Every so often something in my travels takes my breath away. It can be a stunning, picturesque view or a spiritual feeling a place gives me, or sometimes it’s the taste of real, good food. I had one of those moments at the Coplin Dinner House in Stratton, Maine, home to Maine’s famous skiing adventure land: the Sugarloaf Mountain. Not only is it a beautiful area with stunning wilderness and impressive mountains, the Carrabassett Valley area offers the summer visitor a wealth of attractions, from panoramic hikes to kayaking and nearby whitewater rafting.
The Coplin Dinner House was the absolute best restaurant I encountered on my travels through Maine, because they know the meaning behind serving real, authentic, healthy and wholesome food, and the flavors come screaming out with each and every bite. Where most of Maine focuses on lobster, lobster rolls, and other seafood, typically steamed or deep fried, the Coplin Dinner House has pushed the bar far and away above all the rest. Sure, there are other fine restaurants around Maine, but if you are coming for a visit on your vacation, I beg that you do not miss this stop in beautiful Carrabassett Valley. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
The Coplin Dinner House has a lovely farm next door to their restaurant which supplies many of their iconic and ever-changing meals; and you can even wander around and visit their happy pigs and other livestock. The restaurant itself is a converted farmhouse that has been given a classy touch with homey feel that made my newly wed wife Leah and I feel at home; as did the owner Heidi and her staff of sweethearts. Our table had a view of Sugarloaf and beside our table were fresh flowers and succulents. We started our memorable evening with one of the in-house Tigerlily Pub’s cocktails, which eased the day’s tension wonderfully before we started into quite the feast. Leah had a tequila, berry, and thyme cocktail and I had their spin on a bourbon old-fashioned that was delectable.
We started with fresh bread and an appetizer of poster bisque, which was our first time having it fresh, and it was so creamy. For entrees, Leah and I passed Chargrilled Filet Mignon, Salmon, and their Seafood Bake back and forth, and it was an explosion of perfect flavors. There was no need for salt or pepper as every dish was immaculately made and compiled aesthetically for optimal effect. The filet mignon was tender and absolutely bursting with flavor, over a bed of fresh mashed potatoes, gravy and with a side of fresh greens. The salmon came with a vinaigrette with mushrooms, spinach and green bean and carrots as a side. Both were exceedingly delectable, however, it was the Seafood Bake that stole the show. The bake had a baked potato shell with a sort of cheesy chowder-like seafood soup inside, with scallops, haddock, and lobster. For desert, we shared a berry crumble with a cinnamon bourbon ice cream that blew my mind, and taste buds.
Our entire experience was over the top amazing and will forever live in our memories as a highlight from our honeymoon in Maine. I had the pleasure of speaking further with Heidi throughout the night and found that her passion for growing and serving the best of the best in authentic cuisine stems from her understanding of nature and our place in the world; and without getting too political, I will say that meeting her and seeing her operation gave me hope for humanity.
Coplin Dinner House
8252 Carrabassett Road
Stratton, Maine
(207) 246-0016
https://coplindinnerhouse.com/
If you would like to learn more about the Coplin Dinner House, click here.
The Coplin Dinner House has a lovely farm next door to their restaurant which supplies many of their iconic and ever-changing meals; and you can even wander around and visit their happy pigs and other livestock. The restaurant itself is a converted farmhouse that has been given a classy touch with homey feel that made my newly wed wife Leah and I feel at home; as did the owner Heidi and her staff of sweethearts. Our table had a view of Sugarloaf and beside our table were fresh flowers and succulents. We started our memorable evening with one of the in-house Tigerlily Pub’s cocktails, which eased the day’s tension wonderfully before we started into quite the feast. Leah had a tequila, berry, and thyme cocktail and I had their spin on a bourbon old-fashioned that was delectable.
We started with fresh bread and an appetizer of poster bisque, which was our first time having it fresh, and it was so creamy. For entrees, Leah and I passed Chargrilled Filet Mignon, Salmon, and their Seafood Bake back and forth, and it was an explosion of perfect flavors. There was no need for salt or pepper as every dish was immaculately made and compiled aesthetically for optimal effect. The filet mignon was tender and absolutely bursting with flavor, over a bed of fresh mashed potatoes, gravy and with a side of fresh greens. The salmon came with a vinaigrette with mushrooms, spinach and green bean and carrots as a side. Both were exceedingly delectable, however, it was the Seafood Bake that stole the show. The bake had a baked potato shell with a sort of cheesy chowder-like seafood soup inside, with scallops, haddock, and lobster. For desert, we shared a berry crumble with a cinnamon bourbon ice cream that blew my mind, and taste buds.
Our entire experience was over the top amazing and will forever live in our memories as a highlight from our honeymoon in Maine. I had the pleasure of speaking further with Heidi throughout the night and found that her passion for growing and serving the best of the best in authentic cuisine stems from her understanding of nature and our place in the world; and without getting too political, I will say that meeting her and seeing her operation gave me hope for humanity.
Coplin Dinner House
8252 Carrabassett Road
Stratton, Maine
(207) 246-0016
https://coplindinnerhouse.com/
If you would like to learn more about the Coplin Dinner House, click here.
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