Scales has really solidifed its place as my favorite restaurant in Portland, and one of my top 10 restaurants of all time. Everything here is just SO good, even across multiple visits over many years. I always love that their menu incorporates seasonal flavors, while keeping their all time favorites. We've tried a number of dishes here over the years, but favorites will always include the cloverleaf rolls, grilled octopus, crab fritters, scallops, and the bavette steak. All are excellent & flavors are well balanced. On a recent trip, we tried the steamers and seafood stew. The steamers are huge and the broth is absolutely delicious. The seafood stew is tasty, rich & bold in flavors, but does get a little heavy and salty after a while. Scallops are a must - the spring pea cream had perfect freshness & earthiness that balanced out the salt from the bacon & scallops. Service here is always really attentive. The restaurant is also beautiful - perfect for a date night, girl's night out, business dinner, or even just a nicer family dinner out. read more

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Unfortunately Scales did not live up to the hype for us. While we were seated right away at 7pm for our 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. read more

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Dinner at Scales was exceptional! Managed to get a res for a bar seat at Scales on Saturday night. Service was great. Don't remember their names but it was a male and a female bartender, sort of tag teaming one end of the bar. Seated promptly, got a coke! (Surprising because everywhere else I've been in Portland has had Pepsi products). Ordered the clover rolls, the grilled octopus, and the potato-crusted cod for dinner and carrot cake for dessert. Clover rolls. Read a review summary that raved about them. They're good, but....if you're a solo dinner? I would pass. Super super garlicky, very buttery (to the point of being greasy). I ate one and saved two for the main course (which was a mistake). Grilled octopus: phenomenal. Description from menu: "pommes dauphine, pine nut & espelette vinaigrette, garlic whip." The vinaigrette really added a nice spice punch to the octopus. Loved it. Cod: (from the menu) "brussels sprouts, lemon cream". Was not what I thought it would be after the bartender described it. It was ore like a bread-crumb coated, roasted cod filet. Still really good, just did not (imo) match the description. The Brussels sprouts were sliced thin longwise which was interesting. I really enjoyed this, cod is a nice firm white fish and it paired well with the lemon cream sauce. Back to the clover leaf rolls: the two I saved? The super buttery part congeals as it cools.....still tastes good, still super garlicky, just more greasy feeling.... Carrot cake: honestly? Just meh. The ice cream that came with was great. Cake felt/tasted way too commercial....very smooth texture, no bits and pieces (in other words, not homemade). I should have asked if desserts were made in house, but I did not (and I bet they aren't). Cake was the only real negative from the meal. Ambiance? Lots of windows overlooking the bay which would be real nice on a nice day....but it was cold and raining, so.....a very busy restaurant though. If you are going to go (I recommend it) get your res way early. And to add: $86 for dinner pre-tip. Worth it? Worth every penny. read more

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Wow. One of my favorite meals ever. The oysters were phenomenal. So salty and delicious. Scallop entree was out of this world. We also ordered some clover rolls and calamari as an appetizer. Great view right on the water in old port. The place was full on a Tuesday night and I can see why! read more

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We visited Portland for days and looking for one of the best place to eat; Scales! Love the ambiance and interior design of it; simple and classics. All the staff are very friendly and accommodating. We ordered: Clams chowder l Grilled octopus Lobster rolls Pan seared Halibut Foods so amazeeeenggg but the star of the dishes is Grilled Octopus in our opinion. love it! read more

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Lovely meal! Went with three friends, although we had to take an early reservation it was totally worth it! The fried calamari was hands down the best I've had in Portland. Grilled octopus was tender and flavorful, true Spanish style. Dishes are clearly well prepared and done thoughtfully. Our server was delightful, appropriately attentive and made great suggestions. Loved the setting, the windows are awesome and the light feels good! Just awesome! read more

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At first, our waiter was polite. We ordered a raw appetizer, lobster bisque, a glass of wine, and a root beer to start our meal. Before we had even finished reviewing the menu, he strongly suggested that we needed to order a main entrée. The way it was presented felt unusual and somewhat uncomfortable, especially because we observed him interacting differently with nearby tables. Other guests were encouraged to "take their time" and continue looking over the menu, while we felt pressured to order additional items immediately. We also ordered bread before deciding on our entrées, but throughout the evening the service toward our table felt noticeably less attentive compared to others around us. The waiter appeared far more engaged and accommodating with surrounding tables, while our experience felt minimal and overlooked. There were several occasions where empty or finished plates remained on our table for extended periods, and my wife's drink was not refilled despite the waiter repeatedly passing by our table. Meanwhile, we observed him regularly checking on and conversing with other guests to ensure they were receiving attentive service. As a mixed-race couple, with my wife being Native American, the difference in treatment left us feeling uncomfortable and concerned that we may not have been treated with the same level of hospitality as other guests in the restaurant. Whether intentional or not, the overall experience made us feel unwelcome and undervalued as customers. read more

Great restaurant right on the water in Portland Maine. Visited with coworkers on a Tuesday night and everyone was surprised we got a reservation because it's usually really hard to get into. The vibe is very cozy, dimly lit, and kind of romantic. There is a lot of wood and beige colors which make it feel warm. The food was amazing! I had a delicious lobster and the portion size was large! It came with cornbread and Cole slaw. We also got the fried calamari which was great. Someone ordered the scallops and they said they were really good. Another person got the clam chowder and she liked it. The wait staff was great and came by frequently to check on us. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for fine dining! read more

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On Monday we had 7:00 reservations this was the first time we were at the restaurant and we were seated 15 minutes after arrival our waitress was outstanding helping with our food choices and she made great great suggestions. The Restaurant decor was modern nautical and watching the loon swimming outside the window made the evening memorable read more

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Food was excellent and vibe very cool. Bar staff was a bit uppity and condescending. Dining staff superb and insightful. read more

Scales - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Our first time visiting & we will be back! Wonderful spot for seafood in Portland. Our server was super friendly and gave great insight & recommendations into the menu. We enjoyed the raw oysters and buns for an appetizer. We had the fried whole fluke and local catch hake. Both were wonderful. The fluke was great, but just a bit difficult to eat with the bones. Celebrated a birthday dinner with sticky toffee pudding. Loved how this restaurant was on the water. Even though we did not have a table right by the window, we could still see the water which provided a nice ambiance. read more

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The drive up Valet car park service starts the evening off right. Host was accommodating in providing a table that was not in direct sun in your face table. Cocktails were "okay" but a bit on the skimpy side for the price paid. Oysters were awesome. I got a dozen. Then I opted to get a dozen little necks on the half shell. Unfortunately they were very very small and had too much grit. I had them taken off the table. My wife had an awesome steak. Called Bavette. Very good. I got the whole fluke as you can see in the pictures. It was a bit of work to get to the meat which was a bit spongy. This visit was disappointing. read more

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What an amazing time we had at Scales! My husband recently got into Oysters and when we were thinking of where to go for our anniversary in Portland, he came across a picture of bar at Scales. He saw how they serve the oysters and he just had to go. We arrive and check in and the man behind the desk wishes us a Happy Anniversary, it took me by surprise and then I realized my husband wrote it on our reservations. They also wrote a little personalize card which they gave to us when we were seated. Our server came right over (I'm sorry I can't remember his name) and mentioned he heard it was our anniversary. He was great. Everything about our experience there was wonderful. Drinks were great, food, incredible, desert, delicious. It was also fun watching everything that was going on behind the bar. We were there so we thought we'd go big. My husband got his six oysters which he loved. We started with the Anadama Bread, New England Cornbread and Crab Fritters. For our meal, my husband got the Pan Roasted Halibut & I got the Pineland Farm Bavette Steak with a side of the Brocollini, absolutely delicious! The people next to us got a cheeseburger we both said we have to come back for lunch and have it. It looked so good. We had Frozen Custard for dessert. The service was top notch and the little extras made our anniversary dinner wonderful. I highly, highly recommend Scales! read more

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I made a reservation here days in advance...maybe even a week...and couldn't get any earlier than 9pm on a Monday! That says a lot about a place. It is located by the water downtown and has a charming vibe on both the outside as well as inside. Lobster tanks and huge vats of shellfish on ice when you walk in. Open kitchen which is always cool to see. I have to say giving this place a 5 even though I didn't get my own meal for the bites of food I tasted off my boyfriend's plate were phenomenal. We did split the green salad, and his halibut was incredible. Very tasty. Wish I wasn't full from all the food we already had that day! read more

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We came across Scales on an evening walk and decided to try it. It's located off the street and along the back of the harbor. It was very busy, and more on the loud side than anything, but we could still each other speak. We waited 15 minutes before being seating and greeted by a very friendly and attentive waiter. Everything on the menu looked delicious and we ordered way more than we could eat, but it was all very good. The bar area looked very inviting and the decor was perfect for the area. Live lobsters in open tanks, the kitchen is open and everyone was friendly. Scales is an upscale restaurant, prices are pretty reasonable for what we ordered and loved the vibe. Enjoy! read more

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I came here with my husband on our honeymoon and didnt have the best experience mainly because of how bad the service was. My husband made this reservation months before and they knew it was our honeymoon. We had the first reservation spot of the night right when the restaurant opened and the server was rushing us the entire time. When ordering appetizers we weren't ready to order our main course and he made us rush to decide what we wanted and said we HAD to put everything in all at once which is a bit ridiculous. I also ordered a cocktail and it came out luke warm like they hadn't shaken it with ice at all. I had to send it back and ask that they actually make it cold. Other than the terrible service and poorly made drinks, the food was decent. Solid fish & chips read more

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Scales was a beautiful restaurant! I loved walking in seeing the ice machine dropping ice to keep the fish cold and all the lobster tanks holding the lobsters for everyone to see. Our table was outside and it was chilly but they had plenty of heaters making it comfortable. I started with clam chowder which was good. And we split the molasses bread which strangely enough, I did not like. It was their brown bread with molasses on the top. It was beautiful but I guess I'm not a brown bread fan anymore. I had the fish and chips sandwich which was delicious! The tartar sauce was great too! My husband got the stew and he said it was incredible. I tried a calamari and a clam from it and they were yummy! Our waitress was extremely attentive and made sure to top our water and glasses with the bottle of wine we ordered. I wish I took a picture of it because it was delicious. read more

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Service: our waiter was very friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. Never was gone other than when we were eating for longer than a few minutes. Never had to wait for water. We sat at the bar lounge during our wait and enjoyed some appetizers. The bar tenders even came over to ask if we wanted drinks. Service here is great. Ambiance/atmosphere: beautiful open kitchen concept to watch the chefs at work. The inside lay out was very nice, but slightly crowded. The waiting area had a bar lounge that was for ordering appetizers and cocktails. Food: halibut was the best I'd ever had, it was perfectly cooked and juicy, tender, with a nice crunch from the hazelnut topping. The sauce was very good and soaked beautifully into the potatoes. My mom loves fish and chips and has eaten it in all the big and recommended places near the oceans, but she was adamant that this was the best she'd ever had. The fish was crispy, perfectly crunchy, and still juicy and full of flavor inside. I can truly say it's definitely the best I've ever had. The fries were incredible. I'd say if you're not a fish and chips regular, you're best off still ordering a side of fries. These truly may have been the best fries I'd ever eaten and my whole table seconded that. The seafood stew was delicious. The broth is soaked in was full of flavor and the seafood within as fresh as you could want. Everything in the restaurant was caught the day of or not served so you can imagine how good this dish was. The piece of toasted bread that came with it was great as well. The bread had a nice salty flavor and was crispy outside and so soft inside as it soaked up the broth. Perfect compliment, but make sure you order extra bread free of charge. The calamari was very well seasoned and fried, also served with a beautiful jalapeño aioli that complemented things very well. read more

A bit more upscale compared to other spots along the harbor, Scales feels like a hidden gem--tucked away but easy to find once you're on the right street. You're greeted by a beautiful seafood display (no fishy smell!), and the decor is tasteful and welcoming. The vibe is elegant but not stuffy--perfect for a nice dinner without feeling too formal. The seafood was fresh and well-prepared. We loved the steamers, and our server kindly explained how to remove the "socks" before eating--something we wouldn't have known otherwise! The seafood stew was rich and hearty, though a little salty for my taste, but packed with variety and flavor. The halibut was unfortunately a bit overcooked, and the hazelnut component overpowered the fish slightly. Still, it was a very enjoyable meal with good service and a lovely atmosphere. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a slightly elevated dining experience by the water. read more

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This place was very hard to get a reservation for, so definitely plan in advance. We happened to secure a 6:45 outdoor reservation which was sheer luck. The outdoor area was nice and organized, the tables weren't on top of each other so you had space between guests. The food was phenomenal. The oysters were so fresh, and we had a variety of three. The "wave runners" were our favorite. All from Maine. The main dish we had was stuffed lobster and scallops. But the highlight...was the mussels. I can still smell the dill! 10/10 recommend, pharmacist approved! read more

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What an amazing experience! We were very early for our reservation. We were happy to wait in the lounge. We found a couple of chairs with a couple of young ladies who were sitting on the bench. We ordered wine and oysters. 30 minutes later our seats were ready. We sat at the bar. The service was amazing. We started with the clam chowder. It was different than I'm used to but still very good. The bread we ordered was divine. It's good only three came out. I could have eaten that as my meal. The server was happy to stagger our order so we didn't feel rushed. After the chowder we ordered the special scallop tartare with persimmon puree. So fresh and flavorful. We ended the experience with the entree special of monk fish on potato puree and it was amazing. It was cooked to perfection with a crisp top and flaky inside. read more

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What a beautiful restaurant and amazing dishes! They were presented so nicely and tasted amazing! Service was great too! Loved the salad and octopus to start and we got the lobster roll. Everything was incredible and it was a perfect last dinner in Portland! read more

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5 stars for tourists and 4 for locals. But let's discuss both: For Tourists: -This is probably the best overall Portland restaurant to visit, as it's more seafood oriented than sister restaurant Fore Street, but not entirely seafood like Street and Co, and with much better views. -I'm sure you've noticed that lobster is incredibly expensive in Portland restaurants. The same lobster might actually be cheaper wherever you're from. It's crazy and frustrating. But you're in Maine, so do what you need to do and enjoy the market prices (a $50 single lobster sometimes) or $65 Lobster Frites. -The Halibut and Scallops are the two most popular entrees, and both are great. For Locals: -After many dinners, I think I have a good feel for the menu. First, with two people, always get bar seating. Skip all the fried apps that you can order anywhere, and skip most of the overpriced traditional entrees. I also wouldn't be caught dead ordering a lobster (or even lobster roll) here on my dollar. -If you're hungry, start with any of the amazing breads. Then the Grilled Octopus is the single best octopus dish I've ever had. Next, order one of the ceviche, crudos or tartares. There's usually at least one on special too. Finally, split one of the whole fish, which at the moment are Branzino and Fluke. I prefer the fluke. -Desserts aren't great. I'd rather go to Gross afterwards or Gorgeous Gelato. -I love the cocktails, but they're definitely some of the most expensive in the city. Scales is an overpriced tourist restaurant. But it's probably the best one. It's a huge menu that has something for everyone, with some of the best ambiance in the city and near perfect service. As a tourist, this should be first on your list. And as a local, we know that winter happy hour will come far too fast. read more

Everything was 10/10! We sat outside with the heaters which was lovely. Ordered a bottle of wine, and had to get the lobster while visiting Maine. It was absolutely perfect, and that little corn bread was amazing. Service is always good. Can't wait to go back :) read more

Scales - Lobster - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

One of the best dining experiences I have had in a while. Aside from the top tier service and beautiful view of the water, the food was AMAZING. Highly recommend getting the mussels and clam chowder. Whatever entree you pick, you won't go wrong. Worth a visit here! read more

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Best restaurant we dined at in Portland. The hostess was rude but we weren't gonna let that ruin our experience. Everything looked fantastic on the menu so we ended up ordering a bunch of apps and small plates. Things we ordered included the: 1) raw oysters: best oysters I've ever had! 2) tuna tartare: very fresh and I enjoyed the sauce and pumpkin seeds mixed in 3) side of fried calamari: cooked Perfectly and not overdone or chewy 4) crab fritters: wish these were bigger but they were very good. All crab and no filler 5) raw scallops: this was sooo good!! Highly recommend if you have never had 6) cooked scallops entree: scallops were cooked perfectly and had a very nice sear 7) octopus: cooked perfectly and the it was the best we had in Portland 8) halibut: I actually really enjoyed the hazelnuts it was cooked with. Felt like that elevated the dish and kept it exciting. 9) wild blueberry custard: perfect way to end the meal!! It was so delicious with the fresh wild blueberries Overall, good ambiance since it's right on the port. Our waitress was very nice read more

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Overall: Scales is a seafood restaurant located right on the water. Reservations can be difficult to come by, especially for prime times. It's best to plan ahead. Everything was fresh and flavorful - I'd definitely go back! Food: 5 Drinks: 4 Service: 3 Value: 3 Atmosphere: 4 Food: Everything was delicious. We ordered the cloverleaf rolls, half a dozen oysters, the clam chowder, lobster bisque, grilled swordfish, and pan seared halibut. The bisque was very unique tasting (made with sweet potatoes and slightly spicy) and the fish dishes both had very interesting sauces. The Halibut had great texture and the savory flavor of the XO sauce on the swordfish was phenomenal. Would definitely go back for more food, there was plenty more to try. Drinks: We each got a cocktail. I got the Black Pearl Manhattan, which I thought was a nice mix of a boozy profile with some other muted flavors. Very good. Service: Our waiter was very friendly, attentive, and helpful. I'm dropping them to a 3 because they were 15-20 minutes late to seat us for our reservation. Value: All in our check was $178 before tip. Most entrees were ~$40, drinks were ~$18, and apps were $10-20. Everything was delicious, but I was a little bit disappointed with the portion sizes of the mains. The pieces of fish were small and didn't come with much of any sides. It's good food but not a deal. Atmosphere: The restaurant has a nice feel to it - it's partitioned off into large group tables, two person tables, and a bar area. We had a nice time - the view of the water is very nice and there's plenty of space. You're greeted as you walk in by a display of their fresh seafood and live lobsters. It helps set the scene for the meal - overall very nice. read more

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We had a really nice meal at Scales, but I have to be honest the dining experience wasn't exactly what I expected. Thankfully the food and service were great. We were expecting a little bit more of a refined dining experience, but the place is big, loud and there are lots of families dining with kids and babies. Sort of a Legal Seafoods kind of vibe. Not a deal breaker, I mean families with children need to eat, but we were seated right next to a baby and the dad was tossing this child up in the air for a good part of the meal. We were dressed for a nice night out, and not expecting to have a baby bottle and binky tossed in our lap from time to time. Sigh. So how about the food? We thought very good. We did try the stuffed lobster, a showstopper of a dish, priced at $65. It was a refined take on a classic dish. Not heavy at all, with a scallop mousse stuffing. Delicious! Craft cocktails were well made, and the lobster and sweet potato bisque was decadent. Don't shy away from trying, but just know this is a casual family dining spot, and we were hoping for more of a fine dining intimate experience without screaming children. read more

Scales - Stuffed lobster - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

We spent a couple days in Maine and this place was my fav place for dinner. Our server, Briana, was the best. She was engaging, helpful, knowledgeable and personable. You can tell when restaurant staff are customer focused. The restaurant is spacious and I enjoyed looking at the live lobster bins in the front of the restaurant. We shared a blue cheese dressing endive salad. It was delicious. He ordered the duck breast with barley. I tried a piece of the duck breast and it was too chewy for my taste but the sauce reduction with it was really good. I finally bit the bullet and ordered a steamed 1.5 lb lobster. Hubby remarked how wonderful the claws had pre-cuts in the claws and thru the top of the tail to make it easier to remove the meat for the diner, as he struggled the night before at another restaurant with his lobster which didn't get the assist pre-cuts in the shell. The lobster dipped in butter, was really good. It came with a side of Cole slaw and small cornbread cupcake. We added a side of fries which were crunchy and crispy. Everything was so good. Cole slaw could use a bit more tang. The butterscotch vanilla custard for dessert wasn't too sweet and topped with yummy caramel popcorn. I would dine here again but needs reservations. read more

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our friends just had the most amazing meal! the seafood is so fresh and served with the best paired flavors! Staff is outstanding!!

I thought last year's visit was our best dining experience. Well, I was wrong. This year's was even better. The oysters, the fish, the lobster rolls, drinks, service: just perfect. Plus they took note that it was my wife's birthday and made her feel very special. read more

Scales - Lobster Roll - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Second trip to this incredible establishment! I've been introduced to New England breads that are just Devine (how did I make it to 65 without knowing what New England Anadama Bread or Boston Brown bread is! ) Fresh daily catch...locally raised beef for me. Impeccable service and location too! On the bay and lots of windows. Fresh decore and can't beat location (watch a working harbor out of two sides. read more

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I was a little apprehensive going here given all the hype, but Scales was amazing. All 4 diners loved their entire meals. The staff was friendly and professional. Loved the wide open feel and the view onto the harbor. My suggestion is make a reservation as soon as available. read more

Phenomenal restaurant. Everything you'd expect and more. Chowder is amazing , salty but good. Every time a plate comes out it wows you. Definitely recommend the potato battered cod. Worth a night if you're lucky enough to get a table. Enjoy read more

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I can't say enough good things about my experience at Scales! I was traveling solo, so I made a reservation for bar seating. I was able to walk from my hotel, but they do offer valet parking as well (not sure on the fee). I was seated promptly, and greeted by my server/bartender, Guy. He was fabulous! He told me about the specials and took the time to answer my questions on some menu items. Drink: Blue Lagoon (mocktail) - made with mango, orange juice, lime, and blueberry soda, very refreshing! Appetizers: Griddle brown bread - definitely worth trying! A slightly sweet, toasted, molasses bread. Clam chowder - warm and creamy with lots of meat Scallop (special) - a raw scallop served on the half shell with a cucumber and ginger mignonette - absolutely fabulous, not something I would normally order, but Guy convinced me and it was the star of the show. Dinner: I had been told not to sleep on the fried fish sandwich at Scales, and it did not disappoint. A huge fish filet, flaky and perfectly crisp. Served with a generous portion of French fries, coleslaw, and a pickle. I had a wonderful evening sitting at the bar, watching the chefs at the raw bar shuck oysters, scallops, and prepare beautiful dishes. All of my food came out in good timing, and the staff really seemed to work well together. Scales will absolutely be on my must-visit list next time I am in Portland! read more

Definitely a little more upscale of an experience here. Service: We tried walking in on Friday but they were booked, so we made a res for Saturday. Came in a little early but were seated right away. Busy place, so there was a bit of a lag between server visits to the table. Food: Excellent, but salty. Scallops were cooked well with a flavorful sear. The skillet was hot but everything in it was delicious. The Lobster Roll was very good and the ingredients were definitely carefully selected to create a balanced dish. Also had the Lobster Bisque, which was very reminiscent of a creamy consommé with the squash. The Clam Chowder was not as thick or creamy as at the surrounding restaurants, but still very flavorful! It felt like a chicken noodle soup but with clams. Overall: Happy for the experience but not necessary to repeat it read more

Scales - Scallops - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Seafood Stew. Best version of the dish I've ever had. That alone gets max rating. The sauce was delicious and every bite of seafood was tender, fresh and full of flavor. Service was excellent and we had a really nice booth that created a sense of privacy in a very busy restaurant. I sampled some bites from my dining partners and everything I tasted was excellent, however, I will never order any of that as long as the seafood stew is on the menu. read more

Scales - Seafood Stew - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

Came here for a birthday dinner. Started with the brown bread, clover bread and corn bread! It came out quick and was warm and delicious! We had the whole belly clams and lobster bisque for apps! Tremendous! Service was outstanding. For entrees people at our table had crab fritters, burgers, haddock and scallops. Everything was wonderful except the scallops were extremely salty. The difference between a 5 star and a 4 was one entree not at its best. I'd still come back! Excellent experience! read more

Walking in, I thought this would be a complete tourist trap. It's on the water side of the main street in downtown Portland, and it just felt very tourist trappy. I will also bet that most of the people eating there...were tourists. However, I cannot have been more wrong about my expectations on the quality of the food and the service. Anna, our waitress, was attentive and knowledgeable. She was efficient and did a wonderful job serving us today. The standout dishes were the cavatelli as well as the duck breast. You wouldn't think that at a restaurant that specializes in seafood, duck breast would be the best dish that we had today. It was extraordinary. The interior was light and airy, and the restaurant was pretty hectic when we went at around 5 PM. We ate quickly because we were in a hurry, and the kitchen was generally efficient. We were very happy with our experience, and left paying about $80 a person without alcohol. Good luck eating here without a reservation. When we came around the time they opened, there wasn't much of a wait. But when we left, there were a lot of people waiting. read more

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6/24/2005 Kudos to this place and its staff. When we headed down Franklin Street at 6 pm it was exactly 100 degrees. The kitchen area was not much cooler, yet the wait staff hustled out the plates with efficiency and smiles. Three of had: Oysters- simply the best we've ever tasted Seafood stew- the broth perfect- a ten Mussels- equally fine Crab cakes- perfect The place was packed and noisy- tourists- that can be excused. Another home run for Scales. read more

Scales - Still five stars! - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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