The Lost Kitchen

Love! Visited shop and cafe. Walked grounds. Missed out on meeting Erin which would have been life changing. Picked up amazing cast iron skillet/lid and food mill. Friendly staff. Beautiful outdoor seating.

Best meal of my life! A treat and an honor for the chance to experience this and one we certainly will never forget! The most hospitable group of women ( and Conner! ) is the cherry on top of the amazing food and atmosphere. It really felt like eating with your best family and friends and we never wanted it to end. Erin has done an amazing job seeing through with her vision for it and we could not of been more pleased! I’m still reeling from the fried chicken, the best I’ve ever had!

We visited the store and cafe. Everything was immaculate and well curated. They do a wonderful job. Even the snacks are fantastic. We hope one day to be able to make a dinner.

OMG. We felt like we won the lottery when they pulled out our postcard. From the way they do reservations at the restaurant, you mail in a postcard and they choose a certain amount for the people that will be able to attend the restaurant. They get tens of thousands of postcards a year. And yes we were one of the few lucky ones this year. We had the most incredible night and enjoyed our experience immensely. Erin Frenh the owner / Chef was very friendly and attentive to all the guests as she was preparing a beautiful multi course dinner for us over the 5 hour period we were there for. The food was very fresh and tasty. It was all prepared in a beautiful kitchen right in front of us. The Gris mill itself was beautifully done inside with many updates. We felt like we were at home and we wish we could stay there for many more hours. Very enjoyable and unforgettable experience.

We didn't get a chance to eat at the restaurant, but we did get a chance to walk around the property and shop in the store. The atmosphere is tranquil and absolutely beautiful, great for some photo ops. And the staff at the store was very kind. Definitely recommend if you can get in. Otherwise swing by the restaurant and pick up something at the store. There are also signed copies of books on sale for purchase!! Side note: something to keep in mind when traveling here, is that the restaurant is seasonal. So you may want to check and see if the store based upon the season.

Absolutely exquisite! 🤍 I tried really hard not to hype this experience up in my head prior to coming in July 2022 since I felt it was utterly impossible that it could be as good as it looked on the show… but it was, and so much more. From the moment we got to our cabin, to the dinner, to the morning breakfasts… everything was simply perfect. Still giddy that we got to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity, although I do hope to get lucky enough again in the future for round two. 🤞🏼😄

Ok, so, boo and I come to Maine every summer. We watch the lost kitchen TV show and talk about sending in the postcard every year but we live in la so it's not that practical. Anyway we got an email saying that they were doing a Farmers Market and it was happening the Tuesday we were staying in Darmascotta for the week so of course we went. It was a blast! We love Farmers Markets and we go to our local (Atwater Village) every week and always try to go to local ones wherever we are. Both of us have eaten at plenty of Michelin star type restaurants over the years so the idea of a dinner at The Lost Kitchen is appealing but not like, a must. On the other hand this Farmers Market experience was authentic AF and Erin was up in the gift shop wrapping purchases and signing autographs and taking pictures. The Farmers Market itself was incredible and included sourdough bagels, two different cheese makers and the biggest asparagus I have ever seen. They were making pizzas out in front and you could shop in the wine cellar and buy ice cream. There were no bathrooms and it's about half an hour from Belfast so plan accordingly. Honestly I think this was probably more fun than eating at the restaurant and a truer representation of the Erin French aesthetic than the fine dining format she is forced into for marketing purposes. Anyway, she's an icon and what a treat. Highly recommended!

We love to spend time at the mill. Erin and her husband are so personable and friendly. Can't wait to submit my post card in April! Fingers crossed!

There was nothing to compare this small restaurant in the pucker brush of central Maine. My sister-in-law had submitted the postcard, and was selected for a 'Mainer's' night - we drove up from Virginia for this once-in-a-lifetime dinner. The 11 courses of food were delicious. The service was comfortable. The ambiance was wicked good. The below photos (taken by Phil) display how impeccable each course was presented.

The most incredible dining experience we've ever had. Their team & love for fresh local ingredients was such a passionate combination and it made it all the more enjoyable to be around it. The dishes were fresh, top quality, and unique. Not enough stars to rate such a valuable place. Also my pictures don't nearly do it justice!!!

Erin French is a master host, cook and the creative mind behind The Lost Kitchen. 13 wonderfully delicious and beautifully presented courses featuring Maine ingredients including sumptuous Halibut. Her renovated mill is cozy and perfectly appointed. Post card reservations only...we got lucky

Flew into Boston and drove up. Drove and drove and drove up a little country road. this really is "lost". Holy cow, wonderful staff and guests. Photos do not do any part of the experience justice. Totally amazing... thanks to Erin and the gang.

Where do I begin? My mom and I traveled from Seattle, Wa to Freedom, Me to eat here. It's a lottery system so send in your post cards! This is a quaint restaurant with Michelin style menu and service. My mom and I were lucky enough to get picked in the lottery and we had bar seats, best seats in the house. The bar seats are a bit uncomfortable seeing as how you are there for 5 hours and get about 8-10 courses during your meal. The staff brought out special padding for my moms seat. They noticed her fidgeting in her seat. This review does not even come close to how amazing this place is. I don't even know how to eloquently describe the experience. If you are a foodie or just enjoy fine dining...this is a must! I posted most of the meal but there was also a cold tomato soup, a baby bib lettuce salad, a chocolate candy with rose petals and I'm sure a few other things I'm forgetting.

We had such high expectations after watching the show and they did not disappoint! A once in a lifetime experience that we will not forget. Incredible food! Incredible service! Incredible atmosphere!

To say that this was an amazing experience for us is not enough. Since seeing the tv show, I have longed to visit Erin's restaurant. I have yet to actual experience her dining service. We were able To snag an overnight in one of her cabins. The entire experience was like a rugged outback five star hotel , if all those words can go together. Every detail was anticipated and planned for; care and love evident from the quality of the bedding , to the dried and fresh flowers decorating our scented hand towels and our welcome appetizer and drink tray. It was spotlessly clean, beautiful and relaxing. The coffee prep - which is super important to us - was delightful and throughly satisfying. Breakfast that was fresh, locally sourced and unobtrusively delivered to our doorstep- it was so many layers of pure delight! Even the outhouse gets 5 stars !! Well done and so inspirational!

We had "won the lottery" and were selected to dine here. Food was good... everything was prepared fresh. Staff was great. Building and atmosphere were awesome. Most of the courses were made entirely and served to us by the owner/ head chef Erin... who is really nice! Why 3 stars then? If it were being compared to Applebees then yeah, the lost kitchen blows them away. If your comparing the lost kitchen and elements in Princeton nj, then going to the lost kitchen is kinda like going to Applebees but instead of a 2 for $20 menu it's a 2 for $640 menu plus wine... Compared to elements which also has a large tasting menu, the lost kitchen falls WAY short. First thing - the amount of food given is pretty much two bites per course... some courses being smaller and some a little bigger. Absolutely everything we had was good.... Except the flowers.... Don't eat the flowers. The flowers were bitter. As we understand it, the menu changes regularly with what's available to them so explaining all the courses is kinda pointless. The food came out slowly, spread out over 5 hours +. We were exhausted and tired of it by the end. A large tasting menu like Erin is doing, needs to be made by assigned stations, so it's not 15-20 minutes between every two bites. I got there starving. I left hungry. Erin makes almost everything personally. This is part of the lure...I guess.... The courses need to be prepared and brought out closer together if they are going to be so small. If the courses were larger then maybe over a longer period of time. 2-3 hours would be perfect Second thing - the "lottery" to get a seat. So yeah for most of us, the lottery is the only way to get a seat however I know certain people seem to go every year... how they win the lottery every year is a mystery. This is more of a gimmick that adds to the prestige of dining here. Good for them for figuring that out. Third - the money!!! it's $250 a person plus a mandatory gratuity of 20%. With taxes it's $640 a couple. For the 2023 season. No beverage. We bought wine that was labeled at $84 which rang out to $107... I'm guessing gratuity is added to the wine as well, not sure, didn't get a receipt. Good for her for charging so much and having so many people so willing to pay it. We purchased several cook books as gifts ( labeled $35 ) rang out to $45. Just everything is price gouged. It's exhausting. I get it!!! Come on. WTF. Over all - it was a good experience and good food. I cant say that I recommend it. It's kinda like paying Bentley prices for a chevy impala . For the money, it's just not worth it. If the money doesn't matter to you, and you want to kill 5 hours eating appetizer's... this is the place for you!!! Otherwise you'll be disappointed, going home hungry and exhausted.

I had the extreme fortune to dine at {the} Lost Kitchen thanks to my fabulous friend whose postcard was picked. You have a better chance of winning the lottery than being hand-selected to eat at this quaint farmhouse, so to be here for their first dinner of the year was truly a treat. * The menu features local produce and fish. Some produce was even grown by staff members. There were three pre-dinner courses, a charcuterie board that featured the most delicious and fresh butters and cheeses imaginable, oysters, and a Thai basil palette cleanser served in a adorable little duck dish. Dinner was cold heirloom tomato soup, the ingredients were so fresh you could easily pick out each flavor, followed by organic baby lettuce head with peaches (they served this with two dressings, a concept that has blown my mind and will forever change how I make salads) and finished with Maine bluefin tuna. For those who know my extreme fish aversion, I ate half of the tuna. It was that good. Dessert was the most decadent golden butter cake topped with a donut peach (the cutest little peach you ever did see). * Following dinner, we were given a tour of the inside of the iconic Lost Kitchen dining room and were able to sneak a peak inside their airstream. Owner Erin French took time to welcome us and talk about the ingredients and sourcing, evolution of {the} Lost Kitchen, and renovation plans which will include cabins for lucky diners to stay. She is so down-to-earth and warm, I truly felt as if I were a close friend invited over for dinner and wine. * Overall, this was the most exceptional dining experience and one I'll never forget. I wish I could share more photos, I wish the photos did the experience justice, I wish my postcard will be drawn so I can go again!

Destination dining if you are lucky enough to win the lottery for a reservation! Multiple features on this amazing place will only make it harder to secure a table. Every bit as amazing as advertised. Send in a postcard and keep your fingers crossed!

My new favorite overall Maine dining experience. I can't think of a better dinner anywhere, actually. And I entered skeptical. Mailing in a postcard to possibly get a reservation? A lofty $135 price-fixe menu? A wine cellar? It all sounds so pretentious. And maybe it is, but it's amazing, and this should be first on your list for next season. The Lost Kitchen is an hour and a half from Portland in essentially the middle of nowhere. When you finally arrive, the magic begins. You're ushered into a wine cellar to choose your beverages for the evening. It's no longer BYOB, but the prices are fair, with wine ranging from low $20's to probably infinity. The cellar is also open all evening, for if (when) you need more. The actual restaurant, in a restored mill, is breathtaking. The attention to detail is so precise that this could be a set at Disney World. With the ambient waterfall as your backdrop, I feel confident this is the single best dining room in the state (at least without an ocean view). Since you select your own drinks in advance, pre pay for dinner on the phone, and have no menu choices, the service is...different. The myriad of black-clad servers perform a ballet of presenting and clearing dishes. They're more stage hands in a classic play than active participants, and interaction is limited. Compared to traditional fine dining, it could be viewed as cold. I found it efficient. The owner, Erin, is the lead, producing and explaining most courses herself. She was charming and engaging, especially during the toast to the room. The food: -A trio of cheeses and house made butters, olives, bone marrow spread, salami and crostini: 8/10 stars. A great start. -Oysters on the half shell (two oysters each): 10/10. Best oysters I've ever had, with extra points for presentation. -Mini Crab Roll: 10/10, and the surprise highlight of my evening. By far the best crab roll of my life. Luke's Lobster should feel ashamed. -Sorbet palate cleaner: 10/10. Just a bite, but in such a cute duck bowl that you'll want to steal (please don't). -Soup of spring alliums, smoked ricotta, fried chive blossom and arugula: 9/10. Served table side, with the fried blossom as the highlight. -Baby romaine salad: 7/10. The weakest dish for me. Incredibly fresh, but not a standout. -Organic Maine tenderloin, wild ramp butter, creamy polenta, asparagus & olives, fava leaves & blossoms: 9/10. Supposedly the infrequent tenderloin night is extra special. Cooked perfectly medium rare, a knife was unnecessary. I just wish we had more of it, especially with the skimpy polenta serving. -Rhubarb Spoon Cake: 9/10. A massive individual serving and the ideal finale to the evening. -House made cookies: 9/10. You won't be hungry by this point, but why not indulge? The Lost Kitchen is a $200+ per person restaurant, all in. But it's easily worth it, and is a unique Maine experience that everyone should try. Just make your postcard creative to better your odds in the "random" drawing.

It's the Lost Kitchen, of course it's AMAZING. The only thing I'd change is giving the option of having either oysters or something else. Oysters are ALWAYS on the prix fix menu and I cannot stand them. To win a chance to dine here is basically once in a lifetime so having options on some of the items would be appreciated. The display of the oysters is absolutely artistic and impressive regardless.

Why are they successful, three words, brilliance passion and perseverance. They have created a little slice of heaven in Maine. Their other gift is their ability to empower one another and create dishes you could only dream of.

Excellent food and atmosphere but almost no chance to get in. Erin is an amazing host and chef however and if you don't try, you'll never get the chance to experience this awesome restaurant...restaurant, hmmm, not a good description. It's best described as an experience.

Brought a group there to eat and all were blown away by the food, staff, and setting. People tried and loved things they had never liked (oysters, duck), tried new things (ground cherries), and were awed throughout the night. I think the greatest accomplishment is the vibe the staff creates. It's like going to a great dinner party: relaxed, unpretentious, fun, and delicious. The pretense found at most "good" restaurants is replaced with grace. The staff loves to chat, won't give you high-brow answers, share their lives with you, and treat you like a true guest. Every dish was either exceptional or very good. When you leave, be sure to buy and have signed a cookbook, so you can savor (and relive, if you like to cook) the experience. Bottom line: if you can get there, go there.

Best meal we've ever had. It was a 5 1/2 hour meal. I think there were 11 courses if you include the palate cleansing sorbet. One dish was better than next. Erin was so fun and approachable. Her staff was so nice and every one is happy in this happy place. An experience of a lifetime.

There is so much that I'd love to say about the Lost Kitchen (TLK), but these simple words on a computer cannot do justice to the four-plus hours we spent in the middle of nowhere, Freedom, ME. I've had a couple weeks to dwell over each and every detail of the night, and as much as delving into the intricacies of each part of the seven (plus)-course meal would be a great way for me to reminiscence about the good times we had, it simply isn't the way to go for a review of TLK. Not only will each night's menu be a little different depending on the ingredients available that day, but the element of surprise when you first show up in front of TLK with the freshly printed menu laid out on the wooden table is just part of the experience that I cannot justifiably take away from you. Part of allure of TLK is the simplicity of the night - the only choice you make is what you'll pair your evenings indulgences with as far as choice beverages. Otherwise, leave it to the genius kitchen of Erin French, sit back, and enjoy. Simply put, TLK is a dining experience of a lifetime, but even more than that, it was a night full of good company, warm conversations, humbling and inspiring stories, and a momentary respite from all this world has to offer. Set aside all the hype and hubbub of TLK that has been generated over the last couple years from various newspapers (ahem Washington Post) and others. Without all of that, Erin French at the helm of TLK humbly stands at the precipice of the best that Maine (and might I say the USA) has to offer from a culinary experience. Where else can you find a mill, seated to its 40-person capacity, full of strangers and yet a sense of commonality and connection throughout - connected by the pursuit of a rare opportunity to be served by the Lost Kitchen's all-female staff as well as Ms. French herself. This is no Handmaid's Tale knock against TLK, but rather the inspirational part of TLK's story. TLK is more than just a restaurant with hard-to-get reservations; it is a testament to Erin French's grit and perseverance, a testament to TLK's support of the local Freedom, ME community, and a testament to fact that Erin and her staff all do this out of their love for what they are doing. In an instant, TLK's business could easily double in size and revenues through the roof. But alas, TLK was never built to be that. What makes TLK special is the personal touches that Erin and her staff give. Where else have I gone where every staff knew me by name and were excited to finally meet the person that I drew on my 3x5 card? Nowhere. Thank you to TLK, to Erin, to Meg, to Maia, and the rest of the lovely staff that made this night one for the ages. Until next time...

Erin is spectacular and I was so lucky to experience her little oasis for my birthday this year ! Take the refinement of chefs in NYC & SF, then mix in a little of your favorite diner from home, alongside the ambiance of Maine Home magazine and you'll get an idea of what I mean. I made the reservations back in April for a dinner in October. Commitment people! They were super organized, confirmed my appointment ahead of time (twice!) and asked about dietary issues. Erin plans the menu ahead of time (always a surprise !) and takes your needs into account - just like a dinner guest. The menu was SPECTACULAR. Barely any carbs and FULL of flavor and color. The duck two ways was fantastic. Erin serves you snacks leading up to the first course (there are four!). The oysters on a half shell had fresh apples and apple cider vinegar which created a whole new flavor in its own. They came out on cold stones to keep them fresh. Her strong suit is weaving flavor together like an artist, painting her palette as she creates the dish. Her soup had layers upon layers. Good god, delicious! She also serves EVERYONE each dish herself and explains the items. Erin put a candle in my desert for my birthday. I will be back and recommend this spot to everyone.

I now understand the popularity of the Lost Kitchen. Erin has created an experience not just a restaurant. The drive through Maine farms begins the evening and arriving to the venue crossing over the stream on a narrow foot bridge, seeing the old mill, choosing your rare bottle of wine below and heading in to the charming dining room begins the night. Erin and her welcoming staff serve one masterpiece after another of delectable delights throughout the night. Magical.

This place is tough to find, but crazy good. And clearly the word is out: There wasn't an empty seat in the place. We drove an hour from the Samoset resort and it was worth the journey. When you arrive, after crossing a bucolic footbridge over a stream, you first head downstairs to purchase your wine. They don't have a serving license (it's BYOB). They have copies of the night's menu downstairs for pairing, etc. Or if you're like me and know nothing about wine, you rely on the helpful staff there. The setting, the presentation of dishes, the staff, everything was A Triple Plus. It really feels like you're eating in someone's home. The menu changes daily (I spoke to them at Noon and they had no idea what was on offer). I started with the escarole salad, and had the pork chop. Both dishes were amazing. The lady and I split the beet cake (with cream cheese frosting) and the chocolate-salted caramel tart. Both were delish. Book early. We had dinner in early July and the hostess noted that they were booked solid until September. Definitely worth the trip.

Simply wow. From start to finish, this is a dining experience like no other. Without spoiling all the fun, suffice it to say that it's a terrific once in a lifetime experience. Owner/Chef Erin French is an amazing woman who connects with each guest on a personal level, and brings a huge breath of fresh air to the highest levels of the culinary world. She and her (all-woman) team took phenomenal care of us throughout the evening (almost four hours). The food was creative, polished, and often whimsical, yet never snobby or highbrow. Yes, it's a hike to get to Freedom, Maine, but for the lucky few it's a night to remember.

The best restaurant in Maine I can't remember such a wonderful culinary experience as our last night dinner at the Erin French lost kitchen . Innovative ,fresh from the field ingredients and use of simple but creative methods delivers fantastic dinner if you are lucky enough to get in.....

The other reviews are spot on. This is a gorgeous place in a restored mill on the river in Freedom Maine. The food is beautiful and tastes great! We sat at the bar, sitting in front of fresh herbs and watched the preparation. Great evening!

So lucky to experience this establishment a couple of years ago. Highly recommend- love the rustic atmosphere and we enjoyed an astonishing 10-course meal

Kyle grew up in freedom and they all knew Erin and her family and have been talking about the right time to get into lost kitchen:) but Deb/kyles mom still had to send in the postcard for all 6 of us... just like everybody else. It is a fun process and I give her respect for making it fair to everybody who sends in their postcards to attempt to get a rsvp! Next year we'll send in our cards right on April 1st and hope we get picked again! Amazing evening, we ate and drank for 4 hours, beautiful artistic like presentations all evening, an amazing spread of creative delicious dishes! Erin is an awesome interactive cook and her staff all have a friendly family feel!.. It was magical Evening going well into the star lit sky with no worries of travel since it's just minutes back to Kyle's home It made it feel like even more of an honor to get in to Lost kitchen! Thanx Erin! And to your sweet mother and all the ladies working hard along side you to make sure we have a wonderful memorable night!! Thank you, Jaime Richards, Kyle Bloomstein and family

To The Lost Kitchen: I never write reviews, but I wanted to say thank you for the meal I had last night. Everything was delicious, simple and elegant, dishes of purely fresh ingredients without anything to hide executed perfectly. However what I loved the most was that, while I shared the room with 30-some strangers, I felt as though I was in someone's home, and that they had invited me to dinner. The intimacy of the room and the kitchen, the graciousness of the servers, and Erin's presence at the stove while the comforting smells of the cooking wafted over us made me forget that I was even in a restaurant. Thank you.

The best experience in dining EVER. The thing is, the food is not just imaginative, delicious, and local, the ambiance isn't just lovely, the staff isn't just great, and the presentation isn't just to the moon, but it is the absolute graciousness and grace, flow and energy throughout the entire night, that boggles the mind. This was my third time at The Lost Kitchen. My first was at her little place in Belfast, Maine. It was great and we met diners from New York City who said that Erin's food and presentation surpassed everything in their home town...and that is saying something for a geocentric New Yorker. We dined at a Thursday night prie fixe event yet they were flexible for those in the group who were gluten intolerant, allergic to shellfish etc. They just asked that they be alerted a week before the meal. The substitutes served to the people with food allergies were as good as and as beautiful as what the rest of us ate. Before serving the meal Erin talked about what she had created, where it was grown or caught, and even expressed her fears of failure. She had a group of 40 jaded people in the palm of her hand. They served 8 courses that included many things that were unexpected and not on the menu. The extra flourishes were amazing and some of them were served to us by Erin herself, who somehow managed to remain efficient, poised, conversant and grateful for our business. I am hopeful that this candle doesn't flicker out. It is lighting so many lives.

After reading about Erin French in DownEast magazine, I got to work planning a vacation around dinner at the Lost Kitchen, kind of. I figured that by tacking on an Acadia excursion and a couple of days in Rockland, Rockport and Camden, my expectations for this dinner would be appropriately moderated. As it turns out, my expectations didn't need to be moderated. Delicious, farm-fresh, charming-as-hell, and located in an old mill that feels like your friend's awesome country house, the Lost Kitchen is winning enough to merit a trek from Portland, Boston, or even New York. The experience of picking out your wine beforehand is unusual, and really cool. You get to splurge on a retail price rather than splurge on restaurant price. I started with fresh oysters with strawberry mignonette, then had the Maine blue fin tuna, and finished with the beet cake with walnuts and cream cheese frosting. It was all fantastic, and the portions were twice the size of what you'd get at a similar (and twice as expensive) restaurant in New York. The cooking embodies my favorite characteristics of the Great State of Maine--local, fresh, thoughtful, and executed in a way that makes it all seem effortless. I wouldn't have expected to find a top 5 lifetime-to-date meal in a town with a population under 1000, but there you have it.

As a chef I come into a place ... sometimes looking for flaws. This place has none. Service, food , service again. Soup to nuts I could find none. The servers were fantastic. I wanted to break through the hype.... I cant. I cant. What a place. So well managed. So well run. Food ...perfect. wish I could come every week

What a wonderful experience! We arrived early enough to select the beverages we wanted with the meal. The menu was only disclosed then. The staff and owner were super friendly and welcoming! We discovered 100% of the power used was created on-site! We dined by candle light and even received a copy of the owner's recipe book! I can't wait to read it cover to cover. The food was excellent, and was seasoned perfectly. We were not rushed at all yet course after course came at the perfect time! While the cost may turn some away, remember, the experience lasted 4+ hours. I can't wait to go back!

Everything was fantastic, Chef Erin French is an artist in the kitchen, combining fresh flavors in interesting ways that work so well. First off, how many great restaurants still have their founder/chefs actually cooking there night after night? Lost Kitchen does. This is a very special dinner outing with a prie fixe menu that changes based on what is available that day. We had three-inch thick swordfish that was the best prepared and tasting swordfish I have had anywhere. Many other courses as well, all perfect. The rural setting in a mill is fabulous. Everything was fantastic. I hope to return someday.

Located in a charming, restored 1830s mill, this restaurant is worth the time and effort to travel to. With a wine cellar coyly located in the real cellar, the restaurant upstairs boasts fresh local dishes such as chicken under a brick, pork terrine, snapper, and squash soup that are second to none.

The surroundings are surreal and the food was amazing! Erin and her lovely staff are outstanding! Thank you Erin for creating such a lovely experience!

Our experience was mediocre for the crazy hype this restaurant is getting. Food was ok. But just ok. The ambiance is nice. Service a bit cold.

Amazing. Watching Erin cook is like watching a ballet. We make a point of eating here twice a year and we live 100 miles away. The food is always original and amazing.

I love this restaurant!!! I use to go with my Dad when it first opened all the time. The food is amazing!!!! I hope to get in next summer, we couldn't get in this year but I will definitely try again next summer!!!

We arrived at our scheduled time and were told our table was not ready and we should go down to the wine store. We were seated 25 minutes after our scheduled time; after sitting for about 15 minutes we had to ask for a cork screw to open the wine bottles. We were told that the kitchen only had 1 more pork dish, 1 more fish dish and had run out of two other items on the menu. We ordered lots of appetizers and with the limited menu, I decided to get two salads. I asked to have the two combined; the waitress told me that the chef would not do it as she prepares each salad in a specific manner and if I wanted I could combine them myself. Obviously I was annoyed and later the waitress returned to say the chef would. We had to ask for bread and when one of the people at my table asked for sweetener she was told, with attitude "We only have real sugar at our restaurant". One of the group went up to the chef to chat about the restaurant - we were the last guest and she was standing by the door - the chef shrugged and walked away and chatted with the waitstaff. The location is beautiful, the restoration of the building was magnificent, the food (that we ate) was delicious but the ATTITUDE takes away from the experience and the interest in driving 45 minutes to ever eat there again.

Amazing. If you can get a reservation, and can get to Freedom, you must go. Erin is an amazing hostess and served an unforgettable meal.

So, we were lucky enough to score a 4-top at this much ballyhooed restaurant in rural Maine in mid-late September. (Ours was presumably due to a cancellation as we got the call about a week before our scheduled time.) In short, one of the best, most memorable dining experiences ever. A great room (rustic in an old mill) and amazing service including several table-side stops by the chef/owner, Erin French. She also introduced the main menu to the room and chatted about what she had come up with for the night. She is the real deal, and it really is like she is welcoming you into her house for a private dinner. The food (different every night, everybody gets the same thing) was otherworldly...all 7 courses. An amazing array of cheeses, grapes, olives, and toast to start and it just got better...oysters on the half shell, roasted leek and scallion soup, fresh butterhead lettuce-based salad, seared bluefin tuna, and a decadent salted caramel pudding. The surprise of the night was a pork slider for course 3 (I think). Overall, a 3 and 1/2 hour culinary delight. Given that there are no substitutions or choices, you do run the risk of getting an entree that you might not like but you can certainly "make do" w/the rest. Not cheap by Maine (coastal) standards, but well worth it! Send your postcard in next April and pray to the food gods that yours gets chosen!

While I admit our expectations were very high, our party of five came ready to enjoy a great time with old friends. We knew to book way in advance, about 6 weeks ahead in our case for a Thursday night in September. The first impression is remarkable. The old mill has been expertly restored complete with a lovely foot bridge from the parking lot across a beautiful stream. Unfortunately the lack of welcome when we entered the restaurant was nothing short of rude. There is an actual sign telling guests not to stand around the lobby, sit down. We knew to look at the menu then head downstairs to the wine cellar to choose our wine. What we didn't expect was to have to search for the menus and not be given any direction or even a greeting when we arrived. The hostess literally said, "Name?" then walked away! We stood there looking at each other. Eventually we went down to the wine cellar chose our wine, again with no help or guidance though. The woman working downstairs was the chef's mother who admitted she knew nothing about wine! Seriously? We returned to the lobby, sat down as the sign instructed and waited. By now it was 15 minutes past our reservation time. There are very few tables so they are at the mercy of their customer's desire to linger. When we were finally seated we were very hungry. Three of us ordered Duck two ways and two ordered filets. We all ordered salads which were a bit weedy but fine. Nothing extraordinary to be sure. Considering the farm to table claim to fame of The Lost Kitchen I was thinking a few ingredients were lost on their way to the kitchen. We were looking forward to homemade bread or something yummy in a basket but alas it was not to be. When the entrees arrived the duck people were very surprised that one of the two duck preparations was very very rare! We actually wondered if this was even safe. Poultry cooked that rare is not appetizing. The taste, agreed upon by all three was rubbery and a bit unpleasant. The leg quarter which was brined was delicious. There were a few chopped root vegetables under the duck as an accompaniment. This may not be the exact side dish since it was so unremarkable not a single one of us can remember what it was, but you get the idea. The two who ordered the filet were very disappointed that although ordered medium rare both filets were overlooked. They were also too chewy and virtually tasteless. There was nothing else on the plate except four leaves with their roots attached. No idea what these were. All in all for over $100 per person we were sorely disappointed. I'm sure Ms. French is a good chef but you can not underperform, under serve and over charge and stay in business. The French attitude goes well in Paris but not so much in rural Maine. And no, for you doubters this was not our first gourmet restaurant. We are all corporate execs and have dined in hundreds of fabulous restaurants all over the world.

My wife and I have eaten here three times. Each time the food was amazingly delicious, fresh and beautifully presented. I'd eat there more often if the prices were a bit lower. I know the place is booked solid and the wait staff is top notch. Erin is wonderful too but spending $200 on dinner for two isn't something we can do very often. Love it though! Everyone should experience this at least once if they're a foodie.

I would give this 100 stars if I could. I live about 4 hours away and after reading the Food and Wine article I booked us a weekend in Belfast. The atmosphere is very warm, the site is beautiful, the owners mom runs the wine cellar and provided excellent suggestions on wines based on the menu. It was probably 8 courses which included butter and radishes, duck confit, homemade saltines and lobster stew, monk fish... and a few other things. The owners has excellent taste, the kitchen is open and is a pleasure to watch. I can't wait to go back, too bad it's so far away. I would highly recommend the lost kitchen - one of the top 3 meals I have ever had both in the US and in Europe. Keep up the good work!!!!!!!

We drove a long way to get here while vacationing in Cape Elizabeth and the Lost Kitchen was more than worth it! There's a wine cellar (with great prices) where you pick a bottle or two for dinner then head upstairs to enjoy everything the restaurant has to offer. We sat at the bar and watched as the chef prepared every dish. She was smiling, laughing and genuinely enjoying every minute! Plan a few weeks ahead and make a reservation or take your chances (as we did) for a seat at the bar (only 4 spots) and check out this wonderful little kitchen with big flavor, you'll definitely enjoy it!

Went two weeks ago with my wife. One of the best meals we have ever had. Ambiance excellent, wait staff the best and the meal excellent. They do not crowd you in and the courses came appropriately without a rush or too long of a wait. Whenever in Maine, will go back if we can get reservations ( very hard to get but worth it). This time we brought our wine ( it is a byo) but went downstairs to the wine store and they sell the wine as if you are buying for home, retail markup and with the day's menu, can select an appropriate wine. Forget the uppity sommelier and the 2-3x markup. We will absolutely get our wine there next time. Overall the best!

So here's the deal. Part of it was the location. In the middle of nowhere. Old historic mill. Only one seating and only 50 people so it felt more of a dinner party. Everyone arrives half an hour early to go downstairs to the wine shop (weird town laws that you can't serve alcohol at a restaurant). People talking and meeting. They give the menu but say that there are at least 3-4 courses before then. Food comes out and chef Erin French serves every course herself and talks to everyone. Everything tastes great. We're sitting at the kitchen counter so we see all the cooking. Before the official menu starts she speaks about the food and the farms where it comes from. Talks about how wonderful Maine is. This isn't new here. People from Maine are really proud of the state and locale. We all do a toast. Food was delicious. At the end she arranged all the notecards we sent in. Just special from the moment we came until the moment you leave. All pre-paid so you just leave when you want. The combination of great food and just such a unique atmosphere made it the best experience of my life.

Erin French's food is exquisitely prepared and beautifully presented in the enchanting environment of an old mill. The menu changes to suit what's fresh but on the evening my friends and I dined there we savored such delicious appetizers as: Fried Little Island Oysters with Arugula Salad and Dorolenna Hot Sauce; Chilled Sweet Golden Beet Soup with Toasted Walnuts and Creamy Goat Cheese; Heirloom Tomato Salad with Basil, Maldon Salt, and Olive Oil. Among the entrees we savored were: Fried Organic Village Farm Chicken with New Potato Salad, Purple Cabbage Slaw, and Raspberries; Tea Brined Local Duck Breast with French Lentils, Apricot and Honey'd Carrots, and Baby Arugula; Rare Maine Tuna Nicoise with New Potatoes, Summer Beans, Heirloom Tomatoes, Tapenade, and Poached Farm Egg. Each dish's components were so complimentary as to create the perfect result. Be sure to purchase wine from the downstairs shop where the proprietor is so knowledgeable and helpful. If you're in the Belfast, ME area it's a short, easy drive to culinary heaven.

Having traveled the world and eaten at numerous Michelin starred restaurants, I have to say, Erin French and her inventive and deceptively simple locally sourced fare is truly as good as it gets anywhere.

Just fabulous! We could have been at the finest restaurant in Napa Valley, but no, we were in Freedom, Maine. Gorgeous space, fantastic presentation and exceptional food. Very welcoming. A decade or more ago, we lucked into last minute New Year's Eve dinner reservations at Le Passe Partout in Montreal. That was one of the best meals of my life. Exquisite food, homey space with an ever present chef and proprietor. Our dinner at the Lost Kitchen was on par with that. Glorious and worth every penny.

I feel like we won the lottery-- shared with anyone else fortunate enough to have reservations this season! Erin and her welcoming, gracious and skilled staff provided probably our best dining experience ever last night. We were impressed from the welcome board to the final bite of our 8 course meal (not kidding-- the surprises, beyond the printed menu, were included because, as Erin noted, "why not?" ). We were so pleased to be sitting at the beautifully adorned counter where we watched the magic happen at the stove. The team worked in synchrony and really seemed to enjoy their work-- presenting the courses to each dining party in an art form that was created with the local bounty. The mill is a gorgeous place-- from our walk across the footbridge, to selecting our wine in the wine cellar, to the changing light of the dining room, each space was special. After reading the Downeast and Maine magazine articles and learning last night that Martha Stewart magazine will also join in the accolades, I knew this would be pretty special. Thank you, Erin and everyone at The Lost Kitchen.