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    Front & Main

    4.4 (125 reviews)
    Closed • 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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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.

    Dessert for my birthday: bread pudding with apple compote and candied walnuts. Absolutely delicious!
    Stacie P.

    I've been here several times and they never disappoint. Very friendly staff, delicious menu selections, and comfortable atmosphere. This has been an excellent addition to Waterville! I highly recommend the street tacos (flavor changes daily).

    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!

    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.

    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

    Paella

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

    My go to in Waterville for drinks and appetizers; features a calm welcoming atmosphere with excellent service.

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great service! The food is local, and their seasonal cocktails are tasty. A great downtown spot.

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Excellent food and wine. Cordial staff and very nice atmosphere. Highly recommend for business or nice dinner out.

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Best gluten free options in Waterville - including gluten free French fries! Great service, lovely atmosphere, great menu.

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Can count on Gluten Free service, including the Fried Chicken

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    4 years ago

    I've been a handful of times now for dinner and happy hour and it's always been a very good experience- food, service, and ambience!

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    4 years ago

    Great food! The service is excellent and the atmosphere and the ambience is very relaxing

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    4 years ago

    it was a lovely place with great service and delightful food

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    4 years ago

    Without a doubt the best restaurant in the Augusta/Waterville area. I go once a week.

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    4 years ago

    Great food, beautiful place and service was excellent. We went for brunch and had a variety of food. So happy to have found this place!

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    4 years ago

    Great place. Very good service and personable staff. Will visit again when I am in town.

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    5 years ago

    Great menu wide variety of special appetizers.drinks were pricey but good. Love the big bar

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    Page 3 of 4

    Ask the Community - Front & Main

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    Purple Cow House Of Pancakes - before....

    Purple Cow House Of Pancakes

    3.6(146 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    •$

    The only positive was the lobster roll was good. But pretty hard to botch a lobster roll. I would…read morethink the same for my bacon, egg, cheese on English muffin. ANYONE can make that. Nope. First bacon had a hair on it. Then replacement meal muffin soggy. Egg fried to death, cheap shredded cheddar cheese, and two sad, hardly cooked pieces of bacon. All yours for $8.49! Service was indifferent at best. Waiting to pay at register at front, four different staff went to register and walked away. I waited, and waited. No acknowledgment. No "hey someone will be with you in a sec." They were not busy either so no excuse. Not worth money or effort to go here. Look elsewhere.

    Went on a Thursday to get a lunch. Was just under an hour til closing but several tables had people…read moreand some were waiting for meals and the staff greeted us and said come on in. We don't usually like to go so late as feel it's a little rude as they are trying to close up but they insisted we sat. Had not been here for years, we live away, but was looking about the same and menu was as well, just a lil higher prices as all places have gone up over the past few years. Wife ordered a grilled chicken sandwich w/fries and I got turkey platter and onion rings. Staff was great and attentive. When the meals arrived, we noticed her fries were room temperature and very limp, they are homemade type. The waitress said they are that way "depending" on who the chef was. She could tell we weren't happy with that answer and offered fresh ones, and we said great. My platter was def large and full. Was advertised as like a Thanksgiving platter, but the cranberry sauce was not on it as in menu description. The mashed potatoes were good but the gravy was very salty, seemed anyways. The turkey was breast meat but was 3 or 4 slices about 1/16-1/8", very thin, served over a lot of stuffing and covered w/gravy. The stuffing reminded me a lot like Stove Top. The onion rings were really good tho. Wife's sandwich looked like it was "pressed" before served, was a burger type bun, but flattened, thought was odd. The fresh fries that were brought out were much better than prior ones. Place was clean and welcoming, service was great but the 2 meals and one drink was $44. Thought a lil pricey for what we received but hey, that's pretty typical prices as we found on our visit to ME. So, would I recommend for lunch, maybe not so much, the breakfasts I have had in the past and what I saw, still Looked great. Would go again, but for breakfast, was not happy with the lunch meals tho.

    Photos
    Purple Cow House Of Pancakes - Exterior

    Exterior

    Purple Cow House Of Pancakes - Egg not fully cooked

    Egg not fully cooked

    Purple Cow House Of Pancakes - Turkey platter

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    Turkey platter

    Bintliff’s Corner Brew - Crab cake Benedict

    Bintliff’s Corner Brew

    4.8(58 reviews)
    23.1 mi
    •$$

    My parents had raved about their previous experience here and wanted to bring us. We did arrive a…read morelittle later than open on Saturday and it was quite a long line. So firstly I would recommend showing up early or to expect a wait especially on weekends. Also related to this their space is quite small it can be a little chaotic with finding a spot to sit. Despite the small space they have made sure it is very beautifully designed and amazing vibes overall. Makes sense why it is so popular honestly. We snagged some of their outdoor seats and enjoyed the nice weather with our breakfast. They have a good mix of sweet and savory and talking to some others in line they said you honestly can't go wrong with anything on the menu. They have a great amount of coffee drink options too and when you order a large they are not lying, it is huge. I finished mine during breakfast but my wife and mother got theirs in a to-go cup before we left and looked like a normal sized large still. Food wise I felt like I had to try their Blueberry French Toast and it did not disappoint, great take on the dish. Only real complaint I could say is I would prefer a little thinner slice of bread so it can soak a little better but no real complaints. My wife got the Librarian Omelette (minus mushrooms) and it was large and jam full, they did not skimp on ingredients. Her only real complaint was some bacon was thicker than she prefers but again minimal. If you are looking for a spot to grab some delicious breakfast and/or coffee in central Maine this should be near the top of your list. From the overall vibes to quality of drinks and food you will likely have a difficult finding a better spot.

    We tried Pistachio Chai latte, Chicken wrap and Toast. Chicken wrap was decent and the toast was…read morebaked in house. The toast came with complimentary jam and tasted delicious. The Pistachio was too sweet for our taste.The vibes and the energy of the cafe is amazing. It offers scenic view to dine outside.

    Photos
    Bintliff’s Corner Brew - Coffee service area

    Coffee service area

    Bintliff’s Corner Brew - Blueberry Mascarpone French Toast

    Blueberry Mascarpone French Toast

    Bintliff’s Corner Brew

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    Front & Main - bars - Updated September 2026

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