Photo: Bangor Daily News
In April 2017, the phones at Erin French’s Maine restaurant,The Lost Kitchen, wouldn’t stop ringing.
“Reservations got out of control. We couldn’t handle it anymore,” French, whose memoirFinding Freedomwas released in 2021, told PEOPLE. “Our phone lines just exploded. Everything just broke down.”
After the hectic 2017 year, French — whose cookbook,Big Heart Little Stove, is set to be released on Oct. 31, 2023 — decided to ask people to send a postcard to be entered into a table lottery. She receives more than 20,000 cards a year, making it one of the hardest-to-book restaurants in the country.
There are only 48 seats available per night, four nights a week for six months out of the year, typically from May to October. You’ll need some luck to be picked, but there are some things you can do to improve your chances.
How to submit a postcard
“I feel we’re getting to know these people as we see their cards," said French. “They put themselves into each one.”.The Lost Kitchen
The Lost Kitchen
Keep an eye on the restaurant’sofficial reservation page. French and her team — who alsostar onThe Lost KitchenseriesonChipandJoanna Gaines’sMagnolia Network(streaming on Max and Discovery+) — open up the call for postcards on April 1st each year. You’ll need to follow the directions carefully, as your card needs to include your contact information, party size, dates, and, if you’d like, a note. Sign up for French’s newsletter so you don’t miss the announcement.
They truly treat the process like a lottery, randomly pulling cards, but it can’t hurt to give yours some cute notes or creative art — if only because it brings French so much joy.
“I feel we’re getting to know these people as we see their cards,” she told PEOPLE. “They put themselves into each one. It’s always exciting to see whose card it was when you get to meet them, and they come into our world.”
What to do if your postcard is selected
If you’re chosen, someone will call you to arrange a date and time that works for your group (so look out for a 207 area code!). However, don’t lose hope if you don’t get a call right away: French selects new postcards later if a party cancels.
She even keeps all 70,000 postcards she’s ever received in her attic. “The cards are like love letters,” she said. “You can’t throw them away. They’re people’s hopes and dreams.”
Once you’ve secured a reservation, you’re in for a treat.
“Our expectations were so high that we were nervous that once we got there, it would be very hard to live up to. Not only did it beat expectations, but it far exceeded them,” said Katie Peter, a Mainer who visited The Lost Kitchen with her sister and cousins. “The food was 100 percent all I dreamed of. And Erin’s persona also really elevates the experience.”
Come with an appetite and an open mind because no dinner is the same — French creates a new menu each day after seeing what foods are fresh that morning.
How to plan your trip
“It was a ride, but it was also really cathartic,” French said of writing her memoir Finding Freedom.Celadon Books
Celadon Books
If you want to spend the night, French does offer a “breakfast and cabin” stay, but availability is limited, and they book quickly. You can check the website for cancellations or book a room atThe Jeweled Turret Inn, a charming bed and breakfast in Belfast about 17 miles away, or head back to Portland, where there are several hotels to choose from.
For more of Erin French’s story, pick up her book,Finding Freedom, here.
source: people.com
