Little Notch Bakery and Café — Restaurant in Southwest Harbor

I have to update from my first review. I have been spoiled by the Little notch bakery this summer. We came from NC to work for Island Explore this summer and fall season.

One of my bright spots when off from work was placing my order two times a week. I guess I have spent about $100 a week

on baked goods and pizza. After almost 3 months of always getting my order at the pick up counter each time and on time, I became spoiled.

It was always ready as soon as I walked in. My last 3 times something has gone wrong defeating the purpose of placing my order ahead of time.

One time I stood around waiting for my order to be placed on the rack for pick up about 15 minutes only to find they didn't put my name on it as they always had and it had sat there the entire time. Waste of time that day. The next time was the same as today. The order said pick up at a certain time and it wasn't ready .

This time was worse because I had to stand in line just to ask about the order then wait for it. I have learned today also that asking someone who works behind the counter at the pick up rack isn't helpful at all. They'll just tell you to go the other side where the line is and inquire.

I hope this new trend doesn't continue.

FIRST REVIEW: Top notch bakery and one of the very very best in the Acadia area. Not only are the bakery goods super good, so too is the service. To our surprise the Pizza is fantastic also. Have not tried any of the sandwiches yet. The staff is very friendly and most helpful. I can't say enough good things about this little bakery on the Island. In South West Harbor this is the best and as...

While the Little Notch Bakery and Cafe has been praised by some, my experience with their pizza was extremely underwhelming, meriting just a 2-star rating. Here's a breakdown:

Crust: The highlight of the pizza. It was nearly perfect, offering a great texture (soft and crunch at the same time) that almost redeemed the dish.

Sauce: Unfortunately, the sauce was a significant disappointment. As a Maestro Pizzaiolo, I found it overly bold and thick, likely due to the use of stewed/cooked tomatoes rather than regular peeled tomatoes (let the oven do the cooking!). The sauce overpowered rather than complementing the rest of the pizza. A pizza sauce should be simple (use whole tomatoes, preferably San Marzano, a bit of sweet basil, salt and some EVOO that’s it! Things don’t have to be complicated to taste great).

Overall Flavor: Given the sauce's dominance, using the wrong variation of basil and the lack of any other spices in the sauce, the pizza failed to deliver the balanced taste one expects. It's puzzling to see positive reviews, suggesting perhaps a variability in batches or a very different palate among patrons.

While the establishment might excel in other offerings, their pizza does not stand out in a positive way. For those passionate about pizza, I recommend exploring other venues to satisfy your cravings. Consider this review a cautious guide in your...

Can't say what the food was like because when we stopped in this evening no one was at the counter. There was a family dining in the rear on pizza so they were lucky enough to get waited on so we assumed someone would notice us and come take our order. No such luck though. 2 other customers came and left aggravated as we foolishly stood and waited. We then noticed the fellow working the counter sitting visibly outside the open door in the rear of the bakery-he was texting or doing something with his phone and smoking a cigarette. It had been at least 5 mins at this point. We tried to get his attention for another 2-3 mins when it was obvious he couldn't have cared less we were there waiting. It wasn't possible he didn't see us there!! We should have left when the other 2 customers did! To top it off there were flies in the mozzarella cheese bucket sitting on the station where the pizzas are made (prob from the door standing open) and on the uncovered pastries for sale on the counter too. That was the final straw for us. We left and wont be returning. Too bad. It looked like a very cute place. They better watch their help closer! Not good for business what we encountered tonight on...