Where To Eat
Tim & Jake's guide to the most important part of a Portland vacation
People travel to Maine for its unrivaled natural beauty, from the open waters of Casco Bay to the heights of Mount Katahdin. When people travel to Portland, they come to eat. Portland has one of the highest concentrations of restaurants per capita of any city in the US. This is great for obvious reasons but can make it tough to know where to start. Here are some ideas:
A Stone's Throw Away
All of the following restaurants can be found by walking less than 5 minutes away from the inn. Simply take a left out the door and follow traffic up State street. Near the corner of State and Congress streets you will find:
Pai Men Miyake - 188 State St.
A Japanese noodle bar. Delicious, big bowls of noodles, a mouth-water variety of small plates and rolls.
Boda - 671 Congress St.
Portland's take on Thai street food. Fantastic late-night menu, until 12:30
Local 188 - 685 Congress St.
Big, open-room bar, New American/Spanish cuisine with a mix of tapas and larger entrees.
Hot Suppa - 703 Congress St.
The deep south meets the far north. Great for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Turn left
Take a left at the previously mentioned corner of State and Congress, walk another ten minutes and you will pass another dozen plus restaurants. Our favorites include:
Local Sprouts - 649 Congress St.
A cooperatively-owned cafe with a focus on serving local food. Casual atmosphere Simple, hearty, home-made fare.
The Green Elephant - 608 Congress St.
Vegan and vegetarian cuisine with a bistro atmosphere.
Vinland - 593 Congress St.
Local food meets fine dining with an ever-changing, seasonal menu and unique, creative cocktails.
Empire Chinese Kitchen - 575 Congress St.
The best Chinese this side of the Atlantic. Amazing dim sum. Delicious Drinks.
Emilitsa - 547 Congress St.
Intimate, upscale Greek food. Not the place to just grab a gyro on the go.
Nosh - 551 Congress St.
Go here for a truly outstanding burger and don't forget to try the bacon-dusted fries.
Taco Escobarr - 548 Congress St.
The name says it all. Casual, delicious Mexican fare.
WHERE'S THE FISH?
No matter the variety of cuisine Portland has to offer, chances are you came here for the fresh catch. Not sure where to start? Let us point you in the right direction.
Eventide Oyster Co. - 86 Middle St.
Casual space, unbelievably good food. If you've had your share of lobster rolls let Eventide impress you with a unique spin on a classic. Best enjoyed by 2 people, as groups of 4 or more might have trouble finding space.
Street & Company - 33 Wharf St.
Tucked back on a charming, cobblestone street, no description could do this place justice. The Sole Francais
is a particular favorite.
The Dry Dock - 84 Commercial St.
A no-frills, casual-as-can-be pub. If you want the quintessential Maine seafood experience with a lobster roll, fried clams and a pint of Allagash, this is your spot.
Scales - 68 Commercial St.
Newly re-opened, Scales offers upscale seafood in a large, open dining room right on the wharf overlooking the water. A fully-stocked raw bar and a diverse offering of land and sea dishes from the award-winning team behind Fore St. make this a fantastic choice for all diners.
Anywhere. Seriously.
Almost every restaurant we've named on this page will have at least one fish dish.
Fine Dining
The nice thing about Portland is that you can basically eat anywhere in shorts and a t-shirt and no one will bat an eyelash. That said, if you want to get dressed up and have a romantic, intimate evening, we recommend the following spots. We also recommend making a reservation.
Back Bay Grill - 65 Portland St.
One of the older members of the Portland restaurant boom, but still one of the best restaurants in town. Classic décor, modern cuisine and excellent service.
Hugo's - 88 Middle St.
Farmed, fished and foraged ingredients in a warm, inviting space. Their tasting menu is a must-try.
Outliers - 231 York St. – An often-overlooked spot nestled in the West End. The menu changes every night but the food is always superb!
Miyake - 468 Fore St. – Sushi at its finest. The older brother of the previously mentioned Pai Men Miyake. Go for the omakase menu and the warm, but minimal ambiance.
Piccolo - 111 Middle St. – A tiny, intimate space
featuring modern Italian cuisine. You'd never
know this place was there if we didn't point
it out, but you'll be happy we did
Our MVP
Ask us for the best place in town and we'll give you one name without hesitation:
Sur Lie -11 Free St.
sur-lie.com (for online reservations)
The food, service, drinks and atmosphere at Sur Lie represent the best of Portland food. As a tapas-style restaurant you've got the option of enjoying a couple small plates and a drink, or you can go with the Tim & Jake Method and get everything on the menu to share! They're also a great option for Sunday brunch.