We ordered many of the tapas items on the main menu. The cucumber salad and the scallops were the tables favorite. I would recommend ordering two scallops if you have a group of 5, as the serving was small. For 5 of us we ordered about 10 dishes and felt like we got a good sample of each menu item. read more

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... I wanted my experience to be so much better than it was, if I'm honest. Between the little mistakes/letdowns in the dishes and the HIGH prices, I can't give it a glaring review. I understand that this restaurant has a good reputation and with the location and reputation it's built, their prices are reflective - but, if that's the case... please deliver (at least) on the expectations. The service, I will say, was phenominal. Our server was very skilled, friendly and made a nice wine recommendation when our first choice was unavailable. The oyster started wasn't much to write home about, the sauce just didn't work for me. Classic accoutrements would have worked so much better. I'll continue with the dissapointments/misses before highlighting the rest of what I really enjoyed about my experience. The lobster popover (probably what I was most excited to try) was extremely overcooked. The pastry was on the verge of inedible. We were able to salvage bits and pieces of it and I will say that the combination of flavors (lobster, pastry, butter and puree) were sublime. That dish was ultimately dissapointing. And the "baguette" that was served with our crab dip was jokingly small for the amount of crab dip presented. The baguette was sliced so paper thin (to create the effect that there was enough pieces to sample the dish) that you couldn't reasonably rip a single piece off... every attempt just became this mangled mess of bread that you had to pile crab dip on top of. It just lacked thought and care... pick a different baguette or cut the slices into a reasonable thickness and give us a second (or part of a second baguette to make up for the small size). The tuna tartare, and scallops were delicious and I have zero complaints. The asparagus salad was delicious (the kimchi was the best thing we had throughout the night)! read more

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Sur Lie was always only an ok restaurant, but the recent hiring of chef Sam Helmke has really elevated the experience. We dined on Valentine's Day and it was mostly exceptional. They say to order 5-7 dishes for two people, and 5 dishes plus dessert felt like the perfect amount for a hungry couple. -Asparagus Salad ($20) and Tuna Tartare ($19): The first two dishes were the worst two. These weren't bad, just not exceptional. The tuna felt under seasoned and the asparagus was dominated by the kimchi and soy. The cabbage salad at a nearby table looked like the better order. -Ricotta Gnocchi ($27): The most pillowy gnocchi I've ever had with duck confit and fried prosciutto. This was a rich, near heavenly pasta dish. I'd choose this over many I've had in Italy, though the portion could be bigger for the price. -Popover ($27): Imagine the popovers at Jordon Pond in Acadia loaded with lobster and garlic butter. Even being slightly overcooked (not nearly as egregious as another reviewer's, but fix please) didn't ruin the experience. A must-order. -Short Rib ($31): I've had this twice in recent weeks because it was so tender and perfect. -Dessert: Cacao Cake ($15): This was an easy choice from the three dessert options. The miso caramel and tahini ice cream made this my favorite dessert in recent memory. Things weren't completely perfect though: -Being out of all sparkling wines for a 5:30 Saturday Valentine's Day reservation was disappointing. -Service was a little hit and miss. Slow at first, but then multiple dishes were brought at the same time, which made us feel rushed. -I had to google this, but the kitchen style appeared to be Brigade de Cuisine. It involved the chef loudly ordering around the kitchen crew for the entire evening. I found it fascinating and effective, but if you're hoping for a quiet, serene experience, this might not be it. Overall, Sur Lie is much better than in previous years. The gnocchi, popover, short rib and dessert were some of my favorite Portland dishes in the past year. There is also a chef's tasting menu that is $50 on Wednesdays and Thursday (normally $75) that seems like a great value. I can't wait to try. read more

My sister and I made a reservation at 5pm on a December Saturday. We scored street parking right outside the restaurant and were the first patrons of the night. After a suggestion from my waitress, I decided to start with a Scarlett Macaw cocktail. I loved everything about it. If you like a sweet drink, this is the one for you. We were informed that the plates were all tapas and it was recommended that we order 4-7 plates. We had looked at the menu ahead of time online and already knew what main dishes we were interested in (the duck and the lobster popover). I went ahead and added on the scallops as well. I'm a seafood eater and my sister is not, so although these dishes are meant to be shared, we knew that we were basically ordering what we wanted for ourselves. That would have worked out just fine, except we didn't realize that the chefs cook the dishes at staggered pace, with only one coming out at a time. My scallops came out first and then the lobster popover. Both were delicious but it felt rude and strange to eat both my dishes before the duck, that my sister ordered, came out. Had we realized, we would have asked that everything just come out at once so we could both enjoy our food at the same time. All 3 dishes were scrumptious. Absolutely no complaints as far as the drink or food goes. We just wish the timing of the kitchen was a bit different. read more

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Sur Lie has been on my list to try for a while and it certainly did not disappoint. The atmosphere is cosy, they sat my husband and I at a two top off to the side near the kitchen. Usually this tends to be a loud location but it certainly was not here. I have food allergies and the waitress had noted that and went through the menu of all the items I could have. She also stated they could make the tasting menu suitable to my allergies, we went with tasting menu and one wine pairing. They started with an outstanding beet salad and crudo. Delicious mussels, Pork Schnitzel, salmon and pork belly's were served and we finished with an amazing parsnip cake topped with carrot curry ice cream, turmeric walnuts, rum raisin, and caramel. The wine pairings were perfect for each dish. It was a lot of food and variety for a tasting.Highly recommend Sur Lie if you are in the mood for tapas. read more

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Such a cute restaurant and the meal was served slowly and as each dish was ready. The food was amazing! Scallops were sold out which was a bummer but everything else was 10/10. I wish the popover had more lobster! Not pictured shrimp tostada was one of my favorite dishes read more

Sur Lie - Crab dip - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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This review is hard for me because I am fairly conflicted...We came in for their discounted Chefs tasting menu on Wednesdays. The advertisements said it was a discount on their chefs tasting menu, but it ended up being 5 dishes instead of 7, so we felt a little mislead, as it wasn't so much a discount but just a smaller portion offered. The 5 dishes that came were all delicious, but we did feel that the value wasn't exactly there. Of the 5 plates, 2 of them were salads and one was a dessert. The total value of the plates if we ordered them on their own would have been $106, so we did save a few dollars. That being said, we felt at the end that we would have had a better and more filling and unique experience by picking 4 of the more protein forward options for almost the same price, as we never would have picked 2 salads and a dessert. The food itself was DELICIOUS. The layers of flavor were so complex and every bite was great. The salmon was the best thing we had and the parsnip cake with curry dessert was crazy good. Our server, Michelle I think?, was lovely and very attentive. She made sure we had the proper silverware and glasses at all times. All in all, if you have the money, this place is definitely worth checking out. We would suggest just ordering your own plates instead of the chefs tasting menu, as it doesn't really save you any money and gave mostly the more basic, non protein options. read more

Everything about this restaurant is Amazing! Ambiance was warm and inviting, food was delicious and service was impeccable! Definitely will be back! read more

Sur Lie is a little tapas restaurant in Portland, but it isn't beholden to any one cuisine but everything still works together. My friend and I were seated an adorable little window booth. We had cocktails, shared 4 tapas dishes and wine. The food was amazing- we shared this amazing snap pea dish (slightly spicy, garden fresh and the dish was so much better than the sum of its parts), gnocchi (really good, but maybe not quite as good as the others), crudo (fantastic), and the lobster popover- which really should not be missed. Loved it all! read more

We had the tasting menu with pairing and it's something I recommend to everyone. Let them make the choices, they are good at this food and drink thing and have spent time thinking about it so let them steer the ship! The food is spectacular, everything - all courses start to finish was great, some courses were next level = Crudo, Mussels, Popover, cocktails. The Crudo makes the most memorable dishes ever list for me! Cocktails Blood Sweat and Tears was awesome - sweet, sour, spicy = goes down too easy! Service was top notch, (Meg) was perfectly attentive and professional, excellent service! A must try if in Portland, don't skip this place. read more

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Best Dining Experience in Portland, Maine at the moment. The dining scene has changed a lot over the past few years but Sur Lie is so memorable, with amazing service and cannot go wrong with any choices you make on the rotating menu read more

Our food was exquisite. We picked the fixed price (chef's choice) service. If you are adventurous and not picky... do this! Our waiter was incredibly knowledgeable and very attentive! This is a special occasion kinda place for us, and we were in Maine celebrating our 20th anniversary. It was pricey, but worth every penny. A luxurious culinary treat! I had a drink from bar that was incredibly unique. I recall it had watermelon, tomato, rhubarb, olive oil.... Now, I know this sounds weird.... But you MUST TRY IT! It was light, refreshing, and unlike anything I'll ever get back home. read more

I made this reservation not realizing they change their menu daily and that even then, they might not have everything on the menu available. Had I realized that, I would have looked at the menu and more than likely wouldn't have gone. There weren't enough menu items that interested me. Fortunately, we had been to happy hour earlier and I wasn't too hungry. I can't remember the name of my cocktail but I know it had vodka, some kind of citrus, and something else. I did not like it at all. My husband thought it was okayish and drank it after he finished his Old Fashioned. Our server was friendly when she first approached us. After we ordered two smaller items (it's a tapas menu), she seemed quite a bit less friendly. We got the popover. It had some lobster in it (should have been more) and the sauce was good and there was a lot of bread. We also ordered the crab dip that was seriously la king in crab and all we really tasted was warm cream cheese. We each had about two bites and left the rest. I wouldn't go back. I would suggest looking at the menu the day you go to make sure there are things you may be interested in! read more

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We stopped in for a "second dinner" around 7pm on a Thursday and were able to grab 2 seats at the bar. The bartender was awesome, I forget his name, but he was very personable and gave great recommendations on the menu. He also had 2 Pokemon cards (Snorlax and Machamp) behind the bar which I found very cute as I love Pokemon. The food is tapas style so it was perfect for sharing. We got the Wild Arugula Salad, Hanger Steak, Pasta, and the Crab Dip. The arugula salad was light and fresh and the chickpeas added crunch. The Hanger Steak was a great size for sharing - it was about 2 slices each. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare and I enjoyed the little potato pave on the side. The pasta came in a shallow bowl and had a little broth which I was not expecting. Although I prefer my pasta on the savory side, the corn added sweetness which was not bad and there was some saltiness from the pancetta. The crab dip was yummy! This could have been shared between 4 people as the little bowl is deceiving in how much in contains! I enjoyed our dining experience in Sur Lie and would recommend it! It would be a cute place for a date night. The menu has a decent variety! read more

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Having had the good fortune of going to sister restaurant Gather, I was eager to try Sur Lie--and I was definitely not disappointed! This was an event with Dinnermates, and our group of 10 people had a multi-course prix fixe menu served family-style. Love that as a concept generally; being able to order plates to share is a great way to get a variety. Our first course was a burrata in a smoked butternut squash puree flavored with cumin, with these delicious crispy endive and parsnip chips on top, followed by a baked squash (not sure what kind) with both a sweet and salty bite. Both dishes did tilt more toward the sweet than the savory; not a criticism per se, as they were both beautifully layered with flavor and texture (I just prefer something more savory, or at least not two sweet dishes in a row). Next up (did I mention that each course was actually *two* courses?) were Korean short ribs that had been braised and simmering for hours to the point where they were just melting in our mouths. (I barely got a photo of this, we all scarfed it down so fast.) Then the pasta, which was my favorite: the perfect al dente bite--not actually something you get all the time, which is why I noticed and appreciated it--with different wild mushrooms, fried sage, and cheese. The best way I can describe the dessert is to say that it was a muffin (they called it a parsnip cake), which doesn't do it justice! It was something like both a cake and a muffin, soft on the inside and a bit crisp on top, with dollops of ice cream and caramel and fresh honeycomb. (And actually a lot less sweet than our first course, tbh.) Based on this, I can't wait to return and try more of the menu! Wonderful staff too; they described every dish well and made great wine recommendations. And just a lovely vibe overall--the restaurant feels both cozy and spacious, and I can easily see coming here for a dinner night with friends or just a few bites at the bar. Very clear why chef Krista Cole (of both Sue Lie and Gather) is on the short list for the James Beard awards, and I highly recommend! read more

Sur Lie - Korean short ribs - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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My beau and I celebrated NYE 2025 at Sur Lie last night. They had a prix fixe menu with three courses and dessert. There were three choices within each course. For the 1st course, I ordered a Crispy Potato Tart and my mate ordered the Lobster Bisque. The Lobster Bisque was probably the best I've ever tasted EXCEPT that it was cold. We told our server who promptly said he would get us another. The second Lobster Bisque was exactly the same, which was unfortunate. It was a cold night, we expected hot soup. For the 2nd course, I ordered the Scallops, and my mate ordered the Fois Gras Torchon. Because this is a tapas restaurant, we assumed portions would be on the smaller side, especially since there were three courses. This was not the case. The portions were sizable which is good, except that we were rushed. We had only made a dent in our 2nd course, when they brought our 3rd course, which was halibut. We were sitting at a small table for two, with wine glasses, and our 2nd course not finished. Were they trying to rush us? If so, how did they expect us to eat such large portions so fast? It was really annoying. On a positive note, the halibut was delicious sitting on a pumpkin romesco, with fingerling potatoes and an olive tapenade. Having barely finished our 3rd course, the dessert was plopped down on our table. We ordered the Tres Leche Ice Cream and the Double Chocolate Cake. The former was delectable with passion fruit glaze, thai basil, lime, and salt; however, no chocolate could be tasted in the so-called "Double Chocolate Cake". The cake tasted like some lackluster day-old bread (?)! It was billed as being topped with miso caramel, blood orange, tahini ice cream, caramelized yogurt and black sesame brittle, but they must have run out of oranges and substituted strawberries. The combination was too busy especially with the missing chocolate. This dessert was such a disappointment that we didn't even eat it. For a meal with drinks running over $300, I think Sur Lie has to sew up some loose seams. My mate said he would not recommend this restaurant or return. I disagreed and said I would give it another chance, on a regular "tapas" night. read more

I cannot say enough how truly magical an experience it is to dine at Sur Lie. Every detail of the experience there was excellently crafted. From the moment you enter, you know you are in for a treat. The atmosphere of the restaurant is inviting and elegant. The staff is warm, welcoming and attentive. But what really sets Sue Lie apart is the food. I cannot compare a single bite to anything I've ever had before. And as an avid foodie, I've experience the spectrum. Chef Mimi is an artist. She blends the unexpected and delivers a one of kind flavor profile. I have no doubt that my boyfriend will be raving about the lobster popover for the next decade and beyond. I highly recommend Sur Lie. You will be wowed beyond any expectation you have. read more

We went with four friends for dinner. The ambience is very bougie. Dark but comfortable. The menu is mostly a shared item menu, which is not some thing. I am usually comfortable with, but after looking online, I could tell most of the choices looked great. We ordered 15 plates to share, which was plenty I loved all of it minus one order which was a watermelon with a tiny cube of sushi. The drinks were fantastic. We ordered all three dessert options and they were delicious. I would highly recommend going with a group so you can share. read more

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Had the tasting menu/ in a word , spectacular !!!, had the beet salad, schnitzel, pork belly, popover, and gnocchi . Coconut sorbet to finish. read more

I've wanted to eat here for months. Finally made an early reservation. The menu is composed of small dishes. The server recommended 6 dishes for both. Honestly we would have been fine with four. Our favorites were the Korean beef brisket, the mussels and popover. The brisket was absolutely melt in mouth tender, the mussels were some of the freshest ever with a lovely coconut curry broth and the popover massive. The scallops were a little over cooked but the sauce was delicious. The daily catch was good but compared to the other fishes underwhelming. We had the banana bread pudding and honestly I was just too full to enjoy it - I couldn't taste the bananas nor caramel at this point. This was a great experience to taste the different flavors but I felt we were a little too greedy. Service was wonderful. read more

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Had a long weekend visiting Portland. Went To Sur Lie on a Saturday night with a reservation made in advance. Both my wife and I had the chefs tasting menu and the wine pairings. Most everything was good to very good. The standouts were the lobster pop over and one of the two scallops dishes. The other scallop dish was very hot (spicy hot) and we both love hot but it took away from the wine a bit. Service was very nice and cordial. I would recommend it. read more

WOW. Truly one of the best meals we've ever had. Everything was so balanced and flavorful. We tried the crudo, snap peas, pork belly, crab dip, spatzle, and parsnip cake. Every single dish was outstanding. Sur Lie has to be on your list of "must eats" when you visit Portland. read more

Amazing dinner! There are a lot of choices in Portland but you should try Sur Lie if you're looking for a top-notch dining experience. The small plates model allows for a sampling of many great dishes. Try their popover, the scallops, and the crudo. All fresh seafood and excellent preparation! This is a true 5-star review. You won't be disappointed. read more

Sur Lie is a tapas restaurant with a menu that combines both French and classic Maine flavors. I'm always slightly skeptical of tapa-style food, given that I often find that it's an excuse for restauranteurs to overcharge for smaller portions and pass it off as culinary excellence. However, the portions did not leave me wanting more, which I had hoped for given the somewhat-exorbitant prices. The Chef's Board and Crab Dip are both filling must-trys. Great service, great food, but overpriced compared to comparable restaurants in the area. read more

I have been here twice. The food and service were good both times. The biggest issue is that the floors are VERY sticky. The first visit, I thought I must have tracked something in from the street on my shoes, but the second visit made it clear that it was the restaurant floor. Everyone in our party felt like they had duct tape on the soles of their shoes, which followed us home. I'm guessing it is a side effect of a cleaning product (I've encountered this at another restaurant or two recently), but they need to find an alternative. Feeling stuck to the floors really takes away from a good meal. read more

Honestly phemoneal. Everything single we got was fantastic. Crab dip was like crack. Great chenin blanc. Also fantastic cocktails at a great price. WIll be going back. read more

Comfortable atmosphere- relaxed and laid back, good acoustics. We sat in a booth, which I always find to be cozy, but there were also tables available and lots of room at the bar. We chose the Chef's tasting menu which is only $50 on Wed and Thurs during the winter and what an interesting meal we had! There were 3 of us and the amount of food we received was more than enough, we even ended up taking a couple of dishes home. We had 4 courses in all, 2 dishes per course, including dessert. The food is very creative and flavorful; for example the salmon was served in a curry sauce with grilled bok choy and shishito peppers, the gnocchi with a creamy sauce and duck confit. Scallops were fresh and sweet, and an Asian slaw was spiced up with a Korean whipped tofu dressing that was so good. The tuna crudo was also good but our least favorite dish, seemed like it could have used a bit more seasoning. Dessert: having never tasted Yuzu- an East Asian citrus fruit- having it served as a sorbet was probably one of my favorite things of the whole meal! The flavor and tartness was the perfect end to a good meal. We also had a type of spicy sponge cake which was tasty but not anyone's favorite. Our server was knowledgeable and friendly and took good care of us. The wine list isn't overly large but definitely more than enough good choices and priced fairly reasonably. While we didn't sample the cocktails the menu looked intriguing. We all agreed we got a very good meal for the price; we will definitely be returning to try some of the other dishes from their regular menu. read more

O.....M......G!!!!!! What a dining experience we had! Second time visiting Portland and we chose Sur Lie as one of our dining experiences. That is exactly what it is. Fantastic from start to finish. Sur Lie is a Tapas restaurant with a Chef prepared seasonal menu. We ate food we normally wouldn't choose from a menu and we are so glad we did! There were 11 choices and we chose 6 of them. The Chef knows what he/she is doing! From a kale salad to an impeccable lobster popover ( so good we ordered an additional one!) the food was phenomenal! Besides the salad, we ordered salmon, gnocchi, crab dip, crudo (local yellow fin tuna) and a lobster popover that was to die for! For dessert we had coconut sorbet and Maine blueberry cobbler with spruce ash ice cream. You could taste the tree! It was amazing! Our server Meg was great and kind. A wonderful server. Our total bill with two glasses of wine and two beers was $211.00. So glad I wore an elastic waist pant! If you like steak and potatoes this is not the place for you. But if you enjoy variety and an expert dining experience please visit Sur Lie. read more

Oh my gosh such a great place! The bar tender listened to what my taste was and built a cocktail that was so delicious! Also I recommend the mussels! read more

Sur Lie - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

So, I got stood up. Not at Sur Lie, but elsewhere. Left to my own devices and ravening, I sort of drifted into Sur Lie because it seemed inviting and after the ugliness of that rejection, I needed to imbibe some beauty. And God, is Sur Lie beautiful. The décor is understated and classic, and Travis the bartender is highly skilled. I also appreciated the conversation he gave me: we talked of Tennyson, Auden and Kendrick Lamar. I got the duck, and have you seen a more photogenic duck? Absolutely scrumptious. In general, I have a love-hate relationship with duck. In lesser hands, the meat can taste oddly mettalic and the animal, when alive, has a hostile mien about it. Here, the duck breast was succulent, bursting with flavour and the Brussels sprouts were caramelised in a way I didn't think possible. Remember, my dears, men can be fickle creatures, but take yourself out on a date. If you do it at Sur Lie, you'll have a capital time! read more

Sur Lie - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

It was good! I liked the spot and the bartender was friendly. Cool dishes, very unique read more

Sur Lie - The pasta 10/10 - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Service. Our waiter was excellent. He was informative and on target with mood, discussion, and feedback. The server missed a few Items in description. First world problem, however, noted. Ambiance. So laid back and relaxed. Enjoy the atmosphere. And location. Food. The popover with lobster was amazing. Seriously. Stupid good! Not transformative, other dimension. The panna cota with cucumber gazpacho. Who thinks of that! We were savoring every bite! The cod was excellent. Perfectly cooked, light flavorful, and good size portion. The Sumer squash cake, less than thrilled. It was a heavy dish at the end of a big meal. Suggests having the gelato as the focus and making a crumble. Highly recommend this restaurant. read more

This hits the high end of three stars. We had the tasting menu. The beet salad was fine but underseasoned. There was also a corn soup with crab and some accoutrements. This was sweet but I assume that is a function of the corn that is a natural product. The next course was the popover with a lobster/lemon beurre blanc and a tomato salad. Both competently done but nothing I'll remember. The mains were a gnocchi and pork belly. The gnocchi were very good. Technically well made with a nice sauce including mushrooms and hazelnuts. The pork belly was technically superb. Crispy skin, succulent meat and fat and perfectly seasoned. The orange sauce was too sweet for me and I found it cloying. I did like the fried kale though. I thought the dessert was meh to awful. It was some average coconut sorbet and some bruleed pineapple that still had the rind on it. I didn't suspect this and just popped the thing into my mouth. Unpleasant surprise. They don't provide a knife for this dish so I'm not sure how you're supposed to dissect the pineapple from the skin/rind. We went to Gorgeous Gelato for a better dessert. read more

Maine Restaurant Week is fun because it allows the broke locals to try out restaurants they never would be able to otherwise. Enter: Sur Lie! We made a reservation for a Friday night at 8:15 to try out their tasting menu. The hostess was nice, waitress was sweet (a bit stressed and short with us, but quite understandable), and the ambience in here is very romantic and pretty. It's also a lot larger than I thought it would be. They offered vegetarian options, hooray! For starters, my boyfriend and I both ordered the Maine Board: salami (none for me per usual), gouda, house pickles, roasted garlic Pretty good. Small serving and the little bread was like a see through piece of tulle. LOL. I think this is my opinion because I am a working-class and unfancy lady not used to it. Second course: boyfriend got the fried oysters (which came with some big leaves of cabbage which I inhaled since I am a rabbit), and I got the celery & fennel salad. HOLY MOLY. This salad. Shredded celery (?), roasted pecans, Pineland Farm cheddar, Maine maple syrup vinaigrette. Light, flavorful, a perfect amount of nuts and fresh cheese. The chef actually came out to check on us and I asked him if this is on the regular menu. He said no and I almost caused a scene. I SO HOPE they make this a regular. For the third course I got the Red Dragon Udon: bok choy, Chinese broccoli, coconut chili sauce. It was spicy and delicious and perfectly saucy. I thought I'd be hungry with tapas, but by this point I was pretty full. Yay. For dessert we each got a fresh, homemade and warm donut. Delicious. For a drink I had the Prisoner of Azkaban, which at $13 and tiny was a bit steep, but when in Rome. It was delicious. The hostess at one point asked us to move tables to seat a larger party, and she comped a round of drinks - um, YES, thank you. Stellar service and stellar idea. I'll come back eventually, I'm sure. I certainly am not the target clientele, but it's fun to feel fancy sometimes. And if that celery salad is ever on the menu, I will be returning an inappropriate amount. read more

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Very underwhelming. I had high expectations since the place came highly recommended from a couple of foodie blogs. The dishes are a good portion size, but lack real flavor. The grilled octopus was okay, but the pork shoulder was highly disappointing. The pork shoulder was lacking in the dish, no flavor to it and presented like something left over and put together. The toffee popcorn was an interesting touch, but didn't pull the dish together at all. For being a fine dining establishment, the food was nowhere in that category. The staff was polite and the space is pretty, if anything positive. read more

Sur Lie - Grilled octopus - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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My first time visit with friends who have been before. They told me it is great so my expectations were a bit higher then usual. Very casual but yet classy decor. Hang out at the bar area or go fancier and sit in the dining area. Either have the same menu I believe. Anyway. I like to try different things and share, this is the perfect place for that. So my friend and I ordered arugula salad, beet salad and mandarin orange, fried pork with slaw and a chicken rice dish. OMG. Not sure what to expect, but it was all excellent. Thanks goodness the food comes out as it is ready, so you can pace yourself. Otherwise I would have had a massive pig out session. I will share pics, which does not do justice for the taste. Wow. The blend of spices, in all the dishes were perfect. I look forward to my next visit. Thanks. read more

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Amazing restaurant. Great staff. Everything was to die for!! Grilled cabbage, snap peas, lobster popover all wonderful read more

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We love Sur Lie! If I didn't have to pay my bills I'd eat there weekly! We love the chefs and everything there. My husband doesn't like veggies but loved their braised cauliflower and sweet pea hummus !! Love all of their food- have never had a problem. Hoping to go back very soon! read more

Sur Lie has always been good, but seems to have really hit it's stride. Every single thing we had was better than expected and that doesn't happen a lot. Starting with a beautifully presented happy hour cheese plate, plus tender yet beautifully spiced salmon pastrami, followed up with scallops perfectly seared with a delightful pineapple mojo and a fantastic cutlet tonkatsu crunchy and served with a zesty ginger slaw. I really enjoyed it all. Such wonderful shareable plates, perfectly prepared full of surprise and flavor. Even with all we ordered there were plenty of other things that I wanted to try, but we were just tofull. So good! New Chef , even better than before. Still Tapas, but now a touch of southern comfort which can be found in all the wonderful creamypurées! From the fantastic dressing of the Caesar salad with its red wine reduction, to the out of this world caramel carrot base of All The Carrots, every dish had layers of flavor and textures done right ! So good, I didn't even realize until now that four of the dishes we ate were practically vegetarian! Such simple things so well done! Especially the Captains Cod, perfectly cooked on a bed of the most delicious celeriac and topped with a dollop of salty and sweet! So happy we stopped in to try this refreshed and reinvigorated restaurant! It was all so very good! read more

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So not what I expected. I had really high hopes for this place but it let me down. The atmosphere is a little strange to start with, but we were seated on the weird little ledge in a corner overlooking an ally, we could see into the kitchen at sort of knee level which is never good and our whole experience felt like an afterthought. The food was ok as individual plates, but together as a menu it was really disjointed and all over the place. The cocktails felt forced, like they were trying to be as funky as possible, but in all honestly just were not that good. I will give it a second chance, but they should really get rid of the odd seating. read more