Ultramar

We discovered Ultramar somewhat by accident while on a bike tour with Coastal Maine Hike and Bike (highly recommended for hiking and biking needs). When planning our trip, it didn't show up on the recommended restaurant lists for the Kennebunkport area. As it turns out, we were pleased to have discovered Ultramar. Located on the bay with western-facing windows, we were able to catch the tail end of the sunset when we arrived, which added to the ambiance. The dining room decor is understated elegance, warm and comfortable. Our service was attentive but relaxed and we were able to enjoy our cocktails before ordering our meals. We had the Halibut from the wood fired menu and the Lobster Spaghetti from the Mains menu. Both were delicious and perfectly prepared. We ordered two sides; a house salad and the mashed potatoes, which were a nice companion to the entrees. The portion sizes were perfect, so we were both able to finish our meals without feeling stuffed. We chose not to order dessert, but they had a nice selection to offer. If you find yourself in the Kennebunkport area, make sure to add Ultramar to your dining list since it may not show up on your immediate restaurant searches. You will definitely be happy you did.

Had a really wonderful meal at Ultramar. It was our first meal of a long weekend in the area and we were not disappointed. While the ambiance has a nice vibe and very romantic the restaurant is very loud which prevented us from understanding our server who spoke softly and fast. The server, who was super helpful and very nice, stopped at the table too many times while I had a fork of food in my mouth to ask "how is everything" . Not a big problem but worth noting for the restaurant. The food was amazing from appetizer to desert. We really enjoyed everything. The creme Spinach could have used a tad more seasoning but that was easily remedied at the table with Salt. Highly recommend the chocolate souffle for desert!

We really enjoyed the atmosphere. The ocean view. The food was delicious. The waiter, Bayleigh, was very kind. I recommend it.

Everything about this experience was superb. We were warmly greeted by the hostess upon entering. I had booked our reservation at the bar and she asked what side we prefer. Having not dined there before, we choose water side. The bartender visited us immediately to say hello and take our drink order. We spent a little time exploring the menu. I ordered a Paloma and my husband ordered an IPA. I love a good Paloma and this was hands down the best I had while in town. Then we dove into food. When we have a date night without the kids, we spend time on as many courses as possible to fully experience a restaurant of the expected caliber and Ultramar did not disappoint. We started with a half dozen oysters which were very fresh and cleanly shucked. We also ordered the ceviche which that night was halibut. Very very good. Recipe was simple and not overdone. Classic flavors and I loved it! When we looked up from our finished plates we realized the other side of the bar, which had full view of the restaurant and water, had opened up. I really struggled with asking if we could slide over, bc I appreciate and understand how daunting planning seating can be, but I headed to the hostess who was not annoyed at the question at all. A couple minutes later the manager came right over too and was so gracious about having us slide down. For the rest of the night we were able to take in the panoramic views of the water and the beautifully designed restaurant. From there we ordered the squid dish and a heirloom tomato salad. And by this point I had moved on to a glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc as they did not have a Sancerre by the glass offering which I quickly forgot about anyway bc the wine and food had my full attention! The squid was cooked perfectly and the salad was the perfect, light paring for it. We both agreed to order the Seafood Mixed Grill for Two for our dinner. I didn’t think I would enjoy this as much as I did to be honest. This meal selection was more in line with my husband’s preferences than mine, but wow was I wrong! I tried everything on that plate: scallops, branzino, seafood sausage, etc. ! By the way, what a creation. Never in my life have I had a seafood sausage. I loved it. One of the bartenders asked our thoughts on it and mentioned there had been feedback on dryness. That was a non issue for me. If I wanted a greasy sausage or greasy seafood, I would have dined somewhere else. The sausage was a delight. A very fun experience for sure. Also the sausage that we ordered (herb, lemon, began with a letter S) was fantastic on everything on the plate. Highly recommend. When I thought I could not manage another bite, my husband heard some sort of dessert with bananas foster ice cream on it and before you know it, it was in front of us! So naturally I needed an espresso martini. Because at this point, why the heck not!? I should also mention that the kitchen was fast and the food was served at the right temp every time and paced perfectly lending the orchestration of a fantastic dining experience. We absolutely loved our time here and will be back again next year! Definitely the highlight of our trip. We also dined at their sister restaurant, Luca (The lost Fire) with our kids as is our annual tradition, Earth, The Boathouse, and Via Sophia —- Ultramar was our favorite! See you next year!

This place was romantic and extremely clean. The staff was very friendly and attentive. The food and drinks were amazing. I had a rum old fashioned, octopus for an appetizer, and the fresh catch of the day (branzino) for my entree. The wife had an expresso martini and steak. It was on the pricier side, but i highly recommend it. It was worth it.

As of this posting, a bunch of yahoos have left Ultramar some really petty 1-star reviews…. Don’t buy into them. This place is incredible. This was our first trip to Maine and I’m so glad we stumbled upon it. The Seafood Grill for 2 was outstanding - and for the amount of quality food, it’s a bit of a steal for the price. Hope to be back soon.

Lovely space, friendly helpful staff. The kitchen sends out beautiful, innovative dishes, like the ceviche. There are plenty of standards from the grill that are just as impressive. Call ahead for a table, enjoy.

Beautiful restaurant with great views and and upscale, but relaxed, vibe! Mike, our server, made the evening exceptional with excellent menu suggestions and attentiveness. Great beverage and food selections, with lovely plating. Will definitely return!

Dinner was yum! Service was exceptional! Beautiful view including sunset! Great atmosphere w retro ice cream truck. Lots of places to lounge outside before or after dinner

We sat at the bar for apps and drinks which were wonderful . Ended up having a lovely bottle of wine with the sushi special and salad with crab . Both were fabulous . To our surprise was the desert special with gelato , bacon and pastry dough was the best desert I have ever had . Make this a regular items it should be a staple item . Service was great beautiful location . It’s doesn’t get better

This place is incredible. I visited this past Sunday and the service, food and atmosphere went above and beyond my expectations. We had the swordfish, filet mignon and the tuna. The food was seasoned perfectly and the sauces were sooooooo good. The service was everything I want from a place like this. The service alone was enough to make me come back. And the atmosphere? Wow. I know $$$ was put into this place (good for them) and the attention to detail was awesome. It has a very art deco living room thing going on. I loved it. I can’t wait to go back, I’ve thought about it many times since I went which only proves it is a 5 star place. Go here!

ATMOSPHERE: Delightfully elegant. (One suggestion-that the background music be lowered, to ensure being able to hear the server better and also the voices of companions). STAFF: A gentleman welcomed us then seated us promptly and with a graciousness that made us feel at home. The person serving our table was simply wonderful. FOOD: Top notch. We enjoyed delicious, perfectly cooked and beautifully presented halibut and branzino fish, with smoked potatoes and asparagus. Every bite was exquisite, from first to last. Lovely views out the west facing windows. Thank you to all who made the dining experience memorable and thoroughly enjoyable. Much appreciated.

We had our private wedding party held here and the food and experience exceeded expectations. Everyone was very impressed with the quality of the food. Couldn't recommend enough.

This was our first time eating at Ultramar. We went with old friends with the intention of catching up and eating good food. We got drinks, appetizers, and then our meal.All 4 plates were fantastic! Hot, flavorful and perfectly portioned. Everything was expertly paced and our server was wonderful. This evening exceeded our expectations.

Great atmosphere! Food was delicious. Be mindful when making rez if you do not wish to sit at the bar. Great water views.

My expectations were exceeded! The staff was extremely friendly and professional. I truly appreciated their recommendation, which turned out to be an excellent choice. The food was beautifully presented, delicious, and perfectly portioned. I enjoyed my experience so much that I made reservations for my next trip to Kennebunkport before I even finished my dinner. The atmosphere was wonderfully relaxing, complemented by stunning views. I highly recommend dining at Ultramar—well done to the entire staff!

We had an excellent dinner experience here! Our waiter (Michael) was very friendly and accommodating to our good sized group. The food and drinks were incredible, best poke bowl I’ve ever had! Hope to be back soon.

Live in Westbrook, Maine...have been meaning to go. Randomly made a reservation last night (Friday 1/31/25) and upon leaving for the 40 minute drive, it started snowing. Snow accumulated a lot while en route and we were wondering if the restaurant would still be open upon arrival. When we walked in, they stated they would be closing at that time but would absolutely still accommodate us. Customer service on point, especially the host. They seated us right in front of the fireplace, which was special since the weather was cozy. Very clean. Encouraged us to take a walk around the restaurant to check it out. I feel like we had a special experience since there were only about eight of us in there due to the weather, but overall everything was on point. Lighting and music were great. Love the booths although that's not where we sat. Would be very fun with a group. Excited to go again during daylight to check out the water and sunset. Beautiful neighborhood! Thank you!

A truly memorable dining experience. Staff, atmosphere and food were all top notch. Highly recommended - don’t pass on the branzino!

My now husband and I recently hosted our wedding celebration dinner with our immediate families at Ultramar. Our party of 12 dined in their private dining room on the second floor. They allowed us to customize the dinner menu leading up to the event (served family-style) and we were truly blown away by the execution of every single dish (and we are foodies!). It's hard to pick a favorite, but some of the crowd favorites were the octopus, brussels sprouts, scallops and chicken. We also loved the ambiance of the private dining room and the restaurant as a whole. We can't recommend Ultramar enough and look forward to visiting when we're in the area again!

Our experience in the private Lighthouse Room at UltraMar restaurant in Cape Porpoise was delightful. Sarah made scheduling our Celebration of Life event a seamless and easy process. The food was delicious and the wait service by Michael and staff was impeccable. We highly recommend UltraMar restaurant and will absolutely return to this venue in the future.

I planned my birthday dinner at Ultramar through Sarah, the event planner. Sarah was great to work with and easily accessible. The restaurant atmosphere is gorgeous and the food was absolutely delicious. Our server Val was amazing and super attentive! My entire party has a 10/10 experience. We tried a lot of things on the menu and everything was incredible. They even played a birthday song for me over the sound system as we were leaving. Highly recommend!

Beautiful location built right on the pier in Kennebunkport with wonderful views. Varied menu from seafood options to meat and poultry. We ordered a variety of dishes each with unique local flavor and well presented. service is very good. The hotel concierge recommended this restaurant and it exceeded our expectations. Will definitely return and would recommend it to anyone visiting or local.

Trendy upscale restaurant overlooking the water. Service was great. The paella was amazing.

Very good food. A little pricey.

I very much enjoyed both the food and staff at this place. The customer service was wonderful, I could tell that people genuinely enjoyed interacting with their guests. I can see why this place has such a loyal following. The food was good and I particularly enjoyed the ceviche, shrimp cocktail, and branzino. I certainly look forward to future visits here and I recommend stopping in if you’re in the area.

It’s early days but I predict that Ultramar will prevail where others have failed. The new owners remodeled the restaurant and add cosy booths, a bar, and a raw bar. The food was excellent. All four of us were happy with our meals. If there is room for improvement it would be the addition of a pastry chef to add some variety to the dessert offering. We ordered two desserts but both were a bit undersized and underwhelming. Definitely will return though.

Went with a party of 7 for a bachelorette trip! The food here was outstanding! I wish I could say the same for the rest of the experience. The vibe of the restaurant are very trendy and cool coastal. We tried the heirloom tomato salad which was 10/10 as well as the Brussels sprouts! We also tried the lobster ravioli, scallops, and steak. Our server Kristin was very personable and knowledgeable about the menu. Gave good recommendations. The drinks were great too! Now for the other parts of our experience. Right away when we arrived we asked for a group photo. The GM John offered but then snubbed us and ran off acting like we were inconveniencing him. He also was very standoffish the rest of the night towards our group. We kindly asked for them to turn off the AC because it was freezing and even other groups asked to turn it off but they said they couldn’t. Our group also got oysters and we all got sick from them.

Our son planned to propose to his girlfriend and we had less than a week's notice to plan a special event. He had secretly arranged for her parents and sister to join us to surprise her. I had to find a space to fit 15 people quickly. The Lighthouse Room at Ultramar was a perfect fit. We all had a wonderful time! It was truly special. The service was very good. Michael did a great job handling the room and the servers were very gracious. A couple of other comments: The abundance of food was overwhelming. I hate to say we didn't finish every plate. I am sure people with heartier appetites than ours may have finished it all off. I didn't ask, and wish I was asked, to take any excess with us. There was a lot of chicken left which we were all eyeing for salad the next day. It was delicious. The desserts were especially delicious. I think the entire group enjoyed every offering. On the negative side, the room can be very noisy, so hard to hear across the table. And it was very chilly. The experience made the very special Engagement Day complete. Thank you for working with us.

We were so happy with our appetizer and salad and were anticipating the entree to be just as fabulous but we were disappointed. My filet came out cold! The sauce on top which was a butter based truffle sauce was cold and didn’t melt because the meat was cold. The scallops that my husband ordered were chewy. The server was very apologetic but this situation really warranted the manager to come out and offer us a solution. Unfortunately, we will not be back.

We brought my father here for his 80th birthday earlier this year. It had been on my list for a while but the menu prices were a little steep for my taste for a non-special occasion. It seemed a special event like a birthday was a good reason to try them out. First the ambiance and decor is 5*! Just a gorgeous, warm, welcoming inviting interior. Perfect lighting, love the colors (I still want to know what green they are using!), gorgeous tilework and other finishes. The views are outstanding and there is simply not a bad seat in the house. The booths were incredibly comfortable. Our server, Val, was fantastic. She was friendly, relaxed and attentive without being overbearing. The menu is simple but impressive. My father ordered the grilled halibut and was really impressed. My husband ordered grilled swordfish and was also really pleased. Both dishes were beautifully plated and came with a good selection of side sauces. I can't remember what sauce my Dad got but my husband got the lemon aoli with his swordfish and loved it. They both got the house smoked potatoes side and that is what I highly recommend to EVERYONE here because they are just amazing and like nothing you've ever tasted. Smoky and rich, they were incredible. I got the crabcakes appetizer and the brussels sprouts as an entree. The crabcake (only 1 is included FWIW, so it was a little light to sub in as an entree) was excellent, but the ponzu sauce on the brussels sprouts made them inedible. My experience with ponzu at high end sushi restaurants in larger cities (Uchi, Uchiko -best sprouts in the world btw- Oiishi) is that the ponzu they make is a lite, citrusy affair with bonito flakes that would compliment the other light ingredients (mint, basil) in this dish wonderfully; the version that they serve is very heavy on the soy sauce and for me it absolutely ruined the dish. I get pretty excited about brussels sprouts, so I was admittedly extra disappointed. Outside the sprouts, we had a good experience and my dad absolutely loved it!

Been to Lost Fire multiple times and have enjoyed it. Knowing that decided to try out Ultramar, and it was disappointing, especially for the price point. Our Mussels appetizer was great, the Mussels were fat and delicious, much better than expected, and then we shared a mixed grill entree which unfortunately tasted like everything was overcooked. The two prawns were tough and rubbery, as was the calamari steaks. The salmon was cooked at a medium well temp, which isn't bad, but I prefer medium rare salmon. Scallops were cooked well, and the branzino was ok. Everything was also under seasoned, which is fine because salt is on the table but I do expect better at a restaurant that changes this much. Overall the mixed grill felt like a low point, overpriced for the amount of seafood and overcooked. As it is, we'll just go back to Lost Fire next time, and I'll cook seafood at home.

I think their policies about reservations are extreme and unreasonable. Reservations are only allowed with a valid credit card, only kept for 10 minutes, and no shows can be charged $25 per person! Plus parties of two are expected to come and go in no more than 90 minutes! In addition I found their drinks were good but had almost undetectable levels of alcohol.

I have heard about Ultramar for a long time and was excited to try it out. The food was very good, however, the service was more than disappointing. We had to ask for utensils several times, our water glasses were never filled and the waitress appeared very disinterested and distracted, almost annoyed when we asked questions about the menu.

Was disappointed by this experience- came for a special occasion and the restaurant did not have a welcoming vibe (in particular the hostess), food was average and price was high. Recommend going elsewhere, especially if you have limited days and every dinner counts. Was disappointed we chose to have one of three dinners here on our trip- and service and comfortability was much better everywhere else.

The atmosphere and service was wonderful. The food was very subpar for the hype. Shrimp cocktail was off, fish overcooked, lobster spaghetti dish devoid of lobster. Was really disappointed. Way overpriced.

We have visited countless times to the restaurants that has changed ownership multiple times. Ultramar was disappointing. We waited 40 minutes for bread. 30 minutes for drinks. Some food was decent. Hospitality was terrible. Waiter had too many tables. Table next to us had some issues as well. Shame we will not return.

Motto of the restaurant: “If you don’t like our food, it is your problem and you will get a hard time!”. With that attitude towards clients I would not recommend that place to anyone. If you say - “I don’t like the dish”, first of all, you will be interrogated by the manager and then, anyway, you must pay for the food you didn’t even eat because it was tasteless. $100+ per person, eh? and you better like the food you ordered or you will have a hard time, like I did. The customer is NEVER right there. “Thanks” to Ultramar for spoiling my birthday.

It first started when we got a text saying our table was ready when we got to the door it was locked. And the place wasn't even open yet, we were told we had to wait ten more minutes. When we finally got in, we ordered the muscle appetizers which were amazing. I even wanted to make a martini out of the sauce. I had ordered the lollipop chops with mushroom buttersauce for my birthday dinner, my wife ordered the seabass. When they came out my chops were so cold that the mushroom butter sauce wouldn't even melt. I sent the dish back to warm it up and all they did was melt the buttersauce.The meat was still very cold. So I sent it back again for the second time. When it came back out it was still cold. So I asked if we could start over and order two new plates for myself and my wife. My wife hadn't eaten hers because she was waiting for me to get mine and hers got cold, they said ok took our plates away and never brought hers back, but brought my plate. We waited about 15 minutes before we said anything. And the manager said "she said she was all set with her meal" which isn't true. We where never asked if she wanted it to go or anything they just took her meal away. We ended up paying for our appetizers and drinks but never ate. Horrible experience won't be back ever. Sincerely, Two very unhappy customers who should have been compensated in some type of way instead of leaving disappointed and hungry.

Joined this afternoon for some light bites with friends, we asked about the bar menu (which we had two months ago) and the waitress thought we were from Mars. The lobster roll was clearly defrosting from the freezer and the fries were the ones you get at market basket from the freezer section (crinkle cut!) Clam Chowder was chilly and Cesar salad was just leaves. Raised our concerns with the event manager and she made zero effort to recover and acted surprised. Cute place, awesome location but I think McDonalds is fresher fr