Batson River Brewing & Distilling - Biddeford

(This is from a email I sent 9/30/24 but never heard back about my experience so I figured they didn’t care enough about it. So I’ll post it here to let the public know since the company likely doesn’t want to do anything to make this situation right.)
Today was my first, and safe to say last, visit at your restaurant in Biddeford.
My fiancé and I arrived right before 2pm and waited at the host stand for about 5 minutes without being greeted. I wandered off to wash my hands and when I came back, the host had just begun seating my fiancé. I’d like to point out that at this moment there was only 2 other tables in the establishment and no guests at the bar.

He and I chatted and looked over the menu before we were greeted several minutes later. At this time we each put in a cocktail and an appetizer.
I understand these are craft cocktails and they typically take a little time to build but the time it took for them to be made, or perhaps just delivered, was far too long. At this point we put in our entrees.
The appetizer took quite a while before it came out. And while it was good (we ordered the poutine) it wasn’t hot and overall lacked pork and cheese.
When our entrees arrived (small Caesar, wings, and a smash burger) they were delivered by a different person and our server checked in once during the time we were eating the entrees. Keep in mind she hadn’t been back since dropping our appetizer at our table. It’s frustrating to me when we started eating to find that the wings weren’t hot, which you’d expect from something that one might assume came straight from the fryer. However the fries with his burger weren’t hot either.

Our cocktails were long empty and we were starting to get a little annoyed. My fiancé had wanted a beer and I was hoping to try a second cocktail.
We could see our server at the host stand talking with another staff member. She didn’t even glance in our direction. The other 2 tables had since left and the tables sat dirty. I emphasize this small detail because that means she was not actively working or being busy with something that might’ve held her up from checking in on her, now, one and only table.

I needed a box and my fiancé and I just sat at our tables, necks craned back to watch her continue her conversation up front.
Another service member walked past us and I stopped her and requested she find our server. Only after this request did our server check back in, due to her being fetched by her coworker.
We paid, I tipped 20%, and left.

Her name was Julia R, per the receipt. I am not a person who usually complains about service in a restaurant. I work in a bar myself. But I was so over everything about being at your establishment because the server was so negligent. The cocktails were the best part of our visit. Had our server checked in, we could’ve told her the food wasn’t hot and she could’ve fixed it. Had our server checked in we could have ordered a second drink.

Your restaurant is absolutely beautiful. But this was such a terrible experience that I can’t think of a reason to come back. I can get good cocktails for 1/2 the cost up the road at Run of the Mill. If I want craft cocktails I can go into Portland to some of our favorite spots and receive beautiful drinks and excellent service.
If the service had been good, this visit could have been saved. But it was so bad that she sunk the ship.

I don’t know if Julia R is new, but she doesn’t appear to care about her customers. Perhaps if she’s new she needs a lot more training before she should be allowed on the floor.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 1

The atmosphere and facilities were very nice. Our server was nice and moderately attentive. But took forever (45 minutes) for a house salad and grilled salmon to come out. The salad was easily the worst I have had....lots of lettuce, a few green beans, and some other non descript, no taste radishes maybe? Dressing was watered down Caesar I think? Or should say Ceasar'ed up water.....honestly the lettuce was the most flavorful thing. The salmon was reported as good, hence the 3 stars for food.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 1

Really enjoyed this place. Food was good. Service was excellent and what an interesting place. Definitely need to go back here again.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Delicious lunch and gorgeous atmosphere!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Delicious foods, a variety of tasty brews, great service, and a delightful atmosphere!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We waited over an hour for our food once we ordered tonight and my lobster Mac & cheese was stone cold... not even remotely warm!! Would have expected them to comp the meal, but no such thing. Never going back!!! And will share this experience with friends!!

First time there and very impressed. Haddock tacos and truffle fries. Atmosphere interesting and unique. Service was good.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Such a beautiful restaurant, it was actually shockingly beautiful! We will be going back soon. Our food was great and the service was as well! It would be a great venue for a function

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Good food, I had the pizza, my wife had the salmon power bowl. We were both satisfied with the food, the pizza was nice and charred on the bottom. Service has the standout. Ethan H was great. Cool dude.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Great place will be back soon

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: HH Truffle Fries

Gave Batson River two chances.. months part and both times were wildly disappointing. Went last night for dinner. Hostess was not friendly or welcoming. Restaurant was not busy, drinks took almost 10 minutes to get and they were undrinkable. Said they had lemonade but it wasn’t lemonade it was lemon water. Lobster bisque was oily on top and had 3 small chucks of lobster. We orders two, both the same. Pizza was over cooked and the crust was inedible. Shrimp and garlic aioli was ok, shrimps good but no garlic in the sauce. It was like a warm mayo. ?? First time we tried the restaurant months ago our entrees came out before our apps. I would try another place if I was you.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 1

Service: 2

So, I love Batson River in Biddeford…I have never been disappointed there in the times I've gone...... until tonight. I went with two coworkers to get the pride flight that was heavily advertised on Facebook…it looked fun and we were very excited. We knew walking in that it was 25 dollars a flight, not a problem! Until we were informed that you are required to have two people to order it….so we could only get one. We still decided to get one anyways, because why not, happy pride! When it was brought over, it did not look anything like what was advertised on social media….the glasses were SMALL. (I'm being generous at guessing maybe a shot and a half sized glasses) The glasses were not filled all the way, the drinks looked nothing like the pictures, and the paddle just had the names of the beers on them left over from flights before it. It was honestly laughable at that point.

The saving grace of the night was our amazing waitress, she was funny, quick, kind and personable and we enjoyed talking to her! And our second drinks were also very well made.

I just hope this review finds people before they order the pride flight and get disappointed as we were by it.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

I brought my family , party of 6 , to this restaurant 6/5/24. We waited 45 minutes to get 2 of the meals, 50 minutes for the 3rd meal which was returned twice, the other 3 meals were deliver 10 minutes after that. The pizza was lukewarm, the clams were inedible, we were offered another meal which was slightly better. We also waited 30 minutes for our drinks. This is a beautiful spot in the Lincoln hotel, Babson was expensive and definitely not worth the money. I have only posted here after my son sent an email that went unanswered. Don’t waste your money or your time

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 4

First, service was awesome. Our server was very pleasant and knowledgeable. Atmosphere is excellant. If I was rich I would live in the hotel just for the Atmosphere of the front area and the restaurant. Unique hunting and outdoors type decorations. Great place for drinks. Great drink and beer selection. In the back room by the restrooms , which are gorgeous too, is a shuffleboard table, a magnetic wall scrabble, and the games. Every decorated surface was sumptuous and comfortable. Very beautiful and comfy chairs around. Just a gorgeous place with great service. Only downside was the food. We ordered 2 crabcake servings, fish sandwich, a cheese steak and 4 beers. The crabcakes were 24 dollars each. You got 2 inch and a half wide cakes. With cabbage and some dressing. The cabbage and dressing were great. The crabcakes. Not so much. Bland, dry and very small. Not worth 24 dollars in my opinion. My wife's fish sandwich , I can't remember what type , was not memorable. It was light but too much radish and bland. My cheese steak had good meat, good cheese, but that was it. A ciabatta type bun. Way to much pepper which was the mainflavor. Food was okay but not for the exorbitant prices. For two run of the mills items that were not memorable the price was too much. Again, service was incredible. Our server was just great. Atmosphere was fantastic. Only downside was the food.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

My wife and I dined here for an early dinner on a Sunday afternoon. We had a really enjoyable meal. The food was quite good. The main course did take a bit longer than expected to come out, so we were glad to have ordered an appetizer. I had the short rib, which has a bunch of components on the plate, so perhaps that was the reason for the delay. It was worth the wait and very tasty, the meat was so perfectly tender. My wife had a lobster roll with truffle fries. The fries were perfectly cooked but overwhelmed by salt in our opinion. (Although that didn't stop us from eating all of them.) Service was friendly and decently prompt and attentive. The atmosphere was quite pleasant and the chairs were very comfortable. We hope to go back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4