The Millbrook Tavern — Restaurant in Freeport

Went for my birthday dinner on 12/18/22. Due to a knee injury I was walking with a cane. The hostess had zero personality and couldn't be bothered to smile or walk us to our table at a pace that I could keep up with. I turned a corner and found a table with two menus so I sat. My friend asked if that was our table because she never saw the hostess once we left the podium. I just told her to sit and we'd find out. Our server (I think her name was Alex) was wonderful. She came over and took our drink order. When she brought the drinks she took our dinner order. My friend ordered the salmon with a demi caesar salad. I ordered the filet mignon (cooked medium). I was disappointed that the restaurant was out of mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes are easy enough that can technically be made during dinner service should a restaurant run out. After 45min and two drinks I waived our server to the table and asked for my friend's salad. She brought it right over. We were still waiting on meals. Both salmon and filet cook quickly. As we waited I watched the guys on the grill watching the customers in the restaurant more than they faced the grill. At one point there was a large flare up on the grill which didn't seem to phase them. I didn't see either removing food from the flame. Not long after, our meals arrived. My friend's salmon was wonderful. My filet, on the other hand, was a disaster. To be clear, I CAN COOK. I CAN COOK STEAK. IT'S NOT HARD. I looked at my burnt, dried up, triangular shaped piece of what, at one point in time was a juicy filet and now looked like tree bark. I had this server wait while I sawed through the hard exterior to confirm it was completely burned. She apologized profusely and said she would get me a new one. This time I ordered medium rare in hopes that it would give the cook a chance at not overcooking it. Alex was great and brought me some bacon wrapped scallops while I waited for my meal once again. When she brought my meal the 2nd time, meat looked fine however I could tell by touching it that it was not cooked. I cut into it and it is raw (purple) and cold in the center. I was so frustrated. She asked if it was okay. It wasn't but by now I didn't even want it. She said she would take it off the bill and the scallops were on her. I cut around the outer part and ate what I could and gave the middle part to my friend who eats rare meat. She ate what she could. I should have just brought it home and cooked it myself BUT it was my birthday dinner and for a $44 dollar meal it was ridiculous that they had no mashed potatoes and nobody that could cook a filet mignon!!! As we were paying for the rest of the meal we overheard a woman at the next table complaining about her steak being undercooked. It was my first time at Broad Arrow Tavern and I was so disappointed. Our server and the espresso martinis were the only nice part of my...

"I evacuated the seafood fettuccine, later that night, from both ends."

My wife and I went to the Broad Arrow Tavern in Freeport, Maine, for the first time, on the evening of Saturday, February 25, 2023.

Our waiter was helpful, the drinks were spot on, and the appetizers were very tasty. My wife ordered the fillet mignon medium-rare and it came out over-cooked at medium-well (she doesn't complain, so I'm doing it for her.) I ordered the seafood fettuccine. I was feeling like some good seafood and the waiter recommended it.

When my order came out, I could smell it coming from across the room. I even said to my wife "I hope that's not my dinner", but it was. The waiter placed it in front of me, asked if we needed anything else, and walked away. My wife said "wow, that's pretty strong, and you've eaten some strong smelling seafood, but this is bad. I'm not sure I can eat my food it smells so bad." Yes, it smelled like a strong low-tide, very intense sulfuric smell. I told her "I don't think a place like this would have brought it out to the table if it wasn't safe to eat." I reassured myself a few times with this thought throughout the meal.

Well, later that night, as I was getting ready for bed, my stomach began actively evacuating its contents. I barely made it to the toilet, it was a buzzer-beater for sure. I had to grab the waste basket on my way as it began coming out both ends.

Fast-forward to today, Monday, February 27, 2023. I decided to call the Broad Arrow Tavern (1- to inform them of what had happened, (2- to see what they would do about it.

Rhonda answered and transferred me to Sarah's desk. I left a message, and later, Sarah returned my call. I explained what had happened, and Sarah said that she had spoken to the chef about this and was confident that I hadn't gotten sick due to the food I had eaten there that night, as the chef had told her food-born illnesses take more than 24 hours to develop. I asked if she was okay leaving this situation like this, or if there was anything else she wanted to do about this. She said that I wasn't the only one that ordered that dish that night and there have been no other complaints, in fact she says that I've been the only one to complain about this dish. I said "I wish your business much success, but we will not return." and I ended the phone call.

It goes without saying, that we, along with everyone else that I tell my story to, from now on, I doubt will ever darken their doorway.

This is a case where a simple apology, and refunding of my meal and this issue would have been resolved, but this is where Sarah was comfortable leaving this...

I've been coming to the Broad Arrow Tavern for over 25 years, specifically for the legendary lobster stew. I've celebrated many special occasions, went on dates, or went for lunch because I missed the lobster stew. In all that time, I'd have given it a five star review happily.

The day my wife got engaged, we went to Broad Arrow Tavern to celebrate. So yesterday, on our one-year anniversary, there was nowhere else we'd have rather gone.

I knew the hotel had been purchased recently, but didn't think the new owners would ruin such an iconic Freeport establishment. So I was truly dismayed to see all the changes they had made.

The first thing we noticed was the smaller menu. The legendary lobster stew was gone. That alone would be cause for dismay, but then we started noticing other things. Everything (left) on the menu seemed to have increased in price significantly. Even the fresh, delicious bread for the table was gone.

So, both disappointed about the stew, I ordered a burger and my wife ordered a lobster roll. My burger was okay. Decent beef, but a cold, untoasted bun and mediocre from-frozen fries. I'd have called it good at a budget restaurant, but certainly not for a $19. The lobster roll was delicious by all accounts, but also not really justifying it's $32 price tag.

All combined, it very much felt like the new owners decided to cut away as much expense as possible and focus in bilking tourists for as much money as possible. Instead of the fantastic local restaurant that just so happened to be part of a hotel, it felt like a tourist trap. As a hotel restaurant, I'd probably have been satisfied as a guest. But as a local whose been coming for decades? It feels like a gutted shell of the institution it was.

So, to the owners: I know you have many other hotels. I know there is a huge economy of scale for standardizing and streamlining. But understand that the Broad Arrow Tavern is not just some random hotel bar and grill. It's a staple. You made a good investment; all you need to do is not ruin it.

I've been to the Broad Arrow Tavern many times on many days, and I've never seen it as quiet as it was last night. So, I suspect that other locals agree with me. And as much as the tourists might be willing to fork over more money, Maine has a loooong off season. You still need us.

The one positive thing I can say is that the service hasn't changed. The staff was as excellent and friendly as ever.

We'll come back to the Broad Arrow Tavern one more time. It's only 15 minutes away, after all. Whether we keep coming back for decades to come, and keep bringing our friends when they visit, is up...