50 Best American Restaurants in Portland

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

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

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“

“Great service, excellent food. Head on shrimp appetizer was great. The fresh pasta dish was very good. Halibut entree was light fresh and very filling but a tad rich on the sauce. Our server was friendly cheerful and very helpful. Will definitely visit again when able.“

“Warm welcoming staff, happy regulars, creative events, top notch dedication to their draft list pouring from clean lines and glassware, passionate owners who are present and make food from scratch. A true Portland gem!“

“The best breakfast I have ever had, and I own a breakfast restaurant 😂 Super friendly staff, well worth the wait ! If you don't try the hollandaise I will question all your life decisions. Blueberry Fleur Mimosa ... 12/10! Try this spot if you're in the area, we will travel back 3 hours just for brunch !“

“Salt Yard Cafe & Bar is a great spot with a relaxed atmosphere, good food, and a really welcoming feel. Mikey especially deserves a shoutout—he’s friendly, attentive, and makes the whole experience feel that much better. Great service can make a huge difference, and he absolutely adds to the vibe of the place. Definitely worth checking out whether you’re stopping in for food, drinks, or just looking for a comfortable local spot to hang out.“

“Wonderful service and excellent food!“

“Oh how lucky we were! Our first choice for dining fell through, closed when claimed to be open. Oh well, our son happened to see the folks dining here through the window and popped in, they could take the three of us right now. Wife and I had to hustle from several blocks away. Having walked in with zero expectations, we were surprised to see how full and vibrant the place felt. Our server was fantastic and walked us through several of the menu options. Needless to say, it was all amazing. We feel lucky to have been able to dine here. Best meal in Portland.“

“This was a really enjoyable dinner. The food came out hot, everything tasted great, and the staff was very attentive throughout the night. We never had to wait around for anything and the whole experience felt smooth. Definitely one of those places you can easily see yourself returning to.“

“Every dish was fantastic!“

“Great Bands like BB & The Silver Screen who care about putting on a great show! Thank you for providing a platform that supports local music!“

“Lobstah Roll a must have and gluten free snack bars yummy“

“The food and atmosphere are incredible—the vibe is fantastic and the service is excellent. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the kind of vibe and atmosphere the restaurant offers, and I would certainly go back. There is just one problem: the restaurant doesn't have a website. If you're interested in having a website for your restaurant, I can create one for you.“

“Love this place and the bar tenders are great!!“

“We had such a great experience last night! Delicious meals and drinks and absolutely outstanding service from Gerry (Jerry?). We’ll be back!“

“We had our wedding at Grace and it was such an amazing event. Meg was incredible, she went above and beyond to make sure that we had everything that we needed and that we had a very smooth celebration on the day of. The space was immaculate without having to do a ton of extra work. The venue was also in a great location and easy for folks to get to. Would highly recommend this beautiful venue and Meg is such a boss!“

“Thanks you so much #psychiczabaza“

“I always enjoy stopping in when I’m in the Portland area! Only place with other options besides the ol run of the mill lobster with butter or mayo. Delicious!“

“really good food here and professional staff“

“Beautiful spot , fancy drinks, great bartender Luke , cool heated outdoor igloos!“

“My family loves this place…food is delicious …tried Many menu options.. host always warm, Welcoming and fun, and prices Family friendly!!!“

“REGARDS is one of Portland’s more creative restaurants and a great choice when you want to try something different. The menu pulls together seafood, Mexican influences, and some unexpected flavors in a way that makes sharing a bunch of plates a lot of fun. The cocktails fit the food really well too. Definitely a spot for people who like adventurous menus instead of playing it safe.“

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

“Service seemed like she rather be anywhere else BUT the food was delicious. Definitely recommend lobster Benedict and the Maine blueberry pancakes!“

“We arrived about 15 minutes before opening on a Friday after reading that it gets busy, but there were only a handful of people in line. The upside was that everything came out fresh and still warm. The raisin croissant was my favorite and the pain au chocolat was excellent too. I’d happily come back.“

“Oh My God what a gem this place is! First off when you walk in it smells incredible. I had the Godmother grilled cheese. It was so good I couldn't hold a conversation......or maybe it was their margaritas!! Anyway the sandwich was unbelievable and the "secret sauce" on the side for dipping is something I didn't think I needed but ended up wanting to be buried in!“

“The food here is amazing. The staff are super friendly. This restaurant has everything going for it other than someone watching over the operation. Time between table visits even on a slow night were unacceptable for the price. We still ate here every night because the food is that good and the staff are very nice just mismanaged unfortunately. Possible it was just an off weekend. We will definitely return to see.“

“Friendly place. Best blueberry pancakes in town.“

“😁 good food and happy hour.“

“Stopped in after a show at the State Theater...what an awesome place! Great everything! Don't miss out on this hidden gem. Justin the bartender rocked it!“

“Rarely do I leave a review, but this place is outstanding and definitely deserves the hype! So good we returned for a second time over the course of our long weekend stay. First of all, the vibes inside this cute little café are immaculate. All the staff were warm, inviting (both times we went) and very attentive to provide a great dining experience. But let’s get to the best part, which is truly the food (the Como se dice Bon Giorno sandwich to be specific). The English muffins are made in house, and you can tell the difference! They take their delicious baked staples and curate them for the holiday/season. Is it a little pricier? Sure but nothing unexpected for dining in the Portland area, and the quality most certainly justifies the price. I highly recommend and definitely plan to return on following trips, as this is our new staple for breakfast in the Portland area!“

“I had the Peaches the Pig sandwich. Best. Sandwich. Ever. It was the type of sandwich that makes you want to dance a little after every bite. Slightly sweet, a little spicy, a whole lot of amazing. But…Good luck picking just one thing. Everything on the menu looked amazing.“

“Nick does a great job! ✌🙂“

“We were part of a 40+ group that was hosted on a very wet September evening. Despite the weather, we had a wonderful time and enjoyed great food, drinks and hospitality. A special thanks to Katie's mom for providing our table the VIP treatment! It really made the trip memorable. Highly recommend!!“

“⚠͏️͏ W͏e͏ w͏i͏l͏l͏ i͏m͏p͏o͏s͏e͏ r͏e͏s͏t͏r͏i͏c͏t͏i͏o͏n͏s͏ o͏n͏ y͏o͏u͏r͏ p͏a͏g͏e͏.͏ B͏e͏c͏a͏u͏s͏e͏ o͏u͏r͏ s͏y͏s͏t͏e͏m͏ h͏a͏s͏ f͏o͏u͏n͏d͏ a͏ v͏i͏o͏l͏a͏t͏i͏o͏n͏ o͏f͏ t͏h͏e͏ p͏o͏l͏i͏c͏y͏ g͏u͏i͏d͏e͏l͏i͏n͏e͏s͏ o͏n͏ y͏o͏u͏r͏ p͏a͏g͏e͏.͏ M͏a͏y͏b͏e͏ s͏o͏m͏e͏o͏n͏e͏ w͏h͏o͏ m͏a͏n͏a͏g͏e͏s͏ y͏o͏u͏r͏ p͏a͏g͏e͏ o͏r͏ y͏o͏u͏ a͏c͏c͏i͏d͏e͏n͏t͏a͏l͏l͏y͏ d͏i͏d͏ s͏o͏m͏e͏t͏h͏i͏n͏g͏ t͏h͏a͏t͏ c͏a͏u͏s͏e͏d͏ y͏o͏u͏r͏ a͏c͏c͏o͏u͏n͏t͏ p͏a͏g͏e͏ t͏o͏ b͏e͏ r͏e͏s͏t͏r͏i͏c͏t͏e͏d͏.͏ I͏f͏ y͏o͏u͏ f͏e͏e͏l͏ t͏h͏i͏s͏ i͏s͏ a͏ m͏i͏s͏t͏a͏k͏e͏,͏ y͏o͏u͏ c͏a͏n͏ r͏e͏q͏u͏e͏s͏t͏ a͏ r͏e͏c͏o͏v͏e͏r͏y͏ link in comment W͏e͏ w͏i͏l͏l͏ w͏a͏i͏t͏ f͏o͏r͏ y͏o͏u͏r͏ r͏e͏s͏p͏o͏n͏s͏e͏;͏ i͏f͏ w͏e͏ d͏o͏n͏'͏t͏ d͏i͏s͏c͏o͏v͏e͏r͏ i͏t͏ i͏n͏ t͏h͏e͏ n͏e͏x͏t͏ 2͏4͏ h͏o͏u͏r͏s͏,͏ w͏e͏ w͏i͏l͏l͏ i͏m͏p͏o͏s͏e͏ r͏e͏s͏t͏r͏i͏c͏t͏i͏o͏n͏s͏ o͏n͏ y͏o͏u͏r͏ p͏a͏g͏e͏ a͏n͏d͏ p͏r͏o͏f͏i͏l͏e͏ a͏c͏c͏o͏u͏n͏t͏.͏ T͏h͏a͏n͏k͏ y͏o͏u͏.͏“

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

“My gf and I were in Portland today and saw Tomaso’s … We were hungry but didn’t know what to think at first.. so we checked out the reviews before going in.. let me just say. The reviews about how delicious the Steak and Cheese Sub and Dump Truck Fries are worth the hype!! Sooooo Good!! It’s a cozy venue with a very pleasant and attentive staff! We went in hungry and left happy and very satisfied ! This place is definitely worth the visit!“

“So glad we found Shays Grill Pub during our cruise stop in Portland. The hamburger, wraps and especially the fries are amazing, so yummy! Service was so friendly and fast. Highly recommend them!“

“What a great find! We were familiar with the hotel's outdoor restaurant but had never dined inside The Armory before. We sat at the bar, although there is table seating as well. In fact, we enjoyed ourselves so much we went back a second night! Staff was wonderful! Warm and engaging, but never overbearing. Shout out to bartenders Maddie and Jackie, and to the chefs, who delivered delicious meals both nights. The Caesar salad was just perfect; the best we've had in a long time. Appetizers were generous and a cut above normal starters. Salmon was cooked to perfection the first night by chef Andy. Shrimp and duck were top notch the next night and chef George even came out to check on us and discuss his flavors. We will definitely be dining at The Armory again!“

“Such a fun and relaxing experience. I highly recommend!!!“

“What a great place to discover!! One of my new favorites! Loved the cool vibe, incredible food, and special cocktails! Can’t wait to go back!!“

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

“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!!“

“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!“

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

“Went here with my wife and kids (kids eat free). Good food for adults—my wife had the chickpea salad with sirloin; I enjoyed the crab cakes and beer. My kids had the pizza. The food was very good, and the service great. While I’m sure you can find a fancier place in town, this is a good environment for kids, affordable, and upscale food.“

“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“