I don't even know where to start! I saw a TikTok about Food for Thought, specifically their Cogdon's doughnut grilled cheese which caught my attention. So I looked them up and saw the adult happy meal on the menu and knew I had to try them. An hour and half drive was 100000% worth it!!! The entire building is small but feels very inviting and comfortable. The atmosphere is iconic with out of this world 90s cartoons painted on the walls. Even the bathroom had a touch of this nostalgia and whimsy (trust me look in the bathroom mirror for an amazing little touch). The staff were equally amazing and truly wonderful. I am currently pregnant and being very careful about what I eat so my husband asked the bartender/waiter if the feta is pasteurized. Most people would have simply said I don't know and moved on but this fellow went and asked the kitchen if the feta is pasteurized (it is). It's little things like that that make us want to go back. Now on to the star the food and drink! We had the soft pretzel which comes with beer cheese and stone ground honey mustard and the fried feta. The pretzel was great and the beer cheese was also great but the feta was indescribable. Every aspect of the feta was perfect and a true umami experience. I got the adult happy meal (a smash burger, chicken nuggets, and fries). It also comes with a toy which is just cherry on top status. The burger was fantastic BUT the fries and nuggets were crazy good. My husband got Flo's Double Burger and he had eaten half of it before I got mine out of the box. He would have eaten two of them if he wasn't so full! He also got the I gotta say... today was a good day sour ale. He loved it and enjoyed it enough we left with a four pack! This is the perfect Maine hidden gem and we will be back soon! read more

Food For Thought - Fried Feta - Gastropubs Near Me - Cape Neddick , Maine

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Food was pretty good, drinks were quite good, but service was unfriendly and dismissive. Servers were more interested in doing shots behind the bar than being attentive and friendly to their customers. And.. WTF is a $4.93 SUSTAINABLY FEE??? We were not told about that.. just appeared on our receipt! REALLY DISAPPOINTED in that place. We have vacationed in Cape Neddick for several years, and this was our first time at Food For Thought. Know they are new, and we were so looking forward to an enjoyable experience at this restaurant. We will never go back there... beware! They obviously don't care about their shitty attitude! read more

We came on a Sunday evening for a quick dinner after checking out their menu online. They had lots of indoor and outdoor seating. There were plenty of tables open so its a good spot for large groups. As we opted to sit outside, it was a bit chilly, I hope they decide to add patio heaters in the future to make it more comfortable for guests dining outside. We ordered the shrimp bang bang and a chicken wrap with two cocktails. Utensils were disposable and water was given as a big glass bottle with plastic cups. The food was good and the cocktails we chose were decent. read more

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It could not have been a prettier day we drove there because of all of the great reviews, even a TikTok video and we were not disappointed. We went for it we got the trio of lobster rolls. One was a classic with mayonnaise and melted butter, the next one had a bacon jam on top, which I have to say it was totally my jam and then the last one was the tajin roll... the acid from the lime flavor and the chili was delicious. We then got the brussels sprouts and if we weren't full, we would've gotten another. My husband got a beer from the brewery right there and really liked it. We even got to talk with the brewmaster as he was working away. I got to try the flight of margaritas and for 24 bucks to get two margaritas worth. It was a lot of fun and delish. I look forward to making this a regular stop when heading up the coast . read more

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The service and food sucked. The server was rude and very abrupt. We were told we were " a lot " for asking for ketchup and mustard. We ordered burgers only to find out they were out. We are a large group and the others in our group were told when they sat down they were out of burgers. Our server was too busy insulting us. When we finally found out they didn't have burgers we all ordered the clam chowder. It was cold and not good at all. The only good comment I can leave is the manager was very apologetic and said the staff was challenging today. He was great it's just a shame he works with a bunch of incompetent assholes. I only give 2 stars because of the manager and his attempt to smooth out such horrible service. read more

Food For Thought had me rethinking my life choices... like why I don't live closer to Cape Neddick! Classic Gastro Pub food--creative, fun, and comforting. The seasonal cocktails deserve their own fan club. Yum! Add in the quirky, playful vibe and you've got a spot that makes eating here feel like an adventure. 10/10 would happily over indulge here again. read more

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Ricardo was an amazing server. He was attentive and made the best drinks! Outstanding service. Highly recommend

The service was great. Our server was attentive. There are not that many vegetarian options. I had to ask and she recommended the impossible burger, not on menu, that was fantastic. They have a great beer selection, but there was nothing that stood out to me at the time as I don't like IPAs or sours. The ambiance is fun with bold paint. read more

I have been to my share of unique food serving places in my life. I will say this place is definitely up there with "unique" and a flavor of "lost in the woods". I had the opportunity to observe some fantastic guests coming and going while we were here. The clientele was definitely a big part of the entertainment factor. My favorite was the (obviously) entitled woman, her husband, and three children who decided that the handicapped spot was calling her name, instead of someone who may actually need it. They proceeded to have a verbal disagreement in their vehicle where he (appeared) to be telling her not to park there. I assume she's the type who chooses to board first on a Southwest Flight because "I don't have to tell you about my disability HIPPA!" This is the same woman who was asking about gluten free Brussels Sprouts and that "well they used to have them". After that interesting eavesdropping session, I see her eating a lobstah roll. "If the shoe fits", as they say. Anyway. The food was good, reasonable priced (for Maine). The service was okay. They don't have any N/A beers, which is whatever, despite the fact it's becoming more popular. It's not a knock on them, just is what it is. Their kitchen seems to be a mishmash of random things from around town. We ordered "Nashville Hot Tendies". They were well fried, not dry. Definitely not "hot" by any means (spice wise). I didn't expect Indian-restaurant-Level-10-Curry over here, but when given the choice of "Mild" , "Medium", and "Hot", this was less of a mild, and certainly nowhere near a hot. But that's okay because they were still good! Closest I've seen to KFC! The bread they used to soak up the oil was definitely ready to hit my stomach and lube the lines for the evening/morning diarizzy. The donut grilled cheese sure is unique, and there are enough photos of it around. It's weird, but worth the try. Lastly, Flo's Pizza. The waitress/server/service person whatever they choose to be titled these days, took about 10 minutes to describe this thing to me. "It's uh, kind of like, there's a place in town called Flo's, have you been to Flo's? They make hot dogs. Uhm, have you had our pizza before? It's kind of like that, but it has Alfredo sauce and celery". I'm not sure if it's a generational thing, but it seems like anyone under 30 years old, and working in the underpaid customer service industry lacks any sort of social skills, or an understanding in brevity (see: entire review of my rambling). Either way. The pizza had some really really good flavor. I couldn't tell if it was undercooked crust, or nearly transparent due to all of the grease. It was like a BBQ chicken pizza with good hotdog on it. I enjoy! Decent place. Pretty damn good food. I am into the occasional super grease, so I can't complain. After waiting about 15 minutes to have a spoon brought over for the soup (she completely did not acknowledge or seem to understand why a spoon was requested) I ended up getting one from a confused bartender. read more

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Atmosphere was very cool, food was delicious, and the staff were very friendly and pleasant. Will absolutely be back - owner does a great job!! read more

Food For Thought - Donut grilled cheese with tomato bisque - Gastropubs Near Me - Cape Neddick , Maine

It seems like it went downhill a bit since the move. Its now somewhat $$ food truck offerings and seem to be out of things regularly. Too bad, the ogunquit location had some personality. read more

Overall pretty good lunch. We got here during the brunch menu but I wanted something from the regular menu so I had to wait a bit until they switched the menus over. While waiting my husband ordered the steak and eggs from the brunch menu and we had some drinks. When the time came I had the donut grilled cheese. It was super weird but I am still glad I had it. The food and service good and the outside seating great on a nice day. read more

Food For Thought - Gastropubs Near Me - Cape Neddick , Maine

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I recently visited Food For Thought in York, Maine. While the food itself was good, the service left a lot to be desired. Despite the restaurant not being very busy, it took around 30 minutes for our order (a burrito bowl and chicken snack wrap) to come out. We had also ordered the Ogunquit fries, which were initially forgotten although they were taken off the bill. Once we did get them, the flavor was nice, but they were far too salty for my taste. Another small disappointment was the drinks, which were served without ice. On top of that, we ended up moving inside because there was an unpleasant smell outside. read more

Went here last weekend for a lunch after a busy afternoon and we really loved it! They only have outside seating so if it's a cold day remember that. Got seated right away and served very quickly. Service was friendly and attentive and the environment of the place is great but definitely more of a warm weather spot. For food we got the lobster roll with fries and the adult happy meal which came with a cheeseburger, chicken nuggets, fries, and a toy! The lobster was overall pretty good but nothing to rave about. The fries that came with it were spectacular though! The burger, nuggets, and fries in the happy meal were very simple and a great replica of a fast food meal but better! It was we got what I was looking for. It also came in this nice little red box. For dessert we got the blueberry and donut sundae. We weren't sure if we wanted dessert but were so glad we did. This was outstanding and the perfect finish to our meal! Overall this place is pretty nice and has some unique and delicious menu options. Though it's overpriced, I believe the food was great overall. Definitely check them out when in town! read more

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Sad! Seating was all high top and was not comfortable. Did have some shade with umbrellas. The bartender was very nice and helpful but server did not provide friendly or helpful service. Left a lot to be desired. The bathrooms not super clean or private. The menu was overall well organized but the food was just eh and over priced! The crinkle cut fries were not homemade but rather freezer thaw with some spice added. The lobster corn chowder was a highlight. The chicken sammy the bread to meat ratio was off. The cucumbers on it were well pickled. The Brussel sprouts were lack luster. The fried rice with lobster was also fell flat and did not have flavor. Overall, will not be back - I left with a bad taste in my mouth from the service and ambiance! read more

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This place is a fun, delicious, interesting place to find. Upon pulling into the (full) parking lot, the owner was standing watch and helping customers park in unique spots so we could get in. The seating area of the restaurant is entirely outside wrapped around an outdoor bar with canopies/tents protecting you from the elements. It was a crazy busy Sunday after towards the end of the summer and we were fortunate enough to get seats at the bar. I ordered the lobster rangoons and french fries. My husband ordered the brunch smash burger. The food was exactly as you would expect for a gastropub. We didn't try any of the really fun items but saw lots of things such as mixed drinks served in Capri Sun containers, donuts dripping with cheese, etc. definitely unique. The owner also operates a small brewery (Odd by Nature Brewing) and we enjoyed a few different cans we brought home with us. They takeover quite a bit of the taps with their beer. read more

Food For Thought - Gastropubs Near Me - Cape Neddick , Maine

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I looked at the pictures online. I went in for lunch and it had a limited menu. I had my wife with me and we chose from the days menu. We were glad we did. Food was delicious and we both took home 1/2 of our lunch and we had another meal two days later. It was so good I went up the where the food was cooked and personally complimented the cook. He was a nice young man and it put a big smile on his face. Give it a try, you will be glad you did! read more

Stumbled upon this fun local joint and meet Mike the Manager who was delightful. I don't like IPAs so he recommended their own brew Sun Sucks, a delicious light lager. My wife ordered me their Cluck n Shuck roll and I was pleasantly surprised and impressed. Expertly executed especially the fried chicken. Lobster and chicken in every bite and not overly seasoned. My wife ordered their blueberry salad and that too was delicious and creative; Maine blueberries with charred romaine and grilled shrimp. Delicious food and beer. Great conversation. Fun playlist. Awesome find. Highly recommended. read more

Food For Thought - Sun sucks. Fantastic! - Gastropubs Near Me - Cape Neddick , Maine

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Great little joint, we walked in right after a busy snap, as we were the only ones in the diding room, but that didn't last long. Lauren (my memory is bad, sorry) was a great server, bartender, food runner. Healthy pour on the cocktails...(the adult capri sun was fun!) and solid service. Your results may vary as all the food comes out of the food truck outside and I can imagine it could get backed up in a busy rush, but that was not our experience. As far as the food, had a burger and fries, solid choice...could have been a bit closer to medium but was still juicy and solid. Also had te bacon brussels and would order again. Didn't have a chance to try any of the beers (driving home) but Will return next trip. read more

It was a Saturday morning. It looks like a popular local brunch spot. We were lucky to be able to get a table. They shared a parking lot with the hotel right next door which could be convenient. They ran out of coffee that morning which came a little surprising. Food quality was good. Would definitely recommend. read more

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The food was excellent along with the hospitality! Definitely would recommend great outside and inside seating! read more

Food For Thought - Nashville Hot Ramen, Fries, and donut grilled cheese! - Gastropubs Near Me - Cape Neddick , Maine

The best clam chowdah evah!! Excellent beer. Loved the staff too, who were very attentive and friendly. read more

We ordered take out here twice during our stay. Unfortunately, I had strep throat during our visit so opted for more takeout than dine in. I think it it's important to note that our first evening dining here would have earned this restaurant 5 stars and the second evening 3; we'll chalk it up to who was cooking or maybe they had an off night. The carnitas nacho fries were so tasty and satisfying the first night that we opted for them again the second evening. The mix of flavors, quality and quantity exceeded our expectation. The second night they were not great, the fries were soggy and the shrimp did not taste fresh. The fried rice was good, but felt bland and far less impressive than the other dishes. The children's Mac and cheese was so good that both of us adults were sharing with our daughter and we even tried to order it again the next night, but they were out. The serving was huge!) We just had to try the donut grilled cheese with tomato bisque (plus, I had strep throat so wanted the soothing effect). We were all really surprised, as this strange and unique combo quickly became our favorite! We ordered a Cesar Salad with shrimp, and again the shrimp was off. It was so fishy that you could smell it and did not taste good so we did not eat it. read more

Food For Thought - Gastropubs Near Me - Cape Neddick , Maine

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Evan was the man. His table side manner and service were genuinely friendly and great. He gave us suggestions on some good beers for my wife and I, and the family loved the overall atmosphere. Food was the best we've had up in Maine. It was different and just great overall. We must have passed this place for years and missed out on this little gem. read more

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We had an awesome experience here..food was excellent and they had some inventive menu items you probably can't get elsewhere..our server was great and very kind to the kids in our group..the atmosphere had great vibes especially if your a 90s kid the walls are covered in art depicting all of our favorite cartoons from our childhood! read more

Food For Thought - Chicken & waffle cones - Gastropubs Near Me - Cape Neddick , Maine

My wife, dog, and I came for a late lunch and drinks. I was already pretty excited about the doughnut and tomato bisque. They definitely did not let me down. The Chef knows what they are doing in that kitchen. My wife had the Maine blueberry salad with lobster which looked delicious. I finished my doughnut and soup while our dog took his cheese tax. The beer was creative and perfect. The service was very attentive and friendly. Very nice area to bring your dog or kids. We will be back! read more

Food For Thought - Doughnut Grilled cheese over tomato bisque - Gastropubs Near Me - Cape Neddick , Maine

When we arrived, we were handed one menu for 3 adults and 3 children. We chose to eat outside because of the weather. The picnic tables should be covered. A family member ordered the Burrito Bowl, which was reported to be awful. I had the Shrimp Bang Bang which had 4 large, tender shrimp. They kindly held the goat cheese and coconut for me. It was tasty. The other adult ordered the ALL American Burger, which was somehow missed, so when they realized it, they prepared it and they apologized for the error. I heard no feedback on the quality. The children each had a hot dog with fries and one ordered the clam chowder also, which was served in a bread bowl. The chowder was reported to be lousy by one adult and one child. I did not try it. The fries were hot and tasty. They all ate their hot dogs. read more

We ate lunch here today and had an awesome experience. This restaurant has been on my radar for a while, but we haven't made it work until today. What a meal we had... My wife and I had some cocktails which were both amazing. She had a Peaches, Peaches, Peaches and I had a Strawberry Mai Tai. They were both delicious concoctions. We ordered the Lobster Corn Chowder to share and we all enjoyed the soup. The bread bowl was great. I had the Notorious BLT, my wife had the All American Burger, and my daughter had the Congdon's Donut Grilled Cheese. My other two kids ordered the Kids Tendies and the Smash Burger off the kids menu. My BLT was great and had a ton of delicious bacon on it. The tomato soup that came with my daughter's grilled cheese was the best I have ever had. It was amazing!! All of our meals were great! Our server was wonderful! Very nice guy (I apologize for not remembering his name). My only regret is not checking out this restaurant before. My family and I look forward to our next visit. read more

Food For Thought - Congdons Donut Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup - Gastropubs Near Me - Cape Neddick , Maine

Food was phenomenal! Staff were incredibly attentive. We had such a fun night out. you really can't go wrong with this one. read more

This place nails it. Fast, friendly service. Interesting bites, great beer and cocktails. Prices are great especially considering you're on the coast. We had the Nashville chicken tenders with Cajun spiced fries. The chicken was unbelievably tender and juicy with a crisp and spicy exterior. read more

My husband and I have been going to Food For Thought every summer since they opened; we were excited about it when they first opened, and found that they hit their stride in their second or third year with great bartenders, drinks, and food. Rico the bartender and Ian the manager were not just friendly, but also good at their jobs; Rico knew how to make any drink you could ask for, and Ian very clearly kept the ship running smoothly without sacrificing jovial conversation with customers. However, before and since then, we have always noticed an unhappiness among the staff, along with constant turnover and training, leading to some undesirable experiences, including receiving the wrong meal/beverage, waiting a long time to order/be served/receive the check, and hearing complaints from the staff themselves. Not to mention an entirely too-small parking lot. Now that they have changed locations, we have officially visited FFT for the last time. I say what I'm about to say knowing that I will probably get a response from the owner defending himself/his business and trying to invalidate our experience by explaining how much he cares and how much time he spends away from his family to ensure customers have a good experience (I have personally only seen him at FFT on two or three occasions over the years). We went over 4th of July weekend 2025; it was not busy, but we still had to park on Route 1 a good 100 feet from the restaurant, where there is no sidewalk. My husband got a tick from exiting the car into bushes on the side of a busy road -- not the restaurant's fault, but they need to provide a better parking solution. We walked in and were told they were understaffed and to choose our own table outside. All five (5) tables with umbrellas were taken, so we had to sit in direct sunlight on a hot day. We did not see a server for at least 10 minutes after we sat down. Our Diet Cokes were served in the cans, water in plastic cups. At one point, my husband's can and cup were empty, the wind was blowing them around the table, and still no one stopped to ask if he needed a refill. He ordered the lobster roll flight and the server did not tell him what the "market price" was; come to find out, it was about $50 for that meal alone, and the amount of lobster actually in the rolls was laughable. I ordered only a Diet Coke and Ogunquit fries (which were soggy and covered in a sauce they used to put on the side), and our bill -- which we had to stop another server to ask for, because ours apparently left the premises -- was $75 before tip. For fries, two sodas, and one entree. This is unacceptable for both the quality and the quantity of food we received. We spent over an hour in the hot sun that day and left dehydrated, unsatisfied, and with lighter wallets than we had bargained for. Their menu is unique and food is well-presented, but it is overpriced and I do believe the owner has an inflated sense of the quality of the food and service they provide. If you follow them on Instagram you've probably seen the rants about negative reviews, vandalism, and anything else they can use to garner sympathy to try and save their business, rather than simply admitting they need to work on how they treat and train their staff, their pricing, and the convenience/comfort of the restaurant itself. My husband and I came down with a stomach illness a few days after our visit, and I would not be surprised to find out we contracted it at Food For Thought. We will not be back and I advise everyone else to steer clear as well; there are so many better restaurants in southern Maine who actually deserve your patronage. read more

First of all the food and drinks were amazing! I saw the restaurant on social media and it looked amazing and had to try it. It was as good as it looked and then some. The flavor combinations were unique and were tasty. The staff were all friendly and quick with anything we wanted. Great 90s atmosphere inside with an amazing 90s playlist. Outside is a combination of high top and picnic tables. Easy going atmosphere overall a great place for lunch or dinner. read more

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Incredible service and unforgettable food! We were greeted even before we walked into the establishment by two employees welcoming us and our dogs. The staff were incredibly accommodating and attentive to their service. The drink menu was outstanding, serving great seasonal mixed drinks accompanied by the unique beers made by their brewery Odd By Nature. The food menu was outstanding as well. Super fun and unique above all TASTY! Highly recommended! read more

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Food was good: we had ramen (fresh noodles, nice ingredients, nice fried chicken), and Sammy sandwich (fried chicken, fries, pickles, nice bun); okay, fried chicken was excellent. Outside dining only, a little cold in October (and weeks before they close for the season), the heaters were welcome! Tall seats were tough for my (short) wife, and she found it dark. read more

I seriously wish there was a place like this where I live. Simple menu (a dozen delicious options including vegan), and ABSOLUTELY mouth watering food, friendly bar staff, and one hell of a good bloody mary. Ambiance: super casual Food: hearty, packed with flavor, mind blowing brisket and eggs.... Just sayin' Cleanliness: very clean Service: excellent read more

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One of the main reasons we went to try this place was out of stock, bummer - can get over that. However with an accidental drink spill a bar back placed the dirty rag on the table and pushed the mess and ice to the side, no one came back to wipe it away until we sat their idle without napkins or utensils the entire meal to collect our money. The lettuce in the lobster rolls was black and wilted. Guess I made the mistake of listening to a ticktock revue. Also had an unexplained venue fee on the bill, is this a state thing? Fine - but tell me... after the worst service ever still tipped 20% read more

I came here with my sister and 80 year old mother. It is outside seating only but they have heaters! Loved the atmosphere and setting, and the 70s classic rock they had playing! The staff was so friendly and welcoming, We all had the lobster bisque which was delicious. They were out of bread bowls so they served it with generous portions of Texas toast, perfect for dipping. My sister and I also got the pumpkin latte (alcoholic) drinks, perfect for a beautiful fall day. Very tasty. Enjoyed everything - the vibe, service and food were all great! They are closing in a week or so but can't wait to return next season! read more

Food For Thought - Gastropubs Near Me - Cape Neddick , Maine

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Super original drink and food menu! Service was good, food and drinks were great! Nice outdoor sitting area that is dog friendly. Parking is very limited and is the only thing I'd say negative. Great atmosphere, if you're in the area give it a try, you won't regret it! read more

We came here our first night in Wells. It is all outdoor seating with no fans, so it got uncomfortably hot while trying to eat. We ordered drinks, the cocktail came about half full but still tasted good. Our waiter Nick was quick and came back frequently to check in and see if we had everything we needed. The food was very expensive and not worth its price. Glad we tried it but probably would not go back. read more

Food For Thought - Cast Iron fried rice - Gastropubs Near Me - Cape Neddick , Maine

Great little stop on the way up the coast!!! Ask for Alison for amazing service. I hope to stop back again. read more

Food For Thought - And my wife enjoyed the Congdon donut grilled cheese and tomato soup!!! - Gastropubs Near Me - Cape Neddick , Maine

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