This place has the ambience of a small, cozy cabaret-style club with some impressive big-name talent. Gabe Kaplan is slated to take the stage, and Jimmy Brogan -- Jay Leno’s head writer -- performs here regularly. Other popular comics -- many of whom come here both to perform and to vacation -- include Lenny Clarke, Bob Nelson, Eddie Brill and Bob Marley, a local favorite.

The main bar is in the lobby area, so the comics in the showroom don’t have to compete with the noise. Another, waterside bar is open during the summer months and offers an excellent view of Portland Harbor. Although this bar doesn’t make frozen drinks, you’ll have several tasty specialty drinks to choose from, including the Indecent Orchid -- a mixture of vodka, Chambourd, peach schnapps, sour mix, a splash of grenadine and a cherry. Or, try the Vulcan Skydream, made with raspberry Stoli, Tanqueray, tonic, a splash of lime and an orange twist.

The owner of the Comedy Connection owns the restaurant next door, called Porthole. If you prefer to eat at the Comedy Connection, you can order from a limited menu that includes steamers, Maine crab cakes, Joyce’s Caesar salad, peel-and-eat shrimp and a Maine lobster roll. Or you can purchase a reasonably priced dinner-and-show package and dine at the restaurant, then come over to the club in time for the show. Entrée options for the package plan include seafood pasta, wild mushroom raviolis and New York sirloin strip. --Lauren Kafka