Restaurants with takeout that are open during winter in Kittery, York area of Maine

[luvwinnie]

We go to Maine often, but this is our first trip in winter (we hope to buy a condo in the area by 2013). We're going for our anniversary and staying at a dog-friendly Inn in Kittery mid-January. I know a lot of places are seasonal, so looking for decent takeout food (not fast food) in Kittery, York, Ogunquit, that will be open in January. Thanks!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Try TripAdvisor.com and PhantomGourmet.com
One site provides user reviews, the other reviews by an (ahem) supposedly unknown reviewer.

 

[luvwinnie]

Thanks I do use TripAdvisor. Didn't know about the other one.

 

[stargazer2892]

Best advice, get away from the tourist areas (anywhere near the beach or rt1) Portsmouth (just down 95 or rt 1 depending on where you are) has a little bit of everything to eat. The Rusty Hammer is a good local bar with great food, Flatbread Company has amazing pizza. Gilley's is a tiny burger place that has been there since the 1940's, they have burgers, hotdogs, fries, ect during the winter the seating consists of 4 or 5 stools and everyone eating standing up. It is DH's and I's must visit any trip home, their chili cheese fries are amazing. Or you can go to Newington for chain restaurants. Since you'll be in Kittery the best Chinese food in the local area is East Mountain on rt 236 in Eliot (the town over) it is in a strip mall type thing on the left, there is also a bar called The Shipyard Brewpub (great place to get a local beer with locals), and Village Pizza which isn't very good. Of course you have to have to try Bob's Clam Hut on Rt 1 in the outlets. It USED to be really really good and worth it, however since it has become "famous" the prices have gone up, portions are smaller, and it's trying to be more then "bob's". However the food is still really good and Mike the owner treats his employees amazingly. However they SHOULD be closing for a couple of weeks soon come new year.
Yes DH and I have family up there but given the choice both of us would rather go up there in the winter and visit. I used to go to the beach more in the winter then the summer (parking is free normally this time of year). You will also be treated better.
That post ended up being alot longer then I thought! Have fun!

 

[npmommie]

you could get good seafood takeout from the Weathervane in Kittery, right on rt 1,
up in Ogunquit the market in the center of town has a deli and makes yummy sandwiches.

 

[npmommie]

oh yes Bobs clam hut is good, I didn't mention it, I didn't realize it was open in winter

 

[kaytieeldr]

you could get good seafood takeout from the Weathervane in Kittery, right on rt 1,
up in Ogunquit the market in the center of town has a deli and makes yummy sandwiches.

I miss the Weathervane! We used to have one in Massachusetts (formerly Yoken's, which was also in southern Maine, which closed there last year or earlier this year).

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I agree with Weathervane and not to rule out Portsmouth, just a few minutes away.

I miss Yoken's, too. I could spend hours in that gift shop! I think it's been closed for a while - we stayed at the Comfort Inn at Yoken's a couple of years ago and it was closed then. (ETA maybe we're talking about different things, ie Weathervane. I'm not sure where the other MA one was but Plymouth closed as well not too long ago.)

 

[beaucoup]

Maine does not close in the winter. Winter shouldn't even be a factor in worrying is something is open. Locals need to eat too. Any trip, you always go where the locals go. Not the touristy places.

 

[mickeyboat]

It's funny that all of you rave about Weathervane. Our Weathervane is not very good at all.

Anyway, I agree with beaucoup, you will be able to find lots of things open in the winter - Portland and Porstmouth are close by.

Have fun!

 

[kiddo76]

Maine does not close in the winter. Winter shouldn't even be a factor in worrying is something is open. Locals need to eat too. Any trip, you always go where the locals go. Not the touristy places.

Many places do close down for at least a few weeks in the winter, even where the locals go. Right now 2 of our favorite places are closed until January and March. Another place was closed for a few weeks before Christmas, but reopened Tuesday. Portsmouth and Portland are less seasonal, but both are PITAs for parking if you just want take-out.

The one's suggested so far are good. I like Weathervane's fish and chips. In York, there's also Ruby's Brick Oven. They serve pizza as well as a pretty extensive menu. We also like the pub down at the Union Bluff hotel. Farther north in Wells, there's the Maine Diner, Mike's Clam Shack, The East for Chinese and Varano's for Italian. Any of these places might close for a time, so I'd call first.

 

[kiddo76]

Just checked and Varano's is close until the end of January. Guess we're going some place else for dinner tonight. This time of year when we go out to dinner and want to stay local, our first question is "What's open?"

 

[Morganpics]

I miss the Weathervane! We used to have one in Massachusetts (formerly Yoken's, which was also in southern Maine, which closed there last year or earlier this year).

Yoken's was outside of Portsmouth-never in Maine.
Ought to try a hot dog from Flo's in Cape Neddick on Route 1, or a REAL italian from the original Moe's in Portsmouth on Daniel Street.

 

[luvwinnie]

Thank you SO much everyone!

 

[englishteacha]

Yup, Weathervane in Kittery. DO NOT go to Weathervane in Dover, NH. Ew.

Portsmouth has lots of places, too. Wells/Oqunquit/York are all hit or miss this time of year, as many places close for a few weeks. Yes, the locals need to eat, but when your population drops by 70% in winter, not all places can afford to stay open all winter long! I grew up in Southern Maine, in Sanford, just inland of Wells and Kennebunk. The Wells/K'bunk folks would come to Sanford in winter! And all the teens in Sanford worked summers in Wells and Kennebunk.