Before I get into the issues we experienced, I will say that we had a great night. Our server was fantastic, the space is beautiful, and some of the food was tasty. The issues were glaring though. We arrived early for a group reservation of 10 and started at the bar. The service was very slow and we got the sense that the bartender was frustrated that we showed up early with the idea to have a cocktail before our reservation. Bar service continued to be painstakingly slow throughout the night. The restaurant was somehow out of several of their menu options (despite the restaurant not being busy on a weekend day). Not the end of the world, but it left us asking some questions. The major issues really arose when our entree courses were served. They had somehow ran out of french fries, and you could see that in the portion size of the frites in our steak frites (the picture included in our review was our plate -- we had BY FAR the most fries out of those at the table who ordered steak frites). And they ran out of steak - one of the people at our party who ordered steak frites was served a hamburger (which isn't even on the menu). Overall, I thought that we overpaid for the food and if it wasn't for the good company at our dinner - I would have been very frustrated. read more

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Not by any means bad, but so many flaws and so far below my high expectations from other reviews that my 2 star rating is appropriate, though it gives me no pleasure to do so. I have no issues with my waitress, Brianna or any of the other staff I interacted with. And, while the food certainly sounds interesting on the menu, it doesn't translate to tasty, attractive plates and this needs attention desperately. The menu is very small, all fitting easily on one page. There were no specials. My appetizer was the best thing of the meal, Roasted Cauliflower, with fava cream, roasted almonds, fresno puree, mint oil, and duck crackling. The plating was attractive. I liked the subtly minted fava cream (think hummus), the cauliflower florets tender and sweet from the roasting. But the mint leaves were whole (should have been julienned), the almonds didn't seem particularly roasted, and as for duck cracklings? I forgot they were even there until I reread the menu this morning while writing this review. There were 5 specialty cocktails listed on a card on the table. My Water Street Ol' Fashioned was made with Knob Creek bourbon, Liqueur 43, maple, honey, burnt orange. It wasn't sufficiently chilled. But the flavor was good, it seemed strong enough, and the cherry was of high quality; perhaps Luxardo. The wine list included some unusual selections, including an ice wine from Ontario by the glass, which I had with dessert and enjoyed. My entree was - there's really no other way to put it - a disaster. Braised Lamb: charred eggplant, blistered red pepper, polenta cake, mint gremolata. First impression: what incredibly sloppy plating! Everything piled onto one side of the plate, stray crumbs on the other side. Like somebody tripped but caught themself on the way to delivering it. This was not a cohesive dish. It was a collection of ingredients. The meat lacked flavor (what was it braised in - water?) and was divided into two odd-shaped chunks. The eggplant was chewy and sour, not noticeably charred as described. The greens (pea greens?) were a tangled mass off to one side, uncut and difficult to eat. Even with these flaws it might have been saved by a flavorful sauce to bring it together but there wasn't any. I would have added salt but there was none on the table and I didn't bother to ask. I hoped maybe they could redeem themselves with a good dessert. Sadly this was not to be. Just 4 things on the menu, none of them sounding very interesting. I should have just settled on the Affogato - hard to get this wrong. Instead, and untypically for me I chose the Chocolate Pot de Creme, unimaginatively described "... strawberry jam, vanilla granola." Like chocolate pudding out of a box (or how I remember it, being over 50 years since I've had it). The granola? Literally like they opened a box of cereal and dumped some on top. The jam unmemorable but it added contrasts in sweetness. Some whipped cream and maybe chopped mint would have been welcome additions. They had the audacity to list "Bread & Butter" in their small plates section. Described as "warm bread, lemon chive butter." How unimaginative! And while it is unfortunately getting more common to charge for bread, I believe strongly that table bread should be free. Always. Some good things too. The main dining room and bar are beautiful, with an uncluttered, modern look mixed with country touches like a farm table adorned with some wine bottles and potted plants, a worn oriental rug beneath. Knick-knack shelves on the walls, painted vines on the walls. Mostly soft jazz playing for music. But the long and thin layout is a drawback because no table gets good views, especially on the porch. I could have faced the outside windows with a view of the parking lot or the open windows to the inside, where I sat, where my views were cut off by large plastic plants. Really the best place to sit is at the very attractive bar. Where, by all means if you're staying at the hotel have some drinks and a snack, but I suggest you seek other alternatives for dining. read more

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First night of restaurant week - we picked here so that we could support a local business that also had some tasty dishes on their special menu. We started with sparkling brut rose, then switched to Martin Ray Sonoma Pinot - which is a typical mid-Coast Pinot...richer than a Burgundy or Oregon Pinot. We both preferred the grilled Caesar; the smokiness perfectly offset the rich dressing with anchovy. The grilled halloumi was good but not as flavorful. The braised lamb was so tender and rich, complemented by the roasted eggplant and the harissa mashed potatoes - first time I've had them...but now I will figure out how to make them at home! The haddock and black lentils steamed in paper needed the accompanying salt and garlic, otherwise it would have been bland. Might be worth using halibut or cod rather than haddock. The Earl Gray and apricot crème brûlée was so good...rich and intense flavor. The chocolate blood orange tart was ok but not chocolatey enough - was more of a blood orange tart with a chocolate side 'shell.' We enjoyed our dinner and will return. Hope they have an occasional taco Tuesday or seafood Friday with specials different than their normal menu. read more

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The service here is top notch and the food is delicious. The menu is limited but has enough variety to satisfy everyone. The onion soup is bananas good as is the bread platter. The restaurant is very comfortable and just classy enough to make you feel special. read more

Excellent food and wine! I found the cocktail list and the cocktail I ordered to be underwhelming, but the glass of wine I had was very good! The food was excellent! I've seen a lot of reviews knocking the steak frites and I found it to be very good! The steak was cooked medium rare as requested and was very juicy. The fries were crispy and delicious! I'd love to return and sit at the bar and try the burger and have another glass of wine! read more

This restaurant is located in a hotel which I typically avoid but decided to come to because of the rave reviews. Everything was absolutely delicious. The bar is huge and spacious and the bartender was fantastic. I had a 555 cocktail, which was perfect. I then got the goat cheese fritters the bread and the haddock in parchment paper. The accompaniments were amazing, lavender sea salt, pickled fennel, and hazelnuts. Dessert doesn't disappoint at all, especially seeing one of my favorite ice wines were on the menu. Don't let this restaurant being in a hotel deter you. It was a great great spot. Chefs kiss! read more

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My wife and I have frequented 555 several times. Interesting menu app and main dishes. Service was great, and the atmosphere the finest in Brunswick. read more

You'll feel like a grown-up on a nice night out, but not so stuffy that you can still wear casual attire! Seasonal menu always has delicious options beautifully presented. Our fave server Alana takes good care of us, but all the service is awesome. The space is quite large & well-designed into smaller intimate settings: one large main bar + a second one ideal for private events. This time, we had: 1. Short rib special w/ pesto grits & pickled radish was melt in your mouth! 2. Roast chicken was simply roasted w/ perfectly crispy skin & a divine sauce. 3.Caramelized onion soup: not to be missed! Garnished w/ balsamic glaze, chives, crispy shallots. Located inside the Federal Hotel. The rear parking lot has direct access to the restaurant. read more

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Bar menu burgers and steak frites are the star of the show. Everything else is good, but priced accordingly, and the service is generally good. The decor is very nice. The menu is small which is usually a sign the chef wants to keep things high quality. My gripe is they do not understand the basic concept of rare, medium, and well done. The blueberry desert completely lacked sugar which we brought to their attention. Overall this is a good place to go for a fairly good burger, (and the fried are excellent). However, six bucks for a few small pieces of bread is insulting. read more

Had a light meal at the bar when staying at the hotel. Bar service was great - shared flatbread with my husband and it was tasty, I had a simple salad which was perfect for I needed and wanted at the moment, and my husband had the onion soup, which I stole a taste of - soooo good. Drinks were great and they were attentive in keeping them fresh. read more

Food was subpar for the price you pay. 'Knuckle' sandwich had very little lobster and had the overpowering flavor of onions. The corn salad had an exorbitant amount of peas and very little corn. Overpriced food, we were disappointed and won't return. read more

Pleasurable evening. 5 stars but an area or two for improvement. Joined a friend for dinner. Let's call it "pre-New Year's Eve" since it was 12/30. The restaurant is beautiful. Classy, elegant, welcoming vibe. Relaxed sophistication. The holiday decorations made it extra special. While the waitress tried (a bit too hard) to get us to order the signature tasting menu (various items on the menu but in smaller portions which gives you the opportunity to try multiple things in one visit) it was more than we wanted. The next suggestion was a large and also small plate. Again, I can see the potential benefits but more than we wanted and it felt "pushed". What we did order was the warm bread and butter as well as a glass of Reisling. Both were good. From there, it was Fish in Paper and Harissa Pork Loin. These were excellent - seasoned and cooked to perfection. When our silverware was switched out, the young woman simply reached across the table not even acknowledging us (a "hello" or "are you enjoying your meal" seems appropriate). One more glass of wine and a shareable, delicious creme brulee finished off the evening perfectly. read more

555 North - Fish in paper. - Seafood Near Me - Brunswick, Maine

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Very good food, small Menu but what we ordered was great. Service was prompt and friendly, very cool atmosphere. read more

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We had dinner at this restaurant last Friday night and found it to be a lovely room with a great 'feel' to it with tall windows and comfortable furnishings. We were staying at the Hotel so we were hoping it would be nice. While the food was just terrific, there were one or two hiccups. One was that there was some function going on at the same time as our reservation so a nearby function room was sucking up all of the staff and the kitchen getting them taken care of leaving us with a wait and a stressed out server who was not into serving anyone that evening. (Been there) My dinner, however, was delightful. I started with their 5 onion soup which was astonishingly good. Go to this restaurant and order that! I followed up my soup with a baked seafood with mornay sauce. The sauce was not overly thick, more like a milky chowder with a hint of cheese over a large portion of scallops, hake and Bangs Island mussels. That was just terrific too. read more

555 North - Baked Seafood in Mornay Sauce. Just delightful! - Seafood Near Me - Brunswick, Maine

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This was our first visit and it won't be our last. The food was excellent, the staff was attentive and the atmosphere is beautiful. My husband and I started with The Federal for a drink, so delicious. We both had starters, my husband had the creamy onion soup, so many wonderful flavors in the soup, and I had oysters, nice and fresh and local. For dinner I had the mussels and the broth was so flavorful and had a nice little zip to it, my husband had the Steak Frites. The steak was tender, good flavor, and cooked exactly the way he wanted it. And the fries were cooked well, no wimpy fries there! read more

Surprisingly (for such a small town) good restaurant. Food and service were both good. The buttered sole was excellent, the braised short ribs were tasty but a little dry. Pretty place, convenient parking, well worth a visit. read more

Went for a cocktail to check out the place on a queue from out Airbnb host. Mike was the cosumate bartender ready with ready options for my wife and orange allergy. Next visit we may dine and possibly stay at the Inn. Try them and let us know what you think. read more

I've now been to 555 North three times and it's a lovely addition to the Brunswick restaurant scene. Can't get over how much better it looks now than when it was a hotel ballroom... My husband and I had dinner there for my birthday back in October. The food was good and so was the service. I made a bad order on the dessert (I didn't know what panna cotta was, turns out I don't like milky jello) and the waitress insisted on removing it from our bill even though I still consider it my fault. I've also gone for the late night menu. The plate of delicious fries for $2.50 can't be beat. House wine for $5 isn't bad either and the bar is a nice place to sit and chat. read more

First of all, I want to compliment the wait-staff; they are 5 star in every respect. This restaurant clearly provides excellent training. Silverware was replaced with the proper selection well before the next course. Serving was done properly with no need to ask who got what. Servers were courteous and professional. It was a very pleasurable experience. The atmosphere is also very nice. Tables are well separated, decor is pleasant, it was quiet, and there is a very nice porch. Food was good. Nothing wildly exciting, but it was well seasoned and prepared and portions were fair. I really wanted this to be the 5 star establishment that 555 used to be, but I could not get over being charged for 3 little pieces of bread, the small wine pours, and the prices that would work in Portland but not in Brunswick. read more

First try, but I was a big fan of 555 in Portland and now I'm a fan here. I came in tonight solo and sat at the bar. My bar man Stefan was welcoming and knowledgeable. Great combo . The mussels were pretty fabulous. The space is a comfortable and very modern vibe, unusual for this part of Maine. Check it out and you won't be disappointed. read more

555 North - The bar at 555 north - Seafood Near Me - Brunswick, Maine

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The setting was relaxing and comfortable. I was excited to taste the dishes on the menu. I was disappointed with service and the food was bland, including dessert. I expected much more from this chef and restaurant. read more

The atmosphere and food are quite good. Though the portions may be on the smaller side for some. But, the service was lacking. It shouldn't take ~20 minutes to get a draft from the bar. And when it came it was wrong. At a true established fine dining spot the servers would be more attentive. This restaurant appears to be employing younger less experienced staff. So, definitely things to improve on. Overall I would probably try it again. read more

We fondly remember 555 in Portland. Same owner but chef is from Petit Jacqueline. The space is very chic and spotless. The menu had quite a varied selection. They had enough staff to have a dedicated water pourer which was nice and the other staff friendly an efficient. We devoured the smoked barley risotto (hit of the evening), pepper crusted scallops, mushroom and salad apps, and a pumpkin ginger spice cake. The only disappointment was the potato part of the scallop dish which was fairly bland despite the savory description and the charred cauliflower a bit too charred. The wine list was nice and actually had a $9 glass option (a gamay) which was decent. And a pleasant surprise is that they offer half glasses! Definitely an atmosphere for classy dining or special occasion. read more

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Fine Easter dinner. Good food, good service and the manager (Aaron) bent over backwards to assist us with a personal issue.

Ambiance - quiet jazzy music - beautiful presentation of very fresh ingredients- nice wine selection & service - need I say more?

Fine dining! We were a party of six Thursday evening , Every thing went like clockwork. Staff was friendly and efficient , ever meal was perfect. We all will be back fo sure. Best restaurant in the area by far. read more

Fabulous food and service! A hidden gem in the heart of Brunswick. Farm to table and really happy to help eat around allergies!

We tried this place for the first time and they hit a home run. We we greeted by the hostess and GM Chelsea she was great. We sat down and was greeted by our server Holly she was also great. I had the creamy soup and it was so so good and my brother in law had the Brussels and he was very impressed. Next our mains, I got the steak and it was awesome, my wife got the lobster Mac n Cheese and she loved it, my sister in law got the duck and lived that and my brother in law, aka birthday boy got the monkfish and he loved it. The beverages were good also from beer and cocktails. We thought this place was really updated and interior design was nice. Great job read more

We were very pleased with our dinners and the service was terrific. 555 North is a sophisticated and swank restaurant that is unique for Brunswick. Their five onion soup is not to be missed! read more

Very good place. Beautiful dining room, and very attentive staff. For first courses, apple-squash soup was outstanding, the mussels were perfectly done - the broth was not quite the best we've ever had but it was close. The vegetarian entree was also outstanding - a real mélange of various tastes as part of a *barley* risotto. Who knew? The duck breast was very good - served over various vegetable purees and pistachios. The dish needed a starch to balance the protein and vegetables. We shared an interesting dessert called "coffee and donuts" which was chocolate pudding in a coffee cup with freshly fried beignets on the side. I would eat a dozen of the latter. Bit rushed through first course - kept trying to clear - I suspect entrees were ready early and they wanted to get them out there. Minor kitchen timing issue. Best place in Brunswick we've been to. read more

Service and food were exceptional- Brunswick needed this! Grilled Caesar and the muscles were fantastic. read more

555 North recently opened in the Federal Hotel in Brunswick. It is the reincarnation of 555 - a fabulous restaurant on Congress Street in Portland. We joined them recently for a birthday dinner, and when I said it was Wayne's birthday, Cheyenne our amazing waitress, brought over two complimentary glasses of rose bubbles. The service was second to none - and the food! OMG. We had grilled caesar and mussels to start, then followed that with a really great steak dish and scallops. Everything was just perfect! Dining in Brunswick there is parking - a bonus! read more

555 North is a beautiful place with a cool and relaxing vibe to enjoy a fine meal. The menu is large enough to provide an item you want to eat that day, but small enough for the chef to do an amazing job with each. The serving staff is professional, well trained, and passionate. Our hats off to Teigan and Cheyenne who took great care of us. Our meal of two entrees (Pan Roasted Chicken and Steak House Coulotte) and two glasses of wine was about $95, a price we feel is well worth it for the culinary experience and the ambiance. read more

Overall, the food was a huge disappointment. And the service was equally bad. We had been to 555 in Portland a few times and loved it so this was especially disappointing. Late Spring Salad (listed as house cured salmon, local asparagus tips, arugula, watercress, and green goddess dressing) had a tiny bit of not that fresh smoked salmon, about 4 small pieces of asparagus (that were not tips), and greens that included yellow pieces that were obviously not fresh and other pieces that were browned around the edges. And hardly any dressing. Farm to Board included mundane cheddar and brie cheese. Fish In Paper (salmon) was good but the portion was tiny. Braised Short Rib was chewy and not falling apart the way short rib should be. For service, there were many mistakes made: Wrong dishes, an entree brought out with the appetizers, and having to wait for silverware after the food was delivered for both appetizers and entrees. Also had to ask for plates for the charcuterie board. We will not go back. read more

Fine Dining worth the price. Cozy bar area, and the dining room was laid out in such a way that the tables were not on top of each other. We had the Figs in a Blanket and the charcuterie board as appetizers. Both were delicious. There were creative pairings in both apps that we thoroughly enjoyed. The cocktails (slightly dirty martini, gin and tonic, Manhattan, glass of wine) were all served correctly and were tasty! For our entrees we had the knuckle sandwich and braised short ribs. Presentation was lovely, and the food cooked perfectly and,again, with clever flavor combinations. The knuckle sandwich tasted like summer Dessert was crème brûlée, affogato, and croissant bread pudding. All were fantastic: rich and flavorful without being too sweet. Our server was remarkable. She had the appropriate level of attentiveness. The food runners and bussers were extremely professional when serving and clearing plates. I have had some underwhelming dining experiences lately and am patient with staffing issues. 555 North surpassed all my expectations in all areas (food, service, ambiance) and I would gladly return if I were back in the area read more

After decades of overpriced food, slow service, and questionable menu choices, this old building has come alive. Nice dinners, great service, bartenders with personality and the burgers... The bar menu burgers with real fries are incredible. read more

Everything about this place is 5+ stars. From the moment you walk into the Federal Hotel, you are welcomed with beautiful surroundings that are a casual elegance that make you feel like you will be pampered, and at the same time is so cozy and relaxing. We have been here several times before, and the food is always excellent and the service is by far the best in the greater Portland area. We lingered on drinks before ordering, and also were a while still catching up on life after dessert, and were never rushed or made to feel like we needed to leave. The customer service is always impeccable. We will be back again and again! read more

The restaurant is amazing in décor. Quality of meals and service. The Five Onion soup and Knuckle sandwich are iconic. The carrot cake at the end is a wonder dessert not to sweet. If in Bath don't miss this culinary destination. read more

Delicious food! We had cocktails- very goood! We got the tasting menu. Food was great! Good choices for wine by the glass. Very lovely helpful server. Nice ambiance. Restaurant is in a hotel. Highly recommend this restaurant! Reservations needed; we were able to get reservations in the morning for Monday night dinner. read more

Good food, excellent service. This new incarnation of 555 was good. The creamy French onion soup is not to be missed. My filet steak was very tender. Dinner was well done over all. It did not feel like the 555 in Portland felt, but was a nice dinner. Prices are commensurate with quality for outside Portland. read more