Stopped here after leaving West Forks, ME looking for a breakfast spot (not many choices) on our way home from white water rafting trip. They have a great Breakfast Buffet ($10.50) which had everything and my one complaint about Buffets is that your only egg choice is usually scrambled and here, you just ask your server and they will bring you out eggs "your way"! Sausage gravy and biscuits were excellent and there are a lot of choices. It is also a bakery and the bakery items on the buffet were delicious as well. Will definitely go back when in the area! read more

food was fair , but they do not like service dogs and try to tell you the law which is not right. I will spend my money some where else . and think they should look up the laws before some one takes them to court . read more

This morning my girlfriend and I got up early to go and try Governor's breakfast buffet, as I had never had it before, and she hadn't had it in a long time. We arrived at around 10am or so (the buffet ends at 11:30am on Sundays) and we had to wait a short time for a table, as the place was very busy. After we were seated, our drink order was taken immediately, and we made our way to the buffet. The buffet itself is set up with a lot of tables around it, and is in a quite crowded area. There also seems to be no rhyme or reason to placement of items, so people are reaching into the hot plates from both sides of the buffet table. The items are served in hot plates or platters with Bunson burners keeping the food hot. As the place was very busy, I was expecting the food to be fresh from turnover. Sadly, this was not the case for most of the items. I tried a little of almost everything on the buffet, with the exception of the pastries, of which there was a plentiful amount, along with donut holes that I believe were literally purchased at a Dunkin' Donuts. Regardless, most of the food had clearly been sitting out for awhile. The bacon was good, cooked exactly how I liked (slightly limp and a little greasy), and there were large vats of scrambled eggs. The "loaded" eggs with onions, peppers, and mushrooms were overcooked and watery, but still had a remotely decent flavor to them. Their corned beef hash is definitely from a can, and had a distinct "we just throw this into the microwave" flavor, as it was mushy and tasteless. Their hashbrowns were alright, but kind of hard - as I said, I believe they were left out too long. They had an offering they called "French toast sticks," but that were really just dry pieces of French toast they had cut up. I'm sorry, but French toast sticks are an actual item, and you can't just call something whatever you want. If that's what they think French toast sticks are, it's depressing. I tried them anyway - loaded with syrup, they were edible. I avoided the sausage, as it was obviously undercooked just by the look. They did have chunks of ham mixed with the bacon, and it was also a little undercooked, and super heavy on the salt. There was an option for potato pancakes, regular pancakes, and they had several topping options including syrup, blueberries, and strawberries. The kielbasa with sausage and peppers would have been great fresh, but was probably the worst thing on the table due to its age of sitting out. They have a side option of melons which is hard to screw up, honestly, and they were fine. They offer little yogurt cups and apples and oranges. You can order your eggs specially made, as well as toast (which automatically comes grilled with tons of butter unless otherwise specified) from your server. Soda drinks were bottomless, as well as coffee. Juice and milk was averagely priced at a couple bucks for a decent sized glass. All-in-all I expect a lot more, especially for the amount of people there and the word of mouth on the place. The staff wasn't overly friendly, but our server was nice enough and came back a couple times to refill drinks and check if we wanted any extra items. The worst part of the experience in all honesty seems to be the quick and lazy way they clear tables, which left both myself and my girlfriend wondering what goes on in the kitchen; they take all the food, plates, etc and throw them into a bin as normal, but then they also throw in the condiments, like full ketchup bottles, into the mix - then those bottles are the ones that end up back on the buffet. As the one I grabbed had food stuck to it, I'd say they don't bother cleaning them off at all, it's just a time saver to get the tables done as easily as could be. It seems to me that they could clean the tables WITHOUT throwing condiments into plates of dirty food, and take the 5 extra seconds to just put them back on a separate trip or, you know, just leave them on the tables. It just screams of unsanitary issues across the board. At any rate, I'll go 2 stars, and that's only because they happen to barely cook bacon, which is how I like it. I won't be going back any time soon. Even for the value ($21 for both of us) it wasn't worth it. Much better breakfast options or buffets. Or for $20 I'll make bacon and eggs at home. read more

Had the best meal here in a while last Saturday. We went for a late breakfast. Food was great, service was very friendly and prompt, and it was a good start to a long day of Christmas shopping. Love the Govs! read more

might as well go to denny's or friendly's across the street. Would even better to hit up ruby tuesdays and applebees in town. The only benefit of going to governors is for the sake of being in an iconic Maine restaurant. My grandparents love it... but this guy wouldn't go back there anytime soon. read more

Governor's is what it says it is - a casual family place with large portions of quality diner food. My daughter's love it and always insist on being in the train room so they can make up stories about it as it goes around. The staff has always been exceptionally friendly. As to the food, there's nothing fancy about the menu or the food that comes out but it is what it advertises to be - traditional diner fare. read more

Friendly place with a good atmosphere. Handmade onion rings were great! Must save room for dessert, try the peanut butter pie!

Ok so let me start off by saying that this is not meant to be a fancy restaurant. If you're here looking for fancy and sophisticated please look elsewhere and let me assure you your wallets will probably dish more out for it. This is more of a low-key cozy and friendly family-type restaurant. It may not be the cheapest but the pricing is acceptable and decent. The food for us has more of a homey feel-good kind of ambience and the service and fellow customers and wait-staff reflect that. If you're here to experience where some local Waterville Mainers like to go then I would say this is a good representation and a good place to check out. It's definitely a very local feel with family-friendly ambience which embodies what Waterville Maine is. I got their haddock chowder a few times and for me it was perfect. I can see why it might not be as enjoyable for some others as its not as heavy as most other chowders are. But I am rather light in appetite and it was very pleasant and flavourful to enjoy on those cold Maine wintery days. We also did try their half and half basket with scallops and clams and got their fried breaded mushrooms to start. The scallops were definitely fresh and done well. Nothing was overly greasy or oily. Neither of us were fans of the clams but because I also had fried clams at two other places afterwards and still didn't like it, I can only conclude that it's just not my thing. For us it seemed a tad too fishy. The mushrooms on the other hand were great, juicy on the inside and wonderfully breaded on the outside. Other time I came here I got the steak tip breakfast which was also quite enjoyable and my girlfriend got the capital. Both were pleasant meals and we both had our fills. Overall in the course of our couple visits, we both liked the restaurant and enjoyed our stay and our meals. We will definitely be back if were are back in Waterville Maine for another visit. read more

This is an update to the recent review on Governor's lobster rolls. The Manager of Governor's called this morning and very graciously made an unpleasant dining experience a pleasant one. I commend Gary for his proactive approach for his restaurant, proving that management does care, and in a very timely manner. This was only a blip, and my wife and I will continue eating there in the future.!! read more

Very average at best. Lobster roll had no flavor. French fries were the frozen variety. The special of the day was OK - steak tips on flatbread. Probably the best of our three dishes was the eggs Benedict. On a more positive note, the waitress was very good. Would not go back however. read more

Cheap ambience. Food was poor quality to average. Not any better than a dennys. Nothing special.. Wait staff was efficient and friendly. Nothing healthy here. read more

Governor's was a terrific respite along our long freeway drive. Best Haddock Chowder I've ever had and friendliest waitress on I-95! Can hardly wait to dive into the peanut butter blossom cookies we bought 'to go'. read more

Governor's Restaurant & Bakery - Haddock Chowder! - Bakeries Near Me - Waterville, Maine

waitress was nice and very helpfull. I ordered the lobster roll and the haddock chowder soup. both were very good. My associate ordered vegetarian ravioli which was good also. Prices were a little high but over all was worth it since the food was tasty and atmosphere was nice and friendly. read more

This is are go to restaurant for comfort food. Nothing fancy, just good food. My daughter always gets the hot Turkey sandwich. The deserts are great and everything is in large portions. The mozzarella sticks are huge and another favorite. Is you are looking for comfort food and a menu with a lot of choices than Governors is the restaurant to choose... read more

Friday night 7:30pm this place is packed. Service was excellent, lots of kids and noisy. Food comes in huge portions, cheap family prices, most everything was fried, I tried the broiled Halibut but it was drenched in a buttery lemon pepper sauce, pickled beets were healthiest option along with bland mixed vegetables. Deserts on display were massive (didn't try any). All-in-all lobster stew was OK but everything else was bland, to greasy for me but plenty of it. Beer and wine had very limited selections and most people there had soft drinks. For families with kids this place is fine.... read more

They have great breakfast! Service is always good and fast. Desserts here are fantastic as well. Meals are well priced.

It's not a very fancy place, nor do they have sophisticated food. What they do have is amazing service, awesome desserts and great prices. I had Kelly for my server and she was very friendly and attentive. Would absolutely come back here when I am in town. read more

The food was great. Their pancakes did not need syrup. Roxanne was a great server. Had the "Hash Mash" and it was some of the best hash I've had to eat. Price is great for the amount of food you get. read more

Governor's is probably the most reliable restaurant in Waterville. It doesn't serve fancy or imaginative food, but it does serve a wide selection of _good_ food. It offers many more dishes than the usual "American fare" restaurant, making it a good stop if you want something hearty but maybe a little different - if you want a little choice. It also has a solid array of regular rotating specials ($5 burger baskets on Monday, $9 haddock baskets on Friday, etc.), and it does serve generous portions - you will usually need to take part of your meal home. Governor's is also equipped with a nice bakery that whips up diner cakes & pies as well as single-serving treats, but the giant portions are a drawback here; I wish I could buy smaller servings. This isn't the place to go for a fine meal; it's the place to go for a family meal (which my own family has done for many a Thanksgiving). It's the fallback choice for dining in the city, and I, for one, am grateful for it; you always know that whatever you order is going to be at least decent. I've eaten there many times and will eat there many more. (Service has traditionally been warm, friendly, & efficient, though I do feel it's been slipping just a little lately.) read more

I recently went here after my grandmothers funeral. The waitress and waiter that were serving our party were horribly rude.. They seem put out by asking for water refills and very rude when taking our order. This is how they asked us what we would like to order off a preselected menu. Fish ... pot roast or chicken??? With no explanation of what any of those choices were exactly or what they came with. If I was the one paying for the bill I would not have left them one penny. Not to mention the food was not good at all. I Will not go back to this restaurant. Save yourself some money and stay away. read more

they forgot my french toast after i paid for it, then wouldn't deliver it to me because i told them i didn't want to go back out since i got all the way back home. read more

Not much for the vegetarians here (either the grilled cheese or all day breakfast). Most meals seemed to be on the heavier side. Homemade bread. You can substitute the breakfast fries for sweet potato breakfast fries with cinnamon and sugar. Silver dollar pancakes were tasty. Atmosphere is a little odd. Decorations on the walls felt like the belonged in an elementary school US History classroom. This was a place my fiance came on occasion when he went to Colby. read more

This place has pretty decent food. I always get the "poutine" as my side dish but it's just fries and gravy without cheese curds. The gravy is really tasty though and the fries are always crisp. The burgers here are only decent but the seafood platter is pretty good. Always been too full to have dessert, but they look really good! Service is excellent but the decor is really dated. Don't go here if you're looking for some ambiance. read more

Governors is a great place to eat. Staff is always great and the food is delicious. I've been going there since I was a child and I always remember it being great. read more

I ordered take out as I was staying in the attached hotel. I ordered the grilled ham and cheese with curly fries. The sandwich wasn't very good at all and fries were soggy. The sandwich tasted like it was cooked on a dirty grill. Also, this place is VERY expensive! read more

Great service,excellent food,stoped here for a quick meal on my way home to Rhode Island and couldn't of been more pleased

Food is above average diner food but is a little pricy for the quality, not that its bad, just not remarkable. Probably get better value from a national chain restaurant but then you don't help a Maine based biz. Desserts are definitely a plus. Service is generally very nice. The main attraction is the toy train set running around the dining rooms. Our two boys love it and helps pass the time. read more

We stopped here with our 3 kids for dinner during a long drive home from vacation. It was the perfect place for the occasion: right off the highway, a big menu with lots of options for kids and adults. Our food way exceeded our expectations--salads were fresh with lots of good veggies--and came out at lighting speed to accommodate our tired kids. The waitress was delightfully friendly. It's not the kind of place you want to go on a date night (attached to a hotel and overlooking a parking lot) but it was everything we needed and more. Thanks Governors! read more

We got there at 10:30 am . We waited 5 minutes before waitress showed up. I ordered the Egg Florentine. We waited a good half hour for our meals. My eggs we hard boiled on both and very little hollindase sauce. Our waitress was not friendly at all. I eat eggs Benedict every place I go and this was by far the worst. My first time and possibly my last. read more

My brother and sister-in-law said that this restaurant was very good. On our way back home going through Maine we stop to eat breakfast at this restaurant. The price is a good so was the food. Wait staff were was excellent and made sure we had coffee at all times. Anybody that is going to this restaurant has to try the dinner plate size cinnamon roll. You will not regret it read more

Food there was far below average. My wife's stuffing tasted like it was from a BOX. Also her potatoes tasted like they were from a BOX. Overall my meal was serviceable. Very not impressed. With the price that I paid for my wife and I to eat there, I would certainly NOT recommend this place to anyone. read more

One of my favorite places to take the fam. I love their food. Especially that the soup and breads and baked goods are homeade. The servers are very nice also read more

I'm not liking the wait. My family has been waiting over an hour for our food. It took about 15 minutes for them to get our drinks. The cheeseburger was good, however the fries were over cooked. They messed up my order first and gave me onion rings not fries. They were kind to fix that. Rate of this 1-10 is a 4.5. read more

Bakery to die for. Great fried seafood. Large portions. Love it.

It's my familys favorite restaurant around. The restaurant is staffed with a nice bunch, the food is delicious, the portions are great for what you pay for, and they have great deal days. I will admit though that a lot of the dessert is good, but some of their more popular items taste either too dry or too soggy. read more

Had lunch with my wife and grandson yesterday. Grandson had grilled cheese & fries, my wife had flat bread pizza and I had cheeseburger sliders. Food was great. Service was excellent. Grandson loved the train. Thanks Governors. We will be back! read more

At 2:35 I was sat. Server greeted quickly took my beverage and lunch order. Ordered the open face turkey sandwich. They were setting up for the evening's Buffet dinner. The nice couple having dessert commented on how long it was taking. My lunch arrived after 3:00. Ice cold and completely dried out. Inedible to say the least. Obviously sat on the line. I took a bite and asked to speak to a manager. The server and host came at different intervals and were apologetic yet not sincere, sugary sweet and and fake. Brought a menu so I could order something else. Check back at 3:20. Not much seemed appealing and was getting ready to leave. Manager came by at 3:25 and offered to make the same dish. I agreed and it came out in less than 5 minutes. Hot but still terrible. Ate half at most. At 3:45 server dropped off the check. I was charged full price- which is fine. Tipped 30%. $7.00 on a $13.00 tab. I'm a restaurant person. Never came back. I've eaten there quite a bit in my 40 plus years. The service and food could not have been worse. Overpriced food and servers that clearly don't care. With so many other choices in Waterville, don't waste your time. read more

My husband and I were heading south on 95 a few weeks ago and made the mistake of stopping at the Governor's resturant for lunch. The food was good and the service was great, but the septic pumping truck decided to stop by and pump out the tank while we were there. Not only did the truck park right next to our car but the workers saw fit to splash the sewage all over our car. They gave us a smirk as we expressed disgust and dismay. We would have expected them to offer to hose off our car at the very least! Well we drove around Waterville looking for a car wash barely able to breathe because of the smell. There were none to be found so we had to endure the stench until we got to Portland and found a nice Scrub a Dub just off the highway. I blame the management of this resturant for allowing the septic removal to be done during business hours. If this is the kind of judgement they have I can only wonder what else goes on in this establishment. read more

I stayed at the Fireside Inn & Suites for two nights and both nights I dined at Governor's Restaurant. The food was very good, cooked just right for me and I was pleased with the price. I will definitely keep Governor's Restaurant at the top of my list when traveling in the Waterville area. read more

Was very sad about the way I was treated, after eating in and ordering 2 boxes of 3 lobster rolls each on lobster roll special day got home to find my boxes only had 2 rolls each. Phoned, call was sent to the office where someone picked up and hung up without a word. Called back, spoke with Gary who said they would be glad to give me the two rolls I had paid for, thanked him. Drove to Waterville again at 6 Weds, morning, picked up box with my name on it, shame on me for not checking it there. Got back to Skowhegan to find someone had cut 1 lobster roll in half to make two. So feel I was cheated out of a lobster roll, these rolls were for an elderly couple who could not go to the restaurant for them. read more