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    Salt + Pepper Social

    4.8 (22 reviews)
    Closed • 10:30 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Salt + Pepper Social Photos

    Business Info

    SALT + PEPPER SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Salt + Pepper Social

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    My delicious banh mi toast!
    Sireesha R.

    This is such a great place to stop on a coastal drive through Maine. Vegetarian/vegan restaurant but you won't miss the meat. The group got different things and every single one was great. Very sweet owners and super thoughtful with their menu. The banh mi toast was my favorite. The chickpea wrap was delicious also. I loved the ambiance the most- right on the water with seat yourself area out back - beautiful view of the water and just the right temperature in July. Highly recommend!

    Faux Lax toast.
    Steff D.

    An absolute haven if you're plant-based! It's so comfortable being able to walk into a business and know every single thing you buy, eat, or drink is vegan. The store is small, but there's a lot going on here! There were vegan meats and cheese and snacks and beverages for sale from brands I haven't heard of before (and that's a rarity for me now!), as well as a unique variety of things from brands I know very, very well (but had no idea they made _______ [fill in the blank]). For sure, BRING A COOLER. There's going to be so many things you want to bring home and try! The café itself offers a curated selection of baked goods, sandwiches, and open-faced toasts. I found the many baked goods we tried a bit dry for my personal liking; also, I'd recommend any of the sandwiches over any of the toasts (while I haven't tried them, they look more much more substantial in both size and portion of fillings/ingredients for what you're paying). The toasts are very, very small. The toppings, while flavorful and fresh, are also very, very minimal. Aesthetically speaking, they're absolutely Instagram-worthy! But for one thin slice per order, it's currently $9 to $16 (depending on which one you get); after a long wait for them to come out, we were just taken aback at how little food there actually was. Eating outside on their quiet, intimate patio overlooking the water in such beautiful minimalist-chic decor is an absolute vibe. I could see someone having an elevated rehearsal dinner or a sophisticated birthday here.

    Peanut butter and chocolate cake slice
    Sophie W.

    Taste wise the food was a 4/5. The Mediterranean styled salad was a good salad, however the roasted chickpeas were soft, not crunchy and the portions were quite small for the price. Presentation was beautiful though! We also got the chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and that was wonderful, definitely a 5/5, not too sweet with a perfect salt flavor. The service was good, the workers were nice, but you're probably going to have to wait a bit for your food. The building itself is very pretty with a coastal vibe. Definitely a good casual spot!

    Vegan raspberry lemon cake and iced chai
    Sheri M.

    Beautifully presented and delicious vegan food, on the water in Newcastle. We planned a day trip to the Newcastle, Damariscotta, Pemaquid Point area to do some site seeing and decided to give Salt + Pepper Social a try. It's located right before you get into Damariscotta and there was stress free parking in the lot. We walked into the brightly lit shop stocked with vegan specialty foods and ordered at the counter. They answered several questions we had about menu items and other items in the display case. We sat out on the patio which was covered by a clear sided tent and looked out at the water while we waited for our food. The chai is made in-house and was perfectly spicy---among the best chai I've had in Maine. The Bahn Mi and Pan Cot Tomate were beautifully presented, topped with edible flowers and micro greens and were absolutely fresh and packed with summer flavors. We shared a piece of lemon raspberry cake. The cake was dense, moist, and just full of fresh raspberries and raspberry lemon flavor. The service was prompt and friendly. We had such a nice experience that after site seeing we decided to stop back in for some vegan soft serve. We had the mint/chocolate twist. It was rich and creamy and the mint tasted like it was flavored with fresh mint leaves. I would challenge anyone to identify this soft serve as vegan. We loved Salt + Pepper Social and hope to return soon!

    Feta & Hot Honee

    S & P Social is a fabulous spot in Newcastle! The river view on the porch is stunning with ample seating! Our server Jess quickly became "family" as soon as we met! So enthusiastic, lovely and very attentive to our asks. Now the food, it is about the food right?! Our first time was lunch. We shared a muffuletta sando loaded with plant based salami & ham, beets, pickled veg and cheddar on fresh house made focaccia bread....perfect marriage of flavors and texture in every bite! Topped it off with a delicious, creamy, dreamy slice of coconut cream, strawberry heavenly cake! Of course, we came back for more a few days later with Pete's brother Geoff. We shared all the deliciousness of a starter, "Feta & Hot Honee"(house made feta and apple honee), then "Thai Beef Rolls" (braised lions mane steak, cukes, cilantro, p'nut with spicy chili sauce), "Spicy Crab Crispy Rice" (hearts of palm & chicken pea crab salad on a crispy rice cake with grilled avocado), "Broccolini Breadcrumb" (bright green Broccolini loaded with garlicky crumbs), "The Kofta Burger" (Impossible burger topped with tahini, chili sauce & mint on a bun) and lastly we finished the flavor party with a dish of creamy p'nut butter & chocolate gelato! EVERYTHING was SO delicious, so full of flavor, insanely wicked good and SO FRESH it slapped our tastebuds silly!! All Vegan, HIGHLY recommend this GEM!!

    Harvest Salad

    What an amazing experience! Let me preface this with a bit of personal info: my husband has medical nutritional requirements that make it difficult for us to eat out. Mainly he eats whole-food-plant-based no-oil/low-fat (along with some other requirements, but those are the most difficult to accommodate). When we arrived at Salt & Pepper, we briefly explained his needs and asked if they could be accommodated. The hostess (Jess, who was also our server) took the time to really think it through and offer suggestions so we decided to try lunch there. My husband ordered the Reuben without the cheese, mustard instead of the dressing, and on toasted sourdough instead of grilled. I had the Harvest tofu sandwich. It was so fantastically good, we made a reservation for dinner and Jess said the chef would make something special for my husband. When we arrived for dinner they presented him with a choice of hot or cold and brought him a delicious custom dish meeting his dietary requirements (no oil, a seeming impossibility everywhere we go). I had the Harvest Salad (I may have the name wrong - it had squash, pecans, and tofu feta). I am not exaggerating when I say this was the best salad I've ever had. The care of the staff and amazing food was seriously enough to make me almost cry with joy. I don't write reviews often, and when I do they are short and sweet, but I feel like I want to shout this experience from the rooftops and spread the word that this place is AMAZING!!

    View from back deck.
    Joe S.

    Beautiful location and view from the covered deck in the back. My wife requested a taste of an ice cream flavor before choosing, but was denied. "No tastes". A bit odd considering I had already bought something.

    Outdoor deck

    Vegan with a view! This modern cafe has lovely porch, delicious drinks, amazing food and friendly servers. Places like this make a long drive to Maine worthwhile.

    Crabby Eggs Benedict
    Jay K.

    Salt + Pepper Social is a hidden gem. Thankfully, I always consult my hand yelp! app and found S+P under the vegan filter. Walking into the store front, you immediately see a variety of goods, from frozen meals, take home ingredients, and well curated selection of cookbooks and accessories. We walked up to the counter and was greeted by a very happy staff member who helped describe the specials and some of the items in the store. So I ordered the Crabby Eggs Benedict, a coffee, and a very yummy looking apple cinnamon focaccia. i poured my coffee from the self serve coffee bar and made my way back to the dining area, a space outside surrounded by clear plastic curtains, cooling hanging lights, and a several tables. The apple cinnamon focaccia was good, loved the apples inside the focaccia, nice twist. When the Crabby Eggs Benedict arrived, I thought they had put a real egg on it. Wow, it is amazing the variety of vegan food products out there. They used the Yo Egg for the Benedict. Is was amazing, adding that extra dimension to the dish. The Hollandaise sauce was silky smooth and had a great flavor. I look forward to my next trip to S+P Social.

    Strawberry trifle desert.

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    2 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Business owner information

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    Shelby F.

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    2 years ago

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    Shelby F.

    Thank you, we have a new baker this year I hope you can revisit us

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Cozy environment, great view and service. A rhubarb tiramisu and frittata was amazing, want to go back for the dinner service!

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    Shelby F.

    Thank you! We hope you can make it in for dinner sometime soon!

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    3 years ago

    Cute vegan cafe with delicious food and sells some really unique/hard to find vegan products!

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    Shelby F.

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    Ask the Community - Salt + Pepper Social

    Butter Up Cakes - Cherry tart & pear coffee cake (both excellent)

    Butter Up Cakes

    3.3(13 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    I continue to be so impressed with the atmosphere and the friendly staff and owners. I have family…read moremembers who need to eat gluten free and the food is so delicious we all love to eat the same things. It has made our summer to have this convenient location with top quality food. The owners and their daughter go above and beyond to make sure customers are happy. This is a must stop when visiting our hometown in Damariscotta! My friends love when i show up with the surprise baked good of the day!! Thank you for making Damariscotta known for being a friendly and welcoming town!!

    If you are absolutely desperate for gluten free baked goods MAYBE you want to give this place a try…read morebut otherwise avoid at all cost. The food here is god awful. Even the non-gluten foods are mediocre at best. Total waste of money and barely edible. I can't help but wonder who is writing these 4 & 5 stars reviews‼ I do know for a fact that a negative review has been taken down because there was one here a week ago that's no longer here. Can't help but wonder about others...The food is atrocious yet 4 stars?? I'm a long time (30 year) gluten free person, not by choice. Back 30 years ago I was making my own gf baked goods, but the chemistry was early stages so most recipes didn't hit the mark. GF baking has come a LONG way since then, however not at this place--still dry and overly sweet, or wet and undercooked--most items barely resemble their description. To add insult to the injury of the expensive and surprisingly bad food, staff is unwelcoming and quite rude right out of the gate. Do yourself a favor--go to Wild Flour Bakery in Brunswick for FABULOUS GF baked goods. Or, if you're in Portland hit up Holy Donut for gluten free donuts that are actual donuts! YUM. Both are worth the drive!

    Photos
    Butter Up Cakes - Inside

    Inside

    Butter Up Cakes - All that was left after a busy morning (and pumpkin festival!)

    All that was left after a busy morning (and pumpkin festival!)

    Butter Up Cakes

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    The Alna Store - alna burger and red wine

    The Alna Store

    4.4(62 reviews)
    6.0 mi
    •$

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

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

    Photos
    The Alna Store - Market

    Market

    The Alna Store - Zucchini dessert....fantastic!

    Zucchini dessert....fantastic!

    The Alna Store

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    Salt + Pepper Social - vegan - Updated October 2026

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