In 1895, the Testa family arrived in Chicago from Sicily. Ten-year-old Mike Sr. was part of an industrious, hard working family. By the time he was in his twenties, the young man owned and operated his own sandwich shop in the nearby summer resort of South Haven. There he sold ice cream, sodas, homemade pies and cigars to vacationers who told him of the warmth and beauty of Palm Beach, Florida, where they wintered.

In the fall of 1921, Mike followed his customers’ advice and opened a small soda fountain in the Garden Theatre, a small movie house in Palm Beach. There business grew as he developed a reputation for personal service, customer satisfaction and, of course, great strawberry pie! Each winter, business grew resulting in several moves to larger spaces. Finally, in 1933 Testa’s Restaurant moved to Royal Poinciana Way, where it still operates today.

In 1933 as the summer economy in Michigan began to sour, Mike Sr. again listened to his customers. The Palm Beachers told him of their summers in Bar Harbor, Maine. In the summer of 1934 Testa’s opened on Main Street in Bar Harbor. Again, the space was small, but by this time there were two sons, Mike Jr. and Joe. Soon the Testa tradition of “pines in the summer and palms in the winter” became a way of life for both the family and their employees. Gradually, another family emerged. Testa’s faithful customers who frequented both restaurants where they came to expect great food and familiar faces.

As the years passed, both restaurants increased in size, as did the Testa family. Mike Jr.and Joe added six sons and daughters to the business. Patriarch Mike Sr. worked every day until his death at age 90 in 1975.

In 1990 the family decided to meet another challenge. The Bar Harbor restaurant was demolished and Bayside Landing was born. Today you’ll find a beautiful, modern complex of fine retail shops. What hasn’t changed, however, is that the heart of the complex is Testa’s Restaurant. Inside you will find the same great food that has kept us around for so long.

Today Testa’s second, third and fourth generations invite you to enjoy our hospitality and hope that you make yourself part of the family. And, while in Bar Harbor, join us on the least expensive and most informative and entertaining activity available—a National Park tour. Ask your server about it, or for reservations inquire at the front desk.