For the price per small plate, you would think this place could afford pest control!
I can only speak on behalf of Central Provisions’ open seating area in the restaurant’s lower level. Trust me when I tell you— nowhere have I experienced what I did on Saturday, October 19th. A LITERAL COCKROACH roaming around the bar table in front of us. I did my best not to shriek! Unfortunately, we were well on our way of having a round of drinks and two small plates served. I am unsure how I kept it together and did not manage to barf in front of everyone in the room. After alerting the bartender (server) right in front of us, he simply swiped it off the counter with one of the available rags they keep at the bar. After apologizing, he went about his way— Obviously, this was quite unappetizing, so we decided to cancel the remaining three small plates we orders, which they agreed to.
As they handed us our bill (for the round of drinks and two small plates consumed) they apologized again; which is fair— but perhaps maybe waive the bill for a couple of first time costumers who had A LITTLE COCKROACH roaming in the middle of their small plates?
Central Provisions, do better!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
David O'Reilly
Every dish was fantastic. The polenta is to die for. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Aragon
Incredible food, atmosphere and service. The dishes and cocktails will blow you away
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Raw Beef Salad, Bluefin Tuna Crudo Maine, Local Oysters Escabeche
Laurent Morival
Not welcoming
Service: 1
O Rob
Server was so great but our food took 40 minutes to come out! It seems they waited to get a bunch of the same order so they could make it all at once and we suffered as the first ones to order (we ordered 10 minutes after they opened). For the price we would not come again or recommend
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
Emily Dhanani
We popped into Central Provisions today on our stay in Portland and I was blown away by this restaurant. It was a very intimate, beautiful space with amazing flavor. Our server, Andy, made the experience. They were very kind and made dining with an allergy a breeze. Do not skip Central Provisions when you come to Portland!
Dietary restrictions: Their allergen menu is wildly helpful. It's color coded and makes it very clear what is and is not safe, and whether or not an allergen can be removed from the dish. I have a severe nut allergy and I felt completely safe eating here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jasmin Martinez
So happy this was my last stop while in Portland. The menu is very unique, in the best way possible! Everything we ordered was phenomenal. Our bartender was super friendly and everything he suggested was delicious. As you can see we couldn’t wait to dig into the key lime pie. If you like trying new things and want something different from your classic lobster roll this is your place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bone Marrow Toast, Bluefin Tuna Crudo Maine, Key Lime Tart, Fried Cauliflower
Grace Hui
At Central Provisions, we were fortunate to find seating on a first-come, first-served basis in the charming lower level. The meal began on a high note with a local beet salad, which was a refreshing delight, bursting with crisp, fresh flavors. The marinated raw oysters were the highlight, offering a phenomenal taste of the ocean that was truly unforgettable. The CP fries, baja fish sandwich, and bone marrow toast, while simple, complemented our meal nicely. Central Provisions offers a delightful dining experience where every dish contributes to a pleasurable visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kevin L
Wait for a table was 2ish hours, but was able to get seating on the bar floor downstairs around back immediately.
Came for a bunch of small dish appetizers. All were very unique and fun to try. Felt like a world tour of foods. Spicy beef salad, peekytoe crab, BBQ eel nigiri, goat campenlle, suckling pig, and torchon foie gras. 70 degree Sunday and garden variety mocktails.
Everything was nice, bit the suckling pig was probably my favorite. The foie gras was really rich (read fatty). Probably too rich for me. Thankfully there was the jam and bread to pair it with. Felt like I was choking it down.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alberto Treviño
It was a DELICIOUS experience. We were 3 guys and we ordered a dozen oysters, the bread, the beet salad, the venison, the suckling pig, the sirloin and the BBQ shrimp (which was my favorite!). We didn’t have a reservation, we did a walk in and waited like 40 minutes, but the air time was worth it. The cocktails are amazing too, we ordered the “isn’t she perfect” frozen gin.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Local Oysters Escabeche, Key Lime Tart, Local Beet Salad
Good music, great environment, great service. I loved the kimchi and the raw venison... But the mockingbird with aperol and vodka was the star of the show.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
scott blaustein
Stopped in for a light lunch with my wife. We left with wonder flavors bouncing around our mouth. The Polenta was prepared to perfection. our complaints to the chefs
Vie Asencio
Seamless delivery. Phenomenal service. Beautiful presentation. Mouthwatering flavors. Mind blowing experience! Considering Central Provisions was recommended to us by some very knowledgeable folks in the restaurant industry, we knew we had to drive to Maine immediately to give it a try. It could not have been more worth the drive. From service, to food, to cocktails… it was breathtaking. For cocktails we ordered the Andalusian sour, the Sazerascal, and the Caribbean Czech-Mate. The Czech-Mate was my favorite being perfectly balanced between sweet and tart while still being able to taste the spirits. My soy allergy is usually a hinderance and inconvenience to most restaurants. Their allergy menu is one of the most detailed I have ever seen and I felt so safe eating with them. The venison tartar, caramelized sheep cheese and the goat campanelle were my favorites. The corn pudding brûlée was absolutely brilliant. If we had, had the ability to stay all evening and order everything on the menu, we would have. Thank you for making our date night so special.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caramelized Sheep's Cheese, Smoked Carrots, Local Beet Salad
Shorukh Zaripov
Incredible dining experience. From the service, to the presentation, to the unique menu offerings, everything blew us away. This was one of the highlights of our trip to Maine.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yuliya M
Don't even know where to begin, as if it was possible would give this place 6 stars. Everything is just perfect, the staff, the atmosphere and of course the food. Wowed right after asking about allergies and then followed by a special menu, which had all ingredients listed out in red that couldn't be removed and the ones in green that could. Why did nobody else think if that, that was just amazing. Now mowing on to the food, yes the portions are small, but you get to enjoy so many options and each one of those options is just taste blowing. While almost every restaurant in the city serves oysters can honestly say that never had oysters with apple puree on top. Was taken aback at first what about the regular condiments that come with oysters and weren't there...however these were on a whole new level. Every dish is so unique that wish could have tried each one on the menu. Unfortunately even though the dishes are small they are filling so didn't get to do that.
For the price per small plate, you would think this place could afford pest control!
I can only speak on behalf of Central Provisions’ open seating area in the restaurant’s lower level. Trust me when I tell you— nowhere have I experienced what I did on Saturday, October 19th. A LITERAL COCKROACH roaming around the bar table in front of us. I did my best not to shriek! Unfortunately, we were well on our way of having a round of drinks and two small plates served. I am unsure how I kept it together and did not manage to barf in front of everyone in the room. After alerting the bartender (server) right in front of us, he simply swiped it off the counter with one of the available rags they keep at the bar. After apologizing, he went about his way— Obviously, this was quite unappetizing, so we decided to cancel the remaining three small plates we orders, which they agreed to.
As they handed us our bill (for the round of drinks and two small plates consumed) they apologized again; which is fair— but perhaps maybe waive the bill for a couple of first time costumers who had A LITTLE COCKROACH roaming in the middle of their small plates?
Central Provisions, do better!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Every dish was fantastic. The polenta is to die for. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Incredible food, atmosphere and service. The dishes and cocktails will blow you away
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Raw Beef Salad, Bluefin Tuna Crudo Maine, Local Oysters Escabeche
Not welcoming
Service: 1
Server was so great but our food took 40 minutes to come out! It seems they waited to get a bunch of the same order so they could make it all at once and we suffered as the first ones to order (we ordered 10 minutes after they opened). For the price we would not come again or recommend
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
We popped into Central Provisions today on our stay in Portland and I was blown away by this restaurant. It was a very intimate, beautiful space with amazing flavor. Our server, Andy, made the experience. They were very kind and made dining with an allergy a breeze. Do not skip Central Provisions when you come to Portland!
Dietary restrictions: Their allergen menu is wildly helpful. It's color coded and makes it very clear what is and is not safe, and whether or not an allergen can be removed from the dish. I have a severe nut allergy and I felt completely safe eating here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
So happy this was my last stop while in Portland. The menu is very unique, in the best way possible! Everything we ordered was phenomenal. Our bartender was super friendly and everything he suggested was delicious. As you can see we couldn’t wait to dig into the key lime pie. If you like trying new things and want something different from your classic lobster roll this is your place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bone Marrow Toast, Bluefin Tuna Crudo Maine, Key Lime Tart, Fried Cauliflower
At Central Provisions, we were fortunate to find seating on a first-come, first-served basis in the charming lower level. The meal began on a high note with a local beet salad, which was a refreshing delight, bursting with crisp, fresh flavors. The marinated raw oysters were the highlight, offering a phenomenal taste of the ocean that was truly unforgettable. The CP fries, baja fish sandwich, and bone marrow toast, while simple, complemented our meal nicely. Central Provisions offers a delightful dining experience where every dish contributes to a pleasurable visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wait for a table was 2ish hours, but was able to get seating on the bar floor downstairs around back immediately.
Came for a bunch of small dish appetizers. All were very unique and fun to try. Felt like a world tour of foods. Spicy beef salad, peekytoe crab, BBQ eel nigiri, goat campenlle, suckling pig, and torchon foie gras. 70 degree Sunday and garden variety mocktails.
Everything was nice, bit the suckling pig was probably my favorite. The foie gras was really rich (read fatty). Probably too rich for me. Thankfully there was the jam and bread to pair it with. Felt like I was choking it down.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It was a DELICIOUS experience. We were 3 guys and we ordered a dozen oysters, the bread, the beet salad, the venison, the suckling pig, the sirloin and the BBQ shrimp (which was my favorite!). We didn’t have a reservation, we did a walk in and waited like 40 minutes, but the air time was worth it. The cocktails are amazing too, we ordered the “isn’t she perfect” frozen gin.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Local Oysters Escabeche, Key Lime Tart, Local Beet Salad
Restaurantji Recommends
Good music, great environment, great service.
I loved the kimchi and the raw venison...
But the mockingbird with aperol and vodka was the star of the show.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stopped in for a light lunch with my wife. We left with wonder flavors bouncing around our mouth. The Polenta was prepared to perfection. our complaints to the chefs
Seamless delivery. Phenomenal service. Beautiful presentation. Mouthwatering flavors. Mind blowing experience! Considering Central Provisions was recommended to us by some very knowledgeable folks in the restaurant industry, we knew we had to drive to Maine immediately to give it a try. It could not have been more worth the drive. From service, to food, to cocktails… it was breathtaking. For cocktails we ordered the Andalusian sour, the Sazerascal, and the Caribbean Czech-Mate. The Czech-Mate was my favorite being perfectly balanced between sweet and tart while still being able to taste the spirits. My soy allergy is usually a hinderance and inconvenience to most restaurants. Their allergy menu is one of the most detailed I have ever seen and I felt so safe eating with them. The venison tartar, caramelized sheep cheese and the goat campanelle were my favorites. The corn pudding brûlée was absolutely brilliant. If we had, had the ability to stay all evening and order everything on the menu, we would have. Thank you for making our date night so special.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caramelized Sheep's Cheese, Smoked Carrots, Local Beet Salad
Incredible dining experience. From the service, to the presentation, to the unique menu offerings, everything blew us away. This was one of the highlights of our trip to Maine.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Don't even know where to begin, as if it was possible would give this place 6 stars. Everything is just perfect, the staff, the atmosphere and of course the food. Wowed right after asking about allergies and then followed by a special menu, which had all ingredients listed out in red that couldn't be removed and the ones in green that could. Why did nobody else think if that, that was just amazing. Now mowing on to the food, yes the portions are small, but you get to enjoy so many options and each one of those options is just taste blowing. While almost every restaurant in the city serves oysters can honestly say that never had oysters with apple puree on top. Was taken aback at first what about the regular condiments that come with oysters and weren't there...however these were on a whole new level. Every dish is so unique that wish could have tried each one on the menu. Unfortunately even though the dishes are small they are filling so didn't get to do that.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Foie Gras Parfait, Bluefin Tuna Crudo Maine, Spicy Beef Salad, Local Oysters Escabeche
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