"Kennebunkport's clifftop prix-fixe — Pierre Gignac plates Lobster Thermidor and Dover sole above the Atlantic at Cape Arundel Inn, a Diners' Choice room for a special night."
About Ocean
Ocean is the signature dining room at the clifftop Cape Arundel Inn & Resort, at 208 Ocean Avenue in Kennebunkport, Maine. The inn began as an 1895 shingle-style summer cottage and has served diners since 1953; today its restaurant looks straight out over the Atlantic and was named in the OpenTable Diners' Choice Awards 2024. The kitchen is led by Montreal-born chef Pierre Gignac, who ran Ogunquit's southern-French bistro 98 Provence for eighteen years before bringing that sensibility up the coast.
For Kennebunkport's other rooms, compare the romantic White Barn Inn, the wood-fired Earth at Hidden Pond and the riverside Stripers. It belongs to the area's French and seafood dining.
The Kitchen
The kitchen works to a prix-fixe rather than an a la carte card, drawing on southern France and the Mediterranean and built on Maine-caught seafood. The signature Lobster Thermidor leads, with a plate of Dover sole — and an optional caviar supplement — the other set-piece, alongside seasonal dishes that change with the catch and the garden. Dinner is a three-course menu at $105 per person or four courses at $125, with a chef's wine pairing offered for $60 to $68 more; this is a special-occasion spend, not a casual stop.
The Room
The room is intimate and ocean-facing, with picture windows giving onto the Atlantic and Walker's Point beyond — a view that does as much for the evening as the plates. It is a quiet, dressed-up setting built for a slow, multi-course dinner, and the prix-fixe format reinforces the occasion-led feel. Sunset is the seat to ask for, when the light off the water turns the whole dining room gold.
Best for an Anniversary
A clifftop Atlantic view, a multi-course prix-fixe and an intimate room make Ocean an obvious choice for an anniversary or a proposal in Kennebunkport. The dressed-up setting also suits a milestone first date or a quiet celebration over wine.
Not for
Not for a casual lobster-shack lunch or a quick family bite — Ocean is a dressed-up, ocean-view prix-fixe room built for a slow, special-occasion dinner at clifftop prices.
Frequently Asked
What is Ocean at Cape Arundel Inn known for?
It is the Atlantic-facing fine-dining room at Cape Arundel Inn in Kennebunkport, led by chef Pierre Gignac and named in the OpenTable Diners' Choice Awards 2024, known for a coastal French and Mediterranean prix-fixe built on Maine seafood.
What should I order?
The Lobster Thermidor is the signature; the Dover sole, with an optional caviar supplement, is the other set-piece, alongside seasonal courses that change with the catch.
How much does it cost?
Dinner is a three-course prix-fixe at $105 per person or a four-course menu at $125, with a chef's wine pairing for an additional $60 to $68.
Who is the chef?
The kitchen is led by Montreal-born chef Pierre Gignac, who previously ran the southern-French bistro 98 Provence in Ogunquit for eighteen years.
Where is Ocean located?
At the Cape Arundel Inn & Resort, 208 Ocean Avenue in Kennebunkport, Maine, with dining-room views over the Atlantic toward Walker's Point.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Ocean
Prix-fixe ocean-view room; reservations essential, especially at sunset and in season.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address208 Ocean Avenue, Kennebunkport
NeighbourhoodCape Arundel Inn & Resort, Ocean Avenue
CuisineCoastal French / Seafood
Price$105 / $125 prix-fixe
Dress CodeSmart; resort elegant
SeatingAtlantic-facing dining room
ReservationEssential
