Grand Central Cafe

Grand Central Cafe in Waterville is an absolute gem, especially if you’re looking for delicious gluten-free pizza! We stopped in with both kids and adults, and everyone left happy and full. The gluten-free pizza crust was one of the best I’ve had—flavorful, and perfectly cooked in their brick pizza oven. It’s rare to find a place that nails both regular and gluten-free crusts, but they’ve mastered it. We tried a few different pizzas, but the pesto chicken pizza was the standout—loaded with flavor, fresh toppings, and just the right amount of sauce. The brick oven gives every pizza a slightly smoky, wood-fired taste that takes it to the next level. The restaurant itself is eclectic and comfortable, with a welcoming vibe that works well for families or small groups. It’s conveniently located near the interstate, making it a perfect stop for a great meal while traveling. We also loved chatting with the lovely owner, who has worked here for over 18 years. Her pride and care for the restaurant really shine through in the food and service. Grand Central Cafe is a great find—fantastic pizza, friendly faces, and worth every stop off the highway.

Phenomenal pizza. Excellent flavor, multiple cheeses, toppings, and sauces. Try the pesto, I was skeptical, I’m not now. Quiet atmosphere, with books to read. Friendly and accommodating staff. Priced well for artisanal pizza in a quirky shop.

My wife and I tried a new spot known for wood fired pizza, it didn’t disappoint. The pizza had a perfectly charred crust with fresh toppings and cheeses. We weren’t planning on dessert, but the carrot cake was too tempting to pass up moist, not too sweet, and absolutely worth it. Cozy vibes, great food we’ll definitely be back!

First time here. Wonderful staff, atmosphere, and the wood fired pizza was fantastic 👌!

Great menu with tons of delicious topping combos. Their crust is spectacular, sauce is flavorful and ingredients are all fresh and amazing quality! Love the creativity and warmth in this place. A must visit for all in the area and anyone passing through. Also all of their salad dressings are homemade! Don’t skip the carrot cake 😉

One of the better pizza spots in the area. Not especially helpful staff, but they were busy. Pizza is pretty good, a little overcooked but I'll take that over undercooked any day. It's a tossup between Grand Central and Two Cent Pub in Winslow for the best pizza in the area.

Stumbled on this place, an artsy part of town. Pizza was amazing. Curry cauliflower soup was amazing. People super nice. We lucked out! Highly recommend.

This is probably my favorite pizza place in the world. Unmatched garlic bread (Grand Bread), unmatched vibes. I’d probably cry if they shut down to be honest.

The pictures will not do the place justice! Brick oven pizza with the friendliest and best waitress. All of the pizza's were cooked perfectly and had so much flavor. There was not a bad ingredient at all. The cheese was so good, the crust was soft and had a great pull to it, the sauce was a zesty marinara. The kids were looking for bacon, chicken, ranch, but there was no ranch or bacon on the list. They chose the charm-a lama instead and it was gone! Definitely will be back! It's nice to get a pizza that's worth every penny.

Best pizza ever! Elizabeth was our waitress and she did a fantastic job! She is so kind and knows the menu so well! The vibe is also quite nice and the appetizers are so tasty! I will certainly be back and will tell all my friends and family!

Wow - definitely the best pizza in the Waterville area if you like true wood fired thin crust pizza. We tried so many other places before trying this location - shame on us. I'm sorry for those that reviewed before me, that I didn't pay closer attention to your words and pictures. Lesson learned. We ordered 4 pizzas and nachos (really just chips and melted cheese) and everything was ready in 30 minutes on a Friday rainy night. They have a very efficient operation and each pizza was perfect and the nachos were ok - the 3 year old liked them. The pizzas we bought, pepperoni and green pepper, the Pepperoni Express, the Caveman and Arshak. I love smoked Gouda, so from the pizzas we bought, I liked the Pepperoni express - it was edge to edge pepperoni with cheddar and smoked gouda - wow...although it was a bit heavy for the thin crust. The Caveman is sneaky, seems like an innocent enough pizza, but for those that don't like spice, the red pepper flakes may be a bit too much for you, still though, it was yummy!!! The Arshak pizza was interesting, strong olive flavor. If you don't like olives, don't get this pizza. it was a refreshing change, from pepperoni pizzas to that one. Nice balance. Felt "healthier" LOL The bake was nice - some char in some areas, but not bad at all - Close to perfect for wood fire. It cannot be compared a southern Maine pizza chain, O**o - you know where I mean... where 50% of the time, it's burnt and inedible...again from my experience only. However if you like O**o, then you will LOVE Grand Central Cafe!!! I highly recommend this pizza place if you like wood fired pizza with a thin crust and quality toppings.

Best Pizza in Waterville. Fresh. Perfectly baked in the wood fired oven. Great service. All good things from this little Gem! This is coming from a former pizzeria pie owner and chef! Best around!

Best pizza anywhere near Waterville. Super cool brick oven. Nice people. Freaking delicious.

Very cute hipster pizza joint. We stopped in on a long drive through Maine on our way to New Hampshire. We all created our own pizzas, and they hit the spot. We received very attentive service. Definitely recommend them if you are in the area.

This place has the best thin crust pizza in central Maine. My favorite is the "Slim" which is loaded with lots of fresh veggies. My fiancé loves the "Pepperoni Express" which has pepperoni galore. I appreciate their menu of vegetarian options since I'm trying to eliminate most meats from my diet. Their carrot cake is amazing. I could eat the entire cake. The bummer is that they're not open every day of the week.

Outstanding pizza; I heard someone complaining about the price of the pizza, the price isn't that bad, and the pizza is delicious. Night shift is randomly packed, I suggest pickup, or preorder. Their beer is always cold!

Funky little place with a hip vibe. Lots of color and art, mix matched plates and cups. Simple menu featuring a variety of pizzas, prepared in the large brick oven in the corner. Outside of pizza, sandwiches and salad, not a lot on the menu. But I am told that people come for the pizza, so that's what we had! No sauce shrimp and garlic pizza, yum, euro pizza with sausage and vegetables!

Their brick oven pizza is molte bene. Grand Central Cafe is a hidden gem. The venue is about as unpretentious as it gets and the food is so good. What's more they've got a perfect selection of Maine beers and ales on tap and in the can. Situated next to The Railroad Cinema makes the GCC the perfect place for a bite to eat after watching some cinema at one of Maine's coolest art theaters, which are a dying breed.

My husband and I have been on a great quest to find GOOD pizza in Maine. While pizza is a staple of the American diet, it seems there are very FEW people who know how to make it well. We found some in Belfast and Ellsworth, but exceedingly far. So I saw the good reviews here and we decided to give it a shot. We were encouraged by the bread dish and dipping oil brought to us by our server. It was good. We felt like the pizza might not disappoint. Our server was a young lady who was very pleasant. My husband ordered a half salad and I ordered the cup of chili because I was as hangry as a bear and thought the pizza would take a while. The salad looked fresh and the chili was generously served with chips. It was a vegetarian chili but still tasted quite good and filling. There is corn in the chili which I am not a fan of, but that's just my personal taste. Well the pizza arrived FAST. And let me tell you, it was FANTASTIC!! In my view good pizza, really good pizza, masters two things-crust and sauce...this pizza, to my surprise, totally DID! YAY! The sauce is hearty and rich, like your Italian grandmother made it. The crust is that old world tasty yet soft and luscious texture that all us true pizza lovers crave. Just spectacular! I was very pleased with the food. They made a mistake on my order and gave me pepperoni instead of red onion-not a pepperoni fan I picked it all off, and probably was missing my onions, but it was so good that all in all I really didn't care all that much. I decided to try the carrot cake..it was also quite good and tasted home made. I was not disappointed there either-although I couldn't eat it all just because my meal was so filling. Overall I was very pleased to have found a truly delicious pizza in the heart of Waterville. The only disappointment I had, which accounts for a docked star is the seating. We has to sit at a small table in the middle of the room, which I HATE. It would be nice if they had booths or tables that were more for quiet people.

#1 or #2 pizza in Waterville. I can be inconsistent occasionally but overall it's very very good. Veggie pizza is the way to go because the meats are definitely frozen generic quality.

Excellent place to end a long drive through the mountains. Staff were efficient, cheerful and helpful and the food was great! Would definitely recommend a visit to this cool little spot

Ordered delivery through door dash. Food was great, hot when it got here. I got the pepperoni w half pineapple pizza and then they're bread w some olive oil herb mixture for dipping; both were delicious. I will be ordering again in the future!

Such an awesome, hidden gem! I live 20 mins North of Waterville and never knew this place was here! They were super awesome about me having an extreme intolerance to dairy when I ordered the shrimp quesadilla with soy cheese! The woman who cooks in the brick oven quickly came over, asked who ordered it with soy cheese, and asked me if I wanted oil and garlic instead of the pesto since it contains cheese there. The quesadilla was AMAZING, and the bread with the oil they serve you before you order is so good. I went and spent a little under $11.00 for a delicious non-dairy meal! Definitely going back again!

Perfect vegan date night! The veggie pizza with soy cheese was one of the best vegan pizzas I've ever had. The sauce and the crust were on point!!! And our server was the sweetest... so friendly and helpful. Great atmosphere and background music. Highly recommend.

LOVE LOVE this place!! I think it's the Best Pizza in Waterville and also the best chilling and carrot cake... An ABSOLUTE HOME RUN

I wish I could give 4 and a half stars, because when this place is good, it's really 5 stars, but I've had some meals that have not been to that level. Anyway, the place has a fun and funky vibe and usually the Pizza is really delicious. I personally love the eggplant one, but there are a lot of great combinations. I hope when you try it, it's 5 stars!

After a long day at the common ground fair, and a long night drive ahead of us, we decided to go off the beaten path in search of a good pizza. I am so happy we did ! Grand Central cafe was just what we're looking for. Dimly lit, cozy, warm dining room . Art all over the walls and table , the most delicious, wood fired pizza, great prices and choices, and a server that was the kindest friendliest gal you could hope to get ! I am definitely coming back for more, it's worth the two hour drive thx for for an epic experience grand Central .

Wow! This place hasn't been reviewed yet? It's doing everything right. My two teenage daughters and I stopped by here on a Thursday afternoon (8/11/11) for lunch. They offered a brick-fired pizza / all-you-can-eat bar at $7.95 per person, including salad, soup and bread. EVERYTHING was delicious, especially the home-made salad dressings and especially the brick-oven pizza - chicken pesto and several other varieties when we were there. Our server Elizabeth couldn't have been more attentive. This is a cool place!

Excellent pizza. It's cooked in a huge brick oven right in the middle of the restaurant. You could sit there and literally watch the flames, there's nothing in Waterville like that. Very nice to see. The staff is extremely nice and friendly but they have some hygiene issues. Don't be surprised to find hair in your food. If you're getting take out, make sure you check your food before you leave. The ONE time I didn't, my food was covered in gray hair. Ew.

We were a party of 11 and every one of us left full and satisfied. Great kid environment. Staff was very accommodating and flexible. Loved the wood fired pizza and GF pizza!!

This place is amazing! Only thing better than the pizza is the staff, such an unique and delicious place.

This is a fun restaurant. The place has a 60's hippie dippie vibe. There was 60's music playing. The restaurant is casual and threadbare in a countercultural way. There's a big brick oven in the restaurant and that's where the action is. We had a couple of pizzas- one eggplant parmesan and one chicken pesto. The pizzas are interesting and artisanal. They are almost as if the cooks had starting making pizza after reading about it, but never having eaten any. The resulting pizzas are good, but very rustic and non-traditional. It's much more fun than any other pizzeria in the area.

Very cool little place! Wood burning oven, fresh focaccia bread, vegetarian pizza and Maine Root Beer!

We found Grand Central Cafe completely by chance, and we're so happy we did! It's a very cool little spot which includes a wood fired oven in the middle of the space. The decor is nicely eclectic, and we felt welcome and at home. There is a nice selection of bottled beer and sodas, and wine as well. The pizza as cooked in the wood oven was delicious! Thin crust with a little char on the edges, and lots of wonderful toppings. Our server was very nice and attentive, despite a very busy room. We'll make a point to visit again in the future!

This is probably a great place to go if you are vegetarian or vegan. The focaccia they brought out before the meal was awesome - except for the hair I found in it. The homemade salad dressing was great, and the soup was just okay. My husband enjoyed his chili quesadilla quite a bit, and tasted a local beer. Great selection of drinks, including craft beers.

AMAZING! Just superb...very few places in Maine that I will vouch for. It has amazing ambiance, food, and service. Delightful waitstaff and just all around enjoyable experience. Great pizza!

We had a tremendous lunch, one thing was better then the next. Perfect veggie heaven with a very special twist. We ordered the Chimi, Quesadilla, Nachos and Greek Salad,but we could have ordered ten other things and been happy, not to mention the totally interesting pizzas. The wait staff was unbelievably friendly. Wished we lived closer.

I loved the atmosphere and the great staff but was sad when I found out my options. The gluten free pizza dough isn't vegan, though this doesn't surprise me but I was hopeful based on reviews. My only non-salad option was pizza nachos which I got but that was just tomato sauce and soy cheese on corn chips. Not the healthiest choice.

Best vegan and gluten free pizza I've ever had! Such a clean taste and not super heavy. We will definitely be going back here!

If you're visiting the Colby College museum or the nearby Augusta this place will be your savior. Prior to my visit to the museum I scoured yelp for a place for lunch. I took a chance on this place with only 20 reviews and I was glad I did. They start you off here with complimentary bread and oil. The bread was great, and tasted like pizza dough which made me confident that the pizza would be good. The pizza was pretty good. The sauce and cheese were average, but the crust, cooked in a gianormous wood-fired brick oven, was very good. If I lived nearby I would be here all the time for the pizza and great service.

Went there tonight with my girlfriend..... food was terrible! Waitress clearly stated my pizza came with marinara sauce, got the pizza with pesto sauce.... I told the waitress they had messed up nicely and she told me I was wrong saying that the pizza makers said they had put "hot sauce" as the sauce base. Well they were wrong in two manors with that one. I will not be going to this place again and I urge you all not to as well.

The restaurant has a funky, cool vibe, and it's a nice place to go with friends. It's also unique as one of the few places in the area to cater to vegans. Half of their pizza menu is dedicated to veggie pizzas. They offer soy vegan cheese, although I wish it were Daiya instead. They also serve a number of local beers, which is nice.

I used to come in here quite often when I lived in Waterville. Always loved the pizza, never had one I didn't like. After being away for a few years I came back and found out, this place is still great. Bread is still perfect and the pizza is what dreams are made of.

This place is a great option for vegetarians and vegans, as well as people with celiac disease or other gluten allergies. It is, however, a bit pricy. The ambiance it a little new age/hipster and the wait staff seemed a little thin for the crowd, but the flatbread that was served before the meal was delicious. I would have used a heavier-bodied olive oil for the dipping sauce though. Everything from the bread to the pizza is cooked in a giant wood-fired brick oven, yet it's not hot at all, even right near the kitchen area.

Highly recommended, we visited for our first time last week while on vacation. Pizza is perfect, fresh toppings and our server was super friendly. We also tried some homemade soup which was delicious as well. Will definitely visit again in the future.

As much as I LOVE this place and the pizza today after going here MORE then once for the lunch buffet I as SO EMBARRASED. I only took my four slices I had coming to me, three the first time and then one. The waitress found that she had to let us know about the change to the menu and it is NO longer all you can eat. I knew that I was there MANY times. My husband and I LOVE the food but we have to find another place to go.. I DID NOT TAKE MORE THEN FOUR slices, never have never will.

Excellent buffet (including made to order brick-oven pizza) at a very low price. Clearly, there is an emphasis on using fresh ingredients and the waitstaff is eager to accommodate.

Pretty good pizza. They have a lot of vegan and vegetarian options and a ton of pizza combinations to choose from. They always have a bunch of local and interesting beers. Pizzas are individual and made in a brick oven. The restaurant is small, but a nice place to hangout.

WOW!! What upsets me the most is that this gem has been in my backyard for the past three years that I have lived in Waterville and I only visited it two days ago! I couldn't agree more with most all of the other reviews...this place has it goin on! A whole lot of good stuff packed into such a small place but it's still got an open, un-cramped feel. I would guess it's because it's a family owned/ staffed/ designed/ operated venture so it's their second home, I'm sure! Right down to a small library of mostly kids books ( smart move) which will entertain the kiddos while the adults soak up the atmosphere. Did I mention the pizza and beer selections? Excellent!!

Cold beer, killer pizza, and the best dipping bread in town. Purchase Dead River Rough Cut the movie there also. Best Pizza in Waterville.

Good pizza as well as great beer selection Best atmosphere in waterville by far. This is one of our favorites.

Ate here once and loved it. Have since tried eating here twice through take out and haven't been able to. The first time was told they could not take anymore orders. This time I called an hour before they closed (several times) and they didn't answer. Hate that I like this pizza and can't get it. Will likely try the new brick oven place and hope their hours are more consistent.

Family joint just outside Downtown Waterville. As a first-timer to the area, I relied on my fellow yelpers to get me to a good dinner. This pIace was small yet cozy, very friendly (like everything and most everyone from Maine). I sat right away and had an ice-cold PBR within 2 minutes. I ordered the Drama Mama salad and the Pepperoni Express pizza. Salad was greens, tomatoes, and shredded cheese (dinner portion) and I got the Vinaigrette dressing with it, very nice. The pizza was a typical Small size but paired nicely with the salad. All total, a nice meal, 2 PBR'S, $23...THAT'S IT! Next time I'm in the area, I'll be there...good stuff!

I came here a couple years ago and had a delicious pizza! I was visiting Maine near Augusta for the weekend and that I'd give it another try. I've recently learned that I can't eat gluten, eggs, or any milk products. I was so excited when I say they had a gluten free vegan pizza! Unfortunately, not only was the "crust" a mushy uncooked wet cardboard mess, but the vegan soy cheese tasted really really bad. I had one bite, and realized that it was completely inedible. I had no more than one bite, and told them I wasn't going to eat the rest of it. Frankly, I have never had a restaurant charge me for something that was inedible, so I was surprised when I got the bill to see that they had! When I told them that I was surprised, they said that if they had made a mistake they wouldn't make me pay for it, but they can't make it free "because you just don't like it." I paid $22 for something disgusting that I couldn't eat! I am NOT going back the next time I visit! Also, my partner who was with me got the caveman. Her crust (which was not gluten free) was burned around the edges, and uncooked in the middle. It was also so spicy that it made her stomach hurt for the rest of the night! (she only ate half of the small pizza - she said it wasn't good enough to finish it)

If you just want something that qualifies as pizza, you won't be disappointed. If you actually want good pizza, you are probably better off buying a pre-made crust and fresh toppings at the store and making one yourself. The Pepperoni Express is wall-to-wall grease. Their pesto seems to be frozen chopped spinach with some garlic thrown in (in fact, one time I ordered a pesto pizza and the spinach was still wet, as if it had just been defrosted and not drained). The sausage is not Italian sausage, but instead, little grey balls that probably came frozen in a giant bag. Part of the crust is almost always burnt. Someone, please, open a better pizza place in this town.

Great pizza and a good selection of local beers. Love eating here every summer, but what other restaurant closes for a week in July, the height of the summer tourist season, for vacation???

Amazing food, great laid back atmosphere, From the outside patio in the summer, to the art on the tables inside the restaurant this is one of the great hidden gems in Waterville. The freshly baked Grand Bread is a delicious, and the pizza combinations are imaginative and well prepared. If you haven't tried Grand Central Cafe yet, you are missing out.