Catbird
Located at: 279 Main St South Berwick, Maine
Executive Chef and Owners: Josh Grindstaff and Molly Prichett
If you haven’t treated yourself to Catbird yet, consider this your sign. Tucked right into the heart of South Berwick, this spot delivers the rare kind of dining experience that feels both elevated and familiar—as if the upscale version of Cheers somehow landed in our backyard. It’s the place where everyone really does know your name, or at least learns it quickly, and where the staff is friendly, witty, and just the right amount of funny.
And then there’s the food.
Order the kimchi fries. Actually—don’t just order them, plan your whole week around them. They’re downright addictive: savory, tangy, a little spicy, and the perfect example of how the chef (a true genius) layers flavor in ways you didn’t even know you needed. These fries have no business being this good. Frankly, it feels unfair to every other potato in town.
The atmosphere is equally intoxicating. Moody, dim-lit vibes make Catbird feel intimate without being pretentious—a perfect spot for date night, catching up with friends, or treating yourself to something delicious and local. It’s like stepping into a stylish little hideaway where your stress melts, your appetite grows, and you suddenly start considering becoming a “regular.”
While the kimchi fries may try to steal the show (and your heart), the rest of the menu refuses to play a supporting role.
The Smashburger: Crispy edges, juicy center, and so perfectly seasoned it should come with a warning label: May cause spontaneous happy dancing.
Steak Frites: Fancy enough to impress your date, comforting enough to devour alone without shame. Tender steak teamed up with fries that mean business.
Signature Cocktails: Smooth, inventive, and dangerously easy to say “sure, I’ll have another.”
And every dish arrives looking so perfectly composed you’ll hesitate for a full two seconds before diving in. Two seconds. Max.
Catbird has mastered that irresistible combination of atmosphere + attitude. It’s dim without being dark, warm without being stuffy, and cool without trying too hard. You walk in and immediately think, Yes. This is exactly where I want to be tonight.
The staff deserves its own award category. They’re funny, quick, warm, and effortlessly charming—the kind of people who make every table feel like the best one in the room.
And that “upscale Cheers” energy? It’s real. It’s comforting. It’s addictive. Once you start going, you’ll keep going… and honestly, who could blame you?
Catbird isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a local experience.
It’s a place built on community, creativity, comfort, and a menu that keeps swinging for the culinary fences and landing every single hit.
Whether you’re celebrating, decompressing, indulging, or simply avoiding cooking (no judgment), Catbird is the type of spot that turns an ordinary night into something special.
