Image source: capriciouseatery.com

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Like many restaurants, Capricious has food specials in addition to their established menu. But Capricious specials are, well, capricious. You never know what chef-owner Christa Rummel will whip up—or how she’ll transform an ingredient into something so wildly delicious, you’ll wonder why no one else makes it this way. And the variety knows no bounds—one night it’s melt-in-your-mouth Ethiopian spiced ribs, the next it’s delicate Italian pastas, or the most surprising, mind-blowing mussels I’ve ever had—and I’ve spent a lot of time on the coast of Maine, never more than an arm’s length from plucking one from the Bay.

And soups! Chef Rummel’s creamy mushroom soup was better than my previous favorite, from a precious little town near Groningen in the Netherlands. I even ordered a second bowl to go and was tickled to find four separate garnish containers included—so I could faithfully recreate the dish at home, just as the chef intended.

Step into Capricious, and you’ll immediately feel the balance—casual but brimming with character. Rummel purchased the space—in an early 1900s brick building in historic downtown Newberry—and designed everything herself. So, of course, it’s tastefully done.

Beer and wine are served, so instead of the usual liquor bottles, the bar shelves hold a curated collection of old books—many were her great grandparents, others gifted by friends, all contributing to the restaurant’s charm.

One glance at the plates around you confirms what your nose already knows: everything here is excellent. Your first question, like most, might be, “what are they having?” And if you order the special, you may leave wishing you’d ordered another to go. That’s the magic of Capricious—every visit is a surprise, and every dish reminds you why you can never wait to return.