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Franciska Wine Bar

4.6 (13 reviews)
Closed • Closed
Updated 3 months ago

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MacKenzie S.

I can't rave enough about this place. It is very small and the vibe inside is perfect. The staff was beyond friendly and our lovely waitress explained each wine to us so wonderfully (even though I was struggling to find the proper wine words). The food was impeccable. We came here for pre drinks prior to dinner and I immediately wished we just stayed here for dinner. The wine was some of the best I've ever had. I wish I lived in Portland because I would be a regular here.

Beet Salad
Stacey S.

My husband and I ate here with another couple on the first day of our vacation last week and we're both still talking about it. It was fantastic! I felt like we were dining at a beautiful little restaurant in a European city. The ambience is lovely. We were there on a Tuesday night and every table was occupied. I'm glad we made reservations, I'm not sure if we would have been able to get a table. Our server was very knowledgeable about their extensive wine list. I wasn't familiar with some of the wines so she made some recommendations throughout the night. We tried a couple reds and a rose, all perfect with our food choices. The food was incredible! Bread service started with sourdough and a side of soft, easy to spread, salted butter. The small plates were sized just right for sharing. We tried the beet salad first. I thought I died and went to heaven. If you like beets, this is a must try. We also tried the empanadas, the pastry shell was buttery deliciousness with a meat filling that had a slight kick. They were very good. We tried the mussels next. Had I been eating home alone, I would have drank the garlic broth from the bowl. Outstanding flavor! For our entrees, I had the halibut, best I've had in a long time. It was cooked perfectly with a side of roasted fingerling potatoes. My husband had the steak dish. He loved it. I tried it, too, and felt the same. We finished with the homemade flan. It was just right, not too sweet or syrupy. I am so happy we gave this place a chance! We can't wait to go back!

Burrata San Daniele (with prosciutto and romesco on toast)
Elena P.

Wow wow wow, just had my favorite meal thus far in Portland. Excellent service. Cute setup and decor, making the most of a small space. Excellent (and interesting!) wine list. Luscious small plates that we ordered many of and made a meal (great portions to share). Portland needs more gems like this with excellent small plates and wine lists so groups can share and truly enjoy breaking bread together. If I had to give a note, the pasta dish needed salt, but truly everything was beautiful, scrumptious, and service was great. We probably tried 8-10 different wines and not a single one disappointed. Already looking forward to returning! An excellent addition to the Portland food scene.

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3 months ago

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2 months ago

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1 day ago

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8 months ago

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10 months ago

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6 months ago

Amazing spot. The wine list is amazing, food is delicious, and the staff is very hospitable. Highly recommend.

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7 months ago

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Angoor Wine Bar

Angoor Wine Bar

4.2(29 reviews)
0.3 mi•Old Port

The staff is delightful and great you as you enter Angoor. They are excited to show you have to…read moreuse the facilities to try out their different wines and order snacks. The bar is clean, modern and the machines are fun. It was great to be able to get small servings of different wines and then a larger serving when you found something you like. But I found the wine servings to be expensive for the wines they were offering, and the selection had a limited variety that did not cover most of the wines that I prefer. So, I am still looking for the perfect wine bar in Portland.

I think Angoor's sweet spot is going to be with: a) people…read morewho know nothing about wine but are curious about learning more, b) people who know they like wine but don't want to spend money on full bottles to find their favorite, when a place like this offers "sample" sizes, c) longtime locals looking for something novel, d) bachelorette parties, e) corporate day trips, f) tourists staying at the very nearby Residence Inn. THE SPACE I agree with other reviewers both on Yelp and other platforms (sometimes we think what's being said here is isolated, when it's not): it's an immaculate space, yes, but also very sterile. There's no character or charm or distinct personality atmospherically: it's a white room with white marble tables and seven mini silver "kegoraters" (for lack of a better explanation) that dispense the wines. THE MENU When I visited, all the wines offered were listed on a packet of stapled together 8x11 papers (that had been previously written on by other customers): the font was tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiny and there was SO MUCH information to read about each one. I wonder if there's a more pithy way to share this because it's overwhelming as is - I would think especially to people new to wine. THE EXPERIENCE When you arrive you hand over your credit card and you are given a wine card. Walk up to any of the dispensers, tap your wine card on the machine (there's a little sensor on the left hand side by the first screen of the machine), then select the size pour you want (2, 4, or 6 oz) from the screen above the wine you want. The wine comes out *VERY* quickly after you make your decision, so make sure your wine glass is under the nozzle it needs to be. When you're finished, walk up to the counter, hand them the wine card, and they'll charge the credit card you gave them!

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Angoor Wine Bar
Angoor Wine Bar
Angoor Wine Bar

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Via Vecchia - Must try salad!

Via Vecchia

4.2(456 reviews)
0.2 mi•Old Port
•$$

This dinner was FANTASTIC…read more I had seen so many recommendations from TikTok and our experience met every one of our expectations. We walked in on a Wednesday and scored a spot outside. Our waitress, Hannah was absolutely incredible - quick, friendly and gave great advice. The entire staff was very helpful and cleared our plates, and brought our food and drinks quickly. The food was stellar- and don't think you can really go wrong with anything on the menu. Would 100% recommend this to anyone visiting Portland.

EXCELLENT pastas & dishes, and perfect for a night out! Reservations are highly recommended - we…read morecame on a Friday night during the off-season and had about a 25 min wait still. Via Vecchia was definitely worth the wait, and this was one of the most surprising restaurants during our trip. We ordered the brussel sprouts, grilled octopus, campanelle, and radiatori. The brussel sprouts was the one dish that I was most hesitant about, seeing that it was paired with a blueberry agrodolce. Not a typical combination, but this ended up being a favorite. The sweetness & tartness of the sauce worked SO well with the sprouts - it's an excellent dish. The octopus had the perfect char, and all of the flavor pairings were really cohesive. I had never heard of either of the pastas, but I loved the textures of both. The campanelle with nduja cream was delicious, but did get to be a little heavy about halfway through. Radiatori with bolognese was a classic but well executed dish. Service is attentive without being overbearing. Prices are super reasonable.

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Via Vecchia - More seating

More seating

Via Vecchia - Awful Bread

Awful Bread

Via Vecchia - Back lounge area

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Back lounge area

Central Provisions - Popover

Central Provisions

4.3(1.4k reviews)
0.2 mi•Old Port
•$$$

Dinner at Central Provisions was such a standout experience. The small plates format made it fun to…read moretry a variety of dishes, and everything felt thoughtful and well-executed. The flavors were creative without being overcomplicated, and each dish had something that made it memorable. The atmosphere struck a perfect balance--lively but still intimate enough to enjoy conversation. Service was attentive and knowledgeable, with great recommendations that really elevated the meal. Definitely one of those places you leave already thinking about what you'll order next time.

We were happy with the service and speed at which the small plates were delivered to us however…read morethere was a small instance where we got a dish we didn't order (not pictured and it was the special). The lemon sole (fish) and octopus carpaccio (not pictured) were filled with flavor! The pork belly was very underwhelming and I would not order again. The waiter said 2-4 plates per person. I recommend starting on the lower end and adding additional dishes based on how you're feeling. The amount of food was very different from dish to dish. For example the tuna dip had way too much bread and the pork belly was very small in size. Overall I was half impressed. I wish the staff would take a moment to announce the plate as it's placed next to you or point it out on the menu for those hard of hearing and wanting to know what they are about to enjoy. However the music, overall restaurant vibe and half the dishes exploding with flavor made my experience pleasant and I will return again knowing a bit more of what to expect and looking at photos of the menu/meal options beforehand.

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Central Provisions - Open kitchen

Open kitchen

Central Provisions - CP Frites

CP Frites

Central Provisions - Cold Fashioned

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Cold Fashioned

Scales - Seafood stew

Scales

4.3(1.2k reviews)
0.2 mi•Old Port
•$$$

Loved everything about this restaurant. The decor was…read morecostal casual with wood beam accents, a rustic feel. The service was on point. Our server was very helpful and attentive. I dont eat seafood but I keep trying .He gave me a couple of suggestions and explained why he picked the dishes he suggested. I ended up ordering the carrot appetizer. It had a middle eastern flair, the flavors popped and it was one of my favorite dishes while in Portland. My entree was the potato crusted cod over a lemon cream shaved brussel sprout sauce. The cod was mild and flakes. The lemon brussel sprout mixture was delicious. This dish made me a fan of cod. I also added the garlic butter rolls. I saw them going by and they were a great add on. Soft, warm with delicious melted herb butter. Scales is a winener on every point. Definitely a must go to.

Unfortunately Scales did not live up to the hype for us. While we were seated right away at 7pm for…read moreour reservation, the rest of the service during the evening could have been better. Our server described to us the specials for appetizers but never said anything about entree specials (maybe there weren't any?). We ordered the cloverleaf rolls, a cup of clam chowder, a cup of lobster bisque, and the maine mussels before our entrees. Both the clam chowder and the lobster bisque were just ok.. nothing special. The bisque was too sweet and had very little lobster. The mussels were the highlight of the meal. The sauce of cider, mustard and dill was very interesting and had deep flavor. The bread served with the mussels was also delicious. The cloverleaf rolls were great too, but perhaps a little too soggy/greasy from the butter at the bottom of the skillet. For our entrees we had the scallops and the halibut. The scallops were delicious- nicely seared and served with mushrooms and a green pea sauce which was bright and flavorful. The halibut however was not my favorite. The fish itself was cooked very well with a crispy skin, but it was swimming in brown butter and hazelnuts and lacked depth of flavor. It also seemed like an odd choice of flavors for a spring menu. It was served with potatoes that needed a bit more salt. We were too full for dessert and also didn't finish our meals. We sat around for a fairly long time not touching our meals without the server checking on us. Eventually we had to flag them down to get boxes and pay the check. While the ambiance was very nice, for the price and the reputation we expected more. Everything else we have eaten in Portland so far has been fantastic so it was a bit of a letdown.

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Scales - Open concept kitchen

Open concept kitchen

Scales - Buckwheat brownie

Buckwheat brownie

Scales - Peach & Blueberry Cobbler

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Peach & Blueberry Cobbler

Franciska Wine Bar - wine_bars - Updated May 2026

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