The Knotted Apron delivered the kind of meal that feels effortless, though clearly a great deal of…read morethought is behind it. My guest and I shared the country bread to start, and it immediately set the tone. It had a subtle sweetness against a beautifully salty texture, which made it far more memorable than bread service usually is, comforting and refined at once. I had the steak tartare temaki and the tagliatelle, and both were outstanding. The tartare was clean, balanced, and quietly confident, with excellent texture and flavor. The tagliatelle was just as impressive, rich and satisfying without ever feeling heavy. Both dishes felt composed rather than overworked, which made them all the more memorable. My guest had the salad and the salmon, and those were equally well executed. Everything that came to the table felt thoughtful, polished, and deeply appealing without trying too hard. The dulce at the end was a lovely finish, understated but exactly right. The only small note is that the room was a bit robustly noisy, especially for an early reservation. Even so, the quality of the food and the assurance of the kitchen carried the experience. What stood out most was the consistency. Every dish felt considered, every flavor felt intentional, and the entire meal had a calm sense of confidence that is harder to find than it should be. The Knotted Apron is the kind of place that leaves a strong impression precisely because it does not need to announce itself.

We made a reservation at The Knotted Apron because we saw they were taking part in the 2026 Maine…read moreRestaurant Week and we figured it was a fantastic reason to go back. We got seats at the bar which gave us the opportunity to chat with Tyler, who was our server and the bartender. He took really good care of us! Our meals were fantastic! The Scottish Trout was perfectly cooked and the Duck Leg Confit was crispy but not dry. We enjoyed sitting at the bar, watching the cocktail action as well as the well organized operation in the kitchen. This is just an amazing restaurant!

I've been going to Chaval for years now, and it's truly my favorite restaurant in Portland, Maine…read more If you want to eat where locals actually go, this is the place (to my fellow Portland residents, I apologize for sharing our secret with those from away, but sometimes secrets should be shared). I honestly can't think of a single bad meal I've had here. The regular menu is always solid and comforting, but what I really love is the fun and creativity they bring to their special events. Their May the 4th Star Wars dinners are among my favorite offerings. They are enjoyable without feeling cheesy, and the food is genuinely great. Another event I particularly loved was their Alsace night, inspired by the region on the border of France and Germany. Everything was rich, cozy, and expertly executed one of those meals you keep thinking about afterward. The drinks deserve a shoutout as well. Whether it's cocktails or wine, everything is thoughtfully balanced and curated instead of just randomly placed on a menu. The service is consistently excellent warm, knowledgeable, and never pretentious. You feel well taken care of without being hovered over. Portland is fortunate to have restaurants like Chaval. I'll continue to support and recommend them whenever I can.

I have been to Chaval a few times now and i can absolutely say i enjoy my experience everytime. I…read morethink the staff is absolutely incredible - attentive, knowledgeable, extremely friendly. They make you feel very welcome and will answer any questions you have. I have great beverages when I dine here as well, fantastic wines, they did well choosing the wine list and it's always delicious. I even enjoyed a fantastic cocktail this most recent time i went and I think it might have been my favorite cocktail i've ever had. The Ay Caramba! which was reminiscent of a dirty martini and spicy margarita - it was fantastic! Now for what has deemed this a 3 star instead of higher - the food and prices. The food is wonderful, i don't remember having a bad bite but for some of the pricing i would hope i wouldn't. I think the snacks and appetizers are more fairly priced for what they are considering portland in general but I was rather disappointed that the doses weren't more of a wow factor. My biggest concern was the paella night that they have every monday, i had been so excited to go and finally got the chance. I was disappointed to find out it is $28 a person and a minimum of two people so it's actually $56 total minimum. As a solo diner i couldn't justify that for myself and wish they would make that clear when they advertise it every Monday on instagram. I love Chaval but I don't think the dishes make sense all the time - i think it is in the eye of the beholder how you feel about this place!

Unassuming building, very nice interior- dark and moody. Duck confit starter was amazing, tender…read moreduck, fresh salad greens. Yum. I had the schnitzel with red cabbage. My husband had the duck and really enjoyed it, good duck, well prepared. Good sized portions all around. Bread service was an extra cost and was worth it. Everything is house made and it shows. Wine by the bottle was very reasonable. Parking was a bit of a challenge as the lot is small. Roadside parking for later diners.

Monday night beer garden at Alsace, sitting outside with a beer and a pork schnitzel sandwich and…read morebratwurst, nothing like some good German food and beer on a summer night in rural Maine!

Service was efficient and professional. The food was delicious. The portions and prices were…read morefair. I know it isn't easy to run a restaurant, but the owner needs to smile more as she deals with customers to make them feel more welcome and part of the Chez Rosa family.

The options were limited. What I did have was very good but it's very expensive. I know, quality is…read morenot cheap. But was hoping for escargot, and it was not an option. I'd go back again, no doubt, but I'm not going to change other plans to go anytime soon. Ambiance was nice, tight seating but cozy. The wait staff switched between a waiter and bartender, but very attentive and knowledgeable.

The food was outstanding! We had a reservation for 7:30pm for 4 adults. We started with cocktails…read moreand a few appetizers. Delicious. The meals came out perfectly timed. They had an extensive wine list. Great selections. The service was excellent. The ambiance was romantic and chic. I can't wait to go back!

Botanic is such a hidden gem. My friend who is a long time customer took me here. The service is…read morefantastic, and I loved every gin drink I ordered. They have the classics to unique drinks - anything you want. The food was also amazing. The duck confit was cooked perfectly - very juicy and keeping its crispy skin. I felt like it needed something to cut the heaviness of the dish, but otherwise perfect. We also got the chocolate souffle for dessert and it was gone in an instant.

Very nice time, food was very good. I would have given 5 stars, but the steaks were just slightly…read moreabove average. Quality service with an awesome waitress from Boston who was a Steelers fan. A little pricey, but with a very nice ambiance and a relaxed atmosphere. I will go back. Read less

Ocean is truly an amazing dining experience! Going at golden hour is such a treat- the views are…read moreunmatched! We did the 5 course tasting menu with the wine pairing and it did not disappoint! We loved the corn chowder, oysters, halibut, and the watermelon salad. We cannot wait to plan our return to enjoy another outstanding meal!

Stuffed mushrooms were great! Service was excellent!…read more This time was much better and have recommended since.

Maurice has excellent food and service. It is a pleasure to dine there and always a welcome…read moreexperience.

Great place to learn tennis, racquetball, squash and golf. Top notch teaching staffread more

Just adding a note that Stephen and his staff are very generous and their support for the Rowe…read moreSchool in Portland is greatly appreciated.

Great all around fitness & tennis center. Well run with excellent customer service and top notch…read moretennis clinics and individual coaching.

This hidden away gem is a fitness location that offers more than just a factory for gym junkies…read more It has newer equipment in treadmills and bicycles for one to get some great cardio in. It has three tennis courts for some indoor tennis fun and two racquetball courts that one can get their competitive cardio going. The price points are definitely much higher than you find downtown in Portland but I think that is what makes this place great ... if you are paying a little more, then you dont have to neccesarily battle the sardine cans at some of the other gyms or sift through the meat heads that are lifting and taking up all the free weights. The locker room is immaculate and clean with multiple shower options to use before you scoot to work in the morning. They also offer body pump classes and even have some tanning beds to feel good about yourself. If you are full time student, you can also ask about discounts here.

I love the views! It's great for a picnic and a little bit…read moreof history. There's plenty of open space for you to hang out with family or friends and enjoy the ocean views and breeze. While it may be controversial, I'm glad they moved the food trucks to the lower lot. It's less crowded when you arrive and less crowded near the food trucks - meaning only people getting food are in the area, vs people walking/running through with animals and kids that aren't going to the food trucks. It's also less noisy not being next to the generators. We love the food trucks there and will continue to enjoy them while also enjoying the peaceful hill. The kids in the family really enjoy the canons and the playgrounds. The times we have gone the playgrounds have been clean - thankfully no needles or trash anywhere to be seen.

Nice views. Mostly you should come to the Eastern Promenade if you love the overwhelming smell of…read moremarijuana everywhere you go and want your kids breathing in that drug as they play on the playground equipment. Can't say I fall into that category.