New American Restaurants near South Portland, ME

“Sure, Mabel! Here’s a polished, friendly review letter you can use: --- Restaurant Review I recently visited this restaurant for the very first time, and I was truly impressed from start to finish. The food was so delicious that I actually found myself wishing I could get the recipes to make the dishes at home later. I ordered the chicken sandwich, and it was one of the most unique and flavorful sandwiches I’ve ever had. Every bite was incredible. My friend ordered the steak and cheese, and it must have been amazing because she ate every last bite of it without hesitation! The staff deserves special recognition as well. They were excellent, kind, and especially patient with my service dog in training, who is only five months old. Their understanding and welcoming attitude made the whole experience even better. Overall, this was a wonderful first visit, and I will definitely be returning. Highly recommended!“

“Where else Can you go to get a great cigar sold by knowledgeable people, have a nice beer and a great meal? You can’t. This is the only place. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience.“

“If you have not eaten here it is a must. Make sure to ask for Sarah as she is a phenomenal waitress.“

“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!“

“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.“

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

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

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“We recommend everything about The Well at Jordan’s Farm, not the least of which is the mouth-watering food. We’ve dined there many times and have never been disappointed. I don’t think we’ve ever had the same courses twice. Beyond the food, the ambience is bucolic. Jason and his staff are so personable and attentive. We always book asap in January to be sure to confirm reservations! Our favorite nights of the year🥰“

“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.“

“Big Daddy’s has the best food, staff and atmosphere. I could go on and on….but there’s no need to. Simply the BEST! Never had a bad meal, drink or bad experience.“

“Fresh and delicious! Have a margarita! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“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 ❤️“

“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.“

“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!“

“Our Garden Suite was awesome! Super comfortable and well appointed, awesome soaking tub, the nicest robes, great views and quick walk to the beach. Loved how dog friendly it is. Dog bowls, dog blanket, dog towel, ball, poopie bags and a giant biscuit greeted our pup. Dogs are even allowed in the tavern. Hot chocolate and cookies in the lobby at night. Chocolates in the room. Free use of the steam room and experience shower in the spa for guests. Staff is great! That’s just to name a few things that makes the Inn by the Sea great! We can’t wait to go back!“

“We stopped in unexpected as we were driving around. We received such a warm reception and were seated immediately. All the food was amazing and delicious. It’s the little things that matter…great coffee, variety of creamers and sweeteners and very attentive service. We’ll be back and recommend when asked for brunch locations.“

“Every dish was fantastic!“

“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!!“

“This place is the definition of real food done right. Everything on the plate is fresh, intentional, and full of flavor-no filler, no fluff. You can actually taste the quality. It’s beautiful, flavorful food that hits differently. The kind of place that makes you want to slow down and enjoy each and every bite.“

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

“Super staff! Great food! Great ambience!“

“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! Booked a table after reading the reviews. The meal was perfect, the new to us cocktail was potent and delicious, the servers were amazing, the owner was gracious. Thank you Barb, Dot and Dawn. We will be returning next year at the same time to celebrate my 70th!! Seems it will only allow 1 picture.“

“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!“

“We stopped here after my husband a job in Scarborough, and wow… what an incredible surprise. The whole place has that true Maine vibe — cozy, welcoming, and super friendly. Our server Eric was awesome from start to finish. My husband ordered the pork schnitzel and absolutely loved it. I had the butternut squash linguine with prosciutto, roasted squash, arugula, and their homemade crostini bread… incredible. I even saved half so I could enjoy it again another day. Hubby tried two of their 5oz beers (Space Ghost and Santa’s Reinbeer) and enjoyed both. But the show-stealer? The apple crisp cheesecake. 🍎 Hubby took one bite and said, “This is so good it should be outlawed.” And honestly, he wasn’t wrong. It was ridiculous in the best way. We left talking about how we’re glad we live two hours away, because we’d be here every day if we didn’t. Highly recommend checking this place out if you’re in the area. Amazing food, great vibe, great service.“

“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!“

“Food is fantastic, and the staff is very kind and accommodating!“

“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 :)“

“Rivalries has always been one of my favorite spots, especially in the summertime. Whether I’m hanging out on the deck, stopping by for lunch, or watching a Boston sports game with friends, it’s always a great time. The food may be classic pub style, but it’s pub style on steroids—I’ve never had a bad meal here.

Lance, the owner, is often around and genuinely takes time to check in on guests, which is a great touch. But the real star of the staff is Jen, the head manager. She’s absolutely phenomenal to work with, especially when it comes to planning a function. Whether it’s a small family gathering or a larger group event, Jen’s professionalism, experience, and friendly approach make the whole process easy—and even fun.

They truly do a great job all around, and I always look forward to coming 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!“

“Our first dinner back in Maine after retiring to NC. We were and still are Sebago regulars :)Not only was the food great, we got to see Rachel! She’s simply the best. We’ve known her for decades. Hands down there’s nothing like this place in NC. It’s a gem, and we’ll return before we leave!“

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

“We really love this place. Stumbled on it by accident and now its one of our regular haunts when we are in Maine. The food is always delicious, we love trying new things they add. We love this restaurant and can't wait to 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!!“

“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.“

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

“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 !“

“Awesome atmosphere, beautiful bar, TVs and some amazing food! Ended up here after a long hike, met some friendly locals who biked in. The staff is friendly, patio is very nice with heaters, the sun warms you up and the steady ocean breeze cools you down. 10/10“

“Been going here as long as they've been in business and it's a solid neighborhood joint that keeps their employees, knows your name (and order) and consistently serves up good food and drinks. Family-friendly and highly recommend the pan fried haddock - it's divine, people. If Ryan is working the bar, order the Rainbow Sherbet.“

“I come specifically to Old Orchard Beach every year just to eat at The Bell Buoy. They serve the best seafood and are very closely located to the pier and beach. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but the lobster is a huge selling point. Friendly staff, great food, good service, and a mere walking distance from many of the other attractions. I cannot recommend this place enough, and hope it remains open forever.“

“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“

“Great decor, food and service. Top spot for dinner.“

“I've been coming to Brea Lu Cafe for about 20 years. Started when they were on Forest Ave in Portland, and followed them to both of their Westbrook locations. Brea Lu has remained one of my favorite places all these years. The food is always good, and they always have creative, delicious specials that keep me coming back.

What really makes Brea Lu special, though, is the people. The family who owns Brea Lu and every member of their staff are some of the kindest, most welcoming people you'll ever meet. They make everyone feel like a regular, whether it's your first visit or your hundredth.

They also do a lot for the Westbrook community. It's clear they genuinely care about their customers and their neighbors, and that shows in everything they do.

If you're looking for a really good breakfast with a pedialyte mimosa, friendly service, and a local business that's truly invested in its community, Brea Lu Cafe is the place to go. I can't recommend them highly enough!“