This Acadian Joint Is One Of The Most Nostalgic Destinations In Maine
By Andrea Verschuyl|Published January 09, 2024
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Andrea Verschuyl
Author
Having grown up in Washington, Andrea is a self-admitted Pacific Northwest snob. In their opinion, there's simply nowhere else in the country with the Evergreen State's beauty. After attending university, Andrea devoted themselves to writing full-time. They're thrilled to represent Washington for Only In Your State while pursuing other professional and personal projects. They currently reside in Olympia, where they enjoy leaf-blowing their yard, perfecting homemade ramen, cuddling with their three tiny dogs, and feeding their pufferfish, Sea Biscuit.
As we embrace a new year, there’s something to be said for keeping in touch with our nostalgia. This local gem, tucked in the tiny Aroostook County town of Frenchville, has the classics covered. Dolly’s Restaurant serves up some of the best Acadian food in Maine, winning the loyalty of locals who know a thing or two about good comfort food. It may just win yours, too.
Boasting a population just this side of 1,000, Frenchville's location— a stone's throw from the Canadian border— means it retains strong cultural ties to Quebec and New Brunswick. Locals speak French and Valley French regularly and have developed a regional cuisine that's utterly unique.
Dolly's is casual; it wouldn't make much sense to plop a fine-dining establishment here. According to its signage, it's "a great place to meet and eat." And meeting and eating you will! The favorite stomping ground of locals and increasingly a destination for visitors, Dolly's is an estuary where townies and outsiders meet.
But if you've come all the way to Frenchville, I highly suggest you try some of the Acadian entries on Dolly's menu. Acadian cuisine is the lesser-known sibling of Québécois cuisine, the progenitor of poutine, though it typically features more seafood.
When the British expelled the Acadians from the region in the 18th century, many families relocated to Louisiana, where their recipes became the basis for modern Cajun cooking. You'll recognize the similarities when you eat at Dolly's, where Acadian favorites are given their due.
Poyes— a delicious buckwheat relative to the pancake— are used to mop up butter and savory beans. Like everything else, Dolly's makes these in-house. One diner couldn't help but remark that their meal tasted just like their mom used to make it, a dizzying compliment in a culture where mother's was always best.
