Goose Cove Resort

This is not your typical motel. It is rustic and rural, yet very clean and well kept. The deck offered a wonderful place to sit and read while looking at the water. The bed was very comfortable, and with the windows open, we got a great cross breeze. The restaurant was fantastic. Local fisherman were eating there, that should speak volumes about the food. It's a little off the beaten path, but only adds to the charm and atmosphere. If back in the area, we will definitely stay here again.

Liked the location, secluded but handy to a number of hiking trails. Our cabin was a little rustic, but nice with a water view and a porch to watch the stars from. Generally very quiet, but a wedding party was at the resort on Saturday night and were whooping it up down on the beach till way late. We could hear them but it wasn't much of a hindrance. We enjoyed the stay, and checked off another box on our quest to explore the Maine coast.

We keep coming back to Goose Cove because it really has a magic to it. Our room, off the main lodge, faced directly onto the most gorgeous cove, looking out to the islands in Penobscot Bay. The beach is quiet and private. The walking trails on the property, leading to a barred island, are absolutely wonderful. Suzen is a gracious host and the rooms are generally spacious and decently furnished. I wouldn't call it a resort in the usual sense, but for a real Maine vacation, it can't be beat. Deer Isle is a great place to visit; quiet, scenic, somewhat remote, with lots of art galleries and artists studios. We will keep coming back.

We returned to Goose Cove Resort for the second time in a year and experienced the peace and tranquility promised. It is a wonderful place to escape the hustle and bustle of the world, especially when you have a deer and her fawn on the grass just beyond your deck. It is quiet and restful with the only sounds being the fog horn and the lapping of the surf. The cabin while rustic provided us with two spacious bedrooms and a sleeping alcove, one and a half baths, living and dining areas, a small kitchen that is hardly needed given the food at the restaurant (breakfast is included in the prince of the cabin), and a spacious deck overlooking the cove.||We enjoyed talking with Suzen's husband about his fishing, lobstering, clamming, and mussel project as well as the fishing industry in general. The foreign students here on work visas were always friendly, willing to listen to our stories, and to share with us about their lives, their plans, and their homelands. Meal times were more enjoyable talking and chatting with everyone.||Per usual the meals were incredible. The restaurant has delicious offerings - sea and land, scallops, fried clams, and numerous Portuguese based items. Our favorites were the scallops with crab meat stuffing and the sea and land shish ka bob - one large skewer of shrimp and vegetables and a second skewer of beef and vegetables The hardy breakfasts eliminated the need for lunch.||Suzen and her staff provide a congenial place to stay and a first class restaurant. We thank them or providing us with such a wonderful place to get away and relax.

We had a very quiet and remote [as requested] cabin. It was so peaceful and view of the bay was lovely. The people were helpful and welcoming. The hike to Barred Island was close by and perfect for us.||||It is rustic. Internet was only available at the lodge which was fine for us. The beauty of the place and the wonderful restaurant on site make it very special.

Our group ( 2 couples ) had an exceptional visit to goose cove and will be back. The location was stunning, the cabins were simple and clean - the gem was Suzen and her story...the drinks at the bar were exceptional delivered with Portuguese flair and flavor, our dinner on closing weekend was great and breakfast with her joining our table topped it off!

The place is absolutely beautiful. Suzen is a fantastic host and owner. I had the pleasure of tasting her homemade bread. I´ve seen comments saying that the property is in despair but in my opinion I think it´s cozy and rustic. There is a lot of garbage on the beach however but again I think thats because of the trash that comes in with the tide daily. Overall they have a fantastic staff from all over the world and you can see the attempt to provide the best service they can.||||Looking forward to another season with them next year!!!

This lodge has a terrific view of the cove, an accessible beach and a fine restaurant. But... although I titled this review "Rustic Charm" I want to add that the accent is on the rustic, not on the charm. The decor is dated, the whole place needs a facelift, the wi-fi is very spotty, and the electric outlets may or may not work. Oh, yes, there is very poor (maybe no) cell phone signal.||Nevertheless, if you don't really care about style and you want to get away from the ratrace, just to sit and enjoy the view with a good book, this is the place for you.||The staff is excellent; ready to provide whatever is needed. Your hosts are charming (Aha! That's where the charm is located.) And that view cannot be beat.

This place is gorgeous and rustic. Such a perfect, picturesque Maine getaway. We stayed in the rooms next to the restaurant, and it was such a fabulous spot! We actually were able to get a wifi and sporadic 3g signal from out on the patio there. In the morning, we sat out in the chairs just outside our door and listened to the lighthouse foghorn off in the distance and the low rumble of the early morning fishing boats humming around the cove. Our room also had a television and was very spacious for our family of four (I had my two young children with me). Suzen is simply delightful. She truly enjoys cooking, and has taken it upon herself to fix up this place after it was in rough shape before she took it over. She's done a remarkable job. If you're looking for the Ritz, this may not be your place. This is Maine at it's core. Rugged, rustic, beautiful and raw. This is a place we hope to return to every summer.

What a scenic wonderful treat. We unexpectedly stumbled upon this little gem while visiting the surrounding area. The rooms were charming the views spectacular and the sounds of the fishing boats heading out to see or returning really take you away Cabins and cottages are large and spacious, while rustic they were well furnished we even had a fireplace. Suzen was lovely and accommodating we will definitely return with more friends. And wow can she cook! staff was also warm and friendly Watch the cakes and deserts they are simply out of this world, and you can't beat the fresh seafood of maine, unless her husband Brad brings it off the boat that morning!!

When we found out we were going to Deer Isle for a friend's wedding, we immediately jumped on board with travel planning. Since it is a 5 to 6-hour drive from Boston, we split the trip up into parts and booked rooms accordingly. Goose Cove was the closest hotel to the wedding site, and the rooms looked charming. What the website did not show us then was the fact that the room we stayed in was right next to the restaurant, with the entrance on the very same patio where patrons were eating dinner. The room felt like what my dad might call the "penalty box," a room where someone could briefly crash. A waitress showed us to our room, walking us through the restaurant. When we entered the room, it was a little musty, so we opened the one window with a sheer shade that looks onto the porch, and turned on the fan. There is no a/c. There was also no telephone, no TV, and no smoke detector (was clearly removed off the wall and not replaced). We should have known better as the listing said there was a big screen TV in the "lodge" which as far as I can tell is the Cockatoo restaurant. After going out for the night we came back around 10 to find the place locked up tight. We had no contact numbers or way to get in touch with anyone if there was an emergency, and this place is far from a town of any sort. In the morning, we went into the restaurant for coffee, which was served to us on the patio. I was pleasantly surprised there was no charge for it as we were resort guests. We walked down to the beach for a bit, enjoyed the sun, and quietly checked out. The owner, while lovely, seemed very frazzled running a restaurant and a hotel. The office was closed and we checked into our room at the bar. There are also pictures of the owner and what appears to be her grandchildren "cooking" throughout the restaurant. Be warned, if you do not like large birds (I am terrified of them after being bitten several times), there are two huge cockatoos that live in the office...and a poodle that roams the place. While this "resort" was billed as "rustic" we did't get the cabin in the woods feel. With some TLC, this place could be really wonderful, but for now it is a work in progress.

I myself have not stayed at Goose Cove, but I know from friends who have that the accommodations are varied and comfortable, as well as reasonably priced. The best reason to stay here is the restaurant! I have enjoyed every meal i have eaten at the Cockatoo since the Carters first came to Deer Isle. Suzen's signature meals, the Caldeirada and the Paelha, are unforgettably delicious. They add new and yummy items each year. In the dessert category, the Flan is nothing short of perfect. I had it 4 years ago, then the next 3 years they didn't happen to have it (i once even watched the last piece go to an earlier customer...). Finally got it this summer: just as I had remembered it.

I went up to the resort with my family for the Fourth of July weekend and were greeted by Suzen, the proprietor of both the cabins and the Portuguese restaurant. Upon checking into our cottage we found it to be freshly renovated with new paint, furniture, windows and even a flatscreen TV, and about 10 minutes after settling in Suzen even brought us a loaf of freshly baked bread. I could go on and on about the accommodations and views but what really sets this place apart is that it is family run in the truest sense. You don't see places like this anymore. The staffing is provided by Suzen and four lovely European girls she had come up to help her for the summer; whether you want ice or an ice cold beer, the staff is more than happy to oblige. The food in the Cockatoo Portuguese Restaurant is fantastic, bringing the taste of Portugal straight to your table. Suzen's husband is the seafood dealer on the island so all the traditional Maine favorites are brought straight from the boat to the kitchen (not exaggerating). He was happy to oblige when we had a special request for larger lobsters than were on the menu, and even offers all the cabin guests a trip on his personal lobster boat. The prices in the restaurant and bar were very reasonable, especially considering the quality of the food and drink. The views are unbelievable and the 14 cottages are stretched across the land in such a way that you aren't ever too close to other guests, ensuring privacy and quiet relaxation. Furthermore the property offers two private beaches and nature hiking. When we were leaving I asked Suzen what her favorite part of running the place is and she said "I love making people happy and giving them the perfect vacation", my experience there shows that this is true. This resort is her life and you can tell she put her heart and soul into it. If you want a relaxing Maine vacation the Goose Cove Resort is definitely the place to go!

Scenery: Absolutely gorgeous!! Activities: somewhat limited - walking trails, kayaking, and RELAXING. If you want to take a few days to unwind and relax - this would be the place. Cabin: We stayed in the "Bayberry" cabin. It sleeps 8 people and was very well appointed. The furniture was either fairly new and/or well kept. The inside of the cabin was spotless and very neat. The fireplace was capped off & not in use because of "insurance reasons". We did not, however, need it. The temperature out side was fairly hot, but the large overhead fan kept the temperature inside very cool. The outside of our cabin (and most other cabins) do need some "upkeep" work done because of the harsh winter weather up there. Replacing some wood on the decks, painting/staining, etc., would go far in this regard, but everything was very serviceable. I thought the price of the cabin ($400 per night) was very low if you had a group of 6-8 people. I believe this was the biggest & most expensive cabin. Food: We had breakfast 3 mornings. Two mornings we had scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, OJ, & coffee; the other morning we had French toast, sausage, OJ, & coffee. While I wouldn't call it extravagant, it was, for me, substantial. The first night there, we were not very hungry, so we only ordered drinks & appetizers. I had calamari & it was a very substantial amount and it was prepared perfect. The second night, we ate in the cabin with food bought from home. The third night we ate at the Lodge & had absolutely the best seafood dinner ever! Everything was prepared to perfection. I have never tasted scallops that were so good. Anyone who complains about the food is crazy!! The staff: The waiters/waitresses were all young foreigners (possibly students). At least some were from Eastern Europe. One that I spoke to was from Montenegro. All were very friendly and fairly efficient. Suzen Carter is the chef /owner/manager. She and her husband, Brad, were very friendly and helpful. Although usually very busy, they both found time to chat & answer any questions we had. Brad is a lobster fisherman who starts out in the mornings about 4:00am and returns to help out at the restaurant at suppertime. With the hours they put in each day - they must love their work! Conclusions: The place is as advertised! If you want a 5* hotel with maid service, room service, night life, and lots of activities, etc., then I would suggest staying in New York City or Los Angeles If you appreciate a rustic and secluded setting, a place to relax, enjoy the rugged Maine coastline, and like great food, this is the place to go. I could see a poet or author finding a place like this to write. The only noise you hear is the tide lapping against the shoreline and a distant foghorn. I didn't have a laptop with me, but saw a few guests at the lodge using one, so there is wifi. I didn't get any cell phone reception - for me this was a good thing. I hope the information in this review helps you decide if you should consider Goose Cove Lodge as a place to visit.