$$$$SeafoodIndia StreetDaily 11:00-23:00
Eventide Oyster Co on Middle Street opened 2012 from Big Tree Hospitality, rebuilding the Maine oyster bar around a brown-butter lobster roll on a bao.
OrderThe brown butter lobster roll on a Bao bun, plus a dozen oysters from the granite bar.
TipWalk-up only for the bar; tables open online via Resy 30 days ahead.
$$$$New AmericanOld PortDaily 16:30-22:00
Fore Street opened 1996 in a converted Old Port warehouse and built modern New England cooking around a wood oven, open hearth and turning spit.
OrderRoasted Maine mussels in almond, garlic and vermouth from the wood oven.
TipSame-day walk-ins fill the bar from 17:00; book online up to two months ahead for tables.
$$$$New AmericanEast BaysideTue-Thu 17:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-22:00; Sun 17:00-21:00
Twelve at Portland Foreside since 2022, now led by Chef Hannah Ryder, runs a Maine-ingredient tasting menu around an open kitchen on Thames Street.
OrderThe full chef's tasting; choose the supplement courses if the kitchen is running uni or sea urchin.
TipTuesday to Sunday from 17:00; bookings open six weeks out via Resy.
$$$$ItalianOld PortMon-Thu 15:30-22:00, Fri-Sat 15:30-22:30, Sun 15:30-22:00
Solo Italiano on Commercial Street opened 2016 from Chef Paolo Laboa, with Ligurian cooking, hand-cut trofie pesto and house bread from a Genovese-style oven.
OrderTrofie al pesto Genovese with potatoes and green beans, the canonical Ligurian plate.
TipAwarded due forchette by Gambero Rosso in 2025. Reservations through their site; lunch from 12:00.
$$$$New AmericanOld PortMon-Thu 11:00-14:00, 17:00-21:30; Fri-Sat 11:00-14:00, 17:00-22:00; Sun 11:00-14:00, 17:00-21:30
Central Provisions at the top of Fore Street, opened 2014 by Chris and Paige Gould (Beard nominee), runs small plates of crudo and pork belly.
OrderWhatever fish crudo the kitchen is cutting tonight, plus the pork belly small plate.
TipFirst-come walk-in only downstairs; upstairs takes reservations via Resy. Plan dinner around 17:30 to beat the queue.
$$$$Pan-asian NoodlesIndia StreetDaily 11:00-22:00
The Honey Paw on Middle Street opened 2015, the Big Tree Hospitality pan-Asian noodle counter from Andrew Taylor, Mike Wiley and Arlin Smith next to Eventide.
OrderHand-pulled noodles with the kitchen's daily sauce, plus the coconut curry mussels.
TipDaily 11:00-22:00. Counter walk-ins move fast at lunch; book tables via Resy for dinner.
$$$$BelgianIndia StreetDaily 11:00-22:00
Duckfat on Middle Street opened 2005 from Rob Evans and Nancy Pugh and rebuilt the Portland sandwich shop around twice-fried Belgian frites in duck fat.
OrderLarge duck fat fries with the truffle ketchup, plus the meatloaf panino.
TipOpen daily 11:00-22:00. Long lines weekend lunch; the Frites Shack on Washington Avenue is the quicker takeout.
$$$$VietnameseEast BaysideWed-Thu 17:00-21:00; Fri 17:00-22:00; Sat 11:00-14:00, 17:00-22:00; Sun 11:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00; Mon 17:00-21:00
Cong Tu Bot on Washington Avenue opened 2017 from Vien Dobui and Jessica Sheahan, a tight Vietnamese menu of pho ga, banh xeo and cha gio in a small space.
OrderThe pho ga chicken broth, then banh xeo with shrimp and pork.
TipWednesday to Saturday 17:00-21:00.
$$$$New England SeafoodOld PortDaily 16:00-22:00
Scales on Maine Wharf opened March 2016 from Sam Hayward, Dana Street and Victor Leon (the Fore Street team) with whole local fish, oysters and a raw bar.
OrderThe whole local fish of the day, plus a half dozen Glidden Point oysters.
TipLunch from 11:30, dinner from 17:00. Resy reservations recommended; bar seats hold for walk-ins.
$$$$Thai Street FoodArts DistrictDaily 17:00-22:00
Boda on Congress Street opened 2010 from Bob Wongsaichua and Dan Sriprasert, with Thai street food: grilled meats, curries and noodles in the Arts District.
OrderGrilled chicken with sticky rice and nam jim jaew, plus a bowl of khao soi.
TipDaily 16:00-22:00; bookings via their site for the dining room, walk-up only at the bar.
$$$$Jewish Deli, BagelsWoodfords DeeringDaily 07:00-14:00
Rose Foods on Forest Avenue opened 2017 from Chad Conley, a Jewish deli with hand-rolled bagels, house-cured lox, smoked whitefish and matzo ball soup.
OrderThe lox bagel with whipped cream cheese, plus a cup of matzo ball soup.
TipDaily 07:30-14:00. Counter ordering; takeout moves fast at peak weekend brunch.
$$$$ItalianOld PortSun 16:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 16:00-23:00
Via Vecchia on Dana Street in the Old Port, a brick-and-ivy small-plates Italian room with handmade pasta, Maine seafood and a velvet-booth wrap-around bar.
OrderA pasta course off the daily list plus a Negroni from the 20-seat bar.
TipMonday-Thursday from 16:00. Reservations via the site; walk-in bar seats most weeknights.
$$$$Mediterranean, MezzeOld PortSun 16:00-20:30; Tue-Thu 16:00-20:30; Fri-Sat 16:00-21:00
Evo Kitchen + Bar at the Hyatt Place Old Port opened 2016, with a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern menu of wood-fired flatbreads, mezze and grilled kebabs.
OrderThe full mezze plate with wood-fired pita, plus lamb kefta off the grill.
TipDaily from 17:00. Reservations via OpenTable; bar seats hold for walk-ins.
$$$$New England SeafoodOld PortMon-Thu 11:30-21:00, Fri-Sat 11:30-21:30, Sun 11:30-20:30
Boone's Fish House on Custom House Wharf reopened 2014 on the site of the 1898 original, with Maine lobster rolls, halibut and fish chowder on the deck.
OrderThe Maine lobster roll on a New England top-split bun, plus a cup of fish chowder.
TipDaily lunch and dinner; the deck fills early summer evenings.