Brookside Inn

The turkey sandwich was a great home-style meal: moist turkey, tasty gravy, homemade bread, mashed potatoes, and especially good squash that was fresh, buttery, and well seasoned. I started with the corn chowder, which came in a generous cup-sized portion, though it was thinner than I expected. Still comforting and delicious. The chocolate sheet cake was just as good as I’d hoped, and I added a homemade whoopie pie from the baker’s tray too. Prices are reasonable for the large servings, and the staff were attentive, friendly, and welcoming. The Brookside Inn is just off I-95 in Smyrna, around ten miles south of Houlton, and makes a handy stop for a hearty meal while traveling through northern Maine. Locals know the place, but visitors should stop in too. Tuesdays are Customer Appreciation Day, when each diner gets a free slice of sheet cake with their meal. They’ll wrap it to go if you’re too full. It’s a charming small-town spot with that Maine home cooking and hospitality.

The free cake was delicious, at least. My Monterey chicken arrived without BBQ sauce, and the portion looked tiny on the big plate. I realized what was missing only after I’d finished it. Someone else in our group ordered a chicken sandwich, but the small piece of chicken didn’t cover the bun, and there was no lettuce, tomato, or onion. The chicken was overcooked and tough.

The place is really nice, clean, and has a cute gift shop. I ordered the Cordon bleu, described as a “chicken burger,” so I thought it meant ground chicken. It was actually regular chicken for a sandwich, with ham and Swiss. I can’t eat whole chicken, so I missed out, though it looked good.

I’ve been to the restaurant many times, though I haven’t stayed at the hotel. The turkey dinner is delicious, and I highly recommend it. Service is consistently good, with friendly employees. It’s a convenient local breakfast spot right off the highway, and the cute gift shop is packed with all kinds of things, including locally made products.