I would like to formally report that the chef at The Crooked Pine is almost certainly operating a secret underground flavor laboratory disguised as a restaurant. There is simply no other explanation. I ordered the steak frites. My wife ordered the braised short ribs. What arrived at the table was not food. It was a carefully engineered emotional event. The steak didn’t just taste good — it kicked the door down, grabbed my taste buds, and yelled, “WE RIDE AT DAWN.” Perfectly cooked, ridiculously flavorful, and so tender I briefly considered writing it a thank-you letter. The frites? Crispy, golden, and clearly trained in the ancient arts of deliciousness. Then came my wife’s braised short ribs… and that’s when things escalated into full-blown culinary wizardry. These short ribs were so tender they didn’t need a knife. I’m pretty sure they just politely surrendered. I literally only had one bite and my soul left my body, hovered above the table, and nodded in approval before returning like, “Yes. This is correct.” At one point I stopped mid-chew, looked around, and genuinely wondered if the kitchen staff was back there chanting over a cauldron labeled “UNREASONABLE LEVELS OF FLAVOR.” Because my mouth did not simply enjoy the meal — it experienced a flavor detonation of historic proportions. I’m talking fireworks. Parade. Confetti cannons. National holiday-level excitement. Guy Fieri would nod in approval. Now, let’s address portion sizes, because honesty matters. If you show up with the appetite of a lumberjack who just ran a marathon while fighting a bear, you may notice the portions are a bit smaller than some places. This is not a “leave in a food coma while questioning your life choices” establishment. HOWEVER — and this is critical — what it lacks in sheer volume, it replaces with flavor so powerful it should legally count as two meals emotionally. For me? It was exactly the right amount. I left satisfied, happy, and able to walk like a normal human instead of being wheeled out in a gravy-induced trance. The atmosphere is cozy, charming, and dangerously welcoming — the kind of place where you sit down for dinner and accidentally have a full spiritual awakening over steak frites. Warm vibes, great energy, and food so good it makes you suspicious of every other restaurant you’ve ever trusted. Final verdict: The steak frites changed me as a person. The braised short ribs achieved enlightenment. My taste buds are still filing paperwork. If this is witchcraft, I support it. If there’s a spell involved, it worked. If I suddenly start dreaming about that meal at random hours, I will not be surprised. 11/10. Would return immediately, willingly, and without hesitation to be flavor-enchanted again.
The Crooked Pine
Excerpts
I would like to formally report that the chef at The Crooked Pine is almost certainly operating a secret underground flavor laboratory disguised as a restaurant. There is simply no other explanation. I ordered the steak frites. My wife ordered the braised short ribs. What arrived at the table was not food. It was a carefully engineered emotional event. The steak didn’t just taste good — it kicked the door down, grabbed my taste buds, and yelled, “WE RIDE AT DAWN.” Perfectly cooked, ridiculously flavorful, and so tender I briefly considered writing it a thank-you letter. The frites? Crispy, golden, and clearly trained in the ancient arts of deliciousness. Then came my wife’s braised short ribs… and that’s when things escalated into full-blown culinary wizardry. These short ribs were so tender they didn’t need a knife. I’m pretty sure they just politely surrendered. I literally only had one bite and my soul left my body, hovered above the table, and nodded in approval before returning like, “Yes. This is correct.” At one point I stopped mid-chew, looked around, and genuinely wondered if the kitchen staff was back there chanting over a cauldron labeled “UNREASONABLE LEVELS OF FLAVOR.” Because my mouth did not simply enjoy the meal — it experienced a flavor detonation of historic proportions. I’m talking fireworks. Parade. Confetti cannons. National holiday-level excitement. Guy Fieri would nod in approval. Now, let’s address portion sizes, because honesty matters. If you show up with the appetite of a lumberjack who just ran a marathon while fighting a bear, you may notice the portions are a bit smaller than some places. This is not a “leave in a food coma while questioning your life choices” establishment. HOWEVER — and this is critical — what it lacks in sheer volume, it replaces with flavor so powerful it should legally count as two meals emotionally. For me? It was exactly the right amount. I left satisfied, happy, and able to walk like a normal human instead of being wheeled out in a gravy-induced trance. The atmosphere is cozy, charming, and dangerously welcoming — the kind of place where you sit down for dinner and accidentally have a full spiritual awakening over steak frites. Warm vibes, great energy, and food so good it makes you suspicious of every other restaurant you’ve ever trusted. Final verdict: The steak frites changed me as a person. The braised short ribs achieved enlightenment. My taste buds are still filing paperwork. If this is witchcraft, I support it. If there’s a spell involved, it worked. If I suddenly start dreaming about that meal at random hours, I will not be surprised. 11/10. Would return immediately, willingly, and without hesitation to be flavor-enchanted again.
We were browsing the menu when a lady approached us and said she came to the Crooked Pine the night before, and was tempted to go back again as it was phenomenal. We were already tempted, but we happily accepted her recommendation haha. Well what can I say, the food was fantastic, we actually DID go two days in a row!! We got the chicken wings which were crunchy yet juicy at the same time, perfect. I had the baked cod first night, so fresh and such a great portion size. The second night I had salmon, amazing! My partner ate the risotto and then the halibut pasta, she said it was the nicest risotto she has ever had. The service was brilliant both evenings, and the rose wine really was delicious. I’ve been thinking about it ever since we left. What an amazing restaurant, we will be back to Ogunquit and the Crooked Pine!
We were browsing the menu when a lady approached us and said she came to the Crooked Pine the night before, and was tempted to go back again as it was phenomenal. We were already tempted, but we happily accepted her recommendation haha. Well what can I say, the food was fantastic, we actually DID go two days in a row!! We got the chicken wings which were crunchy yet juicy at the same time, perfect. I had the baked cod first night, so fresh and such a great portion size. The second night I had salmon, amazing! My partner ate the risotto and then the halibut pasta, she said it was the nicest risotto she has ever had. The service was brilliant both evenings, and the rose wine really was delicious. I’ve been thinking about it ever since we left. What an amazing restaurant, we will be back to Ogunquit and the Crooked Pine!
We had a great dinner experience at The Crooked Pine, but we expected it to be better based on other reviews. We went on a Saturday evening in July—peak tourist season—and thank God we had a reservation because both Ogunquit and the restaurant were packed to the max. Also, they do not have parking, so I recommend you give yourself 10-15 minutes to find parking, especially during the summer. Let's start with the good stuff: the service was excellent. The staff, both the hosts and wait staff, were excellent; friendly and prompt throughout the night. The restaurant itself is beautiful. They have a patio area (prime stuff for people watching, which we unfortunately did not get), indoor space, and a separate bar area. The indoor space felt like a cozy home (although they do pack quite a few tables in the space!). The drinks were also delicious. They had an extensive cocktail menu and plenty of spirits. The 14 Sheets cocktail was terrific, and the Paddington was also excellent. Both drinks were strong and well-balanced. The food ended up being more of a meh experience for us. We started with the Mac & Cheese ($14, from their appetizers list), and it was okay, but we definitely have had better. It could've used more cheese and spices to elevate the flavors. My husband ordered a burger, and I ordered the halibut piccata, and both were subpar. The burger's consistency didn't match the medium-rare temp we asked for, and my husband's theory is that it was a previously frozen patty. He opted for a side of tortellini salad (they offer a few fun sides for burgers), and honestly, that was the best part of the meal. My halibut piccata was disappointing for multiple reasons. First, the food-to-price ratio: they gave me so little pasta that I had to slow down to not finish everything in 5 minutes. Then, the halibut was incredibly dry. All in all, it was not worth the $30+. I recently had chicken piccata at another restaurant; sadly, this was laughable compared to my other experience. All in all, it was an okay experience. Maybe it was just a hectic night that led to a subpar experience.