The Best Places to Eat in Portland, Maine
The food scene in Portland, Maine is something to marvel at (or, rather, drool over). From world-class seafood to some of the tastiest donuts in the country, eating your way through Portland is one of the best ways to explore the city. The best places to eat and drink in Portland, Maine range from fine dining to iconic lobster shacks, craft breweries, and hip cideries. This guide covers the places the city is most well-known for or that have been repeatedly recommended to me.
This is your foodie guide to the best places to eat and drink in Portland, Maine.
The Best Places to Eat in Portland, Maine
BREAKFAST
The Holy Donut
These. Donuts. Are. Amazing. What’s so special about them? They’re made from potatoes! Flavors rotate seasonally, but there’s always a good mix of classic and unique. The menu is also incredibly inclusive with gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, AND vegan options. There are three locations in Portland, and each closes whenever they run out of donuts for the day. Get there before noon for the best selection of flavors.
Rose Foods
If bagels are more your jam, this is the place to get them. They make their bagels in-house every morning and serve them with your choice of spreads, fish, or other toppings.
Standard Baking Co.
Boy, do I love fresh-baked bread! This family-owned bakery offers up bread and pastries made from carefully selected ingredients. You’ll find croissants, focaccia, traditional French baguettes, and other artisanal baked goods. You can even watch as they’re prepared by hand in the open-production bakery!
LUNCH & DINNER
Duckfat
The frites here are exactly like the ones we found all over Belgium. These short little frites are fried in lard and served with a variety of mayo-based dipping sauces – just the way they should be. We loved these frites so much, we went here twice over our weekend trip. Although the fries are the star of the menu, everything else we tried here was delicious as well. If you just want to order some frites without the whole sit-down affair, check out the Duckfat Frite Shack. This walk-up window locale also shares a courtyard with Oxbow Brewing.
EVO Kitchen + Bar
This might be one of my absolute favorite restaurants – ever. Everything about our meal here was spectacular. The menu is Mediterranean fare made with local and seasonal Maine ingredients. Brought to you by Chef Matt Ginn (three-time champion of Chopped), every item on the menu is expertly crafted and just so delicious.
Friends & Family
Small plates, wine, cheese, and charcuterie are all served up at this delicious little spot. In addition to all the delectable items on the menu, there’s also a selection of goods for sale in their marketplace.
Fore Street
This is another seafood joint, and it’s heavily regarded as one of the best restaurants in Portland. The menu changes daily, but you can expect a selection of fresh seafood and meats prepared over a wood-fired grill or in their wood-fired oven.
LOBSTER ROLLS
The High Roller Lobster Co.
This is one of Portland’s favorite spots for the iconic lobster roll. Build your own roll with their selection of unique mayo-based sauces, or go for one of their other lobster goodies like the lobster taco or lobster grilled cheese.
Portland Lobster Co.
This classic lobster shack on the harbor serves up freshly caught seafood including, of course, a lobster roll. The lobsters here are delivered twice a day from summer through fall, so you know they’re about as fresh as it gets. Order at the counter and then grab a seat outside on the pier.
Eventide Oyster Co.
While Eventide is certainly known for their oysters (as the name implies), this is also a top spot in Portland to grab a lobster roll. The famed, brown butter lobster roll at Eventide is of the Connecticut variety – warm and buttery, rather than the cold, mayo-based type you typically find throughout Maine.
DESSERT
Two Fat Cats
Two words: whoopie pies! The whoopie pie is the official dessert of Maine, and Two Fat Cats is a great place to get a fresh one. If you’re not familiar, a whoopie pie is made of a silky, creamy frosting sandwiched between two fluffy cakes. Choose from the classic (chocolate cakes with buttercream filling) available year-round or the seasonal whoopie pie of the moment.
LIBATIONS
Après
This is one of the most beautiful (and tasty) cideries I’ve ever been to. All of the ciders are delicious, but I’m a huge fan of the dry cider specifically. The space is also beautiful, so it makes for a great place to lounge for a bit.
Lone Pine
A large sampling of the best breweries in Portland resides over on the east side of Portland near the Munjoy Hill neighborhood, and that’s where you’ll find Lone Pine. It’s a super casual spot with great beer and passionate brewers.
Rising Tide Brewing
Another east-side favorite, Rising Tide is family-owned and brews up some creative beers. They also have a good amount of patio seating, which is always a plus.
Allagash
If you’ve heard of one brewery in Maine, it’s probably this one. Allagash is a Portland favorite, and for good reason. Aside from brewing some downright spectacular beer, they also put sustainability and community efforts at the forefront of their business. As you sample some brews here, be sure to save room to hit up Foundation Brewing, Definitive Brewing, and Austin Street Brewing – all just steps away from Allagash.
Oxbow Brewing
If you want some frites with your beer, head to Oxbow. The brews are delicious, and it also shares a (really cool) courtyard with Duckfat Friteshack.
Lincoln’s Speakeasy
For something a little mysterious, try your hand at seeking out Lincoln’s Speakeasy. Aptly named, every drink at this cash-only speakeasy will run you just $5. The exact location of Lincoln’s is a secret, so you’ll have to do your own research to figure out where it is and how to enter.
Whether you’re on the hunt for the perfect lobster roll or want to brewery-hop like no one’s business, Portland has you covered. You might be headed to Portland for the history and beautiful scenery, but you’ll want to stay for the great food and drinks.
Is there anything you would add to this list? Let everyone know in the comments below!
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