New American Restaurants near South Portland, ME

“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.“

“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 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!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“This place is a must go for breakfast. Great staff and service, excellent food. I would give it 6 stars if I could. The bread and viennoiseries are expertly done. Everything on the menu is excellent, I would also say that the scrambled eggs is a must have.Big thanks to the staff and see you next time we come to Portland!“

“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!“

“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“

“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 always make it to Joseph's by the Sea without fail yearly during our OOB vacation. Bonus that's it close to the house we rent. Great atmosphere inside and outside, delicious food and drinks, great service, and the best live music. Always a fun time!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Loved our first experience at Wander and can't wait to go back. The service was wonderful (thank you, Alison, for your patience in answering all our questions and helping us make good choices). The food and drinks were inventive and delicious - we savored every course.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Pine Point Grill was a unique experience. The service alone made it worth the trip. Our server, Johny, was a delight and the highlight of the evening. He was bubbly, energetic and clearly loves working with people. During our time dining we witnessed a number of patrons talking to him and he knew them by name. Another table mentioned that they were dining there specially on the recommendation to go there because of him and I can honestly see why.The atmosphere was nice and there was a nice patio but it didn't have much to look at in terms of scenery. PPG seems to be in the middle of nowhere even though it's just a couple miles off route 1 in Scarborough, Maine.As for the food, I don't want to be overly critical as we visited during restaurant week and tried the fixed menu. It wasn't bad (and the desserts were wonderful) but overall nothing special for the price point. The risotto was bland without the gravy from the pork tenderloin but the portions were ample. Overall though it was a dining experience to remember due to Johnny and his amazing service.“

“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!“

“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-“

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“