Quarry Tap Room

Very Good Eats in Hallowell

After a morning of much needed retail therapy in downtown Hallowell, my friend and I were ready for lunch. But with so many choices, it was hard to make a selection. Growing up in the area, if you were looking for good food you would travel to Augusta. Sure Gardiner had the classic A-1 diner which was known for hearty comfort food but certainly not anything gourmet. Hallowell offered even less choices until Slates Restaurant and bakery opened in 1980. I had already moved out of the area when Slates first opened. Slates quickly became a food destination and continues to be a destination for foodies across the state and beyond, but Hallowell has seen a restaurant explosion and now there is list of great restaurants   offering a variety of food options for any taste palette. Unable to decide because they all looked tasty, we asked the owner of one of the antique shops we visited to make a recommendation. The Quarry Tap Room was his choice. It did not disappoint. 

The restaurant’s name is linked to Hallowell’s granite quarries of the past and the artisans of that time, “the movers, shakers, and hard rock breakers” that mined, sculpted, and shipped from the wharves in Hallowell to the shores of many seas. It is a taproom and restaurant that has been called a “modern day saloon” with its rustic and rugged features that remind of yesteryear, where granite carvers & quarrymen would certainly enjoy their cheer! A perfect nod to Hallowell’s history. We were not interested in the 38 of the finest microbrew and domestic beers on tap, spanning from the east to west coasts. We were ready to eat.

Although the poutine was tempting, I went with the mac and cheese with curly cavatappi pasta in a classic cheese sauce finished with bacon, scallions, and buttered bread crumbs. We shared the tap room pretzels, soft baked sourdough pretzel sticks lightly salted and served with a warm beer cheese dip. Anything dipped in that warm beer cheese would be tasty. My friend had the roasted beet and goat cheese salad, which easily served two. The lunch crowd was full and the wait staff were pleasant and attentive. 

Unfortunately, the weather was still on the cool side so we couldn’t sit outside and enjoy their outdoor street side patio and beer garden. We will return on a warmer day to enjoy their evening entertainment. The Taproom showcases talented local musicians and artists who regularly perform there. 

Hallowell is known for renowned art galleries, studios, performing arts theaters and festivals that make the downtown vibrant anytime throughout the year. Down along the banks of the Kennebec where the ice and the timber once flowed you’ll find the Quarry Tap Room. Stop in for a drink, good music, and a piece of history.