This Little Maine Pizza Shop Has A Secret Upstairs That Book Lovers Won’t Want To Miss
A whole room sat hidden behind a refrigerator for more than a year. The restaurant’s owners had no idea it was there. Now it’s a used bookstore with a view of a river, sitting right above a pizza shop.
I love that story. The owners found the nook, saw the old ceiling and shaky floorboards, and decided books belonged there. That kind of thinking makes me trust their pizza even more.
And the pizza deserves trust. The kitchen bakes thick Sicilian square pies with a long, cold-fermented dough.
The building itself has stood for more than two centuries in a quiet corner of Maine. You could grab dinner downstairs and wander up for a paperback afterward. Or you could browse first and earn your slice.
I can’t imagine a better way to spend an evening. Which would you pick first?
A Forgotten Room Became The Coziest Bookstore In Town
Few pizza shops can say their best feature was hiding behind a fridge. At St. George Pizza in Warren, that’s exactly what happened.
A small nook sat out of sight for over a year before anyone noticed it.
The space wasn’t pretty at first. It had an unfinished ceiling and floorboards that made you think twice before stepping.
Instead of sealing it back up, the owners got creative. They turned it into Upstairs Books, a used bookstore perched above the dining room.
The best part might be the windows. The nook looks out over the St. George River, which feels made for slow page-flipping.
Used bookstores are a treat because you never know what’s waiting. The shelves feature vintage cookbooks and other food-related titles, offering plenty for curious readers to discover.
My advice is simple. Give yourself a little extra time before or after dinner so you can browse without rushing.
Bring a bag or a free hand for whatever you find. Leaving with a full stomach and a new book sounds like a pretty great evening to me.
Square Pies With A Crust Worth Bragging About
Forget the floppy triangle. The star here is a 10-inch Sicilian square pie with a thick, focaccia-style crust.
The dough goes through a long, cold fermentation. That slow process builds flavor and gives the crust its airy inside and crisp bottom.
Think of it as pizza that took its time getting ready. Good things often do.
The menu stays focused on purpose. Cheese and Pepperoni hold down the classics, while options like Spicy Pepp and Pistachio Pesto add a little adventure.
A Margherita has shown up too. So has Mortadella over a ricotta cream base, which sounds like a fancy sandwich turned into pizza.
Seasonal pies come and go, so the lineup can change. One version, the Eggplant Parm, uses eggplant from Beth’s Farm nearby.
Gluten-free options are available for folks who need them. A dairy-free choice was also added to the cheese pizza after a guest asked.
Here’s a tip for groups. Order a few different pies and share them around the table.
Square slices make splitting easy, and you’ll get to taste more than one favorite.
Save Room, Because The Salad And Soft Serve Steal Scenes
Salad isn’t usually the thing people talk about at a pizza place. The Kale Caesar at St. George Pizza changes that story.
It’s known for being fresh and generously sized. Splitting one with your table is a smart move before the pies arrive.
A little green on the side also makes ordering that second pizza feel more reasonable. That’s just good planning.
Now for dessert. Soft-serve cones are part of the menu, and they make a sweet finish after all that crust.
Tiramisu has a spot on the dessert list as well. It’s a classic Italian choice that pairs nicely with an Italian-style pizza night.
Desserts can shift with the seasons, so check what’s available when you go. Surprises are half the fun anyway.
Families with kids will probably appreciate the cone option most. Few things end a meal more happily than ice cream you can carry around.
My suggestion is to pace yourself. Square pies are filling, and it would be a shame to skip the sweet ending.
Leave a little space, then reward yourself with a cone by the river.
Two Centuries Of History Sit Right Under Your Plate
The building that now houses St. George Pizza reportedly dates back to 1792. That makes it more than 230 years old.
Warren was once a busy mill community. Today, this building stands as the lone commercial spot in that old mill area.
You’ll find it at 310 Main St, Warren, ME 04864. It sits right along the St. George River, which explains those lovely water views upstairs and outside.
Old buildings carry stories in their bones. A forgotten room behind a fridge is proof that this one still has a few secrets left.
I like that the owners chose to give new life to the space instead of replacing it. Pizza and books now fill a place that once served a very different town.
Maine has plenty of historic buildings, but few let you eat dinner and browse vintage cookbooks inside one. That mix makes this stop feel special.
Take a minute outside before you head in. Look at the building, the river, and the quiet street around it.
History tastes better when you notice it first.
Grab A Slice And Let The River Do The Talking
Water views usually come with a fancy price tag. Here, they come with square pizza.
The restaurant sits on the edge of the St. George River. There’s a porch overlooking the water where you can relax with your food.
On a warm Maine evening, that porch sounds hard to beat. The river keeps moving while you take your time.
The view also connects to the bookstore upstairs. Those river-facing windows give readers a peaceful scene to look at between chapters.
Nature and pizza are a strong team. Add a book, and you’ve got the full package for a slow evening.
Weather in Maine can change fast, so outdoor plans work best in the warmer months. Cooler nights might send you inside, which has its own charms.
The community connection to the river runs deep too. The pizzeria has partnered with the Georges River Land Trust on community paddles followed by meals at the restaurant.
If you love being outdoors, keep an eye out for events like that. A paddle followed by pizza sounds like the best kind of reward for working your arms.
Candlelight And Vintage Charm Make You Want To Linger
Bohemian, vintage, and rustic all describe the look inside. It’s a carefully blended style that mixes country casual with a sleek, modern touch.
Candles sit on the tables. In winter, the room feels warmly lit, and summer brings a brighter, breezier mood.
That shift with the seasons gives you two reasons to visit. Pick a snowy night for coziness or a summer evening for sunshine.
The space is relaxed and unfussy. Families, friends, and couples on a date all fit right in.
Music plays at a level that still lets you talk. That matters when you’re trying to debate which pie to order next.
The owners want people to sit back and stay a while. It’s not a grab-and-dash kind of place, even though takeout is available.
My tip is to plan a slower meal than usual. Order a salad, share a few pies, and let dessert wait a bit.
Then wander upstairs to the bookshelves. A room this welcoming deserves more than a quick bite, and your evening will feel fuller for it.
Thursday Nights Bring Bingo, Trivia, And Movies
Bingo cards and pizza boxes make a fun combination. St. George Pizza hosts Thursday Slice Nights with activities like bingo, trivia, and movie screenings.
These nights have become a weekly tradition. They bring locals and visitors together in one cozy room.
Small towns thrive on gatherings like this. A regular night out gives neighbors a reason to see each other.
Trivia is great for groups who like friendly competition. Bingo works for nearly every age, and movie nights need zero skill at all.
Event plans can change, so check the restaurant’s social media before you go. That way you’ll know what’s happening that week.
The owners opened on January 11, choosing to stay open during winter. Many places in the region close for the cold months.
They wanted Warren to have a reliable spot with good food and open doors. Slice Nights fit that goal perfectly.
If you’re visiting Maine, a Thursday trip lets you join the fun. Grab a pie, answer a few trivia questions, and maybe browse a book between rounds.
Plan Ahead So You Don’t Miss Your Table
Timing matters with this one. St. George Pizza is open Wednesday through Saturday, from 5 to 9 in the evening.
That makes it a dinner-only stop. Sunday through Tuesday, the doors stay closed.
Reservations can be made online through Resy. Booking ahead is a smart idea since tables can fill quickly.
Takeout is another option. You can call ahead or walk in during open hours to order to-go.
Driving in? Parking is available along the road in front of the restaurant.
There’s also a public lot on Four Rod Road.
The shop sits in Warren, a quiet town in Midcoast Maine. Plan a little travel time if you’re coming from farther away.
My advice is to build your visit around those four nights. Nothing feels worse than craving square pizza on a Monday and finding the lights off.
Arriving a bit early also gives you time to check out the books upstairs. A relaxed start beats rushing in at the last minute, especially when dinner and a bookstore share one address.
Take A Piece Of The Evening Home With You
Leftover pizza isn’t the only souvenir here. The shop also sells branded merchandise.
Choices include 100% cotton t-shirts, hats, and tote bags. Each one is embroidered and printed right in Warren.
A tote bag makes extra sense at this spot. You’ll have somewhere to stash the used book you just found upstairs.
Local printing is a nice touch. Your purchase supports work done in the same small town where you ate dinner.
The owners, Megs Senk and George Korsnick, built this place with care. That care shows up in the pizza, the room, and even the shirts.
A hat or tee also sparks conversations later. Someone will ask about it, and you’ll get to tell the story of the bookstore behind the fridge.
That story is the real keepsake. Pizza downstairs, books upstairs, and a river outside make for a memorable mix.
So before you leave, take one more look around. Grab a shirt, tuck your new paperback into a tote, and start planning your next trip back to this little corner of Maine.