The eastern Old Port blocks, anchored by Eventide, The Honey Paw, Duckfat, Piccolo and Izakaya Minato. James Beard Award-winning kitchens in two square blocks.
Eventide Oyster Co on Middle Street opened 2012 from Big Tree Hospitality, rebuilding the Maine oyster bar around a brown-butter lobster roll on a bao.
Signature: Brown butter lobster roll, Oysters on the half shell, Smoked bluefish pate
Order: The brown butter lobster roll on a Bao bun, plus a dozen oysters from the granite bar.
Tip: Walk-up only for the bar; tables open online via Resy 30 days ahead.
The Honey Paw on Middle Street opened 2015, the Big Tree Hospitality pan-Asian noodle counter from Andrew Taylor, Mike Wiley and Arlin Smith next to Eventide.
Signature: Hand-pulled noodles, Coconut curry mussels, Fried rice with house kimchi
Order: Hand-pulled noodles with the kitchen's daily sauce, plus the coconut curry mussels.
Tip: Daily 11:00 to 22:00. Counter walk-ins move fast at lunch; book tables via Resy for dinner.
Duckfat on Middle Street opened 2005 from Rob Evans and Nancy Pugh and rebuilt the Portland sandwich shop around twice-fried Belgian frites in duck fat.
Signature: Duck fat fries, Panini sandwiches, Beignets
Order: Large duck fat fries with the truffle ketchup, plus the meatloaf panino.
Tip: Open daily 11:00 to 22:00. Long lines weekend lunch; the Frites Shack on Washington Avenue is the quicker takeout.
The Honey Paw on Middle Street is the Big Tree Hospitality noodle counter, with hand-pulled noodles, dumplings and seafood served through a pan-Asian lens.
Signature: Hand-pulled noodles, Crispy chicken katsu, Coconut curry mussels
Order: Hand-pulled noodles with the daily sauce, plus the kimchi fried rice.
Tip: Daily 11:00 to 22:00. Book tables via Resy for dinner; the bar takes walk-ins through last call.
Duckfat on Middle Street, since 2005 from Rob Evans and Nancy Pugh, is the Portland sandwich shop built around twice-fried Belgian frites cooked in duck fat.
Signature: Duck fat fries, Meatloaf panino, Beignets
Order: Large duck fat fries with truffle ketchup, plus the meatloaf panino.
Tip: Open daily 11:00 to 22:00. The Frites Shack on Washington Avenue is the quicker takeout window.
The Honey Paw bar on Middle Street runs a tight pan-Asian-leaning wine program built to drink with the kitchen's hand-pulled noodles and curry plates.
Signature pour: Riesling and Gruner with the kitchen's noodle dishes
Wine focus: Pan-Asian-leaning by the glass list, small natural-wine selection
Food: Pan-Asian noodles and small plates
Tip: Walk-up bar; full menu service until 22:00. The wine list is part of the Big Tree Hospitality cellar.
Amato's on India Street, since 1902 from Giovanni Amato, is the original Maine Italian sandwich shop: ham, cheese, olives, onions and tomatoes on a soft roll.
Try: Maine Italian sandwich
Tip: Open daily 09:00 to 21:00. The original 1902 storefront is the canonical first stop.
Amato's on India Street is the original 1902 Portland sandwich counter where Giovanni Amato invented the Maine Italian sandwich, served under ten dollars.
Try: Maine Italian sandwich, original recipe
Tip: The original 1902 location is the canonical one; the Maine Italian sandwich is the order.
Duckfat on Middle Street runs duck fat fries, panini sandwiches and beignets to 22:00 daily, the Old Port late-night sandwich-and-fries stop after the bars.
Try: Duck fat fries, beignets
Tip: Counter ordering after 21:00 moves fast; takeaway always available.
The Honey Paw on Middle Street runs hand-pulled noodles, fried rice and pan-Asian small plates through to 22:00 nightly, the Big Tree late-evening stop.
Try: Hand-pulled noodles, fried rice
Tip: Bar walks in until close. Book tables via Resy through 21:00.