Dinner

Dinner is a small American restaurant in Bar Harbor where the kitchen treats every plate like it matters. The menu shifts with what's fresh, pulling in schnitzel, seafood, French onion soup, and occasionally unexpected things like curry mussels and coq au vin. Locals and travelers who find it tend to come back, though you'll need a reservation to guarantee a table.

• Schnitzel pounded thin, crusted perfectly, with mashed potatoes.
• Curry mussels and shrimp appetizers with real cream sauce.
• French onion soup with melted cheese that strings from spoon.
• Hand-pounded schnitzel, halibut specials, bone-in pork chop worth the wait.

Start with the bean appetizer or shrimp crostini if they're on. The French onion soup lives up to the hype, especially the cheese top. For mains, the schnitzel is a signature (comes with mashed potatoes and glazed carrots), but also try the curry mussels, halibut special, bone-in pork chop with butternut squash risotto, or coq au vin if it's available. Belfast Lawyer is another standout when offered.

Small and intimate, with old-school music setting the mood. Can get cramped when full, especially at the bar.

Service can be uneven, one recent visitor praised their server Debby for kindness and knowledge, while another struggled with reservation calls and long waits at the bar. The place is small and doesn't turn tables fast, so come early, book ahead, or be patient. If you do get a table, the food justifies the minor friction.

One world traveler called it among the best meals of their life. Guests consistently praise the care in each dish, the schnitzel's perfect crust, and risotto that tastes genuinely finished. One recent visitor noted Debby's warmth and humor. Fair warning: service at the bar can lag during rush, and the place doesn't seat walkups unless you get lucky.