Oak & Ember is such a gem. We visited for brunch and loved our experience. We had heard good things about Oak & Ember, so we finally made our way there for brunch, not knowing what to expect. Our experience was nothing short of amazing. The restaurant itself is beautiful -- it's quintessentially Maine. The thoughtful decor, cozy ambiance, and meticulously designed interior blew us away. The brunch menu was extensive, with a handful of boozy options offered as well. I had the brisket hash, and it was delicious, plus visually stunning. I haven't seen such a beautiful brunch plate in a while. It was hard to pick a cocktail -- they had many mimosas (including a guava one that looked divine) and Bloody Marys, but I opted for a spicy version of the latter. It was so good and came with plenty of toppings. We finished our meal with a cinnamon bun from Sullivan Bakery. It was yummy! The service was great. Our waitress was friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable. I also want to call out the wine shop located inside the restaurant. It was a lovely and a great addition! Most wines were affordable, under $20, and they had a vast selection of unique wines you just don't find anywhere. We left with a few bottles. We loved our experience and can't wait to go back. Some constructive feedback for the owners: For brunch, the coffee was tiny and also lukewarm. It was the size of two long espressos. Please consider offering a larger size -- I'd gladly pay extra. For a black coffee, I was expecting a much bigger cup. Also, it would be lovely if you offered iced coffee in the future. The bloody Mary's were so good. My partner said it's the best he ever had. However, some of our guests were vegetarian, and the Bloody Mary came with salami (as a topping), but this was not noted on the menu. Lastly, I do wish our hash came with a side of bread or something else. It was a bit on the lighter side, even though we picked it because it felt like one of the heartier options. All in all, we had an awesome experience. read more

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A wonderful addition to Buxton. Staff is friendly and so accommodating. We made reservations and didn't realize that they were for there outside patio which of course due to it being cold was closed. They made it work and found us a table fairly quickly by making a few minor changes. Food was delicious! Their cocktails delicious. We just went again the night before Thanksgiving and again another wonderful meal. We sat at the bar and the bar tender was wonderful. Where we sat at the bar we had a good view of the kitchen I was fascinated watching them work! Very attention to detail oriented I can't wait to go back read more

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Cozy atmosphere and savory bites. I did not take any pictures as I was enjoying the presentations and meal. Friendly, knowledgeable staff too. Looking forward to the next trip! read more

Oak & Ember - The mixology department is working their holiday magic! - Poke Near Me - Buxton, Maine

Located in a small Maine town you will find this down-to-earth and classy restaurant that offers unique starters, cocktails, entrees and desserts. I'm not a big Caesar Salad fan but I absolutely am when I'm at Oak & Ember, I get one at every visit (and I won't share this with anyone). read more

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Delightful location, it is nice to get out of Portland and have a terrific dinner! Our party started with the Caesar salad and burrata. The salad was massive, much more than I would expect for a pre-dinner dish. Flavorful, it was solid dish. The burrata was excellent, paired with butternut squash on crispy potatoes. Honestly it was my favorite of the night. The smoked brisket pappardelle was delicious, the homemade pasta was al dente which I totally appreciated. I would have like a few more of the 'greens' to cut the richness of the dish. The hake dish was a stunning plate and enjoyed. The mushroom ragu orecchiette with pesto was also amazing! We ended dinner with the olive oil cake with lemon curd. The cake was lovely, the curd was a bit sweeter than I would prefer but decent. We will be back! read more

Oak & Ember - Orecchiette - Poke Near Me - Buxton, Maine

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Loved everything about this place. The staff is so bubbly you'll want to make friends and hangout after. The modern farmhouse vibes with the restaurant laid out in different rooms makes you feel like you are at home. Candle light adds to the warm, inviting setting. There's plenty of space for group dinners, without feeling squished or confined. It would be a great choice for a business dinner. The food was elevated, flavorful, and plated beautifully... not what you'd expect out of little old Buxton, Maine. I'd 100% recommend Oak and Ember to people who are looking for fine dining without the hassle or driving to Portland. Check it out, you won't be disappointed! read more

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This was a ridiculously delicious meal. We visited on our way through town and we're gobsmacked. Our favorite dishes were the burrata, the summer fritters, the mustard ribs and the pappardelle with short rib - we AND our kids ate ourselves silly. The service was superb, and the setting (a colonial farmhouse) was wonderful. I will definitely visit again. read more

Oak & Ember - Mustard ribs! - Poke Near Me - Buxton, Maine

Would give it ten stars if we could. Our favorite local restaurant! The food is incredible. The service is outstanding (owner Shannyn and her husband Chris have the BIGEST HEARTS and know exactly what they are doing). The bartenders make incredible drinks and are super flexible and willing to try to craft something if what you're looking for isn't on the drink menu. The French fries, legendary. The best around. The bolognese... you won't find it better anywhere else. Everything has such incredible attention to detail and they truly DO NOT MISS! We come here weekly and are so so SO thankful Shannyn brought such a beautiful restaurant to Buxton! read more

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Great service at the bar with amazing drinks before an amazing dinner in a the dining room. read more

Oak & Ember - Amaretto Sour on the rocks - Poke Near Me - Buxton, Maine

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It's a nice looking spot in an area that doesn't have many options. Figured we would check it out on a Friday. Staff was accommodating, good bar and tap list. Started w the crunchy chickpeas and they weren't very good. There was a 4-way tuna special that presented 4 different examples of raw tuna. First couple were noticeably fishy and we both were concerned. Probably tossing a pan sear on them wouldn't have been the worst option. Wasn't very hungry and just got a burger at bar, it was fine but the fries(like the chickpeas) were over fried and too much salt. Partner had an asparagus dish that she wasn't very thrilled about. It's ok, could use help. Wouldn't rush back, for $100 we can get a better executed meal on the peninsula. May try again in a year if still around... read more

Dined here for the first time last weekend and the entire experience was amazing. It's a beautiful, warm and very welcoming establishment. The food was absolutely outstanding. We ordered the pasta and steak They had such an unforgettable decadent rich flavor, nothing I've experienced before... Kudos to the chef. Our waitress Kelsey was wonderful and the owner so friendly. We are so lucky to have this high quality restaurant right here in Buxton. Can't wait to go back!! read more

Oak & Ember - Poke Near Me - Buxton, Maine

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Tucked away in the city center, this cozy spot serves up inventive small plates with bold flavors and creative drinks. From seafood to vegetarian options, each dish is a delightful blend of ingredients and textures. The cocktails are equally impressive, crafted with unexpected flavors. With attentive service and a relaxed ambiance, it's a must-visit for a memorable dining experience. Next time we'll save room for dessert! read more

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Amazing new place in Buxton! The inside is quaint and cute, with a large bar. They also have outside seating with heaters. The ambiance is very cozy and the perfect winter spot. I had a pear martini and it was fantastic. They have a great wine selection with many interesting bottles for affordable prices. They also have a wine store in the back where you can buy bottles to go and those prices are great as well. The food was delicious. We got the rib appetizer and that was my favorite dish. I also got the bolognese and you could tell the pasta was homemade. They have a small menu but it looks like it will change seasonally with fresh ingredients which I love. The only bad thing I have to say is the service is pretty slow if you sit at a high top in the bar area. It was very busy and the bar tenders were taking these tables, so totally understand why. We met the owner and he was so nice. I will be coming back to try more of the menu, and get more wine!! read more

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The food was excellent. Hats off to the chef! The service was great. The location is lovely. I visited when it was too cold to eat outside, but I hope to be back to do so in the future. Go check it out - you won't regret it! read more

Love that this is expanding into Buxton with more upscale dish restaurants that way. They have their own parking lot and are easy to find. Inside has a colonial aesthetic and the seating is all divided up by walls throughout. I love the privacy it gives you and something different how they transformed it. The food was delicious and cooked perfectly. The meat came right off the ribs and perfect amount of mustard taste. I loved how they cut up the pork chop for you in slices, making it easier to dig in. Our waitress and hostess was friendly giving us good recommendations too. Well done! read more

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The food is in the top 5 of any restaurant I've ever been to. The service was good (we sat at the bar) and bartender was pleasant and attentive. The place has a rustic vibe with great ambiance. Definitely recommend! read more

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The restaurant is in a lovingly restored colonial home and couldn't be cozier. The dining room is separated into rooms which only add to the coziness and helps maintain an entirely acceptable noise level. The bar area has a more open more modern feel and is lovely. Our waitress, Kaitlyn, was great. Fairly new at her job, she is eager to do her job justice. As for the food etc., wine list is really expansive. There is actually a wine shop on premise, just in case you tasted something really good. The Pinot Noir by the glass is very nice. The gratis bread and butter is delish. Started off with a Caesar salad and a cheese plate. I had the steak entree and the beef was scrumptious, cooked perfectly to a medium rare. My wife had Papardelle with a pork ragu, also great. No room for dessert but the perfectly brewed cappuccino was a wonderful ending. We will be back and highly recommend. read more

Had a wonderful evening sitting outside last weekend. My husband and I enjoyed the specials, a couple cocktails, and the cavatelli pasta dish, and desserts. Service was efficient and friendly. Look forward to returning soon! read more

Went to Oak & Ember last night, sorry there aren't any food photos. Here are my thoughts. The service was great and because they take reservations there wasn't a line of people waiting. The bar is beautiful and where they sat us was quaint. We had the burrata, 3 half portions of each pasta and the burger. The meal came with focaccia and butter which wa delight and tasty. The burrata was good but needed salt. The best pasta was the squid ink pasta and the burger was good but nothing to write home about. I had a mock tail and my husband had the wine. They were both great and the wine pour was huge! I'm gonna give it 4/5 stars. It was good but not amazing. We will go again and sit at the bar next time. Enjoy! read more

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We really wanted to love this restaurant; it had a cool vintage vibe and a beautiful bar. It's located outside of Portland so gives us an alternative to the city. We went twice and unfortunately both times the service was extremely slow and the food was an issue. The first time our wedge salad had almost no bacon and was overrun with egg. The next time our salmon was overcooked and the quinoa was cold. There was very little flavor. We ordered a pasta and received a totally different pasta dish. We wish we could go back but for $150 we will not. read more

We had an impromptu date night. I e been wanting to try this place. It's was really good food and drinks. We enjoyed the outdoor eating space. read more

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Great food, outstanding service, highly recommend. Our server was awesome, everyone at my table was impressed with the food.

A friend and I met to have dinner on a Wednesday. We are both Buxton residents and have been for over 30 years. We had never been there so wanted to try it. We started with a couple of beers. They were out of one I wanted and ran out of the other one after one pour so I grabbed something of mediocrity. I wasn't extremely hungry so I got the Cesar salad. Not a fan of Cesar salads but it was really the only option. I have to say that this was the best Cesar salad I've had!! My friend ordered one entree and I had another app. It was small portions and ok. We had a cocktail at the end with no deserts. $190 without the tip. With the tables not being level, beers that obviously aren't being checked on to make sure they aren't running out, and portions that couldn't fill a hobbit... this restaurant is extremely over priced. I have to say our waitress was a rock star and super sweet. Loved talking with her and she was very professional. The restaurant in my opinion is the typical view of what "out of staters" want Maine to be. I was born and raised in Portland and have seen this progression happen. I guess it's inevitable but I don't really want to go to a place like that. read more

Amazing food and very friendly service. Such a cozy spot. Would highly recommend making the trip!

We went last night for 1st time. Close to home...hoping. When we went we knew a limited menu, we knew price would be a little high. For the pasta, 2 sizes. two of us had the pasta with bolognese and two had pasta with ragu. The pasta was not cooked enough i know al dente and have had homemade pasta elsewhere. It was the same for all of us. The bolognese sauce was very good. The ragu sauce not much flavor. I had a salad with potato, mandarin oranges and barata which i did like . Service was good, it was busy. i gave a 4 because, of service but really food was a 3. But as we all know, reviews are subjective read more

Thinks and presents itself as fine dining but my experience the few times I have been are a bit below that. Food and service is always good. I would come here more often if the prices were a bit lower read more

This was a remarkable dining experience. We went all out: 4 different drinks, 3 different appetizers, 4 different entrees, 2 different desserts. The cocktails were lovely, the apps, definitely order the smoked beets (I bought a smoker gun on my way home with the hopes of replicating the beets), the entrees, wonderful. S Some reviewers have taken exception to the price, but I thought the cost was within reason given the quality of the dining experience. Apart from the food, service and ambiance only made a great meal better. Will definitely go back. read more

Went here on a whim after a stormy weekend. I'd like to preface this review by saying the restaurant has potential. My husband and I sat at the bar, looking for a more lively atmosphere. The two bartenders were great, personable and on point with service. We started with the burrata, mustard ribs, as well as the Cesar salad. The burrata was good, albeit interesting with a semi salad feel and semi warm dish vibe. The mustard ribs were the stand out of the meal. Tender, but not fatty. The sauce on the plate was amazing, wishing that flavor profile was on the rib itself. The mustard seeds seemed to only come through in the sauce. The salad was good, cold and fresh, however the lettuce was dressed wet which took away from the flavor of the dressing. Next up we had the salmon and the orchiaetta. The salmon was cooked well and the lentils and sauce made for a pretty presentation however could have used a touch more flavor. The pasta was well done and the sauce and cheese was nice. We finished with the olive oil cake with lemon curd and citrus, which meant more mandarin wedges. The cake was good however we feel it could have been elevated better with other side accompaniments. While they offer espresso and cappuccino with dessert which is a plus, they currently do not offer them in decaf. Not a bad meal, lots of nit picking, but something small on each dish adds up. I hope they refine their vision. read more

Chef Kirby is phenomenal. He brings excitement and beauty to all of the dishes he creates. Our server Karen was knowledgeable and friendly and elevated the experience. 10/10 would come here again. read more

Very slow kitchen and bar service for a Wednesday with only six tables full. Food and drinks were great though.

This place was so good! Ambiance was amazing. Drinks were so delicious and the food was SO GOOD! Check this place out!

I live close by and wanted this restaurant to be excellent, not good but excellent. It is only good in my own personal opinion. . i am a professional eater as I have been to hundreds of restaurants both locally and nationally. I have small quirks that may not seem important to others , but things I value. For starters give me a martini in a martini glass. They are using a coupe, which is similar to a champagne glass. When I asked for a martini glass the bartender was not familiar with the difference. You get an ounce and half measured pour. Grey Goose 11.50. It's a fair price. Next up bread with a smear of butter which was delicious. We asked for more and were not told there was an additional 5.00 charge. We had a Caesars salad which we split. It was very good, cold and flavorful, but not extraordinary. I had a half portion of fettuccine with squid ink and smoked fish alfredo. I did not see or taste any smoked fish. It was lackluster in my opinion. The dish was very small, only a few bites. My partner had the half portion of bolognese which was very good. We shared an olive oil cake with lemon curd 10.00. It was ok. Our total bill was around 100.00. Too pricey considering the portion sizes . We had been to the previous restaurant many times and not many changes in ambiance were observed. The service was friendly and attentive but it is not a restaurant that I would give high marks to. I was hoping for more. It is not a special occasion location , not pretentious. Most of the bar patrons appeared to be locals.. I think it's trying to be something it's not. On a Thursday night they were not busy. In my opinion they have promise but the menu does not fit the location. I hope they realize that soon as I would like to be a regular visitor. read more

Very good food, excellent service, cozy, quiet dining. A bit too expensive. Would not expect fine dining so far from Portland, but, definitely worth the trip. We will return read more

I discovered this place based on people's reviews and decided to give it a try. However, I am disappointed and have to say that I cannot recommend this place to anyone. Firstly, it took 45-50 minutes to get our food, even though it was not a busy day. Secondly, the steak I ordered for $38 was totally disappointing. It was tiny round pieces of cut up steak that were drenched in teriyaki sauce. I have serious doubts about the reviews that rated this place more than 2-3 stars. It's hard to believe that this place will stay in business with this kind of food and service. When asked how our meal was going, on two occasions, I politely but honestly let the server and manager know that I was not happy with the quality of the meal. Unfortunately, the restaurant did nothing to make things right. It is way over priced for the portion size and quality but also did not taste good. I would not recommend this to anyone. read more