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Ratings and reviews
3.5
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
Learn More
CUISINES
Seafood
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
features
Does this restaurant have live music
Details
About
Best panoramic view of Southwest Harbor, featuring a stunning marina and hand built boats as far as the eye can see. Family owned and operated with a menu to please even your pickiest eaters. Fresh, local seafood, hand cut steaks, delicious salads, homemade desserts, and craft cocktails.
CUISINES
Seafood
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
FEATURES
Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service, Live Music, Waterfront
Contribute
3.5
511 reviews
Excellent
151
Very good
131
Average
113
Poor
63
Terrible
53
Ted S
Dagsboro688 contributions
Jun 2021 • none
This is one of many lobster places around Mt.Desert; the outdoor deck looks out over a harbor from a vantage point that is very high up. We timed our arrival on a beautiful Sunday afternoon that was around 5:00 PM so waiting for a deck seating only took about 15 minutes. The menu had enough variety to satisfy the four of us along with a good bar selection. Fresh lobster and fish worked well for us and the service was friendly and very accomodating.
Written June 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barry N
Coventry3215 contributions
Aug 2021 • none
have family who live in S.W.Harbor so we go quite a bit. Had the chowder which was ok,now we know plain chowder and creamy chowder and so this one which is nether oh yes they do have one Manhatten chowder who puts tomatos in a clam chowder.not in new England anyway. But the chowder here did have clams which is a plus. Service was a bit slower than before but we understand that Covid has kept a lot of workers away and so it is not the fault of the restaurants as they do the best they can. The food was good as stated and many great places have now been put into a position with low kitchen staff to turn out food that might just be a bit less than what it was before Covid. So yes,go here,get a good meal and expect to wait a bit longer than normal..If you are on vacation just relax and have a good time.
If you are a local than you know what these places are going thru and help them by supporting them. My lobster was good and my service was good. I am sure once the Covid thing is over they will all be back to being Great.
Written September 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nptp84
Ocean City217 contributions
Sep 2020 • none
We stopped at the Upper Deck in Southwest Harbor while exploring Mount Desert Island. We had the lobster roll and haddock reuben. We asked for the mayonnaise on the side as sometimes the mayonnaise can be overpowering on the lobster roll. The lobster roll was very good and I recommend it. The haddock reuben was served with coleslaw on it instead of sauerkraut. It was delicious! The portions were large . Our server was friendly and attentive. We look forward to dining here again!
Written September 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steven K
Buffalo4 contributions
Aug 2020 • couples
regarding our poor service it is dyer need for attention. We consider this the worst experience even it being our birthday. We get a waitress that ignored us after the appetizers 45 minute cold shoulder. From the adjacent table she still didn't ask us how we were. Also never received straws for our cocktails mine was watered down. We waved the hostess down but no hospitality just additude that i drank my drink after waiting for service for 35 minutes. We sat down at the table at 6:30pm and didn't get our last coarse the dinner til 8pm. I was very disturbed from this experience Because being a chef for 12 years it struck me all week how we were treated. The waitress was more concerned with the adjacent table about telling them 4 times to scan with theyre phone to get the mobile dessert options. The table was so confused why she didn't help them by tell them whats available for dessert. The waitress left came back and they asked if she could tell them the menu for dessert... While we waited for our meal we only ordered easy meals my girlfriends asparagus was under cooked. My crabcakes can apart enough to not try the sauce it came with so we scraped our plates and got the underappricated bill and left. Unhappy I didn't propose for engagement and didn't have dessert.
Written August 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leigh H
1 contribution
Aug 2020 • family
I have never been treated more rudely and been so embarrassed as I was at the Upper Deck this evening. Our family had eaten there a couple of times during our 10 day visit, spending a good amount of money on seafood dinners. We chose to go back our last night of vacation to splurge on a “dinner” of their sundaes that we loved. We waited 20 minutes for a table (in the hot sun), were seated, and ordered our sundaes. After the waitress took our order (and was very clearly none too pleased with it), the owner came out and very abruptly told us that her tables were for those eating meals. It was humiliating and ruined our last night of vacation. Needless to say, we will not be coming back on future trips and will recommend others avoid it as well. I hope other customers are treated with more kindness and respect in future.
Written August 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
347debd
I am so sorry I didn't ask if you were "4 for dinner" upon your arrival, as we normally do, I was inundated with a wait at 5pm, and extremely busy. I was not meaning to be rude, but was rushed, due to the influx of so many people at the door, and trying to get them situated~not an easy task when we have lost 25% of our normal seating capacity.
I wonder if it occurs to some that high season August, in the midst of a pandemic, which has shortened our season, our hours, our turnaround time (due to cleaning and sanitizing everything touched by the public), and limited our seating might be the cause for having to explain (not meaning to be rude) that our tables are "reserved" for diners during the dinner hour? Perhaps kindness and respect should be a 2 way street?
I appreciate your comments, and we wish you safe travel.
Written August 11, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hem
Buffalo1 contribution
Aug 2020 • friends
My family and friends decided to stop by at this restaurant hoping to savor the famous lobster of Maine. We were waiting for about 10 minutes and disappointed to be turned away by the supervisor. There were 5 empty tables inside. It was not about what was told by the supervisor but how the message was delivered. It was very dismissive and disrespectful. As I have read all the reviews about this restaurant I come to believe what they say about poor quality of service. I would never recommend this restaurant to anyone.
Written August 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
347debd
I'm assuming you were also part of a large party "of separate families"? In short, we have a right to do what's best for our staff and our business. No one is OWED a seat.
Sorry you had to make alternate plans for your parade of 19.
Thank you for illustrating that we made the right choice that afternoon. I'm sure you all woould have been just as delightful to serve as you've been online.
Written August 29, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Anyuta02
61 contributions
Aug 2020 • couples
We actually came here twice during our week long stay in Bar Harbor.. We went hiking in the area/spent some time at Echo lake beach, and it was just a short drive from there on the way back to town.
Food was very good, probably best lobster roll we’ve tried, service was great - attentive, friendly and food came out pretty quickly. Highly recommend it!
Written August 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul T
United States77 contributions
Aug 2022 • none
My wife and I were passing through Southwest Harbor on the way to Bass Harbor, and without doing any research we decided to stop for lunch at The Upper Deck. I wish we hadn't.
I'll give The Upper Deck 2 stars because I know the waitresses tried, but they couldn't make up for the long wait for terrible food and the terrible view.
I didn't start a stopwatch, but I estimate that we waited at least 15 minutes for our drinks, and another 30 minutes for our food. My wife ordered the chicken wrap, and I ordered the cheeseburger, which was supposedly rated as one of the best on MDI. My wife's wrap and my burger were totally tasteless, and the fries were stale.
To top it all off, the upper deck has a view of a parking lot with dumpsters which happened to get picked up and emptied while we were waiting for our food. Talk about ambiance!
Written August 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Constance McCarthy
4 contributions
Aug 2020 • none
We went to the Upper Deck for lunch as a party of four. No one asked us for a name and phone number when they seated us so they are not complying with CDC guidelines.
The person who seated us explained about how we could access the menu with our phones, so we proceeded to do so. When we had trouble we were told in a bit more detail how to do it. We were not successful. Then our waitress came and asked if we had seen the menu. We explained that three of us could not access it. She said, "Yes, you can. It works on Android and Apple," with a roll of her eyes. I asked her to walk me through it, which she did, and then said, "No, it isn't working. I'll go get you menus" as if it were a bother. One in our party had just gone to the restroom and on her way heard this waitress say to another employee "That table needs menus," in a tone of what a bother they are.
When our food came the taco salads were three quarters lettuce with maybe two ounces of chicken and some cheese on top. When I asked for taco sauce the waitress seemed to be annoyed and said they had none. All in all it was not a positive experience and we will not return.
Written September 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Climber801061
Bensalem2 contributions
May 2021 • none
The location and view alone are outstanding. Unbeatable panoramic views at the head of Southwest Harbor. Pandemic has affected a lot of lives. Debbie and Danny are very cool proprietors and give it their all to satisfy guests. They serve authentic old school Maine seafood dishes in a delightful harborside atmosphere with abundant light, fresh sea air and views that draws both local and international customers. Their Happy Hour is not to be missed. Carla is a lovely and friendly mixologist who also happens to pour the best looking pints in town.
Roberta plays music on SUNDAY for Brunch and is a feisty and talented loving slice of Americana, not to be missed! Just Go! It's cool.
(I also felt VERY safe as a women out on her own...:)
Written May 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
robin s
1 contribution
Oct 2022 • none
My wife and I dined there in early October - there was a wait to be seated and an even longer wait to be served (we seemed to be ignored). Service was very poor overall, so we did not leave a tip when paying by credit card. But the staff decided to add their own tip to our bill that was charged to my credit card account. The restaurant has ignored our messages since our visit. We certainly won't be going back - our advice: enjoy the view briefly, then find somewhere else with better service!
Written October 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debby D
I have received no messages from you (and we don't need to "steal" any tips~we all do quite fine without yours, thank you).
We have been closed for the season for several weeks now, so if you're leaving a message on the phone, we are not there to receive it; Please do reach out to our email goodeats@upperdeckdining.com, or Face Book messenger, as we do not appreciate unsubstantiated allegations.
Written October 31, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Victor K
Boston5 contributions
Aug 2021 • none
A tourist trap at its worst! The calamari was barely warm and mushy, Clam Chowder - a tasteless stew made with skim milk. Mojito was red-colored, no mint, no lime juice, and no rum. When I ask the waiter if this is really mojito, he answers affirmative, but he was 17 at best, so he had no idea of what Mohito should be like. Don't go!
Written August 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debby D
thanks for your feedback. If "tourist trap" means we are trapped with tourists, ummm~AUGUST! I would like those reading this review to know that our local and repeat summer guests fill our seats every night, thank you.
Chowder is a personal taste, and we serve a thin, clam packed, milky chowder, which is tradition in these parts. Many claim ours is the best chowder they've ever had; there is not a drop of skimmed milk on this property. The blueberry mojitos are SPECTACULAR!! We have 4 whiskey barrels of fresh mint growing on property, and add some homemade blueberry syrup...(I know from the reactions we get while they are served~they ROCK!).
All of our servers are in their mid 20s to 30s, so, I'm not sure what 17 is about...?
Anyway...thanks so much for bringing ANY OF THIS to my attention at the time you were dining, lest we could attempt to make you happy, but, I do understand it's so much easier to sit at the keyboard and rant. (and never be happy, as I see from your previous reviews of other quite popular places)
you. do. you.
Written August 30, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ken K
Norton7 contributions
Jul 2022 • none
We visited for a late lunch midweek the week of July 18th. We were all in the mood for fried seafood plates, only to be informed by our waitress that neither scallops nor clams were available. We were very surprised they were out of staple selections for a seafood restaurant even before supper began, given how busy the restaurant looked when we drove by every evening of our visit.
The shrimp and haddock plates we did end up ordering were well prepared and tasty.
The service was good when the waitress took our food and drink orders, but after the food arrived no one came by for at least a half hour. We had to flag down a different waitress to ask for our check and for boxes for our leftovers. We were surprised and a little disappointed again when our waitress returned to apologize and let us know they had only aluminum foil to wrap the food in.
Written August 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelly S
2 contributions
Jun 2022 • none
Do yourself a favor and read the other reviews before going to this restaurant. The service is essentially non-existent even at 5:00 when there are only a few tables seated. The food was not good and our entire bill was wrong. We had items we ordered that never showed, despite being charged for these items. When we stated this to our waitress, she was irritated and disagreed. I would never go back!
Written June 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debby D
she has been fired. Thanks for your feedback. We appreciate it.
Written June 25, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
emarie22
Danville13 contributions
Jun 2021 • none
Our family of 5 enjoyed sitting on the deck overlooking the marina. The waitress was friendly and helpful, and we enjoyed our lobster meals (the clam chowder was a bit of a disappointment). The children's menu had plenty of options.
It took an extremely long time for our food to arrive, however.
Written June 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debby D
Hi there
apologies for the wait for food, and, as someone who goes out, I get that it is frustrating to wait~yet this is the side effect of many many people and too few workers. It's in the news every day! Also~we love our traditional Maine chowder (it's a thin, milk based chowder, not a thick roux Boston style. To each their own.
The view is one of the best on the Island...so happy that you enjoyed it.
Debby
Written August 5, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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