Savor gourmet cuisine at Courtyard Cafe

    Praise for the Courtyard Café’s elegant gourmet cuisine transcends the boundaries of northern Maine as more and more national and international travelers discover the popular restaurant in Houlton’s Market Square. They are joining the ranks of local residents who have savored Joyce Transue’s culinary wizardry.
    Transue has started a guest book that is  filed with comments like “wonderful meal,” “best meal between Augusta and Caribou” and “guarantee to be back.” Her clientele has discovered the area’s unique beauty and the Courtyard Café’s culinary delights.
    “Many are return guests. We have served visitors from several parts of Maine. But, there are so many who have come to the restaurant from across the country and from across the world!,” exclaimed Transue. She said Americans from along the Eastern Seaboard, the Midwest, West and South have expressed their enthusiasm about the menu. “We’ve also had many international visitors from as far away as the United Kingdom, Jordan, France, Germany, the Canadian Maritimes and the Canadian provinces and territories.”
    Transue pushes her culinary talents into high gear with her harmonious and unforgettable flavors that are expressed in her signature dishes like bourbon glazed sockeye salmon, grilled and seasoned rib-eye steak and fresh Maine crab quiche. The baked seafood casserole is becoming legendary. A flawless blend of haddock, shrimp and scallops, laced with butter, garlic and wine, is topped with a flakey Ritz cracker crust.
    Transue’s seafood chowder was described in the guest book as “the best ever.” It rivals her creamy herbed tomato soup which is beautifully complemented by a salad tossed with her celebrated raspberry vinaigrette dressing. Wednesday nights are popular for the gourmet pizza and pasta. Transue’s magnificent homemade crust with a choice of select toppings tempts, teases and satisfies.
    Customers in casual attire, business suits or formal wear are  at home surrounded by the informal elegance of the décor displaying talented local artists.    
    From the Garden Bar to the dining room and the Event Room, all feel at home when greeted by Transue and her courteous, professional staff.