My husband and I stopped into this seafood restaurant on Route 1 in Wells. When we first walked in we were a little put off by the extremely outdated 70s and 90s decor. However, we were so tired from our road trip that we didn't let it stop us from taking in a meal at this place. I did see another couple walk in and walk out after they saw how outdated the decor of the restaurant was. I am so glad we tried this place! Our server was awesome. It was a young Scandinavian man who was over-the-top friendly with us and my toddler son. It was seriously the best service experience we've had at a restaurant in years and our every need was attended to. I have to completely disagree with another review stating that this place was 'dirty.' I took a quick walk around the restaurant as I headed to the salad bar. I peeked into the kitchen area and it was spotless. The bathroom was sparkling clean as well (and we were there on a Saturday). The salad bar was OK. It had basic salad items, pasta salads, etc. The soup bar was yummy and I loved the corn chowder. Both were definitely a great deal at $3.49. And mine came free because I ordered one of the specials! My husband is a hamburger guy and ordered the basic hamburger cooked medium. The hamburger was cooked perfectly and my husband raved about it. My toddler son has the chicken fingers and fries which were both yummy. I ordered the pork with mango chutney which was a listed special. I wasn't crazy about the pork (which has more to do with me than the dish itself). However, everything else was great. Loved their mashed potatoes. There were 2 other couples eating at this place while we were there and both tables ordered seafood. I watched their plates coming out and the food looked amazing. Next time we go here I'm trying their seafood! If there were one piece of advice I could give to the owner of this restaurant - do some very basic updates to your restaurant. I think you are losing a lot of business because of how the restaurant looks. Paint the walls a fresh, clean color (ie white), get more modern chairs, change the curtains between the booths to something a little more modern, and switch out those light fixtures. It will change the whole feel of your restaurant. I am giving this restaurant a 5-star rating because, again, the service was amazing. The place was clean. The food was decent. In fact it was everything a couple weary travellers were hoping for.
(5)
Robert M.
We were directed there by some locals during the off season. I think it is designed to be a family place. It was large and spacious. It has a nice sized salad bar that was full of nice looking stuff. As for the the rest of it, we ranged from Lobster, to burgers. The burgers were good and the lobster was lobster. It was fresh, but on the small side. They do run specials but given where you are at, you should get better for much cheaper cost. So mixed bag. But, I must add that the staff was great, friendly and attentive.
(3)
JM M.
This place is awesome. The drinks are good and every time I go the service is great as well. Sure the place is outdated, but would you really give a bad review just because of how a place looks? I guess some people just have to much time to complain.
(5)
Janet H.
I'm only giving the Bull and Claw 3 stars because it USED to be a nice place to dine. The atmosphere was nice (we always got a booth by the fire place) and the Sunday Buffet Style Breakfast was well worth the 8.99. Anyway fast forward 2 years. It hasn't changed owners (in fact Dave is a friend of my husbands) but I just can't lie to you and say "TRY IT..,.YOU'LL LOVE IT" because that's just not the case. The interior is STILL the same as when it first opened YEARS AGO...the food is mediocre at best...and the salad bar was soggy!! Plz do yourself a favor and go across the street to the Maine Dinner!
(3)
Tricia S.
The service was horrible, when we asked the server to split our check for our good size group, she actually rolled her eyes and huffed. We did not receive refills and one order was cooked wrong (not the servers fault and the person that received it chose not to mention it). When one person in our group asked for a Mt.Dew he was brought a margarita instead (of course he chose not to point it out). The only good thing I can say is the portions were good sized.
(2)
Amy A.
This review is for the lobster roll that is 2 feet long!!! OMG, being from RI and growing up in New England in general, I can say that I know a good lobster roll, white chowder and clam cakes!! Clam cakes in Maine however, suck!!! But this lobster roll and their chowder is awesome!!! The lobster roll is full of claw and tail meat, not heavy at all on the mayo, and perfection with putting it inside that warm, fresh baked, soft, airy, French baguette!! I look forward to this every year and have it at least 2 or 3 times while we are there. Besides, the price for this, I feel like I held them at gun point! Please always keep this on your menu!
(5)
Tim Z.
This place is really good ....and it's good for the family to go ....the price of the food is ok and the 2 foot sub is unreal for the price...only reason it gets 3 stars is because they add is your tip and I'm sorry but the service they give you is not that great ....
(3)
Patti T.
This restaurant was very good. We had Lobster Louie and salad bar. A lot of items on the salad bar. Along with soup and dinner. We were stuffed. Very tasty. The waiter we had was very good! always impressive to me when a waiter/waitress can take our order without writing it down and it comes to us accurately.
(5)
Suzie A.
The wait was a little long to be seated but it was worth it, we had mozzarella sticks as an appetizer and they were perfect!
(4)
Rachel L.
Salad bar was delicious! It was the best part of dinner...also the rolls they give were good. I got vegetarian Alfredo and it was okay... The garlic bread was really dry and not good and the pasta was good, but too much going on with red and green peppers, carrots, onions, and spinach.
(4)
Algis O.
It was OK. The service was so so as if the hostess and waitress were very tired. Food was salty, and nothing special.
(3)
Amanda B.
Terrible. Save your time and money! Atmosphere is outdated. Food was dry and cold. And staff was grumpy.
(1)
Kimberly B.
Decided to visit the Bull and Claw because the Maine Diner (across the street) had a 50+ minute wait for dinner, which my two small children were never going to make. The building itself is dated and feels VERY 1970s. The food was just ok...not great, not terrible. The service was its saving grace...slow but very nice personalities. I wouldn't go back.
(3)
Jim C.
Giving this place 2 stars is being generous. Stopped in for lunch on a Sunday. The place was near empty,yet took 20 minutes to get seated and another 20 minutes for a server to even acknowledge us. The waiter was a little bitch. And that's being nice, because if I was one of his coworkers I would have called him out on his attitude and demeanor. I wish I could remember his name,because he sucked!Took 10 minutes for 2 sodas, and then another 15 minutes for him to come back for our order. We ordered a scallop plate and clam plate. After about 35 minutes a different server came to the table to ask us what we had ordered. She promptly brought out our lunch and apologized for our waiter.....if that's what you want to call him. The food was slightly warm and not very good. She told us he went home to change his shoes and never came back.....we spend a lot of time in Wells during the summer and this is one place we WON'T be going back to. If you want good seafood, go to Jake's!
(2)
David F.
We were disappointed by the food and service. This restaurant probably was better at one time but seems to be resting on its laurels rather than trying to win new customers. On the service side, everyone in our party felt largely ignored by the staff. It took a long time to even have someone take the preliminary drink order. Our waiter never gave us his name, my son didn't get the correct drink he ordered, and there were mistakes on the meals, too. I ordered potatoes and got rice, my wife ordered rice and got potatoes. The worst offense was the prime rib, which was so dry, overcooked and unappealing that I couldn't believe it would served to a paying customer. Needless to say, we won't return.
(2)
Kai J.
This was the absolute worst restaurant I have ever had the misfortune of experiencing. I made a reservation three weeks in advance for 3:30 on Thanksgiving. After a half hour of waiting, I was informed that I have yet another half hour wait to get a table. The hostess is utterly useless as she barely whispers the names over a crowd of a dozen people. She is letting people without reservations take tables that should be RESERVED for people with RESERVATIONS. This is absolutely atrocious and I would strongly dissuade anyone from suffering this horrible horrible establishment. I will update with the food when/if I ever get a table. UPDATE: They are out of the Prime Rib which was what made this restaurant even an option. The food wasn't worth nearly what we paid for it. Maybe half or even a third.. That said, our waitress was great.
(1)
John D.
Very impressed with the service and food. Here during the off season and we had the place basically to ourselves.
(4)
Michael S.
Group of 15 had reservations for 7:00 pm on a Saturday night. Arrived at 7:00, seated at 7:45, served at 9:10- totally unacceptable. Food was good, not great, service was excellent. Too bad management over books. I cannot recommend this restaurant.
(1)
Randy C.
Hadn't been here in years. Was clean but not fancy. Really awesome salad and soup bar at lunch for only a 3.49 upcharge with any entree. Got the burger was was good with cape cod like potato chips. Burger add ins like onion was extra but we weren't told. Get the onions off the salad bar! Will return. Craft beef was good and cold
(4)
James N.
Today I took my family out to lunch here and we had a terrible experience. 1. The food was good. 2. The server was awefull, She asked my 13 daughter where she got her dress, we said Wal-Mart then she reply : I can't find Shit there. 3. Kids order cheeseburger from menu 5.99 with 2.99 extra for frys. 4. My daughter step away to use the restroom, came back to our table and said there is a issue with water overflowing, We told her to let our server know which her reply was: We know that women over there in the wheelchair plugged it up. 5. Our Bill came and we notice the kids meal was double the price, we paid. 6. We spoke the the hostess and he got our server, when we showed her she said: I order them the 1/4 lbs which is more... Next time be more specific! I will not patron this place again and I Will tell all my family & friends to do the same.
(1)
J S.
I used to go here when I was in ME for work nearby. The fried seafood is excellent here. The Maine Shrimp App is worth trying. The fried haddock is worth checking out as well here. Generous portions here for even the most hearty of appetites. The decor is dated but the food here is worth checking out. Not a fan of the garlic butter rolls. They should ask if you want the rolls in garlic butter....or regular butter. I judge restaurants on the food not on visual appearances or decor. Seafood is pricey no matter where you go in Maine..... Also where others have commented on the menu being limited..... this is not true at all. Sometimes the restaurants not paying to be featured on food shows are hidden jems indeed.
(4)
Britta E.
This place is so awesome! I ordered the twin lobster meal for $23 and my husband got the prime rib with lobster for $25. The lobsters were sweet no end delicious. We also got the soup and salad bar with our meals and we totally didn't need it. The waitstaff were all super friendly and answered all of our questions. It was a great meal. We will definitely go back when we are in the area again.
(5)
Ben A.
Good salad and soup bar. The fried oysters were limited for the price and resulted in a very upset stomach for the rest of the night.
(2)
Richard B.
On our visit the food was very good and the portions were huge. The wait staff was friendly but we had to wait 20 min before our waitress showed up at the table. We were told the hostess did not tell her that we were at her table. While there I saw the same thing happen to the people that got seated across from us, different waitress but same excuse. Too bad the service wasn't better because the food was great and we will try the restaurant again.
(3)
Kevin B.
We went for the Sunday Breakfast Buffet. Slow, curt staff. Food was mediocre at best, mostly cool or cold. My dining companion summed it up best - "over priced cafeteria food "
(1)
Nicole P.
This place is great! Great local food good prices! Salad bar was fresh. Good service! The Bull& Claw rum punch for two is awesome!!! And huge!
(4)
Kate F.
I loved this place!!! Salad bar and soup bar for $3.49 with entree was a great deal! Soooooo delicious! I got the stuffed chicken special and it was one of the best chicken dishes I have ever had!! Husband loved the burger! I will def come back here no doubt!! Very friendly service too'!
(5)
Peter V.
We had chicken ceaser, burgers and grilled salmon. The salmon and the burgers was average, the salads were good. The decor is definetely straight from the 80s. Average. Go across the street (maine dinner) for a much better meal.
(3)
Dave D.
After almost killing someone for a parking spot in Ogunquit and seeing the waits we decided to get out of the tourist traps and try a new place.. Saturday night walked in got a table right away.... Yea it's dated so what.... Staff were nice and the place was clean. The prime rib was a 9 out of 10. We also got the Lobster Louie which was good ( my girlfriend wished she got the prime rib after trying mine). Prices were good, you'll see a lot of locals here. Will come back again.
(4)
Melanie P.
We dined at the Bull & Claw during the off season, the night of an 8" snow fall. The hostess was welcoming and friendly (and expecting her first child.... congrats!) and made us feel welcomed. The cook however was grousing about having to cook for us and wanting to close up and go home. It was only 6:00 pm and being the off season, there weren't a lot of other dinner options available. After negotiations between the hostess/waitress/bartender and the unhappy cook, we were allowed to order and our meal was prepared quickly. The food was okay and the service was exceptional. The decor felt a lot like stepping into 1970 and fell short of being 'retro' to being just old. Some updating (and dusting) is needed.
(3)
Jess S.
I came here on a double-date. The place we had originally planned to meet was super busy, so we ended up here. The interior wasn't quite what I expected, but the food was good and reasonably priced. My boyfriend and I shared the two foot lobster roll, and we thought it was very tasty.
(4)
Bruce R.
Average food, way overpriced even for Wells. Very limited menu. Very nice servers, fast friendly service but they don't make up for an extremely limited menu and cafeteria quality food. .Before you stop here, don't. Right across the street is the outstanding Maine Diner. Go there instead.
(1)
Ben O.
Been here twice, once was for the breakfast buffet, once was in december so take that into account. The breakfast buffet was pretty decent, but nothing to write home about. When I went in december for dinner, I ordered fried food and it was just bad. Not a fan personally. They did have a salad/soup bar which was pretty awesome actually.
(2)
Wesley C.
It was good food as far as sea food but little expensive when you add salad bar. It should be included when you buy entree that's $ 20.00 or more.
(3)
Charles Z.
Great food, and fast service. There was also a great soup and salad bar. The only problem was that if you do not get the soup and salad bar you pay a lot for the amount of food you get.
(4)
Arthur L.
Wife loves mussels and raved about them here. I had a 12 large-shrimp cocktail. They were cooked in a shrimp spicy boil and were delicious. They served me 14 to boot! My daughter thought the clam strips were not up to par with the ones she had earlier today at Jake's. I agree with her. She woofed them down though after starting the evening off with her desert first; the Chocolate Lava Divine. Our waiter was a very nice young man from Lithuania. He was terrific; a refreshing change from waiters that act like they are doing YOU a favor! The girls want me to rate the experience as a 5. I'd give the meal a 4 but the waiter deserves a 6!
(5)
David P.
2 foot long lobster roll with the meat of 3 lobsters (mostly tender juicy claw meat) on a nicely toasted french baguette. Doesn't get any better than this!
(4)
Jimmie M.
Although we own a house in Wells and have coming to Wells for40+ years my wife and I had never been there until last weekend. coming back from morning Mass in Kennebunk on Sunday,we decided to stop for the buffet. We were pleased with the experience. I liked the decor-old and comfortable. The buffet food was tasty ,fresh & well prepared. The price was very reasonable & the waitress was friendly and kept our cups filled with coffee.after having gone there once,we would definitely go again. It is a long established place and it's longevity speaks volumes in itself.
(4)
Julie A.
As far as I can tell they have at least been around since the 70's because their decor is strait from that time period. It's very cool but creepy in that way. The food is your basic american seaside fare. They got the bull and they got the claw. We happened to get the 2 foot long lobster sandwich. It was at least enough for 3-4 people. It was good, there was Lobster busting out of their home made baguette. We also tried some fancy non-alcoholic drinks, The Lavender Cooler and the Summer breeze or something. They were both seriously awesome! Prices were average, wait staff the same. great for families and early birds. It's right across from the maine Diner which I have also heard good things about, but this is definitely worth another trip!
(3)
David C.
Dated furnishings. Slow service (but we did have a very large party). Food was ok (but again, that may be because of the size of our party).
(2)
Cathy G.
Absolutely fabulous! Food was delicious! The waitress was the best! The salad and soup were fresh and delicious! The grass fed sirloin was so tender we didn't need a knife. The lobster add-on for $8 was great! I wish this restaurant were closer!!!!
(5)
A H.
This is our Families favorite Sunday morning Breakfast Buffet when we stay In Maine. The prices are great, the staff is friendly and the assortment is awesome. Great place for families! We have NEVER had to wait more than a few moments no matter how busy the are.
(5)
Helen F.
Across from the Maine Diner, my guess is they get a lot of the overflow business because of the long wait from that much better place. Decor was old, wait staff, while friendly, was neglectful and forgetful. I had the prime rib, with a baked potato, and overcooked medley of frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots. It was very "meh." Too much fat in the prime rib; got cold too quickly. My sisters got haddock florentine and eggplant parmesan. I didn't try them, but they really didn't seem impressed. Just mediocre. The best thing was the desserts: chocolate lava cake and peanut butter ice cream pie. Overpriced, and a long wait, which didn't seem necessary when there were plenty of open booths--just not enough wait staff? Would neither go back, nor recommend.
(2)
King F.
Average at best with a *long* wait.
(2)
Lynn B.
Went here with my friend Janat for lunch. We were going someplace else but it was closed for vacation. I'm so glad we tried the Bull and Claw. It is very spacious with comfortable booths and there was a fire going, which was nice. The entry way was lovely with the Christmas decorations. Janat had the whole belly clam roll and I had the fried haddock. They were both cooked to perfection - loved the breading, it was crispy and flavorful and not greasy. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive, but not overly so. The prices were good too! We were both very happy with our experience at the Bull and Claw. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Bob J.
You go to a restaraunt on Thanksgiving to uncomplicate things. To not worry about cooking and chill and enjoy the people you are with. Not so much today. We arrive at our reservation time to see the lobby packed with people, an obviously overwhelmed hostess, and no one seems to know what is going on. It was a half hour to find out it would be another half hour. As this is going on people without reservations are being sent to the bar to order food. Finally we get seated and much to surprise there are empty tables and booths all over the place. Server was nice, but as soon as I ordered I was told they were out of that item. When I finally did get my meal it was fair at best for the money. All and all very underwhelming, and I doubt we will ever go back.
(1)
Violet R.
Food was good, but service was excellent. Our waitress Denise, was such a nice lady that we didn't mind waiting a little for her on this busy Saturday night. And fortunately we made reservations so we were seated immediately when we got there! Prices were great too! $23.95 for two lobsters was pretty good considering in NY I would have to pay that much just for one!
(4)
Hillary W.
This place blows. Just a really big diner with a better name. From waiting in the front to be seated while numerous waiters saw us standing there and chose to walk by, to the annoyed girl who finally seated us, to the tacky decor, and finally to the waiter forgetting my hot tea.....this hole gets one star. But if you want to remove yourself from the tacky fake leather table coverings to go play the 1980's arcade games in the corner. I think they used to have a nice selection of pies here but now it's used as a holder for the equally as fake and tacky plants. If the massive gas fireplace was actually working it would have added the only pleasurable ambiance to this dive. OHHHH.... And if there is a fire here good luck there isn't a single smoke detector or sprinkler in the common areas.
(1)
Dee D.
Lobster sandwich for two is 5stars. It's not just the amount of Lobster that's impressive but the quality of the lobster is also impressive. Absolutely delicious. I split the sandwich with my Ma and we were both left full and completely satisfied! I'll definitely be back next Labor Day!!!
(5)
Molly C.
Not really worth it. At all. Needing a steak fix and a break from seafood, my boyfriend and I decided on this place after reading the bag of mixed reviews. I got a 12oz prime rib which was good. Along with pretty average fries and the "seasonal veggie"...way overcooked baby carrots drenched in butter. My boyfriend ordered the Delmonico steak medium rare. It came out super rare with so much fat and grizzle on it, it was entirely inedible. The manager agreed and comped it from the bill, which we appreciated. Our drinks were good..except they were out of the first two draft beers requested. My house margarita was yummy, but I wish I hadn't added strawberry to the second one because it made it too sweet and it was left almost full on the table. Our waitress was kind of friendly, but never seemed to be around. We even asked one of the other waitresses to send her over at one point. Not impressed. We wished we'd gone the The Steakhouse. This place was a dingy fail for sure.
(2)
Gloria V.
We really enjoyed our meal and our server Denise was a peach. I had the best Fried Scallops and my Husband had Fish and Chips. Both meals were delicious and the service was wonderful.
(5)
J H.
Terrible... Depressing and outdated atmosphere. Wings were awful- rubbery and stale. Bland dinner and below average wait staff. Save your time and money and go elsewhere.
(1)
Sal O.
My wife and I have been coming here for a few years and it's always been a hit or miss. The soup and salad bar are always very good. There is always a nice variety of choices at the salad bar and the soup is hot and has a lot of flavor. The dinner entries must depend on who is cooking that night because we normally order the same dishes and they are either great or awful. My wife and I decided to get fried haddock with wild rice. The fish was cooked fine but there were a lot of fried crumbs sound the plate and the rice was very al dente. Almost to the point it was like chewing on pebbles. So if you enjoy living life on the edge or playing Russian Roulet, then this is the place for you. Hope you get the good cook if you decide to go.
(3)
Stephanie V.
Plenty of parking and conveniently located on route 1. The employees were nice. Our table was rocking so bad that it was causing drinks to spill so we asked for something to be put under a leg. This was followed by with the employee saying that she never knows how many napkins it will take to offset each table. So, apparently, it's a known problem, but they haven't done anything about it. Installing permanent objects to level the tables would be nice. Anyway, the food was ok. We have seen commercials for years and had been looking forward to trying the food, but we're not immediate locals and only venture out of our southern Maine tourist town when tourist season is low. The rolls were really good, the fries, fried clams and baked stuffed shrimp were ok, but the steak was not very good. In our opinion, the food is not worth the prices. I can't say you get what you pay for, either. We pay extra for quality food, but this was not the case. It may be good for others in the area, but we won't waste our time and gas to drive the 1/2 hour to get there when we have other, more local restaurants with a higher quality of food for the same price. FYI, whatever the sauce is in the center of the picture I posted is horrible. I thought maybe it was me, but even my husband, who likes everything, said it was awful.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Downeast K.
My husband and I stopped into this seafood restaurant on Route 1 in Wells. When we first walked in we were a little put off by the extremely outdated 70s and 90s decor. However, we were so tired from our road trip that we didn't let it stop us from taking in a meal at this place. I did see another couple walk in and walk out after they saw how outdated the decor of the restaurant was. I am so glad we tried this place! Our server was awesome. It was a young Scandinavian man who was over-the-top friendly with us and my toddler son. It was seriously the best service experience we've had at a restaurant in years and our every need was attended to. I have to completely disagree with another review stating that this place was 'dirty.' I took a quick walk around the restaurant as I headed to the salad bar. I peeked into the kitchen area and it was spotless. The bathroom was sparkling clean as well (and we were there on a Saturday). The salad bar was OK. It had basic salad items, pasta salads, etc. The soup bar was yummy and I loved the corn chowder. Both were definitely a great deal at $3.49. And mine came free because I ordered one of the specials! My husband is a hamburger guy and ordered the basic hamburger cooked medium. The hamburger was cooked perfectly and my husband raved about it. My toddler son has the chicken fingers and fries which were both yummy. I ordered the pork with mango chutney which was a listed special. I wasn't crazy about the pork (which has more to do with me than the dish itself). However, everything else was great. Loved their mashed potatoes. There were 2 other couples eating at this place while we were there and both tables ordered seafood. I watched their plates coming out and the food looked amazing. Next time we go here I'm trying their seafood! If there were one piece of advice I could give to the owner of this restaurant - do some very basic updates to your restaurant. I think you are losing a lot of business because of how the restaurant looks. Paint the walls a fresh, clean color (ie white), get more modern chairs, change the curtains between the booths to something a little more modern, and switch out those light fixtures. It will change the whole feel of your restaurant. I am giving this restaurant a 5-star rating because, again, the service was amazing. The place was clean. The food was decent. In fact it was everything a couple weary travellers were hoping for.
(5)Robert M.
We were directed there by some locals during the off season. I think it is designed to be a family place. It was large and spacious. It has a nice sized salad bar that was full of nice looking stuff. As for the the rest of it, we ranged from Lobster, to burgers. The burgers were good and the lobster was lobster. It was fresh, but on the small side. They do run specials but given where you are at, you should get better for much cheaper cost. So mixed bag. But, I must add that the staff was great, friendly and attentive.
(3)JM M.
This place is awesome. The drinks are good and every time I go the service is great as well. Sure the place is outdated, but would you really give a bad review just because of how a place looks? I guess some people just have to much time to complain.
(5)Janet H.
I'm only giving the Bull and Claw 3 stars because it USED to be a nice place to dine. The atmosphere was nice (we always got a booth by the fire place) and the Sunday Buffet Style Breakfast was well worth the 8.99. Anyway fast forward 2 years. It hasn't changed owners (in fact Dave is a friend of my husbands) but I just can't lie to you and say "TRY IT..,.YOU'LL LOVE IT" because that's just not the case. The interior is STILL the same as when it first opened YEARS AGO...the food is mediocre at best...and the salad bar was soggy!! Plz do yourself a favor and go across the street to the Maine Dinner!
(3)Tricia S.
The service was horrible, when we asked the server to split our check for our good size group, she actually rolled her eyes and huffed. We did not receive refills and one order was cooked wrong (not the servers fault and the person that received it chose not to mention it). When one person in our group asked for a Mt.Dew he was brought a margarita instead (of course he chose not to point it out). The only good thing I can say is the portions were good sized.
(2)Amy A.
This review is for the lobster roll that is 2 feet long!!! OMG, being from RI and growing up in New England in general, I can say that I know a good lobster roll, white chowder and clam cakes!! Clam cakes in Maine however, suck!!! But this lobster roll and their chowder is awesome!!! The lobster roll is full of claw and tail meat, not heavy at all on the mayo, and perfection with putting it inside that warm, fresh baked, soft, airy, French baguette!! I look forward to this every year and have it at least 2 or 3 times while we are there. Besides, the price for this, I feel like I held them at gun point! Please always keep this on your menu!
(5)Tim Z.
This place is really good ....and it's good for the family to go ....the price of the food is ok and the 2 foot sub is unreal for the price...only reason it gets 3 stars is because they add is your tip and I'm sorry but the service they give you is not that great ....
(3)Patti T.
This restaurant was very good. We had Lobster Louie and salad bar. A lot of items on the salad bar. Along with soup and dinner. We were stuffed. Very tasty. The waiter we had was very good! always impressive to me when a waiter/waitress can take our order without writing it down and it comes to us accurately.
(5)Suzie A.
The wait was a little long to be seated but it was worth it, we had mozzarella sticks as an appetizer and they were perfect!
(4)Rachel L.
Salad bar was delicious! It was the best part of dinner...also the rolls they give were good. I got vegetarian Alfredo and it was okay... The garlic bread was really dry and not good and the pasta was good, but too much going on with red and green peppers, carrots, onions, and spinach.
(4)Algis O.
It was OK. The service was so so as if the hostess and waitress were very tired. Food was salty, and nothing special.
(3)Amanda B.
Terrible. Save your time and money! Atmosphere is outdated. Food was dry and cold. And staff was grumpy.
(1)Kimberly B.
Decided to visit the Bull and Claw because the Maine Diner (across the street) had a 50+ minute wait for dinner, which my two small children were never going to make. The building itself is dated and feels VERY 1970s. The food was just ok...not great, not terrible. The service was its saving grace...slow but very nice personalities. I wouldn't go back.
(3)Jim C.
Giving this place 2 stars is being generous. Stopped in for lunch on a Sunday. The place was near empty,yet took 20 minutes to get seated and another 20 minutes for a server to even acknowledge us. The waiter was a little bitch. And that's being nice, because if I was one of his coworkers I would have called him out on his attitude and demeanor. I wish I could remember his name,because he sucked!Took 10 minutes for 2 sodas, and then another 15 minutes for him to come back for our order. We ordered a scallop plate and clam plate. After about 35 minutes a different server came to the table to ask us what we had ordered. She promptly brought out our lunch and apologized for our waiter.....if that's what you want to call him. The food was slightly warm and not very good. She told us he went home to change his shoes and never came back.....we spend a lot of time in Wells during the summer and this is one place we WON'T be going back to. If you want good seafood, go to Jake's!
(2)David F.
We were disappointed by the food and service. This restaurant probably was better at one time but seems to be resting on its laurels rather than trying to win new customers. On the service side, everyone in our party felt largely ignored by the staff. It took a long time to even have someone take the preliminary drink order. Our waiter never gave us his name, my son didn't get the correct drink he ordered, and there were mistakes on the meals, too. I ordered potatoes and got rice, my wife ordered rice and got potatoes. The worst offense was the prime rib, which was so dry, overcooked and unappealing that I couldn't believe it would served to a paying customer. Needless to say, we won't return.
(2)Kai J.
This was the absolute worst restaurant I have ever had the misfortune of experiencing. I made a reservation three weeks in advance for 3:30 on Thanksgiving. After a half hour of waiting, I was informed that I have yet another half hour wait to get a table. The hostess is utterly useless as she barely whispers the names over a crowd of a dozen people. She is letting people without reservations take tables that should be RESERVED for people with RESERVATIONS. This is absolutely atrocious and I would strongly dissuade anyone from suffering this horrible horrible establishment. I will update with the food when/if I ever get a table. UPDATE: They are out of the Prime Rib which was what made this restaurant even an option. The food wasn't worth nearly what we paid for it. Maybe half or even a third.. That said, our waitress was great.
(1)John D.
Very impressed with the service and food. Here during the off season and we had the place basically to ourselves.
(4)Michael S.
Group of 15 had reservations for 7:00 pm on a Saturday night. Arrived at 7:00, seated at 7:45, served at 9:10- totally unacceptable. Food was good, not great, service was excellent. Too bad management over books. I cannot recommend this restaurant.
(1)Randy C.
Hadn't been here in years. Was clean but not fancy. Really awesome salad and soup bar at lunch for only a 3.49 upcharge with any entree. Got the burger was was good with cape cod like potato chips. Burger add ins like onion was extra but we weren't told. Get the onions off the salad bar! Will return. Craft beef was good and cold
(4)James N.
Today I took my family out to lunch here and we had a terrible experience. 1. The food was good. 2. The server was awefull, She asked my 13 daughter where she got her dress, we said Wal-Mart then she reply : I can't find Shit there. 3. Kids order cheeseburger from menu 5.99 with 2.99 extra for frys. 4. My daughter step away to use the restroom, came back to our table and said there is a issue with water overflowing, We told her to let our server know which her reply was: We know that women over there in the wheelchair plugged it up. 5. Our Bill came and we notice the kids meal was double the price, we paid. 6. We spoke the the hostess and he got our server, when we showed her she said: I order them the 1/4 lbs which is more... Next time be more specific! I will not patron this place again and I Will tell all my family & friends to do the same.
(1)J S.
I used to go here when I was in ME for work nearby. The fried seafood is excellent here. The Maine Shrimp App is worth trying. The fried haddock is worth checking out as well here. Generous portions here for even the most hearty of appetites. The decor is dated but the food here is worth checking out. Not a fan of the garlic butter rolls. They should ask if you want the rolls in garlic butter....or regular butter. I judge restaurants on the food not on visual appearances or decor. Seafood is pricey no matter where you go in Maine..... Also where others have commented on the menu being limited..... this is not true at all. Sometimes the restaurants not paying to be featured on food shows are hidden jems indeed.
(4)Britta E.
This place is so awesome! I ordered the twin lobster meal for $23 and my husband got the prime rib with lobster for $25. The lobsters were sweet no end delicious. We also got the soup and salad bar with our meals and we totally didn't need it. The waitstaff were all super friendly and answered all of our questions. It was a great meal. We will definitely go back when we are in the area again.
(5)Ben A.
Good salad and soup bar. The fried oysters were limited for the price and resulted in a very upset stomach for the rest of the night.
(2)Richard B.
On our visit the food was very good and the portions were huge. The wait staff was friendly but we had to wait 20 min before our waitress showed up at the table. We were told the hostess did not tell her that we were at her table. While there I saw the same thing happen to the people that got seated across from us, different waitress but same excuse. Too bad the service wasn't better because the food was great and we will try the restaurant again.
(3)Kevin B.
We went for the Sunday Breakfast Buffet. Slow, curt staff. Food was mediocre at best, mostly cool or cold. My dining companion summed it up best - "over priced cafeteria food "
(1)Nicole P.
This place is great! Great local food good prices! Salad bar was fresh. Good service! The Bull& Claw rum punch for two is awesome!!! And huge!
(4)Kate F.
I loved this place!!! Salad bar and soup bar for $3.49 with entree was a great deal! Soooooo delicious! I got the stuffed chicken special and it was one of the best chicken dishes I have ever had!! Husband loved the burger! I will def come back here no doubt!! Very friendly service too'!
(5)Peter V.
We had chicken ceaser, burgers and grilled salmon. The salmon and the burgers was average, the salads were good. The decor is definetely straight from the 80s. Average. Go across the street (maine dinner) for a much better meal.
(3)Dave D.
After almost killing someone for a parking spot in Ogunquit and seeing the waits we decided to get out of the tourist traps and try a new place.. Saturday night walked in got a table right away.... Yea it's dated so what.... Staff were nice and the place was clean. The prime rib was a 9 out of 10. We also got the Lobster Louie which was good ( my girlfriend wished she got the prime rib after trying mine). Prices were good, you'll see a lot of locals here. Will come back again.
(4)Melanie P.
We dined at the Bull & Claw during the off season, the night of an 8" snow fall. The hostess was welcoming and friendly (and expecting her first child.... congrats!) and made us feel welcomed. The cook however was grousing about having to cook for us and wanting to close up and go home. It was only 6:00 pm and being the off season, there weren't a lot of other dinner options available. After negotiations between the hostess/waitress/bartender and the unhappy cook, we were allowed to order and our meal was prepared quickly. The food was okay and the service was exceptional. The decor felt a lot like stepping into 1970 and fell short of being 'retro' to being just old. Some updating (and dusting) is needed.
(3)Jess S.
I came here on a double-date. The place we had originally planned to meet was super busy, so we ended up here. The interior wasn't quite what I expected, but the food was good and reasonably priced. My boyfriend and I shared the two foot lobster roll, and we thought it was very tasty.
(4)Bruce R.
Average food, way overpriced even for Wells. Very limited menu. Very nice servers, fast friendly service but they don't make up for an extremely limited menu and cafeteria quality food. .Before you stop here, don't. Right across the street is the outstanding Maine Diner. Go there instead.
(1)Ben O.
Been here twice, once was for the breakfast buffet, once was in december so take that into account. The breakfast buffet was pretty decent, but nothing to write home about. When I went in december for dinner, I ordered fried food and it was just bad. Not a fan personally. They did have a salad/soup bar which was pretty awesome actually.
(2)Wesley C.
It was good food as far as sea food but little expensive when you add salad bar. It should be included when you buy entree that's $ 20.00 or more.
(3)Charles Z.
Great food, and fast service. There was also a great soup and salad bar. The only problem was that if you do not get the soup and salad bar you pay a lot for the amount of food you get.
(4)Arthur L.
Wife loves mussels and raved about them here. I had a 12 large-shrimp cocktail. They were cooked in a shrimp spicy boil and were delicious. They served me 14 to boot! My daughter thought the clam strips were not up to par with the ones she had earlier today at Jake's. I agree with her. She woofed them down though after starting the evening off with her desert first; the Chocolate Lava Divine. Our waiter was a very nice young man from Lithuania. He was terrific; a refreshing change from waiters that act like they are doing YOU a favor! The girls want me to rate the experience as a 5. I'd give the meal a 4 but the waiter deserves a 6!
(5)David P.
2 foot long lobster roll with the meat of 3 lobsters (mostly tender juicy claw meat) on a nicely toasted french baguette. Doesn't get any better than this!
(4)Jimmie M.
Although we own a house in Wells and have coming to Wells for40+ years my wife and I had never been there until last weekend. coming back from morning Mass in Kennebunk on Sunday,we decided to stop for the buffet. We were pleased with the experience. I liked the decor-old and comfortable. The buffet food was tasty ,fresh & well prepared. The price was very reasonable & the waitress was friendly and kept our cups filled with coffee.after having gone there once,we would definitely go again. It is a long established place and it's longevity speaks volumes in itself.
(4)Julie A.
As far as I can tell they have at least been around since the 70's because their decor is strait from that time period. It's very cool but creepy in that way. The food is your basic american seaside fare. They got the bull and they got the claw. We happened to get the 2 foot long lobster sandwich. It was at least enough for 3-4 people. It was good, there was Lobster busting out of their home made baguette. We also tried some fancy non-alcoholic drinks, The Lavender Cooler and the Summer breeze or something. They were both seriously awesome! Prices were average, wait staff the same. great for families and early birds. It's right across from the maine Diner which I have also heard good things about, but this is definitely worth another trip!
(3)David C.
Dated furnishings. Slow service (but we did have a very large party). Food was ok (but again, that may be because of the size of our party).
(2)Cathy G.
Absolutely fabulous! Food was delicious! The waitress was the best! The salad and soup were fresh and delicious! The grass fed sirloin was so tender we didn't need a knife. The lobster add-on for $8 was great! I wish this restaurant were closer!!!!
(5)A H.
This is our Families favorite Sunday morning Breakfast Buffet when we stay In Maine. The prices are great, the staff is friendly and the assortment is awesome. Great place for families! We have NEVER had to wait more than a few moments no matter how busy the are.
(5)Helen F.
Across from the Maine Diner, my guess is they get a lot of the overflow business because of the long wait from that much better place. Decor was old, wait staff, while friendly, was neglectful and forgetful. I had the prime rib, with a baked potato, and overcooked medley of frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots. It was very "meh." Too much fat in the prime rib; got cold too quickly. My sisters got haddock florentine and eggplant parmesan. I didn't try them, but they really didn't seem impressed. Just mediocre. The best thing was the desserts: chocolate lava cake and peanut butter ice cream pie. Overpriced, and a long wait, which didn't seem necessary when there were plenty of open booths--just not enough wait staff? Would neither go back, nor recommend.
(2)King F.
Average at best with a *long* wait.
(2)Lynn B.
Went here with my friend Janat for lunch. We were going someplace else but it was closed for vacation. I'm so glad we tried the Bull and Claw. It is very spacious with comfortable booths and there was a fire going, which was nice. The entry way was lovely with the Christmas decorations. Janat had the whole belly clam roll and I had the fried haddock. They were both cooked to perfection - loved the breading, it was crispy and flavorful and not greasy. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive, but not overly so. The prices were good too! We were both very happy with our experience at the Bull and Claw. Will definitely be back!
(5)Bob J.
You go to a restaraunt on Thanksgiving to uncomplicate things. To not worry about cooking and chill and enjoy the people you are with. Not so much today. We arrive at our reservation time to see the lobby packed with people, an obviously overwhelmed hostess, and no one seems to know what is going on. It was a half hour to find out it would be another half hour. As this is going on people without reservations are being sent to the bar to order food. Finally we get seated and much to surprise there are empty tables and booths all over the place. Server was nice, but as soon as I ordered I was told they were out of that item. When I finally did get my meal it was fair at best for the money. All and all very underwhelming, and I doubt we will ever go back.
(1)Violet R.
Food was good, but service was excellent. Our waitress Denise, was such a nice lady that we didn't mind waiting a little for her on this busy Saturday night. And fortunately we made reservations so we were seated immediately when we got there! Prices were great too! $23.95 for two lobsters was pretty good considering in NY I would have to pay that much just for one!
(4)Hillary W.
This place blows. Just a really big diner with a better name. From waiting in the front to be seated while numerous waiters saw us standing there and chose to walk by, to the annoyed girl who finally seated us, to the tacky decor, and finally to the waiter forgetting my hot tea.....this hole gets one star. But if you want to remove yourself from the tacky fake leather table coverings to go play the 1980's arcade games in the corner. I think they used to have a nice selection of pies here but now it's used as a holder for the equally as fake and tacky plants. If the massive gas fireplace was actually working it would have added the only pleasurable ambiance to this dive. OHHHH.... And if there is a fire here good luck there isn't a single smoke detector or sprinkler in the common areas.
(1)Dee D.
Lobster sandwich for two is 5stars. It's not just the amount of Lobster that's impressive but the quality of the lobster is also impressive. Absolutely delicious. I split the sandwich with my Ma and we were both left full and completely satisfied! I'll definitely be back next Labor Day!!!
(5)Molly C.
Not really worth it. At all. Needing a steak fix and a break from seafood, my boyfriend and I decided on this place after reading the bag of mixed reviews. I got a 12oz prime rib which was good. Along with pretty average fries and the "seasonal veggie"...way overcooked baby carrots drenched in butter. My boyfriend ordered the Delmonico steak medium rare. It came out super rare with so much fat and grizzle on it, it was entirely inedible. The manager agreed and comped it from the bill, which we appreciated. Our drinks were good..except they were out of the first two draft beers requested. My house margarita was yummy, but I wish I hadn't added strawberry to the second one because it made it too sweet and it was left almost full on the table. Our waitress was kind of friendly, but never seemed to be around. We even asked one of the other waitresses to send her over at one point. Not impressed. We wished we'd gone the The Steakhouse. This place was a dingy fail for sure.
(2)Gloria V.
We really enjoyed our meal and our server Denise was a peach. I had the best Fried Scallops and my Husband had Fish and Chips. Both meals were delicious and the service was wonderful.
(5)J H.
Terrible... Depressing and outdated atmosphere. Wings were awful- rubbery and stale. Bland dinner and below average wait staff. Save your time and money and go elsewhere.
(1)Sal O.
My wife and I have been coming here for a few years and it's always been a hit or miss. The soup and salad bar are always very good. There is always a nice variety of choices at the salad bar and the soup is hot and has a lot of flavor. The dinner entries must depend on who is cooking that night because we normally order the same dishes and they are either great or awful. My wife and I decided to get fried haddock with wild rice. The fish was cooked fine but there were a lot of fried crumbs sound the plate and the rice was very al dente. Almost to the point it was like chewing on pebbles. So if you enjoy living life on the edge or playing Russian Roulet, then this is the place for you. Hope you get the good cook if you decide to go.
(3)Stephanie V.
Plenty of parking and conveniently located on route 1. The employees were nice. Our table was rocking so bad that it was causing drinks to spill so we asked for something to be put under a leg. This was followed by with the employee saying that she never knows how many napkins it will take to offset each table. So, apparently, it's a known problem, but they haven't done anything about it. Installing permanent objects to level the tables would be nice. Anyway, the food was ok. We have seen commercials for years and had been looking forward to trying the food, but we're not immediate locals and only venture out of our southern Maine tourist town when tourist season is low. The rolls were really good, the fries, fried clams and baked stuffed shrimp were ok, but the steak was not very good. In our opinion, the food is not worth the prices. I can't say you get what you pay for, either. We pay extra for quality food, but this was not the case. It may be good for others in the area, but we won't waste our time and gas to drive the 1/2 hour to get there when we have other, more local restaurants with a higher quality of food for the same price. FYI, whatever the sauce is in the center of the picture I posted is horrible. I thought maybe it was me, but even my husband, who likes everything, said it was awful.
(2)