Must-see restaurants in Maine

  • Tao Yuan

    Midcoast Maine

    At this high-quality pan-Asian eatery, the accomplished dishes dazzle palates with fresh flavor. Small plates range from lobster ravioli served in a rich,…

  • Slab

    Portland

    The 1lb 'hand slab' is huge – a doughy slab of focaccia topped with tomato and cheese – and perfect for ensuring the beer (there are 20 on tap) doesn't go…

  • North Beacon Oyster

    Midcoast Maine

    The answer to the question 'More oysters?' is always yes, in case you're wondering, and as such you should get yourself seated at North Beacon Oyster…

  • Fresh & Co

    Midcoast Maine

    The chef-owner's menu wanders the globe at this well-received addition to the Camden scene, sampling techniques and flavors to spice up the fine local…

  • El Ancla

    Midcoast Maine

    It's always a treat to find good Mexican food this far north, and El Ancla ('the anchor'), with a menu ranging from slow-roasted pork with achiote to…

  • Hugo's

    Portland

    Hugo's has taken a few different turns over its lifetime and settled on this handsome, upscale incarnation, where the menu divides into 'Foraged & Farmed,…

  • Lulu's Ice Cream

    Midcoast Maine

    It feels like Maine state law requires every town in the state to have a quirky local ice-cream shack, and Lulu's is the iteration in Rockland. Brightly…

  • Enoteca Athena

    Midcoast Maine

    Have a date night at this smart but casual Mediterranean nook, where you can sample racks of extra virgin olive oil or indulge in dishes like halibut…

  • Nina June

    Midcoast Maine

    This smart, romantic nook sits at the intersection of Maine and the Mediterranean. Risotto comes with a vegetarian asparagus broth, halibut is served with…

  • Green Elephant

    Portland

    Even carnivores shouldn't miss the vegetarian fare at this Zen-chic, Thai-inspired cafe (with lots of vegan and gluten-free options too). Start with the…

  • Village Ice Cream

    Midcoast Maine

    All right, this little ice cream shop isn't technically on Monhegan – it's close to the docks in Port Clyde. But if you're waiting on a boat, do yourself…

  • Schutty's Seafood

    Midcoast Maine

    We generally like to be near the water while eating fresh New England seafood, but a random parking lot works just as well. At least it does when said lot…

  • Pai Men Miyake

    Portland

    A satellite of Portland's renowned Miyake, Pai Men Miyake is a cheaper spot that specializes in donburi (rice bowls) and ramen. On a cold Portland night,…

  • Veranda Noodle Bar

    Portland

    Cheap and cheerful Vietnamese is the name of the game at this lovely spot, where friendly staff crank out very solid bowls of pho, duck noodle soup, and…

  • Asmara

    Portland

    Portland has a large Eritrean population, and as such it's one of the few places in the USA to sample Eritrean cuisine. Do so at Asmara, which serves…

  • Wild Cow Creamery

    Midcoast Maine

    Small-batch ice cream is the name of the game at this cozy little ice-cream stand, where flavors run from rhubarb crumble to raspberry lime to Mexican hot…

  • Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster Co

    Midcoast Maine

    Head down to the marina to feast on lobster at this iconic red-painted seafood shack. If it's nice out, grab a picnic table – or just do like the locals…

  • Lazzari

    Portland

    Half bar, half pizza spot, Lazzari is great for a beer, a cocktail, or a white clam pizza, all things that basically make life worth living. Other pie…

  • Lobster Shack at Two Lights

    Portland

    Crack into a lobster dinner, lobster roll or chowder bowl at this well-loved Cape Elizabeth seafood shack, with killer views of the crashing Atlantic from…

  • Street & Co

    Portland

    A longtime Old Port favorite for fresh seafood – grilled, blackened, broiled, tossed with pasta. Lobster diavolo (in spicy tomato sauce, with pasta) for…

  • Treats

    Midcoast Maine

    With a well-edited selection of fancy cheeses and a bakery overflowing with gorgeously browned baguettes and homemade fruit tarts, this little food store…

  • Pemaquid Seafood

    Midcoast Maine

    Once a lobsterman co-op, this quintessentially midcoast seafood spot serves up the sea's fresh bounty and good views of the water. Order some fried clams,…

  • Susan's Fish & Chips

    Portland

    Pop in for fish-and-chips and plenty of deep-fried seafood at this no-fuss, family-friendly eatery on US 302. It's low on pretension, high on good cheer…

  • Atlantic Baking Co

    Midcoast Maine

    This cheery bakery sells tasty sandwiches like curried chicken mango salad and the TBLT (roasted turkey, bacon, lettuce and tomato) on freshly baked bread…

  • Public Market House

    Portland

    A handful of fast-food stalls occupy this great market. It's the perfect place for a quick, cheap and tasty meal (soups, burritos, salads, bagels etc),…

  • Grace

    Portland

    Grace is an 1850s Gothic Revival–style Methodist church that was closed and sold due to a declining congregation. After a $2-million renovation that…

  • Schulte & Herr

    Portland

    Bring along your favorite wine or microbrew (it's BYOB) to match with the southern German food – think spaetzle with caramelized onions and Emmentaler…

  • Lemongrass

    Midcoast Maine

    Vietnamese standbys – pho, vermicelli bowls and banh mi – share space with some unexpected regional Vietnamese delights, including Hanoi-style bun cha …

  • J's Oyster

    Portland

    This well-loved dive has the cheapest raw oysters in town (staring at $23 for a dozen) and gives visitors a glimpse of pre-gentrification Portland. It's…

  • Long Grain

    Midcoast Maine

    Long Grain's Thai food has been written up with glowing reviews in the New York Times and a dozen other food publications. We found the noodle soups,…

  • Shere Punjab

    Midcoast Maine

    This cozy, mom-and-pop-style Indian nook may not pack any surprises, but the fact you can find good, reliable Indian food out here in the middle of Maine…

  • King Eider Pub

    Midcoast Maine

    This cozy, redbrick spot has a nice selection of beer and oysters…and really, we feel we should end the review right there, because what more do you need…

  • In Good Company

    Midcoast Maine

    This inviting wine-bar-esque haven looks more like a friend's tasteful living room scattered with multiple tables and sofas. Here you can kick back, enjoy…

  • Buck's Naked BBQ

    Midcoast Maine

    When a restaurant specializes in smoked meats and enormous Bloody Marys, well, it doesn't take much more to convince us. Burgers with pork belly, racks of…

  • Hot Suppa

    Portland

    A little hip, a little home-style, Hot Suppa wows at breakfast with egg scrambles and corned beef hash. The menu speaks Southern at dinner, offering…

  • Cong Tu Bot

    Portland

    Slightly surly tattooed staff and a bohemian crowd share the space at this almost painfully hip modern Vietnamese joint. You'll find real-deal cuisine…

  • Five Fifty-Five

    Portland

    This elegant, two-level restaurant serves up of-the-moment dishes like truffled lobster mac 'n' cheese and New England scallops with sunchokes, but prices…

  • Becky's Diner

    Portland

    Fisherfolk and all-night revelers enjoy the 4am opening here. At other times, the booths at this wharf-side diner are packed with a mixed crowd: Portland…

  • Wicked Whoopies

    Midcoast Maine

    The main draw at this bakery are ponderously huge whoopie pies (basically, two cakes with sweet cream filling) in 25 different flavors, including red…

  • Lobster Shack

    Midcoast Maine

    This spot truly lives up to its name: it's a shack and it serves lobster rolls (and hot dogs, clam chowder, pulled pork and a few other goodies)…

    • placement: fullWidth
    • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
    • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], [1, 1],
    • targeting:
      {
        "position": "superzone"
      }