A surprise experience greeted us on our return trip from Canada, our charming and friendly neighbor. Exactly midway to New York from an extended trip to Prince Edward Island, Canada, we stopped overnight in Bangor, Maine.

Off the highway, in a commercial area, was a strategically convenient rest stop. The hotel was unnewsworthy; however, attached to it was an independent restaurant called the Blue Sky Lounge, which had a convoluted past and had fallen from high regard to a negative impression during Covid, when the adjacent hotel was taken over as a city Covid hospice site.

Today, it has been resurrected and has returned to its reputation as a vibrant dining destination. The atmosphere has charm yet informality. The restaurant combines a modern aesthetic with an active and joyful central bar, surrounded by comfortable seating in both casual booths and a traditional, more formal section in the rear of the restaurant.

The menu is diverse, often with a surprise element added to the dishes. Key to the blend of contemporary offerings is the surprising manner in which Chef David Foster combines and contrasts different tastes, with highlighted dishes such as Cajun chicken Alfredo and barbecued chicken nachos. All dishes garner applause for their surprising juxtaposition of flavors and their generous proportions.

Executive Chef David has an impressive history throughout the state of Maine. He has won awards from the Phantom Gourmet in Massachusetts, as well as the Wingfest Award given in Maine for the most creative chicken wings. He is a quintessential gentleman whose statement for this article was, “I just enjoy making guests happy with my food.”

A great contributory charm of the restaurant is the attentive service provided by a warm and friendly staff under the excellent management of Karen Gifford, a true professional who returned to the restaurant for its recent revival and is greatly responsible for its success.

We had the pleasure of being served by Trina Cayford, who, as a side gig, is a pro cornhole player for the American Cornhole League.

Unique to the Blue Sky Lounge is its penchant for hosting quality live music events, which contribute to the joyful atmosphere that will surely make your visit memorable. The staff and great food will also await your meandering off the beaten path, as we did and most certainly will do again when we next return from Canada.