Mountain Social Kitchen & Bar in Bethel, Maine

Mountain Social is a contemporary restaurant in Bethel that leans into seasonal ingredients and house-made cocktails. The room draws skiers and locals alike, especially when the snow's flying. Service runs hot and cold depending on the night, but when the kitchen's on, you'll taste it in dishes like miso-glazed cod and duck tacos with green apple salsa.

• Cocktails made with thought, not shortcuts.
• Miso-glazed cod with oyster mushrooms, rice noodles.
• Patio seating with views, plenty of room.
• Staff knows how to read the room when they're focused.

Start with the seafood chowder, which leans into scallops and whitefish with a peppery backbone. The White Rabbit cocktail is worth ordering even if you're not usually a carrot-drink person. Main courses: miso-glazed cod with those oyster mushrooms, duck tacos with the spicy green apple and watermelon radish, and the rib eye if you can catch it cooked right. The crispy rice cracker that comes with some fish dishes is a throwback-style touch that lands.

Modern room, clean and bright. The porch is a real draw in good weather. Music can creep loud, and the place fills up fast on weekends.

The kitchen swings for the fences with items like seafood chowder heavy on scallops, kale salad where the miso builds heat as you eat, and duck tacos with watermelon radish. Some nights they nail it. Other nights, overcooked pasta or chicken that's gone past juicy shows up, and prices don't always justify the miss. Service is attentive when they get it right, though noise levels can climb.

Guests consistently praise the cocktail program and service when the kitchen's dialed in. One recent visitor called the miso-glazed cod 'absorbed perfectly' and noted attentive service that didn't hover. But consistency is the sticking point. Some diners leave frustrated by overcooked proteins and inflated prices, while others can't wait to return.