Frank & Carole’s guidebook
Favorite Restaurants
Award winning specialty cocktails and tasty snacks. We especially recommend the Bonecrusher cocktail. They have excellent Swedish Meatballs, the pretzels are great, and we love their popcorn. One of our favorites for small bites and appetizers.
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The Portland Hunt & Alpine Club
75 Market StAward winning specialty cocktails and tasty snacks. We especially recommend the Bonecrusher cocktail. They have excellent Swedish Meatballs, the pretzels are great, and we love their popcorn. One of our favorites for small bites and appetizers.
This Portland landmark is the only floating restaurant in the Greater Portland Area, built on an old car ferry permanently docked in their marina at the very middle of the Old Port waterfront. They've recently opened an outdoor bar on the upper deck called The Tip of the Ship, giving customers an option to have a cocktail and observe the traffic in Portland Harbor.
101 lokale inwoners raden aan
DiMillo's On The Water
25 Long WharfThis Portland landmark is the only floating restaurant in the Greater Portland Area, built on an old car ferry permanently docked in their marina at the very middle of the Old Port waterfront. They've recently opened an outdoor bar on the upper deck called The Tip of the Ship, giving customers an option to have a cocktail and observe the traffic in Portland Harbor.
Excellent food and cocktails. Great for dinners and brunch.
51 lokale inwoners raden aan
Woodford Food & Beverage
660 Forest AveExcellent food and cocktails. Great for dinners and brunch.
This is a favorite locals spot with seasonal outdoor seating. This is a great choice if you're craving seafood. We especially recommend the steamers. Be sure to treat the servers and bartenders well...there's very little turnover, so you'll see the same faces year after year.
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Js Oyster
5 Portland PierThis is a favorite locals spot with seasonal outdoor seating. This is a great choice if you're craving seafood. We especially recommend the steamers. Be sure to treat the servers and bartenders well...there's very little turnover, so you'll see the same faces year after year.
The iconic original Brew Pub of the Old Port. All the beers are brewed in-house. An absolute must-visit for beer tourists. There are multiple locations around the state, but the Fore Street location is the original that's been a Portland mainstay for decades.
22 lokale inwoners raden aan
Gritty McDuff's
396 Fore StThe iconic original Brew Pub of the Old Port. All the beers are brewed in-house. An absolute must-visit for beer tourists. There are multiple locations around the state, but the Fore Street location is the original that's been a Portland mainstay for decades.
An off the beaten path restaurant just north of Portland on Falmouth Foreside, this spot is right on the water inside the Handy Boat Marina. Beautiful views and terrific food.
21 lokale inwoners raden aan
The Dockside Grill
215 Foreside RdAn off the beaten path restaurant just north of Portland on Falmouth Foreside, this spot is right on the water inside the Handy Boat Marina. Beautiful views and terrific food.
If you're a beer tourist, but short on time, head to The Bear. They have one of the largest draft beer menus in the city, including many of our local and New England favorites. Also has great pub food. This is where we had our first date!
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The Great Lost Bear
540 Forest AveIf you're a beer tourist, but short on time, head to The Bear. They have one of the largest draft beer menus in the city, including many of our local and New England favorites. Also has great pub food. This is where we had our first date!
One of our favorite Taco restaurants, also features great cocktails. Also an excellent nearby option for take out with curbside pickup and drinks to go if you want a night in.
15 lokale inwoners raden aan
Bird & Co.
539 Deering AveOne of our favorite Taco restaurants, also features great cocktails. Also an excellent nearby option for take out with curbside pickup and drinks to go if you want a night in.
Excellent Spanish-inspired cuisine in an eclectic space full of local art.
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Local 188
685 Congress StExcellent Spanish-inspired cuisine in an eclectic space full of local art.
Great food and an ample outdoor patio with wood fire pits. For beer tourists, they have a large selection of drafts, including the Palate Slapper, a hot pepper IPA brewed specifically for the restaurant by Baxter Brewing. Specials at happy hour and during pro football games. A short drive from the East Bayside brewery cluster.
For barbecue enthusiasts, this restaurant features East Carolina-style whole hog pit smoked barbecue.
8 lokale inwoners raden aan
Wilson County Barbecue
82 Hanover StGreat food and an ample outdoor patio with wood fire pits. For beer tourists, they have a large selection of drafts, including the Palate Slapper, a hot pepper IPA brewed specifically for the restaurant by Baxter Brewing. Specials at happy hour and during pro football games. A short drive from the East Bayside brewery cluster.
For barbecue enthusiasts, this restaurant features East Carolina-style whole hog pit smoked barbecue.
Quality Mediterranean cuisine in a small, modern venue.
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Evo Kitchen + Bar
443 Fore StQuality Mediterranean cuisine in a small, modern venue.
This is a high-end restaurant that is primarily dedicated to seafood. They also have an excellent oyster bar. If someone is looking for a recommendation for one dinner in Portland this is one of the first places we think of.
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Scales
68 Commercial StThis is a high-end restaurant that is primarily dedicated to seafood. They also have an excellent oyster bar. If someone is looking for a recommendation for one dinner in Portland this is one of the first places we think of.
Luke's offers indoor and outdoor dining at the end of a working wharf. The seafood is good and fresh, and the views of Portland Harbor can't be beat. If the weather is good you can sit outside, but even if the weather isn't perfect there are plenty of windows and lots to see.
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Luke's Lobster Portland Pier
60 Portland PierLuke's offers indoor and outdoor dining at the end of a working wharf. The seafood is good and fresh, and the views of Portland Harbor can't be beat. If the weather is good you can sit outside, but even if the weather isn't perfect there are plenty of windows and lots to see.
This is a very good, classy restaurant right on Commercial Street in the Old Port. They have great entrees, cocktails, wines, and local beers, and a very good Oyster Bar.
Old Port Sea Grill & Raw Bar
93 Commercial StThis is a very good, classy restaurant right on Commercial Street in the Old Port. They have great entrees, cocktails, wines, and local beers, and a very good Oyster Bar.
This is an excellent restaurant on Monument Square. They have great cocktails, local beers, and lots of wine. Great food from Chef David Turin.
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David's Restaurant
22 Monument SqThis is an excellent restaurant on Monument Square. They have great cocktails, local beers, and lots of wine. Great food from Chef David Turin.
Favorite Breakfast Joints
Excellent Cajun breakfast food in a quirky diner setting. They have both table service and counter service. Can be very busy at peak breakfast times on the weekends, so get there early or expect a wait. For those who don't like Cajun food, they also have fantastic pancakes and traditional breakfast offerings.
38 lokale inwoners raden aan
Bayou Kitchen
543 Deering AveExcellent Cajun breakfast food in a quirky diner setting. They have both table service and counter service. Can be very busy at peak breakfast times on the weekends, so get there early or expect a wait. For those who don't like Cajun food, they also have fantastic pancakes and traditional breakfast offerings.
A historic Portland Diner that started in a classic Worcester Diner Car. They've expanded the restaurant, but eating in the original Diner Car is still an option. This is mostly traditional diner fare, but the food is top notch.
16 lokale inwoners raden aan
Miss Portland Diner
140 Marginal WayA historic Portland Diner that started in a classic Worcester Diner Car. They've expanded the restaurant, but eating in the original Diner Car is still an option. This is mostly traditional diner fare, but the food is top notch.
See the full write up in the Favorite Restaurants section. They do have terrific breakfasts, but check out their dinner options, too!
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Hot Suppa
703 Congress StSee the full write up in the Favorite Restaurants section. They do have terrific breakfasts, but check out their dinner options, too!
Neighborhoods
The primary tourist destination neighborhood of Portland. Home to many of the best restaurants, bars, and shops on the Peninsula. Extends along Commercial Street across much of Portland's waterfront, and several blocks up the hill from the water. It's a very safe area at any time of day or night.
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Old Port
The primary tourist destination neighborhood of Portland. Home to many of the best restaurants, bars, and shops on the Peninsula. Extends along Commercial Street across much of Portland's waterfront, and several blocks up the hill from the water. It's a very safe area at any time of day or night.
Originally an industrial area, now home to a cluster of our favorite local Breweries, all within walking distance of each other. Also home to several good restaurants, a distillery, and even a local winery. Great spot for day drinking, but not a late night spot. Most of the Tasting Rooms close early in the evening.
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East Bayside
Originally an industrial area, now home to a cluster of our favorite local Breweries, all within walking distance of each other. Also home to several good restaurants, a distillery, and even a local winery. Great spot for day drinking, but not a late night spot. Most of the Tasting Rooms close early in the evening.
As the name describes, this neighborhood is an industrial area, but is also the home of a cluster of local breweries. All are within easy walking distance of each other, and often feature food trucks. Great spot for beer tourists. Not a late-night spot: most of the tasting rooms close fairly early in the evening.
Riverside Industrial Parkway
Riverside Industrial ParkwayAs the name describes, this neighborhood is an industrial area, but is also the home of a cluster of local breweries. All are within easy walking distance of each other, and often feature food trucks. Great spot for beer tourists. Not a late-night spot: most of the tasting rooms close fairly early in the evening.
Sightseeing
The Eastern Prom on Munjoy Hill has some of the most spectacular views of Casco Bay. When you're up there, be sure to look across the water to the north: sharp-eyed people should be able to pick out our house! When the weather is nice, there are often food trucks parked near the tennis courts at lunchtime and into the early afternoon.
The Eastern Prom Trail runs the full length of the Prom along the water, extending from the Old Port to the East End Beach, and all the way around to East Bayside. Great spot for walking, running, and biking.
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Eastern Promenade Trail
Eastern PromenadeThe Eastern Prom on Munjoy Hill has some of the most spectacular views of Casco Bay. When you're up there, be sure to look across the water to the north: sharp-eyed people should be able to pick out our house! When the weather is nice, there are often food trucks parked near the tennis courts at lunchtime and into the early afternoon.
The Eastern Prom Trail runs the full length of the Prom along the water, extending from the Old Port to the East End Beach, and all the way around to East Bayside. Great spot for walking, running, and biking.
This is a great place to watch the sunset, and there are occasionally community activities like free live music in the park.
Western Prom, Portland, ME 04102, Verenigde Staten
This is a great place to watch the sunset, and there are occasionally community activities like free live music in the park.
Local Breweries
East Bayside - One of the larger local breweries, and one of our favorites. Also has some food options including great pizza.
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Rising Tide Brewing Company
103 Fox StEast Bayside - One of the larger local breweries, and one of our favorites. Also has some food options including great pizza.
Another local favorite brewery, with tasting rooms in both the East Bayside and Riverside Industrial Park brewery clusters.
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Austin Street Brewery
115 Fox StAnother local favorite brewery, with tasting rooms in both the East Bayside and Riverside Industrial Park brewery clusters.
East Bayside - This is now one of the larger breweries in the area (recently expanded to a larger facility in nearby Gorham). The brewery and tasting room on Anderson Street is their original location, and they continue to brew on site using their smaller scale equipment here.
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Lone Pine Brewing Company
219 Anderson StEast Bayside - This is now one of the larger breweries in the area (recently expanded to a larger facility in nearby Gorham). The brewery and tasting room on Anderson Street is their original location, and they continue to brew on site using their smaller scale equipment here.
East Bayside - This brewery produces several varieties of beer, most of them unfiltered. Haze for days!
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Goodfire Brewing Co.
219 Anderson StEast Bayside - This brewery produces several varieties of beer, most of them unfiltered. Haze for days!
Riverside Industrial Park - One of our favorite breweries in the Riverside Brewery cluster.
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Definitive Brewing Company
35 Industrial WayRiverside Industrial Park - One of our favorite breweries in the Riverside Brewery cluster.
Riverside Industrial Park - Allagash is one of the largest and well distributed beers in the state, but there are options available at the tasting room that can't be easily found anywhere else. Their brewery and tasting room are the reason the Riverside brewery cluster developed where it is. A can't miss tasting room for those who love Belgians.
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Allagash Brewing Company
50 Industrial WayRiverside Industrial Park - Allagash is one of the largest and well distributed beers in the state, but there are options available at the tasting room that can't be easily found anywhere else. Their brewery and tasting room are the reason the Riverside brewery cluster developed where it is. A can't miss tasting room for those who love Belgians.
This breweries are a bit of a drive out of Portland, but their beers are among our favorites in the local beer scene. If you don't want to make the drive out to Freeport or Westbrook, keep an eye out for it at many of the bars, restaurants, and retail beer stores in Portland. It's fairly readily available and shouldn't be missed.
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Mast Landing Brewing Company
920 Main StThis breweries are a bit of a drive out of Portland, but their beers are among our favorites in the local beer scene. If you don't want to make the drive out to Freeport or Westbrook, keep an eye out for it at many of the bars, restaurants, and retail beer stores in Portland. It's fairly readily available and shouldn't be missed.
This is one of the most popular breweries in the state, and is only 15-20 minutes up the highway in Freeport, where another good cluster of breweries is growing.
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Maine Beer Company
525 US-1This is one of the most popular breweries in the state, and is only 15-20 minutes up the highway in Freeport, where another good cluster of breweries is growing.