New American Restaurants near Falmouth, ME

“Rivalries has always been one of my favorite spots, especially in the summertime. Whether I’m hanging out on the deck, stopping by for lunch, or watching a Boston sports game with friends, it’s always a great time. The food may be classic pub style, but it’s pub style on steroids—I’ve never had a bad meal here.

Lance, the owner, is often around and genuinely takes time to check in on guests, which is a great touch. But the real star of the staff is Jen, the head manager. She’s absolutely phenomenal to work with, especially when it comes to planning a function. Whether it’s a small family gathering or a larger group event, Jen’s professionalism, experience, and friendly approach make the whole process easy—and even fun.

They truly do a great job all around, and I always look forward to coming back.“

“Just a lunch spot while working in town, so we ate at the bar multiple times. Ryan and Jesse are just phenomenal - incredible service, like above and beyond. Even the homemade dressings were delicious, after 10 or so lunches, can't recommend this place enough.“

“My wife and I went to the Dockside Grill to celebrate our wedding anniversary. I had a swordfish dinner that was on the specials while my wife had a salmon dish. Both were very good!!! We finished our meal by sharing a heated blueberry crisp a la mode. Our server was very pleasant and kept our glasses of water filled and was timely on our drinks. The setting, not surprisingly, was tremendous as we had a beautiful summer evening to look out on the boats on their moorings. All in all, I highly recommend the Dockside as a great place for a nice meal.“

“I’ll start by saying we were a walk-in and waited outside in the rain. A little doubt crossed our minds. Luckily, it was quickly proven to be a phantom. Would give 10/10 stars if I could. Absolutely excellent experience. The food was delicious, interesting, and classic somehow all at once (and I’m a snob). We had the lamb special and it was otherworldly. The cocktails were incredible. The service was attentive but not too much so (shoutout Grayson). Loved it and will definitely be back if we come back to Portland. Would wait outside in the rain for 30 + minutes in a heartbeat for those mussels and Grayson again.“

“We had such a delicious meal at Scales! Everything was presented beautifully and tasted excellent. Service was on-point and the atmosphere is super chic. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone in the Portland area!“

“Impossibly wonderful food and vibe! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Last month our flight to Portland was delayed a considerable amount of time due to weather issues and it looked as though we would not be able to make our 5p.m. reservation. My daughter called from the tarmac in Boston where we were rerouted and refueled and explained the situation. The hostess, Susie, was very understanding and compassionate And said that even though our table was booked for another party a 7, we should come in and she would see what she could do. We got there late but Susie greeted us warmly and told us not to worry about being rushed that she had arranged things so no one would be inconvenienced. The atmosphere was warm and cozy; the food so very delicious and our waitperson, Anika, was the best. Atmosphere, impeccable service, food and warmth all rate 5 stars and another visit next time we are in Portland.“

“Can’t wait to come back. We sat at chef counter and found the staff and chefs all very pleasant and informative. Food was fabulous and once again Andrew treated us like royalty. The whole experience was worth every penny!“

“Sure, Mabel! Here’s a polished, friendly review letter you can use: --- Restaurant Review I recently visited this restaurant for the very first time, and I was truly impressed from start to finish. The food was so delicious that I actually found myself wishing I could get the recipes to make the dishes at home later. I ordered the chicken sandwich, and it was one of the most unique and flavorful sandwiches I’ve ever had. Every bite was incredible. My friend ordered the steak and cheese, and it must have been amazing because she ate every last bite of it without hesitation! The staff deserves special recognition as well. They were excellent, kind, and especially patient with my service dog in training, who is only five months old. Their understanding and welcoming attitude made the whole experience even better. Overall, this was a wonderful first visit, and I will definitely be returning. Highly recommended!“

“Delightfully intimate restaurant with friendly and knowledgeable servers. We sat at the bar and enjoyed watching the amazing bartender and oyster shucker working hard to get everything out. Highlights were the baby gem salad, grilled octopus and linguine with clams.“

“Service, food, beer .. all five stars. A must visit if you’re in Maine!“

“Enjoyed breakfast here:
- 2 coffees
- Eggs and corned beef hash
- Eggs and bacon

While the service, quality, and quantity were top-notch, our total - after gratutity - was $73.00. Sorry, but that is a ridiculous amout for breakfast for 2 adults.

Aside from the toast being drechned in butter, the food was well-prepared and delicious. The coffee was fresh and super hot, and our waitress ensured our coffee - and waters - were always full.“

“Absolutely exceptional experience for any foodie out there. Started off with the cherry sour cocktail which was spectacularly balanced - dry, sour, with the right amount of zing. The tuna crudo and scallop were truly stand out from the raw bar, the cabbage salad was flavorful with not too much dressing. For mains, the halibut and the smash burger were absolutely to die for. The halibut and a Marsala wine sauce and was perfectly crisped. The burger is cheese and delectable with triple fried fries, but also portioned such that it wasn’t overwhelming. This is NYC level food delivered in an incredible Portland vibe - everyone is friendly, welcoming, the restaurant itself is romantic and intimate. Would choose this dinner 1,000 times over.“

“Our family had an amazing time at Gather last Friday. Krista was great to work with and helped organize a reservation for our party of 19 people. She was very accommodating and quick to respond to any requests. The spot is beautiful and the food was delicious. I think our group tried almost everything on the menu and everyone was very impressed. The food, drinks and atmosphere were all perfect. I would highly recommend for a date night or a private event. You won't be disappointed.😊“

“Looking for a dog-friendly place for lunch and glad we found this place! We weren’t even here two minutes and the servers brought our dog a pup cup and a bowl of water. I usually don’t look for restaurants in hotels when on vacation but this was great! Limited but very good menu.“

“Small menu but very good options of interesting and delicious plates. The avocado crudo, charred cabbage salad and the cod were fantastic. The desserts... Charred corn ice cream and the Peruvian dark chocolate cake - WOW! Nice list of tequilas and interesting cocktails.“

“Wonderful service and excellent food!“

“If you have not eaten here it is a must. Make sure to ask for Sarah as she is a phenomenal waitress.“

“Every dish was fantastic!“

“My husband, MIL, and myself were visiting Maine all the way from NC and came here TWICE during our visit. First was brunch, then dinner. Both meals were exceptional. Our waitress(I wish I could remember her name, but she has long, red hair), gave the best service I have ever experienced in my life! This will definitely be a spot we must visit everytime we come up ❤️“

“This place is the definition of real food done right. Everything on the plate is fresh, intentional, and full of flavor-no filler, no fluff. You can actually taste the quality. It’s beautiful, flavorful food that hits differently. The kind of place that makes you want to slow down and enjoy each and every bite.“

“Amazing from start to finish ~ love the decor and everything we tried was delicious 🦩“

“karaoke Wednesday and Thursday nights. Very chill people to hang around with, my favorite place in town to have some beers!“

“Where else Can you go to get a great cigar sold by knowledgeable people, have a nice beer and a great meal? You can’t. This is the only place. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience.“

“We dined with dear friends as a group of four and Mr Dimillo was so gracious to help us reserve a perfect table for some of Portland Maine's best consistant cuisine. With Frankie as our food and drink guide we were taken care of with all the perfect timing and grace that could be expected in any top restaurant. We appreciate him and his whole DiMillo's Team..scallops, salmon, and other yum yums were all on point! Thank you Dimillos...another superb experience!!“

“Great cocktails, food, and atmosphere! We will be back!“

“I am blown away by the food I ate last night at the Armory! I've come here for years for the fancy cocktails and one time I had an impressive charcuterie board but never came for dinner. I saw the Maine restaurant week menu and knew I had to visit. The bartender informed my husband and I that they have a new chef from Boston and let me tell you, he knows what he is doing! I had the seafood cakes to start and my husband had the arancini. Both were on point! For my main course I had the parsnip risotto. OMG! The risotto was cooked perfectly. It was creamy with a sweet sauce, some crunch, fresh spinach, salty Parmesan, just the right balance! My husband had the pappardelle bolognese which he loved. For dessert I had the raspberry cheesecake. It was rich and smooth with the perfect amount of sauce and fresh raspberries. My husband had the flourless chocolate torte and he devoured it. Our server recommended a bottle of Malbec which was delightful. A fantastic experience!“

“Nice place, good beer choices and the smash burger was great. Little bit of rain didn’t stop the server from coming outside to serve us with our dog. Thanks again for enduring the rain!“

“Sebago Brewing Company did not miss. They brought water for our dogs, kept the drinks filled, and gave us time to look over the menu.
The beer cheese steak was a highlight along with friendly and attentive server.
Keep up the great vibes!“

“We stopped here after my husband a job in Scarborough, and wow… what an incredible surprise. The whole place has that true Maine vibe — cozy, welcoming, and super friendly. Our server Eric was awesome from start to finish. My husband ordered the pork schnitzel and absolutely loved it. I had the butternut squash linguine with prosciutto, roasted squash, arugula, and their homemade crostini bread… incredible. I even saved half so I could enjoy it again another day. Hubby tried two of their 5oz beers (Space Ghost and Santa’s Reinbeer) and enjoyed both. But the show-stealer? The apple crisp cheesecake. 🍎 Hubby took one bite and said, “This is so good it should be outlawed.” And honestly, he wasn’t wrong. It was ridiculous in the best way. We left talking about how we’re glad we live two hours away, because we’d be here every day if we didn’t. Highly recommend checking this place out if you’re in the area. Amazing food, great vibe, great service.“

“I LOVE that DTL is requiring proof of vaccines to enter!! Keep up the great work!! I prefer to not drink/dine in the company of antivaxxers :)“

“We had our wedding reception at Grace in April and it was absolutely perfect, we cannot recommend enough. The building is gorgeous, truly not requiring any added decor as it shines on its own. From the balcony, the massive stained glass windows, the huge bar, to every other detail; it is stunning.

The ownership changed in the middle of our wedding planning which was stressful at the time, but genuinely made our day that much better. The new Grace team is incredible. Meghan was a surprise bonus wedding planner; providing us with great advice, doing everything she could to make our day perfect, and renovating Grace in record time before our day. Her and the team provided new paint, new tables, and perhaps best of all, new bridal and groomsmen suites that were the perfect place to get ready.

If you are debating booking Grace, do it. It is beautiful, has a great dance floor, is in the perfect location walkable to everything Portland offers, and was such a smooth planning process.“

“We dined with dear friends as a group of four and Mr Dimillo was so gracious to help us reserve a perfect table for some of Portland Maine's best consistant cuisine. With Frankie as our food and drink guide we were taken care of with all the perfect timing and grace that could be expected in any top restaurant. We appreciate him and his whole DiMillo's Team..scallops, salmon, and other yum yums were all on point! Thank you Dimillos...another superb experience!!“

“I had breakfast at this restaurant with my wife and we had a great time. The breakfast was excellent.I had the hashing eggs , and she had an omelet, and we both enjoyed it. It was great to be near the waterfront and actually get a feel of the old town while enjoying a great meal with great people.“

“Best of everything in Portland! Best food, great staff, and the music is best in Town!!“

“Walked in and felt at home, dive bar absolutely! They have pool,corn hole, pull tabs darts, golf tee, outside seating ,ac live music and fantastic staff and owners! If your in the area its a must to stop in and don't leave without the merch!!!! I left with a suede shirt!“

“Awesome place, such a cool vibe in the building.“

“One of our favorite places, nice laid back atmosphere with couches & bookcases, reasonably priced beers, and located at the entrance to Portland’s wonderful West End. They serve a great Beyond burger, as well as a black bean burger. They also have a number of other nice options including vegan cheese pizzas, chili, and chili cheese fries! Updated from previous review on 2024-06-25“

“I am sure Councilman Dion and Mrs Dion were just having an off night - my wife and Granddaughter and I had dinner on Friday night and my veal parmigiana was awesome and my wife’s asparagus and Gorgonzola ravioli was as great ! Jim our waiter must have lit the table candle 50 times for my granddaughter to keep blowing it out ! Brunos rocks !“

“Great decor, food and service. Top spot for dinner.“

“I've been coming to Brea Lu Cafe for about 20 years. Started when they were on Forest Ave in Portland, and followed them to both of their Westbrook locations. Brea Lu has remained one of my favorite places all these years. The food is always good, and they always have creative, delicious specials that keep me coming back.

What really makes Brea Lu special, though, is the people. The family who owns Brea Lu and every member of their staff are some of the kindest, most welcoming people you'll ever meet. They make everyone feel like a regular, whether it's your first visit or your hundredth.

They also do a lot for the Westbrook community. It's clear they genuinely care about their customers and their neighbors, and that shows in everything they do.

If you're looking for a really good breakfast with a pedialyte mimosa, friendly service, and a local business that's truly invested in its community, Brea Lu Cafe is the place to go. I can't recommend them highly enough!“

“Was there for the first time last night. Loved it. Great food. Great service and amazing atmosphere. Would recommend to everyone 👍 👌 😀“