Holy goodness!! Worth the hype!! This was on my list of places to try and wow I am so happy we finally did! As soon as we walked in, i knew it would be great as you can see them working in the kitchen. I always think that shows how good the food will be if you can see them work. The food was fantastic, the donut was insane!! All of it was so tasty I can't wait to start driving up and taking everyone I know. I know I will love it through the seasons too! Everything is so fresh. The space is small but quaint so I would recommend getting a reservation! They do have a sweet bar you can sit at and look into the kitchen too. I loved the market, you can actually go and grab something to drink in there and have it for your table. The market also has quality cooking ingredients you can buy and cute nic nacs too! read more

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What a hidden gem in a town i've never visited before. I decided to make it to brunch for mother's day 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! read more

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Great place to go in Maine. Delicious food great service and a beautiful venue. I hear it's tough to get a reservation.

A place like The Alna Store really does need to be located in rural Maine, a solid hour from Portland. 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! read more

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The Alna store is one of the best places to eat near midcoast Maine, my boyfriend and I went for my birthday dinner after both hearing rave reviews from friends. I'm allergic to gluten and had a very easy time eating. The food was epic, I loved the attention to detail and flavors. My favorite part was the dessert. We had baked Alaska, it was incredible! The other bonus was while eating we got a text that our house had lost power, so we were able to buy some nice candlesticks from the general store side and enjoy them next to the wood stove when we arrived home. We are both constantly talking about needing to come for brunch and Januarys menu in the new year! read more

We recently visited the Alna Store, which we were really excited for given all the recent hype, but after visiting we are a little confused why there is as much hype as there is. To begin with, the atmosphere is a little strange. The tables are very close and we did really feel like we were sitting in a small corner, kind of on top of each other. Which is totally fine in casual contexts, but it didn't match some of the other aspects of the establishment. The menu and prices were much more elevated than what seemed to fit the atmosphere. And that may have worked had the service been good, but sadly it was not. Our waitress was quite forgetful especially when it came to remembering who ordered what. On one rare occasion when she did get a table's order correct, she actually congratulated herself. Which again, would have been totally fine if we were at a diner or another casual atmosphere, but that did not seem to be the intent here. So ultimately it was just confusing (and drastically different than any other James Beard Nominee restaurant I've been to!). On to the food: We ordered the potatoes to start. Then we got the scallops and the sausage as entrees. And finished with Boston Cream Cake for dessert. For drinks, we ordered a signature cocktail and a mojito mocktail. The cocktail was nice but the mocktail was very one-note, like it was poured straight from a can. It was quite minty, but was missing the acidity of lime to freshen it up. The potatoes were the best part. They were really delicious and nicely paired with a creamy sauce and fun little flakes on top that moved in the steam of the dish. The mushrooms in this dish were also fried nicely and paired very well with the potatoes and sauce. The entrees is where things started to go downhill. Nothing was truly bad, but there were definitely odd and unbalanced combinations. The sausage was a local sausage with pine nut "pudding," radicchio, and sunchokes. The sausage was very under-seasoned (and to be clear, my family raises our own sausage so my standard is already farm raised, I am not comparing to an overly processed/overly salted store-bought product). The pine nut "pudding" as it was called on the menu ended up being a runny, bitter sauce. The radicchio was also extremely bitter (which is typical, unfortunately there was just too much of it and it was not balanced out with other flavors). The sunchokes were the highlight as they were crisp and delicious. Unfortunately there just weren't enough of them to save this dish from overall being kind of bitter and bland. The scallops were cooked perfectly, although also slightly under-seasoned. Mostly though, they were just overpowered by the boiled peanuts they were paired with. Even the chili oil, jalapeño, and serrano peppers were overpowered by the slightly burnt peanuts. The carrots were well cooked and added some freshness, but was again not enough to save the balance of the dish. Especially as I continued eating, all the flavors started to disappear behind the charred boiled peanut flavor. Ultimately, this dish was just disappointing because it had the makings of something great but was just so off-balance. When it came time for dessert we were still hungry and hoping to redeem the entree section of our meal so we ordered a slice of the Boston Cream Pie to share. Luckily, this was quite good. It was a fun take on flavors I've only seen in donuts. The cakes were light but then soaked in creamy deliciousness, all paired with a lovely layer of chocolate on top. We really enjoyed it and were happy to end on a happy note. All in all, the experience was fine, but overall confusing. There were some great parts and some very lackluster parts. I might give this place another chance for brunch in the summer or something, but not a place I'm itching to go back to. read more

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This farm to table restaurant with a seasonal menu is located in Alna, ME, pretty much in the middle of no where that one would expect a restaurant to be found. That is just part of its charm. It also boasts a small market with local and unique grocery and other items along with freshly baked breads to take away. We made reservations for a Friday night and sat at the gorgeous counter/bar area. My son and I started off with the pickle board: picked vegetables, ham and a most delicious beet mustard. The aaompanying sourdough bread served was amazing. So amazing that we ran over to the market right in the restaurant to snag a sourdough baguette to take home. We wished we would have bought 2!!! We both choose the Steak Diane style steak with chanterelle mushrooms (I do believe) and it was out of this world fantastic! The steak (I cannot recall the cut) was tender, so flavorful and the sauce was so rich and delicious that we simply could not stop eating it. Although full, I could not resist trying the zucchini tiramisu like cake, which was moist and full of so many flavor profiles that each bite tasted a bit different than the one before. We enjoyed our glasses of wine and beer and the relaxed yet sophisticated dining atmosphere. Service was attentive, the entire place, including the restroom, was clean and orderly. We both agreed that this was one of the best meals we have ever had and we would certainly recommend and will return. read more

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Spectacular. Never better. Wine list esoteric and clever, frozen slushies bomb, chocolate chip cookie iconic (and the best in New England), burger still flawless in every way, and clever and innovative condiments, flavors, and textures. The pickled zucchini made me swoon, the cucumber pavlova was distilled late summer in a bowl, and I'm a little sad I missed the August lobster special! They could open a separate bakery alone with their sourdough doughnuts and I'd be in line at 6am. Their loaves are easily the best I've ever had. Some things have changed since last year -- the market is a little smaller and the seating is more expansive, and it's clear that there's a lot of demand and excitement from the recent incredible accolades! Be prepared for a little wait -- it's well worth it, and depending on the time, they might be out of some items. Staff is so friendly and warm. It's a beautifully curated menu and they put so much care in. read more

The Alna Store - New American Near Me - Alna, Maine

We went here on the recommendation of a man we met on a ship tour. The restaurant is in the middle of nowhere in the countryside, but fairly close to Wiscasset. We were intrigued by the fact that they were a finalist for the 2024 James Beard Award for best new restaurant. We made a reservation for Sunday brunch (reservations required). Wow was it crowded! The staff was lovely, especially our waitress Bobbi who brought us free French fries and a piece of cake, both amazing, for having to wait. I had the chicken and waffles - so delicious. My friends had scrambled eggs with grits. My friend said it was the best scrambled eggs she'd ever had! We all agreed it was the best meal of our entire Maine vacation! read more

The Alna Store - Doggie and mom on the deck. - New American Near Me - Alna, Maine

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Creative dishes with so much flavor. Everything we had was great and the service was welcoming and professional. We started with the vanilla glazed doughnut and coffees. Then moved on to the seasonal asparagus with poached egg and salsa verde, my favorite dish of the day. The bacon burger and fries was one of the best I've ever had. We also had the fried chicken which was really good too. This was one of the most memorably delicious meals we have had in a while and we will absolutely be back! read more

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Wow. The deliciously hip food and cocktails will make you feel like you just got lucky and found the next Michelin star in rural Maine! read more

The Alna Store - Cocktails at the bar - New American Near Me - Alna, Maine

I went to an early dinner with two friends. We ordered two appetizers (I had the Japanese milk bread and it was just okay) my dinner was the pork chop and it was sadly dry and fatty. My friends enjoyed their fish dinner and the specialty drinks. This was my first visit to the Alna Store and I had great expectations. We felt extremely rushed from our table (shockingly) and overall I was disappointed. I thought the vibe was nice and I loved the real candles on the tables. read more

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Cozy welcoming store/restaurant. A bit out of the way but well worth the drive. You' really get a chance to see the other Maine as you drive along. Plenty of beautiful farmland and views on the way. The menu while small seemed to have a bit of something for everyone. The schnitzel was wonderfully flavorful and perfectly fried, so good! In fact everything we eat was carefully made and both beautiful and super tasty. Holy wow, I've never had a donut with such a tasty crunch on the outside that was also so light and deliciously chewy inside. As an aside I was shocked by how good the fried tofu looked when a nearby diner ordered it. We wl definitely have to go back to try it sometime! read more

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This place is just.....WOW! Sourdough bread was out of this world. Squash blossom appetizer was equally impressive. Delicious asparagus- so fresh and perfectly cooked. Hubby's chicken was also amazing. Service is warm and delightful. This is a place you should not miss!! read more

First, let me say, my husband and I have no problem paying up for high quality food and service. We heard this place was amazing and decided to give it a try. We made reservations for Sunday at noon. The place is set up terribly. There is a little store in the back part of the tiny restaurant so people have to pass through where people are eating in order to shop. If they switched the set up so the store was in the front and tables in the back it would have a better flow. We were told we should wait someplace out of the way because they were so busy. The bar was crowed, the store area was crowded so we stood outside in the heat. As I mentioned, we had a reservation for noon. We couldn't get seated until 12:20 because we were told they couldn't seat us until the table we were supposed to be at was vacant and they can't seat 2 people at a table for 4. A threesome with reservations for 12:30 were seated before us, at a table for 5. Interesting. Then a couple was seated at a table for 4. Really?! We were given water glasses with no water and had to wait for the waitress to come by and give us water. Which took longer than it should have. We gave the waitress our cocktail order. Good cocktails can take time but when my husband's drink came to the table I was told they ran out of the cocktail I ordered. I then ordered a simple gin and tonic, figured they couldn't mess that up. The drinks were good and the bartender wasn't stingy. My husband ordered a chicken salad sandwich with fries and I ordered the gazpacho with focaccia bread. It took longer than it should have to arrive at our table. My husband noticed a couple who came in after us, were seated and served almost immediately. The waitress was constantly saying how the kitchen was slammed and that food comes out in order that the orders go in. I can only guess that our order did not go in correctly. We didn't get our order until 1:00 pm. My husband said the chicken salad and the fries were good, but the bread was wet, not from the chicken salad, it was just wet. My gazpacho was good but the focaccia was horrible. It was underbaked, doughy and greasy. The chef told me they grilled it so that's why it was greasy. What a bad excuse. Grilling bread doesn't make is greasy unless you put it on an overly greasy grill and it doesn't make it doughy, I couldn't eat it. The place was extremely loud and crowded, not an ambiance that the website makes it seem like it has. Maybe they do a better job for dinner but we aren't willing to find out. We were so disappointed. read more

The Food was exceptional along with the service. We were la party of 5 for Sunday Brunch. Give this restaurant a try you won't be disappointed. ***** 5 stars. Make a reservation. read more

Amazing this little restaurant is in the country. Loved the ride from Brunswick for Sunday brunch. It was a warming feeling once we stepped inside. We had to start with the sourdough donut and banana bread. The donut was warm!!!! It was so delicious, chewy and the right amount of sweetness, I'd get that again. The banana bread was yummy as well with the dark chocolate. I had the Alna burger and russet french fries. The caramelized onions were burnt, other than that the burger was perfect! The fries were fluffy inside and a perfect crispy outside. My husband had the pancakes with pecans both the bacon and homemade sausage patty. The pancakes were very filling and one would have been enough with the other things to got. The hostess and waitress were both very pleasant. read more

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This is an unassuming looking place that comes with assumptions ever since its Beard nomination. And we both were happy to find our assumptions at brunch were pretty accurate. Ever since the nomination, this place can be packed; yet somehow the service is swift and friendly. They now even have reservations for bar seating (and it's a gorgeous bar at that). That said, this is not your typical brunch menu. No omelet, no Benedict, no scramble. But there are pancakes, waffles, and an assortment of savory dishes to which you can add a poached or sunny egg. You can also order a dish of eggs with bacon/sausage, toast. We got the yucca cakes which were unique and outstanding with a curry kraut and mild smoked jalapeños. Tuna tartare also was amazing. Both burger and fries superb. Panzanella had delicious basil marinated mozz but overall was not the favorite. And the homemade sausage was sort of bland. A bonus is the few specialty store items including heavenly crusty bread. Of course, the meats, cheeses, all homemade and locally sourced. They even served chase's daily greens. Then there are the baked goods! We only got the "seared olive oil espresso chocolate pecan honey drizzled" banana bread. Damn! read more

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Super hype and honestly not sure why...an unassuming building, quaintly reconstructed into a restaurant. Our server was pleasant, she kept stating "that makes me happy" over and over again making me wonder if someone made her unhappy???? The food was fair. The sourdough bread was the best thing I had and I did like the bok choy. I had steak, which I was told would be medium rare. I don't have issue with that but when the fish arrived the meat was a notch below warm. The onion rings were more an onion ring, which was odd. My issue...SALT. My dinner had salt for my three companions and the table next to us. For the price point that's a pretty big mess up. My dining companions were also disappointed as most dishes had some version of chili pepper or crunch. I like hot food but this covered the other flavors. Finally, for a reservation, we literally were there under an hour. The dishes flew to our table, not allowing for conversation or even sipping a drink. It was annoying. I gave three stars because the best part of the whole experience was listening to a concert of spring peepers when we left..."that made me happy"... read more

Overrated and understaffed. Heard at least two members of staff tell departing customers: "We're always bombed on Sunday; Fridays are much better." Wish they'd told us when we called to make a reservation. Had to park on the road at edge of a ditch, and really no place to wait. What they did say as they seated us was, "We were able to move things around and get you seated on time."Only one wait person in the place looked or acted like she was glad to be there. Staff were helping each other out, but a bus person would have made a big difference. Food was flavorful. Banana bread original and served as described. Burger ordered medium rare delivered well done: we were advised sometimes things go to the wrong table. Sausage patty nicely seasoned. Chicken salad tasty and light but served on bread so thick it was unmanageable served as a sandwich. Gazpacho bland. Passed on the crab roll: $54 for 4 oz. Out of their signature cookie dessert. Had really been looking forward to a meal here. Rarely do we give up on a restaurant after only one visit. Perhaps on a snowy day in the off season. Or not. read more

Rotating menu. Wonderful little shop. Excellence in mid-coast Maine found here. Book ahead!

A total gem in rural Maine. Off the beaten path but oh so worth the visit. The food is to die for. Service top notch and the atmosphere pleasantly welcoming and even with the restaurant full the noise level was very low. Perhaps they had their mouths full of that great food. Reservations highly recommended. Will be going back. read more

The Alna Store I meant to take pictures, but it was so good, I didn't because I just wanted to taste and sip and talk ... before tasting some more. Spectacular is a word. Yummy with high notes and simplicity. It began with the wine being served in such elegant stemware while sitting in a general store with some tall lit candles. Juxtaposition. Then the homemade toasted or grilled or both, sourdough bread arrived with a swath of chef made ranch butter on the plate. In one motion rip some toast, swoosh some butter on it and imbibe. Take a sip of wine. Repeat. Salads in Maine are as green as the plush spring landscape they are plucked from and oh so tasty. The gem salad delivered the earth with some pecorino and a little almond crunch. I almost forgot to share it. A bite of halibut ceviche with vinegary onions, pickled peppers, cilantro and a crispy something? Sure! Oh my lord that's heavenly! Then dinner arrives. Two beautiful pork chops show up at the table, in a blueberry hazy-glaze over fregola (similar to couscous) with a subtle kick, along with my order of garlic & basil sausage and broccolini, resting on a pea and onion infused creamy concoction, sprinkled with mother-loving walnuts. Bite. Chew. Sip. Repeat. Ahhhhhhh. Smiles all around. Excellence and elegance without fussiness. We ask to speak to the chef, Devin Deardon, who comes over to our table. He's so young. We congratulate him on his success. Or maybe I'm just getting older? The Alana Store, in the middle of a super quiet midcoast Maine town, was a 2024 James Beard semifinalist for Best New Restaurant and I can 1000% see why. read more

Very good food, but it was too expensive for the experience. The portions were too small and we left hungry. It would have been nice if they offered bread and olive oil or butter before the main dishes. It was a bit crowded and loud. Some of my favorite restaurants serve equally good food at half the price. read more

I had a burger, 2 ice teas and a cookie and the cost was over $50. The burger was good. The service was terrible. Also, my friend has a asthma and the place was so close and smoky that she had trouble breathing. The burger was yummy. But for $53 the entire experience should have been fabulous. read more

Got a last minute reservation for brunch which was delicious. Some of the best eggs/grits and turkey pastrami hash we've ever had. What a gem in the back woods of Maine. Our first vibe felt maybe the menu was a tad bit pretentious but WOW, the food lives up to that! read more

Y'all do brunch right. FOH shoutout: Kat is one of the most genuine and unflappable and lovely servers I've had the pleasure to encounter and she has never steered us wrong. The burger: perfection. Fries: hand cut and so crispy. The Alna sauce a total delight (though the $2 up charge for both mayo and sauce feels a little grabby). Grits and eggs: savory, ooey-gooey satisfaction, perfectly seasoned. I would never say no to more of whatever the seasonal veg is (broccolini - tender crisp and perfect). I always question that the eggs are scrambled instead of poached but they are a beautiful texture every time. Next time I may will myself to make room for a pancake - they look epic. The piping hot donut is an excellent way to end a meal. And those damn cookies! Will continue to indulge when given the chance! The black sesame peanut cookie was a textural treasure and those flavors a joy, but nothing can undo the salty, toffee, chocolatey goodness of the classic Alna Store cookie. My robot cortado was as good as any and my partner's very spicy bloody was indeed VERY SPICY and did not disappoint. While the space seems tight, we were very happy at the bar and had plenty of elbow room. read more

What a great place! We went for brunch and were impressed by the staff, food and ambiance. Small details like tapered candles, nice glassware and real silverware set the scene for some truly delicious food. Don't skip some baked treats to start! The donut and olive oil cake were perfection. The changing menu suits vegetarians/vegans as well as omnivores and is locally sourced; always a plus! Good coffee options, intriguing wines and fun cocktails matched the outstanding brunch offerings. It was really hard to choose one meal. The friendly and knowledgeable staff deliver a memorable experience that has us wishing we lived closer. Thanks for what you're doing! read more

Great food, great service, great atmosphere. I do wish there were one or two more dinner options on the evening menu. Last night there were 4, one of them no longer available by 7 pm. The one complaint I have is the choice of wine. You should consider adding some standard choices--Barolo, Chianti, Cabernet, Savignon, Chablis, Sancerre etc., At the moment there are a handful of overly sweet organic wines as the only options, each of them described in the menu with excruciating detail. read more

The food was very good. The menu changes monthly so I won't go into much detail. I think that all choices are reliable. We ordered a bottle of wine. It was served to us by one of the owners. I was impressed that she asked me after the initial pour if it (the wine) would work for us. Our server was friendly and attentive. She answered all of our questions and checked in on us a couple of times as the meal progressed. The informal ambiance was a good fit for us. It's obvious that this place cares about offering good food in a casual atmosphere. I wish I could give a 4.5 star rating. It is a little overpriced. That is why I am not going with 5 stars. I would definitely like to eat here again. read more

Great food, lovely staff. Need a reservation nowadays. Dinner menu is definitely better than the brunch. Best cookies in Maine!

First off, I apologize for the length of this review, but after reading what some of the naysayers have put on here, it just all needs to be said. After all, this little "store" is basically a microcosm of Maine itself, where instead of the focus being on big and flashy, it's on doing things small and right/well. Yes, its a little off the beaten path, or maybe a lot, depending on the direction you're coming from, but they will make it worth your while. After seeing a little snippet about them on a youtube channel, I decided to try them out the next time I was in Maine; being "from away" and all. I was very pleasantly impressed with every morsel and sip I had. The night I was there one of the main course offerings was ahi tuna...which I can be a bit picky about, but this chef nailed it. It was pure perfection with a side of heavenly sauce to dip each bite in I was almost yumming out loud. Admittedly I thought french fries a mundane pairing for ahi-tuna, but any fear I had was quickly allayed as these ff's were unlike any I've ever had. They certainly weren't the kind you drown in ketchup without a second thought. I "put the hurt on them" as my husband would say. (he would also say this is way to wordy!) If you're one known to enjoy a cocktail on occasion, don't miss the chance to try a drink from the official Prohibition era, The Palmetto. I was a bit hesitant to order it because I'm not a big fan of gin, but decided to because it was described as "manhattan-ish", which is a drink I like, because I do love me some good bourbon. Delish! I wasn't at all disappointed, as I enjoyed that bitterssweet (pun intended) slow burn down by throat. One last bit of warning and FYI for the lovers of quality in all things, as the name implies, this isn't just a restaurant. They have so many things, impressively all locally sourced, you'll want to fill at least one small shopping bag to take home with you to enjoy later. Candles, soaps, lotions, cheeses, yogurts, cured meats etc. I can't wait to go again on my next visit to Maine, even if this amazingly talented, young chef doesn't win the James Beard Award. I mean who really cares about that when the food is this good. I mean how often do you get to eat at a James Beard quality type restaurant dressed in your favorite pair of jeans? Yes, the prices are high, but it's a farm to table restaurant after all. It's not for the quantity over quality folks (why read yelp reviews when you can choose where to eat from the exit signs) so you shouldn't be surprised by the prices because you know how much it costs when you're not buying in bulk at Sam's or Cotsco, like the chain restaurants do. I respect what the current owners are doing here in this small community (youtube MaineLife - S9 E3 - Alna...skip to 19:33 The Alna Store) and know that it takes a real commitment, and ethics, to truly make this happen. It's not the cheap and easy way to make a living. But some things are a lot more important than making big profits, and this community and these owners are all the better for it. read more

Absolutely spectacular. Considerate, passionately crafted food paired with great wine and an incredible staff! Make Allen's and milk cool again. read more

Wow. We made a reservation after seeing the James Beard story. The place is 10 minutes out of Wiscasset. Very warm and inviting place. Small store section with some local, tasteful albeit expensive food and bath products. Only seats about 30 with a small bar, too. Open kitchen. The service is spot on. The food is on another level. Small menu. For starters we had the pistachio encrusted cabbage with a sauce I cannot remember. It was an amazing preparation and blend of flavors. Also had the panko coated sweet potato fries with brown butter mascarpone. Umm... yes please. For entrees we had the sablefish and the octopus. Both were magnificently prepared with amazing ingredients and unique but perfect flavors. So good! The desserts stole the show. There were only 2 on the menu and we ordered one of each. There was a cobbler or pie of sorts with pistachio ice cream and macadamia nuts. Can't remember the fruit but it was unbelievably yummy! The flourless chocolate cake was literally the best dessert we have ever had. No joke. It was so good you literally close your eyes and savor every bite. This was a perfect meal. It's not inexpensive and was a splurge for us, but I'm so happy we experienced this place. Go to The Alna Store... you won't regret it. read more

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Not worth the hype. We had a 4:00 reservation, were seated as soon as they opened and didn't get our main course until 5:30. The panzanella was mostly bread with just a few pieces of tomato, the fish was tasty but very small portions and the pork belly was dry and overcooked. read more

We were excited to visit Alna Store...sadly, it did not live up to our expectations, considering the 1 hour drive (which was our decision to make). The atmosphere was perfectly fine -- after all, it is in a general store. The server who greeted us was friendly and accomodating. The cocktails were perfectly fine, and the wine list had a thoughtful, but tiny selection of natural wines. So far so good... Unfortunately, from here on in, it went downhill. Upon scanning the menu, we observed a very particular profile of menu items -- but what was most shocking was the pricing structure, which was fairly aggressive. The apps were mostly vegetables, though there was a very nice challah with an egg dip offered as well. Pricing, in general, was off the charts considering location (Alna), and the nature of ingredients: 1. challah = $14 for 3 small pieces 2. roasted cabbage wedge = $16 3. roasted carrots with a few radish slices, served over yogurt = $19 4. fried sweet potato = $17 5. smoked tofu = $21 There were 4 entree options: 1. tuna steak = $48 2. grilled octopus = $32 3. ribeye steak = $52 4. (ham-hock) ramen = $38 Those in our party agreed that at $19, the carrots better be the best carrots on the planet....and pretty much all else must be fabulous as well. Or, perhaps the servings would be large enough to share....which they weren't. The cuisine in general, was reasonably well-executed for what it was, but in the end, it was just "ok"; considering the price point(s) -- no other word comes to mind but ridiculous. Our party had the octopus, which was fine; steak, also fine, and ramen -- which had no business being on this menu. Again, all items were not particularly large, and in fact, the ribeye, which was quite good and cooked to perfection, was the most "reasonable" item on the menu. All of us in our party were perplexed, again, about the cost, considering almost all items are not particularly premium ingredients. As for the ramen -- this was the wild card, and was actually quite mediocre....there are a number of asian restaurants along the Maine coast that excel in the ramen world....I'm not sure why Alna Store would offer it. And considering its featured protein -- a ham hock, though delicious -- is one of the lowliest meat products on earth. Of everything ordered, the ramen was the most poorly-executed dish on the menu. As for the service -- the aforementioned server who was very friendly, continued to be friendly, but over time, that friendliness transformed into obtrusiveness, and our server was determined to upsell our table at every opportunity. Not that I blame our server for trying to maximize profits, but the final straw came when oura server dropped the dessert menu in the middle of our table while we were still in the middle of our entrees! So this particular act was a signal that they wanted to close up shop. In the end, this meal was just "ok' -- it was reasonably well executed, the service was fine (despite the various issues), but the real killer of the experience....when the dust settled....was the final bill, which was just under $500 for 4!!! To be clear, we each did have a cocktail and 1 glass of wine. But even so, the cost of ingredients was relatively low (nothing's low in today's world, so it's relative). But still, we felt like were the victims of a cash grab. To be clear, we dine out a lot at restaurants of all price-points, but the reason I am focusing (a lot) in this case, was the outsized disconnect between cost and value benefit.... Even if we lived in the area, Alna Store would not be our "go-to", simply because of the pricing structure. In the end, upon returning home -- we were all scratching our heads trying to understand the great reviews Alna has received.....after that, we then went in search of a pizza. read more

A terrible experience after two earlier pleasant meals here. We were kept waiting for our table 30 minutes past the reservation time (at least the host was apologetic). We were seated near a huge party of adults, children and infants that was noisy and chaotic. The restaurant was full and noisy to begin with. The infant proceeded to throw up all over the table, seat and floor. No one at the restaurant helped with the clean up beyond giving a grandparent some towels and a receptacle. The smell was awful (the windows are sealed shut) and it took a while for the clean up and for the smell to abate. Meanwhile, the wait for our main courses stretched to thirty minutes after we finished our salad/appetizer course. When they arrived, the hyped Brazilian steak was unbelievably tough and dry and tasteless -- like a untenderized rump steak. At $48, unacceptable. I couldn't eat mine. The accompanying hominy was tasty. We skipped dessert since we had been there long enough on uncushioned benches and chairs. Definitely not worth the drive from the Rockland area with much better choices around here. read more

Have you heard the one about the former pastry chef and former farmer step into a bar... only to find that the 'reservation is for tomorrow night'?! Without skipping a beat, the hostess was gracious enough to suggest a table for 45 minutes or, take a seat at the bar. That began our visit to The Alna Store for our reunion dinner. 'It's an hour away from where we are staying. 'Yes, but you sent me the article and I am feeling good about this.' The Alna Store did not disappoint on a Friday night. From the moment we arrived we knew we had chosen well. The warmth and efficiency of all the staff that worked in harmony paid homage to the whole community, from farm to table and all the hands that touched it. We started with the crudite and pickle plate. Some real winners and slight misses, we'd still suggest it. But that is what fermentary is about. The pickled egg, beet and pickles (sour and sweet) were delicious! And how did they bake and serve the buckwheat porridge sourdough with both crunch AND chew? Because the pastry chef needs all the desserts she can eat, we shared the main course. We could not agree on the other options, so we decided on the char, which was a tasty choice. Served on a fresh bed of local spinach and potato, the skin was perfectly crunchy and the entire dish moist from the fat of the fish. Early in spring, it will be interesting to see if fiddleheads and ramps make the menu. When the dessert menu arrived there were two choices, which one of us was happy about because we would have had to try all of them if there were more than that! This evening was a layered carrot cake with a black sesame cream cheese and creme fraiche garnished with a small piece of black sesame praline, and a Meyer lemon curd pavlova with seared grapefruit, . Decaf cappucino? Yes please. Both desserts were superb but the pavlova bordered on divine. The evening was beautiful and the absolute best choice for our 4 year reunion. We will return for a different season and promise to come on the correct night and not take up space at the bar. Community permaculture, incredible hospitality by the entire staff, and really delicious food in every bite, thank you! read more

We drove an hour from Portland and had high hopes for this restaurant, given the reviews an hype. Ambiance is that of a convenience store, which is the point. We were cold at our window seat, but they did allow us to move to a center table, which was warmer. The service was polite and attentive, until towards the end of the meal when the check was presented to the table long before we were done eating. The message was clear, we are winding down, and want you to leave ASAP. The food was good but not great. I had the carrots and the steak. The carrots were very plain, nothing special at all and disappointing. The steak was tasty, but small. I can't remember which glass of red wine I ordered but it was actually pretty bad, tasting like it had been open for a few days. Nothing stood out as 5 star quality. The prices for everything were high, especially $19 for a small, unremarkable carrot appetizer. So in sum, not worth the drive, not worth the price, and as a goodbye kiss we got the bums rush at the end of the evening. We will not be returning. read more

Brunch was dope. The food was fabulous, service kind and attentive, and the vibe was priceless. It may seem a tad expensive at first glance, but these guys are keeping it local and keeping it fresh, and that costs more. read more