Back River Bistro

A charming spot, unassuming from the outside— feels like walking into someone’s home in the inside. The cozy atmosphere made for an intimate dinner, perfect for a date night. It was complemented with a very personable staff. We were waited on by one of the owners, and the chefs will even bring food right out to your table. They could not be more accommodating and kind. On top of all this, the food was outstanding. It was easy to tell the cooks put a lot of thought and nuance into each dish, each one was unique and every bite was a burst of flavor. I don’t live close by, but next time I am in Wiscasset, I will definitely be making a reservation to eat here again. Recommended highly.

Summary: If you are looking for great farm to table, casual/upscale food at a very fair price, then make sure you eat here. We have eaten in many wonderful restaurants and I cannot recommend Back River Bistro highly enough.

The Food: We had the Caesar salad and steak tartare as starters. Our mains were the Bistro Burger and Seafood Risotto and we finished with a chocolate budino. Everything was truly delicious and the attention to detail from the chefs was evident in every dish. We also had cocktails before the dinner that were perfect crafted as well as a delicious recommended bottle of wine.

The Ambience: Simple, welcoming and sparkling clean. The patio is also a plus as we were able to bring our family dog.

The Service: Everyone was attentive and well versed in the menu and specials.

Highly recommended!!!

Warm, professional service allows you to take your time to enjoy dishes that are well worth the wait. We had the braised beef short rib with cheddar polenta and duck breast with tangy sauce and cauliflower and butternut squash. Both very flavorful. This little gem is a more like a restaurant you’d find in a big city bedroom community than in the wilds of Maine in February when we were there. Exceptional. Don't miss it.

Bath, Wiscasset, and Boothbay Harbor are quintessential New England/Maine coastal towns and always worth a visit. While they have many very good dining options, there are not many fine dining establishments. This new restaurant in Wiscasset, opened by the proprietors of Ruby's West End in Portland, has remedied this problem.

The food was excellent, the atmosphere was warm, and the service was stellar. I highly recommend it for one of, if not the best, fine dining experiences in the area.

We are so happy to have had the opportunity to eat here...twice in two days! The food and drinks were fresh, creative, simple and delicious. The service was attentive and genuine. Thank you for having us! We will be back again!

Dined here last night for the first time on Valentine’s Day. Even though they were incredibly busy they went above and beyond to make sure we left incredibly happy and wanting to return. Beautiful atmosphere, great food and drinks, lovely service.

We were frequent diners at it's predecessor Little Village Bistro and were disappointed when it closed 2 years ago. Back River Bistro is a very similar restaurant but has undergone some renovations to the better. An excellent dining experience starting with a champagne toast. They had a wine tasting featuring Beaujolais which was delightful. The mushrooms in the mushroom tart were excellent, but it was not a tart rather the mushrooms were over what appeared to be their focaccia. A special appetizer of meatballs and polenta was excellent. For main course we had the risotto and the ribeye both of which were excellent, although the potato pave was only so-so. Dessert was the bread pudding and a large mug of good coffee. We found Back River to be a worthy and desperately needed successor to the Little Village.

We had a delightful dinner at Back River Bistro and will definitely come back. We ordered the duck breast and the trout and both were prepared perfectly. Nice wine list, great service and a comfortable dining room. What else could you ask for?

I'm a simple person who doesn't normally eat at upscale restaurants. The food was great, the waitress' were great, the atmosphere was great. The only knock that some people might have is the menu is very limited. Make sure to look at it before you come to ensure there is something you'll like. The asparagus with ricotta and pesto was shockingly good. The steak, burger and short ribs were all great but that was expected.

In a class by itself in our region. Perfect date night. Lighting and atmosphere are great. Had trouble deciding what to have, it was all so unique and inviting

So glad we found this gem! Booked a reservation for our 15th anniversary and each dish was superb. The tomato tartare was like a deconstructed BLT, and the panzanella was light and fresh. $2 oysters and half price bottle of wine was a nice surprise (Wednesday special) which we took advantage of. My wife got the tuna crudo to start, which she found a little soy heavy but for my taste was just right. I chose the ribeye for my main which was a perfect medium rare, and the sauce added a layer of complexity (and killer with the mashed potatoes), with the potato pave complementing the steak. My wife got the trout - delicate and flaky with lovely lemon herb flavors along with green beans and tomatoes made for a lovely summer dish.

We are already telling our friends, can't wait to be back!

Back River Bistro is top notch! I was fortunate enough to get a reservation for opening night and our experience was amazing! The food was superb and the service stellar! I’m thrilled to welcome this new restaurant to town and can’t wait to go back to try the rest of the menu! Thank you, Matt, Corrinna, Aaron and Alison!

Back River Bistro is excellent. We had the cauliflower and romaine salad as starters (both fantastic) and for dinner we had the short rib Bolognese special (simply amazing, and hefty, meaty portion which was much appreciated and pleasantly surprising) and the hanger steak with side of carrots. Everything was perfectly cooked and well worth the price. We are ecstatic to have another fine dining option back in Wiscasset.

Four of us sign up for the dinner and Bowdoin Music Festival event on August 4. We had such a great time! The food was delicious- so well prepared and so well presented. The ride to the venue- right to the door and then picked up at the door (it was a rainy night
with lightning) was terrific. And the hostess had our “doggie bags” waiting for us when the van pulled back in to the Bistro. We all would definitely recommend you add the Bistro to your dining list, as well as to your event list!

Eloquent atmosphere, fabulous food, personal service and definitely save room for dessert. Culinary chef creates dishes your tastebuds won't forget.

Found this place through Google reviews, and we were NOT disappointed. What an awesome little spot. Impeccable service - they pace the meal very well, not rushing any of the courses; had a European vibe in that respect. The food was top-notch: delicious local farm salad, tender and well seasoned octopus, perfectly crispy cod, and a squid ink risotto with mussels, shrimp, and langoustine that I will dream about. Topped off with an inventive panna cotta with a whey caramel - a discovery for us! Wonderful selection of local beers, and a complimentary coupe of bubbly to start. All in all, a great evening! Highly recommended.

Such a great experience! Wonderful atmosphere, service, and hello, FOOD! We WILL dine here again, as it was first rate start to finish. HIGHLY recommend the mackerel appetizer, the hanger steak, and WHATEVER special is on the board… 10/10

I had the chance to dine at Back River Bistro recently and had such a great experience from beginning to end. The intimate setting is cozy and their team is welcoming. The food was incredible as well as the service. Corrinna and Matt have done a great job with the menu and I look forward to coming back as well as watching them grow their restaurant.

Next to a gas station is not where you would expect to find this lovely spot. The staff was attentive & the food was delicious & carefully prepared. For those who remember the prior restaurant in this space, the new owners have remodeled; it is MUCH quieter and now an intimate dining experience. Very pleasant and I highly recommend giving it a try!

Bar none, the best meal we’ve eaten since moving to the midcoast three years ago. The atmosphere was lovely, service (from the owners) was warm and friendly, and the food was truly delicious and so well prepared. There’s nothing else like it in the area. We will absolutely return.

The only minor constructive criticism-the elevator music could be improved.