Rockland Restaurants (and Beyond!
Having small children once compromised our ability to get to all of Rockland’s amazing restaurants (home lobster boil, anyone?), but I can say we’ve never had a bad meal here. We’ve listed some of our favorite child-friendly Rockland restaurants on the Kid-Friendly page, and we hope the list of other possibilities here will help you find the best our mid coast Maine city has to offer.
Rockland Restaurants We Love
North Beacon Oyster
For a very special night out, we can personally recommend that you make a reservation and get thee to Primo. What a meal you will have! This critically-acclaimed farm-to-table gem is an experience you won’t soon forget.
The Home Kitchen Cafe is a short walk from Sadler House. In gorgeous weather, you’ll want to sit and eat all day. More importantly, they have the most delicious menu (all available for takeout) and our kids love eating there! Don’t miss this top favorite of ours during your stay.
If you are looking for a time-honored place to go for a straight-up seafood dinner, check out the Rockland Cafe. This is also a fine place to bring those little people of yours. They have a kid menu for the picky eaters who won’t enjoy the catch of the day.
Two of the “date night” places we adore are In Good Company and North Beacon Oyster. These places are great for either small plates or a full meal or just drinks!
If you’re yearning for some Italian, you’re within easy walking distance of Rustica. Read what the Press Herald had to say about this great restaurant. Newer and even closer to us is Ada’s Kitchen, which has pasta, pizza, and other offerings, plus a great cocktail scene with excellent beers.
If you’re still on the seafood tip, but wanting something a little more exotic than boiled lobster, get thee to Suzuki’s Sushi Bar, which gets rave reviews and deserves every word! Chef Suzuki has been nominated for a 2016 and 2017 James Beard award and it’s easy to see why. Reservations are recommended.
Just wanting a great beer and and affordable, relaxed family atmosphere with pub food? Check out the atmosphere at Trackside Station, which is situated in the old train station. Their Facebook page is a great place to get their more current specials and events info. Along those lines, Rock Harbor has proven to be a really great choice when it comes to getting a burger and a beer, as well! I recently heard some rave reviews about their haddock tacos, as well! Be sure to give them a try for friendly service and great atmosphere. They also have an excellent kid menu.
If you’re looking for a small place that’s slopping over with personality and inventive cuisine, try Sammy’s Deluxe. Sammy’s burger is a well-known favorite, and his rotating menu always features something you may not have tried before but that just knocks it out of the park. We love it there.
Waterworks Restaurant is just a hop, skip, and a jump from Sadler House and offers a large menu and, reportedly, sports games on the TVs on Sundays. Our kids love their free popcorn and the coloring placemats and the grilled cheese is our son’s favorite. Their Facebook page is active and you can find their menu on their website.
Mid Coast Gems We Love (Not Far!)
View from the dock at The Slipway in the summer
Our other fine-weather happy place just outside town is The Slipway in Thomaston. We have only ever sat outside on the dock, but you can eat inside or on their screened porch. The food here has always been excellent for us and the staff is wonderful. There’s no better way to spend an hour or two on a nice day than sitting outside there, looking at the water. They are open seasonally – check their hours at their site.
If you are a fan of German cuisine or just want a great indoor restaurant for a rainy day, take the short drive out to The Happy Clam in Tenants Harbor. The schnitzel is top notch, as is everything else they make. The service is friendly and your kids are welcome.
We’re still working on a comprehensive list (sorry for the obvious omissions) so, if you have input, please leave us a comment!
BTW, your website is awesome, so many great resources! I sent along a few others…I may be as big a Rockland promoter as you are!! 😉
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m so thrilled you found good stuff here. It’s been a lot of fun building the site up. Hope to see you around!