Portland ME food recommendation
#16
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Not the most low-calorie evening, but it was delicious!
#17
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In that case, I recommend:
Eventide (seafood/raw bar/best lobster roll in town)
Scales (fancier seafood)
Duck Fat (fancy panini and fries)
Corner Room (Italian)
Blue Spoon (American - neighborhood joint)
Hugo (American/creative and gourmet)
Miyake (best Japanese restaurant in New England, methinks)
Eventide (seafood/raw bar/best lobster roll in town)
Scales (fancier seafood)
Duck Fat (fancy panini and fries)
Corner Room (Italian)
Blue Spoon (American - neighborhood joint)
Hugo (American/creative and gourmet)
Miyake (best Japanese restaurant in New England, methinks)
#19
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#20
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#21
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I didn't say TA was "an authority". It's nice to have opinions from different places though. It adds "balance". BTW, being #10 on TA is quite an honor because it means you're in the top 2.15% of restaurants in Portland.
#22
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I didn't say TA was "an authority". It's nice to have opinions from different places though. It adds "balance". BTW, being #10 on TA is quite an honor because it means you're in the top 2.15% of restaurants in Portland.
I get what you're saying though. If I had to pick the 5 "essential" meals while visiting Portland, it'd be these, in no particular order -
1. Central Provisions
2. Eventide
3. Miyake
4. Hugo's
5. Boda
Of that, Hugo's is going to be a style that not everyone is into - if that's the case, skip it. Sub in Duckfat instead if you want something way more laid back. I also wouldn't wait 2 hours for Eventide, either, but that's easy for me to say because I'd just go back when it was slower and not everyone can. I will say that they have scaled to their volume of traffic without cutting corners, though. Those guys could sit back and print money, but they're better than that.
#23
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Thanks for your top 5 list. We'll only have time for one dinner so will try to hit one of those. I love lobster so will target Eventide. Is the Boston location just as good?
This menu shows the lobster roll for $12. Is that a current price? https://www.zomato.com/portland-me/e...nd/menu#tabtop
This menu shows the lobster roll for $12. Is that a current price? https://www.zomato.com/portland-me/e...nd/menu#tabtop
Last edited by philemer; Sep 23, 2017 at 12:24 pm
#24
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Thanks for your top 5 list. We'll only have time for one dinner so will try to hit one of those. I love lobster so will target Eventide. Is the Boston location just as good?
This menu shows the lobster roll for $12. Is that a current price? https://www.zomato.com/portland-me/e...nd/menu#tabtop
This menu shows the lobster roll for $12. Is that a current price? https://www.zomato.com/portland-me/e...nd/menu#tabtop
I'm not sure that their Boston location is actually open yet. If it is, it will have just opened.
#25
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I seem to remember Eventide's lobster roll being $16 but don't really know.
If you want a more "fine dining" seafood experience, check out Scales. Friends of my parents described it as "the best lobster I ever had". It's very good...just a different vibe than Eventide, but I'd say they have comparable food quality.
If you want a more "fine dining" seafood experience, check out Scales. Friends of my parents described it as "the best lobster I ever had". It's very good...just a different vibe than Eventide, but I'd say they have comparable food quality.
#26
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I'll be a bit contrarian here and recommend the Street & Company/ Fore Street/ Scales group above the Eventide/ Hugo group.
I've had a few misses at the latter -- one time at Hugo's (which warranted a 1000-word online review) my party of ten had to depart before the main course, because at 10pm, three hours had elapsed with only drinks and appetizers served. There was also a broken bottle of Champagne which the waitress attempted to salvage and serve (yes, from a broken bottle), etc., etc.
I've never had a major SNAFU at the Street group.
I've had a few misses at the latter -- one time at Hugo's (which warranted a 1000-word online review) my party of ten had to depart before the main course, because at 10pm, three hours had elapsed with only drinks and appetizers served. There was also a broken bottle of Champagne which the waitress attempted to salvage and serve (yes, from a broken bottle), etc., etc.
I've never had a major SNAFU at the Street group.
#27
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So went to DuckFat for dinner last night, truly amazing, after having seafood for the last 5 nights it was time to make a change. The Poutine with Duck Egg was excellent, I had the Duck Confit Panini which was the best Panini I have ever had. We only had a 10-minute wait. We are going to try The Honey Paw tonight anyone's thoughts on it?
#28
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Honey Paw is great. Before their original chef left a year or so ago, they were much more inventive. Since then it feels like they're resting on their laurels. Get the lobster wontons. If they happen to have beef rendang on the specials, get it and don't look back.
#29
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I'll be a bit contrarian here and recommend the Street & Company/ Fore Street/ Scales group above the Eventide/ Hugo group.
I've had a few misses at the latter -- one time at Hugo's (which warranted a 1000-word online review) my party of ten had to depart before the main course, because at 10pm, three hours had elapsed with only drinks and appetizers served. There was also a broken bottle of Champagne which the waitress attempted to salvage and serve (yes, from a broken bottle), etc., etc.
I've never had a major SNAFU at the Street group.
I've had a few misses at the latter -- one time at Hugo's (which warranted a 1000-word online review) my party of ten had to depart before the main course, because at 10pm, three hours had elapsed with only drinks and appetizers served. There was also a broken bottle of Champagne which the waitress attempted to salvage and serve (yes, from a broken bottle), etc., etc.
I've never had a major SNAFU at the Street group.
#30
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We walked after dinner, and again Evertide had a long line of people waiting to be seated. We walked pasted Fore, looks charming and cozy, will give it a try next time around.
Sorry to say goodbye to Portland and to the state of Maine, had a wonderful time, But will return in May, after my conference in Boston..