50 Best American Restaurants near Cape Elizabeth

“The Sea Glass Restaurant was always one of my parents' favorites in the greater Portland area. It was an easy selection to know we wanted to have a reception there following my Mom's Memorial Service. Hana, the events and catering manager, was wonderful to work with. She listened with such great compassion and ensured every detail was attended to. Jessica and Andre were amazing servers... attentive without being intrusive. Toward the end, Jessica volunteered that she overheard so many wonderful stories about my Mom. Just the right thing to say! And, BTW, the food was delicious and the gathering space perfect. I can't recommend Sea Glass more highly!“

“We visited The Good Table Restaurant with a large party that included children. We were seated on the back, indoor porch, which was perfect. It was light and airy and actually felt almost like we were eating outdoors. I tried the side Greek Salad, which was excellent and the Baked Haddock as my main course. The fish was fantastic. It came with very well prepared mashed potatoes. Others at the table had clam chowder (reported to be great) and scallops ( I tasted them and they were awesome), lobster risotto, lobster pasta, mussels and a burger. Everyone was happy with their food. For dessert we tried several including the pound cake with strawberries, bread pudding, cheese cake and almond cupcake. All fantastic! There is a children's menu. We were told by our friends from Portland that the restaurant was recently sold. We can only hope that the new owners carry over some menu items and continue to provide such excellent food and good service!“

“We had a great time for lunch in a great setting by the water. Lots of windows and a cool space. Our server Sofia did a great job with recommendations and service that really enhanced our experience. The scallops on half shell were so fresh and sweet. The octopus was tender and flavorful. And my son had a lobster roll where the buttered toasted bun got just as many accolades as the tender lobster lol. Thank you alll for a great time with my son!“

“We came here for lunch and loved the vibes.Being vegetarians, we expected the entrees could be adjusted for veg options however they were unable to make swaps for Khao Seuy which was quite surprising and disappointing. So we ordered the mushroom ramen and Mapo Doufu. The ramen was delicious, the broth was rich, creamy with umami flavor and loaded with mushrooms. The Doufu dish had heat to it with a good portion size but lacked acidity. The highlight of the menu was the Honey ice cream. Ice cream was creamy covered in rich dark chocolate and topped with honey brittle, sweet and salty making it a must try! Overall, I think this is a nice spot but definitely on the pricer end.“

“We had a wonderful dinner at Isa Bistro. The food was simply delicious & reasonably priced. Portions were good. Nice selection of Wines, Cocktails and beer. The ambiance is cozy yet refined. Excellent customer service!! This will be one of our new go to restaurants.“

“I was in the area on other business and this old warehouse building looking like it’s built with parts of wrecked ships that washed on at waterfront. I’m like what kind of cool building is this?? It turned out to be restaurant that I cant wait to try! I don’t know if they’ll let an old pirate like me in but I’m gonna give it try! Full review coming soon!“

“The food looks delicious and that’s why we came here. However, when we arrived around 1:05 pm, the lady at the entrance was very rudy and told us we couldn’t dine in without being in the waiting list. It’s not what she said, it’s the way she said it.-Restaurant reached out to me in the nicest way and apologized for the situation about the host. I will be giving them a try soon as the food looks fantastic. Looking forward to it.“

“Duckfat has always and will always knock it out of the park. It's out top place to visit when we're in Portland. For first timers...the restaurant is very small with communal tables so it is very likely that as a small group you will be seated with others. The outdoor dining was available and we had the perfect day for it. The fries are the obvious choice here, but spring for the poutine with a duck egg on top. You won't regret it. I'm a sucker for a Cuban on any menu but THIS one is literally the best I've ever had and that was even without the pickles (I have an allergy ?). Worth noting that instead of the typical ham in the sandwich, they exchanged it for soppresatta. While that's not a typical go to for me, I trust in anything they make and it went together SO well. I can't wait to make it back already and it's only been a week.Parking: There is a very small lot for the building if you're lucky to find a spot. We got there within 30 mins of opening and a few were still open. There is also street parking and a couple nearby garages. Portland is a great walking city anyways so find any lot in/near Old Port and you can pretty much walk everywhere you want to go.“

“The food was amazing and truly lived up to the expectations of Maine lobster. We all got the lobster roll flight, the taste was amazing and the flavor options were amazing. (Also this is like the only place where I can find my favorite soda Moxie Cola)“

“This is a great up and coming restaurant in Portland. They have a few minor details to work on, but overall a very good experience. The wait staff is clearly working on Michelin style service techniques including uniform plate setting at tables, napkin etiquette, and plate presentation. Our waiter was overall good, but a bit cold and stand-offish. The menu has some great local ingredients, but it seems like they are trying too hard to get the buzz words in the menu. For example I enjoyed the Cauliflower Gratin and the menu description included local uni and lobster. The flavors of the cauliflower and the sauce were strong and really overwhelmed the delicate flavor of local uni to the point that the uni just took a back seat. The dry aged duck was wonderful and the aging process truly brought a unique texture and moistness to the duck. I also sampled the Atlantic cod dish which had a delicious broth, but was served with charred union which just did not match the delicate flavors of the broth. Overall a very good experience and worth a visit. I expect they will only get better with time.“

“Super cozy, fun new eatery in the West End. We truly enjoyed the food, and the service was both friendly and professional. The foie gras "truffle" was rich, sweet, and nutty - a perfect combination. And only get one each! It's too rich to have any more. The fried sun-chokes were perfectly crisp, with a real "roasted" flavor. Cabbage salad was a table favorite; crunchy and rich, yet almost light in a way. The pork schnitzel was absolutely incredible - breaded crisp with thinly sliced greens on top. My only small criticism was that the aïoli sauce under the pork schnitzel didn't add to the flavor, and I didn't think it was appropriate for that dish. It also tended to get the entire bottom of the pork moist, instead of keeping it super crisp as it should be. We still really loved it, and would order it again, but I would ask that they leave off the tonnato-aïoli the next time. The wine list (per my sommelier wife) was extremely interesting, creative, and fun. Plenty of wines by the glass, along with just a ton of interesting bottles to choose from. Lastly, they had only two dessert choices, neither of which jumped out at us. Tiramisu and chocolate mousse? I was hoping for something with sweet local fruit, maybe a savory option, but not two traditional European sweets. Maybe they'll update the menu for summer. Overall, an absolutely terrific place for a cozy, delicious meal with friends or family.“

“Amazing experience. We called to make reservations the day of and they were fully booked but told us we could try as a walk-in so we did. We were very lucky they had three seats available at the bar when we showed up at 7:30pm. The bartender was very friendly and really made sure we had everything we needed. We started with a special for our appetizer, a cod fish mashed potato spread and it was DELICIOUS! My daughter has the seared tuna and she loved it. My husband had the linguini and clams and it was very flavorful. The portions were also pretty generous. My swordfish was also cooked to perfection. We would definitely return. The bar is in a big open lounge area so it was a nice setup. And everyone was very friendly.“

“what a Gem, probably the best breakfast sandwich I have ever had. The staff were so friendly, the highlight was being walked through the pastries and cakes made by their insanely amazing and talented baker. I cannot express how good the pastries were, we ended up bringing a bunch back to Nova Scotia. would 10/10 recommend a visit here.“

“Day trip to Portland recently, and we decided to try this place. Based on that one trip, we highly recommend it. We ordered one pulled pork sandwich and one smoked chicken platter with sides -- mac'n'cheese, potato salad, cole slaw, french fries, corn bread. Good-sized helpings of the main dishes and sides. Pleased that nothing was over salted but very tasty. Chicken available off the bone (we ordered it) and on the bone, included both light and dark meat (which we liked), moist and tasty, not at all stringy. Ample hot sauce available. For our taste the cole slaw and french fries were very good, "as good as it gets", we'd say. Corn bread is "corn pone" style, not dry crumbly New England style. About $30 including 15% tip, ample food for two meals for us.Very easy to get to whichever way and direction travelers are going past Portland.Parking: Enough.Kid-friendliness: Bright, cheery, spacious.Wheelchair accessibility: Level entry, accessible, clean washrooms“

“Give it a 3.5 stars. It wasn't busy early in the morning, and we got a table right away. The must-have was egg Benedict with lobster and wild blueberries pancake. Lots of chuck lobster meat. Wish the egg yolks were a bit more runny. The homefries came with the lobster eggs benedict needed plenty of seasoning. The wild blueberries pancake was good-sized. Plenty of blueberries and the syrup with the pancake wasn't too sweet. We got the haddock chowder small sized. It was pretty bland. Service was quick. The people that works there are really friendly. Definitely come back again.“

“I just got back from Cera and tried the Turks & Chaos turkey and smoked bacon sandwich. It was so well made and delicious. I've been looking for a quick sandwich place where I can grab something while I'm out and this place is it! I''ll be going back very soon!“

“We have been going to this restaurant and the downtown location for 15+ years. Consistently good food, good service and comfortable setting. Our waitress was pleasant and solicitous. Apps, entrees and dessert was a 90- minute experience. Carpaccio was excellent as was my seared tuna and I split an orange crème brûlée. Two parties in our group visiting Maine from our west had seafood pappardelle and the other had the duck. The port trio was terrific with my husband giving the waitress carte blanche with the ports!“

“So glad an amazing bread bakery opened one block from my apartment.My partner is celiac and there is absolutely no gluten inside the house. I have been known to make sweet&sour cabbage soup and then run down to the bakery to buy a fresh (and still warm) baguette to enjoy with it while I sit on the front stoop.Incredible croissants (all of them). The challah, focaccia, sourdough, and rye are great too. ( I just now realized how often I go).I used to make my own sourdough breads but obviously had to give them up when I fell in love with my partner. Barack said if that ever changed, he would get me some sourdough starter. Such a nice guy.“

“Ok Marcy's is so good.We went on a Saturday around 930, we snagged the last two seats at the bar. The atmosphere is 10/10 so cozy like high ceilings and the restaurant is narrow and long and it's intentionally outdated/unchanged and it's awesome.So initially we looked at the menu and was like eh menu is small. I was sweating a little because I chose BUT it was like the absolute best. They had home made cinnamon rolls that are so nostalgic they reminded me of the pilsbury cinnamon rolls that I had growing up but so much better like bigger and almost under cooked but in a really good way. You know how sometimes you order a cinnamon roll and the sides are like stiff and kind of dry these were soooo doughy and the frosting was ooc. Ok and that was just the impulse buy.Edit:: came back just to tell you they heated the frigging cinnamon roll up before they gave it to me.So for main breakfast I had a custom veggie omelette feta, onion, broccoli. Oh god it was so good the egg part is very thin and not over cooked at all, again, you know how you order an omelette and the outside is rubbery- not the case. The frigging hash browns are incredible I saw them putting them on the grill pretty sure they were using fresh potato only because they were going on and they weren't frozen. So the hash browns they cook CRISPY and id like to know what type of potato because parts were almost mashed potato-y. My partner had the burrito which he said was "best breakfast I Eva had- I told the owna, then they gave me a muffin" (Boston accent).So whatever place was so good I loved it you should go.“

“My cousin and I decided to try this place, during Maine Restaurant Week, because we've never been here before.We so impressed with our lovely hostess/server Elizabeth, she treated us like queens! She's the primary reason I would return!Close second is the food. OUTSTANDING!It met all my dietary needs, and it was so fresh and beautifully presented. Absolutely delicious, we licked the plates clean!My cocktail was yummy and beautifully presented too.Such a beautiful atmosphere, and I can't wait to return this summer“

“I had a breakfast catered for my office due about 30 people! Breakfast sandwiches were delicious! Fresh fruit salad was amazing as were the breakfast pastries! Great service from the staff to organize this event. I would highly recommend for a catered breakfast or luncheon !“

“I've worked with Stephanie on two events in her upstairs dining room -- one for 20 people and one for 32. She and her staff exceeded my expectations both times and were delightful to deal with at every phase. The dining room is private with spectacular views through the glass doors. The deck is perfect for pre-dinner cocktails and the entire experience is high-end. If you need to dazzle a group, Stephanie will make you look good.“

“We were nearby visiting my brother at his job and wanted some dinner. Found this place in a local search and the reviews were good. Inside the decor is nice. A mixture of booths, tables, and a bar. Very hip vibe (if I'm not too old to say that unironically). We were greeted right away and found a table. Service was attentive and very personable. Made some recommendations and then we dove into the menu. Good selection of American pub style food. Music was good and not too loud. Good came out in good time. The food was better than I expected. My mom had a haddock chowder which she and I both loved (I stole a spoonful). She split a cranberry walnut salad with me. It was tasty but over dressed. Would have been a lot better with less dressing. My Dad got the honey mustard wrap and he really liked it. He also got an espresso martini that he thought was just ok. I had the fish and chips. The fry on the fish was no joke. Thicker and crispier than I am used to but was so tasty and very well seasoned. It was so much I brought half home and ate it straight outta the fridge the next day and it was delicious. The star of the night were the fries. Seemed like a double fry method that again were so crispy and well seasoned. Delicious! Will for sure be back again if I find myself visiting family in Maine and want some great food in a friendly spot!“

“Excellent, chill pub that is very friendly and neighborhood feeling. We walked in and everyone seemed to welcome us in as we sat around the huge bar top. Great drinks, very attentive and fun bartenders, and the food menu is delicious. I was pleasantly surprised by the food quality. The King’s Head will be my go to on future business visits to Portland.“

“We sat next to the window overlooking the bay. The drinks were fresh and balanced. Our waitress was very attentive and timely.Half of our group are gluten free and the menu was full of choices for us! Very refreshing... we tried the Crab cake, fried calamari and fisherman's platter. All the fish was fresh, no heavy grease taste and light! I would highly recommend Saltwater Grill.“

“I have to update my review. Still 5 stars. Tonight we ordered lamb chops and cheeseburgers. My wife raved about the lamb chops, perfectly cooked. I had a cheeseburger which was also really good. I think Volcano Grill is a hidden gem. People need to give them a try.“

“My husband and I had a beautiful lunch. I had the roasted squash salad with chicken. Everything was seasoned perfectly. I loved the tangy goat cheese with sweet cranberries, crunchy croutons and fresh greens. My husband had the tuna which was a large portion with chickpeas, crunchy cucumber and pickled onions. We were absolutely delighted.“

“Tomaso's is a dive bar gem. With a tiny space inside and frequent regulars, this place has a lot of character. Perfect for some quick fried food and watching a sports game on the TV. I came here for some late lunch one day craving wings. The "dirt" wings caught my attention which our server described as a buffalo sauce that has been double fried so it comes out as sort of a dry rub. Normally, I don't really go for buffalo flavor. I couldn't taste that much of the original buffalo, which is probably why I liked it so much. Very savory and crisped well. My friend and I shared mozzarella sticks, and I think these are the best mozz sticks I've had in my life. Fried to perfection and a good amount of cheese. My friend got the Mac and cheese, but was a bit disappointed. Not really what was expected -- it seemed there were pieces of red pepper and orange cheddar for cheese. Not the biggest Mac and cheese fan myself, but I don't think it was like a typical one. Our server was busy running around serving the whole place, but she was still attentive to our table.“

“Very accommodating and friendly with delicious food. Floating aspect made it even more fun. We forgot to make a reservation, but lucked out and were seated right away. Ito, the server, was wonderful and answered all our questions. Our meals were all tasty. I had the Lobster Mac and Cheese and it was rich and creamy. The gentle swaying of the restaurant was an added bonus.“

“We had a lovely stay at the Canopy. Per recommendations we had brunch at the Salt Yard. Our food was delicious and customer service was outstanding. Ellie made our delicious lattes and was super friendly. Will definitely come here again. Overall experience was great.“

“If you're a fan of "the glizzy" then just go here, food is always on point and their variety of specialty dogs and sausages never fails to impress. Great selection of local draughts and brews, I'm usually there too late night or mid-off-day but I know they also host a grip of local music/peforming artists (that I always miss) but I'm saying overall this is a Must-Visit if you come to our city.Vegetarian options: To this end, all I can personally say is for being a "Hot Dawgs and Sausages" place; the fact they have some/even a Vegetarian/Vegan option y'all welcome, and y'all do have something on the menu (so quit bellyaching yes that was the exact subtext)“

“Located within the Portland Regency Hotel but clearly a spot for local after work patrons as well. Food is reliable and consistently good, as is the service. Atmosphere is comfortable but can get a little loud sometimes - a happy kind of loud. Recommend.“

“Stopped in here for a couple drinks and was served by Ian. He was awesome and alone makes coming back worth it. They didn’t have a huge whiskey/whisky selection but the sister company he explained did. He even went over to grab a menu for us to look at. Atmosphere was great, bathrooms were crazy clean. Must stop by, can’t talk about the food, but getting Ian to serve you makes it worth it!“

“There was a twenty minute wait, which was expected. Our server, Laurie, had a full section, but was still really attentive and great at recommending GLB's specialities to me and my brother. Beer selection is great, wing and sandwich selection is huge. I had the PB & J bird sandwhich which was awesome and my brother had the salt and vinegar wings (which are whole drums and flats attached) and enjoyed them. Laurie then brought us a free sample of chili which was to die for!Vegetarian options: There is a whole section of vegetarian options ranging from mushroom burgers, salads, and other veggie sandwiches.Dietary restrictions: Plenty of gluten free drink and food options.Parking: Parking can be found on the street or beside the restaurant. Fills up fast.Kid-friendliness: Lots of space and a patient staff“

“My wife and I love North Point. Great cheese plates, drinks and atmosphere. My only gripe is their nachos used to be amazing and unique. I used to tell everyone about them. We went last night and the nachos are now not any better than a dive bars attempt. Really disappointing. North point is still great regardless but definitely hope to see the food quality come back.“

“Shout out to our guy Jeremy. We had the best dinner at CBG in September, and then found some of the coolest hidden gems around Acadia thanks to Jeremy taking the time to come back to our table and share his recs— we loved Flying Mountain ! Thanks for the good food and incredible customer service. Hope you’re well!“

“Wow. This place is absolutely wonderful. Went here for the first time ever on a date with my boyfriend. The food was so delicious and seasoned to perfection. The dessert we got was divine and the service was excellent. This is a great place to go on a little fancy dinner with your partner or to have a celebratory dinner. And the drinks are made so delicious.We got lucky and actually had a table available Saturday night, but it was packed for the most part. 11/10 will go here again.“

“Being new in the area (from Connecticut and before that NYC) we were looking for a good place for breakfast, like the diners we used to go to in CT and NY. Happy to say we just happened to find the "Q" on line and gave it a try. Glad we did, food is really good and portions are generous. The staff is friendly and accommodating. Also, love the old movie and rock star posters on the wall. Just remember to bring cash since they don't take credit cards, however, it's well worth it to make a quick stop at the bank first. It's not exactly like the diners we are used to but it's pretty close and maybe a little better!!“

“All the recent bad reviews of this business is the result of them being targeted by a private facebook group of antivaxers upset about the mandate. Most do not even live in Portland. Most running the group 1k strong are the same leaving the reviews. Feel free to DM me if you'd like the receipts or the names of the people going after you.“

“Our recent visit to David's for a birthday dinner was fantastic! The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, setting the perfect tone for a special celebration.The haddock and mussels were cooked just right, and the bacon & white bean ragout added a lovely depth of flavor. The butternut squash risotto was creamy and delicious, and the spinach provided a fresh contrast to the dish.My mother's Tournedos au Poivre was also a hit. The pepper-crusted beef tenderloin medallions were cooked perfectly, and the green peppercorn and brandy cream sauce was rich and flavorful. The garlic mashed potatoes and autumn vegetable medley were the perfect accompaniments.We'll definitely be back!“

“This place is great for room service or eating in the restaurant. Friendly staff, friendly guests, and multiple comfortable places to sit and chill. I stay at the adjacent hotel 3+ times a year because of the food options, bar and location.“

“Check out this great restaurant. Four of us ate dinner at Regards Saturday night & totally enjoyed our meals. We are adventurous eaters who love to try new foods. We cook gourmet meals for ourselves & friends & we want quality options. Our motto is that we don't mind spending a little more money, if the food is better than we would make for ourselves and or something we wouldn't generally take the time to prepare at home. Because, the food is influenced by Japanese & Mexican roots, we had to "ask Siri" to define many of the menu items, but that was fun too. I am gluten/dairy intolerant & often restaurants will only have a few options that I can choose from, but at Regards, I had endless options & didn't feel like I was missing out on the "good choices". Regards offers great ambiance, a nice assortment of menu choices, helpful friendly staff & wonderful food. Check it out-“

“Every time I go to a new city I try to find a nice place to have a cigar and relax. This place is JUST the spot for that. You can have coffee or liquors depending on what you want with your cigar, and the people are lovely. Wonderful atmosphere and the perfect way to kick off a vacation.“

“We had dinner reservations before a show at the Merrill. Traffic suggested we would be late. I called to let them know and the woman on the phone, perhaps a recent immigrant, couldn’t have been kinder or more reassuring! We arrived to find the dining room was being refurbished and the lobby had been transformed into the dining area. An additional distance from the kitchen, the wait staff was HUSTLING! It was wonderful to observe their camaraderie and assisting each other during the pre-show rush. Our server, Hannah, could not have been kinder or more accommodating! The food was wonderful in its presentation and even better in its taste. My husband had the seafood (Cod) special and I enjoyed the scallops! Everything about the experience was perfect!“

“Solid spot. Bit of a dive, bit of a sports bar, bit of a pub. Good wings, tenders, and burgers, and a nice beer list to match. Little parking lot out front is convenient, and there's usually a seat inside even when it's crowded. Fries can be a little soggy and wish their cheap beers were a bit cheaper, but otherwise a great neighborhood spot.Definitely try the sweet spicy chili sauce if you go for the wings!“

“This is an awesome place to go eat. My husband and I brought out German Shepherd puppy on vacation with us and she loved going to the Bait Shed. She got to hang out with us while we ate and made friends. The staff is super friendly and the food is great! I love the flatbreads!“

“We ate there on St. Patrick’s day . We were seated upstairs and it was really nice and cozy . Service was great . We started with the onion ring appetizer. Delicious. We both had the corned beef dinner . It was a huge portion and really good . Fork tender ! Best I have ever had . The chef sent up 2 servings of mashed potatoes to us . The waitress said he felt the potatoes with the meal weren’t enough . They were but it was a really nice of him . Also delicious. Stout chocolate cake and an ice cream sandwich for dessert. Fabulous. Thanks for making our St. Patrick’s day so great . The food here is really outstanding.“

“Very cute little place with a kind owner. The food was A+ and reasonably priced. Owner chatted with us a bit and gave us free ice cream at the end. Definitely going to go back as it's a nice lil walk from our place and a good experience! Boyfriend got the BBQ chicken sandwich, I got the pulled pork pizza (12").“

“Very nice place to have right outside of a great brewery! Got a small fry with horseradish mayo and a creamsicle soda. The fries were of course perfect, as was the sauce. The soda was great, too, because it wasn’t too sweet (and I mean that in the best way possible).“

“The drinks here are and have been consistently great.l, love the atmosphere . Food has gone downhill and the past year or so it's been kind of "meh." if you're starving it's fine but probably not what your first choice destination should be in this part of “