The Front Porch Piano Bar & Restaurant — Restaurant in Ogunquit

Been to this place many times. Back after a 3 year absence since moving to Florida. Piano bar opens at 4. Would stand in line on the street to go up to piano bar when it opened. I understand owner hasn’t changed but management apparently has. Got there 3:05 to stand in line because we wanted to sit at the piano. A group of 4 joined us later stating they wanted to be early because they’d never been able to sit at the piano. Turns out what I assumed is a manager turns up - middle aged lady didn’t get her name. And says that folks who were waiting in the bar would get to go up first because that’s what she always does. It appears from hugs and kisses that she knew who was in the bar. Didn’t matter that no one mentioned that those waiting in line would be out of luck. Piano sits 10. The line included a couple celebrating 50th birthday. They bought drinks for those of us in line. The manager told them and the other 4 not to worry that they would get a seat at the bar. Four o’clock comes around and from bar area comes a server with 4 people behind her to get first dibs at the piano seating. Too bad for the those of us in line since 3:15. Apparently the “manager” didn’t know that was happening with the server and the 4 from the bar going up the down stair way. . When we finally made it up to the piano a staff member had saved 9 of the 10 seats. Never had this experience and found it so unfair for those of us making the line to get in. I managed to get the only seat left at the piano and my husband grabbed a chair and sat behind me. The 4 behind us in line found a table and left about an hour and a half later. The couple celebrating the birthday also grabbed a table. We met our server Ashley. Two and a half hours into the night, a couple of seats opened up at the piano and I tried to get the couple in to sit at the piano. At this point Ashley decided to take my husband’s chair away. I protested and was told it was her place and I had no say. I noted that the chair had been there for 2.5 hours with no issues and her response was: she didn’t give a shit. Not to mention that the supposed manager had placed a chair behind my husband. That one did not get moved by Ashley. I saw her later giving it to who I supposed was a friend cause it was hug time again. Apparently that one was not in the way. I was not drunk having had only 2 Proseccos, had not used profanity, but was upset at the treatment and dismissal. We asked for our check. When I went to ask her for his credit card back, she noted she had given it back to him. Something I did not know. She then proceeded to throw me out of the Front Porch. A real class act. My advice is if you want to sit at the piano make friends with staff cause apparently if you are not on their “preferred” list you ain’t going to make it. And if you protest about the unfairness of the system no one bothered to educate you on, you’ll be thrown out after having profanities said to you. This was NEVER our experience the many times we went before. You stood in line outside until piano bar opened and first come first served re a seat at the piano. If that is not the way it works anymore, have the courtesy to say so and not make jerks of the folks standing in line. Robert Dionne, the pianist we saw, is a class world entertainer and we will miss not...

Update 2025 Since four years ago, this place has unfortunately gotten worse. The food was subpar and I'm not a fussy eater. Fish tacos were only filled with bland coleslaw and breaded fish. The drinks were mostly ice and our waiter only checked on us when our glasses were empty. It felt like he came by just to top us off with another alcoholic beverage. The piano bar plays the same songs, same genre year after year. It was expensive for the level of service and low quality food we received. I keep trying to give this place the benefit of a doubt each year, but it's a repeat disappointment.

2021 My mom and I went to The Front Porch because as locals, my parents highly recommended the food, the service, the music, and the atmosphere. I've always been local to Ogunquit and make frequent yearly visits here both on and off season. It's our home away from home. I've never been to The Front Porch, however. We have our favorite restaurants and we tend to stick with those. This visit, my mom really wanted to take me to The Front Porch. We arrived just around opening, were seated downstairs promptly, and had a very kind waitress. My mom requested we get a table upstairs. Our waitress said sure, she'd get us a spot. Once she got us a table she proceeded to walk us up the stairs. The host butts in says, NO, you can't, you need to wait. We were then seated back to our hallway table. 30 or so minutes later, the host brings us upstairs. What a great, friendly environment up there! Our waiter was FULL OF ENERGY. He was spicy to say the least, a bit rude at times taking my phone from me (while I made song requests) and not giving it back for a while later, multiple times, swiping his hand down my face randomly as he walked by. Regardless, he was playful and entertaining.

Then we paid our bill...we were immediately told, your time is up and you need to leave! We had 3 people tell us to get out, including the terrible host. Absolutely no explanation as to why were being escorted out. All we asked repeatedly was how come, did we do something wrong? They said nothing! How bizarre! How embarrassing! The bar was full and clearly everyone saw us get kicked out. We weren't loud and obnoxious. We bought drinks and food. We left a 25% tip. I even called afterwards to ask why they made us leave and I was hung up on. My mom and I still can't figure out what...

After reading others' negative reviews, my review fits right in and I am very surprised management hasn't done something about it!

My husband, 19 year old son, and myself were vacationing from Chicago. Another vacationer mentioned the piano bar at this place, so I begged my husband and son to go because I love piano bars. Apparently, you cannot bring your family upstairs to eat if you have kids under 21, so I asked my son to bring his fake ID to eat with me. The bouncer, Josh, didn't let my son in to eat with me and that would've been fine if it ended there. It is their establishment and their choice, but Then he took my son's ID, as if he was a criminal there with other 19 year olds. I don't let my son drink - I just wanted to eat dinner with him since I enjoy the piano bar.

But, it doesn't end there. I tried to go back in BY MYSELF, and the bouncer, Josh, started yelling at me that I couldn't come in. Then when I continued to approach him and said I am by myself, he said ok. I had a bottle of water in my hand, and within two seconds, he came over to me and said he had to take it from me and then quickly sent the waiter over to tell me I had to order a drink. I was planning on ordering drinks and a meal, but I hadn't even looked at a menu yet. When I asked him if we could eat downstairs with my son, he said NO, that he had taken my son's ID, so he would never be let back in the restaurant. When I tried to explain that I was the one who wanted my son to come in to eat with us, he didn't care. I then left because I don't need to be bullied by this guy any further. JUST NOT WORTH IT.

Then I came back the next day to speak to the manager. While I was speaking to her, JOSH the bully, descended the stairs to stand right in front of me while I was speaking to the manager. I told her and she said she didn't want to say anything to him! What?!? Then the second manager came over and did nothing to make us feel better after being bullied by that guy. We would NEVER GO THERE AGAIN AND RECOMMEND ANYONE WITH CHILDREN NOT TO GO THERE. All this place wants is to MAKE MONEY off you, and I guess because my 19 year old wouldn't be ordering a drink upstairs, he couldn't even...