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Poutine: French fries topped with cheese curds and slathered in gravy.
Poutine: French fries topped with cheese curds and slathered in gravy.
Yuri Long, Wikipedia

Essential Guide to Poutine in Maine, Winter 2015

Your roadmap to french fries, cheese curds, and gravy.

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Poutine: French fries topped with cheese curds and slathered in gravy.
| Yuri Long, Wikipedia

There may not be a poutine school on the horizon here in Maine, but thanks to the state's long border with Canada (and, perhaps, Aroostook County's renowned potato crops), there are plenty of places to get a fine bowl of the hearty dish, from Kittery to Fort Kent. If you haven't tried this unique combo of french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy, you've got your marching orders. Just don't expect to hit many stops at once, as this is by design a filling and decadent indulgence.

The latest additions are The Dog and Pony Tavern and Trackside StationMap points are ordered north to south. Did we miss your favorite Canadian-style purveyor? Share it in the comments.

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Nosh Kitchen Bar

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Bacon-dusted fries get all the buzz at Nosh, but the poutine comes recommended by multiple readers as well. If you ask nicely, maybe you can even get your poutine bacon-dusted.

Duckfat

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Small surprise Duckfat scored the most reader recommendations, given its reputation as a killer producer of fries; its stand-out poutine uses curds from local Silvery Moon Creamery, based at Smiling Hill Farm. Deck it out further with a duck egg on top.

Hot Suppa

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Hot Suppa is known for Cajun food, which has its roots in French-Canadian cuisine. A reader puts its poutine high on the list of must-haves.

Silly's Restaurant

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Silly's embraces excess; no surprise that poutine makes an appearance. A reader recommends this version.

The Black Birch

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Poutine with duck confit, duck gravy, and fresh curd pairs nicely with the curated draft selection at this renowned Kittery restaurant, recommended by multiple readers.

Buck's Naked BBQ

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A reader says Buck's, which also has locations in Freeport and Windham, "makes dang good poutine!"

The Frog and Turtle

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Naturally this French-Canadian-inspired neighborhood pub, recommended by a reader, has small or large poutine as an appetizer on the menu.

Governor's Restaurant

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Governor's, which used to have a South Portland outpost, still represents in six cities in mid- to northern Maine. Keep an eye out for a poutine burger, which a reader said is available sometimes.

Blue Rooster Food Co.

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This take-out spot, open late, makes "tot-tine," tater tot poutine with house-made gravy over local Pineland Farms curds. Feeling truly ostentatious? Order the Three Little Pigs, which adds seared pork belly, house-made fresh sausage, and bacon.
Adam H. Callaghan/Eater

Swamp Buck Restaurant and Lounge

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Recommended by a reader, Swamp Buck will upgrade boring old french fries to poutine for $1.50. Do the servers even need to ask?

Rock's Family Diner

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Another reader recommendation — ever had a poutine burger? Try it at Rock's when it's available.

Little Tap House

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Try the poutine and eggs here for brunch. The restaurant calls it a twist on the classic, with Pineland Farms beef slow cooked and braised in-house with gravy and cheese curds on fresh hand-cut fries, topped with two eggs.
Courtesy of Little Tap House

Wicked Tails

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This spot opened with a chowder poutine, and a chef says they now serve lobster poutine "with lobster, lobster gravy, and Pineland Farms cheese curds." Closed for the winter except for December's Prelude.
Get cozy near the wood-fired brick oven and savor a batch of poutine made with Pineland Farms cheddar cheese curds, savory duck gravy, and duck fat fries.

Dysart's Truck Stop & Restaurant

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Get your fix 24/7 at this truck stop beloved for its oversized portions. Dysart's serves a regular or mini-poutine on the lunch and dinner menu.

Petite Jacqueline

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Find a high class version of the dish called "poutine de porc" at this French bistro's Sunday brunch: braised pork short rib, home fries, toast, mornay, and an egg.

Walter's

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Check the bar menu at Walter's for its customizable version of poutine. The base dish comprises hand cut frites, white cheddar curds, and roasted chicken rosemary gravy, but for the right price you can also add confit chicken, chorizo, or even lobster.

The Dog and Pony Tavern

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One of Bar Harbor's few year-round options, Dog and Pony offers poutine and "Poutots" with tater tots. If you're lucky, you'll even catch "Breakfastine," a Sunday special of Poutots topped with egg and bacon, all served in a dog bowl, which a reader said is "pretty unbeatable."

Trackside Station

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Midcoast food lovers highly recommend this restaurant's poutine, made with hand-cut fries seasoned with fresh herbs and topped with mushroom gravy and cheddar curds.

Nosh Kitchen Bar

Bacon-dusted fries get all the buzz at Nosh, but the poutine comes recommended by multiple readers as well. If you ask nicely, maybe you can even get your poutine bacon-dusted.

Duckfat

Small surprise Duckfat scored the most reader recommendations, given its reputation as a killer producer of fries; its stand-out poutine uses curds from local Silvery Moon Creamery, based at Smiling Hill Farm. Deck it out further with a duck egg on top.

Hot Suppa

Hot Suppa is known for Cajun food, which has its roots in French-Canadian cuisine. A reader puts its poutine high on the list of must-haves.

Silly's Restaurant

Silly's embraces excess; no surprise that poutine makes an appearance. A reader recommends this version.

The Black Birch

Poutine with duck confit, duck gravy, and fresh curd pairs nicely with the curated draft selection at this renowned Kittery restaurant, recommended by multiple readers.

Buck's Naked BBQ

A reader says Buck's, which also has locations in Freeport and Windham, "makes dang good poutine!"

The Frog and Turtle

Naturally this French-Canadian-inspired neighborhood pub, recommended by a reader, has small or large poutine as an appetizer on the menu.

Governor's Restaurant

Governor's, which used to have a South Portland outpost, still represents in six cities in mid- to northern Maine. Keep an eye out for a poutine burger, which a reader said is available sometimes.

Blue Rooster Food Co.

This take-out spot, open late, makes "tot-tine," tater tot poutine with house-made gravy over local Pineland Farms curds. Feeling truly ostentatious? Order the Three Little Pigs, which adds seared pork belly, house-made fresh sausage, and bacon.
Adam H. Callaghan/Eater

Swamp Buck Restaurant and Lounge

Recommended by a reader, Swamp Buck will upgrade boring old french fries to poutine for $1.50. Do the servers even need to ask?

Rock's Family Diner

Another reader recommendation — ever had a poutine burger? Try it at Rock's when it's available.

Little Tap House

Try the poutine and eggs here for brunch. The restaurant calls it a twist on the classic, with Pineland Farms beef slow cooked and braised in-house with gravy and cheese curds on fresh hand-cut fries, topped with two eggs.
Courtesy of Little Tap House

Wicked Tails

This spot opened with a chowder poutine, and a chef says they now serve lobster poutine "with lobster, lobster gravy, and Pineland Farms cheese curds." Closed for the winter except for December's Prelude.

Blaze

Get cozy near the wood-fired brick oven and savor a batch of poutine made with Pineland Farms cheddar cheese curds, savory duck gravy, and duck fat fries.

Dysart's Truck Stop & Restaurant

Get your fix 24/7 at this truck stop beloved for its oversized portions. Dysart's serves a regular or mini-poutine on the lunch and dinner menu.

Petite Jacqueline

Find a high class version of the dish called "poutine de porc" at this French bistro's Sunday brunch: braised pork short rib, home fries, toast, mornay, and an egg.

Walter's

Check the bar menu at Walter's for its customizable version of poutine. The base dish comprises hand cut frites, white cheddar curds, and roasted chicken rosemary gravy, but for the right price you can also add confit chicken, chorizo, or even lobster.

The Dog and Pony Tavern

One of Bar Harbor's few year-round options, Dog and Pony offers poutine and "Poutots" with tater tots. If you're lucky, you'll even catch "Breakfastine," a Sunday special of Poutots topped with egg and bacon, all served in a dog bowl, which a reader said is "pretty unbeatable."

Trackside Station

Midcoast food lovers highly recommend this restaurant's poutine, made with hand-cut fries seasoned with fresh herbs and topped with mushroom gravy and cheddar curds.