Nina June

Selected Nina June for our 25th Wedding Anniversary dinner, and it could not have been more special. They reserved a sweet little table for us overlooking the harbor and started off the night with two complimentary flutes of champagne. All the food was outstanding. The wait staff was fun and fabulous. Gaia, the hostess, was charming and attentive. Spectacular experience.

I'm still thinking -- and drooling -- about our recent dinner at Nina June in Rockport, Maine. What a lovely restaurant. One of the best views in all of Maine for dinner? Quite possibly. Incredible food, amazing service... Nina June gave us a night to remember. Our friend made a reservation for our party of three, and our table was ready as soon as we arrived. There's a parking lot right below the restaurant, which they seem to share with other businesses, and we were able to snag a spot easily. The moment I walked into the beautiful building where the restaurant is housed, I gasped -- it was just so stunning. Maybe it was the pink hue of the sky, or the smell from the kitchen, or the ambiance? Either way, all of my senses were lit up before we even sat down. We started with cocktails on the balcony to soak up the sunset (highly recommend -- shoutout to the sommelier for the idea, and for offering to take our group photo!). The Sidecar Veneziana (cognac, pear grappa, lemon, dry curaçao) was to die for, and my friends loved their drinks too. After admiring the view (seriously... WHAT a view), we ordered pretty much everything on the menu... it all looked that good. Every dish delivered. We left dinner totally full; honestly, we struggled to finish some plates, and I went in expecting smaller portions. Not complaining! The mussels were some of the best I've ever had, soaked in a dark beer and fennel sauce and they tasted like butter. The little gem lettuce salad was a hit; even my blue cheese-hating husband loved it... and don't get me started on those chunks of bacon it came with. And the pastas... I could write a whole separate review on the pastas alone. We all ordered different ones, and I'm still debating which was my favorite, but I think it was my friend's: the pasta al limone with Maine crab. Absolute perfection. We finished things off with gelato and pavlova ( we somehow made room???). Special shoutout to the staff -- they were incredible. I asked what time the kitchen closed (we were the last ones there), and they told us not to worry or rush. The restaurant closed at 9 PM and we didn't leave until 10:20, but we never felt pushed out. They were incredibly thoughtful and gracious from start to finish. We can't wait to go back, and next time, I'm definitely snagging one of those patio tables!

Stunning location! Not a bad seat in the house - service is incredible and know so much about the area - must do the bread service 🥖 chef bakes daily onsite 🙌🏼 Oysters 🦪 and clam spaghetti 🍝 were delish!

How cool is it to see Chef Sara Jenkins expediting as you approach the host stand? I love the open kitchen and being able to see all the hard work and effort it takes to execute the menu. Speaking of, I particularly enjoy all the seafood on there right now but also loved seeing duck. We started with a lovely bottle of a French white wine and Chip, their sommelier, told us it would go great with oysters so we got those too. He was absolutely right. Really enjoyed the lime and fresh herbs on those oysters. Incredible flavor. Entrees were the risotto which was expertly made and the halibut which was moist and flaky. Perfect. Dessert was a lemon tart that was a refreshing end to quite a lovely meal. It was a busy Saturday with a packed restaurant so the ticket time on our table was a little long but the service was still excellent and attentive. I made it a point to make reservations here on my trip to Maine and I was so glad I did!

What a FANTASTIC meal and dining experience. Loved it so so much and can’t wait to go back. First of all, I was super grateful for the NA mocktail options. Being pregnant, it’s just so nice to have options that aren’t ginger ale or lemonade; options that feel more sophisticated and not like I’m a child or being punished for being pregnant! Thoroughly enjoyed the ginger mocktail (Sara’s Mix #3) and thought it had a nice brightness and bite. The Rome with a View was also nice. Shining star of the night was the pole bean app. Hands down. Just unbelievably flavorful, had great texture, and was unique. The romaine salad was also standout. Second shining star was the fennel pasta. I’m not huge on fennel due to the licorice taste but I do enjoy cooked fennel. In this case, the pasta noodles had fresh fennel rolled into them to give them a subtle flavor and beautiful color. The fresh tomato sauce tasted like summer itself. So so delicious. The shrimp risotto had some unique flavors going on with it that I enjoyed (was that Jasmine I tasted in there??) But ultimately, compared to the other dishes, it fell flat. The skate really surprised me though!! Best piece of skate I’ve ever tried. Loved this meal and loved sitting on the back balcony overlooking the bay. How picturesque and a gorgeous way to spend the evening with family. Highly recommend and can’t wait to go back. PS I could’ve eaten 3 orders of the bread and spread. Unreal.

I was so in awe as the food was presented i forgot to take all the pics i normally do. Exquisite best describes what i had the pleasure to eat. This was a New Year’s Eve price fix meal. I started with a handcrafted cocktail, a Black Manhattan. Wow! Meal included: raw oysters, tare tare, bay scallops, risotto, goose breast medallions, and dessert.

We had a mixed experience at Nina June. We were greeted warmly by the hostess and by our server. We really enjoyed the pretty dining room and beautiful view. The restaurant has poor acoustics, though, and the music was turned up bafflingly loud when we arrived but was turned down promptly at our request. We really enjoyed our flavorful cocktails and the pretty and flavorful beet and mustard green salads. We were a party of four. One of us ordered the swordfish as an entree. The fish and the accompanying sides were tasty and prettily plated. The skirt steak was disappointingly overcooked. Two of us had the pasta al limone with the crab and yummy chive spaghetti. The dish was flavorful, well seasoned and well balanced but it arrived lukewarm rather than piping hot. When we told our server this, she seemed unconcerned and didn't offer to comp us or anything like that. For dessert, my husband loved the rhubarb pavlova. The rest of us ordered the lemon and almond olive oil cake, which was very tasty, as was the fresh whipped cream. Surprisingly, though, it was filled with poppy seeds. We didn't really mind but were surprised this wasn't included in the menu description since it was such a major element of this dessert. Overall, I'd say we had a pleasant but imperfect - and pretty pricey - dining experience. Nina June offers some appealing, seasonal food but would do well to pay a little more attention to detail.

Dinner at Nina June was exceptional and unique, with an open kitchen concept so you can watch the chefs prepare all the beautiful dishes while you wait. They have a rotating menu based on seasonal ingredients. Chef Sara was there, and my wife loved speaking with her in Italian briefly. Her creativity and Mediterranean influence really shines in all of these dishes. The staff was attentive and the wine sommelier Chip helped us choose a rare Sicilian white to pair with our meals. Bonus - we discovered Chip makes a local hot sauce that’s great! The grilled calamari was super soft, which is tricky to nail down. The asparagus, onions, and cheese paired great together and were drizzled with balsamic. The halibut was also very tender, fresh, and seasoned perfectly. We ordered two pasta dishes, short rib filled agnolotti and tagliatelle in a chicken ragù. We finished our meal off with a couple of espressos. Don’t hesitate to book a reservation here!

Nina June is an extraordinary restaurant- great ambiance, superb food and highly efficient/ friendly service. Everything we ate was wonderful- locally sourced and prepared with finesse. The oysters from a few miles away were nothing short of superb. The corn sofrito and mussels were excellent. We had the pappardelle with veal and the Tuna entree. Only slight miss of the evening was the pasta was not hot enough. However the tour de force- the tuna entree, amongst the finest tuna I have eaten and that's saying something. They have an unusual wine list with a number of hard to find wines at reasonable mark ups. The Sommelier was very nice. Overall one of the best places in mid- coast Maine.

A lovely restaurant with just as lovely food! The interior was warm and inviting and there was an outdoor patio (raining when we went so we did not get to sit outside). All of the servers were attentive and checked in on us often. We started with the bread service. The bread was soft but I felt the olive oil and herbs were a bit bitter. Next up we're the oysters which were extremely fresh and briny. The mignonette had chili pepper but this was not spicy at all. The crudo was presentation was cute - in little lettuce cups. However, the crudo bites itself tasty very fishy which was not ideal. The fried zucchini was awesome! Fried on the outside and the sauce was a little spicy. The tagliatelle was great. I don't normally enjoy rabbit but the meat was soft and the noodles were tender and cooked perfectly Al dente.

Ambience great. Carpaccio great. Downhill from there. My wife ordered the escarole salad, which was a mound of escrow, radicchio, apples, and cheese buried somewhere in the mix along with scattered walnuts. Very ordinary. No distinguishing dressing or sharp flavors to elevate it. I ordered the roasted cauliflower which was barely roasted in a punch sauce that smacked heavily of orange. my wife ordered the special pasta of the day which was a handkerchief ravioli filled with smoked mackerel and smoked eel. She did not anticipate that this would be served in a broth. it really tasted like very fishy wonton soup. It was not appealing. I ordered the duck breast which was in a plum sauce. You could've fooled me. The breast I guess was cooked well, but the sauce was to be tasteless with a smattering of polenta underneath. I will say the wine was nice and the wines were good. dessert was good with delicious caramel gelato, and the goat cheesecake was very good. Unfortunately, the disappointing salads and mains did not allow us to celebrate that these were excellent house made desserts All this being said, we really enjoyed the look of the place, the spirit of the place, and the staff was excellent.

We live in Camden and Nina June in Rockport is one of our favorite restaurants. A super cozy and beautiful spot... The food is always amazing, unique and flavorful. BTW...the antipasto board is top notch. The drinks are always great and the service is consistently friendly and attentive. Oh, and dessert is always a must! Homemade gelato... yes please! We always enjoy our time there and look forward to bringing our family and friends, when they visit us here in Maine.

I've been twice, the first time was for my best friends birthday and it was a total flop, rude waitress, inflexibility on where they allowed us to sit, sub par food. The only redeeming factor was our drink server Allison. It was because of her kindness that I decided to give it another try with my husband. The second time around was much better. Allison was still there over a year later (they are lucky to have her) and she was fantastic. The food was excellent, the service sublime, the wine delicious, and the fresh off the Italian farm olive oil brought me back to my olive picking days in Italy. Fabulous all around.

Delicious! We got a reservation pretty easily and really enjoyed our meal. Portions were great and our server was so sweet and helpful. Can't wait to come back!

I'd really like to give more stars because the ambiance and the service was so nice, but..... My husband and I arrived on time for our reservation to a half full restaurant and were taken to the 2 remaining seats at the end of a long table of a family gathering (with a baby). Really? Why? We asked to sit somewhere else and were easily accommodated. We both ordered the porchetta and both found it to be pure fat. No meat. Just fat. For $40. Bad. We did not complain, but should have. We shared a small local tomato appetizer which was okay for $20. The olive oil cake for dessert was dry and needed more whipped cream (which we got). The best part of the meal were the cocktails and the bread. Well, at least there was that!

An incredible place made complete by amazing people. From start to finish, our time at Nina June was ridiculously delightful.

Came here two nights in a row on our vacation because it was SO good. The setting is perfect, service is amazing, and the dishes were elaborate and tasteful. Would definitely dine there again!!

Nina June's Restaurant refused to tell me what was gluten free when asked. I made a reservation around closing time the night before and emailed the restaurant at 7am the next morning asking about gluten free options since myself and my daughter had celiac. Sarah's response was an email back that just said "yes we can do that for you". If you know anything about having celiac disease, that response is useless. Gluten hides in sauces, roux, cross contamination from shared fryers etc. It is impossible to know what is gluten free without talking to waitstaff, chef, owner, hostess, whoever... Followed up with emails that were answered in the most unhelpful get off my back type of manner, and unanswered phone calls to the restaurant. I did not want to get my daughter sick as it became apparent to me the owner did not take celiac disease and food allergies seriously. Ultimately she charged us $120 for late cancelation which she forced me to accept because of her stubbornness and ignorance on the matter. At one point she called my daughter a "picky eater"... yea she's picky about foods that don't make her throw up all night two hours after eating. I wish I could post all our emails back and forth to prove to everyone how ignorant this person really is. I 100% support late cancelation fees from restaurants when warranted. This however was unwarranted and flat out nasty.

We visited this restaurant on a Sunday evening and unfortunately I left feeling pretty let down after a $350 dinner. After arriving for a 6:45 reservation we were offered a table off in the corner away from the nice part of the restaurant- near the empty deli fridge. I asked if there was anything else in the back or on deck/ she said no but shortly afterwards changed her mind (perhaps she saw the crestfallen look on my face) and offered us a communal table in the back. What struck me was that although she originally told me that there were no tables open back there, there were in fact 3 other 2 tops and the long table where we were seated communally, completely open. I don't get why she originally withheld when there were plenty of options open. Why? Felt like a snub. Or a game. I didn't like that vibe. The server was just ok- not very friendly, but decent. The drinks took a long time to arrive- they were pretty, but underwhelming for $18 each. The thing that really got me was the cost of the kids' food- a small bowl of spaghetti with red sauce that was bland and sad- for TWENTY dollars each. I felt really ripped off. I believe in supporting small businesses and will happily spend money on great, inventive food- but this place felt unfriendly and overrated/overpriced from start to finish. Really too bad bc I was so excited about the menu and the story of this place.

Good quality is not worth their prices. My wife's lamb was as tough as shoe leather. She couldn't eat it. Fortunately they comped her dish. Hamburger was good but nowhere near great for $27. Waitress was excellent!

Went to fix price menu last Saturday. Worst meal I've had in memory! Three hundred dollars and I left hungry! Two oysters ok,salad a joke, worst risotto ever! Like thick oatmeal. Lamb was small balls of fat with horrible side? Halibut was so small two bites no flavor. Paid for wine pairing. I know this was a tasting but two sips with my lamb?This meal could have not cost Nina $25.00. I have eaten at great restaurants around the world. Not my first rodeo. Love mid coast restaurants but this was overpriced and underserved. So disappointed!

I come here every chance I get. The food is spectacular! I'd come here just for the olive oil and sourdough bread to sop it up! At my waiter's suggestion, I had the cod, beets, and chicory - wow!! The service is engaged, informative, and absolutely professional. The vibe is cozy and personal - reminds me of Italy (where the resaurant has roots). Dinner here is bangarang every time!!!

We just had an unforgettable meal at this quaint place in the little town of Rockport. My wife has been following them since they took over the location from renown "Salt Water Farm" owner/chief/cooking teacher, Ann Marie Ahearn. The new owner (Sara Jenkins) has set the bar even higher. Quite simply, this place is just fabulous. The atmosphere reminds me of innovative East Village restaurants in New York, but in a beautiful setting overlooking the harbor. But it isn't; just the atmosphere and service ... its the food. Here is what we had: 1) heirloom tomato salad .. perfect, beautiful multicolored ripe heirloom tomatoes with fresh herbs, fresh greens, and pistachios. So delicious, so flavorful, so creative. 2) crusty fresh bread with olive oil dip ... I suspect Ann Marie knows a thing or two about olive oil. Best I've ever had. 3) duck breast, roasted crispy with apples, and tender inside ... It's very hard to cook duck breast crispy on the outside, while keeping the meat tender. It was perfect and wonderful. 4) risotto made with roasted sweet corn and shrimp... how did they get this creaminess and sweetness while delivering an underlying "kiss of the sea" flavor from the underlaying shellfish broth? Wish I knew how to do this myself. Along the way, we also had some wonderful cocktails. In particular, I enjoyed a "Red Hook," which seems to be a perfect replica of Gramercy Tavern's "Man about Town." This is a delicious Manhattan variation, which I was so happy to find in Maine. I was surprised and delighted! Also had an espresso martini for desert, which was smooth, soothing, delicious, and boozy. Glad I wasn't driving! There are several great Maine restaurants in Portland, Camden, and even my own little town (Harpswell). I advise visitors to enjoy our traditional New England seafood ... lobster, oysters, crab, haddock dishes, etc. We love it all! But perhaps also have a gourmet night out .. there is no place better than Nina Junes, even in Boston.

We were seated at the bar which feels like you are in the kitchen. The staff was friendly and accommodating, we felt very welcome. The oysters we sampled were super fresh and tasty, locally sourced. Every crumb of the house made bread with labneh and EVOO was happily eaten. Soft shell crab was lightly fried to perfection, and the parpadelle with goose ragu excellent. Very good wine list. Although the menu is limited, there was a lot we wanted to try. What was prepared for us was outstanding.

It is sad when the owners ego gets in the way of the food and experience. We had reservations at the bar and had front seats to the small kitchen trying to keep up with the restaurant. We ordered two appetizers and a salad, which all came out in a timely manner. We ordered a top wine from their reserve list and were enjoying the wine, unfortunately we finished our appetizers and sat there with no plates or food for 40 minutes. I questioned the bartender about our main course and she stated that the kitchen was backed up. As we sat there waiting, with nothing in front of us, I asked a second time about our order and was dismissed, instead of getting it expedited (as I think she forgot to place our main course in). The couple next to us were seated after us and received their main courses 20 minutes prior to ours. We were talking with Nick (sommelier) and were even excited to try his homemade Amaro. Unfortunately, we sat there with no one asking if we needed anything or would like deserts. Pour service !!! we ended up paying the bill and leaving as we sat there for over 2 hrs for a few appetizers and a main, with no desert or after dinner drink. When I contacted Sara Jenkins (the owner), she stated that she had heard about what happened and made it out to be normal and was more bothered that I contacted her about the experience. This is a horrible excuse for a mediocre restaurant with a wannabe chef/owner with a huge ego.

Nina June is an extraordinary restaurant with extraordinary and authentic Italian food from remarkable Sara Jenkins, in possibly the most gorgeous spot in Maine, overlooking Rockport Harbor. (A lot of adjectives, all of them accurate.) I've been there at this point probably 30 times since it opened and it is consistently incredible. The service is fabulous--sit at the bar for a more laid-back experience, on the deck, or in the dining room, and you'll have an unforgettable time. (More adjectives!) Sara's pasta, which is homemade, is phenomenal but literally everything I've eaten here over the years is mind-blowing. If you're in Midcoast, GO.

Love this place. Atmosphere is great. Liked it so much I left my credit card there (by accident.) really good food and drinks. We will be back.

The cooking is first class, but they need to find a better way to deal with the high summer rush. We had made reservations two weeks in advance and upon arrival, were told there wasn't a table available and that we would have to sit outside. The small table was wobbly, inadequately sized and surrounded by potted trees that made it difficult to be seated and to get up. It was a hot August night, so eating outside was a little uncomfortable and the noisy traffic made the experience less than pleasant. That the hostess could not tell us how long the wait was for a table also was disconcerting, since we had reservations. The food was very good, but my tagliatelle was $38 and was supposed to have sausage in it. It was very good, but had none. It should have been at least $10 less. We had been there a few years back at around the same time of the year and it was a far better experience. This experience has us both thinking we won;t be returning any time soon. Shame, really as we support local businesses, the farm to table concept and excellent chefs. Everything about this place is great except for this one bad experience that has lost them two customers.

We had been looking to buy a house in Rockport for years, and when the right one came on the market, we made an offer without seeing the house. Our offer was accepted and we all hopped into our car and drove to Maine to see what we had just committed ourselves to buy. That night, when we were still deciding whether the house is for us, we ate at Nina June. We all had amazing meals. My son had pasta with crab, and that's still his go to dish whenever it is on the menu. The service was friendly and attentive and we were not rushed. It was then - sitting there with family - that we decided to proceed with our purchase. We don't regret it, and Nina June is now our most favorite place to eat anywhere. Sara and her staff are simply amazing: Mediterranean flavors made with Maine ingredients. The wine list is superb, and Chip makes fantastic cocktails and is a wonderful raconteur. We go there with friends, and we've made friends there. Put simply, highly recommended!

Pure magic. We are so lucky to have a chef of the caliber of Sara in my corner of Maine. I always look forward to dining here and am never disappointed. Seasonal cooking at its best.

The restaurant is quite small with almost half of the space devoted to an open kitchen. We did not experience the degree of service issues mentioned by many reviewers nor did we receive the quality of service one would expect given the menu pricing. We decided to share an appetizer of black mussels (mussels, beer, roasted tomatillos, cilantro and grilled bread) that proved to be quite good. For an entree, my wife chose La Parmigiana (roasted eggplant and cherry tomatoes that were baked in a cast iron skillet and topped with cheese and basil) while I requested pasta al limone (thin house made herb noodles topped with Maine crab meat, and lemon butter). Hers was very good though overpriced while mine proved to be a disappointment due to the overwhelming flavor of lemon and minimal quantity of crab.

After biking over from Camden, our options were limited but we stopped in to a great meal. Not sure what the other reviews are complaining about, best pasta I have ever had. Small portion, which was great since I was on a bike. My partner had a delicious hamburger. Prices were definitely not cheap, but for a seasonal restaurant I understand. You need to check it out.

Stumbled upon this gem after attempting to go to the oyster bar next door (closed for the season, wha.. waa:( But, happy accidents do happen, as Bob Ross would say. Nina June was our weekend away happy accident. Mussels steamed with white wine, chili, garlic, parsley, saffron, and grilled bread $14 Beets served with dill, red onion, toasted pine nuts, and marinated feta $12 Two perfect glasses of white wine for $10 each. The atmosphere was just right for watching the enormous snowflakes fall into the harbor. The exposed beams and hardwood floors made for a romantic, yet comfortable atmosphere. I would come to Nina June again, but this time, on purpose, with a reservation for a summer evening!

The food was good. But giving it a 3 because of where we sat. No point in having a reservation because when we walked in there were no inside tables available. So we had to sit outside on a very cramped tiny table. I like being outside but not cramped and having a small tree in a planter on top of me. I know walk ins crowded up the place and they need every penny they can get before winter. BUT I don't see the point of having a reservation!

Nina June is good in spots, rough around the edges and a bit disjointed in others. It did not live up to the praise that has been heaped on it in every article and most reviews I've read. If you're restricting your comparisons to mid-coast only, then I suppose it rates a little better as the choices for exceptional dining in the region aren't great, however if it's being compared to Maine dining as a whole, it does not execute at the level so many Portland restaurants are these days. The space is beautiful and exactly what you would hope for in this quaint seaside community, but the food just didn't live up to expectations. The service and plating was just very clunky, with some decent food mixed in with disappointments. We started with Oysters because of the deliciously described Tomato Mignonette. They arrived and we had to ask the server if the tablespoon sized pool of liquid in the middle of the dish was the mignonette. She paused, seemingly unsure herself, and confirmed it was. Alas, because of the plating style and the fact there was no spoon, there was no way to transport the liquid onto the oyster. After requesting a spoon we were able to get literally a few drops of mignonette onto each oyster. Not the experience we'd hoped for to start the meal and it essentially set the tone for what followed. I also noticed other diners later that evening who had received oysters from another server must have had the same issue as awhile after they had received them the server came back with a small ramekin full of mignonette for them. The next app was the tomato tart with blue cheese which was the highlight of the meal. The flaky tart was incredibly light and flavorful. The filling for the tart was also full of savory flavor, but somewhat overpowered what I'd been expecting and hoped to be the dominant flavor of the dish, the tomatoes themselves. My entree was the duck, which was cooked perfectly. Paired with a cold baby lentil salad with shaved carrots and marinated olives. It was strong with middle eastern flavors and good on it's own, but seemed a slightly odd pairing with the warm duck. My wife's entree was the risotto, on the advice of the server. My wife had planned on the spaghetti dish, but when asking the server for recommendations she had a difficult time explaining the spaghetti dish and clearly had a favorite in the risotto. When it arrived, and I hate to describe it like this, but it just looked like a gloppy bowl of green mush with no garnish, overflowing up onto the lip of the bowl. The bowl was too small for this entree sized portion of risotto. It had some good flavor but again, the combination of plating plus the consistency of the risotto being a creamy gooey mush, it was a miss. Overall, the entire experience, service, food, plating, just seemed incredibly disjointed with a few flavorful bites in between. We'd made the drive up from Portland based on all the positive things we'd heard, but ultimately were disappointed, compared with the offerings down here. It reminded me of our two experiences at Primo in Rockland, another mid-coast establishment constantly described as a regional gem. The overall experience at Primo was much more professional and special, but the food came across as solidly good, but nothing of the complexity and excellence of what's being done in southern Maine. If I was in the area I'd likely give Nina June another shot and just treat it casually with a seat at the bar and go with my own gut when ordering.

This was not only the best meal we had in the Camden/Rockport area, it was the best meal we have had in a while! Each dish was prepared with the very freshest of local ingredients, melon salad, pork with grilled peaches, shishito peppers and sausage that were out of this world good. The combination of flavors were fantastic. I love the large selection of natural wines they have, and the cocktails were great. Why this place has 4 stars on Yelp is baffling. (Are these people expecting a lobster bib and mashed potatoes?) Yes, the drinks took a bit to come out, however, everybody had just been seated at the same time (opening time, 5:30) so, I am sure it is overwhelming, and they do their best to accommodate! besides, how on earth can anyone really complain with an atmosphere and a view like they have! The food came out at a perfect clip. (Lol to the person who recently gave a review complaining about the "Chinese Mint" (Shiso? not sure if that was what was wrapped around the squash blossom) If so, Shiso is Japanese, not Chinese, and it is not mint. And Romano or any cheese on crab risotto? I give up)

The food is extremely average at best. We got the lemon pasta and the steak and both were underwhelming. They lacked flavor and seasoning and both dishes felt like something I could easily make myself. Overall it was an ok experience but I would not recommend it.

Dined at Nina June last night in the bar, visiting from NYC, and couldn't have been happier. The limone crab pasta was one of the best dishes I've had in recent memory. We also had salad, mussels, and cocktails, all of which were delicious and incredibly fresh. The ambience was warm and it feels like you're stumbling upon a hidden and truly special gem. I can't wait to share my experience with all my friends when they visit the area, and to come back to Nina June on our next visit to Maine. Don't miss it.

My boyfriend and I decided this was the place for us to celebrate our anniversary while on vacation. After much research about the chef, I was extremely excited to come dine here and it didn't disappoint. Our first course and second course were so delicious. We started off with crab salad and scallops. Words can't describe how happy we were with these dishes. Next I got the fresh pasta of the day and he got the steak. The fresh pasta is the dish to order! I know it changes by the day/week, but do it! Sadly however, they missed the mark on dessert. My boyfriend got the flourless chocolate cake, which was okay... about average. I got the goat cheese and cherry puff pastry, which lacked a lot of flavor. The dinner was so good, but I felt let down with dessert. So my recommendations is for sure go for a visit and order away, but maybe be a little hesitate on dessert!

Charged me $12.95 for a tiny coffee and dessert. Both were below average as far as taste.

Upon arrival we were told they didn't have a table for us although I had made a reservation at least a week in advance. We were asked to step to the side so they could seat other patrons. I then asked the hostess if there was a table for us and we were seated at the front of the restaurant with the sun shining directly in my daughter's eyes. It was a hot night, and the temperature was quite uncomfortable. We ordered two cocktails and a glass of wine which took 30 minutes to arrive. My daughter ordered a salad as an appetizer and when it never arrived, my son asked to its whereabouts. It arrived after the entrees. My daughter and I both ordered the risotto and the portions were extremely small and honestly, mediocre in taste. My son's opinion of his pork chop was similar. In addition to the uncomfortably hot dining area, we could hear a voice yelling to the staff to remember their orders. Overall, this dining experience was a disaster. Eating out is a treat I do not take likely and am grateful when I can not only enjoy this time with my son and daughter, but can afford to do so. I would not recommend this restaurant.

This place has the rudest staff. The woman working in the morning I stopped by was so snobby. This is a small, small town and she treats folks like this? Dirty and sticky floors, still water smell coming from behind the counter.

Excellent food, great space and atmosphere, and the dinner date we were hoping for. The wine selection is phenomenal and the food was even better. Great dishes that let the quality ingredients and proper seasoning shine. Simple yet elegant food from oysters to dessert. Oh and an extra moment for the to die for desserts! A must visit again for us!

As regulars to Rockport, we've eaten at Nina June a number of times over the years, and always thought they had potential if they could just get their act together. The disastrous experience we just emerged from officially qualifies as "jumping the shark" and we will never eat there again. The worst service at a premium restaurant we've ever experienced. In fact, the first time in my life I've felt compelled to not leave a tip. I tried to kindly explain to our server, and then the manager our issues and was hit by the most defensive - "I could give a shit" - reaction imaginable. In fact, it left us feeling the stupid rubes for spending over $300 on a meal. Clearly the staff doesn't think very highly of those willing to plunk down that kind of cash for dinner. Something I've never fully felt before. The food was ridiculously mediocre, once you overcame the fact that only part of what we ordered ever actually arrived. Please read a bunch of the Yelp reviews, a story starts to emerge that will leave you saving your hard-earned dollars for one of the many infinitely more worthy restaurants in the Rockport, Camden, Rockland area. Buyers beware!

Review for Prix Fixe only! Wanted to dine with 6 for a birthday. Website will only allow a 5-course prix fixe reservation for party that size, and requires $40 deposit per person. (Zero other mention of price anywhere in booking process; More on this key point at end). Ok, fine. Fair enough. Booked, paid. Came. Beautiful room. First course. Two great oysters. 2nd: good beef carpaccio; oddly long wait until 3rd course of ... a little lasagna; then ... brutally long wait for main, 30+ minutes. Something clearly wrong. No water or bread on table. Growing frantic with hunger (two teens), asked if we could have a little more bread. Answer: No, sorry; we're almost out and some tables haven't gotten any. No option to buy extra bread, or to buy anything else; no apology for or acknowledgment of obvious fact that kitchen was deeply in the weeds, way way behind, and that our night was going off rails. Main course came, with everyone hungry and tense: truly tiny and mediocre plate of skate; kitchen implosion now obvious. Everyone eats these 3-4 mouthfuls in silence; another very long tense wait for dessert, everyone now desperate to leave so we can go home and eat toast/cereal; dessert great, blueberry fool. Bill comes: total per person (remember $40 deposit with no other price?) turns out to be $100. I was so astonished I looked at website again. For life of me could not find any mention of that price. Two others in party said they, too, had looked at website before and thought total must be @$40-45 pp. (on reflection, too low a number, for five courses). As far as I can tell, you literally do not learn the full amount until the bill arrives. And then it is a HUGE number. For tiny portions of badly uneven quality spread out over many hours (the oysters really were superb; the skate main was offensive in its combination of stinginess and total lack of flavor). And for "No you cannot have any more bread. Period.) I suspect that the a la carte menu is more sane; and I'm sure some of the food is good, maybe even great; and again, the room is truly lovely. Maybe a great place for a burger in the off season? But this prix fixe was a disaster for us, wildly more $$ than we'd thought we were spending (with price strangely hidden, even upon a second look)) and clearly more than the restaurant could or wanted to handle with dignity. It felt very much set up to screw the tourists. And yes, we all went home and ate toast with almond butter, to beat back hunger after five courses.

You will be upset if you visit the area and don't stop into Nina June. Everything about this place is perfection. The food, the view, the flowers, the font. Everything is so so good. I'm going to have dreams about my pasta al limone. My husband from Germany said it was the best duck he's ever had. Everything is fresh and flavorful. Great experience! Thank you!

It was a late Saturday morning in Rockport, ME. When I travel I like to get guidance from locals where to eat. And that's how I discovered Nina June. An absolutely charming place, family friendly with a cosy terrace overlooking the harbour. Going through the menu it was really difficult to make a choice. That's how interesting all dishes sounded. But my tummy was saying "Go for pancakes!" You may want to think "Buckwheat? Ricotta?..." and that's why I choose to try those babies out! Buckwheat ricotta pancakes it is. With the first bite I closed my eyes and pictured my mom in the kitchen making the pancakes while I'm still lazing in bed... Fluffy pancakes like the clouds in the sky! Heavenly delicious and impossible to resist. I ate them all! ALL FOUR!!! :) My vision to dress the pancakes up is with a touch of conventional sugar, cascading blueberries and top it with maple syrup whipped cream. Hhmmm... I wish Nina June much success and continue to satisfy the customers with dishes made with love!

Our meal was spectacular. Best oysters I've ever had. The other first courses were good, but the second courses (our party of six ate family style) were phenomenal. Everything truly looks and tastes like it arrived from the farm and was prepared that day. Even the desserts and cocktails were wonderful. I'm knocking one star off for a rocky start to our meal with the service. The staff was short-handed that night apparently and the chef (and I think owner?) was serving as hostess/waitress. We missed the hospitality of a well-trained server in that role. We had to ask for everything we needed (plates, bread, how to order for a group with their small plates) but ultimately once the food arrived all was well.

Cozy atmosphere and delicious food! Cocktails are also very unique and use local ingredients. Highly recommend!

I had a delicious dinner at Nina June with dear friends. Not only was the food delicious it was so beautifully presented. It was a joy to receive. Chef Sara Jenkins prepared a most scrumptiou pasta with mushrooms and mint, the duck was perfectly cooked and accompanied by the most delicious roasted fennel and asparagus. Do not miss the incredible olive oil cake with fennel pollen sorbet. You will be dreaming of this long into the future. I can not wait to return.

Lovely decoration and space. The conception of the food is great but execution not so much. One sauce was overly salty and the fish while well done had too much lemon preserve which overpowered the other flavors. There were also a ton of mosquitoes which could have been avoided if they closed the door and used the AC, at this price range they could have better service but it could also be the lack of staff given the pandemic.

What a disappointment. We had been here when the place had a different name and apparently different ownership/ management. The waiter failed to tell us of the items on the menu that they were out of until we ordered them. The coffee was delicious but took a while to get there. The cold gazpacho (which was tasty) arrived with the entree which was hot. My wife got to watch me eat my entire meal, and then finally her overcooked, though flavorful lamb burger arrived and I watched her eat her meal. The waiter couldn't have been more inattentive. What a disaster!

Caveat: this is a truly lovely restaurant with a world class view and a righteously superstar chef. We were all excited to eat there. I did enjoy the gazpacho. But for the most part it was overwhelmingly underwhelming. The service was a bit slow and sloppy. The food - risotto, pasta with mussels, ravioli with goat cheese and parmigiana - were uniformly underspiced and boring. There was a lot of risotto - too much really - and it was as bland as oatmeal. Sometimes food can be too salty or clever. Maybe it was an off night and - to be honest - other people looked like they were enjoying their food. This was not just me ... it was all four of us, and we have different palates. Wish I felt something other than disappointed.

Good to great food but horrible & insulting service. I'm not sure what the deal was when we ate there but it was definitely the D team as far as servers went.

I wanted to love this restaurant but walked out disappointed. The space is lovely. A few of the courses on the pre fixe menu were excellent. Others were just okay, and one of our entrees was undercooked and flavorless, to the point that I barely touched it. The service was mediocre at best, hostile at worst. One of the servers, who never cracked a smile, took my used knife between courses and put it down on the table rather than bringing me a new one. Our table was in a terrible location. The tap water was lukewarm. The bartender (the one plus of the experience) is the one who noticed there was no candle on our dark table and brought it to us. You'd think the tiny portion of bread would be warm and something besides straight olive oil would be offered for dipping at this price point, but alas. It would've been nice for the dessert to be heated, too, and for the portion to be larger than a 2x2 square, but alas again. Adding insult to injury, there are notes on the menu and in the restroom speaking to patrons as though they are in kindergarten ("you will be kind to everyone in the restaurant") or, worse, asking customers to wipe down the bathroom after using it. Seriously? We paid $80 per person in advance for the privilege of making a reservation, and the total bill came to $264 for two people. I'm happy to pay that for a special experience, but this most decidedly was not. All in all, I've cooked better food myself, and I'm also not rude to my guests. I hope the management begins paying attention to the details so this restaurant can meet its potential and become the amazing destination it surely could be.

We were recommended this place and dined with no prior knowledge of the existing service reviews. We were shocked at the disparity between great food and subpar service and only found the existing reviews here on yelp after we felt it was necessary to post a review ourselves. For such a dignified and expensive experience, the service fell way short. We were not greeted by our waitress or even served water until after being seated for 15 minutes. The time between the visits from our waitress each time were overdue, where we were often turning our heads to catch her attention. A drink order was forgotten and our dessert ticket was misplaced. We ended up getting our dessert for free. While our server was very sweet and personable, she nonetheless had to begin each visit with "I apologize...". Again, great food & great atmosphere. But if it wants to live up to the accolades and recommendations, the service needs to be improved.

My wife and I enjoyed our experience here. Great food, great service and a great atmosphere. I had the pork belly and my wife had the lemon crab pasta. Both were great. If we ever make it back up here we will make it back here. Worth the visit.