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

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

Good views, great food, the best people, and above all, TRADITION. We cruised on over to Sheep Island on the William’s Fishing Vessel: Total Eclipse. Sheep Island is a place that so many Midcoast Mainers hold close to their heart. More on this magical place later! Music, Memories, and Multi-Generational Magic: Most everyone loves the fresh seafood, but what truly elevates the day, however, is who you share it with. There is something profoundly special about sharing an experi

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

What a night! Our first-ever Munchies VIP Night on the Town was a beautiful whirlwind of chaos, cocktails, and coastlines. If you weren’t there, here is exactly what went down during our inaugural Munchies-mobile excursion. The Crew We packed the stretch SUV limo to the gills with a high-energy squad- And man, did we look good! Who says we can’t dress to the nines and saunter around midcoast Maine... Nobody! Ali & Bill: Our Munchies Co-Founders. The Talent: One videographer t

We love a good Public House! The Newcastle Public House sits in a structure that feels like the very soul of Midcoast Maine. Located in the heart of Newcastle, the building carries the weight and charm of local history, having served various purposes over the decades before becoming the community staple it is today. The "public house" concept is perfectly realized here—the gorgeous old architecture, the creaky floors, and the warm, wood-heavy interior create an atmosphere tha

The Results Are In for the Shot-Off What a wild Cinco de Mayo! After a day of incredible energy and a great turnout of patrons casting their votes for the Best Cinco de Mayo Shot, we officially have a winner. This was a true nail-biter, coming down to the very last ballot—literally winning by just one single vote! Huge congratulations to Munchies’ own Billy B. for taking home the title! A massive thank you to everyone who came out, grabbed a round, and supported the contest.

Homeport Inn and Tavern is a masterclass in how to honor the past while serving up a world-class present. What truly sets the Homeport apart is the palpable soul of the place. You can tell when a space is merely "managed" versus when it is deeply loved. Owners Arnaud and Allison Lessard, along with Chef Kip Dixon, have breathed incredible life into this historic property. If you want the full experience, you have to sit at the bar with Arnaud. His passion for the building’s

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

Ok, I know we’ve already raved about Buttermilk Kitchen at Marriners, but you need to RUN to downtown Camden and get this southern staple. I’m in love. It’s not just your average chicken and grits. It’s perfectly cooked chicken breast, fully covered in their amazing, hot maple sauce, 🤤sitting on a bed of pimento grits, topped off with two eggs cooked however you please. We walked into huge smiles from managers and servers, and the Chef brought out the plates himself with pri

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

Wood-Fired lovin’ in the Heart of Rockland 13 Oak has been at the top of our "must-visit" list for months, fueled by whispers of incredible wood-fired cooking and a vibe that’s taking Rockland by storm. After a quick text to the owner of 13 Oak from regular, Tim Savard , while grabbing drinks, I mean, making business plans at Myrt, we got the green light: "You’re in at 7:00 PM." We gathered the crew—Ali (running late from a kid-Snow Bowl pick up because the kid can't ever