Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Portland, Maine area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Portland, Maine area by diners
Fine dining in the United States isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; these days, it's all 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 and his three-Michelin-starred restaurant, 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 chefs' 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, 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 the Portland area 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., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#30. Sea Glass
- Rating: 4.1/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 40 Bowery Beach Road Cape Elizabeth, Maine
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Fore Street
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1401 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 288 Fore St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Pine Point Grill
- Rating: 4.1/5 (141 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 240 Pine Point Road Scarborough, Maine
- Categories: New American, Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Tipo
- Rating: 4.2/5 (141 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 182 Ocean Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#26. The Bait Shed
- Rating: 4.2/5 (306 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 84 Jones Creek Road Scarborough, Maine
- Categories: Seafood, American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Via Vecchia
- Rating: 4.2/5 (372 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10 Dana St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Solo Italiano
- Rating: 4.2/5 (409 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 100 Commercial St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Eventide Oyster Company
- Rating: 4.3/5 (4288 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 86 Middle St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#22. The Honey Paw
- Rating: 4.3/5 (736 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 78 Middle St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Asian Fusion, New American, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Duckfat
- Rating: 4.3/5 (3269 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 43 Middle St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Miyake
- Rating: 4.3/5 (456 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 468 Fore St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Scarborough Fish & Lobster
- Rating: 4.3/5 (386 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 697 US Rt 1 Scarborough, Maine
- Categories: Seafood Markets, Seafood, Diners
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Scales
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1129 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 68 Commercial St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Seafood, New American, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Empire Chinese Kitchen
- Rating: 4.3/5 (698 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 575 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Dim Sum, Cantonese
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Chaval
- Rating: 4.3/5 (278 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 58 Pine St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Spanish, French, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Luke's Lobster Portland Pier
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1210 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 60 Portland Pier Portland, Maine
- Categories: Seafood, Soup, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Bayside American Cafe
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1110 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 98 Portland St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches, Wraps
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Central Provisions
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1352 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 414 Fore St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#12. David's 388 - South Portland
- Rating: 4.3/5 (156 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 388 Cottage Road South Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American, Bars, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#11. The Highroller Lobster
- Rating: 4.3/5 (2116 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 104 Exchange St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Seafood, American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Street & Co.
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1851 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 33 Wharf St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Seafood, New American, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Taj Indian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.4/5 (478 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 333 Clarks Pond Pkwy Ste 6 South Portland, Maine
- Categories: Indian, Buffets, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. David's Opus Ten
- Rating: 4.4/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 22 Monument Sq Inside David's on Monument Square Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Boda
- Rating: 4.4/5 (592 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 671 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Thai, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Hot Suppa
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1179 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 703 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, Comfort Food
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Papi
- Rating: 4.4/5 (92 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 18 Exchange St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Puerto Rican
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Sur Lie
- Rating: 4.4/5 (322 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 11 Free St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Evo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (446 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 443 Fore St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Mediterranean, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Twelve
- Rating: 4.6/5 (167 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 115 Thames St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Isa Bistro
- Rating: 4.7/5 (326 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 79 Portland St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American, New Mexican Cuisine
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
