Submitted by iknowyourded t3_z86spw in Maine
Looking for a spot to get a good steak for our anniversary. We’re in Waterville and willing to travel for it. Any and all recommendations welcome!
Comments
iknowyourded OP t1_iya2ynb wrote
Went there once and it was great, will add it to the list for sure
800grandave t1_iya3gqo wrote
ive had one of the best filets at the grill room in portland
redchampagnecampaign t1_iya6atr wrote
I like both Royal River and the Grill Room.
Mikerm3 t1_iya7czn wrote
i try so hard to like the grill room but i’m pretty sure they have burn seared 60% of the steaks i’ve had there
iknowyourded OP t1_iya7jxi wrote
sweet, we actually went to royal river for our anniversary last year! Is our tradition to get a steak to celebrate each year.
hike_me t1_iya7m68 wrote
My vote is to drive all the way to Quebec City and go to Le Continental. Nothing like it in Maine. Been around since the 1950s, serving classic French food. The fillet mignon en boîte is flambéd tableside by a dude in a white tuxedo. Spend the night in the heart of old Quebec. Le Chateau Frontenac is a 3 minute walk away, and there are a bunch of less expensive boutique hotels within a 5 minute walk. Breakfast at La Buche in the morning (also nearby, super casual but a nice modern take on classic Québécois food and good mimosas).
Emotional_Cut5593 t1_iya7s7s wrote
Texas Roadhouse across the street from Scarborough Walmart 😉 Some Portland Spots: -Grill Room -Timber Bourbon bar and Lounge -Fore Street Resturaunt -Bonissoni Brazilian Steak House (Ogunquit)
redchampagnecampaign t1_iya7wqj wrote
We went to Royal River for our anniversary last year and are going to The Danforth this year (yay December anniversaries!), which has a steak on the menu my husband is interested in. I’ve already been and had the swordfish which was, frankly, life changing. Worth looking at the menu there too especially if you like cocktails.
iknowyourded OP t1_iya8xbl wrote
wow this looks amazing, adding to the list!
iknowyourded OP t1_iya8z55 wrote
we were thinking of going to Bonissoni! looks good.
iknowyourded OP t1_iya955m wrote
this looks so beautiful. we've been wanting to go to quebec city soon actually, may not do it for anniversary but def will go here when we are there. thanks for this!
hike_me t1_iya9of9 wrote
I usually go to Quebec a couple times a year, but hadn’t been since the December before the pandemic hit. Just went last week, and it was great to be back.
I’m kind of interested in renting a furnished apartment for a month or two this summer, but I’ll have to lie at the border and say I’m not working while I’m there 😳
Hit me up if you want any info.
Strict-Lake5255 t1_iyab97d wrote
Burger at the Danforth is insane.
professor_cheX t1_iyabd9y wrote
Is Macs in Auburn still going?
tricheboars t1_iyac72h wrote
How long is the drive? From say Brunswick or Portland?
Strict-Lake5255 t1_iyadgcr wrote
I'm definitely going to hit you up for Intel if that's cool. I'm trying to make it up to QC for a first time (for me) trip this winter with my wife.
800grandave t1_iyadzo0 wrote
how do you order your steaks?
Mikerm3 t1_iyaegzl wrote
normally medium-rare, but medium there because for some reason they think they should use a different scale than everyone else..
800grandave t1_iyaepze wrote
yeah im sure they use a different scale….
Mikerm3 t1_iyaeyyj wrote
they literally warn you every time they order that they use the “french scale” or something lol it’s a conversation every single time you order there.
hike_me t1_iyafhf9 wrote
It’s something like five and a half hours for me from MDI.
hike_me t1_iyafilv wrote
SeantheBangorian t1_iyafu5q wrote
Love their cookbook and food
AnxiousWillingness t1_iyafvrk wrote
It's still there, Mac sold it about 10 years ago, bit the place still looks busy.
tricheboars t1_iyagep3 wrote
Thanks!
weakenedstrain t1_iyahufi wrote
BrotherMainer t1_iyakv0t wrote
They don’t advertise it on the menu but they make homemade cheesecake you can ask for for dessert
OurWhoresAreClean t1_iyalf7v wrote
>pretty sure they have burn seared 60% of the steaks i’ve had there
Ditto. Place sucks.
OurWhoresAreClean t1_iyam3n6 wrote
Library in Portsmouth, if you're willing to extend the definition of "Maine" by a couple miles.
Scary_Storm_9135 t1_iyamc09 wrote
Not even close to as good as it used to be,. Outback level steaks. Taste good but not top notch
OurWhoresAreClean t1_iyapkwj wrote
>Le Continental
I've been saying for years that I'd like to go back to Quebec City sometime, and I think you just gave me the reason I needed. God damn that looks good.
reddit_username_blah t1_iyaqlqi wrote
We had dinner there about 6 months ago.. It was just barely ok. Probably about Outback level. Did we just go on a bad night?
hike_me t1_iyaqrkp wrote
Anthony Bourdain (RIP) did a segment there for his CNN show: https://youtu.be/VRIMurxEII4
You’re definitely not going to get a trendy meal, but you’ll have some classics for sure.
IamSauerKraut t1_iyartpo wrote
Sign of a great eatery!
IamSauerKraut t1_iyascjh wrote
no
If you just have to go to Portsmouth, go to the Wentworth. You'll at least feel like you paid for a great steak.
mcot2222 t1_iyaxid0 wrote
It is very good.
OurWhoresAreClean t1_iyb7n8r wrote
I've been twice and it was great both times, so maybe?
Intelligent_Rice7117 t1_iyb9iiv wrote
Bugaboo creek! RIP 🫡
2SticksPureRage t1_iybkc9s wrote
I’ve been told the owners of macs are a bit dickish. Supposedly a Native American went in and found all the Native American imagery offensive. He brought it up to management who told him to eat somewhere else if he didn’t like it. 🤷♀️
I haven’t been back since I heard about this.
MaineJackalope t1_iycfbpv wrote
Smoke and Steel in Bangor is very good, but only been there once, got the best slow cooked ribs I've ever had and their steaks looked amazing, plus you get to watch or join people who are bad at throwing axes
saigonk t1_iycgq6c wrote
It is, but it’s far from a great steak house by any stretch. The quality has gone down since it was owned previously, honestly I would skip it.
Someone said The Grill Room in Portland, that’s a great spot.
DaWuuuud91 t1_iyck7kg wrote
I went to Le Continental back in October for my mini-moon and holy crap that place blew my frickin mind! My wife went with the filet, but I did the tartare which was also prepared table-side. Everything was divine, including the escargot and foie gras....the best I've had of both. Top it off with a martini and bottle of Châteneuf de Pape and that was the greatest dining experience of my life! All that said the price is worth its weight, and that's like a once in a decade meal for me til I hit the lottery.
SweatySauce t1_iyckhhr wrote
I came to say this. Might be the best steak I've ever had, and the rest of the food and drinks were perfect as well.
tonyforeman t1_iycpsx8 wrote
Royal River is easily my favorite restaurant in Maine . Ironically the Grill Room is my least favorite. I had an absolute horrible experience there .
athermalwill t1_iycpuy2 wrote
It’s probably not anniversary quality but a sublimely good steak can be had at The Chuck Wagon in Livermore Falls. The meat is good and it won’t break your wallet.
Tronbronson t1_iycrhlh wrote
Royal River in Yarmouth I think is my favorite around here, the Portland ones all fell off hard. There used to be a good one in Brunswick, not sure if they survived the pandemic
Sweaty_Delivery7004 t1_iycscd5 wrote
While the grill room is delicious, the service is awful. I've been more than a few times, and it just seems like they can't get it together. First time, the server got ALL of our entrees incorrect, and forgot to put in the sides/apps we ordered (for some reason she wasn't writing anything down?) Drinks also took over 30 minutes. Was willing to give them a second chance because the food *is* tasty - made a res for 630 another night - didn't get our table until 845, and then food took another hour to come out. Looked on yelp, seems my experience isn't out of the ordinary. A shame.
*edit: a word
Sweaty_Delivery7004 t1_iycsksh wrote
the service and the way the grill room "runs" is a joke. owner is a douche too.
MaineGal2022 t1_iycv5hc wrote
Maine Street Steak and Oyster in Brunswick. We went twice this past summer and it was very good.
reddit_username_blah t1_iyd3omc wrote
>OurWhoresAreClean
Hey from a fellow IT guy.. Saw your post on Fortinet's..
I'll give it another shot. I haven't found a great steakhouse in the area yet.. Nick's in York was pretty good though.. 7 outta 10?
reddit_username_blah t1_iyd49jf wrote
Really? We went to the Wentworth for the Thanksgiving buffet. It was horrible.. Like really bad. I know buffets aren't as good as ala carte.. But this was sad.. Everything was bland and overcooked.
Course from my 1 year living in New England I've found that no one hear likes seasoning or flavor. :) (Said with love and jest)
Cou
IamSauerKraut t1_iyd7xfp wrote
Turkey aint steak no matter how long they brine it off Granny Clampit Island.
YolksOnU t1_iydmf5o wrote
The service sucks at any of the Rooms restaurants because Harding Smith is a fucking asshole to his employees, and you shouldn't give them any business.
Honestly it's amazing they are still able to operate restaurants in Portland, they have achieved a reputation for being jerks so actual kitchen/FOH talent isn't going to work there.
nuevoguero t1_iydo6qb wrote
I've spent much of my life in southern Franklin County and drive through LF almost biweekly and have NEVER been to chuck wagon. Because of this comment I am definitely going now. I think it's a huge plus that it's survived this long!
Sweaty_Delivery7004 t1_iydpno1 wrote
Yeah I’ve read many accounts of the owner being a total dick. I haven’t been back and I don’t plan on it
Whyte_Dynamyte t1_iye0ha7 wrote
Fore Street Restaurant in Portland. Unstoppable in the red meat department.
OurWhoresAreClean t1_iye0m0f wrote
Haha, IT solidarity. -chest thump-
>I haven't found a great steakhouse in the area yet
What we've found is that, aside from Library (which wasn't great for you), you pretty much have to go to Boston to get the real classic steakhouse experience. I haven't been to Nick's, but since we're in Topsham, if we're going to drive that far for dinner, we may as well drive a little further and get something we really like.
This is our go-to place in Boston, and it's excellent. We go down there a couple times a year when I have the Marriott points and it's always great.
Walter_J_Bro t1_iya27mi wrote
I heard the Lost Fire in Kennebunk was really good, but haven't gotten down there yet.