Thirsty Whale Tavern

Amazing place! This place was the gem of our food trip to Bar Harbor. It's kind of a "Divy" bar/restaurant that has exceptional food and a great local vibe. We absolutely loved it - ate here 3 times in the 5 days we were in town. - Food: This was probably the best fried seafood platter I have ever had. I'm a long time (40+ years) fried seafood fan - early Legal Seafood and No Name in Boston as references and this was truly amazing - fresh, perfectly cooked. REALLY good. Lobster bisque was very good. Lobster salad - Excellent! Burger was perfect. Blueberry infused beer was exceptional. - Service: Excellent. Staff are very attentive, friendly, no pressure, very helpful! - Atmosphere: As noted, a fun local place. Highly recommended if you're in Bar Harbor. Loved this place.

We went at around 1 pm and there was no wait time to be seated, the person at front created a table for my family of 4. (Thank you!) The server was super nice, always checking in and making sure everything was good. I saw that she was running back and forth from the kitchen and basically served all the tables inside which was impressive. The wait for the food was long, the table next to us was waiting for maybe 30+ minutes for two dishes, but it was peak lunch time so take that into consideration. I had the lobster roll and was great, super fresh, the sauce was good. The bread with the lobster roll was also amazing, i loved how soft yet crunchy it was. We also got the lobster bisque which was super creamy and yummy. The crab roll was exceptional! We also had the famous fish sandwich and the fish was super soft. You can tell everything is fresh from the kitchen! Everything came to around $88 before tip for my family. I definitely would recommend this place!

We have tried dining here the past two times we have visited Bar Harbor and could never get in, always a line out the door. This time we did! Made it in for lunch sat at the bar and enjoyed the best Whole belly clams, New England clam chowder and fish and chips EVER! And local Maine hard seltzer- Blueberry flavored of course. Bartender was so friendly and kind. Would definitely return again

This was one of the restaurants that was recommended to us. We stopped in after a day of hiking and exploring the park. We had to wait about 20 minutes to get a table. This place was jamming on a Saturday night. The food and drinks were very good. I and the lobster roll and lobster bisque. Both of them were very good. The waiter was attentive and kept us topped up with water and checking in. This place has a great atmosphere and has been here for years. I would recommend it. How can you go wrong with a great name like this? Enjoy!

We came here specifically for fried clams and they did not disappoint! So fresh, perfectly battered and fried. We also had some amazing fried pickle spears (a special) and some clam chowder, which was pretty good as well. Amanda, our server, was amazing. So quick but making sure every guest had what they needed. I would definitely come here again! The atmosphere was lively but not obnoxiously loud.

We stopped in here after hiking Cadillac Mtn and we not disappointed! We started with freshly shucked oysters and then split the famous fish sandwich with fries and 6oz loster roll with coleslaw. The food arrived quickly and was very fresh! The lobster roll was delicious, but the fish sandwich was the true star here. Amazing piece of fish, lightly breaded and served on fresh bread. One of the best I ever ever eaten! Highly recommend this place. Service was fast and friendly too. (Sorry, no pics of the fish sandwich because we ate it too quickly!)

The vibes are pretty good and it’s decently priced however I will say the crab and lobster roll are alright and the lobster bisque is just pure cream no lobster chunks. The clam chowder is your standard New England fare nothing super special but it’s a good delight at a good price, especially the special having with both the roll and the clam chowder which I highly recommend although our service was great from our waitress. The front lady seemed to not be courteous and we had to ask about being say while waiting infront of her the entire time lol

Stopped in for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. Only a couple people in the place so we were a little leery. Ordered the lobster Bisque and lobster rolls. The place is pretty clean and has a nice vibe. The Bisque came out quickly and hot. I will probably never be able to order lobster Bisque again. It was creamy, buttery and full of lobster flavor. One of the best I've ever had. The lobster rolls came out shortly after and we're chuck full of big pieces of scrumptious lobster. The best part almost no mayo. They were perfection in a nice warm butter roll. The place got busier and busier as we sat there yet our waitress was very attentive and always checked on us to make sure everything was good. I would definitely go out of my way to eat here again and recommend it to all.

A nice casual tavern with a long bar and good amount of tables/seating. The waiter advised to get the seafood options here and it didn't disappoint. The Clam chowder was delicious as expected in New England and the lobster roll was excellent. A lot of lobster meat with a perfect amount of mayo. This place has a little bit of everything so even if you do not like seafood you will have a lot of other options but I can't vouch for those non-seafood options

Great local bar for a drink. Unpretentious and laid back vibe. Come casual and grab a seat for a cold beer and some local pub fare.

Fun atmosphere, outdoor patio umbrellas and tree growing through the deck. Very efficient staff, packed and still fast service with a smile. Not fancy or quiet lots of fun. Everything we had or saw being served was amazing. Blackened fish chips was unusual and good. Fries fresh not greasy. Burger char broiled. Even grilled cheese on craft bread.

My friend and I totally went here because of the name. We loved it. We sat on the back porch with heaters on it. The food and service were amazing. The clam chowder and seafood plate were great. I would have come back here another night, but we tried somewhere else (as we should being in a new place). There were many things on the menu I wanted to try, but I had been getting the equivalent of the mixed seafood platter and clam chowder everywhere to compare them. This was one of the best I had had in my trip to Maine this time.

Just spent four days in Bar Harbor had dinner there twice. First staff top notch. Great food. Smoke trout was best!!!! Atlantic shrimp awesome. Fish sandwich to die for. Dive bar atmosphere just what i love good local draft beer no pretentiousness at all my type of people and place

We got into Bar Harbor super late and questioned what would be open. To our surprise we stumbled onto this place. The staff welcomed us with warm smiles and great drinks. It was a cool wood filled pub. Even though the place was packed with people the service was amazing and the food was absolutely delicious. I definitely recommend the Ruben. We will definitely be back.

I think this is a restaurant that doesn't get enough attention, considering I had no idea it existed and the experience was exceptional. We were visiting Acadia and needed some food, we stumbled upon this bar just down the street from the marina. We ordered the lobster roll, pasta salad, clam chowder and seafood sampler. My fiancé got an IPA and I had a blueberry cider. We were blown away by the quality of the food, drinks and service. The bar was warm, energetic and just big enough for the cozy beach town feel. Everything was so damn delicious and the food came out quicker than we could even plan for! We went to the bathroom to wash our hands and the waitress nearly beat us back to the table! Can't recommend enough!

Visiting my brother up in Bar Harbor and looking for a dinner spot was tough. The last of the fall/leaf peepers were still in town so made for all restaurants having waits. This was our best option with the lowest wait time. The host and our waitress was friendly and they all were doing everything they could despite how busy they were. I ended up getting the fish taco wrap and it was pretty solid. My wife ended up having their short rib sandwich and she thought it was decent overall. The overall vibe of this place is a pub style feel and did have a local feel despite being touristy. Next time we find ourselves in the area I would like to try somewhere else rather than returning right away. It's a solid option but I was not blown away by any means.

Overall a great experience. We were sat quite quickly our waitress was kind and helpful. The table favorite was my blackened fried Haddock sandwich. The fish was cooked perfectly and the seasoning was delicious and just a bit spicy. The salmon sandwich was also good but the Haddock seemed like the way to go. The only bummer is a friend with dietary restrictions got the normal burger and the meat was flavorless and a bit over cooked. She did say the sweet potato fries were delicious though. Overall a good experience.

Came in for a cup of chowder, and some fish and chips. Read tons of rave reviews about the fish and chips. Highly recommended the blackened fish and chips, as it has a lot more flavor and spices. I got the plain fish and chips with coleslaw. Along with a cup of chowder, that was plenty for me. A little bit of a wait, but it's worth it. If I had to do it again, I would probably do a bowl of chowder, it was that good!

Our last dinner in Bar Harbor and we were looking for something open late because we had spent sunset at the lighthouse. The Thirsty Whale was open late. They had a small wait so we waited for about 5-10 minutes. After that we got seated on their back patio. Our waitress was quite busy but she was nice and pleasant. We ordered some beers and we got the hummus as an appetizer which was delicious. For dinner we all got the fish chips which were piping hot!! The fish and chips were good nothing out of the ordinary but a good meal after a long day.

Last time we were here, the TW was closed for improvements. Planning on not missing it this time, we made sure to stop in for lunch in the second day in BH. The service was exceptional and plates were bussed as soon as we finished with the dish. Our server came several times to check on us during the meal and provided us with all the extras we required. Lobster bisque, broiled haddock sandwiches, cheese sticks, garden salad and shrimp cocktail paired with a Pinot Grigio rounded out our table's lunch. Price was spot on with what we ordered. Glad we got to check this staple off our BH bucket list.

Yummy yummy yummy!!! The blacked is where it's at. The blackened fish and chips and the blackened fish sandwich were on point. Very mild fish, and delicious. The prices were very fair, considering the location. The service was awesome. Our waitress was super nice, helpful and friendly. Jess was AWESOME!! The atmosphere is also great. Small and friendly, but you do not feel like you are on top of each other. Great place!!

We were between a handful of restaurants for dinner and do NOT regret picking the Thirsty Whale. Their back patio is super cute and our waitress was efficient. The clam chowder was great, the burger was great, the pasta salad was fantastic in a creamy Italian. I mainly came for the unique freuben and wasn't disappointed! We would definitely return

It's a bit dark on entering and has a true bar feel to it. Maybe tavern is a better description. Our waitress was prompt to the table to take drink orders and help with menu selections. We ordered the mozzarella sticks to start. Didn't like them. Heavily bread, most likely frozen. I would avoid them. I ordered the blackened haddock sandwich and a bowl of clam chowder. My wife had the Reuben and a garden salad. The fish sandwich was very good but the chowder was excellent. My wife liked her Reuben with the salad being just ok. The chowder is worth a return.

After a long day of hiking in Acadia, we were looking for a place that was open late for dinner. We came across the Thirsty Whale and they were able to seat us after about 10 minutes. We were sat on the back patio which was a super cute and cozy atmosphere. They were pretty busy so service was a little slow, but our waitress was great. To start, we got some beers and the hummus appetizer which was pretty good. For dinner, we all got the fish and chips which were so delicious!! They were hot and seasoned well. Overall, solid dinner spot in Bar Harbor.

Delicious and had non-alcoholic beer! bartender was on top of it. Good atmosphere good food.

Pretty good restaurant. The backyard patio has such a relaxing vibe. Food is good too.

Busy at lunchtime but worth the wait! They have seafood heavy menu with lunch specials as expected, but even as a non-lobster eater their blackened chicken sandwich was 10/10. Worth the visit for a bar harbor classic tavern

It was raining and the person in the front told us that we could eat in the back open space and not to worry because it was covered. Since it was crowded and we didn't want to wait, we agreed. The waiter seemed to have this space to herself, even had her own playlist (which I loved) playing. Made the ambiance inviting! I had the lobster roll and clam chowder. During my time in Maine I think I probably had the same dish every night at each place we went too and this one was it!!!! It was just perfect! The bread was soft and fresh. The lobster was plenty and delicious and the clam chowder actually had claims!!!!! Unfortunately, the reason for my 4 stars instead of 5 was my partner's dish. He had pesto chicken sandwich which he said had no flavor at all. He was super disappointed because my dish was awesome and his a complete fail.

Warm, inviting atmosphere! One of the only places open late in Bar Harbor on an off-season week night (we were there in mid-April). We got their fried seafood platter and it was the perfect late night snack. Solid portion size, fried well, delicious!

Great place for a late night stop in Bar Harbor! We came here after seeing the sunset at Bass Head and were very glad to have a place to get to for dinner! They have a back patio for outdoor dining which was nice in the weather. We all ordered the same thing, 3 of the blueberry ale, 3 fish and chips, and hummus and pita to share. They also have really fun t shirts which I took home with me as a souvenir!

Fun, inviting environment, dive bar right in town! We only had drinks here but they kept the evening going! We were in town on the off season, but you wouldn't have known with a full bar and vibes for days. This place was a blast!

No frills bar sharing up hearty sandwiches and entrees. A good choice as they serve food later than most places in town. The short rib grilled cheese and Freuben were interesting options but execution came up short... We fixed this ourselves with some Dijon mustard or vinegar. The blackened fish sandwich came with a hearty portion of fish and is what you would expect.

We came in here after a full day of hike to fill out stomach. We had the blackened haddock sandwich and beyond burger. The haddock fish was soft but the seasoning was way too salty. The beyond burger was just average and nothing to brag about. The fries were a little soggy for our taste. We gave it 2/5 because the food is just not as good.

Food was nice and filling after a long day of hiking at Acadia. I'd recommend the blackened fish! It's flavorful and not too spicy, so added a nice touch. The lobster roll comes out cold and lightly tossed in mayo. The servers were very friendly and the overall ambiance was casual.

This was our favorite local spot when my friend and I were visiting Bar Harbor. The prices are fairly reasonable in comparison to a lot of the places serving lobster dishes in town. My friend got the clam chowder, which was good, but not the best. My Caesar salad was also good, but not great. The service was a little slow and the table felt a little sticky when we sat down. I had a good experience here but it could have been better.

A nice sports bar with friendly service. While we weren't fans of the cocktails we ordered, the lobster roll was tasty and served on a toasted garlicky bun. Also notable, was the side of garlic bread that could be ordered with stew/bisque. The lobster bisque on the other hand, was more creamy than lobstery and seemed to be puréed rather than include larger chunks of lobster.

Everything is amazing! Love the food and beer! We will definitely come back when we are visiting the town next time!

Massive portion sizes here, and lovely food as well! Everyone enjoyed. Southwest Burger; Good amount of bacon, perfectly cooked patty, and just a great burger overall. Chipotle Mayo on the side was delicious Beef Short Rib Sandwich - Lovely! Really large chunks of the beef(and 2 slabs!) and they were cooked perfectly. My dad's usually picky about food, and he definitely appreciated this sandwich. Ciabatta was fresh too and large! Needed a bit of spice, and that was fixed easily with hot honey. Blackened Chicken Sandwich - Even this had 2 chicken breast pieces! Really good portion size. Well cooked chicken and good char on it too. Sweet potato fried were very subpar; Not crispy and quite thin. Regular fries were delicious! Thick and crisp and perfect. Coleslaw was just okay. It was missing that little kick; Probably some salt and pepper? It felt too plain but I ate it to avoid wasting food.

If you like fried seafood and clam chowder this is a solid choice for food in Bar Harbor. Prices are good and the food is delicious. My partner & I split the fisherman's platter ($28), which comes with fried haddock, scallops, whole clams, and local shrimp as well as fries. It was too much for us to finish. The clam chowder ($7) was really good. Fresh, soft clams and a lot of flavor. Recommended!

The food here was decent and the ambiance was good. The server was a little rough around the edges but I think that it's because they were busy.

Blackened fish and chips were great! Lobster roll was good too. It was pretty busy so recommend getting their early

Can you say delicioso? Because hot damn is this place delicioso! The service is great and the food is a chefs kiss. I got a lollipop forest blueberry sour and the blackened fish sandwich with the clam chowder. We also got the smoked trout dip, lobster bisque, and the fish wrap. (Also the blueberry margarita and blueberry ale). Get it all, try it all, enjoy it alllll!

What a negative reception, hostess was so rude. We travel with a well trained service dog and were made to feel anything other than welcome. If you are traveling with a service animal better to pick another spot.

Tasty food. Great atmosphere. Friendly people. What else could you want?? We came in the off season so I can't say if it's a madhouse in the summer.

The lunch service was fast and the staff was friendly. I got the lobster roll and lobster bisque and it was great.

After several Acadia hikes - my husband and I were looking for some lunch before hitting more trails in the afternoon. Thankfully, Thirsty Whale was open (we were there slightly before the normal season) and serving! Both my husband and I got a cider and tried their lobster roll with clam chowder. YUM. I don't know if it was because of all the physical activity or what - but I think this was one of my favorite meals in Bar Harbor.

highly recommend the thirsty whale! we went twice during our trip. the mozz sticks, fish & chips, and drinks are EXCEPTIONAL! definitely stop by if you're in bar harbor.

This was our first stop in Bar Harbor after a long road trip! Didn't take too long to be seated and the server was quick and friendly. Ambience was good but it was a hot spot and very busy inside. We liked the food but after trying more places in Bar Harbor it was not our favorite. Good place to start with though!

I don't even remotely got their review. The lobster roll was meh, I didn't even finish it. Lobster was over cooked and rubbery. I ordered pasta "salad" - it was try colored pasta swimming in Italian dressing - nothing else. Person I was with had chicken strips - one of the strips was not even chicken - it was brown on the inside. Service was okay. Clam Chowder was good. But save your time and money - don't eat here. It was mediocre at very best.

Delicious first meal of our trip. Lobster rolls, clam chowder and lobster bisque after an appetizer of fried clams. All were wonderful and flavorful!! Lobster was SO tender and the bisque was buttery delicious! Service was friendly and helpful!

Stopped by this place for a quick dinner during our Fall trip to New England. This place is popular and had an hour long wait. We put in out names and hung out at a brewery near by. It took us around 40 mins to get our table and we wasted no time and ordered their famous clam chowder & blackened haddock sandwich. I am not a chowder person but I did really like their chowder. Their blackened haddock sandwich was delicious too. The fish was perfectly charred and seasoned imparting amazing flavors to the sandwich. Service was quick in spite of the restaurant being busy. Parking can be a pain though during busy fall season but we managed to find a spot near by. Overall be prepared for a long wait (during busy season) but the food is really good.

Food was good. Sandwich was a bit salty but the Lobster roll was fire. It's a good typical tavern full of locals and people wanting a late night bite so not bad would recommend!

I had heard great things about the thirsty whale, but it really didn't deliver. It is definitely a pub, but being in Bar Harbor I ordered the fried shrimp. I know the shrimp in Maine are small, but these looked like they came out of a can and were very greasy in the breading. Truly, I should've sent them back, that said my husband enjoyed the spicy blackened haddock. The bar is dark, dated, and I wouldn't make this stop a priority.

We walked here as Bar Harbor is just busy Labor Day weekend. The hostess was very nice, had a 40 minute wait and got sat in about 20 minutes. The place is loud, but it's a tavern with an energetic waitress named Ann. She was patient with our questions and ordering after a long day of travel. Everything came out at once, but it was all so good! The starter - broiled cheese curds is a must get item! Basil flavor, hot, with soft pita bread. The Lobster roll ($25) was fantastic, more lobster than Mayo thankfully - a bit small but good! I loved the toasted bun. The New England clam chowder was some of the best I've had. ...but it's early and I'll be eating these two items all weekend to compare. LOL. I like this place, and could see myself coming back to sit at the bar and have some of there wide draft beer selections.

Bar food. The muscles weren't great in the seafood sampler and it was mainly muscles. Shrimp were tiny. Good drinks dive bar. Wouldn't eat there

Friendly and inviting restaurant with a great staff and good food. Our first meal in Bar Harbor and everything hit the spot perfectly on a rainyweekday. We started with the clam chowder, which was excellent thick and creamy with a decent amount of clams and potatoes. The lobster roll was delicious it was stuffed full and the lobster was sweet not over seasoned. The burger was cooked perfectly with a nice charged grill flavor. The toppings were fresh and crispy with a perfectly toasted bun. The service was great we sat at the bar and visited with the bartender who was friendly and gave us some good tips on the area. I wish they had more of a NEIPA selection but they had a decent variety of draft and bottles. Definitely worth the stop.

Great little bar and restaurant in town. Stopped in with 10 and they sat us quickly. We just stopped in for drinks and appetizers so didn't get to try the full menu. Some Atlantic blueberry ale of course and some other drinks were at the table right away. We got the hummus, seafood sampler and some kids food. All were great and gone in a flash. Definitely give them a try and will be back next trip.