Portland's restaurants feature local Maine seafood.
In the last few decades, Portland, Maine has seen a boom of new restaurants run by experienced and creative chefs. Portland's restaurants have earned recognition in papers and magazines around the country, and have even won some awards; Chef Rob Evans of Hugo's won a James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Northeast. Portland's best restaurants feature local Maine seafood and fresh, seasonal ingredients on their menus.
Hugo's
Chef Rob Evans of Hugo's has worked at the renowned French Laundry restaurant in California. At Hugo's, his menu consists of modern American cuisine with French, Italian and Japanese influences and seasonal, fresh ingredients. The menu often contains fun, experimental dishes such as trios or quartets of lobster preparations. Try the restaurant's full tasting menu or order from the tapas menu at the bar.
In addition to the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Northeast, Rob Evans also won a "Best New Chef" award from "Food and Wine" magazine in 2004. Hugo's was ranked among the top five restaurants in Portland by "Yankee Magazine" in 2008, and received a three star "Exceptional" rating in the sixth edition of "Frommer's Guide to Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine".
Hugo's
88 Middle Street
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-8538
hugos.net
Bresca
Chef Krista Kern has expanded beyond her pastry beginnings to build a full seasonal menu with an emphasis on local ingredients. Try her various preparations of duck breast, pork shank and local fish. The menu's vegetarian options include mushroom gnocchi; chorizo and gorgonzola stuffed dates and an endive, radicchio and pomegranate salad. This small bistro-style restaurant has only five tables. Bresca was ranked among the top five restaurants in Portland by "Yankee Magazine" in 2008.
Bresca
111 Middle Street
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 772-1004
restaurantbresca.com
Fore Street
Chef Sam Hayward's menu at Fore Street features simple, Mediterranean influenced cuisine with local ingredients. The restaurant's rustic interior complements the food's simplicity well. The dark wood and brick gives the dining room a romantic feel, and the kitchen's visible wood-burning oven adds a sense of coziness. Try the local Maine mussels with garlic and almonds or the mushroom ravioli. Plenty of vegetable sides are also available.
Fore Street was ranked among the top five restaurants in Portland by "Yankee Magazine" in 2008, and received a two star "Very Highly Recommended" rating in the sixth edition of "Frommer's Guide to Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine".
Fore Street
288 Fore Street
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 775-2727
Back Bay Grill
Chef Larry Matthews' menu changes seasonally to reflect fresh ingredients. His New American cuisine often features Thai influences. For example, you might find Maine crab cakes in Thai chile sauce. Or look for the saffron and mussel chowder, truffled beef tartare or local Casco Bay cod. Vegetarian entrees might include goat's milk ricotta and spinach agnolotti or other handmade pastas.
Back Bay Grill earned a two star "Very Highly Recommended" rating in the sixth edition of "Frommer's Guide to Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine".
Back Bay Grill
65 Portland Street
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 772-8833
backbaygrill.com
Tags: Fore Street, Portland 04101, Street Portland, Street Portland 04101, Yankee Magazine 2008