Good Eats In Portland

Husband and I used to loved to go out to eat. Scratch that. Husband and I STILL love to go out to eat, we just don't get the opportunity to do it as often as we used to. It's a shame because although I love to cook, Portland has some really first-rate restaurants. If you're in the Portland area, I recommend the following (in alphabetical order). Click on any of the restaurant names to go to their sites (or a site that discusses them in depth).

Artemisia Cafe
Once upon a time, there was a great bookbinder attached to this cafe. Now, it's just a cafe but it's still worth a visit for lunch. They do sandwiches, soups and salads and have always been very tasty.

Benkay Japanese Resturant
There are several really good sushi places in Portland. My favorite is Benkay on India Street. I like the Maki rolls, especially the Kappa and Yasai rolls. If you're not interested in sushi, I can also highly recommend the Katsu-don.

Bibo's Madd Apple Cafe
A cozy corner for a casual meal of good food. The chef was also kind enough to share his recipe for lentil cakes. If the food wasn't already enough to get us to come back, this act of kindness certainly does it.

Bintliff's American Cafe
A great place for brunch, but expect a wait on weekends. I think I like their breakfast menu better than their lunch menu.

Bull Feeney's
On any cold and rainy night when you don't want to sit at home, get yourself over to Bull Feeney's, order pub fries and Shepherd's Pie and a beer of your choosing. That'll fix you right up. Best Shepherd's Pie this side of your own kitchen.

Duckfat
If I get to choose anywhere to go for lunch, I choose Duckfat. Owned by Chef Rob Evans (who conveniently also owns my all time favorite restaurant Hugo's), Duckfat makes a mean meatloaf sandwich. Yeah, their other stuff is delicious too, but a good meatloaf sandwich is a hard thing to find these days. You must, of course, also order fries. I like the curry mayo, but the truffle ketchup is quite tasty too. Save room for beignets and a "five dollar" shake.

Five Fifty-five
Ok. I'll admit that I have not yet eaten at 555 but I have never heard anything but the best about this casually elegant restaurant.

Flatbread Pizza Company
This is another great restaurant to go to when it's rainy (or snowy) out and you don't want to be stuck at home. Flatbread is not only pleasing to the taste buds, but I find it pleasing to the eye as well with it's big wood-fired pizza oven and the factory-turned-restaurant look. Great place for a date. We get the Coevolution, but then again, we like goat cheese.

Fore Street
Fore Street is always listed in the best restaurants in Portland and you can be assured of a decent meal there. The menu changes daily, depending on what is seasonal. The service isn't always the best but if you want a quiet and tasty meal where you'll be left alone, give Fore Street a try.

Hugo's
Without a doubt the finest restaurant I have ever had the pleasure of eating at. Always my first choice for a sit-down meal, Hugos makes dining a near religious experience. Chef Rob Evans can cook cat food on shoe leather and I'd happily ask for seconds. Everyone who comes through/lives in Maine should eat at Hugos at least once to experience just how food should be made. The service is also top drawer. Patrick is The Man when it comes to servers.

Imperial China
Best. Chinese. Food. In. Maine.
Get the ginger pork and the cold sesame noodles and the scallion pancakes. I've had better Crab Rangoons but I wouldn't turn one of theirs down.

Lucky Thai
Aside from the super-nice people who own the place, Lucky Thai in Gorham has really great eats. These guys do have some of the best Crab Rangoons I've ever eaten and their Pad Thai and Drunken Noodle dishes are excellent too. Can make food as spicy as you like or with no heat at all.

Local 188
Don't let the hipster ambiance keep you from enjoying the great food at Local 188. The tapas and paella are both excellent and the chocolate bread pudding is to die for.

O'Naturals
I do love my sandwich shops and O'Naturals makes some really great breads to go with the tasty fillings they put between slices.

Tandoor
Best Indian food in Portland. Malai kofta is my favorite along with a plain nan, masala tea and some onion bhajis. Their kheer is pretty good too when I remember to order it. Usually, I'm too full to do anything but roll home.