The Travelin Maine(rs), George and Linda Smith of Mount Vernon, have spent their lifetimes enjoying all that Maine has to offer. Now they’ll tell you all about it — their favorite inns, restaurants, trips, activities, experiences, and travel books and websites — in their own personal style. They’ll be offering anecdotes, tips and all the details you need. So join them in exploring, experiencing and enjoying the great state of Maine.

Natalie’s restaurant — in the elegant Camden Harbour Inn — offers a dining experience that
is amazing. Unique. Best we’ve had since
beginning this column in January.
Can’t wait to return.
Been dreaming about it.
Well, you get the idea. This is a high-end splurge that delivers an unforgettable
dining experience.
   

Additional Photos

George
There’s a difference between eating and dining, both in the service and the food. Servers at dining establishments provide a level of service, knowledge and professionalism that is neither needed nor necessary at eating establishments.
When we go out to eat, we’re looking for tasty comfort food — and lots of it. When we dine out, we expect food that is unique — that extends our eating experience beyond anything we’ve ever enjoyed.
Natalie’s provides a dining experience that must be one of the best in our state. The food and service are extraordinary.

Shortly after being seated, I knocked my hardbound menu off the table onto the floor. I quickly retrieved it and set it back on the table. Our server, Patrick, dashed over and took it away, returning with a new menu.

After enjoying our first course, I set my napkin in my seat and visited the men’s room (real towels!).

When I returned, Patrick had taken my napkin and replaced it with a neatly folded new one on a silver tray.

This level of service continued throughout our leisurely three-hour dining experience. We used enough utensils and dishes to take care of a couple dozen diners in most restaurants. Yet we never felt rushed — and often didn’t notice our utensils had changed until we reached for them.

The separate dining areas plus the small bar near the entrance — where many diners enjoy a complimentary Proseco upon entering — the dim lighting, Italian music, white tablecloths topped by a single red rose, beautifully designed dishes — all provide an intimate dining experience.

I began with an examination of the extensive wine list, delighted to find our all-time favorite,Vino Nobila Montepulciano from Avignonesi, a winery we have visited just outside Cortona, Italy.

Natalie’s offers a popular three-course tasting menu for $53, a five-course tasting menu for $88, and a market-priced four-course lobster tasting feast that changes often.

We ordered from the a la carte menu of four appetizers (priced from $15 to $24) and five entrées (priced from $34 to $49).

My wild-mushroom soup included hen-of-the-woods mushrooms and was fabulous.

And of course, I ordered venison loin. It was smoked — a first for me — and incredible, and came with a spatzl that Patrick predicted would be the “best you’ll ever have.” He got that right. And yes, this was just a cut above my own venison!

No matter which menu you choose, there are many additional elements that are included in the meal. I’ll just say that I could have consumed a gallon of the vichyssoise and enjoyed immensely every single thing that came our way. There always seemed to be something coming from the kitchen for the entire three hours.

Linda
Our dining experience at Natalie’s was spectacular. My heart was won as we ordered our favorite Italian wine while listening to Italian music.

From the amuse bouche (whatever bite-sized taste the chef wants to create to please your mouth) of vichyssoise and chiogga beet cube with blue cheese, to my fall salad in an unusually shaped bowl, I was completely captivated. If we had salad bowls as gorgeous as theirs, we’d only have salad for dinner. And everything is delivered at exactly the right temperature.

The chef sent out hand-prepared gnocchi so pillow soft that it melted in your mouth — better than any we’ve ever had — including in Italy. A cauliflower puree and thinly sliced wild matsutake mushrooms made this an incredible dish. It was fun to have these mushrooms (which I pick near our Mount Vernon home and had been eating all week) prepared in such a different way.

I ordered the duo of beef ($48), that included beef tenderloin topped with horseradish crème fraise. Absolutely incredible! The dish also had tender boneless short ribs braised in Guinness beer.

If you are a vegetable hater, come here and you’ll be won over. My dish included a variety of colors of baby carrots, cubes of celeriac and a turnip puree that was off the charts. Not a potato in sight, nor did you need one. Veggies here are not a filler, but a cause for celebration.

I also appreciated that the food portions are sufficient, but not so large that you are unable to enjoy all elements of a fine meal, including dessert.

As the dining room prepared for 60 guests coming in from an evening concert at the Rockport Opera House, we moved to the lounge for our dessert. This was a cozy spot to enjoy the apple tart served with vanilla ice cream and a small glass of Sauternes wine.

This was the perfect end to a perfect meal of incredible food and service. We spent just three hours dining but it will live in our memory for years.

We are not big spenders. Our tip for this meal was more than we usually spend on dinner! But a lifetime memory, like the one we experienced at Natalie’s, is actually a good value. Eat here at least once in your life!

Visit George’s website: www.george
smithmaine.com for travel tips, book reviews, outdoor news and more.