Bred in the Bone — Restaurant in Damariscotta

A convivial yet cozy and romantic place with excellent food and super friendly service- I highly recommend Bred in the Bone.

My wife and I walked in early for a 7:30 dinner reservation and the place was bustling. We hoped they weren’t going to put us at the 2-top right in front of the entrance door and the hostess smiled and said, “don’t worry. We have a nice spot for you in just a couple of minutes - come wait for it at our bar”. The bar is in the back - an amber-lit romantic space with a great vibe. We ordered drinks after the bartender ( again-friendly, smiling, nice!) put 2 glasses of water in front of us. The table became ready and they said we’ll bring the drinks to the table. After a slight mixup with 2 different servers ( both -again - friendly and engaged and nice) we got our martini ( could have been colder but good) and wine.

The food was outstanding ( the lobster tartalle had a lot of lobster, appropriate for the price $42). The rigatoni was great ( though not hot enough) with an eggplant pesto. The gem salad was large and dressed right-on with a Caesar dressing. The Pemaquid sweets 1/2 doz oysters were spot on to start.

It was fun to watch the kitchen in action and the intricate work of the souls chef prepping the plates ( though they need better ventilation-even with both doors open in the place, it was smoky and a bit stuffy on this cool night).

The service down to the last person was what made this place , but the great food and atmosphere made it a near-home run (with a few minor tweaks, it’s a five-star experience). Highly recommend to locals and...

I am fond of saying that if you really want to know the character of a Maine town, visit in the winter. This place is clearly a labor of love in Damariscotta, whilst Wiscasset had pretty much turned the lights off, Bred in The Bone was full of a great cross section of locals, tourists, families, couples and those with grey locks. Based in a mid nineteenth century brick storefront, the decor is a mix of rustic and euro-country looks. Cozy and warm. The front of house team were welcoming, and served a casual but not slow pace. This is not a place to rush through so I think they have their timing spot on. Their menu is not extensive and it is not coastal Maine typical. This to me is a great plus for them (and me!) as many of us look beyond the maine coast experience even when in Maine. I started with a tartare of Canadian Arctic Char and Salmon. Lovely and tasty, with microgreens and loverly charred bread. A very large portion for the money as well. I followed with a black angus osso buco served on rutabaga puree with purple carrots. Delicious winter fare. I paired the started with a snappy Pinot Blanc and the Osso Buco with a nice Chianti. The Wine list is euro forward which again, a great distinguished selection. I love how this place thrived in FEB and will look forward to coming back and trying the spring menu. Thank you to Bred in the Bone. Very well...

Bred in the Bone is a wonderful new addition to Main Street Damariscotta! The atmosphere is warm and cozy, yet still has a modern, sophisticated touch. Beautiful flowers and candles everywhere, a great spot for a romantic date. The waitstaff was great - friendly and attentive. The hostess, Paige, greeted us with a smile and sat us immediately. Our server, Johnathan, was incredibly kind and answered all of our questions about the menu knowledgeably and clearly. He also frequently checked in with us to make sure everything was going well. The food was exceptional! The menu is full of delicious, unique, Mediterranean style dishes. We had the tuna crudo (which was to die for), the speck and prosciutto, the blistered snow pea special (with minted lemon ricotta), and shared the chicken cacciatore. Each dish was beautifully plated and bursting with flavor! We wanted dessert but didn't have the room, unfortunately! Next time! The cocktails and wines are also delicious and unique. We had the robustinis (their take on an espresso martini), and we were absolutely blown away! The perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness, with a bold espresso kick, shaken to perfection by the lovely bartender, Roz! I also had to try the poutini, a refreshing Tequila drink with fresh squeezed blood orange - yum! I highly recommend Bred in the Bone to anyone looking for a bite in...