About River House Restaurant

Introducing River House Restaurant, a welcoming spot that feels instantly familiar yet quietly special, right in the heart of Damariscotta at 27 Main St, ME 04543. This is the kind of restaurant you stumble into once and then keep talking about, partly because of the relaxed, come-as-you-are atmosphere and partly because the food simply delivers every time. From the moment you step inside, there’s an easy rhythm to the place, whether you’re settling in for a casual dine-in experience, enjoying outdoor seating on a pleasant Maine afternoon, or opting for delivery when you want comfort without leaving home. The menu leans into comforting flavors while still offering thoughtful, modern choices, which makes it easy to please a mixed crowd. You’ll find hearty comfort food that feels satisfying without being heavy, alongside healthy options that don’t sacrifice taste. Vegetarian diners aren’t an afterthought here either, with dishes that feel intentional and well-balanced. There’s also a noticeable focus on organic ingredients, which adds an extra layer of care to the overall experience. Drinks are just as much a part of the story, with a solid selection of beer, wine, and spirits, plus well-crafted cocktails that fit both laid-back evenings and celebratory moments. Coffee is available too, making it a flexible stop whether you’re dropping by earlier in the day or lingering into the evening. Small plates encourage sharing and conversation, which naturally suits the social, unpretentious vibe of the restaurant. Overall, River House Restaurant comes across as confident without trying too hard, offering a clear sense of place and purpose that feels rooted in the local community while still appealing to visitors who want an authentic dining experience in Damariscotta.

Gallery

Business Info

Service options

+ Outdoor seating

+ Dine-in

+ Delivery

Highlights

+ Great beer selection

+ Great cocktails

+ Great dessert

+ Great wine list

+ Serves local specialty

Popular for

+ Dinner

+ Solo dining

Accessibility

+ Wheelchair-accessible car park

+ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

+ Wheelchair-accessible seating

+ Wheelchair-accessible toilet

Offerings

+ Alcohol

+ Beer

+ Cocktails

+ Coffee

+ Comfort food

+ Healthy options

+ Organic dishes

+ Small plates

+ Spirits

+ Vegetarian options

+ Wine

Dining options

+ Dinner

+ Dessert

+ Seating

+ Table service

Amenities

+ Bar on site

+ Gender-neutral toilets

+ Toilet

Atmosphere

+ Casual

+ Cosy

+ Romantic

+ Trendy

+ Upmarket

Crowd

+ Groups

+ Tourists

Planning

+ Dinner reservations recommended

+ Accepts reservations

Payments

+ Credit cards

+ Debit cards

+ NFC mobile payments

+ Credit cards

Children

+ High chairs

Parking

+ Free of charge street parking

+ Free parking lot

+ Parking

Hour time open

Right Now :

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 04:30 PM - 08:00 PM
Wednesday: 04:30 PM - 08:00 PM
Thursday: 04:30 PM - 08:00 PM
Friday: 04:30 PM - 08:00 PM
Saturday: 04:30 PM - 08:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

27 Main St, Damariscotta, ME 04543, United States

Reviews

A refined restaurant with a great vibe. The food was fresh and great! A small but excellent wine selection. We will definitely be back!

- Amer El-Haddad -

Had a lovely time here while on vacation recently! Being pregnant and predominantly pescatarian, I was comforted by the several options available suitable for pregnant women. That said, the restaurant was out of at least one option I was interested in (the mushroom app), and I learned I couldn’t eat the cheeses featured in the dishes as they’re unpasteurized. If I weren’t pregnant, I know I would have loved to have had the cheese!!! Looked amazing. The chef was accommodating towards my situation and left the cheese out of the tomato salad that came with my salmon, so I was really grateful for that. The shining star of the evening was my zero proof cocktail The Layover. Hands down, the best NA cocktail I’ve ever had (and I’ve tried MANY). It had dimension, flavor, and most importantly, it had BITE. That’s so hard to find in a zero proof cocktail. So thank you thank you thank you for making an amazing option for those who can’t imbibe! I also tried the Ravenscourt Park mocktail but it didn’t hold a candle to The Layover. Second shining star of the night was the soup of the day which was banana pepper! I was skeptical, but man in was tasty. It was buttery, rich, and had a bright pepper taste. So fantastic. The rest of the table enjoyed the swordfish belly special, and everyone thought the smash burger was delicious. Highly recommend and will go back!

- Marian van Noppen -

I got engaged this weekend! My fiancé and I stumbled across this lovely restaurant on our hunt for a nice celebratory dinner and it couldn’t have been better. The waitstaff were all incredibly kind and so welcoming. They truly went above and beyond, we felt so celebrated and taken care of. The food was fresh and flavorful. We had the swordfish and duck and both were some of the best food we’ve had in recent memory. Thank you River House staff! You made a once in a lifetime day even more special.

- Olivia Crowley -

The food was truly out of this world - we especially loved the lobster risotto, the chicken and wild mushroom starter. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, thoughtful and well-executed. Service was equally excellent. Liam was our waiter and couldn’t have been more attentive or knowledgeable - a real standout. Highly recommend for anyone visiting the area. We’ll absolutely be back.

- Jacob Foster -

After a long week leading up to my birthday I took my very best friend to River House and fully enjoyed our time. The chef sent us a fun watermelon dish and truly made our night. Our bartender was very excited and happy to make us dirty martinis. We enjoyed the revamp of the menu and the new host is so kind and welcoming. Thank you for a wonderful night!

- Jessica cimon -

Nichole F. Was our primary waitress and she was very attentive and friendly! The other waitress (I didn’t catch her name) also assisted us and was very helpful. The oysters were delicious! The tuna was phenomenal and well paired with the green onions and sauce. The halibut was also very delicious! The hard cider was unfortunately sour and I was surprised by this. Thank you!!

- Ironman Detectorist -

We came sorta close to closing but the staff and food was so great and delicious. They made sure we had everything we needed and were very accommodating! Wonderful seating and great at getting people in and out.

- Vicky Warren -