Chef George’s Auto Mile Diner, Saco Maine

We tried stopping by the Dunstan Tap and Table once and learned they were closed both Monday and Tuesday. Finally, we were able to stop by about 4:30 on a Saturday afternoon. 

Seating

The hostess asked if a “hi-top” table was all right, and we said no, we’d prefer a regular table. She told us we couldn’t have one because they were reserved. We were aghast as we looked about and saw most of the tables vacant. She finally said we could have a table in the corner, but it was reserved for six PM, and we’d need to be done eating by then. It was apparent that the very young hostess wasn’t well trained in handling walk-ins. We were finally seated when we confirmed we wouldn’t take an hour and a half to eat. 

Ordering

Our server, Erin, was delightful and took our order. No onion rings for an appetizer, so we skipped having one. I ordered the Maple Bourbon Burger (8 oz. Prime Ground Beef, Smoked Pineland Farms Cheddar, Bacon, Fried Onions, Pickles, Maple Bourbon Sauce), medium well done and a side of Tater Tots. My wife ordered the Pepperoni Pizza (Red Sauce, Fresh Mozzarella Blend, Pepperoni), extra crispy/well done.

Food

I was surprised when I saw my burger. The menu says, “All burgers served with kettle chips. Sides are á la carte.” My burger arrived with no chips and the tater tots instead of chips. The tater tots were straight from frozen but were evenly cooked. The burger was better than most, tall, juicy, and cooked to a perfect medium-well[1].

The pizza was disgusting. Not well done or extra crispy at all. The center was still raw, and the “mozzarella blend” must have been made from the highest fat mozzarella possible. It was in a huge clump in the center of the pizza. When we removed a slice of the pizza, the grease flowed into the vacant space. Our server was helpful and brought extra napkins to soak up the grease and an extra plate to put the greasy refuse on. 

The pizza wasn’t eatable, so my wife ate many of the tater tots. We asked for a box to take the pizza home; the box didn’t have any paper lining on the bottom for the pizza, so we had to set it directly on the cardboard. I must add, the pizza was quite tasty once we put it into our air fryer at home, where the grease could run off into the tray underneath, and the pizza dough could finish cooking.

Misc. Comments

After complaining about the pizza, I was surprised that a manager didn’t come by the table to see what the problem was. 

The room was very noisy, especially for a venue not particularly busy. 

Ratings

Ambiance: 3 (The corner of the restaurant we were in was quite noisy and challenging for conversations.)

Food: 2 (Worst pizza we’ve ever encountered. A good burger saved this from being a 1.) 

Service: 3 (Server was friendly and attentive, but the hostess was frustrating and poorly trained.)

Price: 3 (Lunch foods were over $20 each, not including drinks)

Value: 2.5

Conclusion

I can’t imagine ever returning. If a friend suggests it, I’ll do whatever I can to dissuade them and go somewhere else. 

Location

Dunstan Tap and Table, 6 Stewart Drive, Dunstan Crossing, Scarborough, Maine. It is just a couple hundred feet off US Route 1, on Stewart Drive, just north of the Shaker Furniture of Maine. 

Endnotes

[1] Yes, I know that 160° degrees is the minimum safe temperature and that medium well is 150-155°, but I prefer my burgers a bit juicier and ordering well done often results in receiving a “hockey puck” for a burger.