15 Must-Try Restaurants In Portland, Maine For Your Next Visit
Maine has a food secret hiding in plain sight, and it is sitting right on the coast. Portland may only have about 70,000 people, but somehow, this little harbor city eats like a giant.
You can start the day with something buttery and simple, wander into briny oysters by lunch, and end with wood-fired dishes or a lobster roll that makes you wonder why you ever bothered eating one anywhere else. The best part is how easy it all feels.
Nothing is too spread out, nothing feels too fussy, and every meal seems to come with a little salt air and local pride. So bring your appetite, wear the comfortable pants, and get ready to eat your way through one of Maine’s most delicious cities.
1. Scales
Seafood lovers, your prayers have been answered in the most delicious way possible. Scales is the kind of restaurant where the fish is so fresh, it practically introduces itself before landing on your plate.
Perched right on the waterfront at 68 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101, this spot takes New England seafood and gives it a seriously glamorous makeover.
The menu changes constantly based on what is freshest, which means every visit feels like a brand new adventure.
Think whole roasted fish, expertly prepared shellfish towers, and pasta dishes that make Italian grandmothers weep with joy. The room itself is gorgeous, with soaring ceilings and harbor views that make every meal feel like a special occasion.
Reservations are strongly recommended because word has gotten out in a big way. Scales is proof that great seafood does not need to be complicated, just incredibly, outrageously fresh.
2. Central Provisions
If you have ever wanted to eat twelve things at once without anyone judging you, Central Provisions is your happy place.
This wildly popular small-plates restaurant at 414 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101 has been turning heads and emptying plates since it opened, earning national recognition that its regulars were already well aware of.
Chef and his team craft dishes that are inventive without being pretentious, seasonal without being boring, and small in size but enormous in flavor.
The charcuterie and cheese selections alone could anchor an entire meal, but please do not stop there because the rotating menu always holds something unexpected and wonderful.
Snag a seat at the bar if you can, because watching the kitchen work is half the entertainment. Fair warning: the wait list fills up fast, so plan ahead and arrive hungry. Very, very hungry.
3. Twelve
Named for its home in the historic Building 12, Twelve delivers a refined waterfront dining experience rooted in Maine ingredients. That is not a typo, that is a philosophy.
Twelve restaurant, located at 115 Thames Street, Portland, ME 04101, offers one of the most intimate and memorable dining experiences in all of Maine, and honestly, that might be underselling it a little.
Chef runs an open kitchen where guests sit close enough to watch every precise, passionate move. The tasting menu changes with the seasons and the whims of what is beautiful at the market that week, so no two visits are ever quite the same.
Each course feels like it was designed specifically for you, because in a room this small, it kind of was.
Booking a table here requires planning, patience, and possibly setting a calendar reminder the moment reservations open. The effort is absolutely worth every single bite of this extraordinary culinary experience.
4. ViA VECCHiA
Roman-style dining has officially arrived in Maine, and it brought all its best friends along for the meal. ViA VECCHiA at 10 Dana Street, Portland, ME 04101 is a love letter to Italian-inspired small plates, served in a warm, candlelit space that feels transportive without the jet lag.
The handmade pastas are the stuff of legend around here, and the cured meats hanging from the ceiling are basically edible artwork.
Everything on the menu feels deeply considered and rooted in tradition, yet executed with a freshness that keeps things exciting. The carbonara alone has been known to inspire standing ovations, or at least very enthusiastic fork-waving.
The atmosphere is cozy, the staff is genuinely warm, and the food is the kind that stays in your memory long after the meal ends. Book early, eat often.
5. DiMillo’s On the Water
Not every restaurant floats, but DiMillo’s On the Water does, quite literally.
Housed in a converted car ferry docked at 25 Long Wharf, Portland, ME 04101, this iconic landmark has been feeding Portlanders and visitors since 1954, making it one of the most beloved dining institutions in the entire state of Maine.
The menu is a greatest-hits collection of New England seafood classics, from lobster and clams to chowder that could win awards in its sleep.
The views of Portland Harbor from every table are the kind that make you want to stay for hours, and the portions are generous enough that you just might. It is the perfect spot for families, first-timers, and anyone who loves a side of maritime history with their meal.
DiMillo’s is not just a restaurant, it is a full-on experience. Come hungry, leave happy, and maybe wobble a little on the way out.
6. Fore Street Restaurant
Few restaurants in Maine have achieved the legendary status that Fore Street Restaurant holds, and one visit makes it abundantly clear why.
At 288 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101, chef Sam Hayward has been championing local, seasonal, farm-to-table cooking since 1996, which means he was doing it long before it became trendy everywhere else.
The centerpiece of the restaurant is its massive wood-burning oven and open hearth, where meats, vegetables, and seafood are roasted, spit-turned, and grilled to smoky, caramelized perfection.
Watching the kitchen crew work around that fire is genuinely mesmerizing, like the world’s most delicious campfire. The menu rotates constantly based on what Maine farmers and fishers bring in that week.
Fore Street has earned national accolades too many times to count, and every single one is deserved. This is the restaurant that put Portland on the culinary map, and it shows no signs of slowing down.
7. Duckfat
Duck fat makes everything better. That is not a controversial opinion, that is just science, and the team at Duckfat has built an entire beloved restaurant around this beautiful truth.
Located at 43 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101, Duckfat is famous for its Belgian-style fries cooked in, you guessed it, actual duck fat, resulting in fries that are crispy on the outside, fluffy in the middle, and absolutely impossible to stop eating.
The panini sandwiches are equally spectacular, stuffed with creative combinations that go way beyond your average lunch spot. The milkshakes are thick, rich, and come in flavors that feel like dessert dressed up as a beverage.
Lines can get long, especially on weekends, but the wait is part of the Duckfat experience.
Budget-friendly and wildly satisfying, this casual gem proves that sometimes the simplest concept, done with extraordinary care and the right kind of fat, produces the most unforgettable food.
8. Eventide Oyster Co.
Eventide Oyster Co. did not just open a restaurant, it sparked a movement.
Since arriving at 86 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101, this oyster bar has become one of the most celebrated seafood spots in the entire country, winning national awards and inspiring pilgrimages from serious food lovers everywhere. Yes, it really is that good.
The raw bar showcases oysters from across the Northeast, each one labeled by origin so you can taste the difference between a briny Maine oyster and a sweeter one from further south.
The brown butter lobster roll served on a steamed bao bun is a genius invention that has ruined all other lobster rolls forever. The menu also features creative small plates that keep things interesting well beyond the shellfish.
The space is lively, the staff knows their stuff, and the energy is infectious. Eventide is a must, not just in Portland, but in your entire food-loving life.
9. Street & Co.
Romance and really good fish go hand in hand at Street and Co., a restaurant so atmospheric and delicious that first dates have a dangerously high success rate here.
Tucked along the cobblestones at 33 Wharf Street, Portland, ME 04101, this spot has been a cornerstone of Portland dining since 1989, and its staying power is a testament to consistently exceptional cooking.
The specialty here is whole fish and shellfish, often cooked directly in cast iron pans and brought sizzling to the table in a dramatic and wonderful fashion.
The garlic-heavy preparations are bold, confident, and unapologetically Mediterranean in spirit. The intimate brick-walled dining room feels like something out of a European side street, which is exactly the kind of transporting experience great restaurants should provide.
Service is warm and knowledgeable, and the menu is tight and focused, which is always a good sign. Street and Co. earns its legendary reputation every single night.
10. The Highroller Lobster Co.
Lobster rolls deserve their own category of food happiness, and The Highroller Lobster Co. is here to deliver that happiness in generous, overflowing portions.
Found at 104 Exchange Street, Portland, ME 04101, this fun and casual spot makes some of the most satisfying lobster rolls in a city that takes its lobster rolls very, very seriously.
You can go classic with a cold mayo-dressed roll or opt for the warm Connecticut-style with drawn butter, and both versions are genuinely spectacular.
The menu keeps things simple and focused, which means all the energy goes straight into making the lobster the absolute star it deserves to be. Toppings, sauces, and creative variations keep things fresh for repeat visitors.
The casual counter-service vibe makes it accessible for a quick lunch or a celebratory feast, and the prices are reasonable for the quality of seafood you get. Come here and treat yourself without any guilt whatsoever.
11. The Honey Paw
Noodles from around the world collide in the most spectacular fashion at The Honey Paw, the creative sibling of Eventide Oyster Co. located right next door at 78 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101.
This restaurant does not belong to any single cuisine, and that is precisely what makes it so exciting and so endlessly re-visitable.
The menu draws inspiration from Southeast Asia, Japan, the Middle East, and wherever else the chefs find something wonderful to explore.
One visit might feature a ramen that blows your mind, and another might showcase a noodle dish rooted in Thai or Israeli flavors. The kitchen uses local Maine ingredients as the foundation, which grounds all that global creativity in something beautifully seasonal.
The space is lively and a bit loud in the best possible way, the kind of energy that makes eating feel like a communal celebration. The Honey Paw rewards the adventurous eater every single time.
12. Hot Suppa
Breakfast and brunch in Portland have a reigning champion, and its name is Hot Suppa.
This beloved comfort food destination at 703 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04102 has been making mornings significantly better since it opened, serving up Southern-inspired dishes that feel like a warm hug from a very talented cook who really cares about you.
The biscuits and gravy are legendary, the fried chicken is crispy and juicy in exactly the right proportions, and the pancakes are the kind of fluffy, golden rounds that make you reconsider every pancake you have eaten before.
The menu leans heavily on hearty, satisfying flavors that reward anyone who shows up with a proper appetite.
The cozy, unpretentious atmosphere makes Hot Suppa the kind of place you want to linger in over coffee and second helpings. Weekends get busy, so arriving early or being prepared to wait happily on the sidewalk is part of the deal.
13. Isa Bistro
Every great neighborhood deserves a great bistro, and the Munjoy Hill area of Portland hit the jackpot with Isa Bistro.
Sitting at 79 Portland Street, Portland, ME 04101, this charming and deeply personal restaurant feels like the kind of place a really talented chef friend invites you to for an extraordinary home-cooked meal, except the cooking is far more impressive than anything happening in most home kitchens.
Chef brings a heartfelt, seasonal approach to the menu, rotating dishes based on what looks and tastes best right now.
The flavors are confident and layered, the portions are satisfying, and the overall experience feels genuinely cared for from start to finish. Vegetable dishes here receive the same attention and respect as the proteins, which is always a sign of a thoughtful kitchen.
The intimate room fills up quickly with regulars who clearly know something wonderful when they find it. Isa Bistro is that wonderful thing.
14. Becky’s Diner
Some restaurants are fancy. Becky’s Diner is not fancy, and that is the entire point and the whole beautiful secret to its enduring success.
Open since 1991 at 390 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101, right on the working waterfront, Becky’s serves the kind of honest, no-nonsense breakfast and lunch that fuels fishermen, dock workers, and anyone smart enough to show up before the line forms.
The menu is a masterclass in classic American diner cooking: eggs any style, enormous pancakes, thick French toast, hearty chowder, and a blueberry muffin situation that deserves its own fan club.
Everything is made with care, served fast, and priced like it is still 1991 in the best possible way. Coffee cups are kept filled without asking, which is the universal sign of a truly great diner.
Becky’s currently opens daily at 5 AM, which means early risers still get to experience one of Portland’s most beloved institutions bright and early.
15. The Great Lost Bear
With a name like The Great Lost Bear, you already know this place has personality to spare, and the restaurant at 540 Forest Avenue, Portland, ME 04101 absolutely delivers on that promise and then some.
This beloved Portland institution has been a gathering spot for locals since 1979, serving an enormous menu of comfort food classics alongside what might be the most impressive selection of draft beers in the entire state of Maine.
The menu is famously huge, with something for every mood and appetite, from loaded nachos and enormous burgers to soups, salads, sandwiches, and daily specials that keep regulars coming back to discover what is new.
The portions are generous, the prices are fair, and the atmosphere is the kind of warm, welcoming chaos that makes you feel instantly at home.
Families, groups, solo diners, and sports fans all coexist happily here. The Great Lost Bear is not just a restaurant, it is a Portland institution with a truly unbeatable community spirit.