Nilfa's Kusina — Restaurant in Bridgton

The food and interior presentation at this restaurant are both visually appealing, which initially creates a great impression. However, I found that the actual quality of the ingredients and the flavor complexity didn’t quite match the promise of the presentation. While the dishes are priced similarly to higher-end establishments, the value doesn’t quite align with those expectations. If food quality is important to you, you might consider exploring other options.

My experience with the service during this visit was unfortunately disappointing (though I can’t speak to what it might be like on other days). From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere felt a bit chaotic. I wasn’t greeted or directed to a table, and it seemed like the staff were not fully trained on basic service principles, such as offering a drink when seated, promptly bringing menus, and checking in after the food is served. The wait staff appeared confused, overwhelmed, and disengaged.

After seating myself on the patio, I waited about 10 minutes before going inside to get someone’s attention. I ended up placing my order while standing in the middle of the restaurant, which was uncomfortable, both for me and the other patrons. When my salad arrived, it was missing dressing, which further added to the frustration. The entire experience was less than enjoyable, and the final bill came to about $20, which didn’t feel justified given the overall experience.

That said, I see a lot of potential in this place, and I genuinely hope they take this feedback to heart. Here are a few suggestions that could help elevate the experience:

Simplify the menu. Focus on fewer items and perfect those. This could enhance both the quality and consistency of the food.

Listen to customer feedback: Consider using higher-quality ingredients, particularly for the dishes that receive the most positive feedback.

Improve the front-of-house experience: A ‘Please wait to be seated’ sign and consistent presence at the front would help create a more organized and welcoming atmosphere.

Clarify your concept. Decide whether you’re primarily a restaurant or a cafe, and train the staff accordingly on the basics of hospitality and food service.

I sincerely want to see this restaurant thrive because Bridgton could really benefit from more quality dining options. I hope these suggestions help, and I look forward to seeing the improvements...

Update 11/ 24 We got takeout again this week. The rangoons were done in the more traditional way with a wonton. They were good, but I did like the wrap better. Sadly my pad thai was nothing like that first time. When I opened the container it was all stuck to the bottom, like it had been sitting that way for awhile. The noodles were gluey,very overcooked, and slimey. The shrimp tiny and whiteish, not appitizing at all. It was inedable The only thing I can think is that it was refrigerated and reheated. My husband got the Ruben. He said that was good. The carrot cake was delicious 😋. Im hoping this was a one off. I will try again.

When you walk in, it's very clean and nicely decorated. My husband was very tempted by the delicious looking pastries right up front. The staff was friendly and helpful.

The food was delicious and plentiful. I love that they have something for everyone. My husband had eggplant parm and I had chicken pad thai. We also got crab rangoon as appetizer. They were in a light and crispy wrap. We both liked them much better than the Chinese version. We were getting it to go. Neither of us could finish our meals, lunch tomorrow yeah.

Update 11/ 24 We got takeout again this week. The rangoons were done in the more traditional way with a wonton. They were good, but I did like the wrap better. Sadly my pad thai was nothing like that first time. When I opened the container it was all stuck to the bottom, like it had been sitting that way for awhile. The noodles were gluey,very overcooked, and slimey. The shrimp tiny and whiteish, not appitizing at all. It was inedable The only thing I can think is that it was refrigerated and reheated. My husband got the Ruben. He said that was good. The carrot cake was delicious 😋. Im hoping this was a one off. I...

Tonight was my first time to Nilfa's Kusina ! A nice addition to the Bridgton Food Scene . A small cute cafe . Nicely decorated. Friendly staff / servers ! I like that they serve American and Asian fusion ! So I thought it was more Thai but I guess it's more Filipino . Doesn't matter to me , the food is great ! Fresh ! Seems healthier ! My guest had never had this type of food and said it was good ! We started out with Coffee and Thai tea with shrimp lumpia and Beef Shumai as apps . They were out of the plum sauce that comes with the shrimp . Then we both ordered the house fried rice as an entree which was a very large bowl ! With Lumpia fried egg roll to go with the rice . So much food I had no idea ! It all tasted amazing ! I like the boba . I got it to go . The only down side was that my Thai tea tasted off and was not sweet at all . I added sugar packs but it did not help much . My guest said the coffee was not good . Which he said if the coffee is bad he didn't want to come back for breakfast . They do have a cooler with drinks. I'd suggest that . I would suggest that this place switch to a k cup machine and canned Thai tea . I will return to try more of the menu ! They do have a Facebook page where you can find their specials ! They had no paper to go menus unfortunately. No boba menu to read at the table . All the ordering is done on a nice hand held machine ! Very modern ! The place was hopping ! Nice to see ! Outdoor seating as well . No wifi . If you have a food allergy make sure to mention it prior...