This is a followup to the post about the Lucerne Inn during the winter. On a lovely summer day we stopped for outdoor dining at The Lucerne Inn, Dedham, Maine.
Outdoor Dining at The Lucerne Inn
The Lucerne Inn offers indoor and outdoor dining during the summer season. As our visit was during the Pandemic, we opted for the outdoor dining in their back patio area.
You access the patio by walking to the left of the building and following a paved path from the front parking lot. There aren’t any stairs to navigate. (If you want to go into the building, a sign on the door had a telephone number to call for service. This was due to COVID19 regulations.)
The patio is attached to the back of the Inn and is shaded by a large white awning. Depending upon the weather, and occasion, especially weddings, the sides of the patio may be enclosed by white panels with clear window like inserts.
When we arrived, we were asked if we were there for “the fundraiser.” We weren’t but we were welcome to stay. We opted to take an empty table along the pathway and a few yards from the patio area. It was perfect as we could enjoy the live music and murmur of the other diners while staying at a distance. While we didn’t have any shade, it was later in the day. The sun was nearing the distant horizon while a slight Maine breeze made for a comfortable experience.
As you can see, the patio has plenty of room for a “fresh air” wedding reception or other celebration.
Light and Casual Dining
The Inn has a separate and casual menu for the patio versus their restaurant and pub menus. We opted for a grilled chicken sandwich
and grilled veggie kabobs with black bean dip and yummy corn bread. Both came with Miss Vickie’s chips. It was like picnicking as we had paper plates and plastic utensils and sat at a wooden picnic table.
The Lucerne Inn features craft beer from local Maine breweries along with Bud, Bud Lite, and Coors Lite. When we visited in the winter, we enjoyed craft beer on draft. For patio dining, our beer was served in cans. Our table was decorated with a mock buoy, a nod to Maine’s seafaring culture. Tantalizing glimpses and views of the ocean and inlets can be seen while driving that stretch of Rt. 1. (If you like the buoy idea for table markers or decoration, you can find them on Etsy or eBay.)
Mason’s Brewing Company is located in Brewer, Maine, which is adjacent to Bangor. The Lucerne Inn had a selection of beer from Mason’s. You can take a virtual tour of Mason’s on their website: https://masonsbrewingcompany.com/
Mason’s has some edgy beer names such as: Ghost Reaper, Liquid Rapture, Mushroom Cloud, and Hipster Apocalypse with “zombie” and dark artwork on the cans to match the names. The Hipster Apocalypse can features a skeletal figure with a t-shirt that says “Stephen King Rules.” (Author Stephen King lives in Bangor.)
The Lucerne Inn also had beer from the Airline Brewing Company, located in Amherst, Maine. Airline also has a British style pub on Main Street in Ellsworth, Maine. “Airline” is a reference to the name of the stretch of Rt. 9 from Bangor to Calais that the brewery is located near.
Summer Views at The Lucerne Inn
The Lucerne Inn overlooks Phillips Lake and Bald Mountain crowns the landscape in the distance. A small gazebo graces the area by the outdoor pool. Unfortunately closed due to the Pandemic.
The Lucerne Inn is a popular place for weddings. A larger gazebo offers a lovely platform for outdoor weddings.
The building to the left is The Overlook, part of The Lucerne Inn complex, and a venue for weddings and receptions. White folding chairs for wedding guests can be set up by the gazebo.
The Way Outdoor Dining Should Be
Social distancing, or not, outdoor dining in the patio area at The Lucerne Inn was a great experience. The table, the views, the weather, the music, the food and drink all came together. There weren’t any bugs, either.
Some may prefer a wider menu. You may be able to ask for the pub or restaurant menu, or dine inside and still enjoy the peaceful views.
If you like craft beer, there was a variety of styles from two local breweries to choose from. You can enjoy them at the Inn when you don’t have time to seek out the breweries themselves, or want to limit your stops.
You can read more about The Lucerne Inn on Rt. 1 in Dedham, Maine, here.
You can read these posts about other Maine Craft Breweries: 2 Feet Brewing, and Maine Beer Company.
If you want to keep more detailed records of where you went and what beer you enjoyed, you might like Keeping Up with Craft Beers: A Journal for Your Tasting Adventures. You can list up to 100 beers, as well as list breweries and brew pubs you liked as well as beer festivals.