The Parrilla

Restaurant · Bar Harbor

The Parrilla

Restaurant · Bar Harbor

1

318 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609

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The Parrilla by Anne Cruz
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Highlights

Outdoor tapas & grill with tropical cocktails and daily rotating menu  

Featured in The Infatuation
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318 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609 Get directions

havanamaine.com
@havanaparrilla

$30–50 · Menu

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318 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609 Get directions

+1 207 288 2822
havanamaine.com
@havanaparrilla

$30–50 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 10, 2025

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The 15 Best Restaurants In Bar Harbor, Maine 2024

"Havana Parrilla is the more casual outdoor tapas spot to its fancier seafood counterpart Havana, and we like it for a casual place to unwind after a day of exploring. Head to the patio, since you might not want to change out of your hiking pants and Tevas, and order one of the not-too-sweet tropical cocktails that are the color of orange or pink highlighters. The menu rotates daily and typically has a wide range of influences—definitely get whatever seasonal vegetables are available, as well as the cheesy provoleta and tangy salmon adobo." - anne cruz

https://www.theinfatuation.com/bar-harbor/guides/best-restaurants-bar-harbor
View Postcard for The Parrilla

Hung Do

Google
This place is attached to the Havana restaurant. It’s the outdoor section. Foods were excellent. Our favorite was the salad. The desserts were the stars of the meal. Nice change from eating lobster rolls & lobster bake during our trip to Acadia NP. Street parking can be challenging during holidays.

Christina Reeder

Google
Amazing food & service! You must go see Harley or Arielle to have the best margarita in Bar Harbor! The mixed grill was so good that we went two nights in a row! It’s a must try!! I forgot to take pics! :(

Devin Quinn

Google
A friend recommended this restaurant and I’m so glad they did! First come first serve style seating but the staff was sitting everyone quickly. Awesome service working here and the food was wicked tasty and fresh! I loved the sausage plate and the smashburger. My waitress, Reni, was super nice, the hostess was friendly, and the bartender made some incredible mocktails as well! I loved the energy and the decorations here. This is now my go to dinner spot in Bar Harbor.

Ashraf Al-Khawaldeh

Google
We visited as a group and were seated in the Parrilla section. Unfortunately, every adult in our party was disappointed with both the quality and portion sizes of the food. Several menu items were unavailable and substituted. The chicken, in particular, lacked flavor and seasoning, and the serving size was so small that we had to stop elsewhere afterward to eat. While the service was friendly and attentive — which we truly appreciated — I wouldn’t recommend this place if you’re hoping to enjoy authentic Peruvian cuisine. Giving 2 stars solely for the service.

Joel Witten

Google
An offshoot of the fancy primary restaurant Havana, its a much more casual environment. We brought our 4 and 5-year-olds, and while there was no kids' menu (AFAIK), they devoured the food. The cocktails were great, with a mix of traditional (mojito, caipirinha) with their own, and my daughter loved the shrub. The food was also great: The fish entre was delicious, and the meat sizzler was perfectly cooked and flavorful.

Craig Collins

Google
A Bar Harbor must visit. It's such a wonderful thing to come back to a place time after time, year after year, and see the same folks working behind the bar, on the floor, and in the kitchen. It also helps that the drinks are cold, the food is amazing, and the vibes are incredible. Do yourself a favor and stop by, chat with your neighbor, say hey to the bartender, then listen in to that table over there and catch some of the Vacationland gossip.

Jasmine Hanson

Google
Very disappointed. I like the regular Havana restaurant, and have been going for many years. I decided to try the Parilla for the first time. Got the veggie mixed grill and paid 31$ for a couple of what seemed like boiled carrots, 3 thin slices of sweet potatoes that weren't properly cooked, 2 slices of pineapples, and a tiny pile of undercooked brussels sprouts. None of it was particularly well seasoned but I liked whatever honey sauce was on the sweet potato. Everything was a little cold. The only thing that seemed grilled was the pineapple. The steak was somehow both overcooked and cold along with the rice and beans. They said it was ribeye but it was very thin and medium well instead of the medium rare we ordered. The wait staff was circled up chatting for a while not checking on the tables while we were trying to wave them down to order more. I was unable to get anyone to come over to help us so we gave up on ordering more ( I guess that was probably fine since the rest of the food was so mediocre and overpriced). We had to go directly to the bartender to order a drink since nobody would help us. Drink was fun but too sweet. If you are trying to get the Havana experience from Parilla, don't bother.

Kaifur Rashed

Google
The lighting is way too dark, it made us sleepy. All I can say about the food is that it’s extremely overpriced for such bland and messy looking dishes. We tried the pollo and lobster, both dishes looked really messy. The lobster was very bland and the pollo was mostly chicken skin that lacked flavour. Would not recommend!
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Nikki K.

Yelp
Overall: 3.5 A nice vibe with tasty food, but definitely overpriced for what you get. Food: we got an appetizer (octopus), scallop fall entree and their seafood paella. Each dish ranges 35+, and it is not a lot of food for the price. Drinks: tasty Service/ambience: quick, helpful
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Hannah F.

Yelp
We had our wedding reception in the Spruce Room at Havana, and you should too!! I cannot say enough great things about the entire experience. We were able to sign a contract for the space months in advance, which helped my Type A personality plan. Emily + the team were so accommodating to all of our requests. Before the event, they walked us through the menu, listened to each of our questions and requests, helped us to select wine options and cocktails for the evening, allowed us to tour the room, etc. On the night of the event, the room was STUNNING, even with no additional decorations (my choice). Their staff was honestly some of the best service I've ever received: they packaged an entire meal for a guest who was sick so their partner could take it home to them, they made a cocktail not on the menu for my husband at a moment's request (then came back to ensure it tasted like he wanted), they were so accommodating to our guest who were making speeches, accommodated every food allergy, etc. I wish I could remember our server's name, but he was just the absolute best person, we were so thankful for him and how kind he was to us on our wedding night. Even the owner came out to wish us well and check on us. On top of this, the food was absolutely immaculate. Each and every course of our tasting menu was delicious, and the menu offered such a variety that every person in our group was happy. The cocktails and wine selection was incredible, and they accommodated a champagne toast. Overall, it was such a great experience and made our special day that much better.
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Lin I.

Yelp
More precise rating would be 4.6/5. Seafood paella: 4.8/5. They could open a chain restaurant only working on seafood paella. The rice has complex textures - some chewy, some crispy, some sticky with sauce, some contained the smoky flavor from the sausage. The seafood - scallop, shrimp, mussel, and lobster are all very fresh, their amino acids also diffuse into the rice. The sausage is not fat nor salty at all, but full of the smoky fragrance. Lobster moqueca: 4.0/5. It is like a modified Thai style coconut curry lobster, the pineapple makes it light and fresh. But personally I maybe more used to a Jasmine rice/coconut curry combination. If not Jasmine rice, a Japanese short grain rice with some sticky/chewy texture would also be great. The rice I had that day seems like over-soaked in water, which somewhat affects the intake of the coconut sauce.
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Dave R.

Yelp
Havana was the star of our dining out experiences in Bar Harbor! Let me qualify that a little:  o This was our first visit to Bar Harbor o We were only in town for four nights (and four dinners) Of the four places we tried for dinner during this visit, Havana was far and away the best. However, trying Havana on our last night in town was a mistake. We regretted not being able to visit more than once--like we missed another excellent meal. Why would we have come back? Well, the food was fantastic, and the service was excellent. The ambiance is comfortable and upscale--and yet it's a tourist town, so casual attire is okay, too. Nonetheless, we felt comfy coming to Havana dressed up a bit. (We'd seen the white tablecloths during a walk-by that afternoon.)  We started with cocktails and a fresh, local variety of oysters--all of which were delicious. We also had one of the "special" appetizers: the Maine Cheese Plate. Again, there was a nice variety, and all of them were very tasty. For my main course, I had the Chili Relleno, while my partner had the Seafood Paella. At first, I was a bit surprised that the chili relleno didn't come smothered with cheese. In fact, there was no cheese. That just didn't jive with my past experiences with this dish. (I wonder if this was one of their vegan options.) No matter. After a few bites, I didn't miss the cheese at all. The balance of flavors in Havana's version was incredible. I would order it again for sure. My partner also loved the balance of flavors in her Paella. She also appreciated that it wasn't an overwhelmingly sized portion, which is sometimes the case with Paella. Miraculously, we saved room for dessert. We shared the Blueberry Mousse Cake, which was terrific--like everything else that night. Sadly, Bar Harbor is more than five hours away from our home. We'd likely make that trip semi-regularly if it were two hours or less.
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Amy D.

Yelp
We read about this place in various publications and made a reservation before we left for Maine. We ate on a Tuesday night in the middle of May. Our server Harley was attentive and friendly. The room had cool artwork on the walls and was very colorful. We knew that we weren't going to have two large entrees, so I cannot comment on those. What we did have was the delicious bread service, the Gazpacho, Snap Pea Salad, Farm Salad, and Spring Rolls. The Spring Rolls were so unique and yummy that we ordered a second round of them! The Gazpacho was authentic. The Snap Pea Salad was fantastic!! The Farm Salad was great too, just in a more traditional way. They have a long and comprehensive wine and cocktail menu. I would highly recommend eating at Havana when you visit Bar Harbor.
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Nina C.

Yelp
The most ok meal I've had during my time in Acadia, but also the most expensive. I was very excited to try the paella, but it turned out to be more like jambalaya. I was a little disappointed with how it turned out. While it was still yummy, it wasn't what the title portrayed. I truly think the dish should be renamed to jambalaya to not give customers the wrong idea. service and ambiance at the restaurant was really nice. all the servers are very friendly and helpful.
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Brad B.

Yelp
A large restaurant with several rooms, very professional on point staff food was great great selection of wines. The shrimp appetizer was delicious the bluefin tuna also great. Lobster Haddock with coconut sauce delicious.
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Emily W.

Yelp
We were in Maine celebrating our honeymoon and made reservations at Havana. The entire experience was so wonderful. I loved the quirkiness and charm of the building. The service was just amazing, and our waitress was just so friendly. The food was very good and we received large portions. Apparently a table nearby heard we were on our honeymoon and paid for our meal but left before we found out. I wish I could thank them, it was such a kind gesture. Our waitress was genuinely so excited when she told us about it. I can't wait to come back to Maine, we will definitely make reservations at Havana again! :)
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Anita S.

Yelp
Everything was perfect. This was our favorite restaurant in Bar Harbor. Our waiter Sam was amazing and attentive without being intrusive. Every thing we had was incredible. The snap pea salad and Tataki were perfect appetizers. Our friend had the hot seafood soup and said it was amazing. I had the fergola. It's hard to cook scallops and shrimp correctly but these were delicious and not overcooked. The pisco sour was perfectly balanced. There was live music but it was just right, not too loud
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Patricia B.

Yelp
We have enjoyed Havana since we moved here 26 years ago. We have experienced "fine dining" in many venues and cities and countries...but Havana always serves us something new, something fun, something tasty to experiment. Yes, it is expensive but on par with a nice restaurant in a nice venue. The servers are very knowledgeable but an eclectic crew that keeps us smiling...yes...we are not in Boston, or NYC but just enjoy being able to sit at a "white table cloth" place away from lobster rolls...for just tonight...
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Steven C.

Yelp
Looks very good but you must have a reservation like everywhere in Bar Harbor, 49 minutes wait to sit down. We left.
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Kelly G.

Yelp
It's a touristy restaurant in Bar Harbor . Reservations highly recommend although you may be able to snag at seat at their small bar . The bread service was awesome and the selection of breads and sauces was delectable and delicious . I ordered the lobster moqueca : lobster meat simmered in coconut broth with haddock, red peppers and onions, served over jasmine rice, and garnished with grilled pineapple. It was just okay . A bit rubbery and flavorless in my opinion . The coconut and pineapple flavors were a nice attempt but the flavor profile just wasn't working and I wouldn't recommend this dish to any huge lobster fan. The service at the bar was good and they had live music which was a nice touch . Street parking is available - I didn't see a parking lot.
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Brandy G.

Yelp
Havana is a cute Latin fusion restaurant located in the heart of the touristy district in Bar Harbor. When my sister and I stopped in on a whim one evening, the intimate space was packed but we managed to snag to seats at the bar. This gave us a great view of the Spanish Guitarist that was on site and playing tunes for diners (which was a really nice touch). Because it was so busy the service was a bit spotty but it was a Friday night so I get it. The complimentary bread service was FANTASTIC and included a delicious blueberry cornbread that was sooo good and also some type of hummus that was hands down one of the most delicious hummuses I've ever had. In terms of the rest of the meal - my sister ordered the lobster and haddock risotto dish that was recommended by the bartender and I went with the Maine charcuterie board as I was looking for something light to eat. The risotto dish wasn't a hit and my sister only ate about half of it. I really enjoyed the cheese board, however, when it was dropped off there was no explanation provided of what exactly was on the board (which is something ALWAYS appreciated by me for a large charcuterie spread). Our bartender wasn't even certain of everything and had to bring in reinforcements to describe but overall i give the board 5 stars for its delicious variety of local Maine cheeses. Also - there's no parking lot - so you'll have to hunt for street parking or a paid parking lot. We got lucky however and nabbed a Princess Parking spot right near the door.
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Stephen H.

Yelp
Two entrees options for vegan but primarily meat and seafood. Paella vegan options and stuffed aubergine new dish. Great asparagus vegan soup which non vegan partner enjoyed. Salads can be made vegan and sorbet dessert vegan options. Food flavorful. Super busy but nice table in back room. Great service from Barnard and good runners. Very nice experience even for a vegan. Nice dinner on a rainy evening
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Liz F.

Yelp
Loved it! Def recommend: don't waste your time with other dishes- get lobster moqueca! My friend had the paella and she thought it was too smoky. Oysters were super fresh too. No kid meals. And no water cups with tops for toddlers but we made do. They have two dining rooms- One is an add on in the back which is where we ate. Caipirinha was just ok.
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Ashley C.

Yelp
It's hard for a place to really wow me. I'm a huge foodie, I go out to eat frequently, and I cook and bake a lot. Havana truly impressed me! Everything we had was bursting with flavor. My favorites were the soup with beans and ham, and the shrimp in a buttery garlic red sauce. I will be thinking about this place a lot as I return to Pittsburgh
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Darcy W.

Yelp
Wow just wow! We stopped in maybe 5 years ago and said we need to go back... and we did 2 times when we were in Bar Harbor this past September. The craft cocktails are out of this world. The outdoor restaurant has some amazing food coming out of that kitchen. We had one of the sausage dishes and it was really good! The next visit we ate inside Havana, the food and wine was top notch! I'm allergic to lobster, but my mouth was watering watching the table devour it! I had a delicious chicken dish. You really can't go wrong with anything there. The service is excellent too! It's at the end of the road.... Hidden little gem!
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John W.

Yelp
Oh goodness, what a fantastic time I had! Honestly this was quite the gem. It seemed a bit off from the main areas but great nonetheless. The ambiance was classy casual and the service was outstanding. The staff really made sure we were taken care of and took care to explain things on the menu that were a bit confusing. The taste of the food was delectable and noteworthy. I was pleasantly surprised give my initial low expectations of this place and only wish I had time to go again! I will say the prices are a BIT steep but it is in the National Park so, I guess you'll have to take it as it comes.
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Nina S.

Yelp
A fancy restaurant in Bar Harbor dishing out elevated Latin food with seasonal ingredients. I felt a little underdressed after having come from Acadia but was otherwise treated like any other guest. Ordered: seafood paella: filled with seafood! paired with the crunchy socarrat (crispy pieces of rice) carne: a huge steak that was unfortunately unevenly cooked but still exceptionally tender with deliciously earthy sauce, wish the mushrooms had been cooked in a separate pan with butter because they had a bitter aftertaste from the steak char but were the best-textured mushrooms I've ever had guava creme brulee: light and refreshing
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Stefanie S.

Yelp
This place was amazing! We got in without a reservation at the end of the season. We ordered the spring rolls, seafood paella and the steak! The spring rolls and the paella are a MUST! Very great date spot night or even family night! A little on the fancier side.
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Molly T.

Yelp
Fine dining in Bar Harbor! I didn't know that was a possibility. The foodie that I am, of course I accidentally chose the nicest restaurant in town to close out our trip. White table clothes, and absurdly long and impressive wine list, exceptional service and inspired food, Havana is a must-visit for folks visiting (or living in) the Acadia area looking for a more upscale meal. The price tag is high (honestly, a bit hire than I feel is warranted), but the food you get is delicious and fresh. Most of the other restaurants in town are taverns and cafes, so Havana is a nice option for when you're looking to switch it up and splurge a bit. Came here at around 7:45 on a Wednesday night. We didn't have a reservation, but thankfully we were in town during off-peak season so we were able to get a table immediately. Somehow, I did not realize that Havana was such a nice spot, but luckily we weren't dressed like we were coming straight from a hike. Though I was on a cider kick while in Maine, I had to go all wine here. Havana has an absurdly long wine list -- it's longer than just about any wine list I've ever seen, which is really saying something -- and it's been recognized nationally for its wine program. Who knew a place like this was hiding up in the Northeast corner of the United States?! Though we didn't try any crazy flights or expensive bottles, we still enjoy some wines by the glass that were all fantastic. At the recommendation of our server, I started with a pink Spanish cava which was delicious. I then pivoted to the one orange/skin contact wine on the menu which I absolutely LOVED. My husband started with a mojito and then got an albariño, which was delicious too. Food-wise, as the name suggests, the menu has strong Cuban influences that still highlights the seafood Maine is known for. Soon after sitting down, we got a little amuse bouche, which was a cute touch. It was a pork belly bite which was flavorful and yummy. Given that we were in Maine, we knew we needed to get the lobster entree, so we ordered that and added on a bunch of appetizers around it. Eats, below: Farm Salad w/ cucumber, radish, grilled onion, carrots, bacon, candied walnuts, mixed greens, mustard vinaigrette, crumbled chevre, havana-style egg: B+/A- This one was decent but not too exciting. That said, the havana-style egg was kind of like a scotch egg, and it added something fun to the dish. Snap Pea Salad w/ mixed greens, sugar snap peas, shaved radish, microgreens, pea shoots, mint and basil dressing : A This salad was a winner. I'm not a big snap pea fan but something about the combo of super fresh and crunchy snap peas with all of those delicious microgreens and a gorgeous, herbal and aromatic dressing just came together perfectly. Pulpo w/ soy-glazed octopus and grilled eggplant tossed in cilantro oil, served w/ blistered tomatoes and pickled asparagus, finished with tahini dressing and radishes: A I can't say I've ever had a soy-glazed octopus before, and I've had a dizzying amount of octopus. And I'm not mad about it! The octopus itself was cooked perfectly, and the sauce itself was delicious. The flavors and accompaniments were all there, and it was a creative take on a dish I've had many a time. Gambas w/ garlic and sherry, red pepper sofrito, grilled baguette: A- Solid gambas preparation. Nothing too special, but executed well. The shrimp were flavorful and fresh and the sauce was seasoned nicely, the sofrito adding a nice, personal touch to a classic dish. Lobster Moqueca w/ haddock, red peppers, onions, simmered in coconut sauce, garnished with grilled pineapple: A Last but not least, what we came here for! The lobster meat was delicious and the haddock wasn't bad either. As a side note, we had some great haddock in Bar Harbor, which makes sense given how abundant they are in this area. I love moqueca as a preparation but I rarely see it on menus, so it was fun to see it prepared with the local seafood stars.
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Bart L.

Yelp
We were back again in June 2024, less than a year after our last visit. I was really discouraged by the decline in the place. Perhaps we got lucky in 2023? The pulpo appetizer that we've always loved was bland. The salad was really mediocre -- shockingly so. I again had the paella and liked it but not as much as in the past. It was smaller, somewhat less fish, less of the delicious "crusted" burnt rice you get from the bottom of the pan. On a more positive note, my wife had the pollo and I thought it was pretty good, better than the paella. On the other hand, it was not the kind of special dish I'd associated with Havana in the past.

Brie A.

Yelp
Havana was the most recommended restaurant during our trip to Bar Harbor. While they didn't have any reservations available online, we stopped in and they were eager to accommodate us. Our cocktails were delicious. The Cerdo appetizer was the absolute best. The pork had a crispy coating and was cooked to perfection. Oysters were great as well. My husband got the seafood paella and said it was his favorite paella ever. My main dish was cerdo lejos (different than the appetizer), I thought the sides were delicious and the pork was okay. While it wasn't my favorite, everything else about our meal made up for it and I would definitely come back
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Brent S.

Yelp
This was the best place we ate during our visit. The food and service were top notch. The wine list was amazing, but holy cow it was over 70 pages long. The sommelier was nice and our wine was great. The server was very knowledgeable about all the details of each dish and had great recommendations. The spring rolls were bomb. Would go back in a heartbeat.

Lewis R.

Yelp
This was the best meal I have had in a long time. My girlfriend and I went here to celebrate her birthday and ordered a plethora. We started with the shrimp, tuna and snap pea salad, all being exceptional. However, things became life changing when we received our maines (pun intended) She had the seafood paella and I ordered the pork tenderloin. I was practically taking my pants off by this point, the potato puree paired with local carrots and the perfectly cooked pork was like nothing I've had before. Her paella was on par with the best we've had in Spain and we were already bursting at the seams. We didn't make the decision to call this place top 3 in our books until we met the flan......creamy rich, lightly crisped crust that just reminded us why it's so important to romanticize life and food. 10/10 will be returning, thank you guys so much!!
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Ariana A.

Yelp
IMO, Havana is one of the best restaurants in the area. Really nice service and awesome food. I recommend: Humba Locro de papa soup Stuffed Aubergine Seafood paella Guava crème brulee was delicious too.
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Frank G.

Yelp
Just a wonderful evening at Havana... Enrique was so nice and kind. Food was really good as well. Paella and the tataki especially. My wife and I had a really fun evening

John S.

Yelp
A bit of a walk from town, but not too far. This restaurant has clearly been expanded into adjoining buildings. The food was superb especially the mussels with white wine, chorizo, pork belly, leaks and feta cheese. The paella was excellent. Scallops were good, but nothing exceptional. Our waitress.Dezirae was good. The downside was the support staff. Side plates came out after the shared appetizer. Water service was slow. The bar was very slow. These things detracted from an otherwise excellent food experience. I would definitely go back but maybe one it is not so busy.
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Julianne E.

Yelp
Celebrated our 10th anniversary at Havana and LOVED it! The complimentary cucumber, tomato cream cheese, and blackberry treat was surprisingly delicious. The garden salad was next level amazing. The carne with potatoes and broccoli was very good. Service was top notch. This restaurant and staff gave very nice restaurant vibes.

Cc T.

Yelp
9/23/24 5:30 pm. My dinner was the Caldo Gallego Soup and the Farm Salad. I suggest getting the bowl of Caldo Gallego, the flavors are delicious. The Farm Salad was okay but not great. I didn't even finish it. I also ordered a lemon drop martini, I did not ask for a virgin martini. I paid $13 for a lemonade in a martini glass with a rim of sugar.
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Rei M.

Yelp
Came here on the recommendation of a friend and was very happy. I made reservations here for the night I was planning to propose to my now fiancee and I booked it about 2 weeks out but there were already fairly limited tables on a Thursday night. I wrote in the box where they ask if it's a special occasion to note that it was to celebrate our engagement and the staff all very kindly congratulated us when we checked in at the front desk. Service remained friendly throughout the night. That night, they had live music. Not sure how frequent they have this and for this particular night I was happy we were in a separate room, but it was still pretty cool. They have an enormous wine list (they win awards for it) and a sommelier who is available to anyone who wants to speak with him. We just wanted one glass each though, and the list becomes much smaller if you want a single glass rather than a whole bottle. That was ok with us since we're not wine aficionados, but something to keep in mind if you care. Of course, the most important part is the food. They start you with a couple pieces of regular bread and blueberry cornbread served with an oil, a butter, and a spread/hummus that appears to vary based on the season or maybe just based on the week or something (idk). Our red pepper "hummus" was the best part and the maple butter was also nice. We read that the paella was a large portion, so we decided to get one appetizer and one paella to share and it ended up being perfect. We got the gambas (shrimp) appetizer, which was very garlicky and very delicious. Also got the humba (braised pork belly) appetizer, which was rich and flavorful. Only complaint with it was that the menu says it has plantains in it, but as you can see from the photo, they're just plantain chips. As mentioned, we split the paella and the server was kind enough to serve it to us in 2 separate plates to begin with. So flavorful, rice was perfectly cooked, good variety of seafood (scallop, shrimp, mussels, lobster), chicken, chorizo, veggies. I would order both of these again any day. Last small but really nice touch: I had indicated on our online reservation that we were celebrating our engagement. They all congratulated us when we checked in at the desk, the had a handwritten card for us when we sat down, and they gave us a complimentary dessert of fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
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Jen B.

Yelp
We had a fabulous experience at Havana and highly recommend it! After a week in Maine feasting on lobster, haddock, shrimp, clams, chowder and more, I wanted something in our favorite profile - spicy/high flavor/fusion cuisine - for our last meal in Bar Harbor. I searched Yelp for Thai or similar food and somehow stumbled upon Havana, liked by Martha Stewart. We reserved a table for outside dining at 4:15. We arrived early and thought we'd have a drink at the patio bar. Nope! Turns out that's the Tapas Bar & Grill called Parilla visible from the street that is walk-in dining and drinks, but not open 'til 4! (Next time!) We went into the restaurant and were seated in an enclosed courtyard with shady trees and plants. Our waiter recommended a signature cocktail he and another concocted. I don't remember the ingredients (old-fashioned-ish?), but it was fabulous. At his recommendation we ordered oysters and gambas (spicy shrimp) for appetizers. I chose their signature paella for my entree and my husband had the halibut. The service was stellar yet friendly and not too formal. The food was top notch. The paella had the perfect texture, flavor, not to mention the best seafood! We had the whole courtyard to ourselves. One family was seated nearby on an open deck while we were there. (Note that it was an early res and also early in the season.)
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Tori S.

Yelp
I thought Havana was delicious. Obviously the food is expensive, but ever dish we tried was one I would get again. There were some reasonably priced wine bottles and the servers were experienced. I loved the atmosphere as well. Would definitely come back.

Kirby M.

Yelp
Walking in, the warm tone of the bar felt welcoming. I was greeted by a host and sat immediately (I did have a reservation) I was given an amuse bouche and fresh bread. My meal itself was very tasty and I would definitely recommend eating here!!!
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Rachel C.

Yelp
Delicious dinner at Havana! I would highly recommend making a reservation. We got in last minute with a 5:30 reservation but the restaurant filled up quickly. Service was A+ We shared the snap pea salad which was fresh and light. I ordered the scallops which were cooked to perfection-not overdone. They melt in your mouth. My husband ordered the Halibut which was cooked to perfection. They change the menu items based on what's in season, so you are guaranteed fresh ingredients.

Jack G.

Yelp
This place was perfect for a really nice dinner, wine and conversation. The food, service and decor were first rate!
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Michael R.

Yelp
HANDS DOWN THE BEST MEAL OF THE TRIP!! We came here based on a recommendation from a local photographer and we are very glad we did! Highly recommend reservations at it was very busy and everyone seemed to have a reservation. Waitress started the meal with an amuse-bouche that was a dried apricot, goat cheese and toasted almond. Nice touch! Also got some warm multigrain and cranberry corn bread with three different dipping sauces! The bean dip was so good! We both ordered drinks...a pisco sour and periodista! Absolutely delicious! Some of the best drinks we had on our trip. For starters, we shared the curried pumpkin soup and arugula and beat salad! Both delicious. The soup was so so yummy! A must order! For dinner, we got the paella and halibut. Both were amazing...one of the best paellas we've ever had (on par with Spain!) Finished the meal with the blueberry bread pudding and 2 cappuccinos. If you love bread pudding this is a must get! All in all you cannot go wrong here. Every dish that came out of the kitchen looked amazing! My only regret is not getting the pumpkin spice espresso martini with dessert. Guess that's a reason to come back!!
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Kimberly D.

Yelp
My husband and I came here while visiting from NY - our hotel manager recommended it and mentioned that they had a HUGE wine list. He wasn't kidding. This place has won awards for their wine list and is one of only 3 places in Maine to have received a specific wine spectator award. They are also very eco-friendly and locally source as much of their food as possible. We started with a puff pastry amuse bouche which was tasty. The bread basket consisted of a blueberry cornbread and a multigrain bread. Theey were served with a honey/cinnamon butter, an oil, and a bean dip. Everything was fantastic. Cocktails: Husband had the Periodista, with rum, triple sec and peach brandy. It was tasty and light - refreshing for a hot night. I had the Havana Martini, which had pineapple juice. I was afraid it would be too sweet because I dislike sweet drinks, but it was fresh pineapple and the balance was perfect. We then switched to wine flights with dinner. All of the wines were lovely. Dinner: He ordered the paella, which was fantastic. It was done correctly - with the crunchy socorrat rice from the bottom of the pan. Really delicious flavors. I ordered the halibut, which was coconut crusted, and sat atop a purple potato croquette with some pork belly. A really good and unique dish. We decided to skip dessert - they also seemed very sweet (not for us), but instead we each did a flight of ports/madeiras. I chose the cheaper 3-glass flight, and my husband opted for the pricier 4-glass one. We shared both. A perfect night!
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David R.

Yelp
Great guitarist, friendly staff, good food but small portions. A nice change of pace from the 50 dollar lobster rolls and blueberry mojitos you find elsewhere in town.

Lila A.

Yelp
amazing. the service was wonderful and the food was equally good. Everything we tried was delicious. I only wish we had room for dessert. The serving sizes were generous and the food was well worth the price. thanks,havana!!
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Barbara B.

Yelp
So here is my update on Havana. Still five stars, still a great restaurant. We now eat there at least once each summer, and the food and service continues to excel. Service continues to be efficient and welcoming. I ordered the lobster moqueca again because it was just so yummy the first time. My husband mixed it up and ordered two starters. He loved the gambas, a sauteed shrimp. He also ordered the solomillos, a sirloin steak dish with patatas fritas, and that was a real winner too. This visit we did order dessert, and enjoyed an incredible velvet chocolate cake. I really liked the subtile addition of chilis and the horchata mousse. Havana has been around for 25 years now! Congratulations, we are lucky to have you in town!

Terrie P.

Yelp
This place is a dining experience. They helped us celebrate our anniversary in style. The wine list was extensive, service by Harley was stellar, and dinner was amazing. I had the fish of the day in a coconut sauce - beautifully cooked and perfectly seasoned. My husband had the chili relleno and raved about it as well. Too full for dessert, but Harley brought us strawberries drizzled in chocolate to celebrate our anniversary. This is the perfect spot for a relaxing evening - not cheap but so special!
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Evelyn A.

Yelp
Overall everything was amazing! We were early for our reservation so went to Parrila first. Had drinks and shared appetizers. Provoleta: delicious!!! The chimichurri had a nice kick of spice. Sausage sampler: delicious too every single sausage and their sauce was delicious Oysters: also super fresh both the cocktail sauce and the vinaigrette were spot on Waiter very attentive and the hostess accompanied us to our reserve table when ready. While at Havana the waiter was very knowledgeable of the menu and his recommendations were spot on. Iberico and Manchego salad: very good. The vinaigrette had heat and it was delicious. Braised pork belly: OMG this was a good moment. It was tender and the sauce is savory and sweet. It was the highlight.
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Annalise W.

Yelp
Enjoyed my dinner here. I would recommend making reservations. Had a reservation for 6 people around 6:30 on a Thursday and it was pretty busy inside (inside seating is fairly small too). There are white tablecloths, but the ambiance feels really cozy. They had live music going all night which was really nice. I ordered the below: -Lobster Cake: this was actually the best thing I had. So flavorful and packed with a ton of meat. This is great to share with someone else. -Proveleta: this was decent, not my favorite. It's pretty greasy and the chimichurri is has a kick to it and pretty overpowering. But other people in the group really enjoyed. -Grilled Ribeye: cooked perfectly. I would definitely order this again. -Halibut: this was good but a little disappointing because it was really under seasoned. I had to add A LOT of salt. -Paella: really good! Lots of delicious seafood and pieces of crispy rice. They also split for us in the kitchen and the portion is huge! -Tres Leches: really sweet, but it was good. Pretty large portion so I recommend sharing.
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Shannan M.

Yelp
We celebrated my birthday and it was a wonderful dinner. Our server, Sam, was excellent. The chocolate cake was moist and delicious! The halibut was perfectly cooked. I also had the snap pea salad and it had a great dressing. The after dinner lattes finished our meal on a high note. My husband and I highly recommend this place.

Greg M.

Yelp
Recently dined at Havana and even "off season" it was fantastic! Special appetizer with tuna was amazing. Their paella is always a delicious entree that two of us enjoyed. However, tonight's favorite entree was the halibut - truly spectacular. We had two very professional ladies take exceptional care of us --- one of whom was training --- and she is a pro. Thank you Havana!
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Alexandra H.

Yelp
If you are reading this and trying to decide if you should go, stop reading and GO NOW. Havana is incredible. From the wine to the oysters and the pepper everything was amazing. Especially the pepper. The sauce that it comes in will have you asking for a basket of bread to soak it all up (which we did and something I never do). My boyfriend and I were a bit skeptical when it was recommended to us as a restaurant that deserves two Michelin stars but we are now true believers. Give Havana all the stars!!
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Laura C.

Yelp
Great service & food!! Havana is one of the only fancier restaurants in the main Bar Harbor downtown area, with white tablecloths and all. People were dressed nice, but since it's Bar Harbor, no one was super dressed up. Havana also has an outside bar/tapas restaurant on the patio called Parilla, which is more casual with a whole different menu and doesn't take reservations. We had tried to make a dinner reservation for Havana a few weeks before and were unable to get one. We walked in on Saturday at 5:20pm just to see if they had a table, and luckily they did! If we had come at 5:45pm, the hostess said she would've just told us to go to Parilla. For drinks, we started with the Caipirinha, the Mojito, and the Fruitas Tropical (non-alcoholic) which were all great. The complimentary bread basket was an A+ and included warm bread and blueberry cornbread with a white bean spread, some sort of spicy oil, and a yummy herb butter. The Lobster Cake was wonderful. While there were only 8 entrees to choose from, we tried 4 of them and they were all incredible. The Grilled Ribeye had incredible flavor, the Seafood Paella had yummy crispy rice and plenty of seafood, the Halibut was tropical and cooked to perfection (not dry at all!), and the Chicken was so tender and tasty and better than any chicken I've had in my life!! The dessert fell a bit short for us. The Mango Creme Brulee barely tasted like mango and the sugar tasted overwhelmingly burnt. The Tres Leches Cake felt a bit too dense and dry. However, the waiter/service and everything else was amazing! There was live music with a cellist and overall, I still think this was a 5-star experience and would highly recommend Havana for a nice dinner in Bar Harbor!
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Jay N.

Yelp
Deficient management. Bad food. Ok service. A number of reviews recently were less than the five star army that came through for this restaurant. When researching restaurants for our vacation I couldn't help but think that there were some exceptions to the rule and our experience would obviously be differently. How wrong was I. I made a reservation for Havana restaurant several weeks ago when planning a vacation. I additionally called because of the significance of this vacation being our wedding anniversary. I informed them of the special event and Critical allergies. I additionally asked for out door seating which was not guaranteed. We arrive day of reservation. After being seated, the first thing to come to us was an amuse bouche with nuts. We reminded the wait staff of our allergies. The food is simply terrible. We started off with crab and avocado. The crab is advertised to be fresh picked. It rather thin and minimum in ratio to the rest of the dish. It seems to be mixed with something like ranch dressing which is probably aimed to add creaminess. Needless to say it wastes the dish. We followed up the first disappointment with a Lobster Moqueca and Lamb Chops. The lobster is again advertised to be fresh picked. The dish is just poorly composed. They are trying to put out things fast and in this case it is clear that the components of this dish are prepared in large batches. No flavor in the base. Uneven temperatures with the halibut piping hot, the lobster cold. The lobster additionally did not test fresh. The lamb chops, though perfectly cooked, came out poorly done. No sear on the outside. No spice, not even salt and pepper. Additionally advertise to have a panko crust which was missing. While my wife politely worked through the lamb, I could not eat my dish. I tried to flag down my waitress twice but she wouldn't come to my table. Finally after thirty minutes and my wife being done eating she checks in. I shared my concerns with our waitress and additionally, immediately ordered dessert. She did not hear the order and brought our dessert menus after another twenty minutes. At this point defeated by the sub par experience, we got our check and left. I will note that while our waitress was always polite, she was inattentive and poorly timed. Instead of hiding behind a review, I talked to the manager, detailing this experience. I thought this would lead to a professional, appropriate resolution. While a number of apologies were given, I was surprised by a number of the additional comments made. I was told that there was no record of my phone call discussing a severe, life threatening allergy,, that I should've made clear earlier that the experience was poor, that I could come back for another try (please, this is a tourist town), that I did not order dessert and there was no error on the waitresses end for this. In other words, the manager told me this was my failure. Last time I checked, spending money at a restaurant that aims to be a high quality experience means that I am coming to a place that is detail oriented, treats their customer well, serves high quality food, and doesn't tell a customer that they are wrong. Apparently because they know that I won't be here for long they are allowed to forego a standard in the dining and service industry.