Ciao Food|drink - Crossing

Hands down the best meal you'll have in Bar Harbor. After getting our fill of typical seafood restaurants we couldn't bear to even look at another lobster. I know how this sounds by the way, and if you're in town for more than 3 to 4 days, you would relate. CIAO knocked it out of the park! Incredible menu and exceptional service. Every bite was amazingly delicious. Bonus points for the portion sizes. Typical tapas are comprised of tiny servings these are not your typical tapas.

A tapas style restaurant, CIAO offers an eclectic selection of small plates to choose from and share. For a party of 3, we ordered 6 plates, and every dish was tasty. Worth particular mention (for me) are the Fried Cauliflower, the Lamb Crostini, and the Crispy Pork Belly. We thought about ordering some more food for the hungrier among us, but opted to go for desserts instead of which we ordered 2. The Pain Perdu is quite good! The service was attentive and friendly, and the staff/kitchen thoughtfully paced out our food order into courses. In terms of drinks, their specialty cocktail The Local was refreshing, featuring Maine blueberry vodka and a number of blueberries. CIAO is a welcome respite from the otherwise touristy bustle of Bar Harbor, where seemingly most restaurants are (over)advertising their lobster dishes as they vie for attention. CIAO, on the other hand, has no lobster on the menu, but arguably provides a more delightful culinary experience with understated authenticity.

The beet crostini was particularly impressive, and I’m not typically a big fan of beets. My wife encouraged me to be adventurous with my choices, and I’m so glad I did; it was delicious. The duck and mushroom confit were both rich and expertly prepared, while the pan-roasted shrimp came with an amazing sauce that was simply outstanding. To top it all off, we enjoyed two desserts: a chocolate cake and an olive oil cake, which were the perfect finishing touch to our meal. The service was excellent throughout our visit. I highly recommend this restaurant and would love to return.

They focus on small plates, and for the two of us, we ordered four dishes, along with two drinks and dessert. We tried the Shrimp and Chorizo, Duck Ragout, Mushroom Crostini, and Burrata, opting for two savory appetizers and two protein-centric plates. Each dish was beautifully seasoned and garnished, with delightful touches like olive oil and ricotta cheese on the crostini. For dessert, we savored an Olive Oil Italian cake topped with whipped cream, Maine blueberries, and a hint of orange zest. It was delicious and made for a lovely conclusion to our meal. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a special date night or simply wanting to indulge beyond the usual lobster rolls.

This tapas restaurant is quite impressive. Although it's small and can get crowded during dinner hours, the warm and welcoming staff make the experience enjoyable. The food is good, but the presentation truly stands out; every dish is beautifully plated like a work of art. We tried a variety of tapas, and it was clear that the ingredients were fresh. The grilled hanger steak had a robust beef flavor, though it was cooked medium-well to well-done, which may not suit everyone's preference. The beet and gin-cured salmon was not only visually appealing but also tasted fantastic, complemented perfectly by the yogurt sauce. My favorite was the anchovy crostini. Overall, it's a very good restaurant worth visiting.