We have the pleasure of having our beer on draft at many Maine establishments, ranging from cozy bars, to family restaurants, and everything in between. Check out our freshly updated beer finder to locate more places near you with us on draft or in cans! With the last days of summer still ahead of us, we wanted to highlight one place in particular where you could get some big bang for your buck.
Dolphin Marina & Restaurant is situated at the southernmost tip of Harpswell (also known as Basin Point), about an hours drive or, if you know a guy, a 25 minute boat ride from Portland. While the weather is still good, we highly recommend selecting the latter. Setting sail from Spring Point Marina in South Portland gives you a seagull’s eye view of the islands and inlets that decorate Casco Bay, and what an experience that is. Stock your cooler, wear some layers, and blast your end of summer playlist for everything it’s worth.
If you make a beeline for Harpswell, you’ll arrive in about 25 minutes, but we understand if you get distracted by the majestic beauty of the sea. You’ll know you’ve reached your destination when you see the docks, and right behind them, the orange umbrellas of Dolphin Marina’s plentiful outdoor seating.
Dolphin Marina and Restaurant has been family owned for over 40 years, and was started by Malcom and Jean Saxon in 1966. The Saxon family settled on Basin Point in the early 1900’s after falling in love with the area while vacationing on Pott’s Island. The marina and restaurant were slowly built up over the years, always with acute attention to green practices, conservation, and preservation.
Upon being seated, the first thing you MUST do is order a cup of their famous fish chowder and it’s accompanying — arguably more famous — blueberry muffin. We can’t begin to fathom or understand the dark magic that makes these muffins so good, but we take comfort in knowing that they are always available for any meal. If you’re feeling thirsty from your ocean voyage, Substance is on draft alongside other great local beers and expertly made cocktails. If you’re having trouble deciding, the Cucumber Gin Spritzer is a great place to start.
We also recommend that you come hungry.
The blackened haddock sandwich is a perennial classic and, once you have it, you’ll have a hard time ordering anything else the next time you go. Bacon wrapped scallops are literally never a bad choice, and other options like lobster stew, seafood risotto, and fried clams mean that there is something for everyone.
While this summer has been a weird one, it has given us the unique opportunity to sit back and revel in how lucky we are to live in Maine. The summers here, while tragically short, are also vibrant, nostalgic, and poetically beautiful. Whether it be surfing, hiking, biking, or drinking a local brew while staring out at the sparkling sea, a bustling marina, and the islands beyond, Maine’s got it all within an hours drive. Or much shorter boat ride.
