There’s no place in the United States that does authentic seafood like the Northeast coast. This region, known for its rich maritime heritage, fishing communities, and lobstermen, offers endless dining opportunities for groups to enjoy alongside the Atlantic Ocean.
On Maine’s Mount Desert Island, home to Acadia National Park, groups can taste fresh French cuisine in Bar Harbor at Brasserie Le Brun. This restaurant offers a charming and inviting atmosphere that blends French elegance with a sophisticated, modern vibe and a touch of Maine’s local charm. Home to a 20-seat communal table, Le Brun is also perfect for groups.
Here, your group will find dishes such as short rib bourguignon and fresh seafood prepared with a French flair. One standout dish, according to Le Brun employee Caroline Kolman, is the French onion soup, known for its rich, savory broth and perfectly melted cheese. Another popular choice, she says, is the steak frites—a true testament to the restaurant’s commitment to French culinary tradition. For dessert, groups can order the butterscotch crème brûlée. Kolman says, “The blend of sophisticated cuisine and local hospitality ensures that every visit feels special.”

Credit: Brasserie Le Brun
This New England hospitality can be found in other places on Mount Desert Island as well. In Bar Harbor, groups can try a couple of Le Brun’s sister restaurants, including Havana, an American restaurant with Latin flair in the downtown area. Here, groups can dine in a room next to a wine cellar, lovingly referred to as the Barn, which can accommodate up to 50 people. Or, enjoy the cool Maine air at Havana’s outdoor bar and grill, the Parilla, which can serve larger groups as well. Le Brun’s other sister restaurant, The Chart Room, found just outside Bar Harbor, has a happy hour every day from 4 to 5 p.m., during which groups can enjoy quick bites such as oysters, cocktails, and beers right on the dock.
Full of history, the Northeast is a place where your group can dine in the same spots historical figures have. Heading south to Boston, Massachusetts, your group can dine at the Union Oyster House—the oldest restaurant in the city and the oldest restaurant of continuous service in the country. Located on Boston’s famous Freedom Trail, your group can enjoy authentic clam chowder, oysters, scallops, scrod, clams, mussels—and, of course, lobster rolls—after exploring Faneuil Hall or the Quincy Market. The Union Oyster House offers specialty cocktails inspired by the restaurant’s famous visitors and Boston’s historical events, including John F. Kennedy, Daniel Webster, the Boston Tea Party, and the Freedom Trail. The ambience of the restaurant captures its pre-restaurant history. “If the walls could talk,” says owner Joseph Milano, “they speak for themselves.”
In the Northeast, your group is bound to eat a local fisherman’s catch. South of Boston in New Bedford, Massachusetts, groups can dine at the Black Whale—a restaurant created by locals to honor the seafaring heritage of the area. At the Black Whale, groups can enjoy scallops wrapped in bacon, sushi rolls, hand-cut steaks, an assortment of seafood salads, and a raw seafood bar while overlooking the New Bedford Fishing Fleet Harbor.
By Clarissa Casper
Main Image: Union Oyster House, Boston, Massachusetts; Credit: Union Oyster House