Stunning views…. Oceanside eats….. And all around good vibes…. There’s a reason why Maine is called ‘Vacationland’…. And you can experience it all when you go to Pepperell Cove.  Set on the serene Piscataqua River in Kittery Point, Maine, Pepperell Cove is a complex housing a variety of dining options depending upon the day.

“Pepperell Cove is made up of a number of different businesses. Frisbees Wharf…is our outdoor restaurant. It’s open seasonally.  Then we have our Bistro at 28 restaurant…It’s open year round.  And on the top floor of Bistro 1828 we have the Pepperell Cove Water Ski Club….We also have Provisions and Provisions is a store that opened originally in the late 1700s.  And we also have The View, which is our event space.”

Owner Donna Ryan and chef/owners Henry and Eides have created a paradise for their patrons.   A place where you can enjoy an intimate meal, a fun night out, or a dockside dinner.  And this location has actually been Henry’s place of work since he was a teen.

“He arrived when he was eight years old from the Philippines, and he loved to fish. His dad would bring them down to this local dock right here. And that was the beginning of Henry’s relationship with so many of the fishermen. ” “This was my first job. I was a sophomore in high school and worked my way through high school, college and sometime after that. And here we are all these years later, as Henry Ares, one of the owners of Pepperell Cove. ” And joining Henry in the kitchen is his business and life partner, Aides- a culinary force who grew up on her family’s farm in Brazil, coming to the US at the age of 17.

“Henry’s my husband and business partner. We met at work.   We have different styles. And together, we just make a good team.”   And that team is putting out all sorts of dishes you’ll want to try, whether you choose to dine at any of their on-site concepts, including Bistro 1828, Frisbee’s Wharf or the Ski Club. If you happen to take a trip to Pepperell Cove when the weather is nice, a stop off at Frisbee’s Wharf is an absolute must.

“Frisbee’s Wharf is a restaurant located right down the water that has an incredible fun vibe. This is the heartbeat. This is where people socialize. They come here to gather they come here for a bite and we feature the best food you’ve ever had. The menu at Frisbee’s Wharf is casual dining.  You will get fried Haddock, the best French fries you’ve ever had. You’ll have a lobster roll that is plentiful and literally brought in right from one of our local lobstermen. “

“I like it because it’s fresh and simple…a true lobster roll should be about the freshness, fresh lobster, fresh lemon squeeze ..and toasted with lots of butter bun. That’s it.”

Frisbee’s also offers oversized platters of golden fried seafood. Something called a Lobster Cup- which is essentially a bowl of sweet lobster meat soaking in drawn butter. And their luxurious chowder, a dish made exclusively by Eides, who’s constantly cranking out batches upon batches – making the creamy broth base first and adding roasted seafood just before serving.

“People drive miles for our chowder…bar none. You will bite in to chowder that is filled with the freshest ingredients, loaded with fish. It screams summer.” Year round, a trip to Pepperell Cove means a visit to Bistro 1828.

“Bistro 1828 is a neighborhood restaurant. We feature as much local ingredients as we can. So you can truly experience the quality of the product that we buy. ” There are many ways to kick off your meal, whether you opt for a cheeseboard with crostini. Seasonal salads like this one with strawberries, almonds and goat cheese with a lemon honey vinaigrette. That same chowder Eides makes at Frisbees. Or the ultra fresh mussels which are always available in a White Wine sauce with Garlic, Shallots and Butter along with a special version- based on whatever’s fresh.

“We do seasonal mussels. We have a curry coconut sauce with cilantro and peppers…so that way people can still get their shallot and white wine and garlic. But for the more exciting crowd that wants to try something different than we have the seasonal mussels.”

There are juicy burgers topped with lettuce, tomato and pepper jack cheese , fresh pan seared halibut served with seasonal vegetables and a beautiful New York Strip.

“We get we get the loin and we break it down ourselves. So you get a nice 12 ounce thick sirloin strip. Right now we have mashed potatoes, and…grilled broccolini and we put blue cheese butter on top with some crispy shallots on top.”

For some post meal drinks, and perhaps a dessert, head up the stairs to the Ski Club.

“The Ski Club is the top floor of Bistro 1828 and once you walk through the doors, it’s literally a ‘Wow’ Your eye can see for miles. It is one of the most extraordinary views you will see in the state of Maine.” Here, you’ll find a sweet view which pairs perfectly with a warm brownie sundae.  “We warm up the brownies. And we have the ice cream and it has a salt caramel with it. So it’s rich, creamy, salty. It’s a mix of it all. It’s like an explosion of flavor in your mouth.”

And whether you dine at Frisbee’s Wharf, Bistro 1828 or the Ski Club, you’re going to be taken care of when you visit Pepperell Cove.

“Everything we do and think is premium. We are all about having that experience be memorable for you. So we really want you to escape for an hour, hour and a half, two hours of your life drop in, enjoy the view. And let us take care of you. “