We had a celebration dinner here recently and it wasn't bad, but not great either. The service started off a little on the tetchy side for some reason but got better quickly. Our house salads were fine, and opinion was divided about the garlic knots - for me lukewarm bread swimming in butter wasn't really what I was after, but there was a small scuffle over who ate the last one so clearly it's a matter of taste. Our party had Foriana (too much olive oil was the verdict), Linguini with Puttanesca (not bad though nothing special), Fettucini with Aglio Olio (rated as 'pretty decent, but again nothing special') and Verdue al Napoleon (disappointing). The desserts at the end (Cannoli and Tiramisu) were very good, as was the house Chianti. We had a good night out all in all but our next night out in Brunswick is likely to be somewhere else.
(2)
Paul M.
Small, comfortable, peaceful Italian restaurant with very good food, good service, and low prices. We go there frequently. Can be crowded with people waiting at lunch time--we go before 123:30or after 1;30 PM.
(4)
J C.
Sometimes a restaurant is surprisingly good the first time you visit so you keep hoping to recreate that experience in subsequent visits...well, I've given up on the Great Impasta. Cute name not withstanding, the dishes here tend to be sub-par. Generally they're either over-seasoned or bland with no sense of the balance necessary to create edible and tasty food. The prices are alright but the atmosphere is just weird...cramped and with one wall made up of just mirrors (what is it, a dance studio?). Service is exceptionally slow, even when not busy and it's location is hardly the best (on a busy intersection of the town Main Street and the highway). Seriously, I would suggest a Domino's pasta bowl before this place for Italian...
(2)
Peter K.
Always great and fresh.
(5)
Amy N.
The food was very bland I almost prefer olive garden! The service was bad the waitress ignored us and the hostess was rude don't waste your time and money at this place!
(1)
Robbie R.
I searched for this restaurant specifically to comment on their carbonara... and I see that Michele beat me to the punch! But I am happy that someone else share's my love of this dish at this establishment. It's nice and small and located right on beautiful Main Street. Fort Andross and its history loom in the near distance. It's a lil more expensive than its competitors... but you get what you pay for. Go here for a delicious Italian meal with friends and family while visiting Bowdoin College, nearby LL Beans, or any of the other fabulous things southern Maine has to offer.
(4)
Esmeralda D.
I've had some really excellent meals here over the years. The service is always prompt and attentive, and the food is just so good! I've travelled quite a bit, and tend to eat in a lot of Italian restaurants, and believe me, Great Impasta is right up there with some of the best. The food is fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Trust me, this is the place to go on the midcoast for great Italian food!
(5)
Sarah W.
The quality doesn't quite match the price. After having tasteless garlic knots followed by lukewarm so-so Eggplant Parmesan that most likely came from a box, I'm not particularly drawn to eat here again. The service was average and the food less-than. I will say the restaurant itself is kind of cute and it's fine for groups who are looking for similar alternatives to Applebees.
(2)
Stacey C.
The food here is incredible, and Lynn, the owner, is amazing. She and her chef, Steve, catered our wedding last week and they were so easy to work with. Our guests raved about the food, everything was delicious (even the leftovers that we brought on vacation with us). Before the wedding we came in to the restaurant for dinner and were blown away by how good everything was. I live in Boston and can't wait to go back for another meal. I can't recommend The Great Impasta highly enough!
(5)
Kelli C.
The food here was really good and sitting outside was so nice. Really good food at a great price. We were very happy with our meal and recommend this place! The Parmesan rolls were awesome!
(5)
Lee C.
Best place to eat in, Brunswick and the area in general. The new owner is a wonderful young Woman who is keeping standards high as is the entire staff :-)
(5)
Karen S.
Used to LOVE this place. Since moving back to the Midcoast in September, 14, something is different at the Great Impasta. Food is not as good and the service on both occasions was not awful but not great either. This used to be our favorite place to eat.
(3)
Karen W.
Amazing food. Appetizers are huge and they make just about anything you want. I ordered a meatball arrabiata (spicy tomato sauce) that wasn't on the menu and it was awesome. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Sarah C.
The service was excellent, however my food was not amazing. It wasn't bad, I just personally think my meal lacked flavor. I had the butternut squash ravioli which was good, but I would have preferred it in a cream sauce..And the beet and goat cheese salad (my fav part of the meal). The bread was ok..different than what I am used to, and not something I would particularly crave.
(3)
Christopher S.
Great real Italian food not americanized we hope it stays the same under new ownership. For such a small place it never feels crowded. The food is always fresh.
(4)
Alison K.
I just don't get the appeal to this place. We tried it when we first moved to topsham about six years ago. It was terrible then and it was terrible last night when we decided to give it a second shot. Service was mediocre, salad was drowning in dressing. I ordered the penne aglio olio which meant it should have had garlic, olive oil and various spices. Instead it was as if I was eating plain penne. Plus they charge for soft drink refills which of course you don't know about until you get the bill. Oh and that's the other thing... For mediocre pasta, it's just way too expensive. Needless to say we won't be giving this place a third chance.
(1)
Erica L.
Only ate here once but the food was very good and the service was attentive considering they were so busy. The wait wasn't too bad either.
(5)
Deborah R.
Four stars...EASY! Put this restaurant on your list if you are in the area. Great specials prepared perfectly and then top it off with a very reasonable tab... Including wine! Wait staff are all well trained and have been here forever. (that should tell you something!). Check it out!
(4)
Emma P.
A step above mediocre. The food was decent, the service could have been better and we were charged for an item that wasnt available. I ordered the linguine pescatore with which a little salt was decent. The shellfish was gritty with sand as if it hadnt been cleaned properly. It was busy and only one waitress was working so she wasnt as attentive as she could have been with help. Which would have been fine if even our basic request for napkins would have been granted. We ordered the pera formaggio, which wasnt available yet we were charged for it anyway, which irritated me to no end especially since we had to drive back for a refund.
(2)
Mike G.
if i were restaurant impossible, i would: cut the menu in half, use Giacomo's Boston red sauce recipe (i have it), gut interior, refurnish. folks seem nice, a redo would def bring more biz.
(2)
T R.
Not sure what to say about this place. It isn't bad but it certainly does not impress in the least. None of the dishes our table ordered were inspiring at all. The garlic knots are doughy and bland. The house salad was decent with some nice greens and lightly dressed. The pasta dishes were executed satisfactorily but not much more. The seafood dishes were average and rather boring. In a town brimming with restaurant options, this place is rather forgettable.
(3)
Josh M.
One of our favorite spots in Brunswick. The dining room is small but I don't recall having a hard time getting in for dinner. Fun atmosphere and delicious food. We usually do sneak over to Gelado Fiasco for a little dessert; it's hard to beat having two tasty spots so close together!
(5)
Justin S.
I believe some of the low ratings on here are unwarranted. I have tried multiple dishes from here and have left fulfilled each time. Great spot on a warm summer night to sit outside with a reasonably price bottle of Malbec. Staff and service are very kid and attentive. Was asked if we wanted a fan to cool us off on a warm summer night. The only negative is that their dishes are rich in oil. Of course it tastes great! I have noticed some could use a calorie counter but thats only because I'm in the military and need to maintain weight. I have yet to have a less than enjoyable meal here and can't wait to go back. If you want a place to have a great meal, good service, in a cozy restaurant with exposed kitchen, look no more!
(4)
Big B.
I rarely give 5* to any place but It would be unfair not to do so for this place. My wife and I were in town and we were looking for a place to go for our 1 year anniversary and we came across this place and decided to go try it. It's a tiny cute and cozy place; The waiting time wasn't too bad. The service was Impeccable, food was amazingly delicious. If you are in town, this is a must go to place.
(5)
Corey C.
Well we were not impressed with the great Impasta. While the presentation of the food was fabulous the flavor was awful. The chicken tasted like it was cooked in water. It had a tomato sauce that was like an off brand red tomato sauce that I would of found at the dollar tree. No flavor of spices of herbs or garlic or onions or anything at all. The pasta was cold and there were 5 count them 5 scallops on my plate. Certainly this place is an Italian imposter wannabe. I said to my partner that we would have been better off going to the Indian food two doors down or the other restaurant next door.
(1)
EC C.
Cute place to eat but it's expensive and can have a pretty limited menu for vegetarians.
(3)
Farmer T.
People can be such a mystery. I don't know what they expect of a neighborhood restaurant that exists in a town with a significant tourist influx several times a year. We've eaten at The Great Impasta for more than 25 years. It's fine. Haute it is not, but it doesn't try to be. The dishes are good, the prices reasonable, the flavors pleasant but not startling. The ingredients are fresh, the service is relaxed, the ambience pleasant. We've eaten at spectacular restaurants in Italy-- those were better. But we've eaten at a surprising number that weren't as good. The Great Pasta offers solid utility Italian food at good prices without a lot of fuss. It's a good place to take a date, or the in-laws or a family.
(4)
Mattie C.
Barf. There is nothing I can think of that was good about this place. Atmosphere: dark, empty on a weekend night and cluttered Food: boring/bland and disappointing. My spaghetti was lukewarm at best and parts of it were hard and stuck together. It was also dry. I am a terrible cook and I believe I could have made a more satisfying pasta dish. My parents and brother also complained about their meals and no one completely finished their dish. We went to Dominos afterward. Service: absolutely horrible. I am surprised we didn't actually walk out of there. The waitress was inattentive and the relatively simple food items took forever to come out of the kitchen. There were only three or four other patrons in the restaurant so I don't know how it could possibly have taken that long. Its a shame because it does have a good name and looked cute from the outside. But I have never gone back and advised friends to avoid it. I see from the other reviews that the gross foood/poor service dynamic hasn't changed since I went to the restaurant back in 2004. Shame.
(2)
Allison R.
Oh man, the garlic knots are where it's at. I've been checking out this restaurant since I was probably 14, and if it's not a reason to drive from Boston up to Brunswick, it's at least the restaurant that should be your top choice. The entrees are huge (some are offered in half-sizes, like the lasagna) and always perfectly cooked. The veal is always tender, and the tomatoes in the side salads are super juicy. I've had dessert and wine here, and while our choice of a bottle wasn't top notch, we were able to cork it and take it home. Ahhh, Maine.
(5)
Michael C.
Great food. Cozy atmosphere. Can be busy on weekend evenings so call ahead for seating. This place is worth the drive and the wait
(5)
Robert S.
I come here weekly, especially for the creative & tasty specials & never been disappointed. Locally owned, smiling service & relaxing ambience.
(5)
Jess R.
If I can save anyone from wasting their time and money from going here I will be happy. We chose to try a new place for my birthday dinner....so disappointing. Service - came by just enough to get our order, but forget about checking back with us occasionally. Food - if we would have left before our entree came, we would have left content. I ordered lasagna, how can a italian restaurant ruin lasagna....go here and you will find out. I took two bites and pushed it away (thank goodness I ordered it halfsized). It was a mound of mush, no flavor - I think a can of chef boyardee would have beat this hands down in a blind taste test. The significant other got seafood risotto....which was overcooked. Rubbery seafood and mush risotto. What the?? What was good you may ask...liked the salad :) We tried their bruschetta also, not bad, but I didn't like all the cheese, but not bad. Also, the garlic knots....I've had better. Ours were 10 seconds away from being burnt.....Happy Birthday to me :)
(1)
David M.
Last time I was here was about 8-10 years ago. I remember being blown away and was excited to take my wife and daughter here after raving about it. Boy have things changed. The Pros: Choice of plate size depending on your appetite. Mussels were very good and the broth flavorful Gluten Free Menu The Cons: My wife had a HAIR in her salad!!!! Blech! Chintzy with the quantity of garlic knots that were dripping butter Daughter had the shrimp scampi, Flavorless and the baby shrimp that were used were mealy and dissolved in your mouth. Reminded me of canned shrimp from my college days. I had the gluten free seafood lasagne. It was like cafeteria mush! Could not see the different seafood as it all seemed pureed together. Didn't look like there was much pesto in it either. Honestly I couldn't tell what was pasta and what was the seafood as it seemed all of the layers just blended together. My wife had the chicken marsala which she said was cooked right but the pasta actually had red sauce on it!?!? A very weird mix on the same plate. Her Bruscetta app was nice but served stone cold. My advice is stay away and spend your money on some of the other great options in Brunswick.
(1)
Shannon E.
My husband and I went to this place while we were on vacation last week. We arrived a little more than an hour before closing, and there was only one other couple in the restaurant at the time (they walked in right after us). The garlic knots were awful; basically bread swimming in melted butter (very little garlic or spice). My chicken was VERY overdone (burned on the top, tasted like rubber) and was swimming in grease. Both my and my husband's pasta must not have been drained properly, as my marinara and his bolognese sauce were nearly diluted with water. I would have told our server, but she was too busy setting tables, filling shakers, and doing other chores that were apparently more important than tending to her patrons. This was a huge disappointment!
(1)
Miles B.
This place used to be so much better! Or perhaps it's just my adolescent memory. Obviously TGI is feeling the budget crunch as what used to be a delicious bowl of garlic knots has been replaced by a strictly rationed two per person bowl of room temperature knots, head to The Cabin if you want good knots. I'm glad to see another New Yorker agree with me, I used to be okay with the lasagne being prepared beforehand then warmed up, or the store bought pasta, but after I got the chicken with mozzerella and smoky tomato sauce, my buds immediately turned sour upon tasting the obviously frozen Wal-Mart chicken coated with canned tomato sauce and smoke extract, topped with melted shreds of cheese. I guess mostly teenagers are employed there, and it doesn't take half my teenage brain to realize this is not real Italian, nor is it worth returning to. Sorry to see the Impasta be replaced, but there's better places to go at those prices, leave this restaurant to the naive.
(2)
George M.
My wife and I stopped in tonight as we exploring the area. My wife had seen it mentioned in a healthy restaurant's article since she has been trying to go preservative and gluten free. The food here was amazing. The garlic knots were to die for! There were buttery, garlicky, and warm. I had the seafood lasagna which was very very good. It had a nice selection of seafood in a cheese sauce. My wife had one of the daily specials which featured eggplant and heirloom tomatoes. She remarked how fresh all the vegetables tasted. We were very happy that we happened to stop there.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
S G.
We had a celebration dinner here recently and it wasn't bad, but not great either. The service started off a little on the tetchy side for some reason but got better quickly. Our house salads were fine, and opinion was divided about the garlic knots - for me lukewarm bread swimming in butter wasn't really what I was after, but there was a small scuffle over who ate the last one so clearly it's a matter of taste. Our party had Foriana (too much olive oil was the verdict), Linguini with Puttanesca (not bad though nothing special), Fettucini with Aglio Olio (rated as 'pretty decent, but again nothing special') and Verdue al Napoleon (disappointing). The desserts at the end (Cannoli and Tiramisu) were very good, as was the house Chianti. We had a good night out all in all but our next night out in Brunswick is likely to be somewhere else.
(2)Paul M.
Small, comfortable, peaceful Italian restaurant with very good food, good service, and low prices. We go there frequently. Can be crowded with people waiting at lunch time--we go before 123:30or after 1;30 PM.
(4)J C.
Sometimes a restaurant is surprisingly good the first time you visit so you keep hoping to recreate that experience in subsequent visits...well, I've given up on the Great Impasta. Cute name not withstanding, the dishes here tend to be sub-par. Generally they're either over-seasoned or bland with no sense of the balance necessary to create edible and tasty food. The prices are alright but the atmosphere is just weird...cramped and with one wall made up of just mirrors (what is it, a dance studio?). Service is exceptionally slow, even when not busy and it's location is hardly the best (on a busy intersection of the town Main Street and the highway). Seriously, I would suggest a Domino's pasta bowl before this place for Italian...
(2)Peter K.
Always great and fresh.
(5)Amy N.
The food was very bland I almost prefer olive garden! The service was bad the waitress ignored us and the hostess was rude don't waste your time and money at this place!
(1)Robbie R.
I searched for this restaurant specifically to comment on their carbonara... and I see that Michele beat me to the punch! But I am happy that someone else share's my love of this dish at this establishment. It's nice and small and located right on beautiful Main Street. Fort Andross and its history loom in the near distance. It's a lil more expensive than its competitors... but you get what you pay for. Go here for a delicious Italian meal with friends and family while visiting Bowdoin College, nearby LL Beans, or any of the other fabulous things southern Maine has to offer.
(4)Esmeralda D.
I've had some really excellent meals here over the years. The service is always prompt and attentive, and the food is just so good! I've travelled quite a bit, and tend to eat in a lot of Italian restaurants, and believe me, Great Impasta is right up there with some of the best. The food is fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Trust me, this is the place to go on the midcoast for great Italian food!
(5)Sarah W.
The quality doesn't quite match the price. After having tasteless garlic knots followed by lukewarm so-so Eggplant Parmesan that most likely came from a box, I'm not particularly drawn to eat here again. The service was average and the food less-than. I will say the restaurant itself is kind of cute and it's fine for groups who are looking for similar alternatives to Applebees.
(2)Stacey C.
The food here is incredible, and Lynn, the owner, is amazing. She and her chef, Steve, catered our wedding last week and they were so easy to work with. Our guests raved about the food, everything was delicious (even the leftovers that we brought on vacation with us). Before the wedding we came in to the restaurant for dinner and were blown away by how good everything was. I live in Boston and can't wait to go back for another meal. I can't recommend The Great Impasta highly enough!
(5)Kelli C.
The food here was really good and sitting outside was so nice. Really good food at a great price. We were very happy with our meal and recommend this place! The Parmesan rolls were awesome!
(5)Lee C.
Best place to eat in, Brunswick and the area in general. The new owner is a wonderful young Woman who is keeping standards high as is the entire staff :-)
(5)Karen S.
Used to LOVE this place. Since moving back to the Midcoast in September, 14, something is different at the Great Impasta. Food is not as good and the service on both occasions was not awful but not great either. This used to be our favorite place to eat.
(3)Karen W.
Amazing food. Appetizers are huge and they make just about anything you want. I ordered a meatball arrabiata (spicy tomato sauce) that wasn't on the menu and it was awesome. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Sarah C.
The service was excellent, however my food was not amazing. It wasn't bad, I just personally think my meal lacked flavor. I had the butternut squash ravioli which was good, but I would have preferred it in a cream sauce..And the beet and goat cheese salad (my fav part of the meal). The bread was ok..different than what I am used to, and not something I would particularly crave.
(3)Christopher S.
Great real Italian food not americanized we hope it stays the same under new ownership. For such a small place it never feels crowded. The food is always fresh.
(4)Alison K.
I just don't get the appeal to this place. We tried it when we first moved to topsham about six years ago. It was terrible then and it was terrible last night when we decided to give it a second shot. Service was mediocre, salad was drowning in dressing. I ordered the penne aglio olio which meant it should have had garlic, olive oil and various spices. Instead it was as if I was eating plain penne. Plus they charge for soft drink refills which of course you don't know about until you get the bill. Oh and that's the other thing... For mediocre pasta, it's just way too expensive. Needless to say we won't be giving this place a third chance.
(1)Erica L.
Only ate here once but the food was very good and the service was attentive considering they were so busy. The wait wasn't too bad either.
(5)Deborah R.
Four stars...EASY! Put this restaurant on your list if you are in the area. Great specials prepared perfectly and then top it off with a very reasonable tab... Including wine! Wait staff are all well trained and have been here forever. (that should tell you something!). Check it out!
(4)Emma P.
A step above mediocre. The food was decent, the service could have been better and we were charged for an item that wasnt available. I ordered the linguine pescatore with which a little salt was decent. The shellfish was gritty with sand as if it hadnt been cleaned properly. It was busy and only one waitress was working so she wasnt as attentive as she could have been with help. Which would have been fine if even our basic request for napkins would have been granted. We ordered the pera formaggio, which wasnt available yet we were charged for it anyway, which irritated me to no end especially since we had to drive back for a refund.
(2)Mike G.
if i were restaurant impossible, i would: cut the menu in half, use Giacomo's Boston red sauce recipe (i have it), gut interior, refurnish. folks seem nice, a redo would def bring more biz.
(2)T R.
Not sure what to say about this place. It isn't bad but it certainly does not impress in the least. None of the dishes our table ordered were inspiring at all. The garlic knots are doughy and bland. The house salad was decent with some nice greens and lightly dressed. The pasta dishes were executed satisfactorily but not much more. The seafood dishes were average and rather boring. In a town brimming with restaurant options, this place is rather forgettable.
(3)Josh M.
One of our favorite spots in Brunswick. The dining room is small but I don't recall having a hard time getting in for dinner. Fun atmosphere and delicious food. We usually do sneak over to Gelado Fiasco for a little dessert; it's hard to beat having two tasty spots so close together!
(5)Justin S.
I believe some of the low ratings on here are unwarranted. I have tried multiple dishes from here and have left fulfilled each time. Great spot on a warm summer night to sit outside with a reasonably price bottle of Malbec. Staff and service are very kid and attentive. Was asked if we wanted a fan to cool us off on a warm summer night. The only negative is that their dishes are rich in oil. Of course it tastes great! I have noticed some could use a calorie counter but thats only because I'm in the military and need to maintain weight. I have yet to have a less than enjoyable meal here and can't wait to go back. If you want a place to have a great meal, good service, in a cozy restaurant with exposed kitchen, look no more!
(4)Big B.
I rarely give 5* to any place but It would be unfair not to do so for this place. My wife and I were in town and we were looking for a place to go for our 1 year anniversary and we came across this place and decided to go try it. It's a tiny cute and cozy place; The waiting time wasn't too bad. The service was Impeccable, food was amazingly delicious. If you are in town, this is a must go to place.
(5)Corey C.
Well we were not impressed with the great Impasta. While the presentation of the food was fabulous the flavor was awful. The chicken tasted like it was cooked in water. It had a tomato sauce that was like an off brand red tomato sauce that I would of found at the dollar tree. No flavor of spices of herbs or garlic or onions or anything at all. The pasta was cold and there were 5 count them 5 scallops on my plate. Certainly this place is an Italian imposter wannabe. I said to my partner that we would have been better off going to the Indian food two doors down or the other restaurant next door.
(1)EC C.
Cute place to eat but it's expensive and can have a pretty limited menu for vegetarians.
(3)Farmer T.
People can be such a mystery. I don't know what they expect of a neighborhood restaurant that exists in a town with a significant tourist influx several times a year. We've eaten at The Great Impasta for more than 25 years. It's fine. Haute it is not, but it doesn't try to be. The dishes are good, the prices reasonable, the flavors pleasant but not startling. The ingredients are fresh, the service is relaxed, the ambience pleasant. We've eaten at spectacular restaurants in Italy-- those were better. But we've eaten at a surprising number that weren't as good. The Great Pasta offers solid utility Italian food at good prices without a lot of fuss. It's a good place to take a date, or the in-laws or a family.
(4)Mattie C.
Barf. There is nothing I can think of that was good about this place. Atmosphere: dark, empty on a weekend night and cluttered Food: boring/bland and disappointing. My spaghetti was lukewarm at best and parts of it were hard and stuck together. It was also dry. I am a terrible cook and I believe I could have made a more satisfying pasta dish. My parents and brother also complained about their meals and no one completely finished their dish. We went to Dominos afterward. Service: absolutely horrible. I am surprised we didn't actually walk out of there. The waitress was inattentive and the relatively simple food items took forever to come out of the kitchen. There were only three or four other patrons in the restaurant so I don't know how it could possibly have taken that long. Its a shame because it does have a good name and looked cute from the outside. But I have never gone back and advised friends to avoid it. I see from the other reviews that the gross foood/poor service dynamic hasn't changed since I went to the restaurant back in 2004. Shame.
(2)Allison R.
Oh man, the garlic knots are where it's at. I've been checking out this restaurant since I was probably 14, and if it's not a reason to drive from Boston up to Brunswick, it's at least the restaurant that should be your top choice. The entrees are huge (some are offered in half-sizes, like the lasagna) and always perfectly cooked. The veal is always tender, and the tomatoes in the side salads are super juicy. I've had dessert and wine here, and while our choice of a bottle wasn't top notch, we were able to cork it and take it home. Ahhh, Maine.
(5)Michael C.
Great food. Cozy atmosphere. Can be busy on weekend evenings so call ahead for seating. This place is worth the drive and the wait
(5)Robert S.
I come here weekly, especially for the creative & tasty specials & never been disappointed. Locally owned, smiling service & relaxing ambience.
(5)Jess R.
If I can save anyone from wasting their time and money from going here I will be happy. We chose to try a new place for my birthday dinner....so disappointing. Service - came by just enough to get our order, but forget about checking back with us occasionally. Food - if we would have left before our entree came, we would have left content. I ordered lasagna, how can a italian restaurant ruin lasagna....go here and you will find out. I took two bites and pushed it away (thank goodness I ordered it halfsized). It was a mound of mush, no flavor - I think a can of chef boyardee would have beat this hands down in a blind taste test. The significant other got seafood risotto....which was overcooked. Rubbery seafood and mush risotto. What the?? What was good you may ask...liked the salad :) We tried their bruschetta also, not bad, but I didn't like all the cheese, but not bad. Also, the garlic knots....I've had better. Ours were 10 seconds away from being burnt.....Happy Birthday to me :)
(1)David M.
Last time I was here was about 8-10 years ago. I remember being blown away and was excited to take my wife and daughter here after raving about it. Boy have things changed. The Pros: Choice of plate size depending on your appetite. Mussels were very good and the broth flavorful Gluten Free Menu The Cons: My wife had a HAIR in her salad!!!! Blech! Chintzy with the quantity of garlic knots that were dripping butter Daughter had the shrimp scampi, Flavorless and the baby shrimp that were used were mealy and dissolved in your mouth. Reminded me of canned shrimp from my college days. I had the gluten free seafood lasagne. It was like cafeteria mush! Could not see the different seafood as it all seemed pureed together. Didn't look like there was much pesto in it either. Honestly I couldn't tell what was pasta and what was the seafood as it seemed all of the layers just blended together. My wife had the chicken marsala which she said was cooked right but the pasta actually had red sauce on it!?!? A very weird mix on the same plate. Her Bruscetta app was nice but served stone cold. My advice is stay away and spend your money on some of the other great options in Brunswick.
(1)Shannon E.
My husband and I went to this place while we were on vacation last week. We arrived a little more than an hour before closing, and there was only one other couple in the restaurant at the time (they walked in right after us). The garlic knots were awful; basically bread swimming in melted butter (very little garlic or spice). My chicken was VERY overdone (burned on the top, tasted like rubber) and was swimming in grease. Both my and my husband's pasta must not have been drained properly, as my marinara and his bolognese sauce were nearly diluted with water. I would have told our server, but she was too busy setting tables, filling shakers, and doing other chores that were apparently more important than tending to her patrons. This was a huge disappointment!
(1)Miles B.
This place used to be so much better! Or perhaps it's just my adolescent memory. Obviously TGI is feeling the budget crunch as what used to be a delicious bowl of garlic knots has been replaced by a strictly rationed two per person bowl of room temperature knots, head to The Cabin if you want good knots. I'm glad to see another New Yorker agree with me, I used to be okay with the lasagne being prepared beforehand then warmed up, or the store bought pasta, but after I got the chicken with mozzerella and smoky tomato sauce, my buds immediately turned sour upon tasting the obviously frozen Wal-Mart chicken coated with canned tomato sauce and smoke extract, topped with melted shreds of cheese. I guess mostly teenagers are employed there, and it doesn't take half my teenage brain to realize this is not real Italian, nor is it worth returning to. Sorry to see the Impasta be replaced, but there's better places to go at those prices, leave this restaurant to the naive.
(2)George M.
My wife and I stopped in tonight as we exploring the area. My wife had seen it mentioned in a healthy restaurant's article since she has been trying to go preservative and gluten free. The food here was amazing. The garlic knots were to die for! There were buttery, garlicky, and warm. I had the seafood lasagna which was very very good. It had a nice selection of seafood in a cheese sauce. My wife had one of the daily specials which featured eggplant and heirloom tomatoes. She remarked how fresh all the vegetables tasted. We were very happy that we happened to stop there.
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