Fantastic gourmet shop to grab key things you need for entertaining: wine, cheese, salami, &…read morehousemade dips for your charcuterie, the tastiest crispy chips. Don't miss the frozen case featuring Afterglow ice cream sandwiches made in Maine. People will fight over the Classic sweet cream between brown butter chocolate chip cookies. The restaurant no longer has regular hours. But their Wiener Wednesdays featuring inventive hot dogs, along w/ curated pop-ups are not to be missed. They're really community-minded, so great local stop.

If only I lived closer... I'd be at Vessel & Vine ALL. THE. TIME…read more I've been a huge fan of this wine store for years. It's got so much character, and the people running it are some of the nicest humans ever. I don't think I've ever left without a smile on my face, or without a bottle (or two) of something new and interesting. Their selection is incredible; not just wine, but also vermouths, Campari, and even pasta and bread?! Like, what don't they do? And the vibes??! Perfection. In the winter, it gives a mix of Scandinavia and Spain, and I'm so here for it. Oh, and they have a full wine bar with pours and bites. Just go... you'll thank me later.

Beautiful space, historic solid building with high ceilings, stately almost Euro feel. Kind of a…read moreclassy-hip vibe. One of the relatively rare spaces which combines coffee/morning feel with nighttime cocktail refuge in one big room. You could chill and read or work on laptop and yet it also can be a more low key nightlifey hang at night. Excellent menu of select food items and fantastic drinks. The breakfast sandwich I got on Portuguese roll was well prepared and one of the best deals I think in Greater Portland area (please don't raise the prices cause I wrote that!). Their lattes and what not are superb. They have live jazz on Sundays during brunch time. It feels like a little slice of Portland or Cambridge MA or (name your much larger cool city) in the middle of Brunswick. I'm a fan!

We came here during my bachelorette weekend and, at first, had a wonderful experience. Our server…read morewas friendly, attentive, and even surprised us with a complimentary glass of bubbly when we paid our tab after two drinks. It was such a thoughtful gesture, and we left with a great impression. We decided to check out the bar across the street, but it wasn't our vibe, so we called it a night and walked back to The Abbey. Their patio was empty and well lit so we decided to sit there while we waited for our Uber. Our server immediately came out and told us they were closed and that we couldn't sit on the patio, promptly closing the door and shutting the light out on us. While disappointing, we understood. The part that left such a bad taste in our mouths happened next. As a group of young women, we were standing outside when a group of loud, rowdy men across the street started making us uncomfortable. We genuinely felt unsafe. We went back inside and politely asked if we could wait indoors for our Uber, explaining that we didn't feel safe outside. Instead of showing any concern, the bartender looked at us and said, "Oh, that bachelorette party? No." The bar was still full of customers, and we weren't asking to order more drinks or stay all night. We simply wanted a safe place to wait a few minutes for our ride. After how warm and welcoming they had been earlier, the complete lack of compassion in that moment was shocking. Customer service isn't just about being friendly when you're serving drinks. It's also about treating people with basic human decency when they tell you they feel unsafe. Unfortunately, our final memory of The Abbey wasn't the complimentary champagne or the great service at the beginning of the night. It was realizing that, when it actually mattered, our safety wasn't important to them.

I can't believe I just tried OystHers for the first time. It is the absolutely most perfect oyster…read morebar. It has all the credentials for perfection...outdoor seating overlooking a body of water...in this case the beautiful Kennebec River, including a spectacular view of the big bridge over it. Watching boats go by, and people walking in the walking path to get to the park right next door...perfect for people and dog watching. Plus, OysHers allows well behaved dogs at the outdoor seating area. The menu includes MANY varieties of sparking wines, including a mimosa flight, and all local oysters, all sourced from women-owned oyster farmers, plus they have their own oyster farm as well. The menu does include a few non-seafood items, such as the classic Maine red hot dog. The menu also includes some caviar in case there is a need for a special occasion caviar celebration. There are a variety of seating options outside and inside. There are firepit tables with Adirondack chairs, regular tables and chairs, picnic tables, and high top tables. There is a beautiful display of the days oyster selection inside on ice. The ordering process is simple...order what you want at the register, tell them where you're seated (we were are fire pit #2) and they bring your order to you. You can start a tab or pay as you go. Each table has a little sign that says what the table name/number is. We went on a Wednesday afternoon so we did not try the fire pit. It is a great reason to go back. We tried the mimosa flight (orange, grapefruit, cranberry, and lemon) and a flight of oysters (4 different varieties). I couldn't tell you which one was best...they were all perfect. I especially loved how expertly they were shucked and cut loose. Every oyster slid out of its shell without any resistance and each oyster had all of its liquor. They were perfectly clean and chilled and served with lemon, a cocktail sauce and a delicious mignonette. My friend also tried a local canned cocktail, Dasch seltzer, that was excellent...not too sweet, lots of blueberry flavor. I can't wait to go back!

I have been here twice in the past week and will continue to visit as often as I can. The oysters…read moreare so good. So fresh, very clean, delicious. The Crabster sliders were excellent and the chicken salad (ordered on a roll instead of sliders) was plentiful and very tasty. Great cocktail, mocktail, and wine selection. We got to sit on the back patio and enjoy the river view. Well behaved dogs are welcome on the patio. Orders go in at the bar and servers deliver to the table. Polite, smiling, friendly service. Not a ton of parking immediately in front but it's super easy to walk from the many municipal parking areas downtown. Highly recommend for anyone in the area looking for a comfortable and delicious spot for a bite and a beverage.

This is a cozy place on grey days and has outdoor seating in beautiful weather…read more With an interesting menu and great drink options, you'll have lots to choose from. High end dining and professional but friendly service make for an enjoyable evening (As Bowdoin parents, it's a short pretty walk to campus and you might spot a polar bear working there!)

High prices, low quality, poor service. The decor and ambience are coupled with prices that lead…read moreone to believe this is a high end establishment. Breakfast this weekend proved otherwise. Go to impress parents or similar if you are a college student. For quality and price, based on our experience, would not do again. Overcooked eggs, grudging portions, mix and match plateware that just confounds (bacon and eggs in a bowl - really? but only for one person in the party?). The menu is also misleading. The fabled "hash of the day" turned out to be just a pile of ordinary unremarkable overcooked and unseasoned home fries. The same side everyone else had for free, but costing some part of the wallet-stretching $21 in the context of the all-in "165" breakfast - two overcooked over-easy eggs (no seasoning), a slice of thin sourdough bread cut in two, a pile of indifferent home fries and two of the smallest pieces of bacon you can imagine. $8-12 in any self-respecting diner in the country, and typically made with far more care and flavor. When asked how plain ordinary home fries were a "hash of the day" when they were also unmentioned sides for other dishes, the waitress shrugged and said "it's a KIND of hash. We call that hash here." Touche. Should have asked more questions. And the toast is a single piece of seemingly storebought sourdough bread cut in half (no evidence here, just disappointment being expressed). No substitution, no extras. Pretty much no butter, either. Another member of the party had the blueberry pancakes, Thick and heavy, and unremarkable, once again. Any diner does it better - for half the price. Timing was a serious issue too. The dining room was somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 full. 3-4 tables in other words. Still took well over 45 minutes to get food. Watched 2 pairs of other diners come, order, eat, pay and leave as we waited, Food came cool with no explanation or apology for the long wait. Small complaints perhaps, but at this price, they are making bold claims and utterly failing to match up. Breakfast should be a lay-up for places like this. The ingredients cost almost nothing and the work involved is strictly short-order, simple, fast-turn work in a relatively uncrowded dining room. No reason to go light on ingredients or on flavors. Breakfast is an easy meal to wow in aplace like this, and New England has traditions to uphold - and yet the establishment clearly did not see the point in putting in the effort to match their prices, decor, or location. The capper was watching the tables cleared by a surly teenager in stained board shorts and stained tshirt and sneakers with unwashed hair in a beautiful dining room. The young man clomped in and would withdraw 1-2 plates at a time before stomping out, taking over ten minutes to clear a single table. Overpriced and under-quality. It's for tourists. Beautiful building, though.

My wife Michele and I eat at WSK at least once a week. One our favorite things to get is 1 order of…read moreCajun Shrimp which has 3 large shrimp in a delicious but fairly spicy oil, butter and garlic sauce. We also get one order of Shrimp Scampi with pasta AND an extra plate. We mix both plates together at the table and have two meals that is delicious and more than enough for two. And if it's not, there is always a choice of deserts made off site by Daphne!

Horrible service. Hostess was unable to handle seating for customers and after waiting 25 minutes…read moreafter our reservation we asked to be seated, as people with later reservations were being seated. She was clearly rattled. I asked if she would rather us leave as she didn't seem to be able to seat us and she said we were welcome to leave. They just lost a customer. As time went on service at this restaurant had deteriorated and wood was overpriced.

I was born and raised in Maine and come back a couple times a year to see my mom here in Brunswick…read more I hadn't been yet to the Ram and Bull which took over a previous restaurant spot, and decided to give it a try based on the fact that one of their weekly specials was lobster stew. Let me be clear, I am typically disappointed over and over by the lobster stew I have in Maine. In my mind, it should be classic, with milk, butter, Sherry, and lobster meat. I've been searching for this version from my childhood for the past 30+ years and I finally found it here. Have they added a tiny garnish of rosemary to the top? Yes. Does it make me angry or detract from the sweet perfect flavors of the stew? No. And the lobster meat in the stew was tender, as it should be, rather than having simmered way too long and being tough and chewy. Their crabcakes also were nice and generous, although I don't love the spicy remoulade (I feel it's too strong for delicate crab flavor) and the texture was a bit soft for me. I'm looking forward to being back during my stay and trying more items from the menu! Oh, and don't sleep on the service here, it was excellent. From several people asking me how my meal was or just saying hello, to the amazing Travis behind the bar with his big fabulous personality. Yay!

First time in this place even tho it's very close to where I work. Met a friend there recently for…read morea girl date to catch up on life. The interior is beautiful. The brick work, and art work on the walls is quite lovely. The hostess was amazing. I never got her name but she was so friendly and informative. Said we came at a good time before "after work rush" Here's where I felt things didn't go so well. We placed our order for a couple of entrees and tossed in an appetizer. The place was NOT busy and everything came out at the same time. Huge faux pas. After that, our server must've visited us a dozen times asking if we needed thing. I jokingly said "we're good just leave us alone" It's a huge turnoff to be hounded and not have your orders timed appropriately. ‍sorry not sorry. You wanna be semi-fancy, your service needs to reflect that Now food. I ordered the Porchetta Bahn Mi, friend had a wild rice beet salad? The app was fried pickles. Bahn Mi was ok. Every "handheld" is served on brioche so that was a bit of a turn off for a Bahn Mi. Half the part of them being delicious, is the bread itself. I didn't taste the friends salad but looked inviting. The pickles didn't seem cooked enough? Not very crispy. Maybe that's why everything came out all at once. I might give this place another chance

We are not from around here otherwise this would be my new favorite restaurant!…read moreBut...we were just driving through and looking for a place for a meal....we saw the outside thought it was cute, we looked up reviews and decided to try it! Our experience was a 11/10! We were treated so well from the moment we stepped in....from the owner Wayne, to our server John. Our wine was good, I had the grilled chicken sandwich and my husband had the fish and chips and we were both pleased with our choice! We dined outside on the patio and the ambiance was fabulous. Unfortunately I'm not sure we'll be back as we were just driving through, but I highly recommend the Montsweag!! Definitely try it!

Easy parking, menu with variety. Had the chicken fried chicken which was yummy and large. Their…read morecream gravy a little different than biscuits and gravy kind...so good. The flatbreads looked great and I'm not usually a flat bread person. Both tables around us had us a dip type appetzer with bread sliced that also looked great. Bar area was hopping.

Amazing food every single time and the pricing is so reasonable for the quality and how delicious…read moreit is. We love it

Great service, very good food. The ambience is a little weird, very loud too. I'd go back but…read moreprobably won't be rushing.

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.

In a city that isn't exactly overflowing with special restaurants, this place has earned its spot…read moreas our local favorite. The food is consistently above average, well prepared, dependable, and the kind of meal you're genuinely happy you went out for. The menu is manageable rather than massive, which I appreciate. They know what they do well and don't hand you a small novel and ask you to make a life-altering decision before dinner. The drinks are... fine. Perfectly drinkable, but nobody needs to alert the James Beard Foundation. If cocktails are the main event for the evening, this probably isn't where you'll have a spiritual awakening. But the real magic of this place has always been the people. The wait staff somehow cross that line from "our server" to "they could be a friend," and that's something you can't put on a menu or manufacture with trendy décor. It's nice to genuinely enjoy the people taking care of you. It's locally owned, unpretentious, reliably good, and full of familiar faces. In a city with precious few places that have a personality (instead of a personality disorder) of their own, this one does.

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.