ALL POSTS

Keeping Maine’s Heart Beats Strong: If you’ve been following along with us here at Munchies in Maine, you know that our passion goes far beyond grabbing a great bite or discovering the next best cocktail. For us, dining out is about the experience, the energy, and—above all—the incredible people behind the scenes. From the line cooks and rockstar servers to the independent innkeepers and neighborhood taproom owners, hospitality workers are the backbone of Maine's local cultur

The Legend of Captain Hanson Crockett Gregory: In 1847, 16-year-old Hanson Crockett Gregory—born in the Clam Cove area of Rockport (then part of Camden)—was working as a ship’s cook aboard a lime-trading schooner. Frustrated that the fried dough cakes never cooked evenly in the center, leaving a soggy, raw middle, Gregory grabbed a round tin pepper box from the ship's galley and punched out the center of the raw dough before dropping it into hot fat. The hot oil flowed throug

A Tried-and-True Go-to We Munchies love diving into fancy culinary hot spots and uncovering unique local gems, but let’s be honest: some days, you just can’t survive without the hassle-free, tried-and-true classics. When you’ve spent two freezing hours sitting in the wind, watching a youth sports game north of Midcoast Maine, upscale tasting menus aren't on the radar—pure comfort food is. Every single time sports bring us up this way, we know exactly where we’re stopping on t

The non-negotiable, must-stop on your way into town. Having close friends (what’s up, Morongs!) who own a sweet house right in the heart of downtown Greenville, steps from Moosehead Lake, is basically winning the Upta Camp lottery. Joining them on their Moosehead adventures is already peak Maine living, but the fact that they also love nothing more than hitting every bar and restaurant in town to laugh until their stomach muscles ache? Well, it’s no wonder we’ve been friends

Dog and Locals Approved If you’ve ever found yourself in Boothbay Harbor wondering where the line between "warm local watering hole" and "dog-friendly haven" blurs into pure coastal perfection, look no further than Brady's Restaurant at 25 Union Street. It’s the community hub you never knew you needed! First things first: let's address the true executive management here. While human hands might pour the craft beers and hand-bread the fried green beans, Maye holds the real pow

Fun, Funny, and Full of Maine Flair If we’re going to trek all the way down to Boothbay for a field hockey game, we’re sure as hell going to take advantage of the local food scene, and we found out- Footbridge Brewery is an absolute must-stop. The History & Vibe Situated right off Granary Way near Boothbay Harbor's historic footbridge, Footbridge Brewery was founded by co-owners Dan Pangburn and Nick Ullo. They built the business around a passion for hand-crafted, small-batch

If both of us are awake, caffeinated, and hitting the road by 7:30 AM for a review, you know whatever is waiting at the end of the line is going to be something special. We’ve been dying to do this for a long time: a hands-on, working tour of an oyster farm in South Thomaston with Krista E. Tripp, owner and founder of Aphrodite Oysters. Of course, no proper Munchies morning starts without fuel. After a “quick” stop at the 'Keag Store for some breakfast sammies, we met Krista

Rockin’ Atmosphere and the Best Brews There is truly nothing quite like sitting through four quarters of middle school football in a relentless Maine downpour. By the final whistle of that hard-fought game, the boys were exhausted, our boots were soaked, and I was shivering so hard I was pretty sure I was vibrating on a different frequency. Naturally, the only reasonable recovery plan was to pile the entire soggy squad into the cars and head straight to Orono Brewing Company

An Oopsie That Turned Into an Oh Yeah! It all started with a Facebook Marketplace fail that turned into a total find! I found a desk on Facebook Marketplace, and we hopped in the truck, only to learn that we were going to the wrong town and the actual destination was over an hour away. Whitefield and Winthrop are 2 different towns- sorry, Honey! So we rerouted and got on the road to Winthrop to score that desk. On the way, we passed this cool little place called The White Duc

Bill and Rachel hit the mid-coast beach scene So we’re approaching the upcoming three-day weekend, and you know what, I kinda wanted to meet my girl for drinks halfway home from Bath, so we met at the Narrows Tavern in Waldoboro. We settled into the local vibe and ordered some drinks, knowing that we were starting our gorgeous, maybe WAY too hot, afternoon off together. Vicky, at The Narrows Tavern, was a well-established local, taking good care of the regulars and us alike.

Chocolate cake that will change your life One of the Munchies Duo thought they were headed for a nice, quiet dinner, only to walk through the door and get absolutely ambushed by a room full of our favorite people. It turns out Munchies Super Fan, Ed Cotter, had been moonlighting as a secret party operative. He’s the one who stumbled upon this bakery in Warren, and honestly, after one bite of that cake, our sweet-treat lives will never be the same. If you are looking for a lo

THE RESULTS ARE IN! I've been up since 5am scouring the internet for every shared post and every last vote, and the Midcoast has spoken! We asked you to nominate the servers who make our dining experiences unforgettable, and WOW, did you deliver. With about 450 votes (holy cow!!) and so much love shared, we are thrilled to announce our winners! OUR GRAND CHAMPION: Darlene Dudley Ginn Must Be Nice Lobster, Belfast: Cracking the triple digits in votes, "Queen Darlene" has take

The heart of Mechanic Street—through fair winds and blizzards. For those who remember the Camden of decades ago—when the nightlife was vibrant, and the streets stayed humming long after sunset with spots like Gilbert's and the original Sea Dog—the opening of this authentic Irish pub feels less like a new business and more like a homecoming. As Camden slowly became a sleepy coastal town, 8 Bells Camden was just the caffeine shot it desperately needed. Located at 45 Mechanic S

The Munchies Take Over Rockport Harbor If you heard a sudden roar of laughter echoing across the water in mid-coast Maine recently, it was probably us. The Munchies Crew decided to descend upon the Rockport Harbor Hotel , and hey, sometimes these kids can get a case of the giggles.. Adult giggles.. Ok, maybe cackles? Anyways, this isn't just a boutique hotel with a "gorgeous" label—it’s a high-end sanctuary that somehow survived our arrival. Nestled in a town famous for Andre

A beloved basketball tournament hideaway, where family meets tradition When your daughter is on 3 basketball teams, you end up spending days traveling across Maine, finding places to hide out for a quick margarita in between games. When in Bangor, LP is my reprieve. If you’re looking for a slice of Mexico in the heart of the Pine Tree State, look no further than Las Palapas in Bangor. This isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a high-energy, flavor-packed experience that has become a

A happy hub on the Penobscot River Looking for a spot that combines a killer view with a vibe so warm it can melt a Maine winter? Look no further than High Tide Restaurant and Bar in Brewer! Perched right at 5 South Main Street, this gem sits in a beautifully repurposed brick building that carries the soul of Brewer’s industrial past. Once part of the historic waterfront infrastructure, the space has been transformed into a lively hub that honors its history while serving up

Midcoast Insomniacs Rejoice: Breakfast at Café Grazie As "munchies"—and arguably some of the worst sleepers in Midcoast Maine—being wide awake in the pre-dawn hours eventually leads to one thing: a serious craving for breakfast. Fortunately, Rockland’s newest gem, Café Grazie, is making the early bird life a lot more delicious. The Backstory Café Grazie is the brick-and-mortar evolution of Double Grazie, a beloved bakery project that started in 2021. After building a loyal fo

Smash Burgs If you haven’t tried a Smashburger with jalapenos, cream cheese and raspberry jam, are you even living? It’s the weirdest, and the best- as soon as we saw it on the menu, we couldn’t miss this opportunity. The Back Sheep food truck served up some killer smash burgers topped with a delectable raspberry topper. But somehow, it works. It’s spicy, it’s sweet, and it’s creamy. We also tried an O.G. Smashburger , which was fresh and tasty, but honestly? It felt a littl

A Tale of Two Bars, and One Big Family If Munchies in Maine has a spiritual home, it’s CUZZY'S Restaurant & tavern . For many years, (Since the 90s!!) this Camden institution has acted as a lighthouse for locals and travelers alike. To say they have a dedicated regular following is a massive understatement—the regulars here aren’t just customers; they are the fabric of the establishment itself. Cuzzy’s is unique because it offers two distinct vibes under one roof, serving as

A Winter Oasis at Pepper’s Landing We trekked it and hour and 30 minutes to Old Town on a bitterly cold January day for a basketball tournament. As we were looking for a place to thaw out before the tourney, we stubbled upon Pepper’s Landing. SO. GLAD. WE. DID. The Atmosphere & Decor The first thing you notice is how much thought and love went into the "bones" of this place. The decor is clean, nautical, and hyper-specialized. It’s not just generic sea-shack kitsch; every det