Okay so our usual spot is Third Alarm Diner but they were down for maintenance Mel's is a Sanford,…read moreMaine staple the food was cooked absolutely perfectly and the Homemade Honey Oat bread is some of the best I've ever had in my life staff is very friendly and it's generally quiet with the sound of small talk in the background from the old timers there for coffee I'm not knocking Mel's at all it is definitely delicious food but I'm disappointed I paid significantly more than I would at Third Alarm diner and the servings of Bacon And home-fries was significantly smaller I would go there in the future again only if third alarm wasn't closed again only getting 4 stars cause of the price and portioning

Food was great, quick to order, arrive and a great value ! Service was excellent !…read more Would definitely recommend

Food is always delicious! If you slightly enjoy blue cheese dressing, it's an absolute must here!…read moreThey make their own. Relaxed atmosphere, super casual dress. It can be busy here, so you may have to wait for a seat the bar or a table.

I know I've written about this place before but it's worth mentioning again. The Springvale Publick…read moreHouse is truly amazing! The food is always delicious, and the service--whether takeout or dining in--is quick and efficient. The waitresses are friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere feels like friends and co-workers gathering and making new friends. It's a great place to relax and enjoy a meal. Highly recommend!

We had dinner here this week, and it was outstanding. I…read morecalled and made a reservation a couple of weeks ahead of our visit (we were there on a Monday night, and in the restaurant area it was pretty quiet - just us and one other table). First things first - parking is super easy, it's a free valet service (not obvious at first, as there is parking behind the restaurant, but you're greeted right away when you pull in). We walked through the bar area, over to the restaurant area (surprisingly the bar was quite full), and were able to choose a table by one of the two fireplaces. On the restaurant side, it feels very cozy, and homey, exactly where you want to spend a cold night, inside eating dinner. Our server was lovely, greeted us right away and provided menus. I started with a cosmo (they had flavored versions like strawberry, but I elected to go for the classic). For an appetizer, we started with the bacon wrapped scallops - the bacon was maple glazed, and wonderfully crispy, with the scallops cooked perfectly, and some micro-greens scattered on the plate - delicious. For entrees, my mom had the baked seafood stuffed haddock which came with a lobster sherry cream sauce, a massive pile of perfectly cooked green beans, and mashed potatoes (yum). I went with the duck special, which was absolutely delightful. It came with Brussels sprouts, and I subbed out the au gratin (I very strongly dislike sweet potatoes), for mashed potatoes. It was delicious. We were so full, we opted for dessert to go (chocolate cake), which was generously portioned, and decadently delicious. We really enjoyed the meal - this was a wonderful dinner to celebrate my mom's 80th birthday!

Excellent tuna steak with Asian noodles. Great service at the bar and good beer and wine choices…read more Also the place where the locals congregate. I'm very glad I chose it.

This was our first visit and I wish we went sooner. Food was excellent. Every dish was delicious…read moreand had fresh ingredients. This is elevated cuisine without being overly fancy. One of the best meals we have had in York. The fresh asparagus with crab sauce was wonderful, as was the fried cheese with an asiago cream sauce. Both a must try from the starter menu. Dinners were the short rib served over cheddar mashed. Replaced the spinach option with the potato and so glad we did. So good. The other entree was the roasted duck with XO sauce. Cooked perfectly and with a crispy skin. Served over fried rice served on a bed of the sauce and yogurt. Perfect compliment. Our entire bill for 2 cocktails, 2 starters, and 2 entrees came to $117 before tax and tip. You cannot find this quality food for that price anywhere else. Service was also excellent. There was constant attention without being overwhelming. Our server Courtney was on the mark. The service from others for water refills, to food delivery, and attention to detail was a very high level of care. All was perfectly choreographed for a full dinning room . So unusual to see such great front of house training for service. Dining room was lively and very cozy. Beautiful fireplace with seating for cocktails. The bar area also has great seating and a cozy fireplace. Overall a must try.

Food was fantastic, we were very impressed. We tried the shirt rib kofta, clam & corn chowder, and…read morechicken brochettes. The atmosphere was lovely and the staff were very professional. We'll definitely be back!

We visit Maine every summer, but thought we'd check it out in the winter, and try a new area. We…read morestayed in Wells for a week and had to get our oil changed, so we headed to Sanford. We were there at lunch time, so I checked out Yelp and found Shain's. We like their ice cream, so we figured, why not? I am SO GLAD we did!!! We had some of the best fried scallops and clam strips we've had in the 57 summers I've been to the state. We also tried the lobster rolls, both ways (we preferred the mayo to the butter dressed, but both were delicious). We got lobster roll coupons for $10.99 and used those - even at the menu price of $12.99 for a lobster roll, when was the last time you bought a roll that cheap?! Yes, it's a bit out of the way, but totally worth the detour. We loved it so much, we went the next day, too!

I'm from Texas I dropped off a load about a day ago and I was trying to find a place that sold…read morelobster rolls everybody was saying we ought to season we close this place was not called in my order the young lady was excellent when I got there food was ready and I got some ice cream too this is an amazing place it is a family place it just has a very very good vibe when I come back I will definitely come to this place again

we have been here many times in the past and we were always very satisfied with the quality,…read morequantity and price. It's been two years since we've been here and I have to say we were very disappointed. quantity is significantly smaller and the price is significantly higher. For an appetizer I risotto. It seriously was more like rice soup. Not at all like it used to be. My husband ordered salmon on top of a salad and the salmon was very overcooked even though he ordered it rare. I am so sorry to give this kind of a rating, but they really need to step up their game.

My wife and I come here on special occasions like birthdays, Valentine's Day, etc. Our recent visit…read moreon my wife's birthday was no exception. We started the evening with cocktails which were very much to our liking, followed by a delicious appetizer of lobster risotto that we shared. We both ordered the short ribs which were mouthwatering and cooked to perfection that the meat fell off the bone. The servings were enough where we took the bones and whatever meat was left to make a delicious beef soup. Neither one of us were up for dessert but decided to get two to go, which we downed once we got home. And they were both delicious. In closing, I'd be remiss without saying a good word about our server Keila. She was warm, friendly, funny, and very attentive to our table. She made our night to enjoyable! Thanks you Keila ! We look forward to our next visit to The Village Inn soon.

Bandaloop is a very inviting place. Having made reservations for the first floor, we ended up…read moreupstairs. About anywhere you sit would have been wonderful. Unfortunately, no outdoor dining before Memorial Day. Great knowledgeable and attentive service with Paul. Upstairs was busy but not crowded. Food was fantastic. Wild mushroom soup was delicious. A tasting of sunchokes, pan seared mousam bakery mushrooms and shishito peppers made a meal for one of the party and still had leftovers. Best was the entree, Maine style palusami was a complex flavor concoction that was a home run. Finished with black forest cake. Hope to return again from the West Coast. They can certainly compete with any restaurant in any big city

With Reservations made we arrived at 7:15P. There were only 6 or 8 tables with customers on the…read moremain floor. The hostess decided to seat us in the BAR. First of all, We don't drink alcohol and the bar was louder than the main dining room. With all the empty space she took us to an area where two other couples were at the tables next to us. No consideration regarding privacy and I don't care to hear other people's conversation at dinner. I carefully picked up our service ware and moved it to the empty table in the corner. It even seemed it might be a stretch for the server in the Bar to be able to walk 25' to our NEW location. The Food was very tasty. The bottled water was chlorinated, so we bought a liter. The 2 liter Gigantic green water bottles were attempting to take the place of center pieces, but you can't lift them (4.4Lbs) safely. I worked in a few HIGH Level Restaurants as the maitre D'. I always catered to the customer's needs. AS for Bandaloop; With improved customer service that does not take a "guarded attitude", it would be a more gracious place. I was not attacking anyone. I mentioned that a 2 liter bottle cannot be picked up and poured with ease. "It's a new thing changed by the manager."--------- It was not well thought out. Try to pour a 2 liter bottle of wine or water with one hand. We also had to use another napkin as a placemat. What is on those tables? Bee's Wax? Use some Dawn soap.

Great place to go for a drink, bite to eat, or to play pool!…read more Staff is super friendly and attentive. We came on $5 burger night, and trivia night and both were great. The $5 burger was small, but it was $5! They also do $2 tacos on Wednesdays that I did not get a chance to try. Super fun place to hang out, and the AC is always blasting so it's a great summer spot!

Stopped in here one night looking for a quick bite to eat. The food is typical bar fare, and was…read moreokay. It's very dimly lit, and the music was so loud you had to shout to hear the person across the table from you while leaning in to hear. There's a nice looking dance floor but no one was dancing.

What a gem this place is! Located in Alfred, Maine, this restaurant has a friendly yet fancy vibe…read more Sit at the bar where one of the best bartenders, Connor, will set you up with a tasty beverage and ensure your meal is perfect. The scallop risotto was recommended to me and it did not disappoint! I am looking forward to waiting the leftovers! Creamy, smoky, perfectly cooked scallops accompany a creamy risotto with baby spinach and sun dried tomatoes with fresh prosciutto... heaven in a bite! If seafood is not your thing, don't worry! Their selection of steaks are mouth-watering and are accompanied with options such as mushroom demi-glaze (so delicious), cowboy butter, or horseradish sauce.You can cut the steak with a butter knife!! Add dessert to go- the chocolate lava cake and cheesecake are fresh and yummy too. We will definitely be back for more! Highly recommend!

One of the worst dining experience of my life. We attended a group function with a choice of 3…read moreentrees. All entrees were - in our estimation - cooked previously and reheated. There was no choice of sides - and the side provided was steamed (barely) broccoli and potato. No substitutions. I could go on and on but don't want to relive the experience. Except I must say - no desert and only 1 cup of coffee ‍ We had been holding an annual event at the Bistro but all agreed - never again!

I've honestly needed a few weeks to process this visit because of how disappointing it was. We made…read morea reservation at The White Barn Inn Restaurant about a month in advance to celebrate my birthday, noting both the occasion and a simple seating request due to my husband's height. Upon arrival, we were initially seated in what felt more like a brightly lit, casual tavern or breakfast room, completely at odds with the refined dining experience we expected. Surrounded by families and very casual attire, it was confusing and frankly off-putting. After asking the host stand, we were eventually moved to the actual dining room, which was beautiful - dim, elegant, and exactly the ambiance we had hoped for. Service throughout the evening was polished and professional, and every dish was plated beautifully. Unfortunately, that's where the positives end. While we understand that tasting menus consist of smaller portions, each course, just two or three bites, was entirely forgettable. The flavors lacked balance and subtlety, which is surprising at this price point. The beef tartare in a cigar like wrapper was very mid. One of my early courses was a scallop dish, and the scallops were cooked so poorly they were the rubberiest I've ever had (an immediate red flag in a restaurant of this caliber). My main course, a tenderloin, arrived as an overcooked end piece. After sending it back and requesting rare, it returned slightly less well done, still an end cut, and completely overwhelmed by a salty, heavy red wine demi-glace that tasted more like something from a packet than a refined sauce. It was one of the least appetizing beef dishes I have perhaps ever had. The cheese plate featured Great Hill Blue which some might love but is available at my local Stop & Shop so didn't really knock my socks off, a boring cheddar and a third cheese I can't even recall. At a restaurant of this caliber, I was expecting a much more curated collection of exciting, super, stinky cheeses that one could not find at a chain grocery store. At nearly $700 for two people (with a few drinks and a multi-course menu), the experience simply did not come close to justifying the cost. The following night, we had a $200 dinner at Chez Rosa, the Little French bisto in downtown Kennebunkport. The meal there FAR surpassed this meal in both flavor and execution. Based on our experience--and what seems to be echoed in more recent reviews--the quality of the food here no longer matches its reputation or price point. This was meant to be a special occasion destination, but instead left us feeling frustrated and genuinely let down.

The White Barn is a place you go to have an experience and ours was a positive one. We ordered the…read moreblind chefs tasting, roughly 7 courses ranging in diversity from bite size to the main course. The food was creative and served at a good pace. The service was quite nice, it truly was a unique experience. I give it 4 stars simply because for the price, I'd expect everything to be perfect and there was on item in the tasting the neither myself nor my partner enjoyed as it tasted a little undercooked - it involved Lima beans. Other than that, I highly recommend this spot. Not a great place for kids. Dress nice and know that parking is easy. Settle in and enjoy a unique experience in a very pleasant ambiance.