Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Portland, Maine by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Portland, Maine by diners
Fine dining in the U.S. isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; instead, it's about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller at the French Laundry unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chef's tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America to choose from, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Portland using data from Yelp. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#30. Susan's Fish-n-Chips
- Rating: 3.9/5 (343 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1135 Forest Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Gilbert's Chowder House
- Rating: 3.9/5 (1060 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 92 Commercial St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Ribollita
- Rating: 4.0/5 (234 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 41 Middle St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Woodford F & B
- Rating: 4.0/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 660 Forest Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American, Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#26. David's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (464 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 22 Monument Square Ste 600 Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Benkay Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar
- Rating: 4.1/5 (277 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 16 Middle St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Roma Cafe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 767 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#23. N To Tail
- Rating: 4.1/5 (195 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 29 Exchange St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Korean, Barbecue, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Fore Street
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1318 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 288 Fore St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Via Vecchia
- Rating: 4.2/5 (316 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10 Dana St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Tipo
- Rating: 4.2/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 182 Ocean Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Eventide Oyster Company
- Rating: 4.3/5 (4147 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 86 Middle St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Solo Italiano
- Rating: 4.3/5 (375 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 100 Commercial St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#17. The Honey Paw
- Rating: 4.3/5 (697 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 78 Middle St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Asian Fusion, New American, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Duckfat
- Rating: 4.3/5 (3179 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 43 Middle St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Empire Chinese Kitchen
- Rating: 4.3/5 (653 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 575 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Dim Sum, Cantonese
- Read more on Yelp
#14. The North Point
- Rating: 4.3/5 (288 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 35 Silver St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Lounges, American
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Scales
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1032 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 68 Commercial St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Seafood, New American, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Chaval
- Rating: 4.3/5 (263 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 58 Pine St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Spanish, French, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Miyake
- Rating: 4.3/5 (442 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 468 Fore St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Central Provisions
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1301 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 414 Fore St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Papi
- Rating: 4.3/5 (63 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 18 Exchange St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Puerto Rican
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Street & Co.
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1791 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 33 Wharf St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Seafood, New American, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#7. The Highroller Lobster
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1915 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 104 Exchange St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Seafood, American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. David's Opus Ten
- Rating: 4.4/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 22 Monument Sq Inside David's on Monument Square Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Boda
- Rating: 4.4/5 (562 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 671 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Thai, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Sur Lie
- Rating: 4.4/5 (312 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 11 Free St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Evo Kitchen + Bar
- Rating: 4.6/5 (422 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 443 Fore St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Mediterranean, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Twelve
- Rating: 4.7/5 (123 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 115 Thames St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Isa Bistro
- Rating: 4.7/5 (301 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 79 Portland St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American, New Mexican Cuisine
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 299 metros.
