The Lost Fire — Restaurant in Kennebunkport

The Lost Fire Patagonian Grill and Bar in Kennebunkport, Maine, has a lot to offer in terms of food and ambiance, but unfortunately, our recent visit was overshadowed by a series of issues that greatly impacted our experience. To begin, we had made a reservation to celebrate our anniversary, and we were greeted with a warm "Happy Anniversary" upon check-in, which was a nice touch. However, the positive tone quickly diminished when we were seated at what can only be described as the worst table in the restaurant. After being escorted through a busy bar area and into an adjacent building, we found ourselves seated at a table in a narrow hallway between two buildings. The location was far from ideal: one chair faced the exit door and the staff prep area, while the other looked down a cold, uninviting hallway. The temperature in the hallway was uncomfortable, fluctuating between being too cold when the heat wasn’t on and uncomfortably warm when it kicked in. This made for a less-than-pleasant dining experience. We communicated our discomfort to the wait staff, and they assured us they would pass the message along to the manager. Unfortunately, the real problem arose when water began dripping on me during our meal. It was raining outside, and it became clear that the ceiling above us had a leak. We were shocked that the staff continued to seat customers in this area despite being fully aware of the issue. This became all the more frustrating when, after finishing our meal, we spoke with the manager. We explained our disappointment—not only with the seating arrangement but also with the cold space and the leaking ceiling. To our surprise, the manager casually acknowledged that the ceiling had leaked before and that they were aware of the problem. This lack of proactive management was deeply concerning, especially since it was our anniversary dinner and they knew it was a special occasion. Despite these significant issues, the food itself was quite good, and our server was attentive and polite. The grilled meats, particularly the Patagonian lamb, were flavorful and well-prepared, and the service was prompt and friendly. However, the physical discomfort of the environment, combined with the leaking ceiling, made it difficult to fully enjoy the meal. In the end, we left feeling disappointed by the experience. The combination of the cold, uncomfortable seating, the leaking ceiling, and the lack of attention to these issues by management was frustrating. While we appreciated the quality of the food and the service, the overall experience fell short of expectations, especially considering we had hoped for a special anniversary celebration. We hope the management takes these concerns seriously and addresses the obvious issues with the seating arrangements and maintenance to prevent future guests from having a...

We went in with high expectations (and ready to take a break from seafood for a night) and we really wanted to love it but sadly did not. :(( M Regarding the service: We had a great initial vibe with our server and this individual elevated our expectations (even further) by selling the chef, hard. After that connection it really fizzled. Beyond not checking on us ONCE to see how things were going during any of our three courses (salads, entrees, dessert) .. there were two critical mistakes this individual made that ultimately soured us on service..

The wine I ordered was undrinkable. My glass remain untouched (sans a sip) throughout the entire meal and sat on the table as we left. Critical mistake 1. A. Not observing that I wasn’t drinking my wine and checking-in as to why. That check-in should have been immediately after I had a minute with my wine (glass not bottle so tasting was not offered) and a new glass should have been offered and that comp’d. B. Missing that earlier check-in and seeing the wine sit/remain untouched as we paid the bill.

Critical mistake 2 (which leads into the food). There was no check-in at all. When clearing the table and we were asked if/what we’d take home (there was a portion of the meal barely touched) we said we would leave it behind because it was overcooked and burnt. There was no apology or any acknowledgment. This individual just continued to clear the table. After what happened with the wine and then exhibiting no genuine awareness or care for the experience or taste .. I gave my first sub 20% tip in a vv long time (noting, my tips average 30+%) and it led me to write this.

Regarding the food: A good majority was burnt (sausage so charred it was dry, hard and black; short rib indiscernible, over charred, flavorless with large chunks of fat; skirt steak ordered mid rare and it arrived well done; ribeye was like a standard supermarket thin cut w no flavor and charred; mashed pots over salted. Best (and it was vv good!) the hearts of palm salad, a mojito mocktail, chicken on the mixed platter (perfect) nmmm and ricotta cheesecake special (all delicious.)

Net, our bill (pre tip) was $222 for two ppl. One bad wine at $12. That is A LOT for what we experienced. I have no problem spending 10x that on great food, service and experiences .. this just didn’t cut it (no pun.) Perhaps we could overlook the service blunders if the food was there but the headliner / entrees were surprisingly bad.

Perhaps an off night, expectations too high and/or we’re fortunate to be around a lot of great food /service INI NYC. Not sure but 3 is generous for what we experienced. Great concept though ..

Ps. I’d be remiss if I did not note, that the hostess who seated us was incredibly accommodating...

Definitely a fancy place. My boyfriend and I were in the area and wanted to grab a drink before heading home. When we walked in, we were greeted by the host who was very sweet, but let us know that they bar is reservations only. Really?! The bar?! Luckily they had an opening since it was 5pm and they just opened. (I should have taken this as a sign….)

When we sat down, the bartender (older gentleman) looked at us up and down because we were a little underdressed. I’ve never felt so uncomfortable. I mean I understand that there are dress policies and I respect them, but no one let us know when we walked in. He told us about the specials and gave us silverware, but once we let him know that we were only staying for a drink or two, he laughed under his breath and said out loud “well they didn’t let me know that”. I’m sorry, how is that our fault? By the time this happened, our drinks were ordered already.

Once he dropped them off to us, he never came back to check on us and he was ignoring us; not even making eye contact. My boyfriends drink (he ordered the holiday mule) was extremely sweet and unbalanced, tasted like a Yankee Candle. We decided to get the check because of the poor service and overly sugary drinks. 2 drinks were $35 before tip. I don’t mind paying for any price as long as the service and atmosphere is enjoyable. We felt so uncomfortable we left after 10 minutes.

I deeply regret coming here. Forget about our experience, but the atmosphere felt very sterile. The restaurant is beautiful with upscale decor and lighting, but I was very disappointed with the way that we were treated. Otherwise, the other bartender (younger lady) was sweet. She saw how uncomfortable we looked and got us the check quickly, while our bartender was hiding in the back. I understand that he’s probably used to getting huge tips from even a party of 2, but there is absolutely no excuse to make others feel bad.

I wouldn’t come back even if I was dressed properly and made a reservation. Vibe was completely off. For the price, there are other places with MUCH better drinks and atmosphere.

EDIT: This was our first time in Kennebunk and had no idea that it’s known to be a sophisticated, flashy town. We wouldn’t have gone into the restaurant, dressed like this...