Blue Sky Lounge in Bangor, Maine

Blue Sky Lounge is a Bangor spot that's somewhere between casual neighborhood bar and full dinner destination. The kitchen does sandwiches, pasta, and Cajun-leaning mains. You'll find regulars working the bar and a mix of hotel guests and locals, especially on nights with live music or trivia. The room got a recent overhaul and it shows.

• Remodeled wrap-around bar with strong cocktails.
• Live music weekends, trivia events most nights.
• Weekly specials keep the menu rotating.
• Friendly bartenders who know regulars by name.

The Caramel apple martini gets named praise. Stick with lighter fare like sandwiches if you're unsure. Cajun chicken Alfredo is on the menu but seasoning can vary. Breakfast has shown up on recent visits and seems safer than dinner. Check the week's specials before you order, since they seem to be where the kitchen tries harder.

A wrapped bar with sightlines to live performers on weekends. The remodel brought it out of dated territory, though it still reads casual and local. Evenings can get loud with trivia or band noise.

The kitchen swings between hits and misses depending on who's in back and which night you land on. Cocktails seem more consistent than food, and the weekly specials give you a reason to try something different. Service can be uneven, so patience helps.

Guests praise the bartenders and the cocktail program, especially the Caramel apple martini. One recent visitor described it as 'wonderful' service when Faith was working. Opinions on the kitchen split sharply, though. Some find the food fantastic, others say it misses badly. Regulars seem to return for the bar scene and events more than the plates.