CHEF RICH HANSON of Bucksport brings his love of food and extraordinary talents to Ellsworth. His twenty years as a chef have taken Rich from Boston to New York to Maine, working in some of the finest restaurants. Before opening Cleonice in 2002, he spent seven years serving up classic Maine dishes and bistro fare using all local ingredients in Blue Hill at Jonathan's. While Blue Hill may miss him—its only 20 minutes away—his new endeavor in Ellsworth allows him to explore new areas and invent something that is truly hi s own. Combining his roots in Italian cooking with his adventuresome cooking style, he has brought the Mediterranean Rim to Main Street Ellsworth.

A tribute to Rich's late mother Cleonice Renzetti, Cleonice offers exotic and traditional Mediterranean fare from the entire region. Rich's mother, first generation Italian, was a brilliant cook and loved to experiment with cuisines from around the world. Her influence inspired Rich to pursue a career in cooking and this, the culmination of his work, bears her name and spirit.

A Mediterranean restaurant serving lunch and dinner, Cleonice features the theatre of an open kitchen serving tapas and meze (appetizers from the Mediterranean) in addition to drinks from the thirty-two-foot bar that dates from 1938. The casual setting offers simple and spectacular foods from Italy and Greece to Turkey and Spain. Cleonice serves the region's best using the freshest local ingredients. Cleonice's connection to the farm and farmer makes it a unique dining experience with a deep connection to the community.