New American Restaurants in Portland, ME

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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 ❤️“

“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!“

“Every dish was fantastic!“

“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!“

“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!“

“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 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!“

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!!“

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

“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.“