Brasserie LeBrun — Restaurant in Bar Harbor

I think this is one of the best meals I’ve eaten all year. I travel quite a bit and at this point, I can’t say most of the meals I eat out, Michelin or otherwise, make any sort of impression on me (I know this is obnoxious - just bear with me) besides a feeling at the end of the meal that it was too much X or not enough Y to have been worth the money, travel, and time that goes into eating at “destination” restaurants. Brassiere LeBrun is a true gem though, and why I felt the need to write a review (and I hate writing reviews!) because if you’re in Acadia, you really should try to stop by. The drinks - to be fair, I had a mocktail, and my dining companion, wine - were creative and well balanced, the bartenders unobtrusively attentive. The bread was crusty and soft and the butter was a surprise - soft, whipped, with a slight bit of garlic. We had oysters, fresh and from a neighbouring bay (thank you for the mesh cover for the lemon, these are the type of quiet details that make you realize the chef cares about your experience), followed by the lobster bisque. After eating bisque all over Maine during several trips, I thought I knew how good it could be - I was wrong. The lobster was cooked so thoughtfully, a compliment to the beautiful broth, and then on top was a playful lobster cracker that actually built more flavor into the dish - not a tasteless afterthought at all. For mains, we had the stuffed lobster and the scallops. The lobster was paired with crab and the broccoli rabe it came with added the perfect bite of slight bitterness that cut through the richness of the bernaise and the seafood, balancing out the plate; the fingerling potatoes were done “smashed,” helping to add some texture to the meal while also giving them a way to hold their crunch amidst the sauce (so delicious!). The scallops were perfectly cooked and again, with a perfect complement of greens and paved potato. For dessert, we had a poached pear with tuille, cream, and granola and it was one of the best poached pears I’ve ever had, anywhere, even in France. The whole meal was so well done but so unpretentious and the atmosphere was very relaxed while still making you want to keep your elbows off the table. What a treat of a restaurant! I’ll be thinking about it...

We must of over looked this gem while planning our our trip because if I would of known a French restaurant was in Bar Harbour it would be number 1 on my list being that I run and operate Casimir in Boca so whenever I get to eat at one its special because we all share a passion.. let me tell you Le Brun didn't miss a beat the first French Restaurant that has stood toe to toe with ours, I was very happy with everything, the food 5 out of 5 our server 6 out of 5 atmosphere 5 out of 5 the only reason why I had to give the lower stars was we arrived at 825 for our 830 reservation two wall in were taken before us it seems like they knew the girl up front for through out the night she was at the beautiful table she got them, wr sat at 843 13 min late, and that's fine but the girl up front again talked to everyone but us or may e it was me bc I am tan, muscular and fully tattooed maybe she thought I did. It belong, i was dressed in gucci pants and a shirt and shoes that was a little more fancy the. The arcida hoodies the people she was talking to had on, but luckily our server saw me as just a happy and excited guest and she made the night unbelievable a d made up for the crappy feeling we got from. The girl upfront, she recommended beautiful dishes and they were awesome we got the duck and lobster, the bone marrow and muscles were also amazing so it was really great, she actually lives in. Florida our server so I invited her to our restaurant when she comes down, happy to have her and get her opinion.. as someone who works at a French restaurant that we have been open for 18 years let me tell you Le Brun has all the potential to last...

Brasserie LeBrun is a French restaurant to get dressed up for. Starting with the atmosphere, the walls are painted a dark blue with accents of white and exposed wood paneling. Bar chairs match these, blue and gold trim. The restaurant is spacious, and has interesting artwork to look at while you dine. Service was excellent even while the restaurant was busy, and my waiter was above-averagely friendly and attentive, suggesting both excellent drinks, and food. For dinner I started off with the salad with soft egg (unfortunately forgetting the name) which was garnished with potato croutons, tasting similar to small, cubed French fries, and delicious bacon pieces of the same size. I was deciding between the chicken and the duck, and my server recommended the duck breast, which did not disappoint. I’m sorry if I don’t remember all the names in French, but the duck was perfectly cooked, sliced and nestled alongside an assortment of cut green beans, as well as two other kinds of beans, garnished with both crumbled bacon, and pieces similar to those on the salad. While not drizzled over the perfectly seasoned duck, the whole dish is surrounded with a duck fat/ (foie gras) sauce, which is absolutely delicious even if you don’t typically enjoy it. With the meat being perfectly cut, I believe this was my favorite meal in Bar Harbor, on my trip to Maine; even if it didn’t include lobster. For dessert I enjoyed the Bitter Chocolate Cremeaux, which was two dollops of a pudding, almost mousse, surrounded with candied oranges and an orange sauce, topped with cake crumbs and crème fresh. Absolutely enjoyable with the atmosphere,...