Scales is a new england seafood restaurant in Old Port, Portland.
Scales on Maine Wharf, since March 2016 from Sam Hayward, Dana Street and Victor Leon (the Fore Street team), with whole local fish and a raw bar.
Signature dishes: Maine lobster roll, Whole local fish, Raw bar oysters
Must order: The Maine lobster roll, then a half dozen Glidden Point oysters.
Tip: Lunch from 11:30, dinner from 17:00. Resy reservations recommended; the bar takes walk-ins.
Address: 68 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101
Boone's Fish House on Custom House Wharf reopened 2014 on the 1898 Boone's site from the Harding Lee Smith group, with lobster rolls, halibut and chowder.
Signature: Lobster roll, Pan-roasted halibut, Fish chowder
Order: The Maine lobster roll on a New England top-split bun, plus fish chowder.
Tip: Daily lunch and dinner; the deck fills early summer evenings.
Evo Kitchen + Bar at the Hyatt Place Old Port, since 2016, runs a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern menu of wood-fired flatbreads, mezze and grilled kebabs.
Signature: Wood-fired pita, Lamb kefta, Mezze plate
Order: The full mezze plate with wood-fired pita, then lamb kefta off the grill.
Tip: Daily from 17:00. Reservations via OpenTable; bar seats hold for walk-ins.
Becky's Diner on Commercial Street has been on Portland's working waterfront since 1991, opening 05:00 daily for fishing crews and the breakfast queue behind.
Signature: Becky's pancakes, Eggs with hash, Fish chowder
Order: A short stack with bacon and a cup of clam chowder, the diner's classic combo.
Tip: Open daily 05:00 to 21:00. Cash and card both fine; queues longest 09:00 to 11:00 weekends.
Boone's Fish House on Custom House Wharf reopened 2014 on the 1898 Boone's site from the Harding Lee Smith group, with lobster rolls, halibut and chowder.
Signature: Lobster roll, Pan-roasted halibut, Fish chowder
Order: The Maine lobster roll on a New England top-split bun, plus fish chowder.
Tip: Daily lunch and dinner; the deck fills early summer evenings.
Evo Kitchen + Bar at the Hyatt Place Old Port, since 2016, runs a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern menu of wood-fired flatbreads, mezze and grilled kebabs.
Signature: Wood-fired pita, Lamb kefta, Mezze plate
Order: The full mezze plate with wood-fired pita, then lamb kefta off the grill.
Tip: Daily from 17:00. Reservations via OpenTable; bar seats hold for walk-ins.
Cong Tu Bot on Washington Avenue, since 2017 from Vien Dobui and Jessica Sheahan, a 30-seat Vietnamese room serving pho ga, banh xeo and cha gio spring rolls.
Signature: Pho ga, Banh xeo, Cha gio spring rolls
Order: Pho ga chicken broth, then banh xeo with shrimp and pork.
Tip: Wednesday to Saturday 17:00 to 21:00. Walk-in only; queue forms before the door opens.
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.
Becky's Diner on Commercial Street has been on Portland's working waterfront since 1991, opening 05:00 daily for fishing crews and the breakfast queue behind.
Signature: Becky's pancakes, Eggs with hash, Fish chowder
Order: A short stack with bacon and a cup of clam chowder, the diner's classic combo.
Tip: Open daily 05:00 to 21:00. Cash and card both fine; queues longest 09:00 to 11:00 weekends.
