JORDAN POND HOUSE, Step back into simple charm, beautiful views and wonderful food!!
Written: Sep 02 '03 (Updated Sep 05 '08)
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Pros: Dining in tradition. Wonderful Popovers
Cons: Yellow jackets at some times of year.
The Bottom Line: The Jordan Pond House has an atmosphere that is wonderfully warm and conducive to a relaxing dining experience,
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Jordan Pond House |
There are three things you know about me if you have been following my reviews. One fact is that I love visiting national parks, particularly Acadia National Park in Maine. Another is that I enjoy learning a bit about history and how others lived and worked in the past. And the final fact is that this big guy loves eating and dining.
If you put those all together you would understand why the Jordan Pond House is a huge favorite of mine.
LET'S STEP BACK IN TIME
The original farmhouse was built by the Jordan family of nearby Seal Harbor in 1847. It was constructed on a gorgeous piece of land on a pond sheltered by the mountains on two sides and with a view of two symmetrical softly curved mountains in the near distance. These have been named the Bubbles. I have heard rumor of these twin rounded peaks as being representative of breasts or "boobs" hence Bubbles. Maybe that's some misguided local lore I heard about. Now upon closer inspection it seems that if one really looks carefully the peaks could look a bit like ................
Anyways, the look of those two mountains have become the symbol of the Jordan Pond House and their representations can be found on their stationary and china. It is a rather simple yet striking design.
The pond and the restaurant were named after the Jordans. In the 1870's Mr. Melvan Tibbets opened the farmhouse as a restaurant. In 1895 Mr and Mrs McIntire began their 50 years of work with the restaurant and built up its clientele, character and decor. There are pictures of these folks in the waiting area of the restaurant. Some of the dates don't seem to match perfectly with this other information I read on their menu however, they are close enough for our use here.
In those years many of the wealthy of the time summered in mansions they called "Cottages" that they had built in nearby Bar Harbor and other parts of Mount Desert Island. The areas natural beauty of mountains, forests, lakes, rugged shore line, beaches, and sailing opportunities, along with relatively cool summer weather was a strong attraction.
The McIntires had Teas and served lunch. They had white birch bark lining the walls of the dining rooms with huge fieldstone fireplaces and windows facing the north overlooking the pond and the Bubble Mountains. There were huge round oriental lanterns over head for light. Unfortunately on June 21, 1979 the original building was destroyed in a fire with unknown origin.
My wife and I were fortunate enough to have dined a few times in the original building. It was a rustic building with class and charm. So was the service and menu. More on that in a bit.
While the McIntires were running this business, John D Rockefeller Jr and family were building carriage paths through nearby land he and other wealthy folks decided to donate to the National Parks Service as a gift for generations to come. He and others had the fore sight to realize that the horse and carriage were soon to be a memory of the past. He built a barn, coral and ranch house that he also donated. and still stand today.
Near the end of the McIntires 50 years running Jordan Pond House he purchased it and the land and donated it to the parks too.
In 1946 a local group started the Acadia Corporation dedicated to keeping the traditions of the Jordan Pond House alive. This private concessioner continues to run the restaurant.
THE NEW JORDAN POND HOUSE
Immediately after the devastating fire, construction on the new Jordan Pond House began. My wife and I visited the place the very next summer. First we were quite shocked about the news of the loss of the original building. After seeing the new place it took a little while to get used to the new building. Tea on the lawn, however, was much the same.
The new building has huge floor to ceiling glass panels and windows on the pond side. It is actually on an angle to it. They used the same kind of Oriental lanterns as the first building had. Look for them to gently sway in the breezes of the inside air.
There is a small area on a second level that I have never noticed being used. The ceiling vaults up to heights of forty feet and more. The floor is hardwood and the walls are finished in pine.
There is a porch area that directly overlooks the Bubbles. This is where we like to take tea or lunch. From year to year, day to day there are sometimes problems with yellow jackets. Due to them, service has closed the lawn service on occasion. Thankfully that doesn't happen too often. We like the porch for lunch because we are indoors with the feel and views of the outdoors.
The building has a few sets of rest rooms to accommodate the diners and those who are making the Jordan Pond House a stop after a day of hiking, biking the carriage paths or possibly even taking a carriage ride to the restaurant from the Wildwood stables. Please see my review of Carriages in Acadia for more information on this wonderful offer to step into the past and see beautiful landscapes. The Jordan Pond House is a major attraction in Acadia National Park.
There is a gift shop here. It is one of the six or seven run by the Acadia Corporation. They also have them on top of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the US east coast, Thunder Hole on the park loop road, and two that I know of in Bar Harbor. There may be others. These store sell quality gifts. You can even purchase some china like that your dinner, lunch, or tea was served on or perhaps a tea pot with the same Bubbles logo. They also have some excellent sporting supplies and dress wear.
Upstairs in the store that is part of the Jordan Pond House complex, they have a small ice cream freezer. I have noticed people make a purchase and then sit on the second story outside deck that over looks the lawn with the same pond/mountain view. There are a couple of sit yourself, no service, tables there.
TEA ON THE LAWN
Just as the wealthy enjoyed a quiet afternoon overlooking the pond and mountains, the tradition of tea on the lawn continues today. Wooden chairs and tables overlook a small meadow, the Jordan Pond, and the famous Bubble Mountains. It's hard to explain how charming this atmosphere is. The help quietly and efficiently takes orders and serve. These are young people who have summer jobs here and many are dormed nearby in some rather beautiful surroundings. These people are well trained and friendly. At one time they had to walk with one arm placed behind their back. It seems this part of tradition has been lost.
Tea is served between 11:30 AM and 5:30PM. With your order you get a cup of tea that they will refill for you and two popovers with butter and jam. If you have never had a hot popover you are in for a treat. They do come out directly from the oven. They are tasty and with the butter and strawberry jam they are quite a delight. The cost is $7.50 with a choice of tea, coffee, ice tea, freshly squeezed lemonade, or soft drink.
The atmosphere is family friendly yet still romantic. It's interesting how this place can maintain both at the same time.
You can see that the prices should not keep you away from this old Acadian tradition.
For just a dollar and a quarter more you may have hot or iced cappuccino or hot or iced Chai, instead of the other beverage offering, along with your popovers.
There also happens to be a carriage ride that takes you to the Jordan Pond house, drops you off to pre arranged seating, and then picks you up afterward. I never did this because I never knew of it. I love this area. I learn something new every visit!
LUNCH
Lunch is served in the dining room and the porch. Most of the porch has a spectacular outside view. Some of the seating in the restaurant does not. Go where you like. On occasion we have had to wait extra time to have our porch table that has a view.
We happen to do lunch most times we come to the Pond House. This time again the six uf us sat down at the window table with borders of gorgeous perennial flowers that boarder the glass windows and sliding glass doors.
Just a quick note. They have a gardener that takes care of the flower beds on the grounds and has a huge flower garden out back. Be sure to take a stroll over to see it.
Lunch goes from $8.25 for the Seal Cove salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, olives, and feta and balsamic vinigrette. (Add a few dollars for grilled chicken, Maine Shrimp, or lobster meat put on top.) to $18.00 for a steamed 1 1/4 pound lobster with rice and vegetable.
They serve Grilled Maine Salmon at 12.25, Baked Scallops at $13.00, Penne pasta at $10.00 and Grilled Marinated Chicken Breast with rice and veggie at $10.25.
There are other offerings too. The prices are moderate, yet the service, food, and atmosphere is superb.
We did see plates with Curried Chicken salad, Lobster and crab meatrolls, and other well presented luncheon specials go by.
Though we have had some of these offerings in the past and also on other visits this year we all have the same lunch special together. We each order a bowl of Lobster Stew and Popovers. This combination is $16.50. You can have just a cup of the stew with the popovers for $12.75. Ha, after you taste the stew you will be sorry you didn't pay the extra$3.75 for the bowl. It is consistently amazing!!
Every year my wife tries to duplicate the taste when we get home. This year she made it and let it sit for a day before serving. That was a little trick she learned in one of the recipes for this stew. She is disappointed because every year, no matter how hard she tries, it just doesn't taste the same. This year we even purchased live Maine lobster and took the home with us. Once again she was disappointed. I have to say that though her lobster stew wasn't as good and the Pond House's it was still mighty fine!!
One of our servers this year wasn't quite up to par. Two of us were served burned bottom, popovers. Hey this can happen. She said she would replace the two, which she did, but never brought extra butter and jam that we asked for not once but twice. What good is having a fresh hot popover if you have to wait for the accompaniments. I believe Jenna may have just been having a bad day. On a subsequent visit I saw her working hard getting to and from the tables.
Did I mention you get two popovers with the Stew. They are served in two separate rounds so that you get hot, just out of the over, popovers.
DINNER
Dinner is server at Five Thirty every evening You will see the help cleaning the outside area at this time. We had called for six oclock reservations. They told us they could set us up for six fifteen. It worked out well. We arrived at five past six and were immediately seated.
One evening my wife and I, just the two of us, went out for dinner at the Jordan Pond House. We have dined here many times before and have taken friends and family here over the years. Though we have had children with us for dinner I recommend them being there for lunch. The atmosphere is quieter at night.
In all our times for dinner at the Jordan Pond house, it has always been a good experience. This time was not much different.
We were seated by the corner window near the north side. We had a nice view of the mountains. Not all the dining room tables have views and once the sun is down everything outside the window is totally black.
As starters they offer Crab Cakes, Baked Brie in Phyllo, Cup of Lobster Stew, Cup of Seafood Chowder, Soup du Jour, or Garden salad. These are also offered at lunch. The salad is least expensive at $4.00 with Crab Cakes and Lobster Stew at $8.75. The other items are priced in between. If you go to their web site you will find the prices ever so slightly cheaper. It seems they did not update the new prices yet.
My wife had the crab cakes. She thought they were excellent with plenty of crabmeat, good texture, and very good taste. I had the Brie in Phyllo. First you must have a taste for Brie. I have it and it was very good. What really made this appetizer special was the rich in butter, very light in texture, flaky Phyllo. It was excellent! The phyllo along with some grapes and crackers were a perfect accompaniment to the Brie.
We ordered one cup of lobster stew with two spoons. We can't stay away from that stuff!!
Most of the lunch offerings are also available for dinner. The prices are a few dollars more and are served with a popover, rice or potato, and a vegetable. The veggie that day were string beans.
There are a couple of additions to the menu too. Prime ribs of Beef are offered, "while it lasts", at $19.00. A Black Angus filet mignon with red wine mushroom sauce was $21.00.
I told the waiter to tell the chef to serve me the better cut of the two ,Prime rib or Filet Mignon. I was given the filet mignon. I have to say it wasn't the very best cut of meat that I have eaten. I expected it tender and though certainly not tough, didn't meet my expectations. The red potato side dish were very good as were the string beans.
I really should have ordered the scallops. They are a specialty up in these parts and the Jordan Pond House serves them perfectly.
My wife had the Grilled Maine Salmon. It was very good. She let me have a taste and I agreed. She liked the dill mustard vinaigarette it was served with. That I didn't want. The salmon tasted good on its own.
I didn't mention the Jordan Pond House has a wine list. We opted for local brewery ales. Bar Harbor has three micro breweries that I am aware of. The competition is great and so are the tastes. They were perfect with my dinner. In fact I did go for a second 16 ouncer.
DESSERT and COFFEE
I had their Double rich Brownie a la Mode with their homemade chocolate sauce. I love their sauce. It is wonderfully sinful. My wife had, Ha, I don't recall. OK a senior moment has come into my life. If I find out or remember I will update this piece.
We did both order Cappuccino that was tasty but not very hot.
Our bill came to a little under $120.00 with the tip.
The waiter we had, ha, I cannot remember his name either, was a nice young, respectful fellow who got everything right and was prompt with any requests. I think his name was Tom. Probably still is. He was indicative to what most of the help is like at the Jordan Pond House.
A FEW OTHER NOTES
Do try to call ahead for reservations. It helps and in fact on busy days you can be shut out without a reservation. Once you are there you will be given one of those square lighted, buzzing pagers. You can wait outside, in a small waiting room, out on the top decks, or in the gift shop.
Jordan Pond Hous is in Acadia National Park. It's the only one that is. It is about a twelve minute ride from Bar Harbor.
Parking getting in can sometimes be difficult to get. There is an overflow area beyond the Pond House if you were coming from Seal Harbor. I have just circled around a few times and eventually found somebody leaving.
If you prefer you can get free public transportation that runs from Bar Harbor and many of the campgrounds. Check the schedules. They are posted at many of the stops around the island and have digital readouts of times at many stops including the Jordan Pond House for your return trip.
Another thing to remember is that things do quiet down quit a bit after three thirty. Have a late lunch, afternoon tea, of perhaps make this your early dinner. Parking will be easier and the crowds will be down. I do want to mention that though there are many people waiting to get in, once in, the feeling of crowds is gone. They serve efficiently but not rushing or trying to push you out of the door.
Many times after tea or lunch it is the perfect time to take a stroll down by the pond. There are also blue berries to pick in August just below the Pond House and before the pond.
The Jordan Pond House is so much more than just its food. It is tradition, beauty, and simple charm.
Try it.
other reviews in Maine by popsrocks
Bar Harbor What a great seaside town!!
Acadia National Park My favorite place in the world!
Carriage Rides in Acadia National Park
Whale Watching from Bar Harbor
Jordan's RestaurantBlueberry Pancakes for breakfast and lunch. Cheap eatins in Bar Harbor.
MAINE, great coastal towns and so much more.
Canada, our side trip from Bar Harbor/Acadia
other places of interest by popsrocks
NEW YORK CITY
US VIRGIN ISLANDS
National Parks Passports
http://www.epinions.com/content_76095131268
National Parks System
http://www.epinions.com/content_2708004484
Everglades National Parks http://www.epinions.com/content_75027549828
Grand Canyon National Park http://www.epinions.com/content_77646302852
Bryce Canyon National Parks http://www.epinions.com/content_77562220164
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Stopping in for lunch or tea on the patio or lawn is a must
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