Twelve

115 Thames St, Portland
(207) 231-3703

Recent Reviews

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Jennifer Cook

Absolutely amazing! Each time we visit I am reminded of why it’s my favorite restaurant ever - the food, the service and the atmosphere are all top notch, every time! Thank you!

Jack St.Pierre

Excellent meal. Great layers of flavor.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Parker House Rolls

Jon Levesque

Dietary restrictions: 90% of the menu is gluten free.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Rob Strange

Amazing experience where the food is art and the service is orchestrated with fine precision.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Peter Dore

Twelve may be the most overrated restaurant in Portland. The food is undoubtably good, but certainly is not great. The menu lacks character and identity, really it’s simply a highly upscale pub food menu. The food has all the hallmarks of a solid staff who cares but the headship clearly lacks imagination.

Where this restaurant really struggles is with its staff. Cold, unpleasant, not overly knowledgeable- generally just add very little to the experience. I’m curious when the standards began to be lower for $250 dollar a head meals. I called for a resevation and the host was ditsy rather than accommodating and reassuring. I ordered multiple 40+ dollar glasses of wine and which was delivered without an opportunity to taste or given any context.

Honestly, for a restaurant that heralds itself as one of the best in Portland - I left feeling like I had paid 250 dollars to thank them for my presence. It was highly disappointing and I’ll certainly be spending my money elsewhere from here on out.

Evo, fore street, futo all provide significantly better dining experiences for less money.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 3

Service: 2

Mark Siladi

Food, lovely, service friendly, wine tasty, ambience comforting, thank you

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Monica L

To say that I was blown away is an understatement. I have been to fine dining restaurants all over the world and unfortunately so many places that call themselves fine dining in the US are overrated and mediocre at best. I arrived with fairly low expectations after being disappointed so many times prior and with Noma being my most recent restaurant experience I kept my expectations super low. This place is no Noma but the vibes are great. It isn't stuffy, the wine pairings and the sommelier were awesome, and the dishes were phenomenal. My wife and I each ordered a different dish on the menu and we had zero complaints on each one. I would love to see Twelve do a proper tasting menu. I need 12 courses of what they are cooking up. I want to see what else they can do and how much they can push the envelope.
We will certainly be back and I look forward to becoming a regular.

Ben Clarke

What an AMAZING restaurant. A real coastal gem with ambiance and a remarkably welcoming and professional staff.

From appetizers to dessert, the food is world class. The cocktails, too.

Just impressive and impeccable across the board. One of our new favorites in the U.S. … HIGHLY recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Steak, Parker House Rolls

Manny White

I get the hype. Food was excellent, service was excellent, drinks were great!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Sydney Royer

Celebrated my birthday and was not disappointed. The food was outstanding. The non-alcoholic drink pairing was amazing. We sat at the chefs counter which was nice entertainment. Everyone in the kitchen was in sync and all seemed very talented. Our waiter was very nice- my water was never empty. Very knowledgeable on the menu and took the time to tell us the names of everyone in the kitchen, their title, and where they were from. It was a delight. Highly recommend. We will be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Lynn D

Twelve is unmatched in a town full of excellent restaurants. I have been twice, and have been blown away by every aspect of the experience. The food is not just inventive but absolutely delicious and unexpected; the service is extraordinary - you never have to ask for a thing, and the timing is perfect. I have traveled all over the country and the world and I truly believe Twelve is the finest restaurant I've ever experienced. THANK YOU

Dietary restrictions: One of our friends has a mushroom sensitivity, and the chefs remade his selections with beautiful alternatives. He was absolutely delighted. They truly go out of their way here to accommodate diners' restrictions .

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Steak, Chocolate Sundae, Gingerbread Cake with Creme Fraiche Ice Cream, Parker House Rolls

Adam Wolpert

My girlfriend and I ate here for the first time to celebrate Valentine’s Day a week late as she works nights at Maine Med. We sat at the Chefs’ Counter and it was phenomenal. We are big fans of cooking and it was wonderful to see all of the different dishes being prepared and the chefs working as a unit and in unison. The service was fantastic, attentive and informal. We really appreciated Andrew’s suggestions both for drinks and dishes; he was thoughtful, made sure to check for any allergies and offer suggestions on the menu based on that. It was also great to have the dishes explained to us as they were served. The manager came over to check on our experience, and again asked how our experience was as we were walking out. This was far and away the best dining experience we’ve had in the city of Portland, and since we are locals, we will gladly come back again soon.

Adam Wolpert

My girlfriend and I ate here for the first time to celebrate Valentine’s Day a week late as she works nights at Maine Med. We sat at the Chefs’ Counter and it was phenomenal. We are big fans of cooking and it was wonderful to see all of the different dishes being prepared and the chefs working as a unit and in unison. The service was fantastic, attentive and informal. We really appreciated Andrew’s suggestions both for drinks and dishes; he was thoughtful and informal. It was also great to have the dishes explained to us as they were served. The manager came over to check on our experience and again asked how our experience was as we were walking out. This was far and away the best dining experience we’ve had in the city of Portland, and since we are locals, we will gladly come back again soon.

Monique Lefebvre

Wow, what an experience. The service was the perfect blend of attentive, but not overly so. The wine was delightful and well-recommended. The ambience was pleasant and the space felt intimate. And the food! Oh, the food! Each dish so thoughtfully prepared, each ingredient done exceptionally well, and the balance of flavors, textures, and smells - a true gastronomic experience. Every bite was something to be savored and explored. An evening well-worth the cost of admission. This wasn't just getting dinner, it was a well-designed culinary adventure.

Dietary restrictions: I am gluten-free and was absolutely thrilled to find only two menu items that contained gluten.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

蔡Mina

If you come to Portland and want to try something different from your usual meals, this restaurant is the best choice for celebrating your trip. The $100 prix fixe menu is absolutely worth trying based on the quality of food presentation.

Their lobster roll is a must-try even though it costs extra. The restaurant is very confident in their lobster and seasons it lightly, which really brings out the lobster's natural sweetness. It's served with a puff pastry that's different from the usual lobster roll bread.

The service is truly excellent and justifies the price point. Also, don't forget to order the pre-meal bread - you won't be disappointed.

If I have the chance to visit again, I would definitely return.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

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