Salted Butter Farm

Salted Butter Farm is a converted farmhouse restaurant in Sherman, just outside Baxter State Park, where the owner and a small crew turn out generous comfort food with an emphasis on local sourcing. Hikers, families with small kids, and visitors from out of state all end up here, drawn by massive portions, fair prices, and a warmth that feels genuine. The kitchen does everything from scratch, and it shows.

• Massive portions; one order feeds two or takes home.
• Owner-run, real ingredients, seasonal specials with homegrown produce.
• Genuinely kind staff. They treat small kids like people.
• Open Monday when almost everywhere else in the area closes.

Start with the barbacoa tacos or bruschetta if tomatoes are in season. The squash ravioli and smothered chicken parm sub are regulars' moves. Don't skip the caesar salad, whose dressing is worth ordering on its own. Share the lasagna. End with the skillet melty chocolate chip cookie or pumpkin cheesecake.

Cozy and intimate, spread across several small dining rooms in the original house. Friendly hum of conversation, nothing loud or rushed.

The menu shifts with the season and what's available locally. Portions arrive massive. A shared lasagna can easily feed two people with leftovers. They source ingredients from the garden when possible (tomatoes, squash, greens) and the rest from nearby suppliers. One recent visitor mentioned the prices seemed almost too low for the amount of food on the plate.

Guests rave about the value, the freshness (one visitor said the tomato tasted just picked), and how welcomed they feel. A family from Seattle called it "worth the travel" to the Katahdin region. One recent visitor said, "I was about to lick my plate after my salad."