If you want to visit the city of Portland, Maine, this is a list of places to visit for every seafood enthusiast, with its abundance of fresh seafood ingredients, along with a city teeming with life and great food experiences to indulge in. What better place to indulge in your craving for traditional New England cuisine than modern coastal cuisine, which serves up their patrons with every seafood delight, from fresh lobster rolls, oysters, to chowder, and many more. Not only is every palate treated to this abundance of seafood, but every budget is catered to with dining experiences in every city, like Portland, Maine.
Within every restaurant, there are plenty of nutritional and mouth-watering seafood delights to explore, with every restaurant trying to source everything locally and from sustainable fish sources.
Best Restaurants in Portland, Maine
1. Eventide Oyster Company — Creative Seafood & Iconic Lobster Rolls
2. Scales — Upscale Harbor Dining with Seasonal Catch
3. Luke’s Lobster Portland Pier — Classic Lobster Rolls by the Water
4. Street & Co. — Mediterranean-Inspired Seafood in Old Port
5. DiMillo’s On the Water — Waterfront Classic Seafood Experience
5 Best Restaurants in Portland, Maine for Seafood Lovers
The top five seafood places to visit, where to source these ingredients, what to use them for, and what to budget, are outlined as follows:
1. Eventide Oyster Company — Creative Seafood & Iconic Lobster Rolls
Eventide is also a bright spot with regards to fresh oysters, which are served in a rotating menu sourced both locally and wider, as well as creative plates of small dishes that are easy to share. It is a nice place to choose because the atmosphere is relaxed and energetic, so it is a good place to have lunch and dinner. The prices are mid-range, and most of the seafood dishes and smaller dishes can be seen at a good price, which is good value considering the quality. Eventide Oyster Company is an ideal combination of innovation, freshness, and affordability in the seafood scene in Portland.
Address: 86 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101
2. Scales — Upscale Harbor Dining with Seasonal Catch
Scales is one of the finest luxury restaurants in Portland, which provides a sophisticated dining experience with a beautiful view of the working waterfront at Maine Wharf. Based on a sophisticated ambience and caring service, Scales aims at serving the freshest local catches in a refined and friendly way. Some of their popular items, like steamed Maine lobster, pan-roasted halibut, fresh oysters, and traditional steamed clams, are commonly found on the menu and are carefully served in terms of flavour and presentation. Every dish brings out the naturalness of the seafood and adds complex techniques and considerate seasoning.
Scales also boasts of its professionally designed wine menu, which matches the menu well. The restaurant is positioned in the upper price category, and thus, the restaurant would be ideal when it comes to special dinners, parties, or memorable events. Scales offers quality and elegance to the visiting tourist in need of having Maine seafood in a sophisticated waterfront dining establishment.
Address: 68 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101
3. Luke’s Lobster Portland Pier — Classic Lobster Rolls by the Water
Luke Lobster is a restaurant that serves one of the most popular lobster rolls in Maine. It is an informal seafood joint that also deals with traceable and sustainable lobster, crab, and shrimp, which are normally served in butter-toasted New England buns. Lunch and dinner here are casual and inexpensive, ranging in the category of $30-50, and it is the right choice when an individual desires to have a meal at the seaside, after he has explored the pier and Casco Bay.
Address: 60 Portland Pier, Portland, ME 04101
4. Street & Co. — Mediterranean-Inspired Seafood in Old Port
Street & Co. serves seafood in a reminiscent way, incorporating the Mediterranean with local ocean tastes. The menu includes such dishes as grilled branzino, mussels Provencal, grilled lobster linguine, and yellowfin tuna bolognese, all of which are made taking care of the seasonable ingredients. This place is a fond and romantic setting with prices that are usually affordable, between $50 and $100 each per person, and is the best place to have date nights and fun dinners with friends.
Address: 33 Wharf St, Portland, ME 04101
5. DiMillo’s On the Water — Waterfront Classic Seafood Experience
This is where you will find this classic seafood establishment on a former ferry boat at the harbor. On the Water by DiMillo is a New England restaurant that specializes in the hearty New England delicacies such as whole Maine lobster and fresh haddock, seafood platters, and warm chowders with sweeping views of the harbor. Although it is slightly pricier than the casual locations, it usually falls within the $30 range to a $50 status of a top-tier seafood dinner with a view that is just incredible.
Address: 25 Long Wharf, Portland, ME 04101
Why These Spots Stand Out
The Portland fish have more than ample roots in the fishing and maritime history of the town, and these restaurants embodied that difference:
Fresh, Local Catch: All five restaurants are very attentive to seafood caught in Maine waters, hence making them fresh and sustainable.
Diversity of Experiences: With both casual lobster rolls at the pier and fine dining on the harbor, as well as Mediterranean-style seafood, one will find something that suits him/her and every event.
Waterfront Views: Unfortunately, much of this aspect is utilized by the dozens of restaurants that enjoy the harbor or the pier, and complement your meal with scenic views of Casco Bay.
Tips for Seafood Lovers
- Reservations: Scales and Street & Co. are not only popular but also may need to be reserved, especially during weekends or during the peak season.
- Local Specialties: Maine has its lobster rolls, fresh oysters, clam chowder, and steamed clams, all of which come in a variety of variations at any of the restaurants.
- Seasonal Menus: Most of the menus are varied according to seasons, and therefore, one may find new things on the menu every time they visit.
Conclusion
The seafood in Portland captures the original taste of coastal Maine, a mix of fresh local harvests and both traditional and contemporary cooking styles. Both of the restaurants provide an experience of the Atlantic and the deep sea attachment of the city, whether in a small place by the water, or an elegant meal. Offering alternatives to meet various budgets and tastes, Portland allows seafood consumers to have high-quality food throughout the year. It is not only a place to eat well, but a visit here is an experience in the maritime culture of Maine.
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