I've honestly needed a few weeks to process this visit because of how disappointing it was. We made a reservation at The White Barn Inn Restaurant about a month in advance to celebrate my birthday, noting both the occasion and a simple seating request due to my husband's height. Upon arrival, we were initially seated in what felt more like a brightly lit, casual tavern or breakfast room, completely at odds with the refined dining experience we expected. Surrounded by families and very casual attire, it was confusing and frankly off-putting. After asking the host stand, we were eventually moved to the actual dining room, which was beautiful - dim, elegant, and exactly the ambiance we had hoped for. Service throughout the evening was polished and professional, and every dish was plated beautifully. Unfortunately, that's where the positives end. While we understand that tasting menus consist of smaller portions, each course, just two or three bites, was entirely forgettable. The flavors lacked balance and subtlety, which is surprising at this price point. The beef tartare in a cigar like wrapper was very mid. One of my early courses was a scallop dish, and the scallops were cooked so poorly they were the rubberiest I've ever had (an immediate red flag in a restaurant of this caliber). My main course, a tenderloin, arrived as an overcooked end piece. After sending it back and requesting rare, it returned slightly less well done, still an end cut, and completely overwhelmed by a salty, heavy red wine demi-glace that tasted more like something from a packet than a refined sauce. It was one of the least appetizing beef dishes I have perhaps ever had. The cheese plate featured Great Hill Blue which some might love but is available at my local Stop & Shop so didn't really knock my socks off, a boring cheddar and a third cheese I can't even recall. At a restaurant of this caliber, I was expecting a much more curated collection of exciting, super, stinky cheeses that one could not find at a chain grocery store. At nearly $700 for two people (with a few drinks and a multi-course menu), the experience simply did not come close to justifying the cost. The following night, we had a $200 dinner at Chez Rosa, the Little French bisto in downtown Kennebunkport. The meal there FAR surpassed this meal in both flavor and execution. Based on our experience--and what seems to be echoed in more recent reviews--the quality of the food here no longer matches its reputation or price point. This was meant to be a special occasion destination, but instead left us feeling frustrated and genuinely let down. read more

The White Barn is a place you go to have an experience and ours was a positive one. We ordered the blind chefs tasting, roughly 7 courses ranging in diversity from bite size to the main course. The food was creative and served at a good pace. The service was quite nice, it truly was a unique experience. I give it 4 stars simply because for the price, I'd expect everything to be perfect and there was on item in the tasting the neither myself nor my partner enjoyed as it tasted a little undercooked - it involved Lima beans. Other than that, I highly recommend this spot. Not a great place for kids. Dress nice and know that parking is easy. Settle in and enjoy a unique experience in a very pleasant ambiance. read more

The White Barn Restaurant - One of the courses in the blind tasting. A caviar crème fresh. - New American Near Me - Kennebunk Beach, Maine

We had an absolute five star dining experience at the White barn Inn restaurant. The service was impeccable and immaculate, and the food was simply outstanding. The wines by the glass were amazing and they even offered wines by the glass off the menu. The food simply just melted in your mouth and was creative and inviting with every bite. This is simply a must experience place if you come to the New England area and is worth every bit of the hype. read more

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Ive been coming here for years in part because I loved the food. Tonight was either very off or simply not good. In order: the sourdough bread was tough to chew and tasted stale. First courses started well: lobster bisque and mushroom risotto both great. But then tuna crudo was just ok and the new version of foie gras was so disappointing we had to send it back. Then the usually reliable beef tenderloin was overcooked (got medium well for a medium order) and had an odd flavor I can't quite explain. But as a beef lover it was the least good beef tenderloin I think I've ever had. Even the potato side was not good. The cherry souffle dessert and coffee were both tasty. But the pistachio ice cream sampled by several of us was not at all good - bitter and didnt taste like pistachio. For $175 a head i expect a lot more than this and now I wonder whether I will return again. So disappointed. read more

The White Barn Restaurant - Poached lobster - New American Near Me - Kennebunk Beach, Maine

We celebrated our 15-year anniversary at the White Barn Inn, and the entire experience was exceptional from start to finish. We were greeted by name with a warm "Happy Anniversary," which set the tone for a truly memorable evening. Our server, Peter, was outstanding - attentive, fun, and genuinely fantastic. The service was absolutely top-notch. We never had to wait for a thing... in fact, our glasses were refilled so quickly it became a running joke between us! It was that level of seamless, thoughtful service all night. The ambiance was magical and festive, with a stunning view of sparkling Christmas trees and a live pianist creating the perfect backdrop. We also appreciated the opportunity to dress for dinner, something that's rare in Maine. That elevated sense of occasion added to the overall experience and made the night feel truly special. The food was excellent, with just the right pacing between courses so we could savor each dish. The cocktails were delicious and wonderfully inventive. Dessert was presented with a dark chocolate plaque beautifully written with "Happy Anniversary," a thoughtful touch that made us smile. A beautiful setting, phenomenal service, and fantastic food. Highly recommend. read more

The White Barn Restaurant - Pistachio Black Forest pine smoked chocolate mousse, pistachio cremeux, cherry jelly, pistachio ice cream - New American Near Me - Kennebunk Beach, Maine

Step into a room where dinner is also a show. The dining room faces. The large window displayed with the holiday decoration. In the back is the piano playing during your dinner. As the servers being with welcoming you to dinner. Each course is then served at the same time with the servers in unison. The food is amazing! This is worth the splurge for a special occasion or special dinner. read more

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This is the longest overdue review.. 1. Best service in the state of Maine 2. Beautiful decor that matches every season (the garden is everything!) 3. Top notch food I couldn't love this place more! It's the perfect place to come for a special occasion or date night. I will say that the White Barn has never let me down when it comes to food. I've been many times and never gotten around to writing my review. They're always changing the menu and I find that the prix fixe dining menu is more than enough food. I'm sure the chef's tasting menu is phenomenal but you'd probably have to roll me out to valet. Menu item that I truly remember and enjoyed was caviar on a crispy potato - such rich flavors and the potato was cooked to perfection. The desserts are to die for and if you're with a group, I suggest you all order different ones and share! You'll end the night with some delicious chocolates which are so so so good. My favorite part is that they send you off with some sort of token to remember the night! read more

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This review is a tightrope walk between exceptional food and attentive service against a main waiter who was underwhelming. First of all, the name "White Barn Inn" raises very high expectations. The connection to the Auberge Collection of properties as well as its widely held reputation reflect a very high end restaurant. Think New York City's finest but inside a Maine barn, a very charming and quaint Maine barn. Honestly, the White Barn Inn is one of the most attractive dining rooms I have ever seen. It is not elegant however. Rather, it is rustic, historic and unique. The chairs are, without a doubt, the most comfortable I have ever sat in. It comes with all the trimmings including live piano music and a new replacement linen napkin EACH TIME one of us left the table. That is pure class! From the moment we drove onto this property, the staff was accommodating, friendly and professional. Everyone stopped what they were doing to say hello to us as we passed. Training must be phenomenal because every staff member treated us exactly the same - like royalty. The assistant waiter, especially, was particularly good. She was formal but friendly, a balance that reflects maturity and skill. But the valet parking attendant, the hostesses and the bus staff were outstanding! The food was exceptional too. The menu is prixe fixe and there were a number of different choices in each category. Choosing was difficult because everything sounded great and, to be honest, everything I ate was fantastic. My spouse and I got the same appetizer - peeky toe crab with lemon panna cotta - INSPIRED! I did not want that appetizer to end. My main course was duck breast and the serving was unusually large for such a fancy restaurant. The duck, of course, was perfectly prepared. I devoured each bit and wished I had more. The one small negative comment I have is about our main waiter. He was good - let me start out by saying that. But, expectations are high in a restaurant such as this and, our main waiter nothing more than good. He seemed hurried and uninterested. He was not as helpful as I expected him to be. Is he a victim of the high expectations? Yes, probably, but in a restaurant such as the White Barn Inn, I expect the best and he just did not deliver. Still, I will not let the main waiter ruin our experience. We were very glad we went to the White Barn Inn and we will probably go back when we have an event to celebrate. read more

A gorgeous place, and well worth the splurge. Beautifully designed, immaculate service, and still quite comfortable wearing nice jeans and polo. We originally planned on the lobster tasting menu, because, well, lobster, and when in Maine... But after studying the menu, realized that we could have a very lobster centric evening, while making some personal choices and saving a little on price. That said, the prix fixe menu treated us very well. We both started with the lobster tagliatelle. I'm still a bit confused why they called the angel hair shaped pasta tagliatelle, but shrugging that off, the dish was delicious. We wished we'd asked for spoons, so we could get the last drips of that excellent sauce. Second course I did the lobster bisque, a superb rendition, not overly rich, just perfect deep flavors, and little chunks of lobster. Wife did the mini lobster roll and enjoyed it. I veered off lobster lane for the main and choose the beef tenderloin. It was a nice thick cut, perfectly cooked and richly sauced. The rectangle of pommes anna was a good counterpoint on the side. Wife stayed on lobster highway with the butter poached lobster. Gorgeously presented out of the shell, a beautiful lighter main. Finished with the cheese, a fun selection of four unusual selections, a nice choice if you're looking for something fun and less sweet. I'm not sure we'd return, just based on price, but it was a great evening. read more

Spectacular special event. A beautiful menu conceived and executed by Dabney Michelin Star Chef, Jeremiah Langhorne., with the White Barn culinary team. Each plate was artfully designed and magically delicious. Service was on top of every detail. Even the lighting is perfect, dark ambiance with a perfect spot of light over each table create a private dining experience, but a spotlight on each dish. Even met some local owners of a neighborhood vintage nautical shop to swap stories and elevate the evening. Looking forward to a return visit! read more

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I almost canceled this reservation because of the lackluster yelp reviews. I'm so glad I didn't. The restaurant is darling in its barn setting. The service was top notch and the wine list had a good variety. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and were pleasantly surprised by it. The venison duo, min8 lobster roll and lobster tagliatelle were our favorites. We didn't love the desserts. I think this was a lovely experience and we would recommend it. read more

I have to be painfully honest here because I always trust my fellow yelpers reviews. But I also like to support local business so I normally don't leave reviews if they are negative. BUT being that this place is SO EXPENSIVE, I have to be honest with ya'll. This place just did not live up to the hype. Candle light and fresh flowers on the tables. The server was very professional - so I will give them a 5 star review on her service. Ugh, when it comes to the food and drinks...this is where they fall short. All of the cocktails have like 20 ingredients in them. To me, unnecessary. Just give me a straight forward drink. I don't need fancy foam and maple sugar candies in my cocktail. I got a maple whiskey drink and it was soooo sweet. Tasted just like a maple sugar candy. The bread wasn't warm which, fine, but it just tasted like Market Basket rolls to me. My 2 year old wouldn't even eat the bread which is saying something. For the food. Started with the scallop and beef tartar. The scallop was fine. Beef tartar was odd. It was served in a tortilla roll up thing, I didn't taste the beef at all. It had a fish flavor to it. Not sure what was up with that. The mini lobster roll was ok, probably the best thing I had all night. The lobster bisque - eh it had a very funky lobster taste to it. I didn't like it. The most disappointing meal of the night was the lobster tagliatelle. First off, my lobster still had the green "mustard" in the tail. It was also overcooked. For $175 PER PERSON, please do better cleaning my lobster out. I don't want to do it myself. The pasta was hard. It tasted like 2 day old boxed pasta that I microwaved. My husband and I had the same thing. We each took a bite and just looked at each other. Immediate disappointment. For an $800+ price tag for 2 adults and 1 child, I expected my socks to be knocked off. They were not. The dessert cheese plate was fine. Chocolate fudge sundae was sooo rich I couldn't eat more than a bite and I like chocolate. Best thing of the night was the Caesar salad that came with my son's meal. Sorry to have to post this, but again, I trust my fellow yelpers before I commit to this kind of price tag for one meal. read more

Wonderful experience. Great ambiance, excellent menu and food, great wine pairings and hospitality top notch. Peter was excellent. Only thing that left a bit of a sour taste was the unexpected $45 charge for truffle shavings on the risotto. Perhaps this was mentioned somewhere in the menu however when the server bringing out the dish offers it to you like they were grating parmesan on pasta it was certainly not obvious that this was an additional up charge. This seemed to me excessive and really not indicative of the class of service and meal we otherwise received. Otherwise everything was very special. read more

What happened to the White Barn??!! First off, I've been to the White Barn several times in the past and the food was always excellent. Yes, it is pricey but I don't mind paying for good food. This was not the White Barn I remember. First off, the tasting menu on their site doesn't even resemble the actual tasting menu so that was disappointing to start. The crab tart appetizer was ok but not memorable. For the scallop course , my scallops weren't even seared and the sauce they came with was nondescript and bland. The main course...lobster and pasta...was horrible. Maybe 3-4 bites of rubbery lobster, pasta from a box, and a brown bland sauce. Did I mention each course was tiny including the main course? The dessert was also underwhelming ...some kind chocolate cake that tasted like cocoa and sugar..blech! To end the meal they came out with 2 pieces of waxy chocolate that I swear came from a Whitman Sampler and a sugar cookie that tasted like a left over Walmart Christmas cookie marked down by 75%. All this...umm, food?... for the price of $200/plate. Oh, and the coffee was not drinkable...burnt and just nasty tasting. It really was that bad ! read more

If I am paying this kind of money for dinner the food needs to be DIALED IN. Duck was not rendered well at all and was not that impressed with all food be honest. read more

The experience of fine dining in a rustic setting has always been an oxymoron to me. The White Barn Restaurant has surprisingly surpassed all of my expectations. After we gave the car to the valet, we walked into the hotel. We arrived early so the hostess brought us to the hotel sitting area. A very nice room with a tastefully crafted Scrabble board. There was a fireplace lit because there is always a little chill in Maine. Once the restaurant doors opened, you're faced with their incredible bar selections. All the typical bourbons and well rounded Scotch choices, After speaking with the bartender, I ordered a Gin Martini. The White Barn restaurants offers plenty of Gin choices, I see Tom Cat Gin on the shelf. Tom Cat is something I drink at home so I chose a dry 3 olive Martini made with Plymouth Gin, stirred not shaken. The Restaurant has an amazing menu. It's a four course price fixe menu. If you're feeling all New Englandy, there is a 6 course Lobster offering. If you'd like to pair your meal with a wine pairing, there is a $75 up charge if you so desire. Me? I'm happy with my starter Martini. The wait staff, very impressive with the entire presentation. We each had a waiter who brought our courses. Amuse Bouch: vichyssoise. Amazing pre starter. The salty roe made each mouthful pop. Very decedent. First Course: Beef Carpaccio on top of Bone Marrow. This dish isn't for everyone but it's total decadence. The beef flavor is so rich. If your adventurous, I highly recommend this dish. Second Course: Lobster Bisque. Silky smooth and I loved the large Lobster pieces that were in the soup. My choice of the Lobster Bisque was the perfect first course. Main course: Rack of Lamb Listen, Wolfgang Puck and other chefs can go scratch! I went to Stonewall Kitchen on this trip and bought a HUGE jar of mint jelly! This lamb was cooked soooo perfectly with the herbs, I do enjoy Mint Jelly when I cook Lamb at home, this dish was served with a lovely Au Jus. Just the perfect dish to order while dining at an elegant and rustic restaurant. What wasn't mentioned was, where the lamb was sourced? Was it from New Zealand or New Mexico? Regardless of its birth origin, the lamb was cooked and tasted like a AAA / 5 diamond meal. Last course: Chocolate Soufflé It's our anniversary and the chef wrote Happy Anniversary on our plates, nice touch. The Soufflé, again, a AAA dessert. My personal waiter cracked the top and poured vanilla creme anglaise in the center creating this wonderful warm and truly sinful dessert. Now we're all pretty satisfied at this point. The waiter asked if we're interested in a nice Port wine but I'm ready to tap out. Not today the chef said and sent over a small dessert tree. Each branch had small bites like Matcha Cookies, dark chocolate topped with a cranberry as well as shortbread cookies. We've dined at AAA restaurants in the past, The White Barn Restaurant has been the most memorable. read more

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If you are not a valued customer stay away!!!!! Been going to the White Barn as a treat for family and with friends for decades. Just there to propose having to sit next to a table that had much less than any fine dining restaurant sense in the volume of conversation would permit. It was clear these folks come to the restaurant often as the staff looked at my hoped to be fiancé and I as if we should shut the fuck up and should not be there in comparison. Asked to be moved to another table but as the room is so small and they would not ask the other table to speak quieter there was no place to get away. Asked to move to another room where we seemed to be fed with the staff.... Had to ask for the last courses of our $500+plus meal to go....; No consideration for the casual dinner over the regulars no matter how obnoxious..... I tried to propose to my girl friend and these idiots could give a shit..... If you are maga and love to spout shit this place seems to be your mecha now ...... good luck read more

This is a review of the fine dining segment (their breakfast offerings are good but are for guests only (also its quite pricey). The room is beautiful and has a real classy old timey feel to it. Service was impeccable and prompt from seating until the end of the evening with lots of attention to detail. They will usually have a server for each person so you don't need to wait while others at your table are served. The live pianist playing also really adds to the overall ambiance. For the fine dining segment they have a set menu that starts at $135 per person (as of 4/2021). There are some options that are additional to the $135 so make sure you read everything carefully! You pick a starter, soup, main course and dessert although they have canapes, bread and an additional end of dinner dessert they bring out so come hungry! Our starters: - Grilled octopus - Delicious flavors with a tender piece of octopus! - Maine Lobster Tagliatette - This was also delicious with nice chunks of lobster. Soups: - Lobster Bisque - Creamy and full of flavor! Really can taste that Crème Fraiche! - Broccoli Cheddar - This was also full of flavor and a must get! Don't let the broccoli in the name turn you off! The cheddar and crackers perfectly pair with the broccoli soup. Mains: - Pan Roasted Magret Duck Breast - this is has a decently SWEET glaze to it so if you're sweet adverse for a meal steer clear! The duck was perfectly cooked though I wish they gave a steak knife as it was difficult to cut through. - Miso-Marinated Maine Salmon - Perfectly flakey salmon and which went great with the included sauces. If you love Salmon definitely get this! Desserts: - Blueberry Cheesecake - So interestingly this is a deconstructed cheese cake (so it's served in sections layered on each other). Great flavor and not too sweet. - Brittany Shortbread - Must have for Matcha lovers (really strong Matcha here). The brioche roll that they serve is also phenomenal. Had to really try to avoid getting multiple helpings. It was extremely light and fluffy. All in all this was a great experience (if you can swing the price) and I would recommend anyone to try this place at least once! read more

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Our favorite restaurant in Maine! Our go to spot for special occasions. Great food and great service!

Not sure what was happening here. Servers were very polite & attentive. But never actually brought you anything. Lots of missed drinks and long wait times. Maybe blame the bartender?? Food was extremely boring. I could make better food at home. Very sad the wait staff was super friendly. Just missed the mark. read more

Incredible service except for the poor bus boy in training. The food was not worth the expense. It was so overly rich and creamy you couldn't even taste the seafood. And the company was incredibly stuffy but without class. read more

Oh man. We had really expected an outstanding experience and, sadly, this didn't deliver. My husband and I are still grateful we got to experience the White Barn Inn and, as tourists, would have left town curious about it if we hadn't tried it. The staff was professional and accommodating, especially our server. The space is also attractive and inviting. When we arrived, we were seated facing a large window framing some lovely flowers and greenery. The problem? Light through the window shone directly into my husband's eyes and he had to squint to keep his eyes open. When we politely asked to be moved (something we never request at restaurants) the staff was thankfully able to accommodate a switch. The new seats were much better for about 45 minutes, and then the sun was in MY eyes for at least 20 minutes. We didn't mention it to anyone but it is surprising that a high-caliber restaurant wouldn't invest in a solution for this to maximize guests' comfort. I noticed that at least 2 other tables were in the same line of site of the blinding sun. Sheer curtains would be lovely. Next, on the positive side, our drinks were great. I liked my cocktail and my husband enjoyed his glass of wine. The bread service was a nice touch, especially the butter with chicken skin! Bread service would have been a notch above if the bread were served warmed, but it was still very enjoyable. We chose the fixed price menu and our first two courses were pretty good, with my lobster roll with caviar and my husband's scallop being the standouts. Then came our entrees. My husband enjoyed his rabbit. I ordered halibut, a dish that has never failed me at any restaurant, and was honestly completely turned off by the taste (no searing, a wet taste with minimal seasoning on the fish). The pale pink congealed substance surrounding the fish (I think plum jelly) was just really unappetizing to me. I debated what to do but ended up confessing to the waiter a couple of bites in that I was really unhappy with my choice. He was gracious and they allowed me to replace my entree with the beef tenderloin. It had a great red wine sauce and delicious potatoes and veggies. (To the waiter's credit, I asked which fish dish he recommended before placing my first order and he recommended another one, not the one I chose.) For dessert, my husband opted for the cheese plate. It was a nice array. I chose the lemon soufflé of some sort and it was not remarkable but pleasant, light, and airy. They surprised us with a box of sweets, which was a very nice touch, as well as a to-go bag with some yummy shortbread. I would give 5 out of 5 stars for service. The manager stopped by to make sure I liked my second entree, even offering to bring me a third entree if needed. (Note that I would never have taken them up on that, but the sentiment was very appreciated.) Unfortunately, I would have to say 3 stars for ambience (would have been higher if not for the blinding light situation, so hopefully that is an easy fix) and food. I wish Yelp allowed reviews between 3 and 4 stars. read more

White Barn Restaurant was amazing. Amazing service, loved our wait staff who were attentive and friendly. The ambiance and decor were rustic and beautiful. We loved everything we were served...oysters, lobster, tuna ceviche, and chocolate apricot dessert. Great wine selection. The piano player was amazing as well. Will definitely be back. Highly recommend. read more

My lovely bride and I enjoyed dinner here over Labor Day weekend. We are serious foodies, and we agreed that this was the best fine dining experience that we'd had in many years. Service was impeccable - thank you Nathan and Tamara! Nathan was highly knowledgeable about the wines offered by the White Barn, and we settled on the 2019 Les Belles Cotes Sancerre by Roger et Didier Raimbault, which nicely complemented the seafood. My bride had the lobster tasting menu: lobster tagliatelle, lobster bisque, butter-poached lobster, and for dessert the peach soufflé. I ordered the beef tartare, Norumbega oysters, butter-poached halibut, and for dessert the baked Alaska. The prix fixe dinner ($165) included an amuse bouche, raspberry sorbet as a palate cleanser, and four different housemade chocolate truffles. The entire meal was absolutely stellar. read more

Was so excited for this experience but was sadly disappointed. I was greeted by "the manager" who quickly took me off my feet. She was fast to tell me the restaurant was "fine dining" yet the service said differently. Our female server was initially welcoming but then kinda forget about us. I felt I didn't belong and unwelcome. Very disappointing as it was intended to be my daughter's birthday celebration. read more

An incredibly unique and pleasant atmosphere with attention paid to details and food is very unique and beautifully presented. Great place for a special celebration. read more

The White Barn Restaurant is an upscale restaurant (their website describes the attire as "smart casual" with jackets being recommended for men) with a prix fixe menu. I had dinner here on 9/17/21 and the menu was their summer 2021 menu. Overall we really enjoyed our experience. The food was excellent, the service was superb and the ambiance was very nice. The only thing I would comment on was the price. For two people our total bill was $800 (with tip). This was for the lobster prix fixe menu and the wine pairings. Obviously this is my own opinion and I'm not an expert on pricing but it just seemed high. The other prix fixe menu was $135 vs. $195 for the lobster menu which would have made a small difference but when in Maine - lobster!! We made a reservation on their website fairly easily. We had to wait in the lobby outside the restaurant for 10 mins or so before we were seated but that was fine. We loved everything we ate and thought the wine pairings were very nice. Each one was explained as it was served which I appreciate. I would definitely recommend the White Barn Restaurant for a special occasion as it really is a special place. read more

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Excellent dinner at the White Barn Inn !! Every course was incredible !! Amuse was a squash soup followed by Lobster tagliatelle, Lobster Bisque (perfect) and Kenebunk Lobster. Desert Soufflé and Lemon Olive Oil Semifredo. read more

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I would like to suggest renaming the restaurant from "The White Barn" to "The white-washed Barn" due to my consistent finding of subpar food in Maine. I think it's important to know that for the price you pay, $165, you are not truly getting a meal for that value. Yes the plating is stunning and the service impeccable, however the food itself is lacking any sort of flavor and quality. Salt is missing in every dish - heck I can't even begin to understand what my taste buds went through. My eyes relayed to my brain an expectation that triggered my salivary response. As the food entered my mouth, I could feel my saliva retreating and trying to escape the torture. Yes a bit extreme, but for that price y'all need to step it up! Dessert was positive so there's a pro. read more

I wish I could give this 5 stars because the barn was beautiful, the food was exquisite and the service was impeccable including a yummy lobster cheese puff compliments of the chef and an amazing little amuse bouche of tomato gazpacho with house made croutons. We had a lovely birthday meal without a flaw.... Except The huge beautiful window you see in so many pictures is graced with beautiful plants and flowers providing a beautiful albeit limited view. This window is flanked by a door and a smaller typical sized window. We were seated in the corner with the window. My view.... 2 very dead hanging plants, a dead overturned plant on the ground and a soaked filthy towel. Clearly someone forgot that we can see out this window too, especially since it's 6 inches from my chair. The other issue was price point. We have had equally delicious and exquisite meals that were a bit larger portions and at a much lower price point. This restaurant did not offer a spectacular view to justify the price point nor was the delicious food so unique or exotic to justify it's price point. I hate to sound like I am complaining about amazing food, I am not. But would likely find another option or revisit other equal caliber restaurants that have a better price point; 4 courses including dessert with 3 beverages for $500 is a bit much for this experience IMO. read more

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We didn't have reservations but decided to try our luck dining here. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the piano and ambiance. The menu at the bar is very limited especially if you don't eat meat. We ordered fish and shishito peppers. It was good. I recommend coming here just to have a drink before dinner or to make reservations at the other side of the restaurant were you get the full menu. read more

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We went in not knowing anything about the place and realized quickly we were out of our league, but in for something special. The decor was gorgeous and elegant. The staff were overly attentive to the point of doting, which I assume regular patrons enjoy. The menu had a 4 course prix fixe meal option for $175 per person. Again, out of our regular dining routine, but the place was so nice we just went with it. The food was exquisite! From the Cucumber Sorbet to the Beef Tenderloin with Yukon potato risotto and bordelaise and the seared Atlantic Halibut with vichyssoise (love that word) with fennel and leeks. The Cherry Bomb dessert was the final winner. Overall, a decadent experience with top quality service, impeccable food, and an atmosphere as smooth as their aged whiskeys. 10/10 for us. Wish we'd researched more before going so we were aware of the pricing, but if that's not an issue then this place is a gem!! Glad we discovered White Barn, among the classiest dining experiences in all of Maine. Cheers! read more

Odd experience all of the way around. We were called by the restaurant to confirm our reservation. The lady on the phone went on and on about how jackets for the guys were strongly encouraged. We laughed that off considering we know how to dress for dinner. We decide to go a little early and have some cocktails before our reservation at the bar. When we arrive, we find out that they only have five bar seats and they offer to put us in their "living room" for drinks. The living room is hot, poorly lit, with questionably itchy upholstered furnishings and, honestly, just not the vibe that we're accustom to. So, we leave the dingy room and go back to bar and decide that we'll just stand around with a cocktail - we were awkwardly stared at by the hostesses sort of making us afraid that we were breaking some rule. The vibe in the small bar was great but the hostesses were sort of weirdos about us standing there. We started noticing all of these separate groups of people in shorts, jeans and flip flops come in. They looked as if they had shopped at a thrift store that morning and didn't have time to wash their new used clothes. The hostess would parade them through the bar and seat them. We were so confused because of the phone call we received about the dress code. Our reservation was at 8:15 and at 8:03 the host approaches us and announces that our table was ready. We ask him to give us a minute so that we can finish a story and he throws his arm up and looks at his watch and responds, "you have two minutes". We laugh it off, we ignore him and his proposed end-time for our story, we finish our conversation (we also quickly debate just leaving due to the confusing and underwhelming service/scene thus far but ultimately decide to see how well they could recover) and then once we were ready at 8:15 we alert him that we were happy to be seated. Dinner was ok. They struggled with trying to simultaneously place our coursed dishes in front of us. No big deal. They handled a food allergy well. This was an anniversary dinner and there was no mention of the occasion. The best thing that was served was caviar - which is obviously out of a tin. The rest of the dishes were a good attempt at going over the top but with several fouls along the way. However Emma, our server, was great. The wine pairing included Veuve and Bel Glois which we obviously refused and requested something else. Such an odd choice for a wine pairing. For those who are not familiar with these bottles, you can buy both of them at the gas station down from our house. No complaints with Veuve but gas station bubbles isn't really what we would expect from a sommelier at an Auberge property. Later, we did find out that there was a special room for the questionably dressed. That room offers an al la carte menu. My only suggestion to the white barn is maybe give that room a dedicated entrance and treat it as a secondary restaurant instead of another dining room. Overall, I'll give this restaurant a two only because I would feel bad giving them a one or a zero when they did sort of try. read more

Impeccable dinner at The White Barn restaurant last night. To start, the service is incredible - valet parking, amazing touch-points throughout the meal and perfect timing for all the courses. Next, the food is top notch. My two favorite dishes were the lobster tagliatelle and the foie gras crusted steak. The only course that I wasn't crazy about was the lobster bisque. It was fine, but nothing memorable. The dessert courses were also beautiful. We tried three different ones. All in all, it was a great dining experience from start to finish! read more

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Extremely over priced (had the Xmas prix fixe). Everyone was lovely and nice and the food was delicious (expect the dessert was a bit lame - maybe just uninspired) but bang-per-buck, not worth it. For the same price, we had a seven course meal with the vintners offering at Menton in Boston. We won't return. Then again, it was one of the only places open for dinner on Xmas day. They had us by the short ones. read more

From the second we walked in it was first class all the way. The ambiance, the food, the service was all incredible. Not inexpensive but absolutely worth the price. This was an experience read more

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The service equivalents to the price. The ambience is down to earth in a barn but made up. The food wants to be like Michelin but is far far from it. And the price is Michelin price. So no, it is not good. read more

Warm romantic rustcism and Michelin level service. An exceptional wine collection and well trained knowledgeable staff! Never disappoints but not a spot for the budget concious! read more

30 minutes to get a drink as we watched the people who came after us get served. Had a hair in my food that was largely over cooked for a medium rare steak. I got the impression we were treated differently for not being dressed up . Way to ruin my Mother's Day. No manager apologized and the regulars clearly got more attention. Don't worry though hopefully this post gets enough attention to deter people from an overpriced rudely staffed restaurant. Hostess was sweet at least. read more

The White Barn Restaurant - Inconsistent cooking and not medium rare - New American Near Me - Kennebunk Beach, Maine

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This place was fantastic. Very fine dining and excellent service. This is a great place for a special occasion or date night. Very expensive but you get what you pay for and this food is top notch. read more