The food is delicious, but a bit pricey. It is considered a gastropub and is a unique experience. The atomsphere is romantic and lit beautifully. The explainations of the food and preperation are a bit over the top, but entertainig. "We went to the market and bought a pumpkin, we pureed it..." as the begining of how they made the pumpkin pie martini, which was flavorful but not well balanced, a bit strong. The waitress was attentive and had a vast knowledge of the menu. We started with poutine, which was ok. The gravy was thick but not much flavor. We ordered the buff jimmy and the tsunami flatbreads, which were both crisp and bursting with excellent flavor combos. It was a good expericne but not likely to be repeated
(3)
Jeff C.
A customer of mine requested we try this Restuarant. I was skeptical since I saw it was in Westbrook thinking in my own mind that the good restaurants were all in the Old Port. Boy was I wrong! The food was excellent and the menu had a great selection. The service was extremely good as well. I am glad someone brought this establishment to my attention because I would have never looked to Westbrook to get this type of excellence.
(4)
Daniel C.
We ate dinner here last night - it was delicious. Great pub food, or fancier fare if you wish. Beer and wine selection was extensive. Service was attentive and friendly. We both ordered burgers off the pub menu. They were cooked perfectly.
(4)
Patrick L.
We chose the Frog & Turtle for our afternoon wedding reception, and we were thrilled with the planning, food, and service - and really, the bang for the buck was in our favor. I'm honestly just looking for an excuse to have them cater another event... maybe my housewarming party this fall? We'll see!
(5)
Jenn F.
The food was OK, not as good as I expected considering the price and hype. The wait staff was not very friendly at all.
(3)
Liz J.
For a $90 dinner, I had hoped for better food...service was great!! I got the pinapple mojito drink special for $10. I couldn't taste a drop of booze. So then I asked for Jameson on the rocks because at that point, you know exactly what you are getting...although my friend I went to dinner with got the strawberry lemonade special with gin and her drink tasted quite strong...wtf! I got the chicken entree which was delicious! I wish the asparagus it had come with hadnt been cut into microscopic pieces and then drowned in the chicken sauce...which made it really difficult to get on my fork and into my face. It also came with little tiny pasta peices which I HOPE were homemade...for the $21 it cost. The reason why I am rating this place so low is because: 1. The drinks were not strong/inconsistent and way pricey for what it was. 2. The food took a long time to get to our table. 3. There was an incredibly loud band playing the night we went, which is fine, unless you are paying for a $90 dinner and have to shout at the people across the table from you. Because of the band, and the "pub" menu and the "dinner" menu...it just seems like the Frog and Turtle really cant make up its mind as to whether it wants to be a Pub or a fine dining restaurant....so please for the love of god pick which one you want to be!!
(2)
corinne a.
Three of us started a cozy window booth for a 5:30 Saturday reservation. The food was delicious. I especially enjoyed the fish chowder---the broth was so delicious. I followed with chicken wings, which were just ok. If you like garlic, you will love the chopped green salad. I had mine with steak. Also very yummy. Or service was prompt, professional and not at all overbearing. Seats near the door are a tiny bit chilly in the winter, but you can tell they are cranking heat to compensate. Ambiance was very cozy, warm and comfortable. I'm looking forward to coming back again and again.
(4)
Jesse M.
We had high hopes after reading reviews. The service was slow and inattentive. No one even came to the table for 10-15 minutes after we were seated. There's a note on the menu that food will take 30 minutes, but why would a burger and pizza take 30 minutes? In our case, it took closer to 60. Also, a lemonade refill was charged which was a surprise. When the food finally arrived, it was pretty good except for the cheese pizza the kids got which was tasteless. Overall, we were disappointed due to the service so I wouldn't return unless they did takeout.
(3)
Daniel M.
Little caveat - I've never sat in the dining room, only every at the bar (except of the couches). Another little caveat - I'm a mug club member. Okay, now onto the seemingly biased review. I go to this place about one a week for a few after work beverages with some friends, and sometimes just by myself to get out of the house. The bartender Jesse is top-notch - there isn't anyone of his class or ability in Westbrook and quite possibly in Portland. He makes a basil and gin based cocktail called the Soothsayer that's amazing. The bar sits about 12 people and he serves food and drinks to them as well as drinks for the usually packed dining room - and still we get our drinks in a quick fashion. Food is fantastic, but it is a gastro pub so be prepared for some unique tastes - this isn't your mom and pop's standard betty crocker shit they're cooking. I enjoy unique and interesting tastes, so the food is pretty good. The prices don't bother me, but I guess living in Boston for quite a while their prices are really not much higher than a sports pub. Long story short, if you like to sit and socialize at a bar rather than the dining room(because I've never sat at a table), this is a great place. A bit pricey, but the drinks and the bartender are top-notch.
(5)
Kerryann M.
This restaurant is the best kept secret in Westbrook. Such a jem in a not so great location. We enjoyed the delicious food and had great service during their brunch on Sunday. The made-to-order, homemade donuts are so incredible I couldn't get them off my mind all day! We're looking forward to coming back to try their dinners. Next time we're bringing some friends with us!
(4)
Michael E.
The food was so disappointing for brunch. The donuts are all the exact same dry cake. To create the various 'flavors' they just smear random topping on top of the dry cake donuts. What a let down. The bacon I ordered was cooked hilariously bad. It was like he was trying to mess it up or blind. Burned black along one edge and rubbery white on the other( both our phones were dead or I would be adding pictures). The side of bacon was $3 making it the worst money I have spent on food that I can remember. The only other brunch spot we tried this trip was Petit Jacqueline wich was great. To rub salt in my wound they offered a side of bacon for $2 that was absolutely fantastic. Our waitress had a grumpy attitude that bordered on rude. I will give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she was just having an off day. The host was great and she is the reason I am giving 2 stars not 1. She was nice and seated us promptly at a table by the window.
(2)
Keith S.
Disappointing Brunch overpriced a terribly underwhelming gastronomic experience
(1)
Alice C.
We have been wanting to try this place for so long and so when I finally recovered enough from a Bone Marrow Transplant, my husband and I decide to celebrate our 22nd Wedding Anniversary. So, it went something like this... We walk in and wait. "someone will be right with you" we're told. We watch several staff go by us, again and again. Just as we're thinking of giving up...we're seated, alas! We have scarce time to scan the drink menu before a well read but slightly smug waiter expects our order, which we place hardily. $9 Cosmopolitan arrives tasting like a watered down SeaBreeze, albeit a strong enough one so I indulge. As we read the menu, I take particular notice of a bit of friendly restaurant advice...' "so put the phone down, relax, chat, enjoy some good food..."or yaddah yaddah yaddah...something like that! Needless to say I am, at this point, gearing up for fine gastro experience of scrumptious food eaten in a relaxed state in a leisurely like way..and then the Band strikes up....LOUDLY, in a restaurant the size of of an average open concept kitchen/dining/living room household. And although the music is actually really good it is so loud my husband and I honestly cannot hear the other one speak. We were two feet apart from each other. We do see the others mouths open, move and shut, but tangible sound eludes us We ordered in a polite shout/talk after the waiter explained it is highly recommended we order appetizers as the food is all cooked to order, taking 30 minutes. So we wondered, were the apps pre-cooked, as they took only 10 minutes or so...hmmmmmm.? Anyway; The rather resigned waiter became even further so when he asked us something and I had to almost holler "I can't hear you!" He used sign language to ask if we wanted more drinks. We did not. He walked away. The appetizers were very good-but a spoon and a little bread with the mussels would have been perhaps a nice homey treat so as to get the full experience as well GET the mussels from the bowl to the plate with ease. Oh well. But the BEST part -or the IRONIC part was that although my husband and I sat but 2 feet apart, we found we had no choice but to go against the F and T philosophy and GET the PHONES out, as it was the ONLY way we could actually communicate to each other without shrugging,or contorting our face in public while shouting "WHAT?" It cracked us up...we're such rebels, you know... Ahhh-Good ol' technology... but the food was good, it really was. We just had to eat it and beat it before our ear drums burst! But all in all not only was it was more expensive then I'd presume a standard pub might be, and the food seemed to lean more towards the Tuscan region of Italy rather then say, the Provence Region of France. (pesto? aioli? cheesburgers? Franco-American....seriously?
(2)
Jay H.
Good service and good atmosphere equal two stars. The food was pretty lackluster for a self-proclaimed "gastro-pub." The positives: great local music. Chipper and friendly waitstaff. The negatives: Food. I could rip this place a new one if I wanted to. I'll just say the hamburger buns (house made, but why?) are reminiscent of Burger King. The house specialty drink (the swamp) is served with dry ice. It looks really cool, but tastes like bubble gum. Now, you may say, well I like bubble gum, but trust me, you wouldn't like this bubble gum. Gastro-pub? If you're going to apply a snooty title to your establishment, you'd better back it up with some good grub.
(2)
Stephanie G.
I had the pleasure of working at the Frog & Turtle (even though for a short period of time) I saw how Chef James truly took pride in his food. 3 years later I found myself planning my wedding and first stop was to Frog & Turtle to inquire about catering. Not only did they customize an amazing meal for my wedding they created an atmosphere we could never forget. Honestly the best food around and a man who is dedicated and committed to making his customers happy. You can trust that you will always have great outcome using Frog & Turtle as your caterer. Great food and great people. Thank you James, Meghan and your team for creating an amazing wedding for us.
(5)
Leslie A.
I've been here 2 times. To be fair, the service and atmosphere first time was quite good so we took visitors with us a 2nd time. As vegetarians however, the menu, while it looks good, is disappointing. The first visit i ordered goat cheese ravioli which was huge sheets of thick pasta with small stamps of goat cheese. My husband ordered the vegetable crepes which were mashed potatoes and spinach and cheddar (basically sides of meat dishes nicely carbed into crepes). Our second visit it took an hour to get appetizers with our friends. It took about 20 minutes to order a 2nd drink. They were out of flatbread. We had 3 vegetarians in our party. Again, they had mashed potato crepes which when they were served almost 2 hours later had raw spinach and unmelted cheddar. All in all, I wouldn't return. They were apologetic and refunded our appetizers which was nice. It wasn't a pleasant dinner. The food was not good. You'd think they could at least put some broccoli or something different in a vegetarian crepe than extra starch. A veggie burger would also be a welcome option for when they are out of flatbread on a friday night. good luck!!
(2)
Michael D.
Westbrook's finest dining experience by a long shot. You can grab some drinks or a nicely prepared dinner. The only issue I have is that dinner stops at 9:00 - I would like to see this more like 10:00. Their specials are very interesting and unique. I suggest getting there early if you want to check these out as they often sell out of the specials.
(5)
Ryan C.
Not so good.... Really unpleasant waitstaff and mediocre food, though the donuts were good. Hostess was not friendly and waitress couldnt manage to refill the coffee, thankfully its sitting right out in the middle of the dining room so you might as well do it yourself if you want any. 45 minutes after the order was placed we were informed that they didnt have one of the menu items ... seriously? its 10am, you ran out of something after being open an hour for brunch? you could have at least known to mention that when we were ordering. evenso, place was not even half full and they take 50 minutes to fry eggs? this place gets a big fat "meh, so what". 2 stars for the donuts. 0 stars for the staff
(2)
Sarah A.
Food is good but the service is weird. I feel like no one ever pays attention to you, never looks you in the eye and service is slow.
(2)
Dave P.
Walked in and was asked "Do you have reservations?" we said "No". Waiter walked off and no one else ever greeted us. We waited for 5 minutes while 4 different employees passed us by without greeting us. We felt very awkward. It is too bad because this establishment is only 1 mile from my house...but apparently they don't need our business, nor will they ever get it. I was really let down because the only things I have heard about this restaurant is positive stuff. We will not be back though. We felt very awkward and totally unwelcome.
(1)
Tony C.
Furthermore I reached out to the owner of frog and turtle. I tried explaining what happened in hopes that he would do something to try to make it right. His response "I see you have mad your decision" It's nice to know that the owner of this restaurant cares about his customers.
(1)
Andrew L.
Their weekend brunch is the best in the area. Start with some of their one of a kind homemade doughnuts. These will sell out so make sure you get in early. Your meal will not be complete without one! I always enjoyed one of their "benedict" specials. They are delicious takes on the classic eggs benedict. They also make wonderful one of a kind cocktails. I have also been many times for dinner. As with brunch, everything is homemade so your order will take some time. I have never been displeased with their steak offerings. The Frog & Turtle has a wonderful close-nit atmosphere which makes you feel like a regular. I would recommend reservations for brunch and possibly for dinner.
(5)
Captn I.
Wow! Braised pork shank with jus. Mac & cheese and wilted watercress. My wife had the Buff Jimmy flat bread and salad. Basically a cheese burger pizza with pickles and everything. Dessert was coconut ice-cream with choc chips for Heidi and I had apple fritters with maple syrup, whipped cream and ice-cream. Everything was homemade. Not bad. Had some wine and a big tankard of Murphy's stout!
(4)
Carole H.
Noticed someone else wrote a bad tip today too! Food is always good, but service has been getting progressively worse every time we eat brunch. We arrived at 11am and didn't get our food until noon!! No apologies, no explanations. They forgot our coffee and my daughter's juice and took 15 minutes once we were seated to even ask us if we wanted a beverage. We won't be coming back unless we feel like eating at the bar where it looks like things are faster.
(2)
Matt S.
Friends suggested the F&T to meet out at and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Arriving early the bartender greeted me with a warm smile and introduction. After we sat down our party size grew and the waitress moved us over right over to another table. Service was great, the chef was even out on the dinning room floor checking to insure everyone was enjoying. Food: I'm heading back soon. The fish special I had was out of this world. A shrimp dish with pan fried noodles and seasoned with just the right spices. Delicious. I hear the chicken crepes are a cult favorite. Bottom Line: This is a quiet jewel that will draw you back again! Enjoy.
(5)
Jack M.
The atmosphere is great, the bartender is great, the entertainment is great but I came there for the food and the service; not so great. The waiter was disconnected. He acted like he was doing us a favor when he came to the table. We waited a very long time for a waitperson and we finally were able to place an order; we waited a very long time for the food. The waiter came over and pointed to a table near us and told us that there was a table of 16 and our food was going to take a long time. He suggested that we get appetizers, so we waited for those and the portions were tiny. He didn't apologize or offer us some food on the house to hold us over. He just had a look on his face like he was wishing he was somewhere else. The food was just okay. I cannot get excited about pricy food that I could have prepared myself.
(2)
Dave B.
My wife and I stopped here on the way from South Jersey to visit friends in Sweden, ME. It was a very pleasant surprise. Our waitress was very enthusiastic and competent. The atmosphere was pleasant and the food was wonderful. It was a special experience and we hope to return the next time we visit Maine.
(5)
Amy C.
We were staying in Portland and really believed we should eat dinner there. We decided to drive out to this place instead based on the reviews. Great choice! We made a reservation & we were seated in less than 5min. We had our kids with us(5 & 9) and they were the only kids there, but they made us all feel welcome. We ordered the fish and chips for the kids and the waitress suggested they split it because it was a good portion. Good idea--it was $18 and they just about finished it. The chips were actually fresh made chips and delicious! We split the goat cheese strudel and almost licked the plate! I had the chicken cordon bleu, which was actually better than a traditional one, the sauce was not cream-based and it had roasted root vegetables inside. My husband had the braised rib and loved it! The drinks were fantastic and we spent 2hours there to enjoy the meal. Kids had dessert, too. $133 for everything and it was money well spent!
(5)
Bob R.
My wife likes this place more than me but it's slowly winning me over. Parked in back and came in through the back door - on the way to the hostess stand, proceeded to trip over the stage. Not much room to negotiate. Didn't have a reservation but were happy sitting at the bar. Very friendly bar tender. He made a very nice Manhattan for me. It was odd in that there were many bourbon choice but only one rye? I occasionally have bourbon but I'm more of a Manhattan traditionalist. I had the fish chowder which was very good, very hot, maybe too big of a bowl - I don't think there was a "cup" option on the menu - next time I'll ask. The bowl also came out a little too fast as I wasn't even close to finishing my Manhattan. Sip of soup, sip of Manhattan, sip of soup, etc. - not ideal. I thought the burger was great. Had a version with bacon, blue cheese etc. Perfectly cooked med rare. I liked the bun a lot. Wife had a vege flatbread which was very good as well as an app (I can't remember what it was) which she enjoyed. Music started around 8:30 - a real nice addition to the scene. Overall, I think it's really nice food in a casual atmosphere with live music and good service. Nice combo.
(4)
Nicole And Russ F.
Tough review as food and live music are often great. But I can't get past some of the personalities here. There is one server (Michael) who always aims to please. But the hostess and other servers often serve up a side of attitude that we never order.
(2)
Soleil D.
Busy rainy Sunday brunch. Seated promptly with an 11o'clock res. We both got the special pulled pork benedict which was absolutly perfect, especially paired with one of the best bloody's I've had, and I get one every sunday. Wish we got the servers name she was great. I asked for no cheese on my Benedict but it came with it anyways (it was so good with the cheese and hollandaise, I just was trying to cut down on the unhealthy factor not the deliciousness), anyways she gave us a very generous discount for the not so big mistake. I've had dinner there a few times and now brunch and Everytime has been perfect.
(5)
Angie S.
We've been to the Frog & Turtle twice for dinner now, and it's becoming one of our new go-to spots. It's good food in an unpretentious atmosphere. (They're the same people behind the French Press Eatery around the corner, their casual breakfast/lunch place) Our first visit started off somewhat dubiously -- a table smack in the middle of traffic that was wobblier than a baby learning to walk. Fortunately, as we started to mutter a bit, our server noticed, swooped in and fixed it -- typical of the very attentive staff. Food has been great. I've had the cheese plate appetizer both times, and I haven't been disappointed - and I'm a cheese nut. My husband had the poutine the first time, and it was good, too. My husband had a bouillabaisse that was to die for on our second visit. Service, as mentioned before, is great... attentive, but you feel you're allowed to linger. We'll be back often. We've heard raves about their brunch.
(4)
Tammy S.
This is Uffa's reincarnated in Westbrook. The food is incredible, the service is amazing, it's a great atmosphere, live music on Friday is fun and the brunch... the donuts are incredible and the Bloody Mary's are fantastic! Highly recommend!
(5)
Pygmy A.
Excellent brunch! Never would have tried Eggs Benedict with brie and bacon if not tempted by this menu. Why only on Sunday?
(5)
K C.
Great! Coming from San Francisco to Portland for my girlfriend's parents' 50th anniversary get together, I assumed that I'd be at best mildly disappointed by something calling itself a gastro-anything, let alone pub. We had ~20 people for early dinner and they provided a perfect array of starters. We particularly liked the crackers they had made out of their own wheat bread. Our waiter, Ian was superb both in attentiveness and his knowledge and interest in what he was offering us. The chocolate cake they made for the occasion got rave reviews; just sweet enough - which pleased everyone. F&T was unpretentious so I think all our folks there for a fairly casual event felt quite comfortable. All in all, really nice place with good people. I'd go back, and certainly need to try the donuts.
(4)
Brenda G.
Formerly Cafe Uffa on Longfellow Square in Portland, F and T is an enthusiastic foodie enclave in deepest, darkest Westbrook. Breathing in the fumes of its immediate predecessor, Chickie's, F and T has managed to capture its venue vibe with great entertainment AND great food. New Year's Eve with blues legend Pam Baker and raw bar was sublime.
(4)
John C.
Had brunch there on Sunday 7/26/09, food was great! Very creative with breakfast. Old standbys as well as interesting items you won't find anywhere else. Banana Pancakes with "REAL" maple syrup made my day! Lobster Benedict was a surprising treat to see as well, even though I couldn't partake, my friend gobbled it up like it was going to run away from him!
(4)
Christine B.
Excellent food, service, and ambiance. Joined a colleague here for dinner while traveling, the first thing that struck me was easy bar-to-table service, no paying twice or hassle making the move. I enjoyed a bourbon smash while he had a local beer. The band playing was raucous and made our drinks better, even as we kvetched about work. The mussel appetizer was wonderful. I love mussels and have eaten so many good ones while in Maine, usually in Portland's Old Port district. These were perfectly cooked, meaty, and Mexican-style. I am not sure I could've asked for much more from them, and I ate most of them while my companion enjoyed chili. My main course was a perfect fresh pasta dish. The fettucine was clearly fresh and al dente with a wonderful summer sauce of fresh vegetables. My colleague enjoyed a flatbread, and even packed up leftovers from it and his chili. The service throughout our time was exceptional, thoughtful. The waitress did not hurry us, but she was helpful and available as needed. She offered solid drink selections for our dinners and based on what we had already started. I look forward to heading back to The Frog & Turtle again. I'd like to try more from their well-planned menu.
(5)
Kristi M.
First, I should confess, I'm pretty much a regular here. But, that speaks to how great this place is - great food and service! I'm generally here for happy hour, but this morning I met a friend for brunch. We sat at the bar, as I almost always do. The bartender, Jesse, is friendly, fun, and provides top notch service. In addition, he makes amazing and creative drinks. I trust him enough to just make me whatever he feels like. I've never been disappointed. This morning, I went with a delicious Icy Frog - an adult iced coffee. Very rich, but perfect on a Sunday morning. Tip: if you enjoy cribbage, ask for a board. They have several behind the bar. Anyway, back to brunch. This was my second time visiting for brunch. This time I was smart enough to try one of their famous donuts. My friend and I split a John Candy - maple and bacon donut. Fresh out of the fryer with real maple syrup drizzled on it and sprinkled with bacon. It's better than it sounds. For my actual breakfast, I went with one of the specials which was Eggs Benedict but served with meatloaf in place of the ham. Very flavorful and a generous portion. I was not able to finish it as it was served with a small salad of tossed greens lightly dressed and perfect home fries. Great start to my Sunday!
Good little breakfast spot. They have some great niche dishes and staff is on point. Menu very limited though, maybe some expansion and variety is needed. No wait for brunch on a Sunday was pretty awesome though. Custom made donuts are very cool but I'm more into the meat bread and potatoes, style of breakfast. French toast was very appealing as well.
(3)
Tony W.
Came here on a busy Friday. I had actually checked on Open Table throughout the day and it seemed like reservations were widely available for all time slots. I took this as a sign that I didn't need to make a reservation...big mistake. We got there and the place was packed. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that for at least 10 minutes, because no staff member made an effort to greet us at the door and tell us about their wait time and seating procedure. A couple in line ahead of us told us that we needed to check in with the hostess, and HER TABLE IS NOT NEAR THE DOOR. Once we got our name on the list and was told that it would be at least a 45 minute wait, we walked the 2 1/2 feet over to the bar to have a couple cocktails to kill time. It also took about 10 minutes of failed eye contact and hand gestures toward the bartender to grab two cocktail menus. While we were perusing the menu, a table opened up 35 minutes earlier than our quoted time, and we happily snapped it up. So what if it was three feet from the band, which was about to go on? I like their menu; for a 'gastropub', it has a lot going on. As our excellent server informed us, you can either go down the small plates route or the entree route. My friend and I debated getting charcuterie, wings, and a few other things, but in the end, we both settled on our own entrees and splitting an appetizer. They also have a great drink menu, which seems to highlight a few bourbon specialties. I ordered the bourbon smash ($12), and it was very good. Appetizer: At the recommendation of our server, we started with a fried avocado that was dressed with salsa and sour cream(?). The avocado itself was unseasoned and rather bland, but it worked perfectly with the salsa. I probably wouldn't order it again but it was tasty. Because our entrees were taking longer than expected to prepare, our server brought over a goat cheese salad of some kind to hold us over. THIS was much better than the avocado appetizer. Dinner: I ordered the Devil Burger on a recommendation from a friend ($15), and my friend ordered a chicken flatbread of some kind. I really can't say I was impressed. It wasn't bad, because at the end of the day it's still a burger. But I would certainly say it falls toward the bottom of my consumed burger spectrum, despite having an olive sticking out of it, a layer of onion rings, and something called 'ninja sauce' giving it a spicy kick. Unimpressed, especially at $15. This is closer to a $8-$10 burger (or less). The cut fries that came along with it, however, were very good. The music certainly made up for my average meal. The 5-piece band played a good mix of jazz, rock, and a few jammy/funky tunes. I could see myself coming back just to see them. Overall, a bit of a letdown based on everyone's recommendations of this place. I think my opinion of this place could change if I ordered a different combination of food (you're next, charcuterie and wings!), and so I'll be back to give 'em another chance.
(3)
Patrick C.
Brunch yesterday at the Frog & Turtle in Westbrook. Cool place, good vibes and excellent friendly service. We started with "appetizers" of homemade- made to order donuts...Boston cream (amazing), the John Candy ...maple and bacon ...speaks for itself! And Jason's pretzel ...caramel and salt... Pretty good. My girl had the special...Salisbury steak Benedict...good and tasty, though missing hollandaise for some reason?? I had the vegetable florentine Benedict...very good, great home fries. Also great coffee, always kept full cup (important) and the Bloody Mary reportedly was excellent. Will pretty much be back, if just for donuts and coffee.
(4)
Christine L.
First off, what in the world is a gastropub? According to Wiki (the best aka worst site ever to cite), the term was coined as recently as 1991 by the owners of a pub in London who were redefining the standard pub fare by placing a higher emphasis on higher end food. So is this a gastropub? ABSOLUTELY. But keep in mind that you could also call it glorified pub fare... okay that's a little too harsh. I was excited for dinner, and their adorable Christmas decorations definitely helped up my spirits! Here's what I tried, after the 30+ minute necessary wait due to everything being made from scratch after being ordered: - Fried Calamari appetizer: Lightly battered and tossed in a creamy lime dressing, this was definitely my top choice of the two apps we ordered. I'm not used to my calamari being coated in sauce, but the crispness remained! - PEI Mussels: Not my favorite. The menu says steamed w/ garlic, tasso, and fresh herbs in a cajun-style sauce. We had someone at our table who doesn't eat pork, so we had no tasso (kind of like a smoked ham). The mussels were teeeeeeny tiny, and nearly half our shells were empty! Very disappointing. - Roasted Salmon: I LOVE salmon, I love it even more when it's made better than my impromptu cooking sessions at home. This wasn't it. The salmon came roasted on top of coconut rice and charred watercress, with an orange brown sugar soy glaze. Of the whole dish, I suppose the salmon was the highlight, I ordered it cooked medium, and that part was spot on. The skin started off crisp, but sitting on top of coconut rice tends to make things mushy! The rice was really fluffy, so much so that I didn't quite taste the coconut. It seemed like everything was served on top of watercress, this bunch was a tad too bitter (and I usually like bitter too...), and finally, the glaze was SUPER SALTY! Finally, I can't forget the heaping handfuls of fried things on top of the salmon. While fun and pretty, there was just so much! - Chocolate Teardrop of Happiness: Our waitress described this as heaven for chocolate-lovers. While it's very pretty, the choco/raspberry combo just isn't for me, the other chocolate-lovers at my table did love it though! - Waffles w/ Caramelized Apples: One thing I have to say about both desserts: beautiful presentation! Despite drowning in vanilla ice cream & caramel sauce, the waffle was amazingly crisp! I only had a bite, but I wish all waffles came like this. Overall, yes this is definitely a solid place to dine out. While it's not something I'd imagine when I see the word "gastro-", it's SO much more than your average pub. The ambience and service were both great, with the exception of the water pouring. I was no thirstier than normal, but how hard is it to get a refill?? I also had a chunk of something weird in my water, so that was a little disturbing. Gratuity is 20% for parties of 6+.
(3)
Michelle L.
Stopped in here on Friday night for a light dinner with my husband. Easy parking right behind the restaurant was an early sign of good things to come. The live music was in full swing when we arrived and the band of the night was The Cozmik Zombies, who were rocking out a tight set of blues and folk. The music could be quite loud, so do be forewarned of that. We were seated near the windows, conveniently not in full-on blow-out-your-eardrums territory and ordered some beers and the cheese and meat plate to share. Next time I may go for a bourbon flight, but it wasn't that kind of evening. The portions were pretty small, but everything on the plate was absolutely delicious. Next we split some calamari, which again exceeded expectations. They were very lightly fried with a citrusy sauce. Finally we split the seasonal parfait for dessert. All things considered, the food here is above and beyond what I expected at this venue. The service was also great throughout - attentive without being annoying - and the owner even came over at the end to see how we enjoyed everything. We'll definitely be back again if we find ourselves out in Westbrook.
(5)
Sue S.
We haven't been here for a while and decided to give it another try a s WOW, so plsd we did! We'd give it more than 5 if we could! The service was outstanding - everyone - and the food was excellent!
(5)
Jeremy N.
Amazing food and service. This is a 5 star restaurant in the middle of little Westbrook. You don't ususally see this quality outside of a big city. It is pricy but worth every penny.
(5)
Alise K.
The food is always good here. The service, however was terrible. We had 7pm reservations and did not order appetizers or dinner til 8pm. Our waitress literally disappeared. She said she had 6 tables and that they were all seated close in time to each other. Didn't make sense at all. We saw what tables she had and they were seated at various times throughout the evening. She was semi apologetic but not enough to compensate us with a drink or appetizer.... 3 of us had small salads with grilled salmon. Delicious and well prepared. The fourth had a burger that he raved about.
I am from Rhode Island and a group of about 25-30 of us were in Maine over this past weekend to take part in the Tough Mudder. It's quite the task to find a place that can our big group for our celebratory dinner after the event. I took to Yelp to look into some favored options and this place stuck out. James the Chef was responsive and accommodating when I reached out to him. Upon arrival, we were excited to see a banner which read "Welcome Tough Mudders" and our tables were already prepared and there was a special "Tough Mudder" menu with the brunch menu. It was great service and we had a few young kids and they received their food ASAP. I ordered the Jimmy Benedict (bacon, caramelized onions, scallions and brie) it was delicious! The potatoes were a tad salty but still crispy and good. I washed it all down with a beer flight sampler. The only down side was that they had run out of their made to order donuts . Awesome place, will definitely go back when I head that way.
(5)
Jim R.
My wife and my mother and I went to dinner around 7:30 on a Thursday. I was unaware that there was live music every Thursday night so conversation was pretty difficult. If I would have known, I probably would have booked another restaurant but. oh well. The place is cute and there is a parking lot right behind the restaurant. For an app, I had the mussels which were delicious. They were steamed with garlic, tasso and fresh herbs. The broth was fantastic! I needed to get more bread to soak it up. The mussels came out hot. My mother and wife had salads and they were happy with them although, at $10+ each, pricey for greens. For entrees, my mom had a flat beard. It was good and pretty large. She couldn't finish it. My wife had the chicken crepe which she described as a chicken pot pie in a crepe. There were plenty of vegetables and the chicken was super tender. I had the pasta with was loaded with veggies and freshly foraged mushrooms that were just great. Everything came out hot. Our waiter was great. He was attentive but not chatty and was right there with filled water glasses and bread. I would highly recommend this place. We had a great experience. It sounds like the service issues here are hit or miss based on who you dealt with. I guess we lucked out tonight.
(4)
Aiden C.
I took my girl friend there for our anniversary today. The food was delicious and the customer service was great! I made a reservation and we were seated immediately. I highly recommend trying this place. I would go back again!
(5)
John R.
This is probably the best restaurant in Westbrook for a "sit down" dinner. The food is a bit unique & I like the fact that they have an open type kitchen. Great bar area & they have some good local entertainment. The only reason I did not give them 5 stars is because I think they could be more solicitous of vegetarians. They do have several good vegetarian items, but I prefer a restaurant to have a vegetarian section on their menu. The vegetarian items we had were excellent! Service was great... We will be "regulars"...
(4)
Fred S.
Me and Cathy have been interested in trying this place for quite some time now, so last Sunday we drove to Westbrook and gave it a shot... Well not really. Once we parked, we arrived at 1pm to a full gastro pub, filled with people happily eating and chatting. We were promptly told by the bartender that the kitchen closed at 1, and we were SOL. OK, I get it, it was 1pm and those are the rules, but the place was full! Surely they could have served two more people at the bar, considering they were so busy, it really made me think. All I can say is, it must be nice to own a restaurant that makes so much money, that you can turn customers away by closing early on Sunday and on Mondays all together. I just can't fathom paying rent for a space and just opt not to generate revenue for a day and a half. Sure, chef and staff deserve a break, but schedule some extra help with all that money. Sadly, we were prepared to go whole-hog on this intriguing menu, ready to spend some serious cash, followed by a stunning Yelp review. Oh well, I guess they don't need my money, and with all of the great restaurants in Portland, I won't be bothered to make it back there.
(1)
S T.
Came here for brunch. It was our first time here so decided to try the homemade donuts. We ordered several different ones to share. Boy that was a mistake because they were all SO GOOD!! The breakfast was typical, but the portions are huge!
(3)
Nichole A.
Always heard great things about this plae. Not really sure as to why? Went there with two friends waitress came over ever 3 mins on us to order. Then I ordered my food got a burger. The middle was raw and it was cold. They had s great band but they were so loud I couldn't enjoy anything. It was so loud the next day I had a raspy voice and soar throat. Maybe I will come back and try it again
(1)
Tom A.
Loved the food and service here. Great original drinks. Wish I could have eaten and drank more but they would have had to roll me out of the place. Waitstaff was extremely professional and accommodating. I would suggest this place to anyone looking for a night out.
(5)
Andrew S.
My husband and I came here for brunch without the kids but see a lot of tables with families - and the staff is super nice & accommodating. Amazing food. I had the steak & cheese Benedict and can say hands down this is the best Benedict I've had. My husband got an omelette it was huge (and amazing). If you have not been here before you should start with the donuts. I thought the chocolate and the Elvis were too rich (we had two bites) but we devoured the Heart Foundation and would recommend it to everyone that stops in for brunch (just be sure you leave room for the main meal - one donut is enough or get them to go).
(5)
Jill S.
The food and atmosphere were excellant ! We sat at the bar and had charcuterie And the cheese plate .We also had the fried avacodo which was incredible.What made the night was Jessie at the bar.He was knowledgable and fun.His drinks were great including his excitement to make my husbands Sazerac .We will be back!
(5)
Liz S.
Place is bomb-diggity. Went for brunch and got a mimosa with veggie benedict. Although it gets pretty busy for breakfast/brunch we were able to get a seat at the bar. Staff is super friendly and food doesn't disappoint. I typically eat in Portland and was nervous about venturing to Westbrook since they are not usually known for having a lot of great restaurant choices. I'll definitely be back and I'm already looking forward to it.
(5)
S And E H.
Pub? Nope. Bistro? Yes. Great food that is made to order so take a seat grab a drink, it'll be ready when it's done. Worth the wait.
(5)
Lynn V.
We went for our wedding anniversary and the waiter we had was amazing (later he told us he was the owner). He helped us with everything from what wine to have , appetizers to try and main course. We were blown away by his service, attention to details and answered any question we asked. The food was amazing (cheese plate w/bread, grilled lamb w/asparagus, and a chocolate mousse- so so good ), fresh and inviting! Great spot to go to celebrate something special and local! The most amazing dining experience I've ever had.
(5)
Karen R.
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Westbrook. The staff is always very friendly and accommodating, the atmosphere is always delightful, and the food is always amazing. They change their menu seasonally to mix it up and the have off the menu specials every night. The prices are reasonable and the portion sizes are excellent - I always come home with left overs! I highly recommend stopping by for drinks and appetizers and then enjoy a great meal!
(5)
Erin S.
My boyfriend and I visit the Frog and Turtle often and we love it! We live in Westbrook and love the fact that there is a really great restaurant just a short drive from our home. The Frog & Turtle serves up delicious food within a range of prices. All their food is made to order and we've never had a bad meal there. While their entrees are always fantastic, our favorite dish is actually the green leaf salad with red onion, bacon, a hardboiled egg, and a light garlicky dressing - I can never get enough of it. They have a great selection of food from flatbreads to fish tacos, duck to a NY strip steak. The Cajun mussels are also a must-have! While the food can be a tad bit pricy depending upon what you order (a salad, flatbread, steak, crème brulee and three drinks came to $90), it's one of those places that you should definitely try out. The Frog & Turtle also has live music - if you can go on a night when the Tone Kings are playing, you'll be very happy! It's always good to make reservations at least a couple of days ahead of time. My only knock-down to a four-star is that they usually don't sit you at your reservation time. We try to make reservations for 8:00pm each time we go so that we can enjoy the music, but it seems as though they have a little bit of trouble moving their guests through tables. This past weekend we didn't get seated until close to 8:30pm. The food is worth it, though! Enjoy!
(4)
Priscilla H.
Great atmosphere - fantastic music. Always great when the Cozmik Zombies are playing - but you will find great local talent any night of the week. Interesting and flavorful!
(5)
Carrissa L.
We finally got to eat at The Frog & Turtle after wanting to for a long time - and we were blown away! We made reservations and were seated promptly when we arrived. Our waitress was wonderful right from the start. We had our two kids with us - 10 and 12 - and they were the only two kids in the restaurant, but still made welcome. The food was out of this world. The kids each had a burger and fries and they were absolutely delicious. The burgers were big and juicy and flavorful, and the fries handmade and perfectly seasoned. My husband and I each had a different special - I had rainbow trout with local greens, bacon and razor clams and my husband had a veal chop with mashed potatoes and spring peas. Each dish was perfectly prepared, expertly seasoned, and everything incredibly fresh. We savored each and every bite. The meal did take about two hours total, but it was paced perfectly for a restaurant that expects you to take your time and truly savor your meal. Live music kicked in around desert and we had a great time listening. The Frog & Turtle is a true gem in Westbrook, as is the owner Chef James, who gives back to the local community tirelessly. I can't wait to support this local treasure with my patronage again soon.
(5)
Shawn R.
I dig everything about this place.
(4)
Soleil D.
Busy rainy Sunday brunch. Seated promptly with an 11o'clock res. We both got the special pulled pork benedict which was absolutly perfect, especially paired with one of the best bloody's I've had, and I get one every sunday. Wish we got the servers name she was great. I asked for no cheese on my Benedict but it came with it anyways (it was so good with the cheese and hollandaise, I just was trying to cut down on the unhealthy factor not the deliciousness), anyways she gave us a very generous discount for the not so big mistake. I've had dinner there a few times and now brunch and Everytime has been perfect.
(5)
Christine B.
Excellent food, service, and ambiance. Joined a colleague here for dinner while traveling, the first thing that struck me was easy bar-to-table service, no paying twice or hassle making the move. I enjoyed a bourbon smash while he had a local beer. The band playing was raucous and made our drinks better, even as we kvetched about work. The mussel appetizer was wonderful. I love mussels and have eaten so many good ones while in Maine, usually in Portland's Old Port district. These were perfectly cooked, meaty, and Mexican-style. I am not sure I could've asked for much more from them, and I ate most of them while my companion enjoyed chili. My main course was a perfect fresh pasta dish. The fettucine was clearly fresh and al dente with a wonderful summer sauce of fresh vegetables. My colleague enjoyed a flatbread, and even packed up leftovers from it and his chili. The service throughout our time was exceptional, thoughtful. The waitress did not hurry us, but she was helpful and available as needed. She offered solid drink selections for our dinners and based on what we had already started. I look forward to heading back to The Frog & Turtle again. I'd like to try more from their well-planned menu.
(5)
Stephanie G.
I had the pleasure of working at the Frog & Turtle (even though for a short period of time) I saw how Chef James truly took pride in his food. 3 years later I found myself planning my wedding and first stop was to Frog & Turtle to inquire about catering. Not only did they customize an amazing meal for my wedding they created an atmosphere we could never forget. Honestly the best food around and a man who is dedicated and committed to making his customers happy. You can trust that you will always have great outcome using Frog & Turtle as your caterer. Great food and great people. Thank you James, Meghan and your team for creating an amazing wedding for us.
(5)
Am M.
Last Friday, 09/11, I had a great meal on a busy Friday night. This Friday, 09/18, not so much. In fact it was one of, if not THE worst experience I have ever had in a restaurant (of which I was not the cause...) [I feel like i have to disclose that I was a waitress and bartender for nearly 10 years of my life. I know what is excuseable behavior and I know certain tables can be tough and impossible to please. I know that it's difficult to put on a cheery face when co-workers aren't pulling their weight or when the kitchen is having an off night... I get it... I am sympathetic and forgiving.] Well, I was.. It was busy but it wasn't nuts. We had a reservation, and once we communicated that information to the right person we were sat in a timely manner. It took forever to order drinks- and even longer to get them (just sodas and water) to the table. It took forever to get the specials from the server- then it took forever to get the server BACK to the table to answer a few questions and place our order. Oh, and btw, we had a different person come to our table every time- perhaps to confuse us when we wrote a terrible review so as not to hold any one person responsible. Good idea in theory, but now every single server and hostess is to blame for the AWFUL and I mean AWFUL experience we had. The food took forever. Almost an hour. But whatever, based on my experience last week, the food was worth the wait. It was NOT worth the wait. My flatbread, which I had ordered one week earlier, was unrecognizeable. It had shrunk in size, it was burned, and it was covered in orange cheese... Not so one week earlier. My sister's meal was so salty it was inedible. We're talking, spat out, salty. The third meal supposedly came with "pepere's potatoes"...Not so much. In place of potatoes was a side of roasted garlic cloves- like the whole clove. No potatoes. My friend had even taken the time to ask one of the revolving servers about the special potatoes. (Btw, the server who went over specials and menu items was either un-informed or just didn't care enough to learn/exhibit knowledge about the menu he was serving... It was just uncomfortable listening to him stumble through the attempted memorization of the specials. He basically had no idea what he was talking about and couldn't even bullshit his way through it. Honestly, I wish I hadn't asked.) So far, we have our drinks, which they are kind enough to refill before we get our meals... (more about THAT later). We have our terrible meals, and then we get NOTHING... NO ONE, and I mean NO one comes within even shouting range of our table. So far we've had three or four different people pretend to be our server for a max of 30 seconds. So maybe no one knew who was actually responsible for checking on us... OR perhaps they knew how awful our meals were as there were other tables complaining about their food as well... When someone FINALLY came to check on our meals/clear our plates/ask if we wanted dessert, my sister informed out latest waiter, of the saltiness of her meal. He then proceeds to pull a hunk of the kale off of her plate with his FINGERS and popped it in his mouth right there at the table!!!!!! (WTF?!?!?!) While he agreed with her, he did nothing to adjust the bill. So three terrible meals, terrible service... Can we please just get out of here??? NOPE. We sit. We wait. And Wait. Finally we get our unsplit check... From yet ANOTHER new server to our table. Seriously... And we've been charged for our soda refills... Seriously?! There was no mention of being a charge when we were asked if we would like refills. And honestly, i had no idea that any restaurant charged for fountain soda refills- not to mention one that charged $30 a meal!!!! Nothing is done to aknowledge our uneaten meals or our overall awful experience. And honestly we just want to get the heck out of there. We ask the new server to split our check- knowing there is no way she will know what we each had- so could she send over the person who took our order? She insists she can do it. Literally 30 minutes later, she returns with our split checks. While we are waiting for our checks the experience goes from awful to inexcuseable. I am writing this review because of what happens while we are waiting for our checks. The "manager" hostess, approaches the table. I think, "Finally, she's going to ask us how she can make it up to us- or tell us she's comp-ed a meal or two..." NOPE. She grabs a few empty glasses and asks us what we are waiting for.... Her actual words are, "Soooo, was there something you guys were waiting for orrrr.... ?" Or what? Is she for real??? My sister explains that we are waiting for our cards. "Uh, what?" she says. "We are waiting for our cards so that we can leave." The manager says nothing- just walks off. So yea. The food was bad. The service was very bad. But the "management" was inexcuseable. I will NEVER be back.
(1)
Kristi M.
First, I should confess, I'm pretty much a regular here. But, that speaks to how great this place is - great food and service! I'm generally here for happy hour, but this morning I met a friend for brunch. We sat at the bar, as I almost always do. The bartender, Jesse, is friendly, fun, and provides top notch service. In addition, he makes amazing and creative drinks. I trust him enough to just make me whatever he feels like. I've never been disappointed. This morning, I went with a delicious Icy Frog - an adult iced coffee. Very rich, but perfect on a Sunday morning. Tip: if you enjoy cribbage, ask for a board. They have several behind the bar. Anyway, back to brunch. This was my second time visiting for brunch. This time I was smart enough to try one of their famous donuts. My friend and I split a John Candy - maple and bacon donut. Fresh out of the fryer with real maple syrup drizzled on it and sprinkled with bacon. It's better than it sounds. For my actual breakfast, I went with one of the specials which was Eggs Benedict but served with meatloaf in place of the ham. Very flavorful and a generous portion. I was not able to finish it as it was served with a small salad of tossed greens lightly dressed and perfect home fries. Great start to my Sunday!
(5)
Tony W.
Came here on a busy Friday. I had actually checked on Open Table throughout the day and it seemed like reservations were widely available for all time slots. I took this as a sign that I didn't need to make a reservation...big mistake. We got there and the place was packed. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that for at least 10 minutes, because no staff member made an effort to greet us at the door and tell us about their wait time and seating procedure. A couple in line ahead of us told us that we needed to check in with the hostess, and HER TABLE IS NOT NEAR THE DOOR. Once we got our name on the list and was told that it would be at least a 45 minute wait, we walked the 2 1/2 feet over to the bar to have a couple cocktails to kill time. It also took about 10 minutes of failed eye contact and hand gestures toward the bartender to grab two cocktail menus. While we were perusing the menu, a table opened up 35 minutes earlier than our quoted time, and we happily snapped it up. So what if it was three feet from the band, which was about to go on? I like their menu; for a 'gastropub', it has a lot going on. As our excellent server informed us, you can either go down the small plates route or the entree route. My friend and I debated getting charcuterie, wings, and a few other things, but in the end, we both settled on our own entrees and splitting an appetizer. They also have a great drink menu, which seems to highlight a few bourbon specialties. I ordered the bourbon smash ($12), and it was very good. Appetizer: At the recommendation of our server, we started with a fried avocado that was dressed with salsa and sour cream(?). The avocado itself was unseasoned and rather bland, but it worked perfectly with the salsa. I probably wouldn't order it again but it was tasty. Because our entrees were taking longer than expected to prepare, our server brought over a goat cheese salad of some kind to hold us over. THIS was much better than the avocado appetizer. Dinner: I ordered the Devil Burger on a recommendation from a friend ($15), and my friend ordered a chicken flatbread of some kind. I really can't say I was impressed. It wasn't bad, because at the end of the day it's still a burger. But I would certainly say it falls toward the bottom of my consumed burger spectrum, despite having an olive sticking out of it, a layer of onion rings, and something called 'ninja sauce' giving it a spicy kick. Unimpressed, especially at $15. This is closer to a $8-$10 burger (or less). The cut fries that came along with it, however, were very good. The music certainly made up for my average meal. The 5-piece band played a good mix of jazz, rock, and a few jammy/funky tunes. I could see myself coming back just to see them. Overall, a bit of a letdown based on everyone's recommendations of this place. I think my opinion of this place could change if I ordered a different combination of food (you're next, charcuterie and wings!), and so I'll be back to give 'em another chance.
(3)
Patrick C.
Brunch yesterday at the Frog & Turtle in Westbrook. Cool place, good vibes and excellent friendly service. We started with "appetizers" of homemade- made to order donuts...Boston cream (amazing), the John Candy ...maple and bacon ...speaks for itself! And Jason's pretzel ...caramel and salt... Pretty good. My girl had the special...Salisbury steak Benedict...good and tasty, though missing hollandaise for some reason?? I had the vegetable florentine Benedict...very good, great home fries. Also great coffee, always kept full cup (important) and the Bloody Mary reportedly was excellent. Will pretty much be back, if just for donuts and coffee.
(4)
Michelle L.
Stopped in here on Friday night for a light dinner with my husband. Easy parking right behind the restaurant was an early sign of good things to come. The live music was in full swing when we arrived and the band of the night was The Cozmik Zombies, who were rocking out a tight set of blues and folk. The music could be quite loud, so do be forewarned of that. We were seated near the windows, conveniently not in full-on blow-out-your-eardrums territory and ordered some beers and the cheese and meat plate to share. Next time I may go for a bourbon flight, but it wasn't that kind of evening. The portions were pretty small, but everything on the plate was absolutely delicious. Next we split some calamari, which again exceeded expectations. They were very lightly fried with a citrusy sauce. Finally we split the seasonal parfait for dessert. All things considered, the food here is above and beyond what I expected at this venue. The service was also great throughout - attentive without being annoying - and the owner even came over at the end to see how we enjoyed everything. We'll definitely be back again if we find ourselves out in Westbrook.
(5)
Sue S.
We haven't been here for a while and decided to give it another try a s WOW, so plsd we did! We'd give it more than 5 if we could! The service was outstanding - everyone - and the food was excellent!
(5)
Rebecca W.
The food is delicious, but a bit pricey. It is considered a gastropub and is a unique experience. The atomsphere is romantic and lit beautifully. The explainations of the food and preperation are a bit over the top, but entertainig. "We went to the market and bought a pumpkin, we pureed it..." as the begining of how they made the pumpkin pie martini, which was flavorful but not well balanced, a bit strong. The waitress was attentive and had a vast knowledge of the menu. We started with poutine, which was ok. The gravy was thick but not much flavor. We ordered the buff jimmy and the tsunami flatbreads, which were both crisp and bursting with excellent flavor combos. It was a good expericne but not likely to be repeated
(3)
Jesse M.
We had high hopes after reading reviews. The service was slow and inattentive. No one even came to the table for 10-15 minutes after we were seated. There's a note on the menu that food will take 30 minutes, but why would a burger and pizza take 30 minutes? In our case, it took closer to 60. Also, a lemonade refill was charged which was a surprise. When the food finally arrived, it was pretty good except for the cheese pizza the kids got which was tasteless. Overall, we were disappointed due to the service so I wouldn't return unless they did takeout.
First off, what in the world is a gastropub? According to Wiki (the best aka worst site ever to cite), the term was coined as recently as 1991 by the owners of a pub in London who were redefining the standard pub fare by placing a higher emphasis on higher end food. So is this a gastropub? ABSOLUTELY. But keep in mind that you could also call it glorified pub fare... okay that's a little too harsh. I was excited for dinner, and their adorable Christmas decorations definitely helped up my spirits! Here's what I tried, after the 30+ minute necessary wait due to everything being made from scratch after being ordered: - Fried Calamari appetizer: Lightly battered and tossed in a creamy lime dressing, this was definitely my top choice of the two apps we ordered. I'm not used to my calamari being coated in sauce, but the crispness remained! - PEI Mussels: Not my favorite. The menu says steamed w/ garlic, tasso, and fresh herbs in a cajun-style sauce. We had someone at our table who doesn't eat pork, so we had no tasso (kind of like a smoked ham). The mussels were teeeeeeny tiny, and nearly half our shells were empty! Very disappointing. - Roasted Salmon: I LOVE salmon, I love it even more when it's made better than my impromptu cooking sessions at home. This wasn't it. The salmon came roasted on top of coconut rice and charred watercress, with an orange brown sugar soy glaze. Of the whole dish, I suppose the salmon was the highlight, I ordered it cooked medium, and that part was spot on. The skin started off crisp, but sitting on top of coconut rice tends to make things mushy! The rice was really fluffy, so much so that I didn't quite taste the coconut. It seemed like everything was served on top of watercress, this bunch was a tad too bitter (and I usually like bitter too...), and finally, the glaze was SUPER SALTY! Finally, I can't forget the heaping handfuls of fried things on top of the salmon. While fun and pretty, there was just so much! - Chocolate Teardrop of Happiness: Our waitress described this as heaven for chocolate-lovers. While it's very pretty, the choco/raspberry combo just isn't for me, the other chocolate-lovers at my table did love it though! - Waffles w/ Caramelized Apples: One thing I have to say about both desserts: beautiful presentation! Despite drowning in vanilla ice cream & caramel sauce, the waffle was amazingly crisp! I only had a bite, but I wish all waffles came like this. Overall, yes this is definitely a solid place to dine out. While it's not something I'd imagine when I see the word "gastro-", it's SO much more than your average pub. The ambience and service were both great, with the exception of the water pouring. I was no thirstier than normal, but how hard is it to get a refill?? I also had a chunk of something weird in my water, so that was a little disturbing. Gratuity is 20% for parties of 6+.
(3)
Jeff C.
A customer of mine requested we try this Restuarant. I was skeptical since I saw it was in Westbrook thinking in my own mind that the good restaurants were all in the Old Port. Boy was I wrong! The food was excellent and the menu had a great selection. The service was extremely good as well. I am glad someone brought this establishment to my attention because I would have never looked to Westbrook to get this type of excellence.
(4)
Nichole A.
Always heard great things about this plae. Not really sure as to why? Went there with two friends waitress came over ever 3 mins on us to order. Then I ordered my food got a burger. The middle was raw and it was cold. They had s great band but they were so loud I couldn't enjoy anything. It was so loud the next day I had a raspy voice and soar throat. Maybe I will come back and try it again
The food is always good here. The service, however was terrible. We had 7pm reservations and did not order appetizers or dinner til 8pm. Our waitress literally disappeared. She said she had 6 tables and that they were all seated close in time to each other. Didn't make sense at all. We saw what tables she had and they were seated at various times throughout the evening. She was semi apologetic but not enough to compensate us with a drink or appetizer.... 3 of us had small salads with grilled salmon. Delicious and well prepared. The fourth had a burger that he raved about.
(3)
Anita I.
I am from Rhode Island and a group of about 25-30 of us were in Maine over this past weekend to take part in the Tough Mudder. It's quite the task to find a place that can our big group for our celebratory dinner after the event. I took to Yelp to look into some favored options and this place stuck out. James the Chef was responsive and accommodating when I reached out to him. Upon arrival, we were excited to see a banner which read "Welcome Tough Mudders" and our tables were already prepared and there was a special "Tough Mudder" menu with the brunch menu. It was great service and we had a few young kids and they received their food ASAP. I ordered the Jimmy Benedict (bacon, caramelized onions, scallions and brie) it was delicious! The potatoes were a tad salty but still crispy and good. I washed it all down with a beer flight sampler. The only down side was that they had run out of their made to order donuts . Awesome place, will definitely go back when I head that way.
(5)
Jim R.
My wife and my mother and I went to dinner around 7:30 on a Thursday. I was unaware that there was live music every Thursday night so conversation was pretty difficult. If I would have known, I probably would have booked another restaurant but. oh well. The place is cute and there is a parking lot right behind the restaurant. For an app, I had the mussels which were delicious. They were steamed with garlic, tasso and fresh herbs. The broth was fantastic! I needed to get more bread to soak it up. The mussels came out hot. My mother and wife had salads and they were happy with them although, at $10+ each, pricey for greens. For entrees, my mom had a flat beard. It was good and pretty large. She couldn't finish it. My wife had the chicken crepe which she described as a chicken pot pie in a crepe. There were plenty of vegetables and the chicken was super tender. I had the pasta with was loaded with veggies and freshly foraged mushrooms that were just great. Everything came out hot. Our waiter was great. He was attentive but not chatty and was right there with filled water glasses and bread. I would highly recommend this place. We had a great experience. It sounds like the service issues here are hit or miss based on who you dealt with. I guess we lucked out tonight.
(4)
Aiden C.
I took my girl friend there for our anniversary today. The food was delicious and the customer service was great! I made a reservation and we were seated immediately. I highly recommend trying this place. I would go back again!
(5)
John R.
This is probably the best restaurant in Westbrook for a "sit down" dinner. The food is a bit unique & I like the fact that they have an open type kitchen. Great bar area & they have some good local entertainment. The only reason I did not give them 5 stars is because I think they could be more solicitous of vegetarians. They do have several good vegetarian items, but I prefer a restaurant to have a vegetarian section on their menu. The vegetarian items we had were excellent! Service was great... We will be "regulars"...
(4)
Fred S.
Me and Cathy have been interested in trying this place for quite some time now, so last Sunday we drove to Westbrook and gave it a shot... Well not really. Once we parked, we arrived at 1pm to a full gastro pub, filled with people happily eating and chatting. We were promptly told by the bartender that the kitchen closed at 1, and we were SOL. OK, I get it, it was 1pm and those are the rules, but the place was full! Surely they could have served two more people at the bar, considering they were so busy, it really made me think. All I can say is, it must be nice to own a restaurant that makes so much money, that you can turn customers away by closing early on Sunday and on Mondays all together. I just can't fathom paying rent for a space and just opt not to generate revenue for a day and a half. Sure, chef and staff deserve a break, but schedule some extra help with all that money. Sadly, we were prepared to go whole-hog on this intriguing menu, ready to spend some serious cash, followed by a stunning Yelp review. Oh well, I guess they don't need my money, and with all of the great restaurants in Portland, I won't be bothered to make it back there.
(1)
Tom A.
Loved the food and service here. Great original drinks. Wish I could have eaten and drank more but they would have had to roll me out of the place. Waitstaff was extremely professional and accommodating. I would suggest this place to anyone looking for a night out.
(5)
Andrew S.
My husband and I came here for brunch without the kids but see a lot of tables with families - and the staff is super nice & accommodating. Amazing food. I had the steak & cheese Benedict and can say hands down this is the best Benedict I've had. My husband got an omelette it was huge (and amazing). If you have not been here before you should start with the donuts. I thought the chocolate and the Elvis were too rich (we had two bites) but we devoured the Heart Foundation and would recommend it to everyone that stops in for brunch (just be sure you leave room for the main meal - one donut is enough or get them to go).
(5)
Jill S.
The food and atmosphere were excellant ! We sat at the bar and had charcuterie And the cheese plate .We also had the fried avacodo which was incredible.What made the night was Jessie at the bar.He was knowledgable and fun.His drinks were great including his excitement to make my husbands Sazerac .We will be back!
(5)
Liz S.
Place is bomb-diggity. Went for brunch and got a mimosa with veggie benedict. Although it gets pretty busy for breakfast/brunch we were able to get a seat at the bar. Staff is super friendly and food doesn't disappoint. I typically eat in Portland and was nervous about venturing to Westbrook since they are not usually known for having a lot of great restaurant choices. I'll definitely be back and I'm already looking forward to it.
(5)
S And E H.
Pub? Nope. Bistro? Yes. Great food that is made to order so take a seat grab a drink, it'll be ready when it's done. Worth the wait.
(5)
Lynn V.
We went for our wedding anniversary and the waiter we had was amazing (later he told us he was the owner). He helped us with everything from what wine to have , appetizers to try and main course. We were blown away by his service, attention to details and answered any question we asked. The food was amazing (cheese plate w/bread, grilled lamb w/asparagus, and a chocolate mousse- so so good ), fresh and inviting! Great spot to go to celebrate something special and local! The most amazing dining experience I've ever had.
(5)
Karen R.
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Westbrook. The staff is always very friendly and accommodating, the atmosphere is always delightful, and the food is always amazing. They change their menu seasonally to mix it up and the have off the menu specials every night. The prices are reasonable and the portion sizes are excellent - I always come home with left overs! I highly recommend stopping by for drinks and appetizers and then enjoy a great meal!
(5)
Priscilla H.
Great atmosphere - fantastic music. Always great when the Cozmik Zombies are playing - but you will find great local talent any night of the week. Interesting and flavorful!
(5)
Carrissa L.
We finally got to eat at The Frog & Turtle after wanting to for a long time - and we were blown away! We made reservations and were seated promptly when we arrived. Our waitress was wonderful right from the start. We had our two kids with us - 10 and 12 - and they were the only two kids in the restaurant, but still made welcome. The food was out of this world. The kids each had a burger and fries and they were absolutely delicious. The burgers were big and juicy and flavorful, and the fries handmade and perfectly seasoned. My husband and I each had a different special - I had rainbow trout with local greens, bacon and razor clams and my husband had a veal chop with mashed potatoes and spring peas. Each dish was perfectly prepared, expertly seasoned, and everything incredibly fresh. We savored each and every bite. The meal did take about two hours total, but it was paced perfectly for a restaurant that expects you to take your time and truly savor your meal. Live music kicked in around desert and we had a great time listening. The Frog & Turtle is a true gem in Westbrook, as is the owner Chef James, who gives back to the local community tirelessly. I can't wait to support this local treasure with my patronage again soon.
(5)
Jay H.
Good service and good atmosphere equal two stars. The food was pretty lackluster for a self-proclaimed "gastro-pub." The positives: great local music. Chipper and friendly waitstaff. The negatives: Food. I could rip this place a new one if I wanted to. I'll just say the hamburger buns (house made, but why?) are reminiscent of Burger King. The house specialty drink (the swamp) is served with dry ice. It looks really cool, but tastes like bubble gum. Now, you may say, well I like bubble gum, but trust me, you wouldn't like this bubble gum. Gastro-pub? If you're going to apply a snooty title to your establishment, you'd better back it up with some good grub.
(2)
Andrew L.
Their weekend brunch is the best in the area. Start with some of their one of a kind homemade doughnuts. These will sell out so make sure you get in early. Your meal will not be complete without one! I always enjoyed one of their "benedict" specials. They are delicious takes on the classic eggs benedict. They also make wonderful one of a kind cocktails. I have also been many times for dinner. As with brunch, everything is homemade so your order will take some time. I have never been displeased with their steak offerings. The Frog & Turtle has a wonderful close-nit atmosphere which makes you feel like a regular. I would recommend reservations for brunch and possibly for dinner.
(5)
Daniel M.
Little caveat - I've never sat in the dining room, only every at the bar (except of the couches). Another little caveat - I'm a mug club member. Okay, now onto the seemingly biased review. I go to this place about one a week for a few after work beverages with some friends, and sometimes just by myself to get out of the house. The bartender Jesse is top-notch - there isn't anyone of his class or ability in Westbrook and quite possibly in Portland. He makes a basil and gin based cocktail called the Soothsayer that's amazing. The bar sits about 12 people and he serves food and drinks to them as well as drinks for the usually packed dining room - and still we get our drinks in a quick fashion. Food is fantastic, but it is a gastro pub so be prepared for some unique tastes - this isn't your mom and pop's standard betty crocker shit they're cooking. I enjoy unique and interesting tastes, so the food is pretty good. The prices don't bother me, but I guess living in Boston for quite a while their prices are really not much higher than a sports pub. Long story short, if you like to sit and socialize at a bar rather than the dining room(because I've never sat at a table), this is a great place. A bit pricey, but the drinks and the bartender are top-notch.
(5)
Michael E.
The food was so disappointing for brunch. The donuts are all the exact same dry cake. To create the various 'flavors' they just smear random topping on top of the dry cake donuts. What a let down. The bacon I ordered was cooked hilariously bad. It was like he was trying to mess it up or blind. Burned black along one edge and rubbery white on the other( both our phones were dead or I would be adding pictures). The side of bacon was $3 making it the worst money I have spent on food that I can remember. The only other brunch spot we tried this trip was Petit Jacqueline wich was great. To rub salt in my wound they offered a side of bacon for $2 that was absolutely fantastic. Our waitress had a grumpy attitude that bordered on rude. I will give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she was just having an off day. The host was great and she is the reason I am giving 2 stars not 1. She was nice and seated us promptly at a table by the window.
(2)
Keith S.
Disappointing Brunch overpriced a terribly underwhelming gastronomic experience
(1)
Shawn R.
I dig everything about this place.
(4)
Captn I.
Wow! Braised pork shank with jus. Mac & cheese and wilted watercress. My wife had the Buff Jimmy flat bread and salad. Basically a cheese burger pizza with pickles and everything. Dessert was coconut ice-cream with choc chips for Heidi and I had apple fritters with maple syrup, whipped cream and ice-cream. Everything was homemade. Not bad. Had some wine and a big tankard of Murphy's stout!
(4)
Carole H.
Noticed someone else wrote a bad tip today too! Food is always good, but service has been getting progressively worse every time we eat brunch. We arrived at 11am and didn't get our food until noon!! No apologies, no explanations. They forgot our coffee and my daughter's juice and took 15 minutes once we were seated to even ask us if we wanted a beverage. We won't be coming back unless we feel like eating at the bar where it looks like things are faster.
(2)
Liz J.
For a $90 dinner, I had hoped for better food...service was great!! I got the pinapple mojito drink special for $10. I couldn't taste a drop of booze. So then I asked for Jameson on the rocks because at that point, you know exactly what you are getting...although my friend I went to dinner with got the strawberry lemonade special with gin and her drink tasted quite strong...wtf! I got the chicken entree which was delicious! I wish the asparagus it had come with hadnt been cut into microscopic pieces and then drowned in the chicken sauce...which made it really difficult to get on my fork and into my face. It also came with little tiny pasta peices which I HOPE were homemade...for the $21 it cost. The reason why I am rating this place so low is because: 1. The drinks were not strong/inconsistent and way pricey for what it was. 2. The food took a long time to get to our table. 3. There was an incredibly loud band playing the night we went, which is fine, unless you are paying for a $90 dinner and have to shout at the people across the table from you. Because of the band, and the "pub" menu and the "dinner" menu...it just seems like the Frog and Turtle really cant make up its mind as to whether it wants to be a Pub or a fine dining restaurant....so please for the love of god pick which one you want to be!!
(2)
Victoria L.
I really wish I could give this place 10 stars. I really really wish I could. We took my Mom here for her 65th (!) birthday this past weekend. They got us in last-minute, and to be honest we were a little worried when they were empty and still took 10 minutes to get a table ready. All that was blown away (heh) by the service and the food. Our waitress was so friendly and funny! We got the Poutine - do your inner fatty a favor and get it. I'm salivating as I think about it. Salads and Seafood chowder were also had and I was told they were delicious. For dinner, the pumpkin-apple ravioli was aboslutely to DIE for. The shepard's pie crepe looked and smelled amazing, and the specials that night (a duck casserole and some sort of seafood soup dish) disappeared pretty quickly. The creme brulee? Took me about 2 minutes to inhale. They dressed mom's up in happy birthday chocolate sauce with a shot glass of dry ice rather than a candle - so cool! The mixed drinks were ... well, let's just say that they had some sort of autumn martini special that was rum and apple cider and I could have taken a bath it in. To top it off, our waitress gave my mom a $10 birthday gift card to come see them again. As if they needed a reason! Their food is all locally bought, which is very evident in the quality. Go. Do it.
(5)
corinne a.
Three of us started a cozy window booth for a 5:30 Saturday reservation. The food was delicious. I especially enjoyed the fish chowder---the broth was so delicious. I followed with chicken wings, which were just ok. If you like garlic, you will love the chopped green salad. I had mine with steak. Also very yummy. Or service was prompt, professional and not at all overbearing. Seats near the door are a tiny bit chilly in the winter, but you can tell they are cranking heat to compensate. Ambiance was very cozy, warm and comfortable. I'm looking forward to coming back again and again.
(4)
Leslie A.
I've been here 2 times. To be fair, the service and atmosphere first time was quite good so we took visitors with us a 2nd time. As vegetarians however, the menu, while it looks good, is disappointing. The first visit i ordered goat cheese ravioli which was huge sheets of thick pasta with small stamps of goat cheese. My husband ordered the vegetable crepes which were mashed potatoes and spinach and cheddar (basically sides of meat dishes nicely carbed into crepes). Our second visit it took an hour to get appetizers with our friends. It took about 20 minutes to order a 2nd drink. They were out of flatbread. We had 3 vegetarians in our party. Again, they had mashed potato crepes which when they were served almost 2 hours later had raw spinach and unmelted cheddar. All in all, I wouldn't return. They were apologetic and refunded our appetizers which was nice. It wasn't a pleasant dinner. The food was not good. You'd think they could at least put some broccoli or something different in a vegetarian crepe than extra starch. A veggie burger would also be a welcome option for when they are out of flatbread on a friday night. good luck!!
(2)
Michael D.
Westbrook's finest dining experience by a long shot. You can grab some drinks or a nicely prepared dinner. The only issue I have is that dinner stops at 9:00 - I would like to see this more like 10:00. Their specials are very interesting and unique. I suggest getting there early if you want to check these out as they often sell out of the specials.
(5)
Ryan C.
Not so good.... Really unpleasant waitstaff and mediocre food, though the donuts were good. Hostess was not friendly and waitress couldnt manage to refill the coffee, thankfully its sitting right out in the middle of the dining room so you might as well do it yourself if you want any. 45 minutes after the order was placed we were informed that they didnt have one of the menu items ... seriously? its 10am, you ran out of something after being open an hour for brunch? you could have at least known to mention that when we were ordering. evenso, place was not even half full and they take 50 minutes to fry eggs? this place gets a big fat "meh, so what". 2 stars for the donuts. 0 stars for the staff
(2)
Sarah A.
Food is good but the service is weird. I feel like no one ever pays attention to you, never looks you in the eye and service is slow.
(2)
Dave P.
Walked in and was asked "Do you have reservations?" we said "No". Waiter walked off and no one else ever greeted us. We waited for 5 minutes while 4 different employees passed us by without greeting us. We felt very awkward. It is too bad because this establishment is only 1 mile from my house...but apparently they don't need our business, nor will they ever get it. I was really let down because the only things I have heard about this restaurant is positive stuff. We will not be back though. We felt very awkward and totally unwelcome.
(1)
Tony C.
Furthermore I reached out to the owner of frog and turtle. I tried explaining what happened in hopes that he would do something to try to make it right. His response "I see you have mad your decision" It's nice to know that the owner of this restaurant cares about his customers.
(1)
Matt S.
Friends suggested the F&T to meet out at and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Arriving early the bartender greeted me with a warm smile and introduction. After we sat down our party size grew and the waitress moved us over right over to another table. Service was great, the chef was even out on the dinning room floor checking to insure everyone was enjoying. Food: I'm heading back soon. The fish special I had was out of this world. A shrimp dish with pan fried noodles and seasoned with just the right spices. Delicious. I hear the chicken crepes are a cult favorite. Bottom Line: This is a quiet jewel that will draw you back again! Enjoy.
(5)
Jack M.
The atmosphere is great, the bartender is great, the entertainment is great but I came there for the food and the service; not so great. The waiter was disconnected. He acted like he was doing us a favor when he came to the table. We waited a very long time for a waitperson and we finally were able to place an order; we waited a very long time for the food. The waiter came over and pointed to a table near us and told us that there was a table of 16 and our food was going to take a long time. He suggested that we get appetizers, so we waited for those and the portions were tiny. He didn't apologize or offer us some food on the house to hold us over. He just had a look on his face like he was wishing he was somewhere else. The food was just okay. I cannot get excited about pricy food that I could have prepared myself.
(2)
Dave B.
My wife and I stopped here on the way from South Jersey to visit friends in Sweden, ME. It was a very pleasant surprise. Our waitress was very enthusiastic and competent. The atmosphere was pleasant and the food was wonderful. It was a special experience and we hope to return the next time we visit Maine.
(5)
Amy C.
We were staying in Portland and really believed we should eat dinner there. We decided to drive out to this place instead based on the reviews. Great choice! We made a reservation & we were seated in less than 5min. We had our kids with us(5 & 9) and they were the only kids there, but they made us all feel welcome. We ordered the fish and chips for the kids and the waitress suggested they split it because it was a good portion. Good idea--it was $18 and they just about finished it. The chips were actually fresh made chips and delicious! We split the goat cheese strudel and almost licked the plate! I had the chicken cordon bleu, which was actually better than a traditional one, the sauce was not cream-based and it had roasted root vegetables inside. My husband had the braised rib and loved it! The drinks were fantastic and we spent 2hours there to enjoy the meal. Kids had dessert, too. $133 for everything and it was money well spent!
(5)
Bob R.
My wife likes this place more than me but it's slowly winning me over. Parked in back and came in through the back door - on the way to the hostess stand, proceeded to trip over the stage. Not much room to negotiate. Didn't have a reservation but were happy sitting at the bar. Very friendly bar tender. He made a very nice Manhattan for me. It was odd in that there were many bourbon choice but only one rye? I occasionally have bourbon but I'm more of a Manhattan traditionalist. I had the fish chowder which was very good, very hot, maybe too big of a bowl - I don't think there was a "cup" option on the menu - next time I'll ask. The bowl also came out a little too fast as I wasn't even close to finishing my Manhattan. Sip of soup, sip of Manhattan, sip of soup, etc. - not ideal. I thought the burger was great. Had a version with bacon, blue cheese etc. Perfectly cooked med rare. I liked the bun a lot. Wife had a vege flatbread which was very good as well as an app (I can't remember what it was) which she enjoyed. Music started around 8:30 - a real nice addition to the scene. Overall, I think it's really nice food in a casual atmosphere with live music and good service. Nice combo.
(4)
Nicole And Russ F.
Tough review as food and live music are often great. But I can't get past some of the personalities here. There is one server (Michael) who always aims to please. But the hostess and other servers often serve up a side of attitude that we never order.
(2)
Angie S.
We've been to the Frog & Turtle twice for dinner now, and it's becoming one of our new go-to spots. It's good food in an unpretentious atmosphere. (They're the same people behind the French Press Eatery around the corner, their casual breakfast/lunch place) Our first visit started off somewhat dubiously -- a table smack in the middle of traffic that was wobblier than a baby learning to walk. Fortunately, as we started to mutter a bit, our server noticed, swooped in and fixed it -- typical of the very attentive staff. Food has been great. I've had the cheese plate appetizer both times, and I haven't been disappointed - and I'm a cheese nut. My husband had the poutine the first time, and it was good, too. My husband had a bouillabaisse that was to die for on our second visit. Service, as mentioned before, is great... attentive, but you feel you're allowed to linger. We'll be back often. We've heard raves about their brunch.
(4)
Tammy S.
This is Uffa's reincarnated in Westbrook. The food is incredible, the service is amazing, it's a great atmosphere, live music on Friday is fun and the brunch... the donuts are incredible and the Bloody Mary's are fantastic! Highly recommend!
(5)
Pygmy A.
Excellent brunch! Never would have tried Eggs Benedict with brie and bacon if not tempted by this menu. Why only on Sunday?
(5)
K C.
Great! Coming from San Francisco to Portland for my girlfriend's parents' 50th anniversary get together, I assumed that I'd be at best mildly disappointed by something calling itself a gastro-anything, let alone pub. We had ~20 people for early dinner and they provided a perfect array of starters. We particularly liked the crackers they had made out of their own wheat bread. Our waiter, Ian was superb both in attentiveness and his knowledge and interest in what he was offering us. The chocolate cake they made for the occasion got rave reviews; just sweet enough - which pleased everyone. F&T was unpretentious so I think all our folks there for a fairly casual event felt quite comfortable. All in all, really nice place with good people. I'd go back, and certainly need to try the donuts.
(4)
Brenda G.
Formerly Cafe Uffa on Longfellow Square in Portland, F and T is an enthusiastic foodie enclave in deepest, darkest Westbrook. Breathing in the fumes of its immediate predecessor, Chickie's, F and T has managed to capture its venue vibe with great entertainment AND great food. New Year's Eve with blues legend Pam Baker and raw bar was sublime.
(4)
John C.
Had brunch there on Sunday 7/26/09, food was great! Very creative with breakfast. Old standbys as well as interesting items you won't find anywhere else. Banana Pancakes with "REAL" maple syrup made my day! Lobster Benedict was a surprising treat to see as well, even though I couldn't partake, my friend gobbled it up like it was going to run away from him!
(4)
Thomas P.
Good little breakfast spot. They have some great niche dishes and staff is on point. Menu very limited though, maybe some expansion and variety is needed. No wait for brunch on a Sunday was pretty awesome though. Custom made donuts are very cool but I'm more into the meat bread and potatoes, style of breakfast. French toast was very appealing as well.
(3)
Jeremy N.
Amazing food and service. This is a 5 star restaurant in the middle of little Westbrook. You don't ususally see this quality outside of a big city. It is pricy but worth every penny.
(5)
S T.
Came here for brunch. It was our first time here so decided to try the homemade donuts. We ordered several different ones to share. Boy that was a mistake because they were all SO GOOD!! The breakfast was typical, but the portions are huge!
(3)
Erin S.
My boyfriend and I visit the Frog and Turtle often and we love it! We live in Westbrook and love the fact that there is a really great restaurant just a short drive from our home. The Frog & Turtle serves up delicious food within a range of prices. All their food is made to order and we've never had a bad meal there. While their entrees are always fantastic, our favorite dish is actually the green leaf salad with red onion, bacon, a hardboiled egg, and a light garlicky dressing - I can never get enough of it. They have a great selection of food from flatbreads to fish tacos, duck to a NY strip steak. The Cajun mussels are also a must-have! While the food can be a tad bit pricy depending upon what you order (a salad, flatbread, steak, crème brulee and three drinks came to $90), it's one of those places that you should definitely try out. The Frog & Turtle also has live music - if you can go on a night when the Tone Kings are playing, you'll be very happy! It's always good to make reservations at least a couple of days ahead of time. My only knock-down to a four-star is that they usually don't sit you at your reservation time. We try to make reservations for 8:00pm each time we go so that we can enjoy the music, but it seems as though they have a little bit of trouble moving their guests through tables. This past weekend we didn't get seated until close to 8:30pm. The food is worth it, though! Enjoy!
(4)
Kerryann M.
This restaurant is the best kept secret in Westbrook. Such a jem in a not so great location. We enjoyed the delicious food and had great service during their brunch on Sunday. The made-to-order, homemade donuts are so incredible I couldn't get them off my mind all day! We're looking forward to coming back to try their dinners. Next time we're bringing some friends with us!
(4)
Daniel C.
We ate dinner here last night - it was delicious. Great pub food, or fancier fare if you wish. Beer and wine selection was extensive. Service was attentive and friendly. We both ordered burgers off the pub menu. They were cooked perfectly.
(4)
Patrick L.
We chose the Frog & Turtle for our afternoon wedding reception, and we were thrilled with the planning, food, and service - and really, the bang for the buck was in our favor. I'm honestly just looking for an excuse to have them cater another event... maybe my housewarming party this fall? We'll see!
(5)
Alice C.
We have been wanting to try this place for so long and so when I finally recovered enough from a Bone Marrow Transplant, my husband and I decide to celebrate our 22nd Wedding Anniversary. So, it went something like this... We walk in and wait. "someone will be right with you" we're told. We watch several staff go by us, again and again. Just as we're thinking of giving up...we're seated, alas! We have scarce time to scan the drink menu before a well read but slightly smug waiter expects our order, which we place hardily. $9 Cosmopolitan arrives tasting like a watered down SeaBreeze, albeit a strong enough one so I indulge. As we read the menu, I take particular notice of a bit of friendly restaurant advice...' "so put the phone down, relax, chat, enjoy some good food..."or yaddah yaddah yaddah...something like that! Needless to say I am, at this point, gearing up for fine gastro experience of scrumptious food eaten in a relaxed state in a leisurely like way..and then the Band strikes up....LOUDLY, in a restaurant the size of of an average open concept kitchen/dining/living room household. And although the music is actually really good it is so loud my husband and I honestly cannot hear the other one speak. We were two feet apart from each other. We do see the others mouths open, move and shut, but tangible sound eludes us We ordered in a polite shout/talk after the waiter explained it is highly recommended we order appetizers as the food is all cooked to order, taking 30 minutes. So we wondered, were the apps pre-cooked, as they took only 10 minutes or so...hmmmmmm.? Anyway; The rather resigned waiter became even further so when he asked us something and I had to almost holler "I can't hear you!" He used sign language to ask if we wanted more drinks. We did not. He walked away. The appetizers were very good-but a spoon and a little bread with the mussels would have been perhaps a nice homey treat so as to get the full experience as well GET the mussels from the bowl to the plate with ease. Oh well. But the BEST part -or the IRONIC part was that although my husband and I sat but 2 feet apart, we found we had no choice but to go against the F and T philosophy and GET the PHONES out, as it was the ONLY way we could actually communicate to each other without shrugging,or contorting our face in public while shouting "WHAT?" It cracked us up...we're such rebels, you know... Ahhh-Good ol' technology... but the food was good, it really was. We just had to eat it and beat it before our ear drums burst! But all in all not only was it was more expensive then I'd presume a standard pub might be, and the food seemed to lean more towards the Tuscan region of Italy rather then say, the Provence Region of France. (pesto? aioli? cheesburgers? Franco-American....seriously?
(2)
Jenn F.
The food was OK, not as good as I expected considering the price and hype. The wait staff was not very friendly at all.
(3)
John R.
This is probably the best restaurant in Westbrook for a "sit down" dinner. The food is a bit unique & I like the fact that they have an open type kitchen. Great bar area & they have some good local entertainment. The only reason I did not give them 5 stars is because I think they could be more solicitous of vegetarians. They do have several good vegetarian items, but I prefer a restaurant to have a vegetarian section on their menu. The vegetarian items we had were excellent! Service was great... We will be "regulars"...
(4)
Fred S.
Me and Cathy have been interested in trying this place for quite some time now, so last Sunday we drove to Westbrook and gave it a shot... Well not really. Once we parked, we arrived at 1pm to a full gastro pub, filled with people happily eating and chatting. We were promptly told by the bartender that the kitchen closed at 1, and we were SOL. OK, I get it, it was 1pm and those are the rules, but the place was full! Surely they could have served two more people at the bar, considering they were so busy, it really made me think. All I can say is, it must be nice to own a restaurant that makes so much money, that you can turn customers away by closing early on Sunday and on Mondays all together. I just can't fathom paying rent for a space and just opt not to generate revenue for a day and a half. Sure, chef and staff deserve a break, but schedule some extra help with all that money. Sadly, we were prepared to go whole-hog on this intriguing menu, ready to spend some serious cash, followed by a stunning Yelp review. Oh well, I guess they don't need my money, and with all of the great restaurants in Portland, I won't be bothered to make it back there.
(1)
S T.
Came here for brunch. It was our first time here so decided to try the homemade donuts. We ordered several different ones to share. Boy that was a mistake because they were all SO GOOD!! The breakfast was typical, but the portions are huge!
(3)
Nichole A.
Always heard great things about this plae. Not really sure as to why? Went there with two friends waitress came over ever 3 mins on us to order. Then I ordered my food got a burger. The middle was raw and it was cold. They had s great band but they were so loud I couldn't enjoy anything. It was so loud the next day I had a raspy voice and soar throat. Maybe I will come back and try it again
(1)
Tom A.
Loved the food and service here. Great original drinks. Wish I could have eaten and drank more but they would have had to roll me out of the place. Waitstaff was extremely professional and accommodating. I would suggest this place to anyone looking for a night out.
(5)
Andrew S.
My husband and I came here for brunch without the kids but see a lot of tables with families - and the staff is super nice & accommodating. Amazing food. I had the steak & cheese Benedict and can say hands down this is the best Benedict I've had. My husband got an omelette it was huge (and amazing). If you have not been here before you should start with the donuts. I thought the chocolate and the Elvis were too rich (we had two bites) but we devoured the Heart Foundation and would recommend it to everyone that stops in for brunch (just be sure you leave room for the main meal - one donut is enough or get them to go).
(5)
Erin S.
My boyfriend and I visit the Frog and Turtle often and we love it! We live in Westbrook and love the fact that there is a really great restaurant just a short drive from our home. The Frog & Turtle serves up delicious food within a range of prices. All their food is made to order and we've never had a bad meal there. While their entrees are always fantastic, our favorite dish is actually the green leaf salad with red onion, bacon, a hardboiled egg, and a light garlicky dressing - I can never get enough of it. They have a great selection of food from flatbreads to fish tacos, duck to a NY strip steak. The Cajun mussels are also a must-have! While the food can be a tad bit pricy depending upon what you order (a salad, flatbread, steak, crème brulee and three drinks came to $90), it's one of those places that you should definitely try out. The Frog & Turtle also has live music - if you can go on a night when the Tone Kings are playing, you'll be very happy! It's always good to make reservations at least a couple of days ahead of time. My only knock-down to a four-star is that they usually don't sit you at your reservation time. We try to make reservations for 8:00pm each time we go so that we can enjoy the music, but it seems as though they have a little bit of trouble moving their guests through tables. This past weekend we didn't get seated until close to 8:30pm. The food is worth it, though! Enjoy!
(4)
Carrissa L.
We finally got to eat at The Frog & Turtle after wanting to for a long time - and we were blown away! We made reservations and were seated promptly when we arrived. Our waitress was wonderful right from the start. We had our two kids with us - 10 and 12 - and they were the only two kids in the restaurant, but still made welcome. The food was out of this world. The kids each had a burger and fries and they were absolutely delicious. The burgers were big and juicy and flavorful, and the fries handmade and perfectly seasoned. My husband and I each had a different special - I had rainbow trout with local greens, bacon and razor clams and my husband had a veal chop with mashed potatoes and spring peas. Each dish was perfectly prepared, expertly seasoned, and everything incredibly fresh. We savored each and every bite. The meal did take about two hours total, but it was paced perfectly for a restaurant that expects you to take your time and truly savor your meal. Live music kicked in around desert and we had a great time listening. The Frog & Turtle is a true gem in Westbrook, as is the owner Chef James, who gives back to the local community tirelessly. I can't wait to support this local treasure with my patronage again soon.
(5)
Liz J.
For a $90 dinner, I had hoped for better food...service was great!! I got the pinapple mojito drink special for $10. I couldn't taste a drop of booze. So then I asked for Jameson on the rocks because at that point, you know exactly what you are getting...although my friend I went to dinner with got the strawberry lemonade special with gin and her drink tasted quite strong...wtf! I got the chicken entree which was delicious! I wish the asparagus it had come with hadnt been cut into microscopic pieces and then drowned in the chicken sauce...which made it really difficult to get on my fork and into my face. It also came with little tiny pasta peices which I HOPE were homemade...for the $21 it cost. The reason why I am rating this place so low is because: 1. The drinks were not strong/inconsistent and way pricey for what it was. 2. The food took a long time to get to our table. 3. There was an incredibly loud band playing the night we went, which is fine, unless you are paying for a $90 dinner and have to shout at the people across the table from you. Because of the band, and the "pub" menu and the "dinner" menu...it just seems like the Frog and Turtle really cant make up its mind as to whether it wants to be a Pub or a fine dining restaurant....so please for the love of god pick which one you want to be!!
(2)
Victoria L.
I really wish I could give this place 10 stars. I really really wish I could. We took my Mom here for her 65th (!) birthday this past weekend. They got us in last-minute, and to be honest we were a little worried when they were empty and still took 10 minutes to get a table ready. All that was blown away (heh) by the service and the food. Our waitress was so friendly and funny! We got the Poutine - do your inner fatty a favor and get it. I'm salivating as I think about it. Salads and Seafood chowder were also had and I was told they were delicious. For dinner, the pumpkin-apple ravioli was aboslutely to DIE for. The shepard's pie crepe looked and smelled amazing, and the specials that night (a duck casserole and some sort of seafood soup dish) disappeared pretty quickly. The creme brulee? Took me about 2 minutes to inhale. They dressed mom's up in happy birthday chocolate sauce with a shot glass of dry ice rather than a candle - so cool! The mixed drinks were ... well, let's just say that they had some sort of autumn martini special that was rum and apple cider and I could have taken a bath it in. To top it off, our waitress gave my mom a $10 birthday gift card to come see them again. As if they needed a reason! Their food is all locally bought, which is very evident in the quality. Go. Do it.
(5)
corinne a.
Three of us started a cozy window booth for a 5:30 Saturday reservation. The food was delicious. I especially enjoyed the fish chowder---the broth was so delicious. I followed with chicken wings, which were just ok. If you like garlic, you will love the chopped green salad. I had mine with steak. Also very yummy. Or service was prompt, professional and not at all overbearing. Seats near the door are a tiny bit chilly in the winter, but you can tell they are cranking heat to compensate. Ambiance was very cozy, warm and comfortable. I'm looking forward to coming back again and again.
(4)
Christine B.
Excellent food, service, and ambiance. Joined a colleague here for dinner while traveling, the first thing that struck me was easy bar-to-table service, no paying twice or hassle making the move. I enjoyed a bourbon smash while he had a local beer. The band playing was raucous and made our drinks better, even as we kvetched about work. The mussel appetizer was wonderful. I love mussels and have eaten so many good ones while in Maine, usually in Portland's Old Port district. These were perfectly cooked, meaty, and Mexican-style. I am not sure I could've asked for much more from them, and I ate most of them while my companion enjoyed chili. My main course was a perfect fresh pasta dish. The fettucine was clearly fresh and al dente with a wonderful summer sauce of fresh vegetables. My colleague enjoyed a flatbread, and even packed up leftovers from it and his chili. The service throughout our time was exceptional, thoughtful. The waitress did not hurry us, but she was helpful and available as needed. She offered solid drink selections for our dinners and based on what we had already started. I look forward to heading back to The Frog & Turtle again. I'd like to try more from their well-planned menu.
(5)
Kristi M.
First, I should confess, I'm pretty much a regular here. But, that speaks to how great this place is - great food and service! I'm generally here for happy hour, but this morning I met a friend for brunch. We sat at the bar, as I almost always do. The bartender, Jesse, is friendly, fun, and provides top notch service. In addition, he makes amazing and creative drinks. I trust him enough to just make me whatever he feels like. I've never been disappointed. This morning, I went with a delicious Icy Frog - an adult iced coffee. Very rich, but perfect on a Sunday morning. Tip: if you enjoy cribbage, ask for a board. They have several behind the bar. Anyway, back to brunch. This was my second time visiting for brunch. This time I was smart enough to try one of their famous donuts. My friend and I split a John Candy - maple and bacon donut. Fresh out of the fryer with real maple syrup drizzled on it and sprinkled with bacon. It's better than it sounds. For my actual breakfast, I went with one of the specials which was Eggs Benedict but served with meatloaf in place of the ham. Very flavorful and a generous portion. I was not able to finish it as it was served with a small salad of tossed greens lightly dressed and perfect home fries. Great start to my Sunday!
(5)
Jesse M.
We had high hopes after reading reviews. The service was slow and inattentive. No one even came to the table for 10-15 minutes after we were seated. There's a note on the menu that food will take 30 minutes, but why would a burger and pizza take 30 minutes? In our case, it took closer to 60. Also, a lemonade refill was charged which was a surprise. When the food finally arrived, it was pretty good except for the cheese pizza the kids got which was tasteless. Overall, we were disappointed due to the service so I wouldn't return unless they did takeout.
(3)
Tony W.
Came here on a busy Friday. I had actually checked on Open Table throughout the day and it seemed like reservations were widely available for all time slots. I took this as a sign that I didn't need to make a reservation...big mistake. We got there and the place was packed. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that for at least 10 minutes, because no staff member made an effort to greet us at the door and tell us about their wait time and seating procedure. A couple in line ahead of us told us that we needed to check in with the hostess, and HER TABLE IS NOT NEAR THE DOOR. Once we got our name on the list and was told that it would be at least a 45 minute wait, we walked the 2 1/2 feet over to the bar to have a couple cocktails to kill time. It also took about 10 minutes of failed eye contact and hand gestures toward the bartender to grab two cocktail menus. While we were perusing the menu, a table opened up 35 minutes earlier than our quoted time, and we happily snapped it up. So what if it was three feet from the band, which was about to go on? I like their menu; for a 'gastropub', it has a lot going on. As our excellent server informed us, you can either go down the small plates route or the entree route. My friend and I debated getting charcuterie, wings, and a few other things, but in the end, we both settled on our own entrees and splitting an appetizer. They also have a great drink menu, which seems to highlight a few bourbon specialties. I ordered the bourbon smash ($12), and it was very good. Appetizer: At the recommendation of our server, we started with a fried avocado that was dressed with salsa and sour cream(?). The avocado itself was unseasoned and rather bland, but it worked perfectly with the salsa. I probably wouldn't order it again but it was tasty. Because our entrees were taking longer than expected to prepare, our server brought over a goat cheese salad of some kind to hold us over. THIS was much better than the avocado appetizer. Dinner: I ordered the Devil Burger on a recommendation from a friend ($15), and my friend ordered a chicken flatbread of some kind. I really can't say I was impressed. It wasn't bad, because at the end of the day it's still a burger. But I would certainly say it falls toward the bottom of my consumed burger spectrum, despite having an olive sticking out of it, a layer of onion rings, and something called 'ninja sauce' giving it a spicy kick. Unimpressed, especially at $15. This is closer to a $8-$10 burger (or less). The cut fries that came along with it, however, were very good. The music certainly made up for my average meal. The 5-piece band played a good mix of jazz, rock, and a few jammy/funky tunes. I could see myself coming back just to see them. Overall, a bit of a letdown based on everyone's recommendations of this place. I think my opinion of this place could change if I ordered a different combination of food (you're next, charcuterie and wings!), and so I'll be back to give 'em another chance.
(3)
Patrick C.
Brunch yesterday at the Frog & Turtle in Westbrook. Cool place, good vibes and excellent friendly service. We started with "appetizers" of homemade- made to order donuts...Boston cream (amazing), the John Candy ...maple and bacon ...speaks for itself! And Jason's pretzel ...caramel and salt... Pretty good. My girl had the special...Salisbury steak Benedict...good and tasty, though missing hollandaise for some reason?? I had the vegetable florentine Benedict...very good, great home fries. Also great coffee, always kept full cup (important) and the Bloody Mary reportedly was excellent. Will pretty much be back, if just for donuts and coffee.
(4)
Am M.
Last Friday, 09/11, I had a great meal on a busy Friday night. This Friday, 09/18, not so much. In fact it was one of, if not THE worst experience I have ever had in a restaurant (of which I was not the cause...) [I feel like i have to disclose that I was a waitress and bartender for nearly 10 years of my life. I know what is excuseable behavior and I know certain tables can be tough and impossible to please. I know that it's difficult to put on a cheery face when co-workers aren't pulling their weight or when the kitchen is having an off night... I get it... I am sympathetic and forgiving.] Well, I was.. It was busy but it wasn't nuts. We had a reservation, and once we communicated that information to the right person we were sat in a timely manner. It took forever to order drinks- and even longer to get them (just sodas and water) to the table. It took forever to get the specials from the server- then it took forever to get the server BACK to the table to answer a few questions and place our order. Oh, and btw, we had a different person come to our table every time- perhaps to confuse us when we wrote a terrible review so as not to hold any one person responsible. Good idea in theory, but now every single server and hostess is to blame for the AWFUL and I mean AWFUL experience we had. The food took forever. Almost an hour. But whatever, based on my experience last week, the food was worth the wait. It was NOT worth the wait. My flatbread, which I had ordered one week earlier, was unrecognizeable. It had shrunk in size, it was burned, and it was covered in orange cheese... Not so one week earlier. My sister's meal was so salty it was inedible. We're talking, spat out, salty. The third meal supposedly came with "pepere's potatoes"...Not so much. In place of potatoes was a side of roasted garlic cloves- like the whole clove. No potatoes. My friend had even taken the time to ask one of the revolving servers about the special potatoes. (Btw, the server who went over specials and menu items was either un-informed or just didn't care enough to learn/exhibit knowledge about the menu he was serving... It was just uncomfortable listening to him stumble through the attempted memorization of the specials. He basically had no idea what he was talking about and couldn't even bullshit his way through it. Honestly, I wish I hadn't asked.) So far, we have our drinks, which they are kind enough to refill before we get our meals... (more about THAT later). We have our terrible meals, and then we get NOTHING... NO ONE, and I mean NO one comes within even shouting range of our table. So far we've had three or four different people pretend to be our server for a max of 30 seconds. So maybe no one knew who was actually responsible for checking on us... OR perhaps they knew how awful our meals were as there were other tables complaining about their food as well... When someone FINALLY came to check on our meals/clear our plates/ask if we wanted dessert, my sister informed out latest waiter, of the saltiness of her meal. He then proceeds to pull a hunk of the kale off of her plate with his FINGERS and popped it in his mouth right there at the table!!!!!! (WTF?!?!?!) While he agreed with her, he did nothing to adjust the bill. So three terrible meals, terrible service... Can we please just get out of here??? NOPE. We sit. We wait. And Wait. Finally we get our unsplit check... From yet ANOTHER new server to our table. Seriously... And we've been charged for our soda refills... Seriously?! There was no mention of being a charge when we were asked if we would like refills. And honestly, i had no idea that any restaurant charged for fountain soda refills- not to mention one that charged $30 a meal!!!! Nothing is done to aknowledge our uneaten meals or our overall awful experience. And honestly we just want to get the heck out of there. We ask the new server to split our check- knowing there is no way she will know what we each had- so could she send over the person who took our order? She insists she can do it. Literally 30 minutes later, she returns with our split checks. While we are waiting for our checks the experience goes from awful to inexcuseable. I am writing this review because of what happens while we are waiting for our checks. The "manager" hostess, approaches the table. I think, "Finally, she's going to ask us how she can make it up to us- or tell us she's comp-ed a meal or two..." NOPE. She grabs a few empty glasses and asks us what we are waiting for.... Her actual words are, "Soooo, was there something you guys were waiting for orrrr.... ?" Or what? Is she for real??? My sister explains that we are waiting for our cards. "Uh, what?" she says. "We are waiting for our cards so that we can leave." The manager says nothing- just walks off. So yea. The food was bad. The service was very bad. But the "management" was inexcuseable. I will NEVER be back.
(1)
Christine L.
First off, what in the world is a gastropub? According to Wiki (the best aka worst site ever to cite), the term was coined as recently as 1991 by the owners of a pub in London who were redefining the standard pub fare by placing a higher emphasis on higher end food. So is this a gastropub? ABSOLUTELY. But keep in mind that you could also call it glorified pub fare... okay that's a little too harsh. I was excited for dinner, and their adorable Christmas decorations definitely helped up my spirits! Here's what I tried, after the 30+ minute necessary wait due to everything being made from scratch after being ordered: - Fried Calamari appetizer: Lightly battered and tossed in a creamy lime dressing, this was definitely my top choice of the two apps we ordered. I'm not used to my calamari being coated in sauce, but the crispness remained! - PEI Mussels: Not my favorite. The menu says steamed w/ garlic, tasso, and fresh herbs in a cajun-style sauce. We had someone at our table who doesn't eat pork, so we had no tasso (kind of like a smoked ham). The mussels were teeeeeeny tiny, and nearly half our shells were empty! Very disappointing. - Roasted Salmon: I LOVE salmon, I love it even more when it's made better than my impromptu cooking sessions at home. This wasn't it. The salmon came roasted on top of coconut rice and charred watercress, with an orange brown sugar soy glaze. Of the whole dish, I suppose the salmon was the highlight, I ordered it cooked medium, and that part was spot on. The skin started off crisp, but sitting on top of coconut rice tends to make things mushy! The rice was really fluffy, so much so that I didn't quite taste the coconut. It seemed like everything was served on top of watercress, this bunch was a tad too bitter (and I usually like bitter too...), and finally, the glaze was SUPER SALTY! Finally, I can't forget the heaping handfuls of fried things on top of the salmon. While fun and pretty, there was just so much! - Chocolate Teardrop of Happiness: Our waitress described this as heaven for chocolate-lovers. While it's very pretty, the choco/raspberry combo just isn't for me, the other chocolate-lovers at my table did love it though! - Waffles w/ Caramelized Apples: One thing I have to say about both desserts: beautiful presentation! Despite drowning in vanilla ice cream & caramel sauce, the waffle was amazingly crisp! I only had a bite, but I wish all waffles came like this. Overall, yes this is definitely a solid place to dine out. While it's not something I'd imagine when I see the word "gastro-", it's SO much more than your average pub. The ambience and service were both great, with the exception of the water pouring. I was no thirstier than normal, but how hard is it to get a refill?? I also had a chunk of something weird in my water, so that was a little disturbing. Gratuity is 20% for parties of 6+.
(3)
Soleil D.
Busy rainy Sunday brunch. Seated promptly with an 11o'clock res. We both got the special pulled pork benedict which was absolutly perfect, especially paired with one of the best bloody's I've had, and I get one every sunday. Wish we got the servers name she was great. I asked for no cheese on my Benedict but it came with it anyways (it was so good with the cheese and hollandaise, I just was trying to cut down on the unhealthy factor not the deliciousness), anyways she gave us a very generous discount for the not so big mistake. I've had dinner there a few times and now brunch and Everytime has been perfect.
(5)
Shawn R.
I dig everything about this place.
(4)
Michelle L.
Stopped in here on Friday night for a light dinner with my husband. Easy parking right behind the restaurant was an early sign of good things to come. The live music was in full swing when we arrived and the band of the night was The Cozmik Zombies, who were rocking out a tight set of blues and folk. The music could be quite loud, so do be forewarned of that. We were seated near the windows, conveniently not in full-on blow-out-your-eardrums territory and ordered some beers and the cheese and meat plate to share. Next time I may go for a bourbon flight, but it wasn't that kind of evening. The portions were pretty small, but everything on the plate was absolutely delicious. Next we split some calamari, which again exceeded expectations. They were very lightly fried with a citrusy sauce. Finally we split the seasonal parfait for dessert. All things considered, the food here is above and beyond what I expected at this venue. The service was also great throughout - attentive without being annoying - and the owner even came over at the end to see how we enjoyed everything. We'll definitely be back again if we find ourselves out in Westbrook.
(5)
Sue S.
We haven't been here for a while and decided to give it another try a s WOW, so plsd we did! We'd give it more than 5 if we could! The service was outstanding - everyone - and the food was excellent!
(5)
Rebecca W.
The food is delicious, but a bit pricey. It is considered a gastropub and is a unique experience. The atomsphere is romantic and lit beautifully. The explainations of the food and preperation are a bit over the top, but entertainig. "We went to the market and bought a pumpkin, we pureed it..." as the begining of how they made the pumpkin pie martini, which was flavorful but not well balanced, a bit strong. The waitress was attentive and had a vast knowledge of the menu. We started with poutine, which was ok. The gravy was thick but not much flavor. We ordered the buff jimmy and the tsunami flatbreads, which were both crisp and bursting with excellent flavor combos. It was a good expericne but not likely to be repeated
(3)
Jeff C.
A customer of mine requested we try this Restuarant. I was skeptical since I saw it was in Westbrook thinking in my own mind that the good restaurants were all in the Old Port. Boy was I wrong! The food was excellent and the menu had a great selection. The service was extremely good as well. I am glad someone brought this establishment to my attention because I would have never looked to Westbrook to get this type of excellence.
(4)
Stephanie G.
I had the pleasure of working at the Frog & Turtle (even though for a short period of time) I saw how Chef James truly took pride in his food. 3 years later I found myself planning my wedding and first stop was to Frog & Turtle to inquire about catering. Not only did they customize an amazing meal for my wedding they created an atmosphere we could never forget. Honestly the best food around and a man who is dedicated and committed to making his customers happy. You can trust that you will always have great outcome using Frog & Turtle as your caterer. Great food and great people. Thank you James, Meghan and your team for creating an amazing wedding for us.
Good little breakfast spot. They have some great niche dishes and staff is on point. Menu very limited though, maybe some expansion and variety is needed. No wait for brunch on a Sunday was pretty awesome though. Custom made donuts are very cool but I'm more into the meat bread and potatoes, style of breakfast. French toast was very appealing as well.
(3)
Jeremy N.
Amazing food and service. This is a 5 star restaurant in the middle of little Westbrook. You don't ususally see this quality outside of a big city. It is pricy but worth every penny.
The food is always good here. The service, however was terrible. We had 7pm reservations and did not order appetizers or dinner til 8pm. Our waitress literally disappeared. She said she had 6 tables and that they were all seated close in time to each other. Didn't make sense at all. We saw what tables she had and they were seated at various times throughout the evening. She was semi apologetic but not enough to compensate us with a drink or appetizer.... 3 of us had small salads with grilled salmon. Delicious and well prepared. The fourth had a burger that he raved about.
(3)
Anita I.
I am from Rhode Island and a group of about 25-30 of us were in Maine over this past weekend to take part in the Tough Mudder. It's quite the task to find a place that can our big group for our celebratory dinner after the event. I took to Yelp to look into some favored options and this place stuck out. James the Chef was responsive and accommodating when I reached out to him. Upon arrival, we were excited to see a banner which read "Welcome Tough Mudders" and our tables were already prepared and there was a special "Tough Mudder" menu with the brunch menu. It was great service and we had a few young kids and they received their food ASAP. I ordered the Jimmy Benedict (bacon, caramelized onions, scallions and brie) it was delicious! The potatoes were a tad salty but still crispy and good. I washed it all down with a beer flight sampler. The only down side was that they had run out of their made to order donuts . Awesome place, will definitely go back when I head that way.
(5)
Jim R.
My wife and my mother and I went to dinner around 7:30 on a Thursday. I was unaware that there was live music every Thursday night so conversation was pretty difficult. If I would have known, I probably would have booked another restaurant but. oh well. The place is cute and there is a parking lot right behind the restaurant. For an app, I had the mussels which were delicious. They were steamed with garlic, tasso and fresh herbs. The broth was fantastic! I needed to get more bread to soak it up. The mussels came out hot. My mother and wife had salads and they were happy with them although, at $10+ each, pricey for greens. For entrees, my mom had a flat beard. It was good and pretty large. She couldn't finish it. My wife had the chicken crepe which she described as a chicken pot pie in a crepe. There were plenty of vegetables and the chicken was super tender. I had the pasta with was loaded with veggies and freshly foraged mushrooms that were just great. Everything came out hot. Our waiter was great. He was attentive but not chatty and was right there with filled water glasses and bread. I would highly recommend this place. We had a great experience. It sounds like the service issues here are hit or miss based on who you dealt with. I guess we lucked out tonight.
(4)
Aiden C.
I took my girl friend there for our anniversary today. The food was delicious and the customer service was great! I made a reservation and we were seated immediately. I highly recommend trying this place. I would go back again!
(5)
Jill S.
The food and atmosphere were excellant ! We sat at the bar and had charcuterie And the cheese plate .We also had the fried avacodo which was incredible.What made the night was Jessie at the bar.He was knowledgable and fun.His drinks were great including his excitement to make my husbands Sazerac .We will be back!
(5)
Liz S.
Place is bomb-diggity. Went for brunch and got a mimosa with veggie benedict. Although it gets pretty busy for breakfast/brunch we were able to get a seat at the bar. Staff is super friendly and food doesn't disappoint. I typically eat in Portland and was nervous about venturing to Westbrook since they are not usually known for having a lot of great restaurant choices. I'll definitely be back and I'm already looking forward to it.
(5)
S And E H.
Pub? Nope. Bistro? Yes. Great food that is made to order so take a seat grab a drink, it'll be ready when it's done. Worth the wait.
(5)
Lynn V.
We went for our wedding anniversary and the waiter we had was amazing (later he told us he was the owner). He helped us with everything from what wine to have , appetizers to try and main course. We were blown away by his service, attention to details and answered any question we asked. The food was amazing (cheese plate w/bread, grilled lamb w/asparagus, and a chocolate mousse- so so good ), fresh and inviting! Great spot to go to celebrate something special and local! The most amazing dining experience I've ever had.
(5)
Karen R.
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Westbrook. The staff is always very friendly and accommodating, the atmosphere is always delightful, and the food is always amazing. They change their menu seasonally to mix it up and the have off the menu specials every night. The prices are reasonable and the portion sizes are excellent - I always come home with left overs! I highly recommend stopping by for drinks and appetizers and then enjoy a great meal!
(5)
Priscilla H.
Great atmosphere - fantastic music. Always great when the Cozmik Zombies are playing - but you will find great local talent any night of the week. Interesting and flavorful!
(5)
Jenn F.
The food was OK, not as good as I expected considering the price and hype. The wait staff was not very friendly at all.
(3)
Dave B.
My wife and I stopped here on the way from South Jersey to visit friends in Sweden, ME. It was a very pleasant surprise. Our waitress was very enthusiastic and competent. The atmosphere was pleasant and the food was wonderful. It was a special experience and we hope to return the next time we visit Maine.
(5)
Amy C.
We were staying in Portland and really believed we should eat dinner there. We decided to drive out to this place instead based on the reviews. Great choice! We made a reservation & we were seated in less than 5min. We had our kids with us(5 & 9) and they were the only kids there, but they made us all feel welcome. We ordered the fish and chips for the kids and the waitress suggested they split it because it was a good portion. Good idea--it was $18 and they just about finished it. The chips were actually fresh made chips and delicious! We split the goat cheese strudel and almost licked the plate! I had the chicken cordon bleu, which was actually better than a traditional one, the sauce was not cream-based and it had roasted root vegetables inside. My husband had the braised rib and loved it! The drinks were fantastic and we spent 2hours there to enjoy the meal. Kids had dessert, too. $133 for everything and it was money well spent!
(5)
Daniel M.
Little caveat - I've never sat in the dining room, only every at the bar (except of the couches). Another little caveat - I'm a mug club member. Okay, now onto the seemingly biased review. I go to this place about one a week for a few after work beverages with some friends, and sometimes just by myself to get out of the house. The bartender Jesse is top-notch - there isn't anyone of his class or ability in Westbrook and quite possibly in Portland. He makes a basil and gin based cocktail called the Soothsayer that's amazing. The bar sits about 12 people and he serves food and drinks to them as well as drinks for the usually packed dining room - and still we get our drinks in a quick fashion. Food is fantastic, but it is a gastro pub so be prepared for some unique tastes - this isn't your mom and pop's standard betty crocker shit they're cooking. I enjoy unique and interesting tastes, so the food is pretty good. The prices don't bother me, but I guess living in Boston for quite a while their prices are really not much higher than a sports pub. Long story short, if you like to sit and socialize at a bar rather than the dining room(because I've never sat at a table), this is a great place. A bit pricey, but the drinks and the bartender are top-notch.
(5)
Michael E.
The food was so disappointing for brunch. The donuts are all the exact same dry cake. To create the various 'flavors' they just smear random topping on top of the dry cake donuts. What a let down. The bacon I ordered was cooked hilariously bad. It was like he was trying to mess it up or blind. Burned black along one edge and rubbery white on the other( both our phones were dead or I would be adding pictures). The side of bacon was $3 making it the worst money I have spent on food that I can remember. The only other brunch spot we tried this trip was Petit Jacqueline wich was great. To rub salt in my wound they offered a side of bacon for $2 that was absolutely fantastic. Our waitress had a grumpy attitude that bordered on rude. I will give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she was just having an off day. The host was great and she is the reason I am giving 2 stars not 1. She was nice and seated us promptly at a table by the window.
(2)
Keith S.
Disappointing Brunch overpriced a terribly underwhelming gastronomic experience
(1)
Kerryann M.
This restaurant is the best kept secret in Westbrook. Such a jem in a not so great location. We enjoyed the delicious food and had great service during their brunch on Sunday. The made-to-order, homemade donuts are so incredible I couldn't get them off my mind all day! We're looking forward to coming back to try their dinners. Next time we're bringing some friends with us!
(4)
Daniel C.
We ate dinner here last night - it was delicious. Great pub food, or fancier fare if you wish. Beer and wine selection was extensive. Service was attentive and friendly. We both ordered burgers off the pub menu. They were cooked perfectly.
(4)
Patrick L.
We chose the Frog & Turtle for our afternoon wedding reception, and we were thrilled with the planning, food, and service - and really, the bang for the buck was in our favor. I'm honestly just looking for an excuse to have them cater another event... maybe my housewarming party this fall? We'll see!
(5)
Alice C.
We have been wanting to try this place for so long and so when I finally recovered enough from a Bone Marrow Transplant, my husband and I decide to celebrate our 22nd Wedding Anniversary. So, it went something like this... We walk in and wait. "someone will be right with you" we're told. We watch several staff go by us, again and again. Just as we're thinking of giving up...we're seated, alas! We have scarce time to scan the drink menu before a well read but slightly smug waiter expects our order, which we place hardily. $9 Cosmopolitan arrives tasting like a watered down SeaBreeze, albeit a strong enough one so I indulge. As we read the menu, I take particular notice of a bit of friendly restaurant advice...' "so put the phone down, relax, chat, enjoy some good food..."or yaddah yaddah yaddah...something like that! Needless to say I am, at this point, gearing up for fine gastro experience of scrumptious food eaten in a relaxed state in a leisurely like way..and then the Band strikes up....LOUDLY, in a restaurant the size of of an average open concept kitchen/dining/living room household. And although the music is actually really good it is so loud my husband and I honestly cannot hear the other one speak. We were two feet apart from each other. We do see the others mouths open, move and shut, but tangible sound eludes us We ordered in a polite shout/talk after the waiter explained it is highly recommended we order appetizers as the food is all cooked to order, taking 30 minutes. So we wondered, were the apps pre-cooked, as they took only 10 minutes or so...hmmmmmm.? Anyway; The rather resigned waiter became even further so when he asked us something and I had to almost holler "I can't hear you!" He used sign language to ask if we wanted more drinks. We did not. He walked away. The appetizers were very good-but a spoon and a little bread with the mussels would have been perhaps a nice homey treat so as to get the full experience as well GET the mussels from the bowl to the plate with ease. Oh well. But the BEST part -or the IRONIC part was that although my husband and I sat but 2 feet apart, we found we had no choice but to go against the F and T philosophy and GET the PHONES out, as it was the ONLY way we could actually communicate to each other without shrugging,or contorting our face in public while shouting "WHAT?" It cracked us up...we're such rebels, you know... Ahhh-Good ol' technology... but the food was good, it really was. We just had to eat it and beat it before our ear drums burst! But all in all not only was it was more expensive then I'd presume a standard pub might be, and the food seemed to lean more towards the Tuscan region of Italy rather then say, the Provence Region of France. (pesto? aioli? cheesburgers? Franco-American....seriously?
(2)
Jay H.
Good service and good atmosphere equal two stars. The food was pretty lackluster for a self-proclaimed "gastro-pub." The positives: great local music. Chipper and friendly waitstaff. The negatives: Food. I could rip this place a new one if I wanted to. I'll just say the hamburger buns (house made, but why?) are reminiscent of Burger King. The house specialty drink (the swamp) is served with dry ice. It looks really cool, but tastes like bubble gum. Now, you may say, well I like bubble gum, but trust me, you wouldn't like this bubble gum. Gastro-pub? If you're going to apply a snooty title to your establishment, you'd better back it up with some good grub.
(2)
Leslie A.
I've been here 2 times. To be fair, the service and atmosphere first time was quite good so we took visitors with us a 2nd time. As vegetarians however, the menu, while it looks good, is disappointing. The first visit i ordered goat cheese ravioli which was huge sheets of thick pasta with small stamps of goat cheese. My husband ordered the vegetable crepes which were mashed potatoes and spinach and cheddar (basically sides of meat dishes nicely carbed into crepes). Our second visit it took an hour to get appetizers with our friends. It took about 20 minutes to order a 2nd drink. They were out of flatbread. We had 3 vegetarians in our party. Again, they had mashed potato crepes which when they were served almost 2 hours later had raw spinach and unmelted cheddar. All in all, I wouldn't return. They were apologetic and refunded our appetizers which was nice. It wasn't a pleasant dinner. The food was not good. You'd think they could at least put some broccoli or something different in a vegetarian crepe than extra starch. A veggie burger would also be a welcome option for when they are out of flatbread on a friday night. good luck!!
(2)
Michael D.
Westbrook's finest dining experience by a long shot. You can grab some drinks or a nicely prepared dinner. The only issue I have is that dinner stops at 9:00 - I would like to see this more like 10:00. Their specials are very interesting and unique. I suggest getting there early if you want to check these out as they often sell out of the specials.
(5)
Ryan C.
Not so good.... Really unpleasant waitstaff and mediocre food, though the donuts were good. Hostess was not friendly and waitress couldnt manage to refill the coffee, thankfully its sitting right out in the middle of the dining room so you might as well do it yourself if you want any. 45 minutes after the order was placed we were informed that they didnt have one of the menu items ... seriously? its 10am, you ran out of something after being open an hour for brunch? you could have at least known to mention that when we were ordering. evenso, place was not even half full and they take 50 minutes to fry eggs? this place gets a big fat "meh, so what". 2 stars for the donuts. 0 stars for the staff
(2)
Sarah A.
Food is good but the service is weird. I feel like no one ever pays attention to you, never looks you in the eye and service is slow.
(2)
Dave P.
Walked in and was asked "Do you have reservations?" we said "No". Waiter walked off and no one else ever greeted us. We waited for 5 minutes while 4 different employees passed us by without greeting us. We felt very awkward. It is too bad because this establishment is only 1 mile from my house...but apparently they don't need our business, nor will they ever get it. I was really let down because the only things I have heard about this restaurant is positive stuff. We will not be back though. We felt very awkward and totally unwelcome.
(1)
Tony C.
Furthermore I reached out to the owner of frog and turtle. I tried explaining what happened in hopes that he would do something to try to make it right. His response "I see you have mad your decision" It's nice to know that the owner of this restaurant cares about his customers.
(1)
Andrew L.
Their weekend brunch is the best in the area. Start with some of their one of a kind homemade doughnuts. These will sell out so make sure you get in early. Your meal will not be complete without one! I always enjoyed one of their "benedict" specials. They are delicious takes on the classic eggs benedict. They also make wonderful one of a kind cocktails. I have also been many times for dinner. As with brunch, everything is homemade so your order will take some time. I have never been displeased with their steak offerings. The Frog & Turtle has a wonderful close-nit atmosphere which makes you feel like a regular. I would recommend reservations for brunch and possibly for dinner.
(5)
Captn I.
Wow! Braised pork shank with jus. Mac & cheese and wilted watercress. My wife had the Buff Jimmy flat bread and salad. Basically a cheese burger pizza with pickles and everything. Dessert was coconut ice-cream with choc chips for Heidi and I had apple fritters with maple syrup, whipped cream and ice-cream. Everything was homemade. Not bad. Had some wine and a big tankard of Murphy's stout!
(4)
Carole H.
Noticed someone else wrote a bad tip today too! Food is always good, but service has been getting progressively worse every time we eat brunch. We arrived at 11am and didn't get our food until noon!! No apologies, no explanations. They forgot our coffee and my daughter's juice and took 15 minutes once we were seated to even ask us if we wanted a beverage. We won't be coming back unless we feel like eating at the bar where it looks like things are faster.
(2)
Matt S.
Friends suggested the F&T to meet out at and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Arriving early the bartender greeted me with a warm smile and introduction. After we sat down our party size grew and the waitress moved us over right over to another table. Service was great, the chef was even out on the dinning room floor checking to insure everyone was enjoying. Food: I'm heading back soon. The fish special I had was out of this world. A shrimp dish with pan fried noodles and seasoned with just the right spices. Delicious. I hear the chicken crepes are a cult favorite. Bottom Line: This is a quiet jewel that will draw you back again! Enjoy.
(5)
Jack M.
The atmosphere is great, the bartender is great, the entertainment is great but I came there for the food and the service; not so great. The waiter was disconnected. He acted like he was doing us a favor when he came to the table. We waited a very long time for a waitperson and we finally were able to place an order; we waited a very long time for the food. The waiter came over and pointed to a table near us and told us that there was a table of 16 and our food was going to take a long time. He suggested that we get appetizers, so we waited for those and the portions were tiny. He didn't apologize or offer us some food on the house to hold us over. He just had a look on his face like he was wishing he was somewhere else. The food was just okay. I cannot get excited about pricy food that I could have prepared myself.
(2)
Bob R.
My wife likes this place more than me but it's slowly winning me over. Parked in back and came in through the back door - on the way to the hostess stand, proceeded to trip over the stage. Not much room to negotiate. Didn't have a reservation but were happy sitting at the bar. Very friendly bar tender. He made a very nice Manhattan for me. It was odd in that there were many bourbon choice but only one rye? I occasionally have bourbon but I'm more of a Manhattan traditionalist. I had the fish chowder which was very good, very hot, maybe too big of a bowl - I don't think there was a "cup" option on the menu - next time I'll ask. The bowl also came out a little too fast as I wasn't even close to finishing my Manhattan. Sip of soup, sip of Manhattan, sip of soup, etc. - not ideal. I thought the burger was great. Had a version with bacon, blue cheese etc. Perfectly cooked med rare. I liked the bun a lot. Wife had a vege flatbread which was very good as well as an app (I can't remember what it was) which she enjoyed. Music started around 8:30 - a real nice addition to the scene. Overall, I think it's really nice food in a casual atmosphere with live music and good service. Nice combo.
(4)
Nicole And Russ F.
Tough review as food and live music are often great. But I can't get past some of the personalities here. There is one server (Michael) who always aims to please. But the hostess and other servers often serve up a side of attitude that we never order.
(2)
Angie S.
We've been to the Frog & Turtle twice for dinner now, and it's becoming one of our new go-to spots. It's good food in an unpretentious atmosphere. (They're the same people behind the French Press Eatery around the corner, their casual breakfast/lunch place) Our first visit started off somewhat dubiously -- a table smack in the middle of traffic that was wobblier than a baby learning to walk. Fortunately, as we started to mutter a bit, our server noticed, swooped in and fixed it -- typical of the very attentive staff. Food has been great. I've had the cheese plate appetizer both times, and I haven't been disappointed - and I'm a cheese nut. My husband had the poutine the first time, and it was good, too. My husband had a bouillabaisse that was to die for on our second visit. Service, as mentioned before, is great... attentive, but you feel you're allowed to linger. We'll be back often. We've heard raves about their brunch.
(4)
Tammy S.
This is Uffa's reincarnated in Westbrook. The food is incredible, the service is amazing, it's a great atmosphere, live music on Friday is fun and the brunch... the donuts are incredible and the Bloody Mary's are fantastic! Highly recommend!
(5)
Pygmy A.
Excellent brunch! Never would have tried Eggs Benedict with brie and bacon if not tempted by this menu. Why only on Sunday?
(5)
K C.
Great! Coming from San Francisco to Portland for my girlfriend's parents' 50th anniversary get together, I assumed that I'd be at best mildly disappointed by something calling itself a gastro-anything, let alone pub. We had ~20 people for early dinner and they provided a perfect array of starters. We particularly liked the crackers they had made out of their own wheat bread. Our waiter, Ian was superb both in attentiveness and his knowledge and interest in what he was offering us. The chocolate cake they made for the occasion got rave reviews; just sweet enough - which pleased everyone. F&T was unpretentious so I think all our folks there for a fairly casual event felt quite comfortable. All in all, really nice place with good people. I'd go back, and certainly need to try the donuts.
(4)
Brenda G.
Formerly Cafe Uffa on Longfellow Square in Portland, F and T is an enthusiastic foodie enclave in deepest, darkest Westbrook. Breathing in the fumes of its immediate predecessor, Chickie's, F and T has managed to capture its venue vibe with great entertainment AND great food. New Year's Eve with blues legend Pam Baker and raw bar was sublime.
(4)
John C.
Had brunch there on Sunday 7/26/09, food was great! Very creative with breakfast. Old standbys as well as interesting items you won't find anywhere else. Banana Pancakes with "REAL" maple syrup made my day! Lobster Benedict was a surprising treat to see as well, even though I couldn't partake, my friend gobbled it up like it was going to run away from him!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Music : Live Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Rebecca W.
The food is delicious, but a bit pricey. It is considered a gastropub and is a unique experience. The atomsphere is romantic and lit beautifully. The explainations of the food and preperation are a bit over the top, but entertainig. "We went to the market and bought a pumpkin, we pureed it..." as the begining of how they made the pumpkin pie martini, which was flavorful but not well balanced, a bit strong. The waitress was attentive and had a vast knowledge of the menu. We started with poutine, which was ok. The gravy was thick but not much flavor. We ordered the buff jimmy and the tsunami flatbreads, which were both crisp and bursting with excellent flavor combos. It was a good expericne but not likely to be repeated
(3)Jeff C.
A customer of mine requested we try this Restuarant. I was skeptical since I saw it was in Westbrook thinking in my own mind that the good restaurants were all in the Old Port. Boy was I wrong! The food was excellent and the menu had a great selection. The service was extremely good as well. I am glad someone brought this establishment to my attention because I would have never looked to Westbrook to get this type of excellence.
(4)Daniel C.
We ate dinner here last night - it was delicious. Great pub food, or fancier fare if you wish. Beer and wine selection was extensive. Service was attentive and friendly. We both ordered burgers off the pub menu. They were cooked perfectly.
(4)Patrick L.
We chose the Frog & Turtle for our afternoon wedding reception, and we were thrilled with the planning, food, and service - and really, the bang for the buck was in our favor. I'm honestly just looking for an excuse to have them cater another event... maybe my housewarming party this fall? We'll see!
(5)Jenn F.
The food was OK, not as good as I expected considering the price and hype. The wait staff was not very friendly at all.
(3)Liz J.
For a $90 dinner, I had hoped for better food...service was great!! I got the pinapple mojito drink special for $10. I couldn't taste a drop of booze. So then I asked for Jameson on the rocks because at that point, you know exactly what you are getting...although my friend I went to dinner with got the strawberry lemonade special with gin and her drink tasted quite strong...wtf! I got the chicken entree which was delicious! I wish the asparagus it had come with hadnt been cut into microscopic pieces and then drowned in the chicken sauce...which made it really difficult to get on my fork and into my face. It also came with little tiny pasta peices which I HOPE were homemade...for the $21 it cost. The reason why I am rating this place so low is because: 1. The drinks were not strong/inconsistent and way pricey for what it was. 2. The food took a long time to get to our table. 3. There was an incredibly loud band playing the night we went, which is fine, unless you are paying for a $90 dinner and have to shout at the people across the table from you. Because of the band, and the "pub" menu and the "dinner" menu...it just seems like the Frog and Turtle really cant make up its mind as to whether it wants to be a Pub or a fine dining restaurant....so please for the love of god pick which one you want to be!!
(2)corinne a.
Three of us started a cozy window booth for a 5:30 Saturday reservation. The food was delicious. I especially enjoyed the fish chowder---the broth was so delicious. I followed with chicken wings, which were just ok. If you like garlic, you will love the chopped green salad. I had mine with steak. Also very yummy. Or service was prompt, professional and not at all overbearing. Seats near the door are a tiny bit chilly in the winter, but you can tell they are cranking heat to compensate. Ambiance was very cozy, warm and comfortable. I'm looking forward to coming back again and again.
(4)Jesse M.
We had high hopes after reading reviews. The service was slow and inattentive. No one even came to the table for 10-15 minutes after we were seated. There's a note on the menu that food will take 30 minutes, but why would a burger and pizza take 30 minutes? In our case, it took closer to 60. Also, a lemonade refill was charged which was a surprise. When the food finally arrived, it was pretty good except for the cheese pizza the kids got which was tasteless. Overall, we were disappointed due to the service so I wouldn't return unless they did takeout.
(3)Daniel M.
Little caveat - I've never sat in the dining room, only every at the bar (except of the couches). Another little caveat - I'm a mug club member. Okay, now onto the seemingly biased review. I go to this place about one a week for a few after work beverages with some friends, and sometimes just by myself to get out of the house. The bartender Jesse is top-notch - there isn't anyone of his class or ability in Westbrook and quite possibly in Portland. He makes a basil and gin based cocktail called the Soothsayer that's amazing. The bar sits about 12 people and he serves food and drinks to them as well as drinks for the usually packed dining room - and still we get our drinks in a quick fashion. Food is fantastic, but it is a gastro pub so be prepared for some unique tastes - this isn't your mom and pop's standard betty crocker shit they're cooking. I enjoy unique and interesting tastes, so the food is pretty good. The prices don't bother me, but I guess living in Boston for quite a while their prices are really not much higher than a sports pub. Long story short, if you like to sit and socialize at a bar rather than the dining room(because I've never sat at a table), this is a great place. A bit pricey, but the drinks and the bartender are top-notch.
(5)Kerryann M.
This restaurant is the best kept secret in Westbrook. Such a jem in a not so great location. We enjoyed the delicious food and had great service during their brunch on Sunday. The made-to-order, homemade donuts are so incredible I couldn't get them off my mind all day! We're looking forward to coming back to try their dinners. Next time we're bringing some friends with us!
(4)Michael E.
The food was so disappointing for brunch. The donuts are all the exact same dry cake. To create the various 'flavors' they just smear random topping on top of the dry cake donuts. What a let down. The bacon I ordered was cooked hilariously bad. It was like he was trying to mess it up or blind. Burned black along one edge and rubbery white on the other( both our phones were dead or I would be adding pictures). The side of bacon was $3 making it the worst money I have spent on food that I can remember. The only other brunch spot we tried this trip was Petit Jacqueline wich was great. To rub salt in my wound they offered a side of bacon for $2 that was absolutely fantastic. Our waitress had a grumpy attitude that bordered on rude. I will give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she was just having an off day. The host was great and she is the reason I am giving 2 stars not 1. She was nice and seated us promptly at a table by the window.
(2)Keith S.
Disappointing Brunch overpriced a terribly underwhelming gastronomic experience
(1)Alice C.
We have been wanting to try this place for so long and so when I finally recovered enough from a Bone Marrow Transplant, my husband and I decide to celebrate our 22nd Wedding Anniversary. So, it went something like this... We walk in and wait. "someone will be right with you" we're told. We watch several staff go by us, again and again. Just as we're thinking of giving up...we're seated, alas! We have scarce time to scan the drink menu before a well read but slightly smug waiter expects our order, which we place hardily. $9 Cosmopolitan arrives tasting like a watered down SeaBreeze, albeit a strong enough one so I indulge. As we read the menu, I take particular notice of a bit of friendly restaurant advice...' "so put the phone down, relax, chat, enjoy some good food..."or yaddah yaddah yaddah...something like that! Needless to say I am, at this point, gearing up for fine gastro experience of scrumptious food eaten in a relaxed state in a leisurely like way..and then the Band strikes up....LOUDLY, in a restaurant the size of of an average open concept kitchen/dining/living room household. And although the music is actually really good it is so loud my husband and I honestly cannot hear the other one speak. We were two feet apart from each other. We do see the others mouths open, move and shut, but tangible sound eludes us We ordered in a polite shout/talk after the waiter explained it is highly recommended we order appetizers as the food is all cooked to order, taking 30 minutes. So we wondered, were the apps pre-cooked, as they took only 10 minutes or so...hmmmmmm.? Anyway; The rather resigned waiter became even further so when he asked us something and I had to almost holler "I can't hear you!" He used sign language to ask if we wanted more drinks. We did not. He walked away. The appetizers were very good-but a spoon and a little bread with the mussels would have been perhaps a nice homey treat so as to get the full experience as well GET the mussels from the bowl to the plate with ease. Oh well. But the BEST part -or the IRONIC part was that although my husband and I sat but 2 feet apart, we found we had no choice but to go against the F and T philosophy and GET the PHONES out, as it was the ONLY way we could actually communicate to each other without shrugging,or contorting our face in public while shouting "WHAT?" It cracked us up...we're such rebels, you know... Ahhh-Good ol' technology... but the food was good, it really was. We just had to eat it and beat it before our ear drums burst! But all in all not only was it was more expensive then I'd presume a standard pub might be, and the food seemed to lean more towards the Tuscan region of Italy rather then say, the Provence Region of France. (pesto? aioli? cheesburgers? Franco-American....seriously?
(2)Jay H.
Good service and good atmosphere equal two stars. The food was pretty lackluster for a self-proclaimed "gastro-pub." The positives: great local music. Chipper and friendly waitstaff. The negatives: Food. I could rip this place a new one if I wanted to. I'll just say the hamburger buns (house made, but why?) are reminiscent of Burger King. The house specialty drink (the swamp) is served with dry ice. It looks really cool, but tastes like bubble gum. Now, you may say, well I like bubble gum, but trust me, you wouldn't like this bubble gum. Gastro-pub? If you're going to apply a snooty title to your establishment, you'd better back it up with some good grub.
(2)Stephanie G.
I had the pleasure of working at the Frog & Turtle (even though for a short period of time) I saw how Chef James truly took pride in his food. 3 years later I found myself planning my wedding and first stop was to Frog & Turtle to inquire about catering. Not only did they customize an amazing meal for my wedding they created an atmosphere we could never forget. Honestly the best food around and a man who is dedicated and committed to making his customers happy. You can trust that you will always have great outcome using Frog & Turtle as your caterer. Great food and great people. Thank you James, Meghan and your team for creating an amazing wedding for us.
(5)Leslie A.
I've been here 2 times. To be fair, the service and atmosphere first time was quite good so we took visitors with us a 2nd time. As vegetarians however, the menu, while it looks good, is disappointing. The first visit i ordered goat cheese ravioli which was huge sheets of thick pasta with small stamps of goat cheese. My husband ordered the vegetable crepes which were mashed potatoes and spinach and cheddar (basically sides of meat dishes nicely carbed into crepes). Our second visit it took an hour to get appetizers with our friends. It took about 20 minutes to order a 2nd drink. They were out of flatbread. We had 3 vegetarians in our party. Again, they had mashed potato crepes which when they were served almost 2 hours later had raw spinach and unmelted cheddar. All in all, I wouldn't return. They were apologetic and refunded our appetizers which was nice. It wasn't a pleasant dinner. The food was not good. You'd think they could at least put some broccoli or something different in a vegetarian crepe than extra starch. A veggie burger would also be a welcome option for when they are out of flatbread on a friday night. good luck!!
(2)Michael D.
Westbrook's finest dining experience by a long shot. You can grab some drinks or a nicely prepared dinner. The only issue I have is that dinner stops at 9:00 - I would like to see this more like 10:00. Their specials are very interesting and unique. I suggest getting there early if you want to check these out as they often sell out of the specials.
(5)Ryan C.
Not so good.... Really unpleasant waitstaff and mediocre food, though the donuts were good. Hostess was not friendly and waitress couldnt manage to refill the coffee, thankfully its sitting right out in the middle of the dining room so you might as well do it yourself if you want any. 45 minutes after the order was placed we were informed that they didnt have one of the menu items ... seriously? its 10am, you ran out of something after being open an hour for brunch? you could have at least known to mention that when we were ordering. evenso, place was not even half full and they take 50 minutes to fry eggs? this place gets a big fat "meh, so what". 2 stars for the donuts. 0 stars for the staff
(2)Sarah A.
Food is good but the service is weird. I feel like no one ever pays attention to you, never looks you in the eye and service is slow.
(2)Dave P.
Walked in and was asked "Do you have reservations?" we said "No". Waiter walked off and no one else ever greeted us. We waited for 5 minutes while 4 different employees passed us by without greeting us. We felt very awkward. It is too bad because this establishment is only 1 mile from my house...but apparently they don't need our business, nor will they ever get it. I was really let down because the only things I have heard about this restaurant is positive stuff. We will not be back though. We felt very awkward and totally unwelcome.
(1)Tony C.
Furthermore I reached out to the owner of frog and turtle. I tried explaining what happened in hopes that he would do something to try to make it right. His response "I see you have mad your decision" It's nice to know that the owner of this restaurant cares about his customers.
(1)Andrew L.
Their weekend brunch is the best in the area. Start with some of their one of a kind homemade doughnuts. These will sell out so make sure you get in early. Your meal will not be complete without one! I always enjoyed one of their "benedict" specials. They are delicious takes on the classic eggs benedict. They also make wonderful one of a kind cocktails. I have also been many times for dinner. As with brunch, everything is homemade so your order will take some time. I have never been displeased with their steak offerings. The Frog & Turtle has a wonderful close-nit atmosphere which makes you feel like a regular. I would recommend reservations for brunch and possibly for dinner.
(5)Captn I.
Wow! Braised pork shank with jus. Mac & cheese and wilted watercress. My wife had the Buff Jimmy flat bread and salad. Basically a cheese burger pizza with pickles and everything. Dessert was coconut ice-cream with choc chips for Heidi and I had apple fritters with maple syrup, whipped cream and ice-cream. Everything was homemade. Not bad. Had some wine and a big tankard of Murphy's stout!
(4)Carole H.
Noticed someone else wrote a bad tip today too! Food is always good, but service has been getting progressively worse every time we eat brunch. We arrived at 11am and didn't get our food until noon!! No apologies, no explanations. They forgot our coffee and my daughter's juice and took 15 minutes once we were seated to even ask us if we wanted a beverage. We won't be coming back unless we feel like eating at the bar where it looks like things are faster.
(2)Matt S.
Friends suggested the F&T to meet out at and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Arriving early the bartender greeted me with a warm smile and introduction. After we sat down our party size grew and the waitress moved us over right over to another table. Service was great, the chef was even out on the dinning room floor checking to insure everyone was enjoying. Food: I'm heading back soon. The fish special I had was out of this world. A shrimp dish with pan fried noodles and seasoned with just the right spices. Delicious. I hear the chicken crepes are a cult favorite. Bottom Line: This is a quiet jewel that will draw you back again! Enjoy.
(5)Jack M.
The atmosphere is great, the bartender is great, the entertainment is great but I came there for the food and the service; not so great. The waiter was disconnected. He acted like he was doing us a favor when he came to the table. We waited a very long time for a waitperson and we finally were able to place an order; we waited a very long time for the food. The waiter came over and pointed to a table near us and told us that there was a table of 16 and our food was going to take a long time. He suggested that we get appetizers, so we waited for those and the portions were tiny. He didn't apologize or offer us some food on the house to hold us over. He just had a look on his face like he was wishing he was somewhere else. The food was just okay. I cannot get excited about pricy food that I could have prepared myself.
(2)Dave B.
My wife and I stopped here on the way from South Jersey to visit friends in Sweden, ME. It was a very pleasant surprise. Our waitress was very enthusiastic and competent. The atmosphere was pleasant and the food was wonderful. It was a special experience and we hope to return the next time we visit Maine.
(5)Amy C.
We were staying in Portland and really believed we should eat dinner there. We decided to drive out to this place instead based on the reviews. Great choice! We made a reservation & we were seated in less than 5min. We had our kids with us(5 & 9) and they were the only kids there, but they made us all feel welcome. We ordered the fish and chips for the kids and the waitress suggested they split it because it was a good portion. Good idea--it was $18 and they just about finished it. The chips were actually fresh made chips and delicious! We split the goat cheese strudel and almost licked the plate! I had the chicken cordon bleu, which was actually better than a traditional one, the sauce was not cream-based and it had roasted root vegetables inside. My husband had the braised rib and loved it! The drinks were fantastic and we spent 2hours there to enjoy the meal. Kids had dessert, too. $133 for everything and it was money well spent!
(5)Bob R.
My wife likes this place more than me but it's slowly winning me over. Parked in back and came in through the back door - on the way to the hostess stand, proceeded to trip over the stage. Not much room to negotiate. Didn't have a reservation but were happy sitting at the bar. Very friendly bar tender. He made a very nice Manhattan for me. It was odd in that there were many bourbon choice but only one rye? I occasionally have bourbon but I'm more of a Manhattan traditionalist. I had the fish chowder which was very good, very hot, maybe too big of a bowl - I don't think there was a "cup" option on the menu - next time I'll ask. The bowl also came out a little too fast as I wasn't even close to finishing my Manhattan. Sip of soup, sip of Manhattan, sip of soup, etc. - not ideal. I thought the burger was great. Had a version with bacon, blue cheese etc. Perfectly cooked med rare. I liked the bun a lot. Wife had a vege flatbread which was very good as well as an app (I can't remember what it was) which she enjoyed. Music started around 8:30 - a real nice addition to the scene. Overall, I think it's really nice food in a casual atmosphere with live music and good service. Nice combo.
(4)Nicole And Russ F.
Tough review as food and live music are often great. But I can't get past some of the personalities here. There is one server (Michael) who always aims to please. But the hostess and other servers often serve up a side of attitude that we never order.
(2)Soleil D.
Busy rainy Sunday brunch. Seated promptly with an 11o'clock res. We both got the special pulled pork benedict which was absolutly perfect, especially paired with one of the best bloody's I've had, and I get one every sunday. Wish we got the servers name she was great. I asked for no cheese on my Benedict but it came with it anyways (it was so good with the cheese and hollandaise, I just was trying to cut down on the unhealthy factor not the deliciousness), anyways she gave us a very generous discount for the not so big mistake. I've had dinner there a few times and now brunch and Everytime has been perfect.
(5)Angie S.
We've been to the Frog & Turtle twice for dinner now, and it's becoming one of our new go-to spots. It's good food in an unpretentious atmosphere. (They're the same people behind the French Press Eatery around the corner, their casual breakfast/lunch place) Our first visit started off somewhat dubiously -- a table smack in the middle of traffic that was wobblier than a baby learning to walk. Fortunately, as we started to mutter a bit, our server noticed, swooped in and fixed it -- typical of the very attentive staff. Food has been great. I've had the cheese plate appetizer both times, and I haven't been disappointed - and I'm a cheese nut. My husband had the poutine the first time, and it was good, too. My husband had a bouillabaisse that was to die for on our second visit. Service, as mentioned before, is great... attentive, but you feel you're allowed to linger. We'll be back often. We've heard raves about their brunch.
(4)Tammy S.
This is Uffa's reincarnated in Westbrook. The food is incredible, the service is amazing, it's a great atmosphere, live music on Friday is fun and the brunch... the donuts are incredible and the Bloody Mary's are fantastic! Highly recommend!
(5)Pygmy A.
Excellent brunch! Never would have tried Eggs Benedict with brie and bacon if not tempted by this menu. Why only on Sunday?
(5)K C.
Great! Coming from San Francisco to Portland for my girlfriend's parents' 50th anniversary get together, I assumed that I'd be at best mildly disappointed by something calling itself a gastro-anything, let alone pub. We had ~20 people for early dinner and they provided a perfect array of starters. We particularly liked the crackers they had made out of their own wheat bread. Our waiter, Ian was superb both in attentiveness and his knowledge and interest in what he was offering us. The chocolate cake they made for the occasion got rave reviews; just sweet enough - which pleased everyone. F&T was unpretentious so I think all our folks there for a fairly casual event felt quite comfortable. All in all, really nice place with good people. I'd go back, and certainly need to try the donuts.
(4)Brenda G.
Formerly Cafe Uffa on Longfellow Square in Portland, F and T is an enthusiastic foodie enclave in deepest, darkest Westbrook. Breathing in the fumes of its immediate predecessor, Chickie's, F and T has managed to capture its venue vibe with great entertainment AND great food. New Year's Eve with blues legend Pam Baker and raw bar was sublime.
(4)John C.
Had brunch there on Sunday 7/26/09, food was great! Very creative with breakfast. Old standbys as well as interesting items you won't find anywhere else. Banana Pancakes with "REAL" maple syrup made my day! Lobster Benedict was a surprising treat to see as well, even though I couldn't partake, my friend gobbled it up like it was going to run away from him!
(4)Christine B.
Excellent food, service, and ambiance. Joined a colleague here for dinner while traveling, the first thing that struck me was easy bar-to-table service, no paying twice or hassle making the move. I enjoyed a bourbon smash while he had a local beer. The band playing was raucous and made our drinks better, even as we kvetched about work. The mussel appetizer was wonderful. I love mussels and have eaten so many good ones while in Maine, usually in Portland's Old Port district. These were perfectly cooked, meaty, and Mexican-style. I am not sure I could've asked for much more from them, and I ate most of them while my companion enjoyed chili. My main course was a perfect fresh pasta dish. The fettucine was clearly fresh and al dente with a wonderful summer sauce of fresh vegetables. My colleague enjoyed a flatbread, and even packed up leftovers from it and his chili. The service throughout our time was exceptional, thoughtful. The waitress did not hurry us, but she was helpful and available as needed. She offered solid drink selections for our dinners and based on what we had already started. I look forward to heading back to The Frog & Turtle again. I'd like to try more from their well-planned menu.
(5)Kristi M.
First, I should confess, I'm pretty much a regular here. But, that speaks to how great this place is - great food and service! I'm generally here for happy hour, but this morning I met a friend for brunch. We sat at the bar, as I almost always do. The bartender, Jesse, is friendly, fun, and provides top notch service. In addition, he makes amazing and creative drinks. I trust him enough to just make me whatever he feels like. I've never been disappointed. This morning, I went with a delicious Icy Frog - an adult iced coffee. Very rich, but perfect on a Sunday morning. Tip: if you enjoy cribbage, ask for a board. They have several behind the bar. Anyway, back to brunch. This was my second time visiting for brunch. This time I was smart enough to try one of their famous donuts. My friend and I split a John Candy - maple and bacon donut. Fresh out of the fryer with real maple syrup drizzled on it and sprinkled with bacon. It's better than it sounds. For my actual breakfast, I went with one of the specials which was Eggs Benedict but served with meatloaf in place of the ham. Very flavorful and a generous portion. I was not able to finish it as it was served with a small salad of tossed greens lightly dressed and perfect home fries. Great start to my Sunday!
(5)Kathryn R.
Checked this spot out for a seven person Sunday brunch (be sure to make a reservation!). Donuts were delicious and so were the Benedict dishes. As a French Canadian, I was very excited to see créton on the menu, and it was just as I remembered it. I ordered a Bloody Mary which had a little too much horseradish for my liking but was pleased overall. My only concern was the noise level in the dining area. My group found it really difficult to hear each other over the combined acoustics and 'ambient' music. Looking forward to trying out the lunch or dinner menu.
(4)Thomas P.
Good little breakfast spot. They have some great niche dishes and staff is on point. Menu very limited though, maybe some expansion and variety is needed. No wait for brunch on a Sunday was pretty awesome though. Custom made donuts are very cool but I'm more into the meat bread and potatoes, style of breakfast. French toast was very appealing as well.
(3)Tony W.
Came here on a busy Friday. I had actually checked on Open Table throughout the day and it seemed like reservations were widely available for all time slots. I took this as a sign that I didn't need to make a reservation...big mistake. We got there and the place was packed. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that for at least 10 minutes, because no staff member made an effort to greet us at the door and tell us about their wait time and seating procedure. A couple in line ahead of us told us that we needed to check in with the hostess, and HER TABLE IS NOT NEAR THE DOOR. Once we got our name on the list and was told that it would be at least a 45 minute wait, we walked the 2 1/2 feet over to the bar to have a couple cocktails to kill time. It also took about 10 minutes of failed eye contact and hand gestures toward the bartender to grab two cocktail menus. While we were perusing the menu, a table opened up 35 minutes earlier than our quoted time, and we happily snapped it up. So what if it was three feet from the band, which was about to go on? I like their menu; for a 'gastropub', it has a lot going on. As our excellent server informed us, you can either go down the small plates route or the entree route. My friend and I debated getting charcuterie, wings, and a few other things, but in the end, we both settled on our own entrees and splitting an appetizer. They also have a great drink menu, which seems to highlight a few bourbon specialties. I ordered the bourbon smash ($12), and it was very good. Appetizer: At the recommendation of our server, we started with a fried avocado that was dressed with salsa and sour cream(?). The avocado itself was unseasoned and rather bland, but it worked perfectly with the salsa. I probably wouldn't order it again but it was tasty. Because our entrees were taking longer than expected to prepare, our server brought over a goat cheese salad of some kind to hold us over. THIS was much better than the avocado appetizer. Dinner: I ordered the Devil Burger on a recommendation from a friend ($15), and my friend ordered a chicken flatbread of some kind. I really can't say I was impressed. It wasn't bad, because at the end of the day it's still a burger. But I would certainly say it falls toward the bottom of my consumed burger spectrum, despite having an olive sticking out of it, a layer of onion rings, and something called 'ninja sauce' giving it a spicy kick. Unimpressed, especially at $15. This is closer to a $8-$10 burger (or less). The cut fries that came along with it, however, were very good. The music certainly made up for my average meal. The 5-piece band played a good mix of jazz, rock, and a few jammy/funky tunes. I could see myself coming back just to see them. Overall, a bit of a letdown based on everyone's recommendations of this place. I think my opinion of this place could change if I ordered a different combination of food (you're next, charcuterie and wings!), and so I'll be back to give 'em another chance.
(3)Patrick C.
Brunch yesterday at the Frog & Turtle in Westbrook. Cool place, good vibes and excellent friendly service. We started with "appetizers" of homemade- made to order donuts...Boston cream (amazing), the John Candy ...maple and bacon ...speaks for itself! And Jason's pretzel ...caramel and salt... Pretty good. My girl had the special...Salisbury steak Benedict...good and tasty, though missing hollandaise for some reason?? I had the vegetable florentine Benedict...very good, great home fries. Also great coffee, always kept full cup (important) and the Bloody Mary reportedly was excellent. Will pretty much be back, if just for donuts and coffee.
(4)Christine L.
First off, what in the world is a gastropub? According to Wiki (the best aka worst site ever to cite), the term was coined as recently as 1991 by the owners of a pub in London who were redefining the standard pub fare by placing a higher emphasis on higher end food. So is this a gastropub? ABSOLUTELY. But keep in mind that you could also call it glorified pub fare... okay that's a little too harsh. I was excited for dinner, and their adorable Christmas decorations definitely helped up my spirits! Here's what I tried, after the 30+ minute necessary wait due to everything being made from scratch after being ordered: - Fried Calamari appetizer: Lightly battered and tossed in a creamy lime dressing, this was definitely my top choice of the two apps we ordered. I'm not used to my calamari being coated in sauce, but the crispness remained! - PEI Mussels: Not my favorite. The menu says steamed w/ garlic, tasso, and fresh herbs in a cajun-style sauce. We had someone at our table who doesn't eat pork, so we had no tasso (kind of like a smoked ham). The mussels were teeeeeeny tiny, and nearly half our shells were empty! Very disappointing. - Roasted Salmon: I LOVE salmon, I love it even more when it's made better than my impromptu cooking sessions at home. This wasn't it. The salmon came roasted on top of coconut rice and charred watercress, with an orange brown sugar soy glaze. Of the whole dish, I suppose the salmon was the highlight, I ordered it cooked medium, and that part was spot on. The skin started off crisp, but sitting on top of coconut rice tends to make things mushy! The rice was really fluffy, so much so that I didn't quite taste the coconut. It seemed like everything was served on top of watercress, this bunch was a tad too bitter (and I usually like bitter too...), and finally, the glaze was SUPER SALTY! Finally, I can't forget the heaping handfuls of fried things on top of the salmon. While fun and pretty, there was just so much! - Chocolate Teardrop of Happiness: Our waitress described this as heaven for chocolate-lovers. While it's very pretty, the choco/raspberry combo just isn't for me, the other chocolate-lovers at my table did love it though! - Waffles w/ Caramelized Apples: One thing I have to say about both desserts: beautiful presentation! Despite drowning in vanilla ice cream & caramel sauce, the waffle was amazingly crisp! I only had a bite, but I wish all waffles came like this. Overall, yes this is definitely a solid place to dine out. While it's not something I'd imagine when I see the word "gastro-", it's SO much more than your average pub. The ambience and service were both great, with the exception of the water pouring. I was no thirstier than normal, but how hard is it to get a refill?? I also had a chunk of something weird in my water, so that was a little disturbing. Gratuity is 20% for parties of 6+.
(3)Michelle L.
Stopped in here on Friday night for a light dinner with my husband. Easy parking right behind the restaurant was an early sign of good things to come. The live music was in full swing when we arrived and the band of the night was The Cozmik Zombies, who were rocking out a tight set of blues and folk. The music could be quite loud, so do be forewarned of that. We were seated near the windows, conveniently not in full-on blow-out-your-eardrums territory and ordered some beers and the cheese and meat plate to share. Next time I may go for a bourbon flight, but it wasn't that kind of evening. The portions were pretty small, but everything on the plate was absolutely delicious. Next we split some calamari, which again exceeded expectations. They were very lightly fried with a citrusy sauce. Finally we split the seasonal parfait for dessert. All things considered, the food here is above and beyond what I expected at this venue. The service was also great throughout - attentive without being annoying - and the owner even came over at the end to see how we enjoyed everything. We'll definitely be back again if we find ourselves out in Westbrook.
(5)Sue S.
We haven't been here for a while and decided to give it another try a s WOW, so plsd we did! We'd give it more than 5 if we could! The service was outstanding - everyone - and the food was excellent!
(5)Jeremy N.
Amazing food and service. This is a 5 star restaurant in the middle of little Westbrook. You don't ususally see this quality outside of a big city. It is pricy but worth every penny.
(5)Alise K.
The food is always good here. The service, however was terrible. We had 7pm reservations and did not order appetizers or dinner til 8pm. Our waitress literally disappeared. She said she had 6 tables and that they were all seated close in time to each other. Didn't make sense at all. We saw what tables she had and they were seated at various times throughout the evening. She was semi apologetic but not enough to compensate us with a drink or appetizer.... 3 of us had small salads with grilled salmon. Delicious and well prepared. The fourth had a burger that he raved about.
(3)Jennifer H.
Seriously Phenomenal food! We had a party of eight and we did not feel cramped at all. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable and very gracious and witty.(Always appreciated & we tipped accordingly) We had calamari, cheese plate and charcuterie for apps. All great but we all agreed the calamari was the best we've ever had! I had the green leaf salad with the garlicky dressing. So delicious! Highly recommend this. You definitely want their kitchen to dress your salads as it is one of those things if done right is so simple yet really makes the salad so much more enjoyable. The Cabernet suggested was so delicious we had two bottles. I had the chicken crepe with mushrooms and Brie. TO DIE FOR. Other entrees devoured at our table were Demon burger,Salmon,Haddock, Monkfish special(not in a million!) but he loved it,and one courageous member of our group ordered the Kitchen burger. Which should be called everything but the kitchen sink burger. Salute to the servers who could name all the ingredients between the buns given that it's different every time! There was a $20 bet on whether he would finish it and he won! Astounding feat! Crème brûlée's, chocolate teardrop and the desert special were all extraordinarily delectable and works of art! Our server was gracious and eagerly accommodating when asked to make sure our crème brûlée's had a nice crackable top! A killer night out! Nice job Frog and Turtle
(5)Anita I.
I am from Rhode Island and a group of about 25-30 of us were in Maine over this past weekend to take part in the Tough Mudder. It's quite the task to find a place that can our big group for our celebratory dinner after the event. I took to Yelp to look into some favored options and this place stuck out. James the Chef was responsive and accommodating when I reached out to him. Upon arrival, we were excited to see a banner which read "Welcome Tough Mudders" and our tables were already prepared and there was a special "Tough Mudder" menu with the brunch menu. It was great service and we had a few young kids and they received their food ASAP. I ordered the Jimmy Benedict (bacon, caramelized onions, scallions and brie) it was delicious! The potatoes were a tad salty but still crispy and good. I washed it all down with a beer flight sampler. The only down side was that they had run out of their made to order donuts . Awesome place, will definitely go back when I head that way.
(5)Jim R.
My wife and my mother and I went to dinner around 7:30 on a Thursday. I was unaware that there was live music every Thursday night so conversation was pretty difficult. If I would have known, I probably would have booked another restaurant but. oh well. The place is cute and there is a parking lot right behind the restaurant. For an app, I had the mussels which were delicious. They were steamed with garlic, tasso and fresh herbs. The broth was fantastic! I needed to get more bread to soak it up. The mussels came out hot. My mother and wife had salads and they were happy with them although, at $10+ each, pricey for greens. For entrees, my mom had a flat beard. It was good and pretty large. She couldn't finish it. My wife had the chicken crepe which she described as a chicken pot pie in a crepe. There were plenty of vegetables and the chicken was super tender. I had the pasta with was loaded with veggies and freshly foraged mushrooms that were just great. Everything came out hot. Our waiter was great. He was attentive but not chatty and was right there with filled water glasses and bread. I would highly recommend this place. We had a great experience. It sounds like the service issues here are hit or miss based on who you dealt with. I guess we lucked out tonight.
(4)Aiden C.
I took my girl friend there for our anniversary today. The food was delicious and the customer service was great! I made a reservation and we were seated immediately. I highly recommend trying this place. I would go back again!
(5)John R.
This is probably the best restaurant in Westbrook for a "sit down" dinner. The food is a bit unique & I like the fact that they have an open type kitchen. Great bar area & they have some good local entertainment. The only reason I did not give them 5 stars is because I think they could be more solicitous of vegetarians. They do have several good vegetarian items, but I prefer a restaurant to have a vegetarian section on their menu. The vegetarian items we had were excellent! Service was great... We will be "regulars"...
(4)Fred S.
Me and Cathy have been interested in trying this place for quite some time now, so last Sunday we drove to Westbrook and gave it a shot... Well not really. Once we parked, we arrived at 1pm to a full gastro pub, filled with people happily eating and chatting. We were promptly told by the bartender that the kitchen closed at 1, and we were SOL. OK, I get it, it was 1pm and those are the rules, but the place was full! Surely they could have served two more people at the bar, considering they were so busy, it really made me think. All I can say is, it must be nice to own a restaurant that makes so much money, that you can turn customers away by closing early on Sunday and on Mondays all together. I just can't fathom paying rent for a space and just opt not to generate revenue for a day and a half. Sure, chef and staff deserve a break, but schedule some extra help with all that money. Sadly, we were prepared to go whole-hog on this intriguing menu, ready to spend some serious cash, followed by a stunning Yelp review. Oh well, I guess they don't need my money, and with all of the great restaurants in Portland, I won't be bothered to make it back there.
(1)S T.
Came here for brunch. It was our first time here so decided to try the homemade donuts. We ordered several different ones to share. Boy that was a mistake because they were all SO GOOD!! The breakfast was typical, but the portions are huge!
(3)Nichole A.
Always heard great things about this plae. Not really sure as to why? Went there with two friends waitress came over ever 3 mins on us to order. Then I ordered my food got a burger. The middle was raw and it was cold. They had s great band but they were so loud I couldn't enjoy anything. It was so loud the next day I had a raspy voice and soar throat. Maybe I will come back and try it again
(1)Tom A.
Loved the food and service here. Great original drinks. Wish I could have eaten and drank more but they would have had to roll me out of the place. Waitstaff was extremely professional and accommodating. I would suggest this place to anyone looking for a night out.
(5)Andrew S.
My husband and I came here for brunch without the kids but see a lot of tables with families - and the staff is super nice & accommodating. Amazing food. I had the steak & cheese Benedict and can say hands down this is the best Benedict I've had. My husband got an omelette it was huge (and amazing). If you have not been here before you should start with the donuts. I thought the chocolate and the Elvis were too rich (we had two bites) but we devoured the Heart Foundation and would recommend it to everyone that stops in for brunch (just be sure you leave room for the main meal - one donut is enough or get them to go).
(5)Jill S.
The food and atmosphere were excellant ! We sat at the bar and had charcuterie And the cheese plate .We also had the fried avacodo which was incredible.What made the night was Jessie at the bar.He was knowledgable and fun.His drinks were great including his excitement to make my husbands Sazerac .We will be back!
(5)Liz S.
Place is bomb-diggity. Went for brunch and got a mimosa with veggie benedict. Although it gets pretty busy for breakfast/brunch we were able to get a seat at the bar. Staff is super friendly and food doesn't disappoint. I typically eat in Portland and was nervous about venturing to Westbrook since they are not usually known for having a lot of great restaurant choices. I'll definitely be back and I'm already looking forward to it.
(5)S And E H.
Pub? Nope. Bistro? Yes. Great food that is made to order so take a seat grab a drink, it'll be ready when it's done. Worth the wait.
(5)Lynn V.
We went for our wedding anniversary and the waiter we had was amazing (later he told us he was the owner). He helped us with everything from what wine to have , appetizers to try and main course. We were blown away by his service, attention to details and answered any question we asked. The food was amazing (cheese plate w/bread, grilled lamb w/asparagus, and a chocolate mousse- so so good ), fresh and inviting! Great spot to go to celebrate something special and local! The most amazing dining experience I've ever had.
(5)Karen R.
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Westbrook. The staff is always very friendly and accommodating, the atmosphere is always delightful, and the food is always amazing. They change their menu seasonally to mix it up and the have off the menu specials every night. The prices are reasonable and the portion sizes are excellent - I always come home with left overs! I highly recommend stopping by for drinks and appetizers and then enjoy a great meal!
(5)Erin S.
My boyfriend and I visit the Frog and Turtle often and we love it! We live in Westbrook and love the fact that there is a really great restaurant just a short drive from our home. The Frog & Turtle serves up delicious food within a range of prices. All their food is made to order and we've never had a bad meal there. While their entrees are always fantastic, our favorite dish is actually the green leaf salad with red onion, bacon, a hardboiled egg, and a light garlicky dressing - I can never get enough of it. They have a great selection of food from flatbreads to fish tacos, duck to a NY strip steak. The Cajun mussels are also a must-have! While the food can be a tad bit pricy depending upon what you order (a salad, flatbread, steak, crème brulee and three drinks came to $90), it's one of those places that you should definitely try out. The Frog & Turtle also has live music - if you can go on a night when the Tone Kings are playing, you'll be very happy! It's always good to make reservations at least a couple of days ahead of time. My only knock-down to a four-star is that they usually don't sit you at your reservation time. We try to make reservations for 8:00pm each time we go so that we can enjoy the music, but it seems as though they have a little bit of trouble moving their guests through tables. This past weekend we didn't get seated until close to 8:30pm. The food is worth it, though! Enjoy!
(4)Priscilla H.
Great atmosphere - fantastic music. Always great when the Cozmik Zombies are playing - but you will find great local talent any night of the week. Interesting and flavorful!
(5)Carrissa L.
We finally got to eat at The Frog & Turtle after wanting to for a long time - and we were blown away! We made reservations and were seated promptly when we arrived. Our waitress was wonderful right from the start. We had our two kids with us - 10 and 12 - and they were the only two kids in the restaurant, but still made welcome. The food was out of this world. The kids each had a burger and fries and they were absolutely delicious. The burgers were big and juicy and flavorful, and the fries handmade and perfectly seasoned. My husband and I each had a different special - I had rainbow trout with local greens, bacon and razor clams and my husband had a veal chop with mashed potatoes and spring peas. Each dish was perfectly prepared, expertly seasoned, and everything incredibly fresh. We savored each and every bite. The meal did take about two hours total, but it was paced perfectly for a restaurant that expects you to take your time and truly savor your meal. Live music kicked in around desert and we had a great time listening. The Frog & Turtle is a true gem in Westbrook, as is the owner Chef James, who gives back to the local community tirelessly. I can't wait to support this local treasure with my patronage again soon.
(5)Shawn R.
I dig everything about this place.
(4)Soleil D.
Busy rainy Sunday brunch. Seated promptly with an 11o'clock res. We both got the special pulled pork benedict which was absolutly perfect, especially paired with one of the best bloody's I've had, and I get one every sunday. Wish we got the servers name she was great. I asked for no cheese on my Benedict but it came with it anyways (it was so good with the cheese and hollandaise, I just was trying to cut down on the unhealthy factor not the deliciousness), anyways she gave us a very generous discount for the not so big mistake. I've had dinner there a few times and now brunch and Everytime has been perfect.
(5)Christine B.
Excellent food, service, and ambiance. Joined a colleague here for dinner while traveling, the first thing that struck me was easy bar-to-table service, no paying twice or hassle making the move. I enjoyed a bourbon smash while he had a local beer. The band playing was raucous and made our drinks better, even as we kvetched about work. The mussel appetizer was wonderful. I love mussels and have eaten so many good ones while in Maine, usually in Portland's Old Port district. These were perfectly cooked, meaty, and Mexican-style. I am not sure I could've asked for much more from them, and I ate most of them while my companion enjoyed chili. My main course was a perfect fresh pasta dish. The fettucine was clearly fresh and al dente with a wonderful summer sauce of fresh vegetables. My colleague enjoyed a flatbread, and even packed up leftovers from it and his chili. The service throughout our time was exceptional, thoughtful. The waitress did not hurry us, but she was helpful and available as needed. She offered solid drink selections for our dinners and based on what we had already started. I look forward to heading back to The Frog & Turtle again. I'd like to try more from their well-planned menu.
(5)Stephanie G.
I had the pleasure of working at the Frog & Turtle (even though for a short period of time) I saw how Chef James truly took pride in his food. 3 years later I found myself planning my wedding and first stop was to Frog & Turtle to inquire about catering. Not only did they customize an amazing meal for my wedding they created an atmosphere we could never forget. Honestly the best food around and a man who is dedicated and committed to making his customers happy. You can trust that you will always have great outcome using Frog & Turtle as your caterer. Great food and great people. Thank you James, Meghan and your team for creating an amazing wedding for us.
(5)Am M.
Last Friday, 09/11, I had a great meal on a busy Friday night. This Friday, 09/18, not so much. In fact it was one of, if not THE worst experience I have ever had in a restaurant (of which I was not the cause...) [I feel like i have to disclose that I was a waitress and bartender for nearly 10 years of my life. I know what is excuseable behavior and I know certain tables can be tough and impossible to please. I know that it's difficult to put on a cheery face when co-workers aren't pulling their weight or when the kitchen is having an off night... I get it... I am sympathetic and forgiving.] Well, I was.. It was busy but it wasn't nuts. We had a reservation, and once we communicated that information to the right person we were sat in a timely manner. It took forever to order drinks- and even longer to get them (just sodas and water) to the table. It took forever to get the specials from the server- then it took forever to get the server BACK to the table to answer a few questions and place our order. Oh, and btw, we had a different person come to our table every time- perhaps to confuse us when we wrote a terrible review so as not to hold any one person responsible. Good idea in theory, but now every single server and hostess is to blame for the AWFUL and I mean AWFUL experience we had. The food took forever. Almost an hour. But whatever, based on my experience last week, the food was worth the wait. It was NOT worth the wait. My flatbread, which I had ordered one week earlier, was unrecognizeable. It had shrunk in size, it was burned, and it was covered in orange cheese... Not so one week earlier. My sister's meal was so salty it was inedible. We're talking, spat out, salty. The third meal supposedly came with "pepere's potatoes"...Not so much. In place of potatoes was a side of roasted garlic cloves- like the whole clove. No potatoes. My friend had even taken the time to ask one of the revolving servers about the special potatoes. (Btw, the server who went over specials and menu items was either un-informed or just didn't care enough to learn/exhibit knowledge about the menu he was serving... It was just uncomfortable listening to him stumble through the attempted memorization of the specials. He basically had no idea what he was talking about and couldn't even bullshit his way through it. Honestly, I wish I hadn't asked.) So far, we have our drinks, which they are kind enough to refill before we get our meals... (more about THAT later). We have our terrible meals, and then we get NOTHING... NO ONE, and I mean NO one comes within even shouting range of our table. So far we've had three or four different people pretend to be our server for a max of 30 seconds. So maybe no one knew who was actually responsible for checking on us... OR perhaps they knew how awful our meals were as there were other tables complaining about their food as well... When someone FINALLY came to check on our meals/clear our plates/ask if we wanted dessert, my sister informed out latest waiter, of the saltiness of her meal. He then proceeds to pull a hunk of the kale off of her plate with his FINGERS and popped it in his mouth right there at the table!!!!!! (WTF?!?!?!) While he agreed with her, he did nothing to adjust the bill. So three terrible meals, terrible service... Can we please just get out of here??? NOPE. We sit. We wait. And Wait. Finally we get our unsplit check... From yet ANOTHER new server to our table. Seriously... And we've been charged for our soda refills... Seriously?! There was no mention of being a charge when we were asked if we would like refills. And honestly, i had no idea that any restaurant charged for fountain soda refills- not to mention one that charged $30 a meal!!!! Nothing is done to aknowledge our uneaten meals or our overall awful experience. And honestly we just want to get the heck out of there. We ask the new server to split our check- knowing there is no way she will know what we each had- so could she send over the person who took our order? She insists she can do it. Literally 30 minutes later, she returns with our split checks. While we are waiting for our checks the experience goes from awful to inexcuseable. I am writing this review because of what happens while we are waiting for our checks. The "manager" hostess, approaches the table. I think, "Finally, she's going to ask us how she can make it up to us- or tell us she's comp-ed a meal or two..." NOPE. She grabs a few empty glasses and asks us what we are waiting for.... Her actual words are, "Soooo, was there something you guys were waiting for orrrr.... ?" Or what? Is she for real??? My sister explains that we are waiting for our cards. "Uh, what?" she says. "We are waiting for our cards so that we can leave." The manager says nothing- just walks off. So yea. The food was bad. The service was very bad. But the "management" was inexcuseable. I will NEVER be back.
(1)Kristi M.
First, I should confess, I'm pretty much a regular here. But, that speaks to how great this place is - great food and service! I'm generally here for happy hour, but this morning I met a friend for brunch. We sat at the bar, as I almost always do. The bartender, Jesse, is friendly, fun, and provides top notch service. In addition, he makes amazing and creative drinks. I trust him enough to just make me whatever he feels like. I've never been disappointed. This morning, I went with a delicious Icy Frog - an adult iced coffee. Very rich, but perfect on a Sunday morning. Tip: if you enjoy cribbage, ask for a board. They have several behind the bar. Anyway, back to brunch. This was my second time visiting for brunch. This time I was smart enough to try one of their famous donuts. My friend and I split a John Candy - maple and bacon donut. Fresh out of the fryer with real maple syrup drizzled on it and sprinkled with bacon. It's better than it sounds. For my actual breakfast, I went with one of the specials which was Eggs Benedict but served with meatloaf in place of the ham. Very flavorful and a generous portion. I was not able to finish it as it was served with a small salad of tossed greens lightly dressed and perfect home fries. Great start to my Sunday!
(5)Tony W.
Came here on a busy Friday. I had actually checked on Open Table throughout the day and it seemed like reservations were widely available for all time slots. I took this as a sign that I didn't need to make a reservation...big mistake. We got there and the place was packed. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that for at least 10 minutes, because no staff member made an effort to greet us at the door and tell us about their wait time and seating procedure. A couple in line ahead of us told us that we needed to check in with the hostess, and HER TABLE IS NOT NEAR THE DOOR. Once we got our name on the list and was told that it would be at least a 45 minute wait, we walked the 2 1/2 feet over to the bar to have a couple cocktails to kill time. It also took about 10 minutes of failed eye contact and hand gestures toward the bartender to grab two cocktail menus. While we were perusing the menu, a table opened up 35 minutes earlier than our quoted time, and we happily snapped it up. So what if it was three feet from the band, which was about to go on? I like their menu; for a 'gastropub', it has a lot going on. As our excellent server informed us, you can either go down the small plates route or the entree route. My friend and I debated getting charcuterie, wings, and a few other things, but in the end, we both settled on our own entrees and splitting an appetizer. They also have a great drink menu, which seems to highlight a few bourbon specialties. I ordered the bourbon smash ($12), and it was very good. Appetizer: At the recommendation of our server, we started with a fried avocado that was dressed with salsa and sour cream(?). The avocado itself was unseasoned and rather bland, but it worked perfectly with the salsa. I probably wouldn't order it again but it was tasty. Because our entrees were taking longer than expected to prepare, our server brought over a goat cheese salad of some kind to hold us over. THIS was much better than the avocado appetizer. Dinner: I ordered the Devil Burger on a recommendation from a friend ($15), and my friend ordered a chicken flatbread of some kind. I really can't say I was impressed. It wasn't bad, because at the end of the day it's still a burger. But I would certainly say it falls toward the bottom of my consumed burger spectrum, despite having an olive sticking out of it, a layer of onion rings, and something called 'ninja sauce' giving it a spicy kick. Unimpressed, especially at $15. This is closer to a $8-$10 burger (or less). The cut fries that came along with it, however, were very good. The music certainly made up for my average meal. The 5-piece band played a good mix of jazz, rock, and a few jammy/funky tunes. I could see myself coming back just to see them. Overall, a bit of a letdown based on everyone's recommendations of this place. I think my opinion of this place could change if I ordered a different combination of food (you're next, charcuterie and wings!), and so I'll be back to give 'em another chance.
(3)Patrick C.
Brunch yesterday at the Frog & Turtle in Westbrook. Cool place, good vibes and excellent friendly service. We started with "appetizers" of homemade- made to order donuts...Boston cream (amazing), the John Candy ...maple and bacon ...speaks for itself! And Jason's pretzel ...caramel and salt... Pretty good. My girl had the special...Salisbury steak Benedict...good and tasty, though missing hollandaise for some reason?? I had the vegetable florentine Benedict...very good, great home fries. Also great coffee, always kept full cup (important) and the Bloody Mary reportedly was excellent. Will pretty much be back, if just for donuts and coffee.
(4)Michelle L.
Stopped in here on Friday night for a light dinner with my husband. Easy parking right behind the restaurant was an early sign of good things to come. The live music was in full swing when we arrived and the band of the night was The Cozmik Zombies, who were rocking out a tight set of blues and folk. The music could be quite loud, so do be forewarned of that. We were seated near the windows, conveniently not in full-on blow-out-your-eardrums territory and ordered some beers and the cheese and meat plate to share. Next time I may go for a bourbon flight, but it wasn't that kind of evening. The portions were pretty small, but everything on the plate was absolutely delicious. Next we split some calamari, which again exceeded expectations. They were very lightly fried with a citrusy sauce. Finally we split the seasonal parfait for dessert. All things considered, the food here is above and beyond what I expected at this venue. The service was also great throughout - attentive without being annoying - and the owner even came over at the end to see how we enjoyed everything. We'll definitely be back again if we find ourselves out in Westbrook.
(5)Sue S.
We haven't been here for a while and decided to give it another try a s WOW, so plsd we did! We'd give it more than 5 if we could! The service was outstanding - everyone - and the food was excellent!
(5)Rebecca W.
The food is delicious, but a bit pricey. It is considered a gastropub and is a unique experience. The atomsphere is romantic and lit beautifully. The explainations of the food and preperation are a bit over the top, but entertainig. "We went to the market and bought a pumpkin, we pureed it..." as the begining of how they made the pumpkin pie martini, which was flavorful but not well balanced, a bit strong. The waitress was attentive and had a vast knowledge of the menu. We started with poutine, which was ok. The gravy was thick but not much flavor. We ordered the buff jimmy and the tsunami flatbreads, which were both crisp and bursting with excellent flavor combos. It was a good expericne but not likely to be repeated
(3)Jesse M.
We had high hopes after reading reviews. The service was slow and inattentive. No one even came to the table for 10-15 minutes after we were seated. There's a note on the menu that food will take 30 minutes, but why would a burger and pizza take 30 minutes? In our case, it took closer to 60. Also, a lemonade refill was charged which was a surprise. When the food finally arrived, it was pretty good except for the cheese pizza the kids got which was tasteless. Overall, we were disappointed due to the service so I wouldn't return unless they did takeout.
(3)Kathryn R.
Checked this spot out for a seven person Sunday brunch (be sure to make a reservation!). Donuts were delicious and so were the Benedict dishes. As a French Canadian, I was very excited to see créton on the menu, and it was just as I remembered it. I ordered a Bloody Mary which had a little too much horseradish for my liking but was pleased overall. My only concern was the noise level in the dining area. My group found it really difficult to hear each other over the combined acoustics and 'ambient' music. Looking forward to trying out the lunch or dinner menu.
(4)Christine L.
First off, what in the world is a gastropub? According to Wiki (the best aka worst site ever to cite), the term was coined as recently as 1991 by the owners of a pub in London who were redefining the standard pub fare by placing a higher emphasis on higher end food. So is this a gastropub? ABSOLUTELY. But keep in mind that you could also call it glorified pub fare... okay that's a little too harsh. I was excited for dinner, and their adorable Christmas decorations definitely helped up my spirits! Here's what I tried, after the 30+ minute necessary wait due to everything being made from scratch after being ordered: - Fried Calamari appetizer: Lightly battered and tossed in a creamy lime dressing, this was definitely my top choice of the two apps we ordered. I'm not used to my calamari being coated in sauce, but the crispness remained! - PEI Mussels: Not my favorite. The menu says steamed w/ garlic, tasso, and fresh herbs in a cajun-style sauce. We had someone at our table who doesn't eat pork, so we had no tasso (kind of like a smoked ham). The mussels were teeeeeeny tiny, and nearly half our shells were empty! Very disappointing. - Roasted Salmon: I LOVE salmon, I love it even more when it's made better than my impromptu cooking sessions at home. This wasn't it. The salmon came roasted on top of coconut rice and charred watercress, with an orange brown sugar soy glaze. Of the whole dish, I suppose the salmon was the highlight, I ordered it cooked medium, and that part was spot on. The skin started off crisp, but sitting on top of coconut rice tends to make things mushy! The rice was really fluffy, so much so that I didn't quite taste the coconut. It seemed like everything was served on top of watercress, this bunch was a tad too bitter (and I usually like bitter too...), and finally, the glaze was SUPER SALTY! Finally, I can't forget the heaping handfuls of fried things on top of the salmon. While fun and pretty, there was just so much! - Chocolate Teardrop of Happiness: Our waitress described this as heaven for chocolate-lovers. While it's very pretty, the choco/raspberry combo just isn't for me, the other chocolate-lovers at my table did love it though! - Waffles w/ Caramelized Apples: One thing I have to say about both desserts: beautiful presentation! Despite drowning in vanilla ice cream & caramel sauce, the waffle was amazingly crisp! I only had a bite, but I wish all waffles came like this. Overall, yes this is definitely a solid place to dine out. While it's not something I'd imagine when I see the word "gastro-", it's SO much more than your average pub. The ambience and service were both great, with the exception of the water pouring. I was no thirstier than normal, but how hard is it to get a refill?? I also had a chunk of something weird in my water, so that was a little disturbing. Gratuity is 20% for parties of 6+.
(3)Jeff C.
A customer of mine requested we try this Restuarant. I was skeptical since I saw it was in Westbrook thinking in my own mind that the good restaurants were all in the Old Port. Boy was I wrong! The food was excellent and the menu had a great selection. The service was extremely good as well. I am glad someone brought this establishment to my attention because I would have never looked to Westbrook to get this type of excellence.
(4)Nichole A.
Always heard great things about this plae. Not really sure as to why? Went there with two friends waitress came over ever 3 mins on us to order. Then I ordered my food got a burger. The middle was raw and it was cold. They had s great band but they were so loud I couldn't enjoy anything. It was so loud the next day I had a raspy voice and soar throat. Maybe I will come back and try it again
(1)Jennifer H.
Seriously Phenomenal food! We had a party of eight and we did not feel cramped at all. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable and very gracious and witty.(Always appreciated & we tipped accordingly) We had calamari, cheese plate and charcuterie for apps. All great but we all agreed the calamari was the best we've ever had! I had the green leaf salad with the garlicky dressing. So delicious! Highly recommend this. You definitely want their kitchen to dress your salads as it is one of those things if done right is so simple yet really makes the salad so much more enjoyable. The Cabernet suggested was so delicious we had two bottles. I had the chicken crepe with mushrooms and Brie. TO DIE FOR. Other entrees devoured at our table were Demon burger,Salmon,Haddock, Monkfish special(not in a million!) but he loved it,and one courageous member of our group ordered the Kitchen burger. Which should be called everything but the kitchen sink burger. Salute to the servers who could name all the ingredients between the buns given that it's different every time! There was a $20 bet on whether he would finish it and he won! Astounding feat! Crème brûlée's, chocolate teardrop and the desert special were all extraordinarily delectable and works of art! Our server was gracious and eagerly accommodating when asked to make sure our crème brûlée's had a nice crackable top! A killer night out! Nice job Frog and Turtle
(5)Alise K.
The food is always good here. The service, however was terrible. We had 7pm reservations and did not order appetizers or dinner til 8pm. Our waitress literally disappeared. She said she had 6 tables and that they were all seated close in time to each other. Didn't make sense at all. We saw what tables she had and they were seated at various times throughout the evening. She was semi apologetic but not enough to compensate us with a drink or appetizer.... 3 of us had small salads with grilled salmon. Delicious and well prepared. The fourth had a burger that he raved about.
(3)Anita I.
I am from Rhode Island and a group of about 25-30 of us were in Maine over this past weekend to take part in the Tough Mudder. It's quite the task to find a place that can our big group for our celebratory dinner after the event. I took to Yelp to look into some favored options and this place stuck out. James the Chef was responsive and accommodating when I reached out to him. Upon arrival, we were excited to see a banner which read "Welcome Tough Mudders" and our tables were already prepared and there was a special "Tough Mudder" menu with the brunch menu. It was great service and we had a few young kids and they received their food ASAP. I ordered the Jimmy Benedict (bacon, caramelized onions, scallions and brie) it was delicious! The potatoes were a tad salty but still crispy and good. I washed it all down with a beer flight sampler. The only down side was that they had run out of their made to order donuts . Awesome place, will definitely go back when I head that way.
(5)Jim R.
My wife and my mother and I went to dinner around 7:30 on a Thursday. I was unaware that there was live music every Thursday night so conversation was pretty difficult. If I would have known, I probably would have booked another restaurant but. oh well. The place is cute and there is a parking lot right behind the restaurant. For an app, I had the mussels which were delicious. They were steamed with garlic, tasso and fresh herbs. The broth was fantastic! I needed to get more bread to soak it up. The mussels came out hot. My mother and wife had salads and they were happy with them although, at $10+ each, pricey for greens. For entrees, my mom had a flat beard. It was good and pretty large. She couldn't finish it. My wife had the chicken crepe which she described as a chicken pot pie in a crepe. There were plenty of vegetables and the chicken was super tender. I had the pasta with was loaded with veggies and freshly foraged mushrooms that were just great. Everything came out hot. Our waiter was great. He was attentive but not chatty and was right there with filled water glasses and bread. I would highly recommend this place. We had a great experience. It sounds like the service issues here are hit or miss based on who you dealt with. I guess we lucked out tonight.
(4)Aiden C.
I took my girl friend there for our anniversary today. The food was delicious and the customer service was great! I made a reservation and we were seated immediately. I highly recommend trying this place. I would go back again!
(5)John R.
This is probably the best restaurant in Westbrook for a "sit down" dinner. The food is a bit unique & I like the fact that they have an open type kitchen. Great bar area & they have some good local entertainment. The only reason I did not give them 5 stars is because I think they could be more solicitous of vegetarians. They do have several good vegetarian items, but I prefer a restaurant to have a vegetarian section on their menu. The vegetarian items we had were excellent! Service was great... We will be "regulars"...
(4)Fred S.
Me and Cathy have been interested in trying this place for quite some time now, so last Sunday we drove to Westbrook and gave it a shot... Well not really. Once we parked, we arrived at 1pm to a full gastro pub, filled with people happily eating and chatting. We were promptly told by the bartender that the kitchen closed at 1, and we were SOL. OK, I get it, it was 1pm and those are the rules, but the place was full! Surely they could have served two more people at the bar, considering they were so busy, it really made me think. All I can say is, it must be nice to own a restaurant that makes so much money, that you can turn customers away by closing early on Sunday and on Mondays all together. I just can't fathom paying rent for a space and just opt not to generate revenue for a day and a half. Sure, chef and staff deserve a break, but schedule some extra help with all that money. Sadly, we were prepared to go whole-hog on this intriguing menu, ready to spend some serious cash, followed by a stunning Yelp review. Oh well, I guess they don't need my money, and with all of the great restaurants in Portland, I won't be bothered to make it back there.
(1)Tom A.
Loved the food and service here. Great original drinks. Wish I could have eaten and drank more but they would have had to roll me out of the place. Waitstaff was extremely professional and accommodating. I would suggest this place to anyone looking for a night out.
(5)Andrew S.
My husband and I came here for brunch without the kids but see a lot of tables with families - and the staff is super nice & accommodating. Amazing food. I had the steak & cheese Benedict and can say hands down this is the best Benedict I've had. My husband got an omelette it was huge (and amazing). If you have not been here before you should start with the donuts. I thought the chocolate and the Elvis were too rich (we had two bites) but we devoured the Heart Foundation and would recommend it to everyone that stops in for brunch (just be sure you leave room for the main meal - one donut is enough or get them to go).
(5)Jill S.
The food and atmosphere were excellant ! We sat at the bar and had charcuterie And the cheese plate .We also had the fried avacodo which was incredible.What made the night was Jessie at the bar.He was knowledgable and fun.His drinks were great including his excitement to make my husbands Sazerac .We will be back!
(5)Liz S.
Place is bomb-diggity. Went for brunch and got a mimosa with veggie benedict. Although it gets pretty busy for breakfast/brunch we were able to get a seat at the bar. Staff is super friendly and food doesn't disappoint. I typically eat in Portland and was nervous about venturing to Westbrook since they are not usually known for having a lot of great restaurant choices. I'll definitely be back and I'm already looking forward to it.
(5)S And E H.
Pub? Nope. Bistro? Yes. Great food that is made to order so take a seat grab a drink, it'll be ready when it's done. Worth the wait.
(5)Lynn V.
We went for our wedding anniversary and the waiter we had was amazing (later he told us he was the owner). He helped us with everything from what wine to have , appetizers to try and main course. We were blown away by his service, attention to details and answered any question we asked. The food was amazing (cheese plate w/bread, grilled lamb w/asparagus, and a chocolate mousse- so so good ), fresh and inviting! Great spot to go to celebrate something special and local! The most amazing dining experience I've ever had.
(5)Karen R.
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Westbrook. The staff is always very friendly and accommodating, the atmosphere is always delightful, and the food is always amazing. They change their menu seasonally to mix it up and the have off the menu specials every night. The prices are reasonable and the portion sizes are excellent - I always come home with left overs! I highly recommend stopping by for drinks and appetizers and then enjoy a great meal!
(5)Priscilla H.
Great atmosphere - fantastic music. Always great when the Cozmik Zombies are playing - but you will find great local talent any night of the week. Interesting and flavorful!
(5)Carrissa L.
We finally got to eat at The Frog & Turtle after wanting to for a long time - and we were blown away! We made reservations and were seated promptly when we arrived. Our waitress was wonderful right from the start. We had our two kids with us - 10 and 12 - and they were the only two kids in the restaurant, but still made welcome. The food was out of this world. The kids each had a burger and fries and they were absolutely delicious. The burgers were big and juicy and flavorful, and the fries handmade and perfectly seasoned. My husband and I each had a different special - I had rainbow trout with local greens, bacon and razor clams and my husband had a veal chop with mashed potatoes and spring peas. Each dish was perfectly prepared, expertly seasoned, and everything incredibly fresh. We savored each and every bite. The meal did take about two hours total, but it was paced perfectly for a restaurant that expects you to take your time and truly savor your meal. Live music kicked in around desert and we had a great time listening. The Frog & Turtle is a true gem in Westbrook, as is the owner Chef James, who gives back to the local community tirelessly. I can't wait to support this local treasure with my patronage again soon.
(5)Jay H.
Good service and good atmosphere equal two stars. The food was pretty lackluster for a self-proclaimed "gastro-pub." The positives: great local music. Chipper and friendly waitstaff. The negatives: Food. I could rip this place a new one if I wanted to. I'll just say the hamburger buns (house made, but why?) are reminiscent of Burger King. The house specialty drink (the swamp) is served with dry ice. It looks really cool, but tastes like bubble gum. Now, you may say, well I like bubble gum, but trust me, you wouldn't like this bubble gum. Gastro-pub? If you're going to apply a snooty title to your establishment, you'd better back it up with some good grub.
(2)Andrew L.
Their weekend brunch is the best in the area. Start with some of their one of a kind homemade doughnuts. These will sell out so make sure you get in early. Your meal will not be complete without one! I always enjoyed one of their "benedict" specials. They are delicious takes on the classic eggs benedict. They also make wonderful one of a kind cocktails. I have also been many times for dinner. As with brunch, everything is homemade so your order will take some time. I have never been displeased with their steak offerings. The Frog & Turtle has a wonderful close-nit atmosphere which makes you feel like a regular. I would recommend reservations for brunch and possibly for dinner.
(5)Daniel M.
Little caveat - I've never sat in the dining room, only every at the bar (except of the couches). Another little caveat - I'm a mug club member. Okay, now onto the seemingly biased review. I go to this place about one a week for a few after work beverages with some friends, and sometimes just by myself to get out of the house. The bartender Jesse is top-notch - there isn't anyone of his class or ability in Westbrook and quite possibly in Portland. He makes a basil and gin based cocktail called the Soothsayer that's amazing. The bar sits about 12 people and he serves food and drinks to them as well as drinks for the usually packed dining room - and still we get our drinks in a quick fashion. Food is fantastic, but it is a gastro pub so be prepared for some unique tastes - this isn't your mom and pop's standard betty crocker shit they're cooking. I enjoy unique and interesting tastes, so the food is pretty good. The prices don't bother me, but I guess living in Boston for quite a while their prices are really not much higher than a sports pub. Long story short, if you like to sit and socialize at a bar rather than the dining room(because I've never sat at a table), this is a great place. A bit pricey, but the drinks and the bartender are top-notch.
(5)Michael E.
The food was so disappointing for brunch. The donuts are all the exact same dry cake. To create the various 'flavors' they just smear random topping on top of the dry cake donuts. What a let down. The bacon I ordered was cooked hilariously bad. It was like he was trying to mess it up or blind. Burned black along one edge and rubbery white on the other( both our phones were dead or I would be adding pictures). The side of bacon was $3 making it the worst money I have spent on food that I can remember. The only other brunch spot we tried this trip was Petit Jacqueline wich was great. To rub salt in my wound they offered a side of bacon for $2 that was absolutely fantastic. Our waitress had a grumpy attitude that bordered on rude. I will give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she was just having an off day. The host was great and she is the reason I am giving 2 stars not 1. She was nice and seated us promptly at a table by the window.
(2)Keith S.
Disappointing Brunch overpriced a terribly underwhelming gastronomic experience
(1)Shawn R.
I dig everything about this place.
(4)Captn I.
Wow! Braised pork shank with jus. Mac & cheese and wilted watercress. My wife had the Buff Jimmy flat bread and salad. Basically a cheese burger pizza with pickles and everything. Dessert was coconut ice-cream with choc chips for Heidi and I had apple fritters with maple syrup, whipped cream and ice-cream. Everything was homemade. Not bad. Had some wine and a big tankard of Murphy's stout!
(4)Carole H.
Noticed someone else wrote a bad tip today too! Food is always good, but service has been getting progressively worse every time we eat brunch. We arrived at 11am and didn't get our food until noon!! No apologies, no explanations. They forgot our coffee and my daughter's juice and took 15 minutes once we were seated to even ask us if we wanted a beverage. We won't be coming back unless we feel like eating at the bar where it looks like things are faster.
(2)Liz J.
For a $90 dinner, I had hoped for better food...service was great!! I got the pinapple mojito drink special for $10. I couldn't taste a drop of booze. So then I asked for Jameson on the rocks because at that point, you know exactly what you are getting...although my friend I went to dinner with got the strawberry lemonade special with gin and her drink tasted quite strong...wtf! I got the chicken entree which was delicious! I wish the asparagus it had come with hadnt been cut into microscopic pieces and then drowned in the chicken sauce...which made it really difficult to get on my fork and into my face. It also came with little tiny pasta peices which I HOPE were homemade...for the $21 it cost. The reason why I am rating this place so low is because: 1. The drinks were not strong/inconsistent and way pricey for what it was. 2. The food took a long time to get to our table. 3. There was an incredibly loud band playing the night we went, which is fine, unless you are paying for a $90 dinner and have to shout at the people across the table from you. Because of the band, and the "pub" menu and the "dinner" menu...it just seems like the Frog and Turtle really cant make up its mind as to whether it wants to be a Pub or a fine dining restaurant....so please for the love of god pick which one you want to be!!
(2)Victoria L.
I really wish I could give this place 10 stars. I really really wish I could. We took my Mom here for her 65th (!) birthday this past weekend. They got us in last-minute, and to be honest we were a little worried when they were empty and still took 10 minutes to get a table ready. All that was blown away (heh) by the service and the food. Our waitress was so friendly and funny! We got the Poutine - do your inner fatty a favor and get it. I'm salivating as I think about it. Salads and Seafood chowder were also had and I was told they were delicious. For dinner, the pumpkin-apple ravioli was aboslutely to DIE for. The shepard's pie crepe looked and smelled amazing, and the specials that night (a duck casserole and some sort of seafood soup dish) disappeared pretty quickly. The creme brulee? Took me about 2 minutes to inhale. They dressed mom's up in happy birthday chocolate sauce with a shot glass of dry ice rather than a candle - so cool! The mixed drinks were ... well, let's just say that they had some sort of autumn martini special that was rum and apple cider and I could have taken a bath it in. To top it off, our waitress gave my mom a $10 birthday gift card to come see them again. As if they needed a reason! Their food is all locally bought, which is very evident in the quality. Go. Do it.
(5)corinne a.
Three of us started a cozy window booth for a 5:30 Saturday reservation. The food was delicious. I especially enjoyed the fish chowder---the broth was so delicious. I followed with chicken wings, which were just ok. If you like garlic, you will love the chopped green salad. I had mine with steak. Also very yummy. Or service was prompt, professional and not at all overbearing. Seats near the door are a tiny bit chilly in the winter, but you can tell they are cranking heat to compensate. Ambiance was very cozy, warm and comfortable. I'm looking forward to coming back again and again.
(4)Leslie A.
I've been here 2 times. To be fair, the service and atmosphere first time was quite good so we took visitors with us a 2nd time. As vegetarians however, the menu, while it looks good, is disappointing. The first visit i ordered goat cheese ravioli which was huge sheets of thick pasta with small stamps of goat cheese. My husband ordered the vegetable crepes which were mashed potatoes and spinach and cheddar (basically sides of meat dishes nicely carbed into crepes). Our second visit it took an hour to get appetizers with our friends. It took about 20 minutes to order a 2nd drink. They were out of flatbread. We had 3 vegetarians in our party. Again, they had mashed potato crepes which when they were served almost 2 hours later had raw spinach and unmelted cheddar. All in all, I wouldn't return. They were apologetic and refunded our appetizers which was nice. It wasn't a pleasant dinner. The food was not good. You'd think they could at least put some broccoli or something different in a vegetarian crepe than extra starch. A veggie burger would also be a welcome option for when they are out of flatbread on a friday night. good luck!!
(2)Michael D.
Westbrook's finest dining experience by a long shot. You can grab some drinks or a nicely prepared dinner. The only issue I have is that dinner stops at 9:00 - I would like to see this more like 10:00. Their specials are very interesting and unique. I suggest getting there early if you want to check these out as they often sell out of the specials.
(5)Ryan C.
Not so good.... Really unpleasant waitstaff and mediocre food, though the donuts were good. Hostess was not friendly and waitress couldnt manage to refill the coffee, thankfully its sitting right out in the middle of the dining room so you might as well do it yourself if you want any. 45 minutes after the order was placed we were informed that they didnt have one of the menu items ... seriously? its 10am, you ran out of something after being open an hour for brunch? you could have at least known to mention that when we were ordering. evenso, place was not even half full and they take 50 minutes to fry eggs? this place gets a big fat "meh, so what". 2 stars for the donuts. 0 stars for the staff
(2)Sarah A.
Food is good but the service is weird. I feel like no one ever pays attention to you, never looks you in the eye and service is slow.
(2)Dave P.
Walked in and was asked "Do you have reservations?" we said "No". Waiter walked off and no one else ever greeted us. We waited for 5 minutes while 4 different employees passed us by without greeting us. We felt very awkward. It is too bad because this establishment is only 1 mile from my house...but apparently they don't need our business, nor will they ever get it. I was really let down because the only things I have heard about this restaurant is positive stuff. We will not be back though. We felt very awkward and totally unwelcome.
(1)Tony C.
Furthermore I reached out to the owner of frog and turtle. I tried explaining what happened in hopes that he would do something to try to make it right. His response "I see you have mad your decision" It's nice to know that the owner of this restaurant cares about his customers.
(1)Matt S.
Friends suggested the F&T to meet out at and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Arriving early the bartender greeted me with a warm smile and introduction. After we sat down our party size grew and the waitress moved us over right over to another table. Service was great, the chef was even out on the dinning room floor checking to insure everyone was enjoying. Food: I'm heading back soon. The fish special I had was out of this world. A shrimp dish with pan fried noodles and seasoned with just the right spices. Delicious. I hear the chicken crepes are a cult favorite. Bottom Line: This is a quiet jewel that will draw you back again! Enjoy.
(5)Jack M.
The atmosphere is great, the bartender is great, the entertainment is great but I came there for the food and the service; not so great. The waiter was disconnected. He acted like he was doing us a favor when he came to the table. We waited a very long time for a waitperson and we finally were able to place an order; we waited a very long time for the food. The waiter came over and pointed to a table near us and told us that there was a table of 16 and our food was going to take a long time. He suggested that we get appetizers, so we waited for those and the portions were tiny. He didn't apologize or offer us some food on the house to hold us over. He just had a look on his face like he was wishing he was somewhere else. The food was just okay. I cannot get excited about pricy food that I could have prepared myself.
(2)Dave B.
My wife and I stopped here on the way from South Jersey to visit friends in Sweden, ME. It was a very pleasant surprise. Our waitress was very enthusiastic and competent. The atmosphere was pleasant and the food was wonderful. It was a special experience and we hope to return the next time we visit Maine.
(5)Amy C.
We were staying in Portland and really believed we should eat dinner there. We decided to drive out to this place instead based on the reviews. Great choice! We made a reservation & we were seated in less than 5min. We had our kids with us(5 & 9) and they were the only kids there, but they made us all feel welcome. We ordered the fish and chips for the kids and the waitress suggested they split it because it was a good portion. Good idea--it was $18 and they just about finished it. The chips were actually fresh made chips and delicious! We split the goat cheese strudel and almost licked the plate! I had the chicken cordon bleu, which was actually better than a traditional one, the sauce was not cream-based and it had roasted root vegetables inside. My husband had the braised rib and loved it! The drinks were fantastic and we spent 2hours there to enjoy the meal. Kids had dessert, too. $133 for everything and it was money well spent!
(5)Bob R.
My wife likes this place more than me but it's slowly winning me over. Parked in back and came in through the back door - on the way to the hostess stand, proceeded to trip over the stage. Not much room to negotiate. Didn't have a reservation but were happy sitting at the bar. Very friendly bar tender. He made a very nice Manhattan for me. It was odd in that there were many bourbon choice but only one rye? I occasionally have bourbon but I'm more of a Manhattan traditionalist. I had the fish chowder which was very good, very hot, maybe too big of a bowl - I don't think there was a "cup" option on the menu - next time I'll ask. The bowl also came out a little too fast as I wasn't even close to finishing my Manhattan. Sip of soup, sip of Manhattan, sip of soup, etc. - not ideal. I thought the burger was great. Had a version with bacon, blue cheese etc. Perfectly cooked med rare. I liked the bun a lot. Wife had a vege flatbread which was very good as well as an app (I can't remember what it was) which she enjoyed. Music started around 8:30 - a real nice addition to the scene. Overall, I think it's really nice food in a casual atmosphere with live music and good service. Nice combo.
(4)Nicole And Russ F.
Tough review as food and live music are often great. But I can't get past some of the personalities here. There is one server (Michael) who always aims to please. But the hostess and other servers often serve up a side of attitude that we never order.
(2)Angie S.
We've been to the Frog & Turtle twice for dinner now, and it's becoming one of our new go-to spots. It's good food in an unpretentious atmosphere. (They're the same people behind the French Press Eatery around the corner, their casual breakfast/lunch place) Our first visit started off somewhat dubiously -- a table smack in the middle of traffic that was wobblier than a baby learning to walk. Fortunately, as we started to mutter a bit, our server noticed, swooped in and fixed it -- typical of the very attentive staff. Food has been great. I've had the cheese plate appetizer both times, and I haven't been disappointed - and I'm a cheese nut. My husband had the poutine the first time, and it was good, too. My husband had a bouillabaisse that was to die for on our second visit. Service, as mentioned before, is great... attentive, but you feel you're allowed to linger. We'll be back often. We've heard raves about their brunch.
(4)Tammy S.
This is Uffa's reincarnated in Westbrook. The food is incredible, the service is amazing, it's a great atmosphere, live music on Friday is fun and the brunch... the donuts are incredible and the Bloody Mary's are fantastic! Highly recommend!
(5)Pygmy A.
Excellent brunch! Never would have tried Eggs Benedict with brie and bacon if not tempted by this menu. Why only on Sunday?
(5)K C.
Great! Coming from San Francisco to Portland for my girlfriend's parents' 50th anniversary get together, I assumed that I'd be at best mildly disappointed by something calling itself a gastro-anything, let alone pub. We had ~20 people for early dinner and they provided a perfect array of starters. We particularly liked the crackers they had made out of their own wheat bread. Our waiter, Ian was superb both in attentiveness and his knowledge and interest in what he was offering us. The chocolate cake they made for the occasion got rave reviews; just sweet enough - which pleased everyone. F&T was unpretentious so I think all our folks there for a fairly casual event felt quite comfortable. All in all, really nice place with good people. I'd go back, and certainly need to try the donuts.
(4)Brenda G.
Formerly Cafe Uffa on Longfellow Square in Portland, F and T is an enthusiastic foodie enclave in deepest, darkest Westbrook. Breathing in the fumes of its immediate predecessor, Chickie's, F and T has managed to capture its venue vibe with great entertainment AND great food. New Year's Eve with blues legend Pam Baker and raw bar was sublime.
(4)John C.
Had brunch there on Sunday 7/26/09, food was great! Very creative with breakfast. Old standbys as well as interesting items you won't find anywhere else. Banana Pancakes with "REAL" maple syrup made my day! Lobster Benedict was a surprising treat to see as well, even though I couldn't partake, my friend gobbled it up like it was going to run away from him!
(4)Thomas P.
Good little breakfast spot. They have some great niche dishes and staff is on point. Menu very limited though, maybe some expansion and variety is needed. No wait for brunch on a Sunday was pretty awesome though. Custom made donuts are very cool but I'm more into the meat bread and potatoes, style of breakfast. French toast was very appealing as well.
(3)Jeremy N.
Amazing food and service. This is a 5 star restaurant in the middle of little Westbrook. You don't ususally see this quality outside of a big city. It is pricy but worth every penny.
(5)S T.
Came here for brunch. It was our first time here so decided to try the homemade donuts. We ordered several different ones to share. Boy that was a mistake because they were all SO GOOD!! The breakfast was typical, but the portions are huge!
(3)Erin S.
My boyfriend and I visit the Frog and Turtle often and we love it! We live in Westbrook and love the fact that there is a really great restaurant just a short drive from our home. The Frog & Turtle serves up delicious food within a range of prices. All their food is made to order and we've never had a bad meal there. While their entrees are always fantastic, our favorite dish is actually the green leaf salad with red onion, bacon, a hardboiled egg, and a light garlicky dressing - I can never get enough of it. They have a great selection of food from flatbreads to fish tacos, duck to a NY strip steak. The Cajun mussels are also a must-have! While the food can be a tad bit pricy depending upon what you order (a salad, flatbread, steak, crème brulee and three drinks came to $90), it's one of those places that you should definitely try out. The Frog & Turtle also has live music - if you can go on a night when the Tone Kings are playing, you'll be very happy! It's always good to make reservations at least a couple of days ahead of time. My only knock-down to a four-star is that they usually don't sit you at your reservation time. We try to make reservations for 8:00pm each time we go so that we can enjoy the music, but it seems as though they have a little bit of trouble moving their guests through tables. This past weekend we didn't get seated until close to 8:30pm. The food is worth it, though! Enjoy!
(4)Kerryann M.
This restaurant is the best kept secret in Westbrook. Such a jem in a not so great location. We enjoyed the delicious food and had great service during their brunch on Sunday. The made-to-order, homemade donuts are so incredible I couldn't get them off my mind all day! We're looking forward to coming back to try their dinners. Next time we're bringing some friends with us!
(4)Daniel C.
We ate dinner here last night - it was delicious. Great pub food, or fancier fare if you wish. Beer and wine selection was extensive. Service was attentive and friendly. We both ordered burgers off the pub menu. They were cooked perfectly.
(4)Patrick L.
We chose the Frog & Turtle for our afternoon wedding reception, and we were thrilled with the planning, food, and service - and really, the bang for the buck was in our favor. I'm honestly just looking for an excuse to have them cater another event... maybe my housewarming party this fall? We'll see!
(5)Alice C.
We have been wanting to try this place for so long and so when I finally recovered enough from a Bone Marrow Transplant, my husband and I decide to celebrate our 22nd Wedding Anniversary. So, it went something like this... We walk in and wait. "someone will be right with you" we're told. We watch several staff go by us, again and again. Just as we're thinking of giving up...we're seated, alas! We have scarce time to scan the drink menu before a well read but slightly smug waiter expects our order, which we place hardily. $9 Cosmopolitan arrives tasting like a watered down SeaBreeze, albeit a strong enough one so I indulge. As we read the menu, I take particular notice of a bit of friendly restaurant advice...' "so put the phone down, relax, chat, enjoy some good food..."or yaddah yaddah yaddah...something like that! Needless to say I am, at this point, gearing up for fine gastro experience of scrumptious food eaten in a relaxed state in a leisurely like way..and then the Band strikes up....LOUDLY, in a restaurant the size of of an average open concept kitchen/dining/living room household. And although the music is actually really good it is so loud my husband and I honestly cannot hear the other one speak. We were two feet apart from each other. We do see the others mouths open, move and shut, but tangible sound eludes us We ordered in a polite shout/talk after the waiter explained it is highly recommended we order appetizers as the food is all cooked to order, taking 30 minutes. So we wondered, were the apps pre-cooked, as they took only 10 minutes or so...hmmmmmm.? Anyway; The rather resigned waiter became even further so when he asked us something and I had to almost holler "I can't hear you!" He used sign language to ask if we wanted more drinks. We did not. He walked away. The appetizers were very good-but a spoon and a little bread with the mussels would have been perhaps a nice homey treat so as to get the full experience as well GET the mussels from the bowl to the plate with ease. Oh well. But the BEST part -or the IRONIC part was that although my husband and I sat but 2 feet apart, we found we had no choice but to go against the F and T philosophy and GET the PHONES out, as it was the ONLY way we could actually communicate to each other without shrugging,or contorting our face in public while shouting "WHAT?" It cracked us up...we're such rebels, you know... Ahhh-Good ol' technology... but the food was good, it really was. We just had to eat it and beat it before our ear drums burst! But all in all not only was it was more expensive then I'd presume a standard pub might be, and the food seemed to lean more towards the Tuscan region of Italy rather then say, the Provence Region of France. (pesto? aioli? cheesburgers? Franco-American....seriously?
(2)Jenn F.
The food was OK, not as good as I expected considering the price and hype. The wait staff was not very friendly at all.
(3)John R.
This is probably the best restaurant in Westbrook for a "sit down" dinner. The food is a bit unique & I like the fact that they have an open type kitchen. Great bar area & they have some good local entertainment. The only reason I did not give them 5 stars is because I think they could be more solicitous of vegetarians. They do have several good vegetarian items, but I prefer a restaurant to have a vegetarian section on their menu. The vegetarian items we had were excellent! Service was great... We will be "regulars"...
(4)Fred S.
Me and Cathy have been interested in trying this place for quite some time now, so last Sunday we drove to Westbrook and gave it a shot... Well not really. Once we parked, we arrived at 1pm to a full gastro pub, filled with people happily eating and chatting. We were promptly told by the bartender that the kitchen closed at 1, and we were SOL. OK, I get it, it was 1pm and those are the rules, but the place was full! Surely they could have served two more people at the bar, considering they were so busy, it really made me think. All I can say is, it must be nice to own a restaurant that makes so much money, that you can turn customers away by closing early on Sunday and on Mondays all together. I just can't fathom paying rent for a space and just opt not to generate revenue for a day and a half. Sure, chef and staff deserve a break, but schedule some extra help with all that money. Sadly, we were prepared to go whole-hog on this intriguing menu, ready to spend some serious cash, followed by a stunning Yelp review. Oh well, I guess they don't need my money, and with all of the great restaurants in Portland, I won't be bothered to make it back there.
(1)S T.
Came here for brunch. It was our first time here so decided to try the homemade donuts. We ordered several different ones to share. Boy that was a mistake because they were all SO GOOD!! The breakfast was typical, but the portions are huge!
(3)Nichole A.
Always heard great things about this plae. Not really sure as to why? Went there with two friends waitress came over ever 3 mins on us to order. Then I ordered my food got a burger. The middle was raw and it was cold. They had s great band but they were so loud I couldn't enjoy anything. It was so loud the next day I had a raspy voice and soar throat. Maybe I will come back and try it again
(1)Tom A.
Loved the food and service here. Great original drinks. Wish I could have eaten and drank more but they would have had to roll me out of the place. Waitstaff was extremely professional and accommodating. I would suggest this place to anyone looking for a night out.
(5)Andrew S.
My husband and I came here for brunch without the kids but see a lot of tables with families - and the staff is super nice & accommodating. Amazing food. I had the steak & cheese Benedict and can say hands down this is the best Benedict I've had. My husband got an omelette it was huge (and amazing). If you have not been here before you should start with the donuts. I thought the chocolate and the Elvis were too rich (we had two bites) but we devoured the Heart Foundation and would recommend it to everyone that stops in for brunch (just be sure you leave room for the main meal - one donut is enough or get them to go).
(5)Erin S.
My boyfriend and I visit the Frog and Turtle often and we love it! We live in Westbrook and love the fact that there is a really great restaurant just a short drive from our home. The Frog & Turtle serves up delicious food within a range of prices. All their food is made to order and we've never had a bad meal there. While their entrees are always fantastic, our favorite dish is actually the green leaf salad with red onion, bacon, a hardboiled egg, and a light garlicky dressing - I can never get enough of it. They have a great selection of food from flatbreads to fish tacos, duck to a NY strip steak. The Cajun mussels are also a must-have! While the food can be a tad bit pricy depending upon what you order (a salad, flatbread, steak, crème brulee and three drinks came to $90), it's one of those places that you should definitely try out. The Frog & Turtle also has live music - if you can go on a night when the Tone Kings are playing, you'll be very happy! It's always good to make reservations at least a couple of days ahead of time. My only knock-down to a four-star is that they usually don't sit you at your reservation time. We try to make reservations for 8:00pm each time we go so that we can enjoy the music, but it seems as though they have a little bit of trouble moving their guests through tables. This past weekend we didn't get seated until close to 8:30pm. The food is worth it, though! Enjoy!
(4)Carrissa L.
We finally got to eat at The Frog & Turtle after wanting to for a long time - and we were blown away! We made reservations and were seated promptly when we arrived. Our waitress was wonderful right from the start. We had our two kids with us - 10 and 12 - and they were the only two kids in the restaurant, but still made welcome. The food was out of this world. The kids each had a burger and fries and they were absolutely delicious. The burgers were big and juicy and flavorful, and the fries handmade and perfectly seasoned. My husband and I each had a different special - I had rainbow trout with local greens, bacon and razor clams and my husband had a veal chop with mashed potatoes and spring peas. Each dish was perfectly prepared, expertly seasoned, and everything incredibly fresh. We savored each and every bite. The meal did take about two hours total, but it was paced perfectly for a restaurant that expects you to take your time and truly savor your meal. Live music kicked in around desert and we had a great time listening. The Frog & Turtle is a true gem in Westbrook, as is the owner Chef James, who gives back to the local community tirelessly. I can't wait to support this local treasure with my patronage again soon.
(5)Liz J.
For a $90 dinner, I had hoped for better food...service was great!! I got the pinapple mojito drink special for $10. I couldn't taste a drop of booze. So then I asked for Jameson on the rocks because at that point, you know exactly what you are getting...although my friend I went to dinner with got the strawberry lemonade special with gin and her drink tasted quite strong...wtf! I got the chicken entree which was delicious! I wish the asparagus it had come with hadnt been cut into microscopic pieces and then drowned in the chicken sauce...which made it really difficult to get on my fork and into my face. It also came with little tiny pasta peices which I HOPE were homemade...for the $21 it cost. The reason why I am rating this place so low is because: 1. The drinks were not strong/inconsistent and way pricey for what it was. 2. The food took a long time to get to our table. 3. There was an incredibly loud band playing the night we went, which is fine, unless you are paying for a $90 dinner and have to shout at the people across the table from you. Because of the band, and the "pub" menu and the "dinner" menu...it just seems like the Frog and Turtle really cant make up its mind as to whether it wants to be a Pub or a fine dining restaurant....so please for the love of god pick which one you want to be!!
(2)Victoria L.
I really wish I could give this place 10 stars. I really really wish I could. We took my Mom here for her 65th (!) birthday this past weekend. They got us in last-minute, and to be honest we were a little worried when they were empty and still took 10 minutes to get a table ready. All that was blown away (heh) by the service and the food. Our waitress was so friendly and funny! We got the Poutine - do your inner fatty a favor and get it. I'm salivating as I think about it. Salads and Seafood chowder were also had and I was told they were delicious. For dinner, the pumpkin-apple ravioli was aboslutely to DIE for. The shepard's pie crepe looked and smelled amazing, and the specials that night (a duck casserole and some sort of seafood soup dish) disappeared pretty quickly. The creme brulee? Took me about 2 minutes to inhale. They dressed mom's up in happy birthday chocolate sauce with a shot glass of dry ice rather than a candle - so cool! The mixed drinks were ... well, let's just say that they had some sort of autumn martini special that was rum and apple cider and I could have taken a bath it in. To top it off, our waitress gave my mom a $10 birthday gift card to come see them again. As if they needed a reason! Their food is all locally bought, which is very evident in the quality. Go. Do it.
(5)corinne a.
Three of us started a cozy window booth for a 5:30 Saturday reservation. The food was delicious. I especially enjoyed the fish chowder---the broth was so delicious. I followed with chicken wings, which were just ok. If you like garlic, you will love the chopped green salad. I had mine with steak. Also very yummy. Or service was prompt, professional and not at all overbearing. Seats near the door are a tiny bit chilly in the winter, but you can tell they are cranking heat to compensate. Ambiance was very cozy, warm and comfortable. I'm looking forward to coming back again and again.
(4)Christine B.
Excellent food, service, and ambiance. Joined a colleague here for dinner while traveling, the first thing that struck me was easy bar-to-table service, no paying twice or hassle making the move. I enjoyed a bourbon smash while he had a local beer. The band playing was raucous and made our drinks better, even as we kvetched about work. The mussel appetizer was wonderful. I love mussels and have eaten so many good ones while in Maine, usually in Portland's Old Port district. These were perfectly cooked, meaty, and Mexican-style. I am not sure I could've asked for much more from them, and I ate most of them while my companion enjoyed chili. My main course was a perfect fresh pasta dish. The fettucine was clearly fresh and al dente with a wonderful summer sauce of fresh vegetables. My colleague enjoyed a flatbread, and even packed up leftovers from it and his chili. The service throughout our time was exceptional, thoughtful. The waitress did not hurry us, but she was helpful and available as needed. She offered solid drink selections for our dinners and based on what we had already started. I look forward to heading back to The Frog & Turtle again. I'd like to try more from their well-planned menu.
(5)Kristi M.
First, I should confess, I'm pretty much a regular here. But, that speaks to how great this place is - great food and service! I'm generally here for happy hour, but this morning I met a friend for brunch. We sat at the bar, as I almost always do. The bartender, Jesse, is friendly, fun, and provides top notch service. In addition, he makes amazing and creative drinks. I trust him enough to just make me whatever he feels like. I've never been disappointed. This morning, I went with a delicious Icy Frog - an adult iced coffee. Very rich, but perfect on a Sunday morning. Tip: if you enjoy cribbage, ask for a board. They have several behind the bar. Anyway, back to brunch. This was my second time visiting for brunch. This time I was smart enough to try one of their famous donuts. My friend and I split a John Candy - maple and bacon donut. Fresh out of the fryer with real maple syrup drizzled on it and sprinkled with bacon. It's better than it sounds. For my actual breakfast, I went with one of the specials which was Eggs Benedict but served with meatloaf in place of the ham. Very flavorful and a generous portion. I was not able to finish it as it was served with a small salad of tossed greens lightly dressed and perfect home fries. Great start to my Sunday!
(5)Jesse M.
We had high hopes after reading reviews. The service was slow and inattentive. No one even came to the table for 10-15 minutes after we were seated. There's a note on the menu that food will take 30 minutes, but why would a burger and pizza take 30 minutes? In our case, it took closer to 60. Also, a lemonade refill was charged which was a surprise. When the food finally arrived, it was pretty good except for the cheese pizza the kids got which was tasteless. Overall, we were disappointed due to the service so I wouldn't return unless they did takeout.
(3)Tony W.
Came here on a busy Friday. I had actually checked on Open Table throughout the day and it seemed like reservations were widely available for all time slots. I took this as a sign that I didn't need to make a reservation...big mistake. We got there and the place was packed. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that for at least 10 minutes, because no staff member made an effort to greet us at the door and tell us about their wait time and seating procedure. A couple in line ahead of us told us that we needed to check in with the hostess, and HER TABLE IS NOT NEAR THE DOOR. Once we got our name on the list and was told that it would be at least a 45 minute wait, we walked the 2 1/2 feet over to the bar to have a couple cocktails to kill time. It also took about 10 minutes of failed eye contact and hand gestures toward the bartender to grab two cocktail menus. While we were perusing the menu, a table opened up 35 minutes earlier than our quoted time, and we happily snapped it up. So what if it was three feet from the band, which was about to go on? I like their menu; for a 'gastropub', it has a lot going on. As our excellent server informed us, you can either go down the small plates route or the entree route. My friend and I debated getting charcuterie, wings, and a few other things, but in the end, we both settled on our own entrees and splitting an appetizer. They also have a great drink menu, which seems to highlight a few bourbon specialties. I ordered the bourbon smash ($12), and it was very good. Appetizer: At the recommendation of our server, we started with a fried avocado that was dressed with salsa and sour cream(?). The avocado itself was unseasoned and rather bland, but it worked perfectly with the salsa. I probably wouldn't order it again but it was tasty. Because our entrees were taking longer than expected to prepare, our server brought over a goat cheese salad of some kind to hold us over. THIS was much better than the avocado appetizer. Dinner: I ordered the Devil Burger on a recommendation from a friend ($15), and my friend ordered a chicken flatbread of some kind. I really can't say I was impressed. It wasn't bad, because at the end of the day it's still a burger. But I would certainly say it falls toward the bottom of my consumed burger spectrum, despite having an olive sticking out of it, a layer of onion rings, and something called 'ninja sauce' giving it a spicy kick. Unimpressed, especially at $15. This is closer to a $8-$10 burger (or less). The cut fries that came along with it, however, were very good. The music certainly made up for my average meal. The 5-piece band played a good mix of jazz, rock, and a few jammy/funky tunes. I could see myself coming back just to see them. Overall, a bit of a letdown based on everyone's recommendations of this place. I think my opinion of this place could change if I ordered a different combination of food (you're next, charcuterie and wings!), and so I'll be back to give 'em another chance.
(3)Patrick C.
Brunch yesterday at the Frog & Turtle in Westbrook. Cool place, good vibes and excellent friendly service. We started with "appetizers" of homemade- made to order donuts...Boston cream (amazing), the John Candy ...maple and bacon ...speaks for itself! And Jason's pretzel ...caramel and salt... Pretty good. My girl had the special...Salisbury steak Benedict...good and tasty, though missing hollandaise for some reason?? I had the vegetable florentine Benedict...very good, great home fries. Also great coffee, always kept full cup (important) and the Bloody Mary reportedly was excellent. Will pretty much be back, if just for donuts and coffee.
(4)Am M.
Last Friday, 09/11, I had a great meal on a busy Friday night. This Friday, 09/18, not so much. In fact it was one of, if not THE worst experience I have ever had in a restaurant (of which I was not the cause...) [I feel like i have to disclose that I was a waitress and bartender for nearly 10 years of my life. I know what is excuseable behavior and I know certain tables can be tough and impossible to please. I know that it's difficult to put on a cheery face when co-workers aren't pulling their weight or when the kitchen is having an off night... I get it... I am sympathetic and forgiving.] Well, I was.. It was busy but it wasn't nuts. We had a reservation, and once we communicated that information to the right person we were sat in a timely manner. It took forever to order drinks- and even longer to get them (just sodas and water) to the table. It took forever to get the specials from the server- then it took forever to get the server BACK to the table to answer a few questions and place our order. Oh, and btw, we had a different person come to our table every time- perhaps to confuse us when we wrote a terrible review so as not to hold any one person responsible. Good idea in theory, but now every single server and hostess is to blame for the AWFUL and I mean AWFUL experience we had. The food took forever. Almost an hour. But whatever, based on my experience last week, the food was worth the wait. It was NOT worth the wait. My flatbread, which I had ordered one week earlier, was unrecognizeable. It had shrunk in size, it was burned, and it was covered in orange cheese... Not so one week earlier. My sister's meal was so salty it was inedible. We're talking, spat out, salty. The third meal supposedly came with "pepere's potatoes"...Not so much. In place of potatoes was a side of roasted garlic cloves- like the whole clove. No potatoes. My friend had even taken the time to ask one of the revolving servers about the special potatoes. (Btw, the server who went over specials and menu items was either un-informed or just didn't care enough to learn/exhibit knowledge about the menu he was serving... It was just uncomfortable listening to him stumble through the attempted memorization of the specials. He basically had no idea what he was talking about and couldn't even bullshit his way through it. Honestly, I wish I hadn't asked.) So far, we have our drinks, which they are kind enough to refill before we get our meals... (more about THAT later). We have our terrible meals, and then we get NOTHING... NO ONE, and I mean NO one comes within even shouting range of our table. So far we've had three or four different people pretend to be our server for a max of 30 seconds. So maybe no one knew who was actually responsible for checking on us... OR perhaps they knew how awful our meals were as there were other tables complaining about their food as well... When someone FINALLY came to check on our meals/clear our plates/ask if we wanted dessert, my sister informed out latest waiter, of the saltiness of her meal. He then proceeds to pull a hunk of the kale off of her plate with his FINGERS and popped it in his mouth right there at the table!!!!!! (WTF?!?!?!) While he agreed with her, he did nothing to adjust the bill. So three terrible meals, terrible service... Can we please just get out of here??? NOPE. We sit. We wait. And Wait. Finally we get our unsplit check... From yet ANOTHER new server to our table. Seriously... And we've been charged for our soda refills... Seriously?! There was no mention of being a charge when we were asked if we would like refills. And honestly, i had no idea that any restaurant charged for fountain soda refills- not to mention one that charged $30 a meal!!!! Nothing is done to aknowledge our uneaten meals or our overall awful experience. And honestly we just want to get the heck out of there. We ask the new server to split our check- knowing there is no way she will know what we each had- so could she send over the person who took our order? She insists she can do it. Literally 30 minutes later, she returns with our split checks. While we are waiting for our checks the experience goes from awful to inexcuseable. I am writing this review because of what happens while we are waiting for our checks. The "manager" hostess, approaches the table. I think, "Finally, she's going to ask us how she can make it up to us- or tell us she's comp-ed a meal or two..." NOPE. She grabs a few empty glasses and asks us what we are waiting for.... Her actual words are, "Soooo, was there something you guys were waiting for orrrr.... ?" Or what? Is she for real??? My sister explains that we are waiting for our cards. "Uh, what?" she says. "We are waiting for our cards so that we can leave." The manager says nothing- just walks off. So yea. The food was bad. The service was very bad. But the "management" was inexcuseable. I will NEVER be back.
(1)Christine L.
First off, what in the world is a gastropub? According to Wiki (the best aka worst site ever to cite), the term was coined as recently as 1991 by the owners of a pub in London who were redefining the standard pub fare by placing a higher emphasis on higher end food. So is this a gastropub? ABSOLUTELY. But keep in mind that you could also call it glorified pub fare... okay that's a little too harsh. I was excited for dinner, and their adorable Christmas decorations definitely helped up my spirits! Here's what I tried, after the 30+ minute necessary wait due to everything being made from scratch after being ordered: - Fried Calamari appetizer: Lightly battered and tossed in a creamy lime dressing, this was definitely my top choice of the two apps we ordered. I'm not used to my calamari being coated in sauce, but the crispness remained! - PEI Mussels: Not my favorite. The menu says steamed w/ garlic, tasso, and fresh herbs in a cajun-style sauce. We had someone at our table who doesn't eat pork, so we had no tasso (kind of like a smoked ham). The mussels were teeeeeeny tiny, and nearly half our shells were empty! Very disappointing. - Roasted Salmon: I LOVE salmon, I love it even more when it's made better than my impromptu cooking sessions at home. This wasn't it. The salmon came roasted on top of coconut rice and charred watercress, with an orange brown sugar soy glaze. Of the whole dish, I suppose the salmon was the highlight, I ordered it cooked medium, and that part was spot on. The skin started off crisp, but sitting on top of coconut rice tends to make things mushy! The rice was really fluffy, so much so that I didn't quite taste the coconut. It seemed like everything was served on top of watercress, this bunch was a tad too bitter (and I usually like bitter too...), and finally, the glaze was SUPER SALTY! Finally, I can't forget the heaping handfuls of fried things on top of the salmon. While fun and pretty, there was just so much! - Chocolate Teardrop of Happiness: Our waitress described this as heaven for chocolate-lovers. While it's very pretty, the choco/raspberry combo just isn't for me, the other chocolate-lovers at my table did love it though! - Waffles w/ Caramelized Apples: One thing I have to say about both desserts: beautiful presentation! Despite drowning in vanilla ice cream & caramel sauce, the waffle was amazingly crisp! I only had a bite, but I wish all waffles came like this. Overall, yes this is definitely a solid place to dine out. While it's not something I'd imagine when I see the word "gastro-", it's SO much more than your average pub. The ambience and service were both great, with the exception of the water pouring. I was no thirstier than normal, but how hard is it to get a refill?? I also had a chunk of something weird in my water, so that was a little disturbing. Gratuity is 20% for parties of 6+.
(3)Soleil D.
Busy rainy Sunday brunch. Seated promptly with an 11o'clock res. We both got the special pulled pork benedict which was absolutly perfect, especially paired with one of the best bloody's I've had, and I get one every sunday. Wish we got the servers name she was great. I asked for no cheese on my Benedict but it came with it anyways (it was so good with the cheese and hollandaise, I just was trying to cut down on the unhealthy factor not the deliciousness), anyways she gave us a very generous discount for the not so big mistake. I've had dinner there a few times and now brunch and Everytime has been perfect.
(5)Shawn R.
I dig everything about this place.
(4)Michelle L.
Stopped in here on Friday night for a light dinner with my husband. Easy parking right behind the restaurant was an early sign of good things to come. The live music was in full swing when we arrived and the band of the night was The Cozmik Zombies, who were rocking out a tight set of blues and folk. The music could be quite loud, so do be forewarned of that. We were seated near the windows, conveniently not in full-on blow-out-your-eardrums territory and ordered some beers and the cheese and meat plate to share. Next time I may go for a bourbon flight, but it wasn't that kind of evening. The portions were pretty small, but everything on the plate was absolutely delicious. Next we split some calamari, which again exceeded expectations. They were very lightly fried with a citrusy sauce. Finally we split the seasonal parfait for dessert. All things considered, the food here is above and beyond what I expected at this venue. The service was also great throughout - attentive without being annoying - and the owner even came over at the end to see how we enjoyed everything. We'll definitely be back again if we find ourselves out in Westbrook.
(5)Sue S.
We haven't been here for a while and decided to give it another try a s WOW, so plsd we did! We'd give it more than 5 if we could! The service was outstanding - everyone - and the food was excellent!
(5)Rebecca W.
The food is delicious, but a bit pricey. It is considered a gastropub and is a unique experience. The atomsphere is romantic and lit beautifully. The explainations of the food and preperation are a bit over the top, but entertainig. "We went to the market and bought a pumpkin, we pureed it..." as the begining of how they made the pumpkin pie martini, which was flavorful but not well balanced, a bit strong. The waitress was attentive and had a vast knowledge of the menu. We started with poutine, which was ok. The gravy was thick but not much flavor. We ordered the buff jimmy and the tsunami flatbreads, which were both crisp and bursting with excellent flavor combos. It was a good expericne but not likely to be repeated
(3)Jeff C.
A customer of mine requested we try this Restuarant. I was skeptical since I saw it was in Westbrook thinking in my own mind that the good restaurants were all in the Old Port. Boy was I wrong! The food was excellent and the menu had a great selection. The service was extremely good as well. I am glad someone brought this establishment to my attention because I would have never looked to Westbrook to get this type of excellence.
(4)Stephanie G.
I had the pleasure of working at the Frog & Turtle (even though for a short period of time) I saw how Chef James truly took pride in his food. 3 years later I found myself planning my wedding and first stop was to Frog & Turtle to inquire about catering. Not only did they customize an amazing meal for my wedding they created an atmosphere we could never forget. Honestly the best food around and a man who is dedicated and committed to making his customers happy. You can trust that you will always have great outcome using Frog & Turtle as your caterer. Great food and great people. Thank you James, Meghan and your team for creating an amazing wedding for us.
(5)Kathryn R.
Checked this spot out for a seven person Sunday brunch (be sure to make a reservation!). Donuts were delicious and so were the Benedict dishes. As a French Canadian, I was very excited to see créton on the menu, and it was just as I remembered it. I ordered a Bloody Mary which had a little too much horseradish for my liking but was pleased overall. My only concern was the noise level in the dining area. My group found it really difficult to hear each other over the combined acoustics and 'ambient' music. Looking forward to trying out the lunch or dinner menu.
(4)Thomas P.
Good little breakfast spot. They have some great niche dishes and staff is on point. Menu very limited though, maybe some expansion and variety is needed. No wait for brunch on a Sunday was pretty awesome though. Custom made donuts are very cool but I'm more into the meat bread and potatoes, style of breakfast. French toast was very appealing as well.
(3)Jeremy N.
Amazing food and service. This is a 5 star restaurant in the middle of little Westbrook. You don't ususally see this quality outside of a big city. It is pricy but worth every penny.
(5)Jennifer H.
Seriously Phenomenal food! We had a party of eight and we did not feel cramped at all. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable and very gracious and witty.(Always appreciated & we tipped accordingly) We had calamari, cheese plate and charcuterie for apps. All great but we all agreed the calamari was the best we've ever had! I had the green leaf salad with the garlicky dressing. So delicious! Highly recommend this. You definitely want their kitchen to dress your salads as it is one of those things if done right is so simple yet really makes the salad so much more enjoyable. The Cabernet suggested was so delicious we had two bottles. I had the chicken crepe with mushrooms and Brie. TO DIE FOR. Other entrees devoured at our table were Demon burger,Salmon,Haddock, Monkfish special(not in a million!) but he loved it,and one courageous member of our group ordered the Kitchen burger. Which should be called everything but the kitchen sink burger. Salute to the servers who could name all the ingredients between the buns given that it's different every time! There was a $20 bet on whether he would finish it and he won! Astounding feat! Crème brûlée's, chocolate teardrop and the desert special were all extraordinarily delectable and works of art! Our server was gracious and eagerly accommodating when asked to make sure our crème brûlée's had a nice crackable top! A killer night out! Nice job Frog and Turtle
(5)Alise K.
The food is always good here. The service, however was terrible. We had 7pm reservations and did not order appetizers or dinner til 8pm. Our waitress literally disappeared. She said she had 6 tables and that they were all seated close in time to each other. Didn't make sense at all. We saw what tables she had and they were seated at various times throughout the evening. She was semi apologetic but not enough to compensate us with a drink or appetizer.... 3 of us had small salads with grilled salmon. Delicious and well prepared. The fourth had a burger that he raved about.
(3)Anita I.
I am from Rhode Island and a group of about 25-30 of us were in Maine over this past weekend to take part in the Tough Mudder. It's quite the task to find a place that can our big group for our celebratory dinner after the event. I took to Yelp to look into some favored options and this place stuck out. James the Chef was responsive and accommodating when I reached out to him. Upon arrival, we were excited to see a banner which read "Welcome Tough Mudders" and our tables were already prepared and there was a special "Tough Mudder" menu with the brunch menu. It was great service and we had a few young kids and they received their food ASAP. I ordered the Jimmy Benedict (bacon, caramelized onions, scallions and brie) it was delicious! The potatoes were a tad salty but still crispy and good. I washed it all down with a beer flight sampler. The only down side was that they had run out of their made to order donuts . Awesome place, will definitely go back when I head that way.
(5)Jim R.
My wife and my mother and I went to dinner around 7:30 on a Thursday. I was unaware that there was live music every Thursday night so conversation was pretty difficult. If I would have known, I probably would have booked another restaurant but. oh well. The place is cute and there is a parking lot right behind the restaurant. For an app, I had the mussels which were delicious. They were steamed with garlic, tasso and fresh herbs. The broth was fantastic! I needed to get more bread to soak it up. The mussels came out hot. My mother and wife had salads and they were happy with them although, at $10+ each, pricey for greens. For entrees, my mom had a flat beard. It was good and pretty large. She couldn't finish it. My wife had the chicken crepe which she described as a chicken pot pie in a crepe. There were plenty of vegetables and the chicken was super tender. I had the pasta with was loaded with veggies and freshly foraged mushrooms that were just great. Everything came out hot. Our waiter was great. He was attentive but not chatty and was right there with filled water glasses and bread. I would highly recommend this place. We had a great experience. It sounds like the service issues here are hit or miss based on who you dealt with. I guess we lucked out tonight.
(4)Aiden C.
I took my girl friend there for our anniversary today. The food was delicious and the customer service was great! I made a reservation and we were seated immediately. I highly recommend trying this place. I would go back again!
(5)Jill S.
The food and atmosphere were excellant ! We sat at the bar and had charcuterie And the cheese plate .We also had the fried avacodo which was incredible.What made the night was Jessie at the bar.He was knowledgable and fun.His drinks were great including his excitement to make my husbands Sazerac .We will be back!
(5)Liz S.
Place is bomb-diggity. Went for brunch and got a mimosa with veggie benedict. Although it gets pretty busy for breakfast/brunch we were able to get a seat at the bar. Staff is super friendly and food doesn't disappoint. I typically eat in Portland and was nervous about venturing to Westbrook since they are not usually known for having a lot of great restaurant choices. I'll definitely be back and I'm already looking forward to it.
(5)S And E H.
Pub? Nope. Bistro? Yes. Great food that is made to order so take a seat grab a drink, it'll be ready when it's done. Worth the wait.
(5)Lynn V.
We went for our wedding anniversary and the waiter we had was amazing (later he told us he was the owner). He helped us with everything from what wine to have , appetizers to try and main course. We were blown away by his service, attention to details and answered any question we asked. The food was amazing (cheese plate w/bread, grilled lamb w/asparagus, and a chocolate mousse- so so good ), fresh and inviting! Great spot to go to celebrate something special and local! The most amazing dining experience I've ever had.
(5)Karen R.
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Westbrook. The staff is always very friendly and accommodating, the atmosphere is always delightful, and the food is always amazing. They change their menu seasonally to mix it up and the have off the menu specials every night. The prices are reasonable and the portion sizes are excellent - I always come home with left overs! I highly recommend stopping by for drinks and appetizers and then enjoy a great meal!
(5)Priscilla H.
Great atmosphere - fantastic music. Always great when the Cozmik Zombies are playing - but you will find great local talent any night of the week. Interesting and flavorful!
(5)Jenn F.
The food was OK, not as good as I expected considering the price and hype. The wait staff was not very friendly at all.
(3)Dave B.
My wife and I stopped here on the way from South Jersey to visit friends in Sweden, ME. It was a very pleasant surprise. Our waitress was very enthusiastic and competent. The atmosphere was pleasant and the food was wonderful. It was a special experience and we hope to return the next time we visit Maine.
(5)Amy C.
We were staying in Portland and really believed we should eat dinner there. We decided to drive out to this place instead based on the reviews. Great choice! We made a reservation & we were seated in less than 5min. We had our kids with us(5 & 9) and they were the only kids there, but they made us all feel welcome. We ordered the fish and chips for the kids and the waitress suggested they split it because it was a good portion. Good idea--it was $18 and they just about finished it. The chips were actually fresh made chips and delicious! We split the goat cheese strudel and almost licked the plate! I had the chicken cordon bleu, which was actually better than a traditional one, the sauce was not cream-based and it had roasted root vegetables inside. My husband had the braised rib and loved it! The drinks were fantastic and we spent 2hours there to enjoy the meal. Kids had dessert, too. $133 for everything and it was money well spent!
(5)Daniel M.
Little caveat - I've never sat in the dining room, only every at the bar (except of the couches). Another little caveat - I'm a mug club member. Okay, now onto the seemingly biased review. I go to this place about one a week for a few after work beverages with some friends, and sometimes just by myself to get out of the house. The bartender Jesse is top-notch - there isn't anyone of his class or ability in Westbrook and quite possibly in Portland. He makes a basil and gin based cocktail called the Soothsayer that's amazing. The bar sits about 12 people and he serves food and drinks to them as well as drinks for the usually packed dining room - and still we get our drinks in a quick fashion. Food is fantastic, but it is a gastro pub so be prepared for some unique tastes - this isn't your mom and pop's standard betty crocker shit they're cooking. I enjoy unique and interesting tastes, so the food is pretty good. The prices don't bother me, but I guess living in Boston for quite a while their prices are really not much higher than a sports pub. Long story short, if you like to sit and socialize at a bar rather than the dining room(because I've never sat at a table), this is a great place. A bit pricey, but the drinks and the bartender are top-notch.
(5)Michael E.
The food was so disappointing for brunch. The donuts are all the exact same dry cake. To create the various 'flavors' they just smear random topping on top of the dry cake donuts. What a let down. The bacon I ordered was cooked hilariously bad. It was like he was trying to mess it up or blind. Burned black along one edge and rubbery white on the other( both our phones were dead or I would be adding pictures). The side of bacon was $3 making it the worst money I have spent on food that I can remember. The only other brunch spot we tried this trip was Petit Jacqueline wich was great. To rub salt in my wound they offered a side of bacon for $2 that was absolutely fantastic. Our waitress had a grumpy attitude that bordered on rude. I will give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she was just having an off day. The host was great and she is the reason I am giving 2 stars not 1. She was nice and seated us promptly at a table by the window.
(2)Keith S.
Disappointing Brunch overpriced a terribly underwhelming gastronomic experience
(1)Kerryann M.
This restaurant is the best kept secret in Westbrook. Such a jem in a not so great location. We enjoyed the delicious food and had great service during their brunch on Sunday. The made-to-order, homemade donuts are so incredible I couldn't get them off my mind all day! We're looking forward to coming back to try their dinners. Next time we're bringing some friends with us!
(4)Daniel C.
We ate dinner here last night - it was delicious. Great pub food, or fancier fare if you wish. Beer and wine selection was extensive. Service was attentive and friendly. We both ordered burgers off the pub menu. They were cooked perfectly.
(4)Patrick L.
We chose the Frog & Turtle for our afternoon wedding reception, and we were thrilled with the planning, food, and service - and really, the bang for the buck was in our favor. I'm honestly just looking for an excuse to have them cater another event... maybe my housewarming party this fall? We'll see!
(5)Alice C.
We have been wanting to try this place for so long and so when I finally recovered enough from a Bone Marrow Transplant, my husband and I decide to celebrate our 22nd Wedding Anniversary. So, it went something like this... We walk in and wait. "someone will be right with you" we're told. We watch several staff go by us, again and again. Just as we're thinking of giving up...we're seated, alas! We have scarce time to scan the drink menu before a well read but slightly smug waiter expects our order, which we place hardily. $9 Cosmopolitan arrives tasting like a watered down SeaBreeze, albeit a strong enough one so I indulge. As we read the menu, I take particular notice of a bit of friendly restaurant advice...' "so put the phone down, relax, chat, enjoy some good food..."or yaddah yaddah yaddah...something like that! Needless to say I am, at this point, gearing up for fine gastro experience of scrumptious food eaten in a relaxed state in a leisurely like way..and then the Band strikes up....LOUDLY, in a restaurant the size of of an average open concept kitchen/dining/living room household. And although the music is actually really good it is so loud my husband and I honestly cannot hear the other one speak. We were two feet apart from each other. We do see the others mouths open, move and shut, but tangible sound eludes us We ordered in a polite shout/talk after the waiter explained it is highly recommended we order appetizers as the food is all cooked to order, taking 30 minutes. So we wondered, were the apps pre-cooked, as they took only 10 minutes or so...hmmmmmm.? Anyway; The rather resigned waiter became even further so when he asked us something and I had to almost holler "I can't hear you!" He used sign language to ask if we wanted more drinks. We did not. He walked away. The appetizers were very good-but a spoon and a little bread with the mussels would have been perhaps a nice homey treat so as to get the full experience as well GET the mussels from the bowl to the plate with ease. Oh well. But the BEST part -or the IRONIC part was that although my husband and I sat but 2 feet apart, we found we had no choice but to go against the F and T philosophy and GET the PHONES out, as it was the ONLY way we could actually communicate to each other without shrugging,or contorting our face in public while shouting "WHAT?" It cracked us up...we're such rebels, you know... Ahhh-Good ol' technology... but the food was good, it really was. We just had to eat it and beat it before our ear drums burst! But all in all not only was it was more expensive then I'd presume a standard pub might be, and the food seemed to lean more towards the Tuscan region of Italy rather then say, the Provence Region of France. (pesto? aioli? cheesburgers? Franco-American....seriously?
(2)Jay H.
Good service and good atmosphere equal two stars. The food was pretty lackluster for a self-proclaimed "gastro-pub." The positives: great local music. Chipper and friendly waitstaff. The negatives: Food. I could rip this place a new one if I wanted to. I'll just say the hamburger buns (house made, but why?) are reminiscent of Burger King. The house specialty drink (the swamp) is served with dry ice. It looks really cool, but tastes like bubble gum. Now, you may say, well I like bubble gum, but trust me, you wouldn't like this bubble gum. Gastro-pub? If you're going to apply a snooty title to your establishment, you'd better back it up with some good grub.
(2)Leslie A.
I've been here 2 times. To be fair, the service and atmosphere first time was quite good so we took visitors with us a 2nd time. As vegetarians however, the menu, while it looks good, is disappointing. The first visit i ordered goat cheese ravioli which was huge sheets of thick pasta with small stamps of goat cheese. My husband ordered the vegetable crepes which were mashed potatoes and spinach and cheddar (basically sides of meat dishes nicely carbed into crepes). Our second visit it took an hour to get appetizers with our friends. It took about 20 minutes to order a 2nd drink. They were out of flatbread. We had 3 vegetarians in our party. Again, they had mashed potato crepes which when they were served almost 2 hours later had raw spinach and unmelted cheddar. All in all, I wouldn't return. They were apologetic and refunded our appetizers which was nice. It wasn't a pleasant dinner. The food was not good. You'd think they could at least put some broccoli or something different in a vegetarian crepe than extra starch. A veggie burger would also be a welcome option for when they are out of flatbread on a friday night. good luck!!
(2)Michael D.
Westbrook's finest dining experience by a long shot. You can grab some drinks or a nicely prepared dinner. The only issue I have is that dinner stops at 9:00 - I would like to see this more like 10:00. Their specials are very interesting and unique. I suggest getting there early if you want to check these out as they often sell out of the specials.
(5)Ryan C.
Not so good.... Really unpleasant waitstaff and mediocre food, though the donuts were good. Hostess was not friendly and waitress couldnt manage to refill the coffee, thankfully its sitting right out in the middle of the dining room so you might as well do it yourself if you want any. 45 minutes after the order was placed we were informed that they didnt have one of the menu items ... seriously? its 10am, you ran out of something after being open an hour for brunch? you could have at least known to mention that when we were ordering. evenso, place was not even half full and they take 50 minutes to fry eggs? this place gets a big fat "meh, so what". 2 stars for the donuts. 0 stars for the staff
(2)Sarah A.
Food is good but the service is weird. I feel like no one ever pays attention to you, never looks you in the eye and service is slow.
(2)Dave P.
Walked in and was asked "Do you have reservations?" we said "No". Waiter walked off and no one else ever greeted us. We waited for 5 minutes while 4 different employees passed us by without greeting us. We felt very awkward. It is too bad because this establishment is only 1 mile from my house...but apparently they don't need our business, nor will they ever get it. I was really let down because the only things I have heard about this restaurant is positive stuff. We will not be back though. We felt very awkward and totally unwelcome.
(1)Tony C.
Furthermore I reached out to the owner of frog and turtle. I tried explaining what happened in hopes that he would do something to try to make it right. His response "I see you have mad your decision" It's nice to know that the owner of this restaurant cares about his customers.
(1)Andrew L.
Their weekend brunch is the best in the area. Start with some of their one of a kind homemade doughnuts. These will sell out so make sure you get in early. Your meal will not be complete without one! I always enjoyed one of their "benedict" specials. They are delicious takes on the classic eggs benedict. They also make wonderful one of a kind cocktails. I have also been many times for dinner. As with brunch, everything is homemade so your order will take some time. I have never been displeased with their steak offerings. The Frog & Turtle has a wonderful close-nit atmosphere which makes you feel like a regular. I would recommend reservations for brunch and possibly for dinner.
(5)Captn I.
Wow! Braised pork shank with jus. Mac & cheese and wilted watercress. My wife had the Buff Jimmy flat bread and salad. Basically a cheese burger pizza with pickles and everything. Dessert was coconut ice-cream with choc chips for Heidi and I had apple fritters with maple syrup, whipped cream and ice-cream. Everything was homemade. Not bad. Had some wine and a big tankard of Murphy's stout!
(4)Carole H.
Noticed someone else wrote a bad tip today too! Food is always good, but service has been getting progressively worse every time we eat brunch. We arrived at 11am and didn't get our food until noon!! No apologies, no explanations. They forgot our coffee and my daughter's juice and took 15 minutes once we were seated to even ask us if we wanted a beverage. We won't be coming back unless we feel like eating at the bar where it looks like things are faster.
(2)Matt S.
Friends suggested the F&T to meet out at and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Arriving early the bartender greeted me with a warm smile and introduction. After we sat down our party size grew and the waitress moved us over right over to another table. Service was great, the chef was even out on the dinning room floor checking to insure everyone was enjoying. Food: I'm heading back soon. The fish special I had was out of this world. A shrimp dish with pan fried noodles and seasoned with just the right spices. Delicious. I hear the chicken crepes are a cult favorite. Bottom Line: This is a quiet jewel that will draw you back again! Enjoy.
(5)Jack M.
The atmosphere is great, the bartender is great, the entertainment is great but I came there for the food and the service; not so great. The waiter was disconnected. He acted like he was doing us a favor when he came to the table. We waited a very long time for a waitperson and we finally were able to place an order; we waited a very long time for the food. The waiter came over and pointed to a table near us and told us that there was a table of 16 and our food was going to take a long time. He suggested that we get appetizers, so we waited for those and the portions were tiny. He didn't apologize or offer us some food on the house to hold us over. He just had a look on his face like he was wishing he was somewhere else. The food was just okay. I cannot get excited about pricy food that I could have prepared myself.
(2)Bob R.
My wife likes this place more than me but it's slowly winning me over. Parked in back and came in through the back door - on the way to the hostess stand, proceeded to trip over the stage. Not much room to negotiate. Didn't have a reservation but were happy sitting at the bar. Very friendly bar tender. He made a very nice Manhattan for me. It was odd in that there were many bourbon choice but only one rye? I occasionally have bourbon but I'm more of a Manhattan traditionalist. I had the fish chowder which was very good, very hot, maybe too big of a bowl - I don't think there was a "cup" option on the menu - next time I'll ask. The bowl also came out a little too fast as I wasn't even close to finishing my Manhattan. Sip of soup, sip of Manhattan, sip of soup, etc. - not ideal. I thought the burger was great. Had a version with bacon, blue cheese etc. Perfectly cooked med rare. I liked the bun a lot. Wife had a vege flatbread which was very good as well as an app (I can't remember what it was) which she enjoyed. Music started around 8:30 - a real nice addition to the scene. Overall, I think it's really nice food in a casual atmosphere with live music and good service. Nice combo.
(4)Nicole And Russ F.
Tough review as food and live music are often great. But I can't get past some of the personalities here. There is one server (Michael) who always aims to please. But the hostess and other servers often serve up a side of attitude that we never order.
(2)Angie S.
We've been to the Frog & Turtle twice for dinner now, and it's becoming one of our new go-to spots. It's good food in an unpretentious atmosphere. (They're the same people behind the French Press Eatery around the corner, their casual breakfast/lunch place) Our first visit started off somewhat dubiously -- a table smack in the middle of traffic that was wobblier than a baby learning to walk. Fortunately, as we started to mutter a bit, our server noticed, swooped in and fixed it -- typical of the very attentive staff. Food has been great. I've had the cheese plate appetizer both times, and I haven't been disappointed - and I'm a cheese nut. My husband had the poutine the first time, and it was good, too. My husband had a bouillabaisse that was to die for on our second visit. Service, as mentioned before, is great... attentive, but you feel you're allowed to linger. We'll be back often. We've heard raves about their brunch.
(4)Tammy S.
This is Uffa's reincarnated in Westbrook. The food is incredible, the service is amazing, it's a great atmosphere, live music on Friday is fun and the brunch... the donuts are incredible and the Bloody Mary's are fantastic! Highly recommend!
(5)Pygmy A.
Excellent brunch! Never would have tried Eggs Benedict with brie and bacon if not tempted by this menu. Why only on Sunday?
(5)K C.
Great! Coming from San Francisco to Portland for my girlfriend's parents' 50th anniversary get together, I assumed that I'd be at best mildly disappointed by something calling itself a gastro-anything, let alone pub. We had ~20 people for early dinner and they provided a perfect array of starters. We particularly liked the crackers they had made out of their own wheat bread. Our waiter, Ian was superb both in attentiveness and his knowledge and interest in what he was offering us. The chocolate cake they made for the occasion got rave reviews; just sweet enough - which pleased everyone. F&T was unpretentious so I think all our folks there for a fairly casual event felt quite comfortable. All in all, really nice place with good people. I'd go back, and certainly need to try the donuts.
(4)Brenda G.
Formerly Cafe Uffa on Longfellow Square in Portland, F and T is an enthusiastic foodie enclave in deepest, darkest Westbrook. Breathing in the fumes of its immediate predecessor, Chickie's, F and T has managed to capture its venue vibe with great entertainment AND great food. New Year's Eve with blues legend Pam Baker and raw bar was sublime.
(4)John C.
Had brunch there on Sunday 7/26/09, food was great! Very creative with breakfast. Old standbys as well as interesting items you won't find anywhere else. Banana Pancakes with "REAL" maple syrup made my day! Lobster Benedict was a surprising treat to see as well, even though I couldn't partake, my friend gobbled it up like it was going to run away from him!
(4)