Fabulous experience- wine selection was great we had a white burgundy. Service great - beef Bourgeon and served from Bulgaria. Really love the ambiance with live music. read more

Bistro La Cave - Bars Near Me - Camden, Maine

We went there for dinner on a Thursday night. We had a reservation so we were seated immediately. It has nice decor with bar seating and normal seating. We had warm bread with garlic butter and argula salad in appetizers. Both were great. We ordered chicken lollipop and beef with mesh potatoes in main course. We liked chicken one better. Portion size were decent and we had to pack some of these to take home. Service was very nice. Parking is available outside for a fee and roadside for free. read more

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The food, the wine, the bartender, all just perfect. (We sat at the bar) We started with their mussels in cream sauce and the kalamata tapenade and bread basket. Both very good. Steak frites and mushroom crepe as entrees were delicious. We had a very nice Rombauer Chardonnay and enjoyed every bit. We finished with a Woodford and an absinthe pour. Our meal and the service easily rivaled our dinner at a famous restaurant in Rockland, for which we paid a few hundred more. Dine there as soon as you can when in Camden. It should be your first choice for good food. Definitely our best dining experience during our Maine coastal trip. read more

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A cute French restaurant tucked away in the scenic city of Camden. This restaurant is surrounded by other fabulous restaurants (mainly seafood and American). You're not exactly coming to the area for French food, but La Cave is worth the visit. Apparently there is live music on Fridays and Saturdays. We were at opening and left before 6:30pm, so we didn't get any music (though the playlist they were playing while we were there was super enjoyable!) We order as a large group so we were able to try a number of different items. Everything was very good, below you'll find each item and it's individual score: 1) Duck Fat Fries with Garlic Aioli sauce (4.5/5...we wish the garlic aioli sauce was more garlicky, it was basically just mayonnaise) 2) Oysters Rockefeller (5/5....fantastic, should've done two orders of this!) 3) French Onion Soup (5/5...loved this!) 4) Bowl of Beef Bourguignon with mashed potatoes (4/5 beef was salty, a cup on top of the mashed potatoes would've been perfect) 5) Duck Confit (4/5...tender and moist, just wished the duck had a little more flavor) 6) Mushroom Truffle Risotto (5/5...fantastic!) 7) Brie and Fig Crepe (5/5 l...also fantastic!) 8) Prosciutto, cheese and arugula Crepe (3/5...flavor was good. Problem was the prosciutto had a hard outer layer that made it impossible to cut/eat, so we had to eat it like a taco, otherwise the flavor was good). read more

Bistro La Cave - Oysters Rockefeller - Bars Near Me - Camden, Maine

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Ok. The food transported me to a ski lodge on a warm winter night. Then again, maine is always freezing - but the frites with beef Bourgogne (spelled wrong) is PHENOMENAL, and paired with the French onion soup - chefs kiss. The bartender (Wednesday night) was a cool woman who knows how to make a friggin drink. Great vibe. Great food. I just wish they course me the food. I don't like it when it comes all at once. Aside from That. Perfection. read more

Definitely one of the more pricey places in Camden. Very cool with the cave and the music on Saturday night. The food was great, the service was great (thank you to the manager for always checking in). The beef tartare was huge. It made it through 3 meals. And I SO appreciate that they had gluten free crackers for me. The duck confit was very tasty, although the skin could have been much crispier, especially if they'd plated it differently so it wasn't touching the amazing mashed potatoes (super silky). read more

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Dinner for three on a week night in August. We were seated inside along side other diners along a long wall. Our dining neighbors were really close, too close. Music from the jazz trio was nice but very loud (even too loud for our 30 y.o. Daughter) and we were seated pretty far away from the band. Service was ok but we found it odd that 3 of us were seated at a 4 top and the 4th place setting was never taken away. Our empty cocktail glasses stayed with us all evening, even when we put them over with the 4th place setting. Food was good, which saved the place for me. Not so good- the $25pp advance charge to our cc, there is a 48 hr cancel requirement. Be sure to tip your server correctly as the $75 advance charge was taken off our bill before we tipped. We saw this and tipped appropriately. May try again during the off season, the food was very good. read more

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Wow!! The Steak tartare and beef bourguignon we ordered were a 10!!! They catered to my wife's gluten and dairy allergies. Pizza by the slice late night. Super friendly and helpful staff. Old black and white movies. Even the bathrooms are a 10. Seriously one of the better dining experiences I have had in awhile. Highly recommend. read more

Bistro La Cave - Black and white oldies. - Bars Near Me - Camden, Maine

Best meal in town. It was on my list but I forgot about until it a recommendation by a couple at the Bagel cafe. ( great breakfast spot) I had the French onion soup bowl ,and my wife had a cup of boeuf bourguignon. Very large portions, fantastic taste. Lovely ambiance. read more

My husband and I went on an impromptu date night to Bistro La Cave in Camden during the Camden International Film Festival. It is located perfectly by the water and has outdoor seating or cozy indoor seating! We both started with dark espresso martinis that were divine! Then came the oyster Rockefeller that were warm and delicious - they had a spinach cream sauce that wasn't too overpowering. The kitchen got slammed before our entrees came out, so the waiter surprised use with a complimentary basket of bread and garlic butter! The focaccia was soo good! We ended the meal with the lobster crepes, which were PACKED with lobster and covered in this creamy sauce. When I tell you we will dream about this crepe - I mean it! Thanks to everyone at La Cave for such a gorgeous evening! read more

Bistro La Cave - Oysters Rockefeller - Bars Near Me - Camden, Maine

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Full disclosure, I made a reservation then received an e-mail wining about people not showing up for their reservations. They wanted a $50 deposit and TWO DAY CANCEL POLICY. You know what doesn't give you two days notice: Covid, stomach bugs, a baby sitter that no longer has transportation, salmonella, migraines, etc. If you enjoy sitting next to someone with Covid, but sat down next to you because they didn't want to lose $50, I give you lots of credit. For me, I canceled and booked at one of the 740 other restaurants in the area that doesn't want you to run everyone's day by coming in sick. Frankly, you should too. read more

Such a good late night spot.open the latest in town and cheese plate was awesome and local

Live music on a Thursday night set the tone for a nice meal. We started with French onion soup which was perfect on an overcast evening and then had mains as well which were seasoned really well. read more

Bistro La Cave - Mushroom Risotto and Beef Bourguignon - Bars Near Me - Camden, Maine

Truly exceptional food, great location, ambiance casual but elegant -- the staff were top notch. Mussels and olive tapenade to die for. Don't wait! Go now for an excellent time in a great setting with a fun vibe. You won't regret it. read more

Only stopped for cocktails. Jazz music in the background, old western movie on the TV, and espresso martinis had all around. Zack (hope that is spelled right) made an amazing espresso martini; however, went missing a few times and left us thirsty-without drinks. Lilliana (again, hope that is spelled right) was in training and able to accommodate beautifully. read more

Bistro La Cave - Outdoor patio area. - Bars Near Me - Camden, Maine

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Great place, the owner Ben is on point. Every one at the table (eight of us) totally enjoyed the experience. read more

Nestled in a waterfront wharf, the Bistro is an emerging gem of a space. A rare venue for live music in the Midcoast, La Cave sports a competent kitchen, excellent bar and pretty darned good wine list. With two visits in, we've enjoyed the beef bourguignon, onion soup, steak frites and lamb chops. While slightly inconsistent, the kitchen is good: measured by quotidian indicators like soup and salad dressing. As re music, while advertised as a jazz club, tonight's performer was a good Gordon Lightfoot cover artist, not unwelcome on a stormy coastal night. All in? This is a good place. Go there. Be patient but appreciate the potential and enjoy the present. read more

Sadly it was no bueno. Fryer oil needs to be changed, it's so rancid that I had to send my wool coat for dry cleaning. The Beef bourguignon was terrible. Just beef no veggies, the wine wasn't cooked off it, the beef was shredded to absolute nothing. It was a bitter mush, not worth it. If you don't care about smelling like rancid oil go to the bar and get a drink but beware they practically use an entire Orchid for decoration with absolutely no reason as they are neither a Thai restaurant nor a Tiki Bar. No amount of sacrificed tropical flowers can hide the embarrassment that is Bistro La Cave. read more

We really enjoyed our meal here on the patio on a lovely warm evening! The jazz and ambiance inside were wonderful, too. The service-- well we got the wrong dishes and very long but everyone has off days. French onion soup, steak tartare, and ham and cheese crepe were all pretty delicious. My son still talks about the delicious (but small!) chocolate mousse dessert! read more

Great meal! Delicious, reasonably priced food. We had the lobster crepes and a beef Bourguignon -- plus an order of delicious French fries. The thin, crispy kind. We ate outside. It's a small area and cars occasionally drive quite close by. But for all that, the view of the head of the Camden harbor and the mountains behind makes it lovely. Service was attentive without being pushy. Highly recommended!! read more

Excellent new spot in town. Live performance of jazz and cool ambiance. It is a great addition to town that stays open for a long period of time! The food and service was great as well! Tony makes some awesome drinks! Highly recommended!! read more

Bistro La Cave - Awesome Whiskey Sour - Bars Near Me - Camden, Maine

Locals recommended La Cave- I had already had a glass of wine here but went back bc they said the mussels were excellent . Also had a vodka cocktail Fleur of the valley. Vodka lemon Prosecco strawberry. Nice quaint place with music @7 every night. Small menu but looks very good. Loved the mussels! read more

Bistro La Cave - Fleur of the valley - Bars Near Me - Camden, Maine

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I hate to leave bad reviews but I think this place has gotten a little too much hype from the reviews it's gotten on here. On a rainy day in June me and my wife huddled into this place because nearly all the other restaurants in town were closed or full. I'll be short, the service was slow. They didn't offer us a table though there plenty of tables available. They didn't even know the items on their own menu, the food was VERY bland with little to no seasoning and it was WAAAY overly expensive for what we got. I know we're on vacation so splurging is acceptable but we couldn't help but feel we were sorta ripped off by this place. There are other places in Camden that give you much more than there. read more

Went here after a show at the Camden Opera House. It was nice to have a place open late to grab some appetizers and get some drinks. My aviation was expertly mixed. read more

We enjoyed the Abundance of culinary food... With the Ambiance of Service.., You gotta go check them out and not to forget Live

We saw this hidden gem after our sail in the Bay. We had reservations elsewhere but decided to have an appetizer and wine before dinner. Within just a few moments, we'd canceled our reservations and decided to stay. Our server, Annabelle, was delightful and actually sings on the weekend when they have live jazz. The olive tapenade was incredible. It was served with toasted baguette slices, but the real standout was warm focaccia. We chose and enjoyed a Bordeaux that was a daily wine special, but they also have many yummy looking cocktails, as well as a fairly extensive wine list. We moved inside for dinner, and the ambiance was charming and part of why we initially decided to stay. The onion soup was fantastic, baked in a crock with homemade croutons. The cheese was melted perfectly - crispy around the edges but creamy in the middle. The beef bourguignon was to die for. The meat was tender, and the gravy was savory and hearty, served with a side of garlic mashed potatoes and baguette slices. For dessert, we had Crepe Suzette that was a delicious ending for the best meal of our trip. If you're in Camden, this is a must try! read more

Bistro La Cave - Olive tapenade appetizer - Bars Near Me - Camden, Maine

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Great food. Great service. Great atmosphere. Loved this spot! Basil raspberry gin & tonic cocktail was WOW! Mussels were delicious. As was the special menu lobster crepe with béchamel sauce - UFB if you know... Server Annabel was super. Music choices at the right level were welcome and appreciated. Def recommend this Camden food choice. read more

Greeted warmly by Devon and Ben. The space is so warm and inviting. It feels cozy, but not cramped. We were there on a Wednesday, which is a limited menu night, but we were able to each find something that was very tasty. The wine list is nice and reasonable. read more

Everything is great about this place!!!! Food, services, ambiance and cosmos. Best ever!!!!

The restaurant was amazing. Such a cozy vibe, amazing drinks, appetizers and main dishes were out of this world. Would definitely go here again and again. The service was 5 star and the owner was the perfect host. read more

Loved the live music but the food was only okay and the service needs training. Didn't try the cocktails but they were expensive even if fancy sounding. read more

Bistro LaCave proved to be a perfect start to a celebratory 60th birthday vacation: exceptionally tasty food, attentive service, and lively jazz from the talented Bill Davis trio. Service: pleasant and on top of their Friday night game, accommodating our request to shift from reserved table to taller seating at bar height table a bit closer to the music. Food: Savory, fresh, creative, with simple elegant presentation. Arugula goat cheese salad was a crisp tasty combination prior to mouthwatering fresh local mussels, must-have prosciutto cheese arugula crepes, and cups of build-it-and-they-will-come beef bourguignon. Sumptuous! Ambiance: The Rockland Lobster Festival up the road meant that we in Camden were treated to an uncrowded, chill, and easy-flowing trio of seasoned jazz practitioners, with Bill Davis on keyboard effortlessly delivering variety and enjoyment to match. Summary: A must if you are anywhere close and in need of restoration and relaxation!! read more

BROOOOO 18 bucks for three shrimp. i'm gettin fleeced this is ridiculous. T H R E E. S H R I M P. not coming back. the cocktails were weak. two empanadas WERE 18 DOLLARS. maybe i'm just a college student and i'm cheap but like...... 80 bucks for snacks and mediocre drinks........ i don't want to come back. anyways service was lovely and did no wrongs. but the price to legitimate food ratio was so messed up. read more

We had dinner at La Cave on Friday, only their third night open (I think). Nonetheless, the service and food were excellent. The mussels in cream broth were especially outstanding, but we also enjoyed the beef and salmon tartars. Further impressive is how much the new proprietors have improved the comfort and coziness of this space, and finally, we wish we had been able to stay and hear more of the jazz trio. But we'll be back. read more

Amazing food, incredible ambiance - and yes, it's a bit cave like - but with sophistication! And the service is always wonderful! Love it!

Extremely cosy atmosphere and delicious drinks and food. The French onion soup was amazing! Really nice to have a late night dining option in winter when so much is closed. Would love to return on a night with live music. read more

What an absolutely awesome place! Every item on the menu is divine. The atmosphere takes me back to my days in Paris. The service is seamless (we always ask for Ben). This has become our regular Thursday nite date night spot. read more

Real quality drinks with a very knowledgeable bar tender. The menu was very well curated and as a restaurant all the way up in Maine I was very pleased to see that thechef was actually French. Definitely recommend for a celebratory night out or a quick sip of their watermelon martini!! read more

We loved both the wine (Portuguese blend) and cocktail (vieux carre) that we got. Great ambiance, with nice live music. Such a sweet little gem of a sidewalk cafe. read more