Joshua’s

Farm to table… Fresh, quality and delicious… Great food… Consistently good and good portions sizes for an industry that likes to turn farm fresh food into pretentious food! Not overly pretentious… The owners are super kind.

I admit I am a little picky. Raised in the restaurant business, I know what it means to present well cooked food, excellent service and a superb experience. Joshua’s did not disappoint but exceeded each category. Everything from the Blood orange cosmos at the bar, to the fantastic chocolate fudge pie and the attentive service at each function made our dinner so special. Everyone I observed demonstrated pride in their work from the bartender, host/​hostess, and waitstaff. Thank you for a memorable and super dining memory.

Almost had everything on the menu over the last 4 years that I’ve been coming to wells for quick getaways. Food is always spot on, almost every ingredient is locally obtained, very consistent food preparation. Probably one of the best filet mignon I ever had, and of course seafood is always fresh and prepared the right way. Would like to see some menu seasonal variations in the future

This was our first visit. This will not be our last. Our appetizer was the Duck Pâté. My wife and I looked at each other and could not believe the flavor. We instantly knew we were in for a wonderful dinner. Lynn ordered the Haddock. They are known for their Haddock. I had the Swordfish special. I had read about their Lobster Lie, but they hadn’t had it in over a week. The meals were perfectly cooked. The Haddock meal came with a Mushroom Risotto. Very good. My wife and I share our meals with each other. Love it. We ended with homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream made with there own fresh mint. Jennifer was our waitress and she really cared. Even adding a candle to our dessert. This was a wonderful anniversary.

Joshua’s is the best restaurant in the Kennebunkport/​Kennebunk/​Wells area. The chef serves local farmed vegetables and the food is always awesome. After probably 20 trips over a 10 to 12 year time frame we have never had a bad meal or bad service.

In September 2015 my wife and I went to Joshua’s six times. This is by far our favorite restaurant in the area. Every part of the meal was five stars. I could fill this page raving about the home baked breads but that would not be fair to his salad, entrees, and of course the fudge pie. The service is beyond excellent. My favorite dish is his Haddock. Thank you Joshua for your wonderful hospitality.

My girlfriend and I came to Joshua’s and had a great experience. For anyone familiar to the area I would liken it to Kennebunk’s On The Marsh; cozy atmosphere, great local dishes, and good service by the waitstaff. We started with the crabcakes as an appetizer which were small compared to West Coast crab cakes but were packed with flavor. For our entrees, I had the salmon with shrimp and potatoes and my girlfriend had the grilled haddock and a risotto. Both meals were great but I would recommend the haddock over the salmon.

This is one of the best restaurants we have ever been to. Fantastic atmosphere, incredible food and great value for money. This is a must!

STUNNINGLY OVERRATED.
When I went to visit my cousin, it was her 32^nd anniversary and her husband was working. But she had secured a reservation at Joshua’s in Wells, Maine.
As she had been there before I was expecting a great time…
We arrived there about 30 minutes early and were greeted by the owners, a husband with a warm, welcoming smile and his wife. The wife looked at us with a sneer like Lucy Ricardo taught Charles Boyer in «I Love Lucy.» RED FLAG. We should have turned around then. Through her condescending and pretentious tone, we were informed that there really was no place to wait other than the postage stamp sized bar. So off we went. The bartender was so nice and welcoming that we were instantly put at ease. The bar was packed with the other patrons, who were sentences to wait. Several people mentioned how hard the stools were «like they want you to drink then go home.» RED FLAG. At our reservation time, we were escorted into the restaurant and seated at 7:45pm but not before we were handed the drink bill and TOLD to settle up with the bar. In almost every restaurant I’ve been to, the bar bill can just be added onto the dinner check. NOT HERE I was corrected and our seating waited until I returned. RED FLAG. The staff was whizzing by with lots of activity in a continual stream. Our waiter TOM, greeted us and took our drink orders while we looked at the menu. At 7:50pm, my cousin ordered a filet mignon (TOM said, «any place can cook a steak, right?») and I ordered the lamb with Caesar salads to start. We got our salads about 20 minutes later. At the 1 hour mark, I asked Tom what the hold up was? He seemed surprised and said that «I tell most people it’ll be at least 35 minutes but because you ordered AFTER these two groups, your order was running behind.» No apology. I really don’t appreciate being lied to. We had ordered everything at 7:50pm and finally got our order at 8:50pm…and frankly the food was underwhelming. Small portions, overcooked vegetables. My cousin was shocked by how bad the evening was going. I told her of my conversation with TOM and she was dismayed and we were quickly done with our meals. She wanted dessert, as this was her anniversary. TOM came to the table to ask about dessert and my cousin ordered the key lime pie. No asking about coffee… I wasn’t surprised as he was very sheepish every time he approached the table from now on. I told TOM I’d had plenty, thank you. 20 minutes later the pie arrived with a little candle on it. It was very good, she told me. RED FLAG.
But in a snap, we got the bill. Of course, right?!
There were SO many opportunities for TOM to make the night right but he chose none. He could’ve come to the table and apologized to my cousin as this was her night. NOPE. He could have comp’d her pie. NOPE. He could have been ATTENTIVE, which he wasn’t. NOPE.
When we got home, we looked at the Unilocal reviews and how many 5 Stars they got. We were stunned as this experience was NOTHING close to 5 star service especially as this was one of the most pompous and pretentious experiences we’ve had at a restaurant. They could not have tried harder to leave a bad taste in our mouths… the bill sealed the deal. Caveat Emptor… LET THE BUYER BEWARE.

Delicious gourmet food served at a 200 year old home. We couldn’t make a reservation through Open Table since they don’t participate. (They don’t have to — all sittings were filled for the next 2 days). We left our cell phone # & they called when there was a cancellation. I had wood grilled mushrooms with shaved Parmesan cheese that was delicious. My wife had a salad with fresh greens & tomatoes with mozzarella & balsamic vinegar… fresh, fresh, fresh. The breads are baked on the premises & we had 2 baskets. My entrée was pork tenderloin in a chutney sauce with mashed potatoes & fresh green beans, carrots & zucchini. Yum.
My wife had a rare filet mignon that would melt in your mouth. After this meal we were stuffed but we couldn’t pass up a dessert of a Maine blueberry pie with homemade ice cream & fresh whipped cream. All this with great service in a romantic atmosphere.

Great service. Unique setting compared to anything else in town. Most creative menu in the area. Not a cheap night but it’s fine dining. It’s not supposed to be. You’ll be catered to and enjoy it from start to finish. Highly recommend!

A fabulous, elegant dinner in a tasteful and historic setting. Joshua’s provided the best fine dining experience I’ve had in years. The restaurant is a 200-​year old house with beautifully restored plank floors. Pleasant gardens surround the walkways to the door.
Just about everything served is made in-​house, including the bread. We found that the appetizers and entrees are made from simple, fresh ingredients combined to complement each other. The filet mignon I ordered was seared perfectly, and cooked medium rare properly. It came with a simple burgundy reduction, some fresh sugar snap peas, zucchini, and carrots, and mashed potatoes.
Desserts are amazing. Don’t be afraid to just get a scoop of ice cream. While it may sound plain, the ice cream is homemade and divine.
Definitely worth the price and another visit!

Having been there several times in the past… called almost two weeks ago to make a reservation for Steve’s sixtieth. Called back to confirm tonight, and was told I had no reservation… pretty annoyed, however His favorite steakhouse was happy to oblige with a corner table overlooking the water. It’s only food people, and quite frankly you aren’t that special…

I just ate one of the most remarkable meals of my life. The setting is lovely. A 18^th century home divided into cosy rooms. The wines were fine and surprisingly affordable and the baguette crisp and perfect. My appetizer was a «special» and was mussels in a blue cheese sauce. It was so delicious I would go back to only eat that dish! That was pursued by a rare filet mignon with mashed potato and gravy. It melted in the mouth. No money could buy a finer steak. Full as I was I could not resist ordering the rhubarb pie. Normally I wouldn’t because most American pies are too sweet and rhubarb is tart. I was assured by my waitress Parker it was truly tart and served with fresh cream, vanilla ice cream and cappuccino it was the ultimate conclusion to a memorable meal.
I couldn’t recommend a restaurant more. If there was a higher recommendation than 5 stars I would award it.

If your looking for really good fresh food, this is the place for you. The restaurant is located in an old colonial built over 200 years ago. A lot of character and very romantic spot to take a date.
We started with fried artichokes which were cooked perfectly and lots of flavor. Then we had the salad which tasted so fresh like it was just picked with just enough dressing. We then had the stuffed chicken with prosciutto and basil. So good!!! Seasoned just right with creamy mash potatoes and tasty vegetables.
We ended the meal with a slice of key lime pie which was very light and airy. It was better than some I have tasted in the Carribean. The only downfall was that it was a little pricey and be prepared to wait if you don’t have a reservation.
Service was great and we even got to hear some interesting farming stories from the owners father. A very nice evening.

Right now, I am questioning all the 5 star reviews I have made to this point. I loved all those restaurants in different ways, and I suppose it’s important to put each restaurant into context based on price level, type of cuisine, etc.
However, Joshua’s has altered the way I think about the fine dining experience, and for better and worse it will become a measuring stick against any similarly priced restaurant I dine at for the foreseeable future.
Let’s start with the excellent customer service. We procrastinated through the week, and Friday morning I decided to call Joshua’s in the hopes of getting a reservation. I left a voice mail before I dove into work, and they called me back by 11 to confirm a table for us. Often times when i do this, I don’t hear back from the restaurant, but they pretty obviously called me not long after getting my voice mail.
We arrived 20 minutes early and they took us to our table, no questions asked. Our waiter was easily the among the best I’ve ever had. He knew the menu inside out and had thorough descriptions to match the dishes we inquired about. He suggested cocktails to meet our tastes and within minutes we were enjoying some stiff but quaffable drinks. Throughout the entire meal he was pleasant and subtly present, astutely knowing when to check in and when not to. I easily tipped 25% on what was already a pricy meal, because he earned every penny.
So onto the food — I started with a smoked haddock chowder that was just the right thickness and consistency, with subtle smoke flavoring, tender chunks of potato and meaty morsels of fresh haddock. It was delicious. My wife got a basic greens salad with blue cheese chunks that were obviously very high quality, with a rich and buttery flavor.
We followed these with two apps — mini crab cakes and roasted truffle mushrooms, with large shavings of cheese naturally melting on top. Both were incredibly flavorful, and the crab cakes were highly memorable. Still thinking about those.
The entrees were top notch I had a seafood special with grouper, scallops, shrimp, mussels and lobster in a pernod-​based sauce atop an orzo and spinach mix, all adorned with amazingly fresh, seasoned vegetables. The lobster was slightly overcooked and a little rubbery, the only blemish on an otherwise highly memorable dish. The way the slightly creamy sauce blended with everything was blissful.
My wife got the filet, and it was very excellent. Ordered medium, it was delivered perfectly cooked. That’s all that’s really necessary with a good quality filet.
What I liked about each course was that it was a perfect balance of price and portion. I didn’t feel ripped off, and I wasn’t overly stuffed even after 3 courses and a delicious, warm bread basket. We hardly ever order dessert, but this seemed like the right time. We split the special dessert, a banana bourbon cake with homemade caramel ice cream and chocolate sauce. Yes, they make their own ice cream. And it was all exceptional.
Last point would be the ambiance of this place. It really feels like eating in someone’s house. There is a very warm and inviting appeal to the design and feel of the dining areas and the bar.
Overall, I highly recommend this place and look forward to returning.

If you are looking for a new restaurant to try, look no further! This hidden jewel is tucked away on Route 1 in Wells. We loved everything about this restaurant. Our server, Ann E was pleasant, friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu.
To start, we both had a salad. The salads were cold, crisp and very well dressed. For the main course I had the 8 oz filet and my wife had the rack of lamb. Both dishes came with mashed potato, not our favorite side but our server, Ann suggested the mushroom risotto. The filet was ordered rare, the lamb medium rare and both came out as ordered, tender, very well seasoned and delivered on a warm plate. And the mushroom risotto was a great accompaniment to the fillet and lamb, it was absolutely delicious!
They also had a nice selection of ½ bottles of wine. We chose the Chateauneuf-​du pape which pairs nice with beef and lamb.
Our final course, 2 decaf cappuccinos and Blueberry Pie for me, Maple Walnut Pie for my wife both with a scoop of vanilla ice cream ~ the end to the perfect meal!

What do you get when you combine farm fresh food, brilliant recipes and charming décor? Joshua’s. Fair warning, if you have a late reservation (and you need a reservation) don’t be surprised if they are out of some items. Everything is delicious so you can’t go wrong. We found out that you can reserve an item on the special menu. Their menu changes regularly. Service was timely and not rushed.

Absolutely the best, freshest meal I’ve had in ages. From the chefs bread selection to the veggies grown right in their own garden, Joshuas is most likely the best restaurant in Wells… try the tempura artichoke hearts for an appetizer. The Haddock, pan roasted served in a caramelized onion crust with mushroom risotto was top notch as was the pork tenderloin with perfectly whipped mashed potatoes and a sweet onion chutney. The fudge pie is heavenly, especially with the chefs home made ice cream. I wouldn’t recommend it for children as this isn’t that kind of place. Frankly it’s too good for the likes of a typical kid…

Every time we eat here, which is fairly often, I can’t believe how wonderful everything is, from the service, cocktails, homemade bread, apps, entrees, beer & wine list, to the dessert. The menu is on the small side but they have some nice specials every night and the variety of choices are more than enough to make anyone happy. I always appreciate really fresh seafood and they usually have at least 3 choices based on what is available that day fresh off the boat. They also do a mushroom stuffed rack of lamb, a yummy stuffed chicken breast, and a filet, but for the last several visits I have ordered the vegetarian special.
I am not a vegetarian by any means, but the homemade ravioli, stuffed with wild mushrooms and topped with a fried cheese stuffed squash blossom last night, along with the abundance of beautiful veggies and greens that are grown in the restaurant’s own organic garden make this such an amazing dish. I had the duck pâté as an app and it was out of this world– earthy and so full of flavor, served on a bed of fresh butter lettuce lightly coated with a vinegary dressing, accompanied by homemade crusty bread, cornichons, olives, and mustard.
They serve some of their wine by the half bottle and I tried an Old Vines Red Zin that went perfectly with my meal. I began my evening with one of their seasonal cocktails– a beautiful strawberry cosmo, not too sweet and perfectly chilled. This and the blood orange cosmo they make in the late winter are my favorites; they also have a blueberry cosmo later in the summer. A nice selection of bottled beers is also available.
My husband always orders the garlicky shrimp and red pepper sauté from the app menu, and last night he also had one of the specials– an perfectly dressed and fresh from the garden spinach and arugula salad with fried goat cheese. The finale was house-​made warm peach pie and vanilla ice cream with a perfect cup of coffee.
Joshua’s is located in a restored Colonial on Route One in Wells. The wide plank floors and subtle lighting give the rooms a warm glow and one has a feeling of dining in someone’s home rather than in a restaurant. The bar is especially cozy and inviting but you need to get there early to snag seats. Given the quality of the dining experience I think the prices are quite reasonable at Joshua’s compared to other high end restaurants. I always leave Joshua’s with a smile on my face and the feeling that if this were to be my last meal I’d be fine with that!