Natalie’s at Camden Harbour Inn was honored Saturday with Diners’ Choice Top 100 Best Restaurants in America Award. The OpenTable Top 100 Award is based on five million reviews of 19,000 restaurants, nationwide – wow.

The celebratory luncheon created by Chefs Long, Stevens and Sturdivant featured wine pairings by Natalie’s poised and delightful sommelier, Micah Wells. My first course was Katama oysters with smoked potato, chorizo, creme fraiche and sofritto. My second was a gorgeous local farm egg, artichokes, gnocchi, aged goat cheese and a few pine nuts. Dreamy and unctuous, this is sexy food.

Dessert was equally decadent and included a take-home box with delicate swooshy macarons – my absolute favorite confection – how did they know?

Tianna Baker from OpenTable presented the prestigious award inscribed on a sauté pan, and noted that Natalie’s is the only restaurant in the “Top 100” located here in Maine.

New status for a historic Camden property

I was lucky enough to be invited to Daniel restaurant in December when Relais & Chateaux status was bestowed on Camden Harbor Inn over a yummy, first-rate luncheon by Bouloud himself. “First becoming Relais & Chateaux, and now this prestigious award!” exulted owner Raymond Brunyanszki yesterday, “It is an honor to be included on this list with so many incredible restaurants around the country.”

Raymond and Oscar

And he’s not kidding – the other Top 100 recipients include The French Laundry in California, Le Bernardin, and Eleven Madison Park in NY, and the Girl and the Goat in Chicago – very distinguished company!

Raymond Brunyanszki and partner Oscar Verest, their chefs, managers, waitstaff and sommelier have made Natalie’s at Camden Harbour Inn a true culinary destination – both an amazing place to stay and a incomparable dining experience. Ms. Baker compared Natalie’s to a great orchestra, whose players have mastered their craft and work in harmony to create “a symphonic dining experience.”  Play on. •

Executive Chefs Chris Long and Shelby Stevens