Every plate our family of six had was exceptional. We especially enjoyed the peach burrata and tuna nacho appetizers, as well as the scallop entrees. It is a treat to have some many interesting choices, all expertly prepared. We will return again soon.
Zandbandt
I used to love Provender. I used to frequent it often and told many, many friends and acquaintances to go. Amazing experience. After a horrible customer service story our son shared he experienced there, I stopped going a couple years ago. Decided to “let it go” and booked our anniversary dinner there for tonight. A bust. A 10 minute wait just to be acknowledged, limited menu options for vegetarians, an interaction with the owner with an attitude, and we decided to cut our losses. Paid for our drinks which we never even got to finish and left. To Daron: you may have given me “three more options” with an attitude but I have more than three more options for restaurants in which to spend my money and like I did tonight will continue to do so. I fully expect based on your multitude of unprofessional responses to anyone who gives you a poor review, that you’ll attempt to chastise me for my lack of understanding of fine dining… just don’t bother. Two strikes.. you’re already out.
H1772XPscottp
Really underwhelming - we had the cod and it was flavorless. The piece of fish, upon inspection, was of high quality, and actually cooked really well, but frankly, there was no flavor. No seasoning. The "sauce" was a 1/2 cup of oil with dried bits of some spice (also flavorless) floating in it, along with two morel mushrooms and 3-4 baby potatoes. I had to add salt and pepper to get any semblance of taste out of the fish - which is a shame. Also had "The Senator's Choice" cocktail - I think that was the name. It was just awful. It had a thin slide of apple floating on top (with seeds) that as it oxidized, made the drink bitter - probably from the seeds - and I switched to beer. The bartender didn't have a hand in the creating the beer, so it was acceptable. The person who took our order was distant and aloof - almost bordering on rude. She probably should not have a customer-facing role at the establishment. Addtionally, not a single person asked us about food sensitivities or allergies when we ordered. And, no one asked us how we liked our meals - perhaps they don't want that feedback. For the prices this place charges, it's overrated. There's really no need for us to return.
AlwaysAdventuring99
Don't miss Provender on a trip through Ellsworth/Acadia. This is a well-run restaurant whose owners clearly care about food and service. We had mussels, scallops and a duck pasta special that were all top-notch. Local draft beer selection. Save room for dessert!
douglashF8985TS
We visited Provender for its special Valentine's Day dinner and were glad we did. We sampled both the French and the Italian options. The French meal, which featured two courses with duck, was outstanding. The Italian meal was subdued by comparison but was made up of dishes which we were unfamiliar with and was certainly worth trying. The tiramisu shone as the dessert option. The price ($400 for 3 people) seemed to be a little high for a 3 course meal in Maine, but, on balance, we nonetheless be willing to dine with Provender again in the future.
kathleenj845
Another successful night at Provdender. We still have not found a dish that hasn’t knocked our socks off. The poutine tonight remained crispy in the gravy and the cheese curds..!! The chicken parm was enormous, flavorful and cut like butter. Their duck is the best I’ve had and the garlic boulé is the dish I miss every time it leaves the menu. The star of the night was the chocolate bread pudding topped with dolce ice cream and surrounded by toasted marshmallow dollops. Thank you to Billy, Jason and Daron for taking such good care of us . You’re missing out if you have not tried this treasure of a spot.
jacksoncK4440NG
The food was terrific, thanks to the chefs Daren and jason. Our server billy and the staff took tremendous care of us. Must stop if you’re in the elsworth area.
cindysD4485ZR
Impressive spot for a really nice dinner. Very friendly staff. Based upon our menu selections this is a terrific chef! Smaller menu of dishes done very well. The baked Manchego was incredible! Not inexpensive, but well worth the price. Beautiful space as well.
maineAir
After dining here a handful of times I think it’s safe to say I recommend it! I do wish the menu didn’t change so often. I beg you for more vegetarian options! Best truffle fries on earth. Fantastic service! You must make a reservation, tiny place!
Q3983DBmichellec
Fantastic experience from start to finish ! The dining room is cozy with a nostalgic bar to the side with extra seating for walk ins. We were seated in a booth that was preset with menus and side plates. Ordered Fatoush salad, a beet salad, and fresh peach and burrata cheese as appetizers to share. Each plate was vibrant, fresh and delicious. For my entree I chose the salmon on top of a bed of spicy chorizo sausage and a fresh corn puree, it was perfectly cooked and portioned. My dining companion chose the halibut served over a maitake mushroom broth, fragrant and full of umami flavor. Even though we were getting full, dessert was calling our names. Daron, the chef suggested that we try the Ube ice cream with a luscious pandan whipped cream and a chocolate mousse drizzled with miso caramel. I almost licked the bowls they were both so good ! When we were leaving, I noticed that there was a glass display case in the entrance full of various cook books that obviously were the inspiration for some of the innovative dishes. The menu changes according to the whim's of the kitchen so I can't wait to return . Thank you to the very attentive and knowledgeable staff for making my birthday dinner such a delight.
Had reservations for what we hoped would be a nice Friday night dinner during our visit to Acadia. Was told by the waitstaff that they would not accommodate food allergies by swapping the carb on one dish with a separate one that was listed on the menu. Couldn’t eat otherwise so we left hungry.
leebV6402BC
I want to post this, especially after the laughable reviews from the tourists with negative thoughts. Provender is a jewel in the Ellsworth dining crown! I took my daughter there for her birthday recently and she and I couldn’t be more pleased. We both had excellent meals, service and the ambience was super. I have been back several times and have always had a dining experience of the highest order. Everyone should try Provender, it is the best restaurant in Ellsworth and would stack up well against others in many larger communities. Keep up the great work, and thank you for being here.
wrpupkis
We thought we might have found another place to eat but were disappointed. Their price points are too high for what they offer. Having said that, the food that was served was prepared nicely. However, there is little value. They charged $11 for 1/3 of a glass of wine. They charged $18 for an appetizer that was much less than what we experienced elsewhere. We would not return here.
bushmckay
Joy and Darren were the awesomest host, hostess, chef, server couple ever. My GF and I stopped here because some woke reviewer by the name of Molly appeared to have a vendetta review mixed in with myriad 5 ⭐️ reviews. We enjoyed the response to her review and needed to check out Provender. We were not disappointed. The ambiance, service and food was GREAT! Baked Manchego, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, house salad and beet salad (thank you Darren for accommodating our request for mixed greens) were all most excellent. We would go back in a heartbeat. Molly....try the foie gras!!!
Sfrantz
Enjoyable and nice ambience, this restaurant offers a nice variety of cuisine from muscles to uniquely flavored fries, as well as pork and salad. I enjoyed the appetizer fries and Brussels sprouts as well as a pasta that featured a variety of sea food. I also had a salad. The only downside is some of the dishes seem to have a bit too much going on, too many flavors and could use some fine tuning. The service was good and the place is nice. Definitely worth checking out, it gets full so check ahead if there is space. There appears to be limited options outside also.
Every plate our family of six had was exceptional. We especially enjoyed the peach burrata and tuna nacho appetizers, as well as the scallop entrees. It is a treat to have some many interesting choices, all expertly prepared. We will return again soon.
I used to love Provender. I used to frequent it often and told many, many friends and acquaintances to go. Amazing experience. After a horrible customer service story our son shared he experienced there, I stopped going a couple years ago. Decided to “let it go” and booked our anniversary dinner there for tonight. A bust. A 10 minute wait just to be acknowledged, limited menu options for vegetarians, an interaction with the owner with an attitude, and we decided to cut our losses. Paid for our drinks which we never even got to finish and left. To Daron: you may have given me “three more options” with an attitude but I have more than three more options for restaurants in which to spend my money and like I did tonight will continue to do so. I fully expect based on your multitude of unprofessional responses to anyone who gives you a poor review, that you’ll attempt to chastise me for my lack of understanding of fine dining… just don’t bother. Two strikes.. you’re already out.
Really underwhelming - we had the cod and it was flavorless. The piece of fish, upon inspection, was of high quality, and actually cooked really well, but frankly, there was no flavor. No seasoning. The "sauce" was a 1/2 cup of oil with dried bits of some spice (also flavorless) floating in it, along with two morel mushrooms and 3-4 baby potatoes. I had to add salt and pepper to get any semblance of taste out of the fish - which is a shame. Also had "The Senator's Choice" cocktail - I think that was the name. It was just awful. It had a thin slide of apple floating on top (with seeds) that as it oxidized, made the drink bitter - probably from the seeds - and I switched to beer. The bartender didn't have a hand in the creating the beer, so it was acceptable. The person who took our order was distant and aloof - almost bordering on rude. She probably should not have a customer-facing role at the establishment. Addtionally, not a single person asked us about food sensitivities or allergies when we ordered. And, no one asked us how we liked our meals - perhaps they don't want that feedback. For the prices this place charges, it's overrated. There's really no need for us to return.
Don't miss Provender on a trip through Ellsworth/Acadia. This is a well-run restaurant whose owners clearly care about food and service. We had mussels, scallops and a duck pasta special that were all top-notch. Local draft beer selection. Save room for dessert!
We visited Provender for its special Valentine's Day dinner and were glad we did. We sampled both the French and the Italian options. The French meal, which featured two courses with duck, was outstanding. The Italian meal was subdued by comparison but was made up of dishes which we were unfamiliar with and was certainly worth trying. The tiramisu shone as the dessert option. The price ($400 for 3 people) seemed to be a little high for a 3 course meal in Maine, but, on balance, we nonetheless be willing to dine with Provender again in the future.
Another successful night at Provdender. We still have not found a dish that hasn’t knocked our socks off. The poutine tonight remained crispy in the gravy and the cheese curds..!! The chicken parm was enormous, flavorful and cut like butter. Their duck is the best I’ve had and the garlic boulé is the dish I miss every time it leaves the menu. The star of the night was the chocolate bread pudding topped with dolce ice cream and surrounded by toasted marshmallow dollops. Thank you to Billy, Jason and Daron for taking such good care of us . You’re missing out if you have not tried this treasure of a spot.
The food was terrific, thanks to the chefs Daren and jason. Our server billy and the staff took tremendous care of us. Must stop if you’re in the elsworth area.
Impressive spot for a really nice dinner. Very friendly staff. Based upon our menu selections this is a terrific chef! Smaller menu of dishes done very well. The baked Manchego was incredible! Not inexpensive, but well worth the price. Beautiful space as well.
After dining here a handful of times I think it’s safe to say I recommend it! I do wish the menu didn’t change so often. I beg you for more vegetarian options! Best truffle fries on earth. Fantastic service! You must make a reservation, tiny place!
Fantastic experience from start to finish ! The dining room is cozy with a nostalgic bar to the side with extra seating for walk ins. We were seated in a booth that was preset with menus and side plates. Ordered Fatoush salad, a beet salad, and fresh peach and burrata cheese as appetizers to share. Each plate was vibrant, fresh and delicious. For my entree I chose the salmon on top of a bed of spicy chorizo sausage and a fresh corn puree, it was perfectly cooked and portioned. My dining companion chose the halibut served over a maitake mushroom broth, fragrant and full of umami flavor. Even though we were getting full, dessert was calling our names. Daron, the chef suggested that we try the Ube ice cream with a luscious pandan whipped cream and a chocolate mousse drizzled with miso caramel. I almost licked the bowls they were both so good ! When we were leaving, I noticed that there was a glass display case in the entrance full of various cook books that obviously were the inspiration for some of the innovative dishes. The menu changes according to the whim's of the kitchen so I can't wait to return . Thank you to the very attentive and knowledgeable staff for making my birthday dinner such a delight.
Restaurantji Recommends
Had reservations for what we hoped would be a nice Friday night dinner during our visit to Acadia. Was told by the waitstaff that they would not accommodate food allergies by swapping the carb on one dish with a separate one that was listed on the menu. Couldn’t eat otherwise so we left hungry.
I want to post this, especially after the laughable reviews from the tourists with negative thoughts. Provender is a jewel in the Ellsworth dining crown! I took my daughter there for her birthday recently and she and I couldn’t be more pleased. We both had excellent meals, service and the ambience was super. I have been back several times and have always had a dining experience of the highest order. Everyone should try Provender, it is the best restaurant in Ellsworth and would stack up well against others in many larger communities. Keep up the great work, and thank you for being here.
We thought we might have found another place to eat but were disappointed. Their price points are too high for what they offer. Having said that, the food that was served was prepared nicely. However, there is little value. They charged $11 for 1/3 of a glass of wine. They charged $18 for an appetizer that was much less than what we experienced elsewhere. We would not return here.
Joy and Darren were the awesomest host, hostess, chef, server couple ever. My GF and I stopped here because some woke reviewer by the name of Molly appeared to have a vendetta review mixed in with myriad 5 ⭐️ reviews. We enjoyed the response to her review and needed to check out Provender. We were not disappointed. The ambiance, service and food was GREAT! Baked Manchego, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, house salad and beet salad (thank you Darren for accommodating our request for mixed greens) were all most excellent. We would go back in a heartbeat. Molly....try the foie gras!!!
Enjoyable and nice ambience, this restaurant offers a nice variety of cuisine from muscles to uniquely flavored fries, as well as pork and salad. I enjoyed the appetizer fries and Brussels sprouts as well as a pasta that featured a variety of sea food. I also had a salad. The only downside is some of the dishes seem to have a bit too much going on, too many flavors and could use some fine tuning. The service was good and the place is nice. Definitely worth checking out, it gets full so check ahead if there is space. There appears to be limited options outside also.
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