55 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.

There are craft cocktails, and then there is Blyth & Burrows, where the alchemy of spirits is taken to the next level with creative concoctions that include the unholy integration of gorgeous (albeit unusual) ingredients such as absinthe foam, house-made black-lime cordial, blackstrap maple-chipotle syrup, and uncommon liqueurs and spirits. Delicious and inspired small plates, like deviled eggs with duck confit, charred oysters with absinthe butter, and local meat and cheese boards keep you from falling under the table.

With regular lines out the door, Old Port’s always-busy bôite is an adventure in bold-meets-local eating. Chef Chris Gould, who co-owns the place with his wife Paige Gould, cheekily pairs stalwart Maine ingredients with luxurious and global ones. Witness creations like local strawberries with lamb bacon and sumac yogurt, or the bone marrow toast with red onion jam. If the root beer float with foie gras ice cream is on the menu, don’t even think twice.

This local coffeehouse company pours specialty coffee employing unusually high standards for environmental and economic sustainability. Flavor-wise, the sturdy coffee is brewed from beans they roast themselves, which have become a staple in many locals’ home kitchens. There's also quirky and creative baked goods—everything from vegan Pop-Tarts to rich daily quiches.

Follow the scent of chili and sizzling scallions to this highly regarded Vietnamese joint, where the dishes are as authentic as they are adventurous. Beyond the requisite pho (and for the record, theirs is flavorful and addictive) are dishes ready to push your repertoire of Vietnamese cuisine: cold caramel vermicelli with caramel pork and fish sauce; Khmer sour beef sausage; and stir-fried turnips with oyster mushrooms and fermented tofu. Don't come expecting anything fancy; the draw here is the big flavors and the friendly service.

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.)

Take a bounty of Maine ingredients, add an ever-changing Middle Eastern/Mediterranean menu, and chefs who know how to subtly blend it all, and you’ve got Evo. Chef Matt Ginn opened this swanky, two-story spot housed in the Hyatt in 2015, and since then he and executive chef Mike Carney have earned a following for dishes like bluefin tuna with avocado toum, ginger, and turmeric. The addictive chickpea fries with harissa and sumac will melt in your mouth and steal your heart.

One of Maine's most legendary chefs, Sam Hayward, opened this much-lauded restaurant in a renovated warehouse on the edge of the Old Port in 1996; today every copper-top table in the main dining room has a view of the enormous brick oven and soapstone hearth that anchor the open kitchen. The menu changes daily to reflect the freshest ingredients from Maine's farms and waters, as well as the tremendous creativity of the staff; if the tomato tart is on menu, order it. Reservations can be exceedingly difficult to score in the summertime, but Fore Street leaves a portion of space for walk-ins, which go fast when they open at 5 pm.

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.

With nods from critics far and wide, Leeward is one of the state’s most celebrated restaurants. This high-ceilinged, Italian-centric restaurant turns out exquisite handmade pasta like the spaghettini Nero laced with squid, serrano chile, pork brodo, white wine, and bread crumbs—a revelation of flavors both strong and soothing. Gluten-free? Don't fret: There’s also a homemade ricotta gnocchi that the kitchen can sub in for almost any pasta dish.

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.

Opened by chef Masa Miyake three decades ago, this is the place to dig into some of the most inventive, phenomenally fresh, nontraditional sushi in Maine. The maestro has since renovated and sold the restaurant, but his creative legacy lives on in the menu full of lovelies like diced snapper with cilantro, truffle oil, and tobiko.

Buckle up, sushi aficionados: After years of wowing Greater Portland with insanely good and ultra-fresh raw fish from street food carts, food trucks, and a marketplace counter, Mr. Tuna has finally come into its brick-and-mortar own. And these new snazzy digs are a perfect showcase for chef Jordan Rubin's stellar and straight-up creative menu stars: tuna with coconut, avocado, cilantro, and crispy shallots, for example, or the tuna tataki sushi "burrito" with green chili sauce. Good luck trying to stop ordering more.

There's terrific sushi being rolled at this casual brick-walled Japanese gastropub, but it’s the cooked stuff that brings in the crowds. Some of the richest, most flavorful ramen this side of Tokyo is served, like big bowls of steaming pork and chicken broth laden with roasted pork belly, soy marinated egg, scallion, and ginger, or the lobster miso ramen with bok choy, corn, and sesame. Wash it all down with one of the bar’s local beers and you’re well on your way to a Matsuyama-meets-Maine feast.

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.

Seafood purists and adventurers alike find bliss in this menu of superb pan-roasted, smoked, and grilled fish; fresh-as-can-be seafood crudos; and fried shellfish. Perched on Maine Wharf directly over the harbor, the contemporary-but-comfortable restaurant was opened by two local culinary heroes, restaurateur Dana Street and chef Sam Hayward, in 2016, and has since become one of Portland’s most beloved. There are New England classics like fried clams and fish-and-chips (perfectly crisp outside, tender and sweet in) alongside creative dishes like Bangs Island mussels in hard cider, cream, dill, and locally made Raye’s mustard. If you’ve got time, come a little early and grab a drink at the expansive room’s buzzing bar.

With an absolute lack of pretension and a laser-focus on ultra-fresh seafood, SoPo Seafood is one of the most dependable spots around Portland for local and truly excellent eats from the sea. Not only do they supply many local restaurants from their seafood market, but they make their own incredibly tasty and high-quality seafood dishes that go down incredibly easy at the spot's 23-seat raw bar. Think incredibly fresh local oysters with juniper and cucumber mignonette, or smoked trout toast, or a peekytoe crab sandwich. You can't go wrong with any of it.

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.

One of the most sophisticated restaurants in town (Executive Chef Colin Wyatt returned to Portland to open Twelve after sharpening his knives for years at Daniel and Eleven Madison Park in New York City), this is a place to indulge in some of the best dining Maine has to offer. But don't let the pedigree, the artfully decorated dining room, or the gastronomically ambitious menu fool you; Wyatt's refined food is standing the test of time because its execution is dedicated to real Maine ingredients and pays homage to (read: riffs on) traditional local dishes. Those pure flavors shine through in plates like cod with Jonah crab and carrot bisque, and the house's spectacular take on a lobster roll, which will have you rethinking everything you thought a lobster roll could be.

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.

Sparkling and gigantic crystal chandeliers aren't exactly the first thing you'd expect to greet you in a brick-and-ivy building tucked into a cobblestoned street, yet here they are—along with myriad other unapologetically glamorous touches. Settle into a green velvet booth and order up a meticulously made craft cocktail, or tuck into small Italian-inspired plates such as juicy lamb belly skewers or bucatini with spicy ‘nduja cream. If the weather cooperates, the alfresco patio is a primo spot for people-watching.

Don't let the word tavern fool you, as the coziness of this neighborhood restaurant met with the refinement of a fine dining landmark when Wayside opened. The inviting dining room plays host to sophisticated plates like delicate broiled Maine scallops with caviar and bearnaise sauce, or foie gras truffles with maple almond croccante (Italian brittle candy) and pepper jelly. If you're in the market for a fantastic date-night destination, put this at the top of your list.

The casual, retro vibe at this James Beard Award–nominated restaurant about 2 miles north of the Old Port makes it worth the journey, as do chef Courtney Loreg's superb offerings—all of them spotlighting locally sourced ingredients from land and sea. There's something for everyone on the menu, including steak tartare, sumptuous deviled eggs, croque madames and monsieurs, homemade pâtés and charcuterie, and killer brisket burgers that are to die for. Meanwhile, the craft cocktail program out of the gleaming zinc bar is worth a visit in its own right.

Located in a space evocative of a 1930s French boulangerie, this humble bakery took home a 2024 James Beard Award in the Outstanding Bakery category. The loaves, made of freshly milled whole grains and hand-sifted flours, are naturally leavened before getting baked in a wood-fired oven, and the result is delicate, chewy bread; don't miss out on the beautiful pastries.

Jordan Rubin, along with his trusty team, has built a reputation in Portland for inventive and top-quality sushi. Sleekly designed and filled with a young crowd, this Binchotan-fired eatery takes a slight detour with its grilled and skewered creations like duck breast with prune and togarashi or charred hamachi with ponzu and puffed rice. Unconventional Japanese? Yes, but it's well worth opening your mind for.