Ocean Restaurant

Ocean Restaurant exceeded every expectation! Their prix fixe menu options were absolutely amazing — each course was thoughtfully curated and beautifully prepared. It made the entire dining experience feel special and elevated from start to finish. We visited for Valentine’s Day, and it was the perfect choice for such a meaningful occasion. This is truly an ideal spot for date night or any special holiday celebration. The wine pairings offered with dinner took everything to the next level. Each selection complemented the courses perfectly and enhanced the overall experience in a way that made the evening feel indulgent and memorable. The wait staff was incredibly friendly, attentive, and welcoming, adding to the warm and refined atmosphere. Considering the prime location and the outstanding quality of the food, the overall cost felt more than worth it. Top-notch all around — highly recommend! 🍷✨

We didn’t know what to expect but had heard that the food at Ocean was well worth the price of admission. We found that to be true and more. Setting was quintessential Maine. The dining room was intimate, comfortable and inviting. The service was excellent and the food the very best we’ve had in a long time. The prix fixe menu included a wide range of options from tuna tartare to scallops and corn purée to lamb shank to duck to toasted halibut—every morsel was absolutely delicious. We sat at a table overlooking the ocean and couldn’t be more pleased with the overall experience.

Just went for cocktails and bites from the Veranda menu. It was pretty windy outside, so they let us sit in the living room. But we still had an incredible view of the ocean at sunset! The drinks and food were amazing. I loved the Thyme 75 and the deviled eggs (perfect smokey paprika and crispy shallots). It was quiet and not crowded during the off-season. The service was perfect. Attentive and kind, but let us enjoy our quiet time with the waves. We will definitely be back!

What a beautiful experience we had dining at Ocean. Our server, Charlotte was 5 star all the way. The food was delicious and presentation on par with the fine dining I've experienced at restaurants such as Per Se, Le Bernadin and Daniel in NYC. This restaurant only offers pre-fixe menus 4 courses $125pp but the selections are nicely varied to accommodate different palates. My family of 4 dined here and everyone left with full bellies and happy smiles. The bar tender made delicious cocktails! (Wild Blossoms) If you're looking for a restaurant that has stunning views, great service, and not your typical local fried seafood fair, come here and celebrate this culinary thrill I found in Kennebunkport ❤️😊✌️

We stayed at the Cape Arundel Inn for our honeymoon. We splurged for the 4 course, prix fixe menu with wine pairings. The amuse bouche croquet was a great little starter. We had oysters, and watermelon feta salad followed by scallops and crab with avocado. The main course was halibut and swordfish, with a peach panna cotta and cheesecake for dessert. An amazing ocean view, go before sunset. The dining area overlooks the rocky Maine coastline, complete with a view of the Bush compound.

Great food, ambience, view, service!! Olivia was a delight and gave me some good info to help me decide. I tried a drink with Amaro Nonino that was excellent. The bisque and cod were also pretty stellar, and the corn-based cheesecake was a very nice surprise. Definitely a place to come back!

A fabulous fine dining experience. Quintessential Maine coast location overlooking the rocky shoreline in a very beautiful area. The dining room was wall to wall windows with an old school vibe. I would suggest going earlier while the sun is still out so you can appreciate the view. Linen tablecloths. Silverware replaced and crumbs cleaned up up after every course. The service was outstanding (thank you Amanda!). The food was superb. Surprisingly creative. Very good wine list by the bottle or by the glass. It's not cheap, but it's nice to know there are still places where you can spend more but actually get what you pay for.

I really wanted to give this restaurant 5 stars, however there were a couple of things that disappointed me. First, it was our 50th anniversary and when I booked the reservation a month in advance I asked for a table with a view of the water, but was told they could not do that?? Instead, we were seated in the back corner as far from the front windows as possible. We were given a complimentary glass of champagne, but it was not what I wanted for my bride of 50 years. Secondly, I really wanted the halibut but they were out of it, so I ordered the steak which was somewhat tough, so disappointment #2. All other dishes were excellent, but when you're paying premium prices I expect premium food for all dishes, especially the main. Service was excellent and the Inn is beautiful and has a great location. We will visit again and sit on the porch for drinks and bar food and enjoy the view.

Very nice time, food was very good. I would have given 5 stars, but the steaks were just slightly above average. Quality service with an awesome waitress from Boston who was a Steelers fan. A little pricey, but with a very nice ambiance and a relaxed atmosphere. I will go back. Read less

Ocean is truly an amazing dining experience! Going at golden hour is such a treat- the views are unmatched! We did the 5 course tasting menu with the wine pairing and it did not disappoint! We loved the corn chowder, oysters, halibut, and the watermelon salad. We cannot wait to plan our return to enjoy another outstanding meal!

I visited Ocean on Valentines Day with my husband. My experience was good, not great. Pros: cozy little restaurant; attentive service; wonderful starter bread; well cooked steak and halibut; the prix fixe options are flexible--just a set price. Cons: the parking is weird; since we visited in the dark, there was no view; I was still hungry after the three courses. I got the green salad, which consisted of a small pile of frisse and arugula, so it was mostly air, and quite bitter. And the scallop crudo was tasty and interesting, but very small--like 1 sea scallop cut into 5 slices. And the steak consisted of four 2-inch slices. We had a lovely evening, but I don't think it was worth the $266 for two 3-course meals, two glasses of wine, and gratuity.

The place is nice, the food is okay, the service is very slow. But the worst part is that the manager came over to tell us we didn't want to chat because a couple complained about the noise. Five couples on vacation having dinner are obviously going to chat and make noise. If you want to have a good time, find another restaurant.

Ocean is a great destination for a celebratory dinner. The service is outstanding and depending on your table, you will have stunning views of the ocean. This is an expensive, fine dining treat with an emphasis on French style of cooking. The menu is offered as a 3 or 4 course prix fixe. We have been to Ocean twice before and the food was exceptional. On this visit the food was very good, but not to the caliber we recall, and several of the signature dishes are no longer offered. The menu options seemed limited as compared to prior visits as well. Several options had a considerable surcharge. Perhaps inflation, perhaps a different chef. The kitchen does not require all diners at the table to have the same number of dishes, wish is welcome flexibility. For our party, some had 3 and some chose 4, to best suit their appetite. Portions lean smaller, but the plates are beautifully presented and I doubt will leave hungry. For main entrees, we thought the Halibut and Branzino were excellent, but we miss what was a stunning lobster entree. Lobster does appear on the menu in one of the appetizers, a beautiful plate of asparagus with a poached lobster tail. While good, there was a very small portion of lobster on the plate. Ocean is worth a visit for a special meal, sit back, relax and enjoy the view along with some beautiful and tasty dishes.

Best culinary experience ever to ring in 2023. The only thing missing was getting to see the ocean whilst enjoying all the culinary masterpieces. We were so impressed by the creativity, originality, tastes, textures and delicious pairings we had not before tried for this 5 course meal. Vichyssoise with caviar was smooth as silk, burrata fantastic, Jerusalem artichoke dish was creamy and delicious and a definite surprise favorite along with the fois gras with lobster and hazelnut sauce. The Wagu beef was cooked to perfection. Both desserts were crowning finishes to an unbelievably spectacular meal which we thoroughly enjoyed. Service was most attentive and the timing of the dishes was amazing, allowing us to enjoy each morsel and digest without being rushed. Although quite pricey, it was so worth it. Such a great experience.

Cute little spot with a view. The service was SLOW and left a lot to be desired. We waited 10 min until we were greeted by our server. The bread service was great. The green salad was OK. Scallops a little better than the salad as the corn seemed fresh and off the husk. The NY strip was not tender, but pretty "gristle-y". The parking was also confusing, as others stated. We expected more and if we were locals, we would not return.

We have been dining there for at least ten years - multiple times over the summer months. Compared to years past, we have been sorely disappointed with both the service levels and food quality this summer. For example, on one occasion, a friend ordered the wine pairing with his meal only to experience the wine arriving well after each course was served. We have always considered Ocean one of our favorite dining experiences. Not so any more, overpriced for the service and quality...I'm sorry to say.

Go to Ocean for the view. The service. The ambiance. The location. The plating of the food. The wine. However, the value on the taste just isn't there. To be clear, the quality of the food, the plating were all great, it was just the flavors and pairing of flavors was underwhelming. We spent $450 (including tip) and I left underwhelmed on the taste of the food. For that price, they should have it be exceptional. To be clear, the knock is on value. If we had spent $200, it gets a 4 star. But at the price paid, I've got to hold them to a higher standard. That is Earth Restaurant-level pricing without the same return on taste.

This restaurant serves up some amazing food. The presentation frames what is sure to be an excellent meal. The service is great. The restaurant is cozy with incredible views of the rocky Maine coastline.

Terrific atmosphere and beautifully presented courses with wine pairings. A great place for a special celebration meal.

Quiet place, not crowded at all. Our server Alexis was really nice but staff was dead. Complete mystery where to park. Food, was very good but portions almost child size. 2 tiny scallops and 3 nickel size clams. Dessert took 20 minutes and did NOT taste fresh. Sky high prices, very small portions and not crowded. Three strikes and they struck out. Half the price would allow it to keep going

We stopped here for the view while in Kennybunkport today. Had a rose and some oysters and halibut fritters. Both were absolutely amazing!

Disappointed for the price. $300 for dinners and drinks for 2+ a tip. Service was wonderful, views extraordinary, food was overcooked and disappointing. Glad we booked the early setting as the place was packed and noisy. Nice quiet, easy-going evening spent 3 1/2 hours there. Watch the sunset it was glorious. Ordered dinner. Three courses appetizers were nice scallops on a salad. Dinner we ordered duck and ricotta filled mini ravioli. Duck was nice, well cooked, but missing a crispy skin. Raviolis were over cooked and ricotta filling was broken, probably from over cooking. This was a rookie mistake. Other than the view, I wouldn't recommend this place. You can get better food and a great view for far less money our server was pleasant, and quite capable and attentive, was quite pleased. Need to find a real cook.

Amuse bouche to dessert was outstanding. Presentation, taste profile portion size perfect. Staff attentive and well trained. A wonderful evening.

What an amazing dining experience! We arrived for our a reservation a couple of hours early to enjoy sitting on the veranda with some cocktails and snacks. The view was absolutely beautiful. Once it was time for dinner, we were sat at a lovely corner table next to some windows with another gorgeous view of the Atlantic. Dinner itself was delicious! We did the four course option and were also served a yummy amuse-bouche. The food was innovative, fresh, and full of flavor. Our waiter was also very helpful and checked on us frequently enough without being intrusive. We will definitely be back on our next trip to Kennebunkport!

The food was amazing! Our server was very kind. It was our anniversary dinner and it did not disappoint! Our dessert was very special

Sad to report on this our third visit to Ocean the chef has changed and there is no longer a desire to return. The chef change may have come with a mandate to lower food costs !! We'll there an old saying when you take the cheese off the pizza it's no longer pizza !! The micro starter includes 1 scallop sliced thinner than a human could possibly do ..lol and perhaps a 1/2 oz of thinly sliced lobster. The main Dover sole was ample in size but lacking in flavors. The. Rideye steak was slices of steak of unknown origin. It took 3 attempts at getting the temperature correct before I gave up and ate it raw !! It was actually tender probably because of the slicing machine thin cut. Deserts weren't bad ! Management was professional and courteous !! I think they are aware of the situation !!

Great food in a great setting with a postcard view. Absolutely recommend to anyone staying in the area. Pricey but worth it.

Our visit to Ocean was sadly a disappointment. Positives: View was beautiful and the service was attentive. Food was plated beautifully. Our waitress noticed that our food took forever to arrive and offered to buy us a drink (we declined as we had to drive, but did notice that she didn't even end up comping the one drink we did order at the beginning of the evening). Negatives: Food was obscenely overpriced and unbelievably bland. I got the asparagus and lobster salad for my first course and it had absolutely zero flavor and maybe 1 ounce total of lobster. Entree selections were limited and bizarre for Maine in the summer. Very little local fresh seafood but instead lamb? I actually got the lamb but the meat, carrots and polenta were all cold upon arrival to my table. I would've sent it back but by that point it was 10:00 (we were seated at 8:00) and I just wanted to get out of there. Beyond that, the lamb was utterly tasteless. My husband's cod was also undercooked and not at all seasoned. Everything we had not only lacked flavor but lacked any sort of texture or contrast. I would've been upset at the food even if the meal had been reasonably priced. However, at well over $100 a person, one should be able to expect food that is far more than mediocre. I would recommend this place only for drinks on the deck. Or I would recommend if you are both flush with cash and terrified of anything that has flavor.

Late review - dined end of July 2021 Made an online reservation easily and had a late lunch so called and they were able to accommodate for a later time. We came so late that we weren't able to enjoy the view but there was parking right in front! Service was excellent but felt a tad bit stuffy. We came with our 4 y/o who's dined in similar restaurants before and the staff made her feel VIP. The food was delicious with a nice progression throughout the fairly priced prix fixe menu.

I cant believe I haven't heard more about this spot, especially given how mind blowing it was. Admittedly, given the age of most of the clientele and the white tablecloths, I had some initial anxiety about how the food was going to be, but that was curbed immediately by my first bite. Everything was seasoned so well and packed a huge amount of flavor. The biggest standout was the sauce-work on all of the dishes, especially the red wine reduction for the beef - its the best I can ever remember having.

I was hoping to write a stellar review after dining at Ocean for my husband's belated 40th birthday, but our experience was anything but stellar. We'd been warned by locals the night before that Ocean, Earth, and some other restaurant were recently bought up by some large NYC company and that they were not the amazing restaurants that they once were but we chose to still give Ocean a chance. The restaurant itself was beautiful and charming, with picturesque coastal views and a very cozy and intimate feel. However the service was awful and food mediocre at best. After being sat, we placed our orders from the pre fixe menu and added on the wine pairing. It was nearly 15 min before we received our first glass of wine and when we asked our waitress to describe the pairings, she was clueless. How can you charge $58 to pair specially picked wines to dishes and not have any idea about the actual wine?! The food itself was very bland and unimpressive. Twice the staff mixed up which dish went where when delivering plates to our table. There was also no mention or acknowledgment of my husband's birthday, which we made known in the reservation details. I wasn't expecting a free glass of champagne to be honest, but I WAS expecting a "happy birthday" or some kind of recognition. Overall, the experience was not comparable to other "fine dining" experiences we have had. It was anything but personalized and lacking in service, professionalism, and mostly flavor. For a ~$400 tab, we expected far more.

We've been coming for seven years for Prelude weekend and always eat at Ocean but this was our last time. Just not the experience it used to be. We were not very impressed with the two choices in the tasting menu, Maine seafood would have been more appropriate than lamb or Dover sole but even if these were the options, they could have been better. Too expensive to be "meh".

Great, upscale establishment, awesome views, nice atmosphere. It was a mixed bag, as follows: Food: 5 stars Service: 3 stars. Food was spectacular, with the octopus appetizer flavorful and very tender, and the lobster served over risotto with white and green asparagus just served to perfection. It was a 3 course fixed price, with several selections available for each course. Just a fabulous meal. Service was another matter, and in this age of CoVID, we've come to expect a common theme. Our wait person was very....green. She left soiled silverware on table while bringing new. She poured our beer right down the center, filling half the glass with head, giggling "I can never get that right." Other tables were brought bread to begin their meal, we were not. And we had to flag down another wait person to find out who ours was after 2 tables sat after us were already attended to while we waited patiently as long as we could for someone to show. I know places are having trouble finding help, but it really gave us the impression that this person was hired the day before we ate there and had previously worked at a grocery store or something. She literally knew very little of proper server tact. We felt bad for her actually since it seemed she got little or no training. But that appears to be the norm with the shortage of staff. It detracted from our experience for sure, but the food was prepared to perfection nevertheless. We just can't give this poor service with the prices we were paying an overall 5 star review. They have work to do still....

Wow. The views. The service. The food. The drinks....top notch and beyond from start to finish--Topher will take great care of you. Make sure to book inside table if there's something like say, a hurricane, coming but if you don't, maybe Colby can rescue you too.

One of my all-time favorite dining experiences. The food was exquisite with the freshest ingredients and the wine pairings were magical. Lovely experience and attention to detail! We will be back!

What a place! What a meal!! The ambiance is great. Our server Matt was super personable and easy going. The manager Coby was nice and patient lol We probably stayed a little (lot) longer than we should have but everyone was cool about it. Got to meet and hang out with Chef Justin. One of the nicest people ever. His meal was perfection and it looked like art on a plate. Could not believe how young was. Super talented. This kid is gonna own the culinary world some day. I would highly recommend this place.

Delicious menu with nice seize portions. The only course that was not outstanding was the dessert, pretty bland. The service was excellent in particular the support staff. Our waitperson could have checked in sooner after we received the courses. Views are breathtaking of the ocean. The evening was very leisurely and courses were timed perfectly. We were there 2 1/2 hours delightful birthday dinner

Finest dining experience east of the Kennebunk River! But seriously, some of the most amazing food I've ever eaten. Every part of the meal is thoughtfully planned out and executed with perfection. Will come again!! Quite $$$$ so definitely come for a special occasion.

Can I give this restaurant ten stars? I have had some amazing meals over the years in many five star establishments. My wife and I have enjoyed several outstanding meals during our stay in Maine, but I have to rank our dinner here as #1 over all the others. Absolutely first class from beginning to end. The service was outstanding and flawless. The staff and servers were clearly well trained. They were attentive with out being intrusive. They were friendly,knowledgeable and efficient. The setting for the restaurant is spectacular. Sitting on a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. We were seated in a alcove with windows on two sides one facing the ocean and the other looking up the coast past Walker Point the home of President George Bush. Prior to dinner we enjoyed cocktails and snacks on the wrap around deck facing the ocean. I had a perfectly made three olive martini and my beautiful dining partner enjoyed her Riesling. We shared the Chickpea fries, which are polenta logs, they were crisp on the outside and creamy inside,excellent when dipped in the pimento mayonnaise. I loved the Lamb Croquettes with the accompanying honey yogurt dip. They were moist and flavorful. Our table was perfectly set with linen napkins and tablecloth. We were provided with complementary glasses of champagne as it was our anniversary. After each course the table was cleaned and reset. Our water glasses were never empty. I started with the Duck Foie Gras appetizer. It was picture perfect with a small potato croquette,pickled cherries and grilled fennel salad. My wife loved the Rock Crab Veloute , which had large chunks of Peekytoe Crab in a lemongrass scented bisque that contained Beech Mushrooms,peas and sweet corn purée. We used our crunchy bread to clean the plate. My entree, the Veal Mignon was the best veal ever. Also artistically presented with bacon, Napa cabbage, jardiniere vegetables that looked like jewels. The Gianonne Chicken breast was roasted and stuffed with a moist apricot pine nut filling with another bread worthy Pestou herb chicken jus. The side of Mediterranean couscous was lite and fluffy. We shared a chocolate hazelnut cake with ice cream. Coffee and a 20 year old Fonseca Port capped off a meal that we will remember for the rest of our lives. Thanks to my daughter and son in law for making this dinner possible and to everyone at Ocean for treating us so well. (This is the longest review I have ever written but I had to put it all out there)

Service and location were great but it's been a while since we're there and evidently ownership and the menu have dramatically changed and not for the better. We were disappointed in the food. This may be because we are simpler folk and like an occasional crunch or food with substance. Lots or lobster mousse and other blenderized toppings. We had the scallop and lobster first course salad. The only thing remotely like a salad was I believe finely chopped cucumber with puréed lobster mouse I believe on top. Several bites each of lobster and scallops yes you guessed it under a purée of sorts with a side of purée (see picture). Then halibut which was very good with a large portion of lobster mousse in the shape of a sea shell. I may be messing up the culinary terms but lots of non substantive parts of each dish. Kind of like a mechanical soft nursing home diet. Dessert was great and was a milk chocolate torte. Again the presentations were very artistic, service couldn't have been better and views overlooking Walkers Point were beautiful. And for our fortieth anniversary they gave us complimentary champagne and wrote in chocolate Happy Anniversary on my wife's dessert plate, candle on mine. Nice touch. We also were surprised that it was a mandatory three course meal for a preset price that while not outrageous was not our usual style. We sadly won't be back unless we hear the menu has changed back to more traditional food choices. Three stars for views, outstanding service and dessert.

I have no idea what the hype is about. My parents and I just returned from eating at this establishment and I am honestly shocked about how many locals recommended we eat here and raved about the food and the service. To be fair - the food was not bad, but neither was it great or memorable. The view is lovely with a view of the Bush compound and the Atlantic but that is literally where the pros end of our evening. They did try to make up for the mishaps with a free glass of champagne and a small truffle chocolate at the end but it was far too little too late for us to even consider returning on our next trip to Maine. Our main issues tonight were: Timing and Service: We had a reservation (credit card required for making a reservation) for 7:45pm on a Tuesday night. We were not seated until 8:20pm, after inquiring twice if/when our table would be ready. We ended up sitting at a table that my father noted was empty upon our arrival - so why did we have to wait for it in the first place? The food didn't arrive until an hour after we ordered (9:30pm), and when it did arrived it was undercooked and a bit cold (undercooked lobster and chewy and red duck). Our waiter had to be reminded twice to refill our water glasses and never checked on us, we had to ask random servers walking by to aid us for everything. We then got some lame excuse that we came "during a very busy dinner rush" which is why our service was so terrible. For real? A very busy dinner rush at 9pm on a Tuesday? I can't imagine what its like on the weekend. Food: Ok but not great, I've had better seafood in landlocked locations. Appetizers were quite good but entrees were a massive let down especially after waiting so long I grew grey hairs. My mother and I both ordered the butter poached lobster and mine was massive and my mothers portion was tiny for the exact same dish, so not very consistent. My fathers duck sausage was great but the breast was raw, chewy and the fat had not been rendered down at all (just a big slab of uncooked fat). Ambiance: It was so loud in there we had to shout to hear each other, not romantic or special in the slightest. Even when the place half emptied out I still couldn't hear the person next to me, let alone the other side of the table. Price: This is not a cheap place, hence the $$$$ here on Yelp. For the price of this place the service and food needs to be top notch but it simply was not. I haven't been this irritated with a meal service in a long long time, so irritated in fact we didn't even bother to see the dessert menu and asked for the check (had to ask twice before it came, took another 30 minutes just to depart!). All in all, I'd say skip this place as its not worth the price tag or stress just for a pretty view. We went to Mabels Lobster Claw the night before and spent 1/4 the time, money and stress for a much more memorable and tasty meal. Everything about Mabels was superior to Oceans from the food, quality, service, timing, ambiance and price.

My wife and I dined there recently as it was our anniversary and this place is perfect to celebrate a special occasion. Certainly the ambiance is out standing, as is the service. My wife ordered the crab entree and I ordered the sirloin steak. Both of our appetizers were excellent as were our desserts. My wife said her entree was very enjoyable. But, my steak, different story. I'm a {big time} beef lover so I do know what a good steak is. When it was presented to me I looked at it and said to myself, this should be real good. It was obviously the requested medium rare and plated nicely. Well, it had a lack of flavor for a PRIME sirloin and it was not the tenderness I expected. Did not expect to cut like a filet, but it was far from where it should be. If I didn't know better I say it had been frozen and thawed after coming from the supplier. Certainly not worth the price of the meal, never mind the up charge. Lastly, the amount of whipped potato it came with would not fill a measuring cup and the veggies were unrecognizable. So, after $350 later my wife was ok, but I was very disappointed. Should we try again ??

I have been to Ocean many times for special occasion dinners with my family. There was a time when I could recommend this restaurant but no longer. We went on Thanksgiving and our party of 6 spent close to $850 which included their prix fixe menu, 2 bottles of wine and 3 cocktails. The chef here used to be good but there are no excuses when you only offer only three entrees on your menu. One of which was a filet mignon, the only thing that was done right. Salty, as were many items, but tasty. Everything else was NOT GOOD. There were hors d'oeurves provided to the table: duck rillet nuggets, goat cheese on stale toast, over salted mussel. None of these were good. No one at the table liked any of them. Half of us ordered the lobster veloute as a starter. I have had this at Ocean before but it was nothing like what was served to us. It looked and tasted like clear lobster/chicken broth. I think they forgot to add the cream. It was awful. And the presentation, as usual, included a bowl placed at your table with two pieces of lobster into which they pour the soup. Again, I've had this before but not like this. The amount of lobster in the bowl could have fit into a thimble. It was almost embarrassingly small. That with the salty inedible broth... none of us ate it. I mentioned to the waiter, when he cleared the bowls, that it was NOT good. Others at the table had the salad. A big plate piled high with greens. Nothing special. One person in our party had the scallop appetizer. One scallop. Fast forward to the entrée, 3 in our party had turkey. Tough turkey which appeared to be a turkey roll. They were not happy with their meals. From the time they cleared our dishes, it took 35 minutes before our desserts arrived. Three in our party ordered a poached pear dish. Unfortunately, the pears were not ripe and inadequately poached. Two people had to ask for sharp knives to cut into their pears. My pumpkin tart appeared to be piped into a preformed, tart shell, the frozen kind. No cuisine here. Lastly, I woke up at 4:30am the following morning vomiting. Food poisoning?? Too much salt?? I don't know. What I do know is that no one in our party enjoyed our meal. We contacted management the following day and asked what happened to the chef. How could he let food out of the kitchen that tasted like that? They said the chef was there. We never heard back from anyone from Oceans. We are locals. We know what to expect. The food was substandard. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK

Made a reservation ten days in advance of September 8th to celebrate our 42nd anniversary. Was told by a woman named Lauren, I believe, that it wasn't necessary to worry about it; it was the Wednesday after Labor Day Weekend and it wouldn't be busy. Went there the afternoon of the 8th and was told that there was no reservation in our name for 6:00 p.m. and that it was fully booked for the night! Left name and phone number for someone to call me, but no one called. I called and left messages at 4, 4:30, and 4:45 p.m. to have someone tell me how the reservation never was written down. I originally had called on my cell phone, but stupidly deleted my recent calls, so I couldn't produce the restaurant's original response. Ruined our day! Whatever happened to confirming a reservation and more importantly, proper courtesy to a customer. Paul D.

Where to begin?! First, the wine list is impeccable and the staff will be happy to make suggestions based on your dish. In terms of food, this goes down as one of the best overall dining experiences of my life. Let me start with the first course: Fresh Burrata with mixed greens, outstanding prosciutto, and twenty-five year aged balsamic. In addition, the escargot dish is a must order! Chef Pierre so delicately prepared the escargot in an herb, butter, garlic broth, with an array of black trumpet mushrooms. I ordered the lamb dish, prepared to a perfect medium rare, paired with a fantastic Pinot Noir. My girlfriend ordered the butter poached lobster dish, which was the best dish of our entire trip. Simply divine, the lobster changed our entire perspective of what lobster can taste like- and we have had lobster on dozens of occasions! A chocolate fondant dish to cap the meal, paired with a white port, compliments of the house, perfectly ended our evening. We fell into conversation with folks at the next table and Laurie, our server, instructed and coordinated the delivery of our dishes at just the right times and when we were ready. This restaurant is amazing- a must visit for a high quality, fine dining experience.

We were disappointed in our experience. Upon arrival, we approached the hostess and stated our name and party size. My husband was parking the car and the hostess very snippily asked where our 4th person was. We were seated at a nice table by the window and the view was beautiful. Our waitress was very efficient and there was no problem with the wait service. The menu was prefixed and the appetizers were good. For the main course, my daughter asked for the salmon but does not eat pork so asked they hold the porchetta. When the meal came, it was loaded with porchetta. My daughter nicely explained what she had requested and the waitress apologized and took it back. I ordered the pork roast which came in medallions. It was very bland and not noteworthy. We were finished eating when they brought her salmon back, which was raw. She ate the vegetables and couldn't eat the salmon. We didn't attempt to send it back again and said nothing. I ordered a desert, which was small and nothing special. When we paid the bill and were leaving, the snippy hostess never looked up from her podium to wish us a good day or a thank you for coming. That was my biggest issue. Overall a very disappointing experience and we will not be back.

This place is amazing! The quality of the food and the unique blends of the taste is to die for! This is our second time at the restaurant - it was my boyfriends birthday and he loved it so much the first time he wanted to come back for his birthday. Don't miss the tapas- they are probably one of the best parts of the menu! I also thought the lobster main dish was to die for... the squash purée was aaaamaazing! For the quality and beauty of the food, I thought the price was reasonable. I have had way worse foods for pricer in Boston!

we have been eating here for several years and have always loved it. we ate there tonight and we're very disappointed. The options were not very appealing and the food was very bland. We have always eaten some reliable favorites (the lobster three ways and the lobster bisque). The favorites are no longer on the menu and the replacements are of a much lower quality. the halibut entree was tasteless as was the sauce that went with it. The scallop appetizer was raw and it just didn't work. Please bring back the old recipes and the old quality.

We came all the way from Texas, just to eat here again. Unforgettable ambiance, excellent service and phenomenal food. Started with a cheeseboard, followed by the beef duo (incredible!), and finished with a chocolate fondant. One of the best meals I've ever had. I cannot give this restaurant enough praise!

Delicious restaurant! We celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary there tonight. We loved the scallops appetizer. The lobster entrée was delicious! We finished the dinner with the Pana cotta and truffles with decaf coffee and port. Would definitely recommend! Beautiful views of the ocean!

We have been coming her for 25 years. It pains me to write this. The restaurant an iconic spot on the coast of Maine, has slowly been changing since being taken over by new owners. It used to be fine dining, now it's become a restaurant that tries so hard to be "fancy" but fails to live up to fine dining caliber. The menu choice has gotten smaller and smaller, down to 3-4 choices for entrees. That would be ok if the food was fantastic but its mediocre at best. The service used to be impeccable, now its also mediocre. One minor note, Although I am open to change, the new decor in the restaurant just doesnt vibe with being in coastal Maine, in an old cape cod style house. The severe black and white decor just feels so out of place. Maybe in metro Paris or another big city? the best part of the visit is the view, nothing quite like it. But not worth the price and it saddens me to say we wont be going back.

Let me start: we didn't eat here. We did have a reservation that I had to give my credit card to secure. At 10:30 am, day of reservation, the restaurant called to confirm. I advised we couldn't make it. The gentleman I spoke to was very polite & stated they hope to see us soon. I thought that's it. The next morning I was charged $50 for a no show. Called the restaurant spoke to 'Colby' & he said I didn't cancel in a 24 hour window & they have a waitlist, etc. I felt that since the reservation was 7:30 & they called to confirm at 10:30, that was ample time to contact someone on their waitlist. Finally, he said he would refund me. I waited several days, no credit. I called the restaurant & the Cape Arundel Inn where the restaurant is located. I reached out to Colby & in another phone call asked to speak to the general manager. No one returned my calls. Finally I contacted my bank & filed a dispute. Had they initially stated I would be charged the $50, we would have changed our plans & gone. But to agree to reimburse, then ignore all calls, is highly unprofessional. I took Colby at his word. Our first big trip after COVID with all the stresses of traveling, this is not the way to handle a situation at supposedly a high end establishment. Wonder if their food is as bad as their customer service....

Our dining experience at Ocean was perfection! The dining room is tastefully decorated and the view is amazing. The service was 5 star - highly professional - the food was original, perfectly prepared and beautifully presented.

Totally amazing! Food fantastic as was the wine selections. They were able to adjust menus items for allergy needs. Wait staff very helpful. Did I mention the food was fantastic. Well, it really was

We had a fabulous dinner at Ocean. Started with well crafted cocktail, a blood orange cosmo served in an ice cold glass. Appetizers were also delicious - the smoked artic char with fried artichoke and my continuing favorite, the cod fritters (from tapas menu). Entrees were the lobster and the monkfish -- ahhh, delicious! Lobster dish with gnocchi and asparagus included a full lobster, claw meat had been removed from shell, tail meat was in the shell but very easy to remove. The dish let the perfectly cooked fresh lobster shine, it was meltingly tender. I don't often order lobster out, because it can be messy, overcooked, or dominated by sauce or other embellishments. Not here. This was a highlight. Monkfish was also fresh and not overwhelmed by unnecessary sauces. Served with peas, littleneck clams, and spicy romanesco sauce (served on side of plate, so you can avoid completely if too spicy for you). Portion size of entree and appetizers were perfect, not the precious size and food of some other upscale restaurants. The only slight misstep was the dessert - a brioche biscuit with rhubarb ice cream and sliced strawberries. Sounded enticing but the biscuit was grilled and had an unpleasant bitter, smokey flavor which completely overpowered the rhubarb ice cream and strawberries. Not the sweet/tart ending the meal deserved. I didn't lower to 4 stars because everything else was superb - the service, the setting and the food. On another note, I reviewed this restaurant several years ago but it is no longer posted, only one other review is here. Last time I reviewed the restaurant it had many reviews. It changed ownership, but not that recently. Curious, where did all the other reviews go?.

One of the best meals we've had in a while. The food is so fresh and well prepared and the service is top notch. This place is a splurge but worth every penny! Definitely the nicest restaurant in the area with an incredible view, any time of year. Go, go, go!

I wrote a review of this restaurant in the previous month. Our experience this time just keeps elevating our opinion of this splendid restaurant. Last month it was dinner for two and was fantastic. This time it was a birthday celebration for five. No matter what our party size is the service is typically fantastic. We ALWAYS love having Grace as our server and this time was no different. She is a significant asset to the restaurant. We request her every time and are never disappointed. All the staff is consistently pleasant and accommodating. Just delightful really. The manager Nathan is present, visible, and maintains reliable high quality. He always makes up feel welcomed and that our patronage appreciated. The menu is wonderful and never the same twice. I like that some of our favorites can always be found such as the Lobster Thermidor and Crab Veloute soup. But there is great variety with the beef tenderloin, fresh fish, lamb, and veal preparations. I find a "new favorite" with every visit. The daily specials are always highly tempting. The atmosphere is rather chic but not stuffy. This restaurant is a gem on Maine's rocky coast and is the very best in the region. I think you will LOVE it!