Tucked beside the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Timber Kitchen & Bar has become the kind of local dining institution that consistently earns the title of the city’s best restaurant. 🔥
Set inside the Residence Inn near Bass Park, this wood-fired New American spot leans into Maine’s lumber heritage with a rustic, timber-themed dining room and a menu that spans everything from wood-fired pizza to fresh Gulf of Maine seafood.
Between its 24-hour braised short rib and hand-pressed pastas, Timber Kitchen has built a reputation that draws locals and hotel guests alike.
How Timber Kitchen & Bar won Bangor’s hearts
Timber Kitchen & Bar opened its doors as part of the Residence Inn development near Bass Park, embracing Maine’s lumber history as the foundation for its entire concept, from the rustic timber decor to the wood-fired brick oven that anchors the kitchen. 🌲
That signature brick oven cooks flatbreads and pizzas at 600 degrees, locking in freshness while creating a light, crispy crust the kitchen calls impossible to duplicate elsewhere.
The menu stretches far beyond pizza, though, covering hand-pressed pastas, fresh Maine lobster, and a full raw bar, giving the restaurant a range that few Bangor spots can match.
What has cemented its reputation as a true local favorite, though, is the consistency behind dishes like the 24-Hour Short Rib, slow-cooked and finished with a torched blue cheese crust. 🥩
Regulars also point to the Maine Lobster Bisque and Smoked Seafood Chowder as reasons they return again and again, proof that comfort food and elevated technique can coexist on the same menu.
Timber Kitchen has climbed to the top of Bangor’s dining scene by refusing to pick a single lane, instead building a menu broad enough to satisfy a quick burger craving or a full seafood feast in the same visit.
That range, combined with genuinely thoughtful execution, is exactly what has made Timber Kitchen & Bar one of the most talked-about restaurants in the entire region. 🌟
Food Highlights
-
24-Hour Short Rib: Slow-cooked short rib topped with a torched blue cheese crust, served with whipped Yukon potatoes, grilled asparagus, honey-roasted carrots, crispy onions, and a cabernet veal reduction. 🥩
-
Smoked Seafood Chowder: Cherrystone clams, cold-water shrimp, and haddock simmered with sweet corn, smoked bacon, and potatoes in a stewed cream base, topped with crumbled chowder crackers. 🥣
- Forest Mushroom Pizza: Roasted wild mushrooms and baby arugula over mozzarella and white sauce, finished with truffle oil for an earthy, umami-forward pizza. 🍄
-
Three Pigs Pizza: A wood-fired pizza loaded with sausage, pepperoni, and prosciutto over mozzarella and red sauce, finished with fresh basil. 🍕
-
Fish Tacos: Fried haddock topped with sweet chili red cabbage, grilled pineapple salsa, cotija cheese, and chipotle mango aioli, served alongside crispy fries. 🌮
-
Ale-Battered Fish & Chips: Local day boat haddock fried in an ale batter, served with fries, tangy cabbage slaw, lemon tartar, and malt vinegar. 🐟
- Rigatoni Bolognese: Milk-braised veal, pork, and beef ragu tossed with San Marzano tomatoes, stracciatella, and pecorino toscano cheese. 🍝
-
Acadian Steak Tips: Grilled steak tips paired with whipped Yukon potatoes, grilled summer vegetables, blue cheese fondue, and foraged forest mushrooms. 🥩
Atmosphere
Timber Kitchen & Bar leans fully into Maine’s logging heritage, with a rustic timber-themed dining room that feels warm without tipping into kitschy. 🪵
A cozy fireplace anchors part of the seating area, while a dog-friendly outdoor patio gives guests a relaxed option during warmer months.
The space works for a quick bar bite before a Cross Center event or a full sit-down dinner, thanks to a layout flexible enough to handle both crowds.
It has the polish of a destination restaurant while still feeling like a comfortable neighborhood hangout in Bangor, Maine. 🔥
Bottom Line
Timber Kitchen & Bar earns its reputation as a top local restaurant through wood-fired pizzas, a 24-hour braised short rib, and a menu deep enough to cover everything from lobster bisque to hand-pressed pasta.
Add a rustic timber-themed dining room and a dog-friendly patio, and it is easy to see why this Bangor spot consistently ranks among the city’s best. 🍽️
Address:
22 Bass Park Blvd, Bangor, ME 04401
📞 (207) 433-0844
🕔 Open Sun, 10 AM–9 PM; Mon, 11 AM–9 PM; Tue–Thu, 11 AM–10 PM; Fri–Sat, 11 AM–11 PM