Keeping true to its moniker, you can expect a very "Run of the Mill" experience here. Â
They have an impressive list of local, craft beers, but don't expect to try many of them. Of the 20+ beers they make, only five were available on tap. Â To narrow down our decision, we asked the waitress a few basic questions about the flavor profiles. Â She was completely inept, responding to every question with, "Oh, it's good." Â She couldn't even tell us if it was a light or dark beer. Â
As for the food.... You can't go wrong with the fish 'n chips. Â The haddock filet was massive and had the perfect crispy crust. Â Pass on the shepherd's pie... it was, bland, bland, bland. Desperate for flavor, I doctored it with everything on the table... salt, pepper, Tabasco, even sherry vinegar. Â Nothing helped. Â
On a more positive note, I will say the ambiance is really neat since the place is in an old paper mill. Â There's plenty of parking, and they have a lot entertainment, including live music and open mic nights. Â
After reading many of the overwhelmingly positive reviews, I may be inclined to give this place a second try. Â Hopefully the next experience will be better.
Very friendly waitstaff and attentive. Â Pub food menu is very good. Shepard Pie was delicious. Â Twin lobster special for 18.95 was excellent also. Â Fantastic homemade beers on tap including one specially conditioned cask ale. Â This place was packed in the middle of the week, and for good reason. Â The beer is cold, and locally brewed. Â I love these types of places!
Review Source:I came here as part of the Maine Brew Bus, but wanted to give this place a separate review because it is where we stopped for lunch and because of how great we all thought it was! We each were treated to a flight of seven beers, all really great with the IPA being the standout. Lunch was a burger, chicken sandwich or fish sandwich depending on what you selected beforehand. I had a cheeseburger and fries and, let me tell you, it takes a lot for me to say a burger was a standout but this was it! I only wish I lived a little bit closer to this pub/brewery but it is probably good for my wallet and waistline that I don't!
Review Source:Hurrah! A superb, Â unexpected find in Saco! Â That alone deserves 5 stars.
Friendly, excellent service, gorgeous interior with beams that take your breath away and home cooked meals that were delicious. After back- to- back negative experiences at pricy, overrated Old Port restaurants this past week, The Run of the Mill was a relief and a delight.
The food was fresh and delicious and the coffee was actually the first time I have been willing to drink brewed coffee at a restaurant. It was Wicked Joe's brew and it was strong, flavorful and mollified my internal coffee snob.
When you're in the area, don't hesitate to have a meal at Run of the Mill. And if your meal is not great, send it back until you are pleased. They deserve a great rating.
Was up in Saco, Maine...giving my daughter a tour of the UNE campus and the tour guide recommended this establishment to me. Â It was late afternoon and the dinner crowd hadn't shown up yet. Â After reading the recommendations on yelp ... We all pretty much knew what we wanted. The fish and chips and garlic mashed potatoes were delicious! Â I had a hamburger special that was cooked just the way I ordered it...portion sizes were large...being a brew house .... I had to try the beer sampler...they will not disappoint...nice descriptions of all the beers are on the menu...One big issue....two of my sampler glasses were chipped..one bad enough...that if I didn't catch it...I may have cut my lip. Â I pointed it out to the waitress and she took the glasses and threw them away...service was good...overall excellent food and beer...
Review Source:Do not go unless you want great good and great drinks. I remember the mill when I was a kid and it was ugly. What they've done to it is phenomenal!!! Again, great food and drink!
That was my Summer review. Off season the place does not taste great and most people reviewing it probably don't know enough to pay attention to their palate. Since Run of the Mill boasts seasonal local ingredients it only makes sense that the quality goes down in the winter months.
So, Summer; Great Place!!
Winter; go to Rapid Rays...
THE BEST place to go in the area. Â Kid-friendly, family-friendly - they handle large crowds well. Â Awesome place to hang both indoors and outdoors - it's in an old Mill building so it's all impressive. Â They have live music in the summers and that's always a good time as well. Â Their outdoor patio area is a great place to hang on a beautiful summer day. Â The rustic nature of the Mill building is a real kick, and the food is always at least fantastic.
But the beer is the main draw - simply phenomenal. Â In fact, I WANT to rate them a "1" so nobody else goes there and learns the secret!! Â Awesome choices of their homebrews, always a guest tap or two, and their cask conditioned choice of the day is not to be missed if you're into that sort of thing!
Also, the food is simply great. Â Just plain great. Â My kids ask to go here all the time because they think the food is great. Â Adults will love the variety and the fact that the staff takes a lot of pride in the place - it's clean, the portions are large, and an unfilled glass is pounced upon by the staff!
You will not be disappointed at all - bring your friends/bring your family, it's the BEST PUB in Southern Maine.
Our third (and last) time dining here. Â A Sat. night and they were packed. Â 3 of us waited in the bar where the service was very good, we waited about 45 minutes but didn't mind. Â We ordered some appetizers which didn't arrive before we got our table, the hostess arranged to have them meet us at our table. Â Our waitress met us, assessed our drink needs, and gave us some time to peruse the menu. Â So far so good. Â Appetizers came, bone in chicken wings (ok) and crab cakes (ok but dry). Â We all ordered a house salad and the prime rib. Â Our salads arrived, lovely, we started tucking into them, and we're still munching on our appy's, and the waitress arrived with our prime ribs. Â I said "Seriously? Â The table is full, just where do you expect us to put those plates?" Â She stood there and waited for us to make room. Â Terrible timing. Â The prime rib was the worst I had ever had. Â Dry. Â Tough. Â Tasteless. Â Our first meal there was great, our 2nd meal had some issues, this meal was even worse. Â We will not be back. Oh, and the waitress kept bugging us for our bill, apparently she was more interested in turning the table than in making us happy. Â We normally tip 20%+. Â This time was 10% :( Â We may stop in to fill a growler but we won't be eating there again.
Review Source:This place definitely had character! Decent beers (nothing that stood out, but I did like their Octoberfest the most). Great prices- hubby and I paid $13 for a sample paddle and 2 pints. We didn't try the food. We came by on a Thursday afternoon, and as we were leaving it seemed like a lot of people were getting out of work and starting to come by. There's a little patio with outdoor seating, and service was attentive.
Review Source:Run of the mill is hard to spot--looks like an old factory building, not enough signage to draw you in if you have not heard of it via word of mouth. It had wonderful waterfront seating on a large patio that includes a full bar. Umbrella's offer shade from the sun and wait staff was attentive and friendly.
A must have is the beer paddle. A sampler that includes a refreshing variety of brews--my favorite was the Bug Beer. Light, flowery and low on hops. I shared a Large Caesar salad with my fellow diner. Not over dressed and homemade croutons for $7 and change. I got a grilled chicken sandwich which came with their homemade "snazzy" dressing. Spicy sweet and dee-lish! My friend had the bangers and mash which we yummy and came with fresh asparagus. On a later visit we have sampled the beer cheese soup which I am not the biggest fan of, and it was served with only 3 pretzels. Really needed some vegetables, bread, or more pretzels to enjoy with the rich and creamy soup. Â
They offer trivia and games and events on different nights so be sure to check if you are looking for after hours social--I'm sure this place is hopping in the wee hours! Two great experiences, with nothing to complain about!
It hurts me to hurt them this way, how ever the service was slow for a typiclal lunch hour *noon/around dinner), it took quite a while to get my food, I order a lobster club with sweet potato fries. Â It was good ver good but that isnt the issue something went wrong in the back of the kitchen, I dont know what but I ended up getting sick afterwards.
Thsi is why i decked two stars I felt I was going to lose what I ate, my note to the owner or manager, find out whos misshandling the food before its to late.
Had the beer sampler which is a must at any brewery. Â Some hits and misses, but I really enjoyed the porter. Â Food was great I had a burger and my husband had the drunken pot roast which was outstanding. Â A great place! Â I made a reservation through their website which I was glad about since there was a wait when we got there at 6pm on a Saturday night.
Review Source:Had another great experience here a few weeks ago during our vacation to OOB and the surrounding area. We made a reservation the night before, which was helpful given that it was a busy Saturday night. Upon being seated, we realized our table was incredibly wobbly, which given the age of the mill itself was not surprising, since the floor is uneven in some spots. We asked our waiter if we could move, because the uneven tilt of the table was really noticeable. A glass would hardly have been able to stand upright on it without sliding or spilling. At first he said they were booked solid that evening and there was really no other place for us to sit. We were disappointed and considered going elsewhere, but not before the waiter came back and told us to follow him. We followed him to an empty, closed off room that was not going to be open that evening - I assume it is normally used for private parties. We were seated at a table in this area, and proceeded to enjoy our dinner completely by ourselves - how wonderful! We loved it, and were very appreciative of their accomodating attitude. We enjoyed our meals thoroughly - the food was fantastic as usual. We were also pleased by the selection of beers for the season, which we also enjoyed with our food.
This is our favorite place to eat in this area, and we already can't wait to come back next summer!
Weve been wanting to come here for a while, and today, we finally decided to go. Â Even though the place was busy, there was plenty of available seating that was spread apart the restaurants' large area. Â This made it so that the ambience was still quiet, which was an unexpected bonus. Â Two of the people in our party ordered a beer and cheese soup which surprisingly wasnt thick but tasted excellent, according to both of them. Â Looking at the menu, it appeared that there were plenty of healthy options that were still classic pub food. Â I ordered a greek salad with grilled salmon. Â The salad was excellent and came with plenty of black olives, which is uncommon with many of the Greek salads I've ordered over the years, for whatever reason. Â The salmon tasted fresh and delicious. Â We will definitely be coming back to this place.
Review Source:I loved the atmosphere at Run of the mill, the service was great Brian was our waiter and he was very nice and my mother asks for a lot of things and usually a lot of waiters can get frustrated but Brian was very helpful and nice. I wish we would have eaten outside because they had entertainment, after we were done eating we went out on the deck and it was beautiful. The food was good I got the mill wrap with home cut fries. Â All and all nice place, and next time we go were going to eat on the deck.
Review Source:Since Run of the Mill is located in an old brick building that used to be a paper mill it is unassuming from the outside. I've passed by it probably 50 times in my lifetime without giving it a second glance. Â But after reading the yelp reviews I decided to give it a chance and boy am I happy I did. Â
First off, Run of the Mill is BIG. There is an indoor area and an outdoor patio area that overlooks the Saco River. Â I took a seat at the outside bar and got myself a paddle, which is a sampling of 7 of their beers which were brewed on premises. Â I especially like the Bug Lager, Dog Days Summer Wheat and Tarbox Cream Stout. Â Â The bartender, Andy, was on point and joking around with the customers. Â My clam chowder and sweet potato fries were very good as well.
Great atmosphere, delicious food and low prices make this place a five star winner.
My parents love this place and after talking about it on several occasions, we were finally able to join them on our way home from our last visit to Maine. As huge fans of The Liberal Cup in Augusta, we were anxious to try their "sister restaurant".
I'm going to preface this review by saying that I am NOT taking a star away for the server we had even though I probably should be but I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt that maybe he was new and maybe a little bit overwhelmed. This is the story; it was Memorial Day, so a Monday, and perhaps he wasn't used to the crowd as I suspect a typical Monday at lunch time is a bit quieter. So I order the beer sampler and my boyfriend a beer as well as my dad. He cards me, so clearly he got my order correct. He returns with the beers and places a lemonade in front of me (actually between my dad and I, prompting me to say, "dad did you order a lemonade?") to which the server whipped around and was like "oh I have so many drink orders..." and whisks it away. No sampler. He returns to take our orders. I remind him of my sampler. Oh right, let me go check on it. He comes back to the area we were seated in (outside on the patio) a few more times. Still no sampler. Dad gets up, finds him and asks him about the sampler. He forgot, again. FINALLY get my sampler. About 2.5 minutes before our food comes out.
I ordered the chicken-salad salad. They have the same one at The Liberal Cup and it was delicious as always. My boyfriend got the buffalo chicken chimis and they were only meh and the portion was skimpy. They were definitely good and edible but they seemed like they could possibly have been previously frozen (I'm sure they weren't but they were just lacking that unique touch I was expecting). They also came with a bath of dipping sauce that was kind of huge given the portion size. My parents shared the same 2 entrees so I have nothing else to review food wise.
The beer was good, as I expected, and the atmosphere was really cool. We ate outside because it was beautiful but walked through the inside to use the restrooms and to enter/exit. If I'm even in the area again, I will be sure to come back and grab another bite and brew (I'll probably just skip the sampler ;) ).
Maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself by giving Run of the Mill 5 stars after one visit, but it feels like the right thing to do. Â The food was really good, the service matched the food (thanks, Courtney), the atmosphere was everything you'd expect from a restored mill building, and the prices were reasonable.
I want to come back and try more of the menu. Â Looking at the happy people all around me, I don't think I'll be disappointed.
WOW. Â This place is awesome, went here with two friends who eat here every week atleast once...so expecation was high.
The inside decor is like your still eating inside the old mill. Â Food was interesting by description and the beer cheese soup is the bomb.
Top 10 favorite restaurants on my list now
I don't know much about the Saco area, so when I found myself in the area for dinner time, I checked Yelp and Foursquare for some reviews. It sounded like there was a pretty solid consensus that this place was pretty good - and I've gotta agree.
Key points that led me to a 5-star rating: the atmosphere, the price, and the food.
I should start out by saying that I don't drink; I can't be a good judge of the brewery portion, though it seems like those who were drinking we're having quite a good time. The atmosphere, though, was awesome even without any alcohol. I sat near the bar, and there was a ton of mingling going on while a couple TVs showed a replay of a UMaine men's hockey game. A band belted out some southern rock on this particular Saturday night, and the old mill feel only made the experience even better. The place is beautiful AND entertaining.
The food was incredible. I had the half portion of fish and chips, which turned out to be plenty for me. I swapped out the fries for some mashed potatoes, kept the slaw, and had some water. The fish was incredibly fresh; I couldn't really believe how much it exceeded my expectations when I took my first bite (never know what quality of fish you'll get in a pub or brewhouse). The batter was rich and flavorful but not too greasy or heavy. The potatoes were very, very flavorful (I'd recommend the fish & potatoes combo if you're looking for a good meal), and the slaw was great, too.
The meal came to a total of $9.10 before tip. For the portion of fish, especially in such a great environment, I thought it was extremely reasonable.
It's tough to find a downside for the review. My server was noticeably busy, but she was fairly responsive. Any wait was nowhere near detracting from the five stars!
I can't wait to go back.
Killer microbrews and the food is just as good! Large portions and well prepared pub fare. Prices are very reasonable as well. Try the fish and chips. they're the best I've ever had anywhere.
In nice weather, the back patio is a great place to enjoy food or drinks right next to the Saco River. However, in worse weather, the inside is very spacious and nicely laid out. Great atmosphere.
This place is awesome. I really can't understand where the negative reviews are coming from.
I went over Valentine's Day weekend with my boyfriend on a Friday night. The waitress was great! She was super friendly and attentive and had a good sense of humor. She was also really knowledgeable about the food and the beer.
I got a cheeseburger and my boyfriend got a salmon burger, both of which were cooked perfectly and were delicious. The sides and garnishes were great and matched up very well. The menu isn't overwhelmingly huge but has plenty of options for all tastes and eating habits.
The beer was really good too - very interesting and delicious takes on the different types of brews. I tried the cream stout and my boyfriend had the bug lager and we'd recommend them both. The only thing that was a little bit odd was that there were no descriptions of the beers on the menu or the board posting, so we were guessing when it came to categories like "ale" that are very much open to interpretation these days. But honestly, our guesses turned out to be great choices and I don't doubt that the other beers on their menu are excellent as well.
To further blow us away, 2 meals (one of them fish), 3 beers, and 2 desserts only ran us $40. Of course, we left a big tip for our awesome server. I wish I could remember her name to give her credit here.
You should go here.
Had dinner here one night with my mom. It was a busy night, we ordered fried calamari for an app. The 'fried' calamari was a let down. It was poorly and unevenly breaded/coated leaving visible parts of the squid bare. It was NOT crispy, more soggy than anything. Served with a unappetizing dill/mayo sauce. As I mentioned in my first review, the dill is not fresh. It is the unpleasant color of dried herbs.
We lingered on waiting for our entrees and I had the urge to try that beer and cheese soup, mom ordered a cup of clam chowder. Â My beer and cheese soup severely lacked cheese flavor and salt. I could taste the beer for sure, but it was a creamy based white soup with a hint of beer, not too much of cheese and that was really it. More like a beer flavored roux. Disappointed. Â Mom's clam chowder on the other hand was a home run. It was creamy, well seasoned, big chunks of potato and good sized clams. The soup itself could have been thicker, but besides that, it was honestly one of the best tasting clam chowders I have ever tasted because it tasted more than just cream like most chowders do.
Entrees mom ordered seafood scampi, me baked stuffed haddock. Mom's scampi was fine. 4 half dollar sized scallops, 6 large shrimp, 4 mussels, and lobster claw meat. Now, before you get excited, the claw meat wasn't what I expected. Were there 4-5 pieces of it? Yes, but it wasn't from what I consider the 'palm' of the pincher/crushed. Â We got the tips of the 'claw' meat, so the thinnest part, not the meaty part from the palm. My family and I actually find the part of the claw served the part we don't actually eat. It was served with a big portion of pasta, which was seasoned OKAY. It needed salt, but besides that mom was happy.
My baked stuffed haddock that came with house veggies of sliced carrot medallions and mashed red skinned potatoes was about the same. The carrots were gross, really. It tasted a little like chemicals..and the potatoes were over mashed to where they were gluey and needed salt. The haddock itself had to be over baked because there was that over baked tough skin/layer on the fish when you over bake any kind of meat which was tough and leathery. I actually had to use a knife to cut parts of it. Yes, a knife to cut haddock, I think that speaks for itself. Flavor wise, it was fine. It didn't wow me.
All in all, I don't think I'd come back here for the entrees.. stick to the sandwiches and the clam chowder. I just wasn't impressed, let down even. Service I can say was IMPECCABLE this time. But this could be for the fact that it was NYE. food timing could have been better though. Our entrees took awhile to come out even after we ordered soups after we finished our app. Â But our waitress was so sweet, the busers/runners were SO nice. She checked on us often, but it wasn't in a way that was annoying at all.
Recently went here for a wedding rehearsal dinner and sorry to say it was pretty bad. Â We started with some appetizers, the wings where pretty solid but the Bruschetta was just terrible. I ended up getting a burger and fry's figuring I was playing it safe and would have a great meal. The burger was ordered medium but came extremely well done and even a little cold with toppings I had requested NOT to get. The fries where burnt to a brown and black color and appeared to be the bottom of the bag scraps. The beer however was pretty good, but I only remember having "The Bug" and forget the others. Service while nice and cheerful was extremely slow.
Review Source:This place is top notch. Â I am a tough customer because I am very particular about my salads (as an entree) and my coffee and both were amazing at this restaurant. Â Great beer selection (I am told). Â I am a wine drinker and very much enjoyed that they had my fav (pinot grigio) and it was good--most beer places totally drop the ball on wine. Â Not this place!
Everyone at the table (a party of 11) enjoyed their meals.
I was up for another round of Trivia this past Monday night. Â Still good! Â I got a delicious turkey and avocado club. Â French fries (yes, there's a theme...see other posts from Maine) were a bit greasy and thus hard on the stomach. Â However, the beer was great, service was awesome, and Mike Beaudette as the Trivia man was great!!
Review Source:Best bar food I've ever had.  They obligingly fulfilled my  request for a reubenized vegi burger.  It was delicious.  My meat-eater friend had the best meatloaf he'd ever had in his life.  (Which, maybe being meat-loaf isn't too hard?) Â
The beer was all very good with fun names like Bug Light and Alewife Ale (thought the Cassk Kickin' Conditioned Ale was a little flat).
The staff were the five-star clincher, though. Â At least 3 staff came by to say hi us and give us recommendations for our East Coast brewery tour. Â Thanks for the tips, Run of the Mill!
Well, it's been more than a year since our first visit, and I am happy to disagree with some of the more negative reviews that have been put up here in the meantime. Â In fact, I would say that the service and especially the food have significantly improved, with a much more consistent quality of ingredients and finished product. Â Dishes are more adequately spiced, portion size is better, and everything about the food overall is just better! Â My earlier recommendation of the shepherd's pie still stands, at this is one of their very best meals, but I would also recommend getting a plate of fries either to start with or as something to graze on at the bar. Â They are tremendous! Â These are double fried, so they might be a bit crunchier than you are used to at more typical, chain-style restaurants, but you will find them very similar to the hot, fresh, and delicious fries you get at the fair! Â Another improved dish has been the clam chowder. Â I am not quite ready to list it as one of my favorite clam chowders, but it is very good with lots of chunky potatoes and decent amounts of clams.
Of course, the beer selection is still always changing, and always excellent! Â First timers should consider the paddle to get a good feeling for what is offered at this establishment, but I have been enjoying the Altbier this January. Â It has a lighter, sweet taste with just a hint of hoppiness and a bit of bitterness, but still has a good, full body and deep red color. Â I am looking forward to seeing the Porter arrive within the next couple of months!
The atmosphere of the restaurant has changed a bit too, with more decoration and attractive decor, but still with deference to the beautiful architecture that is a New England mill building. Â The deck is not available currently, as we are enjoying a typical cold and snowy Maine winter, but this is a nice option for the warmer weather. Â Just be aware that the menu on the deck is different, so if there is a favorite meal you are used to, enjoy it inside and head out for a beer afterwards!
This place has gotten much busier since my first review, but it's due to the improvements that have been made and it's certainly for the better! Â Stop by on Thursdays and Sundays for live music, and enjoy one of the best establishments in the Biddeford/Saco area!
Where to begin? I've lived in Saco for 3 years and have never found a place nearly as nice as this. Â We went for a late lunch on a Saturday. Â Parking was slightly adventurous, but adequate. Â Seat yourself. Chose from a beautiful bar area or a wide open dining area. Â All seating areas are spacious. Since it's February in Maine, the patio area was closed but we're definitely coming back when it's warmer. They brew their own beer and I recommend the sample paddle. 7 3oz samples for $5.00. Well worth it to help you chose your favorite.
Food is very good at very reasonable prices! Whatever you order, make sure someone in your party orders the French fries. Â Our daughter had fries with her grilled cheese and we ate them all. The brick island burger was fantastic and my wife's wrap was really good too...not better than the fries though.
The wait staff was also very pleasant...nice without hovering.
Thanks for opening on an otherwise depressing island. We can't wait to go back!
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