Portland Maine has a reputation for incredible food and after this trip I can confirm it is completely deserved. Every meal felt intentional and every place had something worth coming back for. Here’s where we ate and what made each stop memorable.
I know, I know. Everyone recommends Eventide. But there’s a reason for that and after visiting I’m happy to be one more person adding to that list. We started our trip here and it set the tone for everything that followed. The oysters are a must but the real standout is the Brown Butter Lobster Roll, a unique twist on the classic that swaps the traditional butter or mayonnaise for a rich brown butter sauce that genuinely changes everything. Small and casual with food that punches well above its weight. Start here.
I cannot believe more people aren’t talking about this place. It didn’t come up in any of my research when planning the trip. My husband loves fish and chips so I just searched “fish and chips Portland” and this came up. What followed was one of the best fish and chips we’ve ever had, and I’m not exaggerating. The batter to fish ratio was perfect, fresh and crispy in a way that’s hard to find. We stumbled in during happy hour where they were doing dollar oysters and we each ate a dozen without hesitation. If you find this place consider yourself lucky.
As a poutine obsessed Canadian, finding good poutine in the US has been one of the quiet losses of the move. Walking into Duck Fat was a moment. Everything on the menu is fried in duck fat, hence the name, and you can taste the difference immediately. The poutine was everything I’d been missing and then some. They also make all their sodas in house and once you try one it’s genuinely hard to go back to the regular stuff. Small, intimate and worth every minute of the wait.
This is where you go for the classic lobster roll experience. A food truck located in Cape Elizabeth with the most beautiful view on the coast, the famous lighthouse in the background and a lobster roll in hand. I went with the mayonnaise and it was absolutely delicious. Simple, fresh and exactly what a lobster roll should be. Lobster roll with a view really does say it all.
The Lobster Haul, Damariscotta
A little ways outside Portland and close to Glidden Point Oyster Farm, The Lobster Haul is a small unassuming spot just off the main street that you could easily drive past without a second glance. Don’t. We went with the traditional lobster roll with butter and when our server told us the lobsters had been caught an hour ago we knew we were in for something special. Stuffed with the freshest lobster on a perfectly toasted bun, it was the kind of meal that reminds you why simple done well is always enough. If you’re making the trip out to the oyster farm make sure you stop here too, you can read about that experience here.
Portland’s food scene is the real deal. Every single stop on this list is worth your time and if you can fit them all into one trip I’d highly recommend it. Just make sure you come hungry!
