TV Restaurants

Academe Maine Brasserie & Tavern Is Now The Kennebunk Inn & Tavern

Renamed reported

As of September 2026, thekennebunkinn.com lists this address as The Kennebunk Inn & Tavern; reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026, not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

Primary source
thekennebunkinn.com ·

Last verified

What the source shows: The Kennebunk Inn's own tavern page (2026, current) names the on-site restaurant only 'Tavern,' with no 'Academe' branding remaining, indicating a rename.

  • Season / episode Season 4, Episode 14
  • Address 45 Main Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043
  • Current name The Kennebunk Inn & Tavern

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What happened after Best Thing I Ever Ate?

Academe Maine Brasserie & Tavern was the dining room inside The Kennebunk Inn, a Kennebunk, Maine hotel dating to 1799, at the time it appeared in the 'Reinvented Classics' episode, which paired restaurants with a chef's take on a familiar dish. The inn's kitchen operated as an upscale brasserie-and-tavern concept serving updated versions of classic American fare alongside the property's lodging and event business. Since the episode, the inn has continued operating its restaurant under different branding: The Kennebunk Inn's own website, in a September 2026 check, lists its on-site dining room simply as 'The Tavern,' with no reference to the 'Academe' name anywhere on the site. According to the inn's tavern page, hours run 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., closed Sundays and Wednesdays, with menus and pricing subject to change. The inn remains located at 45 Main Street in Kennebunk.

"Pot Pie Paradise" (aired 2012) featured Acadene Maine Brasserie & Tavern, a brasserie-style restaurant operating inside the historic Kennebunk Inn. A brasserie is a relaxed-setting style of French restaurant known for dishes such as steak frites, according to Wikipedia. According to the business's own website, checked 2026-09-07, the inn's restaurant now operates as The Tavern at The Kennebunk Inn, serving lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed Sundays and Wednesdays, at 45 Main Street in Kennebunk. Google Places lists the address as operational. The inn's website notes that tavern hours, menus, and pricing "are subject to change." The inn's website also promotes overnight lodging alongside the tavern, describing itself as a historic property in downtown Kennebunk. No closure or ownership change has been reported for the property.

Featured on Best Thing I Ever Ate

Season / episode
Season 4, Episode 14
Original air date
Not confirmed
Episode title
Reinvented Classics
What was featured
the inn's upscale brasserie-tavern take on classic American dishes
Role
Featured restaurant
Name on the broadcast
Academe Maine Brasserie & Tavern
Season / episode
Season 4, Episode 5
Original air date
Episode title
Pot Pie Paradise
What was featured
French brasserie-style tavern fare at a historic Maine inn
Role
Featured restaurant
Name on the broadcast
Academe Maine Brasserie & Tavern

Frequently asked questions

Is Academe Maine Brasserie & Tavern still open in 2026?

As of September 2026, thekennebunkinn.com lists this address as The Kennebunk Inn & Tavern; reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026, not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

What happened to Academe Maine Brasserie & Tavern after Best Thing I Ever Ate?

Academe Maine Brasserie & Tavern was the dining room inside The Kennebunk Inn, a Kennebunk, Maine hotel dating to 1799, at the time it appeared in the 'Reinvented Classics' episode, which paired restaurants with a chef's take on a familiar dish. As of September 2026, thekennebunkinn.com lists this address as The Kennebunk Inn & Tavern; reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026, not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

What is Academe Maine Brasserie & Tavern called now?

Now: The Kennebunk Inn & Tavern (formerly Academe Maine Brasserie & Tavern). As of September 2026, thekennebunkinn.com lists this address as The Kennebunk Inn & Tavern; reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026, not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

Where is Academe Maine Brasserie & Tavern located?

45 Main Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043. That is the address on the record as of September 7, 2026.

What season and episode of Best Thing I Ever Ate featured Academe Maine Brasserie & Tavern?

Season 4, Episode 14 of Best Thing I Ever Ate. The episode is titled “Reinvented Classics”.

Is Academe Maine Brasserie & Tavern still using the Best Thing I Ever Ate menu or branding?

Since the episode, the inn has continued operating its restaurant under different branding: The Kennebunk Inn's own website, in a September 2026 check, lists its on-site dining room simply as 'The Tavern,' with no reference to the 'Academe' name anywhere on the site. Anything newer than our last check on September 7, 2026 may not be reflected here.

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Visit info

Address
45 Main Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043
Venue type
restaurant
Official website
thekennebunkinn.com

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