18 Below
18 Silver St, Waterville, ME, 04901
18 Below Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Waterville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Waterville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Waterville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
18 Silver St
Waterville, ME, 04901 - Phone (207) 861-4454
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Don P.
My wife and I went on the advice of friends and were not dissapointed! We have always received great service and the food is always well presented. The service was great and when my wife and I want to have a good meal, this is her only choice. Kudos to Travis and staff!
(5)Lancelot L.
A pretty special restaurant. Price is high but worth trying. I particularly like the cocktail. Oyster is fresh but not very good-tasting.
(4)Nadine S.
So where do I begin. You probably would never know this place existed unless someone lives in the area or you do your research. I saw it on Yelp as well as friends live in the area. Very small sign frontage and you go down stairs to what appears to be an old mill. Gorgeous seating areas and bar with awesome ambiance. Lots of room where they could have added extra tables but decided not too leaving the place very roomy. They don't take reservations so either get there by 5 or after 7 to avoid long waits. The menu was amazing with all food locally grown and meats bought locally as well. Couple with us had raw little neck clams (nope nothing raw for me) I had oysters Rockefeller that were so fresh and delicious. Between all of us we had coconut crusted cod, lobster cutlet, prime rib, and scallops coquille St Jacques. Yummy, yummy yummy! Everything was cooked to perfection. No bread served with meals which is unusual but fine with me as I usually don't eat it and when I do it ruins my meal. Took longer than normal to get our meal but once you get it you will know why as it was wonderfully prepared and super fresh. We will be back to try so many other mouth watering menu items. Prices are high but you get what you pay for. If you are looking for an amazing meal and willing to pay a little extra then give this place a chance.
(5)El P.
The mixed drinks are the secret to 18 Below. If you have one, you'll be far more accepting of the mellow atmosphere. If you have two, you'll probably be feeling positively capital. If you have three, you'll be illegal to drive. I've had a mixed bag at 18B. Once I had the duck and it was excellent. I had the steak and it was fair but would have been better if locally sourced. But then I had the paella which was not good at all--the mussels were puny, the shrimp was overcooked, and what was supposed to be risotto was sad white rice in a broth of some sort. Foul ball, 18B. You can clearly do better. At it's best, 18 Below is a gem, the best Waterville has to offer. On a bad night, have the second drink. I recommend the Sazerac Cocktail with whisky and absinthe.
(3)Jen A.
My favorite place of all times. Raw bar, superb decor, locally raised and grown food. Wait staff very attentive and friendly. Although somewhat hidden away downstairs, it is always busy and for good reason.
(5)John S.
Blue points from Long Island were fresh and tasty, still salty. Cajun tiger shrimp "flash fried" were nothing special and deep fried but OK, aioli sauce was mediocre. Scallops and Rack of lamb, bouillabaisse all good choices and large portions, no complaints. Pork tenderloin was OK but a bit dry on outside, served with a Tex-Mex style "salsa" that was OK. Service very very friendly considering the hard time we gave our server Rene, but food arrived a bit slow on a Tuesday night, and only about half full. All in all this is a great choice in Waterville and I'll be back. Be sure to call ahead off season, as seasonally not open every day. Surprised to see poor reviews, this is my 3rd or 4th dinner here and always with larger groups and it has always been a fine experience.
(4)Mike S.
Let's start with the positives. Drinks were good quality. Appetizers were excellent all around. Entrees were properly cooked and of high quality. Now for the details, first, the waiter sucked ask the air out of the room by inserting himself into our conversations at every opportunity. Second, while the main dish ingredients were good the asides were horrendous. While the waiter claimed everything was made on site the risotto had the flavor and texture of a boxed end, wait, if only it was that good, in fact it was inedible. The sauce taste like it was made from beef soup base instead of real stock. Very salty. Bottom line I expected more for my money. Applebees has better food at a third of the price. When my wife asked for a doggy bag the waiter cleaned lemon rind and crumbs from the table with his fingers and put the stuff on my wife's plate to t take to the kitchen to box. Very crude and unsanitary. I called him on it and he apologized. They compted 2 meals but it was still $153 wasted. Long time chef at the Silent Woman used to call cooks who put out poor quality "shoemaker" and that description is appropriate for this establishment. To cap it all off we were 2 couples with separate checks and the tabs did not reflect what we ate. Incompetence runs rampant from the kitchen to the waiter.
(1)Deana S.
Do not waste your time here. We waited over 30 minutes for a table only to find out that they were out of several items on their menu. At least one of the items had not even been prepared that day at all. Poorly run and their hostess and waiting system is terrible...not professional at all.
(1)Ron D.
All I can say is that the food and service was excellent, Going downstairs to a brick homey atmosphere made you feel special. The twin waiters were very friendly and professional. We loved the place and will return.
(5)Alan G.
Just full and happy..generous portions, not loaded w rice..excellent prep, just got lucky tonight....going to sleep now w a smile
(5)Geir G.
An unassuming front, and a flight of stairs into a comfortably spare set of dining rooms in the basement. The atmosphere is casual, modern and simple, but it's the food that has me doling out the 5. The crab cakes were solid but nothing spectacular, and the oysters were excellent, as you'd expect when in Maine. Six or so local brews on tap, and a very tasty, if untraditional Paella. Here's the kicker, though: panko crusted lobster cutlets over risotto with asparagus spears. I wouldn't kill for this dish, but I'd consider doing some grievous harm to get to it. Just superb. Looking forward to going again and trying some of the rest of the items on the menu. Quick note - pricier than your average Waterville restaurant, but absolutely top notch quality on the night we went made it more than worth it.
(5)Kevin M.
Was pretty good. The escargot was incredible. Made the way it should be made. The prime rib Janet had was good. The eggplant with planko bread crumbs I was terrible, no flavor. Oh well, they didn't charge me. Desert was great too!
(3)Melissa B.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this place, being in the downstairs portion of a bar, but I was pleasantly surprised. Brick walls with warm lighting made for an inviting and comfortable atmosphere. While we waited for a table we sat at the bar. It was odd that we had to pay for or drinks at the bar and not with or meal but it was a small thing. As an appetizer, we got the escargot, which was baked in butter and garlic. This was my first time having it and it was sublime! My boyfriend got 3 oysters on the half shell and said they were excellent. He also got one of the specials that was offered that evening: a spice crusted seared scallop dish with an Asian flair, which he really enjoyed. I got the rack of lamb off the regular menu, which came with a pesto mashed potato and grilled zucchini and tomatoes. The lamb was excellent! I wasn't crazy about the grilled tomatoes but the potatoes were delicious. I really wish I hadn't waited so long to try this place! I appreciate the effort to source locally. Definitely come here!
(5)Joel S.
18 Below is a nice addition to the Waterville dining scene. The dining area is handsome, with exposed brick. The no reservations policy is a bit of a bummer. The waitstaff were pleasant and earnest. Cocktails and wine by the glass were good. The oysters on the half shell were very good. The littleneck clams were really small. Fortunately, they tasted good and were relatively inexpensive. The salmon was good. My wife absolutely loved the panko crusted lobster cutlet. I had the paella. It was very good and was paelle insofar as there was seafood, sausages and rice. The chef had taken some liberties with the flavor profile. I enjoyed it anyway. We shared a very good apple crisp. Overall, a nice evening.
(4)David T.
Sorry to give this just two stars, but it's not quite worth 3. The service was fine and very friendly, but the food, unfortunately, was less so. Raw oysters and clams were tiny and not great (if they're going to be that small, they better be tasty!) The lobster "stew" had generous pieces of lobster (it is Maine, after all) but in a soup that was basically straight cream with a little sherry (yuck). And no other fresh lobster or crab on the menu (this is a raw bar?) B had the paella which was goupy* and plain with zero edge or kick. My scallops were the worst part of the meal: large and meaty (good) covered in a strange tomato cream paste (less good) and with a faint gamey/turned taste (decidedly bad). Both of us spent the night in indigestive discomfort. Could have been worse but I won't go back (pricey for the area, too!)
(2)Dan M.
My wife and I had eaten here once before and had an excellent experience. Food, service, atmosphere were all top notch. So we've been praising the place to our friends and finally had an opportunity to dine here with them. To say we were disappointed would be an understatement. It was like this was a totally different restaurant. First off we were seated in the bar area this time. It was too loud and the atmosphere wasn't the same as in the other room, where you could watch the chefs at work. Also, our table was so wobbly I was worried that if someone leaned on it we would be losing food and drinks on the floor. To start off, we were trying to order beers that were on the menu but each time we asked , we were told that they were out of it. And these weren't rare beers either. Finally settled for my fourth choice. We were given the menu and a sheet of paper that had the specials on it. Before we had a chance to look at them, our server was informing us that two of the items on the specials menu wouldn't be available this evening. I was in the mood for somthing from the raw bar and there were two oysters on the specials menu. After discussing the difference between the two with our server, I said I would prefer the ones that were brinier and she said that they were out of those. So we settled for the others. The oysters were tiny and I can't be sure but I think they were completely removed from the shell along with the liquid and a different liquid was put back in. They were utterly tasteless. We also ordered the same two appetizers that we had loved before, the mussels and the calamari. While the mussels were still excellent, this time the calamari left a lot to be desired. The portion had shrunk, and the calamari itself was so small that you couldn't get a decent bite. For the entrees,I ordered a seafood bucatini that was to include mussels, shrimp, squid and cod. My wife ordered the stuffed haddock and our dining partners ordered the duck breast and the scallops. From the description on the menu I had expected the bucatini would come in an herb sauce, not the tomato sauce that I received. But I'm always ok with a good tomato sauce for seafood so on I went. The mussels and the sauce were the only two components of this dish that were satisfactory. There were only 5 or 6 nickel sized shrimp in the dish. The squid, like the calamari was so small that I wouldn't have noticed I was eating it if they weren't so chewy. And I only received two bite size pieces of cod that were so overcooked that it was mush. And speaking of mush, if you are going to feature a pasta like bucatini on a dish it had better be cooked properly. This was completely mush and pretty much inedible. I tried my wife's fish and it was good. I also had a bite of the scallops and they were cooked perfectly. And while I didn't taste it, the duck breast looked like it was soggy and the fat hadn't been rendered properly. My companion was gracious but I'm pretty sure he didn't care for it. On to dessert. We ordered the same desserts that we got the last time we ate here. The chocolate torte was excellent as it was before. However, while the creme brulee that I got on the last outing was one of the best I've had, this one missed the mark. The custard was good but the caramel was off. It was too thick and underdone in places which made it chewy. Not sure if someone was having an off night but the overall experience was much less than I expected. I was embarrassed to bring fellow foodies here after talking the place up as much as we had been. I will give 18 Below another chance, but if it's anything like the experience we had this time, it will be the last time.
(2)L P.
I rarely write bad reviews for restaurants, but the abysmal meal I received at 18 Below did not leave me much choice. I have eaten at the restaurant before and held a positive review of the establishment based on the solid quality of the food for a fair price. Unfortunately I cannot say the same about my meal tonight. I ordered a special that was advertized as a seared beef tournedos, but was clearly a very different cut of meat. My meal was composed of incredibly thin cuts of beef that could not have exceeded of an inch in thickness, with an almost gritty texture that I could never imagine coming from a tenderloin cut. Due to the thinness of the meat, my steak was unsurprisingly well done without even a trace of pink, a clear departure from my order for medium rare. Almost as if to compliment the terrible texture of the beef, the meal was over salted and generally lackluster. Our waiter did not check back in with us for quite some time, at which point I had already eaten most of the lack luster dinner. When I complained about the cut and how the beef was cooked, the waiter checked with the kitchen and confirmed that it was indeed the correct cut, and said that he was "surprised" about my complaint, and said that it was the first he had heard of it. I was not offered an apology, which seems absurd, especially given that my meal was probably the most expensive thing on the menu for the evening, priced at $26. Having worked at a restaurant before, I understand that not everything can go well all the time. I consider myself a flexible diner. This being said, I regret not sending back my meal when I first saw it, let alone after I cut into it and tasted it. When all is said and done, it was the kind of meal I would have expected from Applebee's, and even then it would have been priced better. Who knows, if I had eaten there instead, I might have even gotten an apology as opposed to mere "surprise." While this restaurant does have some good food, I would advise future customers to be wary of what they order and not expect much if something goes wrong.
(2)Greg R.
We live in the area but somehow overlooked this GEM of a restaurant/bar until tonight. My wife had the pork tenderloin, which was cooked perfectly, sliced, and had a wonderful cream sauce over it. Delicious mashed potatoes and a veggie mix of fresh petite green beans and baby carrots. There wasn't much left on the plate when she was done. I had the grilled chicken breast, which was seared to perfection, thick, tender, juicy, oh my how does the cook do that with a simple piece of chicken?! Just the right amount of a wonderful sweet sauce, not too sweet and with a tiny kick of something hot/spicy. Halves of red roasted potatoes with that salted crunchy skin on them (my mouth is watering again) were served over a smattering of mashed potato hidden underneath (nice surprise). I had the same green been/carrot veggie. We'll be back.
(5)Elizabeth M.
My go-to place for cocktails--they are all very original and very tasty. The food is also fantastic--I have yet to try something here that I don't like. It can be busy on a Friday night, but most of the time I haven't had a problem getting a table. The prices are higher than most, but I'm willing to pay for good food in a small town where the options are limited.
(4)Jackie C.
We went here and were pleasantly surprised by the sophistication of the menu, the generous portions, and the good service. We didn't realize exactly how big the portions would be and definitely overordered. The cocktail/wine list is extensive, so that's also a plus. The raw oysters were really good. I wish that their cocktail sauce had more kick, but you can't please everyone. The mussel appetizer was, first of all, huge. It was also very tasty and the broth was unique because it had mandarin oranges or something like that in it. Worth trying. I ordered the paella and my boyfriend had the tuna special. His tuna was supposed to be cooked rare but it was more like medium. It was also supposed to be prepare in a Mexican style (served with salsa and gauc). It was kind of weird because it wasn't really Mexican or anything else, but it was tasty and a great value for the price. My paella was also huge and a good value, though it was NOT authentic. I don't think it was cooked in a cask iron skilled in the oven and there wasn't enough saffron (rice was a dull yellow). Again, they didn't skip at all on the seafood but I found the chorizo pieces to be way too big. Overall, pretty tasty if not necessarily true to the original dish. This place is definitely worth a try!
(3)Ken J.
Cozy little place this 18 Below is, its a great setting...Service: We were seated quickly, our waitress Angela went outta her way to inform us about the menu, apps and entrees. My Girlfriend decided to have Eggplant with risoto vegetable mix, let me attempt to repeat her word about the taste...Yum! I had the Maple Ceder plank Salmon with grilled aspargus , smashed potatoes and vegetable medley. Goodstuff! Also tried the Vanilla bean cheesecake....Goodeats! Overall you get a fantastic meal, affordable prices combined with our super knowledgeable waitress Angela a Good experience your destined for.....Stop reading this an get there!
(5)Daniel L.
18 Below was a fantastic experience from start to finish. As described by others, the front is unassuming at most. But once you descend the flight of stairs and enter the dining spaces, you will know you have arrived! The raw bar offerings are excellent, the wine list, though small, has some very good selections, and the food is topnotch! My wife and I shared entrees of shrimp and scallops. Both were beautifully prepared with sauces that enhanced the flavors. Dessert was also excellent - creme brulee and a flour-less chocolate cake with a strawberry sauce. Service was friendly and efficient, and everything arrived quickly. In short, this was a place I would highly recommend for an upscale meal in a casual unpretentious environment.
(5)Sam L.
Ron Jon is a great bartender. Travis has done an amazing job creating an elegant and warm atmosphere. i love this place. It has become the new favorite hang out for more than a few of us.
(5)Eric C.
This restaurant is simply excellent. I went here in October and was impressed with most of their offerings. Between the four of us we shared pan seared yellow fin tuna for our appetizers. The tuna was perfectly cooked and the sauce really brought out the tuna flavor. We loved them so much we ended up ordering another. We also ordered oysters and raw clams from the raw bar which were extremely fresh and were an excellent pallet cleanser. For our main course we ordered paellas, and a rack of lamb. The paella was not an authentic paella, but tasted great nonetheless. The creamy sauce in was smothered in was off putting to some, but I personally loved it. The rack of lamb was perfectly cooked and was perfectly complimented by the sauce. For dessert we all shared creme brulee, which was excellent. The decor was also a high point. The restaurant appropriately looks like a cellar (the restaurant is a basement,) but at the same time managed to be warm and welcoming. The service was great. No complaints here. Overall a great meal.
(4)