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The Good Table
(207) 799-4663
527 Ocean House Road (Route 77), Cape Elizabeth
Hospitality-Informal and friendly
Open for three meals Tuesday through Saturday 8 AM-9 PM in summer, 11 AM-9 PM in winter, Sunday 8-3 year-round
Entrées $10 to $19 (twin lobsters $24), lunch up to $11
Handicapped accessible
A local institution, for families and visitors, with Greek specialties
A fire that burned the old Good Table down in summer 2001 brought such love and encouragement from the community that the restaurant owners needed only seconds to decide to rebuild.
Their new, larger building, just south of the left turn to Two Lights Road, is a restaurant families depend on for good food that pleases kids and grown-ups. It's a great place for lunch, with specials like hot pastrami and Swiss on rye, or hummus with fresh vegetables on a tomato tortilla, as well as standard temptations like the gyros sandwich of spiced beef and lamb, onions, tomato, and tzatziki in a pita ($5.75). There's spanakopita, of course, and fish-and-chips. The last item, big succulent pieces of fried haddock with french fries and coleslaw ($10), always reliably well made, is a favorite; and we also like to get the Greek salad, with a ton of crunchy lettuce topped with feta and olives ($6.50). A breakfast menu lists the expectable, along with a few foreign takes like Greek soul food, incorporating feta, onions, tomatoes, and peppers with the scrambled eggs ($7 if you add Greek sausage).
Dinner offers up lots of fried fish and clams, baked haddock, grilled meat, and salads, all low key and fresh.
But keep your eye on the specials board, where beet salad with pumpkin seeds and goat cheese ($7.50) might be found, or swordfish with ginger sweet potatoes ($19), the fish moist, the sweet potatoes tender and brilliantly flavored with ginger, and green beans that were fresh and perfect. The owner said that as many as half of the meals she serves come off that board, and it's clear why; they are well made, straightforward recipes that are delicious.
But everything on the menu is solid too, and the chicken chunks ($5) ordered for a child are made with fresh chicken.
The screened back porch would be a good spot to enjoy a dessert like the too-good bread pudding with caramel sauce, flaky apple pie, or ginger pound cake with peaches.
Winter nights inside the main dining room, with its old pictures, collection of women's hats, and light wood wainscoting, are almost as nice. And if you're Greek, there are parking spots reserved just for you to the right of the front door.