Best Restaurants in Portland, ME

Surrounded on three sides by water where the Fore River meets the Atlantic Ocean, Portland boasts a delightful array of restaurants featuring everything from fresh seafood to celebrated cuisines from around the world. Once known primarily for its seafood houses and New England pubs, the gastronomic landscape of this “Forrest City” has grown and flourished in recent years to include everything from neighborhood bistros to fine dining, something well-known author and food writer Nevin Martell has described as a “foodie paradise by the sea”. From the Old Port neighborhood to Bayside, and from nationally celebrated pastas to locally sourced produce, there’s a dish to satisfy every palette waiting to be discovered in Portland.

The OpenTable Team

8 Restaurants

Updated 19 January 2022

Restaurants:	Isa Bistro - Portland, Jing Yan, Scales…
Price Range:	$$ - $$$
Cuisines:	Bistro, Asian, Seafood…
Neighborhoods:	Portland…

Isa Bistro - Portland

$$$$

Bistro

Portland

4.8

402 reviews

Located in Bayside since 2015, co-owner/sommelier Suzie St. Pierre and Chef Isaul Perez have created a local favorite hailed as a “neighborhood bistro with an urban vibe” by Maine Today. The dining area features exposed brick walls and black/white patterns accented by natural lighting, described by Suzie as a “neutral” atmosphere. Chef Perez prepares Italian and Mexican dishes like crispy taquitos, eggplant lasagna, or tagliatelle Bolognese, described as “one of the best pasta dishes in the country” by the Food Network. Pro tip: Suzie’s expertly crafted wine list provides the perfect complement to any meal.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Jing Yan

$$$$

Asian

Portland

4.9

170 reviews

Co-owners Britt Langford and Leo Zhang opened this intimate restaurant to local excitement in the Munjoy Hill neighborhood in 2020, offering diners a casual, yet elegant atmosphere featuring patio seating as well as hardwood tables and booth benches graced by artistic designs hand painted by Langford. Named for a species of Chinese swallow from Zhang’s native Beijing, a vintage bird cage is perched behind the bar, lending a sense of sentiment to the dining experience. The menu features traditional dishes like Korean spaghetti (served with poached egg), smashed cucumber salad, and Beijing-style lamb (with sumac onions), all expertly prepared by Chef Chris Petrillo. Insider tip: try one of Zhang’s unique cocktails, hailed as among the best by the Portland Press Herald.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Scales

$$$$

Seafood

Portland

4.9

3762 reviews

Called “one of the hottest tickets in town” by Condé Nast, Scales inhabits a repurposed warehouse on the Maine Wharf in the city’s famed Old Port. The dining room evokes an old fisherman’s haunt with a welcoming bar and hardwood tables and floors illuminated by large windows which look out onto the busy waterfront as Chefs Frederic Elliot and Travis Olson whip up seafood classics and local favorites like fried oysters (featuring jalapeño aioli), grass-fed cheeseburgers (locally sourced), and steamed Maine lobster. Pro tip: Scales offers complementary valet parking for diners.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Helm Oyster Bar + Bistro

$$$$

Seafood

Portland

4.8

266 reviews

Described by Thrillist as a “chic oyster bar and bistro”, owner Elizabeth Legere launched Helm in the Eastern Waterfront in 2019, offering a locally sourced seafood menu including a raw bar and a rotating selection of New England beers and natural wines. Diners enjoy a business casual atmosphere with stained wood tables and inviting pleather seats while Chef Billy Hager prepares local favorites like the monkfish schnitzel (made with kohlrabi and apple mustard), the Jonah crab (featuring shishito peppers), or baby lettuces (with buttermilk dressing). Insider tip: try the seasonal cheeses with grapefruit marmalade for a unique flavor.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Batson River - Portland

$$$$

American

Portland

4.7

437 reviews

Opened in 2018 in West Bayside, this brewery features a large bar and an intimate dining room illuminated by circular chandeliers and a roaring fireplace adorned with a massive moose bust. Rough-cut wood tables welcome the best of American bar fare like steak frites (featuring chimichurri), the Batson Burger (locally sourced beef), and margherita pizza. Maine craft beers and popular cocktails like the Western Medicine (featuring Batson River Amado 33 and ginger) flow at this popular watering hole called a “hidden gem” by New England Cable News. Insider tip: Sign up for Batson River’s weekly cocktail classes.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Fore Street

$$$$

Contemporary American

Portland

4.8

2851 reviews

For nearly 25 years Fore Street has delighted diners in Portland’s Waterfront district, described by Maine Magazine as one of the “elites” of the city’s many restaurants. Here owner Dana Street and Executive Chef Sam Hayward offer a rotating menu of locally sourced seafood and fresh ingredients like wood grilled marinated squid, mixed organic greens (with sourdough croutons), or Maine oysters. The dining area features industrial décor with cozy booths bathed in natural lighting by large windows, all with a view into the open kitchen. Pro tip: Enjoy a glass of white or red wine at the welcoming bar while waiting for the meal.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Solo Italiano

$$$$

Italian

Portland

4.7

1790 reviews

Listed among the best Italian restaurants in Portland by Condé Nast, this location has called the Old Port district home since 2016. Co-owners Angelo Ciocca and Chef Paolo Laboa (winner of the 2008 Pesto World Championship) delight diners nightly with menus comprised of locally sourced ingredients featuring traditional dishes like linguine allo Scoglio (with manila clams), pesce spada uccelletto con funghi (swordfish with locally foraged mushrooms), or the house gelato (Italian style ice cream). Solo’s three dining areas feature modern décor and comfortable seating in a bright and casual atmosphere that The Golden Dish call "extraordinary dinning". Insider tip: Reserve a table in advance for this popular location.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Street and Co.

$$$$

Seafood

Portland

4.7

2081 reviews

First established in 1989 by owner Dana Street, this Mediterranean-style, all-seafood bistro has been listed among the best in Portland by Maine.com, and offers personalized wine lists and menus featuring organic and locally sourced ingredients. A casual atmosphere welcomes diners with exposed brick walls and sturdy wooden tables and chairs reflecting the restaurant's New England waterfront heritage. Chef Eric Walczak explores the region’s seafood culture with dishes like swordfish kabobs, countneck clams, and chickpea cakes (made with harissa aioli). Pro tip: the al fresco patio is perfect for summer dining.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Explore OpenTable

New England

Explore the Best OpenTable Restaurants in Every City