POLAND — While golf and the changing foliage is top of the list at Poland Spring Resort right now, the 19th hole is never far from that list, and neither is winter.

The 19th hole at the resort is Mel’s Hilltop Restaurant, where a full bar and restaurant await anyone who wants to come in and enjoy the view, as well as some different menu choices from Executive Chef Robert Gushue.

“I put things out to see what they like. So, we’ve been doing wild game burgers, smash burgers. I’ve done camel. People loved it.”

Let that sink in a minute. Yes, he said camel. Oh, it’s legal, and it’s actually lower in fat than beef and high in protein. You’ll have to head to Mel’s if you want to find out what it tastes like — just make sure the chef has it on the menu first.

Rabbit, venison, and lamb have all been featured, as the chef likes to change things up a bit. There’s a Bavarian pretzel charcuterie and a pork blanquette, Gushue’s take on the classic French dish Blanquette de Veau, substituting a more affordable pork for veal — it is braised pork shoulder with mushrooms, pearl onions and French green beans served over white rice.

“What I’ve planned on doing is pork shank… a Hungarian goulash with Hungarian dumplings, trying to do like winter stuff,” Gushue added.

Poland Spring Resort owner Cyndi Robbins hired Gushue last year to keep the restaurant open year-round, something that hasn’t happened in 50 years.

Robbins said the experiment was well received by customers, some of whom thought that Poland Spring Resort was off limits for nonguests, a holdover policy from the previous owners that ended when Cyndi and Mel Robbins bought the resort in 1982.

Opening Mel’s Hilltop in the winter offered an alternative to dining and entertainment beyond Poland and Oxford to Auburn and Lewiston, and will continue this year.

Robbins deliberately opened on Mondays last winter, offering game nights run by Poland resident Tyla Davis, known as the Queen of Games to many in the area. It turned out to be very popular.

“Some nights we had to turn people away,” Robbins said.

Robbins plans to open Thursday-Monday and adding either Tuesday or Wednesday into the mix. For now, Mel’s Hilltop is open from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with extended weekend hours. Check Mel’s Facebook page for updated specials and hours.

Robbins said she is working again with Poland Sno Travelers Snowmobile Club to extend a snowmobile trail right to the restaurant, as snowfall permits. It was popular last winter, with up to 25 sleds lined up outside Mel’s on some nights.

Nordic skiing on the groomed trails on the golf course is open to everyone at no cost.