5 Bangor Restaurants That Should Make A Comeback

Before I moved to the Queen City I remember my family making a pit stops in Bangor at Paul's. It was always a tasty place to stop on our trips to Presque Isle from my hometown of Phippsburg, Maine. I was a picky eater as a child and basically lived off chicken fingers. I remember Paul's being some of my favorite. I'd still be ordering them today, although not off the kids menu, if Paul's hadn't closed their doors in 2004.

As a college student new to the area, I remember hearing tales of this extraordinary sandwich shop. The Coffee Pot made their legendary sandwiches until they ran out of ingredients. I was lucky enough to visit a few times before the shop closed after nearly 80 years, back in 2009.

Another staple food for me as a kid, and now, is mac & cheese. I've developed quite the palette for dish despite being lactose intolerant. What can I say? I'm rebel, and dedicated. Jimmy V's had some stellar mac & cheese! So good in fact I never strayed from that menu choice every time I visited. Well, other than a whoopie pie for desert.

The Ninety Nine Restaurant in Bangor always brought back multiple forms of nostalgia when visiting. It was a favorite for post Black Friday shopping with my mom. Back in my high school days, the chain restaurant's Topsham location was a popular choice for hot dates on a Friday night. The Ninety Nine Restaurant in Bangor closed in 2013.

Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse was another Bangor pit stop family favorite. Those cool talking animatronic animals was always the selling point for my brother and I. I always called it "the moose restaurant." Sadly after 22 years, Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse closed suddenly in 2016.

Although not located in Bangor, I certainly miss Beef O'Brady's. As a lover of wicked spicy food, Beef O'Brady's was my destination when I was looking to feel the burn. Their Ghost-pepper wings were insanely hot, and always put me in my place when I ran my mouth to friends about my tolerance for super hot wings. It always ended in me begging for a glass of milk. The Brewer restaurant closed in 2012.