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The 17 Best Restaurants in Portland, Maine & Beyond
When it comes to coastal Maine, lobster rolls aren't even the half of it.
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49 Comments
Bevi
July 8, 2019
I would include Little Giant in Portland for dinner, and the Thistle Inn in Boothbay Harbor for dinner as well.
paseo
July 6, 2019
Nina June in Rockport is not to be missed. The chef (Sara Jenkins) is the daughter of a great food writer Nancy Harmon Jenkins and a marvelous cook (she can write as well). Fabulous Mediterranean food with local ingredients.
Sonya C.
June 10, 2019
Willard Scoops in South Portland cannot be missed. Get the salt caramel ice cream. Better yet, walk across the street to Scratch Bakery first for two chocolate chip cookies (theirs are SO good!) and make an ice cream sandwich. For an amazing farm-to-table meal, visit The Well at Jordan's Farm in Cape Elizabeth. A fun tip for getting into Eventide without waiting in line is to go for late night happy hour, which starts at 9 pm. OR, you can get there an hour before they open. Seriously. It's worth it, especially the tuna crudo. Mr. Tuna makes amazing hand rolls and was parked in front of The Shop (good for oysters) last summer.
Heading to Maine next month for our wedding! We're from Texas and live for our Maine getaway every summer.
Heading to Maine next month for our wedding! We're from Texas and live for our Maine getaway every summer.
Sammi J.
June 8, 2019
Oh my! We just took that trip driving from Boston up to Bar Harbor and many of the mentioned restaurants/food spots on this list were places we tried. Glad to see that so many of the places recommended to us were on this list as they were incredible. McLoon's Lobstah Shack was amazing and worth the drive there. Duckfat, Central Provisions, Holy Donut, Primo were all so good. Lots of great brewery's too! Coming from the West Coast, we had an amazing time on the East Coast!!
jennrockn
May 30, 2019
Personal breakfast favorite: Main Street Markets in Rockland. Great spot for fresh flowers, groceries, provisions and prepared foods too.
Ada’s Kitchen in Rockland has the best pasta in New England, maybe even north of NY. Handmade pastas, and Italian specialties. Great bar and lounge.
Also in Portland: 2 favorites
Izakaya Minato: best Japanese small plates
Baharat: Lebanese heaven
Stockton Springs:
The Hichborn: a hidden gem. Some of the freshest food in Maine, beautifully crafted and don’t forget the coconut cream pie for dessert (seriously)
Ada’s Kitchen in Rockland has the best pasta in New England, maybe even north of NY. Handmade pastas, and Italian specialties. Great bar and lounge.
Also in Portland: 2 favorites
Izakaya Minato: best Japanese small plates
Baharat: Lebanese heaven
Stockton Springs:
The Hichborn: a hidden gem. Some of the freshest food in Maine, beautifully crafted and don’t forget the coconut cream pie for dessert (seriously)
brunobunny
May 29, 2019
Francine's closed. There is a new restaurant named Franny's Bistro. The menu looks great.
Ryan M.
May 28, 2019
Next time you're in Maine, visit Cabbage Island Clambakes. We are a family owned and operated restaurant with four generations working together including my 13 year old cousin and 98 year old grandmother.
The trip includes a harbor tour and a traditional Downeast clambake with fish chowder, two lobsters, a pound of steamers, corn on the cob, baked potato, onion egg and a massive slice of blueberry cake.
The trip includes a harbor tour and a traditional Downeast clambake with fish chowder, two lobsters, a pound of steamers, corn on the cob, baked potato, onion egg and a massive slice of blueberry cake.
Winifred R.
May 28, 2019
Only eating clams fried? While those are good you have to have steamed clams once in awhile. Personally I prefer them to fried, and when I can get them clams casino. And try lobster pie if you can get it up in Maine (or New Hampshire, where I'm originally from) - lobster pieces covered with buttered cracker crumbs. Doesn't sound like much, but it's so decadent it's hard to finish a portion; wish I could remember the place in southern Maine I had it last time I was up there. Now I live on the Chesapeake Bay and people here have their own specialties like sugar/blow toads and softshell crab. There's good stuff lots of places, don't get stuck in a rut (although I'm still not big on raw oysters even though I have a Ph.D. in fisheries and know people who grow them).
Carole
July 27, 2017
Nice list, but really is missing an essential Portland spot -- Eventide. Next door to Hugo's and owned by the same folks, but in my mind the only place I must visit on every trip for their wide variety of oysters, the best lobster roll ever (non-traditional -- just brown butter and lobster on a steamed Bao) To. Die, For.
Nicole
June 26, 2017
Food52: I would LOVE a guide like this for more drives and regions! I make a lot of road trips and this one of these for the east coast or west coast, or cross country would be amazing!
GC
July 10, 2016
Nosh Kitchen & Bar in Portland... very creative stuff there and the amazing Apocalypse Now Burger
Laurie T.
July 10, 2016
Frosty's donuts in Freeport.... If you don't want to wait in line at Red's Eats in Wiscasset, go across the street to Sprague's for a lobster roll or dinner.
paseo
July 6, 2019
As a resident of the Midcoast, never stop at Red's (not worth the wait or the hype). You are right, Sprague's is better.
Andrea B.
July 10, 2016
Little Bigs in South Portland makes the best donuts I've ever had! Try the maple bacon crueller for sure. Plus, they sell savory hand pies that we always grab for a long drive.
Tucker &.
July 10, 2016
Moose island Bakery and Quddy Bay Lobster in Eastport. If you're near Jonesport and are doing some cooking you can get your lobsters right off the boats and the freshest mussels at Moosebec Mussels at an incredible price. Truly Downeast gems.
Shari B.
July 10, 2016
Some great suggestions, but Red's really doesn't belong with these other restaurants. People wait on long lines for very average food there. Skip it and come to Harraseeket Lobster in Freeport Harbor or also in Freeport Azure Cafe or the Broad Arrow Tavern, or stop at one of the great Brunswick restaurants, like Tao Yuan (Top notch--James Beard award winning chef), Little Tokyo, to name a few.
Marguerite T.
July 10, 2016
Things can change in a year for eateries. I wouldn't base a trip on recommendations in an article from a year ago. A recent update would be convincing.
Ginny
June 10, 2016
Three Tides part of the Marshall Wharf Brewing Co. in Belfast is where we go to indulge ourselves with Pemaquid Point Oysters (a dozen each, please!) while watching Belfast Harbor activities. Morse's Sauerkraut & Euro Deli in (outside of) North Waldoboro is incredible if you feel the urge to take a short break from Maine seafood!
melissav
May 20, 2016
I know this is an old post but I'm planning a getaway with my husband in late June and I'm a little overwhelmed figuring out where to go and stay. We'd like to spend a couple nights in Portland and then head north but cannot figure where to stay for the rest of the trip. Any favorite destinations / lodging recommendations?
april
June 10, 2016
Stay in Camden; is a beautiful ways up from Portland but so much good food! And definitely have a dinner at Tao Yuan in Brunswick. I can't believe that resto didn't make it on this list!
Heidi H.
September 1, 2015
A must not miss: The A-1 Diner in Gardner, Maine (just South of Augusta)
also Aragosta in Stonington and Lily’s in Deer Isle when they are open.
also Aragosta in Stonington and Lily’s in Deer Isle when they are open.
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