Shade

"We were up in Portland for a few days at the Higgins Beach Inn. Their restaurant "Shade"was excellent for breakfast (3 times)and for dinner (one time). I'd say close to perfection both for the food and the service staff."

"I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that my wife and I have been visiting Higgins Beach for nearly a decade and had never visited Higgins Beach Inn or Shade. It's always been on our list but we were distracted by the beach or other area dining options. We had a late flight home yesterday so decided to have a late lunch/early dinner at Shade. We showed up right at 4pm and were immediately greeted and seated at one of the lovely tables in the covered outdoor area. As we walked through the indoor area we were impressed by the number seats in the bar area and quickly realized that this is a great low-key hangout for inn guests and locals. Heidi took care of us and did an impeccable job checking in often and suggesting menu options. We each started with a Shipwreck Punch which was perfect for a crystal-clear late summer day! At a somewhat steep $14 I wasn't sure what we were going to get but the cocktail was huge and so satisfying and lasted our entire meal. We shared two small plates and a main. The fish and chips was a 'small plate' but was a perfect portion. One larger filet and two smaller ones along with some beautiful fries. Breading was spot-on and the tartar sauce and malt vinegar on the side were perfect. We also tried the Maine crab and corn fritters that were divine. The pickle aioli was a beautiful accompaniment and the fritters were perfectly cooked. Our main was the blackened fish (haddock) sandwich which was light and flaky with just the right amount of seasoning (though I usually go a bit heavier on the blackening spice at home). Fresh toppings and a great bun rounded this out. All in all an excellent first experience at Shade. Great people here (especially Heidi!) and can't wait to make this a regular haunt on future trips 'home' to Higgins Beach!"

"We had such a fun time at Shade, three of us went for dinner the night before Labor day. Our waiter Molly was very friendly and professional, making sure we knew the specials and bringing the apps and then the entrees at the perfect time. It so happens as long-time Higgins Beach summer season locals that we knew her from many years back. The food was excellent, we had onion rings and a dozen raw oysters. The onion rings were crispy and hot, the oysters perfectly served with no grit at all. We had the fish and chips, the battered shrimp special, and a blackened haddock sandwich. All were excellent and so fresh tasting. The fries that came with them were unreal crispy and tasty. I went for it and got the blueberry/blackberry crisp with vanilla ice cream and had to share a few spoonfuls with my dinner partners. It was delicious! Definitely a great place, casual, not too loud, excellent drinks, and very friendly staff. Thanks Molly for a wonderful evening."

"Drinks are good, food not so good. We ordered the brussel sprouts and the crab cakes for apps. I sort of like the former as it included cauliflower as well for some variety. I wish it had had more cheese sprinkled on it. Quantity was about right for app. The crab cakes are for crab balls that are deep fried, a bit too much in our case and left the crab a bit chewy inside. For the main, we went for the blackened fish tacos. They come out looking great. Some nice detail is clearly applied for the presentation but the fish has almost no flavor and the salsa was lacking where fresh cilantro would have helped. The fish looked like it was baked with one side having some seasoning but clearly not pan “blackened” for added flavor. Overall one of the most boring fish tacos you can get in the area. A few folks seem to be getting there oysters which are hard to ruin and the recommended drink special (off menu) was enjoyed by my wife. The current digs are an improvement over what we recall with the previous owner and they had put some effort into reducing the “live” acoustics of the place making it more enjoyable for having a conversation. Parking can be a problem in the summer especially when the waves are up. They do not cover your parking costs a in the public lot, even after 3pm when the price drops and there is no other place to park outside the in parking area, making it a tough place for a restaurant to reach out to the general public that isn’t in walking distance."

"We had breakfast here and our waitress Virginia was very accommodating and friendly. Very good service, delicious French toast, and roasted potatoes with sunny side eggs. Very cozy restaurant that’s located near the beach :)"