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The Front Room
Category: Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Canadian (Traditional) [Edit]
73 Congress StPortland, ME 04101
(207) 773-3366
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
73 reviews for The Front Room
Review Highlights
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"I'll definitely be going back for brunch." In 26 reviews -
"Best corned beef hash I've ever had, hands down." In 5 reviews -
"I had a mushroom and goat cheese omelet." In 6 reviews
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73 reviews in English
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Review from Ben G.
4/16/2012
Benny likey. Its really hard to not love the Front Room. With a cozy interior, super friendly staff, and yummy tasty delicious food, this place is the 1-2 combo punch of brunch spots.
As others have mentioned, some times there is a hefty wait here. So we got the anticipatory coffee as we were full on expecting to be getting our tan on whilst we wait for a table. Oh no this was not the case on this fine morning. We were seated right away. We felt a little bad, bringing in our own coffee, but no one gave us a hard time for it. Which was cool. Plus 1 point
The fresh squeezed juice in my mimosa made me real happy. I could tell that this was going to be an awesome brunch. Plus 1 more point.
My buddy got the eggs Benny, my lady had a crazy grilled cheese with apple and a bloody, and I had a breakie sandwich fit for a king. It was on freshly baked bread with some thick cut bacon, egg and Cheddar. It was mighty tasty. Another point.
Some many awesome points later. I'm happy to say this place rules and i will surely be back when I'm in town. -
Review from Jason B.
Portland, ME
4/14/2012
Brunch = excellent!
We've been multiple times for brunch and I have nothing bad to say. Sometimes the wait can be longer than we hope for but usually because we wait too long to go. Besides when you have a good thing going, people like to go and that turns in to wait times. I'd recommend it! -
Review from Rob W.
Hinesburg, VT
2/15/2012
Cool little joint out on the east end of Congress. Good lunch joint, never been for dinner, with lots of changing specials and some great breakfast options.
I had a pulled pork sandwich and my wife had some good looking waffles with whipped cream and fresh fruit. Good option for lunch or breakfast if your up on the hill.
The front room is a more casual option compared to its brother the grill room.. -
Review from Jeff K.
Whippany, NJ
1/22/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I'm staying in Portland for a week teching a show at Portland Stage, staying at some friends' crash pad on the east side, so I've been trying places in their neighborhood. No one was home this morning, so I asked Yelp where I should eat...
Everyone on Yelp seems to want me to try the corned beef hash... and since I'm a sucker for CBH, who am I to resist?
I thought yesterday's CBH at The Good Egg was good, but today's was utterly sublime. It was swimming in corned beef, and potatoes and covered in a pair of perfectly poached eggs (well, perfect if you, like me, don't mind them the slightest bit runny)
The coffee was good and hot, the orange juice was nice and pulpy, the rye toast was pumpernickly but it soaked up the butter really well... I could go on... but I think you get the picture.
I believe my Facebook status was "Look out Al's, there's another hash around!" (referring to Al's Breakfast in Minneapolis, the current corned beef hash champ..) -
Review from Sly C.
Emeryville, CA
10/17/2011 1 photo
My long lost best friend from 1st grade responded to my Facebook request for brunch recommendations in Portland and suggested The Front Room. She recommended the corned beef hash in particular, but we're both vegetarian so I can only assume that she's right about it being delicious.
We came here for brunch on Sunday around 1pm and we didn't have to wait for a table. The restaurant was lively but not overcrowded. Our waiter was great - super prompt and friendly. I had the veggie gnocchi, which was delicious: poached eggs with hollandaise over some pretty perfect gnocchi and sauteed veggies. Jon had the brunch special, which was poached eggs and eggplant caponata on french bread. Both were really excellent, but unfortunately, our eggs were ALL over-poached. Considering how good and competently done everything else was, we figured it was kind of a fluke, but still worth knocking off a star. The coffee was sort of mediocre too. -
Review from Jess B.
Wakefield, MA
3/7/2012
Food-I LOVEEEEEE this place so much. My boyfriend was from Portland so when we were long distance I got to go here every other weekend and now that we both live in Mass we haven't found anything that compares. Everything is great here I always get blueberry pancakes and a side of biscuits with strawberry jam. The blueberries are fresh and the pancakes are thin so you barely need any syrup and the buscuits are crumbley yet soft and jsut amazing. Everything tastes like its made from scratch, the sausage gravy is really good and the omelets are always great with thick bacon and gooey cheeses. I've had the brunch here and just got a chicken sandwhich that was also really good. I look foward to everything we go to visit his family or go up for a weekend because I know one of the days I get to come here.
Service/location- You should get there early on the weekened because it's small,not a lot of parking on the street, and it's busy so if you don't want to wait you should set an alarm. The first time I went here I was confused witht he service but it's just very laid back which is fine with me. The music is always great which is a plus! -
Review from S I.
Manhattan, NY
10/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Everything I've had here has been A+. Gnocchi, Croque Madame, duck confit sandwich are great (the goat cheese is a little too heavy).
Well priced.
Good selection of alcoholic drinks. Well maintained. Ample street parking.
Not a big fan of the super-bland green mountain coffee served here. It smells good but tastes like coffee-flavored water. -
Review from Eliza M.
Updated - 7/18/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Okay, I've had a little turn around.
We've been for brunch twice now and really enjoyed it. I got the hash the first time and the eggs any style the second time. Our server, who I wrote about in my first review, was great (Devon) - as was our other waiter, Jeremiah. Both attentive but not over bearing.
My mom had the fried egg sandwich (it's over on the "lunch" side of the brunch menu) and it was phenomenal - and VERY large.
Good coffee, juice, muffins, etc. All in all, I am groovin on the Front Room for brunch.Listed in: My New-Old-Hood
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/24/2011
People love love love the Front Room. I'm just not at the level with it. I've always had okay meals… Read more »
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Review from David H.
Portland, ME
5/6/2012
After hearing about "The Rooms" (The Front Room, The Grill Room, and The Corner Room), I was interested to try all three. The Grill and Corner Rooms had their obvious flaws, so i was curious to see if The Front Room would follow suit. So, The Front Room doesn't take reservations, my friends and i got lucky, and were sat right away. A little cluttered for my taste, but cozy nonetheless. Service was top notch, no mindless waitstaff, very prompt and polite. Had a red snapper special with pea risotto. The snapper was delicious, cooked very well with a nice crisp skin. The risotto, which was finished with the peas rather than adding an almost pea soup to the risotto in the beginning, was very very bland and not green! Call me a stickler, but pea risotto is supposed to be green, and would've made a nice compliment to the Red colored snapper in presentation. Great service, good food, nice atmosphere. I hear brunch is phenomenal too.
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Review from Rachel G.
Cumberland Center, ME
1/21/2012
Stopped by over the holiday break for a brunch w/ some family members. I ordered an egg sandwich with bacon, blue cheese, and aioli on thick crusty bread (from Standard, I'm assuming).. it came with a side of home fries.There were several things on the menu I would like to try... I will definitely stop in again. It's got a very "neighborhoody" vibe, and our bartender was very friendly.
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Review from Sabrina H.
Portland, ME
1/15/2012
I usually just go for brunch so I can't say much about their dinner service but MMM. The brunch is amazing. Have never had anything I didn't love. Bacon and egg salad, biscuits and gravy (my favorite in town), chicken and almond salad, even just eggs with house sausage and baguette toast are all delicious. But my FAVORITE is the fried egg, bacon, and bleu cheese sandwich. To die for. Only thing I didn't care for is the bloody marys- there are much better versions in Portland.
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Review from Esther Y.
11/14/2010
Again with the 4 stars! What is it with me and Portland?! Apparently, I love this City! So, we came here for brunch with some friends. We had a large party so it took a while to get seated. Fine, the Hubs and I may have been a little late so we didn't have to wait as long...but anyway.....
We got seated and I immediately wanted almost everything on the menu. Instead, the Hubs and I began to immediately do what we do best, try to order enough so that we can taste a lot, while not looking like crazies.
He went with the baked eggs. Baked! Eggs! What?! Yeah, they were awesome. I went with the corned beef hash. I mean, I'm from the Midwest, how can I not have some meat for bfast?! Then, we may have ordered a side of blueberry pancakes as a "side", and then we may have ordered 4 slices of their homemade cranberry orange bread to take back home with us.
Now, if we DID have their pancakes and their cranberry orange bread, I'm sure they would've been delicious. Almost so delicious that I wish I could've purchased an entire loaf of bread, but I wouldn't know... -
Review from Abby D.
Minneapolis, MN
4/25/2011
A cozy, fun neighborhood gathering spot. They do not take reservations, so if you're going with a group, get there early to get your name on the list & make sure your friends show up on time. Waiter was fantastic & very knowledgeable about gluten free ingredients. Service was surprisingly quick. One note: you WILL smell like the grill, so dress appropriately.
The food was great! -
Review from Kim O.
Portland, ME
12/30/2011
Where to start? Breakfast, Friday morning. Got seated and waited nearly 10 minutes to get water, coffee & menus. Coffee arrived & another 10 minutes until the server took our order. I ordered the corned beef hash, my partner an omelette with spinach & feta with brown bread for toast. Clearly things are cooked to order so we chatted and drank coffee ( one mug and a half each). Still waiting and brown bread arrives, not breakfast. Being hungry we share the two slices, one of which is burned black on one side. Still waiting, server making wide circles around our table. Out comes breakfast, or at least we thought...brought to a table that ordered long AFTER us! Server turns grabs two plates and plops one down announcing the other table got my hash. She leaves, gives other table their "special hash", whisks by and says it will be a minute because they're going to make mine again. It was, literally, a minute! My hash arrives with two over cooked eggs and the hash they clearly scraped off the plate returned. Hash, cold and lacking in flavor. Eggs hard and unimpressive. Server leaves jam ( never asked us what jam unlike the table next to us) and does not return to ask how things are...hmmmm. The omelette had spinach and cheddar (not feta) and was overdone and unseasoned. Both breakfasts, less than half consumed sit. She brings the check and doesn't ask anything. We pay, we leave and cross this place off the list. Crappy server, poor handling of errors and just bad all around. Will not to back.
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Review from Sara N.
New York, NY
8/10/2010
On our way to Lobsterfest and what would be our very own Maine lobster tasting, we passed through Boston, picked up a Bangor fellow named Adam, and continued on to Portland. We gave him our trust and he took us to The Front Room.
Dining with us were 2 more Bangor boys for a total of 7. While we waited for our table to be set up, we took a seat at the bar. Mimosa please, I tell our lovely bartender. She asks if I want a small or a large. After a slight pause, Melody H. tells me to order the large and pay the extra $1. While the champagne was being poured into a very large wine glass, I stared in awe. Not only was it a very generous pour, but the fresh squeezed orange juice was the icing on top. So far, we're off to a good start.
We were seated along the banquet and our server Darren was sweet as a pea. He let us take our time deciding, answered all of our questions, and was on top of our water and coffee refills.
What we ordered:
Melody H.: Potato Gnocchi with spinach, bacon, 2 poached eggs, and homemade Hollandaise sauce, ($8)
Elly B.: 2 Baked Eggs with mushrooms and spinach and a side of salad, ($5.50)
Sean M.: Duck Sandwich with sweet onion jam and goat cheese on brioche with a side of potato salad, ($9)
Adam & Ned: Huevos Rancheros, two eggs any style, corn tortillas & ranchero sauce, ($9)
Me: Baked Beans and Brown Bread with basted egg, ($8)
The best dish, I'd have to say, was Mel's potato gnocchi. They were really big and soft. Besides the gnocchi, the thick bacon bits were also delicious.
Elly's spinach eggs could have used more salt and her salad was pretty standard. Clearly, that wasn't the star of the show.
The basted egg piqued my interest, since I wasn't certain what it was. Essentially, it's 2 poached eggs that have been basted with bacon drippings. On top of that, the entire serving was big, which led me to believe I gained 5 pounds on the spot.
Coming from NYC, the menu seemed endless.. due to the low cost of everything. It was almost hard not to over-order, just because a). it was so cheap and b). we wanted a taste of everything.
Next time we're in Portland, because that could very well be very soon, I want the potato gnocchi. My usual sharing self, might need to be a little more selfish. -
Review from Nick H.
7/22/2010
The Front Room takes a front row seat in the brunching hot spots near and dear to my heart.
Widely acclaimed as the THE only place to eat brunch in Portland, we simply had to try this spot out. Indeed, a hearty up-hill walk from downtown to a more residential (and very scenic) side of the city - but well worth the schlep.
We were immediately seated (gotta love Portland) and treated ourselves to a bloody mary, coffees, a Croque Madame and Front Room Bagel with Lox. Food breakdown follows:
Croque - Beautiful bread layered with ham, melty cheese, and creme fraiche topped with an egg. Boo-ya. Side salad was great too. Slam dunk.
Lox - House-smoked! How often do you get that? Served over a bed of bagel, accompanied by capers, and again some nice creme fraiche. Really different taste than most smoked salmon I've had but so so awesome.
If you're eating the most important meal of the day in Portland, do yourself a favor and head straight here.Listed in: The Complete Guide to…
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Review from CoDy C.
Portland, ME
11/13/2011
Went for Brunch, and was pleasantly surprised. The bar tender went our of her way to find me some mint for a Mojito while we waited which was a plus. The food was pretty solid as well, but it was all about atmosphere. Small and classy, and the prices were very favorable compared to other local Brunch spots.
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Review from Tory F.
Portland, ME
9/26/2010
I hadn't heard of The Front Room at all before some friends asked me to go for dinner. It's a hidden gem!
The service was pretty attentive and our server was totally on his game. Except for a delay in the bread basket (the focaccia was delicious), things arrived promptly and hot.
I tried the soup of the night, which was a squash with maple garnished with goat cheese. Despite my best efforts to pace myself, it was gone in minutes. A perfect combination of texture and spice and flavor - definitely the best soup I've had in a while.
The piece de resistance, though, was the grilled cheese. As a bit of a grilled cheese fanatic, I felt it my duty to try the offering here. Bacon, green apple, and cheddar on brioche. I made the right decision! The sandwich arrived not squished or flattened yet perfectly grilled, with bacon that was crisp yet tender enough to not pull when you bit into it. The cheddar was sharp and the tartness of the firm apple was a perfect complement. The best surprise was the bread, though - the tiny bit of sweetness in the brioche made the sandwich. The server told me they also use the brioche, which they make themselves, for french toast. I'll definitely be going back for brunch! -
Review from J G.
Raleigh, NC
11/5/2011
Waitress was nice. Prices must have been so high due to the amount of oil used in everything. Bread with salad had some strange chemical taste. Swordfish and mashed potatos were soaking in olive oil. Ruined a perfectly good piece of fish. Yuk!!!
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Review from Deborah W.
Portland, ME
12/20/2011
Good food but come on...the chef might not want to substitute the mashed potatoes for brussel sprouts! Really?! Has he heard of low carbs. So he did the substitute but we were uncharged for the pleasure of doing so. And I think I got all of six sprouts. Unacceptable and left me feeling so so about front room when I know I would have felt GREAT otherwise.
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Review from Meaghan K.
Providence, RI
8/14/2011
One of the reasons why I joined yelp.
Had a nice weekend in Portland and stopped at the Front Room based on a review from a local and the love it was given here on yelp. The atmosphere is just fantastic, rustic, lively and full of great smells and sounds coming from the kitchen. I love the fact that the kitchen is open and you can see all that is going into the food. Our waiter was a little off but I think she was just having a strange night because she warmed up as the meal went and it didn't ruin my experience. I ordered the Greek Salad special that was fresh and tasty. Then I had the BBQ Brisket, not something I would normally order but wow, came with beans and cornbread, which was served with lime butter that just made it out of this world. I skipped desert as my dinner mate was on a diet and I was already full but the sight of the chef perfectly caramelizing the top of creme brulee with an industrial blow torch made my mouth water. Also we both ate and drank for under 60 bucks I call that a deal for great food. I can't wait to go back to Portland so I cant go back to the Front Room. -
Review from Patrick S.
Brooklyn, NY
8/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best corned beef hash I've ever had, hands down. And that's coming from a park slope brunch connoisseur. COME TO BROOKLYN!!!
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Review from JP T.
San Francisco, CA
12/26/2009
The small space does not excel at accommodating larger parties.
The food looks good on paper but is executed to a so-so degree.
Service is okay.
fish chowder is too buttery, sandwiches are bland.
maybe their brunch is better, but i wouldn't give the front room the opportunity after tasting their lunch. -
Review from Erica S.
Media, PA
4/20/2008
This review is just based on my two experiences having brunch here. On both visits, I had the same experience-- a nice atmosphere, food that is just okay, and service that completely sucks.
For example, there should really be someone going around refilling coffee cups during a busy Sunday brunch hour... yet there is not. What does a girl gotta do to get a coffee refill around here? I've also noticed that they tend to have a line of people waiting for tables, yet it takes them forever to clean up each table and turn it over for the next party... not cool.
On my last visit, I had an spinach and feta omelette recently that was just bad-- I felt like there was almost no spinach at all and that I had to basically go spelunking to find any cheese, and the whole thing was a mass of dried out, overcooked egg. Gross.
Luckily, the redeeming quality is that their breads are delicious (homemade) and it is a nice spot to chill with a group on a Sunday morning for a hangover brunch. -
Review from TJ S.
Portland, ME
1/15/2012
A surprise. If you can tolerate a golfer crowd and sports on a T.V. constantly, give it a try. Specials are always good, especially if they are fish. Buyback from a bartender in Portland! Well done sir.
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Review from Jen C.
Boston, MA
11/28/2010
My first attempt at getting a bite to eat here did not work out so well. It is a relatively small place, and it was PACKED. Saturday night = 40 minute wait and there was little to no waiting area, so we passed.
We figured they must be doing something right, so we returned in the early evening on Sunday, and were glad to see the dining room relatively empty. Once the hostess/waitress finally noticed us, we were seated right away. Though, it was sort of weird/annoying that they seated right next to literally the only other occupied table. (Which was a couple, who was having some really intense conversation and kept holding hands across the table.) Awkward. Some space would have been nice.
Once we were seated, the waitress was very attentive. The focaccia bread basket was good but I wish the dipping oil had a little flavor. Spicy. Garlic. Anything really. We ordered the crabcakes as an appetizer and they were delicious! A nice crust on the outside, and nice and soft and crabby on the inside.
For dinner I ordered the Grilled Hanger Steak, which came with Horseradish Mashed (though their menu now says garlic?), Spinach, and Red Wine Butter. The steak was cooked perfectly and the red wine butter was a nice touch. I would have liked a little less horseradish in my taters, but they were really good as well. My friend ordered the Macaroni & Cheese, which comes with Fontina Cheese, Local Hot Dogs, Crispy Crumbs, and Roasted Vegetables. She really liked it. I tried a bite and it was creamy, but not overwhelmed with cheese. All the portions were right on the money.
Next time I am in Portland, I definitely plan to return here to try some more of their delicious offerings. -
Review from Olivia C.
Jamaica Plain, MA
7/31/2007
The Front Room brought the Outstanding Omlette breakfast outside.
There is an exposed kitchen inside!
Fresh and fluffy eggs, with quality gourmet sausage, spinach, and feta. I'm back in love with Omlettes! Oh my. Quality coffee.
Staff is cool cause after they let us read all the newspapers in there, chill at the bar and order nothin while the thunderstorm passed even thou it was wicked crowded. The Mainers talked with us bout the weatha
Eastern Prom. Steps from Casco Bay. -
Review from ali c.
Arlington, MA
7/14/2008
I'm so surprised to read the negative reviews about The Front Room. I've only been once for brunch, but my brunch partner has been there on multiple occasions and enjoys their brunch and dinner.
As a Bostonian, I was delighted by the extremely inexpensive menu options. Our bill was less than $10/pp. I am fairly picky since we have some great brunch places in Boston, but I really enjoyed the food at Front Room. The omelette great and blueberry pancakes were delicious! Service was good and the ambiance was too. I liked the open kitchen so I didn't have to worry about anyone messin' with my food!
I'd definitely go back and encourage others to give this place a try (at least for brunch). -
Review from Liz H.
Somerville, MA
1/4/2010
I've been a few times for dinner and always had good times. I love comfort food, so their menu is right up my alley. The service has always been a little spotty but definitely passable.
I went for brunch for the first time yesterday. I was expecting the BEST BREAKFAST EVER after reading some of these reviews, but my meal was definitely "meh". I had the veggie gnocchi with poached eggs, Hollandaise, and veggies. Exciting, no? Tasty gnocchi, and the eggs were perfectly poached. Unfortunately, the Hollandaise was used way too liberally, completely obscuring the taste of the veggies and pretty much everything else. Also, it was kind of weird that a breakfast as saucy as this one didn't come with a freaking English Muffin or something.
I've heard some really good things about brunch here, and I get the appeal. The service was great, lovely space, and we weren't rushed as we worked on a crossword puzzle. My boyfriend loved his meal, especially the bacon. I guess I'll just have to order something else next time. -
Review from Maggie K.
Corona Del Mar, CA
9/21/2010
The woman we were staying with recommended this place for breakfast. After many days of being on a road trip, a light breakfast was exactly what we needed. The restaurant has a very relaxed, cute vibe and the staff are friendly.
My boyfriend ordered an omelet with goat cheese and smoked salmon with biscuits and gravy. I had a mushroom and goat cheese omelet. Both were really flavorful and not too greasy. Smoked salmon can be iffy, but this one was flavorful and tasty.
This was a great place to have a relaxing breakfast with great fresh ingredients. -
Review from Matt O.
Washington, DC
10/12/2009
Seems that more than a few reviewers have been struck by poor service. Can't say I disagree -- it was a bit slow -- but given how phenomenal that food was, the waitress would've had to scald me with boiling water to drive me to complaint.
The fish chowder was quite good, the biscuits and gravy (yeah, random) were way better (tomato-based gravy of some kind), and the reuben really stood out. Dark rye, good ratio with the Swiss/Russian/kraut, and the corned beef was pretty perfect -- just like from a deli: thick-cut, not too lean.
Meant to go back for a second consecutive day, but the wild nightlife of Freeport killed that plan. I would go at least two hours out of my way to try the rest of that menu. -
Review from Sarah K.
Fairfax, VA
4/4/2011
One of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. I was so disappointed. I really had high hopes for this place, especially after reading so many great reviews! Maybe we just went at the wrong time, but how bad should a Wednesday night dinner around 7pm be??
Food was mediocre at best. It was edible - the vegetables were actually really good - but the entrees themselves weren't anything to write home about. I had the meatloaf; husband ordered the lamb shepherd's pie. He wasn't thrilled.
The service... oh my GOD, the service. What a nightmare. There was no wait (thankfully), but the noise level was overwhelming. The host walked us to a table - no, he walked far ahead of us to a table - and then proceed to dump the menus off and walk away. No "enjoy your meal" or anything - just put the menus down and left. That should have been my first sign, but because I was so excited about this place, we stuck around. Turns out we were seated next to one of the most obnoxious people on the planet - he had this horrible laugh that actually HURT my ears because he was so close. At least one of us was having a good time. Our waitress came to the table to take our drink orders - I'm pregnant, so alcohol is out of the question; when I said that I would just be sticking with water, I could see the wave of judgment on her face (I guess she couldn't see my belly hidden under the table, although I doubt if that would have softened her up at all). I felt like she automatically assumed that we would be low tippers because there wouldn't be much alcohol on the bill? Lovely. She put a menu card on our table and said, "Here are our specials," and then disappeared. When a middle-aged couple was seated next to us about 15 minutes later, she read off the ENTIRE specials list to them. Now... I can read just fine so I didn't really need her to give us the entire rundown... but is there a reason why she chose to read them the specials, when she had just tossed us the menu to look at ourselves? I'd love to know.
My husband and I both were uncomfortable (tables were cramped, noise level was OUTRAGEOUS, we were seated close to the open kitchen and the smoke was so out of control that I could barely see), so we decided to skip appetizers and just dive head first into the entrees. I think the waitress was irritated by that as well. We waited a while for our meal, and even though I was entertained by watching the folks in the kitchen (they were speedy and the presentation of some of the plates was lovely), all I wanted to do was GET OUT OF THERE.
We quietly ate our meal (couldn't hear each other enough to make conversation - to talk to each other, we had to lean all the way across the table, which was impossible to do with plates of food in front of us). Meanwhile, we listened to the middle-aged couple next to us yap about texting (they even tried to send a tandem "happy birthday" text to a friend, which was apparently THE most exciting thing EVER)... not exactly what my husband and I had in mind for a nice evening out. Okay... so maybe I'm being a little harsh on the couple that was sitting next to us... but let's be honest here - ANY strangers' conversation would probably be irritating if you could hear the entire thing, word for word, and they were practically sitting in your lap.
We didn't even look at the desserts - all I wanted to do was pay and leave. I don't even remember if the waitress bothered asking us if we even wanted dessert - all I remember is the check being dumped off.
Man. Dinner was not expensive, and thankfully so, because I really don't like to complain - it's not fun - but we were extremely dissatisfied with the service we received (or lack thereof). Seriously... if you're looking for a really loud atmosphere, go for it - it might be a great place to take a date if you're not really looking forward to the conversation or having any interaction whatsoever - but if you're hoping for an enjoyable, relaxing evening out - PASS. There are plenty of other restaurants in Portland that have better food AND better service. -
Review from Eileen B.
Lexington, MA
1/16/2012
Excellent food and service, would definitely go back.
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Review from Joanna F.
7/13/2009
I wasn't sure what to expect. I had read that The Front Room had "comfort food served 7 days a week". My boyfriend and I were looking for a new place to hit up for brunch in Portland (we had only been to Bintliff's) and chose this place.
There was a line out the door when we got there, but we got seated within 5 minutes which was awesome. Then things took a turn for the worse. Our waitress was very sweet, but so slooooow. She didn't take our order until we had been sitting for 15 minutes. Our order didn't come for another half hour. And I had to hold the check in my hand and stare a different waitress down to get any change.
The food was pretty good, but the portions were fairly small. Then again, it was pretty cheap, so that was good. I got the house smoked salmon which came on a bagel with cream cheese, onions and capers. Thank God I'm not picky, because the onions were pickled or something, which I liked, but I could see how someone would be annoyed since the menu simply said "onions". In fact, the menu didn't explain the dish well at all and it was nothing like I expected it would be.
Anyway, I probably won't be back during my next visit to Portland. Instead, I'll be going to Bintliff's repeatedly. -
Review from Shaina P.
12/15/2009
Ever popular, especially for Sunday brunch, the Front Room is a staple in Portland. I've been many times to The Front Room, but I fear my excitement for this establishment is slowly going down hill ... my guess it's because of the other exciting Rooms in Portland like the Grill Room and the Corner Room. The appeal of Front Room is its unassuming location atop Congress Street on the north side of Portland amongst quiet residential streets. Oh, and brunch. Brunch brunch to munch.
I wish I could tell you to expect great deals at this Room, but I can't say that the food is reasonably priced... It's always tasty, but I guess for the selection, I wish the price would drop. Like .. my frisee salad with a poached egg and warm bacon dressing for $8 seems a little steep; and I always crave a tad more homemade corned beef hash for the $10 price. When I pay over $5 for breakfast, I like to be bedridden after (and by this I mean for napping ... not as a result of bad food!).
I do wish to visit for lunch/dinner, but to be honest, you'll be seeing me at Corner Room at all other meals of the day. I reserve Front Room for brunch!
Note to visitors: watch out for that popular Sunday Brunch time ... expect a LONG wait. Opt for after 1pm lunch and dinner or try brunch on Saturday.Listed in: Breakfast and Brunch, Only in Maine
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Review from Aris E.
Chestnut Ridge, NY
11/24/2007
Reasonably priced, especially if you're from NYC - but then again, most places outside of NYC are more reasonably priced.
Recommended from the brunch menu: Steak and eggs, biscuits and gravy, eggs benedict. Coffee is very good as well.
Staff is friendly; no mean feat since the place was crowded during my visit there. (Full disclosure: the people who brought me here are familiar with some of the waitstaff.) Arriving at 10:30 on a Saturday morning will have you waiting anywhere from 20-45 minutes for a table.
If you're sensitive to the cold, ask (or wait) for seating by the far wall and/or kitchen.
Would visit again. -
Review from Ross D.
Holliston, MA
7/30/2011
Great breakfast/brunch here on July 17. Kids enjoyed the pancakes and French Toast and declared them "heaven on earth." I had the corned beef hash, and it was terrific. Wife had a nice omelette. The grilled bread of the day (banana walnut) was fantastic.
Very good coffee and excellent service. Nice little spot. Not crowded early on a Sunday (9am). Cute neighborhood and a quick walk down the hill for a nice view of the water.
Definitely a place that I would return to--in a heartbeat. -
Review from marie l.
Falmouth, ME
6/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I LOVE this place the only meal I ever get is Casco Bay Scallops mustard sauce, spinach & mashed and whooo it is mouth watering just thinking about it. I usually enjoy a lemon drop martini with it but be careful to only have one. My husband enjoys many of the specials so I do get to sample other dishes. and to start with I recommend the calamari.yum yum!!
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Review from Ben E.
Biddeford, ME
11/17/2008
Brunch:
The Front Room's brunch is fantastic, I end up spending just as much for brunch here as for dinner because the menu is so great. The Front Room has excellent comfort food with some interesting additions. Some favorite brunch items:
Boston Brown Bread with house-smoked Salmon Pastrami
French Onion Soup
Gnocchi with Lardons and Spinach topped with a Poached Egg
Dinner:
The Front Room knows their fish. I think it is one of the best places to eat fish in Portland. Here's why, it's always cooked right. It's never over or underdone. I think this is the most important thing in seafood. I've had many different kinds of fish here and was never disappointed.
Atmosphere:
The atmosphere is wonderful. It is loud and boisterous, but perfect to make a rainy Sunday feel cozy and homey. It's become the neighborhood bar and always has sports on their plasma-screen.
The Front-Room is great and the success of this new-comer to Portland speaks for itself. Hopefully the Grill-Room does as well. -
Review from micio m.
Los Angeles, CA
4/13/2009 1 photo
Been here twice for Sunday Breakfastlunch and it was a winner both times, well worth the 25 minute wait. The last time, the weather was nice and I got a cuppa coffee from the bar and drank it outside in the sun while we waited. The food is the best & most consistent of any I've had around Portland at this price point, and the service on my two visits has been really, really good and attentive -to the point where I ended up drinking too much coffee.
1st visit, I got the eggs with parmesan and cream with a salad, and a side of their excellent in-house foccacia... very nice, light meal; a little Italian.
The 2nd time, I had the fried-egg sandwich (5$), with a salad on the side ($1.50). Damn, that was a good meal! Buuuuuuurp!
Thank you, Front Room, I'll be back for another fried-egg sammy soon!
