Where To Go

with a large crew. plus permanent jewelry, lobster buoys as art, and more.

Here’s the scene: it’s the weekend, maybe even Thursday, and you, desperately, don’t want to cook. And you need a drink. Two drinks, let’s say.

And preferably you’d like to have these (two) drink(s) and a meal with your friends plus their families. You are feeling spontaneous (it’s the summer!) - so, you send a group text to gauge interest in last minute plans.

To your delight, multiple groups are in. Invites have continued to extend and now it’s a significant group - a group with hangry kiddos, thirsty parents and new + old pals.

Okay!! Where to? Oh god, where to. In the summer, in Maine, with a large crew. A crew that includes kids that need a place to expel some energy (without ruining everyone else’s meal.)

This is all hypothetically speaking, of course, because I’ll be real: I very, very rarely go anywhere without a reservation and the word “spontaneous” is not really in my vocabulary. But if I am, however, the recipient of such text, my recommendation is likely to be one place. A place just 20 minutes North of Portland, with plenty of outdoor seating and live music (bonus!) almost every night of the week. Plus: the indoor seating is in a Barn (which we all know, at nauseam, I adore: exhibit A, B and C.)

I can’t, of course, guarantee you’ll be able to get a table without a reservation (I lucked out twice, but that could have been a fluke.) On a beautiful, perfect summer day, I certainly wouldn’t risk it. But there’s definitely room for large groups - both inside, outside, at the bar and on the deck - so your chances of winging it are slightly easier here than elsewhere. Though, to be safe, I’d call to snag a few tables as soon as inspiration strikes.

The menu is extremely varied - the bar menu ranges from a standard burger to cajun chicken and corn egg rolls - but I can only speak to the pizza, as that’s what my ravenous family consumed both times.

And, I can confidently say that: