Harvest Moon Deli

I had high hopes, but wasn’t impressed at all. I ordered a corned beef sandwich on rye. The bread had a rye flavor, but looked nothing like rye bread. Altogether an very uninspired sandwich and the pickle was mediocre; soft, rather than crisp. Worst of all was the wait. A full 15 minutes for them to make one sandwich, even though there was nobody ahead of me. Admittedly, they were making sandwiches for people in the restaurant, but it seems that carry-​out should not have to wait until everyone in the restaurant has received their food.
Food: 2 stars
Service: there is none for carry-​out, really
Ambiance: 3 stars

There’s a reason why it’s known as one of the best sandwiches in Maine. I haven’t had a sandwich I didn’t like yet, and I’ve been a regular for about 2 years now. Even my picky eater of a boyfriend likes it here. The food is fresh, there is a good selection of drinks, and the atmosphere is that of a typical college town — fun and friendly. Also you get a pickle with every sandwich! :-)

We stopped in for lunch. They had just what we were looking for soup, salad, and coffee. There is quite an extensive sandwich menu, but just not in mood for sandwiches. The dining room is small but there are a few booths. Ordering is at kitchen window and the man there was pleasant.
Pros: we both agreed that the chicken tortilla soup had good flavor. Not homemade and not a lot of chicken but good. Husband ordered the chef salad and I ordered the garden with added chicken salad, both with house dressing which is a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. The salads had an abundance of fresh lettuce spring mix! And the coffee was good; very important
Cons: Everything served in to go containers… but my bad, I didn’t think to ask if regular plates, bowls, and mugs were an option. Like an idiot, I put the house dressing on my salad (and mixed it up real good) before I tasted it. My husband then warned me that it was not the type of balsamic we are used to. Ack! The balsamic vinegar was so sour it made my tongue shrivel up; the dressing rendered that delicious looking salad inedible. I got a side of ranch to try to cut it but didn’t do good enough job. Live & learn (again).
Bottom line: definitely would go back and try again.

I can’t believe this place is still here. I used to go to this place when I was in college at Umaine from 2004 – 2008. Best wrap I ever had. Looks like the place hasn’t changed! Next time I’m in Maine I am so going here!

Honestly one of the better sandwiches I’ve had. As someone who travels a lot and eats quite a few sandwiches, I was skeptical that a place in Orono could measure up, but Harvest Moon Deli did not disappoint! I ordered the Eric Clapton on ciabatta and the way the flavors all melted together was just heavenly on my taste buds. Definitely worth a try if you are in the area or driving by and need a good lunch!

I have been going here for years, but the last few times my sandwiches have been inedible; the bread is so unbelievably soggy I’ve had to bring it home and get new pieces of bread, there is always way too much condiments and extremely over priced. I’m will no longer continue going here.

The Orono area is not packed with Deli options, so the Harvest Moon is one of the only places to go to get a sandwich apart from Subway.
The Harvest Moon is not a sub sandwich city deli, they have ‘classic’ sandwiches on sliced bread with pesto mayo and grainy mustard. The specialty sandwiches are good, I usually get an Ella Fitzgerald or Dizzy Gillespie. The bread is always fresh and you can buy a loaf to take home. They have a soup of the day — last time I was in it was Minestrone.

Nice, intimate deli reminiscent of ones dotting NYC. Plenty of choices on the menu and friendly wait staff. Music playing in the background fits nicely with their music-​themed sandwich names. I went with the Jefferson Airplane and was not disappointed.

Manhattan prices for mediocre, small-​sized portions of processed meat and cheese. Nothing made in house. I had a «Peter Paul and Mary» — the sandwiches have cloyingly annoying names — and it had a few slices of salami and cheese, with some red peppers. And it cost $ 11. WTF? Sodas are from the fountain. Space is like a cheap diner, with plastic all around, and absolutely no atmosphere to speak of. Patrons look depressed.
Absurdly expensive. Blah.

I have been here a couple of times since I have moved to Orono. I have always had friendly service and good food. Best sandwiches in the town that I have found so far.

Have been here twice, and both times, have ordered the Ella Fitzgerald sandwich. I have to say, it has to be the best sandwich I have ever had! Everything about it was perfect. Definitely do recommend if you’re in the area, or if you’re just passing through on I-​95!

I really wanted to get excited about this place, but just can’t. The sandwiches are good, but overpriced in my opinion. My last visit there, I ordered 2 sandwiches and 2 sodas. It was over $ 20 which I think is high for a order at the register take out sandwich joint for lunch. The place was empty, because it had just opened. The employees were hanging out talking in the kitchen. It didn’t seem like anyone was in any hurry to start making my order. It then took 20 minutes for them to make my sandwiches which should have been 5 minutes. I haven’t been back since.

i go here for a tomato-​basil-​mozzarella fix (their jerry garcia), and am disappointed pretty much every time. most recently, the tomatoes were sickly and the cheese was one thin slice of something that i kind of doubt was mozzarella.
they might have improved on this, but they also take an inexplicably long time to make their sandwiches. a few friends and i used to call in 2 – 4 sandwiches at non-​peak times, wait a bit, drive over, pay, and then wait some more before getting our sandwiches. at least they have a website with their menu.

I love going to Harvest Moon for lunch! Their food is super fresh and wonderful. I have had a few different sandwiches there, but I keep going back to the Jimi Hendrix or the George Harrison. I enjoy the Hendrix in a wrap and I add spinach to the Harrison on the focaccia bread, yummy. The price is reasonable as well.
The only thing I would change would be to have a larger size for the fountain drinks. If I’m not drinking beer I enjoy a LARGE diet soda. I guess they might be trying to stick with a «fresh/​healthy» product and soda is neither, so I’ll enjoy their tasty sandwiches and get a soda somewhere else:)

Let it be known that I HATE sandwiches. Very un-​American of me, I know. BUT this place makes the fresh and they have veggie options and that is what drove me in to visit this place for the first time last Thursday.
Went at 12:30 and it was pretty busy. There were no open tables so we hung around for a few minutes looking at the menu until one opened.
Unique selection and they let you sub things out if you want however I think they really should offer more veggie options. They did have a temph special but I was too weary to try that.
You order and pay at the window, give them your name, and they will call it our or bring it to you.
I ended up with the Lennon (pretty sure that was it) and subbed out the Jack for Mozz cheese and had it on the foccica (spelling I know) bread. I didnt see that chibatta bread (spelling I know) until after I ordered and I would have like to try that.
The bread was a tad dry (hence docking one star plus waiting for a seat) but the inside of it was delicious. It had a lot of flavor and it wasnt piled on and too hard to eat like some places. This was manageable and the right portion size.
They have soup but only one kind a day. Sell bread by the loaf as well.
Décor is very plain and since seating is limited you feel very rushed to eat and get out if there are people waiting to place their order in line.
I will go back and try it again but they really should get more creative with their veggie options.

This deli is fabulous! The food is great, the prices are very reasonable, the deli is clean and cute. One of my good friends, Sam, introduced me to this place on our lunch date today and I’m so glad he did! I’ll definitely be returning soon. And the service is fairly quick which is great for that hour break in between classes at UMaine.

Fabulous tuna melts (George Harrison) … I have enjoyed every sandwich i’ve ever had here but those are my favorite, so many good soups too!

Best soup and sandwich place around Umaine.

Do yourself a favor and order the Bobby Zimmerman!

Harvest Moon Deli is a great sandwich shop in Orono, Maine offering sanwiches, paninis, soups, coffee and breakfast items. Breakfast items include bagels, a Monte Cristo sandwich, a breakfast sandwich (my favorite) served on your choice of bread/​bagel, oatmeal and coffee to name a few items. The lunch menu has many sandwiches named after famous musicians (each of the Beatles are represented, Jerry Garcia, BB King, etc), grilled cheese, PB&Js, and also salads and soups. Classic sandwiches like BLTs, turkey club and ham & cheese are also available. Fresh ingredients and made to order by a friendly staff make this a great place to get your meal. Most of the sandwiches are $ 5.50 or less and very filling. Plus, you get a pickle slice with each one!
Voted by the readers of Bangor Metro magazine the «Best Sandwich» in the 2009 best-​of issue.
Open M-​F from 7am to 4pm. Saturday and Sunday 8am to 4pm.
Update — Dec 13, 2010: No longer open for breakfast. Hours are 10am — 4pm.