Whether you’re heading out for a quick drink, pre-theater bites or something else, Maine is full of great spots for libations and food. For dating couples in their midlife, the ambiance of a quiet cafe provides a pleasant backdrop for a getting-to-know-you conversation, while longtime partners find that an occasional night out adds spice to an everyday routine.
But where should you go? We asked five midlife Mainers for their favorite spots.
Sea Dog Brewing Co. and Thistles, Bangor
Lucas Richman, 51, has served as music director of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra for about six years, but he and his wife, Debbie, only recently sold their house in Knoxville, Tennessee, to settle full time in the Queen City. And they’re already finding favorite spots among Bangor’s growing food scene.
“Bangor seems to be a growing foodie destination,” Richman said. “There are a lot of new restaurants with a young, vibrant atmosphere.”
One of their favorites? The Sea Dog Brewing Co. on the Bangor waterfront. One of six locations of the brewing company that was founded in 1993 in Camden, the Sea Dog offers its own craft brews, including lagers and ales.
“We really like the Sea Dog Brewing Co. for its lobster roll and fish and chips,” he said. “And we love the year-round view of the river and the informal atmosphere. It’s one of the things that first enchanted us about Bangor.”
Plus, he added, he’s a member in good standing of the Mug Club, with a personalized beer mug hanging behind the busy bar.
For a more formal night out, Richman enjoys Thistles Restaurant, another Bangor landmark. The restaurant features dishes from Central and South America as well as European specialties.
“The food is tremendous,” Richman said.
He recommends the Argentinian beef empanadas and the grilled avocado salad.
Sea Dog Brewing Co., 26 Front St., Bangor; 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Monday-Sunday.
Thistles Restaurant, 175 Exchange St., Bangor; 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.
Quoddy Bay Lobster and Localz Tavern & Grill, Eastport
Way down in Washington County, Chris Grannis, 61, runs the Eastport Arts Center, which supports an inviting, year-round calendar of educational and cultural events. She and her husband, Steve, have two local favorites for date nights.
The first is the uber-casual Quoddy Bay Lobster, a traditional New England clam shack with an indoor restaurant and a counter with outdoor seating. The seasonal spot, a favorite for its lobster rolls, chowders and more, closes for the winter.
Off-season, they head for the newly opened Localz Tavern & Grill, which debuted in March with a menu featuring American favorites made with locally sourced meats, seafood and dairy products. Located right across from the public library, the spot has a regular rotation of entertainment as well.
“They have karaoke at night and live music every weekend,” Grannis said.
Quoddy Bay Lobster, 7 Sea St., Eastport; Seasonal only for lunch, dinner and takeout.
Localz Tavern & Grill, 33 Water St., Eastport; 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Monday-Sunday.
Calzolaio Pasta Co., Wilton
Maine’s poet laureate, Wesley McNair, 74, lives in the Somerset County town of Mercer. His most recent book of poems, “The Lost Child,” won the 2015 PEN New England Award for poetry.
McNair and his wife, Diane, occasionally make the 30-mile drive to Wilton for dinner at the Calzolaio Pasta Co., an Italian restaurant featuring homemade sauces, pasta, brick-oven pizza and more that’s located in a refurbished shoe factory. The restaurant’s name means “cobbler” in Italian and is a witty reference to the building’s history, McNair noted.
“You can’t beat this restaurant for ambience,” he said, and the food is great, too.
Menu favorites include a Sicilian chicken dish with spicy capicola sausage and linguini with a sauce of baby clams, fresh oregano, garlic and butter.
Calzolaio Pasta Co., 248 Main St., Wilton; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sunday brunch.
Amici’s Cucina, Waterville
In Waterville, Dick Dyer, marketing director for Waterville Creates, said local restaurants help attract people downtown for concerts, museum exhibits and other events.
Dyer, 65, wouldn’t name a personal favorite among Waterville’s many eateries, which include a number of ethnic options.
“But if you ask my wife, Mary, she’d say Amici’s Cucina is her first choice,” he said. “They have a veal chop that is to die for. It’s off the menu now, but we ask for it every time we go.”
Amici’s is an Italian restaurant located in downtown Waterville that serves a selection of pastas, Italian favorites and more.
Amici’s Cucina, 137 Main St., Waterville; 4:30 p.m.- 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
Bibo’s Madd Apple Cafe, Portland
Writer Monica Wood, 61, whose new novel, “The One-in-a-Million Boy,” is due out in April of 2016, likes Bibo’s Madd Apple Cafe on Forest Avenue in Portland, next to Portland Stage, where she and her husband, Dan, have season tickets. The chef owned and operated restaurant has a rotating menu of elevated American classics.
“It’s a cozy, low-stress place to have a whole meal or just a great appetizer and a drink. Bill Boutwell, the chef/owner, is pretty much a one-man band in the kitchen, making fresh comfort food you can afford,” she said. “Plus, the waitstaff is cute.”
Bibo’s Madd Apple Cafe, 23 Forest Ave., Portland; 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.
