North43Bistro

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Maria Mongiardo

🌟 Food Review: Front & Main – Waterville, Maine 📍 9 Main St, Waterville, ME 04901 Tucked away in downtown Waterville, Front & Main is serving up some seriously bold flavors and thoughtful presentations. Sometimes you have to leave the buzz of Portland to discover hidden culinary gems, and this spot proves it. The ambiance is elevated yet comfortable—with beautiful seating and a cozy fireplace area that adds a warm, inviting touch. Let’s dive into the food! 🍴 STARTERS & SMALL PLATES 🧀 Smoked Ricotta (V/GF) – $18 This dish was... intriguing. It featured roasted asparagus, a ricotta whey emulsion, and an orange leek gremolata. Based on the menu, I expected it to be warm—especially the asparagus—but it was served cold. ❄️ While the flavors worked surprisingly well together, the temperature threw me off. Honestly, a bit confusing but still tasty? A solid 7/10 for flavor, but presentation and temperature missed the mark. MAINS 🌮 Street Tacos (3) – Pork Belly Special These were the highlight of the entire meal. No notes, no complaints—just pure joy. 🤤 Crispy, juicy pork belly with the perfect blend of spices, tucked into soft tortillas. Easily a 10/10, and I’d return just for these alone. 🥜 Gambian Peanut Stew (GF/V+) – $34 What a flavor bomb! 🔥 The mafe sauce was rich and spiced beautifully, and the lentils, carrots, plantains, and peas added heartiness. That said, some of the vegetables (especially the potatoes) were undercooked, and a few elements felt more raw than al dente. Still, I was so taken by the taste that I’d order it again in a heartbeat. 9/10, with room to perfect the texture. 🥔 Potato Gnocchi (V) – $29 Wow. These gnocchi were pillowy soft, served with pearl onions, asparagus, a pine nut & arugula pesto, and topped with pecorino. 🌿 The pesto sauce was vibrant and full of life—hands down one of the best gnocchi dishes I’ve had in Maine. A perfect 10/10! 🍗 Roasted Chicken (GF) – $32 This one fell a bit short. The curried cauliflower, mushrooms, and tikka masala flavors were great, but the chicken itself was dry and lacked the tenderness I hoped for. 😕 With better execution on the protein, this dish could have been a standout. 7/10—great ideas, not fully realized. DESSERTS 🍰 Frozen Key Lime Pie (GF) – $14 A beautiful blend of tart and sweet, topped with toasted meringue, pistachio crumble, and a blackberry sauce. Refreshing and indulgent at the same time. Loved it! 💚 🍌 Bananas Foster Budino (V/GF) – $14 This was my favorite dessert of the night. A velvety banana custard, brûléed on top with vanilla wafers and chantilly cream—like crème brûlée meets banana pudding, and I was obsessed. 😍 Both desserts easily earned 10/10. OVERALL IMPRESSIONS ✨ Front & Main brings a creative, globally-inspired menu to central Maine and executes it with a bold culinary voice. The ambiance is polished but relaxed, and the staff were friendly and attentive throughout our visit. Food: 9/10 – The flavors are incredible across the board, with a few execution missteps. Affordability: 5/10 – This is definitely on the upscale side for Waterville. Expect to spend. Ambiance: 8/10 – Sleek, elegant, and warm—especially with that fireplace nook. Would I come back? Absolutely. Those pork belly tacos and Gambian stew are calling my name. 🔥

ben hickey

The food was pretty good. I was not expecting braised short rib and celeriac, and some premium whiskeys sitting on the bar in this small of a town. Our server was knowledgeable about food when asked about several options. She did not push the highest cost item, which speaks to a good guest centric culture from the management. Good job. Our server was not very knowledgeable about the whiskey available, but the bartender was quite helpful in choosing a few nice bourbons. Very nice, I will recommend to the rest of my company as a good spot for meetings.

Elizabeth Berger

We had dinner here at the bar before a concert at the Opera House. The place was packed the service and food were perfect. The manager floated expertly through the room like a conductor and it’s obvious he helps his staff in just the right way. Food was amazing and came out of the kitchen in a normal amount of time despite how busy they were. Can’t wait to be back in Waterville to eat here again.

Rebecca Eldridge

My husband and I decided to have breakfast here today (8/30/25) based on a review I'd read online. Noticed immediately that the dining chairs are heavy and cumbersome. The upholstered arms are filthy. Our waitress was pleasant. Food seemed a little slow, but not irritatingly so. I had The Lockwood--generous portions and very good. My husband had the burrata skillet. Frankly it looked like a disgusting mess. All the food was drowning in liquid. The carpet in the bar area is filthy. Think the person(s) in charge need to look around and make immediate improvements.