Front & Main — Restaurant in Waterville

Took my amazing wife out for a date last night to Front & Main. Secured a reservation on Opentable, as getting a table can be hit or miss. They do have casual lounge areas available if too busy, so there’s usually always a place to sit without much of a wait. The atmosphere is modern and very clean. Large windows with lots of light and views. The patio is on the street, but far enough away that you don’t feel like you’re on the sidewalk. We typically park in the hotel’s lot (The Lockwood), walk up the stairs from the sidewalk and through the front door.

We were promptly seated on arrival and only waited a few minutes for our waitress. She was polite and sweet and attentive to our needs. The restaurant was pretty busy, even-so at no point did we feel neglected.

We opted for the Caesar Salad and Korean BBQ Pork Belly for appetizers, sharing both. The Caesar dressing was perfect, anchovies not overpowering but contributing to the complex flavor of the dressing. Presentation of both dishes was smart. The Pork Belly however was the hit of the two. Melt in your mouth delicious, the glaze paired with the Smoked mushroom relish was outstanding. The spice of the cucumber salad was cool and refreshing, blending the heat and sweet to accompany the earthiness of the Pork and mushrooms. Both 5/5 ⭐️

Our Entrees were good, but honestly a bit of a disappointment. I chose the Ribeye and feel that at the price it was, the cook and sear on it was a bit amateur. The grill marks were inconsistent and unappealing, one could also say it was served upside down. The cut of meat was excellent, but I felt it wasn’t seasoned well. The cook borderline medium, without any char was a bit of a disappointment, but I understand how difficult it is to get a cut to room temperature before grilling in the fast paced restaurant environment. The accompanying squash and zucchini were of the same caliber, and a bit undercooked. The chimichurri sauce was fresh and delicious with the meat. The hit of the dish was the Papas Bravas, good flavor and well cooked. 4/5 ⭐️

Fried chicken- liberty has been taken with the breading used on this boneless tenderloin style chicken, but it being a gluten free dish contributes to this. We felt the lack of dark meat left something to be desired here. Nevertheless, it was delicious. The accompanying coleslaw was good, though there were some inconsistencies in the chop that made some pieces too big to fork without a knife. Mashed potatoes were smooth and creamy without any lumps. Well executed. The hit of this dish was the accompanying hot maple honey when paired with the chicken. 4/5 ⭐️

The desserts we ordered are our favorite, though we have tried the others as well and they are all good. She had the dark chocolate espresso torte, our waitress suggested a scoop of raspberry sorbet to accompany it, she was not wrong. The sweetness paired excellently with the richness of the torte. It has been the same every time we ordered it, excellent. Rich, chocolatey, goodness. The Frozen Key lime Pie - my favorite, I will probably continue to order it. The presentation is good, a bit busy even, but all parts pair well and create many different flavors when paired together in the so many combinations available on the plate. Blackberry sauce and berries, pistachio crumbles, meringue and the frozen key lime itself. Mmmmmm. Both 5/5 ⭐️

We have eaten here many times and will continue to do so, as well as recommend it to everyone we cross paths with. The staff is fantastic, as is the food. We look forward to the new menu and new experiences here from the chef. ...

🌟 Food Review: Front & Main – Waterville, Maine 📍 9 Main St, Waterville, ME 04901

Tucked away in downtown Waterville, Front & Main is serving up some seriously bold flavors and thoughtful presentations. Sometimes you have to leave the buzz of Portland to discover hidden culinary gems, and this spot proves it. The ambiance is elevated yet comfortable—with beautiful seating and a cozy fireplace area that adds a warm, inviting touch. Let’s dive into the food! 🍴

STARTERS & SMALL PLATES 🧀 Smoked Ricotta (V/GF) – $18 This dish was... intriguing. It featured roasted asparagus, a ricotta whey emulsion, and an orange leek gremolata. Based on the menu, I expected it to be warm—especially the asparagus—but it was served cold. ❄️ While the flavors worked surprisingly well together, the temperature threw me off. Honestly, a bit confusing but still tasty? A solid 7/10 for flavor, but presentation and temperature missed the mark.

MAINS 🌮 Street Tacos (3) – Pork Belly Special These were the highlight of the entire meal. No notes, no complaints—just pure joy. 🤤 Crispy, juicy pork belly with the perfect blend of spices, tucked into soft tortillas. Easily a 10/10, and I’d return just for these alone.

🥜 Gambian Peanut Stew (GF/V+) – $34 What a flavor bomb! 🔥 The mafe sauce was rich and spiced beautifully, and the lentils, carrots, plantains, and peas added heartiness. That said, some of the vegetables (especially the potatoes) were undercooked, and a few elements felt more raw than al dente. Still, I was so taken by the taste that I’d order it again in a heartbeat. 9/10, with room to perfect the texture.

🥔 Potato Gnocchi (V) – $29 Wow. These gnocchi were pillowy soft, served with pearl onions, asparagus, a pine nut & arugula pesto, and topped with pecorino. 🌿 The pesto sauce was vibrant and full of life—hands down one of the best gnocchi dishes I’ve had in Maine. A perfect 10/10!

🍗 Roasted Chicken (GF) – $32 This one fell a bit short. The curried cauliflower, mushrooms, and tikka masala flavors were great, but the chicken itself was dry and lacked the tenderness I hoped for. 😕 With better execution on the protein, this dish could have been a standout. 7/10—great ideas, not fully realized.

DESSERTS 🍰 Frozen Key Lime Pie (GF) – $14 A beautiful blend of tart and sweet, topped with toasted meringue, pistachio crumble, and a blackberry sauce. Refreshing and indulgent at the same time. Loved it! 💚

🍌 Bananas Foster Budino (V/GF) – $14 This was my favorite dessert of the night. A velvety banana custard, brûléed on top with vanilla wafers and chantilly cream—like crème brûlée meets banana pudding, and I was obsessed. 😍 Both desserts easily earned 10/10.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS ✨ Front & Main brings a creative, globally-inspired menu to central Maine and executes it with a bold culinary voice. The ambiance is polished but relaxed, and the staff were friendly and attentive throughout our visit.

Food: 9/10 – The flavors are incredible across the board, with a few execution missteps.

Affordability: 5/10 – This is definitely on the upscale side for Waterville. Expect to spend.

Ambiance: 8/10 – Sleek, elegant, and warm—especially with that fireplace nook.

Would I come back? Absolutely. Those pork belly tacos and Gambian stew are...

Front & Main or Back & Minor? Let me start by saying I have been to plenty of "fine dining" restaurants over my years. And in all those experiences, I've known that every time, that it was going to be overpriced. But what I experienced at Front & Main takes the proverbial cake. I made a reservation, for my wife and I, for our anniversary. The atmosphere was nice, but that’s where this review takes a different turn, unfortunately. We started with "fall salads". While the salad was very good and flavorful, it was very small and come on, $14 for a few shards of butter lettuce, some grilled onions accompanied by thinly sliced pears and goat cheese. Really.?? Ok, ok I get it, fine dining. Then for our main courses my wife ordered the sea scallops with potato hash. I can’t speak for hers, but she said it was ok. The scallops my wife got were good, but really she said they were no different then something you’d get at red lobster.. Now mind you "ok" was not what I was hoping for, for $39! Now me being me, I ordered the grilled ribeye with asparagus and papas bravas. The steak , while ordered medium rare, came out basically red, with a sear on the edges. Might I add, it was full of gristle. Add a few grilled asparagus and about 1/2 a cup of papas bravas (basically fried potatoes that are supposed to be spicey in this tiny metal dish). "All this" (insert sarcastic tone) for $45!! I expected the best steak of my life.... Again, I know, that's fine dining. Now I’ll cut this short by saying our waitress Cassidy, however pleasant, never refilled my water, not even once. And anyone who knows me, knows this is a big uh oh... I know I know, that's fine dining though again right?? No it should’ve been fine dining. What we got was a lackluster overpriced meal from a hotel restaurant. I mean come on, for that amount of money, we should have been catered to like all the other people that were there, that the manager (or maitre d) went to to check on to inquire about their dining experience. But nope you guessed it, never checked on us though. Hmmmmm? We didn't even get a thank you for coming in or good night or a single mention of our special occasion, that I was specifically asked to add while making the reservation. Maybe I'm wrong, but for over $180 (tip and 2 - $15 dollars 3oz drinks!) I expected more? A lot more. Maybe something like what Thistle’s was in Bangor or Sedgley Place in Greene or a Ruth’s Chris something - anything.. Based on my experience, we won't go back. And quite honestly, I'd be surprised if many people go here after one visit if theirs is anything like ours was. Especially at those prices!! I mean come on, its Waterville, Maine. Oh wait I meant...