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Front & Main | Comfort Food in Waterville, ME
Front & Main features creative, nourishing cuisine, sourced lovingly from our own farms, fields, bays and oceans.
Front & Main | Waterville ME – Facebook
Front & Main, Waterville. 3814 likes · 1 talking about this · 2823 were here. Waterville’s most anticipated new restaurant, Front & Main seeks to…
Restaurants in Waterville Maine | Dining – Lockwood Hotel
A contemporary community gathering place, Front & Main is transforming the local food scene with its creative, nourishing cuisine offering breakfast, lunch, …
Reviews
Scott Wykes
We had a delicious brunch in this cozy, fancy little place. There was plenty of variety for various tastes served with a smile. Thank you to Anika our server!
… moreMaria 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.
… more9 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.
… moreOur 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.
Jordan
This was a decent place to eat dinner. The menu was limited but with some good options. Our service was good. The food wasn’t perfect and my medium rare steak was all of medium well. This was even more obvious because they cut it up prior to serving. The steak was still tasty despite being overcooked. The appetizers were very good though.
As I mentioned the service was good, bit definitely not great we waited most of our meal for drink refills that never came. As alcohol is such a big money maker we were surprised they didn’t try to refill. Our waiter was too busy talking with their back to us. Decent option, but nothing super special. I’m not sure I’d go back.
… moreAs I mentioned the service was good, bit definitely not great we waited most of our meal for drink refills that never came. As alcohol is such a big money maker we were surprised they didn’t try to refill. Our waiter was too busy talking with their back to us. Decent option, but nothing super special. I’m not sure I’d go back.
Jenna dawson
My first visit to Front & Main only made me wish I had visited sooner. I sat at the bar and enjoyed fantastic service along with fantastic food. The bar tenders were very attentive my water glass was never empty. One of the bartenders was able to make great recommendations on food and drink and if I asked a question he throughly explained all the way down to the garnishes in my drink.
I started with oysters which were very fresh, then I had the pork chop with potato and bacon hash everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. I also had desert the berry short cake warm and delicious. Everything I had made it completely worth the visit. I highly recommend trying it.
… moreI started with oysters which were very fresh, then I had the pork chop with potato and bacon hash everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. I also had desert the berry short cake warm and delicious. Everything I had made it completely worth the visit. I highly recommend trying it.
Graham Vinson
Took my amazing wife out for a date last night to Front & Main. Secured a reservation on Opentable, as getting a table can be hit or miss. They do have casual lounge areas available if too busy, so there’s usually always a place to sit without much of a wait. The atmosphere is modern and very clean. Large windows with lots of light and views. The patio is on the street, but far enough away that you don’t feel like you’re on the sidewalk. We typically park in the hotel’s lot (The Lockwood), walk up the stairs from the sidewalk and through the front door.
We were promptly seated on arrival and only waited a few minutes for our waitress. She was polite and sweet and attentive to our needs. The restaurant was pretty busy, even-so at no point did we feel neglected.
We opted for the Caesar Salad and Korean BBQ Pork Belly for appetizers, sharing both. The Caesar dressing was perfect, anchovies not overpowering but contributing to the complex flavor of the dressing. Presentation of both dishes was smart. The Pork Belly however was the hit of the two. Melt in your mouth delicious, the glaze paired with the Smoked mushroom relish was outstanding. The spice of the cucumber salad was cool and refreshing, blending the heat and sweet to accompany the earthiness of the Pork and mushrooms. Both 5/5 ⭐️
Our Entrees were good, but honestly a bit of a disappointment. I chose the Ribeye and feel that at the price it was, the cook and sear on it was a bit amateur. The grill marks were inconsistent and unappealing, one could also say it was served upside down. The cut of meat was excellent, but I felt it wasn’t seasoned well. The cook borderline medium, without any char was a bit of a disappointment, but I understand how difficult it is to get a cut to room temperature before grilling in the fast paced restaurant environment. The accompanying squash and zucchini were of the same caliber, and a bit undercooked. The chimichurri sauce was fresh and delicious with the meat. The hit of the dish was the Papas Bravas, good flavor and well cooked. 4/5 ⭐️
Fried chicken- liberty has been taken with the breading used on this boneless tenderloin style chicken, but it being a gluten free dish contributes to this. We felt the lack of dark meat left something to be desired here. Nevertheless, it was delicious. The accompanying coleslaw was good, though there were some inconsistencies in the chop that made some pieces too big to fork without a knife. Mashed potatoes were smooth and creamy without any lumps. Well executed. The hit of this dish was the accompanying hot maple honey when paired with the chicken. 4/5 ⭐️
The desserts we ordered are our favorite, though we have tried the others as well and they are all good. She had the dark chocolate espresso torte, our waitress suggested a scoop of raspberry sorbet to accompany it, she was not wrong. The sweetness paired excellently with the richness of the torte. It has been the same every time we ordered it, excellent. Rich, chocolatey, goodness. The Frozen Key lime Pie – my favorite, I will probably continue to order it. The presentation is good, a bit busy even, but all parts pair well and create many different flavors when paired together in the so many combinations available on the plate. Blackberry sauce and berries, pistachio crumbles, meringue and the frozen key lime itself. Mmmmmm. Both 5/5 ⭐️
We have eaten here many times and will continue to do so, as well as recommend it to everyone we cross paths with. The staff is fantastic, as is the food. We look forward to the new menu and new experiences here from the chef. Overall, 5/5 ⭐️
… moreWe were promptly seated on arrival and only waited a few minutes for our waitress. She was polite and sweet and attentive to our needs. The restaurant was pretty busy, even-so at no point did we feel neglected.
We opted for the Caesar Salad and Korean BBQ Pork Belly for appetizers, sharing both. The Caesar dressing was perfect, anchovies not overpowering but contributing to the complex flavor of the dressing. Presentation of both dishes was smart. The Pork Belly however was the hit of the two. Melt in your mouth delicious, the glaze paired with the Smoked mushroom relish was outstanding. The spice of the cucumber salad was cool and refreshing, blending the heat and sweet to accompany the earthiness of the Pork and mushrooms. Both 5/5 ⭐️
Our Entrees were good, but honestly a bit of a disappointment. I chose the Ribeye and feel that at the price it was, the cook and sear on it was a bit amateur. The grill marks were inconsistent and unappealing, one could also say it was served upside down. The cut of meat was excellent, but I felt it wasn’t seasoned well. The cook borderline medium, without any char was a bit of a disappointment, but I understand how difficult it is to get a cut to room temperature before grilling in the fast paced restaurant environment. The accompanying squash and zucchini were of the same caliber, and a bit undercooked. The chimichurri sauce was fresh and delicious with the meat. The hit of the dish was the Papas Bravas, good flavor and well cooked. 4/5 ⭐️
Fried chicken- liberty has been taken with the breading used on this boneless tenderloin style chicken, but it being a gluten free dish contributes to this. We felt the lack of dark meat left something to be desired here. Nevertheless, it was delicious. The accompanying coleslaw was good, though there were some inconsistencies in the chop that made some pieces too big to fork without a knife. Mashed potatoes were smooth and creamy without any lumps. Well executed. The hit of this dish was the accompanying hot maple honey when paired with the chicken. 4/5 ⭐️
The desserts we ordered are our favorite, though we have tried the others as well and they are all good. She had the dark chocolate espresso torte, our waitress suggested a scoop of raspberry sorbet to accompany it, she was not wrong. The sweetness paired excellently with the richness of the torte. It has been the same every time we ordered it, excellent. Rich, chocolatey, goodness. The Frozen Key lime Pie – my favorite, I will probably continue to order it. The presentation is good, a bit busy even, but all parts pair well and create many different flavors when paired together in the so many combinations available on the plate. Blackberry sauce and berries, pistachio crumbles, meringue and the frozen key lime itself. Mmmmmm. Both 5/5 ⭐️
We have eaten here many times and will continue to do so, as well as recommend it to everyone we cross paths with. The staff is fantastic, as is the food. We look forward to the new menu and new experiences here from the chef. Overall, 5/5 ⭐️
April Glidden
We have enjoyed Front & Main twice and each experience was excellent. Service was great with check ins from waitstaff and managers making sure you have everything you need and a nice meal. The food has been mouthwatering and done very well. We like the focus on local farms and suppliers and the creative cocktail menu. We will be back and I would recommend to friends.
… moreElizabeth 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.
… morebernadette guber
Front & Main at the Lockwood hotel in Waterville is a restaurant that in my opinion endeavors to cater to the out of state guest probably staying at the hotel. The menu is that which you might see in Manhattan. That is not a compliment for a true Mainer. We live here and do eat out frequently. The choices on their menu are strange…not typical for the area. The item descriptions are confusing. Half way through the dinner choices a Hamburger is offered which is entirely out of place. The whole menu feels out of place. Why is there no lobster offered? Good seafood choices? I ordered the Salmon..but it was inedible as it was over salted. My $17 plate of lettuce ( Caesar salad) first came out with fried pickles on it..so sent it back!?. My husband had the ribeye steak ..it was good..it was $48! My recommendation..change this menu completely..cater to the locals more. It could be a very popular restaurant but no one recommends it for the food, only for the atmosphere.
… moreDerek L
One of the better places in Waterville to eat, great atmosphere and food. Not a fan of the local Riesling they have to offer. I’m usually a big fan of buying local but it did not hit the mark for Riesling for me. Other than the Riesling everything was perfect. The way they serve a Cesar salad is awesome and the best one I have ever had. The steak and brussel sprouts were cooked to perfection. The appearance and placement of the food was like art, our waitress was so good to us and our date night was amazing! I highly recommend this restaurant, I believe you will find it delightful. Let them know Derek says hi and I will definitely be back. ️❤️
… more