10 Places to Eat in Portland, ME

Inevitably when I spot a headline about eating in Portland I click on the link, eager to see which of my favorite restaurants made the cut, only to find that the article is not about Portland, Maine, but rather Portland, Oregon. I’m sure the Oregon Portland is terrific (I’ve never been), but in my book, nothing beats the food scene in New England's Portland. Let the rivalry begin.

For those of you who haven't been, the restaurants in Portland can be lumped into three general categories:

1. High-end, locavore-focused establishments
2. Sustainable-minded places with an abundance of vegetarian/vegan options
3. Tourist traps

Below are 10 of my Portland picks — but don’t let this limit you; there are many more restaurants you should get to in Portland, and while you’re there, go ahead and sneak in a lobster roll or two; while following this list will make it seem like you're a local, sometimes it's okay to be a tourist.

10 Places to Eat in Portland, ME

01. J’s Oyster

This is the closest thing to a tourist-y destination you’re going to see on this list, but fear not; you won't be greeted by a giant kitsch-y lobster on your way in. Located right on Portland’s wharf, J’s Oyster is a classic, no-frills, seafood restaurant with a large bar and an ample oyster menu. You can order your oysters with lobster stuffing; swiss cheese; or spinach, cheese, and bacon; but I recommend you opt for the standard Bakers Dozen Raw.

5 Portland Pier, 207.772.4828

Photo: Eleanor West

02. Ribollita

There are several great Italian restaurants in Portland, but Ribollita is one of my favorites. Classic dishes highlight handmade pastas and seasonal ingredients. Like many restaurants in Portland, Ribollita features an open kitchen, so you can watch the chefs make your pasta while you gorge yourself on the mammoth antipasto plate. 

41 Middle St, 207.774.2972

Photo: Eleanor West

03. Duckfat

One of the advantages of Portland’s small size is that you don’t have to go far to get your next bite. Duckfat happens to be right next door to Ribollita. True to the restaurant's name, duck fat is used to fry the French fries that come with an array of mayos, ketchups, mustards and aiolis. The truffle ketchup stands out above the rest and may lead to some serious double-dipping action. If you’re feeling up to the challenge, order the Duck Confit Panini and swap out regular Duckfat fries for the Duckfat poutine.  

43 Middle St, 207.774.8080

Photo: Eleanor West

04. Hot Suppa!

If you’re enduring a cold Maine winter and longing for tastes of the South, look no further than Hot Suppa!, whose menu includes a Gumbo Bowl and a Cajun Bloody Mary that comes with pickled okra and dilly beans. Maine seafood blends seamlessly into this Southern-style bistro (sample dish: fried green tomatoes served with chilled Maine bay scallops), and local beers can be found on tap. 

703 Congress St, 207.871.5005

Photo: Eleanor West

05. Caiola’s

Brunch fans flock to Caiola’s, where the Sunday menu features such delicacies as a Housemade Cinnamon and Sugar Pop Tart, a changing specialty coffee cake, and Warm Lost Bread (pictured), which is essentially the most decadent French toast you’ve ever had. If you love brunch but detest standing in long lines wishing you had the foresight to make coffee before you left the house, then you’ll be glad to know that Caiola’s takes reservations for Sunday brunch. Crisis averted.

58 Pine St, 207.772.1110

Photo: Eleanor West

06. Miyake

Miyake is Portland’s Japanese food destination. If you go, you'll notice that most order the tasting menu, and those who don’t look on longingly. I’ll even make an exception to the list's no-lobster dishes rule to spotlight Miyake’s lobster sashimi, which recently appeared as one of the tasting menu’s courses accompanied by hamachi, king salmon, flounder and mirugai (giant clam) sashimi. Miyake is on the pricier side of Portland’s dining scene, but you won't care once you see your first course arrive.

468 Fore St, 207.871.9170

Photo: Eleanor West

07. Miccuci Wholesale Foods

Enter Miccuci Wholesale Foods to shop for canned tomatoes, spices and olive oil. But what’s that you smell? The delicious wafting aroma of hot dough, sauce and cheese? That's the "Sicilian Slab." These giant pizza slices are laid out on a rack tucked away in the back corner of the market. Despite its huge size, the slab is not overly doughy or chewy. Get there as early as you can to avoid the line of hungry patrons vying for a slab of their own.

45 India St, 207.775.1854

Photo: Eleanor West

08. Local Sprouts

Local Sprouts belongs to the group of small, sustainable cafés that are becoming a signature of this dining scene. Yes, as the name would suggest, Local Sprouts has vegan options, and yes, the restaurant composts. But even if you’re not a vegetarian or vegan, Local Sprouts still has plenty to offer — namely, deluxe breakfast sandwiches and a grass-fed beef cheeseburger. Oh yeah, and there's a huevos rancheros special (pictured), which is so good that it might just inspire you to join the local and organic food movement — if you haven’t already. 

649 Congress St, 207.899.3529

Photo: Eleanor West

09. Fore Street

Ah, Fore Street. When I’m dreaming about Maine eats, I am usually dreaming about Fore Street. Housed in an unassuming low brick building, Fore Street boasts an enormous open kitchen, with a menu that changes daily and features local, game, seafood and vegetables. Recently, such items as Wood Oven Roasted Frenchman’s Bay Mussels (pictured) and Maine Farm Rabbit Liver Pâté with Tomato and Basil Gelée were on the surprisingly large menu. If you’re going to splurge in Portland, do it here.

288 Fore St, 207.775.2717

Photo: Eleanor West

10. Street and Co.

This gem of a seafood restaurant is tucked away on a cobblestone side street marked simply by a wooden sign with a fish hanging above the door. Owned by the same group behind Fore Street, Street and Co. has a similarly local menu that changes daily, but that concentrates on the sea rather than the land. Your seafood will come “in the pan…”; “….with linguine”; “grilled or blackened”; or “broiled.” Keep it simple, and relish in the glory of Maine seafood.

33 Wharf  St, 207.775.0887

Photo: Eleanor West

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