Beloved Buxton, Maine Restaurant Oak & Ember Announces Sudden Closure

It’s been a tough year for Maine’s restaurant scene, with many outstanding establishments calling it quits.

Sadly, that list continues to grow with the recent announcement that a beloved Greater Portland spot is shutting down.

Oak & Ember in Buxton Has Announced Its Closure

Well, this is some rough news—especially for me and my fellow Buxton residents.

Located right on the corner of Routes 22 and 202, Oak & Ember was a fun little joint that opened to much fanfare a few years back.

It was more than just a restaurant. It also featured a sophisticated wine shop that hosted weekend tastings. And of course, that meant the restaurant itself had one of the best wine lists around—on top of a creative cocktail menu.

Oak & Ember’s food menu featured many wonderful dishes—especially the pasta plates. You could truly taste the heart and soul that went into each and every dish. The menu was diverse and always changed with the seasons, which definitely helped build a solid base of repeat customers.

Oak & Ember Was a Beloved Joint that Many Locals Enjoyed

The restaurant also hosted special events, including pop-ups with guest chefs. My wife and I were fortunate enough to attend one of these nights, an Asian-inspired menu that absolutely blew our socks off. I’m pretty sure I can still taste those sticky ribs.

We may never truly know the exact reason for the abrupt closure, but it’s certainly tough news—especially for those who genuinely loved enjoying a night out at Oak & Ember.

READ MORE: 14 Maine Restaurants Once Featured on TV That Have Sadly Closed

It’s also the second beloved restaurant in a row to close at that location, which one would think is a prime spot, given it’s right between Gorham and Scarborough.

Best of luck to Shannon Keefe and the rest of the crew. Thank you for giving us Buxtonians so many wonderful nights and full stomachs over the past two years. I wish you all nothing but the best moving forward.