My husband and I went to Joshua's this past weekend. It was the last night on our trip and we wanted something romantic and quiet to cap off the weekend. We only heard about Joshua's through a couple that we were friendly with at the bed and breakfast we were staying at. They insisted (and the innkeeper agreed) that Joshua's could not be missed. We called that morning to get a reservation, and the only one we could get was for 8:15, which we happily accepted given the accolades. If you are coming in season I would plan on making reservations further in advance than we did. Upon arriving to the restaurant we were greeted by a very polite host and hostess, and sat at the bar for about a half an hour until our table was ready. The lighting was perfect...romantic without being too dark. The setting was very homey, and still somehow managing to feel upscale. Our drinks were made very well, and the bartender was knowledgable and friendly. When our tables were ready we were seated in the room next to the bar. It was very quiet and intimate. We began our meal with the fried artichokes and chipotle sauce. The sauce is on the side, which I did appreciate just in case it was a little too spicy. It wasn't too spicy, it too was perfect...however, I will say that the artichokes were so amazing (with the perfect amount of salt) that they needed nothing to accompany them. For dinner I ordered the rack of lamb, and my husband ordered the pork tenderloin. My husband loved his pork (I didn't care for it too much, not really a fan of fruit and meat....but it doesn't matter as this dish wouldn't have appealed to me on the menu). The rack of lamb was to die for. Cooked perfectly with a light crust on the outside. The portion was fantastic, and the presentation was neat and not pretentious. If I were really digging for some suggestion to make the dish better...maybe a little less salt in the stuffing, but it is never something I would have complained about and the dish was still incredible. All in all, our experience at Joshua's was incredible, and we even have been talking about making Kennebunkport a yearly trip BECAUSE Joshua's was so incredible!!
(5)
A. K.
We have been here several times. This was our best meal. The wood grilled mushrooms are the best I have ever had. My partner loved the Tiger shrimp and the swordfish/shrimp special. Service was helpful. The bread is just wonderful. The duck was good but not great. But it was good. The organic Merlot wine for $27 a bottle was very nice. I loved the fact that the restaurant had wines that we could afford. 4.5 is my score!
(4)
john g.
We've been to Joshua's 3-4 times over the last four years and it has been consistently excellent. Were there again this past weekend and had another nice meal. Sat in the bar and the barmaid was very friendly and attentive. Overall a very pleasant experience and highly recommended. Prices are much better than Boston for a comparable meal.
(4)
Marko M.
Always good but can be hard to get a reservation in season which can last until October. Food uniformly good with local ingredients. great staff and always a nice time spent there. the bar can be a way to have a dinner without waiting for the dining room to clear.
(5)
Rosanne G.
Absolutely amazing! I've eaten at some great restaurants and I really feel this was the best meal ever! I am now addicted to the lightly fried fresh artichoke hearts with the most amazing spicy aioli sauce ever. The abundant beef brochette appetizer on rosemary skewers was superb too. And the duck was the tastiest ever! An ample quantity of tender breast meat with just the right hint of orange. The accompanying leg confit was delectable as well with crispy salty skin. My duck came cooked through which i appreciated, but if you like it rare, you may want to ask about that. My boyfriend enjoyed his chicken dish as well. He said it had a lemon flavor and i wish i had tried it, but i was not willing to allow room for anything else when my meal was so outstanding. We both agreed we loved the mashed potatoes. So smooth and fresh and without alot of added flavors. And i loved the veggies: brussel sprouts, broccolli, onions that seemed at least slightly carmelized. Loved the 3 types of warm fresh homemade bread, each with two slices so we could both try all. Would love to try the shrimp appetizer and the lamb entree next time. Unfortunately we passed on dessert this evening but they all sounded delicious. Waiter Sean was so helpful and attentive. The old farmhouse and small rooms with ambient lighting were perfect. I felt the large quantity of food and very reasonable prices reinforced the apeal. I just can't say enough great things about this place. Will be back soon!
(5)
Brian C.
The wife and I stayed in Ogunquit and decided to try this place based on the stellar reviews. We thought it was a good omen when the guys at the B&B we stayed at raved about this place. The place is nice and cozy (I think it used to be a house), and we were actually greeted by what I later learned was one of the owners. We started with the duck pate, which was rich, creamy, and not too full-flavored for the wife. It was a HUGE portion, and while we thought it was going to be too much, we surprised ourselves when we reached for more and found we'd eaten it all. The housemade bread was also really good, although that might have been from the generous portions of butter I used. :) I ordered the duck special - duck thigh confit and a grilled breast atop mashed potatoes and veggies. Tasting the duck was one of those beautiful moments when all else fades but the awesomeness going on in your mouth. The thigh was fall-apart tender, and the orange glaze on the breast was juuuuust enough to make its presence known. Contrasted with the char on the skin, it was phenomenal. The mashed and veg were good, but not mind-blowing. The wife had the haddock with the chive oil and mushroom risotto. Everything on her plate was really good, but in reality, how are you going to compete with duck two-ways?? I tasted her plate and made a quick return into the arms (wings?) of my duck. We were STUFFED but wanted to try their key lime cheesecake, so we took it to go. 6 days later (we got distracted), it was actually still really good, though the crust was definitely soggy by then. A great balance between acidity and sweetness. I think I could have eaten another couple of slices and not been overwhelmed. A GREAT place for a romantic dinner and great food. The reason I gave it four stars was that the food overall was quite salty. I definitely needed some water later that night and again in the morning. Still, we'll be coming back here next time we're in the area. For sure.
(4)
Mimi M.
My husband & I absolutely loved every single course of the meals we ate! Everything was so fresh & light it was a pleasure to have eaten there. We can't wait to return!
(5)
G R.
Who would have thunk it .... one gets to Maine from sunny and laid back Colorado where all the good places close at the sheer sign of it getting dark as it seems people here simply don't stay put late and chain restaurants dominate, and one finds a true culinary delight. We got to Joshua's late Friday night and were told that there were no spots, should have made a reservation, that we could sit at the bar, blah, blah, blah. So needless to say we almost walked out but some internal voice said: you need to wait silly, it's full and folks are smiling. So we did. Apparently the non so friendly hostess (or as it seemed at the time due to hunger pains) was the owner, her, her hubby and son (Joshua) own the place. So we were seated and due to it being late they were out of few items but we ended up with the cold gazpacho, lobster pot pie, haddock and duck. As we were told Joshua is self taught in the culinary arts and let me tell you, it is an art in that place. Food was GREAT! The thoroughness of the meal, taste, spices were all in perfect "alignment" to please us. The presentation of the meal might have needed a bit work (but that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and did not take away from the food). Great place, cute interior with great, great food! Way to go Joshua!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Liz S.
Wow! Dinner at Joshua's was fabulous! The restaurant is unassuming in an old farmhouse and the inside is charming with an elegant decor. The dining area is comprised of several rooms which lends itself to an intimate setting. The menu is small, but covers a variety of dishes so everyone is sure to find something they will enjoy. i started with the fried artichokes while my date had the mixed greens with tomato vinaigrette. We both noted the freshness of the ingredients. Three types of bread were served, each fresh and hot. For entrees, we had the lamb chops and the stuffed chicken. The lamb was cooked perfectly and the chicken was flavorful and moist. Another in our group had the vegetarian special of gnocci which also was good. There was a mix-up in the kitchen which caused a delay in our entrees, but the chef's father visited our table to personally apologize. We didn't mind a bit - especially since they comped our wine. We passed on dessert, but look forward to returning soon! Overall, an excellent experience!
(5)
Bryan S.
Totally blown away by this Country Inn style restaurant, just outside of Ogunquit, ME. My favorite type of dining room - an old farmhouse with just a few tables per room and wonderful original details. A+ service! I had the drink special to start, a delicious wild maine blueberry cosmo - fresh, unique and delicoius. My caesar salad had the perfect blend of anchovy and creamy parmesan dressing. Anchovy fillets served on the side made each bite flavorful. For an entree I had the lobster pie, recommended by the server - it had a fresh, flaky crust and scrumptious fresh lobster meat in a delightfully light, yet full flavored, sauce. My dining partner had the baked haddock (I tried it!) - firm texture and full flavor, obviously fresh! Dinner ended with a slab of the in season Maine blueberry pie. Need I say more? If you are visiting Ogunquit, maybe take a pass on certain other over-publicized eateries, and try Joshua's - great food, good prices and fantastic service.
(5)
Michael P.
I just ate one of the most remarkable meals of my life. The setting is lovely. A 18th century home divided into cosy rooms. The wines were fine and surprisingly affordable and the baguette crisp and perfect. My appetizer was a "special" and was mussels in a blue cheese sauce. It was so delicious I would go back to only eat that dish! That was pursued by a rare filet mignon with mashed potato and gravy. It melted in the mouth. No money could buy a finer steak. Full as I was I could not resist ordering the rhubarb pie. Normally I wouldn't because most American pies are too sweet and rhubarb is tart. I was assured by my waitress Parker it was truly tart and served with fresh cream, vanilla ice cream and cappuccino it was the ultimate conclusion to a memorable meal. I couldn't recommend a restaurant more. If there was a higher recommendation than 5 stars I would award it.
(5)
T C.
Great service. Unique setting compared to anything else in town. Most creative menu in the area. Not a cheap night but it's fine dining. It's not supposed to be. You'll be catered to and enjoy it from start to finish. Highly recommend!
(4)
Sal O.
If your looking for really good fresh food, this is the place for you. The restaurant is located in an old colonial built over 200 years ago. A lot of character and very romantic spot to take a date. We started with fried artichokes which were cooked perfectly and lots of flavor. Then we had the salad which tasted so fresh like it was just picked with just enough dressing. We then had the stuffed chicken with prosciutto and basil. So good!!!! Seasoned just right with creamy mash potatoes and tasty vegetables. We ended the meal with a slice of key lime pie which was very light and airy. It was better than some I have tasted in the Carribean. The only downfall was that it was a little pricey and be prepared to wait if you don't have a reservation. Service was great and we even got to hear some interesting farming stories from the owners father. A very nice evening.
(5)
Jo-Ellen A.
Fine dining in Wells amidst touristy seafood places. A welcomed find. Make reservations days in advance to secure a table and time you'd like. Dining room is small and intimate. Food is well prepared and reasonable portions. Had the shrimp and haddock chowder and wood grilled mushrooms for starters. Entrees were haddock and rack of lamb. The lamb was the best I ever had!!! Desserts are all made on the premises. Had fresh local strawberry sorbet. Out of this world.
(5)
Ellen O.
Really nice, intimate restaurant. The one caveat is that you almost always need a reservation. I think that helps them cut down the noise level and crowding in the front of the place. It's a lovely old house with nooks, crannies and a warm, converted porch. Appetizers are delicious and specials always inventive. We shared a beef skewer that was tender and very well seasoned. Any seafood dish is perfectly cooked and in season you get a lot of crisp tender veggies. Their filet mignon is famous, the only thing a friend of ours ever orders there. Vegetarian specials are unique, but usually have too much cream/dairy for me. Prices are the 24-35 range, but worth it. We highly recommend them.
(4)
Jason B.
Absolutely the best, freshest meal I've had in ages. From the chefs bread selection to the veggies grown right in their own garden, Joshuas is most likely the best restaurant in Wells...try the tempura artichoke hearts for an appetizer. The Haddock, pan roasted served in a caramelized onion crust with mushroom risotto was top notch as was the pork tenderloin with perfectly whipped mashed potatoes and a sweet onion chutney. The fudge pie is heavenly, especially with the chefs home made ice cream. I wouldn't recommend it for children as this isn't that kind of place. Frankly it's too good for the likes of a typical kid....
(5)
Brian G.
Right now, I am questioning all the 5 star reviews I have made to this point. I loved all those restaurants in different ways, and I suppose it's important to put each restaurant into context based on price level, type of cuisine, etc. However, Joshua's has altered the way I think about the fine dining experience, and for better and worse it will become a measuring stick against any similarly priced restaurant I dine at for the foreseeable future. Let's start with the excellent customer service. We procrastinated through the week, and Friday morning I decided to call Joshua's in the hopes of getting a reservation. I left a voice mail before I dove into work, and they called me back by 11 to confirm a table for us. Often times when i do this, I don't hear back from the restaurant, but they pretty obviously called me not long after getting my voice mail. We arrived 20 minutes early and they took us to our table, no questions asked. Our waiter was easily the among the best I've ever had. He knew the menu inside out and had thorough descriptions to match the dishes we inquired about. He suggested cocktails to meet our tastes and within minutes we were enjoying some stiff but quaffable drinks. Throughout the entire meal he was pleasant and subtly present, astutely knowing when to check in and when not to. I easily tipped 25% on what was already a pricy meal, because he earned every penny. So onto the food - I started with a smoked haddock chowder that was just the right thickness and consistency, with subtle smoke flavoring, tender chunks of potato and meaty morsels of fresh haddock. It was delicious. My wife got a basic greens salad with blue cheese chunks that were obviously very high quality, with a rich and buttery flavor. We followed these with two apps - mini crab cakes and roasted truffle mushrooms, with large shavings of cheese naturally melting on top. Both were incredibly flavorful, and the crab cakes were highly memorable. Still thinking about those. The entrees were top notch I had a seafood special with grouper, scallops, shrimp, mussels and lobster in a pernod-based sauce atop an orzo and spinach mix, all adorned with amazingly fresh, seasoned vegetables. The lobster was slightly overcooked and a little rubbery, the only blemish on an otherwise highly memorable dish. The way the slightly creamy sauce blended with everything was blissful. My wife got the filet, and it was very excellent. Ordered medium, it was delivered perfectly cooked. That's all that's really necessary with a good quality filet. What I liked about each course was that it was a perfect balance of price and portion. I didn't feel ripped off, and I wasn't overly stuffed even after 3 courses and a delicious, warm bread basket. We hardly ever order dessert, but this seemed like the right time. We split the special dessert, a banana bourbon cake with homemade caramel ice cream and chocolate sauce. Yes, they make their own ice cream. And it was all exceptional. Last point would be the ambiance of this place. It really feels like eating in someone's house. There is a very warm and inviting appeal to the design and feel of the dining areas and the bar. Overall, I highly recommend this place and look forward to returning.
(5)
Bryan S.
Totally blown away by this Country Inn style restaurant, just outside of Ogunquit, ME. My favorite type of dining room - an old farmhouse with just a few tables per room and wonderful original details. A+ service! I had the drink special to start, a delicious wild maine blueberry cosmo - fresh, unique and delicoius. My caesar salad had the perfect blend of anchovy and creamy parmesan dressing. Anchovy fillets served on the side made each bite flavorful. For an entree I had the lobster pie, recommended by the server - it had a fresh, flaky crust and scrumptious fresh lobster meat in a delightfully light, yet full flavored, sauce. My dining partner had the baked haddock (I tried it!) - firm texture and full flavor, obviously fresh! Dinner ended with a slab of the in season Maine blueberry pie. Need I say more? If you are visiting Ogunquit, maybe take a pass on certain other over-publicized eateries, and try Joshua's - great food, good prices and fantastic service.
(5)
Heather S.
My boyfriend and I ate here while on a short weekend beach vacation. We picked it based on the local, mostly organic and interesting sounding menu choices posted on their website. We were definitely pleased with our choice! Be warned that the place books up well in advance of the weekend in the summer. We called the Tuesday before and could only get 5 or 9 o'clock reservations for the following Saturday night (and they are closed Sundays). The food was amazing, from start to finish. The bread was homemade by Joshua and there were 3 delicious varieties. We started with a wood-grilled mushroom plate which was one of the best mushroom dishes I've ever had. There were many exotic varieties and the woody flavor was strong and scrumptious. For my main dish I had the vegetarian special, which varies but is always available. The day I went they had a ricotta herb pasta and some kind of crispy veggie corn patty, with tons of veggies (summer squash, green beans, carrots, zucchini, etc.). While a little salty, I loved it. My boyfriend had haddock with mushroom risotto and seasonal veggies, which was also outstanding. For dessert, I had a chocolate pudding cake with homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream. The ice cream tasted like eating real mint leaves with chocolate; it was amazing and very different. The boyfriend had fresh maine blueberry pie with homemade vanilla ice cream, which was also very good. The service was prompt and friendly (we were there at 5 while it was still relatively uncrowded), and we were personally greeted by Joshua's father near the end of the meal. Overall, this place is a nice family business that stands out in an area seemingly devoid of these type of top-notch restaurants.
(5)
Kevin K.
Elegant atmosphere, but not pretentious. The waitress was pleasant and informative. And most importantly, the food was outstanding. I had the mixed green salad with a roasted tomato vinagrette dressing, followed by the vegetarian special which was their hand made enocchi with mixed vegetables. It was fabulous. My wife had the fresh Atlantic halibut with mashed potatoes and green beans. She loved it. We topped the meal off with a slice of key lime pie and pecan pie with home made maple ice cream. The service was great. I highly recommend this place and will be going back again.
(5)
Jaime S.
Absolutely wonderful! I discovered this place thanks to Bryan's review here on Yelp....thank you Bryan! At first glance, the prices seem a bit high for Wells, Maine. In reality, $19 - 28 for entrees which would be considered five star here in Boston is nothing. I will even go out on a limb here and say that I would prefer to drive the hour and a half up to Wells to experience Joshua's than drive into Boston, pay for parking and pay a tab twice as expensive for food which is only half as good. We had the Maine Grown Organic Mixed Greens with buttermilk herb dressing and the fried Artichoke Hearts (think Tempura) to start. Both of these were delicious and light. The buttermilk herb dressing was full of flavor. For entrees, I had the Atlantic Haddock and my husband had the Chicken stuffed with Prosciutto, Basil & Provolone. Now, fish does not normally tickle my fancy when I am eating out, but something about this haddock caught my attention. I am so glad I ordered it! It was light and delicious and it paired beautifully with the wild mushroom risotto. Excellent. Meanwhile, my husband quite enjoyed his chicken. It was moist and flavorful. Both meals were equally delicious, in fact, it was one of the few times neither of us had entree envy! For desert we had the most amazing vanilla creme brulee. It was seriously sinful! In total, our tab was $125 including tip. This included all of the food above as well as two drinks each. Really a great value. The atmosphere at Joshua's is relaxed and intimate with white lights strung up around the windows and candles glowing on each table and in the fireplace. Each meal is made to order and Joshua (the chef) takes his time with each one. This provides plenty of enjoyable quality time to be spent with your dinner date. Don't plan to bring children to Joshua's as they would not enjoy the relaxed down-time between courses quite as much as the adults do. Joshua's is a family owned and operated business. The service is excellent. If you have a chance, say hello to Josh and his family. They are wonderful people who truly care about each other, the business and their customers. I am thrilled to give this restaurant 5 stars. If I could give them more, I would.
(5)
Red So X.
OK, just a short and sweet review...this is a GREAT place to go for that two or four times a year you don't care about the cost...and even after you dine here you still won't care about the cost but be putting Joshua's on your list to come back to.
(5)
Maggie M.
Great atmosphere, wine list. I was not super impressed by the haddock. The filet mignon was decent. Perhaps a wee bit overhyped.
(3)
Suzanne C.
The people here are not very nice and the food is so so
(1)
Bob E.
No questions- a wonderful and reasonably priced restaurant with a very talented chef. Must always call ahead for reservations as very popular- Great tasting cosmo's starters, mushroom risotto, atlantic cod and lamb are my favorites - haven't had a less than great experience in three years Beats a drive to Portland
(5)
Alison H.
This place was 5 stars from start to finish, in every way (except one which I will explain). I like the atmosphere, it's in this colonial-style house that was probably built 200 years ago, but you walk in and it's this very classy and romantic restaurant. I went with my in laws for my husband's birthday, and this was absolutely a spectacular meal. Even my father in law (who is renowed for his ability to 'find things wrong with things') grudgingly admitted it was 'special' - if only I could convey to you how much that meant coming from him! We started by getting a round of the cosmos, we got the summery Cosmo with limoncello which was fine, though I have difficulty with strongly alcoholic drinks, I was able to pour some water into it and then it was tasty. I wish I had gotten the blueberry cosmo, it looked fantastic! With our drinks, we got homemade bread, and I have to tell you, the challah is the best. We also got several appetizers and all of those were amazing. I really loved what I got, which was tiger shrimp in this sauce of tomatoes and garlic (and white wine I think) with toasted bread. I could hardly stand giving any of it up but I wanted to save room for the main course, and the others at the table who tried it were very impressed. For my main course I got the vegetarian special which was herb and cheese agnolotti in a roasted tomato sauce with vegetables and a summer squash stuffed with corn. I'm not really a vegetable lover, but this was splendid. The pasta and sauce were the perfect compliment to the vegetables, and I was shocked at how delicious the corn-stuffed squash was. It was lightly battered and fried and it was indescribably good. I have never had something like this before and I think I'll have to come back to Joshua's to have some more! This was definitely not some sort of lip service vegetarian dish, this was just incredibly good, creative, well-made food that happened to be vegetarian. Other folks at the table polished off their lobster pie and haddock and proclaimed it to be fabulous. I tried the mushroom risotto that comes with the haddock and my husband looked at me as I ate the first bite and exclaimed "I've never seen you smile that big before! Why don't you smile that big for me?" We could hardly manage dessert, and while eating dinner, we talked about how we would need time to digest and would get dessert someplace else later. But then we saw the dessert menus and had to change our minds. I'm so glad we did! Even though I was stuffed, the blueberry pie with homemade vanilla ice cream was divine, and the chocolate cake dessert and creme brulee were scrumptious too. Just be aware that the mint chocolate chip is extremely minty. My husband usually enjoys mint ice cream and he gave his ice cream to his brother because it was too intense. So overall, the service was great and the food was priced as one would expect, the only thing I will say was less than perfection was the hostess. When my mother in law called for the reservation, the hostess was very haughty about only having a 5pm slot available and threateningly said a few times during the conversation that "WELL, there are PLENTY of other people who would LOVE to have this reservation time if you don't want it." When we actually showed up, she also had an attitude in person. She wasn't overtly rude, but she did hold off on seating us until "all of our party had arrived" which was totally unnecessary since the rest of our party was clearly visible smelling the flowers out the window in the parking lot, she didn't want to seat us until they had physically stepped into the building. Mildly ridiculous, I mean we did have a reservation. I certainly wouldn't say not to go to this place just because the hostess has an attitude though, the important thing is once we made it past her, we had a delightful evening, and I'd love to go back!
(5)
Rich S.
A great restaurant bringing food grown at their farm to your table. If you are in the Wells Ogt area and are looking for a special meal for a resonable price, Joshuas is the place.
(5)
Lacey P.
Yeah, it's good. It didn't blow my mind, though. The lobster pie was good, the haddock was better. They bring house-baked bread varieties and it's in a cute house. I wish the menu was more adventurous. I am glad they use local and organic, but wish it weren't so expensive.
(3)
Greg S.
Outstanding restaurant! My wife and I ate here on vacation, after I researched locally sourced and organic restaurants. We were not disappointed at all. Where we're from in DC our meals would have been $40-50 / plate, whereas here we paid $25 a person. The service wasn't anything amazing but the waitress was polite and helpful, and the setting was kind of quaint (it's housed in an old farmhouse). We really enjoyed ourselves and the next time we're up that way we'll stop in again for sure.
(5)
Dana F.
I went here for my birthday dinner on a cold, snowy, Tuesday night with my boyfriend. As a born and raised Mainer, I appreciated that this restaurant was truly Maine. It was a calm, cozy, mellow, rustic vibe. Only a few other people were there so we were able to choose our seats. Between the haddock and the vegetarian dish I chose the haddock. It was a very good sized portion and absolutely delicious. The shrimp appetizer was very fresh. The waitress was very polite and calming. This place is excellent food at a very good value.
(5)
Brian K.
A fabulous, elegant dinner in a tasteful and historic setting. Joshua's provided the best fine dining experience I've had in years. The restaurant is a 200-year old house with beautifully restored plank floors. Pleasant gardens surround the walkways to the door. Just about everything served is made in-house, including the bread. We found that the appetizers and entrees are made from simple, fresh ingredients combined to complement each other. The filet mignon I ordered was seared perfectly, and cooked medium rare properly. It came with a simple burgundy reduction, some fresh sugar snap peas, zucchini, and carrots, and mashed potatoes. Desserts are amazing. Don't be afraid to just get a scoop of ice cream. While it may sound plain, the ice cream is homemade and divine. Definitely worth the price and another visit!
(5)
Paul B.
Delicious gourmet food served at a 200 year old home. We couldn't make a reservation through Open Table since they don't participate. (They don't have to - all sittings were filled for the next 2 days). We left our cell phone # & they called when there was a cancellation. I had wood grilled mushrooms with shaved Parmesan cheese that was delicious. My wife had a salad with fresh greens & tomatoes with mozzarella & balsamic vinegar.....fresh,fresh,fresh. The breads are baked on the premises & we had 2 baskets. My entree was pork tenderloin in a chutney sauce with mashed potatoes & fresh green beans, carrots & zucchini. Yum. My wife had a rare filet mignon that would melt in your mouth. After this meal we were stuffed but we couldn't pass up a dessert of a Maine blueberry pie with homemade ice cream & fresh whipped cream. All this with great service in a romantic atmosphere.
(5)
Ruth L.
My husband, daughter, her fiancee, and I went here for dinner for my birthday. We had chicken, pork, lamb, and duck for entrees. All delicious! Also orders mushrooms and fried artichokes as appetizers then peach Melba pound cake and creme brulee for desserts. Everything including the complimentary bread basket was excellent. The service was very good and the ambiance was lovely--an old farm house redone. If there was any problem it was that all the guests were grey hairs, lol!
(5)
Kristie M.
The best place to eat in the area! Food is delicious, atmosphere perfect for any occasion. A must!
(5)
Jillian C.
Joshua's is a family-owned restaurant in a charming old farmhouse in Wells. We were pleasantly surprised to find this sort of farm-to-table concept during our week in Ogunquit, and will be back when we return next summer. We shared the duck liver pate to start and I was impressed at the creative (and sizeable) preparation-- very, very good. I ordered one of the specials (I was told that menu staples, including the halibut I had been eyeing, do not change and so it's best to try one of the specials, which change each evening), a hand-made corn ravioli with ricotta and a mix of other cheeses. It was served with the most delightfully fresh chard and vegetables from the garden, and a squash flower stuffed with eggplant. Very good! The male companion had the duck, which was also lovely (though nothing original). Nice wine list. Reservations are definitely a good idea; they only save one table for walk ins. We didn't have reservations, and waited about 45 minutes at the bar until our table was ready (we were expecting the wait and enjoyed some drinks in the meantime). The rustic atmosphere (think dining in a farmhouse living room with a bunch of strangers) is an interesting contrast to the forward-thinking nature of the cuisine. Definitely worth a try.
(4)
Joe T.
Great dinner! First visit this past weekend and will certainly visit again. Disappoints that they were out of crab cakes, fish, most of their breads, however. But what we had (I had filet and wife had chicken) was amazing. Will definitely be back!
(4)
Rose S.
wonderful service delicious food and great ambiance.
(5)
I Love Beef C.
Joshua's is a solid family owned restaurant with good quality produce and seafood. The staff is friendly, and one can sense that this place is a neighborhood gem. Perhaps there was a higher expectation towards Joshua's due to the current ratings, the formal setting, as well as my self-admitted NY/SF snobbery. The only issue I have with it is that the dishes themselves lack a sense of sophistication in its execution. You get exactly what you read, and although everything tasted fresh and reasonably tasty, the overall feeling was, "that was good - nothing new or inventive, but good." For example, my date ordered the lobster pot pie ($28), which was the special for the evening. The pot pie was fine, but the pie itself was served in a somewhat watery base with solely lobster; there were vegetables served on the side, but I imagine that pot pies normally are bursting with creamy vegetables, herbs and meat based goodness, which this dish lacked. Another example was the fried artichoke hearts served with a chipotle aioli ($10). Once again, the dish itself was good due to it's freshness, but the aioli was fine, but nothing inventive, imaginative or new, which could also be said with my swordfish special served with fresh vegetables over mashed potatoes. I believe Joshua's has the capability of being a truly amazing restaurant with a little more thought and creativity.
(3)
Doris L.
The mushroom starter was delicious, rack of lamb and gnocchi were perfect and dessert was yummy. Service was friendly, helpful and efficient. We will be returning very soon.
(5)
Monica L.
The homemade breads were excellent. The lobster pie was good, but not amazing. The fudge pie is a definite thumbs up. Service was excellent.
(4)
Bridget L.
I would've liked to give 5 stars, I had such high hopes for this restaurant, it came highly recommended. It started out okay, they had two drink specials that we tried and they were delicious. That being said it went downhill from there, we had to ask for the bread, so okay, one little glitch, then our entries came, My husband had the filet mignon, medium, what he received was medium well and asked the waitress to bring it back and get it correctly cooked, the owner came out, with a huge attitude and said it was cooked medium the cook said so(the cook is her son we found out), so we told her no, it is over cooked we want a warm pink center, she was very rude, but brought it back to the kitchen, then came back with the same piece of meat and tried to prove to us that it was cooked correctly, which it still wasn't, so we said, nevermind, just take it off the bill, which they did. By this time we were beyond frustrated, but we were with another couple and they convinced us to try dessert, which we did, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either, I will say that the mint chocolate chip ice cream was extremely fresh and minty tasting. When we left, they owner didn't even say good night and/or thank you for coming, they said it to other guests though. I might also add I got the duck, the flavors were well done, but it too was overcooked and a bit dry. I will never recommend this place to anyone else, and I will never ever set foot in this establishment again either. Extremely disappointing.
(1)
Brian K.
A fabulous, elegant dinner in a tasteful and historic setting. Joshua's provided the best fine dining experience I've had in years. The restaurant is a 200-year old house with beautifully restored plank floors. Pleasant gardens surround the walkways to the door. Just about everything served is made in-house, including the bread. We found that the appetizers and entrees are made from simple, fresh ingredients combined to complement each other. The filet mignon I ordered was seared perfectly, and cooked medium rare properly. It came with a simple burgundy reduction, some fresh sugar snap peas, zucchini, and carrots, and mashed potatoes. Desserts are amazing. Don't be afraid to just get a scoop of ice cream. While it may sound plain, the ice cream is homemade and divine. Definitely worth the price and another visit!
(5)
Rose S.
wonderful service delicious food and great ambiance.
(5)
Jason B.
Absolutely the best, freshest meal I've had in ages. From the chefs bread selection to the veggies grown right in their own garden, Joshuas is most likely the best restaurant in Wells...try the tempura artichoke hearts for an appetizer. The Haddock, pan roasted served in a caramelized onion crust with mushroom risotto was top notch as was the pork tenderloin with perfectly whipped mashed potatoes and a sweet onion chutney. The fudge pie is heavenly, especially with the chefs home made ice cream. I wouldn't recommend it for children as this isn't that kind of place. Frankly it's too good for the likes of a typical kid....
(5)
Paul B.
Delicious gourmet food served at a 200 year old home. We couldn't make a reservation through Open Table since they don't participate. (They don't have to - all sittings were filled for the next 2 days). We left our cell phone # & they called when there was a cancellation. I had wood grilled mushrooms with shaved Parmesan cheese that was delicious. My wife had a salad with fresh greens & tomatoes with mozzarella & balsamic vinegar.....fresh,fresh,fresh. The breads are baked on the premises & we had 2 baskets. My entree was pork tenderloin in a chutney sauce with mashed potatoes & fresh green beans, carrots & zucchini. Yum. My wife had a rare filet mignon that would melt in your mouth. After this meal we were stuffed but we couldn't pass up a dessert of a Maine blueberry pie with homemade ice cream & fresh whipped cream. All this with great service in a romantic atmosphere.
(5)
Michael P.
I just ate one of the most remarkable meals of my life. The setting is lovely. A 18th century home divided into cosy rooms. The wines were fine and surprisingly affordable and the baguette crisp and perfect. My appetizer was a "special" and was mussels in a blue cheese sauce. It was so delicious I would go back to only eat that dish! That was pursued by a rare filet mignon with mashed potato and gravy. It melted in the mouth. No money could buy a finer steak. Full as I was I could not resist ordering the rhubarb pie. Normally I wouldn't because most American pies are too sweet and rhubarb is tart. I was assured by my waitress Parker it was truly tart and served with fresh cream, vanilla ice cream and cappuccino it was the ultimate conclusion to a memorable meal. I couldn't recommend a restaurant more. If there was a higher recommendation than 5 stars I would award it.
(5)
T C.
Great service. Unique setting compared to anything else in town. Most creative menu in the area. Not a cheap night but it's fine dining. It's not supposed to be. You'll be catered to and enjoy it from start to finish. Highly recommend!
(4)
Jo-Ellen A.
Fine dining in Wells amidst touristy seafood places. A welcomed find. Make reservations days in advance to secure a table and time you'd like. Dining room is small and intimate. Food is well prepared and reasonable portions. Had the shrimp and haddock chowder and wood grilled mushrooms for starters. Entrees were haddock and rack of lamb. The lamb was the best I ever had!!! Desserts are all made on the premises. Had fresh local strawberry sorbet. Out of this world.
(5)
Bill L.
STUNNINGLY OVERRATED. When I went to visit my cousin, it was her 32nd anniversary and her husband was working. But she had secured a reservation at Joshua's in Wells, Maine. As she had been there before I was expecting a great time.... We arrived there about 30 minutes early and were greeted by the owners, a husband with a warm, welcoming smile and his wife. The wife looked at us with a sneer like Lucy Ricardo taught Charles Boyer in " I Love Lucy." RED FLAG. We should have turned around then. Through her condescending and pretentious tone, we were informed that there really was no place to wait other than the postage stamp sized bar. So off we went. The bartender was so nice and welcoming that we were instantly put at ease. The bar was packed with the other patrons, who were sentences to wait. Several people mentioned how hard the stools were " like they want you to drink then go home." RED FLAG. At our reservation time, we were escorted into the restaurant and seated at 7:45pm but not before we were handed the drink bill and TOLD to settle up with the bar. In almost every restaurant I've been to, the bar bill can just be added onto the dinner check. NOT HERE I was corrected and our seating waited until I returned. RED FLAG. The staff was whizzing by with lots of activity in a continual stream. Our waiter TOM, greeted us and took our drink orders while we looked at the menu. At 7:50pm, my cousin ordered a filet mignon ( TOM said, " any place can cook a steak, right?") and I ordered the lamb with Caesar salads to start. We got our salads about 20 minutes later. At the 1 hour mark, I asked Tom what the hold up was? He seemed surprised and said that " I tell most people it'll be at least 35 minutes but because you ordered AFTER these two groups, your order was running behind." No apology. I really don't appreciate being lied to. We had ordered everything at 7:50pm and finally got our order at 8:50pm...and frankly the food was underwhelming. Small portions, overcooked vegetables. My cousin was shocked by how bad the evening was going. I told her of my conversation with TOM and she was dismayed and we were quickly done with our meals. She wanted dessert, as this was her anniversary. TOM came to the table to ask about dessert and my cousin ordered the key lime pie. No asking about coffee...I wasn't surprised as he was very sheepish every time he approached the table from now on.I told TOM I'd had plenty, thank you. 20 minutes later the pie arrived with a little candle on it. It was very good, she told me. RED FLAG. But in a snap, we got the bill. Of course, right?! There were SO many opportunities for TOM to make the night right but he chose none. He could've come to the table and apologized to my cousin as this was her night. NOPE. He could have comp'd her pie. NOPE. He could have been ATTENTIVE, which he wasn't. NOPE. When we got home, we looked at the Yelp reviews and how many 5 Stars they got. We were stunned as this experience was NOTHING close to 5 star service especially as this was one of the most pompous and pretentious experiences we've had at a restaurant. They could not have tried harder to leave a bad taste in our mouths...the bill sealed the deal. Caveat Emptor...LET THE BUYER BEWARE.
(1)
Scott M.
This is one of the best restaurants we have ever been to. Fantastic atmosphere, incredible food and great value for money. This is a must!
(5)
Sal O.
If your looking for really good fresh food, this is the place for you. The restaurant is located in an old colonial built over 200 years ago. A lot of character and very romantic spot to take a date. We started with fried artichokes which were cooked perfectly and lots of flavor. Then we had the salad which tasted so fresh like it was just picked with just enough dressing. We then had the stuffed chicken with prosciutto and basil. So good!!!! Seasoned just right with creamy mash potatoes and tasty vegetables. We ended the meal with a slice of key lime pie which was very light and airy. It was better than some I have tasted in the Carribean. The only downfall was that it was a little pricey and be prepared to wait if you don't have a reservation. Service was great and we even got to hear some interesting farming stories from the owners father. A very nice evening.
(5)
Brian G.
Right now, I am questioning all the 5 star reviews I have made to this point. I loved all those restaurants in different ways, and I suppose it's important to put each restaurant into context based on price level, type of cuisine, etc. However, Joshua's has altered the way I think about the fine dining experience, and for better and worse it will become a measuring stick against any similarly priced restaurant I dine at for the foreseeable future. Let's start with the excellent customer service. We procrastinated through the week, and Friday morning I decided to call Joshua's in the hopes of getting a reservation. I left a voice mail before I dove into work, and they called me back by 11 to confirm a table for us. Often times when i do this, I don't hear back from the restaurant, but they pretty obviously called me not long after getting my voice mail. We arrived 20 minutes early and they took us to our table, no questions asked. Our waiter was easily the among the best I've ever had. He knew the menu inside out and had thorough descriptions to match the dishes we inquired about. He suggested cocktails to meet our tastes and within minutes we were enjoying some stiff but quaffable drinks. Throughout the entire meal he was pleasant and subtly present, astutely knowing when to check in and when not to. I easily tipped 25% on what was already a pricy meal, because he earned every penny. So onto the food - I started with a smoked haddock chowder that was just the right thickness and consistency, with subtle smoke flavoring, tender chunks of potato and meaty morsels of fresh haddock. It was delicious. My wife got a basic greens salad with blue cheese chunks that were obviously very high quality, with a rich and buttery flavor. We followed these with two apps - mini crab cakes and roasted truffle mushrooms, with large shavings of cheese naturally melting on top. Both were incredibly flavorful, and the crab cakes were highly memorable. Still thinking about those. The entrees were top notch I had a seafood special with grouper, scallops, shrimp, mussels and lobster in a pernod-based sauce atop an orzo and spinach mix, all adorned with amazingly fresh, seasoned vegetables. The lobster was slightly overcooked and a little rubbery, the only blemish on an otherwise highly memorable dish. The way the slightly creamy sauce blended with everything was blissful. My wife got the filet, and it was very excellent. Ordered medium, it was delivered perfectly cooked. That's all that's really necessary with a good quality filet. What I liked about each course was that it was a perfect balance of price and portion. I didn't feel ripped off, and I wasn't overly stuffed even after 3 courses and a delicious, warm bread basket. We hardly ever order dessert, but this seemed like the right time. We split the special dessert, a banana bourbon cake with homemade caramel ice cream and chocolate sauce. Yes, they make their own ice cream. And it was all exceptional. Last point would be the ambiance of this place. It really feels like eating in someone's house. There is a very warm and inviting appeal to the design and feel of the dining areas and the bar. Overall, I highly recommend this place and look forward to returning.
(5)
Ellen O.
Really nice, intimate restaurant. The one caveat is that you almost always need a reservation. I think that helps them cut down the noise level and crowding in the front of the place. It's a lovely old house with nooks, crannies and a warm, converted porch. Appetizers are delicious and specials always inventive. We shared a beef skewer that was tender and very well seasoned. Any seafood dish is perfectly cooked and in season you get a lot of crisp tender veggies. Their filet mignon is famous, the only thing a friend of ours ever orders there. Vegetarian specials are unique, but usually have too much cream/dairy for me. Prices are the 24-35 range, but worth it. We highly recommend them.
(4)
Ruth L.
My husband, daughter, her fiancee, and I went here for dinner for my birthday. We had chicken, pork, lamb, and duck for entrees. All delicious! Also orders mushrooms and fried artichokes as appetizers then peach Melba pound cake and creme brulee for desserts. Everything including the complimentary bread basket was excellent. The service was very good and the ambiance was lovely--an old farm house redone. If there was any problem it was that all the guests were grey hairs, lol!
(5)
Kristie M.
The best place to eat in the area! Food is delicious, atmosphere perfect for any occasion. A must!
(5)
Karen J.
Every time we eat here, which is fairly often, I can't believe how wonderful everything is, from the service, cocktails, homemade bread, apps, entrees, beer & wine list, to the dessert. The menu is on the small side but they have some nice specials every night and the variety of choices are more than enough to make anyone happy. I always appreciate really fresh seafood and they usually have at least 3 choices based on what is available that day fresh off the boat. They also do a mushroom stuffed rack of lamb, a yummy stuffed chicken breast, and a filet, but for the last several visits I have ordered the vegetarian special. I am not a vegetarian by any means, but the homemade ravioli, stuffed with wild mushrooms and topped with a fried cheese stuffed squash blossom last night, along with the abundance of beautiful veggies and greens that are grown in the restaurant's own organic garden make this such an amazing dish. I had the duck pate as an app and it was out of this world- earthy and so full of flavor, served on a bed of fresh butter lettuce lightly coated with a vinegary dressing, accompanied by homemade crusty bread, cornichons, olives, and mustard. They serve some of their wine by the half bottle and I tried an Old Vines Red Zin that went perfectly with my meal. I began my evening with one of their seasonal cocktails- a beautiful strawberry cosmo, not too sweet and perfectly chilled. This and the blood orange cosmo they make in the late winter are my favorites; they also have a blueberry cosmo later in the summer. A nice selection of bottled beers is also available. My husband always orders the garlicky shrimp and red pepper saute from the app menu, and last night he also had one of the specials- an perfectly dressed and fresh from the garden spinach and arugula salad with fried goat cheese. The finale was house-made warm peach pie and vanilla ice cream with a perfect cup of coffee. Joshua's is located in a restored Colonial on Route One in Wells. The wide plank floors and subtle lighting give the rooms a warm glow and one has a feeling of dining in someone's home rather than in a restaurant. The bar is especially cozy and inviting but you need to get there early to snag seats. Given the quality of the dining experience I think the prices are quite reasonable at Joshua's compared to other high end restaurants. I always leave Joshua's with a smile on my face and the feeling that if this were to be my last meal I'd be fine with that!
(5)
Dwight F.
Nice to have tourists come, eat and post 5 stars. Joshua's needs a better way to accommodate locals in busy tourist season. Locals after all are their mainstay in the cold of winter when the tourists and their reviews are only a memory.
(2)
Cindi W.
Having been there several times in the past....called almost two weeks ago to make a reservation for Steve's sixtieth. Called back to confirm tonight, and was told I had no reservation.....pretty annoyed, however His favorite steakhouse was happy to oblige with a corner table overlooking the water. It's only food people, and quite frankly you aren't that special.....
(1)
Susan B.
What do you get when you combine farm fresh food, brilliant recipes and charming decor? Joshua's. Fair warning, if you have a late reservation (and you need a reservation) don't be surprised if they are out of some items. Everything is delicious so you can't go wrong. We found out that you can reserve an item on the special menu. Their menu changes regularly. Service was timely and not rushed.
(5)
Philip D.
If you are looking for a new restaurant to try, look no further! This hidden jewel is tucked away on Route 1 in Wells. We loved everything about this restaurant. Our server, Ann E was pleasant, friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. To start, we both had a salad. The salads were cold, crisp and very well dressed. For the main course I had the 8 oz filet and my wife had the rack of lamb. Both dishes came with mashed potato, not our favorite side but our server, Ann suggested the mushroom risotto. The filet was ordered rare, the lamb medium rare and both came out as ordered, tender, very well seasoned and delivered on a warm plate. And the mushroom risotto was a great accompaniment to the fillet and lamb, it was absolutely delicious! They also had a nice selection of 1/2 bottles of wine. We chose the Chateauneuf-du pape which pairs nice with beef and lamb. Our final course, 2 decaf cappuccinos and Blueberry Pie for me, Maple Walnut Pie for my wife both with a scoop of vanilla ice cream ~ the end to the perfect meal!!
(5)
Tony S.
What a fabulous evening at Joshua's! We went there without reservations in hopes for a seat at the bar and luckily we were able to get in. Christina is an excellent bartender, making exceptional cocktails out of purees made from in season fruits etc...I had a mango habenero margarita that was divine. The food was equally as exciting...fresh seafood dishes, great filet mignon and wonderful appetizers. We will return shortly.
(5)
Andy V.
Joshua's offers traditional "American" cuisine, i.e. duck, lobster, rack of lamb. The restaurant pride's itself on locally farmed ingredients and the difference is readily apparent on the palate. The vibe is strictly old-school, i.e. older couples, families with older children. This is the place your parents brought you on special occasions and if you were old enough to sit still for an hour and a half. The appetizer selection is mostly uninspired; we ordered artichokes which suffered from a heavy-handed frying. For our entrees, we ordered the duck leg and breast confit and the rack of lamb, with mashed potatoes, mushrooms, in a wine-reduction sauce. The lamb was perfectly cooked medium rare, each bite melting in your mouth releasing that wonderful lamb flavor. I give it an "A"! The duck was freshly prepared but the needed a contrasting sauce to better bring out its delicate flavor. B+ for the Duck. For dessert we shared the special pound cake with lemon curd accompanied by homemade caramel ice cream. This was not your mother's Sara Lee pound cake! The ice cream does not come with the cake; you have to order it at an additional cost. What's more, there was a cake/ice cream coordination problem with the ice cream arriving well-melted. So would we return again? Probably not. Although we mostly enjoyed the dinner, the lack of consistency of the food given the price and the fact Ogunquit is becoming the hub for more innovative and exciting restaurants lessens its appeal. Also I'd like to see one or two couple under 50 dining with us (keeps us young :-)
(3)
Louis F.
What a great recommendation . Friends from Ogunquit , have been raving and I can see why. The food,the service, the drinks and overall atmosphere were amazing. The apps were really fresh and tasty especially the tenderloin on the rosemary skewers, the shrimp bruschetta was crazy good ! I had the duck for dinner , it was so awesome, cooked and presented to perfection! I can't wait to go back !!!!
(5)
Randy C.
Our first time here after many recommendations. I have to say we had high expectations and were not dissapointed. Our waitperson Jen G was excellent-she was not only attentive, prompt and polite, but she offered some great ideas on food selections and items to try together. My wife had the lobster pie which she said was excellent--- no heavy newburg sauce---and the portion must have been a whole lobster. I had the pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes and house vegetables, all of which are grown by the owner. Dessert was walnut pie with maple walnut ice cream, all of which is homemade on the premises. We will definitely return for the great service food and ambiance. It is a small old house, nicely preserved. You will need reservations
(5)
Ben O.
I love this place. Great food. Excellent in the off-season (a little busy in the on-season). Homemade bread is amazing. I have had a variety of the entrees and have yet to be disappointed. Only negative: I tried to go there during the fall without a reservation and the hostess looked at me like I had 6 heads. Friends of ours often eat in the bar (which was empty) and we volunteered for that. We sat down for a drink and then were told a table was ready for us. Nice of them to fit us in, but they didn't have to make a big deal out of us not having a reservation. Either you can accommodate us or not. That was not enough to spoil us off of this place though.
(5)
Travis J.
Went to Joshua's for the first time and we were not disappointed from start to finish! Great apps, main course and dessert! We were there for 2hrs and never felt rushed and the atmosphere was very homey and intimate. They are a little pricey but their drinks were reasonable and you could taste the freshness of the veggies! We will definitely be returning! Reservation is recommended.
(5)
Bill H.
Phenomenal atmoshphere, perfect pacing of the meal and food to die for. My wife got the artichoke tempura as a starter and I got the beef tenderloin. Both were cooked perfectly. My wife got the duck for her meal and I got the chicken. She raved about the duck. The chicken was delicious. We got caramel and dark chocolate ice cream for dessert with the chocolate bark. Our waiter, Patrick, friendly, sociable and never made us feel rushed.
(5)
Bruce T.
Went to Joshua's tonight and the food was as always excellent. The best news was that the lobster pie was on the menu! We had the best server named Jen, she was awesome! Very polite and always made sure our needs were met. Jen is why Joshua's stands out from all the other restaurants, it's the quality of food and service that you get there! Bruce& Maryann
We were traveling on vacation and Joshua's was recommended by a local. Great food and great staff. Definitely would return.
(5)
Jim L.
I pretty much agree with the other reviewers - I guess I'm just stingier with handing out 5 stars. The service was excellent - friendly and relaxed. We have been eating too much on this holiday and were looking for something a little lighter. I chose the soupe du jour and halibut with risotto as the main course. Well prepared, delicate flavours that met my objective of a lighter meal. One of my better meals, but not one of the best ones. One disappointment for me in New England is that no one seems to have an espresso machine - even a fine restaurant like Joshua's.
(4)
Sara P.
This is my first 5 star review, because Joshua's deserves it! The food is creative, elegant and delicious. The service is always great, and the cocktail menu is fun and sometimes exotic. This place is amazing!
(5)
Meredith E.
Went to this place for the first time last year with my family on vacation. Weren't sure what to expect, except that it had good Yelp reviews and seemed classy. We were very pleased with our meal and the atmosphere here. The food was delish, and we are looking forward to returning again this summer!
(5)
Chris B.
I enjoyed an amazing dinner with my wife. the food was top notch and the atmosphere was romantic. possibly the best dinner in Wells!
(5)
Francis M.
We arrived to Joshua's before our reservation because we wanted to have a drink at the bar. Upon arrival we checked in with the owners and was told there was a wait to sit at the bar so we got drinks and stood at the bar. The couple that was ahead of us sat shortly after we arrived which should have made us the next party to be seated at the bar. More seats opened up and when we sat down we were quickly told by the owner that the seats were spoken for. I explained to him that we have been standing for well over an hour and surely we would be next to sit. He left briefly and told us that we may sit. Minutes after we got our drinks we were told our table was ready. The bartender was very busy and wasn't able to give us our tab immediately. The owner returned saw our money on the bar and thought we had paid , we told him we were still waiting to pay he said "pay it." At this point I was so furious with the service I wanted to walk out the door, but we had read great reviews and stayed. I have never been treated so poorly in a restaurant, and I have been to some of the finest restaurant in the US.
(1)
Ken S.
My wife and I hadn't been to Joshua's for a few months. Bottom line? Our loss. This place, time and time again continues to serve up and outstanding dining experience. Certainly worth the hour and ten minute drive to this fine restaurant.
(5)
Susan H.
We went here after a recommendation from the innkeeper we were staying with. Joshua's is located on Route 1 in a beautiful old colonial house. We made reservations after being told it was hard to get in without them. The hostess was friendly. Our waitress, Parker, was one of the best I've had. She was warm and friendly and gave great recommendations. The filet and salmon were both spectacular but the true star (for me anyway) was the homemade mint ice cream. Apparently they grow the mint outback that they use and you could tell!!!! The service was so amazing that as we were pulling out of the parking lot, a bus girl chased us down because my boyfriend had forgotten his hat at the table. If you are near Wells, I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
Cheryl M.
Joshua's is my go to fine dining experience. Not pretentious the perfect atmosphere and a well paced food service. The food is always of excellent quality, well prepared and homemade. Joshua's food is always consistently good. My only request....Please get some better air conditioning it can ruin the dining experience and you work to hard at preparing quality food.
We're on a trip to Maine and the owners of the bed and breakfast recommended Joshua's. We had reservations at 830, and was greeted with a "hi" and a smile (no high-fives though). The restaurant is divided into separate dining areas, and each of the areas are not huge, so the dining is quite intimate. Joshua's is all about "fresh, organic, local" and you know being a yuppie from Ca, I was suckered in. But, i'll be happy to be suck...ok, I stop that thought right there... :-P We started with the lovely pate, which arrived with olives, and warm toast. The portions were generous and the pate was smooth, and mildly sweet. The boy had lamb (because I harassed him to) and I had two appetizers, the beef brochette and the crab cakes. The lamb melts in your mouth, and is served with carrots, brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. I like the addition of the brussel sprouts to an otherwise standard veggie medley, but in all honesty, the veggie medley paled in comparison to the luscious lamb, and seemed almost a distraction, you know? Like an iphone with an ugly cover or something. I wasn't impressed with the beef brochette, but happily surprised by the three skewers, that was enough for two to have an ample taste. The crab cakes, were fresh and just slightly seared so that they were crispy, also quite well done! We finished with the fudge pie and some homemade almond ice-cream, and both while also quite good, seemed to lack a little zip. yeah, very good, but I'd like a little more zip in my food.
The food was fantastic, but the service was less than we expected (rude, irritated and rushed). Have eaten here several times and have always had the same experience.
(3)
Maria L.
Most of what I had to eat at Joshua's was very good....but the prices here are not that different than what I would pay for a good meal in Los Angeles. I had one of their specialities. lobster pie which was really more like lobster soup with a crust. ($26.00) The filling was simply lobster in a milky broth. The mashed potatoes on the plate were delicious. My appetizer,oysters , and my cocktail were fantastic. The main reason my rating is not higher is because the restaurant was not properly air conditioned. I was hoping that there was a problem with the air that day but I was informed that is the status quo for the restaurant. It was a hot day in Wells but not an unusual one. I have no idea why they expect their customers to be ok experiencing fine dining in this manner.
(3)
Bill L.
STUNNINGLY OVERRATED. When I went to visit my cousin, it was her 32nd anniversary and her husband was working. But she had secured a reservation at Joshua's in Wells, Maine. As she had been there before I was expecting a great time.... We arrived there about 30 minutes early and were greeted by the owners, a husband with a warm, welcoming smile and his wife. The wife looked at us with a sneer like Lucy Ricardo taught Charles Boyer in " I Love Lucy." RED FLAG. We should have turned around then. Through her condescending and pretentious tone, we were informed that there really was no place to wait other than the postage stamp sized bar. So off we went. The bartender was so nice and welcoming that we were instantly put at ease. The bar was packed with the other patrons, who were sentences to wait. Several people mentioned how hard the stools were " like they want you to drink then go home." RED FLAG. At our reservation time, we were escorted into the restaurant and seated at 7:45pm but not before we were handed the drink bill and TOLD to settle up with the bar. In almost every restaurant I've been to, the bar bill can just be added onto the dinner check. NOT HERE I was corrected and our seating waited until I returned. RED FLAG. The staff was whizzing by with lots of activity in a continual stream. Our waiter TOM, greeted us and took our drink orders while we looked at the menu. At 7:50pm, my cousin ordered a filet mignon ( TOM said, " any place can cook a steak, right?") and I ordered the lamb with Caesar salads to start. We got our salads about 20 minutes later. At the 1 hour mark, I asked Tom what the hold up was? He seemed surprised and said that " I tell most people it'll be at least 35 minutes but because you ordered AFTER these two groups, your order was running behind." No apology. I really don't appreciate being lied to. We had ordered everything at 7:50pm and finally got our order at 8:50pm...and frankly the food was underwhelming. Small portions, overcooked vegetables. My cousin was shocked by how bad the evening was going. I told her of my conversation with TOM and she was dismayed and we were quickly done with our meals. She wanted dessert, as this was her anniversary. TOM came to the table to ask about dessert and my cousin ordered the key lime pie. No asking about coffee...I wasn't surprised as he was very sheepish every time he approached the table from now on.I told TOM I'd had plenty, thank you. 20 minutes later the pie arrived with a little candle on it. It was very good, she told me. RED FLAG. But in a snap, we got the bill. Of course, right?! There were SO many opportunities for TOM to make the night right but he chose none. He could've come to the table and apologized to my cousin as this was her night. NOPE. He could have comp'd her pie. NOPE. He could have been ATTENTIVE, which he wasn't. NOPE. When we got home, we looked at the Yelp reviews and how many 5 Stars they got. We were stunned as this experience was NOTHING close to 5 star service especially as this was one of the most pompous and pretentious experiences we've had at a restaurant. They could not have tried harder to leave a bad taste in our mouths...the bill sealed the deal. Caveat Emptor...LET THE BUYER BEWARE.
(1)
Scott M.
This is one of the best restaurants we have ever been to. Fantastic atmosphere, incredible food and great value for money. This is a must!
(5)
Heather S.
My boyfriend and I ate here while on a short weekend beach vacation. We picked it based on the local, mostly organic and interesting sounding menu choices posted on their website. We were definitely pleased with our choice! Be warned that the place books up well in advance of the weekend in the summer. We called the Tuesday before and could only get 5 or 9 o'clock reservations for the following Saturday night (and they are closed Sundays). The food was amazing, from start to finish. The bread was homemade by Joshua and there were 3 delicious varieties. We started with a wood-grilled mushroom plate which was one of the best mushroom dishes I've ever had. There were many exotic varieties and the woody flavor was strong and scrumptious. For my main dish I had the vegetarian special, which varies but is always available. The day I went they had a ricotta herb pasta and some kind of crispy veggie corn patty, with tons of veggies (summer squash, green beans, carrots, zucchini, etc.). While a little salty, I loved it. My boyfriend had haddock with mushroom risotto and seasonal veggies, which was also outstanding. For dessert, I had a chocolate pudding cake with homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream. The ice cream tasted like eating real mint leaves with chocolate; it was amazing and very different. The boyfriend had fresh maine blueberry pie with homemade vanilla ice cream, which was also very good. The service was prompt and friendly (we were there at 5 while it was still relatively uncrowded), and we were personally greeted by Joshua's father near the end of the meal. Overall, this place is a nice family business that stands out in an area seemingly devoid of these type of top-notch restaurants.
(5)
Maggie M.
Great atmosphere, wine list. I was not super impressed by the haddock. The filet mignon was decent. Perhaps a wee bit overhyped.
(3)
Suzanne C.
The people here are not very nice and the food is so so
(1)
Bob E.
No questions- a wonderful and reasonably priced restaurant with a very talented chef. Must always call ahead for reservations as very popular- Great tasting cosmo's starters, mushroom risotto, atlantic cod and lamb are my favorites - haven't had a less than great experience in three years Beats a drive to Portland
(5)
Kevin K.
Elegant atmosphere, but not pretentious. The waitress was pleasant and informative. And most importantly, the food was outstanding. I had the mixed green salad with a roasted tomato vinagrette dressing, followed by the vegetarian special which was their hand made enocchi with mixed vegetables. It was fabulous. My wife had the fresh Atlantic halibut with mashed potatoes and green beans. She loved it. We topped the meal off with a slice of key lime pie and pecan pie with home made maple ice cream. The service was great. I highly recommend this place and will be going back again.
(5)
Jaime S.
Absolutely wonderful! I discovered this place thanks to Bryan's review here on Yelp....thank you Bryan! At first glance, the prices seem a bit high for Wells, Maine. In reality, $19 - 28 for entrees which would be considered five star here in Boston is nothing. I will even go out on a limb here and say that I would prefer to drive the hour and a half up to Wells to experience Joshua's than drive into Boston, pay for parking and pay a tab twice as expensive for food which is only half as good. We had the Maine Grown Organic Mixed Greens with buttermilk herb dressing and the fried Artichoke Hearts (think Tempura) to start. Both of these were delicious and light. The buttermilk herb dressing was full of flavor. For entrees, I had the Atlantic Haddock and my husband had the Chicken stuffed with Prosciutto, Basil & Provolone. Now, fish does not normally tickle my fancy when I am eating out, but something about this haddock caught my attention. I am so glad I ordered it! It was light and delicious and it paired beautifully with the wild mushroom risotto. Excellent. Meanwhile, my husband quite enjoyed his chicken. It was moist and flavorful. Both meals were equally delicious, in fact, it was one of the few times neither of us had entree envy! For desert we had the most amazing vanilla creme brulee. It was seriously sinful! In total, our tab was $125 including tip. This included all of the food above as well as two drinks each. Really a great value. The atmosphere at Joshua's is relaxed and intimate with white lights strung up around the windows and candles glowing on each table and in the fireplace. Each meal is made to order and Joshua (the chef) takes his time with each one. This provides plenty of enjoyable quality time to be spent with your dinner date. Don't plan to bring children to Joshua's as they would not enjoy the relaxed down-time between courses quite as much as the adults do. Joshua's is a family owned and operated business. The service is excellent. If you have a chance, say hello to Josh and his family. They are wonderful people who truly care about each other, the business and their customers. I am thrilled to give this restaurant 5 stars. If I could give them more, I would.
(5)
Red So X.
OK, just a short and sweet review...this is a GREAT place to go for that two or four times a year you don't care about the cost...and even after you dine here you still won't care about the cost but be putting Joshua's on your list to come back to.
(5)
Alison H.
This place was 5 stars from start to finish, in every way (except one which I will explain). I like the atmosphere, it's in this colonial-style house that was probably built 200 years ago, but you walk in and it's this very classy and romantic restaurant. I went with my in laws for my husband's birthday, and this was absolutely a spectacular meal. Even my father in law (who is renowed for his ability to 'find things wrong with things') grudgingly admitted it was 'special' - if only I could convey to you how much that meant coming from him! We started by getting a round of the cosmos, we got the summery Cosmo with limoncello which was fine, though I have difficulty with strongly alcoholic drinks, I was able to pour some water into it and then it was tasty. I wish I had gotten the blueberry cosmo, it looked fantastic! With our drinks, we got homemade bread, and I have to tell you, the challah is the best. We also got several appetizers and all of those were amazing. I really loved what I got, which was tiger shrimp in this sauce of tomatoes and garlic (and white wine I think) with toasted bread. I could hardly stand giving any of it up but I wanted to save room for the main course, and the others at the table who tried it were very impressed. For my main course I got the vegetarian special which was herb and cheese agnolotti in a roasted tomato sauce with vegetables and a summer squash stuffed with corn. I'm not really a vegetable lover, but this was splendid. The pasta and sauce were the perfect compliment to the vegetables, and I was shocked at how delicious the corn-stuffed squash was. It was lightly battered and fried and it was indescribably good. I have never had something like this before and I think I'll have to come back to Joshua's to have some more! This was definitely not some sort of lip service vegetarian dish, this was just incredibly good, creative, well-made food that happened to be vegetarian. Other folks at the table polished off their lobster pie and haddock and proclaimed it to be fabulous. I tried the mushroom risotto that comes with the haddock and my husband looked at me as I ate the first bite and exclaimed "I've never seen you smile that big before! Why don't you smile that big for me?" We could hardly manage dessert, and while eating dinner, we talked about how we would need time to digest and would get dessert someplace else later. But then we saw the dessert menus and had to change our minds. I'm so glad we did! Even though I was stuffed, the blueberry pie with homemade vanilla ice cream was divine, and the chocolate cake dessert and creme brulee were scrumptious too. Just be aware that the mint chocolate chip is extremely minty. My husband usually enjoys mint ice cream and he gave his ice cream to his brother because it was too intense. So overall, the service was great and the food was priced as one would expect, the only thing I will say was less than perfection was the hostess. When my mother in law called for the reservation, the hostess was very haughty about only having a 5pm slot available and threateningly said a few times during the conversation that "WELL, there are PLENTY of other people who would LOVE to have this reservation time if you don't want it." When we actually showed up, she also had an attitude in person. She wasn't overtly rude, but she did hold off on seating us until "all of our party had arrived" which was totally unnecessary since the rest of our party was clearly visible smelling the flowers out the window in the parking lot, she didn't want to seat us until they had physically stepped into the building. Mildly ridiculous, I mean we did have a reservation. I certainly wouldn't say not to go to this place just because the hostess has an attitude though, the important thing is once we made it past her, we had a delightful evening, and I'd love to go back!
(5)
Karen J.
Every time we eat here, which is fairly often, I can't believe how wonderful everything is, from the service, cocktails, homemade bread, apps, entrees, beer & wine list, to the dessert. The menu is on the small side but they have some nice specials every night and the variety of choices are more than enough to make anyone happy. I always appreciate really fresh seafood and they usually have at least 3 choices based on what is available that day fresh off the boat. They also do a mushroom stuffed rack of lamb, a yummy stuffed chicken breast, and a filet, but for the last several visits I have ordered the vegetarian special. I am not a vegetarian by any means, but the homemade ravioli, stuffed with wild mushrooms and topped with a fried cheese stuffed squash blossom last night, along with the abundance of beautiful veggies and greens that are grown in the restaurant's own organic garden make this such an amazing dish. I had the duck pate as an app and it was out of this world- earthy and so full of flavor, served on a bed of fresh butter lettuce lightly coated with a vinegary dressing, accompanied by homemade crusty bread, cornichons, olives, and mustard. They serve some of their wine by the half bottle and I tried an Old Vines Red Zin that went perfectly with my meal. I began my evening with one of their seasonal cocktails- a beautiful strawberry cosmo, not too sweet and perfectly chilled. This and the blood orange cosmo they make in the late winter are my favorites; they also have a blueberry cosmo later in the summer. A nice selection of bottled beers is also available. My husband always orders the garlicky shrimp and red pepper saute from the app menu, and last night he also had one of the specials- an perfectly dressed and fresh from the garden spinach and arugula salad with fried goat cheese. The finale was house-made warm peach pie and vanilla ice cream with a perfect cup of coffee. Joshua's is located in a restored Colonial on Route One in Wells. The wide plank floors and subtle lighting give the rooms a warm glow and one has a feeling of dining in someone's home rather than in a restaurant. The bar is especially cozy and inviting but you need to get there early to snag seats. Given the quality of the dining experience I think the prices are quite reasonable at Joshua's compared to other high end restaurants. I always leave Joshua's with a smile on my face and the feeling that if this were to be my last meal I'd be fine with that!
(5)
Dwight F.
Nice to have tourists come, eat and post 5 stars. Joshua's needs a better way to accommodate locals in busy tourist season. Locals after all are their mainstay in the cold of winter when the tourists and their reviews are only a memory.
(2)
Cindi W.
Having been there several times in the past....called almost two weeks ago to make a reservation for Steve's sixtieth. Called back to confirm tonight, and was told I had no reservation.....pretty annoyed, however His favorite steakhouse was happy to oblige with a corner table overlooking the water. It's only food people, and quite frankly you aren't that special.....
(1)
Susan B.
What do you get when you combine farm fresh food, brilliant recipes and charming decor? Joshua's. Fair warning, if you have a late reservation (and you need a reservation) don't be surprised if they are out of some items. Everything is delicious so you can't go wrong. We found out that you can reserve an item on the special menu. Their menu changes regularly. Service was timely and not rushed.
(5)
Philip D.
If you are looking for a new restaurant to try, look no further! This hidden jewel is tucked away on Route 1 in Wells. We loved everything about this restaurant. Our server, Ann E was pleasant, friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. To start, we both had a salad. The salads were cold, crisp and very well dressed. For the main course I had the 8 oz filet and my wife had the rack of lamb. Both dishes came with mashed potato, not our favorite side but our server, Ann suggested the mushroom risotto. The filet was ordered rare, the lamb medium rare and both came out as ordered, tender, very well seasoned and delivered on a warm plate. And the mushroom risotto was a great accompaniment to the fillet and lamb, it was absolutely delicious! They also had a nice selection of 1/2 bottles of wine. We chose the Chateauneuf-du pape which pairs nice with beef and lamb. Our final course, 2 decaf cappuccinos and Blueberry Pie for me, Maple Walnut Pie for my wife both with a scoop of vanilla ice cream ~ the end to the perfect meal!!
(5)
Tony S.
What a fabulous evening at Joshua's! We went there without reservations in hopes for a seat at the bar and luckily we were able to get in. Christina is an excellent bartender, making exceptional cocktails out of purees made from in season fruits etc...I had a mango habenero margarita that was divine. The food was equally as exciting...fresh seafood dishes, great filet mignon and wonderful appetizers. We will return shortly.
(5)
Andy V.
Joshua's offers traditional "American" cuisine, i.e. duck, lobster, rack of lamb. The restaurant pride's itself on locally farmed ingredients and the difference is readily apparent on the palate. The vibe is strictly old-school, i.e. older couples, families with older children. This is the place your parents brought you on special occasions and if you were old enough to sit still for an hour and a half. The appetizer selection is mostly uninspired; we ordered artichokes which suffered from a heavy-handed frying. For our entrees, we ordered the duck leg and breast confit and the rack of lamb, with mashed potatoes, mushrooms, in a wine-reduction sauce. The lamb was perfectly cooked medium rare, each bite melting in your mouth releasing that wonderful lamb flavor. I give it an "A"! The duck was freshly prepared but the needed a contrasting sauce to better bring out its delicate flavor. B+ for the Duck. For dessert we shared the special pound cake with lemon curd accompanied by homemade caramel ice cream. This was not your mother's Sara Lee pound cake! The ice cream does not come with the cake; you have to order it at an additional cost. What's more, there was a cake/ice cream coordination problem with the ice cream arriving well-melted. So would we return again? Probably not. Although we mostly enjoyed the dinner, the lack of consistency of the food given the price and the fact Ogunquit is becoming the hub for more innovative and exciting restaurants lessens its appeal. Also I'd like to see one or two couple under 50 dining with us (keeps us young :-)
(3)
Louis F.
What a great recommendation . Friends from Ogunquit , have been raving and I can see why. The food,the service, the drinks and overall atmosphere were amazing. The apps were really fresh and tasty especially the tenderloin on the rosemary skewers, the shrimp bruschetta was crazy good ! I had the duck for dinner , it was so awesome, cooked and presented to perfection! I can't wait to go back !!!!
(5)
Randy C.
Our first time here after many recommendations. I have to say we had high expectations and were not dissapointed. Our waitperson Jen G was excellent-she was not only attentive, prompt and polite, but she offered some great ideas on food selections and items to try together. My wife had the lobster pie which she said was excellent--- no heavy newburg sauce---and the portion must have been a whole lobster. I had the pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes and house vegetables, all of which are grown by the owner. Dessert was walnut pie with maple walnut ice cream, all of which is homemade on the premises. We will definitely return for the great service food and ambiance. It is a small old house, nicely preserved. You will need reservations
(5)
Ben O.
I love this place. Great food. Excellent in the off-season (a little busy in the on-season). Homemade bread is amazing. I have had a variety of the entrees and have yet to be disappointed. Only negative: I tried to go there during the fall without a reservation and the hostess looked at me like I had 6 heads. Friends of ours often eat in the bar (which was empty) and we volunteered for that. We sat down for a drink and then were told a table was ready for us. Nice of them to fit us in, but they didn't have to make a big deal out of us not having a reservation. Either you can accommodate us or not. That was not enough to spoil us off of this place though.
(5)
Travis J.
Went to Joshua's for the first time and we were not disappointed from start to finish! Great apps, main course and dessert! We were there for 2hrs and never felt rushed and the atmosphere was very homey and intimate. They are a little pricey but their drinks were reasonable and you could taste the freshness of the veggies! We will definitely be returning! Reservation is recommended.
(5)
Bill H.
Phenomenal atmoshphere, perfect pacing of the meal and food to die for. My wife got the artichoke tempura as a starter and I got the beef tenderloin. Both were cooked perfectly. My wife got the duck for her meal and I got the chicken. She raved about the duck. The chicken was delicious. We got caramel and dark chocolate ice cream for dessert with the chocolate bark. Our waiter, Patrick, friendly, sociable and never made us feel rushed.
(5)
Bruce T.
Went to Joshua's tonight and the food was as always excellent. The best news was that the lobster pie was on the menu! We had the best server named Jen, she was awesome! Very polite and always made sure our needs were met. Jen is why Joshua's stands out from all the other restaurants, it's the quality of food and service that you get there! Bruce& Maryann
Joshua's is a solid family owned restaurant with good quality produce and seafood. The staff is friendly, and one can sense that this place is a neighborhood gem. Perhaps there was a higher expectation towards Joshua's due to the current ratings, the formal setting, as well as my self-admitted NY/SF snobbery. The only issue I have with it is that the dishes themselves lack a sense of sophistication in its execution. You get exactly what you read, and although everything tasted fresh and reasonably tasty, the overall feeling was, "that was good - nothing new or inventive, but good." For example, my date ordered the lobster pot pie ($28), which was the special for the evening. The pot pie was fine, but the pie itself was served in a somewhat watery base with solely lobster; there were vegetables served on the side, but I imagine that pot pies normally are bursting with creamy vegetables, herbs and meat based goodness, which this dish lacked. Another example was the fried artichoke hearts served with a chipotle aioli ($10). Once again, the dish itself was good due to it's freshness, but the aioli was fine, but nothing inventive, imaginative or new, which could also be said with my swordfish special served with fresh vegetables over mashed potatoes. I believe Joshua's has the capability of being a truly amazing restaurant with a little more thought and creativity.
(3)
Doris L.
The mushroom starter was delicious, rack of lamb and gnocchi were perfect and dessert was yummy. Service was friendly, helpful and efficient. We will be returning very soon.
(5)
Monica L.
The homemade breads were excellent. The lobster pie was good, but not amazing. The fudge pie is a definite thumbs up. Service was excellent.
(4)
Bridget L.
I would've liked to give 5 stars, I had such high hopes for this restaurant, it came highly recommended. It started out okay, they had two drink specials that we tried and they were delicious. That being said it went downhill from there, we had to ask for the bread, so okay, one little glitch, then our entries came, My husband had the filet mignon, medium, what he received was medium well and asked the waitress to bring it back and get it correctly cooked, the owner came out, with a huge attitude and said it was cooked medium the cook said so(the cook is her son we found out), so we told her no, it is over cooked we want a warm pink center, she was very rude, but brought it back to the kitchen, then came back with the same piece of meat and tried to prove to us that it was cooked correctly, which it still wasn't, so we said, nevermind, just take it off the bill, which they did. By this time we were beyond frustrated, but we were with another couple and they convinced us to try dessert, which we did, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either, I will say that the mint chocolate chip ice cream was extremely fresh and minty tasting. When we left, they owner didn't even say good night and/or thank you for coming, they said it to other guests though. I might also add I got the duck, the flavors were well done, but it too was overcooked and a bit dry. I will never recommend this place to anyone else, and I will never ever set foot in this establishment again either. Extremely disappointing.
(1)
Scott S.
We were traveling on vacation and Joshua's was recommended by a local. Great food and great staff. Definitely would return.
(5)
Jim L.
I pretty much agree with the other reviewers - I guess I'm just stingier with handing out 5 stars. The service was excellent - friendly and relaxed. We have been eating too much on this holiday and were looking for something a little lighter. I chose the soupe du jour and halibut with risotto as the main course. Well prepared, delicate flavours that met my objective of a lighter meal. One of my better meals, but not one of the best ones. One disappointment for me in New England is that no one seems to have an espresso machine - even a fine restaurant like Joshua's.
(4)
Sara P.
This is my first 5 star review, because Joshua's deserves it! The food is creative, elegant and delicious. The service is always great, and the cocktail menu is fun and sometimes exotic. This place is amazing!
(5)
Meredith E.
Went to this place for the first time last year with my family on vacation. Weren't sure what to expect, except that it had good Yelp reviews and seemed classy. We were very pleased with our meal and the atmosphere here. The food was delish, and we are looking forward to returning again this summer!
(5)
Chris B.
I enjoyed an amazing dinner with my wife. the food was top notch and the atmosphere was romantic. possibly the best dinner in Wells!
(5)
Francis M.
We arrived to Joshua's before our reservation because we wanted to have a drink at the bar. Upon arrival we checked in with the owners and was told there was a wait to sit at the bar so we got drinks and stood at the bar. The couple that was ahead of us sat shortly after we arrived which should have made us the next party to be seated at the bar. More seats opened up and when we sat down we were quickly told by the owner that the seats were spoken for. I explained to him that we have been standing for well over an hour and surely we would be next to sit. He left briefly and told us that we may sit. Minutes after we got our drinks we were told our table was ready. The bartender was very busy and wasn't able to give us our tab immediately. The owner returned saw our money on the bar and thought we had paid , we told him we were still waiting to pay he said "pay it." At this point I was so furious with the service I wanted to walk out the door, but we had read great reviews and stayed. I have never been treated so poorly in a restaurant, and I have been to some of the finest restaurant in the US.
(1)
Ken S.
My wife and I hadn't been to Joshua's for a few months. Bottom line? Our loss. This place, time and time again continues to serve up and outstanding dining experience. Certainly worth the hour and ten minute drive to this fine restaurant.
(5)
Susan H.
We went here after a recommendation from the innkeeper we were staying with. Joshua's is located on Route 1 in a beautiful old colonial house. We made reservations after being told it was hard to get in without them. The hostess was friendly. Our waitress, Parker, was one of the best I've had. She was warm and friendly and gave great recommendations. The filet and salmon were both spectacular but the true star (for me anyway) was the homemade mint ice cream. Apparently they grow the mint outback that they use and you could tell!!!! The service was so amazing that as we were pulling out of the parking lot, a bus girl chased us down because my boyfriend had forgotten his hat at the table. If you are near Wells, I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
Cheryl M.
Joshua's is my go to fine dining experience. Not pretentious the perfect atmosphere and a well paced food service. The food is always of excellent quality, well prepared and homemade. Joshua's food is always consistently good. My only request....Please get some better air conditioning it can ruin the dining experience and you work to hard at preparing quality food.
(5)
Stacey D.
We're on a trip to Maine and the owners of the bed and breakfast recommended Joshua's. We had reservations at 830, and was greeted with a "hi" and a smile (no high-fives though). The restaurant is divided into separate dining areas, and each of the areas are not huge, so the dining is quite intimate. Joshua's is all about "fresh, organic, local" and you know being a yuppie from Ca, I was suckered in. But, i'll be happy to be suck...ok, I stop that thought right there... :-P We started with the lovely pate, which arrived with olives, and warm toast. The portions were generous and the pate was smooth, and mildly sweet. The boy had lamb (because I harassed him to) and I had two appetizers, the beef brochette and the crab cakes. The lamb melts in your mouth, and is served with carrots, brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. I like the addition of the brussel sprouts to an otherwise standard veggie medley, but in all honesty, the veggie medley paled in comparison to the luscious lamb, and seemed almost a distraction, you know? Like an iphone with an ugly cover or something. I wasn't impressed with the beef brochette, but happily surprised by the three skewers, that was enough for two to have an ample taste. The crab cakes, were fresh and just slightly seared so that they were crispy, also quite well done! We finished with the fudge pie and some homemade almond ice-cream, and both while also quite good, seemed to lack a little zip. yeah, very good, but I'd like a little more zip in my food.
(4)
Rich S.
A great restaurant bringing food grown at their farm to your table. If you are in the Wells Ogt area and are looking for a special meal for a resonable price, Joshuas is the place.
(5)
Lacey P.
Yeah, it's good. It didn't blow my mind, though. The lobster pie was good, the haddock was better. They bring house-baked bread varieties and it's in a cute house. I wish the menu was more adventurous. I am glad they use local and organic, but wish it weren't so expensive.
The food was fantastic, but the service was less than we expected (rude, irritated and rushed). Have eaten here several times and have always had the same experience.
(3)
Maria L.
Most of what I had to eat at Joshua's was very good....but the prices here are not that different than what I would pay for a good meal in Los Angeles. I had one of their specialities. lobster pie which was really more like lobster soup with a crust. ($26.00) The filling was simply lobster in a milky broth. The mashed potatoes on the plate were delicious. My appetizer,oysters , and my cocktail were fantastic. The main reason my rating is not higher is because the restaurant was not properly air conditioned. I was hoping that there was a problem with the air that day but I was informed that is the status quo for the restaurant. It was a hot day in Wells but not an unusual one. I have no idea why they expect their customers to be ok experiencing fine dining in this manner.
(3)
Jillian C.
Joshua's is a family-owned restaurant in a charming old farmhouse in Wells. We were pleasantly surprised to find this sort of farm-to-table concept during our week in Ogunquit, and will be back when we return next summer. We shared the duck liver pate to start and I was impressed at the creative (and sizeable) preparation-- very, very good. I ordered one of the specials (I was told that menu staples, including the halibut I had been eyeing, do not change and so it's best to try one of the specials, which change each evening), a hand-made corn ravioli with ricotta and a mix of other cheeses. It was served with the most delightfully fresh chard and vegetables from the garden, and a squash flower stuffed with eggplant. Very good! The male companion had the duck, which was also lovely (though nothing original). Nice wine list. Reservations are definitely a good idea; they only save one table for walk ins. We didn't have reservations, and waited about 45 minutes at the bar until our table was ready (we were expecting the wait and enjoyed some drinks in the meantime). The rustic atmosphere (think dining in a farmhouse living room with a bunch of strangers) is an interesting contrast to the forward-thinking nature of the cuisine. Definitely worth a try.
(4)
Joe T.
Great dinner! First visit this past weekend and will certainly visit again. Disappoints that they were out of crab cakes, fish, most of their breads, however. But what we had (I had filet and wife had chicken) was amazing. Will definitely be back!
(4)
Roland C.
Went to Joshua's to celebrate an anniversary and were skeptical about the outside of the restaurant because it's simply an old house. I didn't know how old until I read their website - 1700's so once inside, we really liked the rustic feel and the "walk back in time." Tom, our waiter, was wonderful - polite, smiled all the time, and he was knowledgeable about the menu. No problem with a couple of our special requests. The food was outstanding. My husband loved the tiger shrimp and the pork tenderloin could almost be cut with a fork. The homemade bread was so good it was difficult to stop eating it. My filet mignon was delicious. My in-laws loved their meals too, especially the lobster pie which was chock full of lobster and tasted out of this world. I would recommend the place to anyone and we will be returning to eat there again this summer.
(5)
Rachele V.
My husband and I were staying in Ogunquit and decided to have a late dinner. Little did we know how few options there would be at 9:00 on a Saturday night. Lo and behold, we stumbled upon Joshua's in Wells. We sat at the bar and had fabulous drinks while we waited for our food (we decided to get take out and go back to our hotel). The bartender was great, although I found the amount of scrutiny she placed on our IDs to be a bit over the top. I'm 28 and my husband is 32, although I guess we look slightly younger. She checked the height and eye color on our IDs! I've had cops check my ID at bars in downtown Boston that were less thorough! We enjoyed our drinks and the great atmosphere while we waited. The decor and lighting in Joshua's was delightful after all of the stuffy old-fashioned places we ate in Ogunquit during our weekend. Our appetizers and entrees were great and we can't wait to go back and eat there again. We might just eat all of our meals there the next time we come up for vacation!
(4)
Jodie G.
After reading all the great reviews of Joshua's here on Yelp, I decided that this was THE PLACE for us to have our 1st wedding anniversary dinner. The only problem was I couldn't get a hold of them to make a reservation in time. Fortunately, because of their fantastic service and a little flexibility on our part, the night was perfect. After waiting for a while for table to open up in the bar, the hosts graciously found us a table in the dining room and were so very kind and friendly to us the entire time. The food is, indeed, fantastic--very fresh and imaginatively prepared and served. I had the yellowfin tuna special, which I loved and my husband had the much-heralded haddock, which he only gave me 1 bite of--it was THAT good! We had the amazing creme brulee with raspberry sorbet (together, a perfect dessert). If you are in Wells celebrating something special, eat here!
(5)
Chris G.
Joshua's is the best restaurant I have been to anywhere in the northeast (including Boston). Joshua (who is the owner and chef) takes freshness very seriously. Everything in the restaurant is extremely fresh and hand-made daily and as much of it as possible comes directly from the family farm. In addition to his commitment to fresh ingredients, Joshua does a wonderful job of combining flavors and everything on the menu is worth a try at least once, so plan a few trips. My personal favorite are the lamb chops, I have had them several times now and every time the actual experience exceeds my memory. Don't miss out on the delicious homemade ice cream options for dessert too! Just one caution, the place is almost always packed, so make reservations and try to come early before the specials run out.
(5)
Greg S.
Outstanding restaurant! My wife and I ate here on vacation, after I researched locally sourced and organic restaurants. We were not disappointed at all. Where we're from in DC our meals would have been $40-50 / plate, whereas here we paid $25 a person. The service wasn't anything amazing but the waitress was polite and helpful, and the setting was kind of quaint (it's housed in an old farmhouse). We really enjoyed ourselves and the next time we're up that way we'll stop in again for sure.
(5)
Anna R.
My husband and I went to Joshua's this past weekend. It was the last night on our trip and we wanted something romantic and quiet to cap off the weekend. We only heard about Joshua's through a couple that we were friendly with at the bed and breakfast we were staying at. They insisted (and the innkeeper agreed) that Joshua's could not be missed. We called that morning to get a reservation, and the only one we could get was for 8:15, which we happily accepted given the accolades. If you are coming in season I would plan on making reservations further in advance than we did. Upon arriving to the restaurant we were greeted by a very polite host and hostess, and sat at the bar for about a half an hour until our table was ready. The lighting was perfect...romantic without being too dark. The setting was very homey, and still somehow managing to feel upscale. Our drinks were made very well, and the bartender was knowledgable and friendly. When our tables were ready we were seated in the room next to the bar. It was very quiet and intimate. We began our meal with the fried artichokes and chipotle sauce. The sauce is on the side, which I did appreciate just in case it was a little too spicy. It wasn't too spicy, it too was perfect...however, I will say that the artichokes were so amazing (with the perfect amount of salt) that they needed nothing to accompany them. For dinner I ordered the rack of lamb, and my husband ordered the pork tenderloin. My husband loved his pork (I didn't care for it too much, not really a fan of fruit and meat....but it doesn't matter as this dish wouldn't have appealed to me on the menu). The rack of lamb was to die for. Cooked perfectly with a light crust on the outside. The portion was fantastic, and the presentation was neat and not pretentious. If I were really digging for some suggestion to make the dish better...maybe a little less salt in the stuffing, but it is never something I would have complained about and the dish was still incredible. All in all, our experience at Joshua's was incredible, and we even have been talking about making Kennebunkport a yearly trip BECAUSE Joshua's was so incredible!!
(5)
A. K.
We have been here several times. This was our best meal. The wood grilled mushrooms are the best I have ever had. My partner loved the Tiger shrimp and the swordfish/shrimp special. Service was helpful. The bread is just wonderful. The duck was good but not great. But it was good. The organic Merlot wine for $27 a bottle was very nice. I loved the fact that the restaurant had wines that we could afford. 4.5 is my score!
(4)
john g.
We've been to Joshua's 3-4 times over the last four years and it has been consistently excellent. Were there again this past weekend and had another nice meal. Sat in the bar and the barmaid was very friendly and attentive. Overall a very pleasant experience and highly recommended. Prices are much better than Boston for a comparable meal.
(4)
Marko M.
Always good but can be hard to get a reservation in season which can last until October. Food uniformly good with local ingredients. great staff and always a nice time spent there. the bar can be a way to have a dinner without waiting for the dining room to clear.
(5)
Rosanne G.
Absolutely amazing! I've eaten at some great restaurants and I really feel this was the best meal ever! I am now addicted to the lightly fried fresh artichoke hearts with the most amazing spicy aioli sauce ever. The abundant beef brochette appetizer on rosemary skewers was superb too. And the duck was the tastiest ever! An ample quantity of tender breast meat with just the right hint of orange. The accompanying leg confit was delectable as well with crispy salty skin. My duck came cooked through which i appreciated, but if you like it rare, you may want to ask about that. My boyfriend enjoyed his chicken dish as well. He said it had a lemon flavor and i wish i had tried it, but i was not willing to allow room for anything else when my meal was so outstanding. We both agreed we loved the mashed potatoes. So smooth and fresh and without alot of added flavors. And i loved the veggies: brussel sprouts, broccolli, onions that seemed at least slightly carmelized. Loved the 3 types of warm fresh homemade bread, each with two slices so we could both try all. Would love to try the shrimp appetizer and the lamb entree next time. Unfortunately we passed on dessert this evening but they all sounded delicious. Waiter Sean was so helpful and attentive. The old farmhouse and small rooms with ambient lighting were perfect. I felt the large quantity of food and very reasonable prices reinforced the apeal. I just can't say enough great things about this place. Will be back soon!
(5)
Brian C.
The wife and I stayed in Ogunquit and decided to try this place based on the stellar reviews. We thought it was a good omen when the guys at the B&B we stayed at raved about this place. The place is nice and cozy (I think it used to be a house), and we were actually greeted by what I later learned was one of the owners. We started with the duck pate, which was rich, creamy, and not too full-flavored for the wife. It was a HUGE portion, and while we thought it was going to be too much, we surprised ourselves when we reached for more and found we'd eaten it all. The housemade bread was also really good, although that might have been from the generous portions of butter I used. :) I ordered the duck special - duck thigh confit and a grilled breast atop mashed potatoes and veggies. Tasting the duck was one of those beautiful moments when all else fades but the awesomeness going on in your mouth. The thigh was fall-apart tender, and the orange glaze on the breast was juuuuust enough to make its presence known. Contrasted with the char on the skin, it was phenomenal. The mashed and veg were good, but not mind-blowing. The wife had the haddock with the chive oil and mushroom risotto. Everything on her plate was really good, but in reality, how are you going to compete with duck two-ways?? I tasted her plate and made a quick return into the arms (wings?) of my duck. We were STUFFED but wanted to try their key lime cheesecake, so we took it to go. 6 days later (we got distracted), it was actually still really good, though the crust was definitely soggy by then. A great balance between acidity and sweetness. I think I could have eaten another couple of slices and not been overwhelmed. A GREAT place for a romantic dinner and great food. The reason I gave it four stars was that the food overall was quite salty. I definitely needed some water later that night and again in the morning. Still, we'll be coming back here next time we're in the area. For sure.
(4)
Mimi M.
My husband & I absolutely loved every single course of the meals we ate! Everything was so fresh & light it was a pleasure to have eaten there. We can't wait to return!
(5)
Dana F.
I went here for my birthday dinner on a cold, snowy, Tuesday night with my boyfriend. As a born and raised Mainer, I appreciated that this restaurant was truly Maine. It was a calm, cozy, mellow, rustic vibe. Only a few other people were there so we were able to choose our seats. Between the haddock and the vegetarian dish I chose the haddock. It was a very good sized portion and absolutely delicious. The shrimp appetizer was very fresh. The waitress was very polite and calming. This place is excellent food at a very good value.
Who would have thunk it .... one gets to Maine from sunny and laid back Colorado where all the good places close at the sheer sign of it getting dark as it seems people here simply don't stay put late and chain restaurants dominate, and one finds a true culinary delight. We got to Joshua's late Friday night and were told that there were no spots, should have made a reservation, that we could sit at the bar, blah, blah, blah. So needless to say we almost walked out but some internal voice said: you need to wait silly, it's full and folks are smiling. So we did. Apparently the non so friendly hostess (or as it seemed at the time due to hunger pains) was the owner, her, her hubby and son (Joshua) own the place. So we were seated and due to it being late they were out of few items but we ended up with the cold gazpacho, lobster pot pie, haddock and duck. As we were told Joshua is self taught in the culinary arts and let me tell you, it is an art in that place. Food was GREAT! The thoroughness of the meal, taste, spices were all in perfect "alignment" to please us. The presentation of the meal might have needed a bit work (but that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and did not take away from the food). Great place, cute interior with great, great food! Way to go Joshua!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Liz S.
Wow! Dinner at Joshua's was fabulous! The restaurant is unassuming in an old farmhouse and the inside is charming with an elegant decor. The dining area is comprised of several rooms which lends itself to an intimate setting. The menu is small, but covers a variety of dishes so everyone is sure to find something they will enjoy. i started with the fried artichokes while my date had the mixed greens with tomato vinaigrette. We both noted the freshness of the ingredients. Three types of bread were served, each fresh and hot. For entrees, we had the lamb chops and the stuffed chicken. The lamb was cooked perfectly and the chicken was flavorful and moist. Another in our group had the vegetarian special of gnocci which also was good. There was a mix-up in the kitchen which caused a delay in our entrees, but the chef's father visited our table to personally apologize. We didn't mind a bit - especially since they comped our wine. We passed on dessert, but look forward to returning soon! Overall, an excellent experience!
(5)
Roland C.
Went to Joshua's to celebrate an anniversary and were skeptical about the outside of the restaurant because it's simply an old house. I didn't know how old until I read their website - 1700's so once inside, we really liked the rustic feel and the "walk back in time." Tom, our waiter, was wonderful - polite, smiled all the time, and he was knowledgeable about the menu. No problem with a couple of our special requests. The food was outstanding. My husband loved the tiger shrimp and the pork tenderloin could almost be cut with a fork. The homemade bread was so good it was difficult to stop eating it. My filet mignon was delicious. My in-laws loved their meals too, especially the lobster pie which was chock full of lobster and tasted out of this world. I would recommend the place to anyone and we will be returning to eat there again this summer.
(5)
Rachele V.
My husband and I were staying in Ogunquit and decided to have a late dinner. Little did we know how few options there would be at 9:00 on a Saturday night. Lo and behold, we stumbled upon Joshua's in Wells. We sat at the bar and had fabulous drinks while we waited for our food (we decided to get take out and go back to our hotel). The bartender was great, although I found the amount of scrutiny she placed on our IDs to be a bit over the top. I'm 28 and my husband is 32, although I guess we look slightly younger. She checked the height and eye color on our IDs! I've had cops check my ID at bars in downtown Boston that were less thorough! We enjoyed our drinks and the great atmosphere while we waited. The decor and lighting in Joshua's was delightful after all of the stuffy old-fashioned places we ate in Ogunquit during our weekend. Our appetizers and entrees were great and we can't wait to go back and eat there again. We might just eat all of our meals there the next time we come up for vacation!
(4)
Jodie G.
After reading all the great reviews of Joshua's here on Yelp, I decided that this was THE PLACE for us to have our 1st wedding anniversary dinner. The only problem was I couldn't get a hold of them to make a reservation in time. Fortunately, because of their fantastic service and a little flexibility on our part, the night was perfect. After waiting for a while for table to open up in the bar, the hosts graciously found us a table in the dining room and were so very kind and friendly to us the entire time. The food is, indeed, fantastic--very fresh and imaginatively prepared and served. I had the yellowfin tuna special, which I loved and my husband had the much-heralded haddock, which he only gave me 1 bite of--it was THAT good! We had the amazing creme brulee with raspberry sorbet (together, a perfect dessert). If you are in Wells celebrating something special, eat here!
(5)
Chris G.
Joshua's is the best restaurant I have been to anywhere in the northeast (including Boston). Joshua (who is the owner and chef) takes freshness very seriously. Everything in the restaurant is extremely fresh and hand-made daily and as much of it as possible comes directly from the family farm. In addition to his commitment to fresh ingredients, Joshua does a wonderful job of combining flavors and everything on the menu is worth a try at least once, so plan a few trips. My personal favorite are the lamb chops, I have had them several times now and every time the actual experience exceeds my memory. Don't miss out on the delicious homemade ice cream options for dessert too! Just one caution, the place is almost always packed, so make reservations and try to come early before the specials run out.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Anna R.
My husband and I went to Joshua's this past weekend. It was the last night on our trip and we wanted something romantic and quiet to cap off the weekend. We only heard about Joshua's through a couple that we were friendly with at the bed and breakfast we were staying at. They insisted (and the innkeeper agreed) that Joshua's could not be missed. We called that morning to get a reservation, and the only one we could get was for 8:15, which we happily accepted given the accolades. If you are coming in season I would plan on making reservations further in advance than we did. Upon arriving to the restaurant we were greeted by a very polite host and hostess, and sat at the bar for about a half an hour until our table was ready. The lighting was perfect...romantic without being too dark. The setting was very homey, and still somehow managing to feel upscale. Our drinks were made very well, and the bartender was knowledgable and friendly. When our tables were ready we were seated in the room next to the bar. It was very quiet and intimate. We began our meal with the fried artichokes and chipotle sauce. The sauce is on the side, which I did appreciate just in case it was a little too spicy. It wasn't too spicy, it too was perfect...however, I will say that the artichokes were so amazing (with the perfect amount of salt) that they needed nothing to accompany them. For dinner I ordered the rack of lamb, and my husband ordered the pork tenderloin. My husband loved his pork (I didn't care for it too much, not really a fan of fruit and meat....but it doesn't matter as this dish wouldn't have appealed to me on the menu). The rack of lamb was to die for. Cooked perfectly with a light crust on the outside. The portion was fantastic, and the presentation was neat and not pretentious. If I were really digging for some suggestion to make the dish better...maybe a little less salt in the stuffing, but it is never something I would have complained about and the dish was still incredible. All in all, our experience at Joshua's was incredible, and we even have been talking about making Kennebunkport a yearly trip BECAUSE Joshua's was so incredible!!
(5)A. K.
We have been here several times. This was our best meal. The wood grilled mushrooms are the best I have ever had. My partner loved the Tiger shrimp and the swordfish/shrimp special. Service was helpful. The bread is just wonderful. The duck was good but not great. But it was good. The organic Merlot wine for $27 a bottle was very nice. I loved the fact that the restaurant had wines that we could afford. 4.5 is my score!
(4)john g.
We've been to Joshua's 3-4 times over the last four years and it has been consistently excellent. Were there again this past weekend and had another nice meal. Sat in the bar and the barmaid was very friendly and attentive. Overall a very pleasant experience and highly recommended. Prices are much better than Boston for a comparable meal.
(4)Marko M.
Always good but can be hard to get a reservation in season which can last until October. Food uniformly good with local ingredients. great staff and always a nice time spent there. the bar can be a way to have a dinner without waiting for the dining room to clear.
(5)Rosanne G.
Absolutely amazing! I've eaten at some great restaurants and I really feel this was the best meal ever! I am now addicted to the lightly fried fresh artichoke hearts with the most amazing spicy aioli sauce ever. The abundant beef brochette appetizer on rosemary skewers was superb too. And the duck was the tastiest ever! An ample quantity of tender breast meat with just the right hint of orange. The accompanying leg confit was delectable as well with crispy salty skin. My duck came cooked through which i appreciated, but if you like it rare, you may want to ask about that. My boyfriend enjoyed his chicken dish as well. He said it had a lemon flavor and i wish i had tried it, but i was not willing to allow room for anything else when my meal was so outstanding. We both agreed we loved the mashed potatoes. So smooth and fresh and without alot of added flavors. And i loved the veggies: brussel sprouts, broccolli, onions that seemed at least slightly carmelized. Loved the 3 types of warm fresh homemade bread, each with two slices so we could both try all. Would love to try the shrimp appetizer and the lamb entree next time. Unfortunately we passed on dessert this evening but they all sounded delicious. Waiter Sean was so helpful and attentive. The old farmhouse and small rooms with ambient lighting were perfect. I felt the large quantity of food and very reasonable prices reinforced the apeal. I just can't say enough great things about this place. Will be back soon!
(5)Brian C.
The wife and I stayed in Ogunquit and decided to try this place based on the stellar reviews. We thought it was a good omen when the guys at the B&B we stayed at raved about this place. The place is nice and cozy (I think it used to be a house), and we were actually greeted by what I later learned was one of the owners. We started with the duck pate, which was rich, creamy, and not too full-flavored for the wife. It was a HUGE portion, and while we thought it was going to be too much, we surprised ourselves when we reached for more and found we'd eaten it all. The housemade bread was also really good, although that might have been from the generous portions of butter I used. :) I ordered the duck special - duck thigh confit and a grilled breast atop mashed potatoes and veggies. Tasting the duck was one of those beautiful moments when all else fades but the awesomeness going on in your mouth. The thigh was fall-apart tender, and the orange glaze on the breast was juuuuust enough to make its presence known. Contrasted with the char on the skin, it was phenomenal. The mashed and veg were good, but not mind-blowing. The wife had the haddock with the chive oil and mushroom risotto. Everything on her plate was really good, but in reality, how are you going to compete with duck two-ways?? I tasted her plate and made a quick return into the arms (wings?) of my duck. We were STUFFED but wanted to try their key lime cheesecake, so we took it to go. 6 days later (we got distracted), it was actually still really good, though the crust was definitely soggy by then. A great balance between acidity and sweetness. I think I could have eaten another couple of slices and not been overwhelmed. A GREAT place for a romantic dinner and great food. The reason I gave it four stars was that the food overall was quite salty. I definitely needed some water later that night and again in the morning. Still, we'll be coming back here next time we're in the area. For sure.
(4)Mimi M.
My husband & I absolutely loved every single course of the meals we ate! Everything was so fresh & light it was a pleasure to have eaten there. We can't wait to return!
(5)G R.
Who would have thunk it .... one gets to Maine from sunny and laid back Colorado where all the good places close at the sheer sign of it getting dark as it seems people here simply don't stay put late and chain restaurants dominate, and one finds a true culinary delight. We got to Joshua's late Friday night and were told that there were no spots, should have made a reservation, that we could sit at the bar, blah, blah, blah. So needless to say we almost walked out but some internal voice said: you need to wait silly, it's full and folks are smiling. So we did. Apparently the non so friendly hostess (or as it seemed at the time due to hunger pains) was the owner, her, her hubby and son (Joshua) own the place. So we were seated and due to it being late they were out of few items but we ended up with the cold gazpacho, lobster pot pie, haddock and duck. As we were told Joshua is self taught in the culinary arts and let me tell you, it is an art in that place. Food was GREAT! The thoroughness of the meal, taste, spices were all in perfect "alignment" to please us. The presentation of the meal might have needed a bit work (but that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and did not take away from the food). Great place, cute interior with great, great food! Way to go Joshua!!!!!!!!!
(5)Liz S.
Wow! Dinner at Joshua's was fabulous! The restaurant is unassuming in an old farmhouse and the inside is charming with an elegant decor. The dining area is comprised of several rooms which lends itself to an intimate setting. The menu is small, but covers a variety of dishes so everyone is sure to find something they will enjoy. i started with the fried artichokes while my date had the mixed greens with tomato vinaigrette. We both noted the freshness of the ingredients. Three types of bread were served, each fresh and hot. For entrees, we had the lamb chops and the stuffed chicken. The lamb was cooked perfectly and the chicken was flavorful and moist. Another in our group had the vegetarian special of gnocci which also was good. There was a mix-up in the kitchen which caused a delay in our entrees, but the chef's father visited our table to personally apologize. We didn't mind a bit - especially since they comped our wine. We passed on dessert, but look forward to returning soon! Overall, an excellent experience!
(5)Bryan S.
Totally blown away by this Country Inn style restaurant, just outside of Ogunquit, ME. My favorite type of dining room - an old farmhouse with just a few tables per room and wonderful original details. A+ service! I had the drink special to start, a delicious wild maine blueberry cosmo - fresh, unique and delicoius. My caesar salad had the perfect blend of anchovy and creamy parmesan dressing. Anchovy fillets served on the side made each bite flavorful. For an entree I had the lobster pie, recommended by the server - it had a fresh, flaky crust and scrumptious fresh lobster meat in a delightfully light, yet full flavored, sauce. My dining partner had the baked haddock (I tried it!) - firm texture and full flavor, obviously fresh! Dinner ended with a slab of the in season Maine blueberry pie. Need I say more? If you are visiting Ogunquit, maybe take a pass on certain other over-publicized eateries, and try Joshua's - great food, good prices and fantastic service.
(5)Michael P.
I just ate one of the most remarkable meals of my life. The setting is lovely. A 18th century home divided into cosy rooms. The wines were fine and surprisingly affordable and the baguette crisp and perfect. My appetizer was a "special" and was mussels in a blue cheese sauce. It was so delicious I would go back to only eat that dish! That was pursued by a rare filet mignon with mashed potato and gravy. It melted in the mouth. No money could buy a finer steak. Full as I was I could not resist ordering the rhubarb pie. Normally I wouldn't because most American pies are too sweet and rhubarb is tart. I was assured by my waitress Parker it was truly tart and served with fresh cream, vanilla ice cream and cappuccino it was the ultimate conclusion to a memorable meal. I couldn't recommend a restaurant more. If there was a higher recommendation than 5 stars I would award it.
(5)T C.
Great service. Unique setting compared to anything else in town. Most creative menu in the area. Not a cheap night but it's fine dining. It's not supposed to be. You'll be catered to and enjoy it from start to finish. Highly recommend!
(4)Sal O.
If your looking for really good fresh food, this is the place for you. The restaurant is located in an old colonial built over 200 years ago. A lot of character and very romantic spot to take a date. We started with fried artichokes which were cooked perfectly and lots of flavor. Then we had the salad which tasted so fresh like it was just picked with just enough dressing. We then had the stuffed chicken with prosciutto and basil. So good!!!! Seasoned just right with creamy mash potatoes and tasty vegetables. We ended the meal with a slice of key lime pie which was very light and airy. It was better than some I have tasted in the Carribean. The only downfall was that it was a little pricey and be prepared to wait if you don't have a reservation. Service was great and we even got to hear some interesting farming stories from the owners father. A very nice evening.
(5)Jo-Ellen A.
Fine dining in Wells amidst touristy seafood places. A welcomed find. Make reservations days in advance to secure a table and time you'd like. Dining room is small and intimate. Food is well prepared and reasonable portions. Had the shrimp and haddock chowder and wood grilled mushrooms for starters. Entrees were haddock and rack of lamb. The lamb was the best I ever had!!! Desserts are all made on the premises. Had fresh local strawberry sorbet. Out of this world.
(5)Ellen O.
Really nice, intimate restaurant. The one caveat is that you almost always need a reservation. I think that helps them cut down the noise level and crowding in the front of the place. It's a lovely old house with nooks, crannies and a warm, converted porch. Appetizers are delicious and specials always inventive. We shared a beef skewer that was tender and very well seasoned. Any seafood dish is perfectly cooked and in season you get a lot of crisp tender veggies. Their filet mignon is famous, the only thing a friend of ours ever orders there. Vegetarian specials are unique, but usually have too much cream/dairy for me. Prices are the 24-35 range, but worth it. We highly recommend them.
(4)Jason B.
Absolutely the best, freshest meal I've had in ages. From the chefs bread selection to the veggies grown right in their own garden, Joshuas is most likely the best restaurant in Wells...try the tempura artichoke hearts for an appetizer. The Haddock, pan roasted served in a caramelized onion crust with mushroom risotto was top notch as was the pork tenderloin with perfectly whipped mashed potatoes and a sweet onion chutney. The fudge pie is heavenly, especially with the chefs home made ice cream. I wouldn't recommend it for children as this isn't that kind of place. Frankly it's too good for the likes of a typical kid....
(5)Brian G.
Right now, I am questioning all the 5 star reviews I have made to this point. I loved all those restaurants in different ways, and I suppose it's important to put each restaurant into context based on price level, type of cuisine, etc. However, Joshua's has altered the way I think about the fine dining experience, and for better and worse it will become a measuring stick against any similarly priced restaurant I dine at for the foreseeable future. Let's start with the excellent customer service. We procrastinated through the week, and Friday morning I decided to call Joshua's in the hopes of getting a reservation. I left a voice mail before I dove into work, and they called me back by 11 to confirm a table for us. Often times when i do this, I don't hear back from the restaurant, but they pretty obviously called me not long after getting my voice mail. We arrived 20 minutes early and they took us to our table, no questions asked. Our waiter was easily the among the best I've ever had. He knew the menu inside out and had thorough descriptions to match the dishes we inquired about. He suggested cocktails to meet our tastes and within minutes we were enjoying some stiff but quaffable drinks. Throughout the entire meal he was pleasant and subtly present, astutely knowing when to check in and when not to. I easily tipped 25% on what was already a pricy meal, because he earned every penny. So onto the food - I started with a smoked haddock chowder that was just the right thickness and consistency, with subtle smoke flavoring, tender chunks of potato and meaty morsels of fresh haddock. It was delicious. My wife got a basic greens salad with blue cheese chunks that were obviously very high quality, with a rich and buttery flavor. We followed these with two apps - mini crab cakes and roasted truffle mushrooms, with large shavings of cheese naturally melting on top. Both were incredibly flavorful, and the crab cakes were highly memorable. Still thinking about those. The entrees were top notch I had a seafood special with grouper, scallops, shrimp, mussels and lobster in a pernod-based sauce atop an orzo and spinach mix, all adorned with amazingly fresh, seasoned vegetables. The lobster was slightly overcooked and a little rubbery, the only blemish on an otherwise highly memorable dish. The way the slightly creamy sauce blended with everything was blissful. My wife got the filet, and it was very excellent. Ordered medium, it was delivered perfectly cooked. That's all that's really necessary with a good quality filet. What I liked about each course was that it was a perfect balance of price and portion. I didn't feel ripped off, and I wasn't overly stuffed even after 3 courses and a delicious, warm bread basket. We hardly ever order dessert, but this seemed like the right time. We split the special dessert, a banana bourbon cake with homemade caramel ice cream and chocolate sauce. Yes, they make their own ice cream. And it was all exceptional. Last point would be the ambiance of this place. It really feels like eating in someone's house. There is a very warm and inviting appeal to the design and feel of the dining areas and the bar. Overall, I highly recommend this place and look forward to returning.
(5)Bryan S.
Totally blown away by this Country Inn style restaurant, just outside of Ogunquit, ME. My favorite type of dining room - an old farmhouse with just a few tables per room and wonderful original details. A+ service! I had the drink special to start, a delicious wild maine blueberry cosmo - fresh, unique and delicoius. My caesar salad had the perfect blend of anchovy and creamy parmesan dressing. Anchovy fillets served on the side made each bite flavorful. For an entree I had the lobster pie, recommended by the server - it had a fresh, flaky crust and scrumptious fresh lobster meat in a delightfully light, yet full flavored, sauce. My dining partner had the baked haddock (I tried it!) - firm texture and full flavor, obviously fresh! Dinner ended with a slab of the in season Maine blueberry pie. Need I say more? If you are visiting Ogunquit, maybe take a pass on certain other over-publicized eateries, and try Joshua's - great food, good prices and fantastic service.
(5)Heather S.
My boyfriend and I ate here while on a short weekend beach vacation. We picked it based on the local, mostly organic and interesting sounding menu choices posted on their website. We were definitely pleased with our choice! Be warned that the place books up well in advance of the weekend in the summer. We called the Tuesday before and could only get 5 or 9 o'clock reservations for the following Saturday night (and they are closed Sundays). The food was amazing, from start to finish. The bread was homemade by Joshua and there were 3 delicious varieties. We started with a wood-grilled mushroom plate which was one of the best mushroom dishes I've ever had. There were many exotic varieties and the woody flavor was strong and scrumptious. For my main dish I had the vegetarian special, which varies but is always available. The day I went they had a ricotta herb pasta and some kind of crispy veggie corn patty, with tons of veggies (summer squash, green beans, carrots, zucchini, etc.). While a little salty, I loved it. My boyfriend had haddock with mushroom risotto and seasonal veggies, which was also outstanding. For dessert, I had a chocolate pudding cake with homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream. The ice cream tasted like eating real mint leaves with chocolate; it was amazing and very different. The boyfriend had fresh maine blueberry pie with homemade vanilla ice cream, which was also very good. The service was prompt and friendly (we were there at 5 while it was still relatively uncrowded), and we were personally greeted by Joshua's father near the end of the meal. Overall, this place is a nice family business that stands out in an area seemingly devoid of these type of top-notch restaurants.
(5)Kevin K.
Elegant atmosphere, but not pretentious. The waitress was pleasant and informative. And most importantly, the food was outstanding. I had the mixed green salad with a roasted tomato vinagrette dressing, followed by the vegetarian special which was their hand made enocchi with mixed vegetables. It was fabulous. My wife had the fresh Atlantic halibut with mashed potatoes and green beans. She loved it. We topped the meal off with a slice of key lime pie and pecan pie with home made maple ice cream. The service was great. I highly recommend this place and will be going back again.
(5)Jaime S.
Absolutely wonderful! I discovered this place thanks to Bryan's review here on Yelp....thank you Bryan! At first glance, the prices seem a bit high for Wells, Maine. In reality, $19 - 28 for entrees which would be considered five star here in Boston is nothing. I will even go out on a limb here and say that I would prefer to drive the hour and a half up to Wells to experience Joshua's than drive into Boston, pay for parking and pay a tab twice as expensive for food which is only half as good. We had the Maine Grown Organic Mixed Greens with buttermilk herb dressing and the fried Artichoke Hearts (think Tempura) to start. Both of these were delicious and light. The buttermilk herb dressing was full of flavor. For entrees, I had the Atlantic Haddock and my husband had the Chicken stuffed with Prosciutto, Basil & Provolone. Now, fish does not normally tickle my fancy when I am eating out, but something about this haddock caught my attention. I am so glad I ordered it! It was light and delicious and it paired beautifully with the wild mushroom risotto. Excellent. Meanwhile, my husband quite enjoyed his chicken. It was moist and flavorful. Both meals were equally delicious, in fact, it was one of the few times neither of us had entree envy! For desert we had the most amazing vanilla creme brulee. It was seriously sinful! In total, our tab was $125 including tip. This included all of the food above as well as two drinks each. Really a great value. The atmosphere at Joshua's is relaxed and intimate with white lights strung up around the windows and candles glowing on each table and in the fireplace. Each meal is made to order and Joshua (the chef) takes his time with each one. This provides plenty of enjoyable quality time to be spent with your dinner date. Don't plan to bring children to Joshua's as they would not enjoy the relaxed down-time between courses quite as much as the adults do. Joshua's is a family owned and operated business. The service is excellent. If you have a chance, say hello to Josh and his family. They are wonderful people who truly care about each other, the business and their customers. I am thrilled to give this restaurant 5 stars. If I could give them more, I would.
(5)Red So X.
OK, just a short and sweet review...this is a GREAT place to go for that two or four times a year you don't care about the cost...and even after you dine here you still won't care about the cost but be putting Joshua's on your list to come back to.
(5)Maggie M.
Great atmosphere, wine list. I was not super impressed by the haddock. The filet mignon was decent. Perhaps a wee bit overhyped.
(3)Suzanne C.
The people here are not very nice and the food is so so
(1)Bob E.
No questions- a wonderful and reasonably priced restaurant with a very talented chef. Must always call ahead for reservations as very popular- Great tasting cosmo's starters, mushroom risotto, atlantic cod and lamb are my favorites - haven't had a less than great experience in three years Beats a drive to Portland
(5)Alison H.
This place was 5 stars from start to finish, in every way (except one which I will explain). I like the atmosphere, it's in this colonial-style house that was probably built 200 years ago, but you walk in and it's this very classy and romantic restaurant. I went with my in laws for my husband's birthday, and this was absolutely a spectacular meal. Even my father in law (who is renowed for his ability to 'find things wrong with things') grudgingly admitted it was 'special' - if only I could convey to you how much that meant coming from him! We started by getting a round of the cosmos, we got the summery Cosmo with limoncello which was fine, though I have difficulty with strongly alcoholic drinks, I was able to pour some water into it and then it was tasty. I wish I had gotten the blueberry cosmo, it looked fantastic! With our drinks, we got homemade bread, and I have to tell you, the challah is the best. We also got several appetizers and all of those were amazing. I really loved what I got, which was tiger shrimp in this sauce of tomatoes and garlic (and white wine I think) with toasted bread. I could hardly stand giving any of it up but I wanted to save room for the main course, and the others at the table who tried it were very impressed. For my main course I got the vegetarian special which was herb and cheese agnolotti in a roasted tomato sauce with vegetables and a summer squash stuffed with corn. I'm not really a vegetable lover, but this was splendid. The pasta and sauce were the perfect compliment to the vegetables, and I was shocked at how delicious the corn-stuffed squash was. It was lightly battered and fried and it was indescribably good. I have never had something like this before and I think I'll have to come back to Joshua's to have some more! This was definitely not some sort of lip service vegetarian dish, this was just incredibly good, creative, well-made food that happened to be vegetarian. Other folks at the table polished off their lobster pie and haddock and proclaimed it to be fabulous. I tried the mushroom risotto that comes with the haddock and my husband looked at me as I ate the first bite and exclaimed "I've never seen you smile that big before! Why don't you smile that big for me?" We could hardly manage dessert, and while eating dinner, we talked about how we would need time to digest and would get dessert someplace else later. But then we saw the dessert menus and had to change our minds. I'm so glad we did! Even though I was stuffed, the blueberry pie with homemade vanilla ice cream was divine, and the chocolate cake dessert and creme brulee were scrumptious too. Just be aware that the mint chocolate chip is extremely minty. My husband usually enjoys mint ice cream and he gave his ice cream to his brother because it was too intense. So overall, the service was great and the food was priced as one would expect, the only thing I will say was less than perfection was the hostess. When my mother in law called for the reservation, the hostess was very haughty about only having a 5pm slot available and threateningly said a few times during the conversation that "WELL, there are PLENTY of other people who would LOVE to have this reservation time if you don't want it." When we actually showed up, she also had an attitude in person. She wasn't overtly rude, but she did hold off on seating us until "all of our party had arrived" which was totally unnecessary since the rest of our party was clearly visible smelling the flowers out the window in the parking lot, she didn't want to seat us until they had physically stepped into the building. Mildly ridiculous, I mean we did have a reservation. I certainly wouldn't say not to go to this place just because the hostess has an attitude though, the important thing is once we made it past her, we had a delightful evening, and I'd love to go back!
(5)Rich S.
A great restaurant bringing food grown at their farm to your table. If you are in the Wells Ogt area and are looking for a special meal for a resonable price, Joshuas is the place.
(5)Lacey P.
Yeah, it's good. It didn't blow my mind, though. The lobster pie was good, the haddock was better. They bring house-baked bread varieties and it's in a cute house. I wish the menu was more adventurous. I am glad they use local and organic, but wish it weren't so expensive.
(3)Greg S.
Outstanding restaurant! My wife and I ate here on vacation, after I researched locally sourced and organic restaurants. We were not disappointed at all. Where we're from in DC our meals would have been $40-50 / plate, whereas here we paid $25 a person. The service wasn't anything amazing but the waitress was polite and helpful, and the setting was kind of quaint (it's housed in an old farmhouse). We really enjoyed ourselves and the next time we're up that way we'll stop in again for sure.
(5)Dana F.
I went here for my birthday dinner on a cold, snowy, Tuesday night with my boyfriend. As a born and raised Mainer, I appreciated that this restaurant was truly Maine. It was a calm, cozy, mellow, rustic vibe. Only a few other people were there so we were able to choose our seats. Between the haddock and the vegetarian dish I chose the haddock. It was a very good sized portion and absolutely delicious. The shrimp appetizer was very fresh. The waitress was very polite and calming. This place is excellent food at a very good value.
(5)Brian K.
A fabulous, elegant dinner in a tasteful and historic setting. Joshua's provided the best fine dining experience I've had in years. The restaurant is a 200-year old house with beautifully restored plank floors. Pleasant gardens surround the walkways to the door. Just about everything served is made in-house, including the bread. We found that the appetizers and entrees are made from simple, fresh ingredients combined to complement each other. The filet mignon I ordered was seared perfectly, and cooked medium rare properly. It came with a simple burgundy reduction, some fresh sugar snap peas, zucchini, and carrots, and mashed potatoes. Desserts are amazing. Don't be afraid to just get a scoop of ice cream. While it may sound plain, the ice cream is homemade and divine. Definitely worth the price and another visit!
(5)Paul B.
Delicious gourmet food served at a 200 year old home. We couldn't make a reservation through Open Table since they don't participate. (They don't have to - all sittings were filled for the next 2 days). We left our cell phone # & they called when there was a cancellation. I had wood grilled mushrooms with shaved Parmesan cheese that was delicious. My wife had a salad with fresh greens & tomatoes with mozzarella & balsamic vinegar.....fresh,fresh,fresh. The breads are baked on the premises & we had 2 baskets. My entree was pork tenderloin in a chutney sauce with mashed potatoes & fresh green beans, carrots & zucchini. Yum. My wife had a rare filet mignon that would melt in your mouth. After this meal we were stuffed but we couldn't pass up a dessert of a Maine blueberry pie with homemade ice cream & fresh whipped cream. All this with great service in a romantic atmosphere.
(5)Ruth L.
My husband, daughter, her fiancee, and I went here for dinner for my birthday. We had chicken, pork, lamb, and duck for entrees. All delicious! Also orders mushrooms and fried artichokes as appetizers then peach Melba pound cake and creme brulee for desserts. Everything including the complimentary bread basket was excellent. The service was very good and the ambiance was lovely--an old farm house redone. If there was any problem it was that all the guests were grey hairs, lol!
(5)Kristie M.
The best place to eat in the area! Food is delicious, atmosphere perfect for any occasion. A must!
(5)Jillian C.
Joshua's is a family-owned restaurant in a charming old farmhouse in Wells. We were pleasantly surprised to find this sort of farm-to-table concept during our week in Ogunquit, and will be back when we return next summer. We shared the duck liver pate to start and I was impressed at the creative (and sizeable) preparation-- very, very good. I ordered one of the specials (I was told that menu staples, including the halibut I had been eyeing, do not change and so it's best to try one of the specials, which change each evening), a hand-made corn ravioli with ricotta and a mix of other cheeses. It was served with the most delightfully fresh chard and vegetables from the garden, and a squash flower stuffed with eggplant. Very good! The male companion had the duck, which was also lovely (though nothing original). Nice wine list. Reservations are definitely a good idea; they only save one table for walk ins. We didn't have reservations, and waited about 45 minutes at the bar until our table was ready (we were expecting the wait and enjoyed some drinks in the meantime). The rustic atmosphere (think dining in a farmhouse living room with a bunch of strangers) is an interesting contrast to the forward-thinking nature of the cuisine. Definitely worth a try.
(4)Joe T.
Great dinner! First visit this past weekend and will certainly visit again. Disappoints that they were out of crab cakes, fish, most of their breads, however. But what we had (I had filet and wife had chicken) was amazing. Will definitely be back!
(4)Rose S.
wonderful service delicious food and great ambiance.
(5)I Love Beef C.
Joshua's is a solid family owned restaurant with good quality produce and seafood. The staff is friendly, and one can sense that this place is a neighborhood gem. Perhaps there was a higher expectation towards Joshua's due to the current ratings, the formal setting, as well as my self-admitted NY/SF snobbery. The only issue I have with it is that the dishes themselves lack a sense of sophistication in its execution. You get exactly what you read, and although everything tasted fresh and reasonably tasty, the overall feeling was, "that was good - nothing new or inventive, but good." For example, my date ordered the lobster pot pie ($28), which was the special for the evening. The pot pie was fine, but the pie itself was served in a somewhat watery base with solely lobster; there were vegetables served on the side, but I imagine that pot pies normally are bursting with creamy vegetables, herbs and meat based goodness, which this dish lacked. Another example was the fried artichoke hearts served with a chipotle aioli ($10). Once again, the dish itself was good due to it's freshness, but the aioli was fine, but nothing inventive, imaginative or new, which could also be said with my swordfish special served with fresh vegetables over mashed potatoes. I believe Joshua's has the capability of being a truly amazing restaurant with a little more thought and creativity.
(3)Doris L.
The mushroom starter was delicious, rack of lamb and gnocchi were perfect and dessert was yummy. Service was friendly, helpful and efficient. We will be returning very soon.
(5)Monica L.
The homemade breads were excellent. The lobster pie was good, but not amazing. The fudge pie is a definite thumbs up. Service was excellent.
(4)Bridget L.
I would've liked to give 5 stars, I had such high hopes for this restaurant, it came highly recommended. It started out okay, they had two drink specials that we tried and they were delicious. That being said it went downhill from there, we had to ask for the bread, so okay, one little glitch, then our entries came, My husband had the filet mignon, medium, what he received was medium well and asked the waitress to bring it back and get it correctly cooked, the owner came out, with a huge attitude and said it was cooked medium the cook said so(the cook is her son we found out), so we told her no, it is over cooked we want a warm pink center, she was very rude, but brought it back to the kitchen, then came back with the same piece of meat and tried to prove to us that it was cooked correctly, which it still wasn't, so we said, nevermind, just take it off the bill, which they did. By this time we were beyond frustrated, but we were with another couple and they convinced us to try dessert, which we did, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either, I will say that the mint chocolate chip ice cream was extremely fresh and minty tasting. When we left, they owner didn't even say good night and/or thank you for coming, they said it to other guests though. I might also add I got the duck, the flavors were well done, but it too was overcooked and a bit dry. I will never recommend this place to anyone else, and I will never ever set foot in this establishment again either. Extremely disappointing.
(1)Brian K.
A fabulous, elegant dinner in a tasteful and historic setting. Joshua's provided the best fine dining experience I've had in years. The restaurant is a 200-year old house with beautifully restored plank floors. Pleasant gardens surround the walkways to the door. Just about everything served is made in-house, including the bread. We found that the appetizers and entrees are made from simple, fresh ingredients combined to complement each other. The filet mignon I ordered was seared perfectly, and cooked medium rare properly. It came with a simple burgundy reduction, some fresh sugar snap peas, zucchini, and carrots, and mashed potatoes. Desserts are amazing. Don't be afraid to just get a scoop of ice cream. While it may sound plain, the ice cream is homemade and divine. Definitely worth the price and another visit!
(5)Rose S.
wonderful service delicious food and great ambiance.
(5)Jason B.
Absolutely the best, freshest meal I've had in ages. From the chefs bread selection to the veggies grown right in their own garden, Joshuas is most likely the best restaurant in Wells...try the tempura artichoke hearts for an appetizer. The Haddock, pan roasted served in a caramelized onion crust with mushroom risotto was top notch as was the pork tenderloin with perfectly whipped mashed potatoes and a sweet onion chutney. The fudge pie is heavenly, especially with the chefs home made ice cream. I wouldn't recommend it for children as this isn't that kind of place. Frankly it's too good for the likes of a typical kid....
(5)Paul B.
Delicious gourmet food served at a 200 year old home. We couldn't make a reservation through Open Table since they don't participate. (They don't have to - all sittings were filled for the next 2 days). We left our cell phone # & they called when there was a cancellation. I had wood grilled mushrooms with shaved Parmesan cheese that was delicious. My wife had a salad with fresh greens & tomatoes with mozzarella & balsamic vinegar.....fresh,fresh,fresh. The breads are baked on the premises & we had 2 baskets. My entree was pork tenderloin in a chutney sauce with mashed potatoes & fresh green beans, carrots & zucchini. Yum. My wife had a rare filet mignon that would melt in your mouth. After this meal we were stuffed but we couldn't pass up a dessert of a Maine blueberry pie with homemade ice cream & fresh whipped cream. All this with great service in a romantic atmosphere.
(5)Michael P.
I just ate one of the most remarkable meals of my life. The setting is lovely. A 18th century home divided into cosy rooms. The wines were fine and surprisingly affordable and the baguette crisp and perfect. My appetizer was a "special" and was mussels in a blue cheese sauce. It was so delicious I would go back to only eat that dish! That was pursued by a rare filet mignon with mashed potato and gravy. It melted in the mouth. No money could buy a finer steak. Full as I was I could not resist ordering the rhubarb pie. Normally I wouldn't because most American pies are too sweet and rhubarb is tart. I was assured by my waitress Parker it was truly tart and served with fresh cream, vanilla ice cream and cappuccino it was the ultimate conclusion to a memorable meal. I couldn't recommend a restaurant more. If there was a higher recommendation than 5 stars I would award it.
(5)T C.
Great service. Unique setting compared to anything else in town. Most creative menu in the area. Not a cheap night but it's fine dining. It's not supposed to be. You'll be catered to and enjoy it from start to finish. Highly recommend!
(4)Jo-Ellen A.
Fine dining in Wells amidst touristy seafood places. A welcomed find. Make reservations days in advance to secure a table and time you'd like. Dining room is small and intimate. Food is well prepared and reasonable portions. Had the shrimp and haddock chowder and wood grilled mushrooms for starters. Entrees were haddock and rack of lamb. The lamb was the best I ever had!!! Desserts are all made on the premises. Had fresh local strawberry sorbet. Out of this world.
(5)Bill L.
STUNNINGLY OVERRATED. When I went to visit my cousin, it was her 32nd anniversary and her husband was working. But she had secured a reservation at Joshua's in Wells, Maine. As she had been there before I was expecting a great time.... We arrived there about 30 minutes early and were greeted by the owners, a husband with a warm, welcoming smile and his wife. The wife looked at us with a sneer like Lucy Ricardo taught Charles Boyer in " I Love Lucy." RED FLAG. We should have turned around then. Through her condescending and pretentious tone, we were informed that there really was no place to wait other than the postage stamp sized bar. So off we went. The bartender was so nice and welcoming that we were instantly put at ease. The bar was packed with the other patrons, who were sentences to wait. Several people mentioned how hard the stools were " like they want you to drink then go home." RED FLAG. At our reservation time, we were escorted into the restaurant and seated at 7:45pm but not before we were handed the drink bill and TOLD to settle up with the bar. In almost every restaurant I've been to, the bar bill can just be added onto the dinner check. NOT HERE I was corrected and our seating waited until I returned. RED FLAG. The staff was whizzing by with lots of activity in a continual stream. Our waiter TOM, greeted us and took our drink orders while we looked at the menu. At 7:50pm, my cousin ordered a filet mignon ( TOM said, " any place can cook a steak, right?") and I ordered the lamb with Caesar salads to start. We got our salads about 20 minutes later. At the 1 hour mark, I asked Tom what the hold up was? He seemed surprised and said that " I tell most people it'll be at least 35 minutes but because you ordered AFTER these two groups, your order was running behind." No apology. I really don't appreciate being lied to. We had ordered everything at 7:50pm and finally got our order at 8:50pm...and frankly the food was underwhelming. Small portions, overcooked vegetables. My cousin was shocked by how bad the evening was going. I told her of my conversation with TOM and she was dismayed and we were quickly done with our meals. She wanted dessert, as this was her anniversary. TOM came to the table to ask about dessert and my cousin ordered the key lime pie. No asking about coffee...I wasn't surprised as he was very sheepish every time he approached the table from now on.I told TOM I'd had plenty, thank you. 20 minutes later the pie arrived with a little candle on it. It was very good, she told me. RED FLAG. But in a snap, we got the bill. Of course, right?! There were SO many opportunities for TOM to make the night right but he chose none. He could've come to the table and apologized to my cousin as this was her night. NOPE. He could have comp'd her pie. NOPE. He could have been ATTENTIVE, which he wasn't. NOPE. When we got home, we looked at the Yelp reviews and how many 5 Stars they got. We were stunned as this experience was NOTHING close to 5 star service especially as this was one of the most pompous and pretentious experiences we've had at a restaurant. They could not have tried harder to leave a bad taste in our mouths...the bill sealed the deal. Caveat Emptor...LET THE BUYER BEWARE.
(1)Scott M.
This is one of the best restaurants we have ever been to. Fantastic atmosphere, incredible food and great value for money. This is a must!
(5)Sal O.
If your looking for really good fresh food, this is the place for you. The restaurant is located in an old colonial built over 200 years ago. A lot of character and very romantic spot to take a date. We started with fried artichokes which were cooked perfectly and lots of flavor. Then we had the salad which tasted so fresh like it was just picked with just enough dressing. We then had the stuffed chicken with prosciutto and basil. So good!!!! Seasoned just right with creamy mash potatoes and tasty vegetables. We ended the meal with a slice of key lime pie which was very light and airy. It was better than some I have tasted in the Carribean. The only downfall was that it was a little pricey and be prepared to wait if you don't have a reservation. Service was great and we even got to hear some interesting farming stories from the owners father. A very nice evening.
(5)Brian G.
Right now, I am questioning all the 5 star reviews I have made to this point. I loved all those restaurants in different ways, and I suppose it's important to put each restaurant into context based on price level, type of cuisine, etc. However, Joshua's has altered the way I think about the fine dining experience, and for better and worse it will become a measuring stick against any similarly priced restaurant I dine at for the foreseeable future. Let's start with the excellent customer service. We procrastinated through the week, and Friday morning I decided to call Joshua's in the hopes of getting a reservation. I left a voice mail before I dove into work, and they called me back by 11 to confirm a table for us. Often times when i do this, I don't hear back from the restaurant, but they pretty obviously called me not long after getting my voice mail. We arrived 20 minutes early and they took us to our table, no questions asked. Our waiter was easily the among the best I've ever had. He knew the menu inside out and had thorough descriptions to match the dishes we inquired about. He suggested cocktails to meet our tastes and within minutes we were enjoying some stiff but quaffable drinks. Throughout the entire meal he was pleasant and subtly present, astutely knowing when to check in and when not to. I easily tipped 25% on what was already a pricy meal, because he earned every penny. So onto the food - I started with a smoked haddock chowder that was just the right thickness and consistency, with subtle smoke flavoring, tender chunks of potato and meaty morsels of fresh haddock. It was delicious. My wife got a basic greens salad with blue cheese chunks that were obviously very high quality, with a rich and buttery flavor. We followed these with two apps - mini crab cakes and roasted truffle mushrooms, with large shavings of cheese naturally melting on top. Both were incredibly flavorful, and the crab cakes were highly memorable. Still thinking about those. The entrees were top notch I had a seafood special with grouper, scallops, shrimp, mussels and lobster in a pernod-based sauce atop an orzo and spinach mix, all adorned with amazingly fresh, seasoned vegetables. The lobster was slightly overcooked and a little rubbery, the only blemish on an otherwise highly memorable dish. The way the slightly creamy sauce blended with everything was blissful. My wife got the filet, and it was very excellent. Ordered medium, it was delivered perfectly cooked. That's all that's really necessary with a good quality filet. What I liked about each course was that it was a perfect balance of price and portion. I didn't feel ripped off, and I wasn't overly stuffed even after 3 courses and a delicious, warm bread basket. We hardly ever order dessert, but this seemed like the right time. We split the special dessert, a banana bourbon cake with homemade caramel ice cream and chocolate sauce. Yes, they make their own ice cream. And it was all exceptional. Last point would be the ambiance of this place. It really feels like eating in someone's house. There is a very warm and inviting appeal to the design and feel of the dining areas and the bar. Overall, I highly recommend this place and look forward to returning.
(5)Ellen O.
Really nice, intimate restaurant. The one caveat is that you almost always need a reservation. I think that helps them cut down the noise level and crowding in the front of the place. It's a lovely old house with nooks, crannies and a warm, converted porch. Appetizers are delicious and specials always inventive. We shared a beef skewer that was tender and very well seasoned. Any seafood dish is perfectly cooked and in season you get a lot of crisp tender veggies. Their filet mignon is famous, the only thing a friend of ours ever orders there. Vegetarian specials are unique, but usually have too much cream/dairy for me. Prices are the 24-35 range, but worth it. We highly recommend them.
(4)Ruth L.
My husband, daughter, her fiancee, and I went here for dinner for my birthday. We had chicken, pork, lamb, and duck for entrees. All delicious! Also orders mushrooms and fried artichokes as appetizers then peach Melba pound cake and creme brulee for desserts. Everything including the complimentary bread basket was excellent. The service was very good and the ambiance was lovely--an old farm house redone. If there was any problem it was that all the guests were grey hairs, lol!
(5)Kristie M.
The best place to eat in the area! Food is delicious, atmosphere perfect for any occasion. A must!
(5)Karen J.
Every time we eat here, which is fairly often, I can't believe how wonderful everything is, from the service, cocktails, homemade bread, apps, entrees, beer & wine list, to the dessert. The menu is on the small side but they have some nice specials every night and the variety of choices are more than enough to make anyone happy. I always appreciate really fresh seafood and they usually have at least 3 choices based on what is available that day fresh off the boat. They also do a mushroom stuffed rack of lamb, a yummy stuffed chicken breast, and a filet, but for the last several visits I have ordered the vegetarian special. I am not a vegetarian by any means, but the homemade ravioli, stuffed with wild mushrooms and topped with a fried cheese stuffed squash blossom last night, along with the abundance of beautiful veggies and greens that are grown in the restaurant's own organic garden make this such an amazing dish. I had the duck pate as an app and it was out of this world- earthy and so full of flavor, served on a bed of fresh butter lettuce lightly coated with a vinegary dressing, accompanied by homemade crusty bread, cornichons, olives, and mustard. They serve some of their wine by the half bottle and I tried an Old Vines Red Zin that went perfectly with my meal. I began my evening with one of their seasonal cocktails- a beautiful strawberry cosmo, not too sweet and perfectly chilled. This and the blood orange cosmo they make in the late winter are my favorites; they also have a blueberry cosmo later in the summer. A nice selection of bottled beers is also available. My husband always orders the garlicky shrimp and red pepper saute from the app menu, and last night he also had one of the specials- an perfectly dressed and fresh from the garden spinach and arugula salad with fried goat cheese. The finale was house-made warm peach pie and vanilla ice cream with a perfect cup of coffee. Joshua's is located in a restored Colonial on Route One in Wells. The wide plank floors and subtle lighting give the rooms a warm glow and one has a feeling of dining in someone's home rather than in a restaurant. The bar is especially cozy and inviting but you need to get there early to snag seats. Given the quality of the dining experience I think the prices are quite reasonable at Joshua's compared to other high end restaurants. I always leave Joshua's with a smile on my face and the feeling that if this were to be my last meal I'd be fine with that!
(5)Dwight F.
Nice to have tourists come, eat and post 5 stars. Joshua's needs a better way to accommodate locals in busy tourist season. Locals after all are their mainstay in the cold of winter when the tourists and their reviews are only a memory.
(2)Cindi W.
Having been there several times in the past....called almost two weeks ago to make a reservation for Steve's sixtieth. Called back to confirm tonight, and was told I had no reservation.....pretty annoyed, however His favorite steakhouse was happy to oblige with a corner table overlooking the water. It's only food people, and quite frankly you aren't that special.....
(1)Susan B.
What do you get when you combine farm fresh food, brilliant recipes and charming decor? Joshua's. Fair warning, if you have a late reservation (and you need a reservation) don't be surprised if they are out of some items. Everything is delicious so you can't go wrong. We found out that you can reserve an item on the special menu. Their menu changes regularly. Service was timely and not rushed.
(5)Philip D.
If you are looking for a new restaurant to try, look no further! This hidden jewel is tucked away on Route 1 in Wells. We loved everything about this restaurant. Our server, Ann E was pleasant, friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. To start, we both had a salad. The salads were cold, crisp and very well dressed. For the main course I had the 8 oz filet and my wife had the rack of lamb. Both dishes came with mashed potato, not our favorite side but our server, Ann suggested the mushroom risotto. The filet was ordered rare, the lamb medium rare and both came out as ordered, tender, very well seasoned and delivered on a warm plate. And the mushroom risotto was a great accompaniment to the fillet and lamb, it was absolutely delicious! They also had a nice selection of 1/2 bottles of wine. We chose the Chateauneuf-du pape which pairs nice with beef and lamb. Our final course, 2 decaf cappuccinos and Blueberry Pie for me, Maple Walnut Pie for my wife both with a scoop of vanilla ice cream ~ the end to the perfect meal!!
(5)Tony S.
What a fabulous evening at Joshua's! We went there without reservations in hopes for a seat at the bar and luckily we were able to get in. Christina is an excellent bartender, making exceptional cocktails out of purees made from in season fruits etc...I had a mango habenero margarita that was divine. The food was equally as exciting...fresh seafood dishes, great filet mignon and wonderful appetizers. We will return shortly.
(5)Andy V.
Joshua's offers traditional "American" cuisine, i.e. duck, lobster, rack of lamb. The restaurant pride's itself on locally farmed ingredients and the difference is readily apparent on the palate. The vibe is strictly old-school, i.e. older couples, families with older children. This is the place your parents brought you on special occasions and if you were old enough to sit still for an hour and a half. The appetizer selection is mostly uninspired; we ordered artichokes which suffered from a heavy-handed frying. For our entrees, we ordered the duck leg and breast confit and the rack of lamb, with mashed potatoes, mushrooms, in a wine-reduction sauce. The lamb was perfectly cooked medium rare, each bite melting in your mouth releasing that wonderful lamb flavor. I give it an "A"! The duck was freshly prepared but the needed a contrasting sauce to better bring out its delicate flavor. B+ for the Duck. For dessert we shared the special pound cake with lemon curd accompanied by homemade caramel ice cream. This was not your mother's Sara Lee pound cake! The ice cream does not come with the cake; you have to order it at an additional cost. What's more, there was a cake/ice cream coordination problem with the ice cream arriving well-melted. So would we return again? Probably not. Although we mostly enjoyed the dinner, the lack of consistency of the food given the price and the fact Ogunquit is becoming the hub for more innovative and exciting restaurants lessens its appeal. Also I'd like to see one or two couple under 50 dining with us (keeps us young :-)
(3)Louis F.
What a great recommendation . Friends from Ogunquit , have been raving and I can see why. The food,the service, the drinks and overall atmosphere were amazing. The apps were really fresh and tasty especially the tenderloin on the rosemary skewers, the shrimp bruschetta was crazy good ! I had the duck for dinner , it was so awesome, cooked and presented to perfection! I can't wait to go back !!!!
(5)Randy C.
Our first time here after many recommendations. I have to say we had high expectations and were not dissapointed. Our waitperson Jen G was excellent-she was not only attentive, prompt and polite, but she offered some great ideas on food selections and items to try together. My wife had the lobster pie which she said was excellent--- no heavy newburg sauce---and the portion must have been a whole lobster. I had the pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes and house vegetables, all of which are grown by the owner. Dessert was walnut pie with maple walnut ice cream, all of which is homemade on the premises. We will definitely return for the great service food and ambiance. It is a small old house, nicely preserved. You will need reservations
(5)Ben O.
I love this place. Great food. Excellent in the off-season (a little busy in the on-season). Homemade bread is amazing. I have had a variety of the entrees and have yet to be disappointed. Only negative: I tried to go there during the fall without a reservation and the hostess looked at me like I had 6 heads. Friends of ours often eat in the bar (which was empty) and we volunteered for that. We sat down for a drink and then were told a table was ready for us. Nice of them to fit us in, but they didn't have to make a big deal out of us not having a reservation. Either you can accommodate us or not. That was not enough to spoil us off of this place though.
(5)Travis J.
Went to Joshua's for the first time and we were not disappointed from start to finish! Great apps, main course and dessert! We were there for 2hrs and never felt rushed and the atmosphere was very homey and intimate. They are a little pricey but their drinks were reasonable and you could taste the freshness of the veggies! We will definitely be returning! Reservation is recommended.
(5)Bill H.
Phenomenal atmoshphere, perfect pacing of the meal and food to die for. My wife got the artichoke tempura as a starter and I got the beef tenderloin. Both were cooked perfectly. My wife got the duck for her meal and I got the chicken. She raved about the duck. The chicken was delicious. We got caramel and dark chocolate ice cream for dessert with the chocolate bark. Our waiter, Patrick, friendly, sociable and never made us feel rushed.
(5)Bruce T.
Went to Joshua's tonight and the food was as always excellent. The best news was that the lobster pie was on the menu! We had the best server named Jen, she was awesome! Very polite and always made sure our needs were met. Jen is why Joshua's stands out from all the other restaurants, it's the quality of food and service that you get there! Bruce& Maryann
(5)Chantel H.
Had a great meal with my husband for my birthday! The wait staff was attentive without being intrusive. We shared the fried artichokes & sautéed mushrooms. They were delicious. The bread basket held three kinds of homemade breads that were excellent. My husband had a "to die for" pappardelle with beef dish & I had the crab cakes appetizer. Everything was excellent!
(5)Scott S.
We were traveling on vacation and Joshua's was recommended by a local. Great food and great staff. Definitely would return.
(5)Jim L.
I pretty much agree with the other reviewers - I guess I'm just stingier with handing out 5 stars. The service was excellent - friendly and relaxed. We have been eating too much on this holiday and were looking for something a little lighter. I chose the soupe du jour and halibut with risotto as the main course. Well prepared, delicate flavours that met my objective of a lighter meal. One of my better meals, but not one of the best ones. One disappointment for me in New England is that no one seems to have an espresso machine - even a fine restaurant like Joshua's.
(4)Sara P.
This is my first 5 star review, because Joshua's deserves it! The food is creative, elegant and delicious. The service is always great, and the cocktail menu is fun and sometimes exotic. This place is amazing!
(5)Meredith E.
Went to this place for the first time last year with my family on vacation. Weren't sure what to expect, except that it had good Yelp reviews and seemed classy. We were very pleased with our meal and the atmosphere here. The food was delish, and we are looking forward to returning again this summer!
(5)Chris B.
I enjoyed an amazing dinner with my wife. the food was top notch and the atmosphere was romantic. possibly the best dinner in Wells!
(5)Francis M.
We arrived to Joshua's before our reservation because we wanted to have a drink at the bar. Upon arrival we checked in with the owners and was told there was a wait to sit at the bar so we got drinks and stood at the bar. The couple that was ahead of us sat shortly after we arrived which should have made us the next party to be seated at the bar. More seats opened up and when we sat down we were quickly told by the owner that the seats were spoken for. I explained to him that we have been standing for well over an hour and surely we would be next to sit. He left briefly and told us that we may sit. Minutes after we got our drinks we were told our table was ready. The bartender was very busy and wasn't able to give us our tab immediately. The owner returned saw our money on the bar and thought we had paid , we told him we were still waiting to pay he said "pay it." At this point I was so furious with the service I wanted to walk out the door, but we had read great reviews and stayed. I have never been treated so poorly in a restaurant, and I have been to some of the finest restaurant in the US.
(1)Ken S.
My wife and I hadn't been to Joshua's for a few months. Bottom line? Our loss. This place, time and time again continues to serve up and outstanding dining experience. Certainly worth the hour and ten minute drive to this fine restaurant.
(5)Susan H.
We went here after a recommendation from the innkeeper we were staying with. Joshua's is located on Route 1 in a beautiful old colonial house. We made reservations after being told it was hard to get in without them. The hostess was friendly. Our waitress, Parker, was one of the best I've had. She was warm and friendly and gave great recommendations. The filet and salmon were both spectacular but the true star (for me anyway) was the homemade mint ice cream. Apparently they grow the mint outback that they use and you could tell!!!! The service was so amazing that as we were pulling out of the parking lot, a bus girl chased us down because my boyfriend had forgotten his hat at the table. If you are near Wells, I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Cheryl M.
Joshua's is my go to fine dining experience. Not pretentious the perfect atmosphere and a well paced food service. The food is always of excellent quality, well prepared and homemade. Joshua's food is always consistently good. My only request....Please get some better air conditioning it can ruin the dining experience and you work to hard at preparing quality food.
(5)Tamar O.
Joshua's has a great deal going for it. Housed in an old colonial home the environment is both cozy and warm. Food is thoughtfully composed but not fussy. My favorite part was the (unexpected) juicy slice of orange covered in crunchy caramelized sugar served as garnish for the creme brûlée. There is a lot to be said about a chef who strives to get every last detail right. A truly enjoyable meal
(4)Stacey D.
We're on a trip to Maine and the owners of the bed and breakfast recommended Joshua's. We had reservations at 830, and was greeted with a "hi" and a smile (no high-fives though). The restaurant is divided into separate dining areas, and each of the areas are not huge, so the dining is quite intimate. Joshua's is all about "fresh, organic, local" and you know being a yuppie from Ca, I was suckered in. But, i'll be happy to be suck...ok, I stop that thought right there... :-P We started with the lovely pate, which arrived with olives, and warm toast. The portions were generous and the pate was smooth, and mildly sweet. The boy had lamb (because I harassed him to) and I had two appetizers, the beef brochette and the crab cakes. The lamb melts in your mouth, and is served with carrots, brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. I like the addition of the brussel sprouts to an otherwise standard veggie medley, but in all honesty, the veggie medley paled in comparison to the luscious lamb, and seemed almost a distraction, you know? Like an iphone with an ugly cover or something. I wasn't impressed with the beef brochette, but happily surprised by the three skewers, that was enough for two to have an ample taste. The crab cakes, were fresh and just slightly seared so that they were crispy, also quite well done! We finished with the fudge pie and some homemade almond ice-cream, and both while also quite good, seemed to lack a little zip. yeah, very good, but I'd like a little more zip in my food.
(4)Michael J.
A truly outstanding dining experience! We were there this past Tuesday evening and were blown away. The duck was superb, the swordfish and scallops delicious but the vegetarian pasta was fantastic! Chef/owner Joshua Mather and his family do an amazing job - from farm to table. They own the organic farm that supports the restaurant and the vegetable clearly have all the flavor of well tended crops. Chef Joshua does everything possible from scratch - the breads were delicious, the salads absolutely crisp and fresh, the sautéed mushrooms delectable. The desserts were another surprise. Chef Joshua makes his own ice cream Nd sorbet - the peach/mint sorbet was a revelation, the key lime pie was the perfect sweet/tart balance but the walnut pie was the star. Perfectly balanced with the best pie crust that I've ever had. When we left we had only gone 3 minutes down the road when we called and made reservations for our anniversary. Clearly a fine dining restaurant that deserves the title.
(5)Chris B.
The food was fantastic, but the service was less than we expected (rude, irritated and rushed). Have eaten here several times and have always had the same experience.
(3)Maria L.
Most of what I had to eat at Joshua's was very good....but the prices here are not that different than what I would pay for a good meal in Los Angeles. I had one of their specialities. lobster pie which was really more like lobster soup with a crust. ($26.00) The filling was simply lobster in a milky broth. The mashed potatoes on the plate were delicious. My appetizer,oysters , and my cocktail were fantastic. The main reason my rating is not higher is because the restaurant was not properly air conditioned. I was hoping that there was a problem with the air that day but I was informed that is the status quo for the restaurant. It was a hot day in Wells but not an unusual one. I have no idea why they expect their customers to be ok experiencing fine dining in this manner.
(3)Bill L.
STUNNINGLY OVERRATED. When I went to visit my cousin, it was her 32nd anniversary and her husband was working. But she had secured a reservation at Joshua's in Wells, Maine. As she had been there before I was expecting a great time.... We arrived there about 30 minutes early and were greeted by the owners, a husband with a warm, welcoming smile and his wife. The wife looked at us with a sneer like Lucy Ricardo taught Charles Boyer in " I Love Lucy." RED FLAG. We should have turned around then. Through her condescending and pretentious tone, we were informed that there really was no place to wait other than the postage stamp sized bar. So off we went. The bartender was so nice and welcoming that we were instantly put at ease. The bar was packed with the other patrons, who were sentences to wait. Several people mentioned how hard the stools were " like they want you to drink then go home." RED FLAG. At our reservation time, we were escorted into the restaurant and seated at 7:45pm but not before we were handed the drink bill and TOLD to settle up with the bar. In almost every restaurant I've been to, the bar bill can just be added onto the dinner check. NOT HERE I was corrected and our seating waited until I returned. RED FLAG. The staff was whizzing by with lots of activity in a continual stream. Our waiter TOM, greeted us and took our drink orders while we looked at the menu. At 7:50pm, my cousin ordered a filet mignon ( TOM said, " any place can cook a steak, right?") and I ordered the lamb with Caesar salads to start. We got our salads about 20 minutes later. At the 1 hour mark, I asked Tom what the hold up was? He seemed surprised and said that " I tell most people it'll be at least 35 minutes but because you ordered AFTER these two groups, your order was running behind." No apology. I really don't appreciate being lied to. We had ordered everything at 7:50pm and finally got our order at 8:50pm...and frankly the food was underwhelming. Small portions, overcooked vegetables. My cousin was shocked by how bad the evening was going. I told her of my conversation with TOM and she was dismayed and we were quickly done with our meals. She wanted dessert, as this was her anniversary. TOM came to the table to ask about dessert and my cousin ordered the key lime pie. No asking about coffee...I wasn't surprised as he was very sheepish every time he approached the table from now on.I told TOM I'd had plenty, thank you. 20 minutes later the pie arrived with a little candle on it. It was very good, she told me. RED FLAG. But in a snap, we got the bill. Of course, right?! There were SO many opportunities for TOM to make the night right but he chose none. He could've come to the table and apologized to my cousin as this was her night. NOPE. He could have comp'd her pie. NOPE. He could have been ATTENTIVE, which he wasn't. NOPE. When we got home, we looked at the Yelp reviews and how many 5 Stars they got. We were stunned as this experience was NOTHING close to 5 star service especially as this was one of the most pompous and pretentious experiences we've had at a restaurant. They could not have tried harder to leave a bad taste in our mouths...the bill sealed the deal. Caveat Emptor...LET THE BUYER BEWARE.
(1)Scott M.
This is one of the best restaurants we have ever been to. Fantastic atmosphere, incredible food and great value for money. This is a must!
(5)Heather S.
My boyfriend and I ate here while on a short weekend beach vacation. We picked it based on the local, mostly organic and interesting sounding menu choices posted on their website. We were definitely pleased with our choice! Be warned that the place books up well in advance of the weekend in the summer. We called the Tuesday before and could only get 5 or 9 o'clock reservations for the following Saturday night (and they are closed Sundays). The food was amazing, from start to finish. The bread was homemade by Joshua and there were 3 delicious varieties. We started with a wood-grilled mushroom plate which was one of the best mushroom dishes I've ever had. There were many exotic varieties and the woody flavor was strong and scrumptious. For my main dish I had the vegetarian special, which varies but is always available. The day I went they had a ricotta herb pasta and some kind of crispy veggie corn patty, with tons of veggies (summer squash, green beans, carrots, zucchini, etc.). While a little salty, I loved it. My boyfriend had haddock with mushroom risotto and seasonal veggies, which was also outstanding. For dessert, I had a chocolate pudding cake with homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream. The ice cream tasted like eating real mint leaves with chocolate; it was amazing and very different. The boyfriend had fresh maine blueberry pie with homemade vanilla ice cream, which was also very good. The service was prompt and friendly (we were there at 5 while it was still relatively uncrowded), and we were personally greeted by Joshua's father near the end of the meal. Overall, this place is a nice family business that stands out in an area seemingly devoid of these type of top-notch restaurants.
(5)Maggie M.
Great atmosphere, wine list. I was not super impressed by the haddock. The filet mignon was decent. Perhaps a wee bit overhyped.
(3)Suzanne C.
The people here are not very nice and the food is so so
(1)Bob E.
No questions- a wonderful and reasonably priced restaurant with a very talented chef. Must always call ahead for reservations as very popular- Great tasting cosmo's starters, mushroom risotto, atlantic cod and lamb are my favorites - haven't had a less than great experience in three years Beats a drive to Portland
(5)Kevin K.
Elegant atmosphere, but not pretentious. The waitress was pleasant and informative. And most importantly, the food was outstanding. I had the mixed green salad with a roasted tomato vinagrette dressing, followed by the vegetarian special which was their hand made enocchi with mixed vegetables. It was fabulous. My wife had the fresh Atlantic halibut with mashed potatoes and green beans. She loved it. We topped the meal off with a slice of key lime pie and pecan pie with home made maple ice cream. The service was great. I highly recommend this place and will be going back again.
(5)Jaime S.
Absolutely wonderful! I discovered this place thanks to Bryan's review here on Yelp....thank you Bryan! At first glance, the prices seem a bit high for Wells, Maine. In reality, $19 - 28 for entrees which would be considered five star here in Boston is nothing. I will even go out on a limb here and say that I would prefer to drive the hour and a half up to Wells to experience Joshua's than drive into Boston, pay for parking and pay a tab twice as expensive for food which is only half as good. We had the Maine Grown Organic Mixed Greens with buttermilk herb dressing and the fried Artichoke Hearts (think Tempura) to start. Both of these were delicious and light. The buttermilk herb dressing was full of flavor. For entrees, I had the Atlantic Haddock and my husband had the Chicken stuffed with Prosciutto, Basil & Provolone. Now, fish does not normally tickle my fancy when I am eating out, but something about this haddock caught my attention. I am so glad I ordered it! It was light and delicious and it paired beautifully with the wild mushroom risotto. Excellent. Meanwhile, my husband quite enjoyed his chicken. It was moist and flavorful. Both meals were equally delicious, in fact, it was one of the few times neither of us had entree envy! For desert we had the most amazing vanilla creme brulee. It was seriously sinful! In total, our tab was $125 including tip. This included all of the food above as well as two drinks each. Really a great value. The atmosphere at Joshua's is relaxed and intimate with white lights strung up around the windows and candles glowing on each table and in the fireplace. Each meal is made to order and Joshua (the chef) takes his time with each one. This provides plenty of enjoyable quality time to be spent with your dinner date. Don't plan to bring children to Joshua's as they would not enjoy the relaxed down-time between courses quite as much as the adults do. Joshua's is a family owned and operated business. The service is excellent. If you have a chance, say hello to Josh and his family. They are wonderful people who truly care about each other, the business and their customers. I am thrilled to give this restaurant 5 stars. If I could give them more, I would.
(5)Red So X.
OK, just a short and sweet review...this is a GREAT place to go for that two or four times a year you don't care about the cost...and even after you dine here you still won't care about the cost but be putting Joshua's on your list to come back to.
(5)Alison H.
This place was 5 stars from start to finish, in every way (except one which I will explain). I like the atmosphere, it's in this colonial-style house that was probably built 200 years ago, but you walk in and it's this very classy and romantic restaurant. I went with my in laws for my husband's birthday, and this was absolutely a spectacular meal. Even my father in law (who is renowed for his ability to 'find things wrong with things') grudgingly admitted it was 'special' - if only I could convey to you how much that meant coming from him! We started by getting a round of the cosmos, we got the summery Cosmo with limoncello which was fine, though I have difficulty with strongly alcoholic drinks, I was able to pour some water into it and then it was tasty. I wish I had gotten the blueberry cosmo, it looked fantastic! With our drinks, we got homemade bread, and I have to tell you, the challah is the best. We also got several appetizers and all of those were amazing. I really loved what I got, which was tiger shrimp in this sauce of tomatoes and garlic (and white wine I think) with toasted bread. I could hardly stand giving any of it up but I wanted to save room for the main course, and the others at the table who tried it were very impressed. For my main course I got the vegetarian special which was herb and cheese agnolotti in a roasted tomato sauce with vegetables and a summer squash stuffed with corn. I'm not really a vegetable lover, but this was splendid. The pasta and sauce were the perfect compliment to the vegetables, and I was shocked at how delicious the corn-stuffed squash was. It was lightly battered and fried and it was indescribably good. I have never had something like this before and I think I'll have to come back to Joshua's to have some more! This was definitely not some sort of lip service vegetarian dish, this was just incredibly good, creative, well-made food that happened to be vegetarian. Other folks at the table polished off their lobster pie and haddock and proclaimed it to be fabulous. I tried the mushroom risotto that comes with the haddock and my husband looked at me as I ate the first bite and exclaimed "I've never seen you smile that big before! Why don't you smile that big for me?" We could hardly manage dessert, and while eating dinner, we talked about how we would need time to digest and would get dessert someplace else later. But then we saw the dessert menus and had to change our minds. I'm so glad we did! Even though I was stuffed, the blueberry pie with homemade vanilla ice cream was divine, and the chocolate cake dessert and creme brulee were scrumptious too. Just be aware that the mint chocolate chip is extremely minty. My husband usually enjoys mint ice cream and he gave his ice cream to his brother because it was too intense. So overall, the service was great and the food was priced as one would expect, the only thing I will say was less than perfection was the hostess. When my mother in law called for the reservation, the hostess was very haughty about only having a 5pm slot available and threateningly said a few times during the conversation that "WELL, there are PLENTY of other people who would LOVE to have this reservation time if you don't want it." When we actually showed up, she also had an attitude in person. She wasn't overtly rude, but she did hold off on seating us until "all of our party had arrived" which was totally unnecessary since the rest of our party was clearly visible smelling the flowers out the window in the parking lot, she didn't want to seat us until they had physically stepped into the building. Mildly ridiculous, I mean we did have a reservation. I certainly wouldn't say not to go to this place just because the hostess has an attitude though, the important thing is once we made it past her, we had a delightful evening, and I'd love to go back!
(5)Karen J.
Every time we eat here, which is fairly often, I can't believe how wonderful everything is, from the service, cocktails, homemade bread, apps, entrees, beer & wine list, to the dessert. The menu is on the small side but they have some nice specials every night and the variety of choices are more than enough to make anyone happy. I always appreciate really fresh seafood and they usually have at least 3 choices based on what is available that day fresh off the boat. They also do a mushroom stuffed rack of lamb, a yummy stuffed chicken breast, and a filet, but for the last several visits I have ordered the vegetarian special. I am not a vegetarian by any means, but the homemade ravioli, stuffed with wild mushrooms and topped with a fried cheese stuffed squash blossom last night, along with the abundance of beautiful veggies and greens that are grown in the restaurant's own organic garden make this such an amazing dish. I had the duck pate as an app and it was out of this world- earthy and so full of flavor, served on a bed of fresh butter lettuce lightly coated with a vinegary dressing, accompanied by homemade crusty bread, cornichons, olives, and mustard. They serve some of their wine by the half bottle and I tried an Old Vines Red Zin that went perfectly with my meal. I began my evening with one of their seasonal cocktails- a beautiful strawberry cosmo, not too sweet and perfectly chilled. This and the blood orange cosmo they make in the late winter are my favorites; they also have a blueberry cosmo later in the summer. A nice selection of bottled beers is also available. My husband always orders the garlicky shrimp and red pepper saute from the app menu, and last night he also had one of the specials- an perfectly dressed and fresh from the garden spinach and arugula salad with fried goat cheese. The finale was house-made warm peach pie and vanilla ice cream with a perfect cup of coffee. Joshua's is located in a restored Colonial on Route One in Wells. The wide plank floors and subtle lighting give the rooms a warm glow and one has a feeling of dining in someone's home rather than in a restaurant. The bar is especially cozy and inviting but you need to get there early to snag seats. Given the quality of the dining experience I think the prices are quite reasonable at Joshua's compared to other high end restaurants. I always leave Joshua's with a smile on my face and the feeling that if this were to be my last meal I'd be fine with that!
(5)Dwight F.
Nice to have tourists come, eat and post 5 stars. Joshua's needs a better way to accommodate locals in busy tourist season. Locals after all are their mainstay in the cold of winter when the tourists and their reviews are only a memory.
(2)Cindi W.
Having been there several times in the past....called almost two weeks ago to make a reservation for Steve's sixtieth. Called back to confirm tonight, and was told I had no reservation.....pretty annoyed, however His favorite steakhouse was happy to oblige with a corner table overlooking the water. It's only food people, and quite frankly you aren't that special.....
(1)Susan B.
What do you get when you combine farm fresh food, brilliant recipes and charming decor? Joshua's. Fair warning, if you have a late reservation (and you need a reservation) don't be surprised if they are out of some items. Everything is delicious so you can't go wrong. We found out that you can reserve an item on the special menu. Their menu changes regularly. Service was timely and not rushed.
(5)Philip D.
If you are looking for a new restaurant to try, look no further! This hidden jewel is tucked away on Route 1 in Wells. We loved everything about this restaurant. Our server, Ann E was pleasant, friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. To start, we both had a salad. The salads were cold, crisp and very well dressed. For the main course I had the 8 oz filet and my wife had the rack of lamb. Both dishes came with mashed potato, not our favorite side but our server, Ann suggested the mushroom risotto. The filet was ordered rare, the lamb medium rare and both came out as ordered, tender, very well seasoned and delivered on a warm plate. And the mushroom risotto was a great accompaniment to the fillet and lamb, it was absolutely delicious! They also had a nice selection of 1/2 bottles of wine. We chose the Chateauneuf-du pape which pairs nice with beef and lamb. Our final course, 2 decaf cappuccinos and Blueberry Pie for me, Maple Walnut Pie for my wife both with a scoop of vanilla ice cream ~ the end to the perfect meal!!
(5)Tony S.
What a fabulous evening at Joshua's! We went there without reservations in hopes for a seat at the bar and luckily we were able to get in. Christina is an excellent bartender, making exceptional cocktails out of purees made from in season fruits etc...I had a mango habenero margarita that was divine. The food was equally as exciting...fresh seafood dishes, great filet mignon and wonderful appetizers. We will return shortly.
(5)Andy V.
Joshua's offers traditional "American" cuisine, i.e. duck, lobster, rack of lamb. The restaurant pride's itself on locally farmed ingredients and the difference is readily apparent on the palate. The vibe is strictly old-school, i.e. older couples, families with older children. This is the place your parents brought you on special occasions and if you were old enough to sit still for an hour and a half. The appetizer selection is mostly uninspired; we ordered artichokes which suffered from a heavy-handed frying. For our entrees, we ordered the duck leg and breast confit and the rack of lamb, with mashed potatoes, mushrooms, in a wine-reduction sauce. The lamb was perfectly cooked medium rare, each bite melting in your mouth releasing that wonderful lamb flavor. I give it an "A"! The duck was freshly prepared but the needed a contrasting sauce to better bring out its delicate flavor. B+ for the Duck. For dessert we shared the special pound cake with lemon curd accompanied by homemade caramel ice cream. This was not your mother's Sara Lee pound cake! The ice cream does not come with the cake; you have to order it at an additional cost. What's more, there was a cake/ice cream coordination problem with the ice cream arriving well-melted. So would we return again? Probably not. Although we mostly enjoyed the dinner, the lack of consistency of the food given the price and the fact Ogunquit is becoming the hub for more innovative and exciting restaurants lessens its appeal. Also I'd like to see one or two couple under 50 dining with us (keeps us young :-)
(3)Louis F.
What a great recommendation . Friends from Ogunquit , have been raving and I can see why. The food,the service, the drinks and overall atmosphere were amazing. The apps were really fresh and tasty especially the tenderloin on the rosemary skewers, the shrimp bruschetta was crazy good ! I had the duck for dinner , it was so awesome, cooked and presented to perfection! I can't wait to go back !!!!
(5)Randy C.
Our first time here after many recommendations. I have to say we had high expectations and were not dissapointed. Our waitperson Jen G was excellent-she was not only attentive, prompt and polite, but she offered some great ideas on food selections and items to try together. My wife had the lobster pie which she said was excellent--- no heavy newburg sauce---and the portion must have been a whole lobster. I had the pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes and house vegetables, all of which are grown by the owner. Dessert was walnut pie with maple walnut ice cream, all of which is homemade on the premises. We will definitely return for the great service food and ambiance. It is a small old house, nicely preserved. You will need reservations
(5)Ben O.
I love this place. Great food. Excellent in the off-season (a little busy in the on-season). Homemade bread is amazing. I have had a variety of the entrees and have yet to be disappointed. Only negative: I tried to go there during the fall without a reservation and the hostess looked at me like I had 6 heads. Friends of ours often eat in the bar (which was empty) and we volunteered for that. We sat down for a drink and then were told a table was ready for us. Nice of them to fit us in, but they didn't have to make a big deal out of us not having a reservation. Either you can accommodate us or not. That was not enough to spoil us off of this place though.
(5)Travis J.
Went to Joshua's for the first time and we were not disappointed from start to finish! Great apps, main course and dessert! We were there for 2hrs and never felt rushed and the atmosphere was very homey and intimate. They are a little pricey but their drinks were reasonable and you could taste the freshness of the veggies! We will definitely be returning! Reservation is recommended.
(5)Bill H.
Phenomenal atmoshphere, perfect pacing of the meal and food to die for. My wife got the artichoke tempura as a starter and I got the beef tenderloin. Both were cooked perfectly. My wife got the duck for her meal and I got the chicken. She raved about the duck. The chicken was delicious. We got caramel and dark chocolate ice cream for dessert with the chocolate bark. Our waiter, Patrick, friendly, sociable and never made us feel rushed.
(5)Bruce T.
Went to Joshua's tonight and the food was as always excellent. The best news was that the lobster pie was on the menu! We had the best server named Jen, she was awesome! Very polite and always made sure our needs were met. Jen is why Joshua's stands out from all the other restaurants, it's the quality of food and service that you get there! Bruce& Maryann
(5)Chantel H.
Had a great meal with my husband for my birthday! The wait staff was attentive without being intrusive. We shared the fried artichokes & sautéed mushrooms. They were delicious. The bread basket held three kinds of homemade breads that were excellent. My husband had a "to die for" pappardelle with beef dish & I had the crab cakes appetizer. Everything was excellent!
(5)I Love Beef C.
Joshua's is a solid family owned restaurant with good quality produce and seafood. The staff is friendly, and one can sense that this place is a neighborhood gem. Perhaps there was a higher expectation towards Joshua's due to the current ratings, the formal setting, as well as my self-admitted NY/SF snobbery. The only issue I have with it is that the dishes themselves lack a sense of sophistication in its execution. You get exactly what you read, and although everything tasted fresh and reasonably tasty, the overall feeling was, "that was good - nothing new or inventive, but good." For example, my date ordered the lobster pot pie ($28), which was the special for the evening. The pot pie was fine, but the pie itself was served in a somewhat watery base with solely lobster; there were vegetables served on the side, but I imagine that pot pies normally are bursting with creamy vegetables, herbs and meat based goodness, which this dish lacked. Another example was the fried artichoke hearts served with a chipotle aioli ($10). Once again, the dish itself was good due to it's freshness, but the aioli was fine, but nothing inventive, imaginative or new, which could also be said with my swordfish special served with fresh vegetables over mashed potatoes. I believe Joshua's has the capability of being a truly amazing restaurant with a little more thought and creativity.
(3)Doris L.
The mushroom starter was delicious, rack of lamb and gnocchi were perfect and dessert was yummy. Service was friendly, helpful and efficient. We will be returning very soon.
(5)Monica L.
The homemade breads were excellent. The lobster pie was good, but not amazing. The fudge pie is a definite thumbs up. Service was excellent.
(4)Bridget L.
I would've liked to give 5 stars, I had such high hopes for this restaurant, it came highly recommended. It started out okay, they had two drink specials that we tried and they were delicious. That being said it went downhill from there, we had to ask for the bread, so okay, one little glitch, then our entries came, My husband had the filet mignon, medium, what he received was medium well and asked the waitress to bring it back and get it correctly cooked, the owner came out, with a huge attitude and said it was cooked medium the cook said so(the cook is her son we found out), so we told her no, it is over cooked we want a warm pink center, she was very rude, but brought it back to the kitchen, then came back with the same piece of meat and tried to prove to us that it was cooked correctly, which it still wasn't, so we said, nevermind, just take it off the bill, which they did. By this time we were beyond frustrated, but we were with another couple and they convinced us to try dessert, which we did, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either, I will say that the mint chocolate chip ice cream was extremely fresh and minty tasting. When we left, they owner didn't even say good night and/or thank you for coming, they said it to other guests though. I might also add I got the duck, the flavors were well done, but it too was overcooked and a bit dry. I will never recommend this place to anyone else, and I will never ever set foot in this establishment again either. Extremely disappointing.
(1)Scott S.
We were traveling on vacation and Joshua's was recommended by a local. Great food and great staff. Definitely would return.
(5)Jim L.
I pretty much agree with the other reviewers - I guess I'm just stingier with handing out 5 stars. The service was excellent - friendly and relaxed. We have been eating too much on this holiday and were looking for something a little lighter. I chose the soupe du jour and halibut with risotto as the main course. Well prepared, delicate flavours that met my objective of a lighter meal. One of my better meals, but not one of the best ones. One disappointment for me in New England is that no one seems to have an espresso machine - even a fine restaurant like Joshua's.
(4)Sara P.
This is my first 5 star review, because Joshua's deserves it! The food is creative, elegant and delicious. The service is always great, and the cocktail menu is fun and sometimes exotic. This place is amazing!
(5)Meredith E.
Went to this place for the first time last year with my family on vacation. Weren't sure what to expect, except that it had good Yelp reviews and seemed classy. We were very pleased with our meal and the atmosphere here. The food was delish, and we are looking forward to returning again this summer!
(5)Chris B.
I enjoyed an amazing dinner with my wife. the food was top notch and the atmosphere was romantic. possibly the best dinner in Wells!
(5)Francis M.
We arrived to Joshua's before our reservation because we wanted to have a drink at the bar. Upon arrival we checked in with the owners and was told there was a wait to sit at the bar so we got drinks and stood at the bar. The couple that was ahead of us sat shortly after we arrived which should have made us the next party to be seated at the bar. More seats opened up and when we sat down we were quickly told by the owner that the seats were spoken for. I explained to him that we have been standing for well over an hour and surely we would be next to sit. He left briefly and told us that we may sit. Minutes after we got our drinks we were told our table was ready. The bartender was very busy and wasn't able to give us our tab immediately. The owner returned saw our money on the bar and thought we had paid , we told him we were still waiting to pay he said "pay it." At this point I was so furious with the service I wanted to walk out the door, but we had read great reviews and stayed. I have never been treated so poorly in a restaurant, and I have been to some of the finest restaurant in the US.
(1)Ken S.
My wife and I hadn't been to Joshua's for a few months. Bottom line? Our loss. This place, time and time again continues to serve up and outstanding dining experience. Certainly worth the hour and ten minute drive to this fine restaurant.
(5)Susan H.
We went here after a recommendation from the innkeeper we were staying with. Joshua's is located on Route 1 in a beautiful old colonial house. We made reservations after being told it was hard to get in without them. The hostess was friendly. Our waitress, Parker, was one of the best I've had. She was warm and friendly and gave great recommendations. The filet and salmon were both spectacular but the true star (for me anyway) was the homemade mint ice cream. Apparently they grow the mint outback that they use and you could tell!!!! The service was so amazing that as we were pulling out of the parking lot, a bus girl chased us down because my boyfriend had forgotten his hat at the table. If you are near Wells, I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Cheryl M.
Joshua's is my go to fine dining experience. Not pretentious the perfect atmosphere and a well paced food service. The food is always of excellent quality, well prepared and homemade. Joshua's food is always consistently good. My only request....Please get some better air conditioning it can ruin the dining experience and you work to hard at preparing quality food.
(5)Stacey D.
We're on a trip to Maine and the owners of the bed and breakfast recommended Joshua's. We had reservations at 830, and was greeted with a "hi" and a smile (no high-fives though). The restaurant is divided into separate dining areas, and each of the areas are not huge, so the dining is quite intimate. Joshua's is all about "fresh, organic, local" and you know being a yuppie from Ca, I was suckered in. But, i'll be happy to be suck...ok, I stop that thought right there... :-P We started with the lovely pate, which arrived with olives, and warm toast. The portions were generous and the pate was smooth, and mildly sweet. The boy had lamb (because I harassed him to) and I had two appetizers, the beef brochette and the crab cakes. The lamb melts in your mouth, and is served with carrots, brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. I like the addition of the brussel sprouts to an otherwise standard veggie medley, but in all honesty, the veggie medley paled in comparison to the luscious lamb, and seemed almost a distraction, you know? Like an iphone with an ugly cover or something. I wasn't impressed with the beef brochette, but happily surprised by the three skewers, that was enough for two to have an ample taste. The crab cakes, were fresh and just slightly seared so that they were crispy, also quite well done! We finished with the fudge pie and some homemade almond ice-cream, and both while also quite good, seemed to lack a little zip. yeah, very good, but I'd like a little more zip in my food.
(4)Rich S.
A great restaurant bringing food grown at their farm to your table. If you are in the Wells Ogt area and are looking for a special meal for a resonable price, Joshuas is the place.
(5)Lacey P.
Yeah, it's good. It didn't blow my mind, though. The lobster pie was good, the haddock was better. They bring house-baked bread varieties and it's in a cute house. I wish the menu was more adventurous. I am glad they use local and organic, but wish it weren't so expensive.
(3)Michael J.
A truly outstanding dining experience! We were there this past Tuesday evening and were blown away. The duck was superb, the swordfish and scallops delicious but the vegetarian pasta was fantastic! Chef/owner Joshua Mather and his family do an amazing job - from farm to table. They own the organic farm that supports the restaurant and the vegetable clearly have all the flavor of well tended crops. Chef Joshua does everything possible from scratch - the breads were delicious, the salads absolutely crisp and fresh, the sautéed mushrooms delectable. The desserts were another surprise. Chef Joshua makes his own ice cream Nd sorbet - the peach/mint sorbet was a revelation, the key lime pie was the perfect sweet/tart balance but the walnut pie was the star. Perfectly balanced with the best pie crust that I've ever had. When we left we had only gone 3 minutes down the road when we called and made reservations for our anniversary. Clearly a fine dining restaurant that deserves the title.
(5)Chris B.
The food was fantastic, but the service was less than we expected (rude, irritated and rushed). Have eaten here several times and have always had the same experience.
(3)Maria L.
Most of what I had to eat at Joshua's was very good....but the prices here are not that different than what I would pay for a good meal in Los Angeles. I had one of their specialities. lobster pie which was really more like lobster soup with a crust. ($26.00) The filling was simply lobster in a milky broth. The mashed potatoes on the plate were delicious. My appetizer,oysters , and my cocktail were fantastic. The main reason my rating is not higher is because the restaurant was not properly air conditioned. I was hoping that there was a problem with the air that day but I was informed that is the status quo for the restaurant. It was a hot day in Wells but not an unusual one. I have no idea why they expect their customers to be ok experiencing fine dining in this manner.
(3)Jillian C.
Joshua's is a family-owned restaurant in a charming old farmhouse in Wells. We were pleasantly surprised to find this sort of farm-to-table concept during our week in Ogunquit, and will be back when we return next summer. We shared the duck liver pate to start and I was impressed at the creative (and sizeable) preparation-- very, very good. I ordered one of the specials (I was told that menu staples, including the halibut I had been eyeing, do not change and so it's best to try one of the specials, which change each evening), a hand-made corn ravioli with ricotta and a mix of other cheeses. It was served with the most delightfully fresh chard and vegetables from the garden, and a squash flower stuffed with eggplant. Very good! The male companion had the duck, which was also lovely (though nothing original). Nice wine list. Reservations are definitely a good idea; they only save one table for walk ins. We didn't have reservations, and waited about 45 minutes at the bar until our table was ready (we were expecting the wait and enjoyed some drinks in the meantime). The rustic atmosphere (think dining in a farmhouse living room with a bunch of strangers) is an interesting contrast to the forward-thinking nature of the cuisine. Definitely worth a try.
(4)Joe T.
Great dinner! First visit this past weekend and will certainly visit again. Disappoints that they were out of crab cakes, fish, most of their breads, however. But what we had (I had filet and wife had chicken) was amazing. Will definitely be back!
(4)Roland C.
Went to Joshua's to celebrate an anniversary and were skeptical about the outside of the restaurant because it's simply an old house. I didn't know how old until I read their website - 1700's so once inside, we really liked the rustic feel and the "walk back in time." Tom, our waiter, was wonderful - polite, smiled all the time, and he was knowledgeable about the menu. No problem with a couple of our special requests. The food was outstanding. My husband loved the tiger shrimp and the pork tenderloin could almost be cut with a fork. The homemade bread was so good it was difficult to stop eating it. My filet mignon was delicious. My in-laws loved their meals too, especially the lobster pie which was chock full of lobster and tasted out of this world. I would recommend the place to anyone and we will be returning to eat there again this summer.
(5)Rachele V.
My husband and I were staying in Ogunquit and decided to have a late dinner. Little did we know how few options there would be at 9:00 on a Saturday night. Lo and behold, we stumbled upon Joshua's in Wells. We sat at the bar and had fabulous drinks while we waited for our food (we decided to get take out and go back to our hotel). The bartender was great, although I found the amount of scrutiny she placed on our IDs to be a bit over the top. I'm 28 and my husband is 32, although I guess we look slightly younger. She checked the height and eye color on our IDs! I've had cops check my ID at bars in downtown Boston that were less thorough! We enjoyed our drinks and the great atmosphere while we waited. The decor and lighting in Joshua's was delightful after all of the stuffy old-fashioned places we ate in Ogunquit during our weekend. Our appetizers and entrees were great and we can't wait to go back and eat there again. We might just eat all of our meals there the next time we come up for vacation!
(4)Jodie G.
After reading all the great reviews of Joshua's here on Yelp, I decided that this was THE PLACE for us to have our 1st wedding anniversary dinner. The only problem was I couldn't get a hold of them to make a reservation in time. Fortunately, because of their fantastic service and a little flexibility on our part, the night was perfect. After waiting for a while for table to open up in the bar, the hosts graciously found us a table in the dining room and were so very kind and friendly to us the entire time. The food is, indeed, fantastic--very fresh and imaginatively prepared and served. I had the yellowfin tuna special, which I loved and my husband had the much-heralded haddock, which he only gave me 1 bite of--it was THAT good! We had the amazing creme brulee with raspberry sorbet (together, a perfect dessert). If you are in Wells celebrating something special, eat here!
(5)Chris G.
Joshua's is the best restaurant I have been to anywhere in the northeast (including Boston). Joshua (who is the owner and chef) takes freshness very seriously. Everything in the restaurant is extremely fresh and hand-made daily and as much of it as possible comes directly from the family farm. In addition to his commitment to fresh ingredients, Joshua does a wonderful job of combining flavors and everything on the menu is worth a try at least once, so plan a few trips. My personal favorite are the lamb chops, I have had them several times now and every time the actual experience exceeds my memory. Don't miss out on the delicious homemade ice cream options for dessert too! Just one caution, the place is almost always packed, so make reservations and try to come early before the specials run out.
(5)Greg S.
Outstanding restaurant! My wife and I ate here on vacation, after I researched locally sourced and organic restaurants. We were not disappointed at all. Where we're from in DC our meals would have been $40-50 / plate, whereas here we paid $25 a person. The service wasn't anything amazing but the waitress was polite and helpful, and the setting was kind of quaint (it's housed in an old farmhouse). We really enjoyed ourselves and the next time we're up that way we'll stop in again for sure.
(5)Anna R.
My husband and I went to Joshua's this past weekend. It was the last night on our trip and we wanted something romantic and quiet to cap off the weekend. We only heard about Joshua's through a couple that we were friendly with at the bed and breakfast we were staying at. They insisted (and the innkeeper agreed) that Joshua's could not be missed. We called that morning to get a reservation, and the only one we could get was for 8:15, which we happily accepted given the accolades. If you are coming in season I would plan on making reservations further in advance than we did. Upon arriving to the restaurant we were greeted by a very polite host and hostess, and sat at the bar for about a half an hour until our table was ready. The lighting was perfect...romantic without being too dark. The setting was very homey, and still somehow managing to feel upscale. Our drinks were made very well, and the bartender was knowledgable and friendly. When our tables were ready we were seated in the room next to the bar. It was very quiet and intimate. We began our meal with the fried artichokes and chipotle sauce. The sauce is on the side, which I did appreciate just in case it was a little too spicy. It wasn't too spicy, it too was perfect...however, I will say that the artichokes were so amazing (with the perfect amount of salt) that they needed nothing to accompany them. For dinner I ordered the rack of lamb, and my husband ordered the pork tenderloin. My husband loved his pork (I didn't care for it too much, not really a fan of fruit and meat....but it doesn't matter as this dish wouldn't have appealed to me on the menu). The rack of lamb was to die for. Cooked perfectly with a light crust on the outside. The portion was fantastic, and the presentation was neat and not pretentious. If I were really digging for some suggestion to make the dish better...maybe a little less salt in the stuffing, but it is never something I would have complained about and the dish was still incredible. All in all, our experience at Joshua's was incredible, and we even have been talking about making Kennebunkport a yearly trip BECAUSE Joshua's was so incredible!!
(5)A. K.
We have been here several times. This was our best meal. The wood grilled mushrooms are the best I have ever had. My partner loved the Tiger shrimp and the swordfish/shrimp special. Service was helpful. The bread is just wonderful. The duck was good but not great. But it was good. The organic Merlot wine for $27 a bottle was very nice. I loved the fact that the restaurant had wines that we could afford. 4.5 is my score!
(4)john g.
We've been to Joshua's 3-4 times over the last four years and it has been consistently excellent. Were there again this past weekend and had another nice meal. Sat in the bar and the barmaid was very friendly and attentive. Overall a very pleasant experience and highly recommended. Prices are much better than Boston for a comparable meal.
(4)Marko M.
Always good but can be hard to get a reservation in season which can last until October. Food uniformly good with local ingredients. great staff and always a nice time spent there. the bar can be a way to have a dinner without waiting for the dining room to clear.
(5)Rosanne G.
Absolutely amazing! I've eaten at some great restaurants and I really feel this was the best meal ever! I am now addicted to the lightly fried fresh artichoke hearts with the most amazing spicy aioli sauce ever. The abundant beef brochette appetizer on rosemary skewers was superb too. And the duck was the tastiest ever! An ample quantity of tender breast meat with just the right hint of orange. The accompanying leg confit was delectable as well with crispy salty skin. My duck came cooked through which i appreciated, but if you like it rare, you may want to ask about that. My boyfriend enjoyed his chicken dish as well. He said it had a lemon flavor and i wish i had tried it, but i was not willing to allow room for anything else when my meal was so outstanding. We both agreed we loved the mashed potatoes. So smooth and fresh and without alot of added flavors. And i loved the veggies: brussel sprouts, broccolli, onions that seemed at least slightly carmelized. Loved the 3 types of warm fresh homemade bread, each with two slices so we could both try all. Would love to try the shrimp appetizer and the lamb entree next time. Unfortunately we passed on dessert this evening but they all sounded delicious. Waiter Sean was so helpful and attentive. The old farmhouse and small rooms with ambient lighting were perfect. I felt the large quantity of food and very reasonable prices reinforced the apeal. I just can't say enough great things about this place. Will be back soon!
(5)Brian C.
The wife and I stayed in Ogunquit and decided to try this place based on the stellar reviews. We thought it was a good omen when the guys at the B&B we stayed at raved about this place. The place is nice and cozy (I think it used to be a house), and we were actually greeted by what I later learned was one of the owners. We started with the duck pate, which was rich, creamy, and not too full-flavored for the wife. It was a HUGE portion, and while we thought it was going to be too much, we surprised ourselves when we reached for more and found we'd eaten it all. The housemade bread was also really good, although that might have been from the generous portions of butter I used. :) I ordered the duck special - duck thigh confit and a grilled breast atop mashed potatoes and veggies. Tasting the duck was one of those beautiful moments when all else fades but the awesomeness going on in your mouth. The thigh was fall-apart tender, and the orange glaze on the breast was juuuuust enough to make its presence known. Contrasted with the char on the skin, it was phenomenal. The mashed and veg were good, but not mind-blowing. The wife had the haddock with the chive oil and mushroom risotto. Everything on her plate was really good, but in reality, how are you going to compete with duck two-ways?? I tasted her plate and made a quick return into the arms (wings?) of my duck. We were STUFFED but wanted to try their key lime cheesecake, so we took it to go. 6 days later (we got distracted), it was actually still really good, though the crust was definitely soggy by then. A great balance between acidity and sweetness. I think I could have eaten another couple of slices and not been overwhelmed. A GREAT place for a romantic dinner and great food. The reason I gave it four stars was that the food overall was quite salty. I definitely needed some water later that night and again in the morning. Still, we'll be coming back here next time we're in the area. For sure.
(4)Mimi M.
My husband & I absolutely loved every single course of the meals we ate! Everything was so fresh & light it was a pleasure to have eaten there. We can't wait to return!
(5)Dana F.
I went here for my birthday dinner on a cold, snowy, Tuesday night with my boyfriend. As a born and raised Mainer, I appreciated that this restaurant was truly Maine. It was a calm, cozy, mellow, rustic vibe. Only a few other people were there so we were able to choose our seats. Between the haddock and the vegetarian dish I chose the haddock. It was a very good sized portion and absolutely delicious. The shrimp appetizer was very fresh. The waitress was very polite and calming. This place is excellent food at a very good value.
(5)Tamar O.
Joshua's has a great deal going for it. Housed in an old colonial home the environment is both cozy and warm. Food is thoughtfully composed but not fussy. My favorite part was the (unexpected) juicy slice of orange covered in crunchy caramelized sugar served as garnish for the creme brûlée. There is a lot to be said about a chef who strives to get every last detail right. A truly enjoyable meal
(4)G R.
Who would have thunk it .... one gets to Maine from sunny and laid back Colorado where all the good places close at the sheer sign of it getting dark as it seems people here simply don't stay put late and chain restaurants dominate, and one finds a true culinary delight. We got to Joshua's late Friday night and were told that there were no spots, should have made a reservation, that we could sit at the bar, blah, blah, blah. So needless to say we almost walked out but some internal voice said: you need to wait silly, it's full and folks are smiling. So we did. Apparently the non so friendly hostess (or as it seemed at the time due to hunger pains) was the owner, her, her hubby and son (Joshua) own the place. So we were seated and due to it being late they were out of few items but we ended up with the cold gazpacho, lobster pot pie, haddock and duck. As we were told Joshua is self taught in the culinary arts and let me tell you, it is an art in that place. Food was GREAT! The thoroughness of the meal, taste, spices were all in perfect "alignment" to please us. The presentation of the meal might have needed a bit work (but that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and did not take away from the food). Great place, cute interior with great, great food! Way to go Joshua!!!!!!!!!
(5)Liz S.
Wow! Dinner at Joshua's was fabulous! The restaurant is unassuming in an old farmhouse and the inside is charming with an elegant decor. The dining area is comprised of several rooms which lends itself to an intimate setting. The menu is small, but covers a variety of dishes so everyone is sure to find something they will enjoy. i started with the fried artichokes while my date had the mixed greens with tomato vinaigrette. We both noted the freshness of the ingredients. Three types of bread were served, each fresh and hot. For entrees, we had the lamb chops and the stuffed chicken. The lamb was cooked perfectly and the chicken was flavorful and moist. Another in our group had the vegetarian special of gnocci which also was good. There was a mix-up in the kitchen which caused a delay in our entrees, but the chef's father visited our table to personally apologize. We didn't mind a bit - especially since they comped our wine. We passed on dessert, but look forward to returning soon! Overall, an excellent experience!
(5)Roland C.
Went to Joshua's to celebrate an anniversary and were skeptical about the outside of the restaurant because it's simply an old house. I didn't know how old until I read their website - 1700's so once inside, we really liked the rustic feel and the "walk back in time." Tom, our waiter, was wonderful - polite, smiled all the time, and he was knowledgeable about the menu. No problem with a couple of our special requests. The food was outstanding. My husband loved the tiger shrimp and the pork tenderloin could almost be cut with a fork. The homemade bread was so good it was difficult to stop eating it. My filet mignon was delicious. My in-laws loved their meals too, especially the lobster pie which was chock full of lobster and tasted out of this world. I would recommend the place to anyone and we will be returning to eat there again this summer.
(5)Rachele V.
My husband and I were staying in Ogunquit and decided to have a late dinner. Little did we know how few options there would be at 9:00 on a Saturday night. Lo and behold, we stumbled upon Joshua's in Wells. We sat at the bar and had fabulous drinks while we waited for our food (we decided to get take out and go back to our hotel). The bartender was great, although I found the amount of scrutiny she placed on our IDs to be a bit over the top. I'm 28 and my husband is 32, although I guess we look slightly younger. She checked the height and eye color on our IDs! I've had cops check my ID at bars in downtown Boston that were less thorough! We enjoyed our drinks and the great atmosphere while we waited. The decor and lighting in Joshua's was delightful after all of the stuffy old-fashioned places we ate in Ogunquit during our weekend. Our appetizers and entrees were great and we can't wait to go back and eat there again. We might just eat all of our meals there the next time we come up for vacation!
(4)Jodie G.
After reading all the great reviews of Joshua's here on Yelp, I decided that this was THE PLACE for us to have our 1st wedding anniversary dinner. The only problem was I couldn't get a hold of them to make a reservation in time. Fortunately, because of their fantastic service and a little flexibility on our part, the night was perfect. After waiting for a while for table to open up in the bar, the hosts graciously found us a table in the dining room and were so very kind and friendly to us the entire time. The food is, indeed, fantastic--very fresh and imaginatively prepared and served. I had the yellowfin tuna special, which I loved and my husband had the much-heralded haddock, which he only gave me 1 bite of--it was THAT good! We had the amazing creme brulee with raspberry sorbet (together, a perfect dessert). If you are in Wells celebrating something special, eat here!
(5)Chris G.
Joshua's is the best restaurant I have been to anywhere in the northeast (including Boston). Joshua (who is the owner and chef) takes freshness very seriously. Everything in the restaurant is extremely fresh and hand-made daily and as much of it as possible comes directly from the family farm. In addition to his commitment to fresh ingredients, Joshua does a wonderful job of combining flavors and everything on the menu is worth a try at least once, so plan a few trips. My personal favorite are the lamb chops, I have had them several times now and every time the actual experience exceeds my memory. Don't miss out on the delicious homemade ice cream options for dessert too! Just one caution, the place is almost always packed, so make reservations and try to come early before the specials run out.
(5)