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Dockside Dining in Harpswell, Maine: 
An Evening at Dolphin Marina & Restaurant

There are boat rides, and then there are the boat rides that remind you exactly why people who love being on the water flock to Maine. On a recent trip out of Portland, a crew of Dockwa teammates (current and alumni) piled into a few boats and set off for Dolphin Marina & Restaurant in Harpswell.

The trip up was the appetizer in itself. About 35 minutes on the water, weaving through a constellation of islands, each one with its own personality and story. The salt spray, the wind in your face, the kind of ride that makes you forget time altogether. And then, just when you think it can’t get better. And then, just when you think it can’t get better, The Dolphin appears: an iconic restaurant and marina perched on a rocky outcropping, with what feels like half the boats in Casco Bay pulling in alongside you.

The ambiance? Unreal. Chairs and picnic tables looking out over the wide-open bay and the same islands you just threaded past. The food? Even better. Fresh Maine seafood presented simply and beautifully, cocktails flowing, and the kind of hospitality that sticks with you. But here’s the move that stopped me in my tracks: warm blueberry muffins, passed around like dinner rolls. A little butter, a little whimsy, and suddenly you’re reminded that Maine’s blueberry culture runs deep. It was one of those unexpected details that make a meal unforgettable. A detail that makes this place famous among cruisers.

That touch isn’t an accident, it’s part of Dolphin’s DNA. The Marina and Restaurant was first established in 1966 by Malcolm and Jean Saxton, who dreamed of creating a gathering place for both locals and visitors. Good food and a warm welcome quickly made Dolphin a destination, whether you came for a bowl of fish chowder and a blueberry muffin or a cup of coffee and a game of cribbage. Their love of Basin Point ran deep, Malcolm’s grandmother first fell for the peninsula in the early 1900s, and by the 1940s, the family had built a summer home overlooking the water.

From those roots, the business grew steadily. The original wharf, rebuilt after a hurricane, became the launchpad for boat rentals, fuel, and service, while Jean turned a simple “coffee shop” counter into a kitchen and dining room. Over the decades, Dolphin evolved into what it is today, a full-service marina and restaurant that has stayed in the Saxton family for more than 40 years. Bill and Mimi Saxton carried the vision forward, expanding the marina and shaping the restaurant into a true local favorite, all while balancing growth with sustainability. Their 2011 rebuild of the restaurant and marina focused on conservation, green space, and eco-friendly practices, earning Dolphin gold status as a Clean Marina.

That dedication to family, land, and community is what you feel when you pull up by boat today. It’s why those blueberry muffins hit different: they’re tradition, not gimmick. It’s why the service feels like a welcome home, whether you’re a local on a mooring or a cruiser passing through.

A 10/10 Dock and Dine Experience:

Between twelve teammates, we managed to sample just about everything on the menu,  and every bite was as stunning as the golden hour we enjoyed. From artfully plated entrées to hand-crafted cocktails, all set against the sun dipping over the water and fields, the whole night felt like pure magic: great company, incredible food, and a view you’d be hard-pressed to beat. Pulling up to a marina and dining right on the water is a special kind of joy, and Dolphin delivers it perfectly. 

We love our time cooking in the galley, but tying up at a marina with food this good? That’s an unbeatable experience. 10/10 would recommend Dolphin Marina & Restaurant to every cruiser passing through southern Maine.

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Dolphin is a proud Dockwa partner, so if you’re cruising the Maine coast this fall, add Harpswell to your itinerary. Did we mention visiting boaters wake up to hot coffee and homemade blueberry muffins delivered right to their boat each morning? (Yes, really.)

Cheers, 
Max & Theresa