Whether you’re visiting for the first time and wondering where to get your food and drink on or you’re a local looking for your next hangout spot, here are 4 places to eat and drink in Portland, Maine this September 2023.
From twisted takes on meatballs to elevated Mediterranean-meets-Maine cuisine, you don’t want to miss these 4 spots!
Get ready for a new neighborhood spot: The Continental, a laid back bar serving Irish and English pub fare, just opened in the former 7/11 convenience store at the corner of Brighton and St. John. A dark wood bar and blue and gold wallpaper give the space a European feel, and there’s plenty of parking out front for patrons coming from farther away.
Owned by Michael Barbuto and Kevin Doyle, who are also co-owners of Nosh and CBG in the Old Port, the Continental boasts a large beer menu with European and local drafts and cans along with a full liquor license. Food ranges from British classics like fish and chips and bangers and mash to Irish favorites like boxty (a potato cake), lamb lollipops with a Guinness glaze, and a Scotch egg.
Great for: pub fare, great beer selection, neighborhood bar feel, weeknight dinner, getting off the peninsula
170 Brighton Ave
Based in Westbrook but traveling throughout Maine and New Hampshire, Mainely Meatballs is the food truck of an Italian grandmother’s dreams. Each style of meatball is handcrafted with fresh meat or seafood, and the options are more than plentiful.
Whether you’re in the mood for a marinara classic, lobster balls with lemon cream sauce, BBQ balls, Asian-inspired Thai chili balls, or even an all-American cheeseburger ball, Mainely Meatballs has something for you. They’ve even got gluten-free vegan balls made from lentils and sauteed veggies. Enjoy your favorite meatballs in a dish or grab a meatball sub for eating on-the-go—they even cater weddings and corporate events!
Great for: meatballs!!!
I celebrated my birthday at Evo a few weeks ago, and boy, was it the right choice. The gorgeous Mediterranean-meets-Maine cuisine, paired with the opportunity to people watch out the windows on Fore Street or cozy up to the chef’s counter, makes for the perfect elevated evening. I recently had the opportunity to interview head chef Matt Ginn, and his passion for local ingredients and making the most of season items is apparent in every dish he cooks.
Evo offers a rotating menu of spreads, vegetable-forward plates, meats, and fish, along with a handful of desserts. The Mediterranean dishes are spectacular (the lamb kebab and chicken shawarma are fan favorites) and one person I dined with said the bluefin tuna was the best she’s ever had. Be sure to order the chickpea fries, which our waiter compared to mozzarella sticks (crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside), along with the almond, garlic, and potato skordalia dip with fresh pita. If you’re feeling extra adventurous (or just can’t decide on what to order), spring for the tasting menu and let Chef Matt make the choices for you.
Great for: birthdays, celebrations, date night, people watching, tasting menu, Mediterranean, dog-friendly patio
📍443 Fore Street
Update: Petite Jacqueline Owners Michelle and Steve Corry have announced that they will be selling Petite Jacqueline. September is their final month of service under the Corry’s ownership. In a statement made online, that “someone that is equally passionate about French food and culture will continue their vision.”
Parlez-vous français? Petite Jacqueline is Portland’s go-to French bistro, with no knowledge of the French language required. Named after owner Michelle Corry’s grandmother, who was born in a small suburb of Paris, the quaint bistro serves classic takes on French comfort food like steak frites, chicken liver mousse, duck confit, and ratatouille. With 24 hours’ notice, you can even order a raclette feast complete with salad, charcuterie, house pickles, baguette, potatoes, and deliciously melty cheese.
The wine and digestif menu at Petite Jacqueline is extensive, and their local take on cocktails and mocktails earns them a place in our hearts (Peaks Island Iced Tea, anyone?). Wednesday through Monday, stop by for Happy Hour from 4:30-6 to enjoy discounted drinks along with $2 oysters, $10 crepes, and more.
Great for: French cuisine, bistro vibes, cocktails and mocktails, dinner, happy hour
📍46 Market Street
