Must-Try Restaurants in Portland, Maine

Isa Bistro is a cozy neighborhood joint with exposed brick walls, tiled floorings, and tin ceilings that offers a warm and welcoming place for gathering with friends over great food and wine. The contemporary restaurant specializes in casual Mediterranean fare with Italian, Spanish, and English influences, using fresh locally sourced ingredients and regional produce. Seasonal menus boast signature dishes like local rabbit pot pie with leeks and steak au poivre in a whiskey cream sauce, and brunch plates of eggs benedict and croque madame. An indulgent wine list with vintages from around the world, as well as craft beers and signature cocktails are available, and the bistro is open for lunch and dinner, Wednesday through Monday.

79 Portland St, Portland, ME 04101, Phone: 207-808-8533

Boda in Portland is a late-night eatery and bar that specializes in authentic Thai street food with an extensive menu full of delicious items such as Thai sticky rice balls, pork belly skewers, kee mao noodles, kra-prao chicken, and woon-sen pad thai. The bustling Thai Restaurant has a warm and energetic ambiance with rattling cocktail shakers and the hum of conversation as guests tuck into creative plates of traditional Bangkok street-food style and signature cocktails like the Thai Basil Tom Collins and the Fuge’s Dilemma. Boda’s ten-stool bar boasts a lively atmosphere as it serves a range of craft cocktails, top-shelf spirits, craft beers, and casual wines as well as great tapas options such as house fried peanuts, crispy squid, spicy Thai wings, and oysters. Boda is open for dinner only, seven nights a week.

671 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101, Phone: 207-347-7557

Part of Chef David Turin’s popular restaurant group throughout Maine, David's Restaurant offers an imaginative dining experience in a classy space. Overlooking Portland’s Monument Square, the exceptional dining destination serves an ever-changing menu of comfort fare with passion and flair and has something for every palate, ranging from imaginative fish dishes and crispy duck breast to Za’atar crusted salmon and Maine lobster roll. Large windows overlooking Monument Square bring natural light into the dining space and offer spectacular views, and a full-service bar offers a wide range of libations from craft beers and craft cocktails to globally-inspired wines. David’s Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Friday and dinner only on the weekends.

22 Monument Square, STE 600, Portland, ME 04101, Phone: 207-773-4340

Housed in the former quartermaster's storehouse overlooking Diamond Cove and steps away from the full-service marina, Diamond's Edge Restaurant is a seasonal eatery and bar that serves locally sourced seafood and classic American fare against a backdrop of beautiful views. Boasting an elegant, yet relaxed environment in which to enjoy an exceptional dining experience, the restaurant serves seasonally changing menus of New England Favorites, fresh locally caught seafood, prime USDA meats, and organic salads and vegetable dishes. A gorgeous deck is open during the summer months for alfresco dining under the stars, and a full-service bar serves an outstanding wine list with vintages from around the world, as well as craft beers and craft cocktails. Diamond's Edge Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily.

Portland, ME 04109, Phone: 207-766-5850

Located in the elegant Hyatt Place Portland in the Old Port, Evo Kitchen and Bar is a stylish Middle Eastern bistro that specializes in Eastern Mediterranean cuisine, bring the bold taste and flavors of the region to the heart of Portland. Boasting a chic, energetic vibe, Evo serves a seasonal menu of creative riffs on classic cuisine prepared with locally sourced and regional ingredients with dishes like Pork Sausage with Halloumi, Beef Kibbeh with Yogurt, Chicken and Onion Dolmades, and Skirt Steak. The cuisine is accompanied by craft cocktails made with fresh, local ingredients, five local Portland draft beers and a wine list featuring a wide variety of wines from around the world, including Greece, Spain, and Crete. Evo Kitchen + Bar is open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday.

443 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101, Phone: 207-358-7830