Leary's Landing Irish Pub in Bar Harbor, Maine

Leary's Landing is a traditionally decorated Irish tavern planted right in the middle of Bar Harbor's main drag, serving hearty shepherd's pie, corned beef, and New England seafood alongside solid whiskey and ale. It pulls both locals and visitors who want comfort food without pretension. The place reads cozy rather than rowdy, with seating that stays manageable even on busy afternoons.

• Shepherd's pie that beats what Boston pubs are serving.
• Blueberry barbecue sauce on fries and cocktails alike.
• Lobster bisque that holds its own against Maine competition.
• Bangers and mash, corned beef sandwich, solid lunch pace.

Start with the pub fries dipped in that blueberry barbecue sauce. The shepherd's pie is the anchor here, but also order the bangers and mash and the corned beef sandwich if you're sharing. A Blueberry Mule is the house special (one guest called it a standout). Lobster bisque is reliable if you're building a Maine bisque tour. An Old Fashioned with chocolate bitters won't steer you wrong either.

Cozy and not too loud. The main dining room sits a few steps from Bar Harbor's main street, so outdoor seating is primo for people-watching without feeling rushed.

Service can be uneven, but the food makes up for it. Regulars come back for the shepherd's pie year after year. If you're new to the place, don't sleep on the pub fries or their house-made blueberry barbecue sauce.

Visitors from Boston have been surprised that this place outshines their local Irish pubs. One recent visitor praised the shepherd's pie as "best I've ever had" alongside "incredible" steak. The staff are generally kind and enthusiastic, though service can feel spotty on busy days. The bisque and blueberry cocktails keep people coming back.