What is Maine Diner known for?
Maine Diner is a family-friendly restaurant in Wells, Maine, known for its classic comfort food, fresh ingredients, and friendly service. The restaurant has been featured on several national television shows, including Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, and has been praised for its delicious seafood chowder, lobster pie, and other Down East fare.
History of Maine Diner
The Maine Diner was founded in the early 1960s by Socrates “Louie” Toton. Louie, who had previously owned a diner in Boston, wanted to create a “retirement” diner that would be open only during the winter months when the tourists had gone home. He purchased land in Wells and started a garden, which he tended to during the summer months. The diner was originally called Maine Restaurant and had a small counter with 12 seats, 6 booths, and a handful of tables.
In 1983, the diner was purchased by Myles and Dick Henry, who changed the name to Maine Diner. The brothers tidied up the place and opened their doors on February 23, 1983. The first day, 42 customers walked in, and the total receipts were $42. The next day, 100 customers came in, and the business continued to grow. Today, Maine Diner serves 1300-1400 customers on a typical day in July and August.
What to Expect at Maine Diner
Maine Diner is a casual, family-friendly restaurant with a warm and inviting atmosphere. The menu features a wide variety of classic comfort food dishes, including breakfast all day, sandwiches, salads, seafood, and desserts. The restaurant is also known for its fresh-baked pies and its extensive selection of homemade ice cream.
What are the Must-Try Dishes at Maine Diner?
- Seafood Chowder: This award-winning chowder is made with fresh seafood, potatoes, and cream. It’s the perfect way to start your meal at Maine Diner.
- Lobster Pie: This classic Maine dish is made with fresh lobster meat, butter, and cream. It’s served in a flaky pastry crust and is a must-try for any seafood lover.
- Red Flannel Hash: This hearty breakfast dish is made with corned beef, potatoes, onions, and peppers. It’s served with two eggs and is a great way to start your day.
- Blueberry Pancakes: These fluffy pancakes are made with fresh Maine blueberries and are served with warm maple syrup. They’re the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Additional Information
- Maine Diner is open daily from 7 am to 8 pm.
- The restaurant is located at 2265 Post Road in Wells, Maine.
- The phone number is (207) 646-4441.
- The website is https://mainediner.com/.
Maine Diner is a great place to enjoy a delicious meal in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant is known for its classic comfort food, fresh ingredients, and friendly service. Whether you’re looking for a hearty breakfast, a satisfying lunch, or a delicious dinner, Maine Diner has something for everyone.
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Myles and Dick Henry bought the diner in the winter of 1983 with their father Claude’s organizational assistance. The open window concept created a magical feel and aura when food was passed from the kitchen, so they decided to change the name to Maine Diner. After tidying up and opening on February 23, 1983, they unintentionally ran into their first client. Their first customer literally drove his car into a pole near our parking lot by accident! He came in and had lunch and coffee.
Jim MacNeill is the third and current owner of the Maine Diner. Jim, a Wells resident, has known Myles and Dick Henry for a very long time. Jim worked his way up from pot scrubber to server to bar manager to general manager in the restaurant business. Jimmy was approached by Myles, who asked him to take over as general manager of the Maine Diner. It was a 14-year tenure before he bought the Diner in 2018. Myles died in 2010, leaving Dick as the only proprietor and Jim serving as his general manager. Dick reached 70 years old in 2018 and made the decision to retire. Dick gave Jimmy the option to buy the Diner first refusal because he and Jim shared the same vision for it.
Louie’s morning commute was extremely short because the first portion of the diner was constructed directly next to his home. He called it Maine Restaurant. Even though the name was different, it had a great vibe of a “diner,” with the idea of the food passing through an open window from the kitchen to the servers. There were several tables, six booths, and a lengthy counter with twelve seats. He had one waitress, Millie, who was highly regarded for her accuracy and never writing down an order.
The origin of Maine Diner starts with Socrates “Louie” Toton. In the early 1960s, Louie, who had previously owned a diner in Boston, opened Maine Diner as a “retirement” diner. But Louie hated tourists, so he would only be open in the winter, after the visitors had left. He purchased the land where the diner is located in order to cultivate the fine soil into the one-acre garden that is still flourishing today. His idea of retirement was to become a gardener. Our walls have images from the late 1950s that depict the farm stand that was once located in our lot’s northernmost corner, right off of Route One. Louie grew fruits and vegetables that were sold at that farm stand during the summer.
42 clients entered the store on the opening day, and $42 in total was taken in. The next day, one hundred customers came in. and everything started growing. Currently, we serve between 1300 and 1400 clients on a typical day in July and August. We are not like Louie. We value the locals who join us for dinner every year just as much as the tourists who visit our region. Since 1983, we have served more than 8 million clients, and we anticipate serving another 8 million in the future.
Maine Diner – Wells, ME
FAQ
What food is Maine most famous for?
What did guy eat at Maine Diner?
What is the national dish of Maine?
What is the oldest diner in Maine?
What to eat at the Maine Diner?
When the Maine diner opened in 1983, the locals knew they had a good thing on their plate. The fresh food (produce grown in the garden out back) served here continues to attract summer crowds from Maine’s beaches. The Menu: Lobster pie, seafood chowder and Grapenut custard.
How many people eat at the Maine Diner?
In its 30 years of existence, the Maine Diner has served over six million people. Locals love it even though in the summer it sometimes feels like there’s six million tourists there all at once. There’s good reason: Lobster Pie. Maine’s oldest diner (opened in 1927) seats only 15 and is one of only two Pollard dining cars still in existence.
Who started Maine Diner?
The origin of Maine Diner starts with Socrates “Louie” Toton. Louie had owned a diner in Boston and started Maine Diner as a “retirement” diner in the early 1940’s. Louie, however, despised tourists so he would only open in the winter, once the tourists had gone home.
Who owns Maine Diner?
In the winter of 1983, Myles and Dick Henry purchased the diner with the organizational help of their father Claude. They changed the name to Maine Diner because of the magical feel and aura of the open window concept when passing food from the kitchen.