The Goldenrod

Kathleen from Finestkind told us about this place on the boat tour so we had to check it out. Super crowded but the kids behind the register are very attentive and get your order done quickly and accurately. Taffy and chocolate are excellent and it was fun to check out a working taffy shop and see the production in action.

The nostalgia of this place is off the charts. My parents were going here over 60 years ago and it has changed very little. A lot of comfort. Food is good but relatively basic. Taffy machines still produce the same candies.

Going along with the whole vibe of this beach village, The Goldenrod is about as classic New England Americana as you can get! We didn't eat here, but got a box of the taffy. There were a ton of different flavor options and the price was reasonable. The younger girl behind the counter was so nice, and she seemed amazed (in a sweet way) that we had heard of the place from YouTube and that we were from Alabama. 😂

One of the only places you can watch them make taffy in the world! They're still using 70 year old machines to make candy, you can watch the stages of boiling, placing it on the taffy puller, and the packing machine. It's mesmerizing and a fun, free experience, until you go inside of course! Sit at the bar and have an ice cream soda, shop for candy, gifts, or stay for lunch. It's a great time and fun for everyone.

I’ve been visiting here since the 1970’s. First with my parents, then my husband and small kids and now with my adult children and their spouses. I love the older style restaurant, the amazing taffy choices and that you can watch it being made and the staff is always friendly and accommodating. We had good meals, great fresh seafood and topped it off with a large box of assorted taffy flavors that we then enjoyed down by the beach. This place is an iconic historic landmark restaurant to visit for sure. They’ve been around for over 125 years!

I read about Goldenrod in an article about some of the best hidden gems. Now im positive this place would pop up without being hidden but its nestled in the cutest nook of other restaurants, stores and gift shops. Being a busy Sunday by the beach we figured it would be busy. The little neighborhood was filled with people enjoying all York had to offer . The paid parking was easy to access onto our phones and pay as well. The app even came with a countdown option to tell you when your time was up or even to add more time which you may once you see what's around to explore. The resturant nestled right in the center had a window to view the taffy being pulled. Inside had all options of candy and chocolate for whatever you may desire. We had no wait for a table and our waitress was so kind. The food was soo delicious and prices were reasonable . Our little family enjoyed it all.

Great place on Short Sands Beach. Sit down restaurant with all kinds of candy, fudge, and taffy in front. You can even watch taffy (they are famous for it!) being made in the storefront windows! Begun in 1896, I go there every time I'm in the area. Wintertime they are closed, but have a warehouse you can order from. Staff very friendly - and quick. Busy!!

Old time Maine and the seashore since 1896! This is a wonderful modern place with an old "down east" beach atmosphere. Our server, Sam, was excellent! The food was delicious, especially the Reuben. They also have a large candy count where you can see taffy being made the old fashioned way. And there is a special corner just for the kids. A really well managed place.

This is such a childhood memory for me. Growing up, my family would go to York and there's nothing like driving into town and seeing the bright fluorescent "Goldenrod" light shining in the distance. :) My most recent visit wasn't for the restaurant so I can't talk about the food or drink, but I did get the milk chocolate fudge and it was soooo good. Also nearly every store closed at 9pm in the town and we were walking around until we noticed golden rod looking open, and sure enough it really was the only place open so kudos to them for that!

Cute little old time candy shop and restaurant. We visited during the summer and had a very nice breakfast, served by a very attentive and pleasant young man. I had a yummy bacon egg and cheese sandwich, while my husband had the gigantic pancakes and crispy bacon. Sometimes you can even watch them make the taffy in the candy store out front. They even have a special taffy flavor each week. A nice place to visit in the center of it all with on street parking as well as a parking lot in walking distance.

Pretty busy when I went, but the service was really good. It was a LOT of food for the entree and the sandwich was very tasty as well (albeit a little dry but I'm just being picky). The clam chowder was $8 for the cup which was a bit steep as the cup was pretty small and our chowder was mostly potatoes rather than clam. Otherwise, also pretty tasty. Before leaving, we stopped by the counter and got some saltwater taffy where they had an assortment of all the taffy (one of each flavor) for only $3.25. I normally don't like saltwater taffy but this was really good so would definitely recommend checking it out. The cashiers were also super friendly and surprisingly allowed me to purchase a SINGULAR taffy because I wanted to try the specialty flavor (was 14 cents!). I felt bad because it seemed like a hassle to have to weigh and ring it up but they were super accommodating and nice about it.

I often wonder if someone who doesn't have childhood memories of going to The Goldenrod would enjoy it as much is I do. After all, it's really just a diner with an old timey soda fountain counter and candy shop. However, several times a summer I drive an hour+, past all of the fabulous restaurants Portland has to offer to experience summer magic at The Goldenrod. I like to sit out on the porch and although there are tons of sandwiches to choose from (lobster rolls, clubs, even cream cheese and olive) I almost always order the grilled cheese with lettuce and tomato and a side of potato salad. I try to avoid eating the chips that come with sandwich orders to save room for a sundae that comes in a one of those old timey stainless steel sundae dishes. They have tons of flavors of homemade ice cream which I understand is made there, and who else has a "hot penuche" sundae? I ordered the hot fudge sundae with vanilla and it was perfect, as always. Our server (Sam) was attentive and polite, as was the hostess when I asked to sit out on the porch. As we were getting ready to leave I heard the man at the table behind us tell the server that he was getting ready to order his 4,000th sundae because he has been coming to The Goldenrod for 75 years. I may never know the answer to my question.

Great service CoolAmbiance Lobster roll not the best wouldn't recommend it no flavor Cole slaw not great Potato salad good Nice homemade candy Breakfast ok

We had a fantastic server and a perfect lunch. The family tried clam chowder, side salad, and minnestrone soup. The chowder was creamy and delicious, and my son enjoyed his first minestrone. The salad was a standard side salad. For lunch, we had patty melts, French toast, roast beef club, and a rueben. The patty melts were terrifi as we're the club and rueben. My youngest loved the French toast. It is great that they serve breakfast all day! For dessert, we had coffee, and my husband had blueberry pie ala mode. He was excited that the pie was heated up. The coffee was also great. This place is perfect for lunch, good service, good food and a nice location near the beach. If you like sweets, they have a candy and ice cream show too!! My only suggestions are to offer french fries and sandwiches come with chips. Also, because it's in an old house, the bathrooms are up a very steep set of stairs. How can older or disabled people use the facilities?

Candy store with restaurant right near all the shops in York Beach. Very busy area, we needed a quick bite and stopped in here. The service was fine but the food was not so good. The turkey club had very little bacon pieces, and the pattymelt was skimpy on the patty. Parking is tough in the area due to the beach, the number of stores and the lack of lots, permit parking on the street is not easy to find, fyi

A worker named kaiden had fantastic dish washing technique, also there was a fantastic service in the candy corner it was a great time in there thanks for the service

I recommend Goldenrod for a nice Lunch with family. Good food, good service and consistent menu & prep. I would not recommend breakfast here. Breakfast is very underwhelming and adds up quickly. $70+ for Family of 4. However, again, service is great.

I liked this place the turkey club was really good. My husband liked the burger and hot dog. The waitress was great. You have to pay for parking because it's right by the beach and strip. It was nice to walk around after. Sadly, I was too stuffed to get ice cream or candy. However, I tasted my son's Oreo ice cream and it was very good.

The ice cream is supposed to be really famous here. But honestly, I thought it tasted like any other ice cream. I've tasted better.

Great food . Service. And ambiance. The food is great I love the ice cream and floats.

Classic place that's still great! We had an early lunch at the counter, where we were seated quickly. The food was fresh and tasty and afterwards we picked up candy and salt water taffy With the help of the friendly, helpful staff. So fun!

It is a summer spot for many who frequent southern Maine and worth a visit. There is a lot going on when you walk into The Goldenrod and no matter what your age, you can find something that you will enjoy. The candy store is awesome, with all the assorted taffy flavors, other candies. You can't go wrong with a box or two. The soda fountain for your ice cream options. Sit right up to the bar and make your selection. Right in the center of the store/restaurant, you will not miss a thing happening around you. The diner side offers your traditional selection of brunch, lunch, and dinner options. Quick service and good food. It can get loud, so beware...but it is still a great spot to visit and get a good meal. Don't forget the dessert and stop by for taffy or fudge. You can go wrong. Or just the olde fashion ice cream with toppings after your meal.

We stopped here for ice cream while on vacation and it was a great choice! The Goldenrod ice cream was delicious, creamy with chunks of chocolate covered caramel turtles in a vanilla base. We ordered a kiddie cone and a small cone, and both were ridiculously huge, which explained the pricing! Would definitely return and order the same flavor!

Wonderful unique candy/taffy store and so much more. Must see to believe. Incredible selection of home-made chocolates. Polite and efficient service. A-plus!!!!

Definitely a "must to do" when visiting York / Ogunquit ME area. The draw is the homemade salt water taffy, which is delicious! However, don't underestimate the restaurant with an great counter for dining ! If you're looking for a basic breakfast or lunch a an affordable price , then this is the place. We were here off season so we didn't have to deal with the crowds . Golden Rod is famous for their blueberry pies. It didn't disappoint us! Delicious!

This place hasn't changed since I was a child. Or since my mother was a child. Or since my grandfather was a child... The candles. The exposed beams. The green and white uniforms and boxes and taffy machines in the windows. All unchanging and beautiful. The food is unchanging too. The signature taffy is excellent, as are the ice cream sundaes, club sandwiches, lime rickeys, seafood salad rolls... you know what you're getting, and you'll always get it. Just a special, special place.

Tonight was my first time visiting The Goldenrod, and it was great. I had a cup of chowder and a burger. It was delish!!! My server Adam T was awesome. He was pleasant, and was telling me about the history of your establishment. Fascinating history. Looking forward to visiting again. Thank you

My favorite place to go in Maine for breakfast! So many good options for breakfast for the family!

Arrived for a late breakfast, many open tables of all sizes but were told our group of 4 adults could only be seated at a small square table and would not accommodate our request to be seated at a larger table despite having many open seats (for reference, their table for 6 is a table for 4 at most restaurants, but they add chairs on the end to "fit"6.)We decided we would get breakfast to go instead of bumping elbows or repositioning our many side plates at the table for 4, and waited for to/go service to take our order. Despite many other staff members available, the one person that was taking to go orders was nowhere to be seen and we could not find anyone to take our order. After waiting 10 minutes just to place the order at the counter we decided to go elsewhere and had a great meal across the street. disappointing that staff was not able to accommodate our seating request as its restaurant policy or go find the to-go order person (or a manager for that matter). In the 15 minutes we were in the establishment, no other tables were seated. After enjoying our meal across the street, we peaked back into Goldenrod only to see all the same empty tables as before. Management was contacted after our visit but no response.

One of our favorite places to stop and watch the day water taffy being made. The staff is always so nice. Such a variety of candy and treats here. Have actually never eaten a meal here, only stopped in for the candy and treats. But this is definitely a stop you need to add when visiting York.

The candy and salt water taffy are the best part of this place, as is the history - it's been here for over 100 years. The food in the restaurant is hit or miss. Watch them make the taffy, get some goodies and enjoy the beach!

Every year I go to Goldenrod to get the saltwater taffy. They never disappoint! The people are always friendly and helpful.

Really good turkey club Omelette was just ok This is a classic place, as classic as they come. Sit at the counter like they did 100 years ago and enjoy a good meal and ice cream. Watch them make taffy too!

Hello All. I recently dined at the Goldenrod in York beach Maine and it was more than exceptional. The food, the service, and the environment were very warm and welcoming. My fountain server Jackson Meagher was more than willing to dial in and give us his full service and attention for the entire duration of our meal. It was clear that Meagher has had some experience in this field as he is one of the best servers I have encountered in my life. From what I can tell Jackson loves his occupation and expects to continue it throughout his life. If ur coming into the goldenrod Jackson is a great second option if Brodi O'brien Hay is helping fulfill other customers needs. Always The Hay Maker first. #Brochacho

Always a great time at the goldenrod! This time around with this visit; it was just a quick one with my wife and father in-law, since we just were making a day trip out of it. We stopped to grab some of the famous taffy that you still smell and watch being made from scratch in the window! Always top quality! Looking forward to making a return within the next month or so!!

We love quaint old New England institutions like this one. The menu is very simple (chowder, lobster rolls, burgers, basic sandwiches), but the prices were reasonable, food was good and the staff (mostly young people) were nice and well-trained. We had butternut/apple bisque, a lobster roll and a turkey club. We'll definitely go back.

I don't have any major complaints. I got a lobster roll, no mayo, hot butter on the side. It was good. The meat was cold. I would have preferred it a hot sandwich but was happy they had an option without mayo. The clam chowder was good. Nothing was out of this world but it was good. We are outside. Not spectacular views. They should utilize the space they have with views and not have the seating by the parking lot. Inside was ok. Kind of dingy. Because the location was so convenient I wasn't sure the food would be that good but it was pretty good. Definitely overpriced. $80 for 3 of us but again location.

Always try to come here when I am visiting Maine. Honestly I have never eaten here I just go for the fun and candy. But after seeing some pics on here I may rectify that. Big selection. Always enjoy walking around,such an old time feel. If you're visiting I suggest stopping in if only to see all the candy and selection. Treat yourself. My kids love it!

I have fond memories of The Goldenrod from when I was a child. My mom would take me here every summer to get Goldenrod kisses, we'd watch from the window them stretching and making the kisses. As a small child it was VERY exciting to watch how they made the candy, as an adult, it's still fun to watch! They have a great store, lots of different candies, a must see if you're walking around town!

The Goldenrod is an exciting establishment to step foot in. It's a candy store, a restaurant, AND a gift shop all in one! It can get pretty bustling here as you can imagine. The candy shop component is really exciting. You can see taffy being made in real time at one of the windows!!!! It also goes to show their taffy is probably super fresh. There's also a bunch of flavors to choose from. They have a huge selection of candies and chocolates that can be purchased by the pound. We tried a few cubes of fudge- so decadent! I really liked the chocolate marshmallow one. Oh, and the penuche!!! We've had brunch here twice during our stay in Maine. I had the Vegetarian Omelette during my first visit. Its consistency surprised me! It was fluffy and airy, almost like a pancake. It had a medley of fresh diced vegetables and lots of cheese sandwiched inside. The potatoes that came with it was delicious and a little burnt around the sides. I'm a big fan of that omelet​te!!! We also had a waffle to share. It was HUGE and came with plenty of syrup and butter. I loved how crisp the waffle was- it held up so well with the toppings- but the inside was fluffy enough to soak everything up. During my second visit, I had their fried egg and bacon sandwich which came with a side of chips. It was simple but delicious! The egg was fried just right- no runny residue- and the bacon pieces weren't burnt to the point of crunchiness and had a good crisp to them! A win in my book. :- ) They also gave us a peppermint taffy to conclude our meal!!! ** Tips: try not to get seated too far in the back because that's where they keep the cart of dirty dishes. If you go after noontime, it'll be MUCH less crowded​. Also, the bathrooms are located up some kinda-steep stairs. Despite the bustling environment of the Goldenrod, the waitstaff are very attentive and kind! Kudos to them for keeping up with the pace!! :- ) I had very good experiences here and the food was great every single time.

Cool concept and quaint shop. Handmade taffy, chocolates by the pound, house made ice cream,and even a cafe. Tasty treats for everyone. Why only 2 stars? The place is chaotic all the time. So disorganized. I bought ice cream but the line was all over the place and I had to wait on a few different lines till we figured out who was next. Then they give you a ticket and you have to wait on another line to pay a cashier. I also wanted to purchase some candy. Had to wait on another chaotic line where no one knew who was next. I couldn't see what they were weighing or placing into my bag and the bill was much higher than expected. I wanted to try an individual taffy flavor and they charged me an extra .22! With all of my purchases ( over $55 in candy!) they couldn't even sample a bite! Seriously so overrated

The Goldenrod brings back so many memories any time that I'm in York. I've been visiting this place since I was in middle school, and am still fascinated by the taffy pulling, cutting, and wrapping that you can watch from the sidewalk through the window. When I came to town recently, I made sure to stop by, even though it was out of the way, to pick up some salt water taffy to bring home to family and friends. In a world of COVID19, everyone was wearing masks and gloves, customers included, and there was one door for entry, and one for exit. Service was quick and friendly, and I had my full three boxes in no time. I also ordered a lobster roll to-go for my lunch, and ate it out in the car before driving home. It was amazing. The lobster was chunky and wicked tasty. The roll was toasted just enough, and it came with a side of chips. If these things weren't so expensive, I'd eat them every day.

This is a very family friendly and casual restaurant. Breakfast and lunch are both available all day. I had the French toast, both kids had the Mac & cheese and my husband had the patty melt. All of us had ice cream as well. All of the food was very good. The iced coffee that I ordered was not. We bought some delicious taffy here as well.

Perfect brunch or dinner spot located in a quaint little town. This spot has an area selling salt water taffy, little area for trinkets, bar, and dining area. Salt water taffy was reasonably priced and is very yummy. They have daily specials. On this visit, we ordered one of their daily special: meatloaf with mashed potato and veggie. Meatloaf was very flavorful. You can taste and see bits of caramelized onions in the meatloaf. I think the mashed potato w/ gravy and the veggie needs extra sprinkles of salt and black pepper. One piece of complimentary dinner roll provided w/ butter. Another one we ordered is bacon and egg sandwich. Comes with home made crinkle cut chips and slices of pickles. Fresh and crispy bacon is for anytime of the day. We got root beer for drink and ended the meal with a home made caramel cashew turtle ice cream. So rich and creamy - you'll be asking for more. All was good. Ambience was very homey. Service was good. Kinda wish they offer water refill tho ...

This adorable restaurant sits in the middle of York beach. You can't miss it. It's the very large looking house right by the beach. Prior to walking in you can spend a decent amount of time watching the "Goldenrod Kisses" being made. This is salt water taffy and you can watch it being made, soup to nuts! I'm not sure if my favorite part if the taffy pulling (its mesmerizing) or watching each little piece being wrapped -- it's really neat! When you walk inside you are transported back in time. There is a large dining area with a fire place and a very large diner style bar in the front of the restaurant. It's a really cool very special place. The food is OK, I typically get a club sandwich. It's served with crinkle cut chips. You're really there for the atmosphere. People are happy, they've been hanging out at the beach and they know at the end of the meal they can go perusing and shopping in the candy shoppe attached to the restaurant. Our trips are never complete without buying some taffy and some of the beautifully made chocolates behind the counter. Such a special place!

The menu is limited, service was terrible. The computer glitched and they never got our order in to the kitchen until they noticed we were still waiting for food. Server showed up without utensils or condiments. Never offered a discount to help with the huge inconvenience or to try and make it right. Never going back.

the golden rod food is good but the kisses all have changed and are not the same so we no longer get them and we usually bought many boxes large size for gifts and our selves.So upsetting how bad they are now.

Overcrowded and poor service. Eat somewhere else! Waitress didn't check on a menu before saying they had necessary dietary needs. Waited in line 10 minutes to have to turn around and walk out as soon as we were seated. Poor experience!

The history and location is nice, but that's about it for them. I visited here once a few months ago and bought some candy and Carmel popcorn. Well, the candy was hard, possibly stale-- and the popcorn was ok, nothing special... The restaurant part was closed and barely lit. The food menu looked very basic...

I love this place. I only have gotten fudge and taffy here. The people are kind and nice.

We were only here for the taffy. We did not get food or ice cream. For taffy, go to Josie's. Goldenrod had very few flavor choices for taffy, and it was hard as a rock. Based on its location and other reviews, I expected it to be a better quality. They have a taffy machine in the window! The friends we were with went to Josie's. The selection there was far better, and the freshness of their taffy was better. The reason I give Goldenrod one star is because their chocolate fudge was good.

They were Out of lobsters & clams. Food was ok and plentiful. Wait time was ok. No raw ground horse radish for their beef sandwiches was a sin! The beef in the sandwich was excellent & just a taste of horse radish spread liberally over the beef would have put it way over the top. We'll be back.

A family favorite! Dropped in for lunch on a busy Friday and wee seated quickly. Waitress was on top of her game and we were served quickly. Food was delicious as always. Clam chowder was tasty, as was the cheeseburg club. Other member of our sorry had similar reviews if the food. We will continue to visit whenever we are in York.

Nice, simple menu. Good food at good prices. Located across from Short Sands beach. We didn't have the ice cream but it looked awesome. Actually, I lie. I had a root beer float that was really good. Had a nice lunch with the family. Visited the candy store after. Would recommend as a needed stop for anyone visiting York. See you next year.

I actually just want to thank you for taking the wise steps to protect your staff and your customers. It was wonderful to see staff in masks..customers in make..and 6 foot markings. It's a whole new world and as a customer I appreciate you doing what we currently know as best practices. Don't cave to the pushback if you get any. You are doing the right thing.

Going in on the 4th of July lunchtime with a party of 10 did not stymie the staff! The food was good, the water glasses were happily always filled and we were happy to return! The waitstaff regardless if they were working our table or not were polite and friendly. We enjoyed our visit.

A must for Salt Water Taffy The Goldenrod has been open for 50+years. People line up in front of their big window and watch the candy makers do their stuff. They make the best salt water taffy I have ever had, They also make great fudge. Treat the kids to the store let them watch the taffy being made then take them in to sample the taffy. They have really good lunches nothing fried. We always get one of the sandwiches and a shake. The service is great and fast. There are use to lots of kids and the wait staff takes really goo care of them. Good food, reasonable prices, great service a fun time.