A Seafood-Filled Evening at Geddy’s in Bar Harbor

A warm brown-butter lobster roll arrives stuffed with Maine lobster, and it sets the tone nicely at Geddy’s: generous seafood, a little fun in the presentation, and no need to pretend you came to Bar Harbor for a light snack. This downtown restaurant has the busy, convivial rhythm many people want after a day around town or out near Acadia.

The room can be animated, particularly on weekends and holidays, but conversation is still possible across the table. Families, couples and larger groups all find a place here, with tables for dinner and an informal bar option when a table is not immediately available.

The menu gives lobster plenty of ways to show off. There are whole lobsters, lobster rolls, lobster stew, lobster mac and cheese, a lobster bake and even lobster pizza for diners who prefer their Maine seafood with a more playful turn.

The rolls are notably substantial, with abundant lobster rather than a skimpy filling. The brown-butter version is especially appealing for anyone who wants a warm, richer take on the usual chilled lobster-roll formula.

Lobster stew offers another route, with visible pieces of lobster and a touch of sherry in the broth. It is a comforting order on a cooler evening, and it pairs naturally with one of the restaurant’s regional starters or sides.

For a compact sampler, the lobster mini bake brings together a small lobster roll, clam chowder and a blueberry tart. It is an easy way to try several Maine standards without committing to three separate courses.

The larger lobster bake is a more substantial full meal. It suits the diner who has decided that one lobster dish simply will not do.

Clam chowder has a loyal following here and is frequently a highlight of the meal. Call it chowder if you like, but this is also a perfectly appropriate place to order a bowl of “chowda.”

The seafood pie is another comfort-food choice, fresh and flavorful alongside the lobster-heavy selections. It gives the menu a more old-fashioned New England dinner note without leaving the seafood theme behind.

Fish and chips come with a relatively light cornmeal coating rather than a standard beer batter, which gives the plate a different texture from the pub-style version many diners know. The tartar sauce deserves attention, too; it is more than an afterthought beside the fish.

There is room for a few dishes that step outside the traditional Maine lineup. Shrimp and scallop scampi offers a familiar pasta-adjacent seafood comfort, while calamari brings an Asian-inspired flavor profile.

Not every order has to involve a bib and a shell cracker. Ahi tuna tacos offer a lighter seafood choice, useful when one person at the table is in the mood for something fresher and less butter-forward.

The Brussels sprouts come dressed in truffle vinaigrette, an unexpectedly dressed-up side among all the rolls, chowder and fried fish. They are a welcome counterpoint to a seafood-heavy table.

Then there is the lobster pizza, which makes little attempt to be solemn about local ingredients. It is one of those dishes that works best when everyone at the table agrees to take a slice.

Blueberries have a strong presence after dinner. The warm homemade blueberry pie is filled with whole berries and set in a flaky crust, with whipped cream alongside. It is also available with ice cream, which turns an already classic Maine dessert into a proper finale.

A blueberry tart provides a smaller, neat-looking alternative for diners who want dessert without tackling a full slice of pie. The lobster mini bake includes one, another reason that sampler is handy for first-time visitors.

The blueberry theme carries into the glass as well, with blueberry soda and blueberry ale on the menu. Beyond that, the drink list includes cocktails, mocktails, a broad draft selection, Irish coffee and a drink called the Nor’easter.

Geddy’s has an energetic downtown feel rather than a hushed special-occasion atmosphere. The décor and merchandise are given noticeable attention, adding to a setting that is more playful than polished-to-a-whisper.

A visible kitchen lets diners watch chefs at work behind the counter. Even the practical details are in plain sight, including the kitchen staff’s hair coverings, which gives the room a bit of everyday restaurant theater.

Service stays friendly and efficient even when the dining room is full. Staff can help steer a table through the menu, discuss allergy-related ordering needs and, for oyster newcomers, demonstrate how to approach the shellfish.

Children have an especially easy entry point here: staff have invited young diners to see the live lobsters. It turns a meal built around Maine seafood into a small encounter with the ingredient before it reaches the plate.

The menu’s range also helps with mixed groups. One person can settle into a lobster bake, another can order tacos or fish and chips, and someone skipping alcohol still has mocktails and blueberry soda to consider.

Gluten-free choices are available, and the staff can offer useful guidance for allergy-related ordering. Current preparation details are worth discussing directly when an allergy is involved.

Dinner does not have to end at the check. Geddy’s Down Under gift shop, along with additional merchandise in the downstairs or adjacent shop area, gives diners a chance to browse before heading back into Bar Harbor.

It fits naturally into an evening downtown: seafood dinner, blueberry dessert, perhaps a drink at the bar, then a look through the souvenirs and playful merchandise. The hunt is modest, but a good find can still slow down the walk to the door.

Reservations are recommended during busy periods, when the dining room can fill quickly. The bar can be a useful walk-in alternative, while downtown parking varies between street spaces and paid lots and can be difficult to find.