Jennie’s guidebook

These are some restaurants and bars we’ve deemed notable in the area. There are a TON of awesome places in the Portland area to grab a bite to eat, and a LOT of really excellent food. We’ve separated our list into categories, so pick a category that fits your needs for your outing! NEARBY Lenny’s: Live music every night, but still a casual, family-friendly atmosphere. Located within 2 miles of the house, this iconic spot has historical significance in the musical realm. Farm-to-table American food. 33 Elmwood: Just down the road (less than 2 miles). They’ve got bowling, bocce and beanbag toss to entertain the kids while you enjoy some great local beers and pizza. Hip, urban vibe. Frog & Turtle: Go for brunch on Sunday 9-1 (though check the website in case that changes). House-made donuts and benedicts. BEST FOOD Fore Street: Forego the reservation and sit at the bar for some of the best seafood around. Real foody food. The menu changes often so you never know exactly what will be available, but it’s always good. A bit pricier, though. Union: Excellent New American food, excellent cocktails. Located in the former Portland Press Herald Newspaper building, so a nice bit of local history as well. Chaval: Rich French and Spanish food made with local ingredients. Patio seating has a nice ambiance. The cocktails are also excellent. Terlingua: Caribbean, Southwest and Mexican barbeque. Quality cocktails and smoked meats, among other things. Little Giant: Small but well thought out menu which includes one of the best hamburgers we’ve eaten. Izakaya Minato: Japanese street food with some interesting combinations. Casual, creative plates with local ingredients. Also has awesome cocktails. Backbay Grill: The only white tablecloth restaurant on the list. Impeccable service without the pretense. Try the chocolate spaghetti for dessert! Honey Paw: Asian fusion. Fun, innovative dishes using local ingredients. A good beer list and excellent wings. Boda: The best Thai food around. Hands down. Empire: Fancy, farm-to-table authentic Chinese food (no need to dress up, though). Specializes in dim sum. Pork buns are delicious (but so is everything else). Lolita Vinoteca + Asador: Tapas-style wine bar with house-made pasta and charcuterie without the stuffiness. Sit at the bar and enjoy their great wine list, or grab a table with friends. CAFE/BAKERY Scratch Baking Co: Take out only, artisan bakery. Delicious fresh bagels, plus it’s walking distance from Willard Beach. Must try: Sea salt bagels with the fresh herb cream cheese (it’s in the refrigerators by the deli area.) Also the sea salt shortbread is excellent. Standard Baking Co: Can be a long wait on the weekends, but the bagettes/fresh breads are excellent to take home for a snack. Arabica Coffee House: Big coffee shop with great big waterfront windows – good space for meeting folks or getting a little work done (free Wifi). Right across from the ferry and in Oldport Portland. Yordprom Coffee Shop: Peaceful garden with outdoor patio seating, ample space for working (free Wifi). A quiet, low key spot. Easy parking (a big plus in the city!). Known for its Vietnamese coffee. Tandem Coffee and Bakery: Good coffee, great scones. Foodie heaven. Foley’s Gourmet Bakery: We’ve heard their croissants are amazing - if you try them, let us know what you think! BEST BREAKFAST Hot Suppa: Long waits, but well worth it! Southern-style food. Highly recommend the brunch/breakfast menu. Cumberland Food Company: Good freshly made English muffins (you can bring them home if you want). Casual, good for families. Creative salads, sandwich specials, soups, etc. Central Provisions: Exceptionally popular dinner spot that can be more easily accessed at brunch. Well-composed, eclectic dishes. Lolita Vinoteca & Asador: Interesting and often Spanish-influenced items, not normally found on your standard breakfast menu. Industrial yet cozy. Portland Pottery Café: Located inside a local artisan pottery shop, this small spot has standard, yet delicious breakfast fare, including amazing muffins and egg dishes. Local 188: Farm-to-table food. Lots of seating, so it’s less likely to be a long wait. Brunch is Saturday and Sunday 9-2. Bayou Kitchen: Funky, Cajun/New Orleans-style restaurant with awesome food. Scratch Bakery Toast Bar: Scratch Bakery’s toast-making sister. We love the nut-n-honey, jam on it, and deviled egg toasts, though there are lots to choose from! 158 Picket Street Café: Adorable outdoor patio, excellent bagel and lox plate, as well as homemade bagels and local coffee. BEST ATMOSPHERE Treehouse Café & Lounge: The outdoor deck feels like a treehouse. Great mixed drinks and good, creative foods. Royal River Grill (Yarmouth): Outdoor seating is lovely. The deck overlooks the Royal River, so it’s a great view. The cocktails are good as well. Blackpoint Inn: Sit outside for an unbeatable ocean view. It’s a little more upscale than the others, so a good bet for when you’re looking for something that’s a little fancier (though you can still show up in a t-shirt and be just fine). Maps: Speakeasy-style beer and wine bar. Vintage maps and vinyl records. A fun stop for when the weather’s not cooperating. Amazing English grilled-cheeses and homemade cakes. BEST PIZZA Otto: Multiple locations. Try their bacon and mashed potato pizza. Free slice of pizza during happy hour. Bonobo: Just great brick-oven pizza with unique toppings. Local farms supply the ingredients. Slab Sicilian Street Food: Industrial pizzeria/beer bar with the fluffiest Sicilian-style pizza imaginable. Great place for live music and outside seating. Great selection of interesting beers from Maine and beyond. Lazzari: A hip pizzeria/bar offering wood-oven pizzas from the restaurant’s centerpiece dome-shaped oven. Excellent cocktails. Sundays are $5 off all pizzas and calzones. OUTSIDE SEATING Tiqa: Good Mediterranean food. The indoor bar and seating are nice, but check out the patio for people watching and some fresh air on the edge of the Old-Port. Easier to park than the restaurants in the middle of the Old-Port, and less likely you’ll have to wait. Chaval: Rich French and Spanish food made with local ingredients. Patio seating has a nice ambiance. The cocktails are also excellent. Silly’s: Playful menu and atmosphere. Something for everyone. A Portland favorite. You can’t go wrong with anything on this gigantic, eclectic menu. But, some standouts include: The tortilla chips and guacamole (choose flour, corn, or both!), the Thai peanut noodles, milk shakes (adult or child-style available), and sangria (which is served in tin cups – camp-style). The patio is as eclectic as the menu – an oasis in the middle of Portland’s East Bayside. Big, delicious, meals for cheap, too. Treehouse Café & Lounge: The outdoor deck feels like a treehouse. Great mixed drinks and good, creative foods. 158 Picket Street Café: Adorable outdoor patio, excellent bagel and lox plate, as well as homemade bagels and local coffee. OUTSIDE SEATING W/WATER VIEW Portland Lobster Company: Good, local live music on an outside deck overlooking the marina. Pro tip: Seat yourself outside in the open-air deck, then go right to the cashier to order fresh seafood and local beers. Saltwater Grille: Arguably the best view of the Portland peninsula from the deck. Head there for a mid-afternoon drink and appetizer. Dimillo’s: A giant floating restaurant with a great outside deck overlooking the harbor. A tourist favorite. Easy parking. Bring your parking ticket in to get validated. The Lobster Shack at Two Lights: At a quintessential Maine lighthouse on a rocky coastline, and perched above the crashing surf. BYO cooler if you want beverages. Take-out seafood and excellent lobster rolls. Have a seat at the picnic tables and watch the waves crash. The view is unbeatable, so leave some time to hike around the state park. Blackpoint Inn: Sit outside for an unbeatable ocean view. It’s a little more upscale than the others, so a good bet for when you’re looking for something that’s a little fancier (though you can still show up in a t-shirt and be just fine). Easy Day: Chicago-style pizza in an inviting, festive atmosphere. Casual, modern/hipster bowling alley that happens to have a great outside deck, live music, and a cool view of Casco Bay Bridge. Flatbread: A well-known pizza chain with plentiful seating and a deck with a view of the working waterfront. They serve inventive brick oven pizza, along with the standard cheese and pepperoni styles for the less adventurous eaters. The salads are good too. BEST SEAFOOD The Lobster Shack at Two Lights: At a quintessential Maine lighthouse on a rocky coastline, and perched above the crashing surf. BYO cooler if you want beverages. Take-out seafood and excellent lobster rolls. Have a seat at the picnic tables and watch the waves crash. The view is unbeatable, so leave some time to hike around the state park. Portland Lobster Company: Good, local live music on an outside deck overlooking the marina. Pro tip: Seat yourself outside in the open-air deck, then go right to the cashier to order fresh seafood and local beers. Scales: Upscale restaurant with excellent Italian- and New England-inspired seafood. Be sure to make a reservation. Bob’s Seafood: The best lobster roll you’ll find. Or take-out fresh seafood. Brand new remodel (spring 2019) includes nice outdoor patio and local taproom. Street & Co: The original Portland seafood restaurant. Sit at the bar for a quieter experience. LIVE MUSIC Portland Lobster Company: Good, local live music on an outside deck overlooking the marina. Pro tip: Seat yourself outside in the open-air deck, then go right to the cashier to order fresh seafood and local beers. Blue: Popular jazz wine bar in downtown Portland. Lenny’s: Live music every night, but still a casual, family-friendly atmosphere. Located within 2 miles of the house, this iconic spot has historical significance in the musical realm. Farm-to-table American food. TAKEOUT Noble BBQ: Good barbeque just around the corner. Dutch’s: May feel like a cafeteria, but this is no cafeteria food. The hash browns are to die for, plus they’ve got pancakes filled with Maine blueberries, biscuits and more. It’s in the heart of Portland, so take your food to go and grab a spot in Monument Square for some local flair and people watching. Figgy’s: Figgy’s is what you want KFC to be. Get the fried chicken with all the fixin’s, and take it to the drive-in, the park, the beach, or wherever your adventures take you. Luis’s Arepera & Grill: Take a walk around Back Bay after grabbing a bite to eat at Luis’s. Best and only arepas in Maine - great Venezuelan food. FOOD TRUCKS Check online to see where they are and when they’re open – most have Facebook pages Farm to Coast Mobile Kitchen: Porkbelly steamed buns and tofu bahn mi. Usually found at one of the local breweries. Muthah Truckah: The best sandwiches, muffaletta-style. Thainy Boda: Great thai food. Check their Facebook page the day you want to go – they’re not great at telling us ahead of time. BEST ASIAN/FUSION Empire: Fancy, farm-to-table authentic Chinese food (no need to dress up, though). Specializes in dim sum. Pork buns are delicious (but so is everything else). Pai Men Miyake: Local ingredients, centrally located for great people watching on the sidewalk patio. Sichuan Kitchen: Relatively new to the Portland food scene, this small restaurant provides good authentic Chinese food. Izakaya Minato: Japanese street food with some interesting combinations. Casual, creative plates with local ingredients. Also has awesome cocktails. Honey Paw: Fun, innovative dishes using local ingredients. A good beer list and excellent wings. Boda: The best Thai food around. Hands down. Bao Bao Dumpling House: Excellent Chinese dumpling house. Go for the dumplings, but don’t overlook the starters. ISLAND STOPS Take the Casco Bay Ferry to get there (http://cascobaylines.com). The Cockeyed Gull: Strange but true: New England food with an Asian twist. They’ve also got a beautiful view from a deck overlooking the Casco Bay. Diamond’s Edge: Grab a glass of wine and sit on the Adirondack chairs on the lawn for a lovely, quiet outing by the sea. Close to the ferry, and on a grassy slope over the ocean. LOCAL'S FAVORITES J’s Oyster: A local’s favorite dive with killer steamers. Silly’s: Playful menu and atmosphere. Something for everyone. A Portland favorite. You can’t go wrong with anything on this gigantic, eclectic menu. But, some standouts include: The tortilla chips and guacamole (choose flour, corn, or both!), the Thai peanut noodles, milk shakes (adult or child-style available), and sangria (which is served in tin cups – camp-style). The patio is as eclectic as the menu – an oasis in the middle of Portland’s East Bayside. Big, delicious, meals for cheap, too. Lenny’s: Live music every night, but still a casual, family-friendly atmosphere. Located within 2 miles of the house, this iconic spot has historical significance in the musical realm. Farm-to-table American food. Great Lost Bear: Extensive beer list and food menu. Surprisingly good vegetarian reuben. Otto: Pizza place in multiple locations. Try their bacon and mashed potato pizza. Free slice of pizza during happy hour. Holy Donut: Holy Donut’s donuts are as good as their reputation. Grab a chocolate sea salt, or a ginger sweet potato at their Park Ave location and head over to the Saturday morning farmer’s market at Deering Oaks Park, or at their Exchange Street location and stroll the Old Port. The Bearded Lady’s Jewel Box: Hands down the best cocktails around. No lie. A cool, speakeasy feel. Right in the center of town with high ceilings, and a dark candlelit bar. A little hard to find despite its central location. Eclectic art adorns the walls. Eat before you arrive. The snacks are minimal, but the cocktails are amazing, and the bartenders always know what they’re doing. KID FRIENDLY 33 Elmwood: Just down the road (less than 2 miles). They’ve got bowling, bocce and beanbag toss to entertain the kids while you enjoy some great local beers and pizza. Hip, urban vibe. Slab: Industrial pizzeria/beer bar with the fluffiest Sicilian-style pizza imaginable. Great place for live music and outside seating. Great selection of interesting beers from Maine and beyond. Salvage BBQ: Keep the kids busy with vintage arcade games and a fun, casual atmosphere while you nosh on Texas-style BBQ and sip on local micro-brews. Easy Day: Chicago-style pizza in an inviting, festive atmosphere. Casual, modern/hipster bowling alley that happens to have a great outside deck, live music, and a cool view of Casco Bay Bridge. Silly’s: Playful menu and atmosphere. Something for everyone. A Portland favorite. You can’t go wrong with anything on this gigantic, eclectic menu. But, some standouts include: The tortilla chips and guacamole (choose flour, corn, or both!), the Thai peanut noodles, milk shakes (adult or child-style available), and sangria (which is served in tin cups – camp-style). The patio is as eclectic as the menu – an oasis in the middle of Portland’s East Bayside. Big, delicious, meals for cheap, too. Lenny’s (kids eat free on Sundays): Live music every night, but still a casual, family-friendly atmosphere. Located within 2 miles of the house, this iconic spot has historical significance in the musical realm. Farm-to-table American food. DRINKS Breweries Nonesuch River Brewery: Cool building with high ceilings. Feels like you’re in a hip, modern ski-lodge. The food is good too! Industrial Way: Lots of breweries within a couple of miles of here and all in one place. They sometimes have live music, and often have visiting food trucks. Allagash Brewing Company Foundation Brewing Company Austin Street Brewery Definitive Brewing Company Maine Mead Works Barreled Souls: Our number 1 top favorite brewery. Really interesting flavors and inventive beers. All beers are barrel aged, and often include local herbs/fruits/food ingredients and spices in their flavoring. Located in Saco, so it’s a bit of a drive, but well worth it.