One Day, Two Meals, in Portland?
The splitting of the New England boards has left Portland chowhound restaurant recommendations in limbo, or so it seems.
Two foodie couples will be able to have one dinner, one lunch in Portland late in August. What are people's faves? On the list of possibles are Fore Street, Street & Co., Hugo's. Duck Fat for lunch. We're open to as many suggestions, preferably annotated ;-), as you guys are willing to provide.
So excited to be able to eat in one of America's top food cities, at last! TIA.
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Passadumkeg
May 24, 2010 10:09 AM
Susan's Fish 'N Chips, out Forrest Ave.; artery clogging fried seafood at its best. Funky, good fried clams, oyster, shrimp, scallops and ice cream. Funky atmosphere, free coffee and BYOB.
A good deal for the big city. Lots of ethnic food out Forrest too.-----
Susan's Fish & Chips
1135 Forest Ave, Portland, ME 04103›1 Reply-
re: Passadumkeg
Miyake's 5 course tasting menu @ $50 is the most amazing value ever, if you value incredibly fresh, incredibly innovative sushi. Not your grandma's sushi, for sure. Killer, AND BYOB! Buy a good bottle of sake at the funky little store next door. In NY, that 5 course meal would probably cost 2-3 times more.
LOVE Boda, as well. Dinner only. Best beef skewers I ever ate. Supposed to be authentic Thai street food, but never at on a Thai street, so don't know. But so good. Same owners have a veg. Thai place nearby called Green Elephant. Also quite good.
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While I agree with almost everything that's been suggested here so far (555 is a personal favorite of mine), I'd also like to throw Walter's and Bar Lola into the mix as dinner contenders. Walter's is more casual than Fore or Hugo's, but I have been eating there for over fifteen years and have yet to have a bad experience. Try the calamari appetizer.
Bar Lola, located on Munjoy Hill, is a recent discovery for me, and a very pleasant one at that. An intimate and inviting atmosphere, friendly service, and local ingredients so fresh they practically hop off the plate. I love that they break the menu down into serving sizes, so you can mix and match according to your appetite.
For a very casual lunch, try Fit to Eat, a sandwich shop on Middle Street in the Old Port. They make their own bread, yum!
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Bar Lola
100 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04000›1 Reply-
re: lagata181
bermudagourmetgoddess
May 24, 2010 09:08 AM
Thanks for the info...checked out Bar Lola's menu, looks amazing. Also just checked out Walter's menu...they had me at the Hearts of Palm salad...is it fresh hearts of palm??
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Bar Lola
100 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04000
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if you eat sushi you must not miss miyaki. a tiny jewel box of a place in the west end. a very short walk from your hotel. i'll go out on a limb and say you will never have better sushi
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I'm staying at the Eastland Park right now, and I find it quite nice. It's an older hotel...not perfect, but clean and comfortable, and front desk staff VERY friendly and helpful. Also, free wi-fi that works. There's no exercise room or spa, but there's a spa down the street, and who needs an exercise room when this is such a great walking city.
Not keen on the food at the Eastland Park, though...pricey and ho-hum so far. Their top floor lounge has a great view, but only serves apps, and I was totally underwhelmed by the quesadilla I had there. However, there are no shortage of restaurants in the area. I guess I'm going to have to see if I can afford Hugo's, since every Portland post raves. I had a great bento-box lunch at a new japanese/korean place, Soju, down congress st. a couple of blocks.
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re: Altaira
Passadumkeg
May 19, 2010 03:08 PM
Rule Number 1: Never eat in a hotel.
Rule Number 2: Never order Mexican food at an unfamiliar restaurant in New England (Maine for sure.).
Rule Number 3: Never order Mexican food at a hotel in Maine (The world?). -
re: Altaira
bermudagourmetgoddess
May 20, 2010 09:35 AM
WOW thanks Altaira so much for the update...I can't not wait to eat myway through Portland! If you go to Hugo's let me know if it was worth it...that is one place on my list, even if it only for some apps and cocktails...As for Portland being a walking city...that pnly means I can walk off all those calories I am going consume :)
Thanks for the heads up on the Soju, looks like I will add to my list.
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Bob W
May 14, 2010 11:24 AM
The W. boys are visiting Po'tland in July. Duck Fat for lunch, Fore Street for dinner.
Whoopie pies for snacktime?
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Fore Street
288 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101Duck Fat
43 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101›2 Replies -
BerkshireTsarina
May 10, 2010 01:44 PM
Thanks so much, everyone. I've shared this with my comrades-in-dining. Now our question is: how can we wait until August!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh well, we can spend part of the time trying to decide which will be THE one among the treasures for dinner.
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re: bermudagourmetgoddess
Three that are closer to the places you are interested in are HILTON Garden Inn {Prtland Downton} Residence Inn donntown. Portland Harbor Hotel. All of these are in or on the fringe of the Old Port. At this time of year they will be much more in the swing of things than the Eastland and much more expensive. The Hilton Garden is one block from Hugos and Duck Fat and Fore St. Two blocks from St. and Co. You are right to be apprehensive about the Eastland.Good luck!
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Old Port Cafe
111 Main St, Winterport, ME 04496Duck Fat
43 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101 -
re: bermudagourmetgoddess
If you do end up @ Eastland, be aware that there are distinctly different sized rooms. We were first put in a room that barely held 2 twin beds and with virtually no whining found that we could move to a room 4 times as large. Still, all the places that LeRique suggests would be sooooooo much nicer albeit pricier. What the Hay, it's your vacation!
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re: hitpas
bermudagourmetgoddess
May 12, 2010 08:05 AM
Thanks, I am going to look into all 3 suggested, not to mention they are steps away from several places where we want to dine at...
Thanks for your help!
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re: bermudagourmetgoddess
There's also the Portland Regency which is lovely - it's an old armory. Their restaurant, 20 Milk St, is quite good.
The Hilton Garden is next door (and up a flight of stairs) to Fore Street. And really right next door to Standard Baking Co where you can get coffee, tea and absolutely amazing baked goods to nosh on in your room.-----
Fore Street
288 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101Standard Baking Co
75 Commercial St, Portland, ME-
re: hitpas
bermudagourmetgoddess
May 12, 2010 06:40 PM
I can not wait to try Fore St., 555, Duck fat and so many more...will now have to check out 20 Milk St.!
For a cool hang out and relax place how is the DiMillo's (the floating place)???
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re: mainemal
I hope you add Hugo's to your list of places to try. I'd omit 555, as the one meal I had there was OK, but not, in my opinion, up to the standards of Hugo's or Fore Street (though I seem to be in the minority on that opinion). As Mainemal says, avoid Demillo's at all costs.
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Fore Street
288 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101-
re: kimfair1
bermudagourmetgoddess
May 13, 2010 08:52 AM
Yes, Hugo's is one place we want to try.
We will be there for 6 days so I know we will have time to hit some great places..
Thanks for the heads up on Demillo's ...will stear clear
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re: Passadumkeg
DiMilo's - tourist trap for sure BUT... if it's a nice day and you want to have a drink or two on deck with a view great view you really can't beat it on the mainland. I wouldn't eat there, but a drink? Why not. If you stay at the Eastland you are in good position for the restaurants in the Arts District (555, Local 188, etc.) though far from the best hotel in town. Even though I'm local, spent a night at the Portland Harbor and had a great room and a great meal, even though it is a hotel.
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Local 188
685 Congress St, Portland, ME 04102
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A tough call, indeed. I would suggest that you'll eventually need to flip a mental coin among Fore St., Hugo's, and 555, each of which has its own unique quality to recommend. Much as I love Street & Co., it's definitely not in the same league as the others, simply because the menu is (by design) much more limited. Hugo's: creative molecular gastronomy. Fore St., as noted below, excellent and varied selection of essentially grilled & roasted food, as good as it gets (particularly the wood-roasted mussels). 555: a great balance between them. You can't go wrong!
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Street & Co
33 Wharf St., Portland, ME 04101›1 Reply -
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Many people will chime in with a few names, but Hugo's is my favorite restaurant anywhere, and I live in Boston. My wife has family in the Portland area, but we don't say "We haven't seen your family in a while, we should go to Maine", we say "We haven't been to Hugo's in a while, let's visit your family."
I have enjoyed their regular menu on many occasions, but I can't recommend more highly the blind six course tasting. You do need to be able to eat a variety of items but even I, a person who ate no seafood until his early 30's has never been served a piece of fish there I didn't love. Each course is not huge, but is wonderful, and a six course meal will make you satiated without feeling bloated. They will also do a nice per course 1/2 glass wine pairing for you.
The menu changes constantly, but on our last visit (two weeks ago) the highlights of our meal were a mushroom consomme with three pillows of pasta filled with English Peas and truffles, and a chocolate consomme for dessert that was truly sublime. Other courses included a poached quali egg with proscuitto foam, ginger cured Scottish salmon, local line caught cod done 3 ways, slow roasted guinea hen, and chocolate three ways (including the consomme). I also like Fore Street very much, but it's a completely different experience. Heartier portions of well grilled/cooked fish and meats, done more simply. I have not eaten at Street and Co. Don't miss Duckfat for lunch. Those fries, yum! Enjoy yourself in my second favorite New England city!
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Fore Street
288 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101
