Restaurant

Great view, fresh but average pub-style food, competent waitstaff, reasonable prices.

Pros

Cons

Federal Jack's Brewpub and Restaurant in Kennebunk, Maine is the original home of Shipyard Brewing Company, Maine's largest brewery. Federal Jack's offers traditional pub food with a Maine influence (lobster rolls, mussels, haddock, and other seafood) and is open daily for lunch and dinner from 11:30 to 1:00 am, with a late night menu after 9:00 pm, and serves Sunday brunch from 10:30 to 2:00.

Former President Bush and his wife Barbara are known to frequent Federal Jack's and were having lunch there the day I was there.

We were greeted and seated quickly. Service was efficient and competent. We ordered tossed salad and burgers with fries. The lettuce, cukes, and carrots in the tossed salad were fresh but the cherry tomatoes were a bit mushy. Croutons appeared to be the type you buy in the grocery store. Blue cheese salad dressing was good but not great. Ice tea was very good and our glasses were refilled quickly without having to ask. The generous sized burgers were served on large, fresh bulkie rolls and were cooked exactly as we requested (well done). The best part of the meal was the fries, which were slightly crisp on the outside and soft inside, perfectly cooked and delicious.

Federal Jack's is located at 8 Western Avenue (Route 9) in the Lower Village, Kennebunk, Maine, just before the bridge into Kennebunkport. (207) 967-4322.