I. AM. OBSESSED. We spent Valentine's Day at Benny's because they were one of the few spots in town that wasn't doing a pre-fixe menu, which is usually a hit-or-miss experience (mostly a miss) for us and tends to be incredibly expensive. It was our first time at Benny's and I already can't wait to go back! For the food, think classic Italian meets Philly street food with a couple of faaaancy twists (10/10 martinis!). We wanted to try everything on the menu, but sadly sometimes you have to make choices in life. The orecchiette was to die for. It came with a yummy house-made pork sausage and PLENTY of parmesan. The rigatoni alla vodka was also really good, but don't skip adding the chicken cutlet because that truly elevated it. And the apps were also 10/10 (honestly, what wasn't?). We had freshly baked garlic knots and Ramona's meatballs, and if you had to make me choose between my favorite, I'd choose death because how can you even decide between two perfect dishes?!?! Lastly, the tiramisu may have been the best one I've had in years. Sea salt sprinkled on top?! Genius. Don't even get me started on the vibe and decor. The place has been meticulously curated, and there's nothing I love more than a place with character. The Italian and Philly motifs, the art, all of it. What an experience. I can't wait to go back. read more

See all

I had heard mixed things about Benny's. One comment that stood out to me was, "There's nothing particularly memorable about it, it could be any old restaurant in NYC or Boston." But I wanted to see this space for myself; it's definitely much brighter inside than the previous restaurant was. White painted brick walls, white light sconces, white and gray tiled floor, lots of picture frames featuring various Philadelphia sports/famous people/landmarks, bar seating to the left, to the right low tables against a moss green bench that runs the length of the wall. Obviously they were going for a particular Italian restaurant and delicatessen aesthetic. Weirdly, it felt slightly grungy despite being a "newer" restaurant. Our intention was to come for dinner, but - for lack of a better explanation - the vibes were off. The restaurant had a strange smell; despite plenty of seating, they put us at the last two seats at the bar near the bussing area so there were people constantly coming and going directly next to me; the bartender was not particularly friendly or interested in answering our questions or checking on us; and, the drinks were lackluster. My friend got a (neon green colored; why was it so green?!) Hugo Spritz with elderflower and mint; I got a Jungle Bird made with dark rum, campari, pineapple, and citrus. They were okay; I wouldn't get either again. For me, Benny's missed the mark, but lots of folks seem to love it so... enjoy! read more

Food is great, comforting, fresh, homemade. Warm, fun atmosphere. Go! PS- garlic pretzel knots are a MUST! read more

We had the absolute best meal at Benny's! The Caesar salad may be the best I've had... and Schyler the bartender took amazing care of us and made our meal extra special read more

Service: incredible service. The male bar tender although at first seemed quiet and maybe could be taken as uninterested quickly opened up. The female bartender was happy and talkative from the start. Attentive, caring, and the owner was even getting into conversation. Beautiful people in a beautiful establishment. Ambiance/atmosphere: idk where to begin. It is perfect. Everything you would want in a casual fine dining experience. Dim, but bright while Being quiet but so full of life. The bar was perfect and the seated tables have perfect space and comfortability. Bar seats aren't known to be all that comfortable, but I could have sat there all night. The type of place you could have a first, second, and even a wedding night date, but also feel comfortable enough to talk sports. Food: This food was so incredible that I attended 3 times. I was in Portland for a week and ate there 3 out of those 7 days. After the first meal I knew I needed more. I even got food to go on my way to the airport, late for my flight but by no means worried. Worst case scenario I miss the flight and eat at Bennys again tomorrow is all I thought it myself. Unfortunately I made it. Let's Talk food Philly cheesesteak: as the owners were Philly Italians, you can imagine that it was perfect. The most amazing chewy, but crispy soft semolina stick with perfectly cooked 8oz shaved ribeye with cooper sharp melted in and all sitting in that perfect loaf of bread. This Philly was purchased all 3 times. Absolutely amazing. Chicken Parmesan: a perfectly crispy, Juicy, savory chicken cutlet underneath a perfect in house made marinara and mozzerela. The choice of a side salad that had the perfect dressing to go along with an amazing crisp fresh crunch.(also can be enjoyed with an amazing spaghetti). This masterpiece could also be served on another fresh baked semolina stick and you can imagine it just brought it to the next level. Truly a perfect chicken parm. I'll Be perfecting my cutlets until I can match these. Desserts: The tiramisu was perfect, the best I've ever had. It was creamy, rich, and had the most perfect coffee flavor. The best part is it was the perfect cool not cold temperature. Just amazing. Cannolis: Two very large cannolis come in an order and they're perfect. From the sweet, rich, but citrusy ricotta filling to the perfect crispy shell they were heaven in each bite. I got a second order my first time and my next two times I got 2 orders straight away. I'll be waiting to enjoy these again. Best cannolis around. Espresso martini is by far the best I've ever had. Highly recommend. My next trip to Portland, I'll definitely be reserving tables for each day that I'm there. Bennys I'll be back and that is a promise. read more

See all

I have been waiting patiently for my time to finally try out Bennys, as it seemed the perfect backdrop for a cold autumn night. Who wouldn't want a classic red sauce joint to hunker down in? Well the atmosphere exceeded all expectations. We went there on a Sunday night as a walk in and were seated in about 10 minutes. It is rather small so i could see this wait being very long on a busier weekend night. The food was incredible cozy italian. We started with the garlic bread which i think is much better steal than the garlic knots for the price. Then we got the meatballs and spaghetti, the mussels and linguine, while i went for the chicken parm with the caesar salad (it says house salad on the menu but you can sub for the caesar which is i think the superior choice is. Every last bite was consumed! my chicken cutlet was huge i could even share is amongst the table. The meatballs were huge! and the clams were wonderfully fresh. We were so full we left with a tiramisu and cannolis to go for later and these were also spectacular. Wait staff was so kind and great at checking in on you as well. Bennys is definitely worth a visit. My only reason this does not get 5 stars was because the food takes FOREVER to come out. The garlic bread came out right away and we waited at least 30 minutes for the entrees after that. I'm not sure if that is normal, but definitely not the place for a quick bite, make sure to have some time. We will be back again! read more

See all

Perfect vibe, extremely clean, friendly, great music, phenomenal drinks and melt in your mouth food makes this a definite go to! We will be back. read more

Benny's - Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

Oh Benny's everything begins and ends with the quality of the service and here it was wonderful. Every single person on the staff made my wife and I feel welcome and attended to while we waited. It's the kind of spot you can't wait to come back to. The food has been stellar every time and according to my wife the dirty martini is to die for. The steak and cheese hit it out of the park and even as a die hard Boston sports fan the Philly centric vibe is something special. I can't say enough great things about this place, and as an add on- the girl who worked the front of house deserves a raise because she was outstanding read more

Benny's - Spaghet and a dirty martini - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

This has been one of the spots to recently open that has been hyped up as a must try. Due to an event in the area my wife and I had no excuse but to check it out! Opened by the people behind Ramona's that I have not tried. They want to be a Philly inspired sandwich spot while also being a red-sauce joint. Their space is small with bar seating available while also offering tables too. Showing up right around open both options were available which we decided on a table. One side getting chair and the other booth style. It reminded my wife of a New York spot. Due to our event drink wise we stuck to just water that our waiter was attentive to refill the bottle when needed. Food-wise we started by splitting their mozzarella sticks and while tasty and seasoned well had almost no cheese pull to them and if you look at my reviews a different spot has amazing best I have had mozzarella sticks! Next time I would change and try their garlic knots. Entree wise I got the spaghetti and meatballs while my wife got the Fettuccine Bolognese. We both enjoyed our meals but they did not quite reach to being our favorite versions of that meal or pasta in general that results in the four stars. For the price point and only getting three meatballs it was a touch disappointing. I will say despite this they nailed their tiramisu that was the perfect ending to the meal! I hope they succeed and are successful in business! I think we need to return to try their sandwiches for a different take on it. Also I would come back for their pasta dishes but it will not become by go-to spot. Good addition to Portland just needs to improve in some ways to push me to thinking it's outstanding! read more

See all

What a cool, unique spot in Portland. We sat at the bar and the service was fantastic. We got the mozzarella sticks, the cheesesteak and the clam pasta. The mozzarella sticks were amazing and the cheesesteak was also fantastic. The pasta was okay. It was pretty busy in there so I suggest making a reservation. I will be back to try more of their food! read more

See all

Terrible. We went for restaurant week. Orichette was the most bitter tasting pasta dish I've ever tasted. Caesar dressing was way too thin and there was way too much of it. Chicken parm barely has cheese on it. Bartender acted like they were bothered to have to do their job. read more

Loved this new spot in downtown Portland! Benny's offers an intimate ambiance filled to the brim with Philadelphia nostalgia. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. The menu is a bit small but everything we had was really good. I ordered the chicken parm sandwich, overall it was fantastic. If I was being nitpicky, the chicken was a little dry at parts. My husband ordered the Philly cheesesteak and it could have used a little more cheese. However we were both very happy with our meals and left empty plates. read more

Benny's - Chicken parm sandwich - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

My friends and I ordered takeout from Benny's while running late to a show. We arrived earlier than expected with about 15 minutes to spare and asked the hostess if we could sit at the bar to eat our takeout and order drinks--she said yes. The bartender even gave us utensils. Moments later, another couple waiting for takeout sat next to us and were served drinks without issue. When a third friend joined, the hostess suddenly became uncomfortable and spoke with the manager. She returned to tell us the bar was "for dine-in only" and asked us to leave, saying, "I'm just telling you what my boss said." The owner, Josh Sobel, then came out with another staff member and loudly insisted that in all his years he had "never had anyone sit down after ordering takeout," even though the couple beside us had done the same. He declared it was "his fucking restaurant" and told us to leave. I calmly explained that we had asked permission, ordered drinks, and intended to tip as dine-in guests. The entire exchange left me feeling belittled and disrespected. We were there no longer than 15 minutes--the exact amount of time it would have taken for us to eat order a drink tip more money and leave. To make matters worse, the food was mediocre: my meatballs were oversalted, and the Balboa cocktail was bland and undrinkable. In a city like Portland, with SO many great restaurants with exceptional service I'd recommend spending your time and money anywhere else. read more

I love that they have a vegan sandwich option. It was delicious. The Caesar salad is really good as well. My dad enjoyed his chicken parm. The service is prompt and always friendly. It is a really cool old school vibes in thers. Def recommend making a reservation if you can because they are consistently busy. read more

Benny's - Vegan sandwich, chicken parm with Caesar salad on the side - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

Yes, this is the place! I knew the progeny from Ramona's and the South Philly Italian food scene, if done right, would be a hit. Might be a bit biased as a former East Falls resident but this is good, no nonsense, Sunday gravy type of spot. Meatballs - impeccable and smooth; chopped salad - great use of sharp provolone and tossed just right; the chicken parm is proper; and the drink menu highlights the beauty of Campari. Don't miss the Tiramisu either. Despite not being cash only, it feels like it should be and wouldn't be surprising to see a Sarcone's truck pull up to the back to drop off some bread. The decor is Philly to a T and is unpretentious like a longshoreman on the Delaware river. You won't be disappointed. It is a small spot so be sure to get a reservation if you can! read more

Benny's - Spaghetti and Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

This ain't you father's cheesesteak joint! And it's quite the opposite atmosphere of the dark Broken Arrow we sadly lost on that spot. Bright, airy, friendly and it could never be called pretentious. The feel was part diner, part bar, and the 2 TVs have MLB for Phillies games! The menu looked good and I was gonna try their cheesesteak (and ask to swap traditional provolone--whiz aside--for the stated cheddar) when I copied a neighbor's order of mussels, the daily special. It was a pesto sauce with fococcia, and both were outstanding! Some of the best I've had. Drinks? Well all I could say is the excellent Goldies martini cost $10, and it wasn't happy hour! And then dessert: tiramisu or cannoli. We got the latter and, again, seriously best cannoli in Maine. Apparently they have a pastry chef. And, uh, only $9...for TWO! Damn! Sure, the cheesesteak is like $19, but a pathetic Pat's steak in south philly is now $18!! read more

See all

sat at the bar towards the end of the evening on Bennys opening night - the establishment is so clean cut, it's a very soft, comfortable environment. the decor is awesome with vintage philadelphia photos and athletes. i tried the mozzarella sticks, they're huge ! the breading on them is a great texture. oregano is very present in the seasoning. the pretzel garlic knots were 10/10. two of my favorite things combined! the texture of the pretzel is spot on. a bit crusty exterior with a soft, sour doughy inside. the tiramisu was out of this world. very flavorful. great light, fluffy whipped topping and dense cake. read more

See all

Sooo good! Beautifully decorated, delicious food, fun atmosphere, friendly staff. We loved it and will definitely be back! read more

See all

Love love love this place. As a Philadelphian, it was a super cool vibe. Diner meets cool, hip restaurant. read more

See all

The food was well worth the wait!!!! The service was so welcoming. Pretty hip place. Loved all of it!!!! read more

See all

This spot is a really cool vibe, the drinks are great, and everything was delicious! I am already looking forward to going back and trying their other food soon. The team there were also all great! read more

Benny's - Spritz and the menus - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

Food was real solid. Cocktails were on point. Service was great. Love the decor. Good portions. Would recommend for good casual Italian. read more

Not great. The chicken Parm sandwich was not a good quality piece of chicken. It was breaded in what I believe are the salty, highly oregano spiced, Progressive brand breadcrumbs. It was a dried out piece of white meat chicken, and the sandwich taste was overwhelmed by the oregano on the chicken breading. There was hardly any tomato sauce and very little cheese. There's a place in Atlanta I frequent called Capozzi's-it's owned by two Italian brothers from New York. Their chicken Parm sub beats Benny's hands down, no contest. Sorry Benny's, but your chicken Parm sandwich needs work. read more

If I could give 10 stars I would. As a guy born and raised in South Philadelphia and have eaten many of meals in South Philly, Little Italy NYC, Brooklyn, Arthur Ave in the Bronx and the North End this place ranks high on the list. Totally legit food, service and ambiance. I would say it's cross between Villa di Roma (old school) and Pesto (tasty, quality and service) for you Philly peeps. The chopped salad, chicken parm, eggplant parm and cannoli's were all incredible. Take my advice when in Portland Benny's is a must. Josh you represented Philly proudly. Keep up the great work. I would make the 6 1/2 hour drive just to eat here again. read more

This place rips, we wandered in hoping to seat 4 without a reservation (bold, I know) and they were incredibly accommodating. The food was great, very excited to see seitan on the menu (no deep fried tofu mess here.) Things came out quick, wine selection was great, and Mayzie was fantastic; super attentive and helpful in choosing menu options. Keep it up! read more

Absolutely loved this place! I loved the vibe inside, the service was amazing and the meatballs were probably the best meatballs I have ever had. Meatballs, pretzel garlic knots and the cannolis are a must have. Such a great spot, and will be going again for sure before I leave town! read more

What a great find in Portland!! Fantastic food, great service and very friendly staff! I learned that many of the dishes were designed by the head chef! Well done chef! Great place!! I will be back!! read more

The food! We had four pastas, an eggplant parm, and garlic bread. Only the bread was good.

I wish this place was open in the day. Really dope Cheesesteak and excellent Negronis. Nice vibe. Service cool as well.

We had a lovely time at Bennys! Eggplant delicious! Bartender super nice! Cesar yummy! Great ambiance!