Fin and Fern — Restaurant in Stonington

We sat on the deck overlooking their courtyard-like garden, which was tucked in by teeming foliage and expansive awnings blocking the setting sun. The air was filled with the aroma of ocean spray and the intoxicating wood-fired scents coming from the kitchen. When we sat down at the table, a cold, olive green carafe of water was waiting for us. Salt and pepper sat in oyster shells along the inner edge of the table, waiting to be served with the miniature wooden spoon accompanying them. My husband ordered a bourbon-based cocktail, a Paper Plane, while I ordered a tequila-based smoky cocktail, the Mezcal Mule.

The Paper Plane came served with the tiniest paper plane clipped to the glass with the tiniest clothespin. My Mezcal Mule, topped with chili powder and mixed with ginger beer, cucumber, and lime, tasted smoky and spicy met with cool and refreshing.

For appetizers we ordered the crab artichoke dip and oysters. The crab was so fresh, and as a native Mainer who is quite seasoned in finding shells in a crab dishes especially, I am delighted to say there were none. It was also an unexpectedly enormous portion, with nearly an entire sliced baguette for dipping, which made my decision to order a salad easier. My husband enjoyed his oysters (I do not like them in general so I didn’t eat any) and helped to finish the crab and artichoke dip when he was done.

For our entrees, I ordered the Summer Salad with grilled chicken, and my husband ordered the Seapig pizza. The summer salad came out with pickled blueberries, roasted almond slices, and small wedges of Brie cheese, topped with grilled chicken. It was the perfect complement to the aforementioned rich appetizer. The Seapig pizza— a wood-oven fired scallop and bacon pizza—was truly the most succulent pizza I’ve ever had. And THE CRUST. Oh my. It was so fresh and tender paired with just the right amount of crisp. The entire experience was truly overwhelming in the best way.

Kudos to the chef(s) and bartender(s), along with the very busy front of the house staff for accommodating their guests in a timely and efficient manner, even though they had a full house. (Note: we were also 10 minutes late to our reservation, which I feared may have caused us to lose our spot.)

In the past few years, many restaurants have lost their ambition to service customers with thoughtfulness and pride. It was so refreshing to have the experience of knowing the chefs cared about the products they turned out, and having a waitstaff that was diligent in ensuring the wholesomeness of their diners’ experiences. While I can’t speak more highly of the food and drinks we were served, having a devoted staff and dining in the most beautiful atmosphere is what made our time at Fin & Fern stand out. Thank you for giving us this...

We expected to really love this place but we left underwhelmed & disappointed in both the service & food. Arriving on time for our dinner reservation, we stood for several awkward minutes just trying to get acknowledged. Finally, a person who appeared to be a manager looked over and said, “Do you have a reservation?” No “hello” or “welcome” or “good evening.” Not the best start. Once seated, our server was pleasant enough but the entire meal felt hectic & rushed. We witnessed servers running into each other, soup spilling unnoticed onto the floor and heard dishes being dropped in the kitchen. Still, we remained hopeful that the food would be wonderful. Sadly, it wasn’t. Iced tea was tasteless. Chowder was very tasty but came out barely lukewarm. After a very long wait, the wood-fired lobster arrived drowned in sauce and missing its potatoes & veggies. The creme brûlée was barely torched with no chance to caramelize (we watched) so it was still soft on top and very cold. No coffee was offered before the check was dropped off. Any one of these things on its own would NOT be a big deal to us, but all these shortcomings added together made for a very disappointing dining experience. We did send back soup and it was returned reheated with our crackers still in it. We did get our missing potatoes & veggies after asking about them. Clearly the restaurant was having a very off night but since this was a special occasion for us we did our best to remain in good spirits throughout. On our way out the door we each passed by our server & the manager person. Neither uttered a goodbye or thank you. For all these reasons, we will not return. It is, however, a lovely room with a steller view and the warm beet salad...

The Island has been garnering more attention as of last and that has brought some extraordinary food service outfits to cater to the appetites of said growing clientele. My wife and I have been to all of these establishments at least twice. Some of these restaurants offer food as an "event" which I have found immense enjoyment in, but barring that type of experience, Fin and Fern is the best standard model restaurant in Deer Isle. The views are great, the servers are attentive and accommodating, and the food is phenomenal. We have had most of the menu across our table in our several visits and not a single dish disappointed. (The far and away highligh for me being their carrot cake) The only point I would add, that would seem like a complaint, is the parking; or lack there of. If you don't want to circle the block a dozen times trying to finagle a spot that doesn't upset the neighbors and their copious "NO PARKING" signs, I have found that parking in the free lot by the Stone Cutter monument and strolling over is the most hassle free approach; if, of course, you are able bodied enough to do so. If that's the case, a brisk walk in the bracing seaside air is a pleasant way to whet the appetite or aid the digestion in respect to...