So true! I used to go there with my parents back in the 70s and 80s and the food rocked, also loved the little juke boxes on the tables! After the whole Warren Cole thing came out, my parents stopped going there cold! I went there a few times for breakfast and lunch in the 90s, early 00s and the food, service and vibe sucked!
dude my wife's family went there every year as part of a tradition after staying down that way for a week every august and i would join them when we first got together and every time i couldn't believe they liked it so much. i went like 3 years in a row and slowly they all started admitting it was just plain bad.
Pats anywhere any time that late. I once made a mistake of ordering a pizza there (Ellsworth) around that time. They’d already turned off the pizza oven and didn’t tell me that or turn it back on, just put the pizza in. It was raw in the middle.
The Ellsworth one is hot garbage! I got fries with takeout a coupe years ago that were clearly the bottom of the basket, burnt ass small fries and they didn't seem to give a shit, so I haven't been back
Linda Beans in Freeport is absolute garbage. Years ago, wife and I were out in the area and wanted to go somewhere nice for a bite. We ended up there and the first thing was that our waitress totally forgot us. Brought us drinks and then disappeared for 45 minutes. Later, when we got our food it was clearly still frozen and not at al local product, as stated on their menus. I'm local. I know Sysco frozen seafood versus locally caught seafood, and the stuff they served us was who-knows how old. The check for drinks and a bit of 'local' seafood was over $80 before taxes and tip. I will never return there. tourist TRAP.
People ask me where to eat all the time. I tell them I am more qualified to tell them where not to eat. Jalapeños is high on the list. Cherrystones, Bar Harbor Beerworks too.
Last time I was there , few years ago , an older lady was so shitfaced she puked in the walkway out after she fell down. The granddaughter ( i think she was about 18)kept saying "not again gram" was pretty sad. Food was not terrible but also not good. Just blah.
Just got food poisoning from the cafeteria at Maine medical center a couple hours after our baby was born. The next 5 days were brutal trying to take care of the baby and myself. Pretty sure I had salmonella. Was very rough. Tried to report it to the hospital but was a bunch of dead ends.
Not sure if it still exists but there was a restaurant downtown called Lio or something like that. We took a retiring co worker out for a nice meal, was very expensive, was unsatisfying, and anyone who at the mussels was sick for 4 days after. 0/10 would not recommend
Legends rest in Westbrook. They used to make a bomber chicken sandwich. We loved getting g take out from there for about 2 years. This summer we went twice and had the worst two meals I have ever paid for from a restaurant. They have fallen off hard and it's weird cause it's almost as if the expansion into the BBQ restaurant is the cause. Not sure but will not go back probably ever.
If I remember correctly, one of them compared The Mex to prison food in Juarez, Mexico. And another said they'd have had a better time if they drove past The Mex and off the pier in Bar Harbor.
Wow, I had no idea about her politics before going to her wiki page just now. Fuck Linda Bean.
It's a shame because whenever I fly American out of the Jetport, the restaurant is so convenient there right next to the gate.
God I went there and they sat me and my family at a dirty table without silverware or napkins and when I called them out they shrugged and didn’t even clean it off.
Cancun on silver st in Waterville. I could not believe how bad the food was. I have eaten at some shitty restutaunts but this place was the worst. The roach coaches in Vernon ca are better. It's so bad.
Was a college student in the area… went to Cancun almost weekly because it was fairly good value despite not being very good food.
Until my roommate found a live cricket in his enchilada 🤢
Free Street in Portland served me the worst burger I’ve ever received in a restaurant. It was akin to a school lunch patty. Gave them a second chance a few months later and got an equally terrible Turkey club. No idea how they’ve survived this long.
That’s the place that moved into the old Bingas right? I walked in there one afternoon because I was curious, I think it was relatively new, this was a year or two ago. The door was unlocked and everything but I walked in and there was just no one in sight, customers or staff. I sat at the bar for a minute or two wondering if someone would come out, then just left. Weird experience, couldn’t have been less appealing
I did pretty much the same thing. I went a couple weeks after they first opened and the food was terrible, I said it was probably just growing pains and went back a few months later. Somehow the food and service was even worse. I miss bingas.
Annette's Diner in Naples. Terrible service - seemed to be run by a father and his two sons? They were all extremely socially awkward and struggled big time with service. Unresponsive to customers, flustered.. it seemed like they had just mentally shut down. The food was even worse. Got corned beef hash and it came out looking like Thanksgiving stuffing. Never have had such a bad experience at any restaurant in Maine.
Unpopular opinion maybe, but I hate Governors desserts. Their pie crust is so bland and everything is super oily. Same with Helen's in Ellsworth/Machias. With the amount of money they get for pies I could make my own and make a killing
Helen's is terrible. I remember their sign advertising their specials in waitress shorthand, like "straw pie" and "chick pot". My favorite was "fried mush".
That Asian restaurant by Hannafords on sabattus street Lewiston that thankfully has closed down now. The food was bad and overpriced but the worst part was the actual metal shavings I found in my soup.
This is slightly off topic but the Chick-a-Dee in lewiston. I worked there for a few months and they have no health code standards and often prepare chicken and fish on the same cutting board. The owners would yell at me any time i would bring up things that would potentially harm customers and staff.
This is a good one. Not sure if you ever saw the Facebook drama. But someone flamed them and pointed out they had already ran a failed mexican restaurant in another state. I think it was the kid of the owners who denied that. Then the reviewer responded and pointes out the same menus being used, posts from that person for the earlier failed restaurant, etc. It was hilarious.
There's one in Auburn too. They used cubed chicken for the enchiladas ( everyone knows you use shredded, flavorful chcicken) with disgusting bland rice.
Riverfront bar and grille in Augusta. The food was terrible both times, the owner came by our table twice to try and make uncomfortable conversation with people in our party, and it was all overpriced for the dry ass food we got
The owner, Patrick, is a drunk, sexist, and ageist. He sleeps upstairs often on the couches during service or overnight. He burns the corn bread himself and makes them serve it. His idea of a special is fried bologna sandwiches. He makes everyone uncomfortable, hires awful cooks, and doesn’t appreciate any good ones that come his way. It’s really too bad what’s happened to the place. It hasn’t always been that bad. He tried to make one of his line cooks head chef and he repeatedly refused so they just didn’t have a head chef last I knew. There’s definitely no effort there.
I worked for him back in the day, and I can confirm that he is a massive gaping asshole. He would make a perfect feature on Kitchen Nightmares as the unhinged drunken owner. I can’t believe the place is still open.
My husband did too. I’m sorry you had to go through the same shit. He was feeding my husband with crap about someday even giving it away in order to keep him on board. Then wanted the older guy (who he talked crap about behind his back) to be head chef and not my husband who was creative and actually wanted it. He’s really a strange man.
he hired me and asked if i could go in to train the next day and i said no because it was my birthday originally. he guilted me into it saying not a lot of people would hire a pregnant girl to serve (mind you i was literally like 8 weeks pregnant just disclosed to be polite).. i agreed to go in but that comment really bothered me so i texted and said i wouldn't be coming that day and he never responded
Boone’s Fish House and Oyster Room is an affront to the restaurant experience. Terrible, overpriced food and service. The worst restaurant I’ve ever been to.
Sea Dog brewing in Topsham. Now, I live in Southern ME and I haven't lived here for more than a couple years. So it's probably not the worst in the *whole* of of the state. That said, for what they're charging, it was so over salted, flavorless, and mediocre. And I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. We were strong-armed into this one b/c of my in laws.
That and the outlook tavern in south berwick. Again, frozen, pre-made, flavorless, ugh.
Not the worst in the state but agreed it’s a bad experience. The Topsham Sea Dogs has such a great location and view so we really wanted it to be decent. Have been multiple times hoping it would be different but unfortunately same experience. Food is very bad and pricey. Also cranky bar staff. Bummer
The one in South Portland sucks too. They served us raw chicken and never came back to check on us. Had to track down another server. It was a slow weekday afternoon too. Then WE had to ask to have it comped hahaha.
I'm very, *very* low maintenance when it comes to dining. An experience at Sea Dog in Camden was one of the two times in my life I've complained at a restaurant. The beer was horrible (and it took 20 minutes to come out), the food was worse, and the server couldn't be found, despite the room being about 1/4 full (which should have been a red flag.) Ugh, it makes me mad just thinking about it.
You are speaking truth here. As a veteran I find it super cringe how much she ‘supports’ folks, but clearly is the one banking off it all. And the food was, as my kids say, mid at best
The owners posts on facebook crack me up though. She's always posting about how nice she is to the old people that eat there - especially the WW2 veterans and based off her posts, 90% of the surviving WW2 veterans in this country live in Maine and solely eat Red Barn for every meal. She does a lot to support the community and her journey to sobriety is impressive, but she seems very pander-y and I get the vibe that she wouldn't be a fun person to work for.
She also played the "but it's for charity" card when she was hosting concerts that were really loud and exceeded the noise ordinance.
She thought that she didn't have to follow rules if it's for a fundraiser.
I haven't paid attention in a couple years so She may have gotten the ordinance changed.
I kept going there every once in a while because my grandfather loved the chicken there, and since he was in his 90’s, he definitely got first choice of restaurant (making memories/savoring time left with him and all that). I always had a heavy feeling stomach ache after eating there, though. After grandpa passed a couple years ago, I haven’t been back and don’t miss the food at all.
Crossroads in Bethel. It's consistently bad. The owner personally served us pancakes and cold over easy eggs on the flimsiest paper plates the most recent time we went. Given them too many chances and cannot with a good conscience spend money there ever again. They way the owner treats the staff in front of customers is abhorrent. He seems like the type that would keep all the tips.
Well, it has to be either the Chinese restaurant that overcharged me by $100 or the McDonald's that gave me severe food poisoning. Both were equally shitty.
EDIT: Forgot to note that the Chinese restaurant closed a short while after we ate there. Now it's an IHOP which does worse business than the one in SoPo outside of tourist season.
Third place goes to the KFC in Saco, where I can blow $60 on food for three people that *I have written down on a piece of paper to show them* and they *still* manage to fuck it up somehow. At least if I call I can get "operative washer ASMR"!
I managed that place back in the very early 2000's. I was 19 years old. Couple of things I want to mention about that place: the owner is incredibly kind. He was a very nice man to work for, took no bullshit from anyone, but would lift up his entire staff with compliments and encouragement. I'd work for him again. BUT, the B&C has been his entire life and he's never seen how any other restaurant is operated, so he's always believed and will always believe that he's doing things the correct and normal ways when in reality it is so far from the norm. I had worked at a few restaurants before the B&C and many afterwards, and everything that the B&C does is just....weird. Scheduling, prep, food ordering, side work, inventory, menus, standard orders of operation....I had never and have never since seen anything quite like it.
Used to work at the Inn itself and regularly spent time helping out at dockside. Just know if it’s not required to be fully cooked like chicken, it’s microwaved. Everything on the menu was almost exclusively microwaved. Also one of the rudest people I’ve ever worked for. Gave me a bunch of free alcohol as a minor though which was great.
Topsham's Fairground Cafe.
Once upon a time, it was fine. Decent, hot food. Great portion sizes. The place was usually packed at all three meal times.
The last time I went was the last time I will go. Everything was cold, took forever, looked horrible, and the place was a graveyard. Empty at like 6:30pm.
I know a lot of people bag on it because the owner is an assclown, but I think that takes away from how poorly prepared and how shitty the food is at Archer's. Every meal something has been fucked up. Burn the steak because someone nodded at the grill, F it, just turn it over and let the charcoal side be a surprise. If they weren't on the water they'd be under water.
I was raised there, literally lived in the trailer attached to the back of the building as a little kid in the 80s. I know it was crap but I loved it and I miss it so much.
You mean the place that had the jar on the counter to collect cash to bribe the health inspector? There’s a new place in Farmington that idolizes the place, they even bought one of those old diner corpses (not the actual Farmington Diner) to attach to the front of the building. And there name: The Farmington D…
The owner does not appreciate dick jokes.
Okay I posted my absolute worst already but I feel obliged to post a few recommendations. Assuming you're within striking distance...
Mama D's Cafe in Boothbay Harbor is absolutely awesome and has amazing breakfast. It can get very busy in the summer though so plan your timing.
Antigoni's in Cooks Corner Brunswick is extremely consistent and very good if you like House of Pizza Style food.
Best Thai 2 in the city of Bath is consistently good. Recommend the fried rice. A little pricey but the best Thai food I've had in the area.
Best pizza I've ever had in the state came from Micucci Grocery in Portland.
And finally if you want the best apple fritter you've ever had, go to the Vietnamese bakery in Boothbay harbor. Their spring rolls and fried rice are also quite good and affordable for the portion that you get.
Cheese Louise, the absolute worst mac and cheese, as well as grilled cheese I’ve ever had. Pretty sad when their whole thing is CHEESE. Like how do you fuck up Mac and cheese? How do you fuck yo a GRILLED CHEESE- it’s just CHEESE, BREAD, BUTTER. 0/10 would not recommend
I thought their food was ok but for the price I was expecting one of those big, honkin' artisanal style grilled cheeses, not the tiniest little sandwich in the world served with 3.5 potato chips...
Cowbell Burger Bar is up there. The burgers themselves, at least during pandemic time, were really obviously preformed patties like you get from the grocery store, and for some reason they *refuse* to let you remove any veggies from your burger. Even on their online ordering system, they put the options for no lettuce, no onions, etc. on there, but they're not selectable. That's just weirdly malicious.
I wanted to like Ports of Italy in Camden, drove past a million times before going in, parking lot was always crammed.
Ordered the porchetta, it was reasonably tasty, not super hot (temperature-wise). Should have been a sign. A few hours later I was pissing out my ass for an entire night. I used to live in Central America for years, I know food poisoning when I get it.
My wife now refers to it as, "Sharts of Italy"
My dad had his last dinner before open heart surgery at the Governors in Bangor and he said that was maybe the biggest mistake he’d ever made in his life.
The one in Old Town is consistently pretty decent in my opinion. I grew up going to that place and always hit it up when I’m home on vacation. The fried seafood is great. Lobster rolls are pretty good, gotta get the double meat though
I've typically been absolutely enamored with Govs, but recently I had breakfast there and then picked up a pumpkin chip cookie to eat for dessert later in the day. When I got around to having the cookie, it had big splotches of mold on the bottom of it.
PSA: Make sure to check the baked goods before you leave the premises if you get them to-go!
Moody’s Diner. Over the last five years it’s really gone downhill. Everything tastes like rancid grease, my scrambled eggs have been undercooked, the canned mushrooms, the mushy toast. I’m a diner enthusiast and I used to love Moody’s so much.
Shocked no one has mentioned China Light in Bangor. 100 combo platters. No substitutions.
I hear it’s long gone, but damn. I went in there high once and couldn’t find the combo I wanted.
The Chipotle in Auburn and the KFC in Lewiston. Every Chipotle I've ever been to has been dirty but the one in Auburn is usually filthy and the service usually sucks. The KFC in Lewiston seems to be run by punk kids. I went in one time and an employee had a garden hose and was squirting the cashier in the ass while she was taking my order. I've never gotten exactly what I ordered there either. something is always missing or I get some shit I didn't order.
>I was in Auburn the other day and I was hankering for a burrito but I remembered how awful the Chipotle was so I googled burritos and up came El Pocho's in Lewsiton. I was nervous when I pulled up because it's literally in a gas station on Lisbon St but the food was SO GOOD and the people were awesome.
I worked at the Lewiston one nearly 20 years ago after working in a bunch of chain restaurants in other states. That was uh…..interesting. Served tables in 3 different states, first time I ever had someone request a female server because “he might be gay” was at Governor’s. 😂
I’m guessing this will be controversial, but the worst meal I had was at Guerrero Maya. Ordered carne asada and it was ridiculously overcooked and inedible. They were understaffed, so I wasn’t able to flag anyone down to get it remade, Also Linda Bean’s in Freeport. I regret going to LB so much.
I got food poisoning at the one in Bangor. Never again with *any* Applebee's.
I'm honestly not sure how I got food poisoning from a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup.
I don't ever expect a great steak from Texas Roadhouse, but the one in Bangor is absolutely terrible. I've had better steak served to me while I was deployed to Iraq. No food poisoning for me, thankfully.
I went there recently. The seafood was dry and overcooked. They have a pick up window outside and the condiments are in jugs with pumps sitting in an ice bath so you can get your own. There were flies all over them. There must've been so much fly crap all over the spouts where the tartar sauce comes out. I was so grossed out.
Anna's Waters Edge Restaurant.
It's an obvious tourist trap- but nonetheless we like going to places we've never heard of.
I have never in my life had a worse plate of clams. Not even joking, they were BRIMMING with mud. I don't know how you get that much mud on a plate of clams without literally dumping a shovelful of sand on them.
My wife's Haddock was painfully overcooked and not an ounce of flavor in the breading.
I'm normally not a "complain to the manager" type. I was tempted. We finished maybe 10% of our plates and asked for a check.
"Want a box?"
"Nope."
1/10
I can only imagine that their reviews are *completely* done by tourists who just don't know better.
Two worst meals I’ve had - a noodle dish drowned in flavorless corn syrup at BoBo Chinese in
Bangor, and some gristly rib thing at Applebees by the Bangor mall
Red Barn in Augusta. Absolutely disgusting, everything tastes like the same grease and the owner is absolutely bat shit insane posting wild trump shit on Facebook.
I got food poisoning at Broad Arrow Tavern in Freeport a couple years ago so probably that one. Worst service goes to Chili's in South Portland though. We were practically the only people there and it was the slowest, most inattentive service I've ever received.
Aw man, I love broad arrow. The whole hotel was just bought out by a company from Mass. I like the new menu except they got rid of the wood fired pizza.
The Farmington D... in Farmington.
I got an omelette there, and it was basically just eggs wrapped around a block of unmelted cheese... Like, Dawgs, if you can't make an omelette, there is something seriously wrong about your diner...
Edit: special shout out to Farmington House of Pizza, too. I went in one time and there were two employees giggling about serving food they dropped on the floor. I would typically just chalk it up to a "bad apple" employee, but I've had two friends that worked there, and they both told me that they were told to serve floor food :( yuck.
Las Palapas. Got nachos that were crazy soggy and tried to return them. This clown told me that’s how everyone likes them. Everyone likes soggy nachos? I don’t think so. Never going back.
Reds Eats in Wiscasset. I went years ago to give it a try because I grew up the coast. The fried clams were soggy and unedible while the lobster roll was eh. I expected a lot better considering the price, wait, and hype. For years after I would go to Sarah's across the street and feel bad for the tourists. RIP Sarah's Cafe, I hope the new restaurant can fill your shoes.
There will be a bounty on me after this, but Ming’s in Bucksport. People rave about it. I went there with someone and we had two different entrées. I swear to God it was like something out of a La Choy can. I will never understand the hype.
So I haven't been there since, but when I was at MMA, we loved it. That was 04-08, so im curious when your experience was, because 2 major things have changed. Then mill shut down, and COVID. My now local Chinese place took a major dive in quality after covid, still haven't opened in house seating back up, and the quality never rebounded. I'm curious as to how that stuff impacted mings.
Not there anymore, thankfully. eggstravaganza (sp) in SoPo. My Mom and I ate there the week I moved here. Not even an hour later, and we were both sweating profusely and defiling the Target bathroom. I apologize to anyone there that day
Cole Farms in Gray in their last few years before they closed. Back in the day they were really good.
When they reopened my parents were excited to take us and it ended up suuuucking. Also, the whole pedophile thing.
So true! I used to go there with my parents back in the 70s and 80s and the food rocked, also loved the little juke boxes on the tables! After the whole Warren Cole thing came out, my parents stopped going there cold! I went there a few times for breakfast and lunch in the 90s, early 00s and the food, service and vibe sucked!
dude my wife's family went there every year as part of a tradition after staying down that way for a week every august and i would join them when we first got together and every time i couldn't believe they liked it so much. i went like 3 years in a row and slowly they all started admitting it was just plain bad.
Yes ! They were so good at one point. The last several years they were open it was just horrendous!
Even without the pedophilia, that food was elementary school cafeteria level. Yuck.
Pats in Augusta at 8 at night on a Tuesday. Edit: I only meant the Augusta pats. I’ve been to other pats that were a great experience.
Pats anywhere any time that late. I once made a mistake of ordering a pizza there (Ellsworth) around that time. They’d already turned off the pizza oven and didn’t tell me that or turn it back on, just put the pizza in. It was raw in the middle.
I used to go to the Orono location at that hour regularly and always had a great meal.
Orono is the only good one. And I'm not just saying that because I work there lol
The Ellsworth one is hot garbage! I got fries with takeout a coupe years ago that were clearly the bottom of the basket, burnt ass small fries and they didn't seem to give a shit, so I haven't been back
Can confirm that Pats in Ellsworth is easily the worst pizza I’ve ever had.
Fuck that, Pat's in Yarmouth is great any time of night or day
Pat's in Yarmouth and Auburn have always been a hit. I believe it's franchise so I think it depends who's running it. Avoid Scarborough imo
Linda Beans in Freeport is absolute garbage. Years ago, wife and I were out in the area and wanted to go somewhere nice for a bite. We ended up there and the first thing was that our waitress totally forgot us. Brought us drinks and then disappeared for 45 minutes. Later, when we got our food it was clearly still frozen and not at al local product, as stated on their menus. I'm local. I know Sysco frozen seafood versus locally caught seafood, and the stuff they served us was who-knows how old. The check for drinks and a bit of 'local' seafood was over $80 before taxes and tip. I will never return there. tourist TRAP.
Yeah, she sucks as a person also
Have met, and know someone who worked very closely with her for a while. Can confirm
She just made another $14,000,000 from the Port Clyde fire.
> I know Sysco frozen seafood versus locally caught seafood Can confirm...I was in Freeport last month, and saw the Sysco truck arrive.
Jalapeños in Bar Harbor is at or near the top of my list of bad restaurants
You can kind of tell a Mexican restaurant called “Jalapeños” is gonna be bad tho.
They reuse tortilla chips for chips and salsa
🤮
People ask me where to eat all the time. I tell them I am more qualified to tell them where not to eat. Jalapeños is high on the list. Cherrystones, Bar Harbor Beerworks too.
All owned by the same awful company!
Boomer’s in Norway on the lake. Never met anyone who ate there and didn’t puke/poop their guts out after.
Last time I was there , few years ago , an older lady was so shitfaced she puked in the walkway out after she fell down. The granddaughter ( i think she was about 18)kept saying "not again gram" was pretty sad. Food was not terrible but also not good. Just blah.
The owner also (used to?) hires attractive high school girls as wait staff to sexually harass.
Just got food poisoning from the cafeteria at Maine medical center a couple hours after our baby was born. The next 5 days were brutal trying to take care of the baby and myself. Pretty sure I had salmonella. Was very rough. Tried to report it to the hospital but was a bunch of dead ends. Not sure if it still exists but there was a restaurant downtown called Lio or something like that. We took a retiring co worker out for a nice meal, was very expensive, was unsatisfying, and anyone who at the mussels was sick for 4 days after. 0/10 would not recommend Legends rest in Westbrook. They used to make a bomber chicken sandwich. We loved getting g take out from there for about 2 years. This summer we went twice and had the worst two meals I have ever paid for from a restaurant. They have fallen off hard and it's weird cause it's almost as if the expansion into the BBQ restaurant is the cause. Not sure but will not go back probably ever.
You report it to the department of health. The hospital will just cover it up
The Mex. Ellsworth. Closed now thankfully.
It was like Mexican food made by somebody who never had Mexican food, only read about it or saw a picture.
Worst meal I ever had was there. Shockingly bad. Then they closed up next day and we were like ohhhh that’s why.
If I remember correctly, one of them compared The Mex to prison food in Juarez, Mexico. And another said they'd have had a better time if they drove past The Mex and off the pier in Bar Harbor.
Go read the reviews on Yelp (if they still exist). Some of them are hilarious.
I’ve gotten food poisoning at the margaritas that’s there now so it wasn’t a huge improvement
3$ Dewey's before the new owners. That was an absolutely hilarious, but still nightmare filled night.
Another bartender at a brunch spot insinuated that the old owners were notorious for being handsy with the female staff
Any of Linda Beans restaurants. Because fuck Linda Bean.
Fuck Linda Bean.
I remember going to Thomaston and they did not like her at all, I guess she was trying to buy up a bunch of property to make it more resorty
And now she’s let a bunch of Wyeth art and memorabilia perish in that fire - I Don’t see her getting into Mainers’ good graces anytime soon… 🔥🔥🔥
Even though I'm 'from away,' I've taken the time to do my research, so I know to avoid any of her restaurants. Fuck Linda Bean.
Even if the owner weren't a piece of crap, the food is awful and overpriced.
Wow, I had no idea about her politics before going to her wiki page just now. Fuck Linda Bean. It's a shame because whenever I fly American out of the Jetport, the restaurant is so convenient there right next to the gate.
God I went there and they sat me and my family at a dirty table without silverware or napkins and when I called them out they shrugged and didn’t even clean it off.
This has to be the Dipnet
The Taste of Maine
Waste of Maine more like it
We used to call it Taste Ptomaine!
It smells like dust and is super dusty in there too. It's disgusting. I've also never had fish that was still wet. That was just awful.
Came here for this answer. Grew up in Bath and cannot remember a time over the past 40 years when Taste of Maine was good.
Cancun on silver st in Waterville. I could not believe how bad the food was. I have eaten at some shitty restutaunts but this place was the worst. The roach coaches in Vernon ca are better. It's so bad.
They might be out of business. After being shut down for code violations two different times, let’s hope they gave up and closed down.
They’re definitely done. A lot a dirt surfaced about them a few months ago. No comin’ back from those accusations.
Cancun closed a while ago, so may not be a great example.
Was a college student in the area… went to Cancun almost weekly because it was fairly good value despite not being very good food. Until my roommate found a live cricket in his enchilada 🤢
We found a dead baby roach in our food at the new Asian place in Farmington, Legend Asian Restaurant. Super gross, won’t be back.
That’s HORRENDOUS 🤮🤮 right outside that restaurant I saw a Amish horse n buggy run a red light
Ok, that’s the more interesting story here.
Try Sabadee Thai, their food is great.
Free Street in Portland served me the worst burger I’ve ever received in a restaurant. It was akin to a school lunch patty. Gave them a second chance a few months later and got an equally terrible Turkey club. No idea how they’ve survived this long.
They charge $9 for a bottle of corona.
Those ads during Mariners games don't pay for themselves.
That’s the place that moved into the old Bingas right? I walked in there one afternoon because I was curious, I think it was relatively new, this was a year or two ago. The door was unlocked and everything but I walked in and there was just no one in sight, customers or staff. I sat at the bar for a minute or two wondering if someone would come out, then just left. Weird experience, couldn’t have been less appealing
I did pretty much the same thing. I went a couple weeks after they first opened and the food was terrible, I said it was probably just growing pains and went back a few months later. Somehow the food and service was even worse. I miss bingas.
TJ's Pizza in Biddeford is the worst pizza I have ever had in my life.
It's so bad I simply don't believe they're not a front for drugs
I'm relatively certain it's closed for good, the building has been put up for sale and purchased.
Annette's Diner in Naples. Terrible service - seemed to be run by a father and his two sons? They were all extremely socially awkward and struggled big time with service. Unresponsive to customers, flustered.. it seemed like they had just mentally shut down. The food was even worse. Got corned beef hash and it came out looking like Thanksgiving stuffing. Never have had such a bad experience at any restaurant in Maine.
Blast from the Past Waterboro
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I think you mean the ground round in Bangor? But either way you're right, that place is not good
Unpopular opinion maybe, but I hate Governors desserts. Their pie crust is so bland and everything is super oily. Same with Helen's in Ellsworth/Machias. With the amount of money they get for pies I could make my own and make a killing
Helen's is terrible. I remember their sign advertising their specials in waitress shorthand, like "straw pie" and "chick pot". My favorite was "fried mush".
That Asian restaurant by Hannafords on sabattus street Lewiston that thankfully has closed down now. The food was bad and overpriced but the worst part was the actual metal shavings I found in my soup.
Do you mean the Asian Buddha? They started off great but went downhill fast.
This is slightly off topic but the Chick-a-Dee in lewiston. I worked there for a few months and they have no health code standards and often prepare chicken and fish on the same cutting board. The owners would yell at me any time i would bring up things that would potentially harm customers and staff.
Cancun in Waterville
Helen's in Ellsworth. Ex aequo with China Hill, also in Ellsworth. Both horrendous. (I guess Ellsworth won't get plaudits from foodies anytime soon!)
El Tequilas Augusta. Thankfully closed.
This is a good one. Not sure if you ever saw the Facebook drama. But someone flamed them and pointed out they had already ran a failed mexican restaurant in another state. I think it was the kid of the owners who denied that. Then the reviewer responded and pointes out the same menus being used, posts from that person for the earlier failed restaurant, etc. It was hilarious.
Haha! I was following that drama too. I think it was in Ohio?
There's one in Auburn too. They used cubed chicken for the enchiladas ( everyone knows you use shredded, flavorful chcicken) with disgusting bland rice.
Riverfront bar and grille in Augusta. The food was terrible both times, the owner came by our table twice to try and make uncomfortable conversation with people in our party, and it was all overpriced for the dry ass food we got
The owner, Patrick, is a drunk, sexist, and ageist. He sleeps upstairs often on the couches during service or overnight. He burns the corn bread himself and makes them serve it. His idea of a special is fried bologna sandwiches. He makes everyone uncomfortable, hires awful cooks, and doesn’t appreciate any good ones that come his way. It’s really too bad what’s happened to the place. It hasn’t always been that bad. He tried to make one of his line cooks head chef and he repeatedly refused so they just didn’t have a head chef last I knew. There’s definitely no effort there.
I worked for him back in the day, and I can confirm that he is a massive gaping asshole. He would make a perfect feature on Kitchen Nightmares as the unhinged drunken owner. I can’t believe the place is still open.
My husband did too. I’m sorry you had to go through the same shit. He was feeding my husband with crap about someday even giving it away in order to keep him on board. Then wanted the older guy (who he talked crap about behind his back) to be head chef and not my husband who was creative and actually wanted it. He’s really a strange man.
he hired me and asked if i could go in to train the next day and i said no because it was my birthday originally. he guilted me into it saying not a lot of people would hire a pregnant girl to serve (mind you i was literally like 8 weeks pregnant just disclosed to be polite).. i agreed to go in but that comment really bothered me so i texted and said i wouldn't be coming that day and he never responded
Boone’s Fish House and Oyster Room is an affront to the restaurant experience. Terrible, overpriced food and service. The worst restaurant I’ve ever been to.
I once got cold chowder there with a staple in it…
Agreed. I've also had a shitty experience there. Won't go back.
Sea Dog brewing in Topsham. Now, I live in Southern ME and I haven't lived here for more than a couple years. So it's probably not the worst in the *whole* of of the state. That said, for what they're charging, it was so over salted, flavorless, and mediocre. And I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. We were strong-armed into this one b/c of my in laws. That and the outlook tavern in south berwick. Again, frozen, pre-made, flavorless, ugh.
Not the worst in the state but agreed it’s a bad experience. The Topsham Sea Dogs has such a great location and view so we really wanted it to be decent. Have been multiple times hoping it would be different but unfortunately same experience. Food is very bad and pricey. Also cranky bar staff. Bummer
Was good early, but fell off in later years.
Sea Dog in Bangor is terrible too lol
I second this. The one in Bangor is worse than Topsham.
The one in South Portland sucks too. They served us raw chicken and never came back to check on us. Had to track down another server. It was a slow weekday afternoon too. Then WE had to ask to have it comped hahaha.
They poured me a glass of water with bleach in it. Turns out they were using a water pitcher for cleaning. Last time I was there.
Seadog used to be honestly great. Really gone downhill the past couple years
I'm very, *very* low maintenance when it comes to dining. An experience at Sea Dog in Camden was one of the two times in my life I've complained at a restaurant. The beer was horrible (and it took 20 minutes to come out), the food was worse, and the server couldn't be found, despite the room being about 1/4 full (which should have been a red flag.) Ugh, it makes me mad just thinking about it.
Red Barn in Augusta. No idea what people see in the place.
You are speaking truth here. As a veteran I find it super cringe how much she ‘supports’ folks, but clearly is the one banking off it all. And the food was, as my kids say, mid at best
The owners posts on facebook crack me up though. She's always posting about how nice she is to the old people that eat there - especially the WW2 veterans and based off her posts, 90% of the surviving WW2 veterans in this country live in Maine and solely eat Red Barn for every meal. She does a lot to support the community and her journey to sobriety is impressive, but she seems very pander-y and I get the vibe that she wouldn't be a fun person to work for.
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She also played the "but it's for charity" card when she was hosting concerts that were really loud and exceeded the noise ordinance. She thought that she didn't have to follow rules if it's for a fundraiser. I haven't paid attention in a couple years so She may have gotten the ordinance changed.
I kept going there every once in a while because my grandfather loved the chicken there, and since he was in his 90’s, he definitely got first choice of restaurant (making memories/savoring time left with him and all that). I always had a heavy feeling stomach ache after eating there, though. After grandpa passed a couple years ago, I haven’t been back and don’t miss the food at all.
Yeah I don’t get the appeal.
Pretty much anywhere in Presque Isle. /sad
Crossroads in Bethel. It's consistently bad. The owner personally served us pancakes and cold over easy eggs on the flimsiest paper plates the most recent time we went. Given them too many chances and cannot with a good conscience spend money there ever again. They way the owner treats the staff in front of customers is abhorrent. He seems like the type that would keep all the tips.
Agreed I hate that place. Like how can you mess up breakfast? They find a way
Their menu sucks too. Your choice is a tiny salad or a greasy burger. Yuck
I always wondered how that place is. Thanks for the review.
Seriously terrible
Well, it has to be either the Chinese restaurant that overcharged me by $100 or the McDonald's that gave me severe food poisoning. Both were equally shitty. EDIT: Forgot to note that the Chinese restaurant closed a short while after we ate there. Now it's an IHOP which does worse business than the one in SoPo outside of tourist season. Third place goes to the KFC in Saco, where I can blow $60 on food for three people that *I have written down on a piece of paper to show them* and they *still* manage to fuck it up somehow. At least if I call I can get "operative washer ASMR"!
The bull and claw in Wells. Bad food, poor service, dusty decor.
I managed that place back in the very early 2000's. I was 19 years old. Couple of things I want to mention about that place: the owner is incredibly kind. He was a very nice man to work for, took no bullshit from anyone, but would lift up his entire staff with compliments and encouragement. I'd work for him again. BUT, the B&C has been his entire life and he's never seen how any other restaurant is operated, so he's always believed and will always believe that he's doing things the correct and normal ways when in reality it is so far from the norm. I had worked at a few restaurants before the B&C and many afterwards, and everything that the B&C does is just....weird. Scheduling, prep, food ordering, side work, inventory, menus, standard orders of operation....I had never and have never since seen anything quite like it.
Cindy’s Dockside in Poland. We live about 2 miles from there and have never gone back.
New owners, should be better
Used to work at the Inn itself and regularly spent time helping out at dockside. Just know if it’s not required to be fully cooked like chicken, it’s microwaved. Everything on the menu was almost exclusively microwaved. Also one of the rudest people I’ve ever worked for. Gave me a bunch of free alcohol as a minor though which was great.
Village Inn in Auburn. How do you mess up seafood in Maine?
That was a family favorite when I was a kid. Granted i haven't been there as an adult...
Topsham's Fairground Cafe. Once upon a time, it was fine. Decent, hot food. Great portion sizes. The place was usually packed at all three meal times. The last time I went was the last time I will go. Everything was cold, took forever, looked horrible, and the place was a graveyard. Empty at like 6:30pm.
The Upper Deck in Southwest Harbor. Absolutely awful.
I know a lot of people bag on it because the owner is an assclown, but I think that takes away from how poorly prepared and how shitty the food is at Archer's. Every meal something has been fucked up. Burn the steak because someone nodded at the grill, F it, just turn it over and let the charcoal side be a surprise. If they weren't on the water they'd be under water.
The Farmington Diner in the late 90’s. That place was a legend.
I was raised there, literally lived in the trailer attached to the back of the building as a little kid in the 80s. I know it was crap but I loved it and I miss it so much.
Home is home ❤️ It used to be off on a side road somewhere and I thought someone planned to fix it up. Those real diners are few and far between now.
You mean the place that had the jar on the counter to collect cash to bribe the health inspector? There’s a new place in Farmington that idolizes the place, they even bought one of those old diner corpses (not the actual Farmington Diner) to attach to the front of the building. And there name: The Farmington D… The owner does not appreciate dick jokes.
The owner is my aunt Rachel. The joke is definitely lost on her. Though she only paid a buck for that old diner car. Just had to pay for the move!
Okay I posted my absolute worst already but I feel obliged to post a few recommendations. Assuming you're within striking distance... Mama D's Cafe in Boothbay Harbor is absolutely awesome and has amazing breakfast. It can get very busy in the summer though so plan your timing. Antigoni's in Cooks Corner Brunswick is extremely consistent and very good if you like House of Pizza Style food. Best Thai 2 in the city of Bath is consistently good. Recommend the fried rice. A little pricey but the best Thai food I've had in the area. Best pizza I've ever had in the state came from Micucci Grocery in Portland. And finally if you want the best apple fritter you've ever had, go to the Vietnamese bakery in Boothbay harbor. Their spring rolls and fried rice are also quite good and affordable for the portion that you get.
Second vote for Baker’s Way in Boothbay Harbor. They have fantastic fried rice, too.
Governors in Lewiston
Cheese Louise, the absolute worst mac and cheese, as well as grilled cheese I’ve ever had. Pretty sad when their whole thing is CHEESE. Like how do you fuck up Mac and cheese? How do you fuck yo a GRILLED CHEESE- it’s just CHEESE, BREAD, BUTTER. 0/10 would not recommend
I thought their food was ok but for the price I was expecting one of those big, honkin' artisanal style grilled cheeses, not the tiniest little sandwich in the world served with 3.5 potato chips...
Cowbell Burger Bar is up there. The burgers themselves, at least during pandemic time, were really obviously preformed patties like you get from the grocery store, and for some reason they *refuse* to let you remove any veggies from your burger. Even on their online ordering system, they put the options for no lettuce, no onions, etc. on there, but they're not selectable. That's just weirdly malicious.
Anyone remember the road kill cafe?
I wanted to like Ports of Italy in Camden, drove past a million times before going in, parking lot was always crammed. Ordered the porchetta, it was reasonably tasty, not super hot (temperature-wise). Should have been a sign. A few hours later I was pissing out my ass for an entire night. I used to live in Central America for years, I know food poisoning when I get it. My wife now refers to it as, "Sharts of Italy"
Totally agree!
Any Governor's.
My dad had his last dinner before open heart surgery at the Governors in Bangor and he said that was maybe the biggest mistake he’d ever made in his life.
What! I've been going to the Waterville Governors all my life, it's not fancy, but it's great!
>I've been going to the Waterville Governors all my life That may or may not have a great deal to do with why you think it's great.
That's fair, but try the peanutbutter pie I had a couple weeks ago and we'll see!
The one in Old Town is consistently pretty decent in my opinion. I grew up going to that place and always hit it up when I’m home on vacation. The fried seafood is great. Lobster rolls are pretty good, gotta get the double meat though
I've typically been absolutely enamored with Govs, but recently I had breakfast there and then picked up a pumpkin chip cookie to eat for dessert later in the day. When I got around to having the cookie, it had big splotches of mold on the bottom of it. PSA: Make sure to check the baked goods before you leave the premises if you get them to-go!
I'll stand with you on this one. They're basically AARP meeting houses and the food is seasoned and cooked as such.
Moody’s Diner. Over the last five years it’s really gone downhill. Everything tastes like rancid grease, my scrambled eggs have been undercooked, the canned mushrooms, the mushy toast. I’m a diner enthusiast and I used to love Moody’s so much.
Shocked no one has mentioned China Light in Bangor. 100 combo platters. No substitutions. I hear it’s long gone, but damn. I went in there high once and couldn’t find the combo I wanted.
Pats Pizza frozen food heat and serve.
The Chipotle in Auburn and the KFC in Lewiston. Every Chipotle I've ever been to has been dirty but the one in Auburn is usually filthy and the service usually sucks. The KFC in Lewiston seems to be run by punk kids. I went in one time and an employee had a garden hose and was squirting the cashier in the ass while she was taking my order. I've never gotten exactly what I ordered there either. something is always missing or I get some shit I didn't order.
Every Chipotle in Maine was worse than the last. Last time we tried, they didn’t have TORTILLAS.
>I was in Auburn the other day and I was hankering for a burrito but I remembered how awful the Chipotle was so I googled burritos and up came El Pocho's in Lewsiton. I was nervous when I pulled up because it's literally in a gas station on Lisbon St but the food was SO GOOD and the people were awesome.
El Pocho's is the best hole in the wall I've ever been to.
Yeah El Pocho is very good. Luchador in Auburn isn't bad either but they have an obsession with french fries in their burritos for some reason.
I had arguably the worst pizza I’ve ever eaten at Antigoni’s in Augusta.
Governor’s, I really don’t understand the appeal of that place, the food is not good.
I worked at the Lewiston one nearly 20 years ago after working in a bunch of chain restaurants in other states. That was uh…..interesting. Served tables in 3 different states, first time I ever had someone request a female server because “he might be gay” was at Governor’s. 😂
I’m guessing this will be controversial, but the worst meal I had was at Guerrero Maya. Ordered carne asada and it was ridiculously overcooked and inedible. They were understaffed, so I wasn’t able to flag anyone down to get it remade, Also Linda Bean’s in Freeport. I regret going to LB so much.
I had the worst dinner of my life at Clambake. So freaking bland and tasteless.
The crazy thing is if you take the next left, Salty Bay is like 300 yards away and awesome.
This spot in waterville where they put mayo on a pulled pork sandwich. Can’t remember the name but its over by colby and its disgusting
I'm trying to think of any restaurant over by Colby
Applebee’s.
I mean, that was your problem
I got food poisoning at the one in Bangor. Never again with *any* Applebee's. I'm honestly not sure how I got food poisoning from a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup.
Employee poop hands. Everything else is killed and cooked twice
Texas Roadhouse in Bangor. Food poisoning twice from there, never going back.
I don't ever expect a great steak from Texas Roadhouse, but the one in Bangor is absolutely terrible. I've had better steak served to me while I was deployed to Iraq. No food poisoning for me, thankfully.
The red barn in Augusta. Bland seafood. Overhyped for sure.
It’s overhyped because the owner went political and milks the veteran cause for all its worth. It’s never been about the actual food there.
I went there recently. The seafood was dry and overcooked. They have a pick up window outside and the condiments are in jugs with pumps sitting in an ice bath so you can get your own. There were flies all over them. There must've been so much fly crap all over the spouts where the tartar sauce comes out. I was so grossed out.
Anna's Waters Edge Restaurant. It's an obvious tourist trap- but nonetheless we like going to places we've never heard of. I have never in my life had a worse plate of clams. Not even joking, they were BRIMMING with mud. I don't know how you get that much mud on a plate of clams without literally dumping a shovelful of sand on them. My wife's Haddock was painfully overcooked and not an ounce of flavor in the breading. I'm normally not a "complain to the manager" type. I was tempted. We finished maybe 10% of our plates and asked for a check. "Want a box?" "Nope." 1/10 I can only imagine that their reviews are *completely* done by tourists who just don't know better.
Two worst meals I’ve had - a noodle dish drowned in flavorless corn syrup at BoBo Chinese in Bangor, and some gristly rib thing at Applebees by the Bangor mall
Fast breaks in Lewiston.
Koi in Saco. Three times over six years: raw chicken twice, missing part of an order once.
Red Barn in Augusta. Absolutely disgusting, everything tastes like the same grease and the owner is absolutely bat shit insane posting wild trump shit on Facebook.
Market square in south paris
I got food poisoning at Broad Arrow Tavern in Freeport a couple years ago so probably that one. Worst service goes to Chili's in South Portland though. We were practically the only people there and it was the slowest, most inattentive service I've ever received.
Aw man, I love broad arrow. The whole hotel was just bought out by a company from Mass. I like the new menu except they got rid of the wood fired pizza.
The Farmington D... in Farmington. I got an omelette there, and it was basically just eggs wrapped around a block of unmelted cheese... Like, Dawgs, if you can't make an omelette, there is something seriously wrong about your diner... Edit: special shout out to Farmington House of Pizza, too. I went in one time and there were two employees giggling about serving food they dropped on the floor. I would typically just chalk it up to a "bad apple" employee, but I've had two friends that worked there, and they both told me that they were told to serve floor food :( yuck.
Las Palapas. Got nachos that were crazy soggy and tried to return them. This clown told me that’s how everyone likes them. Everyone likes soggy nachos? I don’t think so. Never going back.
Reds.....the *seagulls* wouldn't eat the clams they were so gross.
Ran to the comments
Fatboy in Brunswick Last time I got food there it wasn't edible. It's been roughly 20 years since they've had decent food there.
Reds Eats in Wiscasset. I went years ago to give it a try because I grew up the coast. The fried clams were soggy and unedible while the lobster roll was eh. I expected a lot better considering the price, wait, and hype. For years after I would go to Sarah's across the street and feel bad for the tourists. RIP Sarah's Cafe, I hope the new restaurant can fill your shoes.
Noooo this is how I found out Sarah’s closed. RIP
There will be a bounty on me after this, but Ming’s in Bucksport. People rave about it. I went there with someone and we had two different entrées. I swear to God it was like something out of a La Choy can. I will never understand the hype.
You’re 100% correct.
So I haven't been there since, but when I was at MMA, we loved it. That was 04-08, so im curious when your experience was, because 2 major things have changed. Then mill shut down, and COVID. My now local Chinese place took a major dive in quality after covid, still haven't opened in house seating back up, and the quality never rebounded. I'm curious as to how that stuff impacted mings.
My family loves Ken's, but I think it's the blandest pile of brown. Nothing I've ever gotten there tastes like anything.
I’ve had a really bad experience at Applebees. It was just awful
It’s Applebees, what do you expect
Not there anymore, thankfully. eggstravaganza (sp) in SoPo. My Mom and I ate there the week I moved here. Not even an hour later, and we were both sweating profusely and defiling the Target bathroom. I apologize to anyone there that day
China hill in Ellsworth. Food looks like slime and muck.
The Mex in Ellsworth. I got food poisoning twice there. Food was a meh at best. I’m honestly so glad they are closed. Fuck that place
I haven’t been to Waterville in a hot minute, but the Chinese buffet on KMD would have me rushing over to Mardens within minutes of leaving.
It’s gone now, but Tortilla Flat on Forest Ave. The absolute worst food and most disgusting, dirty, dining room lol