Elda - Biddeford

The most elevated dining experience in Maine is probably not where you 're thinking. It 's here, at Elda. Elda, its service, professionalism, imagination, creativity, artistry, and delectable food defies description. Every moment, every taste, every course, every sip is elevated beyond all possible expectation. It 's every best thing about Maine, including things previously unknown and unexpected. In a world filled with mediocrity being good enough , nothing could be further from that than Elda. For sure for special occasions, Elda is case in point that you get what you pay for.

We found elda quite by accident, and wow are we glad we did. Every single part of the experience was incredible. They are very straightforward with what to expect in terms of the dining experience, and even with that primer, we weren't fully prepared for the surprises and delights of the food, drinks, and service. It is abundantly clear that everyone who works here deeply loves food and Maine. Each course was so thoughtfully made and presented and, most importantly, was delicious. We each got a beverage pairing—one alcoholic and one non-alcoholic (ft. creative juices, infusions, and teas —which was well worth the extra price and served to only enhance every bite. We were beaming the whole time. And as an added bonus, we enjoyed chatting about the food and the restaurant's story with the extremely knowledgeable and kind wait staff. We can't wait to come here again and are already planning our return. elda is a destination dining experience. If you love Maine or love food (and even better if you love both! , you really need to give it a try. And while it carries a steep price tag that's usually out of our budget, we didn't regret a single dollar spent. It was so worth it. Thank you, Bowman and Anna (and all the other wonderful chefs and staff , for an unforgettable evening!

Not worth $600. The food was actually very nice. The service was excellent. It's a good restaurant. It's just not worth $600 (for 2). I'm not a penny pincher, I've spent that much at places like the French Laundry. The difference is the French Laundry is worth it, this is not. The food is overly fussy, relying on layering so many flavors that things get lost, e.g. there was a kelp oil drizzled over my tuna with roe (and three other ingredients) It was tasty but the kelp oil was just lost.

Lovely experience! Ambiance, food, and staff were exceptional! Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5

I had dinner here last Thursday with my family. It is a transcendent experience (and for the food, compared to San Fran, NYC, etc a relative bargain . I was blown away by the simplicity of food that belied an amazing depth of flavor. The broths (mushroom and duck our night were worth the price of admission alone. Literally NONE of the seafood dishes were overcooked or over fussed over (when was the last time that happened? It is not a restaurant for the faint of heart given the time and mental commitment, but is immensely rewarding. I also recommend the wine pairing they weren't overly indulgent, and I didn't leave unable to remember the last 5 courses (that happens a lot with wine pouring . If the smoky scallop, or razor clam with pine nut, or mussel toast were in front of me right now, I would not share with anyone. Take friends that you really like, and GO NOW!