24 Best Restaurants in Portland, Maine

Arguably the best-known among all of Maine's many outstanding breweries, Allagash was one of the state's pioneers, first opening in the '90s with its signature Belgian-style wheat beer, Allagash White. There are plenty of other styles to discover at the brewery, including wilds, sours, barrel-aged brews, and special seasonal concoctions on tap, and when hunger strikes, there's a Bite Into Maine’s food truck on-site, where you'll find burgers and excellent Maine staples like lobster rolls and whoopie pies. It's a bit out of the way from central Portland, but the above, plus a fun and friendly tasting room, make the brewery well worth the small trek.

The design and overall atmosphere here—part rustic Maine hunting lodge, part chic ski Aspen lodge, all beneath soaring ceilings and in front of a real roaring fire—keep crowds coming back, but the craft beer itself is very good (pale ales, IPAs, pilsners—you name it, they’re pouring it), as are the cocktails (carefully made spirits include a slightly sweet vodka made from corn, a bourbon, and a gin, among others). The food deserves kudos, too—snacks like duck fat cornbread with hot honey, and mains, like the lobster mac and cheese with Boursin, should not be missed. There are three other locations in Kennebunk, Biddeford, and Wells.

Even in midafternoon, this small, casual, and cool panini-and-more shop is packed, and the wait for tables can be hours. The focus here is everyday farm-to-table fare: the signature Belgian fries are made with Maine potatoes cooked, yes, in duck fat and served in paper cones, and standards include meat loaf and the BGT (bacon, goat cheese, tomato). Drink choices include gelato milk shakes, French-press coffee, lime-mint fountain sodas, beer, and wine.

The emphasis at this cozy neighborhood restaurant is on the superb food rather than the atmosphere, which isn't surprising, given that the owners formerly served their tasty, no-fuss fare from a truck. Lunch and dinner feature locally sourced, sustainable ingredients in dishes that reflect the seasons. The lobster roll, made with big chunks of knuckle and claw meat, is so good deserves its own cult. (Meanwhile, the weekly karaoke night here pretty much has one.)

Proper Italian gelato and sorbetto here come in traditional flavors as well as more offbeat varieties like torched marshmallow s'more, mascarpone pistachio caramel, and mint brownie cookie. It's all made of milk from family farms, and there are new flavors every day, along with espresso and other hot drinks. If you are overwhelmed by all the choices, get the "mystery pint" and have the selection made for you.

A local institution (it's been here since 1949, and Portland's historic preservation department even helped restore it), Portland's beloved gem housed in a Worcester dining car is as authentic as they come. The menu's full of diner staples—lots of homemade pies, daily soups, big breakfasts, BLTs, and thick specialty milk shakes (in flavors like grasshopper and s'mores). The unusually friendly staff—when they're not swamped—will happily dole out advice on spots to visit in town. Expect crowds in the summer, accommodated by extra seating in the back, built off the car.

In opening this pitch-perfect bagel shop, chef-owner Chad Conley filled a long-neglected gap in Portland's food scene. Here you'll find spot-on New York–style bagels (made in-house every morning) with both expected and unusual add-ons, including pastrami nova, chopped liver, and whitefish salad.

One of the more pitch-perfect bakeries in the Pine Tree State, you'll have to visit early (or put in an advance order) to get your mitts on these delectable baked goods. The perfectly airy croissants, crusty baguettes, beguiling tarts, dainty madeleines, and creative breads incorporate locally sourced grains and are nothing short of revelations.

New England—and especially Maine—may not be known for its barbecue, but Terlingua is one of the exceptions. Pitmaster/owner Piny Reynolds started the fire in steel smokers here in 2015, applying what he learned while living in Austin to Maine foods, and he continues to smoke up a gorgeous brisket (to say the least), as well as smoke lobster tails to make tostadas. The kitchen is just as apt to smoke mackerel for a dip or carnitas for tacos as they are to smoke up some local mussels in seaweed before marinating them in chili oil and topping rich deviled eggs with them. Grab a chair inside or out back; both spaces are as convivial as can be.

Named for the finest grade of flour milled in Italy and owned by the same husband-and-wife duo behind Old Port's wildly popular Central Provisions, Tipo is a Back Cove gem and a neighborhood favorite. The Italian flour is put to excellent use in homemade pastas (like the buccatini with local mussels, fennel, and preserved lemon) and brick-oven pizzas (don't bypass the Casablanca, loaded with merguez sausage and roasted tomato). Service is swift and friendly—including on the sunny, bustling patio—and there's an emphasis on simple, intense flavors throughout the menu.

A regular stop for pie lovers around the city, Two Fat Cats bakes up delectable bourbon pecan, sour cherry, and coconut cream masterpieces. Meanwhile, the bakery’s whoopie pies rely on light and fluffy, hand-scooped chocolate cake batter and a filling that’s based on whipped vanilla buttercream, not the more typical marshmallow. The signature pie is made with wild Maine blueberries sourced from Maine-based and family-owned Wyman's. A second shop is located in South Portland.

In the Press Hotel, Union Restaurant has a sophisticated but unpretentious air that is reflected in its menu, which focuses on local ingredients, many of which are foraged and fished, or in the case of honey, gathered from its rooftop beehive. Most dishes are modern and upscale comfort food, like the lobster tagliatelle with snap peas and tarragon. Breakfast and brunch are a treat: you'll find maple pain perdu served alongside smoked-salmon tartines and classic dishes like eggs Benedict.

You won't find a more local or unfussy place—or one more abuzz with conversation—than this waterfront institution way down on the end of Commercial Street. The food is cheap, generous in proportion, and has that satisfying, old-time-diner quality. Sitting next to you at the counter or in a neighboring booth could be rubber-booted fishermen back from sea, college students soothing a hangover, or suited business folks. From the upstairs deck you can watch the working waterfront in action.

Perched on Thompson’s Point (a quick walk away from the busy entertainment venue of the same name), Bissell Brothers is in a perfect place—a 100-year-old former railway building, to be exact—to wow the crowds before and after the shows. It also draws crowds of its own for its hoppy ales (The Substance Ale, for instance), for regular releases available on tap and in cans, and a kitchen serving big salads full of local veg, wings covered in any of three sauces, and charcuterie from a nearby farm.

This huge family-owned floating restaurant on a centrally located marina has been a staple of Portland's food scene for decades. The food has stayed largely the same since it opened—this isn't the place to break any culinary sound barriers—with classics like Maine lobster dinners, bacon-wrapped scallops, and clam chowder. If you're looking for a place to have a drink with great views and a unique atmosphere filled with nautical decor, this is a worthy option.

For some of the best Mexican food in town, head to this fun, hip spot where the flavors are as vibrant as the turquoise, yellow, and fuchsia decor and the guacamole and salsas are made fresh daily. Wash down achiote-seasoned fish tacos or a citrus-and-cumin-marinated chicken burrito with a lemon-hibiscus refresca (cold drink) or a house margarita. They also have a location in Scarborough.

Not only does Eventide have fresh, tasty oysters from all over Maine and New England, artfully prepared with novel accoutrements like kimchi, ginger ices, and cucumber-champagne mignonette, it also serves delicious crudos and ceviches with unique ingredients like blood orange and chili miso. The menu constantly changes, depending on what's in season. So it's best to order a handful of small plates, a glass of bubbly or one of the signature tiki-style cocktails, and, of course, a dozen oysters.

Families, students, and bohemian types gather at this popular New England chain flatbread-pizza place where two massive wood-fire ovens are the heart of the soaring, warehouselike space. Waits can be long on weekends and in summer, but you can call a half-hour ahead to put your name on the list, or grab a drink from the bar and wait outside with a view of the harbor. The menu has eight signature pizzas made with fresh, local ingredients, plus weekly veggie and meat specials; everything is homemade, organic, and nitrate-free, and there are delicious local microbrews on tap.

This is the real deal, as quintessential as old-school Maine dining can be. Clam rakes and nautical charts hang from the walls of this unpretentious waterfront diner, and the flavors come from the depths of the North Atlantic, prepared and presented simply: fried scallops, haddock, clams and extraordinary clam cakes, and fish, clam, and seafood chowders (corn, too).

This high-energy spot serves lobster in both classic and creative ways—in a roll, on a stick, on a burger, over a salad, or even with your Bloody Mary. If you're feeling adventurous, try one of the sauces (lime mayo, lobster ghee) on your roll, and wash it all down with a beer from the ever-changing menu, which depends on availability from local breweries.

Don't pass up a chance to try these sweet and savory, all-natural, Maine potato-based doughnuts glazed in flavors such as dark chocolate--sea salt, maple, pomegranate, triple berry, and chai, or stuffed with delicious fillings like bacon and cheddar or ricotta. There are always new inventions, too, such as salted chocolate caramel and key lime pie.

This sleek, waterfront flagship location is at the heart of the international Luke's Lobster chain, and it operates as a cooperative among Maine's lobstermen who supply it with the freshest of catches. Chill out on the high-energy patio when it's sunny, or head up to the second floor and grab a table by the windows, which have killer views of Portland harbor.

Trays heaped with St. Louis–style ribs and brisket fly around Salvage’s expansive room, as diners wait for orders to arrive at communal or dinette tables. The deep-flavored meats benefit from time in the outfit’s smoker, custom-built from an old propane tank and fueled by Maine red oak, and sides like collard greens, delicious cornbread, and hush puppies round out the Southern-style feast. The adjoining bar and live music keep things hopping.

One of two large locations (the other is in Freeport), this stylishly decorated, locally owned, and family-friendly trattoria-inspired spot specializes in wood-fired pizzas and hearty (mostly Italian) entrées. There are also seafood options like Maine mussels and oysters as well as a selection of Maine beers on tap.