Azure Cafe
123 Main St, Freeport, ME, 04032
Azure Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Freeport for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Freeport for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Freeport for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
123 Main St
Freeport, ME, 04032 - Phone (207) 865-1237
- Website https://www.azurecafe.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Jay N.
A little bit Italian, quite a bit Mediterranean and 100% delicious food. The crispy polo carbonara is my personal, all time favorite here. A crispy pan-fried chicken breast with cavatappi pasta and tossed in a light carbonara with prosciutto, mushrooms and peas. I ask to have the peas nixed and they're always happy to oblige. The Filet Tartufo is another over the top favorite. Smoked sea salt, crimini and oyster mushrooms duxelles, gargonzola, fried shallots... This is so much more than some boring filet you'd score most other places. Huge wine selection and there's a wonderful piano player or three piece band playing upstairs most Friday evenings. Prices can be a bit steep but the atmosphere is casual and the service is friendly. I'll keep going back and you should too!
(4)Ross C.
Meh. I think I'm done here. $9 for three small pieces of cheese on the cheese plate. Was there a non-refundable deposit on the plate itself? Obviously throwing some grapes and jam on there makes it worth the money. Entrees took a ridiculous amount of time to arrive, despite the restaurant being only half full. The food was very good, but the peripheral let-downs are damaging.
(2)Christina A.
Gah! I really want to give this place 3.5 stars but couldn't muster up the enthusiasm to bump it up to 4 stars. Elements of this restaurant are outstanding: friendly and competent waitstaff, fun and interesting menu, nice outdoor patio dining area. We ordered the summer ravioli, hamburger, beet salad and children's pasta. All were competently prepared but nothing dazzled. I got and was underwhelmed by the quinoa kale cake. It was served with two tasty sauces that failed utterly in redeeming the squishy bland cake. There is clearly a bright, creative culinary mind behind the engaging menu at Azure. A little bit of tweaking will set this restaurant into the not-to-be- missed category.
(3)Lecia S.
My dish was very salty. I had the spring ravioli. Service was great but you should ask about how is prepared. I would try out again.
(4)Gigi A.
We always get our usual favorites... Awesome calamari for Apps if you want it vinegar'y n with onions, Crispy pollo carbonara, Best Chix Marsala n Alfredo Fet
(5)Johnny G.
I don't want to review Azure as we can only review what we ordered. Fine line I know but so be it. The mussels..... Ahhh the mussels. Dry and overcooked. Looked like a bag of mussels was thrown on a cast iron oven platter and just placed in the broiler. OK almost forgot toss in some dry wood chips. To add the smoky flavor/?? The condiment of choice here is a 1/2 stick of melted butter to dip in. Yuck. Next time mussels are on sale at Hannaford or Shaws I'm going to buy a bag and just throw them in the microwave for say 20 minutes or so. What the heck throw the butter in there while you're at it. Then just let dry a few minutes and serve. The cheese platter. Bring a magnifying glass. You'll need it to be able to see the cheese to pick it up and place it on the 4 crackers that are included. The Cioppino. Meh.. A smallish plate with some very flavorful sauce. Maybe 20 linguine on the plate At least load up on the pasta its dirt cheap and filling. Have you seen a real cioppino. Wanted to love it and just Meh. 100$ Meh The waitress was patient and lovely. Service excellent. The host was training but very personable. Drinks were good. Ultimately, you go out to dinner for the food and it was at best mediocre.
(2)Kelly M.
VERY close to 5 stars-- service a little slow but definitely worth the wait. Cute atmosphere, clam chowder was probably the best I've had in a long time. The fried chicken sandwich was amazing as was the Italian sausage sandwich! Would highly recommend!!!
(4)Sheila D.
I've been here for lunch and dinner, and both of the menus are pretty much the same, so don't think that the lunch menu is any cheaper (like I mistakenly did). Azure is probably one of the fanciest restaurants in Freeport and is in such a nice location, right on the boundary of the downtown commotion but far enough away so that the tourists aren't too noisy or distracting. Grab a seat outside when it's nice out - there's great shade to keep cool. In terms of the actual food, it was decent. I would say that for the price that you're paying (it deserves the $$$), you could get better quality and better tasting food in the area. The clam chowder is very tasty. It does have bacon bits in it, so for those people who don't eat red meat, that's just a precaution because it's not listed in the menu at all. The linguine with clam sauce was very delicious and had a heathy amount of clam (most of the clam bits are in the sauce). I also had the linguine al fresco, which was good as well. I just would say that there may be better places to go for meals in Freeport for much cheaper.
(3)Connie D.
Good lobster roll, excellent service! What's really good about this place is that your dog can stay with you on the outside patio - a definite plus! My waitress was Kristen, and she was great - 5 stars! I had fries with my lobster roll. French Fries had those crumbs that are showing up on fries lately. Really detracts from the fry! Azure is expensive. But the outside patio is cute.
(3)Michelle E.
I've been here several times but had not visited in years until recently when my husband and I stopped in for dinner on a Sunday night. What I like about this place: -Good food -Good cocktails -Decent service What I wish I could change: -Weird, outdated decor -Atmosphere feels like you are eating in a senior citizen's home We sat in the upstairs and it felt disconnected from the restaurant. Everyone cleared out by like 8:00pm and I know that it is Freeport but it's weird to be the only people eating in a dining room. It's kind of uncomfortable. The food was good but given that we don't get out much these days, I look for a place that has a more lively atmosphere when we do get out. I'd be open to getting take out from here but I'm not sure that we will dine in again for dinner.
(3)R M.
Two couples. Muscles and clam chowder to start. Blueberry salmon cooked perfectly. Fillet mignon with risotto, incredibly yummy and Sicilian Style Cioppino cooked to perfection. Everything, and I mean everything, was perfect and delicious. Our server, Riley, so cute and efficient. Always a good experience. A must for Freeport or Portland area dining.
(5)Juliana P.
I came here one summer with friends and had delcious, reasonably priced whole lobster. I LOVED the spot in cute little Freeport. Nothing over the top, just really quality service. Came back with my Mom a year later during the off season. Not as many places are open once fall hit, and I raved that we had to stop there. Both of us love lobster and each ordered a whole beast. On the way out of the kitchen they dropped my guy on the floor! Then, for our wait, they got us two hot, fresh lobsters, and COMPED our whole meal, including a delicious dessert. The waitress was so apologetic and it was such wonderful service. That is what really won me over to 5 stars v. 4. Yelp is a strong incentive to do things right, but I haven't found many tourist areas that have this level of commitment to being hospitable.
(5)Lynn R.
Azure is my favorite restaurant in Freeport! The staff is helpful and welcoming and the setting is great. The food and drinks are creatively prepared with fresh local ingredients and I have never been disappointed. I love to start out with a Blueberry Margarita to set the mood and enjoy my visit with friends and family. Their fresh Caprese Insalata is delicious. If you are a mussels fan order the Mussels Al Fresco as it is the best I have ever had ANYWHERE! I am looking forward to my next visit to Maine and this yummy place!
(5)Elizabeth D.
I was looking forward to The Azure Cafe, I had never gone there and I have lived in the area since the Azure used to be the local Arby's. I had heard such good things as a matter of fact "all good things"! The wait staff was very good especially considering she was waiting on a group of ladies (15 of us). I ordered a lobster roll, judging from the picture Azure had on the Yelp site. I don't know where the pictures came from or when, but my roll was nothing like it, it had about half the lobster meat, even the roll was tiny. The meat was not cold just room temperature and wet which told me right off the bat that the lobster was frozen...you know that wet, rubbery texture.... I would have to say without a doubt this wasn't even so-so, it was the worst lobster roll I have ever had in any area of Maine. Save your $22.00! About eight of the ladies ordered the Hamburger which smelled so wonderful. The only reason I didn't give a one star was because after seeing the hamburgers and beautiful salads and I know the Azure can do better. Any place in Maine is better off just saying "I'm out of lobster" rather than serve frozen on a skimpy and rather soggy roll. Now, I can honestly say the best lobster roll is at Lawson's and now I know where to get the worst!
(2)Tammy N.
The best calamari I've ever had by far! I would go back again just for the calamari. The beet salad was lackluster...tasted canned. I had the white fish puttanesca ....just ok...no incredible flavor. Great service. Kitchen was running a little slow. Again though, I'd go back for the calamari.
(3)Cee D.
We went for drinks at the bar. Beautiful place, great location. Overpriced and the bartender literally did not know how to make a drink. Have you ever seen a bartender fill a glass half with spirits then add ice then add soda??? Jameson's was much better.
(1)Eddy C.
Menu was largely uninspired so I went with the mesclun salad, which was great. Very fresh (and well-rinsed) lettuce. Could have used a few other greens though! Uses candied pistachios instead of walnuts. Garnished with a single strawberry half. Talk about conservation! Dedicated parking, good service. Lovely patio and plant boxes. Not enough bathrooms: single occupancy men's room was out of paper towels.
(4)Alise K.
Nice lunch after a morning of shopping in Freeport. We always get the calamari. It's to die for. We also split the artichoke dip and a lobster roll. Both delicious.
(4)Tony N.
Excellent! Good Italian menu with Maine seafood accents. I had the seafood risotto with lobster, calamari, and pike. Plenty of lobster. Tiramisu for desert was great.
(4)Mallory C.
We stopped here over Labor Day weekend when we needed a break from shopping. We didn't want to wait in line for an hour for a tourist trap lobster roll and beer, needed somewhere that was wheelchair accessible and served adult beverages. After having a terrible experience at Jameson Tavern, I refused to wheel up the ridiculous hill to go there, and having fond memories of cosmos at Azure, I figured we would give it a try! There was no wait, we were able to get to the outdoor patio, and were seated immediately. Service was fantastic, and not pushy. We only ordered drinks and appetizers, but more than one waitress checked in on us while we were there. We had the Eagle Island Iced Tea, and the Wild Maine Blueberry Margarita, and the seafood cakes appetizer. Everything was delicious and it was the perfect afternoon meal! Regardless of steeper entree prices (we're from Boston so it seemed average!), this is going to be my go to spot for meals out in Freeport.
(4)Brittaney G.
My girlfriend and I went to this restaurant on the first evening of our vacation in Freeport. Overall, a really wonderful experience. To start we got the Calamari Azzimata and the Insalata Mescolare. Both were a delight! The tanginess of vinaigrette in the calamari was a nice surprise from the usual simply-fried, side-of-marinara calamari dish that you typically find in Italian restaurants. For entrees, we ordered the Summer Ravioli and Sicilian Ciopppino, both of which were shared between the two of us. The Cioppino was excellent, served with ample amounts of little necks, mussels and great portion of lobster. Serving sizes were generous and filling. The ravioli left a bit to be desired (perhaps too much ricotta and not enough of a bite? I'm partial to biting/savory cheeses) but was by no means a bad dish. Waitstaff was friendly, accommodating, preemptive and professional. Prices are a bit steep, but certainly worth it if you're inclined to delicious cuisine with a great atmosphere. Definitely would recommend this restaurant to others!
(4)Happy C.
This place is one of my favorites! The service is always outstanding, and the food is delicious. I love their chicken sandwich with blueberry sauce- seriously amazing! It's fun to sit outside in the summer time and enjoy your food with the light breeze at your back. I LOVE THIS PLACE!!
(5)Margie L.
OH. MY. GOODNESS. The food here is great. The atmosphere is great. The staff is great. This is a must visit restaurant in Freeport, Maine. I found myself here at 8:30 on a Saturday night, which seemed to be the end of the dinner rush. The exterior is covered in tasteful fairy lights and just felt summer-y and relaxing. I felt comfortable and not out of place wearing nike shorts, flip flops, and a muscle tank, which is not what you would think when you eat the food. The food was flavorful, and rich and filled me up but it didn't come with the gross carb bloat you often get after eating Italian. Our waitress, Brianna, was sweet and talked with us about the food and her favorite items and recommendations which was helpful when narrowing down a bunch of delicious choices. All in all, I look forward to eating here again and I highly recommend to anyone looking for a good Italian restaurant with seafood and some delicious looking gluten free options. Now stop looking at 5 different tabs and make a reservation!
(5)Rick K.
Just catching up on my unfinished reviews from Maine the week of 8/4. In for dinner on a Wednesday night and was pleased overall. Admittedly was a little hesitant based on the very mixed reviews and the fact the aggregate rating was less than the Broad Arrow Tavern (which I did not like). We had a good experience and the food was much, much better than Broad Arrow so glad we went in. We did have a later reservation (8:45) and because its as raining it was very quiet that night (which may have helped). Some comments below about the ambience but I liked it - small and cozy, but not to the point you are on top of your table neighbors. There is an outdoor section we did walk past other nights that looked nice; but that was obviously closed the night we were there because of the rain. Service was good. Waiter was pleasant enough and attentive. Started with a nice antipasto plate which was generous and enough for 4 to pick at. Also ordered the warm artichoke dip which was a nice snack while we enjoyed a drink and considered our mains. My main was the crispy chicken carbonara; which is one of my favorite pasta dishes but one I rarely order because it is so heavy. Since the menu said "tossed in a light carbonara" I gave it a shot and was glad I did. One of the few times I had this dish and actually did not feel like I gained 5 pounds while sitting at the table eating it (you all know that bloated feeling I am talking about). It was really nice - the crispy chicken was a different twist; but it worked. Other mains included the seafood risotto and chicken involtini; both which were good. Again, a good stop on a touristy town; which sometimes in itself lends to a place being a hit or miss depending on when you go. It was a hit for us and the best meal we had in Freeport.
(4)Jessica O.
My fiancée and I ate here on a snowy evening in January on an overnight trip to Freeport. The staff was very friendly and the food was good. We enjoyed a few of their specialty cocktails which were pricey but well made. The antipasto was wonderful and the lobster was served piping hot!
(4)Christopher S.
Been here once and will never return. I took my wife and kids here to ask my wife to "marry" me again. What should have been a wonderful night was ruined. One of the wait staff "shushed" my kids who were not being noisy. The food was average at best. All the staff was up tight and "above" us. When we left other patrons said our kids were not load and it was rude for them to shush us. Will never return
(2)Larry S.
We stopped in Freeport on our way home and found this little gem in the midst of the hustle and bustle of this tourist destination - what a perfect place to grab lunch!! Let me start with how wonderful it was to walk up the steps and have the wait staff stop, make eye contact and smile! Our waitress took her time to check in with what we wanted to eat and was very accommodating in making some suggestions and changes ( we asked for a green salad instead of fried for example - and no problem!) and checked in as the meal progress - not just once! I ordered the burger with the Lobster topping ( hey it was the last day in Maine!) and enjoyed a very well done lobster with the green salad. My wife loved her chicken wrap and the salad was so good she even ate the cucumber! Now, this is all about the outside. The dining room is non-descript. So a nice day - you must enjoy this little outside cafe! We make the trip to Maine when we can and love to stop at Freeport - we will be back!!
(4)Samantha-may Y.
This place has a great atmosphere! Amazing quality food wonderful service and the pieces are so affordable the whole family can eat and not feel like your breaking the bank !!
(5)Johnny F.
Was going to at least give a three star but upon leaving I went to the restroom and for a restaurant like this the restroom was disgusting. The service was lackadaisical and the food was mediocre, something I could do at home. The antipasto looked like a super market deli platter. Sorry was not impressed.
(2)Lauren M.
I stopped here for dinner and ate in the bar area since the bar itself seemed to small to eat at. The restaurant was very clean and, even though the restaurant was small, you did not feel like you were eating on top of people. The waitress was very helpful in explaining the types of beers on tap (most were local brews). The bread and oil was delicious--I had to ask for more! I ordered the small tomato and mozzarella salad and mussels. The mozzarella and basil were very fresh and flavorful, but the tomatoes were a bit pink. The description of the mussels made it sound like there would be a flavorful sauce, but I was a bit disappointed. The mussels pretty much stood on their own, and came with butter instead of garlic oil. That said, the mussels were huge and very fresh. I didn't have one mussel with closed shells. Overall, a good dining experience but on the expensive side. I would return again, but I probably would try something other than the mussels.
(3)Laura F.
We were on vacation the week of 8/11/14 and it was a rainy dreary day. We decided on this restaurant for lunch since they had a short wait and could accommodate 7. We were upstairs in a back room with a few other tables. Our server was slow to get drinks and orders and our food took 40 minutes to get. He also forgot 2 soup orders that should have come out before our meals and the gave them to the wrong people when he finally brought them out. We had a variety of meals but they were all way too small for the prices they charge!! We were there nearly an hour and a half for lunch! Unacceptable for sandwiches and soup!
(2)Greg C.
The mussels, clams and fish in a saffron tomato sauce was very good. The seafood was fresh and the flavors were very good, as expected for a $26 lunch entree. The service was slow and we felt a little ignored waiting for a bill with empty plates and a credit card visibly on the table. Server was not very well trained on the menu and could not answer much about the food. It was mid-afternoon between menus, which would explain why the best servers weren't working. I'm sure it is better at dinner. Good parking.
(4)Keith M.
Lobster roll w/fries. Artichoke dip and fried clam appetizer. Plenty of lobster in the roll, with a little bit of mayo, if that's your thing. A nice day to sit outside on the patio.
(3)Deborah M.
Azure is the class of Freeport. We dropped by for our usual (martinis and calamari) and it was just as expected. Service at Azure is Always top notch (our waitress that night has worked at Azure for over 8 years) and the food is, in our experience, always excellent and, if you have favorites as we do, dead-on consistent. Azure is a sure bet for a nice, high quality adult dining experience and we recommend it whole-heartlessly
(5)Mariel B.
I dont know why there's so much hype about this place. Visiting Maine, I wanted a great place to eat. I read so many good reviews about this place that I just had to try it. So here's my rant. 1. The restaurant is literally a house. There are tables are in weird places. There was a table right next to the stairs. Really? It's funny since we were seated upstairs in the corner table behind the stairs. I mean, it was next to a big window but, we didn't get a view. The ceiling was so low....it was awkward. It reminded me of my room when the ceiling use to slope down above my bed. Oh yea, the kitchen took up half the house. 2. The food wasnt good.....like at all. I ordered fried calamari. The fried calamari wasnt crispy. They actually sauteed it in lemon juice so it was super soggy and sour. Seriously, messing up fried calamari is such a joke. My boyfriend got the seafood cakes. They were crispy, but nothing special. They tasted like frozen crab cakes. Dont even get my started on my chicken sandwich. Everything was such a let down.... Everything was pretty, but nothing tasted good. 3. Service was fantastic! I felt sorry for him since he had to go up and down the stairs. The server was sweet and attentive. Definitely the type one should tip 20% or more. Anyways, I guess you pay for the service because food is no where near the quality of the price. Oh well.... save yourself the disappointment and don't eat here.
(1)Dawn E.
I am the lovely lady across from Eric R. Normally, I wouldn't point that out but since I'm going to reference things that will make it clear anyway, I thought we'd start with full disclosure. We were hungry. Like. HUNGRY. So there's that. This is entirely my fault because I doddled in choosing a place to go and I REALLY wanted to eat on the water but failed us miserably. Oh! PATIO! (It's like oooo shiny!) We picked Azure. We walked up to the host who, for me, was entirely unmemorable. I remember the six minute quote, because, well, it was a thing and I also thought it was ridiculous but I was kind of rooting for it and BOOM! Success. Seriously, what are the odds he's be so spot on?? I'm sure it was a complete fluke but it was awesome, and Eric's incredulity fuelled it's awesomocity further. He did, however, completely ignore another woman and her grandchild and I had to get a manager's attention for them to be included on the wait. Also, there was no waiting area for the patio so we all just sort of lingered in the way. Once seated, I ordered a meatball sandwich and pasta salad and it was neither superb nor terrible. Eric made happy yummy faces with his burger and I was big with the envy, but, whatever, hungry eat food yay. I had to use the restroom so I went inside and was surprised. The inside is just wrong somehow. The tables aren't spaced right or walls were too white or or.. I don't know. The patio is kind of perfectish but the inside feels unfinished. Also, I had to hike to Spain for the ladies room. (Spain = up some weird flight of stairs through another empty dining room and down a creepy kind of hallway). And the bathroom, itself, is kind of terrible. But, whatever, need pee go bathroom yay. So in the end I think I would eat at Azure if I was in town and with someone else who wanted to try it, but I wouldn't seek it out and I certainly wouldn't go out of my way for it.
(3)V P.
After reading all the comments, I was expecting something great. This was place was just good. When we arrived we asked to sit inside where we told we would have to wait. So we were seated outside. A few minutes into our meal, the person I was with went to the bathroom and found only two tables occupied. Seriously?!?! A wait for the inside or is it just easier to sit us with a bee and fly buzzing around us the whole time. Now to the food... Skip the caprese salad. It's not typical and does not have balsamic vinegar, only olive oil. I got the crispy pollo carbonara, which was a bit better than okay. The person I was with got the blueberry BBQ salmon. She found it interesting and I thought it was okay.
(3)Brian R.
The best restaurant in Freeport, hands down. The chef keeps to an excellent, streamlined menu that allows his kitchen to do a few things exceptionally well rather than a number of dishes that might not all be winners. The roasted chicken was a big winner. I had a special dietary need this go-round and the chef was most gracious in making me something that I could eat, always a plus when you're traveling and you don't feel well. They have a top-notch bar as well. The wait staff is friendly, although they could stand with a busser to help move dishes off of the tables and fill the water glasses while the wait staff is otherwise engaged. Reservations are suggested. I suggested they look into Open Table to facilitate that better. In the warm weather, the patio is the best place to be. It has charm and you watch the world pass by. Down the street from L.L. Bean, it's a must dinner stop if you're in Freeport.
(5)Franklin B.
Tonight we had the wild blueberry BBQ salmon and the lobster fettuccine, both were absolutely fantastic. Zeus continues making one of the best grey goose cosmos we have ever had. Riley, our waiter, was excellent and tremendous fun. For a small town like Freeport, it's amazing they have a restaurant of such high quality and execution.
(5)Christopher N.
Delicious, fresh food in an intimate setting. The cioppino was delicious and a generous portion.
(4)Cassandra L.
We went here for a dinner date with our best friends. We were visiting from California. The waitress said we couldn't make a bad decision on the menu and I agree. Ever dish we ordered was wonderful. Started with the clam chowder and artichoke dip, followed by the Caesar salad. I had the ravioli and my hubby had the blueberry glazed salmon. Everything was perfect.
(5)Jacob K.
Pitiful portions, pretentiously piled, at painful prices. Promising premise but poor performance. Paltry. Here's the non-alliterative take: the salads were wilted and mini, the salmon a passable slab, the pasta sauce, jar-grade. Gourmet price tags to boot. As the saying goes: Don't give this awful place your business.
(1)Scott P.
A tale of two meals at Azure Cafe today. Just drifted into town and upon the recommendation of my host I grabbed lunch at Azure. A lobster roll w fries and a lemonade looked good and were. Real fresh squeezed lemonade... None of that genuine simulated lemon drink mix. Really hit the spot. The roll was perfect. Buttery, lightly dressed.... Wonderful. The fries were so good I didn't even bother with my usual ketchup/hot sauce combo dunk. So I went back for supper and ordered ciopino, salad and a glass of chard. Wine was good but overpriced at $12.00 a glass. For twelve bucks I expected "Wow!" And got good. The house salad was great. The ciopino came and the server took my knife w the salad plate and disappeared. Had to track down the hostess to replace it. Clams... Yummy. Mussels... Ditto. Whitefish and lobster great. Broth... Tasty. Linguini... Overcooked and mushy. A few minutes after I finished eating, my server reappeared and asked how everything was. When I told him he was a little late in asking he winced and slinked away. He still has no idea why his tip took a hit tonight. Such a small thing... overcooked pasta... But it meant the difference between a great meal and an OK one. As for service... Might mean the difference in my ever going back.
(3)Keo H.
Landed here on a Friday night, July fourth weekend get away. Place was not busy nor empty. Arrived and got seated almost immediately. Great start I'd say. As far as ambiance goes I'd say its a nice cute restaurant, clean and friendly hostess/waitress. Service was good - we weren't forgotten about. Foodwise - the boyfriend and I ordered: clam chowder, Maine seafood cakes, mussels solamente, steamed lobster dinner and tiramisu. Clam chowder came out first and I was not impressed. I knew it even before taking the first spoonful. It may be due to the fact that I've been spoiled by the claim chowda's in Boston. It was not thick nor did I smell the aroma of the "clams/chowda". I was actually stirring it looking for the "clams'. Okay enough said about the chowda. The seafood cakes were good - very crispy, tasty, hot, and fresh. Worth every dollar it was priced at. The mussels solamente - I was a little disappointed by the size of these things They looked like shrunken, dried up blueberries. I think they were over baked. Buut... they had good flavor on them. Just wished they weren't over baked and just a little bit bigger. Not worth the price but oh well, been there done that. Not again though. The steamed lobster - Absolute best order we had! It sort of made up for the previous dishes. Yes, I really did suck through every inch of the crustacean - the head and every leg/claw. It was fresh, cooked just right and had a very natural taste to it. Thumbs up Azure. :oD Tiramisu - eh---I've had better. I like my tiramisu with a little more coffee/espresso flavor. I'd try a different place next time I'm in the area but wouldn't lead you away I guess. Its a hit and miss based on your order selection.
(3)Robert P.
We are at the Azure Cafe and were pleasantly surprised. We had checked Yelp for the reviews and they were pretty good. We ordered the cioppino seafood and the crabmeat stuffed white fish. Both were outstanding. Our waitress Brianna couldn't have been nicer or more accommodating. The atmosphere was wonderful even intimate. A very pleasant surprise in Freeport, ME.
(5)James S.
Azur in Freeport is right on the main drag, just one block away from the LL Bean Store. It's a perfect place to walk after an afternoon of shopping for a nice lunch or early supper. They have a large wonderful outdoor seating area for a warm summer night. We sat outside and it was fun to watch the activity around the area. Our service was very good. We had an Italian waiter who was friendly. I had a nice Sicilian Ciappino which was loaded with fish, mussels, clams, lobster, and set over pasta. It was a little different from the ciappino I know from living in San Francisco. There is less broth in this ciappino. However it had a great heat to it. I ordered it medium spicy and I had some heat, but it was not overpowering. I very much enjoyed my meal.
(4)Mrs. M.
We had a fine dinner here on a Friday evening. The downstairs room was a decent size but since it was a very chilly evening we opted for a table on the second floor. The waitstaff keep in excellent shape scaling the stairs to retrieve drinks and food from the first floor. I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner. I started with a mixed greens salad paired with candied pistachios, Bermuda onions, Gorgonzola and an apple dressing. Delicious, fresh and light way to start my meal. I chose the salmon special with was a seared filet with a citrus glaze accompanied by Israeli cous cous. I almost cleaned my plate it was so good. My dining companion chose the same salad and the duck breast entree. I tried a bite of hers and it was good. Not the best I've had but a solid entree. We didn't save room for dessert. The wine and drink list was ample for this small cafe restaurant. Many wines by the glass and bottle. Try the Maine blueberry martini! If back in the area, I would definitely return. Our waitress was witty, prompt, attentive, but didn't linger either. Prices are moderate, so be aware of that. Definitely worth checking out.
(4)Darryl Q.
This is an amazing restaurant. Never disappoints, never compromises its' integrity. Highly recommended.
(5)Holly R.
The service as always was impeccable. Our cocktails superbly concocted and delicious. We started with the fried calamari, a fresh twist on an old standard. Perfect. My father had the linguini with clams, lots of clams! I had the Chicken Marsala, a favorite. We enjoyed everything and as we always do. This is one of our favorite places for lunch or dinner. Highly recommend it to everyone! Cheers.
(5)Krysia K.
We dined on cold Sunday night and it was very pleasant and quiet. The service was decent. This place is amazing! The menu had plenty of great options and it took a minute to decide what we wanted. It's hard to pinpoint one thing that is delicious at Azure Cafe because it is ALL delicious. Best mussels that I ever had! The seafood risotto and lobster scampi are my favorites. We very much enjoyed our dinner here. One of the best places in Freeport ME. I recommend this restaurant to everybody. Check it out if you find yourself in Freeport.
(4)N L.
I've been a fan of Azure since it opened. I am a local Freeport resident and I've tried "most" of the local restaurants....some are okay, some are HORRIBLE. Freeport owners seem to think it doesn't matter if it's good as the customers are people from "away" and will never come back. With Millions of tourists here yearly, a restaurant should be able to survive even if they are mediocre. Azure has NEVER taken that approach. THEY CARE. The food has to be exceptional, the service as well. It always has been above and beyond the many many many times we've eaten at Azure. We've tried other places, and there are one or two that are okay...but NOTHING in town compares to the quality of the ingredients (although some try with their fancy names...but they fail), and the quality of the staff. My favorites are the filet, the chicken parm, the lobster alfredo and of course Azure's WONDERFUL tiramisu. Always felt welcomed, NEVER rushed, didn't matter if they were out straight or we were the only diners there, we were made to feel welcomed and appreciated and like we were the ONLY thing that mattered. My FAVORITE restaurant in the state of Maine!
(5)Malita N.
I love this little cafe. It is warm and very inviting. I ate there during lunch outside then returned with my husband for a candlelit dinner. The specials were AMAZING and he wine list was huge. I would come back here everytime I am in Freeport Maine
(5)Chip C.
Second visit in two years. Very creative and tasteful specials. Always we'll staffed, considering there attempt to keep the look of the town. The facilities are kept well. Pricing was at par for the quality.
(5)Kate M.
We went for dinner this past Saturday night. We did not have a reservation. The host was very pleasant. He apologized several times that the wait was more than 30 minutes. We waited in th "bar area" which was also a seating area. Somewhat strange was that thee bartender also waited the tables so it took a few minutes to get a drink. Blueberry martini and Blueberry and prosecco was the choices for the group. Excellent! We ate upstairs in a quaint little room. We received a complimentary antipasto plate for the wait. Very unexpected and above and beyond. The wait was not that long when all was said. Had an amazing caesar salad. I had the seafood risotto. It was the perfect blend of calamari, lobster and white fish. Portion size was perfect. Some other entrees chosen were the white fish, the fusilli and crusted chicken, and the linguini with seafood. All were amazing. Not one drop left on the plate. We finished with the flour less chocolate cake and the tiramisu. Great cappuccino. Don't miss if you are in the area!!
(5)Ray P.
Had lunch here. Meatball sub was actually pretty tasty, with a good sauce. Fries were good. Tartufo burger was also good, a little overcooked and they were stingy with the sauteed mushrooms. The service was a little lacking. They had one waitress running around trying to manage a lunch service. Saw at least three customers walk out because of the wait. She was nice, and seemed to be trying hard, but was fairly overwhelmed (maybe seven tables plus a larger group of about 12). I asked if the other waiter/waitress had called out sick or something. She replied that this was their usual staffing. If that's true, that should be remedied, because waits like this leave an impression. I will also agree with another reviewer that the prices are a bit pretentious.
(3)joann o.
Never wrote a review before, very interesting place, The Azure Café presents itself as being upscale. The wife and I walked in and asked to be seated, "do you have a reservation booked", I looked around about 20 tables in the place and there were possible 5 couples. I didn't say anything but felt like I should, it was 20 to 30 seconds the greeter (Hostess) picked up a couple menus and set us at a table. Our waitress came to our table and asked if we were ready to order, we both ordered the steamed lobster dinner which included a salad and grilled vegetables, I had coffee and the wife had iced tea. The coffee was good as well as the salad and vegetables, however the lobster was terrible, it was slimy, no texture to the meat, no taste, I told my wife I've had a better tasting lobster in Sacramento, CA., I have no idea how someone could make a lobster turn out so bad. The waitress came over and asked how everything was and the wife said the lobster was slimy. The waitress said "Oh that's funny" and left, the wife and I were dumfounded "Oh that's funny" no that was a lousy meal for about $25.00 each, total on the bill was $63.00, if only I had said we didn't have a reservation and ran. This happened 10/26/2014 about 8 PM.
(1)Peter H.
Every time we take one of our Porsches for service at Morong in Falmouth we go to Cafe Azure. The food is incredible, the staff exceptional and the atmosphere is comforting. I have to say Zeus makes every visit memorable. They are fortunate to have her and Noble!
(5)Susan T.
An LLBean employee recommended this place & boy are we glad she did. DELICIOUS. I has the Pineland need burger (local organic beef) & it was delicious. My husband had the crispy chicken carbonara -out of this world & my daughter chicken Marsala-best she's ever had. Don't leave Freeport without dining here
(4)Eric R.
I'm torn between perception and reality on this one. I wanted to take the pretty little face of the host and smash it into the pavement about 50 times. It was partly the dismissive sigh. It was partly the ridiculous hair. I think most of it was the fact that I was hungry and cranky, and he was looking down at me from the perch of being a host. So, I hated him. That's cool. I mean, the dude gave my date and I a wait time of 6 minutes. 6. SIX! However, we were seated at 5m42s. Yes, I used a stopwatch. So, he's a douche and throws out 6 minutes, and just happens to be right. Still hate him. We got seated at a great table with the slightest wobble. The server was pleasant and bland enough to be forgettable, while I spent my time throwing eye-axes at the host every chance I got. I really might have to talk about this guy with my therapist, he clearly got under my skin. Anyway, I got a burger with bleu cheese, and the lovely lady across the table got something completely forgettable. We spent half the time talking about how strangely forgettable, yet oddly nice this place was. The interior was modern, and out of place. The bathroom was hidden behind the bar? The perception is that I had one of the most surreal meals ever, with a ghost like server, a host I wanted to strangle, and a setting that I thought was almost perfect, but with enough warhol to tweak you. Like, on purpose. The reality is that we were seated in the time the host gave us. We were served meals that we both enjoyed, at a patio table with a great people watching view. I. Just. I. Ugh. This place makes my brain hurt.
(3)Amy M.
Meh this was okay. Food was alright but overpriced I thought. I'm okay with paying more for a great meal but was a forgetful experience overall so not quite worth it.
(3)Sarah M.
Food was okay. Portions didn't match the prices. Pricey and average.
(3)Whiskey C.
Let me start off by saying the waitstaff was above average. They were accommodating, efficient, and friendly as ever! My sisters hosted my surprise baby shower here, and the room they had put us, upstairs, was absolutely perfect. The food was great from what I was able to eat (too busy saying hello and opening gifts). My 2-star rating is based on the treatment post-shower. My family took over the downstairs bar area, and believe me, water and soft drinks were not being ordered. The cafe was definitely benefiting from our patronage. Soon, the early dinner crowd began coming in. Instead of finding a place for us to sit, the bartender cut off my father and sister when they went to order the next round. (Haha, this is a great story to share someday). The 10+ of us were hungry, and were going to order food, but they wanted to make room for the 3 or so random couples that came in. I did the math, they would have made more on us! It was still a great experience, but I thought it was a little thoughtless on their end. My family had spent a lot of money with the shower, and would have continued after. I wouldn't go here again, but the experience was still wonderful. Advice: DON'T host a party here.
(2)Paige M.
As a pasta lover, this is one of my all-time favorite places to eat. The restaurant is cute, the staff are friendly and professional, and the food never disappoints. I enjoy eating both inside or out on the patio. The chicken parmesan and the alfredo are to die for, plus, they go above and beyond for to-go orders. I love Azure!
(5)Ansley W.
The food is outstanding. I highly recommend the bruschetta and the shrimp scampi. I also tried the lasagna and my sister had the clam chowder which she enjoyed. Portions were generous. The meal was made less enjoyable by a whiny child no one bothered to shush (for hours!) and the very, very slow service. Things in Maine move slowly, i guess. I would go back to Azure but make sure to let them know if you are in a rush.
(4)Steve B.
After a long hot Southern summer it was wonderful to have dinner on their terrace and enjoy a pleasant evening. A taste of October in August. The pace was relaxed, almost European. I started with the tomato-vodka soup which was good, but I will just have to take their word about the vodka as I am not sure what it added. The salad was good and just the right size. I had the Wild Maine Blueberry BBQ salmon which I was afraid might be gimmicky, but it was really well prepared and tasty. A couple of glasses of Chardonnay and a piece of cheesecake and I really needed the walk back to the Inn. My wife had the Crispy Pollo Carbonara and enjoyed it.
(4)Thomas N.
Very nice on the front deck on a very pleasant evening recently, drinks were different and interesting, basil gimlet was very good, mussels good and sorta different, blueberry salmon very good, chicken parm flavorful but sort of dry, service was ok....
(3)M D.
First Impressions: Expensive and unimpressive Weight Watchers Rating: Entre' servings so small that you can afford to eat here I really wanted to like this restaurant. We went here before a show at L.L. Bean. We got there early, before the crush, so we were seated outside on the patio on a beautiful evening. The server was very nice and efficient, and we soon were pondering appetizers and meals. We ordered and as we waited, we sipped our martinis (tasty) and wine. The server brought out some bread and an olive oil dipping sauce. The appetizer (Bruscetta) came out. It was a good portion and looked bright and fresh. However, it was more a bread toasted with Parmesan cheese rather than a traditional Bruscetta. We then were served our salads. Salad came with our entrees, but I opted to "upgrade" to a Caprese salad. Funny, "upgrading" was the same price as ordering a salad outright. Huh? Anyway, the Caprese came out, and it was a fair portion. It was plain, undressed and served with the same olive oil dipping sauce as the bread! Huh? It was completely unseasoned. And bland. It's the middle of summer. tomatoes should be abundant, and the tomatoes tasted like hothouse tomatoes. There were thin slices of mozzarella and small, full leaves of basil, so unless you cut the leaves up into small pieces, you wouldn't get basil in all your bites. The lack of seasoning and the strange dipping oil...it was terrible. I asked for some balsamic vinegar and made it somewhat tasty, but it was by far the worst Caprese salad I've had. So on to the entrees. I had the Seafood Risotto and opted to "upgrade" to include lobster. That put this dish at a whopping $32.75. So I expected, well, something good and a good portion. Did I get that? No. The risotto was terribly salty. They must have used the same bland tomatoes and basil that were in the Caprese, because there was only a salty seafood flavor to it. And I THINK I had a couple of pieces of lobster, but every piece of seafood was cut to the same size so I couldn't tell what was what. And to top it off, I think the serving was smaller than my hand in size and about 1/2" deep. For $32.75. Another member of our party had the Eggplant Parmesan. That was also pretty lousy. It was slices of eggplant, sauteed a bit and then covered with parm and served over pasta tossed with a red sauce. My husband had the lobster salad, which was lobster meat over greens. Good lobster and a decent portion, but totally "vanilla" with a total lack of artistry or style. And over $20 for lobster slapped on salad. The only appetizing dish was the Beef Tenderloin Balsamico due to the nice sauce. Wow. 3 out of 4 dishes were just wrong for one reason or another. I was amazed that people actually gave this place a decent review. At the end of the meal, I told the server that while I understood that this was in NO way her fault, I found that the serving size of the Risotto, especially at that price, was completely ridiculous. It was an appetizer serving, a Primi serving. Apparently, she took my feedback to the manager because they comped my entree. I found that to be a great way to manage service (and the service here was good), but I still wouldn't eat here again. It's just overpriced, mediocre food. There's so much better out there that this place is just not worth it.
(2)Christian L.
This place has good lobster rolls in Freeport. A little more pricey than others restaurant around...but what the heck, it's probably vacation time when your are there anyways. Enjoy! I usually get mine my a side of bow tie pasta.
(3)John B.
Visited on 11/18/10. Very nice restaurant! Friendly staff and very good food. I am definitely coming back some day. Started dinner off with the calamari appetizer, which was dressed in a garlic butter sauce; delicious. For dinner, I had the Blueberry Barbecue Salmon. This was very tasty, I asked for more of the BBQ sauce. The dessert offerings looked good, but I did not have room. Maybe next time.
(4)James M.
Sorry, can't quite march to the same drummer as many reviewers of this place.I'm not quite sure why, on a hot July day, the hungry hordes would opt for waiting to dine al fresco on Azure's brick oven of a terrace with its unappetizing views of too many overweight American consumerati in shorts and ball caps waddling along the sidewalk laden with L.L. Bean shopping bags when they could have a nice cool time indoors, but there you are. Also, remember--those attractive deep red table umbrellas absorb half as much heat as they shade you from. The food here was just fine, the burger meat coming from cattle raised at the nearby Wolf's Neck Farm. Other dishes, salads, artichoke dip offered no cause for complaint or alarm. Service was upbeat and helpful yet one might have wished for a few amenities such as greater visible cleanliness and some proper napkins. They clearly do a "land office" business during the summer months so any quibbles I might have are likely not generally shared.
(3)Reid F.
The food is very good (try the seafood cakes), the service is friendly, and it is located amidst all the shopping (why else does anyone go to Freeport?). It also features an award-winning wine list with good, affordable wines that are actually mature enough to drink (unlike most restaurants).
(5)Frank B.
The service is greatest strength of the restaurant. The wine list is quite broad, and the food is good, but not that creative. If the prices were more in line with other restaurants in Portland, I would come here more often and improve my rating.
(3)Ambre M.
The blueberry margarita is amazing. Unfortunately, that was the best part of the meal I had there. My boyfriend and I split the Maine seafood cakes. They were good, but nothing special. I had seafood pasta. The half of a lobster was great, as were the mussels, but the shrimp seemed overcooked. The broth was advertised as spicy-- it wasn't. My boyfriend had lobster risotto and said it was ok, but nothing special. For dessert, I had the cheesecake-- good but not great. The flourless chocolate cake, however, earned rave reviews from my boyfriend. The selection of local beers on tap was limited, but what they had was delicious.
(2)Adam M.
Cute setting, good clam chowder, and the cheesecake is moist and fresh. Loved this place!
(4)Steve L.
My wife and I were in Freeport and various restaurants had kids on the street handing out fliers. The one who handed me the Azure Cafe flier insisted that it was the best. After reviewing the choices, we decided to give it a try. Azure Cafe is just a couple of minutes walk north of the main LL Bean store in Freeport. All I saw was outside tables, though I imagine there is indoor seating as well. We were seated promptly and, when I discovered that the initial table was in the sun, asked to be moved to another and was cheerfully reseated. My wife wanted a specific kind of beer but didn't recognize the on-tap brands, most of which were local. Our server brought out several "tasting" glasses so my wife could pick one, and she was delighted with the final choice. I wanted lemonade, and theirs was "homemade" with bits of lemon pulp - very refreshing, but a tiny bit sweeter than I like it. That didn't stop me from having three glasses (no free refills of the lemonade.) We each ordered a hamburger, though different styles. Both were "Wolf's Head" beef and were the tastiest and juciest hamburgers we've had in ages. They were perfectly done to our request, and the french fries accompanying were delicious, with the skin still on. Even the dill pickle wedge was delightful. The dessert menu looked tempting but we passed on that. The service was exemplary and very friendly. I left an extra-big tip. We will definitely return when we go back to Freeport.
(5)Jim D.
This is a smallish, fancy restaurant in the heart of the Freeport shops. They suggest reservations, but it wasn't busy when we were there, so anyone who came in was able to get a table...of which there are about 12, including the bar area. Their clam chowder was very good, but then I had the signature filet, which was very underwhelming...it's the first filet I've ever had where there was no flavor! The other dishes looked and smelled amazing, and I tasted some of my friend's stuffed chicken dish, which was awesome. For the price, I think there are better places to eat in the shops area, but this wasn't too bad. The service was very friendly and attentive.
(2)Chris M.
Excellent lunch. Herb chicken flatbread and chowder
(4)Paul P.
Read all the reviews abou this restaurant & I had to try. So glad I did. This restaurant was excellent. Very clean & hip. We were seated in a bad spot to start (right near the kitchen. I asked to be moved, and was without any problems. After that our night was wonderful. I had a seafood pasta dish & my wife had stuffed cod. Both were excellent & I would highly recommend going if you spend the night in Freeport.
(4)John K.
This place is just great! Probably the best restaurant I have been to in Maine. They have a number of dishes that stand out, but my two favorite are the Salmon with wild Maine blueberry BBQ sauce (amazing), and the lobster scampi. Food is fresh and well-seasoned. Lobster dishes in general are very good and reasonably priced. The atmosphere is quiet and relaxing, although I have never been during peak season. Service is friendly and efficient. A really nice restaurant - I wish it was closer to home!
(5)erik s.
I had the opportunity to dine at Azure Cafe last night and it was very good. We sat outside and listened to restful, live musics while we enjoyed our tasty, well prepared meals. The Bottom Line: Food/service/drinks/atmosphere were all good. I would recommend Azure Cafe to anyone visiting Freeport. Probably the thing I liked the most in addition to my meal was that they welcomed my dog to join us on the terrace while we ate as opposed to making stay in the car. Oh, I did find one shortcoming: the restroom, it's pretty beat despite being basically clean.
(4)Kat S.
I came here for lunch on a weekend. It's nice inside with a lot of room upstairs too. We ordered chicken parm sandwiches, which were delicious. I really enjoyed the pasta salad as well. The waitstaff was very friendly and helpful. I can't wait to go again to try everything on their menu!
(4)Sarah H.
Amazing dinner on the patio. I had the salmon special with a strawberry, fennel, cucumber slaw. Beautifully presented and delicious. Better half had the crispy chicken and loved it too. We even shared a piece of cheesecake which exceeded expectations. Wait staff friendly but didn't hover.
(5)Brigitta K.
We had lovely dinner at Azure last night (Sat., August 4, '12) and enjoyed the whole dining experience. Service was wonderful, mixed drinks were well prepared, loved the Chardonnay, the bread that came with it and really enjoyed both our entrees. Highly recommend this restaurant. Better call ahead to reserve a table in Summer. We live in ME, but it's unfortunately a bit far for us to go regularly, but if you're going to Freeport, don't miss out. Nice outdoor space too! Was fun to afterwards go listen to an exciting free summer concert at LL Bean!
(4)Shane K.
This place is GOOD! The service was super friendly. The food was very fresh & left me wanting more. We decided to sit outside on the patio. Even the light rain couldn't dampen my enthusiasm for this place. We started with the clam chowder & tomato vodka soup. Very tasty! For entree I ordered the filet applewood and she ordered the seafood risotto. The steak was cooked just right and served with a delicious side of garlic mash. Portion size was pretty good. Her seafood risotto had quite a lot of lobster, scallops, & shrimp. She thought it was a little heavy on the sauce which I didn't agree with but overall cooked very well. This place is a little pricey but I really didn't have a single complaint.
(4)Kouichi K.
After a long day of shopping and window shopping in town, my friend and I were hungry and settled on Azure Cafe. It is a cute cozy place right on the main street. I had a chowder to start and it was good, but not out of this world. I had the Maine Shrimp Scampi which was tossed with linguine. It was good, but again nothing out of this world. For what I ordered, the price is quite expensive. If I ever come to Freeport again, I don't know if I would come and pay this much for mediocre food. That said, the service was attentive and courteous.
(3)Stephanie V.
One word......WOW!!! Some may complain about the cost, but I, for one, can only ask "how can you complain about the cost of good, quality food?" Some may consider this place to be expensive, but my family and I do not. The prices were just right, the food was fantastic and this one particular location will get us to come back more often just because of the food itself. The service was great, too, but the food was outstanding. All dishes were perfectly portioned. The appetizers were amazing. Love the bruschetta and the calamari. We also ordered the special appetizer of the day, but I can't remember the name of it. It was a pizza with fresh tomatoes and basil. We figured we wouldn't be able to eat our main dishes, but we were able to dive into most of it!! We had the burger, meatball sandwich and flatbread caesar chicken. The bowtie pasta was delicious. After seeing the french fries, I did not think I would like them, but they were soooooo tasty. We are so happy that we tried this place. As I said, we will make special trips to Freeport just to go to the restaurant. You won't be disappointed.
(5)John P.
To start off, the only downside of this restaurant is the price. Everything is quite expensive, but that is literally the only downside. The food is fantastic, everything from start to finish. The clam chowder, which isn't a traditional chowder as it is much thinner than many of the local chowders which are much heavier and potato-based, was rich and flavorful. The bruschetta was delicious, a perfect little appetizer for anyone. Even the house salad before the meal was good. The ambiance of the restaurant, especially outside on the patio, is very calm and comfortable. On a comfortable night the town is alive and you can enjoy your meal while watching all the passers-by. On the particular night we were there it was perfect to sit outside, which actually helped as they were very crowded and food service was taking longer than it probably should have, fortunately the surroundings made it easy to overlook and the wait wasn't noticeable. It certainly helped making reservations. For the main course, I had the Wild Blueberry Barbecue Salmon and my girlfriend had the Veal Saltimbocca. Both dishes were excellent. I highly recommend the salmon. Especially if you're visiting Maine, this is an opportunity you shouldn't pass up and as strange as it may seem at first, you will be thankful after you taste it that you had tried. Finishing the night with a piece of blueberry cheesecake (which was larger than we had expected for this kind of restaurant) was a perfect conclusion to both my experience at the Azure Cafe and Maine, as well.
(5)Bryan D.
My wife and I went here for our anniversary. Thankfully we went early because the whole town lost power during our meal. It must have been right as our meals were being finished as they came out a couple minutes after I noticed the shops across the street were all dark. My wife's filet was a little fatty and was ordered medium rare, but came out rare. It was still delicious and I am not going to knock them for it, as they were working with flood lights in the kitchen. I had salmon with blueberry barbeque sauce. I was skeptical, but had to try it. I am glad I did. It was incredible. If you're looking for a good, fancy meal, this is the place to go. The drinks were great, the food was awesome and it was worth every penny. I just wish we had the money to go more often.
(4)Colleen B.
We'd read the reviews and we desperately wanted to be the ones to be "wowed" by this place. The service definitely had a "wow" factor to it (it was prompt and perfectly timed), the food however was a little flat. Good and tasty, but it was missing that oomph. We're still having trouble putting our finger on it. The Maine seafood cakes were chock full of scallops and shrimp which I really enjoyed, somehow though they didn't need to be deep fried. At $11+ for the app, I was glad they were so chock full of seafood. The carrot and parsnip ribbons were a nice touch on the side. The menu definitely had a ton of variety. It's why we picked it. "Holy Gorton's fisherman!"--they had a ton of seafood! There was stuff for the landlubbers too, like pork , duck, beef, chicken and pastas. The pricing structure was the most baffling and maybe it's just cuz we're Bostonians and we're used to being gauged for glasses of wine and dessert. The entrees were a whopping $20+, but the desserts and wine were around $6+, which kept the final bill somewhat reasonable. Also, watch out for the upcharge on the salads which they do disclose to you, but if you don't get the house salad you can shell out about $5+ for a mozzarella, tomato and basil salad or Caesar. The fresh, creamy mozzarella was definitely worth the upcharge on the tomato and basil salad. The Caesar could have stood to have some beefed up croutons. For dessert, the tiramisu was creamy and perfectly portioned. We were also delighted by the cranberry and orange sorbet.
(3)Pat J.
Ordered the chef's special of risotto and it was a very small portion, looked like tomato sauce on risotto...21.95 not good.
(1)Erino T.
Our first time at Azure Cafe was last summer for my then-fiance's birthday dinner. We sat at the table at their outside patio. The place was packed so their service might have been a little bit slower side, but it was weekend night in summer, and the staff was very friendly and efficient. We enjoyed our meal and the atmosphere so much that when we started our planning our restaurant wedding, nothing but Azure came to our mind. During our planning phase, since we live in Boston area, we had to do all the communications via emails. The manager, Zeus not only responded in such timely manner, but also accommodated all of our requests, and made our big day very special. Our guests were very impressed with everything they tasted; their signature grilled salmon with blueberry BBQ sauce, filet filet mignon, stuffed chickens, etc. ,and have become big fans of the restaurant. We are, in fact, looking forward to going back there for this coming weekend to celebrate our two weeks anniversary :)
(5)Eddie D.
Found this place located in the middle of Freeport shopping district. Is a cozy Italian place with live duet musician playing smooth jazz music in the background. Menu offered your regular Italian and seafood food. The seafood items were on a pricy side. We got the Maine Shrimp Scampi over Pasta, Seafood Risotto, and Fettuccine Alfredo. They didn't quite live up to our expectation. We found they were all on the salty side and small portion for the price.
(3)Jonathan S.
Don't recall exactly what night I ate here, but it was a late evening dinner close to Christmas. Perfect, because Azure was fairly quiet, dimly lit, and was toasty warm when compared to the outside air (it's winter in Maine, after all). We ordered the calamari appetizer which was actually better than my favorite calamari appetizer at the Prado in San Diego, something that has been thus far unrivaled! Continued on with the applewood fillet, a dish that was amazing considering the numerous lackluster meals I've eaten while in Maine. Throw in our mixed drinks, vice wine, and the meal was perfect. Only reason I give four stars (I need to be more stingy with my five star ratings), is for the price. I guess it's a balance between being right in the heart of touristy Freeport, ME, but it's also just that, in Maine! I would expect these prices in San Diego, not blueberry growin', lobster catchin' Maine. But really, a minor point. Highly recommend and I'll try to go back before I leave the state.
(4)D W.
Superb service by the elequent and professional Dominique she provided a wonderful experience. The food was good. Somewhat on the salty side. Very good calamari as anstipasto. Overall would gladly return.
(4)Lisa R.
We started our meal with well prepared martinis, the Wild Maine martini which boasts the wonderful Cold River Vodka distilled in Freeport, and the Strawberry Lemonade martini, both were very tasty. We then had the Demi Mescolare salads. The salads had a delicious light roasted strawberry balsamic vinegrette and candied pistachios. I had the chicken Parmesan and my wife had crispy pollo carbonara, both were fantastic. Portions worked well for us, not the huge plate of pasta you sometimes receive, but a nice balance with the chicken in both dishes. The chicken was great, juicy and crispy. We shared the tiramisu which was the perfect ending to our delicious meal. I had a cappuccino that was rich and dark to top it all off. The waitstaff was attentive and efficient. Our reservation was at 5, and we were walking back down the street at 6:15. We felt the entire experience was well worth the price. We will definitely return to Azure next time we visit Freeport.
(5)Jennifer C.
The food here is delicious. We came for lunch as a break from shopping. I had a cheeseburger, made from local beef, and it was fabulous. I also tried the eggplant parmesan sandwich and it was also delicious. I only go to Freeport once a year, and we've been to a lot of the restaurants over the years. I would definitely choose Azure Cafe again.
(5)Mark H.
This was our third time to dine at the Azure Cafe, albeit the first time in 3 years. It was gratifying to find it has not changed at all, unlike most things in Freeport. We were fortunate to get there just ahead of the lunch crowd and had a very nice table for lunch. Meals included the Azure Burger and Grilled Portabello Sandwich, along with our favorite glasses of wine. A very pleasant experience yet again. We'll definitely continue to come back!
(4)Ally H.
Patio seating was nice and service pleasant. Three of the four of us had the burgers which were juicy and tasty. The fourth had the Mussels in a divine broth with linguine which came with a tasty salad and foccocia with garlic infused olive oil. I should also mention the table next to us requested the waitress obtain the recipe for one of their meals (sorry -wasn't eavesdropping enough to know which it was), so I take that as a good sign other meals there are also quite good. If you are shopping and trying to determine where to go based on a myriad of flyers being pushed into your hands This is a safe bet.
(4)Shannon T.
The service was atrociously slow. It was Labor Day and the place was packed. I know the waitress was doing her best given she had 4 tables all at the same time. But it took an eternity, which is not good when you have a 3-year old. They claim the fish and chips are awesome. They are not!! I barely wanted to eat half. The clam chowder is supposedly award winning. It was just okay. My husband's lasagna didn't fare much better. The scampi - delicious!!! My dad had the shrimp and my mom the chicken and it was deliciously mouth watering. Made me regret the fish and chips and wish I had gone for some pasta - maybe even a fettucini which the dude next to us had and looked delectable.
(3)Karl H.
Absolutely an amazing place. It's quaint, yet elegant... upscale, yet completely relaxing... service is attentive, yet not smothering... their cuisine is utterly fantastic. Here's a small example of what we had... CALAMARI AZZIMATA Lightly fried, Tossed with Parmesan, Diced Bermuda Onion & Sea Salt Vinaigrette 9.00 HOUSE MADE WARM ARTICHOKE DIP Served with Garlic & Herb Crostini 7.50 SICILIAN STYLE CIOPPINO House Specialty~ Maine Lobster, Sea Scallops, Black Tiger Shrimp, Fresh Haddock, & Mussels in a Spicy Tomato Broth with Linguine 29.75 MAINE SEAFOOD ALLA MAREMMA Fresh Maine Sea Scallops, Shrimp, & Calamari in a Light Broth Tossed with Arborio Rice 24.00 I will be going back for certain....
(5)Nick B.
We stopped here for some lunch as we were finishing up our Freeport shopping. The host was very precise when he told your wait time. He said 9 minutes or less. He then proceeded to give us minutely updates on the status of our seat. He also thoroughly confused out patrons which his matrix of indoor/outdoor seating times. We got a seat in the corner of the patio which afforded us some excellent people watching. We both had chowder and split roaster garlic meatball sandwich and the sweet Italian sausage sandwich. I enjoyed everything, but the bread on my sandwich was too soft. It was kind of like those rolls they give you at Chinese food restaurants. Ehh not good. If the roll was crispy it would have easily been a 4 start event.
(3)Tiff Y.
We visited this restaurant during a day of outlet shopping in Freeport. The food was cery good, the service was ok, but they were very understaffed. We had to wait almost 20 minutes to be seated, although there were plenty of open tables. There was also a lady singing- but she was upstairs in an awkward corner of the restaurant which took away from the live entertainment value. It was ok- but not work another visit.
(3)Lia M.
We ate here on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and everything was perfect. We sat on the outside patio and enjoyed great service. Delicious bread & oil start the meal. I had an angel hair dish with chicken, tomatoes and nuts, topped with a very light oil. That dish is now one of my favorites. My boyfriend had the chicken ziti alfredo (a usual choice for him) and he enjoyed it. Prices are reasonable and you will be full. It's the perfect place to eat during a day of shopping in Freeport.
(5)Andres P.
Not too shabby. Came here as a suggestion. The food wasn't bad although it didn't blow me out of the water. My seafood rissotto was OK although a little bit overcooked. My wife's filet mignon was absolutely tender and excellent. We would eat here again.
(3)Karen A.
The Azure Cafe came highly recommended from locals, and it lived up to the hype -- and then some. My husband and I ate on the bar side, a cozy little atmosphere, and loved the selection of local brews they had on draft. For dinner, we split a salad with pistachios, apple and feta cheese and a lasagna (which also came with a salad). Portion size of the lasagna was huge so splitting was a good idea. Food was incredibly tasty and the perfect choice for a cool fall night.
(4)Adam S.
Nice place to get lunch. Outside patio was very nice, unfortunately we were sat inside where the tables were kind of sparse. Appreciate the spacing but everything was crammed up against the walls and we ended up with a tiny table in the corner. Bad feng shui. Anyways, the food was pretty good but stay away from the pasta salad if you want some actual pasta with your oil. After having been through Freeport a few times, this place was actually better than average against the limited amount of places to eat around there but don't expect to be blown away.
(3)Zoe Z.
Nice place to have a drink of wine on the patio while watching the tourists in the summer; decent food; most recent experience yielded in a good sesame salmon special for myself - a rather so-so lasagna dish for my finance. I've been here about 3 times now (I live 8 minutes south in nearby Yarmouth) and I usually give this place a try about every 9 months or so.
(3)Keo H.
Landed here on a Friday night, July fourth weekend get away. Place was not busy nor empty. Arrived and got seated almost immediately. Great start I'd say. As far as ambiance goes I'd say its a nice cute restaurant, clean and friendly hostess/waitress. Service was good - we weren't forgotten about. Foodwise - the boyfriend and I ordered: clam chowder, Maine seafood cakes, mussels solamente, steamed lobster dinner and tiramisu. Clam chowder came out first and I was not impressed. I knew it even before taking the first spoonful. It may be due to the fact that I've been spoiled by the claim chowda's in Boston. It was not thick nor did I smell the aroma of the "clams/chowda". I was actually stirring it looking for the "clams'. Okay enough said about the chowda. The seafood cakes were good - very crispy, tasty, hot, and fresh. Worth every dollar it was priced at. The mussels solamente - I was a little disappointed by the size of these things They looked like shrunken, dried up blueberries. I think they were over baked. Buut... they had good flavor on them. Just wished they weren't over baked and just a little bit bigger. Not worth the price but oh well, been there done that. Not again though. The steamed lobster - Absolute best order we had! It sort of made up for the previous dishes. Yes, I really did suck through every inch of the crustacean - the head and every leg/claw. It was fresh, cooked just right and had a very natural taste to it. Thumbs up Azure. :oD Tiramisu - eh---I've had better. I like my tiramisu with a little more coffee/espresso flavor. I'd try a different place next time I'm in the area but wouldn't lead you away I guess. Its a hit and miss based on your order selection.
(3)Scott P.
A tale of two meals at Azure Cafe today. Just drifted into town and upon the recommendation of my host I grabbed lunch at Azure. A lobster roll w fries and a lemonade looked good and were. Real fresh squeezed lemonade... None of that genuine simulated lemon drink mix. Really hit the spot. The roll was perfect. Buttery, lightly dressed.... Wonderful. The fries were so good I didn't even bother with my usual ketchup/hot sauce combo dunk. So I went back for supper and ordered ciopino, salad and a glass of chard. Wine was good but overpriced at $12.00 a glass. For twelve bucks I expected "Wow!" And got good. The house salad was great. The ciopino came and the server took my knife w the salad plate and disappeared. Had to track down the hostess to replace it. Clams... Yummy. Mussels... Ditto. Whitefish and lobster great. Broth... Tasty. Linguini... Overcooked and mushy. A few minutes after I finished eating, my server reappeared and asked how everything was. When I told him he was a little late in asking he winced and slinked away. He still has no idea why his tip took a hit tonight. Such a small thing... overcooked pasta... But it meant the difference between a great meal and an OK one. As for service... Might mean the difference in my ever going back.
(3)Robert P.
We are at the Azure Cafe and were pleasantly surprised. We had checked Yelp for the reviews and they were pretty good. We ordered the cioppino seafood and the crabmeat stuffed white fish. Both were outstanding. Our waitress Brianna couldn't have been nicer or more accommodating. The atmosphere was wonderful even intimate. A very pleasant surprise in Freeport, ME.
(5)James S.
Azur in Freeport is right on the main drag, just one block away from the LL Bean Store. It's a perfect place to walk after an afternoon of shopping for a nice lunch or early supper. They have a large wonderful outdoor seating area for a warm summer night. We sat outside and it was fun to watch the activity around the area. Our service was very good. We had an Italian waiter who was friendly. I had a nice Sicilian Ciappino which was loaded with fish, mussels, clams, lobster, and set over pasta. It was a little different from the ciappino I know from living in San Francisco. There is less broth in this ciappino. However it had a great heat to it. I ordered it medium spicy and I had some heat, but it was not overpowering. I very much enjoyed my meal.
(4)Mrs. M.
We had a fine dinner here on a Friday evening. The downstairs room was a decent size but since it was a very chilly evening we opted for a table on the second floor. The waitstaff keep in excellent shape scaling the stairs to retrieve drinks and food from the first floor. I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner. I started with a mixed greens salad paired with candied pistachios, Bermuda onions, Gorgonzola and an apple dressing. Delicious, fresh and light way to start my meal. I chose the salmon special with was a seared filet with a citrus glaze accompanied by Israeli cous cous. I almost cleaned my plate it was so good. My dining companion chose the same salad and the duck breast entree. I tried a bite of hers and it was good. Not the best I've had but a solid entree. We didn't save room for dessert. The wine and drink list was ample for this small cafe restaurant. Many wines by the glass and bottle. Try the Maine blueberry martini! If back in the area, I would definitely return. Our waitress was witty, prompt, attentive, but didn't linger either. Prices are moderate, so be aware of that. Definitely worth checking out.
(4)Darryl Q.
This is an amazing restaurant. Never disappoints, never compromises its' integrity. Highly recommended.
(5)Holly R.
The service as always was impeccable. Our cocktails superbly concocted and delicious. We started with the fried calamari, a fresh twist on an old standard. Perfect. My father had the linguini with clams, lots of clams! I had the Chicken Marsala, a favorite. We enjoyed everything and as we always do. This is one of our favorite places for lunch or dinner. Highly recommend it to everyone! Cheers.
(5)Krysia K.
We dined on cold Sunday night and it was very pleasant and quiet. The service was decent. This place is amazing! The menu had plenty of great options and it took a minute to decide what we wanted. It's hard to pinpoint one thing that is delicious at Azure Cafe because it is ALL delicious. Best mussels that I ever had! The seafood risotto and lobster scampi are my favorites. We very much enjoyed our dinner here. One of the best places in Freeport ME. I recommend this restaurant to everybody. Check it out if you find yourself in Freeport.
(4)N L.
I've been a fan of Azure since it opened. I am a local Freeport resident and I've tried "most" of the local restaurants....some are okay, some are HORRIBLE. Freeport owners seem to think it doesn't matter if it's good as the customers are people from "away" and will never come back. With Millions of tourists here yearly, a restaurant should be able to survive even if they are mediocre. Azure has NEVER taken that approach. THEY CARE. The food has to be exceptional, the service as well. It always has been above and beyond the many many many times we've eaten at Azure. We've tried other places, and there are one or two that are okay...but NOTHING in town compares to the quality of the ingredients (although some try with their fancy names...but they fail), and the quality of the staff. My favorites are the filet, the chicken parm, the lobster alfredo and of course Azure's WONDERFUL tiramisu. Always felt welcomed, NEVER rushed, didn't matter if they were out straight or we were the only diners there, we were made to feel welcomed and appreciated and like we were the ONLY thing that mattered. My FAVORITE restaurant in the state of Maine!
(5)Malita N.
I love this little cafe. It is warm and very inviting. I ate there during lunch outside then returned with my husband for a candlelit dinner. The specials were AMAZING and he wine list was huge. I would come back here everytime I am in Freeport Maine
(5)Chip C.
Second visit in two years. Very creative and tasteful specials. Always we'll staffed, considering there attempt to keep the look of the town. The facilities are kept well. Pricing was at par for the quality.
(5)Kate M.
We went for dinner this past Saturday night. We did not have a reservation. The host was very pleasant. He apologized several times that the wait was more than 30 minutes. We waited in th "bar area" which was also a seating area. Somewhat strange was that thee bartender also waited the tables so it took a few minutes to get a drink. Blueberry martini and Blueberry and prosecco was the choices for the group. Excellent! We ate upstairs in a quaint little room. We received a complimentary antipasto plate for the wait. Very unexpected and above and beyond. The wait was not that long when all was said. Had an amazing caesar salad. I had the seafood risotto. It was the perfect blend of calamari, lobster and white fish. Portion size was perfect. Some other entrees chosen were the white fish, the fusilli and crusted chicken, and the linguini with seafood. All were amazing. Not one drop left on the plate. We finished with the flour less chocolate cake and the tiramisu. Great cappuccino. Don't miss if you are in the area!!
(5)Ray P.
Had lunch here. Meatball sub was actually pretty tasty, with a good sauce. Fries were good. Tartufo burger was also good, a little overcooked and they were stingy with the sauteed mushrooms. The service was a little lacking. They had one waitress running around trying to manage a lunch service. Saw at least three customers walk out because of the wait. She was nice, and seemed to be trying hard, but was fairly overwhelmed (maybe seven tables plus a larger group of about 12). I asked if the other waiter/waitress had called out sick or something. She replied that this was their usual staffing. If that's true, that should be remedied, because waits like this leave an impression. I will also agree with another reviewer that the prices are a bit pretentious.
(3)Keith M.
Lobster roll w/fries. Artichoke dip and fried clam appetizer. Plenty of lobster in the roll, with a little bit of mayo, if that's your thing. A nice day to sit outside on the patio.
(3)Deborah M.
Azure is the class of Freeport. We dropped by for our usual (martinis and calamari) and it was just as expected. Service at Azure is Always top notch (our waitress that night has worked at Azure for over 8 years) and the food is, in our experience, always excellent and, if you have favorites as we do, dead-on consistent. Azure is a sure bet for a nice, high quality adult dining experience and we recommend it whole-heartlessly
(5)Amy M.
Meh this was okay. Food was alright but overpriced I thought. I'm okay with paying more for a great meal but was a forgetful experience overall so not quite worth it.
(3)Sarah M.
Food was okay. Portions didn't match the prices. Pricey and average.
(3)joann o.
Never wrote a review before, very interesting place, The Azure Café presents itself as being upscale. The wife and I walked in and asked to be seated, "do you have a reservation booked", I looked around about 20 tables in the place and there were possible 5 couples. I didn't say anything but felt like I should, it was 20 to 30 seconds the greeter (Hostess) picked up a couple menus and set us at a table. Our waitress came to our table and asked if we were ready to order, we both ordered the steamed lobster dinner which included a salad and grilled vegetables, I had coffee and the wife had iced tea. The coffee was good as well as the salad and vegetables, however the lobster was terrible, it was slimy, no texture to the meat, no taste, I told my wife I've had a better tasting lobster in Sacramento, CA., I have no idea how someone could make a lobster turn out so bad. The waitress came over and asked how everything was and the wife said the lobster was slimy. The waitress said "Oh that's funny" and left, the wife and I were dumfounded "Oh that's funny" no that was a lousy meal for about $25.00 each, total on the bill was $63.00, if only I had said we didn't have a reservation and ran. This happened 10/26/2014 about 8 PM.
(1)Peter H.
Every time we take one of our Porsches for service at Morong in Falmouth we go to Cafe Azure. The food is incredible, the staff exceptional and the atmosphere is comforting. I have to say Zeus makes every visit memorable. They are fortunate to have her and Noble!
(5)Susan T.
An LLBean employee recommended this place & boy are we glad she did. DELICIOUS. I has the Pineland need burger (local organic beef) & it was delicious. My husband had the crispy chicken carbonara -out of this world & my daughter chicken Marsala-best she's ever had. Don't leave Freeport without dining here
(4)Eric R.
I'm torn between perception and reality on this one. I wanted to take the pretty little face of the host and smash it into the pavement about 50 times. It was partly the dismissive sigh. It was partly the ridiculous hair. I think most of it was the fact that I was hungry and cranky, and he was looking down at me from the perch of being a host. So, I hated him. That's cool. I mean, the dude gave my date and I a wait time of 6 minutes. 6. SIX! However, we were seated at 5m42s. Yes, I used a stopwatch. So, he's a douche and throws out 6 minutes, and just happens to be right. Still hate him. We got seated at a great table with the slightest wobble. The server was pleasant and bland enough to be forgettable, while I spent my time throwing eye-axes at the host every chance I got. I really might have to talk about this guy with my therapist, he clearly got under my skin. Anyway, I got a burger with bleu cheese, and the lovely lady across the table got something completely forgettable. We spent half the time talking about how strangely forgettable, yet oddly nice this place was. The interior was modern, and out of place. The bathroom was hidden behind the bar? The perception is that I had one of the most surreal meals ever, with a ghost like server, a host I wanted to strangle, and a setting that I thought was almost perfect, but with enough warhol to tweak you. Like, on purpose. The reality is that we were seated in the time the host gave us. We were served meals that we both enjoyed, at a patio table with a great people watching view. I. Just. I. Ugh. This place makes my brain hurt.
(3)Whiskey C.
Let me start off by saying the waitstaff was above average. They were accommodating, efficient, and friendly as ever! My sisters hosted my surprise baby shower here, and the room they had put us, upstairs, was absolutely perfect. The food was great from what I was able to eat (too busy saying hello and opening gifts). My 2-star rating is based on the treatment post-shower. My family took over the downstairs bar area, and believe me, water and soft drinks were not being ordered. The cafe was definitely benefiting from our patronage. Soon, the early dinner crowd began coming in. Instead of finding a place for us to sit, the bartender cut off my father and sister when they went to order the next round. (Haha, this is a great story to share someday). The 10+ of us were hungry, and were going to order food, but they wanted to make room for the 3 or so random couples that came in. I did the math, they would have made more on us! It was still a great experience, but I thought it was a little thoughtless on their end. My family had spent a lot of money with the shower, and would have continued after. I wouldn't go here again, but the experience was still wonderful. Advice: DON'T host a party here.
(2)Paige M.
As a pasta lover, this is one of my all-time favorite places to eat. The restaurant is cute, the staff are friendly and professional, and the food never disappoints. I enjoy eating both inside or out on the patio. The chicken parmesan and the alfredo are to die for, plus, they go above and beyond for to-go orders. I love Azure!
(5)Ansley W.
The food is outstanding. I highly recommend the bruschetta and the shrimp scampi. I also tried the lasagna and my sister had the clam chowder which she enjoyed. Portions were generous. The meal was made less enjoyable by a whiny child no one bothered to shush (for hours!) and the very, very slow service. Things in Maine move slowly, i guess. I would go back to Azure but make sure to let them know if you are in a rush.
(4)Steve B.
After a long hot Southern summer it was wonderful to have dinner on their terrace and enjoy a pleasant evening. A taste of October in August. The pace was relaxed, almost European. I started with the tomato-vodka soup which was good, but I will just have to take their word about the vodka as I am not sure what it added. The salad was good and just the right size. I had the Wild Maine Blueberry BBQ salmon which I was afraid might be gimmicky, but it was really well prepared and tasty. A couple of glasses of Chardonnay and a piece of cheesecake and I really needed the walk back to the Inn. My wife had the Crispy Pollo Carbonara and enjoyed it.
(4)Thomas N.
Very nice on the front deck on a very pleasant evening recently, drinks were different and interesting, basil gimlet was very good, mussels good and sorta different, blueberry salmon very good, chicken parm flavorful but sort of dry, service was ok....
(3)John B.
Visited on 11/18/10. Very nice restaurant! Friendly staff and very good food. I am definitely coming back some day. Started dinner off with the calamari appetizer, which was dressed in a garlic butter sauce; delicious. For dinner, I had the Blueberry Barbecue Salmon. This was very tasty, I asked for more of the BBQ sauce. The dessert offerings looked good, but I did not have room. Maybe next time.
(4)M D.
First Impressions: Expensive and unimpressive Weight Watchers Rating: Entre' servings so small that you can afford to eat here I really wanted to like this restaurant. We went here before a show at L.L. Bean. We got there early, before the crush, so we were seated outside on the patio on a beautiful evening. The server was very nice and efficient, and we soon were pondering appetizers and meals. We ordered and as we waited, we sipped our martinis (tasty) and wine. The server brought out some bread and an olive oil dipping sauce. The appetizer (Bruscetta) came out. It was a good portion and looked bright and fresh. However, it was more a bread toasted with Parmesan cheese rather than a traditional Bruscetta. We then were served our salads. Salad came with our entrees, but I opted to "upgrade" to a Caprese salad. Funny, "upgrading" was the same price as ordering a salad outright. Huh? Anyway, the Caprese came out, and it was a fair portion. It was plain, undressed and served with the same olive oil dipping sauce as the bread! Huh? It was completely unseasoned. And bland. It's the middle of summer. tomatoes should be abundant, and the tomatoes tasted like hothouse tomatoes. There were thin slices of mozzarella and small, full leaves of basil, so unless you cut the leaves up into small pieces, you wouldn't get basil in all your bites. The lack of seasoning and the strange dipping oil...it was terrible. I asked for some balsamic vinegar and made it somewhat tasty, but it was by far the worst Caprese salad I've had. So on to the entrees. I had the Seafood Risotto and opted to "upgrade" to include lobster. That put this dish at a whopping $32.75. So I expected, well, something good and a good portion. Did I get that? No. The risotto was terribly salty. They must have used the same bland tomatoes and basil that were in the Caprese, because there was only a salty seafood flavor to it. And I THINK I had a couple of pieces of lobster, but every piece of seafood was cut to the same size so I couldn't tell what was what. And to top it off, I think the serving was smaller than my hand in size and about 1/2" deep. For $32.75. Another member of our party had the Eggplant Parmesan. That was also pretty lousy. It was slices of eggplant, sauteed a bit and then covered with parm and served over pasta tossed with a red sauce. My husband had the lobster salad, which was lobster meat over greens. Good lobster and a decent portion, but totally "vanilla" with a total lack of artistry or style. And over $20 for lobster slapped on salad. The only appetizing dish was the Beef Tenderloin Balsamico due to the nice sauce. Wow. 3 out of 4 dishes were just wrong for one reason or another. I was amazed that people actually gave this place a decent review. At the end of the meal, I told the server that while I understood that this was in NO way her fault, I found that the serving size of the Risotto, especially at that price, was completely ridiculous. It was an appetizer serving, a Primi serving. Apparently, she took my feedback to the manager because they comped my entree. I found that to be a great way to manage service (and the service here was good), but I still wouldn't eat here again. It's just overpriced, mediocre food. There's so much better out there that this place is just not worth it.
(2)Christian L.
This place has good lobster rolls in Freeport. A little more pricey than others restaurant around...but what the heck, it's probably vacation time when your are there anyways. Enjoy! I usually get mine my a side of bow tie pasta.
(3)James M.
Sorry, can't quite march to the same drummer as many reviewers of this place.I'm not quite sure why, on a hot July day, the hungry hordes would opt for waiting to dine al fresco on Azure's brick oven of a terrace with its unappetizing views of too many overweight American consumerati in shorts and ball caps waddling along the sidewalk laden with L.L. Bean shopping bags when they could have a nice cool time indoors, but there you are. Also, remember--those attractive deep red table umbrellas absorb half as much heat as they shade you from. The food here was just fine, the burger meat coming from cattle raised at the nearby Wolf's Neck Farm. Other dishes, salads, artichoke dip offered no cause for complaint or alarm. Service was upbeat and helpful yet one might have wished for a few amenities such as greater visible cleanliness and some proper napkins. They clearly do a "land office" business during the summer months so any quibbles I might have are likely not generally shared.
(3)Reid F.
The food is very good (try the seafood cakes), the service is friendly, and it is located amidst all the shopping (why else does anyone go to Freeport?). It also features an award-winning wine list with good, affordable wines that are actually mature enough to drink (unlike most restaurants).
(5)Ambre M.
The blueberry margarita is amazing. Unfortunately, that was the best part of the meal I had there. My boyfriend and I split the Maine seafood cakes. They were good, but nothing special. I had seafood pasta. The half of a lobster was great, as were the mussels, but the shrimp seemed overcooked. The broth was advertised as spicy-- it wasn't. My boyfriend had lobster risotto and said it was ok, but nothing special. For dessert, I had the cheesecake-- good but not great. The flourless chocolate cake, however, earned rave reviews from my boyfriend. The selection of local beers on tap was limited, but what they had was delicious.
(2)Frank B.
The service is greatest strength of the restaurant. The wine list is quite broad, and the food is good, but not that creative. If the prices were more in line with other restaurants in Portland, I would come here more often and improve my rating.
(3)Adam M.
Cute setting, good clam chowder, and the cheesecake is moist and fresh. Loved this place!
(4)erik s.
I had the opportunity to dine at Azure Cafe last night and it was very good. We sat outside and listened to restful, live musics while we enjoyed our tasty, well prepared meals. The Bottom Line: Food/service/drinks/atmosphere were all good. I would recommend Azure Cafe to anyone visiting Freeport. Probably the thing I liked the most in addition to my meal was that they welcomed my dog to join us on the terrace while we ate as opposed to making stay in the car. Oh, I did find one shortcoming: the restroom, it's pretty beat despite being basically clean.
(4)Kat S.
I came here for lunch on a weekend. It's nice inside with a lot of room upstairs too. We ordered chicken parm sandwiches, which were delicious. I really enjoyed the pasta salad as well. The waitstaff was very friendly and helpful. I can't wait to go again to try everything on their menu!
(4)Steve L.
My wife and I were in Freeport and various restaurants had kids on the street handing out fliers. The one who handed me the Azure Cafe flier insisted that it was the best. After reviewing the choices, we decided to give it a try. Azure Cafe is just a couple of minutes walk north of the main LL Bean store in Freeport. All I saw was outside tables, though I imagine there is indoor seating as well. We were seated promptly and, when I discovered that the initial table was in the sun, asked to be moved to another and was cheerfully reseated. My wife wanted a specific kind of beer but didn't recognize the on-tap brands, most of which were local. Our server brought out several "tasting" glasses so my wife could pick one, and she was delighted with the final choice. I wanted lemonade, and theirs was "homemade" with bits of lemon pulp - very refreshing, but a tiny bit sweeter than I like it. That didn't stop me from having three glasses (no free refills of the lemonade.) We each ordered a hamburger, though different styles. Both were "Wolf's Head" beef and were the tastiest and juciest hamburgers we've had in ages. They were perfectly done to our request, and the french fries accompanying were delicious, with the skin still on. Even the dill pickle wedge was delightful. The dessert menu looked tempting but we passed on that. The service was exemplary and very friendly. I left an extra-big tip. We will definitely return when we go back to Freeport.
(5)Jim D.
This is a smallish, fancy restaurant in the heart of the Freeport shops. They suggest reservations, but it wasn't busy when we were there, so anyone who came in was able to get a table...of which there are about 12, including the bar area. Their clam chowder was very good, but then I had the signature filet, which was very underwhelming...it's the first filet I've ever had where there was no flavor! The other dishes looked and smelled amazing, and I tasted some of my friend's stuffed chicken dish, which was awesome. For the price, I think there are better places to eat in the shops area, but this wasn't too bad. The service was very friendly and attentive.
(2)Paul P.
Read all the reviews abou this restaurant & I had to try. So glad I did. This restaurant was excellent. Very clean & hip. We were seated in a bad spot to start (right near the kitchen. I asked to be moved, and was without any problems. After that our night was wonderful. I had a seafood pasta dish & my wife had stuffed cod. Both were excellent & I would highly recommend going if you spend the night in Freeport.
(4)Chris M.
Excellent lunch. Herb chicken flatbread and chowder
(4)John K.
This place is just great! Probably the best restaurant I have been to in Maine. They have a number of dishes that stand out, but my two favorite are the Salmon with wild Maine blueberry BBQ sauce (amazing), and the lobster scampi. Food is fresh and well-seasoned. Lobster dishes in general are very good and reasonably priced. The atmosphere is quiet and relaxing, although I have never been during peak season. Service is friendly and efficient. A really nice restaurant - I wish it was closer to home!
(5)Sarah H.
Amazing dinner on the patio. I had the salmon special with a strawberry, fennel, cucumber slaw. Beautifully presented and delicious. Better half had the crispy chicken and loved it too. We even shared a piece of cheesecake which exceeded expectations. Wait staff friendly but didn't hover.
(5)Brigitta K.
We had lovely dinner at Azure last night (Sat., August 4, '12) and enjoyed the whole dining experience. Service was wonderful, mixed drinks were well prepared, loved the Chardonnay, the bread that came with it and really enjoyed both our entrees. Highly recommend this restaurant. Better call ahead to reserve a table in Summer. We live in ME, but it's unfortunately a bit far for us to go regularly, but if you're going to Freeport, don't miss out. Nice outdoor space too! Was fun to afterwards go listen to an exciting free summer concert at LL Bean!
(4)Shane K.
This place is GOOD! The service was super friendly. The food was very fresh & left me wanting more. We decided to sit outside on the patio. Even the light rain couldn't dampen my enthusiasm for this place. We started with the clam chowder & tomato vodka soup. Very tasty! For entree I ordered the filet applewood and she ordered the seafood risotto. The steak was cooked just right and served with a delicious side of garlic mash. Portion size was pretty good. Her seafood risotto had quite a lot of lobster, scallops, & shrimp. She thought it was a little heavy on the sauce which I didn't agree with but overall cooked very well. This place is a little pricey but I really didn't have a single complaint.
(4)Stephanie V.
One word......WOW!!! Some may complain about the cost, but I, for one, can only ask "how can you complain about the cost of good, quality food?" Some may consider this place to be expensive, but my family and I do not. The prices were just right, the food was fantastic and this one particular location will get us to come back more often just because of the food itself. The service was great, too, but the food was outstanding. All dishes were perfectly portioned. The appetizers were amazing. Love the bruschetta and the calamari. We also ordered the special appetizer of the day, but I can't remember the name of it. It was a pizza with fresh tomatoes and basil. We figured we wouldn't be able to eat our main dishes, but we were able to dive into most of it!! We had the burger, meatball sandwich and flatbread caesar chicken. The bowtie pasta was delicious. After seeing the french fries, I did not think I would like them, but they were soooooo tasty. We are so happy that we tried this place. As I said, we will make special trips to Freeport just to go to the restaurant. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Shannon T.
The service was atrociously slow. It was Labor Day and the place was packed. I know the waitress was doing her best given she had 4 tables all at the same time. But it took an eternity, which is not good when you have a 3-year old. They claim the fish and chips are awesome. They are not!! I barely wanted to eat half. The clam chowder is supposedly award winning. It was just okay. My husband's lasagna didn't fare much better. The scampi - delicious!!! My dad had the shrimp and my mom the chicken and it was deliciously mouth watering. Made me regret the fish and chips and wish I had gone for some pasta - maybe even a fettucini which the dude next to us had and looked delectable.
(3)John P.
To start off, the only downside of this restaurant is the price. Everything is quite expensive, but that is literally the only downside. The food is fantastic, everything from start to finish. The clam chowder, which isn't a traditional chowder as it is much thinner than many of the local chowders which are much heavier and potato-based, was rich and flavorful. The bruschetta was delicious, a perfect little appetizer for anyone. Even the house salad before the meal was good. The ambiance of the restaurant, especially outside on the patio, is very calm and comfortable. On a comfortable night the town is alive and you can enjoy your meal while watching all the passers-by. On the particular night we were there it was perfect to sit outside, which actually helped as they were very crowded and food service was taking longer than it probably should have, fortunately the surroundings made it easy to overlook and the wait wasn't noticeable. It certainly helped making reservations. For the main course, I had the Wild Blueberry Barbecue Salmon and my girlfriend had the Veal Saltimbocca. Both dishes were excellent. I highly recommend the salmon. Especially if you're visiting Maine, this is an opportunity you shouldn't pass up and as strange as it may seem at first, you will be thankful after you taste it that you had tried. Finishing the night with a piece of blueberry cheesecake (which was larger than we had expected for this kind of restaurant) was a perfect conclusion to both my experience at the Azure Cafe and Maine, as well.
(5)Bryan D.
My wife and I went here for our anniversary. Thankfully we went early because the whole town lost power during our meal. It must have been right as our meals were being finished as they came out a couple minutes after I noticed the shops across the street were all dark. My wife's filet was a little fatty and was ordered medium rare, but came out rare. It was still delicious and I am not going to knock them for it, as they were working with flood lights in the kitchen. I had salmon with blueberry barbeque sauce. I was skeptical, but had to try it. I am glad I did. It was incredible. If you're looking for a good, fancy meal, this is the place to go. The drinks were great, the food was awesome and it was worth every penny. I just wish we had the money to go more often.
(4)Kouichi K.
After a long day of shopping and window shopping in town, my friend and I were hungry and settled on Azure Cafe. It is a cute cozy place right on the main street. I had a chowder to start and it was good, but not out of this world. I had the Maine Shrimp Scampi which was tossed with linguine. It was good, but again nothing out of this world. For what I ordered, the price is quite expensive. If I ever come to Freeport again, I don't know if I would come and pay this much for mediocre food. That said, the service was attentive and courteous.
(3)Ally H.
Patio seating was nice and service pleasant. Three of the four of us had the burgers which were juicy and tasty. The fourth had the Mussels in a divine broth with linguine which came with a tasty salad and foccocia with garlic infused olive oil. I should also mention the table next to us requested the waitress obtain the recipe for one of their meals (sorry -wasn't eavesdropping enough to know which it was), so I take that as a good sign other meals there are also quite good. If you are shopping and trying to determine where to go based on a myriad of flyers being pushed into your hands This is a safe bet.
(4)Colleen B.
We'd read the reviews and we desperately wanted to be the ones to be "wowed" by this place. The service definitely had a "wow" factor to it (it was prompt and perfectly timed), the food however was a little flat. Good and tasty, but it was missing that oomph. We're still having trouble putting our finger on it. The Maine seafood cakes were chock full of scallops and shrimp which I really enjoyed, somehow though they didn't need to be deep fried. At $11+ for the app, I was glad they were so chock full of seafood. The carrot and parsnip ribbons were a nice touch on the side. The menu definitely had a ton of variety. It's why we picked it. "Holy Gorton's fisherman!"--they had a ton of seafood! There was stuff for the landlubbers too, like pork , duck, beef, chicken and pastas. The pricing structure was the most baffling and maybe it's just cuz we're Bostonians and we're used to being gauged for glasses of wine and dessert. The entrees were a whopping $20+, but the desserts and wine were around $6+, which kept the final bill somewhat reasonable. Also, watch out for the upcharge on the salads which they do disclose to you, but if you don't get the house salad you can shell out about $5+ for a mozzarella, tomato and basil salad or Caesar. The fresh, creamy mozzarella was definitely worth the upcharge on the tomato and basil salad. The Caesar could have stood to have some beefed up croutons. For dessert, the tiramisu was creamy and perfectly portioned. We were also delighted by the cranberry and orange sorbet.
(3)Pat J.
Ordered the chef's special of risotto and it was a very small portion, looked like tomato sauce on risotto...21.95 not good.
(1)Erino T.
Our first time at Azure Cafe was last summer for my then-fiance's birthday dinner. We sat at the table at their outside patio. The place was packed so their service might have been a little bit slower side, but it was weekend night in summer, and the staff was very friendly and efficient. We enjoyed our meal and the atmosphere so much that when we started our planning our restaurant wedding, nothing but Azure came to our mind. During our planning phase, since we live in Boston area, we had to do all the communications via emails. The manager, Zeus not only responded in such timely manner, but also accommodated all of our requests, and made our big day very special. Our guests were very impressed with everything they tasted; their signature grilled salmon with blueberry BBQ sauce, filet filet mignon, stuffed chickens, etc. ,and have become big fans of the restaurant. We are, in fact, looking forward to going back there for this coming weekend to celebrate our two weeks anniversary :)
(5)Eddie D.
Found this place located in the middle of Freeport shopping district. Is a cozy Italian place with live duet musician playing smooth jazz music in the background. Menu offered your regular Italian and seafood food. The seafood items were on a pricy side. We got the Maine Shrimp Scampi over Pasta, Seafood Risotto, and Fettuccine Alfredo. They didn't quite live up to our expectation. We found they were all on the salty side and small portion for the price.
(3)Jonathan S.
Don't recall exactly what night I ate here, but it was a late evening dinner close to Christmas. Perfect, because Azure was fairly quiet, dimly lit, and was toasty warm when compared to the outside air (it's winter in Maine, after all). We ordered the calamari appetizer which was actually better than my favorite calamari appetizer at the Prado in San Diego, something that has been thus far unrivaled! Continued on with the applewood fillet, a dish that was amazing considering the numerous lackluster meals I've eaten while in Maine. Throw in our mixed drinks, vice wine, and the meal was perfect. Only reason I give four stars (I need to be more stingy with my five star ratings), is for the price. I guess it's a balance between being right in the heart of touristy Freeport, ME, but it's also just that, in Maine! I would expect these prices in San Diego, not blueberry growin', lobster catchin' Maine. But really, a minor point. Highly recommend and I'll try to go back before I leave the state.
(4)D W.
Superb service by the elequent and professional Dominique she provided a wonderful experience. The food was good. Somewhat on the salty side. Very good calamari as anstipasto. Overall would gladly return.
(4)Lisa R.
We started our meal with well prepared martinis, the Wild Maine martini which boasts the wonderful Cold River Vodka distilled in Freeport, and the Strawberry Lemonade martini, both were very tasty. We then had the Demi Mescolare salads. The salads had a delicious light roasted strawberry balsamic vinegrette and candied pistachios. I had the chicken Parmesan and my wife had crispy pollo carbonara, both were fantastic. Portions worked well for us, not the huge plate of pasta you sometimes receive, but a nice balance with the chicken in both dishes. The chicken was great, juicy and crispy. We shared the tiramisu which was the perfect ending to our delicious meal. I had a cappuccino that was rich and dark to top it all off. The waitstaff was attentive and efficient. Our reservation was at 5, and we were walking back down the street at 6:15. We felt the entire experience was well worth the price. We will definitely return to Azure next time we visit Freeport.
(5)Jennifer C.
The food here is delicious. We came for lunch as a break from shopping. I had a cheeseburger, made from local beef, and it was fabulous. I also tried the eggplant parmesan sandwich and it was also delicious. I only go to Freeport once a year, and we've been to a lot of the restaurants over the years. I would definitely choose Azure Cafe again.
(5)Mark H.
This was our third time to dine at the Azure Cafe, albeit the first time in 3 years. It was gratifying to find it has not changed at all, unlike most things in Freeport. We were fortunate to get there just ahead of the lunch crowd and had a very nice table for lunch. Meals included the Azure Burger and Grilled Portabello Sandwich, along with our favorite glasses of wine. A very pleasant experience yet again. We'll definitely continue to come back!
(4)Karl H.
Absolutely an amazing place. It's quaint, yet elegant... upscale, yet completely relaxing... service is attentive, yet not smothering... their cuisine is utterly fantastic. Here's a small example of what we had... CALAMARI AZZIMATA Lightly fried, Tossed with Parmesan, Diced Bermuda Onion & Sea Salt Vinaigrette 9.00 HOUSE MADE WARM ARTICHOKE DIP Served with Garlic & Herb Crostini 7.50 SICILIAN STYLE CIOPPINO House Specialty~ Maine Lobster, Sea Scallops, Black Tiger Shrimp, Fresh Haddock, & Mussels in a Spicy Tomato Broth with Linguine 29.75 MAINE SEAFOOD ALLA MAREMMA Fresh Maine Sea Scallops, Shrimp, & Calamari in a Light Broth Tossed with Arborio Rice 24.00 I will be going back for certain....
(5)Nick B.
We stopped here for some lunch as we were finishing up our Freeport shopping. The host was very precise when he told your wait time. He said 9 minutes or less. He then proceeded to give us minutely updates on the status of our seat. He also thoroughly confused out patrons which his matrix of indoor/outdoor seating times. We got a seat in the corner of the patio which afforded us some excellent people watching. We both had chowder and split roaster garlic meatball sandwich and the sweet Italian sausage sandwich. I enjoyed everything, but the bread on my sandwich was too soft. It was kind of like those rolls they give you at Chinese food restaurants. Ehh not good. If the roll was crispy it would have easily been a 4 start event.
(3)Tiff Y.
We visited this restaurant during a day of outlet shopping in Freeport. The food was cery good, the service was ok, but they were very understaffed. We had to wait almost 20 minutes to be seated, although there were plenty of open tables. There was also a lady singing- but she was upstairs in an awkward corner of the restaurant which took away from the live entertainment value. It was ok- but not work another visit.
(3)Lia M.
We ate here on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and everything was perfect. We sat on the outside patio and enjoyed great service. Delicious bread & oil start the meal. I had an angel hair dish with chicken, tomatoes and nuts, topped with a very light oil. That dish is now one of my favorites. My boyfriend had the chicken ziti alfredo (a usual choice for him) and he enjoyed it. Prices are reasonable and you will be full. It's the perfect place to eat during a day of shopping in Freeport.
(5)Andres P.
Not too shabby. Came here as a suggestion. The food wasn't bad although it didn't blow me out of the water. My seafood rissotto was OK although a little bit overcooked. My wife's filet mignon was absolutely tender and excellent. We would eat here again.
(3)Karen A.
The Azure Cafe came highly recommended from locals, and it lived up to the hype -- and then some. My husband and I ate on the bar side, a cozy little atmosphere, and loved the selection of local brews they had on draft. For dinner, we split a salad with pistachios, apple and feta cheese and a lasagna (which also came with a salad). Portion size of the lasagna was huge so splitting was a good idea. Food was incredibly tasty and the perfect choice for a cool fall night.
(4)Adam S.
Nice place to get lunch. Outside patio was very nice, unfortunately we were sat inside where the tables were kind of sparse. Appreciate the spacing but everything was crammed up against the walls and we ended up with a tiny table in the corner. Bad feng shui. Anyways, the food was pretty good but stay away from the pasta salad if you want some actual pasta with your oil. After having been through Freeport a few times, this place was actually better than average against the limited amount of places to eat around there but don't expect to be blown away.
(3)Zoe Z.
Nice place to have a drink of wine on the patio while watching the tourists in the summer; decent food; most recent experience yielded in a good sesame salmon special for myself - a rather so-so lasagna dish for my finance. I've been here about 3 times now (I live 8 minutes south in nearby Yarmouth) and I usually give this place a try about every 9 months or so.
(3)Jay N.
A little bit Italian, quite a bit Mediterranean and 100% delicious food. The crispy polo carbonara is my personal, all time favorite here. A crispy pan-fried chicken breast with cavatappi pasta and tossed in a light carbonara with prosciutto, mushrooms and peas. I ask to have the peas nixed and they're always happy to oblige. The Filet Tartufo is another over the top favorite. Smoked sea salt, crimini and oyster mushrooms duxelles, gargonzola, fried shallots... This is so much more than some boring filet you'd score most other places. Huge wine selection and there's a wonderful piano player or three piece band playing upstairs most Friday evenings. Prices can be a bit steep but the atmosphere is casual and the service is friendly. I'll keep going back and you should too!
(4)Ross C.
Meh. I think I'm done here. $9 for three small pieces of cheese on the cheese plate. Was there a non-refundable deposit on the plate itself? Obviously throwing some grapes and jam on there makes it worth the money. Entrees took a ridiculous amount of time to arrive, despite the restaurant being only half full. The food was very good, but the peripheral let-downs are damaging.
(2)Christina A.
Gah! I really want to give this place 3.5 stars but couldn't muster up the enthusiasm to bump it up to 4 stars. Elements of this restaurant are outstanding: friendly and competent waitstaff, fun and interesting menu, nice outdoor patio dining area. We ordered the summer ravioli, hamburger, beet salad and children's pasta. All were competently prepared but nothing dazzled. I got and was underwhelmed by the quinoa kale cake. It was served with two tasty sauces that failed utterly in redeeming the squishy bland cake. There is clearly a bright, creative culinary mind behind the engaging menu at Azure. A little bit of tweaking will set this restaurant into the not-to-be- missed category.
(3)Lecia S.
My dish was very salty. I had the spring ravioli. Service was great but you should ask about how is prepared. I would try out again.
(4)Gigi A.
We always get our usual favorites... Awesome calamari for Apps if you want it vinegar'y n with onions, Crispy pollo carbonara, Best Chix Marsala n Alfredo Fet
(5)Sheila D.
I've been here for lunch and dinner, and both of the menus are pretty much the same, so don't think that the lunch menu is any cheaper (like I mistakenly did). Azure is probably one of the fanciest restaurants in Freeport and is in such a nice location, right on the boundary of the downtown commotion but far enough away so that the tourists aren't too noisy or distracting. Grab a seat outside when it's nice out - there's great shade to keep cool. In terms of the actual food, it was decent. I would say that for the price that you're paying (it deserves the $$$), you could get better quality and better tasting food in the area. The clam chowder is very tasty. It does have bacon bits in it, so for those people who don't eat red meat, that's just a precaution because it's not listed in the menu at all. The linguine with clam sauce was very delicious and had a heathy amount of clam (most of the clam bits are in the sauce). I also had the linguine al fresco, which was good as well. I just would say that there may be better places to go for meals in Freeport for much cheaper.
(3)Johnny G.
I don't want to review Azure as we can only review what we ordered. Fine line I know but so be it. The mussels..... Ahhh the mussels. Dry and overcooked. Looked like a bag of mussels was thrown on a cast iron oven platter and just placed in the broiler. OK almost forgot toss in some dry wood chips. To add the smoky flavor/?? The condiment of choice here is a 1/2 stick of melted butter to dip in. Yuck. Next time mussels are on sale at Hannaford or Shaws I'm going to buy a bag and just throw them in the microwave for say 20 minutes or so. What the heck throw the butter in there while you're at it. Then just let dry a few minutes and serve. The cheese platter. Bring a magnifying glass. You'll need it to be able to see the cheese to pick it up and place it on the 4 crackers that are included. The Cioppino. Meh.. A smallish plate with some very flavorful sauce. Maybe 20 linguine on the plate At least load up on the pasta its dirt cheap and filling. Have you seen a real cioppino. Wanted to love it and just Meh. 100$ Meh The waitress was patient and lovely. Service excellent. The host was training but very personable. Drinks were good. Ultimately, you go out to dinner for the food and it was at best mediocre.
(2)Connie D.
Good lobster roll, excellent service! What's really good about this place is that your dog can stay with you on the outside patio - a definite plus! My waitress was Kristen, and she was great - 5 stars! I had fries with my lobster roll. French Fries had those crumbs that are showing up on fries lately. Really detracts from the fry! Azure is expensive. But the outside patio is cute.
(3)Michelle E.
I've been here several times but had not visited in years until recently when my husband and I stopped in for dinner on a Sunday night. What I like about this place: -Good food -Good cocktails -Decent service What I wish I could change: -Weird, outdated decor -Atmosphere feels like you are eating in a senior citizen's home We sat in the upstairs and it felt disconnected from the restaurant. Everyone cleared out by like 8:00pm and I know that it is Freeport but it's weird to be the only people eating in a dining room. It's kind of uncomfortable. The food was good but given that we don't get out much these days, I look for a place that has a more lively atmosphere when we do get out. I'd be open to getting take out from here but I'm not sure that we will dine in again for dinner.
(3)Juliana P.
I came here one summer with friends and had delcious, reasonably priced whole lobster. I LOVED the spot in cute little Freeport. Nothing over the top, just really quality service. Came back with my Mom a year later during the off season. Not as many places are open once fall hit, and I raved that we had to stop there. Both of us love lobster and each ordered a whole beast. On the way out of the kitchen they dropped my guy on the floor! Then, for our wait, they got us two hot, fresh lobsters, and COMPED our whole meal, including a delicious dessert. The waitress was so apologetic and it was such wonderful service. That is what really won me over to 5 stars v. 4. Yelp is a strong incentive to do things right, but I haven't found many tourist areas that have this level of commitment to being hospitable.
(5)R M.
Two couples. Muscles and clam chowder to start. Blueberry salmon cooked perfectly. Fillet mignon with risotto, incredibly yummy and Sicilian Style Cioppino cooked to perfection. Everything, and I mean everything, was perfect and delicious. Our server, Riley, so cute and efficient. Always a good experience. A must for Freeport or Portland area dining.
(5)Kelly M.
VERY close to 5 stars-- service a little slow but definitely worth the wait. Cute atmosphere, clam chowder was probably the best I've had in a long time. The fried chicken sandwich was amazing as was the Italian sausage sandwich! Would highly recommend!!!
(4)Lynn R.
Azure is my favorite restaurant in Freeport! The staff is helpful and welcoming and the setting is great. The food and drinks are creatively prepared with fresh local ingredients and I have never been disappointed. I love to start out with a Blueberry Margarita to set the mood and enjoy my visit with friends and family. Their fresh Caprese Insalata is delicious. If you are a mussels fan order the Mussels Al Fresco as it is the best I have ever had ANYWHERE! I am looking forward to my next visit to Maine and this yummy place!
(5)Elizabeth D.
I was looking forward to The Azure Cafe, I had never gone there and I have lived in the area since the Azure used to be the local Arby's. I had heard such good things as a matter of fact "all good things"! The wait staff was very good especially considering she was waiting on a group of ladies (15 of us). I ordered a lobster roll, judging from the picture Azure had on the Yelp site. I don't know where the pictures came from or when, but my roll was nothing like it, it had about half the lobster meat, even the roll was tiny. The meat was not cold just room temperature and wet which told me right off the bat that the lobster was frozen...you know that wet, rubbery texture.... I would have to say without a doubt this wasn't even so-so, it was the worst lobster roll I have ever had in any area of Maine. Save your $22.00! About eight of the ladies ordered the Hamburger which smelled so wonderful. The only reason I didn't give a one star was because after seeing the hamburgers and beautiful salads and I know the Azure can do better. Any place in Maine is better off just saying "I'm out of lobster" rather than serve frozen on a skimpy and rather soggy roll. Now, I can honestly say the best lobster roll is at Lawson's and now I know where to get the worst!
(2)Tammy N.
The best calamari I've ever had by far! I would go back again just for the calamari. The beet salad was lackluster...tasted canned. I had the white fish puttanesca ....just ok...no incredible flavor. Great service. Kitchen was running a little slow. Again though, I'd go back for the calamari.
(3)Cee D.
We went for drinks at the bar. Beautiful place, great location. Overpriced and the bartender literally did not know how to make a drink. Have you ever seen a bartender fill a glass half with spirits then add ice then add soda??? Jameson's was much better.
(1)Eddy C.
Menu was largely uninspired so I went with the mesclun salad, which was great. Very fresh (and well-rinsed) lettuce. Could have used a few other greens though! Uses candied pistachios instead of walnuts. Garnished with a single strawberry half. Talk about conservation! Dedicated parking, good service. Lovely patio and plant boxes. Not enough bathrooms: single occupancy men's room was out of paper towels.
(4)Alise K.
Nice lunch after a morning of shopping in Freeport. We always get the calamari. It's to die for. We also split the artichoke dip and a lobster roll. Both delicious.
(4)Tony N.
Excellent! Good Italian menu with Maine seafood accents. I had the seafood risotto with lobster, calamari, and pike. Plenty of lobster. Tiramisu for desert was great.
(4)Franklin B.
Tonight we had the wild blueberry BBQ salmon and the lobster fettuccine, both were absolutely fantastic. Zeus continues making one of the best grey goose cosmos we have ever had. Riley, our waiter, was excellent and tremendous fun. For a small town like Freeport, it's amazing they have a restaurant of such high quality and execution.
(5)Christopher N.
Delicious, fresh food in an intimate setting. The cioppino was delicious and a generous portion.
(4)Cassandra L.
We went here for a dinner date with our best friends. We were visiting from California. The waitress said we couldn't make a bad decision on the menu and I agree. Ever dish we ordered was wonderful. Started with the clam chowder and artichoke dip, followed by the Caesar salad. I had the ravioli and my hubby had the blueberry glazed salmon. Everything was perfect.
(5)Jacob K.
Pitiful portions, pretentiously piled, at painful prices. Promising premise but poor performance. Paltry. Here's the non-alliterative take: the salads were wilted and mini, the salmon a passable slab, the pasta sauce, jar-grade. Gourmet price tags to boot. As the saying goes: Don't give this awful place your business.
(1)Mallory C.
We stopped here over Labor Day weekend when we needed a break from shopping. We didn't want to wait in line for an hour for a tourist trap lobster roll and beer, needed somewhere that was wheelchair accessible and served adult beverages. After having a terrible experience at Jameson Tavern, I refused to wheel up the ridiculous hill to go there, and having fond memories of cosmos at Azure, I figured we would give it a try! There was no wait, we were able to get to the outdoor patio, and were seated immediately. Service was fantastic, and not pushy. We only ordered drinks and appetizers, but more than one waitress checked in on us while we were there. We had the Eagle Island Iced Tea, and the Wild Maine Blueberry Margarita, and the seafood cakes appetizer. Everything was delicious and it was the perfect afternoon meal! Regardless of steeper entree prices (we're from Boston so it seemed average!), this is going to be my go to spot for meals out in Freeport.
(4)Brittaney G.
My girlfriend and I went to this restaurant on the first evening of our vacation in Freeport. Overall, a really wonderful experience. To start we got the Calamari Azzimata and the Insalata Mescolare. Both were a delight! The tanginess of vinaigrette in the calamari was a nice surprise from the usual simply-fried, side-of-marinara calamari dish that you typically find in Italian restaurants. For entrees, we ordered the Summer Ravioli and Sicilian Ciopppino, both of which were shared between the two of us. The Cioppino was excellent, served with ample amounts of little necks, mussels and great portion of lobster. Serving sizes were generous and filling. The ravioli left a bit to be desired (perhaps too much ricotta and not enough of a bite? I'm partial to biting/savory cheeses) but was by no means a bad dish. Waitstaff was friendly, accommodating, preemptive and professional. Prices are a bit steep, but certainly worth it if you're inclined to delicious cuisine with a great atmosphere. Definitely would recommend this restaurant to others!
(4)Happy C.
This place is one of my favorites! The service is always outstanding, and the food is delicious. I love their chicken sandwich with blueberry sauce- seriously amazing! It's fun to sit outside in the summer time and enjoy your food with the light breeze at your back. I LOVE THIS PLACE!!
(5)Margie L.
OH. MY. GOODNESS. The food here is great. The atmosphere is great. The staff is great. This is a must visit restaurant in Freeport, Maine. I found myself here at 8:30 on a Saturday night, which seemed to be the end of the dinner rush. The exterior is covered in tasteful fairy lights and just felt summer-y and relaxing. I felt comfortable and not out of place wearing nike shorts, flip flops, and a muscle tank, which is not what you would think when you eat the food. The food was flavorful, and rich and filled me up but it didn't come with the gross carb bloat you often get after eating Italian. Our waitress, Brianna, was sweet and talked with us about the food and her favorite items and recommendations which was helpful when narrowing down a bunch of delicious choices. All in all, I look forward to eating here again and I highly recommend to anyone looking for a good Italian restaurant with seafood and some delicious looking gluten free options. Now stop looking at 5 different tabs and make a reservation!
(5)Samantha-may Y.
This place has a great atmosphere! Amazing quality food wonderful service and the pieces are so affordable the whole family can eat and not feel like your breaking the bank !!
(5)Rick K.
Just catching up on my unfinished reviews from Maine the week of 8/4. In for dinner on a Wednesday night and was pleased overall. Admittedly was a little hesitant based on the very mixed reviews and the fact the aggregate rating was less than the Broad Arrow Tavern (which I did not like). We had a good experience and the food was much, much better than Broad Arrow so glad we went in. We did have a later reservation (8:45) and because its as raining it was very quiet that night (which may have helped). Some comments below about the ambience but I liked it - small and cozy, but not to the point you are on top of your table neighbors. There is an outdoor section we did walk past other nights that looked nice; but that was obviously closed the night we were there because of the rain. Service was good. Waiter was pleasant enough and attentive. Started with a nice antipasto plate which was generous and enough for 4 to pick at. Also ordered the warm artichoke dip which was a nice snack while we enjoyed a drink and considered our mains. My main was the crispy chicken carbonara; which is one of my favorite pasta dishes but one I rarely order because it is so heavy. Since the menu said "tossed in a light carbonara" I gave it a shot and was glad I did. One of the few times I had this dish and actually did not feel like I gained 5 pounds while sitting at the table eating it (you all know that bloated feeling I am talking about). It was really nice - the crispy chicken was a different twist; but it worked. Other mains included the seafood risotto and chicken involtini; both which were good. Again, a good stop on a touristy town; which sometimes in itself lends to a place being a hit or miss depending on when you go. It was a hit for us and the best meal we had in Freeport.
(4)Jessica O.
My fiancée and I ate here on a snowy evening in January on an overnight trip to Freeport. The staff was very friendly and the food was good. We enjoyed a few of their specialty cocktails which were pricey but well made. The antipasto was wonderful and the lobster was served piping hot!
(4)Christopher S.
Been here once and will never return. I took my wife and kids here to ask my wife to "marry" me again. What should have been a wonderful night was ruined. One of the wait staff "shushed" my kids who were not being noisy. The food was average at best. All the staff was up tight and "above" us. When we left other patrons said our kids were not load and it was rude for them to shush us. Will never return
(2)Larry S.
We stopped in Freeport on our way home and found this little gem in the midst of the hustle and bustle of this tourist destination - what a perfect place to grab lunch!! Let me start with how wonderful it was to walk up the steps and have the wait staff stop, make eye contact and smile! Our waitress took her time to check in with what we wanted to eat and was very accommodating in making some suggestions and changes ( we asked for a green salad instead of fried for example - and no problem!) and checked in as the meal progress - not just once! I ordered the burger with the Lobster topping ( hey it was the last day in Maine!) and enjoyed a very well done lobster with the green salad. My wife loved her chicken wrap and the salad was so good she even ate the cucumber! Now, this is all about the outside. The dining room is non-descript. So a nice day - you must enjoy this little outside cafe! We make the trip to Maine when we can and love to stop at Freeport - we will be back!!
(4)Lauren M.
I stopped here for dinner and ate in the bar area since the bar itself seemed to small to eat at. The restaurant was very clean and, even though the restaurant was small, you did not feel like you were eating on top of people. The waitress was very helpful in explaining the types of beers on tap (most were local brews). The bread and oil was delicious--I had to ask for more! I ordered the small tomato and mozzarella salad and mussels. The mozzarella and basil were very fresh and flavorful, but the tomatoes were a bit pink. The description of the mussels made it sound like there would be a flavorful sauce, but I was a bit disappointed. The mussels pretty much stood on their own, and came with butter instead of garlic oil. That said, the mussels were huge and very fresh. I didn't have one mussel with closed shells. Overall, a good dining experience but on the expensive side. I would return again, but I probably would try something other than the mussels.
(3)Johnny F.
Was going to at least give a three star but upon leaving I went to the restroom and for a restaurant like this the restroom was disgusting. The service was lackadaisical and the food was mediocre, something I could do at home. The antipasto looked like a super market deli platter. Sorry was not impressed.
(2)Laura F.
We were on vacation the week of 8/11/14 and it was a rainy dreary day. We decided on this restaurant for lunch since they had a short wait and could accommodate 7. We were upstairs in a back room with a few other tables. Our server was slow to get drinks and orders and our food took 40 minutes to get. He also forgot 2 soup orders that should have come out before our meals and the gave them to the wrong people when he finally brought them out. We had a variety of meals but they were all way too small for the prices they charge!! We were there nearly an hour and a half for lunch! Unacceptable for sandwiches and soup!
(2)Greg C.
The mussels, clams and fish in a saffron tomato sauce was very good. The seafood was fresh and the flavors were very good, as expected for a $26 lunch entree. The service was slow and we felt a little ignored waiting for a bill with empty plates and a credit card visibly on the table. Server was not very well trained on the menu and could not answer much about the food. It was mid-afternoon between menus, which would explain why the best servers weren't working. I'm sure it is better at dinner. Good parking.
(4)Mariel B.
I dont know why there's so much hype about this place. Visiting Maine, I wanted a great place to eat. I read so many good reviews about this place that I just had to try it. So here's my rant. 1. The restaurant is literally a house. There are tables are in weird places. There was a table right next to the stairs. Really? It's funny since we were seated upstairs in the corner table behind the stairs. I mean, it was next to a big window but, we didn't get a view. The ceiling was so low....it was awkward. It reminded me of my room when the ceiling use to slope down above my bed. Oh yea, the kitchen took up half the house. 2. The food wasnt good.....like at all. I ordered fried calamari. The fried calamari wasnt crispy. They actually sauteed it in lemon juice so it was super soggy and sour. Seriously, messing up fried calamari is such a joke. My boyfriend got the seafood cakes. They were crispy, but nothing special. They tasted like frozen crab cakes. Dont even get my started on my chicken sandwich. Everything was such a let down.... Everything was pretty, but nothing tasted good. 3. Service was fantastic! I felt sorry for him since he had to go up and down the stairs. The server was sweet and attentive. Definitely the type one should tip 20% or more. Anyways, I guess you pay for the service because food is no where near the quality of the price. Oh well.... save yourself the disappointment and don't eat here.
(1)Dawn E.
I am the lovely lady across from Eric R. Normally, I wouldn't point that out but since I'm going to reference things that will make it clear anyway, I thought we'd start with full disclosure. We were hungry. Like. HUNGRY. So there's that. This is entirely my fault because I doddled in choosing a place to go and I REALLY wanted to eat on the water but failed us miserably. Oh! PATIO! (It's like oooo shiny!) We picked Azure. We walked up to the host who, for me, was entirely unmemorable. I remember the six minute quote, because, well, it was a thing and I also thought it was ridiculous but I was kind of rooting for it and BOOM! Success. Seriously, what are the odds he's be so spot on?? I'm sure it was a complete fluke but it was awesome, and Eric's incredulity fuelled it's awesomocity further. He did, however, completely ignore another woman and her grandchild and I had to get a manager's attention for them to be included on the wait. Also, there was no waiting area for the patio so we all just sort of lingered in the way. Once seated, I ordered a meatball sandwich and pasta salad and it was neither superb nor terrible. Eric made happy yummy faces with his burger and I was big with the envy, but, whatever, hungry eat food yay. I had to use the restroom so I went inside and was surprised. The inside is just wrong somehow. The tables aren't spaced right or walls were too white or or.. I don't know. The patio is kind of perfectish but the inside feels unfinished. Also, I had to hike to Spain for the ladies room. (Spain = up some weird flight of stairs through another empty dining room and down a creepy kind of hallway). And the bathroom, itself, is kind of terrible. But, whatever, need pee go bathroom yay. So in the end I think I would eat at Azure if I was in town and with someone else who wanted to try it, but I wouldn't seek it out and I certainly wouldn't go out of my way for it.
(3)V P.
After reading all the comments, I was expecting something great. This was place was just good. When we arrived we asked to sit inside where we told we would have to wait. So we were seated outside. A few minutes into our meal, the person I was with went to the bathroom and found only two tables occupied. Seriously?!?! A wait for the inside or is it just easier to sit us with a bee and fly buzzing around us the whole time. Now to the food... Skip the caprese salad. It's not typical and does not have balsamic vinegar, only olive oil. I got the crispy pollo carbonara, which was a bit better than okay. The person I was with got the blueberry BBQ salmon. She found it interesting and I thought it was okay.
(3)Brian R.
The best restaurant in Freeport, hands down. The chef keeps to an excellent, streamlined menu that allows his kitchen to do a few things exceptionally well rather than a number of dishes that might not all be winners. The roasted chicken was a big winner. I had a special dietary need this go-round and the chef was most gracious in making me something that I could eat, always a plus when you're traveling and you don't feel well. They have a top-notch bar as well. The wait staff is friendly, although they could stand with a busser to help move dishes off of the tables and fill the water glasses while the wait staff is otherwise engaged. Reservations are suggested. I suggested they look into Open Table to facilitate that better. In the warm weather, the patio is the best place to be. It has charm and you watch the world pass by. Down the street from L.L. Bean, it's a must dinner stop if you're in Freeport.
(5)