House Hunting in Portland? Here’s Where to Eat!

Picture this. You are not from Maine, but want to move here. You pick a weekend that you plan to visit. You meet with one of our leading experts at Maine Home Connection that will help you find your perfect home. After your meeting, you are starving! Where are the best places to eat in downtown Portland? Here are the top three places to eat. (Each one we mention are just feet away from our office!)

1. Eventide Oyster Co.

Eventide Oyster Company may well be Portland’s best-known seafood restaurant. Eventide has been lauded by both local and national press for its updated, eclectic take on classic seafood shack cooking. Start with an assortment of oysters on the half-shell, most of which come from Maine. The selection rotates with seasonal availability, but if fat, barely wet Browne Point (Damariscotta) or flinty, mineral Pine Point (Scarborough) oysters are on ice when you visit, order them, along with the sinus-clearing horseradish ice. Any of Eventide’s exceedingly good buns — all served on a housemade, steamed, split-top roll — are a safe bet, but the brown butter-and-lemon-dressed lobster roll and Southern-inspired fried chicken bun, topped with pickled jalapeños and onions, are unmissable. You’ll find Asian-inspired dishes on the menu as well, most of which pair well with Eventide’s selection of light, mostly European wines by the glass and bottle, as well as something from their unusually deep list of aromatized wines. Both the sultry, spicy, Thai-style Maine lobster stew and the unique nori-vinaigrette greens, served with long, thin ribbons of pickled carrot and daikon, are unforgettable standouts. Still, Eventide has a few drawbacks: You will very likely have to wait for a seat, and the space — all glass and hard surfaces — can get very loud. Both are especially true during high season, but even then, Eventide’s pleasures far outweigh its minor discomforts. It is easy to see why practically everyone, from locals to tourists, loves it here.

2. Duckfat

Before you arrive at this popular East End haunt, you can smell the delicious, ever-so-familiar aroma of fried food. Duckfat is changing the fried food world and using what culinary tastemakers call “liquid gold” to do it. This isn’t any old fried food though; this is duck fat-fried food. Duck fat gives fries and other fried foods a perfect, golden brown color while also offering crunch and incredible taste. A warning to the wise: the tasting of a Duckfat fry will ruin all other regular french fries for you. With a host of condiments offered, Duckfat is home to the ultimate snack food. The Saffron Orange Crush and the “original Duckfat milkshake” are the best first orders. The soda uses only simple syrup and soda water, it’s crisp and fresh and served in a classic mason jar. The milkshake, made with a traditional crème anglaise, is perfectly thick and creamy. Which is everything you envision in the perfect milkshake. For your main course, the duck confit panini and a large order of fries never disappoint. The condiment selection changes often, so we make your decisions with care. Duckfat is one of Portland’s most deserving favorites. The friendly staff and lively atmosphere make it the ultimate spot for a quick bite with friends or co-workers. Duckfat prides themselves on the freshness of their product. They are huge supporters of local farmers, and work daily to provide the highest quality food.

3. Scales

Scales, an expansive, expensive gloss on a traditional American seafood house, represents a partnership between two of Portland’s culinary luminaries, Sam Hayward and Dana Street. Cocktails, especially the dry and slightly savory Maine Wharf, and the sweet, effervescent Jewell Island are first-rate and a fine way to start your meal, especially if you order hot appetizers like the cracker-crusted whole belly clams or a cup of the lobster bisque (both wonderful). When you’re ready to order main dishes, don’t be put off by the sometimes baffling team service concept in the restaurant; ask anyone, they are all your servers. Stick to entrees like roasted lobster, served with an oniony cornbread muffin and cole slaw, or the classic shellfish stew.  But do order dessert, like a slice of the chiffon cake, dusted with strawberry milk and plated vertically next to a scoop of ice cream and a pool of crème anglaise.

We hope this helped you, we know house hunting can make you hungry! Call us at 207-517-3100 for any of your house hunting or buying needs. Our team of experts is waiting to help you buy or sell dream home, call us today!