Dined here last night for the first time on Valentine’s Day. Even though they were incredibly busy they went above and beyond to make sure we left incredibly happy and wanting to return. Beautiful atmosphere, great food and drinks, lovely service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sherry Siegel
Warm, professional service allows you to take your time to enjoy dishes that are well worth the wait. We had the braised beef short rib with cheddar polenta and duck breast with tangy sauce and cauliflower and butternut squash. Both very flavorful. This little gem is a more like a restaurant you’d find in a big city bedroom community than in the wilds of Maine in February when we were there. Exceptional. Don't miss it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
dede wilder
I had dinner there with a friend tonight, and in spite of a minor issue I had with my entree, we had a lovely time.Both the wine and the service were fantastic. Corinna, who it as it turned out is one of the owners, took care of us and she was knowledgeable, professional and a gem.We had the Coravin special pour of the evening - the Papillion. It was expensive but an extraordinary wine to get by the glass, and so worth the splurge.This place is special. They are working hard to raise the bar on Maine dining, and they deserve our support.Go and eat there and say hello to Corinna.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Jennifer L.
Delicious and glad we stopped in! I was curious and wonderfully pleased with our meals last summer. We hadn't planned to dine out but were lucky to be able to get a table at the last minute. Service was good, food was amazing!
Jolene Archambeault
Eloquent atmosphere, fabulous food, personal service and definitely save room for dessert. Culinary chef creates dishes your tastebuds won't forget.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
rlhoward3rd
We were frequent diners at it's predecessor Little Village Bistro and were disappointed when it closed 2 years ago. Back River Bistro is a very similar restaurant but has undergone some renovations to the better. An excellent dining experience starting with a champagne toast. They had a wine tasting featuring Beaujolais which was delightful. The mushrooms in the mushroom tart were excellent, but it was not a tart rather the mushrooms were over what appeared to be their focaccia. A special appetizer of meatballs and polenta was excellent. For main course we had the risotto and the ribeye both of which were excellent, although the potato pave was only so-so. Dessert was the bread pudding and a large mug of good coffee. We found Back River to be a worthy and desperately needed successor to the Little Village.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Polenta
Tracy Tuttle
We went to the Bistro last night as 4 very excited guests that used to go to the Little Village Bistro . . The ribeye was a very thin disappointing cut of meat for 45.00 the daiquiri I had tasted off . The rest of the meal was good but the price of the meal exceeded the dining experience . This is a review I had hoped not to give but this is not a review to discourage anyone for trying the Bistro out , I think they deserve another try .
G. K.
A hidden gem in Wiscasset. Upscale, delicious, great service, great chef. Lobster fettuccine was absolutely delicious, perfect sauce. Ribeye steak was to die for. Mushroom tart is unbelievable as was the tuna Crudo. We will be back, many many times. Beautiful decor.
Geoff Stearn
We had a delightful dinner at Back River Bistro and will definitely come back. We ordered the duck breast and the trout and both were prepared perfectly. Nice wine list, great service and a comfortable dining room. What else could you ask for?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sarah W.
I've now been to Back River Bistro two times for dinner and both were phenomenal experiences! The food was original, fresh, and delicious. The atmosphere is intimate and nicely decorated. And the service was personal and attentive. On our second visit, our waitress (one of the co-owners, Corrinna) even remembered us from our first visit! It is clear that every little detail of this establishment has been well-planned and thought-through. From the neatly rolled cloth towels available in the restroom to the resting dishes for silverware on the table, tasteful presentation and sustainability have been seamlessly married throughout their operations. When we placed a drink order with our waitress, the bartender brought them over and knew whose drink was whose without needing to ask. Its these small details that really make the experience! Back River Bistro's menu is updated often (about every three weeks according to Corrinna) and revolves around locally-sourced ingredients. At our most recent visit, the special was a delicious and unique take on cacio e pepe using green beans because they had access to plentiful amounts of fresh green beans. Each time we have been, we have thoroughly enjoyed our food and loved the opportunity to try new and exciting dishes! We will definitely be back!
A great addition to the Wiscasset restaurant roster. Great staff. Great food. Remarkable wine list and the happy benefit of half price Wednesday. Fabulous oysters and other delicious fish dishes.
Josh Koelker
So glad we found this gem! Booked a reservation for our 15th anniversary and each dish was superb. The tomato tartare was like a deconstructed BLT, and the panzanella was light and fresh. $2 oysters and half price bottle of wine was a nice surprise (Wednesday special) which we took advantage of. My wife got the tuna crudo to start, which she found a little soy heavy but for my taste was just right. I chose the ribeye for my main which was a perfect medium rare, and the sauce added a layer of complexity (and killer with the mashed potatoes), with the potato pave complementing the steak. My wife got the trout - delicate and flaky with lovely lemon herb flavors along with green beans and tomatoes made for a lovely summer dish.We are already telling our friends, can't wait to be back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jennifer A S.
Im a fan! Small, chef driven with a decent wine list. Some creative food is coming out of this kitchen with a strong backbone of traditional French cuisine holding it together. If you are looking to treat yourself-make a res! Service was inexperienced but sincere and proficient on the late season night we went. A couple small rooms and outdoor patio on a converted house. mostly quiet, but it varies with the other tables in the room. Tomato carpacio was stunning. Seafood rissotto was perfect... and not an easy dish to keep balanced. Sorry no pic's this time. Got it on our list for a repeat next year!
Josh K.
So glad we found this gem! Booked a reservation for our 15th anniversary and each dish was superb. The tomato tartare was like a deconstructed BLT, and the panzanella was light and fresh. $2 oysters and half price bottle of wine was a nice surprise (Wednesday special) which we took advantage of. My wife got the tuna crudo to start, which she found a little soy heavy but for my taste was just right. I chose the ribeye for my main which was a perfect medium rare, and the sauce added a layer of complexity (and killer with the mashed potatoes), with the potato pave complementing the steak. My wife got the trout - delicate and flaky with lovely lemon herb flavors along with green beans and tomatoes made for a lovely summer dish.We are already telling our friends, can't wait to be back!
Roux42 P.
We had an excellent meal last night during half price wine last night! A $40 dollar Morgon rules!The food was excellent and well seasoned! One quick suggestion! Maybe have a few more simpler food offerings for the less adventurous folks like myself or for people with children.
Dined here last night for the first time on Valentine’s Day. Even though they were incredibly busy they went above and beyond to make sure we left incredibly happy and wanting to return. Beautiful atmosphere, great food and drinks, lovely service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Warm, professional service allows you to take your time to enjoy dishes that are well worth the wait. We had the braised beef short rib with cheddar polenta and duck breast with tangy sauce and cauliflower and butternut squash. Both very flavorful. This little gem is a more like a restaurant you’d find in a big city bedroom community than in the wilds of Maine in February when we were there. Exceptional. Don't miss it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had dinner there with a friend tonight, and in spite of a minor issue I had with my entree, we had a lovely time.Both the wine and the service were fantastic. Corinna, who it as it turned out is one of the owners, took care of us and she was knowledgeable, professional and a gem.We had the Coravin special pour of the evening - the Papillion. It was expensive but an extraordinary wine to get by the glass, and so worth the splurge.This place is special. They are working hard to raise the bar on Maine dining, and they deserve our support.Go and eat there and say hello to Corinna.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Delicious and glad we stopped in! I was curious and wonderfully pleased with our meals last summer. We hadn't planned to dine out but were lucky to be able to get a table at the last minute. Service was good, food was amazing!
Eloquent atmosphere, fabulous food, personal service and definitely save room for dessert. Culinary chef creates dishes your tastebuds won't forget.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were frequent diners at it's predecessor Little Village Bistro and were disappointed when it closed 2 years ago. Back River Bistro is a very similar restaurant but has undergone some renovations to the better. An excellent dining experience starting with a champagne toast. They had a wine tasting featuring Beaujolais which was delightful. The mushrooms in the mushroom tart were excellent, but it was not a tart rather the mushrooms were over what appeared to be their focaccia. A special appetizer of meatballs and polenta was excellent. For main course we had the risotto and the ribeye both of which were excellent, although the potato pave was only so-so. Dessert was the bread pudding and a large mug of good coffee. We found Back River to be a worthy and desperately needed successor to the Little Village.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Polenta
We went to the Bistro last night as 4 very excited guests that used to go to the Little Village Bistro . . The ribeye was a very thin disappointing cut of meat for 45.00 the daiquiri I had tasted off . The rest of the meal was good but the price of the meal exceeded the dining experience . This is a review I had hoped not to give but this is not a review to discourage anyone for trying the Bistro out , I think they deserve another try .
A hidden gem in Wiscasset. Upscale, delicious, great service, great chef. Lobster fettuccine was absolutely delicious, perfect sauce. Ribeye steak was to die for. Mushroom tart is unbelievable as was the tuna Crudo. We will be back, many many times. Beautiful decor.
We had a delightful dinner at Back River Bistro and will definitely come back. We ordered the duck breast and the trout and both were prepared perfectly. Nice wine list, great service and a comfortable dining room. What else could you ask for?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I've now been to Back River Bistro two times for dinner and both were phenomenal experiences! The food was original, fresh, and delicious. The atmosphere is intimate and nicely decorated. And the service was personal and attentive. On our second visit, our waitress (one of the co-owners, Corrinna) even remembered us from our first visit! It is clear that every little detail of this establishment has been well-planned and thought-through. From the neatly rolled cloth towels available in the restroom to the resting dishes for silverware on the table, tasteful presentation and sustainability have been seamlessly married throughout their operations. When we placed a drink order with our waitress, the bartender brought them over and knew whose drink was whose without needing to ask. Its these small details that really make the experience! Back River Bistro's menu is updated often (about every three weeks according to Corrinna) and revolves around locally-sourced ingredients. At our most recent visit, the special was a delicious and unique take on cacio e pepe using green beans because they had access to plentiful amounts of fresh green beans. Each time we have been, we have thoroughly enjoyed our food and loved the opportunity to try new and exciting dishes! We will definitely be back!
Restaurantji Recommends
A great addition to the Wiscasset restaurant roster. Great staff. Great food. Remarkable wine list and the happy benefit of half price Wednesday. Fabulous oysters and other delicious fish dishes.
So glad we found this gem! Booked a reservation for our 15th anniversary and each dish was superb. The tomato tartare was like a deconstructed BLT, and the panzanella was light and fresh. $2 oysters and half price bottle of wine was a nice surprise (Wednesday special) which we took advantage of. My wife got the tuna crudo to start, which she found a little soy heavy but for my taste was just right. I chose the ribeye for my main which was a perfect medium rare, and the sauce added a layer of complexity (and killer with the mashed potatoes), with the potato pave complementing the steak. My wife got the trout - delicate and flaky with lovely lemon herb flavors along with green beans and tomatoes made for a lovely summer dish.We are already telling our friends, can't wait to be back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Im a fan! Small, chef driven with a decent wine list. Some creative food is coming out of this kitchen with a strong backbone of traditional French cuisine holding it together. If you are looking to treat yourself-make a res! Service was inexperienced but sincere and proficient on the late season night we went. A couple small rooms and outdoor patio on a converted house. mostly quiet, but it varies with the other tables in the room. Tomato carpacio was stunning. Seafood rissotto was perfect... and not an easy dish to keep balanced. Sorry no pic's this time. Got it on our list for a repeat next year!
So glad we found this gem! Booked a reservation for our 15th anniversary and each dish was superb. The tomato tartare was like a deconstructed BLT, and the panzanella was light and fresh. $2 oysters and half price bottle of wine was a nice surprise (Wednesday special) which we took advantage of. My wife got the tuna crudo to start, which she found a little soy heavy but for my taste was just right. I chose the ribeye for my main which was a perfect medium rare, and the sauce added a layer of complexity (and killer with the mashed potatoes), with the potato pave complementing the steak. My wife got the trout - delicate and flaky with lovely lemon herb flavors along with green beans and tomatoes made for a lovely summer dish.We are already telling our friends, can't wait to be back!
We had an excellent meal last night during half price wine last night! A $40 dollar Morgon rules!The food was excellent and well seasoned! One quick suggestion! Maybe have a few more simpler food offerings for the less adventurous folks like myself or for people with children.