I had been to Slates a few times, many, many years ago when I lived in the area. It was always a treat to dine here. It was damaged by fire and I moved away before it was restored. We were visitng in the area and was so glad to see it and just had to go. We did not have reservations but the restaurant was able to accomodate us immediately even though the place was quite full. We chose the homemade hummus with feta and olives to start off. Fresh, delicous and a perfect start. For entrees we had the fresh baked haddock wrapped around a filling of crabmeat with roasted carrots and grilled zuccini. The fish was succulent and oh so melt in your mouth deliciousness. The sides were fantastic. The grilled flat iron steak was just a tad over the requested medium rare, but was tender and flavorful. The mashed potatoes and roasted carrots were the perfect accompaniments. All portions were generous. There was live music, subtle and soft, and it added to the enjoyment of our meal. Love the decor and the service was friendly and efficent. Parking can be a challenge but we found a spot across the street quite easily. We highly recommed and will return. Best to make a reservation in advance. read more

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Every time I visit the Pastry, breaksfast and lunch selections are so fresh and delicious. Can't say enough about Scapes, love this place the ambiance is always so comforting with the friendly staff and service. The view of the lake is so beautiful, and they're outdoor seating is perfect to hang out with friends. read more

We did not have a reservation, but they kindly took us since the summer rush is over. (I did say no to a high top upstairs, which seems to be the go-to for non-reservations, according to other reviews.) The food was absolutely phenomenal!!!! We had three specials (one app & two entrees) and every one was better than the next. I'm glad we did not say no to the bread that comes with the meal, since it was obviously freshly made and warm. And you must get a dessert - even if you have to split it - because it will be delicious!! We look forward to returning. read more

Came here with large family group and Realized we've been to slates for many occasions over the years funerals, graduations, get togethers. Food is overall good, service friendly, ambience is like being in someone's house. Good memories read more

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We came in for brunch with no reservation (oops) and were able to snag a table! The service was very friendly, and the decor is cute and quirky- very welcoming! I had the goat cheese, caramelized onion, and basil Eggs Benedict and it was perfection! My husband had the ham, mushroom, and Swiss Benedict and he absolutely devoured it. My son had the special walnut cinnamon roll, which was a little dry but really tasty overall. I highly recommend making a reservation for Sunday brunch, and we will definitely be back! read more

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Mom and I used to be regulars here way back in the late 90's early 2000's but then we moved away. Just moved local again and happy to be back! The menu is wonderful and such an adventure. Tonight I had the homemade linguini with tomatoes and basil. It was so light and refreshing and truly tasted like summer. We love the ambiance here. The colors, the artwork everywhere. The murals. The tea light candles and flowers on every table. It's such a sweet space. read more

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This is a very old establishment. The ambiance is rustic and comforting. We had a rather large group and the waitress did a very good job with taking the orders and getting drinks. We had a large amount of the group get the skirt steak and everyone said it was great. Several of us including myself got the haddock stuffed with either crab or lobster. This dish was extremely tasty and prepared very well. The sides that were included were plentiful and very tasty. They had one side listed as Thai coleslaw and I'm not quite sure what it was other than regular coleslaw. Really wanted to try the desserts but just had no room. read more

Our favorite restaurant in Hallowell. The elderflower Manhattan is my go to drink. The fish tacos are huge & delicious. Daily specials embrace local food. read more

Pretty much average food average service and nothing really stood out as great about the ambiance... would I go out of my way to go back? No! If I wanted to grab a simple bite sure.. I mean the food wasn't remarkable enough to waste taking pics so that should speak a lot... read more

This is a Mother's Day special review!!! Super cute edible flowers on every dish. My mom loves this place and we come for dinner all the time. So cute inside, quaint New England style home building with local art decor. Staff are always friendly. Thank you slates for celebrating Mother's Day!! read more

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Absolutely delicious! Great service! Dining on the patio with live music is a wonderful experience. Slates dinner specials are amazing! Everything we ordered was off the specials menu, which is as long as the "forever favorites" menu. We started with the caprese salad and then got the salmon special, which came with two sides, and the beef tenderloin and scallops special. The salad came out at the same time as fresh bread with a garlic dipping sauce. Both were great!! The salmon, with cracked pepper and a fresh Maine blueberry sauce, was very good. For the sides, we got the fried cheesy polenta and roasted carrots. Both were hits! The scallop and beef tenderloin dish with mushrooms over linguini was absolutely divine. For us, this was the best dish of the night. The scallops were cooked and seasoned perfectly. The tenderloin, mushrooms, and sauce were incredible. And the homemade pasta was a delicious base for it all. Definitely the type of dish I wish was on the permanent menu, but they have so many specials that I know there will be something else delicious next time. read more

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Dined here last night. The food was good, always has been. We didn't have reservations, we were told there was space at the upstairs bar, we opted for that. We got upstairs and noticed a vacant table, it was vacant for the 2 hours we were there. So because we didn't have a reservation we couldn't dine at a table? We decided to have desert, noticed the "Boom Boom" brownie and were told people say it's the best thing they've ever had....NOT. The brownie portion was hard as a rock, the brownie we bought at Hannaford was better.Moister and softer. This is a cool vibe restaurant ! read more

Went last night for the first time. Had an amazing dinner. Staff were super kind, friendly and attentive. The decor is super artsy and fun. The food was outstanding and reasonably priced. I had the great pleasure of Meeting Wendy the owner who started the place back in the 70's. This is a neighborhood gem. I'll definitely be back read more

Hands down the BEST restaurant in Augusta. I would even venture to say it's one of the best in the state. Everything is phenomenal, home made, fresh, and most importantly, well-seasoned. I see why on a Saturday the wait can be nearly two hours. Ambiance can be a bit loud, but there is ample outdoor seating if you prefer. There was also a musician singing sultry songs which was a nice touch. Service can be a bit slow, but that's to be expected with the crowds. As many yelpers have reported the fresh baked breads are simply delicious. I had both French and wheat. For dinner I tried one of the specials that change frequently: Baked haddock with mixed vegetables, rice pilaf, and sesame ginger kale salad. You know the food must be good when even the rice pilaf was banging! Nothing was left on my plate. The haddock was flaky but not dry and perfectly cooked. Now of course I couldn't go to Slate's without trying any dessert, and boy was I glad I did. I opted for the Chocolate hazelnut cheesecake and while it was rich and decadent, it didn't feel super heavy. In fact, I even thought about taking another piece home but then I reconsidered, because you know, calories and whatnot... This has hands down been my favorite restaurant in the state and I can't wait to return. Pro-tip: Call to make a reservation ahead of time. read more

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Growing up, this was my parents date spot when we would visit my aunt who lived in hallowell at the time. It was a bit mythical in my mind from their tales of it when they came home and I can't believe that it lived up to the myth, 35 years later! Just that alone makes this experience wonderful. We each got specials, the crispy haddock (which was fish and chips without the fries) for me and the steak au poivre for my partner. Both of us would get it again. The best part of the meal was the peanut butter fudge swirl pie, which was the best dessert I've had at a restaurant in years. I was not expecting much but it was whipped really well and didn't feel heavy, which is a miracle with peanut butter. We were upstairs, they ask if you can do stairs when making reservations. It's definitely eclectic in the decor and it felt like there was something to admire anywhere you looked. There was a large party next to us that were a bit loud- it was so quiet once they left. It's not cheap but it's worth it and it's been around for decades but it's not stuffy at all. read more

Popped into the area around 4:45 and was looking for a dinner spot with some interesting food items and space. Luckily saw this place was opening within 15 mins (they only open for about 3 hours a night lately!) and called for a table. Within seconds of being inside, we were brought to a table just beneath a heater on a cool evening, with plastic barriers on each side making me feel safe, comfy, and generally excited for the meal. Didn't know it but they are also a bakery! They brought out fresh bread with orange butter, such an interesting but novel combo for me. The bread was great. Ordered the mussels (delicious, not overcooked, and plentiful) as an appetizer, but since they came out after the main dishes, the owner said that they were on the house and that she would make sure it wouldn't happen again. Didn't even complain and they were so on top of making everything perfect by their own standards. The specials were all awesome with side dishes, and my steak + sauce and stuffed pasta was everything I had hoped for. Unique takes on flavors and really great quality. Would come all the way back here just to feel at home again in this little spot. Wishing them the best! read more

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My kids had a wonderful day and I promised them dessert so we headed to Slates bakery. I can't rate the food because we never made it inside. As soon as I parked a lady approached my car, walked around peering inside, pointed at a sign that says "parking for slates customers only", and then approached my driver side window. I rolled the window down and she asked if I was going to Slates. I said I planned to and asked if they were still open and she said they were. She said parking was for customers only. I closed my window and decided that if that's how they treat prospective customers then I didn't want to be a patron. I ended up going across the street to The Local Scoop and got my kids ice cream. The Local Scoop is wonderful. Skip Slates and go get ice cream instead. read more

Slates is unique. From the handwritten menu to the wide selection of dishes to the music. I have never had a bad time or a bad meal at Slates. The service is always excellent, and I think many of the staff have been there a long time. We always find something we like on the menu, but we never know what it might be because it changes all the time. The seating outside is very cute. If you are in Hallowell, you need to try Slates. read more

This may be the restaurant with the most character I've ever been too. The decor was so homey and original (local art for sale on the walls), the owner (or manager) of the place came to our table to greet us and recommend us daily/special dishes and was so friendly and warm-hearted. Needless to say, the food was SUPERB. I got the Cajun haddock w mashed roots and balsamic cabbage, all the flavor was wonderful and cooked perfectly. A gem in a small town. read more

Slates Restaurant & Bakery - Cajun Haddock, Balsamic Cabbage, Mashed Root, Ginger Pear Margarita - Bakeries Near Me - Hallowell, Maine

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Excellent food - had brunch with a group of 7 and every one of us loved our meals. Good coffees! Fun eclectic decor and friendly staff.

I went to Slates for Sunday Brunch this morning. I ordered the Maine crab cakes. It came with 2 crab cakes, 2 eggs, home fries, and 2 slices of toast. The food itself was decent, though I was hoping that the crab cakes could've been better. What really makes this place great is the atmosphere and decor. The restaurant is filled with local artwork on the walls and even the tables are hand-decorated in a tasteful way. The color scheme is vibrant and put me in a good mood as soon as I walked in. I came to Slates at probably the busiest time of the week, and I was extremely fortunate to not have to wait for a table. As soon as I sat down, a line of people waiting for tables formed. Service was kind of slow, but I can cut them some slack since there were a lot of customers to serve and I don't think there are that many workers at this restaurant. At least the waitress was pretty friendly. Overall, I would definitely recommend Slates to anyone looking for a brunch or lunch in the Augusta/Hallowell area for its unique atmosphere more so than the food. If you're going here, just know that you might have to wait a little bit for your food or a table if you're going at a busy time. read more

Slates Restaurant & Bakery - Maine crab cakes with sunny side up eggs, home fries, and toast for Sunday brunch - Bakeries Near Me - Hallowell, Maine

The drinks are fabulous and the ambiance terrific. However, only having high top seating is ableist, and the service the last three times I've been has been painfully slow. read more

Fine dining Great atmosphere Good service Good cuisine Never fails to satisfy Follow protocol for virus read more

Lovely atmosphere, exquisite food, and charming service! The interior of the restaurant is so inviting and the food pairs right along with it. A wonderful dining experience all around. read more

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Music and food was spectacular! Lots of choices and everything was fresh. Drinks were generous and prices were decent. We sat outside in the patio and it was a perfect evening! read more

We sat at the bar and had the jarring experience of watching out food be prepared. everything appeared to come out of unmarked reused unlabeled plastic containers. and the food mirrored the same. The mussels and the broth were unremarkable- so much so that we sent them back without even finishing them or the dipping bread. The pasta specila was a tasteless conglonitatoon of spinach pesto, walnuts: missing both the crabmeat and haddock promised in the menu write up. it was a sad melange of tasteless bowl-mates. The flank steak was fine, not great, it did not have lasting flavor and was topped with a butter that had seafood overtones ( a little worrisome for some one with a seafood allergy.) I ordered my Irish whiskey without whipped cream yet it came with heavy cream mixed into the coffee. It had an odd aftertaste taste, actually undescribable, although I had my husband taste it, and he too, could not label it. Service was fine, not great. I did not feel noticed, but I was acknowledged when I waved the bartender over. There was no manager on the floor, this is our fourth visit, and we have never been approached nor noticed a manager interested in our experience. We did see a man come out one time who appeared to know some people at the bar and chat away. He then turned his back and walked into the back of the house. Who knows? read more

Excellent dinner at Slates, love the vibe of the place, the diverse menu, and very welcoming service, our waitress tonight was great! Stuffed mushroom appetizer, pan seared scallops, and most excellent lobster stuffed Haddock, great! read more

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We were warmly greeted at the door when we entered Slate's. We were given the regular menu plus a printed sheet full of specials. We were waited on quickly. So where does the bad start? The warm bottle of water delivered to our table should have been an indicator but that was offset by a few delicious pieces of fresh bread and infused oil. Ok. So far. Then our meals were served. My friend and I both chose the fresh baked haddock with crabmeat from the regular menu . The haddock was almost floating in a puddle of what I could only call fish water - the stuff you let drain off when you lift a piece of baked fish from a pan. It was so bad that I spooned it off onto a side plate before even the first bite. The dish didn't get any better from there. The haddock was dry and although I could see the crab, the flavor was indistinguishable from the rest of the fish. The cheese was more of a glob on the side and the overall flavor just not appetizing. Tonight's sides included mashed potatoes and balsamic cabbage and a couple of other choices. The potatoes were full of large lumps and barely seasoned. The cabbage, on the other hand, was over seasoned with the balsamic. It was so tart that it was almost inedible. Other than the bread, there was nothing positive I can say about our meals. We could have mentioned any or all of this to our server but she never checked in on us. As she took our plates, my husband mentioned the overpowering cabbage. Maybe she didn't hear but our server didn't give a response - not "sorry", not an "I'll mention this to the chef". She just walked away. The meal was over so it couldn't get worse, right? Wrong. As I was removing the napkin from my lap, I noticed a gritty dust on both the napkin and my lap. There was a piece of foam under the table that was disintegrating. (Was this to keep one from banging there knees? No idea why this was there.) We each had a drink but no appetizers nor dessert. Our bill was over $120 for three of us. For this amount, I would have expected much higher quality and better service. Just a total disappointment. read more

Still Insanely overpriced despite all the drama, or perhaps bec of it. There are now so many more atmospheric places in Hallowell etc. Forget it. read more

worst place ever to get food, if you come in and they don't like the way you dress they just ignore you and will provide service to your group but will ignore you. when asked if service would be provided they rudely said no we won't serve you in the rudest manor possible!!! how they are still in business is astonishing and absolutely baffling!!! you would think a sleevless shirt on a summer day would be acceptable but clearly not to this establishment that clearly over charges the people who will tolerate them to make up for all the people that won't come back due to the attitudes and the way they treat people. if I could give a lesser rating I would. if you want a great experience go anywhere else but here!!!! I've had better service from McDonald's read more

This is our preferred go-to for Friday night dinner after work. Drinks are always creative and tasty, and meals are as well. Homemade pasta is fabulous, though would like to have all pasta dishes have a chicken option rather than just shrimp. Waitstaff is always top notch. Sunday brunch is fabulous as well. The last few times we got a lemon square for desert (we share one) it was overcooked and dry. Lemon should be thick and rich, this was hard like the crust on the bottom. Everything else is great. read more

First time here with my relatives. Great bohemian atmosphere and mellow acoustic string music in the background, coupled with seafood specials make this place worth my return visit. The menu selection seem to be all American dishes with good influence on Italian and French. Good selection of savory dishes, meat and seafood. I would be happy with any of the entree dishes but opted for the special of the day - seafood medleys (lobster, muscles, sea scallops) herb Provençal The service is relaxed pace but attentive and creative at times. That makes it interesting to watch the wait staff and patrons interactions. I thought the parking was a little tricky on the street but there is a free big parking lot behind the building. read more

Slates Restaurant & Bakery - Seafood herb Provençal - Bakeries Near Me - Hallowell, Maine

This quaint eaterie offers a descent menu, good service and manage a bustling restaurant. read more

Slates Restaurant & Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Hallowell, Maine

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Mmmmmm! An impromptu brunch led to one of the best meals I've had at a "new to me" venue in quite a while. Frittata and fruity French toast (yes they have food that does not start with the letter F) were part of the brunch specials. We had to wait a while for food to come out of the kitchen, but that was quickly forgotten. Compliments to the bar, the wait staff and the kitchen (burp). read more

Slates Restaurant & Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Hallowell, Maine

Coming to Augusta, everyone recommended this place. So it was definitely one I had to visit. Came here on a Friday night for dinner and it was great. It was not busy, we got seated right away. They had a live musician so that was refreshing. Our waitress was very present and friendly. I had the prickly pear margarita: this was surprisingly good. I'm always up to tryinging something new and this was it. Highly recommended. For entree I had the Cajun haddock. Now in all fairness, I have had my fair share of Cajun haddock and salmon and this was different. The white sauce made it a whole lot better. The curried quinoa salad was really good, had a kick to it. I came and tasted and was glad to come. Next stop will be to visit the bakery next door for some of the amazing pastries I have heard about. read more

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A friend recommended Slates and this place does not disappoint. They were quite busy for a Thursday night, but they sat us at a cozy table right away, ordered the mussels for an appetizer, and they were plump and delicious. They had been cooked in a white wine garlic maybe a hint of pesto. Outstanding. ordered the haddock and lobster entrée which melts in your mouth. Hot fudge sundaes for dessert with homemade ice cream, hot fudge and almonds that they toast them selves. Highly recommended. Our waiter, Richard, was gregarious and attentive and also provided some of the history of why this place is so unique and special. Can't wait to come back! read more

My wife and I had been wanting to go here for some time, so today, we did. We were not impressed by the food, as it was clearly lacking seasoning of any kind- I had the chicken salad croissant and while the bread was fresh, the rest was tasteless. The chips I had with the meal, although packaged, provided the salt it desperately needed. Wife had the chicken pot pie. No complaints other than the overwhelming amount of cheese in it. Strange. The venue was friendly and so were staff members. The people make e place what it is, not the menu. However, the bakery is awesome so go there if you can. read more

First visit! Charming spot, outstanding service and very good meal. Nice surprise on our road trip. It's obvious why they've been able to stay in business for so long. read more

We love this place and go there often. If you are in Hallowell, do your self a favor and stop in. I haven't found any item that wasn't top notch. read more

This place is always busy, so that must mean something... and I can partially agree with it meaning good things. The people that work there are fairly nice, the food is decent, and the decor is nice. The lobster bene was quite good - nice hunks of meat and the sauce was pretty good. They also didn't overcook the eggs, and that's a major plus. The seafood chowder, on the other hand, was bland and barely had any seafood (it was more like potato soup). The tuna salad sandwich was fine, but nothing to write home about. The issue is that their bakery is not really that great. The bread is just dry... and that goes for the white and the wheat (as those are the only two I've tried). Not sure if they are just using older bread or if that's how it comes out, but it's just not my style. Anyway, in the area, I'd much rather go to Liberal Cup to eat and drink. read more

Slates Restaurant & Bakery - Black pepper Bloody Mary - nice and spicy. - Bakeries Near Me - Hallowell, Maine

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