Chase’s Restaurant in Winter Harbor offers comforting taste of the past

Chase’s Restaurant

193 Main St.

Winter Harbor

963-7171

Chase’s Restaurant in Winter Harbor is the type of place you will want to take your father for lunch. It has a simple dining room with tables, booths, a counter and windows facing the parking lots. It’s very 1940s – but in a comforting way. You know: The waitresses are cheery, portions are abundant, you get rolls. Speaking of comfort: Chase’s built a reputation for great chowder, and as far as we can tell it was well-earned. The clam chowder has full clams. The fish chowder has golf-ball chunks of haddock. And what the hay: The fried clams are delicious fists of crunchy, then chewy and finally sea-filled flavor. “Very local” is how the server described them. Your dad may also like Chase’s Good Ol’ Fashioned Hamburgers, with optional toppings of decadent favorites such as fried eggs, sauteed mushrooms and chili or the very contemporary sun-dried tomato pesto. If your dad served in World War II, he might enjoy the Navy Boy, a burger with Thousand Island dressing. Otherwise, he can have a BLT, grilled Reuben, or a fried shrimp roll. And yes, doggie bags are encouraged. You may be too full to sample the sweet potato fries. Our advice: Keep it simple; go back often. And remember: You’re on the coast. Order the chowder. Split a fresh haddock fishburger with Pops and save room for homemade bread pudding with enough whipped cream to keep him smiling until naptime when you’re halfway around the nearby loop road for Schoodic Point. Prices range from $4.75 for a cup of the famous fish chowder to $6-8 for sandwiches to $27.95 for a shore dinner (in season).