Inicio Bistro & Bar

I subscribed to Yelp specifically to review two excellent restaurants that our family visited during a recent vacation in Ogunquit.  Inicio was one of these restaurants.
 
We went to Inicio twice, because there were so many interesting dishes on the menu (it is a Tapas restaurant after all), and they were all excellent.  When we ate there, there were half-price drink specials on several beers and wines as well as the house Sangria (which was excellent).  Our waitress, Meghan, was very friendly and attentive.  On our second visit, four days after our first, she remembered us, and seated us in the same corner table overlooking the street.

All of the dishes that we tried were well-executed and very tasty.  My daughter had the same grilled Manchego sandwich both times.  She loved it, but says that it needs something sweet to offset the cheese and starch.  Membrillo is a classic Manchego pairing, but she suggests that a fig jam would work well also.  A typical precocious 11 year old telling the chef how to improve his food ;).  All of the dishes that my wife and I had, from soup to seafood, to charcuterie, to simple lamb meatballs were well prepared and super tasty.

Both nights that we were there the restaurant was fairly empty.  It may have been early in the season, but I suspect that there may be some difficulty in finding the entrance, as it is around the back of the building and up several flights of stairs.  There is a sign and menu on the main street, but it is easy to miss as it is at the end of the sidewalk.  The prices may seem slightly on the high side, but compared to other Ogunquit restaurants, they are actually quite reasonable, and the quality and diversity of the food is first rate.  

I would call this one of Ogunquit's "best kept secrets", but I hope that potential customers read the consistently excellent reviews and that it doesn't stay a secret for long.

What an inviting, relaxing environment! From the expertly mixed cocktails, to the fresh tapas dishes, our server (Charlotte?) guided us through the menu and timed every course perfectly. She took the time to explain the menu to our kids.  We started with house made White Gazpacho, Hummus, Tahini, Falafel, a delicious charcuterie plate with assorted sausages, Spanish Jamon and pickled caper berries and miniature hot peppers.  We took a breather for a glass of wine, then shared a perfect medium rare hanger steak with authentic Chimichurri sauce and crispy fries with spicy smoked paprika aioli for dipping. Great room, great vibe, great presentation of each dish, and 2 table visits from the fantastic chef! We'll be back ASAP

We absolutely adored the food here. If you're getting a little tired of seafood after a longer stay in Ogunquit this place is a great choice. They have an eclectic, delicious menu.  The service was top notch! I can't wait to visit Ogunquit and go back here again!