These guys are great, I went there from out of town as I was visiting my sister in Kingfield and these guys were so nice. We were with a difficult group asking for a lot of different custom orders and both the waitress(Ali) and the chef were very enthusiastic about the challenge. The outside setting is soooo nice next to the flowing water, I will be back next time I visit my sister.
(5)
Ed M.
We came back and we will be back again! As another post from last week we managed to make reservations not knowing the Blueberry Festival was going on. Thank you Officer Friendly for helping us get around all the detours to get to this little gem of a restaurant! We arrived about 5 minutes late for our 7:30 reservation. Nichole said it would be a couple of minutes to get the table ready. She introduced us to Courtney, our server who took us to the table. Since it was the Blueberry Festival the special menu had a blueberry flair. My wife started with a Blueberry Mojito while our friend Dave, had a Blueberry summer ale. I had a Blueberry Glenlivet! For dinner the ladies had a delicious Eggplant Parm, I had Salmon topped with a Blueberry glaze,m while Dave enjoyed the special Haddock dinner. Everything was cooked to perfection. If there was a disappointment it was with the side risotto. I am not sure what I expected but it was not what I had. To top the meal off, we all split homemade Blueberry pie with ice cream! This did not top the night off as when we thought we were going to leave the fireworks display had just finished so the roads were packed. This gave us the opportunity to meet the infamous Carla at the bar to provide us with entertainment and some libation while we waited!
(4)
Shane L.
This little tucked away restaurant in Wilton, Maine is a definite gem. The outside of the building sits on the babbling brook with outside seating that is to die for. The service was amazing, attentive and seemed to definitely care about how the experience was. Our meals were very simple with me personally getting a garlic baby shrimp Ceasar salad, the people that I was here with got the clam chowder and a delicious panini style of sandwich. They seem to care in the kitchen with the attention to the simple, yet easy to mess up. lunch meals that we purchased. The decor is a bit rustic and the inside has the feel of a quaint B & B in the hills of Vermont and the deck has the feel of a prime spot in the middle of downtown Portland. I would definitely recommend this little place and next time I am heading out to the area, I will be stopping here again.
(4)
D M.
I loved my food. That wasn't the problem, I was ready to lick my plate! It was Saturday night when we arrived, it was busy. The hostess asked us if we had a reservation, we said no. At this point I began to feel like an outsider. She said 30 minutes which was fine by us, but I had a weird feeling from her. After 30 minutes a table was available for us. The hostess took our drink order after seating us, which didn't allow us time to read the menu, no worries, we ordered beers and wine. Then we didn't see our drinks or waitress for a solid 10 minutes. The waitress came over and asked if we had put in drinks and then took our order. So still no drinks. We ordered, our drinks arrived and our salads came out in timely fashion. No interaction with wait staff between salad and meals. My mother asked for another wine when the meals came and my father declined a beer. Another solid 10-15 minutes when we were well over half way done with the meal when the drinks came. My mother's wine and a beer which my father had declined. We wrapped up the meal another awkwardly long wait for the check, which still had a charge for the declined beer. At no point in this meal were we offered bread which other tables clearly had around us. I'll give this place another shot, definitely calling ahead since its a popular spot. I just hope the service isn't as horribly disjointed as it was tonight.
(3)
Sixty-One H.
We ate there both nights we were in the area because the food was so good, and the restaurant is so comfortable and lovely. We shared the fried calamari appetizer both nights. The first night, I had a scallop special that was inventive and delicious, with some tart flavors and heirloom tomatoes. It came with a very generous side dish of pasta with marinara sauce. My husband had cheese ravioli which was excellent. The bread is outstanding, and it is served with herbed extra virgin olive oil. The second night, we both tried the pasta (marinara and Bolognese) which was very good, and comes with a small salad and a side of a fried roll with cheese. This roll was the only thing I did not care for: too oily and filling, and better suited as a bar snack than along with an already large dinner. Wine selections are limited but of good quality and fairly priced. Nice place!
(5)
Caitlin A.
My husband and I lived in the Farmington/Wilton area for three years. In 2010 I was diagnosed with celiac disease and all of a sudden our favorite, the Granary (which has since closed), wasn't acceptable anymore. We went to Calzolaio and were delighted to discover that they had gluten-free bread, gluten-free pasta, and gluten-free breadcrumbs. They even warned me that the well vodka was made of grain (I'm not sensitive enough that I can't have grain-based vodka), and they do have potato vodka available. They were knowledgable enough to always bring me my own dish of spices along with my gluten-free bread. I ate the pasta and the gluten-free version of the Sicilian chicken most frequently, but I also had the lamb. The food was always fresh and yummy and for the most part fairly priced. I ate here several times a month from 2010-early 2012, when we moved to New Mexico, and I never, ever was sick from a gluten contamination. They were very knowledgeable and eager to learn more. The only criticism I'd give here is that the gluten-free pasta is a little sticky and mushy, which is pretty common in my experience with restaurants that aren't completely gluten-free. For their reference, Tinkyada pasta cooked for about 10 minutes is great! The ambience is quite nice and the building is lovely on the inside. Even when it was extremely crowded the noise level wasn't extreme and the wait staff was quick and always very nice. The owner and staff got to know us so well they all expressed sadness when we left, and honestly now that I'm in Santa Fe and having to find new restaurants to frequent we definitely miss them.
(4)
Crystal M.
This was an overall 5 star restaurant! We had the Steamed Clams (Vongole), Fried Calamari, and the Antipasto plate. The steamed clams are cooked in white wine, garlic, oregano and topped with butter. Heavenly - that was my experience. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the company of others. The restaurant was very clean, bathrooms kept up nice, the staff was friendly, the overall atmosphere was A+. This is a fine establishment that I would highly recommend to others.
(5)
David W.
Wife and I ate here last night while traveling through the area and were pleasantly surprised to find such a quality restaurant in this area. The restaurant has a very large menu but I need to warn you ahead of time it is a bit pricy. But at the end of the day, it was worth the price to us. I had the linguini bowl with the tomato sauce and it might have been the best I have ever had at any restaurant! I also had the garden salad and it was pretty tasty as well. The wife got a bowl of clam chowder and an order of their garlic bread. She said her meal was excellent. We then finished our meals off with an order of their maple Apple pie al a mode. Oh my gosh what a treat! OK, how did we come up with our rating? The linguine gets a 5+. The salad a 3. The clam chowder a 5. The maple Apple pie a 5+. The facility a 5. The service a 5. The value a 5. My overall experience a 5. Will we go back? If we are ever back in the area this will be a definite stop!
(5)
Nicole C.
Very delicious, very quaint, and outstanding service!! Defiantly worth a stop in for lunch or dinner if you're ever in the area!
(5)
Maggie S.
Great quality and portion size. Helpful waitstaff. Had an enjoyable anniversary dinner there.
(4)
Beth R.
Cute place tucked away in what appears to be an old mill building. It's right on the river and has a small patio area. We were "with dog" on the night we visited, and unfortunately no dogs are allowed in the outdoor seating area. Understandable. That said, we had no choice but to get takeout. I was happy to discover that they offered a vegan burger (pretty sure it was a Blue Mango burger made in Portland, Maine). I was a little surprised (and sad) upon opening my food to see there was no bun. Guess it wasn't vegan? So major bonus points for offering a vegan burger, but they lost a few for leaving me bunless. (However, they earned points back for being aware enough to recognize the bun was not vegan and considerate enough to not just slap it on there regardless. The burger was good even with only lettuce, tomato and mustard (they forgot to pack the ketchup). However, no ketchup made for some very sad sweet potato fries. The half sour pickle was tasty. Overall, my experience was OK. It could have been worse; it could have been better.
(2)
LJ R.
My guy and I decided to hit Sugarloaf one weekend VERY last minute on a Friday end of February. We had to spend the night at a cheap hotel in (not so) nearby Wilton. The best surprise was finding this restaurant. We were skeptical as we drove into the parking lot. We found the restaurant through Open Table, 3 hours earlier as we drove (if you can call 90 miles an hour in a mini driving. Men!) up route 95. We were impressed by the decor and ambiance but more so by the inviting odors of garlic, oregano, bread, etc. that greeted us as we entered. After relaxing with a glass of wine, we ordered a few different things - my guy had to have the veal, we shared a salad and I got a bruschetta pizza (I altered it and asked for some tomato sauce to be added). The salad was ok - a nice dressing but nothing special. However, according to my guy (I don't eat veal) it was exceptional. He ordered a side of red pepper risotto (which was additional but we thought it shouldn't be). The dish came with steamed zucchini (which was the most disappointing part of the meal - really could have been more interesting). According to him, "Succulent, tender, and the sauce was perfectly reduced." He thought the portion was generous. He went to culinary school and takes pride in his sauces. He's quite critical and gave this dish top score. My pizza was amazing. The dough was perfectly cooked. The simplicity of the ingredients (with my requested touch of sauce, I might add) layered with balsamic and basil just hit the spot. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. We will go back next year.
(4)
Paul S.
What a find! Visited on a cold January day. The restaurant is nestled in the boiler room of the old Bass Shoe Factory. Not sure who has all the money up there but they really laid it on for this place. It has a warm and charming ambiance that makes the most of the building's history at the same time. So I am thinking that th beauty of this place is only skin deep. Not so! Our party had two pizza eaters, one pasta eater and a panini person. The pizza's were very reasonably price for a personal size which is actually large enough for two of any diner except an adolescent male. The crust was crusty, the cheese cheesy and the sauce just right The pasta was good we got it with a meat sauce which was satisfying but unexceptional. For the panini we got the gabba-go which can be described as sublimely "succulent". Service was good. They were there when we need them but they did not hover. I will be going back again and again.
(5)
Erick F.
These guys are great, I went there from out of town as I was visiting my sister in Kingfield and these guys were so nice. We were with a difficult group asking for a lot of different custom orders and both the waitress(Ali) and the chef were very enthusiastic about the challenge. The outside setting is soooo nice next to the flowing water, I will be back next time I visit my sister.
(5)
Maggie S.
Great quality and portion size. Helpful waitstaff. Had an enjoyable anniversary dinner there.
(4)
John E.
So, taking the advise of my fellow "Yelp"er's I traveled a little bit of the beaten path to find this little gem, glad I did! Everything made from scratch, including the meatballs and desserts, delicious, make sure you stop here, you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Will K.
Nice setting in an old mill adjoining a babbling brook. Service and food were excellent! House Pinot was good. Nice tap beer selection. We liked it a lot. We're fairly local , and will return.
(4)
Melissa S.
Excellent meal and great staff. We had the special and as always it was amazing. Looking forward to the next visit.
(5)
Kelsey C.
Not worth it. Went there once and split two entrees between my husband and myself. We also had an appetizer and desert. All of the food was alright. Upon trying to go again we were turned away at the door for not having a reservation along with several other people. All the while, mind you, there were empty tables both inside and outside. Wouldn't go back simply because of that incident and the mediocrity of the food.
(1)
Jim B.
For a sleepy former shoe town like Wilton, Calzolaio is a nice touch. It is a bit off the beaten path (Route 4), but worth checking out. I was there for lunch yesterday and to be honest, when I walked in at the former G.H. Bass factory (a historic mill) located on Wilson Stream, the upstairs dining room was dark and I thought it might be closed. It wasn't--I had to walk down the stairs and even then, I wasn't sure they were open for lunch. When the waitress did come out to greet my lunch partner and I, she never said, "sorry for the delay." In fact, the service was uneven at best, hence the three star review--the food was a notch above that. I kept it simple--soup and salad. They also have pasta bowls, sandwiches, and burgers for lunch. I'm guessing that lunch is slow for them in April, and that dinner is their bread and butter. Still, the service issue was off-putting. I'd go back for the food, but I'd have reservations about lunch. The setting is great and in the summer, it looks like you can eat out on the deck with great views of Wilson Stream rushing by below.
(3)
Vincent N.
I'll admit I didn't eat much here, just a pasta combination, capellini with butter and garlic, and a house salad. It came with a very tasty wedge of bread as well. The food was very good. The service was quick and friendly, and the atmosphere of the restaurant in the old mill is very charming. I have to admit, I was very surprised to find this level of cuisine, and a lovely location like this in a small town like Wilton. No offense people of Wilton. I highly recommend.
(5)
Ed M.
We came back and we will be back again! As another post from last week we managed to make reservations not knowing the Blueberry Festival was going on. Thank you Officer Friendly for helping us get around all the detours to get to this little gem of a restaurant! We arrived about 5 minutes late for our 7:30 reservation. Nichole said it would be a couple of minutes to get the table ready. She introduced us to Courtney, our server who took us to the table. Since it was the Blueberry Festival the special menu had a blueberry flair. My wife started with a Blueberry Mojito while our friend Dave, had a Blueberry summer ale. I had a Blueberry Glenlivet! For dinner the ladies had a delicious Eggplant Parm, I had Salmon topped with a Blueberry glaze,m while Dave enjoyed the special Haddock dinner. Everything was cooked to perfection. If there was a disappointment it was with the side risotto. I am not sure what I expected but it was not what I had. To top the meal off, we all split homemade Blueberry pie with ice cream! This did not top the night off as when we thought we were going to leave the fireworks display had just finished so the roads were packed. This gave us the opportunity to meet the infamous Carla at the bar to provide us with entertainment and some libation while we waited!
(4)
Shane L.
This little tucked away restaurant in Wilton, Maine is a definite gem. The outside of the building sits on the babbling brook with outside seating that is to die for. The service was amazing, attentive and seemed to definitely care about how the experience was. Our meals were very simple with me personally getting a garlic baby shrimp Ceasar salad, the people that I was here with got the clam chowder and a delicious panini style of sandwich. They seem to care in the kitchen with the attention to the simple, yet easy to mess up. lunch meals that we purchased. The decor is a bit rustic and the inside has the feel of a quaint B & B in the hills of Vermont and the deck has the feel of a prime spot in the middle of downtown Portland. I would definitely recommend this little place and next time I am heading out to the area, I will be stopping here again.
(4)
John E.
So, taking the advise of my fellow "Yelp"er's I traveled a little bit of the beaten path to find this little gem, glad I did! Everything made from scratch, including the meatballs and desserts, delicious, make sure you stop here, you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Will K.
Nice setting in an old mill adjoining a babbling brook. Service and food were excellent! House Pinot was good. Nice tap beer selection. We liked it a lot. We're fairly local , and will return.
(4)
Melissa S.
Excellent meal and great staff. We had the special and as always it was amazing. Looking forward to the next visit.
(5)
Kelsey C.
Not worth it. Went there once and split two entrees between my husband and myself. We also had an appetizer and desert. All of the food was alright. Upon trying to go again we were turned away at the door for not having a reservation along with several other people. All the while, mind you, there were empty tables both inside and outside. Wouldn't go back simply because of that incident and the mediocrity of the food.
(1)
Jim B.
For a sleepy former shoe town like Wilton, Calzolaio is a nice touch. It is a bit off the beaten path (Route 4), but worth checking out. I was there for lunch yesterday and to be honest, when I walked in at the former G.H. Bass factory (a historic mill) located on Wilson Stream, the upstairs dining room was dark and I thought it might be closed. It wasn't--I had to walk down the stairs and even then, I wasn't sure they were open for lunch. When the waitress did come out to greet my lunch partner and I, she never said, "sorry for the delay." In fact, the service was uneven at best, hence the three star review--the food was a notch above that. I kept it simple--soup and salad. They also have pasta bowls, sandwiches, and burgers for lunch. I'm guessing that lunch is slow for them in April, and that dinner is their bread and butter. Still, the service issue was off-putting. I'd go back for the food, but I'd have reservations about lunch. The setting is great and in the summer, it looks like you can eat out on the deck with great views of Wilson Stream rushing by below.
(3)
Vincent N.
I'll admit I didn't eat much here, just a pasta combination, capellini with butter and garlic, and a house salad. It came with a very tasty wedge of bread as well. The food was very good. The service was quick and friendly, and the atmosphere of the restaurant in the old mill is very charming. I have to admit, I was very surprised to find this level of cuisine, and a lovely location like this in a small town like Wilton. No offense people of Wilton. I highly recommend.
(5)
David W.
Wife and I ate here last night while traveling through the area and were pleasantly surprised to find such a quality restaurant in this area. The restaurant has a very large menu but I need to warn you ahead of time it is a bit pricy. But at the end of the day, it was worth the price to us. I had the linguini bowl with the tomato sauce and it might have been the best I have ever had at any restaurant! I also had the garden salad and it was pretty tasty as well. The wife got a bowl of clam chowder and an order of their garlic bread. She said her meal was excellent. We then finished our meals off with an order of their maple Apple pie al a mode. Oh my gosh what a treat! OK, how did we come up with our rating? The linguine gets a 5+. The salad a 3. The clam chowder a 5. The maple Apple pie a 5+. The facility a 5. The service a 5. The value a 5. My overall experience a 5. Will we go back? If we are ever back in the area this will be a definite stop!
(5)
Nicole C.
Very delicious, very quaint, and outstanding service!! Defiantly worth a stop in for lunch or dinner if you're ever in the area!
(5)
D M.
I loved my food. That wasn't the problem, I was ready to lick my plate! It was Saturday night when we arrived, it was busy. The hostess asked us if we had a reservation, we said no. At this point I began to feel like an outsider. She said 30 minutes which was fine by us, but I had a weird feeling from her. After 30 minutes a table was available for us. The hostess took our drink order after seating us, which didn't allow us time to read the menu, no worries, we ordered beers and wine. Then we didn't see our drinks or waitress for a solid 10 minutes. The waitress came over and asked if we had put in drinks and then took our order. So still no drinks. We ordered, our drinks arrived and our salads came out in timely fashion. No interaction with wait staff between salad and meals. My mother asked for another wine when the meals came and my father declined a beer. Another solid 10-15 minutes when we were well over half way done with the meal when the drinks came. My mother's wine and a beer which my father had declined. We wrapped up the meal another awkwardly long wait for the check, which still had a charge for the declined beer. At no point in this meal were we offered bread which other tables clearly had around us. I'll give this place another shot, definitely calling ahead since its a popular spot. I just hope the service isn't as horribly disjointed as it was tonight.
(3)
Tonya C.
Ate here with the family during our Maine vacation. The outdoor seating was quaint, the scenery beautiful! My husband and I reminisced about our 1st date here when it was the Boiler Room. My husband and I each got a pizza, they were delicious! My son ordered the chicken Parmesan, the portion was huge! We will definitely return on our next visit to Maine.
(5)
Courtney T.
I wish my new favorite restaurant wasn't 819 miles away! I was in Wilton with my husband, visiting my mother in law and our last night was here at Calzolaio. Holy cow. I got the caesar salad for my app and lightly munched on the fabulous bread and olive oil combo they bring you. For my entree, I got the seafood alfredo... It was better than I ever could have imagined; a huge chunk of white fish, lots of little clams, shrimp, scallops, and the best alfredo sauce ever, topped with parmesan. It was outstanding and I honestly don't know that I'll get anything else, because it was that good. And there's always room for dessert... I got the homemade strawberry rhubarb pie with homemade vanilla bean gelato and it again was out of this world. I can't rave enough. For the setting... The restaurant is located in the old G.H. Bass shoe factory, a historic mill overlooking Wilson stream. We sat outside with a lovely view of the lake and waterfall. The decor is elegantly rustic with string lights and beautiful Italian touches. Can't wait till our next visit to Wilton--we will be back in December!
(5)
Tonya C.
Ate here with the family during our Maine vacation. The outdoor seating was quaint, the scenery beautiful! My husband and I reminisced about our 1st date here when it was the Boiler Room. My husband and I each got a pizza, they were delicious! My son ordered the chicken Parmesan, the portion was huge! We will definitely return on our next visit to Maine.
(5)
Courtney T.
I wish my new favorite restaurant wasn't 819 miles away! I was in Wilton with my husband, visiting my mother in law and our last night was here at Calzolaio. Holy cow. I got the caesar salad for my app and lightly munched on the fabulous bread and olive oil combo they bring you. For my entree, I got the seafood alfredo... It was better than I ever could have imagined; a huge chunk of white fish, lots of little clams, shrimp, scallops, and the best alfredo sauce ever, topped with parmesan. It was outstanding and I honestly don't know that I'll get anything else, because it was that good. And there's always room for dessert... I got the homemade strawberry rhubarb pie with homemade vanilla bean gelato and it again was out of this world. I can't rave enough. For the setting... The restaurant is located in the old G.H. Bass shoe factory, a historic mill overlooking Wilson stream. We sat outside with a lovely view of the lake and waterfall. The decor is elegantly rustic with string lights and beautiful Italian touches. Can't wait till our next visit to Wilton--we will be back in December!
(5)
Amber T.
After a long drive from upstate New York (via Quebec, Vermont and New Hampshire) on our way to our final destination of Bar Harbor, we decided to hole up for the night at the Comfort Inn in Wilton. I was enticed by the "free delivery" option plus Yelp rating, so we phoned in our order, which did include some gluten-free requests. About two minutes later, the gal at the restaurant called me back to ask if I wanted a different (gluten-free Italian Wedding) soup with the order, since the Tuscan Onion that we had originally selected was not gluten-free. Overall the food was pretty good- not San Francisco North Beach, but decent especially for rural Maine. We had some of the basics: soup, Caesar salad, several "build your own pasta" dishes, a calzone and breadsticks. I really appreciated the consideration these folks showed, and they had our order delivered to us when they said they would (in 35 minutes).
(4)
Rich T.
We were on a road trip around New England. Driving through Wilton, ME, and didn't know what to expect. So we ran into this pasta place by the side of a little river, it was nice enough to sit outside and enjoy the sound of the water, and the nice September New England day. Waitress was very friendly. She started by vetoing Briana's drink selection, and told her which drink to get. She was also the bartender from what I could tell. Perfect call on the drink... A happy Briana, and whatever thing she was drinking she enjoyed a great deal. Great so far. Then, our waitress made some suggestions on food. Like a Tuscan onion soup for Briana, which Briana raved about. Our appetizer came... a bruschetta plate that was fantastic, well the second one was fantastic. When the first arrived, Briana noticed a long hair on the plate. The waitress saw it and grabbed the plate away faster than you could say "uh... there's a hair there." She apologized profusely and sincerely, said that should not have happened, and took responsibility. Hey, that happens... that's why Briana looks. But it's rare that you get that sort of response, that genuine concern and a very quick replacement. And the bruschetta was great. Fantastic. Briana had the calzone, it was a small mountain covering her plate. She actually gasped when she saw it. It deflated a bit upon cutting, down to a meal-sized thing. And it looked very good. I had pasta, it was perfect. On a vacation, great service is magnified, as you just want to relax, and enjoy a nice meal. And this place fit the bill perfectly, led by the fantastic care given us by our waitress. I'm only sorry we can't go back more often, but it's about 3000 miles from home. So if you are passing through Wilton, ME, try it!
(5)
Amber T.
After a long drive from upstate New York (via Quebec, Vermont and New Hampshire) on our way to our final destination of Bar Harbor, we decided to hole up for the night at the Comfort Inn in Wilton. I was enticed by the "free delivery" option plus Yelp rating, so we phoned in our order, which did include some gluten-free requests. About two minutes later, the gal at the restaurant called me back to ask if I wanted a different (gluten-free Italian Wedding) soup with the order, since the Tuscan Onion that we had originally selected was not gluten-free. Overall the food was pretty good- not San Francisco North Beach, but decent especially for rural Maine. We had some of the basics: soup, Caesar salad, several "build your own pasta" dishes, a calzone and breadsticks. I really appreciated the consideration these folks showed, and they had our order delivered to us when they said they would (in 35 minutes).
(4)
Rich T.
We were on a road trip around New England. Driving through Wilton, ME, and didn't know what to expect. So we ran into this pasta place by the side of a little river, it was nice enough to sit outside and enjoy the sound of the water, and the nice September New England day. Waitress was very friendly. She started by vetoing Briana's drink selection, and told her which drink to get. She was also the bartender from what I could tell. Perfect call on the drink... A happy Briana, and whatever thing she was drinking she enjoyed a great deal. Great so far. Then, our waitress made some suggestions on food. Like a Tuscan onion soup for Briana, which Briana raved about. Our appetizer came... a bruschetta plate that was fantastic, well the second one was fantastic. When the first arrived, Briana noticed a long hair on the plate. The waitress saw it and grabbed the plate away faster than you could say "uh... there's a hair there." She apologized profusely and sincerely, said that should not have happened, and took responsibility. Hey, that happens... that's why Briana looks. But it's rare that you get that sort of response, that genuine concern and a very quick replacement. And the bruschetta was great. Fantastic. Briana had the calzone, it was a small mountain covering her plate. She actually gasped when she saw it. It deflated a bit upon cutting, down to a meal-sized thing. And it looked very good. I had pasta, it was perfect. On a vacation, great service is magnified, as you just want to relax, and enjoy a nice meal. And this place fit the bill perfectly, led by the fantastic care given us by our waitress. I'm only sorry we can't go back more often, but it's about 3000 miles from home. So if you are passing through Wilton, ME, try it!
(5)
Sixty-One H.
We ate there both nights we were in the area because the food was so good, and the restaurant is so comfortable and lovely. We shared the fried calamari appetizer both nights. The first night, I had a scallop special that was inventive and delicious, with some tart flavors and heirloom tomatoes. It came with a very generous side dish of pasta with marinara sauce. My husband had cheese ravioli which was excellent. The bread is outstanding, and it is served with herbed extra virgin olive oil. The second night, we both tried the pasta (marinara and Bolognese) which was very good, and comes with a small salad and a side of a fried roll with cheese. This roll was the only thing I did not care for: too oily and filling, and better suited as a bar snack than along with an already large dinner. Wine selections are limited but of good quality and fairly priced. Nice place!
(5)
Caitlin A.
My husband and I lived in the Farmington/Wilton area for three years. In 2010 I was diagnosed with celiac disease and all of a sudden our favorite, the Granary (which has since closed), wasn't acceptable anymore. We went to Calzolaio and were delighted to discover that they had gluten-free bread, gluten-free pasta, and gluten-free breadcrumbs. They even warned me that the well vodka was made of grain (I'm not sensitive enough that I can't have grain-based vodka), and they do have potato vodka available. They were knowledgable enough to always bring me my own dish of spices along with my gluten-free bread. I ate the pasta and the gluten-free version of the Sicilian chicken most frequently, but I also had the lamb. The food was always fresh and yummy and for the most part fairly priced. I ate here several times a month from 2010-early 2012, when we moved to New Mexico, and I never, ever was sick from a gluten contamination. They were very knowledgeable and eager to learn more. The only criticism I'd give here is that the gluten-free pasta is a little sticky and mushy, which is pretty common in my experience with restaurants that aren't completely gluten-free. For their reference, Tinkyada pasta cooked for about 10 minutes is great! The ambience is quite nice and the building is lovely on the inside. Even when it was extremely crowded the noise level wasn't extreme and the wait staff was quick and always very nice. The owner and staff got to know us so well they all expressed sadness when we left, and honestly now that I'm in Santa Fe and having to find new restaurants to frequent we definitely miss them.
(4)
Crystal M.
This was an overall 5 star restaurant! We had the Steamed Clams (Vongole), Fried Calamari, and the Antipasto plate. The steamed clams are cooked in white wine, garlic, oregano and topped with butter. Heavenly - that was my experience. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the company of others. The restaurant was very clean, bathrooms kept up nice, the staff was friendly, the overall atmosphere was A+. This is a fine establishment that I would highly recommend to others.
(5)
LJ R.
My guy and I decided to hit Sugarloaf one weekend VERY last minute on a Friday end of February. We had to spend the night at a cheap hotel in (not so) nearby Wilton. The best surprise was finding this restaurant. We were skeptical as we drove into the parking lot. We found the restaurant through Open Table, 3 hours earlier as we drove (if you can call 90 miles an hour in a mini driving. Men!) up route 95. We were impressed by the decor and ambiance but more so by the inviting odors of garlic, oregano, bread, etc. that greeted us as we entered. After relaxing with a glass of wine, we ordered a few different things - my guy had to have the veal, we shared a salad and I got a bruschetta pizza (I altered it and asked for some tomato sauce to be added). The salad was ok - a nice dressing but nothing special. However, according to my guy (I don't eat veal) it was exceptional. He ordered a side of red pepper risotto (which was additional but we thought it shouldn't be). The dish came with steamed zucchini (which was the most disappointing part of the meal - really could have been more interesting). According to him, "Succulent, tender, and the sauce was perfectly reduced." He thought the portion was generous. He went to culinary school and takes pride in his sauces. He's quite critical and gave this dish top score. My pizza was amazing. The dough was perfectly cooked. The simplicity of the ingredients (with my requested touch of sauce, I might add) layered with balsamic and basil just hit the spot. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. We will go back next year.
(4)
Paul S.
What a find! Visited on a cold January day. The restaurant is nestled in the boiler room of the old Bass Shoe Factory. Not sure who has all the money up there but they really laid it on for this place. It has a warm and charming ambiance that makes the most of the building's history at the same time. So I am thinking that th beauty of this place is only skin deep. Not so! Our party had two pizza eaters, one pasta eater and a panini person. The pizza's were very reasonably price for a personal size which is actually large enough for two of any diner except an adolescent male. The crust was crusty, the cheese cheesy and the sauce just right The pasta was good we got it with a meat sauce which was satisfying but unexceptional. For the panini we got the gabba-go which can be described as sublimely "succulent". Service was good. They were there when we need them but they did not hover. I will be going back again and again.
(5)
Sarah S.
I decided to give this place a shot based on the recommendation of a front desk employee at the hotel that I was staying at. I was pretty tired after a day of driving and didn't feel like making dinner a big event so I placed my order to go. My visit to Calzolaio left me with mixed feelings. Pros: The building is adorable. The restaurant is located in a great old factory building and there is plenty of off street parking available. The decor is awesome and very cozy but still elegant. This would make a great date location and is perfect for a special evening out. When I called ahead to place my order the woman that I spoke with was very pleasant. When I picked up my food it was nice and hot and stayed that way even through a very chilly five mile drive back to my hotel. The house risotto was amazing (it comes as a side dish but honestly, I could have had this as a meal and been incredibly happy). Cons: I wasn't overly impressed with my entree. As amazing as I found the risotto, I had the exact opposite reaction to my broiled scallops. The scallops were very mushy and bland. I ordered them with the option of bread crumbs and instead of being lightly breaded, my scallops were COVERED in crushed up Ritz crackers to the point where I had to actively hunt for my scallop under the mountains of crumbs. For a $27.00 entree I expected better ... especially when the risotto was so killer. Also (and this might just be a pet peeve of mine), I found the busers unusually annoying. As I sat at the bar waiting for my order to be packaged up I had to listen to two teenage boys calling each other "bro" and "dude" and talking about "chicks" while they noisily cleared their tables. Certainly not the end of the world but enough to be annoying. Overall: Cute place. The food has potential. Looking over the rest of the menu it looks like they have some more reasonably priced items so I may have just made a poor selection from the menu. If I am in the area again I might try it again (and get something different) if there is nothing else around.
(2)
T.H. J.
Good, Maybe even great for the area, it's above average bar food craftted with a higher degree of care than most.
(4)
Jim R.
Working in town and luckily found this place for lunch. Great lunch deals and full bar to boot. The wait staff were very friendly.
(5)
Kimberly S.
Great little spot, beautiful brick work. Been there twice and noticed an over abundance of garlic in everything they serve. When I mentioned it to someone I was told, "well, this is an Italian Restaurant...". Yes, well, I've eaten a great deal of Italian food including in Italy and never have had sooooo much garlic. Be warned! Despite the garlic, had a terrific cocktail but the bartender was non-observant, unaware, and I kept wondering just how well the bar would do if he did a half-decent job. Too bad really.
(2)
Beth R.
Cute place tucked away in what appears to be an old mill building. It's right on the river and has a small patio area. We were "with dog" on the night we visited, and unfortunately no dogs are allowed in the outdoor seating area. Understandable. That said, we had no choice but to get takeout. I was happy to discover that they offered a vegan burger (pretty sure it was a Blue Mango burger made in Portland, Maine). I was a little surprised (and sad) upon opening my food to see there was no bun. Guess it wasn't vegan? So major bonus points for offering a vegan burger, but they lost a few for leaving me bunless. (However, they earned points back for being aware enough to recognize the bun was not vegan and considerate enough to not just slap it on there regardless. The burger was good even with only lettuce, tomato and mustard (they forgot to pack the ketchup). However, no ketchup made for some very sad sweet potato fries. The half sour pickle was tasty. Overall, my experience was OK. It could have been worse; it could have been better.
(2)
Sarah S.
I decided to give this place a shot based on the recommendation of a front desk employee at the hotel that I was staying at. I was pretty tired after a day of driving and didn't feel like making dinner a big event so I placed my order to go. My visit to Calzolaio left me with mixed feelings. Pros: The building is adorable. The restaurant is located in a great old factory building and there is plenty of off street parking available. The decor is awesome and very cozy but still elegant. This would make a great date location and is perfect for a special evening out. When I called ahead to place my order the woman that I spoke with was very pleasant. When I picked up my food it was nice and hot and stayed that way even through a very chilly five mile drive back to my hotel. The house risotto was amazing (it comes as a side dish but honestly, I could have had this as a meal and been incredibly happy). Cons: I wasn't overly impressed with my entree. As amazing as I found the risotto, I had the exact opposite reaction to my broiled scallops. The scallops were very mushy and bland. I ordered them with the option of bread crumbs and instead of being lightly breaded, my scallops were COVERED in crushed up Ritz crackers to the point where I had to actively hunt for my scallop under the mountains of crumbs. For a $27.00 entree I expected better ... especially when the risotto was so killer. Also (and this might just be a pet peeve of mine), I found the busers unusually annoying. As I sat at the bar waiting for my order to be packaged up I had to listen to two teenage boys calling each other "bro" and "dude" and talking about "chicks" while they noisily cleared their tables. Certainly not the end of the world but enough to be annoying. Overall: Cute place. The food has potential. Looking over the rest of the menu it looks like they have some more reasonably priced items so I may have just made a poor selection from the menu. If I am in the area again I might try it again (and get something different) if there is nothing else around.
(2)
T.H. J.
Good, Maybe even great for the area, it's above average bar food craftted with a higher degree of care than most.
(4)
Jim R.
Working in town and luckily found this place for lunch. Great lunch deals and full bar to boot. The wait staff were very friendly.
(5)
Kimberly S.
Great little spot, beautiful brick work. Been there twice and noticed an over abundance of garlic in everything they serve. When I mentioned it to someone I was told, "well, this is an Italian Restaurant...". Yes, well, I've eaten a great deal of Italian food including in Italy and never have had sooooo much garlic. Be warned! Despite the garlic, had a terrific cocktail but the bartender was non-observant, unaware, and I kept wondering just how well the bar would do if he did a half-decent job. Too bad really.
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Erick F.
These guys are great, I went there from out of town as I was visiting my sister in Kingfield and these guys were so nice. We were with a difficult group asking for a lot of different custom orders and both the waitress(Ali) and the chef were very enthusiastic about the challenge. The outside setting is soooo nice next to the flowing water, I will be back next time I visit my sister.
(5)Ed M.
We came back and we will be back again! As another post from last week we managed to make reservations not knowing the Blueberry Festival was going on. Thank you Officer Friendly for helping us get around all the detours to get to this little gem of a restaurant! We arrived about 5 minutes late for our 7:30 reservation. Nichole said it would be a couple of minutes to get the table ready. She introduced us to Courtney, our server who took us to the table. Since it was the Blueberry Festival the special menu had a blueberry flair. My wife started with a Blueberry Mojito while our friend Dave, had a Blueberry summer ale. I had a Blueberry Glenlivet! For dinner the ladies had a delicious Eggplant Parm, I had Salmon topped with a Blueberry glaze,m while Dave enjoyed the special Haddock dinner. Everything was cooked to perfection. If there was a disappointment it was with the side risotto. I am not sure what I expected but it was not what I had. To top the meal off, we all split homemade Blueberry pie with ice cream! This did not top the night off as when we thought we were going to leave the fireworks display had just finished so the roads were packed. This gave us the opportunity to meet the infamous Carla at the bar to provide us with entertainment and some libation while we waited!
(4)Shane L.
This little tucked away restaurant in Wilton, Maine is a definite gem. The outside of the building sits on the babbling brook with outside seating that is to die for. The service was amazing, attentive and seemed to definitely care about how the experience was. Our meals were very simple with me personally getting a garlic baby shrimp Ceasar salad, the people that I was here with got the clam chowder and a delicious panini style of sandwich. They seem to care in the kitchen with the attention to the simple, yet easy to mess up. lunch meals that we purchased. The decor is a bit rustic and the inside has the feel of a quaint B & B in the hills of Vermont and the deck has the feel of a prime spot in the middle of downtown Portland. I would definitely recommend this little place and next time I am heading out to the area, I will be stopping here again.
(4)D M.
I loved my food. That wasn't the problem, I was ready to lick my plate! It was Saturday night when we arrived, it was busy. The hostess asked us if we had a reservation, we said no. At this point I began to feel like an outsider. She said 30 minutes which was fine by us, but I had a weird feeling from her. After 30 minutes a table was available for us. The hostess took our drink order after seating us, which didn't allow us time to read the menu, no worries, we ordered beers and wine. Then we didn't see our drinks or waitress for a solid 10 minutes. The waitress came over and asked if we had put in drinks and then took our order. So still no drinks. We ordered, our drinks arrived and our salads came out in timely fashion. No interaction with wait staff between salad and meals. My mother asked for another wine when the meals came and my father declined a beer. Another solid 10-15 minutes when we were well over half way done with the meal when the drinks came. My mother's wine and a beer which my father had declined. We wrapped up the meal another awkwardly long wait for the check, which still had a charge for the declined beer. At no point in this meal were we offered bread which other tables clearly had around us. I'll give this place another shot, definitely calling ahead since its a popular spot. I just hope the service isn't as horribly disjointed as it was tonight.
(3)Sixty-One H.
We ate there both nights we were in the area because the food was so good, and the restaurant is so comfortable and lovely. We shared the fried calamari appetizer both nights. The first night, I had a scallop special that was inventive and delicious, with some tart flavors and heirloom tomatoes. It came with a very generous side dish of pasta with marinara sauce. My husband had cheese ravioli which was excellent. The bread is outstanding, and it is served with herbed extra virgin olive oil. The second night, we both tried the pasta (marinara and Bolognese) which was very good, and comes with a small salad and a side of a fried roll with cheese. This roll was the only thing I did not care for: too oily and filling, and better suited as a bar snack than along with an already large dinner. Wine selections are limited but of good quality and fairly priced. Nice place!
(5)Caitlin A.
My husband and I lived in the Farmington/Wilton area for three years. In 2010 I was diagnosed with celiac disease and all of a sudden our favorite, the Granary (which has since closed), wasn't acceptable anymore. We went to Calzolaio and were delighted to discover that they had gluten-free bread, gluten-free pasta, and gluten-free breadcrumbs. They even warned me that the well vodka was made of grain (I'm not sensitive enough that I can't have grain-based vodka), and they do have potato vodka available. They were knowledgable enough to always bring me my own dish of spices along with my gluten-free bread. I ate the pasta and the gluten-free version of the Sicilian chicken most frequently, but I also had the lamb. The food was always fresh and yummy and for the most part fairly priced. I ate here several times a month from 2010-early 2012, when we moved to New Mexico, and I never, ever was sick from a gluten contamination. They were very knowledgeable and eager to learn more. The only criticism I'd give here is that the gluten-free pasta is a little sticky and mushy, which is pretty common in my experience with restaurants that aren't completely gluten-free. For their reference, Tinkyada pasta cooked for about 10 minutes is great! The ambience is quite nice and the building is lovely on the inside. Even when it was extremely crowded the noise level wasn't extreme and the wait staff was quick and always very nice. The owner and staff got to know us so well they all expressed sadness when we left, and honestly now that I'm in Santa Fe and having to find new restaurants to frequent we definitely miss them.
(4)Crystal M.
This was an overall 5 star restaurant! We had the Steamed Clams (Vongole), Fried Calamari, and the Antipasto plate. The steamed clams are cooked in white wine, garlic, oregano and topped with butter. Heavenly - that was my experience. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the company of others. The restaurant was very clean, bathrooms kept up nice, the staff was friendly, the overall atmosphere was A+. This is a fine establishment that I would highly recommend to others.
(5)David W.
Wife and I ate here last night while traveling through the area and were pleasantly surprised to find such a quality restaurant in this area. The restaurant has a very large menu but I need to warn you ahead of time it is a bit pricy. But at the end of the day, it was worth the price to us. I had the linguini bowl with the tomato sauce and it might have been the best I have ever had at any restaurant! I also had the garden salad and it was pretty tasty as well. The wife got a bowl of clam chowder and an order of their garlic bread. She said her meal was excellent. We then finished our meals off with an order of their maple Apple pie al a mode. Oh my gosh what a treat! OK, how did we come up with our rating? The linguine gets a 5+. The salad a 3. The clam chowder a 5. The maple Apple pie a 5+. The facility a 5. The service a 5. The value a 5. My overall experience a 5. Will we go back? If we are ever back in the area this will be a definite stop!
(5)Nicole C.
Very delicious, very quaint, and outstanding service!! Defiantly worth a stop in for lunch or dinner if you're ever in the area!
(5)Maggie S.
Great quality and portion size. Helpful waitstaff. Had an enjoyable anniversary dinner there.
(4)Beth R.
Cute place tucked away in what appears to be an old mill building. It's right on the river and has a small patio area. We were "with dog" on the night we visited, and unfortunately no dogs are allowed in the outdoor seating area. Understandable. That said, we had no choice but to get takeout. I was happy to discover that they offered a vegan burger (pretty sure it was a Blue Mango burger made in Portland, Maine). I was a little surprised (and sad) upon opening my food to see there was no bun. Guess it wasn't vegan? So major bonus points for offering a vegan burger, but they lost a few for leaving me bunless. (However, they earned points back for being aware enough to recognize the bun was not vegan and considerate enough to not just slap it on there regardless. The burger was good even with only lettuce, tomato and mustard (they forgot to pack the ketchup). However, no ketchup made for some very sad sweet potato fries. The half sour pickle was tasty. Overall, my experience was OK. It could have been worse; it could have been better.
(2)LJ R.
My guy and I decided to hit Sugarloaf one weekend VERY last minute on a Friday end of February. We had to spend the night at a cheap hotel in (not so) nearby Wilton. The best surprise was finding this restaurant. We were skeptical as we drove into the parking lot. We found the restaurant through Open Table, 3 hours earlier as we drove (if you can call 90 miles an hour in a mini driving. Men!) up route 95. We were impressed by the decor and ambiance but more so by the inviting odors of garlic, oregano, bread, etc. that greeted us as we entered. After relaxing with a glass of wine, we ordered a few different things - my guy had to have the veal, we shared a salad and I got a bruschetta pizza (I altered it and asked for some tomato sauce to be added). The salad was ok - a nice dressing but nothing special. However, according to my guy (I don't eat veal) it was exceptional. He ordered a side of red pepper risotto (which was additional but we thought it shouldn't be). The dish came with steamed zucchini (which was the most disappointing part of the meal - really could have been more interesting). According to him, "Succulent, tender, and the sauce was perfectly reduced." He thought the portion was generous. He went to culinary school and takes pride in his sauces. He's quite critical and gave this dish top score. My pizza was amazing. The dough was perfectly cooked. The simplicity of the ingredients (with my requested touch of sauce, I might add) layered with balsamic and basil just hit the spot. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. We will go back next year.
(4)Paul S.
What a find! Visited on a cold January day. The restaurant is nestled in the boiler room of the old Bass Shoe Factory. Not sure who has all the money up there but they really laid it on for this place. It has a warm and charming ambiance that makes the most of the building's history at the same time. So I am thinking that th beauty of this place is only skin deep. Not so! Our party had two pizza eaters, one pasta eater and a panini person. The pizza's were very reasonably price for a personal size which is actually large enough for two of any diner except an adolescent male. The crust was crusty, the cheese cheesy and the sauce just right The pasta was good we got it with a meat sauce which was satisfying but unexceptional. For the panini we got the gabba-go which can be described as sublimely "succulent". Service was good. They were there when we need them but they did not hover. I will be going back again and again.
(5)Erick F.
These guys are great, I went there from out of town as I was visiting my sister in Kingfield and these guys were so nice. We were with a difficult group asking for a lot of different custom orders and both the waitress(Ali) and the chef were very enthusiastic about the challenge. The outside setting is soooo nice next to the flowing water, I will be back next time I visit my sister.
(5)Maggie S.
Great quality and portion size. Helpful waitstaff. Had an enjoyable anniversary dinner there.
(4)John E.
So, taking the advise of my fellow "Yelp"er's I traveled a little bit of the beaten path to find this little gem, glad I did! Everything made from scratch, including the meatballs and desserts, delicious, make sure you stop here, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Will K.
Nice setting in an old mill adjoining a babbling brook. Service and food were excellent! House Pinot was good. Nice tap beer selection. We liked it a lot. We're fairly local , and will return.
(4)Melissa S.
Excellent meal and great staff. We had the special and as always it was amazing. Looking forward to the next visit.
(5)Kelsey C.
Not worth it. Went there once and split two entrees between my husband and myself. We also had an appetizer and desert. All of the food was alright. Upon trying to go again we were turned away at the door for not having a reservation along with several other people. All the while, mind you, there were empty tables both inside and outside. Wouldn't go back simply because of that incident and the mediocrity of the food.
(1)Jim B.
For a sleepy former shoe town like Wilton, Calzolaio is a nice touch. It is a bit off the beaten path (Route 4), but worth checking out. I was there for lunch yesterday and to be honest, when I walked in at the former G.H. Bass factory (a historic mill) located on Wilson Stream, the upstairs dining room was dark and I thought it might be closed. It wasn't--I had to walk down the stairs and even then, I wasn't sure they were open for lunch. When the waitress did come out to greet my lunch partner and I, she never said, "sorry for the delay." In fact, the service was uneven at best, hence the three star review--the food was a notch above that. I kept it simple--soup and salad. They also have pasta bowls, sandwiches, and burgers for lunch. I'm guessing that lunch is slow for them in April, and that dinner is their bread and butter. Still, the service issue was off-putting. I'd go back for the food, but I'd have reservations about lunch. The setting is great and in the summer, it looks like you can eat out on the deck with great views of Wilson Stream rushing by below.
(3)Vincent N.
I'll admit I didn't eat much here, just a pasta combination, capellini with butter and garlic, and a house salad. It came with a very tasty wedge of bread as well. The food was very good. The service was quick and friendly, and the atmosphere of the restaurant in the old mill is very charming. I have to admit, I was very surprised to find this level of cuisine, and a lovely location like this in a small town like Wilton. No offense people of Wilton. I highly recommend.
(5)Ed M.
We came back and we will be back again! As another post from last week we managed to make reservations not knowing the Blueberry Festival was going on. Thank you Officer Friendly for helping us get around all the detours to get to this little gem of a restaurant! We arrived about 5 minutes late for our 7:30 reservation. Nichole said it would be a couple of minutes to get the table ready. She introduced us to Courtney, our server who took us to the table. Since it was the Blueberry Festival the special menu had a blueberry flair. My wife started with a Blueberry Mojito while our friend Dave, had a Blueberry summer ale. I had a Blueberry Glenlivet! For dinner the ladies had a delicious Eggplant Parm, I had Salmon topped with a Blueberry glaze,m while Dave enjoyed the special Haddock dinner. Everything was cooked to perfection. If there was a disappointment it was with the side risotto. I am not sure what I expected but it was not what I had. To top the meal off, we all split homemade Blueberry pie with ice cream! This did not top the night off as when we thought we were going to leave the fireworks display had just finished so the roads were packed. This gave us the opportunity to meet the infamous Carla at the bar to provide us with entertainment and some libation while we waited!
(4)Shane L.
This little tucked away restaurant in Wilton, Maine is a definite gem. The outside of the building sits on the babbling brook with outside seating that is to die for. The service was amazing, attentive and seemed to definitely care about how the experience was. Our meals were very simple with me personally getting a garlic baby shrimp Ceasar salad, the people that I was here with got the clam chowder and a delicious panini style of sandwich. They seem to care in the kitchen with the attention to the simple, yet easy to mess up. lunch meals that we purchased. The decor is a bit rustic and the inside has the feel of a quaint B & B in the hills of Vermont and the deck has the feel of a prime spot in the middle of downtown Portland. I would definitely recommend this little place and next time I am heading out to the area, I will be stopping here again.
(4)John E.
So, taking the advise of my fellow "Yelp"er's I traveled a little bit of the beaten path to find this little gem, glad I did! Everything made from scratch, including the meatballs and desserts, delicious, make sure you stop here, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Will K.
Nice setting in an old mill adjoining a babbling brook. Service and food were excellent! House Pinot was good. Nice tap beer selection. We liked it a lot. We're fairly local , and will return.
(4)Melissa S.
Excellent meal and great staff. We had the special and as always it was amazing. Looking forward to the next visit.
(5)Kelsey C.
Not worth it. Went there once and split two entrees between my husband and myself. We also had an appetizer and desert. All of the food was alright. Upon trying to go again we were turned away at the door for not having a reservation along with several other people. All the while, mind you, there were empty tables both inside and outside. Wouldn't go back simply because of that incident and the mediocrity of the food.
(1)Jim B.
For a sleepy former shoe town like Wilton, Calzolaio is a nice touch. It is a bit off the beaten path (Route 4), but worth checking out. I was there for lunch yesterday and to be honest, when I walked in at the former G.H. Bass factory (a historic mill) located on Wilson Stream, the upstairs dining room was dark and I thought it might be closed. It wasn't--I had to walk down the stairs and even then, I wasn't sure they were open for lunch. When the waitress did come out to greet my lunch partner and I, she never said, "sorry for the delay." In fact, the service was uneven at best, hence the three star review--the food was a notch above that. I kept it simple--soup and salad. They also have pasta bowls, sandwiches, and burgers for lunch. I'm guessing that lunch is slow for them in April, and that dinner is their bread and butter. Still, the service issue was off-putting. I'd go back for the food, but I'd have reservations about lunch. The setting is great and in the summer, it looks like you can eat out on the deck with great views of Wilson Stream rushing by below.
(3)Vincent N.
I'll admit I didn't eat much here, just a pasta combination, capellini with butter and garlic, and a house salad. It came with a very tasty wedge of bread as well. The food was very good. The service was quick and friendly, and the atmosphere of the restaurant in the old mill is very charming. I have to admit, I was very surprised to find this level of cuisine, and a lovely location like this in a small town like Wilton. No offense people of Wilton. I highly recommend.
(5)David W.
Wife and I ate here last night while traveling through the area and were pleasantly surprised to find such a quality restaurant in this area. The restaurant has a very large menu but I need to warn you ahead of time it is a bit pricy. But at the end of the day, it was worth the price to us. I had the linguini bowl with the tomato sauce and it might have been the best I have ever had at any restaurant! I also had the garden salad and it was pretty tasty as well. The wife got a bowl of clam chowder and an order of their garlic bread. She said her meal was excellent. We then finished our meals off with an order of their maple Apple pie al a mode. Oh my gosh what a treat! OK, how did we come up with our rating? The linguine gets a 5+. The salad a 3. The clam chowder a 5. The maple Apple pie a 5+. The facility a 5. The service a 5. The value a 5. My overall experience a 5. Will we go back? If we are ever back in the area this will be a definite stop!
(5)Nicole C.
Very delicious, very quaint, and outstanding service!! Defiantly worth a stop in for lunch or dinner if you're ever in the area!
(5)D M.
I loved my food. That wasn't the problem, I was ready to lick my plate! It was Saturday night when we arrived, it was busy. The hostess asked us if we had a reservation, we said no. At this point I began to feel like an outsider. She said 30 minutes which was fine by us, but I had a weird feeling from her. After 30 minutes a table was available for us. The hostess took our drink order after seating us, which didn't allow us time to read the menu, no worries, we ordered beers and wine. Then we didn't see our drinks or waitress for a solid 10 minutes. The waitress came over and asked if we had put in drinks and then took our order. So still no drinks. We ordered, our drinks arrived and our salads came out in timely fashion. No interaction with wait staff between salad and meals. My mother asked for another wine when the meals came and my father declined a beer. Another solid 10-15 minutes when we were well over half way done with the meal when the drinks came. My mother's wine and a beer which my father had declined. We wrapped up the meal another awkwardly long wait for the check, which still had a charge for the declined beer. At no point in this meal were we offered bread which other tables clearly had around us. I'll give this place another shot, definitely calling ahead since its a popular spot. I just hope the service isn't as horribly disjointed as it was tonight.
(3)Tonya C.
Ate here with the family during our Maine vacation. The outdoor seating was quaint, the scenery beautiful! My husband and I reminisced about our 1st date here when it was the Boiler Room. My husband and I each got a pizza, they were delicious! My son ordered the chicken Parmesan, the portion was huge! We will definitely return on our next visit to Maine.
(5)Courtney T.
I wish my new favorite restaurant wasn't 819 miles away! I was in Wilton with my husband, visiting my mother in law and our last night was here at Calzolaio. Holy cow. I got the caesar salad for my app and lightly munched on the fabulous bread and olive oil combo they bring you. For my entree, I got the seafood alfredo... It was better than I ever could have imagined; a huge chunk of white fish, lots of little clams, shrimp, scallops, and the best alfredo sauce ever, topped with parmesan. It was outstanding and I honestly don't know that I'll get anything else, because it was that good. And there's always room for dessert... I got the homemade strawberry rhubarb pie with homemade vanilla bean gelato and it again was out of this world. I can't rave enough. For the setting... The restaurant is located in the old G.H. Bass shoe factory, a historic mill overlooking Wilson stream. We sat outside with a lovely view of the lake and waterfall. The decor is elegantly rustic with string lights and beautiful Italian touches. Can't wait till our next visit to Wilton--we will be back in December!
(5)Tonya C.
Ate here with the family during our Maine vacation. The outdoor seating was quaint, the scenery beautiful! My husband and I reminisced about our 1st date here when it was the Boiler Room. My husband and I each got a pizza, they were delicious! My son ordered the chicken Parmesan, the portion was huge! We will definitely return on our next visit to Maine.
(5)Courtney T.
I wish my new favorite restaurant wasn't 819 miles away! I was in Wilton with my husband, visiting my mother in law and our last night was here at Calzolaio. Holy cow. I got the caesar salad for my app and lightly munched on the fabulous bread and olive oil combo they bring you. For my entree, I got the seafood alfredo... It was better than I ever could have imagined; a huge chunk of white fish, lots of little clams, shrimp, scallops, and the best alfredo sauce ever, topped with parmesan. It was outstanding and I honestly don't know that I'll get anything else, because it was that good. And there's always room for dessert... I got the homemade strawberry rhubarb pie with homemade vanilla bean gelato and it again was out of this world. I can't rave enough. For the setting... The restaurant is located in the old G.H. Bass shoe factory, a historic mill overlooking Wilson stream. We sat outside with a lovely view of the lake and waterfall. The decor is elegantly rustic with string lights and beautiful Italian touches. Can't wait till our next visit to Wilton--we will be back in December!
(5)Amber T.
After a long drive from upstate New York (via Quebec, Vermont and New Hampshire) on our way to our final destination of Bar Harbor, we decided to hole up for the night at the Comfort Inn in Wilton. I was enticed by the "free delivery" option plus Yelp rating, so we phoned in our order, which did include some gluten-free requests. About two minutes later, the gal at the restaurant called me back to ask if I wanted a different (gluten-free Italian Wedding) soup with the order, since the Tuscan Onion that we had originally selected was not gluten-free. Overall the food was pretty good- not San Francisco North Beach, but decent especially for rural Maine. We had some of the basics: soup, Caesar salad, several "build your own pasta" dishes, a calzone and breadsticks. I really appreciated the consideration these folks showed, and they had our order delivered to us when they said they would (in 35 minutes).
(4)Rich T.
We were on a road trip around New England. Driving through Wilton, ME, and didn't know what to expect. So we ran into this pasta place by the side of a little river, it was nice enough to sit outside and enjoy the sound of the water, and the nice September New England day. Waitress was very friendly. She started by vetoing Briana's drink selection, and told her which drink to get. She was also the bartender from what I could tell. Perfect call on the drink... A happy Briana, and whatever thing she was drinking she enjoyed a great deal. Great so far. Then, our waitress made some suggestions on food. Like a Tuscan onion soup for Briana, which Briana raved about. Our appetizer came... a bruschetta plate that was fantastic, well the second one was fantastic. When the first arrived, Briana noticed a long hair on the plate. The waitress saw it and grabbed the plate away faster than you could say "uh... there's a hair there." She apologized profusely and sincerely, said that should not have happened, and took responsibility. Hey, that happens... that's why Briana looks. But it's rare that you get that sort of response, that genuine concern and a very quick replacement. And the bruschetta was great. Fantastic. Briana had the calzone, it was a small mountain covering her plate. She actually gasped when she saw it. It deflated a bit upon cutting, down to a meal-sized thing. And it looked very good. I had pasta, it was perfect. On a vacation, great service is magnified, as you just want to relax, and enjoy a nice meal. And this place fit the bill perfectly, led by the fantastic care given us by our waitress. I'm only sorry we can't go back more often, but it's about 3000 miles from home. So if you are passing through Wilton, ME, try it!
(5)Amber T.
After a long drive from upstate New York (via Quebec, Vermont and New Hampshire) on our way to our final destination of Bar Harbor, we decided to hole up for the night at the Comfort Inn in Wilton. I was enticed by the "free delivery" option plus Yelp rating, so we phoned in our order, which did include some gluten-free requests. About two minutes later, the gal at the restaurant called me back to ask if I wanted a different (gluten-free Italian Wedding) soup with the order, since the Tuscan Onion that we had originally selected was not gluten-free. Overall the food was pretty good- not San Francisco North Beach, but decent especially for rural Maine. We had some of the basics: soup, Caesar salad, several "build your own pasta" dishes, a calzone and breadsticks. I really appreciated the consideration these folks showed, and they had our order delivered to us when they said they would (in 35 minutes).
(4)Rich T.
We were on a road trip around New England. Driving through Wilton, ME, and didn't know what to expect. So we ran into this pasta place by the side of a little river, it was nice enough to sit outside and enjoy the sound of the water, and the nice September New England day. Waitress was very friendly. She started by vetoing Briana's drink selection, and told her which drink to get. She was also the bartender from what I could tell. Perfect call on the drink... A happy Briana, and whatever thing she was drinking she enjoyed a great deal. Great so far. Then, our waitress made some suggestions on food. Like a Tuscan onion soup for Briana, which Briana raved about. Our appetizer came... a bruschetta plate that was fantastic, well the second one was fantastic. When the first arrived, Briana noticed a long hair on the plate. The waitress saw it and grabbed the plate away faster than you could say "uh... there's a hair there." She apologized profusely and sincerely, said that should not have happened, and took responsibility. Hey, that happens... that's why Briana looks. But it's rare that you get that sort of response, that genuine concern and a very quick replacement. And the bruschetta was great. Fantastic. Briana had the calzone, it was a small mountain covering her plate. She actually gasped when she saw it. It deflated a bit upon cutting, down to a meal-sized thing. And it looked very good. I had pasta, it was perfect. On a vacation, great service is magnified, as you just want to relax, and enjoy a nice meal. And this place fit the bill perfectly, led by the fantastic care given us by our waitress. I'm only sorry we can't go back more often, but it's about 3000 miles from home. So if you are passing through Wilton, ME, try it!
(5)Sixty-One H.
We ate there both nights we were in the area because the food was so good, and the restaurant is so comfortable and lovely. We shared the fried calamari appetizer both nights. The first night, I had a scallop special that was inventive and delicious, with some tart flavors and heirloom tomatoes. It came with a very generous side dish of pasta with marinara sauce. My husband had cheese ravioli which was excellent. The bread is outstanding, and it is served with herbed extra virgin olive oil. The second night, we both tried the pasta (marinara and Bolognese) which was very good, and comes with a small salad and a side of a fried roll with cheese. This roll was the only thing I did not care for: too oily and filling, and better suited as a bar snack than along with an already large dinner. Wine selections are limited but of good quality and fairly priced. Nice place!
(5)Caitlin A.
My husband and I lived in the Farmington/Wilton area for three years. In 2010 I was diagnosed with celiac disease and all of a sudden our favorite, the Granary (which has since closed), wasn't acceptable anymore. We went to Calzolaio and were delighted to discover that they had gluten-free bread, gluten-free pasta, and gluten-free breadcrumbs. They even warned me that the well vodka was made of grain (I'm not sensitive enough that I can't have grain-based vodka), and they do have potato vodka available. They were knowledgable enough to always bring me my own dish of spices along with my gluten-free bread. I ate the pasta and the gluten-free version of the Sicilian chicken most frequently, but I also had the lamb. The food was always fresh and yummy and for the most part fairly priced. I ate here several times a month from 2010-early 2012, when we moved to New Mexico, and I never, ever was sick from a gluten contamination. They were very knowledgeable and eager to learn more. The only criticism I'd give here is that the gluten-free pasta is a little sticky and mushy, which is pretty common in my experience with restaurants that aren't completely gluten-free. For their reference, Tinkyada pasta cooked for about 10 minutes is great! The ambience is quite nice and the building is lovely on the inside. Even when it was extremely crowded the noise level wasn't extreme and the wait staff was quick and always very nice. The owner and staff got to know us so well they all expressed sadness when we left, and honestly now that I'm in Santa Fe and having to find new restaurants to frequent we definitely miss them.
(4)Crystal M.
This was an overall 5 star restaurant! We had the Steamed Clams (Vongole), Fried Calamari, and the Antipasto plate. The steamed clams are cooked in white wine, garlic, oregano and topped with butter. Heavenly - that was my experience. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the company of others. The restaurant was very clean, bathrooms kept up nice, the staff was friendly, the overall atmosphere was A+. This is a fine establishment that I would highly recommend to others.
(5)LJ R.
My guy and I decided to hit Sugarloaf one weekend VERY last minute on a Friday end of February. We had to spend the night at a cheap hotel in (not so) nearby Wilton. The best surprise was finding this restaurant. We were skeptical as we drove into the parking lot. We found the restaurant through Open Table, 3 hours earlier as we drove (if you can call 90 miles an hour in a mini driving. Men!) up route 95. We were impressed by the decor and ambiance but more so by the inviting odors of garlic, oregano, bread, etc. that greeted us as we entered. After relaxing with a glass of wine, we ordered a few different things - my guy had to have the veal, we shared a salad and I got a bruschetta pizza (I altered it and asked for some tomato sauce to be added). The salad was ok - a nice dressing but nothing special. However, according to my guy (I don't eat veal) it was exceptional. He ordered a side of red pepper risotto (which was additional but we thought it shouldn't be). The dish came with steamed zucchini (which was the most disappointing part of the meal - really could have been more interesting). According to him, "Succulent, tender, and the sauce was perfectly reduced." He thought the portion was generous. He went to culinary school and takes pride in his sauces. He's quite critical and gave this dish top score. My pizza was amazing. The dough was perfectly cooked. The simplicity of the ingredients (with my requested touch of sauce, I might add) layered with balsamic and basil just hit the spot. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. We will go back next year.
(4)Paul S.
What a find! Visited on a cold January day. The restaurant is nestled in the boiler room of the old Bass Shoe Factory. Not sure who has all the money up there but they really laid it on for this place. It has a warm and charming ambiance that makes the most of the building's history at the same time. So I am thinking that th beauty of this place is only skin deep. Not so! Our party had two pizza eaters, one pasta eater and a panini person. The pizza's were very reasonably price for a personal size which is actually large enough for two of any diner except an adolescent male. The crust was crusty, the cheese cheesy and the sauce just right The pasta was good we got it with a meat sauce which was satisfying but unexceptional. For the panini we got the gabba-go which can be described as sublimely "succulent". Service was good. They were there when we need them but they did not hover. I will be going back again and again.
(5)Sarah S.
I decided to give this place a shot based on the recommendation of a front desk employee at the hotel that I was staying at. I was pretty tired after a day of driving and didn't feel like making dinner a big event so I placed my order to go. My visit to Calzolaio left me with mixed feelings. Pros: The building is adorable. The restaurant is located in a great old factory building and there is plenty of off street parking available. The decor is awesome and very cozy but still elegant. This would make a great date location and is perfect for a special evening out. When I called ahead to place my order the woman that I spoke with was very pleasant. When I picked up my food it was nice and hot and stayed that way even through a very chilly five mile drive back to my hotel. The house risotto was amazing (it comes as a side dish but honestly, I could have had this as a meal and been incredibly happy). Cons: I wasn't overly impressed with my entree. As amazing as I found the risotto, I had the exact opposite reaction to my broiled scallops. The scallops were very mushy and bland. I ordered them with the option of bread crumbs and instead of being lightly breaded, my scallops were COVERED in crushed up Ritz crackers to the point where I had to actively hunt for my scallop under the mountains of crumbs. For a $27.00 entree I expected better ... especially when the risotto was so killer. Also (and this might just be a pet peeve of mine), I found the busers unusually annoying. As I sat at the bar waiting for my order to be packaged up I had to listen to two teenage boys calling each other "bro" and "dude" and talking about "chicks" while they noisily cleared their tables. Certainly not the end of the world but enough to be annoying. Overall: Cute place. The food has potential. Looking over the rest of the menu it looks like they have some more reasonably priced items so I may have just made a poor selection from the menu. If I am in the area again I might try it again (and get something different) if there is nothing else around.
(2)T.H. J.
Good, Maybe even great for the area, it's above average bar food craftted with a higher degree of care than most.
(4)Jim R.
Working in town and luckily found this place for lunch. Great lunch deals and full bar to boot. The wait staff were very friendly.
(5)Kimberly S.
Great little spot, beautiful brick work. Been there twice and noticed an over abundance of garlic in everything they serve. When I mentioned it to someone I was told, "well, this is an Italian Restaurant...". Yes, well, I've eaten a great deal of Italian food including in Italy and never have had sooooo much garlic. Be warned! Despite the garlic, had a terrific cocktail but the bartender was non-observant, unaware, and I kept wondering just how well the bar would do if he did a half-decent job. Too bad really.
(2)Beth R.
Cute place tucked away in what appears to be an old mill building. It's right on the river and has a small patio area. We were "with dog" on the night we visited, and unfortunately no dogs are allowed in the outdoor seating area. Understandable. That said, we had no choice but to get takeout. I was happy to discover that they offered a vegan burger (pretty sure it was a Blue Mango burger made in Portland, Maine). I was a little surprised (and sad) upon opening my food to see there was no bun. Guess it wasn't vegan? So major bonus points for offering a vegan burger, but they lost a few for leaving me bunless. (However, they earned points back for being aware enough to recognize the bun was not vegan and considerate enough to not just slap it on there regardless. The burger was good even with only lettuce, tomato and mustard (they forgot to pack the ketchup). However, no ketchup made for some very sad sweet potato fries. The half sour pickle was tasty. Overall, my experience was OK. It could have been worse; it could have been better.
(2)Sarah S.
I decided to give this place a shot based on the recommendation of a front desk employee at the hotel that I was staying at. I was pretty tired after a day of driving and didn't feel like making dinner a big event so I placed my order to go. My visit to Calzolaio left me with mixed feelings. Pros: The building is adorable. The restaurant is located in a great old factory building and there is plenty of off street parking available. The decor is awesome and very cozy but still elegant. This would make a great date location and is perfect for a special evening out. When I called ahead to place my order the woman that I spoke with was very pleasant. When I picked up my food it was nice and hot and stayed that way even through a very chilly five mile drive back to my hotel. The house risotto was amazing (it comes as a side dish but honestly, I could have had this as a meal and been incredibly happy). Cons: I wasn't overly impressed with my entree. As amazing as I found the risotto, I had the exact opposite reaction to my broiled scallops. The scallops were very mushy and bland. I ordered them with the option of bread crumbs and instead of being lightly breaded, my scallops were COVERED in crushed up Ritz crackers to the point where I had to actively hunt for my scallop under the mountains of crumbs. For a $27.00 entree I expected better ... especially when the risotto was so killer. Also (and this might just be a pet peeve of mine), I found the busers unusually annoying. As I sat at the bar waiting for my order to be packaged up I had to listen to two teenage boys calling each other "bro" and "dude" and talking about "chicks" while they noisily cleared their tables. Certainly not the end of the world but enough to be annoying. Overall: Cute place. The food has potential. Looking over the rest of the menu it looks like they have some more reasonably priced items so I may have just made a poor selection from the menu. If I am in the area again I might try it again (and get something different) if there is nothing else around.
(2)T.H. J.
Good, Maybe even great for the area, it's above average bar food craftted with a higher degree of care than most.
(4)Jim R.
Working in town and luckily found this place for lunch. Great lunch deals and full bar to boot. The wait staff were very friendly.
(5)Kimberly S.
Great little spot, beautiful brick work. Been there twice and noticed an over abundance of garlic in everything they serve. When I mentioned it to someone I was told, "well, this is an Italian Restaurant...". Yes, well, I've eaten a great deal of Italian food including in Italy and never have had sooooo much garlic. Be warned! Despite the garlic, had a terrific cocktail but the bartender was non-observant, unaware, and I kept wondering just how well the bar would do if he did a half-decent job. Too bad really.
(2)