Kayla Ingraham
Google
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 experience!!