The Chart Room — Restaurant in Scarborough

Not a great experience. We were so hopeful as we walked in the hotel and were greeted by several different staff members, welcoming us! Walked to the restaurant, where they almost seemed confused about us even having a reservation (not that we even needed one considering over half of the restaurant was empty). We had made the reservation on Open Table, and my husband called earlier in the day and requested a window table since it was my birthday and he wanted it to be special. They did not accommodate the window request- they told us we would have to wait an hour for a window table....after we had made a reservation for a window table. We were sat at a table and a server came over before we could even look at the drink menu, so we asked for a minute while we decided what we want. It was then 15 minutes until they came back for our drink order. We took the opportunity of having the server there to order our meals too. Drinks took another 15 minutes to arrive despite the restaurant and bar being mostly empty. The mussels appetizer was good- credit where credit is due. My husband had the steak which was OK, but nothing special; served with asparagus and bland mashed potatoes. I ordered the seafood fra diavolo (the seafood special for the night)- the moment it was served I was hit with a wave of fish stink. Before my first bite I could tell it was bad. I gave it the benefit of the doubt and tried it, and also had my husband try it...it honestly tasted like one of the seafood items in it had gone bad. It was inedible. The server offered to replace it with something else, but by the time anything would come out (service was incredibly slow despite a full staff and nearly empty restaurant), my husband would have been fully done with his meal, so I declined and shared the dry steak with my husband. As a "courtesy" they removed my entree and offered a free dessert. Now, nothing in life is guaranteed beyond death and taxes, but absolutely an inedible dish should be, and free dessert on your birthday is pretty commonplace. So, I guess thank you for offering a free dessert for serving me past-due seafood, but you should be doing that anyway on a guest's birthday. We would have ordered the creme brulee, but some genius decided to take a perfect dessert and turn it vegan. Cashew creme brulee? No thanks. We ordered the blueberry pie. I thought I couldn't be disappointed by a Maine blueberry pie, but apparently I was wrong. Overall an...

Lunch at the Chart Room on 7/11/25. We were 3 people. My husband ordered the clam chowder, which was attractively presented and served hot. The broth was creamy and tasty and fingerling potatoes were well cooked, but the potato pieces were much too big, approximately in inch in length. When placed on the spoon, it was just potato and broth.

My daughter and I split the wedge salad. The salad was rather underwhelming with only dressing, bacon, and cherry tomato halves. Perhaps diced hard boiled eggs, red onion and crumbled blue cheese would elevate the dish from OK to great. We were never offered fresh cracked black pepper with the appetizer or entrée.

For the main course, my husband had pesto pasta. The pasta was bland, it lacked salt and pepper, freshly grated Romano or Parmesan cheese, toasted pine nuts, perhaps roasted cherry tomatoes or choice of protein (chicken or shrimp) would have elevated the dish. The broccoli rabe was extremely bitter to taste. It too needed freshly ground black pepper and a dash of sea salt.

My daughter and I shared the chicken salad with blueberries on a croissant and French fries. The chicken salad was bluish/purple in color which I found to be a bit strange. There were no whole blueberries nor were there other ingredient to elevate the sandwich like celery, walnuts, candied pecans, red onions, fresh herbs, etc.

Both the appetizer and entrée were auctioned off as our waitress was not the one who delivered the food. For the price of $57/person, I would expect a more sophisticated level of service.

At $115 (including tip) for two appetizers, two entrees, one beer and one soda, I would expect the food to match the amazing view, but it fell short on flavor and complexity.

The view is amazing, but a better lunch can be...

The Chart Room: A Feast for the Eyes, a Famine for the Taste Buds

Nestled along the picturesque coast, The Chart Room lures you in with its stunning ocean views and promises of a fine dining experience. Unfortunately, once you take a seat and crack open the menu, the magic starts to fade faster than a cheap summer tan.

Let's talk about the lobster bisque, a concoction that tastes like it was ladled straight from the mop bucket. Imagine dishwater with a hint of seafood regret. It's the kind of soup that makes you wonder if the chef accidentally dropped the lobster into the sink and decided to just roll with it.

The main courses were a journey through culinary mishaps. The chicken arrived looking like it had spent more time sunbathing than in the oven. One bite, and you might find yourself developing a newfound appreciation for fully cooked poultry. Salmonella roulette, anyone?

Then there was the pork shoulder, which must have taken a detour through the fiery depths of Mordor. Charred beyond recognition, it was a tragic tribute to what was once a piece of meat. If you like your pork with the texture of burnt offerings and the flavor profile of a campfire, this one's for you.

In the end, The Chart Room is a restaurant for those who value scenery over sustenance. Go for the view, stay for the laughs, but eat elsewhere unless you enjoy culinary disasters served with a side of disappointment. Bon appétit, or should I say, better...