Whether you’re craving a bowl of creamy lobster bisque, a perfectly seasoned salad with the freshest of veggies, or a juicy cheeseburger, you’ve come to the right town.
More restaurants per capita...rumor or truth?
A rumor amongst locals in Portland is that the city has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the United States, besides San Francisco. Whether this is lore or the truth – well, come see for yourself. With over 230 restaurants to choose from, by the time you’ve either confirmed or denied the rumor, you’ll have forgotten about the mission altogether and will instead be nursing a very full stomach.
Fore Street
Let’s start with Fore Street Restaurant, known far and wide for its fine dining. We could start anywhere, as you would be hard-pressed to find a restaurant in Portland that isn’t good - but Fore Street is really good. Ranked 16 in Gourmet Magazine’s Top Fifty Restaurants of the United States in 2002, the ranking holds true today. Using only the freshest Maine ingredients (the website explains that the "menu is founded upon the very best raw materials from a community of Maine farmers”), visitors dine in proximity to the food as it is made; a wood-burning oven can be observed from most tables. The absence of "needless complexity” - in taste, in décor and in atmosphere - is the raison d’être of Fore Street. A visit to Portland wouldn’t be complete without a meal at Fore Street, but, as the restaurant is popular, a reservation is recommended.
DiMillo's On the Water
If you’ve never dined on a ship before, try DiMillo’s On the Water while you’re in town. The restaurant, a "converted car ferry,” boasts breathtaking views of the bay, as it’s docked on a wharf and surrounded by water. Known for its seafood, this centrally located restaurant has been a Portland favorite for 25 years. Portions are large, and the food is delicious. Just don’t be alarmed if there’s a slight rocking while you dine – that’s just the tide rolling in…or out.
Two portland gems
Located in the heart of Portland, five fifty-five is a fine dining restaurant serving New American cuisine with a focus on local, seasonal ingredients. Chef Corry merges seasonal and local ingredients to create fresh and simple dishes, while co-owner and wife Michelle oversees the front of the house and the 3,000 bottle wine cellar. The focus is on freshness and seasonality - not just the four seasons - but on the continuing growing season - new ingredients sought out at the local farmer's market and worked into the always-changing menu.
Nestled in Portland's West End neighborhood and adjacent to the city's popular "Arts District," Petite Jacqueline is a destination for residents and tourists alike. The folks at five fifty-five are thrilled to introduce the James Beard nominated classic French bistro: Petite Jacqueline. Everything you would expect in a typical French bistro: friendly staff serving mouth-watering food, carafe wine and good espresso. Enjoy inexpensive comfort food in a hip, boisterous surrounding with lively music and the same, tireless attention to detail that made 555 an instant success.
It's all thanks to our amazing chefs!
Unique in its capacity to combine a lack of pretension with true quality, Portland’s fine dining scene is defined by the city’s prestigious chefs. Some have cooked in the finest restaurants in New York City; some have spent years in Boston honing their skills. Whether you’re craving a bowl of creamy lobster bisque, a perfectly seasoned salad with the freshest of veggies, or a juicy cheeseburger, you’ve come to the right town. This is the dining destination that has it all: a competitive market for gourmet cuisine with a wide array of fresh seafood and produce, coupled with a low-key and confident approach towards the making of distinguished, delicious dishes.