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Food was great. Drinks are great. Was very satisfied with our experience here last night. We had the steak which came with fries and greens, and the bolognese, which were all fantastic. The star of show, however, was the butternut squash. Might be a top 5 restaurant here in Portland for me. Service was great, friendly people. Ambiance was cozy. It felt good to be here. Honorable mention: the flautas on the starters menu
Wow, I can't stop thinking about this delicious watermelon and mango salad that I had the other day at Isa Bistro. It was next level. They served this as a special that day and it was deliciously cool in a few ways. It had a fantastic balance of sweet and sour, the sour provided some pickled cucumbers. I followed this up with their bolognese on their house made pappardelle. The fresh pasta had just the right tooth and the bolognese went well with a nice glass of Pinot Noir. The service was on top of everything. This place is doing it right!
We were in town for a concert and realized quickly that there were two additional shows that night so lots of places were full. We lucked into a counter spot at Isa Bistro. Our server was the bartender and she was very attentive and helped us with the selections from the specials menu. Isa is cute inside, comfortable, and well decorated without being over the top. The short rib special was really amazing, as were the Salt cod fritters. My partner really enjoyed her eggplant lasagne and marveled over the many layers. This is a great spot!
A solid 10/10! If you are in Portland, Maine, make time for Isa Bistro. The food is outstanding from start to finish. The pork chops were cooked perfectly and full of flavor. The eggplant lasagne was every bit as good as the lasagne we enjoyed in Florence, Italy. Be sure to order dessert. The tres leches cake is moist and sweet without being heavy, and the mascarpone cheesecake is creamy and smooth. The service matches the food. Our waiter was top notch, friendly and attentive throughout the meal. Isa Bistro offers a welcoming atmosphere and memorable dishes that make it well worth a visit.
Went here for our anniversary dinner, which they remembered with the reservation! The meal ended with a scoop of a salted caramel creme fraiche ice cream (with a candle) - absolutely insanely delicious! We made reservations for the bar at about 5pm - wasn't super busy, bartender was kind but not hovering. The beet/grapefruit goat cheese salad was lovely along with the octopus - so tender and satisfying. The lobster & crab squid ink pasta was nothing like I've ever had - so flavorful yet light and not fishy! The pork w gnocchi also had an incredible sauce that I couldn't quite fathom. GET the focaccia!!! The bread had a super open structure, was moist, and a must have to soak up the sauces! Everything was seasoned to perfection and not overly salted. Easy free parking at the back. After dinner we ended up driving somewhere for ice cream. Unless you know the area, I don't think this is exactly the neighborhood to take a stroll around after dinner. There's a park a couple blocks away with a sizable homeless population- I haven't bad interactions or anything, but the streets seemed pretty trashy and smelled like urine.
Fantastic lunch, which they only do on Friday. We got the crab cake salad and the lobster tostada. Both were delicious. I would definitely return to n my next trip and try coming for dinner.
From the moment I walked in, I felt the coziness of this restaurant. I sat at the bar, and the bartender was very welcoming and insightful on the menu. I ordered the Caesar salad, the Bolognese and the focaccia. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to someone visiting Portland, Maine.
Isa is a cozy space with an interior reminiscent of a small yet elegant European cafe, and with the menu of a locally-sourced, high-end, yet classic restaurant. Service was prompt and friendly, and the ambience was a great mix of both lively (lots of regular customers, yet an older crowd) and serene (natural lighting, quaint space, beautiful checkered marble (?) floors). What was delicious: Lobster Tostada (complete with avocado mousse), their focaccia with herbed butter, and the citrus/burrata salad. Any of their mocktails (of which there are many!) are also wonderful. What was meh: the house cut fries. Pretty average, nothing special. Regardless, Isa is most definitely an underrated spot that deserves more recognition in Portland's thriving food scene! Great for groups, visitors, or a nice dinner with the 'rents.
Absolutely delightful, quaint, locally-sourced and delicious bistro that (in my opinion) is very much slept on in the Portland food scene! I dined here with my mom during her visit to Portland and she wouldn't stop talking about this place -- it really set the bar for everywhere else we ate. The restaurant interior is cute, cozy, and refined. We were lucky enough to sit in the covered patio area outside, which is also a lovely set up. And the service here is standout: everyone was incredibly warm, we were checked on often, the food was well-paced, and they swapped out our plates after every dish. As for food: we ordered the house focaccia, a salad, the grilled octopus, scallops, and eggplant lasagna. You really can't go wrong here. Everything was fresh and balanced and elevated. Our favorites were the scallops, which were so tender, and the eggplant lasagna (so good!). We also ordered the seasonal blueberry cheesecake, which came with fresh blueberries on top and a sprig of thyme. Like everything else, it was gorgeous to look at, meticulously crafted, and delicious. Highly recommend - I can't wait to be back!
"A real cheeseburger. Not some fancy, deconstructed, affluent bullshit, a *real* cheeseburger." -The Menu Table for 1 There are few things as priceless as biting into a cheeseburger that someone didn't ruin trying to reimagine it. It's a cheeseburger, the simpler the better and Isa (like everything else on their menu) executed it flawlessly with their smash burger. Two thin patties covered cheese, thinly sliced house made pickles, tomato and shredded lettuce. Served with a side of fries accompanied by their guajillo aioli. I'm not much of a french fry person, but in this case I used them as a vessel to consume the aioli without looking like a total weirdo. The burger was juicy, not overly greasy, the assembly, perfect! Every flavor illuminating your palette exactly when it was supposed to. Yes it's "just a cheeseburger" the the simplicity of it is what makes it a masterpiece. And yes of course I got the octopus, I can't go to Isa and not order it, I can barely drive by and not get the damn octopus! It's stunning EVERY time. If I were asked what I could eat every day the rest of my life and not get sick of it, here's the answer.
The best friendships are ones where you have not seen each other for over 7 years but pick up exactly where you left off as if no time has passed. It means traveling over 7 hrs each way by plane and car or by bus to meet up. It means sharing every dish at Isa Bistro so we can all try more of the menu. My friend who is a regular visitor of Maine picked this spot for our first dinner together and she definitely picked a winner. We started with a marinaded citrus and burrata salad which is perfectly balanced between the richer burrata and the refreshing citrus and arugula. The salt cod fritters are flavorful and bursting with flavor. The duck confit tostada special was loaded with shredded duck with the toppings a perfect complement. Pan seared branzino was the lighter of the two entrees we chose while the braised local short rib pasta was much richer. However, the addition of the sautéed broccolini side was the perfect accompaniment and was as spot on as all the other dishes and not an afterthought. Chocolate pie and dulce de leche were both hits and perfect for sharing. Great food with even better company made this a most memorable dinner.
4 months ago
This place is stellar! We were actually pretty blown away. It's very small and quaint inside with somewhat of an open kitchen concept. The drinks behind the bar were wonderful but the food really stole the show. The Lobster Tostada is so unique and just a perfect combination of textures and flavors. The avocado mousse is so buttery and light - I've never had anything quite like it. I'm not sure what I was expecting the Beet & Avocado Salad to be like, but it definitely surprised me. I don't usually love beets but this was fabulous! They were very light and not overpowering at all! Definitely a must try! read more
5 months ago
I would give this place 10 stars. The food here is that good! Our starters were a Caesar salad, lobster tostada and the watermelon salad special. The seemingly ordinary Caesar salad had a wonderful house made dressing and clean tasting white anchovies - meaning not oily nor super salty. The lobster tostada had several layers of flavors and textures each sooo delicious! And finally the watermelon salad had the red and yellow watermelons, peaches and pickled rinds- just amazing. My husband ordered the steak entree- beautifully prepared steak tender and juicy and house cut fries - oh so good. We also ordered the.cod fritters which were the best versions that I've had outside of Lisbon. For dessert it had to be the coconut cream pie - again wonderful! Don't miss this spot in Portland! A big plus - they have parking next door- free. read more
18 days ago
Food was great. Drinks are great. Was very satisfied with our experience here last night. We had the steak which came with fries and greens, and the bolognese, which were all fantastic. The star of show, however, was the butternut squash. Might be a top 5 restaurant here in Portland for me. Service was great, friendly people. Ambiance was cozy. It felt good to be here. Honorable mention: the flautas on the starters menu read more
2 months ago
Wow, I can't stop thinking about this delicious watermelon and mango salad that I had the other day at Isa Bistro. It was next level. They served this as a special that day and it was deliciously cool in a few ways. It had a fantastic balance of sweet and sour, the sour provided some pickled cucumbers. I followed this up with their bolognese on their house made pappardelle. The fresh pasta had just the right tooth and the bolognese went well with a nice glass of Pinot Noir. The service was on top of everything. This place is doing it right! read more
We were in town for a concert and realized quickly that there were two additional shows that night so lots of places were full. We lucked into a counter spot at Isa Bistro. Our server was the bartender and she was very attentive and helped us with the selections from the specials menu. Isa is cute inside, comfortable, and well decorated without being over the top. The short rib special was really amazing, as were the Salt cod fritters. My partner really enjoyed her eggplant lasagne and marveled over the many layers. This is a great spot! read more
2 months ago
Absolutely phenomenal! The tagliatelle bolognese was hands down the best pasta dish I've ever eaten in my life. We'll definitely be back!! read more
28 days ago
25 days ago
1 year ago
A solid 10/10! If you are in Portland, Maine, make time for Isa Bistro. The food is outstanding from start to finish. The pork chops were cooked perfectly and full of flavor. The eggplant lasagne was every bit as good as the lasagne we enjoyed in Florence, Italy. Be sure to order dessert. The tres leches cake is moist and sweet without being heavy, and the mascarpone cheesecake is creamy and smooth. The service matches the food. Our waiter was top notch, friendly and attentive throughout the meal. Isa Bistro offers a welcoming atmosphere and memorable dishes that make it well worth a visit. read more
Went here for our anniversary dinner, which they remembered with the reservation! The meal ended with a scoop of a salted caramel creme fraiche ice cream (with a candle) - absolutely insanely delicious! We made reservations for the bar at about 5pm - wasn't super busy, bartender was kind but not hovering. The beet/grapefruit goat cheese salad was lovely along with the octopus - so tender and satisfying. The lobster & crab squid ink pasta was nothing like I've ever had - so flavorful yet light and not fishy! The pork w gnocchi also had an incredible sauce that I couldn't quite fathom. GET the focaccia!!! The bread had a super open structure, was moist, and a must have to soak up the sauces! Everything was seasoned to perfection and not overly salted. Easy free parking at the back. After dinner we ended up driving somewhere for ice cream. Unless you know the area, I don't think this is exactly the neighborhood to take a stroll around after dinner. There's a park a couple blocks away with a sizable homeless population- I haven't bad interactions or anything, but the streets seemed pretty trashy and smelled like urine. read more
1 year ago
Fantastic lunch, which they only do on Friday. We got the crab cake salad and the lobster tostada. Both were delicious. I would definitely return to n my next trip and try coming for dinner. read more
From the moment I walked in, I felt the coziness of this restaurant. I sat at the bar, and the bartender was very welcoming and insightful on the menu. I ordered the Caesar salad, the Bolognese and the focaccia. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to someone visiting Portland, Maine. read more
Isa is a cozy space with an interior reminiscent of a small yet elegant European cafe, and with the menu of a locally-sourced, high-end, yet classic restaurant. Service was prompt and friendly, and the ambience was a great mix of both lively (lots of regular customers, yet an older crowd) and serene (natural lighting, quaint space, beautiful checkered marble (?) floors). What was delicious: Lobster Tostada (complete with avocado mousse), their focaccia with herbed butter, and the citrus/burrata salad. Any of their mocktails (of which there are many!) are also wonderful. What was meh: the house cut fries. Pretty average, nothing special. Regardless, Isa is most definitely an underrated spot that deserves more recognition in Portland's thriving food scene! Great for groups, visitors, or a nice dinner with the 'rents. read more
Absolutely delightful, quaint, locally-sourced and delicious bistro that (in my opinion) is very much slept on in the Portland food scene! I dined here with my mom during her visit to Portland and she wouldn't stop talking about this place -- it really set the bar for everywhere else we ate. The restaurant interior is cute, cozy, and refined. We were lucky enough to sit in the covered patio area outside, which is also a lovely set up. And the service here is standout: everyone was incredibly warm, we were checked on often, the food was well-paced, and they swapped out our plates after every dish. As for food: we ordered the house focaccia, a salad, the grilled octopus, scallops, and eggplant lasagna. You really can't go wrong here. Everything was fresh and balanced and elevated. Our favorites were the scallops, which were so tender, and the eggplant lasagna (so good!). We also ordered the seasonal blueberry cheesecake, which came with fresh blueberries on top and a sprig of thyme. Like everything else, it was gorgeous to look at, meticulously crafted, and delicious. Highly recommend - I can't wait to be back! read more
"A real cheeseburger. Not some fancy, deconstructed, affluent bullshit, a *real* cheeseburger." -The Menu Table for 1 There are few things as priceless as biting into a cheeseburger that someone didn't ruin trying to reimagine it. It's a cheeseburger, the simpler the better and Isa (like everything else on their menu) executed it flawlessly with their smash burger. Two thin patties covered cheese, thinly sliced house made pickles, tomato and shredded lettuce. Served with a side of fries accompanied by their guajillo aioli. I'm not much of a french fry person, but in this case I used them as a vessel to consume the aioli without looking like a total weirdo. The burger was juicy, not overly greasy, the assembly, perfect! Every flavor illuminating your palette exactly when it was supposed to. Yes it's "just a cheeseburger" the the simplicity of it is what makes it a masterpiece. And yes of course I got the octopus, I can't go to Isa and not order it, I can barely drive by and not get the damn octopus! It's stunning EVERY time. If I were asked what I could eat every day the rest of my life and not get sick of it, here's the answer. read more
4 months ago
The best friendships are ones where you have not seen each other for over 7 years but pick up exactly where you left off as if no time has passed. It means traveling over 7 hrs each way by plane and car or by bus to meet up. It means sharing every dish at Isa Bistro so we can all try more of the menu. My friend who is a regular visitor of Maine picked this spot for our first dinner together and she definitely picked a winner. We started with a marinaded citrus and burrata salad which is perfectly balanced between the richer burrata and the refreshing citrus and arugula. The salt cod fritters are flavorful and bursting with flavor. The duck confit tostada special was loaded with shredded duck with the toppings a perfect complement. Pan seared branzino was the lighter of the two entrees we chose while the braised local short rib pasta was much richer. However, the addition of the sautéed broccolini side was the perfect accompaniment and was as spot on as all the other dishes and not an afterthought. Chocolate pie and dulce de leche were both hits and perfect for sharing. Great food with even better company made this a most memorable dinner. read more
2 years ago
My husband and I loved everything about our evening here! It's a small restaurant. I'm not sure how many tables, maybe a dozen or so and there is seating at the bar. We had a reservation and were seated right away. Logan was our server and he's good at his job! He was very personable and gave opinions on menu items when asked. The menu isn't big, but it's good. I literally could have licked my plate clean - but I didn't. Every dish we had was so good. There was so much flavor packed into every bite. We also shared a piece of Warm Mexican Spiced Chocolate Cake but I forgot to take a photo of it. I highly recommend checking Isa out if you're in the area! read more
5 months ago
1 year ago
3 months ago
Very impressed with this restaurant. We got the grilled octopus and the special oxtail tostada appetizers. For entrees, we got the branzino and special ribeye with mushrooms. Every flavor was fresh and balanced with lovely herb flavors and thoughtful components. Delicious combinations of simple ingredients, but still surprising how delicious and complex. Great staff and a cozy space. read more
2 years ago
Impressed first timer. The halibut and sole were both fresh and delicate. Attentive service and great cocktails. The restaurant is small and can be a little loud for most folks. read more
1 year ago
Delicious Friday lunch here recently! Octopus is very good and a popular appetizer. Mom had schnitzel special, and I enjoyed a classic Cubano sandwich (so side). We each had one non alcoholic beverage and shared a delectable slice of mango cheesecake. Bill was around $100. read more
It was perfect. Start to finish. Unpretentious Great relaxed vibe. I started with the meatballs marinara. Light. Beautiful. Then moved on to the eggplant lasagna. Again, light delightful. The clean simply prepared food does all the talking. Wish I lived in Maine We sat at the bar. Great service read more
1 year ago
5 months ago
Restaurant was small but welcoming. Food was good. Prices are rather high in Portland and Isa is comparable to the competition. Food was solid. I with the wbg selection was larger but all was good with what I chose. We were lucky to find parking behind the restaurant. Server was good. read more
1 year ago
Isa Bistro is my all time favorite restaurant, hands down. The food is...it's not an exaggeration to say that every meal I have here is the best meal I've ever had. What Chef Perez is doing here is something truly special. The attention to detail, the love in the food, it's second to none. Portland is such a foodie town and how this place has managed to fly under the radar is just beyond me. Whether it's for special occasions or just an early bite at the bar, Isa is always my go-to. I live in Greater Boston and will drive the two hours to eat here with zero hesitation. The service is excellent, the bartenders are engaging and skilled, and the local, friendly vibe round out the place. Go immediately and get everything. read more
3 years ago
Isa Bistro turned out to be more than a little off the beaten path, but we had such an outstanding dining experience that I'm really glad I let Yelp point the way here :-) The service was outstanding, and the ambiance was warm and homey. We began our meal by sharing a Caesar salad, then we shared the eggplant lasagna and the crab linguine. The lasagna was excellent, and the linguine was wonderful, with plentiful chunks of crab and a subtlety delicious flavor. We finished the meal by sharing a piece of blueberry cheesecake for dessert; it was the perfect ending to a wonderful meal! read more
6 months ago
There's really not much more you can say about this jewel. It's the standard for Portland fine cuisine that's been here before most of the rest. Excellent service, perfect presentation, unique taste. Everything always a hit. We should just come more often! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
ISA--Great Find Spent a few days in Maine and were fortunate to discover a great family run neighborhood bistro called Isa. The food and service were truly amazing, so we ate there two nights in a row on our trip. The Lobster Tostada and Crispy Potato Taquitos were fun appetizers, for our meal we enjoyed the Seared Duck, Short-rib Pasta and the amazing Eggplant Lasagna. A true find, hope that you wil enjoy it as much as our family did. read more
3 years ago
Absolutely rockstar meal. Cute, homey space. Fast and helpful service. Starters: Grilled octopus (8/10) Succulent octopus, bright and fresh flavors. My only critique is the balance of oil -- I could have done with less. Duck tostada (10/10) Completely addictive. The acid / fat balance was so refreshing, while still punching with the umami flavor. Drinks: Whisky despair (10/10) Amazing pear flavor! Night owl (10/10) The best fall cocktail I've ever had. Knockout drink choice for cinnamon lovers! Also, nice wine selection -- we had a lovely red with our entrees. Entrees: Pork chop (9/10) Perfectly cooked chop with a gorgeous sauce. The mushrooms were the perfect pairing -- with a slight curried aftertaste. My only critique was that the polenta could have been more flavorful! Short rib pasta (10/10) My favorite of the night. Nice Al Dente pasta with a fatty yet balanced sauce. A big bowl of comfort! Focaccia (8/10) No frills, just nice bread. Dessert: Coconut cream pie (10/10): Very generous slice. The chocolate ganache was a lovely addition to a classic pie. Well toasted coconut topping to bring that added texture. read more
3 years ago
Isa was a dream. This was not the first time I've been, but the first time in a year or so and I was delighted to return. They have a relatively new outdoor seating area which is beautiful, gated in and decorated with warm string lights, it felt like an escape from the city. I started my meal with a delicious Blueberry Lemonade - so good! They have a good selection of mocktails which was awesome. The appetizer portion of the menu was so enticing that we ordered 3 appetizers, split a salad, and split an entree. Oh and dessert! it was a total treat! For appetizers we had the delicious lobster tostada, the corn dish, and a mackerel special that day. My favorite (closely followed by the mackerel) was the lobster tostada. Brown butter lobster with avocado - fresh and unique. You try a lot of lobster apps/new ways to do lobster here in Portland, and this one was a success. We split a Caesar salad with a delicious house made Caesar dressing and spiced croutons - it was really nice! The entree was the best part for me, you may not know this, but very few Portland restaurants do a vodka sauce (no idea why, but it's hard to find!) vodka sauce is one of my FAVORITE Italian meals - this was homemade linguine, housemade vodka sauce that was creamy and multi-layered in flavor, fresh burrata (!!!) and an awesome touch was the bread crumbs. I've been dreaming about this dish ever since. Our waiter was so kind. We talked for a while about our favorite fish entrees and he showed excitement in explaining the menu. Patient and understanding. And you HAVE to top off the night with their Marscapone cheesecake. Another absolute dream. I miss this cheesecake. One of (maybe THE) best cheesecake I've ever had. I had it with a nice cup of Nellie's tea (a local brand). What an amazing night, quiet and relaxing, with incredible flavors. read more
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More info about Isa Bistro
79 Portland St
Portland, ME 04101
West Bayside
Directions
(207) 808-8533
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http://isaportlandme.com/
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Ask the Community - Isa Bistro
Is parking available?
Hello. We do have four parking spaces in the lot behind our building and there is also street…
We are visiting for the week, will we need reservations?
I don't think isa does reservations for non-holidays. I've called ahead to get my name on the list if I'm thinking it's going to be busy.
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