Portland, Maine: Secret Foodie City

When most people think of Portland, Maine images of lobster boats and lighthouses most likely come to mind. Maine is synonymous with the traditional New England Yankee style of beach culture and life. But did you also know that Portland consistently ranks as one of the best foodie cities in America?

And we’re not talking chowder and clam rolls here. There are many high quality restaurants in Portland, so many in fact, that there are actual culinary and ‘foodie’ tours offered around the city.

Restaurants

Portland has a number of nationally known restaurants:

Duckfat: They call themselves a sandwich shop, but Duckfat is known for its fries. Arguably some of the best French fries in America, in fact.

Hot Suppa: If you want to start your day off right, then stop by Hot Suppa for breakfast. Best thing on the menu: their handmade corned beef hash.

Local 188: A fun and funky little tapas place, Local 188 has a great laid back atmosphere that focuses on the food. For some of their best bets, try the paella or short ribs.

Breweries

Portland is also a booming city for breweries as well. From the tiniest microbrews to well-known brands, Portland will keep a beer lover coming back for more.

Gritty McDuff’s Brew Pub: A Portland institution, Gritty’s has been brewing beer since the late 1980s and never disappoints. Consistently titled the best microbrew in Maine, they are a stop on any tour.

Allagash: Another popular brewery out of Portland, Allagash can be found in almost half of the US. Known for its Belgium style brews, you can miss trying one of the beers in its Tribute series, which gives a $1 donation for each bottle sold to a Maine organization.

D.L. Geary’s: The London Porter is the beer that put Geary’s on the map, so make sure to give that a try. And if you are in Portland during the week, give a call over to the brewery to see if they are offering tours.