I'll start with-- this is a cute little restaurant in a cute little downtown of Thomaston. We didn't have a reservation but it was a cold Sunday night after daylight savings so everyone was likely home complaining about how dark it was so early. Needless to say, we got seated right away. They seem to prefer reservations though. My favorite thing? The small rotating menu. It's nice to see them try to do only a few dishes really well. The service was good. The menu had some solid options. The food? We had the steak chili, shrimp allá vodka and the pizza with pumpkin. All the dishes were very delicious. But really, the shrimp allá vodka sauce was actually so good. We did not want the dish to end. Why the 4 stars? Our $27 shrimp dish only had 4 small shrimp in it. While it was very delicious we called the shrimp "gold" because there were so few and they were so good that it was like finding gold in your plate when the bite had it in it. The other piece, I read this in a review below, but decided to try it for myself. There seems to be a problem with their ventilation system in the kitchen. We were sitting at our table and suddenly it got Smokey but not like visible smoke but you felt it in your eyes. One of my eyes started watering and burning and then my son said his eyes were hurting even though I didn't say anything about it. It seems odd, but definitely impacted our dining experience. This place is a great little gem and we will come back when a new menu is around to try all the new in season dishes. read more

The Block Saloon - Steak chili - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Thomaston, Maine

See all

Not being from the area, I did a lot of online research to find a cool place to eat dinner for our 25th anniversary. This place intrigued me with its ever rotating menu as they use what we fresh ingredients that may be available at the time. We began with salmon croquettes and carrot ginger soup-both were great but the soup was seriously out of this world-just the perfect amount of flavoring! My husband had the birria tacos and I had the risotto. Portions were large and reasonably priced. It really is a tiny saloon that probably can't fit more than 20 people or so unless you sat at the bar, but it was phenomenal. I do wish restaurants in the area offered dessert, but maybe there more of a big city thing? read more

See all

Table Service was poor and the food was average. Ambiance was great. Was served a classic Margarita and told it was Watermelon Margarita. Questioning why it looked lemony ? I was told the "Vodka" had watermelon flavor , really ??? Vodka and margarita ??? read more

My mother and I just had the most amazing dinner at The Block Saloon! We started with cocktails, which were unique and delicious! My mother has multiple food allergies, but our server Josiah worked with the chef to offer a delicious meal for her that was served so beautifully! She was really touched by their care and so was I! I had a kimchi burger, which was truly the best burger I've ever eaten! The atmosphere was upbeat and very chic! We just loved it and will be back often! read more

What great food!!! Omg!!! The place is great and the ambience is amazing. The people are sooo nice. The páte and bruschetta were soooo goooddd. Light and yet so filling. I 100% recommend. read more

Excellent food & service. The Croquettes were beyond delicious! Everyone in our party really enjoyed the meals & drinks.

So many restaurants in the town were closed, had to really look for something that wasn't a chain. Yelp helped to find this establishment. Small place with a limited menu, but nice change from chain places. Quite good food on a menu that isn't the same all the time. Fresh ingredients. They cook every order from scratch, so don't expect to run in and dash right back out..... head on in,have a drink, meet some locals... slow down and enjoy the food. Worth it.... even better??? Great prices on the meals! read more

UPDATE: now 5 stars. I had dinner with a friend here and loved the blt nachos! I need to figure out where they get their bacon. The nachos were enough for me for dinner. I was happy to see a steady stream of people while I was there. Original: I'm really happy that my small hometown has a real bar now. I hope they succeed in making the town a little less sleepy and drawing other businesses in. It's very expensive for this area though. 12-13$ a cocktail seems prohibitive to people who are actually from here, which will be their clientele this Winter. I'm happy to see they now offer a happy hour but it doesn't go past 6:30 (if that). I'd love it if they also did a late happy hour like 40 paper. The ambiance is definitely much more hipster than I was expecting but it's still cool. There was a crowd when I was there on a Wednesday evening. There is lots of parking in the back that doesn't require you to back out onto route 1. Service was attentive without being obtrusive. I'll definitely be back but I really hope they work to connect with lo read more

Been here twice this summer and only had amazing experiences. Drinks are all very good and well made and the food is to die for. Menu says small plates but was pleasantly surprised at how filling each plate was. The staff is also very friendly and attentive. Definitely try a burger with bacon jam or any and/or all of the tacos. Presentation was also A++ (pictured below is a Razzle Dazzle). read more

The Block Saloon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Thomaston, Maine

Hopefully they take this to heart because they have potential. Everyone is facing a shortage on staffing so that is taken into consideration. Looked like they had only 1 server for the entire restaurant and outside patio. When we got there, there was 2 people at the bar and 6 people outside on the patio. Took about 35 minutes from seating until our drinks all arrived ( they arrived 1 at a time over the 35 minutes). It was Nearly 45 minutes before they took our entree order. Then slowly our entrees arrived one at a time. Our server said the kitchen was small and the large party of 6 ahead of us was the reason it took long, she brought out deviled eggs to tide us over (great idea, good on her for that, this is what we train our servers to do out in Vegas in my restaurant.) The banana pancakes didn't taste like banana at all and were just kind of warm. The BEC sandwich was good on the flavor, where it could improve is to toast the bread so it didn't fall apart. The veggie hash was good as well. After the check came the bartender stopped by and asked how it was and we said it was okay. He responded with "well that's just what I wanted to hear" condescendingly. If you didn't want honest feedback, why ask bud? The reason I say it has potential is that the sandwich really would had killed it had the bread not fallen apart and that the restaurant overall had a nice interior/decor/feel to it. Take your orders in a timely manner. Don't take 35 minutes to make drinks and don't deliver them 1 at a time. Serve hot, good food and also don't serve them one at a time and give me some lame excuse that the 6 top ahead of me is the reason they can't put out decent food. And finally adjust your attitude when receiving feedback, im not gonna lie to your face and tell you it was good if you ask me how it was and it was just okay. Maybe you'll still be here next year, if you don't make some changes I doubt it. read more

The Block Saloon has perfectly paired great drinks & food in a cool, inviting environment. I've been there a few times since it's opened. The food menu is great. They offer pizza, grilled cheese & sliders, just to name a few. You could make a meal out of the food or grab a quick bite during happy hour or before your night out. The drinks are excellent. Dave the bartender is a master mixologist. His drink connections are inventive and delicious! I've had great service each time I've gone. The staff is so friendly. You must stop by this location when traveling through Maine. You won't be disappointed. read more

The Block Saloon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Thomaston, Maine

Food is otherworldly, service kind and thoughtful...ambiance cozy and intimate. Highly recommend.

This was a lovely evening and dinner out. I have dietary concern that the chef took into account to provide options for my meal choice. I started with an oyster, it was amazing. Fresh and sweet. The menu is smaller, but filled with delcious and in season options. I had the seared pork with creamy polenta and shallots. It was beautiful on the plate and so good. My hubby had the chili hot dog... and it all was fresh and delcioius. Homemade - fresh pickle slices. Handcut fries for the side. We will definitely be visiting again. Best meal I have had in a long time. read more

This is the trifecta - amazing and inventive cocktails, excellent food / small plates, and the perfect environment to enjoy those with friends...whether you met them there or are getting chummy with the bartender or wait staff. I travel for work extensively, and try to sample as many cocktail bars as I can throughout the country. This place is special - whether it was in Manhattan, San Francisco, Boston, Dallas, or anywhere in between... this place would be special. And in my experience, for the quality I got, this place was surprisingly affordable. Made it easy to justify having another dish and cocktail. Apparently they have new items regularly (every week?), which keeps things interesting. The bartenders and staff all made it a point to get to know me... interesting and amazing times spent there! I cannot wait to go back and see what they have going! read more

The Block Saloon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Thomaston, Maine

We loved the Block! Cozy, upscale casual ambiance of deep green walls, oak woodwork, and muted lighting. Inventive drink menu -we had the "Rose Mule" with vodka, ginger beer, and rose petals, and the "Nymph's Kiss" with gin, lemon, lime, and elderflower. Delicious. The menu is not long but each dish is a chef's creation - we had the corn chowder and prosciutto-wrapped dates as appetizers and then the pasta with broccolini, the risotto, and tacos for the main course. Everyone was raving about their food. The service was attentive and friendly, and accommodating of our special requests. read more

Wonderful ambiance! Great specials offered, using fresh ingredients and prepared to satisfy the palet in so many ways! Drinks designed to pair well with different menue items! Great staff and especially fond of the Bartender Casey! He's super friendly and always aims to please!! All In all a great evening and we'll worth a try to any new ones looking for a nice date night!! read more

Excellent food, incredible drinks, great staff. Highly recommend for a date night, or if you want some good company! read more

This is not your grandmothers saloon. Great service, great food and great beverages selection. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and friendly. We ordered two small plates: the special of the day- crab ravioli - and the risotto. The restaurant does not serve full size entrees. The local ale on draft was a tasty accompaniment. For dessert, we ordered the Johnnycake with strawberries and ice cream. Perfect finish to a memorable meal. read more

I am a local and this is hands-down my favorite watering hole in the Rockland/Thomaston area. The cocktails are superb and the food (small plates, mostly) are delicious. The service is great, and Rachel is a bartender par excellence! Try one of the two smoked cocktails -- the Sazerac or the smoky Old Fashioned -- and whatever tacos are on the menu when you're there. The tortillas are handmade and the tacos are always flavorful. My mouth is watering as I write this! The interior is cozy and beautiful, and the boat hanging above the bar is memorable. Definitely check it out. read more

We stopped at this place while traveling through Rockland on our vacation. The good and drinks were amazing. Staff was awesome. Would go again, for sure! read more

Don't even know where to start with this place... The mushroom soup... heavenly The Brussel sprouts... divine The Rabbit... just take my money already The drinks were a joy to watch the bartenders make. I personally order the Queens drink. It was a fun spin on a gin fizz with earl grey infused gin. Yummy! This review didn't need a long description to make my point. I will FOR SURE be coming back to this place. Locals were super friendly to chat with as well. read more

We went here for brunch because this was so highly rated and in the number one spot when I searched brunch places. We walk in and the place is close to empty. We were a party of five and not in a huge rush. We got our beverage order in in about fifteen minutes but took another twenty to get them all, they kept coming out one at a time, and then once we got them all twenty minutes later we finally got to place our food order. The mimosas were good and my husband liked his wakey wakey old fashion his one aunt was not a fan of the lux 75. To top that off one in our party had gotten iced tea and when she took a sip from the reusable straw they provide there was a raisin or dried blueberry in the straw meaning it had not been cleaned properly. The food also came out at different times. I had the BEC which was good but needed a denser bread to make it easier to eat. My mother in law had the quiche which was ok but close textured and seemed to have been microwaved, her salad on the side also needed a better wash. My husband had the banana pancakes and they were not very high in banana flavor but that might have been because they had been drowned in molasses. One of my husbands aunts had the hash which she said was good. By far the easiest time to hunt down our server was when we wanted our bill. As we were getting ready to leave the bartender (who had to be new as he was looking at the recipient books) asked how everything was and seemed shocked when we said it was ok. He then proceeded to try and make excuses like that Sunday brunch was just not popular but they had a 'big party' (8 people) that slowed them down and then our five really threw the kitchen off. Overall my food was ok but not mind blowing and I think the place needs some attention from management especially if 15 people constitutes a busy brunch. As a restaurant manager if that is a rush even during peak tourist season that means the period is not profitable and you should get rid of it. Also, as someone in guest service when someone gives a disappointing answer you don't make excuses you apologize and see if you can make it better in some way. At the end of the day I will not be returning. read more

When we pull up, I can't help but run not walk towards the restaurant. The block regularly changes their menu. My favorite thing on the menu is their nachos! Love how piping hot it is when it arrives to the table. The burger is also super juicy and tender. The food is purposely portioned on the smaller end so that you have room to try a few different things. Did I mention their drinks are the only good drinks in Maine? Not watered down with sugary liqueurs at all. Everyone needs to add this place to their bookmarks now. read more

The Block Saloon - Burrata and nachos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Thomaston, Maine

See all

The food is better than Primo and very tasty! Nice to have some interesting flavors in their cooking. Outstanding food and excellent wait staff. read more

If you are in the Rockland/Thomaston area go here! Period! Dining here has been one of the best experiences of my Maine vacation so far. The food is delicious and locally-sourced when possible. I wish I could have tried everything. Definitely try one of their tacos with hand-ground masa tortillas. The venison meatballs were scrumptious. They also make a mean Sazerac, and all of their other cocktails sounded incredible as well. The ice cream is delicious too. The staff works as a true team. Everyone is so hard-working and nice. This place is a gem. Support your local restaurants, especially now! read more

Food is always delicious and the staff is knowledgeable and pleasant. The atmosphere is nice and cozy!

It seems like everyone has rated this place 5 stars and it def isn't a 5 star kind of vibe. In fact if it wasn't in Thomaston it would struggle. Service is charming, but slow, drinks are decent but not amazing, vibe is pleasant, but not all that great. Worth checking out for sure and if I lived in thomaston I would go here all the time. read more

I had a wonderful time at the block. The vibe was great and the food and drinks ok... Let's just say say yes yes I will definitely be here again when in Maine. Food was flavorful plated well and a good bargain. The service so nice. Only downfall is it's not good for larger parties or you will fill it up but our double couple were comfy. read more

See all

The best place around! Fantastic food and drinks. Sophisticated yet comfortable vibe.

I am really happy I stopped in The Block to have a bite to eat. The cocktails are amazing, and I really enjoyed my tuna tacos. The service was fantastic, big smiles and very nice servers. I left with a big smile and can't wait to come back. read more

The Block Saloon - Tuna Tacos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Thomaston, Maine

6 if us made reservations for 5:30 and arrived as the first customers. Drinks were ordered, then dinner. The first order, 3 fish cakes, arrived over an hour later, but the next 3 dinners arrived 10 and 12 minutes after 3 of us awaited the others. The prices were unsustainably high (the special, a hamburger, was $25. The bruscetta - 4 pieces of toast with a tomato covering, was $18. The desserts were good. Our waitress, Jasmine, was overwhelmed and constantly apologizing for the delays. She was not held accountable at tip time. We will never go back. read more

Amazing brunch! We come here weekly and have eaten our way through the menu. The molasses pancakes are to die for and the quiche is amazing!! The brunch cocktails are so creative and the staff are extremely friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable. Go check out the Block Saloon for brunch, you will not regret it! read more

Generally excellent. Small plates. Don't miss the pork belly, but polenta wasn't all that great. Chef does a great job with risotto but maybe adds too many items. Love the place and will return read more

WOW, what a wonderful surprise. We are visiting in Maine and saw the outstanding reviews this place got so took a chance and so glad we did. Tiffany our server was delightful, knowledgeable and very attentive. The cocktails were outstanding, and very imaginative. The 3 of us each had a different entree, cod, pork belly and short ribs. Perfectly served and so flavorful; we all cleaned our plates........hoping we can get back for one more dinner before we head home. A real GEM! read more

Great addition to downtown Thomaston. They've really done a nice job of creating a modern cocktail bar while preserving the natural charm and beauty of an old building. The cocktail list is creative and has something for everybody. Service was excellent, my drink was fantastic, and it's one of the best happy hours around. Highly recommended. read more

The Block Saloon was the exact place I was hoping to find! Mom and I were on vacation in Rockland, Maine, celebrating my birthday and we wanted to go somewhere with a nice variety of drinks and small appetizers. I came across The Block Saloon and couldn't be more thrilled. Service was amazing and quick. Drinks were very creative and tasty! Food perfectly portioned and flavorful. A business I would definitely return to when back in Thomaston! read more

Stopped in on a Saturday evening. Amazing gourmet quality foods at low prices. The taco selections were amazingly crafted and drinks complex. Much better than anything in Rockland or Camden. Worth the detour. Plenty of seating because not in the heavy tourist area. read more

Just what THE BLOCK needed! Live long and prosper and I hope you have soup in the winter.

This was my second visit to The Block Saloon tonight and it remains an amazing place to both eat and drink. The hand crafted drinks are amazing. So far I have tried the Day Tripper and a Spicy margarita, both wonderful. The small plates are delicious and filling. Pulled pork tacos or sliders and a super grilled cheese are just some of the offerings. The cozy atmosphere is very welcoming and in the middle of this recent heat wave the air conditioning is a delight. This is an excellent addition to Thomaston and to the Midcoast. Well worth a visit or three! read more

We stopped in with the toddler in tow around 6 pm Friday night, and the staff were extraordinarily helpful, despite this clearly not being a restaurant geared towards families with young kids. Luckily our little person is *mostly* well behaved in restaurants. They helped get our food out extra fast, and we in turn made sure we had books and distracting toddler items like little snacks for pre- dinner. We ordered a glass of the vinho verde (very tasty, $7/glass, a little steep for price, but solid), and started with the crab tacos (able to be made gluten free!). These were chock full of succulent crab meat, and although very small as tacos go, were very satisfying. We next sampled the local potato soup, which was the right blend of hearty and creamy and fresh for a potato soup. Ended our meal with the salmon on kale. I have to say, of the three elements on the plate, chickpeas, kale & salmon, the kale was somehow the winner for me. They use this incredible creamy, salty sauce that made it so great. Last stop on the menu was two scoops of their housemade ice cream, one blueberry, one banana. The blueberry tasted very fresh, but was clearly made with different and probably lower fat, lower sugar ingredients than the banana, which was super rich and super creamy, and tasted like what bananas want to be when they grow up. Overall, very good, great for a nice tasting bite, but we left somewhat hungry because the portions were small, and they need a child seat. We come through every year at least twice, so we are happy to come back and see how they change and grow. read more