Aragosta at Goose Cove - Deer Isle, Maine

Katie P.

We had the pleasure of working with Heather through a wedding proposal at Aragosta, and we couldn’t be happier with our experience. From the start, she was always willing to make time to walk through our questions, ensuring we felt confident and supported throughout the planning process.

Heather has an impressive knowledge of Aragosta’s offerings and how to bring a wedding vision to life there, even though she is newer to the venue. She is incredibly personable and easy to talk to, making the planning process feel smooth and enjoyable. What stood out most was how she truly encourages couples to create a unique wedding experience at Aragosta, always doing her best to accommodate requests with a can-do attitude.

Heather is prompt, organized, and on top of every detail, keeping things moving efficiently and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. We truly enjoyed working with her and can’t wait to see all that she accomplishes in her time at Aragosta!

Katie Q.

I suggest if you are passing through, just get drinks on the deck and some appetizers and be on your way.

Gorgeous location. We sailed in and brought our dingy boat ashore to eat here. We did not stay in the rooms. We were really excited about this meal. Food is mediocre for the price. Service is horrible. We arrived early to have drinks. The host was very rude and sat us last. He had forgotten that we were waiting at the bar. He was not apologetic at all.
Each course was presented by a different teenager with a weird robot speech describing the food. Because it is so remote, they must have to hire summer youth to help run things, I’m guessing. It was bizarre, none the less. If you asked the servers any questions about the food, they couldn’t really respond. Clearly, they have no training. The space is beautiful, but not worth what we paid for, pretentious and just not high bar enough. If they want to present this high end they have to hire and pay for servers who know culinary arts, presentation and wine pairing. This place is a joke. We would’ve been happy with a honest good chowder, lobsters roll and fire oven pizza if it would have tasted better.

Colleen K.

This was the best meal of my life. Full stop.

My husband and I ate at Aragosta & chose the chef’s tasting menu. I coupled it with wine pairings & he added on the chef’s favorites. Every single bite was an explosion of flavor that reflected local and seasonal tastes and experiences. The staff was incredibly kind & knowledgeable. The view was beautiful. I can’t say enough good things about this place. I wish I could have hugged the chef. She’s a gift to the culinary world.

Peter V.

I went into the dinner tasting expecting to be impressed because of the price point and location. And I left being very impressed with the experience but more so the amazing food. They managed to make the food not only beautiful, but also delicious, while also sourcing from a variety of local farms and vendors.

Carlos I.

Our experience at Aragosta was unforgettable! The food was exceptional, showcasing fresh, local ingredients that blew us away. The cozy yet elegant atmosphere made it perfect for a special night out. If you're in Deer Isle, don’t miss this culinary gem!

Rae F.

Catfished

I want to preface this by saying this review is for the dining experience at Aragosta and is no reflection of our wonderful stay at Aragosta at Goose Cove.

After following Aragosta online for the last few years, I knew I needed to make the trek up to Deer Isle myself. Some friends and I planned a road trip from Pennsylvania for the purpose of enjoying the tasting menu. Upon booking a cabin on the property, I went to make our dinner reservations. To my dismay, I could not seem to find anything available for any of their experiences. I assumed they were fully booked, as I know they have recently received a lot of press, so when I managed to find a reservation for Sunday’s al la carte menu, I snagged it. Seeing that every dish they post online is stunning, the sample tasting menu is to die for, and the website states that the a la carte dining experience is where they workshop dishes for the purpose of their tasting menu, I felt confident that we would still have a fantastic meal.

Unfortunately this was not the case. Once we were seated in the restaurant we found out that the reason we could not get a tasting menu reservation was not because they were fully booked, but rather because they are closed on weekends and only offer tasting menu Monday-Thursday. This seemed rather strange considering they are effectively a “hotel” and a destination very much off the beaten path. When we were handed our menus concern set in—it was a far cry from what we had anticipated. There were only 7 options, two of which were unavailable (the oysters and dessert), and to our surprise all 3 entree offerings were tacos. A far cry from the a la carte options I had seem them post online which included scallops, venison carpaccio, and crab dumplings.

We were disappointed by the fact that they had no oysters, as they often post about their oyster farming operation. The lack of oysters tied right into the lack of education about where their food came from. As a locavore, I was eager to hear all about their sourcing, as they often boast about their local, seasonal, property-grown, and foraged ingredients. However, our server never once brushed on this information or even gave us the slightest background about the restaurant or property.

Now, back to the food. The first two dishes—Salmon Crudo and Boquerones— were good. Nothing overly creative but they tasted good and harkened back to dishes I had seen them post online. Next was the clam chowder, which contained no perceivable clams and had the mouthfeel of water. There was a blasé corn salad that lacked creativity or excitement, but what really did it for us were the tacos. With their avocado crema squiggle, accompanied by a pile of wet lettuce with 2 slices of pickled onion. The meat felt like something a mid-western mom would make in a crock pot for her kids on Taco Tuesday. There is really no other way to explain it, then that it felt like the walk-in was empty and they were trying to cobble a meal together out of the last remaining items they found hidden in the back.

To be a destination restaurant but provide a schedule that pigeon holes people into booking on a Sunday where only a la carte is available makes no sense. To pretend that your a la carte option is of the same caliber as your tasting experience is incredibly disingenuous. Our server told that they are essentially a wedding venue throughout the summer, which is why the restaurant is closed on the weekends and tasting is only available weekdays. Though you’d have no way of knowing this when making your reservations to stay on the property. Unfortunately since the experience, I have read several reviews from other people who traveled great distances, feeling as lucky as I did to snag a Sunday res, only to be completely disappointed in the what awaited them. All I can say is that I am grateful our dining experience included cloth napkins and proper plates.

Rebecca B.

Our experience at Aragosta was magical. Every bite of the 3-course bar menu was exceptional, as were the cocktails. And of course the location is stunning. What truly made it so special was the service (thank you to the delightful Alex at the bar).

Polly P.

The location was gorgeous! We felt like we were in a secret hideaway with all of the cool kids. The large picnic tables were adorably set with mismatched vintage plates. The rosé was delicious. The hibiscus margarita was very disappointing…without flavor. The food was unimaginative and not very thoughtful of vegans. There were two overpriced menu items for vegetarians.