What a hidden gem in a town i've never visited before. I decided to make it to brunch for mother's…read moreday weekend and i really can't recommend this spot enough for a delicious and down to earth meal with people you love. I think the space is very cozy, with an open kitchen and wood tables and bar. The cute little market in back is wonderful to check out before or after your meal. The staff is absolutely wonderful. So kind and making recommendations along with answering any questions you have. I think for the price of food you are really getting a great deal. Everything is made fresh in house from scratch which you can watch when you sit at the bar which i did. Watching orange juice wbu freshly squeezed and the donuts being put together from absolute scratch. The burger is definitely a great choice, I couldn't get over the house cut fries and the alna sauce was wonderful to dip them in. The burger was juicy and delicious and paired perfectly with the Volcanique red they had on the menu. My mother ordered the grits and eggs, this dish was cooked perfectly and had a house made salsa verde. The side of sourdough is a must get for shareable side. The house made jam was spectacular - they make every sauce and dip and spread in house and you can really tell. It elevates the meal so much. The drinks were a bit overpriced in my opinion but as someone who lives in Portland i wasn't surprised they were priced that way. The standout from the meal was definitely the sour dough donut. This was fried fresh to order and we had the seasonal flavor that was lime glazed and it was absolutely breathtaking! The crispy exterior with the fluffy inside was perfection - you have to order this. I definitely will need to come and check out dinner here. Highly recommend making the trek out!

A place like The Alna Store really does need to be located in rural Maine, a solid hour from…read morePortland. Everything about The Alna Store is so special--it's possibly the best meal you will ever have, while inside the most unpretentious building, an actual store that sells produce and specialty gift items. A place like this should be experienced as a planned outing, not just a restaurant that's happened upon. A James Beard Award winning restaurant inside what could have been my grandparents' barn, along with beautifully mismatched silverware and repurposed green wine bottle water glasses--what could be more Maine? On both visits we were so excited that we arrived about a half hour early for our reservation, yet were welcomed and promptly seated. The service is excellent, and the food is next level out of this world. I couldn't help but want the person I was with to try what I was eating so we could try to parse out the complex flavors in each dish. Is that a tomato base? Chives? Ginger? Cucumber? We enjoyed every bite of every plate. Both times we started with the gazpacho, at dinner it was served with a grilled/toaster piece of sourdough focaccia. Fantastic! My dinner entree was the grilled squash with roasted peppers and delicious, flavorful breadcrumbs, and fresh mint leaves--it was our favorite plate of the meal. We both had desserts (pictured), the cake looked impressive as it tasted, yet the berry crisp was our favorite. Everything at dinner was so fabulous that I had to return, this time for brunch. We started with a couple of cups of our favorite Tandem coffee, again the gazpacho, and this time tried the ratatouille. Again, the flavors! How do they do it? Everything looked and tasted as if it was prepared with care. One more observation, how mistakes are handled: the person I had brunch with was vegan and the ratatouille came out with cheese. Our server promptly recognized the error, brought a remade dish, and at the end of the meal brought a complimentary vegan sorbet and said that "mistakes are celebrated", which we appreciated. Because of all of the much deserved accolades The Alna Store has recently received (James Beard, New York Times), the parking lot was full of out of state plates from Massachusetts, Maryland, Oregon, so be sure to make a reservation, and enjoy the people watching while you eat possibly the best meal of your life. We are so fortunate to live within an hour of this very special place. A solid five stars, please don't change a thing. I can't wait to try the fall menu!

Before I get into the issues we experienced, I will say that we had a great night. Our server was…read morefantastic, 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.

Not by any means bad, but so many flaws and so far below my high expectations from other reviews…read morethat 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.

France's was an exceptional server and food was great Would…read moredefinitely be back and would to have had wait on us again

We had a great time. Lunch was delicious and Francee was the best! She was thoughtful and helpful…read more we had two kids under 3 and she was attentive to their needs as well. A beautiful day on the water :)

I wanted to check out Linden + Front while I was in town because the food looked great! I came on a…read moreweeknight week night and chose to sit at the bar since I was dining solo. It seemed to be where most people were anyways. The bartender, I think named Greg, was awesome. Even though he was busy, he was quick and attentive. I ordered the filet cooked medium rare for dinner. It was slightly under, more on the rare side, but I didn't complain. Mainly because the couple next to me were non stop complaining and I just didn't want to be a bother. It was still delicious and I don't mind rare steak anyway. I will say, it had an amazing crust on it and was seasoned well. The sauce also paired really nice and wasn't too heavy. The baked potato was also delicious, and they made sure to salt the skin which is bonus points. Overall, I thought it was a cute little restaurant. I liked the vibe and sort of eclectic decor. Food was fresh and delicious. I would definitely come back if I'm ever in town again.

Very cozy, romantic setting. Although sitting near the window in April proved to be a tad bit…read morechilly. Nonetheless, we absolutely loved it! The food was to die for! My wife had the Rhubarb Pomelo salad and added the crab cake. THAT CRAB CAKE!!! Wow!!! Phenomenal!! I had the Andouille and Frog Gumbo. I could eat that dish over and over. It was slightly spicy and ever so flavorful! Absolutely delicious! We topped our meal off with a shared desert of limoncello cake. It was light and cloud fluffy and just fantastic deliciousness! If you have only one night in town and one place to choose... this is it! The service was beyond reproach!

Excellent flavors in the sauces that really carried the dishes to a higher level. Fresh…read moreingredients and creative dishes. Service was great and the room and patio were well appointed. Highly recommend.

I'm not sure why no one is talking about how their lobster roll is the best lobster roll in…read morePortland. It was so good that my boyfriend and I had to get another one to share. Every single flavor they used in each dish complimented each other and blended so well. This will be a must for every time I am in Portland going forward.

The Lobster BLT was absolutely incredible the lobster was fresh, tender, and packed with flavor. It…read morewas easily the highlight of the meal! Overall, the food was amazing, and you have to try the Vernors ginger ale. Highly recommend! 4/5

Place was great! Great vibe, awesome views, staff was excellent! Got the kids lobster rolls (prices…read moreas it would be for fresh lobster rolls). Good portions, fair price.

The exterior entrance was beautiful. There are some nice Adirondack chairs outside the front and…read morestunning landscaping around. The flowers were stunning. Service was a tad slow, but we managed. I opted for some lobster bisque, crabcakes, and the Lawnmere flatbread. The soup was pretty good. There were large chunks of lobster in the soup. The garnish was a nice addition. The crab cakes were ok. The lacked a little flavor for me. The corn salsa was pretty good! The Lawnmere seemed like a good idea on the menu, but oddly it lacked flavor. I had high hopes for this flatbread. I feel like we missed a mark here. The crust was great. My key lime pie was delicious. The coconut really added to the dish. My son devoured his pub burger and had no complaints. My husband said his calamari and fish tacos were ok. The heirloom tomato salad was the best. The arugula has a nice taste to it along with the layer of ricotta cheese under it all. The flavors really blended well with this dish. The bathroom was 10/10 for me they had a theme and ran with it and I love it. The lobster themed wallpaper really made it overall we had a nice lunch. Nothing spectacular. Maybe dinner is the meal to have here. We went at 2pm for a late lunch early dinner.

Had lunch today here and the food was delicious and service was top shelf. Pet friendly outdoor…read moredining with lovely views. Would definitely dine there again. AND, the Aperol Spritz was perfection in a glass.

Just go! You'll absolutely love it. The beautiful location. The amazing food. The friendly owners…read moreand attentive staff. We live in Camden and this place makes us feel like we're on vacation when we're there! Added tip: go for brunch and have the donuts! One of our all time favorite things to do. Another tip... go early and walk around Clark Island before your meal. Just a great restaurant and a beautiful spot. We take our visitors there to show them how amazing Maine can be... a true gem!!!

Beautiful spot right on the water in Spruce Head, across from Clark Island, the road stops at the…read moreCauseway and you can hike the path over to the Island. Can't believe this is our first time here over all these years, but it is a bit off the beaten path. We got there at 2 on Sunday, so it was a limited brunch menu. Wish we would have known that! But had some excellent oyster from right off the water in front of them, a Bloody Mary and Fried Haddock!

Had a family meal - indoors due to the cold weather…read more We especially enjoyed the Vignarola carbonara - rich but not too heavy, and the zucchini was firm as it should be not mushy. The smashburgers and fries were a hit as well. The vegetable Wellington was delicious- really didn't know what to expect but it was a cool take on a tired classic. The wines were reasonably priced - we had a Mas Josephine Côtes du Rhône, which paired nicely with the pasta.

This is one of those places you should definitely visit at least once a summer for their incredibly…read morespecial, beautiful, immersive, rustic, nature-forward atmosphere. We visited midday, and the staff was all so friendly. They let us pick our seat outside (it wasn't busy yet) so we could be in the shade but still enjoy the heat and flowers and birds; and, they were so patient with us when we were definitely not (on multiple occasions) ready to order. When we offhandedly remarked how parched we were, our server hooked us up with BIG water glasses - and really, it's the little things like that that set a place apart. The drinks were good! I got a mocktail that tasted like a jazzed up Shirley Temple. Appreciate that they have mocktails for, as of writing this, under $10. For me, however, the food was a let down. While there's plenty of gluten-free options, the vegan options are almost non-existent. It seems like it's $20 for a plate of cold vegetables, $20 for a plate of grilled vegetables, or $20 for a pizza with red sauce and more grilled vegetables. The pizzas themselves are kind of small, I think. It says 12", but when ours arrived... it looked like the same size that I might slide out of a frozen pizza from the store. If you've got no dietary restrictions, you'll probably feel differently than me, but I wouldn't come here to eat. Actually, my recommendation is this: come an hour before they open, park your car, and go wander their genuinely lovely trail system. It's mostly flat (there are some rooty areas), and there's SO. MUCH. COOL. ART. to look at. At least one piece will make you smile and become something you talk about later... when you're sitting at the restaurant outside (the Adirondack chairs overlooking the woods is very Maine) enjoying a cocktail.

Food and service were both amazing. My brother recommended Peppers. We were not disappointed. I…read morehave told some of my friends this is a "MUST" place to go. Will go back when I get back to Maine next year. They also had live music with was very cool.

We came in during dinner time with a large party. The restaurant wasn't overly busy, and the space…read morewas clean with really nice decor. The staff was top-notch--the hostess and our waitress were absolutely phenomenal and took great care of us. The live lobster tank was also a big hit with the kids! ​Unfortunately, the main reason we came--the seafood--was a huge disappointment across the board. The firecracker shrimp was actually very good, but that was the only high point. The calamari, clam strips, and fish and chips were all chewy, improperly fried, and lacked any crispiness. Multiple people in our party felt the exact same way about their meals. ​Given the price, the food quality just wasn't worth it. While the staff and atmosphere were fantastic, we won't be returning, and I wouldn't recommend it for a seafood dinner.