A guide to the best restaurants in Portland, Maine, including special-occasion dinners, lobster rolls, seafood, pizza, bakeries, cocktails, food shops, and casual neighborhood favorites. This list highlights pots in Portland and nearby Greater Portland, with favorite dishes, reservation tips, and practical notes for planning where to eat.
To celebrate one year in Portland, I recreated Eventide’s legendary brown butter lobster roll at home. Steamed buns, browned butter, lemon, and chives let the lobster shine. It’s a dreamy take on one of the city’s most iconic bites – and a perfect way to mark a year of ocean views and good eating.
This perfectly balanced sandwich features buttered, grilled bread with lime-avocado aioli, seasoned white fish, pickled onions, and lettuce. Each element complements the others, creating a filling yet light sandwich.
Experience the exquisite Seared Scallops with Sweet Corn, Cream & Bacon from Scales in Portland, Maine. This delightful dish features sea scallops nestled in a creamy corn puree, topped with roasted red peppers, bacon, and herbs. Learn to recreate this restaurant favorite at home!
I was thrilled to see Central Provisions team up with another local favorite Skordo for a new line of spices to recreate some of their iconic dishes at home! The first I attempted was one that I’ve had and loved at the restaurant: Ras el Hanout Cauliflower!