Ironbound in Hancock, Maine

Ironbound sits right in Hancock as both a restaurant and small inn, which means you can eat dinner downstairs and stumble upstairs to your room. Leslie runs the place with visible passion, and the kitchen swings from creative soups and Spanish artichoke dips to straightforward smash burgers and fresh seafood specials. Regulars and travelers mix easily here, and the staff keeps up even when it's slammed.

• House burger rivals the best on the coast.
• Fresh seafood specials like mussels and cod consistently praised.
• Creative starters: Spanish artichoke dip, curry soup, local oysters.
• Stay upstairs after dinner; beautiful grounds and rooms included.

Start with the Spanish artichoke dip and local oysters if they're available. The smash burger with crispy fries and house dips is worth ordering even if you're not usually a burger person. Try whatever fish special they're running that night, whether it's cod or bouillabaisse. The butternut squash coconut curry soup is inventive and worth a spoon. Chicken parmesan and seafood pasta both draw praise. Don't skip the toffee bun for dessert, especially if you're staying overnight and can have it again with coffee in the morning.

Warmly lit and genuinely convivial, with a mix of guests and regulars. It bustles during service but feels unhurried rather than cramped.

Families work here (they'll happily give kids a small soup sample), couples looking for a quiet overnight feel at home, and anyone passing through Bar Harbor who wants solid, thoughtful cooking without pretense.

Diners rave about flavors that feel both creative and grounded, especially the seafood and burgers. Kids gravitate toward the mussels and fish and chips. One recent visitor who's eaten in both New Bedford and San Diego called it the best meal they'd had in a long time. Leslie's attentiveness sets a tone that guests notice and appreciate.