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    Front & Main

    4.4 (115 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

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    Recommended Reviews - Front & Main

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    Best non alcoholic drink ever! Tulsi in Paradisi
    Christina H.

    What a great restaurant! I had the best non alcoholic drink ever! "Tea time in Paradisi" was the name and it was so good!!! My aunt had the bourbon old fashioned which she really enjoyed. I ordered the skate fish piccata which was wonderful! I got extra sauce and polenta to go with it. My mom had the Caesar salad with crab and she thought it was too salty. So if you're sensitive ask your server first. My aunt had it with shrimp and liked it a lot. My brother had the steak And liked it. And my uncle has the pork belly tacos. Nice ambiance and great service. Our server Rianna was lovely. Will Come Back again

    Maria M.

    Food Review: Front & Main - Waterville, Maine 9 Main St, Waterville, ME 04901 Tucked away in downtown Waterville, Front & Main is serving up some seriously bold flavors and thoughtful presentations. Sometimes you have to leave the buzz of Portland to discover hidden culinary gems, and this spot proves it. The ambiance is elevated yet comfortable--with beautiful seating and a cozy fireplace area that adds a warm, inviting touch. Let's dive into the food! STARTERS & SMALL PLATES Smoked Ricotta (V/GF) - $18 This dish was... intriguing. It featured roasted asparagus, a ricotta whey emulsion, and an orange leek gremolata. Based on the menu, I expected it to be warm--especially the asparagus--but it was served cold. While the flavors worked surprisingly well together, the temperature threw me off. Honestly, a bit confusing but still tasty? A solid 7/10 for flavor, but presentation and temperature missed the mark. MAINS Street Tacos (3) - Pork Belly Special These were the highlight of the entire meal. No notes, no complaints--just pure joy. Crispy, juicy pork belly with the perfect blend of spices, tucked into soft tortillas. Easily a 10/10, and I'd return just for these alone. Gambian Peanut Stew (GF/V+) - $34 What a flavor bomb! The mafe sauce was rich and spiced beautifully, and the lentils, carrots, plantains, and peas added heartiness. That said, some of the vegetables (especially the potatoes) were undercooked, and a few elements felt more raw than al dente. Still, I was so taken by the taste that I'd order it again in a heartbeat. 9/10, with room to perfect the texture. Potato Gnocchi (V) - $29 Wow. These gnocchi were pillowy soft, served with pearl onions, asparagus, a pine nut & arugula pesto, and topped with pecorino. The pesto sauce was vibrant and full of life--hands down one of the best gnocchi dishes I've had in Maine. A perfect 10/10! Roasted Chicken (GF) - $32 This one fell a bit short. The curried cauliflower, mushrooms, and tikka masala flavors were great, but the chicken itself was dry and lacked the tenderness I hoped for. With better execution on the protein, this dish could have been a standout. 7/10--great ideas, not fully realized. DESSERTS Frozen Key Lime Pie (GF) - $14 A beautiful blend of tart and sweet, topped with toasted meringue, pistachio crumble, and a blackberry sauce. Refreshing and indulgent at the same time. Loved it! Bananas Foster Budino (V/GF) - $14 This was my favorite dessert of the night. A velvety banana custard, brûléed on top with vanilla wafers and chantilly cream--like crème brûlée meets banana pudding, and I was obsessed. Both desserts easily earned 10/10. OVERALL IMPRESSIONS Front & Main brings a creative, globally-inspired menu to central Maine and executes it with a bold culinary voice. The ambiance is polished but relaxed, and the staff were friendly and attentive throughout our visit. Food: 9/10 - The flavors are incredible across the board, with a few execution missteps. Affordability: 5/10 - This is definitely on the upscale side for Waterville. Expect to spend. Ambiance: 8/10 - Sleek, elegant, and warm--especially with that fireplace nook. Would I come back? Absolutely. Those pork belly tacos and Gambian stew are calling my name.

    Main Street Mule
    Michael L.

    This restaurant was located in the hotel that we were staying at so it was super convenient. We did take out one morning because we were in a rush. They might have had an off day or a new cook but the food was nothing to write home about. I had the benedict and the poached eggs were overdone (not runny, in fact almost hard boiled). Somebody else had the Pork Belly Lettuce wraps and The Lockwood and we all came to the same conclusion. The food was cooked well but everything was under seasoned except for the breakfast potatoes. I'm not sure how the pork belly (which was the protein in my benedict) was so bland! We visited another night for the Frozen Key Lime and that was really good. It was presented very well and was very tasty. There was a nice mix of textures with the toasted meringue, pistachio crumble, and blackberry sauce. I'd have that again any day. Our server was on top of things despite it being a very busy Saturday night. I also had the Main Street Mule which was also delicious.

    Ron C.

    I'm. Or sure where the positive ratings are coming from, this is an OK restaurant but nothing spectacular. The positives are location and excellent service, but, we don't eat service. The menu is rather limited, and what they bring is passable but certainly not something I'd look forward to. The arms of the chairs are terribly dirty and clearly have ne er been cleaned. The crowd seems to be primarily marginally unpleasant older ladies. Not a great vibe as a result.

    Lemon-ricotta pancakes, one egg on the side and coffee.
    Michele M.

    Service was excellent. Shannon was very friendly and attentive. Food was delicious. I had the lemon-ricotta pancakes, with an egg on the side. Coffee was fresh and tasty. Only comment is when they clean the tables to wipe down the window shelves for crumbs, etc. They have a full bar and great ambuance. It is conveniently located in downtown Waterville. Prices are comparable with any high-end restaurant. If I'm back in the area, I'll definitely return.

    Duck Confit Bao Buns & Street Tacos
    Anita W.

    Fantastic ambience, nice, upscale restaurant you can get dressed up & enjoy a more fancy GNO / date night or great spot to celebrate a special occasion! Wonderful menu with many unique offerings not found at other local restaurants. The apps are very generous portions and delicious - we had the duck confit bao buns & street tacos, both great - the tacos really were loaded w/meat! The desserts are to die for!! The Dark Chocolate Amoretto Torte was sooo rich & decadent!! The Frozen Key Lime Pie so bright & flavorful - tasted like summer! Hard pressed to pick a favorite between them. Even tho very busy & we needed to hang out in the lounge vs. restaurant, the service was friendly, prompt & attentive. Will definitely be back.

    Coconut Cake
    Desi-Rae S.

    Upscale, yet laid back, was my first impression. Located on the first floor of the Lockwood Hotel, this place is chill, popular, and worth a try. My maiden visit happened recently. My writers group gathered for their first meeting of 2025 and we didn't know what to expect. But, we were NOT disappointed. Seriously, I can't say enough good things about the food, ambiance, and service. There were at least 15 of us taking over their family style table, and we were ALL on separate checks (bless our servers heart she took it all in stride). I had their appetizer BBQ ribs (which I think is a seasonal item though I'm not sure). The ribs were bone in (yes!) and tender, barky, chewy, and smokey, everything I wanted in a rib, and I got messy. Others around me ordered the street tacos - which can vary based on what the chef decides, they looked amazing. I saw the house made falafel which came in a heaping bowl with tons of goodies like hummus, olives, pita and a Mediterranean salad. Were a writers group so we were chatting away and let's just say the group got pretty quiet when the food came and we nom nom'd our way long into the night. Front & Main has a full bar with drink specials, beer, wine, and spexy cocktails. The bar and the food service was FAST considering what a large group we were. I stuck around for dessert. They are famous for their frozen key lime pie but I went for the coconut cake, and my dessert was the envy of the table. It was cold, dense, and utterly decadent. The presentation was stunning. I should note ALL the dishes were presented beautifully. There is plenty of parking on the street, and also on the "concourse" which is across the way. All free, and handicap accessible. There are fun cozy, intimate nooks and crannies to sit and have a fireside chat with friends. I was woefully underdressed. If you're looking for a decent date night spot to get a little gussied up, this is your place. Waterville is making a foodie scene comeback!

    Paella

    We chose Front and Main for our family Thanksgiving dinner and we have already decided we will return to celebrate more holidays and birthdays. As a vegan family, we don't often find a variety of options when we dine out. I communicated before our visit and the staff went out of their way to ensure we were happy with our menu choices. The waitstaff were pleasant, and picked up on cues to move on to the next course. Not chatty but very pleasant. The room where we were seated had lots of natural light and the contained fireplace made it very welcoming. Hands down the best restaurant in central Maine.

    The Lockwood
    Kim L.

    We had been looking for breakfast, and ended up here - I had not been to Waterville for years - and what a transformation. The food was good; the sandwich & platter were worth the cost; not sure about $4.50 for coffee. Service was slow, and we kind of wondered why. The bar area looked like a place I would love to visit and sit by the fireplace

    breakfast
    Andrew H.

    This is a delightfully fancy restaurant in a hotel, in a small town. We got breakfast here on the drive back to Vermont from Katahdin. The ambiance was fresh and fancy and the food was deluxe. Truly unbelievable how good this place was, given it's humble location! My only complaint was that the service was a little too hands-off for me. After the food was delivered we never saw the server again until the check was delivered.

    Warm Spice Cake - it was delicious. It was a like a fall hug.
    Joanna R.

    Lunch on a Thursday! Great staff members! We were promptly greeted by a friendly and welcoming host. A staff member immediately brought menus and water. Shortly thereafter our wait staff member, Anika, was at our table to welcome us, and see if we had any questions. We did have a couple and she was so pleasant and sincere, based on what we received for our orders. She checked in on a couple of times, but was not intrusive at all. The interior was simple, elegant and clean. We loved the glassware! Something about it was just so unique and practical. The food, the servings were great. My sister and I order the Barbacoa Fries and the Burger. Anika asked if we were going to be sharing and we said yes, she immediately offered to bring sharing plates. So nice and no extra charge, as some places do. The burger was perfectly cooked medium, it was well assembled and presented with a beautiful side salad and cilantro dressing on the side. The barbacoa fries were also plated beautifully. There were so many fries, and delicious beef. Loved it and in fact we were unable to finish it. We then were offered dessert and once we saw the menu, we knew we needed to get at least one to share. We chose the warm spice cake, it was delicious!!!!!!! We had a great experience all around. I highly recommend this location if you are in the area.

    Deviled eggs.

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    5 months ago

    Great spot , the brunch was great and nice cappuccino too ! Definitely , try it again !!

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    1 year ago

    Great food. Excellent Service. My favorite special occasion restaurant. Great Thanksgiving meal.

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    1 year ago

    High end but worth the expense. Highly recommend the pork belly street tacos if they are on the menu.

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    1 year ago

    Great service and great food as always. Loved the flamingo theme, it was fun. Very clean and it doesn't feel like you are in Waterville

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Front & Main

    Purple Cow House Of Pancakes - before....

    Purple Cow House Of Pancakes

    (142 reviews)

    $

    Poor service and good quality…read more Long wait until order taken. Both servers that helped us were pleasant and polite, but one forgot to refill coffee when asked and about 15 minutes later she did upon second request. Third server for adjacent table was both loud and crude in speaking with her customers, so loud that the man behind me remarked she was blowing out his ear drums. I can confirm that was likely. Eggs were undercooked, toast was not toasted (just warm bread), my wife's order was not cooked as requested. I have been a customer for a long time and have had very good food and service in the past. This was not anywhere close to what I would expect. A box was requested and acknowledged by the server, but not delivered. Had to make a second request. Unfortunately, I will likely not return and will find another breakfast spot. UPDATE: The staff member that checked us out asked about our experience and had follow up questions. I shared a summary for her and she apologized and took 10% off our bill, which was very kind and appreciated. She clearly cared about our experience and should be commended for her job performance.

    As long as your not in a hurry, it's a great place for breakfast. From order to food on the table…read morewas 35 minutes, give or take a few minutes. However, not a big deal we all need to slow down a bit anyway. The portion size is awesome, you get your money's worth! I had the Lumberjack #8 and I couldn't finish it all. The family had pancakes...you only need to order one! They are absolutely huge! Ambience of the place isn't bad. It has the small, home town feel which I enjoy very much. I recommend this place for your breakfast needs.

    Home Kitchen Cafe - Fish tacos

    Home Kitchen Cafe

    (454 reviews)

    $$

    We were meeting friends in the area for a meal and this place seemed like the perfect place, based…read moreon all of the wonderful contributions I could see on Yelp. We arrived early and found a spot in the very small lot they have next to the building. There were plenty of street spots open within walking distance as well. The whole area fills up starting in late morning, so I would plan your trip and know all of your parking options in advance so that you aren't driving 5 miles an hour down the road looking for parking. LOL There is usually a wait, so just be prepared for it. I was able to put our name on the list and we walked around the area. Our server was great - wow was she energetic. Zipping around, smiling and engaging with all of the customers. Our food was delicious!! The sticky bun...we managed to snag one of the last few left. Again, get there early if you don't want to miss out. The corned beef hash - amazing Biscuits - YUM Gravy - savory goodness. Home fries - flavorful and not too greasy. Eggs - perfect! I highly recommend this place and I hope to be able to return again soon, during the non-tourist season.

    Home Kitchen Cafe is one of my favorite restaurants in Rockland, and is a regular stop during my…read morebi-annual visits to dear friends in Cushing. This cozy breakfast and lunch spot is popular with locals and visitors, so you'll likely have to wait for a table. It is definitely worth the wait, but If you're in a hurry, check to see if a seat is available at the counter. Service at Home Kitchen is warm and welcoming, and you're in for a treat if you're lucky enough to sit in Zan's area (short for Suzanne). I couldn't decide between a tuna sandwich or a grilled cheese, and she suggested combining both into a tuna melt. Brilliant! Along with a shared order of large fries, it was a tasty and filling lunch. The best part? All of it was gluten free! Home Kitchen bakes their own GF bread and pastries, and they are far superior to grocery-store GF baked goods. Even though we were sated from lunch, Zan encouraged us to order dessert, since they had a GF chocolate cupcake with salted caramel frosting. On her recommendation, we got two cupcakes to go - a GF chocolate cupcake for me, and a pumpkin cupcake with maple cream cheese frosting for my friend -- which we enjoyed later in the day from the comforts of home. Wow. Super delicious. More please!

    Bintliff’s Corner Brew - Crab cake Benedict

    Bintliff’s Corner Brew

    (51 reviews)

    $$

    Still one of our favorite spots. They just opened an expansion that offers more seating... even…read moremore greatness! They did an incredible job maintaining the historicalness of the area with the expansion and added seating that stays with their rustic, plant-loving vibe. As always, the food was delicious, exactly as expected. I always get French toast because it is THE best!

    Oh what a place!! I love this little spot (emphasis on LITTLE). This is not a traditional diner -…read moreit's much more like an upgraded coffee shop. You walk in to this gorgeous space, step right up to the counter, and order all the goodies you could possibly want. The drink menu is vast - so many fun coffee beverages for the adventurous, and non-coffee options for everyone else. But if you want to keep it simple, their serve-yourself drip coffee is delightful, and there's plenty of flavors to keep it interesting (peppermint white mocha drip coffee, what??) Ok so you get your bevvie and you work very hard to find a cozy little nook to sit down - maybe someone is waiting for a to go order and gives up their seat for you? It's Gardiner, people are kind! You sit and wait and take in the surroundings - it's almost like you're in a greenhouse, with potted plants everywhere you look and dried flowers hanging from the ceiling. Then your little buzzer goes off and you go get your own food directly from the kitchen - no server/expo/restaurant experience required! Score your own hot sauce, silverware, and other condiments along the way. And dig in! The food is amazing! It's all stuff you've seen on a brunch menu before - French toast, eggs Benedicts, sandwiches - but it's got that extra flair. French toast with lemon curd and raspberries. Corned beef Reuben, but baked in Filo pastry instead of bread. A breakfast scramble with a spicy Korean twist. It's all fun and different and GOOD. You'll be too full, but stop at the counter on the way out the door and snag a fresh croissant or pastry for later. You'll thank me. I would love for this place to be full-service... But I think that might change the whole vibe. There's something cozy about the do-it-yourself aspect. And everything else about Bintliff's is delightful. We can't wait to return.

    Governor's Restaurant & Bakery - Well, 3 out of four brand's isn't bad. Sorry Hunts Ketchup, you're just not Heinz quality

    Governor's Restaurant & Bakery

    (132 reviews)

    $$

    I can't believe I hadn't posted this review, I must have left my head at that hotel we stayed at…read morethe night before. The Governor's Restaurant was located in a small town, as we was taking our students to Camp...I knew their had to be a mom and pops dinner in the area. Oh yeah, my palette and saliva co-signed my suspicions. I promise I feel behind because my keen sense of awareness told me to be on the look out for advertisement because I know what I knew. Have y'all ever heard that cops and bus drivers know the best places to eat? FACTS. Oh yeah I was going to find a Dinner like a squirrel looking for nuts. We drop our groups off and he and I approached each other with the same thing in mind...FOOD. Just like twins, we both knew there was a diner somewhere's in that them parts and just like hunters we was after our prey. After we exited the woods our keen sense of knowing what we knew was heighten and without obstruction. Within 2 miles, there was the Governors Diner billboard and off to grandmas house we went. To add to our delight, there was more than enough motorcoach bus parking available. We go in and as always the hostess was relieved it was just us two. We ordered EVERYTHING our stomach craved, the sweet tea made me grin uncontrollably in a sinister type of way. First came out the hot rolls, I told my coworker I didn't want any until he spread the butter across the middle. I don't know what was in those rolls but I ended up eating an entire one knowing the carbs and meal was against my waistline. The food was just as expected of a small town diner including the portion size. When we finally came up for air, just like twins completing each other sentences planned on our return for breakfast the next morning. The price was as expected, service and ambiance the same. They offered deserts on daily special which we could not pass up. The next morning, we was 2nd and 3rd in line patiently waiting for some good ole country breakfast. Of course The Governor's Diner didn't disappoint on their country breakfast, we hurt ourselves and knew it would be a lonnng way back. Have any of you couldn't decide on what to order, so you ask your person what they was going to get? And just when you think you know what to order, they change their order you change yours then you compromise and say ok you get that and I'll get that, gimme some of yours and I'll give you some of mines? That's exactly what we did and yumm to the yumm yummy...happy happy happy. Yes yes yes yes yuuzzzz!

    The food was horrible, I tried to give it a chance but everything tasted like it came from a box…read more You can get the same quality food from kfc. The service was mediocre, and the place smelled a bit off as well, we sat at the first booth so the whole time it smelled. Do not spend your hard earned money here...

    Front & Main - bars - Updated May 2026

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