Nebo Lodge

It’s hard to compare the Nebo Lodge to many places in Maine- it’s exceptional; which is why we keep coming back! We had our car unexpectedly not start up while waiting for the ferry and Angie, the hotel manager was phenomenal in helping us find a room. It helped us through a tough situation so much! The restaurant food is fabulous and you really can’t choose a bad dish. Book in advance though and check with them on closed times! If you’re looking for a classic New England inn, the rooms here are also exceptionally cozy and comfortably set up in a New England shoreline farmhouse style. We love coming and staying for a few nights each summer. And North Haven is beautiful for biking, walking, kayaking and boating.

The hotel was absolutely beautiful, our room was very cute, had a wonderful dinner, and breakfast the next day. Very close to the water taxi and ferry back to the mainland. |Hot summer night, even with both windows open, extremely warm and stuffy, no AC on the room. Comfy bed, comfy pillows, but still hard to stay asleep in such warm conditions. Would absolutely come back!

The Nebo is a real escape from the hustle of the mainland even the Maine coast. Rooms are lovely New England farmhouse styled. The managers are very helpful- it’s a very relaxing inn! North Haven is a quiet and beautiful place - ideal for biking, kayaking and walking. |The Nebo Lodge restaurant is very very good and you can order anything and expect it to be exceptional- make sure that you reserve a table with your room!

We had the nicest time here. Even though it was for one night… it has made us want to come back longer! No Detials missed. Love love love it!

We had a lovely, two night stay at the Nebo Lodge. The lodge is so charming and an easy walk from the North Haven ferry. The staff was so friendly and welcoming. We also had a great dinner at the Nebo restaurant. North Haven is a beautiful and special place and Nebo fits in perfectly. Can’t wait to return!

Our family stayed in the Dogfish room. The king bed was extremely comfortable. This room was really well set up for us with an attached bathroom. We slept five in the room and made it work. The inn is such a charming and comfortable New England inn. We loved it. The food was great and so was the hospitality. We will definitely stay here again The next time we return to North Haven.

Spent the night at the Lodge in the Babbage room, had dinner, fantastic food, lovely clean room, would come back and recommend!

We have gone to NEBO over 10 times with several couples. Angie and Emma have been unbelievable with everything, and I mean everything, they offer. From cocktails on their beautiful deck to a delightful dinner menu and finally with their baked eggs for breakfast. You have a pleasant peaceful time.

Delicious oysters and wonderful sugar kelp martini - delightful combination and paired well with dipping fries

So wonderful to have Nebo on North Haven! Wonderful food, great service, relaxed vibe. A must-do when on the island whether for a drink at the bar or a great meal.

Had my birthday dinner there and to my disappointment it was mediocre. The appetizer was very messy finger food. The main was grilled cauliflower - actually burnt at the margins and uncooked elsewhere. Drinks were good but skimpy. Definitely not the amazing meal I imagined for myself. Service was scattered. Water not refilled. Ambiance is lovely. Especially lovely the outdoor garden area.

What a joy to spend a week on Vinalhaven. Our unforgettable culinary experience was our dinner at Nebo Lodge in North Haven last night. What a thrill to cross the Fox Islands Thorofare using the five-minute water taxi with Mattie at the helm. She assured us we would have an exceptional evening at the restaurant. Indeed, as our first encounter with the restaurant's staff, we commend her for taking extra care helping us board her boat and stay dry. After a short walk from the pier, we encountered the restaurant's charming beauty and warm hospitality as we went through the manicured gardens outside the inn and restaurant. After being seated promptly upon our arrival, the exceptional wait staff left no detail unattended. The charming table settings and antique tablecloths were highlighted with subtle candle light as the sun set and the food and beverages were served. We congratulate the Chef who produced an exquisite seasonal menu robust with fresh produce, meat, fish, and foods grown and harvested on the island and in coastal Maine. The extensive wine list was impressive as well as the creative cocktails selection. My wife selected the Penrose cocktail with Prosecco and orange, and we shared a bottle of Sangiovese wine for dinner. For appetizers, my wife and I both chose the Hubbard Squash and Apple Bisque, made up of toasted pepitas, miso-apple caramel, pickled squash and apple. The homemade focaccia bread was served with olive oil for dipping. The dining room in which we were seated had well-spaced out tables and enabled us to converse with our neighbor guests... like the couple next to us in their late 70's who shared they were soon to be married. The atmosphere was quaint and comfortable. We were never rushed and simply given time and space to enjoy. For her entree, my wife chose the ample-sized Grilled NY Strip Steak with chimichurri and charred peppers. It arrived medium rare just as she requested. It was large enough to have a portion for lunch today. I chose the Lamb Hearts from North Haven lambs skewered and grilled with charred peppers, couscous, eggplant purée, and chermoula. They were delicious and apparently quite popular with the other patrons. While I eat lamb throughout the year, I had never tasted lamb heart before and recommend it. We always like to split one dessert; however, the three featured selections all sounded delicious and made our choice difficult. We selected the Sticky Toffee Pudding with toffee sauce and house-made vanilla ice cream. Oh my... how wonderful it was! We could not have been happier that the only evening this week we didn't cook dinner at our rental cottage was simply the perfect way to end our vacation to Vinalhaven. My parents of blessed memory owned a restaurant and taught me to appreciate fine food and dining. I will never forget their first lesson: "The customer always comes first!" Indeed, from their training I appreciate a great restaurant with competent staff and a mission to guarantee customers its very best. Last night, Nebo Lodge delivered an unforgettable dining experience and we thank all those who assisted. Before closing, we want to offer special thanks to Emma, who made our dinner and water taxi reservations and greeted us upon arrival, to Annabell, our enthusiastic and attentive server with a charming sense of humor, and to Mattie who brought us safely to and from North Haven on the water taxi... her positive attitude was our first and lasting impression of Nebo Lodge and its emphasis on quality service and dining. God willing, we hope to return next year. Thanks again!

Welcoming, cosy classic New England inn, with all modern conveniences and outstanding food. Vegetarians catered for, too.

I have been to Nebo Lodge 3 or 4 times and while still good we were a bit disappointed with the experience. The space and setting is wonderful. Understated, with a touch of elegance. Our waiter was young and not up to the level we would have expected. Appetizers and entrees came out at odd times and after waiting for everyone else to complete dessert my Wife was told the kitchen was too busy to make hers. Really?! The pork chop and pasta dishes were very tasty ( had to send the pork chop back for additional cooking). And not a seafood entree on the menu. Odd. Beautiful trip from Rockland on a boat was the real highlight. Maybe no next visit?

You just know that if you have to take a boat over open ocean to get to a completely self sustained island full of organic farms...the food is gonna be good. And indeed it was. There is something about eating a meal in which you know everything came from down the road that makes it taste even more delicious. I recommend their peking duck wrap with pickled radish, sticky rice, and sri-cha-cha, the fried green tomatoes, and the Caldwell Farm rib eye. The dessert wines offered were fantastic, the vintage port and a DPX sherry in particular. I only wish that I had gotten a chance to then stay at the Nebo Lodge and experience their breakfast! Our waitress was wonderful as well, the perfect combination of sassy, sweet, and attentive. A less than successful interpretation of a fish taco was this spectacular place's only downfall. I had high hopes for this but it was really a strange combination of a reuben, and a fish taco...very much a swing and miss.

This a magical spot that is truly one of a kind, the island itself is like something out of a story book, our experience at Nebo was nothing less, cocktails,craft beer, local oysters and amazing lobster, the service and all the staff were super nice and more than helpful and made us feel at home. The entrance was blooming with wild flowers the tables were set to perfection. I will return!!

Great food! Excellent bruschetta and other assorted breads. Great micro green salad with wonderful dressing. Heirloom tomato appetizer was sweet and delicious. The homemade ricotta was outstanding. The ribeye steak was cooked to perfection as was the halibut!

Amazing food and drink. Had a Vieux Carre and shared the fries, ricotta, frisée, and was really just amazed something like this was on this island.

My wife and I ate here and enjoyed it. The food was good but pricier than it really needed to be. This is the first time we have been here even though we live locally on the main land. We also never get lobster in restaurants since we enjoy making it at home. So when my wife ordered the bohemian lobster it was a special occasion. What they didn't tell you is that the lobster is still in the shell and all of the shells are submerged in the sauce on the plate. Which normally is not a problem if the lobster is soft shell and easy to crack and get the meat. It was however a hard shell lobster and required picking up the pieces, getting the sauce all over your hands and potentially everywhere else. Now you are cracking it around your plate with the possibility of getting shards of shell in your well prepared sauce. My meal was good prime rib and fries. The meat itself was a little chewy but flavor good. Fries were very good. Over all the meal was good. The location unbeatable. Service excellent. Just a couple things I thought requires tweaking.

Very disappointed. The ride to & from on the Equinox lobster boat was the best part of the evening. There were only 2 entrees on the menu probably because it is late in the season. I had the rib eye. It was pan fried! I asked for medium but it was well done. They presented the plate and all you could see was @ 100 French fries, no exaggeration. The steak was hidden under it. Both the steak and the fries were saturated with a pepper seasoning. There was no taste of the food itself, just the pepper. I asked for catchup but even that didn't over come the pepper. I had heard good things about the place so perhaps since the season was winding down, they had a substitute cook. The dessert was good, the waitress was fine and the atmosphere attractive.

If it were even possible to separate this outstanding restaurant from it's stunning environs, it wouldn't change a thing - except that they would lose their unique, almost exclusive farm-to-table setup. And you would lose a breathtaking walk from the beach or ferry. If you're reading this, you are most likely already aware of how incredible the island is - I don't have to explain Nebo's unique geography or ethos. You're in an f-ing special place right there. Everything we experienced, from the personal greeting at the door (as if we were visiting friends at their home,) to the craft beers, to the INCREDIBLE apps/main dishes, to the desert - was absolutely, unspeakably perfect. There is no other way to explain how a pack of 6 judgmental, ego-maniacal, holier-than-thou New Yorkers could all be simultaneously rendered speechless and in total awe at every turn. It was humbling, really. I almost never give 5 stars and I'm not one of those trolls that leaves reviews for money (tho I have been asked many times.) This place is truly one of the most amazing culinary and cultural gems out there. Run don't walk - just please don't tell your friends because if they get too popular, we risk losing what makes them great. (Spoken like a true Brooklyn gentrified, right!?) There is NO way you will not leave Nebo with a smile on your face and a restored sense of pride for your fellow man.

Staying at the Nebo Lodge was a great experience. Unique, isolated by the sea and only accessible by ferry, there's a great feeling of community about the island. With only one other restaurant in town there's always a crowd around the food, which is grown locally and organically, giving you a real home grown feel. The house was amazing, a perfect blend of Victorian, rustic, and contemporary styles, that all combined seamlessly into a lovely atmosphere. The rooms were clean, decorated with local art, and complete with all natural soaps and shampoos that smelled great and brought you closer to nature it seemed. Our room, on the third floor, stayed cool through the night with a fan unit and lots of windows. To stay here was a real treat, and I would love to stay another night if the place wasn't already filled to the gills. The food was good as well, although I was not blown away by it as I had hoped to be. As one of Bon appetit's top ten foodie destinations, I was expecting an unforgettable meal, which was a desire left, meh, unsatisfied. The dining room was beautiful, with unique linen cloths on each tabletop. The dishes were mismatched vintage pieces, all beautiful, and the ensemble was pulled together by the teacup planter and mason jar candle center piece. I loved the rustic feel of the setting, and the beauty of the old china. Our appetizers were served, fried green tomatoes, crispy kale, and chicken liver pâté, which were delicious. Having been left with high expectations for the entrees, I was unimpressed my my main course. I ordered the brick oven chicken, which was served with a cabbage slaw base and fresh basil. The flavor balance was beautiful, but the portion was much too large and over salted. My mother ordered the lobster, which was some of the best I've had although it was served without utensils to properly eat which I though to be strange. The desserts were delicious, We ordered the chocolate pots de creme and the honey-thyme ice cream. The chocolate was dark, bitter and rich, offset by a light caramel drizzle. The ice cream was like nothing I'd ever had, a definite favorite. Our servers were attentive, helpful and sweet. Outside of the disappointing entrees and steep bill, the Nebo Lodge dinner was a hit.

Hannah, the waitress was lovely and attentive, quick service, a delight. The table settings, plates environment were homey, comfortable and inviting. However the food disappointing and uninspired. Halibut was DRY, overcooked with scarce and umdrum sauce with a side of bland cold Farrow and spiralized zucchini. The fillet mignon was inedible. Requested medium rare, sent the first fillet back since it was brown all the way through. Second one came out almost immediately and that too was thoughtlessly cooked through until there was not a bit of moisture left in it. The only moisture to help swallow was a glass of wine since there was no sauce for the fillet, not even butter topped. A true disappointing meal.

The wonderful menu has been the same for three years. Delicious. But the same. Excellent mussels. Steamed, a pound or more arrive in a deep bowl brimming with delicious cream white wine broth. Thick, supple - a truly special dish. Fried green tomatoes. Crispy from panko and creamy from chive dressing. Trout fish tacos are certainly enough for a meal - lightly breaded and fried crisp, the fish is succulent. The pickle appetizer has been a success on all visits. North haven oysters to down - salty and sweet - these little morsels are perfect. Tender rib eye - bone in. Served med rare with a large dollop of herb butter and rosemary. Truffle fries cover the large piece of meat. The brick chicken is tart and sweet with a most crisp skin. Tomatoes provide sugar to this rendition of thigh and breast. Juicy meat. A large piece of trout is accentuated by a light lemon cream. A large selection of bespoke cocktails. Large but pricey wine selection with a bent towards France and California. Polite service. Good dessert and coffee.

I've seen the rooms, but I've never stayed at Nebo, since I have friends on the island. I've eaten the food though... and it's amazing. They get as many ingredients as possible from local farms, so the food is always fresh and the menu changes a lot. The dining area is divided into several rooms, and they are all nicely decorated. Elegant but relaxed. The staff is super nice and attentive. There is a nicely stocked bar with bowls of snacks, so if you get there early you can have a nice drink. I had a whiskey sour. The first time we went, the chef prepared a special vegan dish for me, since I was still vegan at the time: roasted vegetables skewered on rosemary stems with balsamic vinegar on a bed of farro. For a chef who's never really cooked for a vegan before, it was a great offering. The veggies were just slightly roasted, nice and crunchy, and the farro was delicious and chewy. The second time around, I was no longer vegan. I had Maine crab cakes with red pepper remoulade. Amazing. Sweet, fresh crab, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the remoulade was perfect. My one complaint is that I asked if I could have them as a dinner portion, and what came out was definitely an appetizer. They were so good, I didn't complain. I also had the pumpkin chiffon pie with gingersnap crust. The pie was light and delicious, and the crust was by far the best pie crust I've ever had, perfectly crunchy and crumbly and a little spicy from the ginger. Each time, I had the garden frites (potatoes, carrots, and green beans) with truffled ketchup. The veggies are nicely fried and not too oily, and the ketchup is (I know I use this word too much) AMAZING. The complementary bread is also wonderful. It's got the most amazing crumb... I'm tempted to ask for the recipe. If you're going to be on North Haven or Vinalhaven, or even in Rockland, you owe it to yourself to go.

My boyfriend and I went to Nebo after boating over from Vinalhaven. The location was wonderful because we could walk straight there from the docks! I loved how every tablecloth was different, making the atmosphere very home-y and comfortable. Our waitress was friendly and not overbearing... I would've appreciated more information about the food we ordered from the menu. I ordered crabmeat thinking that would be it. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised that it came over a bed of pasta but I didn't feel as though that was clear in the menu. The portion was huge as well and our waitress said people often end up taking home leftovers- which I did. I could've gone for less food and a lower price! I still had a wonderful time and my food was delicious. I loveddddd the outdoor seating and couches, making it feel like a neighbor's patio. We were there at sunset and the weather was beautiful. I would recommend Nebos and will be returning in the future.

Lovely spot, gracious and attentive service, and delicious food. I had swordfish with green beans and corn off the cob - done perfectly. My husband's ribeye was exactly as ordered. Our only caution is that a lot of salt and butter are used. Why serve a meal with a lot of salt when there is salt on the table to add, or not, depending on one's preference? There was creative use of herbs for both meals so why so much butter? But definitely highly recommended.

We stayed one night as a last bit of pampering after visiting other parts of Maine and doing some camping. We stayed in Babbidge and it had a shared bathroom. The room was quaint to fit with the age of the house, but also very modern in decor. A comfy brass bed with tons of pillows. They do supply a fridge if you wish and some really great smelling herbal toiletries. There was no AC, but two openable windows with screens, and it had dropped to the high seventies so we were OK. Being right off the water did help keep it cool also. All the staff was great and the hosts make sure you know what the island as to offer. There is walking, biking, swimming, golf, local markets. They offer bike rental. We had dinner reservations, which is a must. There is not any dinner dining options on North Haven, and people actually come from the main land to eat here. The food was excellent, and the farm to table vibe was a welcome offering after eating on the road and lobster for a week. We had the pickle plate with turnips, beets, fiddleheads, cauliflower and cheddar and rye. So tasty, and the bread basket was just right, crusty on the outside and pillowy in the middle. I had the lamb with polenta and beet salad which was seasoned perfectly, my fella had the trout which he enjoyed as well as the local oysters. The continental breakfast was good and had some thoughtful options, some really great biscuits with a honey glaze, farm fresh yogurt and homemade granola. They have a beautiful garden, and 3 really nice porches for relaxing on, I did some reading and some peaceful vegging. This is an out of the way place, slow paced, and very relaxing. I only regret we didn't spend more time to do some biking and see more of the island. There isn't a market near Nebo, so plan well and take some snacks if you need or a romantic picnic.

This is a review about their restaurant only, as I don't do reviews for lodging here. My husband and I attended their harvest dinner this month. We really looked forward to the dinner as we knew they use lots of local ingredients. Some of the dishes were superb, like the oyster appetizer (from the island, served with tiny delicious onion bits) and steak (also local, according to the waitress) which may have been one of the best steaks I've ever had. Some other dishes were merely decent, like the stuffed fish my husband ordered. The flavor of the fish was totally overwhelmed by all the cheese, cream, potato, etc. I barely remember the desserts. I think one of us got an apple crisp and the other something with creme anglaise, which the waitress called "cream angelie." Obviously they weren't well-trained waitresses, hence a few kinks with the service. My husband chose to do wine pairing with the prix-fixe, and he commented that some of the pairings did not work. Good meal, but I didn't feel like it was worth the money, especially after so many amazing meals in Quebec for similar price. We also had their breakfast, which was good except they didn't have the delicious local lamb sausage they had last time! My husband loves the island so we probably will end up coming back here.

Well, not as good as I had anticipated. Perhaps it was because it was late and the "boat dinner" people had left. Had a salad that was not usually good, but acceptable, followed by the Asian ribs. Was dying for something Asian and spicy after the traditional Maine food, but it was not be. Tasted like stew meat. Asian would never slow cook ribs. Had to ask for Sriracha to get through it.

The dinning room was busy so we sat at the bar and still had great service. I liked the fact that they had small plates and larger, pricier entrees we could choose from even though the menu selection was small. The small plates were plentiful enough for dinner without leaving hungry and the Whiskey Cider cocktail we ordered was balanced just right. The spicy popcorn available at the bar was addictive and the bread had a light texture with a hearty crust that was divine. I saw the bartender go out of her way to provide fresh mint for an off-menu cocktail. I certainly look forward to my next trip out to the island and meal at Nebo.