The Pilot House — Restaurant in Kennebunk

We were extremely disappointed and frankly shocked by the treatment we received at the Pilothouse in Maine. A group of 10 of us — all adults, all sober, well-dressed, and polite — came in after a wedding to enjoy one celebratory drink together. We were visiting from Florida and were looking forward to experiencing some of the local hospitality. What we got instead was the complete opposite.

Upon walking in, we were immediately told we weren’t welcome — not because we were loud, intoxicated, or causing a disturbance (we weren’t), but simply because we were “dressed like we were from a wedding.” The staff told us very directly that they “make too much money renting the place out” to bother serving people who come in after weddings. Yes — that was said to our faces. Apparently, wearing a nice dress or a blazer now makes you unworthy of being served a drink in this establishment.

This kind of elitist and frankly arrogant attitude is the exact opposite of what you expect when you walk into a small-town coastal bar. We weren’t looking for a rowdy night or trying to overstay our welcome — just one drink to toast the couple in a relaxed setting. Instead, we were turned away without any courtesy or hospitality, as if our presence was a burden.

I completely understand if there are private events or capacity issues — but that wasn’t the case. The bar was not full, and no private event was underway. They simply didn’t want to serve us because they assumed we were with a wedding party — which, apparently, is some kind of sin in their book.

To be turned away so rudely, for absolutely no valid reason, after flying across the country and celebrating a beautiful day with friends, was beyond disappointing. It left a sour taste in our mouths and soured our impression of what we thought would be a warm, welcoming spot.

If you’re looking for genuine hospitality, inclusiveness, or even just the most basic level of customer service, I’d recommend you skip the Pilothouse. Unless you’re a local regular or fit some sort of unspoken dress code, don’t expect to be welcomed here — especially if you’ve come from a wedding.

Truly one of the most unwelcoming experiences any of us have had while traveling. And to be clear — it wasn’t just rude, it was intentional. They made it known that they didn’t need our business. Message received. We’ll be sure to spend our money elsewhere — and let others know to...

IF YOU ARE A TOURIST DON’T ORDER A MARGARITA. Not that the margaritas aren’t good. It’s just the refreshing iconic vacation marg puts a big cash sign on your head, and let me tell you my friend, the waitresses at the Pilot House are as snaky as they come. Our overly friendly waitress took our margarita order. She was so friendly and busy she didn’t have time to properly pronounce her words, mumbling something under her breath and asking if we wanted it. Trusting fools that we are, we thought it was a straw or something reasonable. Then the bill came- and turns out it was an expensive brand of tequila. More than twice the price of the original. We questioned where this debt inducing number came from and suddenly she was not so friendly. Agressive even. She walked away. We ended up paying $162 in margs alone. She has innovated on the bread basket trick with cunning worthy of Jeff Bezos and, if I hadn’t been so enraged on being robbed, I probably would’ve congratulated her on her business savvy. I wish I could say the food would make up for it, but it was pretty, eh. Oily and fried is all they do. So to summarize. Mean staff. Average food. Good dance floor. So pick your poison. Just make sure you firmly ask the...

We stopped by to try out the new digs since the last time we were here was in the old building, and the schooner was still floating nearby. The new building is much much bigger, having two floors and offering beautiful views from their large windows. When entering, you'll be coming in near their bar area, which is both busy and loud, and off to the right is a dining area that shares in the noise. The 2nd floor is substantially quieter, has its own bar, a nice seating area, and dining tables. I recommend going for the 2nd floor. The food was very, very good, and the menu choices should satisfy most anyone's taste. The schooner is now a permanent attachment to the building on dry land and connected with an inclined walkway. It has a nice bar area with limited munchies and great views. It's a great spot to wait for your table or just to pop in for a fun experience. I don't recommend the schooner for those with mobility issues. There is plenty of parking available & their prices seem reasonable considering the quality and portion sizes of the items and the novelty and setting within Kennybunkport. If you found this review helpful, please let me know by tapping the...