso bucco pork that was perfect. We split the pumpkin crème brûlée for dessert, which was outstanding. The staff are locals and very friendly and knowledgeable. If coming to visit the island, make a reservation and have a great time. Open late-May thru mid-October.
On my last night on island I decided to treat myself to a solo meal at the bar after reading multiple reviews of Dot & Millie's. I love food, I love to eat, I love a good cocktail......so I was SO excited to try this place. I was not disappointed. My entire meal start to finish was *absolutely sublime*. I ordered Millie's Medicine and yes, it's exactly what the doctor ordered: tasty, refreshing, not too sweet & not too tart. I then ordered the lobster pasta for dinner and oh my.......what an incredibly balanced, subtly nuanced dish this is. Delicate, light, and oh....I could *taste* the ocean. It literally brought tears to my eyes. Bravo! Luckily I saved room for desert because the homemade sour cream ice cream with chocolate cake was WOW. The perfect ending to a perfect meal. Thank you, Dot & Millie's. Oh, and in case you haven't noticed: Dot & Millie's is on an ISLAND; not easy to get goods from here to there, and there are 2 (??) summertime restaurants open for dinner, seasonally, for part of the week........ So before you write a review complaining about prices & crowd accommodations & such......maybe consider where you are and have some perspective. A little respect for the locals & their way of life, especially in the rapidly changing Gulf of Maine.
Garden salad with roasted corn, cherry tomatoes and bits of lobster was tasty but too small.They charge six dollars for bread and then if you order it they bring you more than two people can eat with lots of butter too cold to spread on it.The airline chicken tasted pretty good, but it was on the dry side and you needed a steak knife to cut it. Came with a very small portion of green beans. I don't care for them over-cooked but these were slightly undercooked, to my taste. Even so, I would've appreciated a more decent-sized portion.Before you get there, they repeatedly warn you via text that you can only have a table for 90 minutes and then your time is up. A well-run restaurant can usually get by without pushing this message so aggressively. Most people eat too fast and some people like to spend a couple of hours at dinner. It usually works out.The prices were reasonable (except charging for bread). Waitress was attentive.Will definitely look around for another restaurant in this wonderful town.Date of visit: August 2023.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 3
We had a wonderful and friendly server. All four of us got the lobster and pasta approx $30. The flavors were delicious. The serving was petite, but alas, lobster dishes tend to be like that. Our friends had raw oysters and the charcuterie board as an app and my husband and I shared a burrata salad that was so good. The charcuterie board looked simple, nothing too fancy. Our rhubarb cocktails were scrummy! I drank it so fast. We shared a wonderful dessert! Compliments to the chef! I highly recommend choosing the harbor side of the dining room. It is quieter and the view is amazing!
Garden salad with roasted corn, cherry tomatoes and bits of lobster was tasty but too small. They charge six dollars for bread and then if you order it they bring you more than two people can eat with lots of butter too cold to spread on it. The airline chicken tasted pretty good, but it was on the dry side and you needed a steak knife to cut it. Came with a very small portion of green beans. I don't care for them over-cooked but these were slightly undercooked, to my taste. Even so, I would've appreciated a more decent-sized portion. Before you get there, they repeatedly warn you via text that you can only have a table for 90 minutes and then your time is up. A well-run restaurant can usually get by without pushing this message so aggressively. Most people eat too fast and some people like to spend a couple of hours at dinner. It usually works out. The prices were reasonable (except charging for bread). Waitress was attentive. Will definitely look around for another restaurant in this wonderful town.
We really enjoy Dot & Millie’s! Through the years they continue to maintain their good customer service and high quality food. This is the fanciest restaurant in the island. Great for a date night, family dinner, anniversary/ family celebration. Reservations are require as the restaurant has limited sitting. It was 5 of us. We had the chicken and potatoes, lobster ravioli, frites plate, and lobster roll. We tried all desserts, and the favorites were: Lemon pie, and sour cream ice cream. Drinks were amazing: Lemon soda, elderberry vodka ( it’s been so long since I had it ?), vodka tonic, amongst other drinks. 10/10 As usual we had a great time. Forgot to take pictures, before eating as we were busy having a great time ☺️
If you plan to visit Vinalhaven, make sure Dot & Millie's is open and you have a reservation. Because there is nowhere else decent to eat. You've been warned. We loved the food and atmosphere here. You'll get a strong vibe of islanders-come-first, tourists-can-be-tolerated. Perhaps they are not self-aware of their behavior. Don't let it wreck enjoying good food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Terrific meal and neat little gem. Really the only nicer restaraunt on VH. Staff was friendly and accommodated a vegan patron by making a veggie ravioli (minus mushrooms). I did request ahead of time.
We had high expectations based on reviews and were disappointed. I ordered two appetizers for dinner, the chowder and crab cakes and both were bland and tastelessness. My friend ordered the same and with two beers the tab was nearly $100 which wasn’t cheap for what we got. Canceling reservations for this evening and instead opting to go to grocery store and pick up something.
First visit of the year and it seems even better than I remembered. Amazing chowder (and huge bowl!) and crab cakes with the sauce & greens. The mussles were so large and fresh and I was drinking even the broth. The short rib is so tender and delicious. But it's the rhubarb cosmo I can't stop thinking about. Wow. Great food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
So, my first time here in Vinalhaven and Dot & Millie’s was recommended by a friend who’s visiting and came with his parents. They totally delivered. Ordered a salad (fresh) that came out VERY fast. We ordered the Spinach and Cheese Ravioli and Lobster Pasta—both were fresh and delicious. They close beginning of October (8th) until Memorial Day. Check them out!
Great food, service and atmosphere.
This is the best restaurant on the island, look no further. The food, ambiance , and wait staff are great! We had the crab and corn cakes for an appetizer and they were delicious. We each ordered the lobster pasta and it was yummy! For dessert we split the chocolate cake! The cocktails were wonderful! We are going back tomorrow for dinner:)
Everything we have had is yummy! Owners and staff are great! Cocktails are great too! Friendly atmosphere here!
A small but thoughtfully chosen menu with ample choices for vegetarian and carnivorous diners. Entrees were excellent, and desserts were unusual but delicious.