Bangor’s Most Missed Restaurants

Bangor has lots of fantastic dining options, but there are quite a few dearly missed.

Here's a trip down memory lane that will get your stomach growling. Bangor has had some truly legendary eateries in years past. Here are some of our most missed restaurants in Bangor.

Paul's Restaurant & Speakeasy:

Nestled just off I-95 in Bangor was Paul's Restaurant and Speakeasy. The restaurant was in business for 29 years before it closed in 2004.

The Coffee Pot:

To this day, memories of this extraordinary sandwich shop still tickle the mind of devoted former patrons. The Coffee Pot made legendary sandwiches until they ran out of ingredients. There were fewer worse feelings than arriving too late. The shop closed after nearly 80 years, back in 2009. The original recipe lives on at the Coffee Pot Sandwich Shop on Broadway, in Bangor.

The Ninety-Nine:

Now the home to Las Palapas, the building used to be a Ninety Nine Restaurant. While other locations are still in operation in southern Maine, the Bangor restaurant closed in 2013.

Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse:

Oh, how we miss those cool talking animatronic animals. Sadly after 22 years, Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse closed suddenly in 2016.

Howard Johnson:

The sudden closure of the Bangor Howard Johnson came as a shock to the area back in 2016. The only remaining HoJo's is located in Lake George, New York.

Arby's:

We could use a Jamocha shake, or two. The Bangor Arby's location closed in July of 2015, after the owner retired. There are still four franchise locations in Maine.

Pilots Grill:

The cheese spread was legendary. Pilots Grill was a Bangor staple for over 50 years. The restaurant had to move a couple of times due to runway expansions at Bangor International Airport. The restaurant closed for good in 2002.

Spanky's:

How we miss the home of the 3 pizza deal. Spanky's Pizza had an insane deal - buy one pizza, get two free. It made the pizza place legendary. It closed in 2012.

Miller's Restaurant:

It was an extravagant all-you-can-eat buffet. Miller's Restaurant was yet another legendary eatery in Bangor for over 50 years. It closed for good in 2010.

Momma Baldacci’s:

Another Bangor restaurant was legendary. Momma Baldacci’s was a staple of exquisite Italian food for over 70 years. The restaurant closed in 2008, but was revived as a food truck in 2018.

Capitan Nick's:

Who remembers the rail car dining room? Capitan Nick's closed in June of 2015. Two years later the train was repurposed for use at the Wicked Muddy Mainer race.

Nicky's:

One of the more recent closures in Bangor was Nicky's. Decorated with a vintage-looking interior with antique gas pumps, to celebrity memorabilia. In years past, classic car and motorcycle cruise-ins were held on a weekly basis, prompting the name 'Cruise-In Diner.' Nicky's officially closed on June 30, 2020. The building was leveled two months later.

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