The River Jack Tavern

Stopped in with a couple friends. To be honest, because we were walking by and it smelled so good!…read more We had a short wait but not too bad. The drink menu is expansive. One nut free, one dairy free friend. Plenty on the menu for each of us. They opted for crab cakes with veggies. I got the seafood pot pie. We split a creme brûlée. Everything was absolutely delicious! Not cheap but fair prices in today's economy. Friendly, proficient waiter.

So much character in this little pub off Main St!! Damariscotta is an adorable, quaint little…read moreharbor town and this pub fits right in. Whether it be for lunch or dinner the patio or one of the 2 floors of dining room seating are both excellent choices. There is nice bar seating on the patio that looks out theu the alley right to the harbor. This is where we chose to enjoy some suds and cocktails ! Friendly and helpful waitstaff make you feel right at home. The kicker??.... a cup of plain M&M's as a sweet treat with your bill

Sign

Chocolate Mousse

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Front & Main

4.4(127 reviews)

3.4 mi

I ordered tacos they were very good. Loved the ambience etc. I am looking forward to being in town…read moreagain and visiting this place. So I'd recommend this place for sure. The service was uneven. One bar tender was amazing the other was too busy chatting with people to do his job. (He was new, and clearly doesn't get what the mission is.)

Best expresso martini in townClean ingredients nice and smooth no alcohol taste not to sweet.read more

Dining room

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Mainely Brews Restaurant & Brewhouse

3.4(153 reviews)

3.2 mi

We started with the seasonal drinks, an Autumn Margarita and a Downeast Cider Donut with cinnamon…read moresugar rims. The margarita was very good even with house tequila. My husband is a fussy drinker and he liked it so thumbs up on that. We also had the poutine which was good, not great. It was a little cold in spots. I had the chicken street tacos which were really good. Nicely spiced without being hot. My husband had the bbq pulled pork topped macaroni & cheese which he thought was excellent. Our server was very nice and speedy. Would definitely recommend for a casual dinner spot.

Neat "underground" bar & restaurant that leans more to a bar / local pub hangout. Pool table,…read morevarious "theme" nights including trivia night & live music etc... The drinks were reasonably strong & yummy, as was the food. Had a coconut margarita, fried cheese curds & the taco special, all were delicious.

Coconut Margarita & Sunny Sparkler (back) yum!

Carne Asada Tacos special - delish!

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Coconut breaded Haddock with fries and slaw

The Lakeshore House

4.4(45 reviews)

48.2 mi

On the way to Moosehead area I found the Lakeshore House and decided to stop…read more Started with a drink, could say that a "splash of Cran" was a bit more than that. The place was very busy with locals and got a seat near an entrance, for two, where everyone walked in from the streets idea entrance and would wait for the hoatess/waitress to be seated. Not an ideal.place to sit. The food was decent and well cooked. I had the scallops special and wild rice, both were delicious but I would have liked to have had a vegetable with the meal, that was about $26 The fried shrimp were large shrimp with the tails left on and the side of coleslaw was large chunks with little to no dressing. The fresh cut fires were a plus. The waitress was strung out, all ovwr the place, but very pleasant. This is a local "watering hole" and it has a welcoming vibe. Would atop again but saw other places that id like to try fist before going back.

What's great is that its atv/sxs access.....the atmosphere was great with outside dining by the…read morelake, the service was great, and the food was delicious. If your in the area, and need some good food, stop on in.....side note, the pizza my friend got looked amazing as well!!

View from the Lakeshore Restaurant. Feb. 2025

Baked Scallops and Rice. Very tasty.

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View from the outside seating area at the pub/restaurant.

Old Mill Pub

3.4(93 reviews)

13.5 mi

Old Mill Pub is always a nice place to go, good food and a good atmosphere! Sitting on the balcony…read moreis also a ton of fun. Service has also always been good!

We waited 40 minutes for our food and when it came a chicken sandwich and fish were overdone and…read morethe fries were undercooked. We all ate because we were starved and it was getting cold outside. The food was steaming hot, so it felt like they forgot our order and hurried to make it. An extremely disappointing evening, especially since we drove 30 minutes to get there.

Entrance and Lower Bar Area

Drinks Front

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Menu Back

Myrtle Street Tavern

4.2(27 reviews)

41.5 mi

Had an epic time at the Myrtle Street Tavern last night! Bartender Todd was a terrific host:…read morefriendly, helpful and efficient. He recommended the seafood chowder which was incredible--so packed with seafood that my spoon could stand on end! At 8 pm a band started playing and the bar started rockin'. Patrons were a mix of regulars and first-timers like me; very friendly.

Great drinks! Chris the bartender is awesome. Try the burgers and fried pickles, the food is good…read morealso.

Just the bar

Tuna melt - awesome, onion rings, ok

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Blueberry Lemonade

The Thirsty Mule

4.1(36 reviews)

6.0 mi

Stopped in because a concert we went to at an outside. Venue hit was boring rain…read moreThe fish tacos and blue burger, and an appetizer of stuffed mushrooms. It was really good our service excellent I would say I love my fish tacos, but they needed something nice to me. The flavor was spicy that fell a little flat with the fish was cooked really well. My husband loved the blue burger and said his fries were excellent. We also really loved the stuffed mushrooms, which are stuffed with a spinach and artichoke dip with some crunchy bacon on top. The mushrooms are large, so it's a very filling appetizer. Have a great time watching the Red Sox and the folks that are here and drinking our great locals I recommend this restaurant definitely worth stopping in

The wings are some of the best in the area make sure you order the Mule sauce. nice atmosphere and…read morefriendly staff. Highly recommend.

Interior

Stuffed mushrooms

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Fish tacos

Doolin's Pub

4.7(40 reviews)

35.4 mi

We stopped in randomly and loved it. The service was warm and friendly…read more Everything we ordered was delicious. We had nachos with beef, fried pickles and chicken tenders. If you're in the Litchfield area, or at the Golf course this is a great place for lunch/dinner.

Every time I've gone to this restaurant the food has been fantastic. The Bloody Mary's are amazing…read moreespecially on their brunches and their hash is homemade, it's absolutely wonderful I can't Rave about it enough. The service was always good and the clean atmosphere is perfect.

Bloody Mary's

Nacho's and fried pickles.

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Chicken fingers

Pickford Pub

5.0(1 review)

56.8 mi

The Pickford pub is an upscale bistro and bar located in the Loon Lodge Inn and Restaurant. The…read moremenu is the same as the Lodge's main dining room. The food is excellent! The chef makes dressings, deserts and everything on site. There is an extensive bar with seasonal cocktails and a friendly bar tender. I had the Caprese salad and fish tacos, with a strawberry basil margarita. Everything was sublime. Great place to stop for a drink after a day on Rangeley Lake, you can get there by boat and dock at the Loon Lodge Inn dock. The decor is rustic and warm and there is a wonderful view of Rangeley Lake. Would definitely come back again.

Outside Pickford pub overlooking the lake

Steps to Loon Lodge from dock

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Loon Lodge dock and steps up to the building

You Know Whose Pub

4.2(5 reviews)

3.4 mi

Amazing pizza! Best pizza in Waterville area! Excellent…read moreservice! Unique bar ambience!

Went last night (01-12) for a b day party. Was a party of 12 on a friday night but that didnt slow…read moreany service down at all. The waiter was on the ball each and every time. Dis not have to wait that long a refill on refreshments at all. The pizzas we had, pesto,pepperoni,and bbq chicken were out of this world. There chips they have there are best in town also. Very much reccomend going again!!!

Norton Webber and Kevin - Past and present owners of the Pub!

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4 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Cody O.

Elite 24

285

447

1436

5 months ago

Stopped into The River Jack Tavern for lunch after a field visit, and I'm so glad we did. From the outside, the place has a unique, rustic charm, somewhere between a log cabin and a barn, but inside, it has all the warmth and comfort of a classic local pub. The wooden interior feels cozy and welcoming, and there's even outdoor seating with a beautiful view of the river. The staff was inviting from the moment we walked in, and our server, Shelly B, was absolutely on her game. Super friendly, quick with refills, and brought nothing but good energy to the meal. It made the whole experience even better. As a vegetarian, I really appreciated that they had solid meat-free options. I went with the Impossible Burger with all the fixings, and it was incredible - flavorful, fresh, and satisfying. They also had a great selection of beer on tap, which paired perfectly with the meal. The seating was comfortable, the atmosphere was relaxed, and overall, it was just a really great time. Highly recommend stopping in if you're in the Fairfield area, whether you're a local or just passing through. read more

Addison M.

0

1

0

3 months ago

I loved it here. this place had great food and even better customer service. whatever Shelly is getting paid is not nearly enough. she was so kind, patient, and funny. much love for her and this restaurant read more

Stephanie S.

7

8

0

2 years ago

Homemade delicious food reasonably priced- cool laidback setting- definitely recommend

Taylor C.

0

1

0

1 year ago

the food would be better drunk but the customer service was great, she was so sweet !!

The River Jack Tavern - pubs - Updated October 2026

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Mainely Brews Restaurant & Brewhouse

3.4

(153 reviews)

We started with the seasonal drinks, an Autumn Margarita and a Downeast Cider Donut with cinnamon…read moresugar rims. The margarita was very good even with house tequila. My husband is a fussy drinker and he liked it so thumbs up on that. We also had the poutine which was good, not great. It was a little cold in spots. I had the chicken street tacos which were really good. Nicely spiced without being hot. My husband had the bbq pulled pork topped macaroni & cheese which he thought was excellent. Our server was very nice and speedy. Would definitely recommend for a casual dinner spot.

Neat "underground" bar & restaurant that leans more to a bar / local pub hangout. Pool table,…read morevarious "theme" nights including trivia night & live music etc... The drinks were reasonably strong & yummy, as was the food. Had a coconut margarita, fried cheese curds & the taco special, all were delicious.

Lions Den Tavern

3.9

(64 reviews)

Really, really horrible food. Wings were undercooked and…read moreover-breaded. Sweet potato curry soup was not soup, it had the consistency of mashed potatoes. Ordered the kraut dogs and fries. Hot dogs came on buttered toast that was too large for no reason. The frozen French fries were the only saving grace of the entire meal. Drinks were passable, the poor wait staff and bartenders did their best with the limited menu and incompetent management.

Very mediocre food, at best…read more We stopped in for a late lunch yesterday. My wife ordered the chicken stuffed with cranberries, grapes, and brie. I went with crab stuffed Haddock, and we had a calamari appetizer. My wife's chicken was bland and the brie cheese was nonexistent. Also, her baked potato was brown inside. And my wife's cocktail wasn't prepared as advertised on the menu. My Haddock meal was equally lackluster. Our waitress never really engaged us or came back to ask how everything was (and the place was pretty dead, being mid-afternoon). I guess if you're coming here to drink, the subpar food won't bother you much. No return visit to the Lion's Den Tavern in our future.

The Proper Pig

4.0

(134 reviews)

Found this place during our road trip and decided to stop in for dinner with the family. It has…read moreoutdoor seating and is dog-friendly, so that was a must! They don't take reservations, and they don't have a waitlist you can join before arriving -- which almost deterred us since we'd been driving all day and the hangry monsters were in full effect. But we risked it and actually got seated right away. Service was great -- friendly and attentive, there just enough and exactly when you needed it. The cocktails were pretty good. I had the Proper Manhattan (Woodford Reserve whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Woodford Reserve chocolate bitters, garnished with a Luxardo maraschino cherry and orange wedge) and the Proper Pig (Crown Maple bourbon and amaretto, garnished with an orange slice and bacon). My dinner was great -- I opted for the Veggie Wedgie (house-made veggie black bean burger with fontina cheese, avocado, shredded lettuce, red onion, tomato, and a citrus chipotle aioli, served on a brioche bun), and I swapped the fries for a side salad. I also added on some mac and cheese, because you gotta be bad sometimes ;) I'd order all of it again! The others got the fried fish and fried shrimp plates and weren't as enthusiastic as I was -- they said the breading was a bit too thick. Overall, it was good, and I'd hit it up again if I'm ever back in town.

Excellent customer service! If they are busy (which is often all day on the weekends), they will…read moretake your name and number and will call you when your table is ready. Location - Great thing about their location is there are plenty of places to kill time while waiting for your table - local shops or Waterville Creates. We were there on a Saturday and we arrived around 2:30 for an late lunch/early dinner. To our surprise, there was a 25 minute wait! It's a popular family restaurant as well. It's a lot bigger inside than it seems from the outside. When you walk in, there are mostly high tables and a long bar with seating. Walk past the bar and on the right is a dining area with a lot more tables. We had 2 kids and 4 adults and we had plenty of room at a center table. There were booths along the wall. Our server was so great. So patient, and kind. She was great. She checked in regularly, our drinks never went dry. The food was excellent. We had the food for take out during the pandemic and thought it was ok. Having it in the restaurant - HUGE difference. I got the cheese curd burger without the top bun. My nephew loved his chicken wings, my niece loved her mac and cheese. We all loved our burgers and my bro-in-law liked his reuben. I loved the fries, they seemed more the "chips" from the UK - which I loved. Parking - street or on the concourse below Main Street. We will definitely be back.

Silver Street Tavern

3.7

(113 reviews)

Had a group of 12 on a Saturday night to accommodate with separate checks before an 8 PM Opera…read moreHouse show and had made a 6 PM reservation a couple of weeks in advance. SST managers, waiting staff, and kitchen handled the matter beautifully and we were all delighted with our meals. Beyond that, were out well before the 8 PM showtime. SST immeasurably contributed to our having a fantastic evening. I would definitely repeat the reservation next time. Thank you so very much!

One of my favorite places in Waterville. The menu is quite extensive with many many great choices…read more The food is absolutely great. For example, the onion soup is outstanding the calamari excellent. The burgers are away Sugar Sugar great, but the specialtyspecial items such as pot pie and other pubish style food is absolutely great and worth trying. The special drink menu was definitely worth checking out. The martinis are excellent. The beers seem to come out in frosted glasses, even in the winter. There is plenty of parking nearby. The venue is spacious and wide open with plenty of TVs. It was a great place to watch the Olympics.

The Villager Family Restaurant

4.5

(17 reviews)

Been going here since I was a child in the 90s with my mom and great aunt!…read more It's definitely a great breakfast lunch spot. Nostalgic, consistent, good service! Perfectly seasoned home fries, eggs just the way I like them and they also have takeout right next to yard goods a hidden waterville gem! Ambience casual, music perfect volume, temperature good.

Classic nostalgic feel to the restaurant. Waitress was attentive, friendly, on top of things. The…read morefood was great. I got the club sandwich. You get three choices of bread, no skimping on the meat. Comes with fries that are perfectly crisp and hot. Portion size was just right. Prices vary reasonable.

O'Brien's

4.0

(7 reviews)

Cozy spot with a large, varied menu. The pretzel bites were perfect, and the fish was well cooked…read more Breakfast was good, too! The staff was excellent all around.

We thought this was a stand alone pub. Turns out its inside a Best Western. We decided to try it…read moreanyway. It was a Saturday night with snow expected so it was pretty quiet, except for a large party with kids that were probably staying at the hotel. Pur server was pleasant. The menu is limited. We ordered a burger and fries and a ceasar salad with grilled chicken. The burger was decent. Cooked well, but nothing special. The fries were good! The salad was fresh, but the dressing was on the side, which is uncommon for a ceasar. The chicken was tough and chewy. It's wasnt great. Its not a bad place and the food was decent. I think your expected to pay at the bar, but our server took it for us. I probably wouldn't eat here unless I was staying in the hotel. If you want a simple meal, go for it.

Erica’s

3.9

(83 reviews)

Erica's is the best breakfast and lunch spot I have found in Waterville in the surrounding areas…read more It is excellent and a step above all other options.. The menu is very creative, very tasty and the specials are always new interesting and delicious. The service is great. Friendly and competent. The seating is ample and very spacious and it's spotlessly clean and the vibe is nice.

Erica's seems very popular with the locals and many were greeted as regulars upon arrival. I was…read morepleased with my meal of traditional corned beef and cabbage which was a large portion for lunch from the weekly specials menu. I was not happy when the two tables that arrived after me were both served their food before me. Hopefully this is an aberration. The concept of a flight of pancakes intrigues me and I will likely return one day to try it.

The Woodshed

3.8

(66 reviews)

Our visit at the woodshed today was excellent. The staff were super friendly and very helpful…read more I ordered the Jedi and it was delicious. My wife had the Ashley and that was good as well. The ambience is second to none. The gift shop is a must visit.

No. Just no. This was really bad…read more Two sandwiches (and very small, skimpy ones, at that) and mozzarella sticks was over $60! And it wasn't good, at all. First sandwich was a wrap with lettuce, tomato, bacon, jam and shredded cheese. First of all, there was more wrap than anything else. Second, one, ONE thin piece of bacon. And when you think of shredded cheese, you think melted. Nope. Just some raw shredded cheese. The other sandwich was pesto, tomato, mozzarella and balsamic. Again, just really skimpy, mostly bread and not good at all. Somehow, the balsamic tasted spoiled. I'm not even sure how that's possible. The mozzarella moons barley had any cheese in them. Again, like previously stated with everything else, mainly just breading. It's not good. And MASSIVELY overpriced. I cannot state enough this place is a massive scam.

Lori's Cafe

4.4

(83 reviews)

Small local diner we stumbled upon. The food and bakery items were fantastic and reasonable price…read more The waitress was very friendly and personable. The corned beef hash scramble was to die for. A must stop!

If you want to feel like you're eating at your neighbors for dinner, this is the place. It's…read morelike the Maine version of Cheers. The food is fresh made on site every day. You might catch a glimpse of Lori if she makes her way out of the kitchen. Make sure to try the cinnamon rolls and the dash donuts - YUM ! My go to is usually the lobster Benedict.

The Thirsty Mule

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