This Maine Restaurant Inside A 1793 Building Is Unlike Your Typical Dinner Spot

The kitchen here hands itself over to a brand-new chef every month. That means the menu you loved in June might be gone by July, replaced by someone else’s big ideas.

The house holding that kitchen went up in 1793. That’s older than Maine itself, which didn’t become a state until 1820.

Neighbors once gave the place a nickname because it looked so big sitting above the water.

I like how a building this old keeps reinventing itself. The New York Times even named its restaurant one of the 50 best in the country in 2025.

Not bad for a house with original ceiling beams.

Dinner might happen in an antique barn with a tidal pond outside the windows. Breakfast arrives for overnight guests in that same barn.

So which do you book first, the room or the table?

A Nickname From The Neighbors Finally Became Official Again

Old houses rarely get to pick their own names. The Ark got its name from locals who noticed its size, its raised perch, and its closeness to the water.

Ignatius Haskell built the house in 1793 as his family home. Nearly a century later, his descendants turned it into a boarding house and made the nickname official.

The Haskell family kept the property until 1942. From 1975 to 2025, it went by Pilgrim’s Inn, a name many Maine travelers still remember.

Then came 2026, and the old name returned. I love that choice, because it honors the people who first looked at this house and saw a ship.

The building itself backs up the history. It’s a four-story post-and-beam structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

That listing matters for more than bragging rights. It means the house carries real value as part of the country’s shared past, not just Deer Isle’s.

So when you book a table, you’re eating inside a house that outlasted a whole era. Few dinner plans come with that kind of backstory attached.

A New Chef Moves Into The Kitchen Every Single Month

Most restaurants spend years perfecting one menu. The Ark takes the opposite approach with its Chefs-in-Residence program.

A rotating lineup of professional chefs takes over the kitchen for one-month stints. Each one brings a different culinary point of view to the island.

That changes how you plan a visit. A meal in early summer can look nothing like one in early fall.

What stays steady is the philosophy. The cooking is ingredient-driven and shaped by the abundance of Deer Isle and its creative spirit.

Local farmers, fishermen, and artists all play a part in that picture. The menu reflects the place around it, even as the person at the stove keeps changing.

I think this setup is a little bit genius. It keeps the food fresh for return visitors and gives guest chefs a gorgeous stage to work on.

Here’s a practical tip worth remembering. Check which chef is cooking before you book, since every month offers its own personality on the plate.

Some diners chase a favorite dish. At The Ark, you get to chase a favorite month instead.

Small Plates Mean You Should Probably Bring Someone To Share With

Ordering one entree and guarding it like treasure won’t work well here. The dining room menu focuses on small dishes meant for sharing.

That format suits the restaurant’s style. With rotating chefs and local ingredients, sharing lets your table taste more of what each month has to offer.

Think of it as a tour rather than a single stop. Everyone gets a fork in everything, which tends to make dinner more social.

The national spotlight raised expectations too. In 2025, The New York Times named this restaurant one of the 50 best in the country.

That’s a big honor for a dining room on a Maine island. It puts Deer Isle on the same list as restaurants in much bigger cities.

My advice is simple. Reserve ahead, especially late in the season, since the dining room runs on reservations.

For fall 2026, the dining room takes reservations through October 13. It operates nightly except Wednesdays and Thursdays, so plan your road trip around those days.

Go with friends who like trying new things. Picky eaters might feel outnumbered.

Your Dinner Table Sits Inside An Antique Barn By The Water

Getting to dinner is half the charm. A gravel path along one side of The Ark leads you toward the dining room.

Sweet ferns, birch saplings, bayberry, and blueberry bushes line that path. Slabs of local granite add a sturdy, very Maine touch.

At the end waits an antique barn with wraparound windows. Those windows look out on Mill Pond, a tidal inlet of Penobscot Bay.

So the view moves with the tide. That’s a pretty good backdrop for a meal that already changes every month.

Right next to the barn sits a fenced garden with a driftwood gate. A local floral designer grows flowers, herbs, and vegetables there for the inn and restaurant.

I can’t imagine a better appetizer than that short walk. You pass the garden, then sit down to food shaped by the same island soil.

Arrive a few minutes early if you can. The grounds deserve a slow look before the first plate lands.

Bring a light jacket for the walk back. Coastal evenings in Maine can cool off quickly.

The Tavern Hides A Burger You Won’t Find In The Dining Room

Exposed brick and a cozy setting make the tavern feel like the inn’s laid-back cousin. It’s a great option when you want something a bit more casual.

The tavern menu blends two worlds. You’ll find specialty dishes from the Chefs-in-Residence series alongside items made only for the tavern.

The headliner among those exclusives is a signature grass-fed burger. Yes, a restaurant on a national best list also takes its burger seriously.

That mix gives you flexibility. You can sample the visiting chef’s ideas without committing to the full dining room experience.

The tavern also stays open later in the season. For fall 2026, it welcomes guests through October 25, closed Wednesdays and Thursdays.

That extra stretch matters for leaf-peepers. Late October trips to Maine can still include a warm meal here after the dining room wraps up.

I like having both choices under one roof. Fancy night or burger night, the 1793 walls stay the same.

Plan a second visit if you can. One meal in each room tells the whole story best.

Stay The Night And Breakfast Comes With A Pond View

Dinner is only part of the deal. The Ark is also a seasonal bed and breakfast, usually open from mid-May to mid-October.

The main inn holds 12 guest rooms. Three separate cottages round out the lodging options.

Rooms feature historic decor, fine linens, and natural bath products. Some look out over Northwest Harbor, while others face the mill pond or the gardens.

Inside, antiques and restored details fill the house. Original ceiling beams remind you just how long this building has been standing.

Morning brings one of the best perks. Overnight guests enjoy breakfast in the rustic barn, with Mill Pond stretching out beyond the windows.

Afterward, the lawn and deck invite you to slow down. Adirondack chairs near the pond make a fine spot for a second cup of coffee.

The cottages suit families or anyone wanting extra space. They add kitchenettes, pull-out sofas, and decks.

Book early for summer and early fall. Twelve rooms and three cottages fill up faster than you’d think on a popular Maine island.

Old Bones, Thoughtful Upgrades, And A Room For Everyone

Historic buildings and easy access don’t always get along. Owners Andrew Schapiro and Bosco Hernández, who took over in 2025, have worked to change that here.

A gently sloped walkway now leads to an accessible entrance at the main inn. From there, a wheelchair-accessible route reaches the first floor.

Room 1 is ADA-accessible. It includes a roll-in shower and grab bars.

That’s no small feat in a four-story post-and-beam house from 1793. Updating something this old takes care, patience, and respect for the original structure.

I believe these upgrades say a lot about the new owners. They clearly want more people to enjoy the history, not just admire it from the driveway.

A practical note for planning helps here. If accessibility matters for your trip, request Room 1 directly when you book.

The changes fit right in with the inn’s style. Nothing about them feels like an afterthought tacked onto the past.

Good hospitality means making room at the table for everyone. This old house is doing exactly that.

Say I Do Where The Haskells Once Said Goodnight

Weddings don’t always need a giant ballroom. The Ark hosts intimate ceremonies, elopements, and small gatherings in a calm, historic setting.

Creative retreats are on the list too. That fits Deer Isle well, since the island has a strong arts community.

The setting does much of the decorating for you. A garden grown by a local floral designer sits right beside the barn.

Add the pond views and the 1793 house, and the photos almost take themselves. You’d struggle to find a more classic Maine backdrop.

Smaller events also feel more personal here. With just 12 rooms and three cottages, the inn naturally suits close groups over huge crowds.

My tip is to think about timing. The inn runs seasonally, so plan your celebration between mid-May and mid-October.

Picture a toast in the barn after a short walk past the ferns and granite. That’s the kind of evening guests remember long after the cake is gone.

Family history started in this house. Yours could pick up a new chapter here too.

Plan A Whole Island Day Around Your Reservation

You’ll find The Ark at 20 Main St, Deer Isle, ME 04627. It sits in the village center, facing Northwest Harbor, about 6 miles from Stonington.

That location makes it a handy home base. Deer Isle is known for crafts and art, and several spots are close by.

The Haystack Mountain School of Crafts draws makers from far and wide. The Turtle Gallery and the Deer Isle Artists Association are worth a stop too.

Fall travelers have extra reasons to come. AppleFest in nearby Stonington adds a seasonal treat to the calendar.

Willing to drive? The Common Ground Country Fair takes place in Unity, roughly two hours inland.

I’d plan the day backward from dinner. Gallery hopping in the afternoon sets the mood for a meal shaped by local artists and growers.

Leave time for the drive onto the island. Maine coastal roads reward drivers who don’t rush.

End the day in the barn as the light fades over Mill Pond. A house this old knows how to close out a good day.