We just dined there, and the dish I had was a six out of five stars. We have eaten there for years and always found it to be excellent. I had some trepidation about going after it was sold, and after I read some so-so reviews, and the menu is different. The spinach and garden salads need some jazzing up, but I had the Statler Chicken entree, and I have to say that it was outstanding and probably the best chicken entree I have had at a restaurant. I heartily recommend it, and we will return. We live twenty minutes away, and it is worth the trip. The spicy margarita was also excellent. The waitress, Julia, was attentive but not intrusive. She was great. So yeah, the Village Tavern is worth the trip. read more

For years, Village Tavern was my favorite restaurant in Southern Maine. That's what makes this review so difficult to write. If you loved Village Tavern under the previous owners, you should know that the beloved restaurant you remember no longer exists. The name is the same. The esthetic is the same. Some menu items even have the same names. But the experience is not. During our visit, the calamari, salmon, duck, and haddock were all cooked properly, yet each dish was surprisingly bland and forgettable. Many longtime favorites, including the wide selection of side dishes like the broccoli with blue cheese, are gone. This isn't a bad restaurant on its own merits. The problem is that it's trading on the reputation of something that no longer exists. What I find most puzzling is that the new owners kept the Village Tavern name while abandoning so much of what made it successful. When a restaurant has earned decades of loyalty, you would expect new ownership to preserve its strengths. Instead, it feels like they discarded the very things that built its reputation. I left disappointed, but mostly sad. A restaurant I once considered one of the best in Southern Maine is now simply pedestrian and overly priced. Former fans should adjust their expectations accordingly or avoid the disappointment altogether. read more

I always loved the village tavern. We The ambience was always a draw. I especially like the screened in patio. Who doesn't like being outdoors on a beautiful night? Sometimes it can be loud from traffic so it's a crap shoot!. The menu had just changed and the fried buffalo cauliflower was eliminated. The appetizer choices were all seafood . No vegetarian or meat for appetizers. Prices have also increased. A fillet mignon is now 50.00. I was surprised to see many empty tables . We had a large party . Every meal was plated beautifully but very salty. The fried calamari my friend got was so very salty. All of our meals were salty as well. This was always my favorite place but I will not be retuning unless the chef can put down the salt shaker. A good chef does not cover his food with salt. I want to taste my food. I'm wondering if this restaurant is under new management or just a new chef? Our server and host were wonderful though. read more

It's been a dozen years since we last dined here. We've changed a tad during that period, and so have they. We'll spare you the personal stuff and focus on the Taven. Here's what doesn't seem to have changed: it's an attractive, slightly out-of-the-way dining spot that has a very nice bar, comfy seating on a patio and inside, good servers (thank you Heather!), and a menu with a lot of tasty choices. We continue to recommend it, although hesitantly. There have been some changes, in our opinion, that left us just a little disappointed, hence four stars not five. Blackened salmon: pretty good but not much blackened and just a little bit dry. Seafood poblano with clams and scallops: excellent, well seasoned. Calamari: Crunchy but much too chewy. Yummy spinach, a crab cake that tasted bland. Sourdough bread wasn't warm and left us wanting. Fine bar choices with local beers. The romaine salad was, well, unusual, with a blueberry vinaigrette that was awfully sweet for our taste and, frankly, kind of hard to cut. Final verdict? Not quite up to what we hoped for after our experience a dozen years ago. Maybe that's us; memory can be tricky. But we came away not quite as happy as the last time for sure and a little more cautious in recommending the restaurant. If you're curious, entree prices generally in the $30s, appetizers $12-20, cocktails around 12-15. We're giving the Tavern four stars, but 3.5 would be closer to our preference. read more

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I hate to add to the chorus here but we had an extremely mediocre experience recently and probably won't be back. The word has gotten out and a once bustling bar was totally empty as well as the rest of the place. The menu has changed and the food just wasn't as good as it used to be. Really sad to see the new owners failing so miserably. I'm sad for them and the community. read more

My family went in for brunch and it was good food! The service was great and the atmosphere inside was really lovely. Definitely a nice restaurant. We got the crab cakes for appetizers and they were really delicious. I did bite down on a bone inside. For my entree, I got the Atlantic salmon with garlic and ginger mashed potatoes. It was delicious! The rest of my family got the cheddar burger, linguini with seafood and poblano cream sauce, and the spaghetti with meatballs. My mom got the Mark's mule and it was delicious! I think the presentation could be heightened a little in comparison to how nice the restaurant is. There also were no vegetarian options outside of the appetizer-sized salads. Overall, we had a good time! read more

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Such a bummer. This establishment used to be amazing and always a great experience. However, new ownership has made some changes and they aren't the good ones. Dont let them fool you. Its the same menu, but very different ingredients....cheaper ingredients. You can see it, you can smell it and then you can taste it. I feel bad for the staff, as I recognized a couple there who have always been great service wise. This past weekend, I did have a "newer" waitress. She was pleasant however the most inattentive waitress I've ever seen. Absolute knucklehead. Im mad at myself, since I took this place for granted for years. I wish I had gone more because we'll never get the Village Tavern back to the way it was. This new owner needs to worry less about increasing their margins and more on providing a decent dining experience....or this place wont last another season. read more

Big change with different owners. Always guaranteed great meals and full drinks and good prices. Not anymore!

The Village Tavern restaurant has been a mainstay in this area that everybody has always loved. Lately new management has taken over and all of the original staff has left one by one. The food was cold and the service was poor. It's very sad that this Restaurant has taken such a downturn. read more

Lobster risotto is extremely salty. I had the duck and my husband had the bolognese and they were okay. Nothing special. Drinks were also subpar. read more

I have always given a 5 star. That being said the menu and prices have yet changed again going higher with two sides added of the new owners choice. I was told you could choice your sides. The spaghetti and meatballs have been taken off the menu. That is a bad decision for the Village Tavern has the best in all of Kennebunk/kennebunkport. Does the owner just want his fancy cuisine layout. I'm noticing myself at times bread does not seem fresh. Rich and Tina had built a great restaurant and everyone working there was happy and meals were always delicious. I have been coming usually twice a week and many of my friends are going elsewhere. Where is all the staff that are no longer there. Something is happening and changes seen are negative. Dianne read more

When we stepped into the restaurant, I knew right away that things had changed...Usually you have a wait to sit down but that wasn't an issue..One person at the bar and the restaurant had many empty tables for a Wednesday night. I guess cut off jeans is the new uniform for the waitresses.. We were patient but almost an hour before we received our meal.. $50 for two pieces of filet. My wife asked to substitute the mashed for fries and it was a $10 up charge. Charge a couple of more dollars for the Prosecco and let the customers enjoy what they like.. read more

We've been to the Village Tavern several times and it's always been great.... Except a few days ago. I ordered braised short ribs. I've had this a couple times before. I hardly ever eat beef so I figured I'd try it again. It has always been excellent. Not this time. There was so much fat it was ridiculous. If you didn't see it before putting it in your mouth you'd have little balls of fat in your mouth. Snd couldn't really spit it out. $42.00 and IT WAS Gross!!. Mashed potatoes were cold but were replaced with lukewarm ones.I'll NEVER order this again if I go back. Other parties really liked the burgers and said they would go back. Giving a rating of 3 out of 5 - maybe it was just a bad piece of beef. read more

Village Tavern - Fatty beef at Village Tavern. - New American Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

Great service. You are greeted as you walk in the door. We were seated quickly at a small table. Wife would have like to see some seat cushions on the wooden chairs. I order steak and it was cooked perfectly. My wife order short ribs and it was a little dry. Love the black table cloth table. Parking can be hard to find. read more

Village Tavern - Short rins - New American Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

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We are local residents and dined at the Village Tavern recently, and noticed a difference in quality. This was once on our list of favorite restaurants, but now we are not in a hurry to rush back. The food was okay but not great. In the past the customer was able to choose a side, but now two sides are paired with each entree, which was good but the choice is what made the restaurant different. The food was served warm, but not hot. It was a Thursday night and the restaurant was far from busy so there was no excuse for the food not being hot. We are disappointed and as I stated will not rush to come back. read more

We tried the blackened salmon with puréed sweet potato and asparagus, plus the haddock with vegetables and potato pancakes. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the haddock was also very good but not as good as the pecan encrusted haddock which used to be a reliable menu choice. As always, the service is great and very friendly. read more

Totally disappointed in our anniversary dinner. I went specifically for the lamb shanks which they took it off for the summer. I've gone many times under the old ownership but this visit was disappointing. Prices are higher. My friend asked to switch roasted potatoes for mashed and they wouldn't allow it without a $12 up charge. I won't return read more

My wife and I come here on special occasions like birthdays, Valentine's Day, etc. Our recent visit on my wife's birthday was no exception. We started the evening with cocktails which were very much to our liking, followed by a delicious appetizer of lobster risotto that we shared. We both ordered the short ribs which were mouthwatering and cooked to perfection that the meat fell off the bone. The servings were enough where we took the bones and whatever meat was left to make a delicious beef soup. Neither one of us were up for dessert but decided to get two to go, which we downed once we got home. And they were both delicious. In closing, I'd be remiss without saying a good word about our server Keila. She was warm, friendly, funny, and very attentive to our table. She made our night to enjoyable! Thanks you Keila ! We look forward to our next visit to The Village Inn soon. read more

Very disappointed. We have been going here for years and always had a great experience. Lately the menu choices have been drastically cut. The filet mignon was hardly a filet mignon. Just a couple of slices. Time to move on. read more

Great food and ambience. Prices are reasonable. Staff is always pleasant and personable

2nd trip to the Village Inn...Thurs night got there around 4:30PM...by 5:30PM there was almost a wait...The Good: everything...Mark's Mule, Wine, Short Ribs, Haddock Fingers , herb potato pancakes, Bread, and the Server: Mark C. - ALL OUTSTANDING.....Can't wait to go back to the Village Inn. Thank you read more

Amazing tasty good. Great price and portion. Staff is very friendly and attentive. Parking is convenient. Atmosphere is welcoming. I will definitely return! read more

If anyone has been going to the village tavern this summer it is a big mistake. The name is the same but that is the extent of it. They cleaned up the outside with some fresh paint but that is the extent of that. What was once the pillar of fine dining in west kennebunk has been reduced to a shell of itself. What made the place so special was the consistency of the food and the great staff that brought the dining experience to another level. They knew everyone's name. That doesn't exist anymore. The menu has been reduced to a shell of what it once was. The long time dedicated employees have all but disappeared which is disheartening. The regular patrons are no longer recognizable. Waiting for a table now is less than 2 min from the 30-45 we were accustomed to. That should speak volumes. The prices have increased. I'm a firm believer, "if it's not broken, don't fix it." They lost the pattern for a successful transition. If I owned the place I would have checked my ego in the coat room. I won't give it another shot. read more

Don't know where to begin. This place used to be so special. My mistake for not taking the time to review it back when it was great. Because it's gone so far downhill. I understand that some time ago the old owners sold the place. Richie was such an amazing chef and the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet. The new owner (Calvin?) doesn't seem to have what it takes. I know sometimes when a place changes hands, there will be some bumps in the road. And I had hoped things would return to normal. No such luck. Let's start with the people. Everybody there used to look happy. They were all so friendly and eager. When we would go, the same people were always working and it was like they were your family. All the long time staff has now vanished. Even Frankie, who was literally a ray of sunshine, has left. And while the current wait staff does their job well, the spark of joy that was once so present in the dining room is just gone. The drinks. Wow. I've never seen a smaller "pour" on a glass of wine. My Mai-Tai tasted like fruit punch with a dash of Rum. When I looked at the bar i noticed that the gentleman that was always there was also missing. I asked our server and they confirmed he was also not longer working for the tavern. Sigh. As for the food, it's been VERY hit or miss the last few times. I know this is a small detail, but what happened to the butter you serve with the bread? It's just different now...and not good. Some of the seafood as of late has also been rough. Man in an upscale beach community, if nothing else, your seafood should be top notch. I do miss the meatballs too btw. As sad as it makes me to say this, I think we are done going here. I wish the new owner luck. I hope he can turn this around and bring back the quality that made this place famous. read more

Bartender was great but. Stale bread. Cold food. 35-40 minutes to get your meal. Or the tavern I remembered. Short ribs fatty and potatoes were instant. Veggies lukwnwarn at best. read more

I had taken down my negative post before but I just don't understand why the new owner changed so many things with this restaurant! He took over a well established, always busy restaurant ; It was my favorite place to go. He has once again changed the menu, increased prices (salmon was increased to $32 and now is $36) AND you can no longer switch to a side you prefer. The brussel sprouts were my absolute favorite thing (and was one of the most popular things on the menu) Now you no longer can choose them as a side. You must pay $12 extra to have a small additional side. The wine prices went up and the pour went down. On a Friday night, half the restaurant was empty. Does he not see what he has done? Very disappointed and although we continued to come occasionally (used to be once a week) we will not be back unless things go back the way they were. Please listen to your customers. read more

The Village Tavern has been our special occasion "go-to" for years. That said, our recent visit was our first under the new ownership. We were VERY disappointed. While our server was great, the food was mediocre. The Tavern's signature bread was stale. The portions were small. Our party of four each had a beer, shared three appetizers, each had a regular menu item (one being a hamburger), and we shared a single dessert between us. With the tip, the bill exceeded $400!!! We should have known something had radically changed when, at 6:00, the restaurant was only one-quarter occupied. We're starting to look for another local special occasion restaurant. read more

I am so sad. The Tavern used to be my favorite restaurant. I've eaten there on many occasions and have never been disappointed.... Until tonight. New menu, huge increase in prices (I didn't even mind that since I know the cost of everything is up) but what bothered me the most was the hour and 20 minute wait between ordering and getting the food. My salmon portion was fine, but the veggie 'sides' were pitiful. 4 skinny fingerling carrots, a few fiddleheads for color and 3 slivers of a small potato. 2 staff members were aware of our justified disappointment, but no compensation was offered. Even our lovely waitress was embarrassed. I'm writing this as a warning to others who used to enjoy the quality of the Tavern. It just isn't there. read more

The new owners have totally destroyed this restaurant. It was a favorite of my family's for years. We were loyal. In the offseason, we'd often be one of just a few tables on weeknights, and during the pandemic we got takeout weekly to help keep them in business. Now we will never go back. The new owners have done more than jack up the prices and change the menu, they have destroyed the ethos. No longer accommodating in any way, which used to be a hallmark of theirs. Even once successful business fail when locals are treated badly. No one can survive forever on past reputation alone. They need to learn this lesson or they'll go under. My husband and I walked out without even eating last night. Miserable experience. And if you have any food allergies or preferences, steer clear. The new policies do not care about you. read more

Great place. High end atmosphere with wonderful service. Food is spectacular! But.. get there real early bc there is a line down the street if your late! read more

we have been here many times in the past and we were always very satisfied with the quality, quantity and price. It's been two years since we've been here and I have to say we were very disappointed. quantity is significantly smaller and the price is significantly higher. For an appetizer I risotto. It seriously was more like rice soup. Not at all like it used to be. My husband ordered salmon on top of a salad and the salmon was very overcooked even though he ordered it rare. I am so sorry to give this kind of a rating, but they really need to step up their game. read more

We were at the Tavern the first night it opened a have been patrons for all these years. It has always been our go to place for dinner. Over the past several months we've seen a few minor changes most of which we can understand. Portions have gotten a bit smaller which is similar to other restaurants. We've seen many new faces working there as I'm sure hiring is difficult. However Several visits back the asparagus was barely cooked. Recently my salmon was dry and unenjoyable and the Asian slaw tasted different. We've always loved the "23 year starter sourdough bread and Kate's butter." The last several visits that bread was not served and it was a poor substitution, affecting the salad croutons as well. Kindly update the website pricing to reflect the in person menus. I believe all prices should be the same until all coincide correctly. read more

I reviewed this restaurant on Yelp as our "favorite one in the area" 10 years ago, in 2016. Today I opened the review page to find our review (from 2016) appearing first in the lineup. I tried to update it, but I cannot see how to do that. I realize that it is now very misleading to potential guests. Although the Tavern was The Best when Rich Lemoine owned it, now that ownership has changed hands. We have gone there three times since he sold it, and I realize I need to now post our very sad and disappointed change of heart. We will probably not be returning to Village Tavern in the future. The cost, quality, quantity, ordering choices and tastes of even the drinks, have all unfortunately deteriorated to the point of "not special any longer" to us. We consider this to be a hugely sad occurrence, as we literally used to look forward to Village for days in advance of dining there and no longer have that pleasure available to us. Change happens, I know. But this one has been a particular bummer! I do not often write an unfavorable restaurant review, but I felt that I could not continue going on record praising mediocrity, even ten years hence. read more

Look no further, this is the place where you want to eat tonight. Consistent, fresh, home style vibe. Service is friendly, local and knowledgeable. They make you feel like you're having a fancy meal at a friend's house. Also...this space used to be an old convenience store - the conversion is top notch, but the nostalgia for us makes the meal even more cozy feeling every time. Frankie, Ryan and all of the staff make it happen day in and day out. They are truly part of the experience. read more

I was so looking forward to the short ribs on a cold winter night - they have always been tender and delicious. Alas, not tonight! Three of us were dining and two of the meals, short ribs and lamb shank, had to be sent back as both meals were cold. When the meals reappeared the mashed potatoes were still lukewarm and one of the ribs was mostly fat! Also had different vegetables. Very disappointing meal - so sad as we always enjoyed dining here. Won't be back soon. read more

We made a reservation and it appeared it was needed because the restaurant was packed on our arrival at 6:30PM on Saturday evening. My wife and I started with an appetizer of cultivated mussels prepared with crispy capicolla (sic), herbs and Pernod cream. We often have mussels at home and frequently ordered them out, be it east coast or west and every where in between, but only once before have we enjoyed such plumb ones. The one vying for plumpest was on a trip to Prince Edward Island. The remainder of the meal was very good as well. My wife's choice for an entree was pecan crusted native haddock over baby spinach with lemon basil aioli while linguine with pan roasted shrimp, scallops and clams in a roasted poblano cream was delivered to the opposite side of the table. Entrees included one side with my wife's choice of mashed potatoes coming as a surprise to no one while my crispy fried Brussels sprouts with lemon honey aioli was similarly expected and enjoyed. read more

I have been going to Village Tavern Since it was opened and have never been disappointed in service or food. Theres no comparing the quality and taste of the food at the Village Tavern . The warm home made bread is the start of a gourmet meal. Hope that never changes. They have done wonders with the ceiling acoustics and the soft lighting adds to the ambiance read more

A perfect evening spent with family and friends. We had a great table on the patio. Mark was a knowledge and great server! We enjoyed Halibut cheeks, braised beef ribs and seafood pasta for dinner followed by crème brûlée and chocolate Guinness cake for dessert! Definitely left full and happy! We highly recommend this restaurant. read more

My husband and I used to love to go to the Village Tavern. It was one of the " few" restaurants in the area that was consistently good! The food always A+, the Service and friendliness of the staff was superb! You could always find a friend or two there because it was such a great place. The Bar had great drinks and good Beer and competent Bartenders! The fresh homemade Bread was wonderful and a rare and welcome treat to start off your meal. The Menu had so many great options it was hard to decide. The Menu didn't change daily or weekly so you could always enjoy your favorite food. But Now... New owners...Changed everything! New Menu...All the favorites gone! Prices up... All have increased & quality decreased! Most of the food we used to order is no longer on the menu. They may sometimes serve it as a Special but how disappointing! Prices went up and the food, service and quality went down. I'm just so sad! I can't imagine how Ritchie, the former Chef and Owner must feel to see such a rapid decline. His heart must be broken! I wonder if he can even dine there at all anymore? I do know that my husband & I cannot! It is just not the same!!! Sadly, everything has changed! To have had such a gem in our little town of West K was remarkable and I am so sorry to see it destroyed in less than a year...what a shame. read more

The short rib is excellent! Everything else I've had here is nothing special. Service can often be slow as well.