15 Best Restaurants in Portland, Maine—One of the Most Exciting Places to Dine in New England

Fresh seafood, inventive pizzas, and masterfully made sushi are just a few reasons why this tiny Maine city has such an outsized reputation in the food world.TwelveIf you ever hear anyone wonder why tiny Portland, Maine, has such an outsized reputation in the “foodie” world, tell them two things: First, almost every Portlander would recoil to be associated with a term as trend-driven as “foodie”; and second, the root of our deep and wide love of food lies in a philosophy ingrained in Maine itself. The state’s proudly close-knit community of small farms, working waterfronts, and independent restaurants are long-held traditions that predate (and frankly, eclipse) hype phrases like locavorism. And it means not only a pervasive access to far better food for everyone, but that spectacular dining here eschews most kinds of eating that’s high-concept, and instead just keeps it real.That ethos was first amplified by Portland’s gastronomic forefathers who got the country’s attention back in the ’90s (the likes of Sam Hayward and Dana Street of Fore Street and Scales, which are still going strong). They opened the floodgates to kitchens like Eventide and Duckfat—spots cooking inventive food leaning more homey than fancy.In turn, they attracted chefs from all over with answers to almost every kind foodstuff, all so good they’ll make your head spin: from creative hand rolls spotlighting the planet’s best uni (shout-out to our chilly waters) and lobster and scallop mousse with nuac chom to humble-yet-ethereal donuts made from local potatoes. It all makes noshing your way around town an utter delight. That said, when you want the complete dining experience of a sit-down-and-linger meal worth traveling for, these are the restaurants to be reckoned with.Read our complete Portland, Maine, travel guide here, which includes:The Best Hotels in Portland, MaineThe Best Things to Do in Portland, MaineThe Best Bars in Portland, MaineHow we choose the best restaurants in Portland, MaineEvery restaurant on this list has been selected independently by Condé Nast Traveler editors and reviewed by a local contributor who has visited that restaurant. Our editors consider both high-end and affordable eateries, and weigh stand-out dishes, location, and service—as well as inclusivity and sustainability credentials. We update this list as new restaurants open and existing ones evolve.AomoriNeighborhood: BaysidePrice range: $Dish to order: A tie between the garlicky grilled oysters, rich with kewpie mayo and soy; and the uni temaki hand roll with shisoFirst a little background: This is essentially an offshoot from Masa Miyake, the legendary sushi maestro, whose son Reo Miyake and partner Helen Carter teamed up with him after spending time in Japan together and deciding Portland needed more izakaya culture. What that means for the menu is reasonably priced, (mostly) small plates that encourage diners to linger, and try new dishes in no particular order. That includes everything from Reo’s mom’s homey recipes (like the creamy Japanese potato salad) to his father’s signature Japanese-meets-European global sushi (see: hamachi with pickled jalapeño and truffle oil) and yakitori pork belly skewers wrapped in enoki mushrooms. There are shareable plates, too: The whisky pork, for example, made tender thanks to a shio-koji marinade and soy-butter reduction. And watch out for daily seafood specials; Reo is a regular at the Portland docks, and when he can get his hands on little-used cuts like bluefin tuna spine or collar, the results are divine.Address: 52 Hanover St Ste D, Portland, ME 04101Read Full ReviewBread & FriendsNeighborhood: Old PortPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Petite pastrami biscuits with sauerkraut, gouda, and yellow mustard“Bread & Friends” isn’t a misnomer; both “bread” and “friends” are foundational to the vision here. Created and co-owned by four friends (all with previous hospitality industry cred), it was built first around a meticulous micro-bakery. (The stone-milled, wood-fired sourdough loaf alone is worth a stop.) That same everything-from-scratch cooking evolved to create symphonic lunch dishes like the crispy-edged dutch baby, topped with warm brie, roasted mushrooms, sweetly acidic maple vinegar and a sunny egg. But it’s the five-course dinners for which you should truly buckle up—and literally loosen your belt. Expect anything from grilled oysters with kelp butter, shiro dashi pearls, and pickled green apple to dry-aged duck with braised leeks redolent of lemon thyme, balanced with both rye miso cream and intense cherry agrodolce. And that wood-fired grill? It once again gets a workout come dessert—witness the almond olive oil cake, with its various yin-yang plays of textures and flavors: a sweet-tart rhubarb compote, spruce tip syrup, and anise hyssop whip.Address: 505 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101Read Full ReviewTipoNeighborhood: Back CovePrice range: $$Dish to order: Green garlic risotto with squash, Sicilian olive oil, and smoked ricotta salataIn Italy, Tipo 00 is the finest flour you can find, made to create exemplary pizza and pastas. And that right there should be your biggest hint at the approach taken here, at this neighborhood Italian spot on the edge of Portland. No laughably unrecognizable preparations or gastronomic shenanigans are at play. Chef-owner Chris Gould and wife Paige Gould also co-own Central Provisions in Old Port, and they’ve molded this place in the true Italian tradition of simple dishes that spotlight extremely high-quality ingredients and lusty flavors, coaxed out by seasonal freshness and the house’s brick oven. That means house-made pastas like the rye cavatelli from local grains, in a spicy, oregano-laced pork ragu made beyond-rich by mascarpone and shards of pecorino romano. That tipo flour works its magic in the crust of pizzas like the white-sauce version with ‘nduja sausage, its fiery spice entangled in mozzarella and intensely fragrant basil. Regulars come just for dessert, too: The ricotta pie with hazelnut and maple brown butter is a knockout.Address: 182 Ocean Ave, Portland, ME 04103Read Full ReviewFranciska Wine BarNeighborhood: Old PortPrice range: $$Dish to order: Mi’kmaq trout: pan-seared native brook trout with salsa verdeTake the fusion of Spanish, Italian, and South American homey tavern dishes represented by the traditional Argentine Bodegón; add some fine-dining know-how from chef de cuisine Rudi Schnetzer (the guy did come from Family Meal at Blue Hill and Crown Shy, both Michelin-blessed); and add to all that an ever-changing menu that relies heavily on Maine farms. That may give you an inkling as to what you’re in for at Franciska. But you won’t truly get it until you take your first bite of the tender and flaky mi’kmaq trout with salsa verde—raised by the indigenous Wabanaki tribe in Caribou, Maine. It’s seared to crisp perfection, skin-side down, then dressed with the unbelievably bright-flavored sauce. The same attention and care goes into dishes like the burrata & tomato conserva, concentrated by hand, then spiced and marinated. Even just empanadas—so ubiquitous in Argentina, they’re delicious even when you just buy one at the airport—at Franciska are a work of art, stuffed with chopped hard boiled eggs, onion, green olives, and seasoned, shredded, grass-fed beef from Cold Spring Ranch in Western Maine.Address: 111 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101Read Full ReviewScalesNeighborhood: Old PortPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Bangs Island mussels with hard cider, Raye's mustard, cream, and fresh dillIt’s Scales’ success with such a diversity of seafood styles that truly blows diners away. The kitchen can turn out a perfectly greaseless-yet-crunchy, buttery fish ’n chips with smoked jalapeño mayo as easily as it can smoke a trout and transform it into a velvety paté. The same team can execute a delicate tuna crudo with yuzo showered with sweetly crisp shallots like nobody’s business, and then turn around and grill a whole branzino with chili garlic butter and herb salad. Many kitchens in town have done their damndest to emulate Scales’ version of Bangs Island mussels with hard cider, cream, fresh dill, and Raye’s mustard (a sharp-flavored, Maine-made magic potion)—but none have yet to compare to this inspired rendition.Address: 68 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101Read Full ReviewSur LieNeighborhood: Old PortPrice range: $$Dish to order: Bucatini with lump crab, lemon cream, herby bread crumbs and tobikoJust past the luminous mahogany bar and facing the giant abstract wall mural, wide windows look out to the surrounding downtown neighborhood. And “neighborly” is indeed a spot-on lens through which to view any time spent in this cozy, comforting space: warm hardwood floors span from wooden booths over to the open kitchen’s hustle; marina lights and trails of hanging plants deck the ceiling; and a jovial, local crowd packs the dining area. Standouts abound, and include pickled, caramelized onions and blistered shishitos paired with a deeply smoky romesco sauce beneath a sumptuously tender slab of halibut. Chef Sam Helmke’s porchetta with bacon-braised beans and stewed greens is beautiful enough to deserve its own Rembrandt still-life, but it’s too good not to eat instead, thanks to a dollops of onion jam and smoky tomato vinaigrette.Address: 11 Free St, Portland, ME 04101Read Full ReviewDry DockNeighborhood: Old PortPrice range: $$Dish to order: Whole roasted branzino with dill yogurt and salsa verdeSmack on Old Port’s Maine Wharf, the iconic 1920s Randall & McAllister building has just been brought back to life—and then some. Dry Dock's previous incarnation, which closed in 2018, had been a local favorite for old-school seafood staples since 1983. This new version takes that history for a contemporary spin: The rollicking two-story space still harbors subtle vestiges of its Ye Olde New England past (nautical maps and Colonial-esque tables), but has been painstakingly renovated by local craftsmen. Much like the restaurant itself, the food is here is an ambitious and contemporary spin on what we tend to think of as old-school seafood-joint fare. Take the fried cod cheeks, for example: In lieu of the usual fried fish, their ethereal interior is impossibly sweet beneath an utterly greaseless crunch. From the raw bar, dishes like the gorgeously meaty, deep ruby bluefin tuna crudo have become every-night staples for excellent reason, whereas rotating ceviches get inspired treatments—like sliced tautog with grapefruit, radish, dill, anchiote oil, and crème fraîche.Address: 84 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101Read Full ReviewMr. TunaNeighborhood: East EndPrice range: $$$Dish to order: The tune de tigre—diced tuna with coconut, avocado, cilantro, red onion, and crispy shallotsFrom its once-humble beginnings as a hot dog cart peddling hand rolls on Portland’s sidewalks, Mr. Tuna has now morphed into this gleaming beacon of sustainable local seafood. With so much of the world's most exceptional seafood hailing from Maine, why wouldn’t you spotlight it in sushi—as opposed to importing fish from elsewhere? That’s how the kitchen here sees it, and why it responsibly sources almost everything it serves directly from fishermen working out of The Gulf of Maine. The result isn’t just sustainable, it’s all stunningly fresh. Witness the likes of luscious hand rolls filled with delectably creamy uni and spicy-sweet Maine scallop and crab. Or halibut jacked up with mango, habanero, cucumber, and foiled with puffed rice. One don’t-miss staple menu dish: The bright-flavored tuna de tigre—jewel-like diced bluefin tuna with avocado, flecks of cilantro, and crunchy shallots.Address: 83 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101Read Full ReviewTwelveNeighborhood: East EndPrice range: $$$Dish to order: The lobster roll—a revelatory version guaranteed to rewire all your expectationsDinner here is an event deserving of time and attention. Expect inventive, composed dishes made with extraordinary, mostly local ingredients. Ryder’s hand shines through in dishes that are both refined and lusty: A plate of New York strip raised at nearby Pineland Farms is extraordinary, napped with a perfectly executed charon sauce, the classic French infusion coaxing out every bit of the beef’s buttery richness. Even what seem like simple snacks turn out to be revelations—like the cheekily understated “chips & dip,” a meticulous cylinder of dill-festooned sour cream encasing caramelized onion jam, served with homemade potato chips and crowned with a canelle of Siberian caviar. It’s “chips & dip” the way Louis Pasteur was a lab rat.Address: 115 Thames St, Portland, ME 04101Read Full ReviewUnion at the Press HotelNeighborhood: Old PortPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Littleneck clams with sweet potato, green garlic, cilantro, calabrian chile, nduja, and creamChef Christian Bassett has made his mark giving familiar ingredients from local farms adventurous twists and turns. Lately that means bowls of paella, bright with lemony fennel, bits of sweet carrots and spicy chorizo, plus sweet Bangs Island mussels and local crabmeat—and then there’s the game-changer ingredient: rich and smoky, charred pieces of rabbit from a nearby farm. The kitchen has been simplifying and refining the menu of late, but that isn’t shying them away from the decadence of Maine lobster bucatini in a chile-boosted tomato confit with burrata and breadcrumbs, or desserts like the chocolate mousse cake: smooth, dense, and nicely balanced with a sour cherry compote and a light hazelnut gelato. Oh, and there’s also a gem of a happy hour menu. (Espresso-chile smoked wings with seaweed ranch? Yes, please.) And breakfast (it’s in a hotel, after all) spotlights anything-but-perfunctory dishes like the pork belly hash with potato, beet, caramelized onions, eggs, and a peach glaze.Address: 390 Congress St, Portland, ME 04103Read Full ReviewWayside TavernNeighborhood: West EndPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Eggplant terrine with Calabrian chili ricottaThough it’s part of an inn, The Wayside is known locally as its own entity, and is both a neighborhood go-to and is considered a favorite city-wide. On weeknights year-round you’ll sit next to professional couples or work friends catching swapping shop talk. Don’t let the humble demeanor of this West End neighborhood spot throw you off. Dishes here roar with inspiration and ambition—and they come in all formats. Small plates roll out combinations such as broiled Maine scallop (a single, perfect one) with velvety hollandaise and pops of caviar, and they get all the details right. Ditto the eggplant terrine, velvety and rich with Calabrian chili ricotta—employ your spoon to get every last bit of the tomato sauce. The halibut with lemon, capers, and roasted mushrooms is far more than the sum of its parts, thanks to a rich browned butter that makes a symphony of the rest of the entire dish.Address: 747 Congress St, Portland, ME 04102Read Full ReviewThe Honey PawNeighborhood: East EndPrice range: $$Dish to order: Lobster toast with fermented chili nuoc chamAt the Honey Paw, communal tables and mismatched plates show off vibrant New England–influenced Asian dishes like rare beef salad with smoked oyster mayo, peanuts, and pickled carrots; fried wings with lime, chili, and coconut; and lobster wontons in a seafood curry with cauliflower and basil. Don't miss the fry bread with ssamjang butter, smoked lamb khao soi, mapo tofu, and whatever vegetables or noodles are being wok-fried or wok-charred that day. End with soft-serve or a slice of the ever-changing layer cake. This isn't a great place for a big group—space is tight—so come with one or two other people you can (or hope to) snuggle up to.Address: 78 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101Read Full ReviewWoodford Food & BeverageNeighborhood: Back CovePrice range: $$Dish to order: The brisket burger with bacon, cheddar, and house-made picklesHoused in a midcentury modern building that could, in lesser hands, have become little more than the joke of the neighborhood (“That fancy place totally realizes it used to be a Dairy Queen, right?”) Woodford F&B instead leaned directly into its architectural history and created an ode to roadside diner-era culture. Chef Courtney Loreg knows a thing or two about taking a classic dish and redefining it—the result is her unfussy takes on things like the croque-monsieur—that béchamel-dressed French bistro sandwich—a dreamy, salty, smoky paragon of the classic. Loreg’s now-famous brisket burger is as heaped with bacon, cheddar, and house-made pickles as it is with praise. Her way with anything charcuterie-related has now formed its own cult, so if the duck liver paté is on the menu, nab it. It will come with plenty of crusty grilled sourdough, dried cherries soaked in port, whole grain mustard, and petit cornichon to bring the necessary umami backup.Address: 660 Forest Ave, Portland, ME 04103Read Full ReviewFore StreetNeighborhood: Old PortPrice range: $$$Dish to order: The tomato-goat cheese tart, when availableA multi-award winning Portland institution since 1996, this high-ceilinged, brick-walled warehouse space overlooking the historic Old Port is known for its large, open kitchen and live-fire cooking. A bustling bar opens into the main dining room where, from tables on two levels, you can watch a team of chefs as they man a wood-burning oven, grill, and turnspit fire, open dozens of fresh local oysters, and reach into a glass-windowed vegetable humidor to pick locally farmed and foraged fruit, herbs, and vegetables. Not to be missed are the signature rope-cultured mussels cooked in garlic-almond butter and dry vermouth. You'd also be wise to order the juicy turnspit-roasted pork loin (or anything else that's cooked on the turnspit, wood oven, or wood grill). In July and August keep your eye out for sweet, tender soft-shelled lobster and a tomato and goat cheese tart. The house-made ice creams and a chocolate soufflé cake also have well-deserved followings.Address: 88 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101Read Full ReviewTerlinguaNeighborhood: East EndPrice range: $$Dish to order: Brisket burnt ends with coffee-agave barbecue sauceStep up a couple of weathered wooden stairs, through a tiny vestibule hung with a wool Mexican blanket, and into the warmth of Terlingua, a buzzy, neighborhood barbecue restaurant. A polished concrete bar framed with natural slatwall panels is the central focal point of a small dining room, which is dotted with table seating. Chef Wilson Rothschild and his team crank out house-smoked meats and Southwest-Mex-Caribbean dishes seven days a week from morning until night. Think: deviled eggs with house-smoked scallops, green olives, and chile oil; smoked bluefish tostadas; guajillo-glazed smoked pork ribs; brisket burnt ends with coffee-agave barbecue sauce; and haddock cakes with spicy aioli. Anything you order will go well with sides of the slow-cooked rosado beans with pork belly or the crispy-edged, honey-buttered, jalapeno cornbread. Breakfast tacos sport black beans, crispy potatoes, scrambled eggs, and avocado; they're drizzled with house-made spicy salsa roja and piled high with fresh cilantro.Address: 40 Washington Ave, Portland, ME 04101Read Full Review