Wow, this place is a hidden gem. Slightly off the beaten path but 100% worth the walk out of old port. Delicious and delicate drinks, phenomenal food and service. I am someone who only reviews places that truly deserve it and this is one of them. If you go to Portland, do not skip!!! Our group enjoyed the bistro steak, spring gnocchi, bolognese, cod fritters, and Caesar salad. All were fantastic. Thank you for an amazing meal. We will be back!! 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

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Isa is the reason you go out to a restaurant. The service is wonderful, it's a beautiful setting, and the food and drinks are perfect! I went here for brunch today with my young kids and elderly parents and everyone had the best time. It's hard to find a place that appeals to different age groups like that, but Isa truly stands out. The owners are real hosts and have created something special. I hadn't visited in a couple of years, but Isa has always remained in my mind as one of the best restaurants in Portland - and they certainly (still) are! I have totally been missing out and can't wait to go back again soon. The French toast, lobster tostada, Gruyère crepe & cod fritters were crazy good. Even the coffee, fries and scrambled eggs were on a different level. Thank you, Isa! read more

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

Isa Bistro - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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

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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

Isa Bistro - Crab cake salad - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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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

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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

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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

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"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

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They're spot on with the locally sourced food, uniquely crafted menu, and friendly service. I went here with some coworkers and we were left stunned. Again, we went on the earlier side of dinner around 5pm in the off season (fall/winter) and were seated right away. The interior is cozy and reminds me of a small hole in the wall European bistro. Give Isa a try! read more

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

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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

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This is a delightful bistro, we thoroughly enjoyed it. My scrambled eggs were the delicious I've ever eaten. We also enjoyed the friendly service. We highly recommend Isa Bistro! read more

We keep coming back. Never disappointed. Food is always perfectly cooked. A good balance of creative and comfort dining. The only thing I need is to have some pie as dessert back! read more

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

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That was legitimately one of the best meals of my life. The eggplant lasagna was absolutely insane. I've never had anything like it, I finished it and broke out my phone in the restaurant it was so good. If I could add an extra star I would. I live 2 hours away and would drive here for a day trip 7 days a week to eat it again. I could not recommend it more. read more

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

Isa Bistro - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Went to Isa for a work lunch recently. I love that they have parking behind the restaurant. The lunch time atmosphere is lovely. The food was excellent. The grilled octopus was absolutely outstanding. Perfectly cooked and perfectly seasoned. The french fries were delicious as well. Whatever seasoning they use (I don't know what is it) made them so savory...maybe it was the oil they cooked them in, either way, delicious! The service was prompt and efficient. Great place for lunch. They are not open daily for lunch. I went on a Friday. Check their hours before you go! read more

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

Isa Bistro - Mango cheesecake, soooo creamy smooth and good. - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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

Isa Bistro - Eggplant lasagna - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Everything was so delicious that I went back the next night to try the Caeser salad. Good quality but disappointing because the menu lists "shaved Parmesan" and they do grated Parmesan. Big difference in the texture and thickness but they should make it as listed on the menu, right anybody?!!? read more

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

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The food is to die for. Service & ambience are wonderful. It's a gem in a not so wonderful neighborhood. Take an uber both ways! You won't regret your meal!! read more

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

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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

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Overall, the restaurant was good. The atmosphere was cute and intimate. The menu was very interesting, with the pistachio pesto burrata being the star of the show. The squid ink pasta was a little bland, but the sauce in the dish was flavorful. They have a great NA selection. However, the location is in a bad neighborhood. Do not walk here. We made the mistake of walking here from Fore Street and had to walk on streets littered with used hypodermic needles, which left us pretty frazzled when we got to the restaurant. We took an Uber back to our hotel, which worked out fine. read more

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

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Wonderful Experience from brown derby cocktail, delicious fennel salad & a new twist on a Cuban sandwich with a delicious melted gruyere, pork and prosciutto meat . It was all wonderfully refreshing. read more

Visited Portland for the weekend and stopped here for our last night in town. We read reviews prior to coming and saw nothing but amazing things. I totally agree, food was good and the spot overall was just a cute, cozy vibe! the ONLY downside is what's lurking outside. Walking less than 100 feet from the parking lot to the doors we were approached. While we were eating dinner they were quite literally fist fighting outside the window. Dinner with some entertainment lol. Location is important, so just be mindful and be weary about your surroundings in the area :) Overall, service was great, food was great and atmosphere was good. read more

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

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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

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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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Isa Bistro is one of the most underrated spots in Portland. The food is incredible each time, the service is great, and it's just a 10/10 spot. Each dish is curated perfectly. No over powering taste - just well balanced and delicious. The dessert is spectacular too! Definitely worth going to. A little hidden gem! read more

Isa Bistro - Pork chop special - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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My family went for Friday lunch and it was by far the best meal we had while visiting Maine this summer. Every bite was delicious! The service was attentive and the space was cute, it was quiet while we were there but I could imagine it filling up at dinner easily. My only "complaint"was I wish I could have had double of everything so I didn't have to pick the plate clean. read more

Isa Bistro - Remains of the pasta - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Great little place! I went here after work with a coworker. Start to finish was highly enjoyable. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. The food is great- good portions, reasonably priced. They have parking in the back so no driving aimlessly looking for a spot. read more

Saving the best for last is an understatement when it comes to dining here on our last night in Portland. It seems like they're usually closed on Tuesdays but for Portland wine week, Isa hosted a special five course meal with wine pairing for 150 dollars. For the quality and quantity, this may be my best dining experience of the year! The menu was inspired by each of the hand selected Spanish wines. The first course was a carefully curated mackerel course with a glass of white from Spain. The second course was even better with lobster in a delicious creamy broth with a touch of chili. The third course was a lamb carpaccio that was so elegantly prepared and was paired with a full bodied Spanish red. The family who owns the farm that sold the lamb was at the dinner as well! It truly felt like a small tight knit community. The mushrooms and ribeye did not disappoint. They even surprised us with an extra dessert course paired with sherry wine which I surprisingly loved. Overall, Isa is a fantastic restaurant. I would definitely come back to try out their regular menus as well as look out for future prix fixe menus! read more

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Outstanding food, service and atmosphere! We sat at the bar and enjoyed banter with the barkeep. Apps, mains and desserts all fantastic. Especially the triple chocolate mousse pie - was like the filling of a truffle in pie form. read more

Came here on the recommendation of our lyft driver and he got it right! Service quick and professional, with the fun flourishes of fine dining. We came with our luggage direct from travel, and they were able to accommodate us very well. Good food as well! My spouse has already reflected upon the pork chop a few times in great positivity. Eggplant lasagna has great pasta layers and just right amount of cheesiness. Cheesecake for dessert was tasty and good to split too. read more

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Set in a city that is a culinary dynasty, this small establishment certainly satisfies the palate. At first glance, it appears the portions are on the smaller side but every bite packs a punch and I think smaller portions let you savor every bite. Ingredients are local and menu switches depending on availability of Ingredients. You will find selections such as octopus, duck, and rabbit. My husband prefers to stick with chicken or beef dishes so luckily there was a beef dish (beef bourgignon) that was out of this world. When I looked at the portion for him, I thought oh oh that's small but he didn't complain. He said it was so delicious. It was served osso buco with cognac. We added a side of fries to soak up the sauce but thought wow a side of mash or fingerling potatoes would be a great addition. I wasn't to hungry so I had the octopus appetizer. It is grilled with an oil base and herbs accompanied with chickpeas. Price point is $16 for a small piece. Not shareable in my opinion. I thought that was high but maybe fish right now is costly. I would of liked it better with maybe a hint of vinergarette but I did enjoy it. I then had the ceasar salad. All salads are not shareable due to size. The salad was delicious. My daughter had the house linguina and loved it. The mascapone cheesecake was a slice of perfection. It had peaches on it each bite was rich and creamy. I can't wait to come back!! read more

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