I have only written 1 other review in my life. I had to write one for this establishment. My co-worker and I went to David's 9/13/25. It was superb! We sat in a back room off of the main dining room. The waiter was on par with a Michelin star restaurant. The wine menu offered reasonably priced bottles of wine that were not overly marked up. The food was fantastic. We both had a hard time deciding but split the Avocado caprese appetizer and both got their meatloaf entree. The mashed potato even had a few lumps in it just like home. The meatloaf had a great portion and was better than I ever tasted. My only criticism is the tap water offered was terrible as is most tap water... hope you enjoy as much as we did. MNOVELLO read more

What a wonderful find! Somehow, we landed a 7:30 table for four on a very busy night before New Year's Eve. They sat us in a quiet back corner, and kicked the night off with seasonal drinks and appetizers: beautifully fired oysters, shrimp cocktail (served freshly fired and so flavorful!) and the fluffiest/crispiest sweet-and-savory Brussel sprouts. All to die for! Every one of us, all discerning and well-travelled diners, then cleaned our entree plates: two different perfectly cooked beef tornadoes in brandy/green-peppercorn cream sauce, the salmon with a hint of sweetness that balanced the cajun seasoning, and the crispy duck that was tender and beyond delicious. Still, we made room for dessert: sampling the berry crisp, chocolate salted caramel cashew torte, and blueberry sorbet--again, thinking we'd "just have a taste of each," we cleaned every dish! Wonderful service and atmosphere. All agreed we will drive the hour-plus to Portland in the near future just to come to David's again! read more

Second time at David's in the past year. First experience was very good. This time was just okay. The filet and burger were good but the duck was chewy and not warm. Garlic knots were forgettable. The ambiance is very nice: cozy and energetic but not too loud. You will smell like the kitchen when you leave though. Unfortunately the service was super slow the entire meal. Overall this is a solid place but the kitchen may be bit overwhelmed on the weekends. read more

A warm dinner on a cold night! After reading about David's on The Boston Globe, we decided they would be worth the trek through the snow in Monument Square for a plate of something simmery and savory. And let me tell you - we were in for a treat. We were graced with a starting round of fresh garlic knots, and equal parts picturesque and tasty cocktails to get the mood going. The ambiance was intimate and cozy, but without being jammed in to the point of being forced to overhear the neighboring tables. In just the right amount of time, we were presented with our entrees: a fresh and tender haddock brimmed with lobster stuffing, perched on a bed of spinach risotto, and a bacon-wrapped crispy skin duck breast leering over its own tower of risotto and veggies, finished with a fabulous drizzle of onion + bacon marmalade. Both were flawless. Now, what great dinner could be complete without dessert? Despite the entrees and way too much bread, we couldn't help but end the night with their blueberry cheesecake. We braced for the potential - would it be too sweet? Too this, too that? We soon found that we worried for nothing, as the cheesecake was just the right amount of sweet, with the perfect complementary crunch to its crust. If you are in the area, David's is a must. TIP: They have an amazing happy hour Monday - Saturday. read more

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fantastic drinks & food, quality over quantity reigns here. don't pass on the open faced lobster ravioli or house recommended cocktails! we sat at the bar and enjoyed the intimate experience & attentive service! read more

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Delightful restaurant. Great food and service. We were a party of four and all loved the experience.

The food is really what prompted me to give more stars. If it came down to service and all the COVID hurdles it'd be lower. The biggest pain was the restrooms. To go to the restroom you had to take the "hall pass" with you and back so everyone would know if it was being used. There was only one restroom and no lines allowed. Also, they do put little hand sanitizers on each table to ensure clean hands. Upon making our reservation, I realized they only offer outdoor dining right now. That wasn't such a big deal as a lot of other places are doing the same. We arrived a few minutes early and they had to scurry to get us a table even though we could see other open tables. Once seated, service for us was Slllooooowwww. Other tables were getting quicker service and food and drinks. Food was awesome! I really loved the mushroom ravioli and would have eaten it all if I wasn't planning on getting dessert. My husband loved his lobster roll. There was no kids menu but they do have burgers so that's what my daughter got. It was huge but provided plenty of leftovers for the next day. Dessert was delicious! I got the salted caramel cashew torte. It was like a chocolate truffle, so good! Location isn't ideal as there were a lot of homeless people lingering around. We parked in the parking garage behind the restaurant so we didn't have to walk far. read more

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Fantastic beet salad with seared tuna! Reasonably priced for the quality. 4% Utility Bill Fee automatically added to check. Added up to $20 at the end. Thanks Airbnb...I mean, David's......Wrap that cost into food bill David! I'll charge 4% back for the gas to get there...Loved the food though. Like I said, Fantastic! read more

Our party of 3 sat at the bar where Ari served us. She was friendly and attentive. She was also knowledgeable about a diet restriction (Celiac) and offered several options. We ordered - garlic knots, blackened shrimp app., pork chop, halibut and flank steak. Everything was exceptional. We will be back and if Ari is behind the bar, that will once again be our choice of seat. Casual and comfortable vibe. read more

Fabulous! Hungry and looking for a place to eat. Stumbled upon this place. A reservation is a must but by luck, 3 seats were open at the bar overlooking the kitchen. Looking over the kitchen was so cool. We had the garlic rolls and truffle fries to start and a bottle of Portugués white wine. Delicious start. For dinner, we had a fish sandwich with chips, a margarita pizza (cooked perfectly), and a gluten-free haddock and crab with spinach, risotto, and an amazing blue berry to-die-for sauce. Service was excellent and the ambiance was cozy and chic. Highly recommend this place. read more

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We were traveling through Portland on our trip up the New England coast and hit David's for dinner. We got lucky and were seated at the counter by the Chef's. We were greeted by Chef Turin who also owns the restaurant when we were seated. The menu offered a pleasant mix of options, all looked good. My wife loves pizza so she choose the "The Meat" Pizza which she loved when it arrived. I ordered the "Pepper crusted filet mignon" which was cooked exquisitely and the sides were very flavorful. 2 excellent choices. We closed the night with the "Ice Cream Sandwich" which combines chocolate chip cookies and excellent vanilla ice cream with Chocolate syrup for dessert. As with all of the previous items it did not disappoint! The service was excellent from everyone and the atmosphere was great. We would highly recommend David's when your in Portland! read more

David's Restaurant - The Meat Pizza - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Don't question it and just go. The food and service was great. Everything about this place is perfect. It's quiet and the vibe with the excellent food makes for an amazing night out. I am not one to take pictures but let me share them with you because they were all perfection! We came to Maine for the weekend and this restaurant was our night out. I was bummed that we couldn't get a reservation to one of the popular places in the city but I instantly knew this place was going to be magical when I stepped inside. This restaurant is an absolute gem and you just have to go and try it for yourself!! read more

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The food was incredible. The drinks were incredible. And the atmosphere is boujee. Service was fast, polite and understanding. read more

David's Restaurant - Goodfellow cocktail and a mocktail - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

On a Friday night in Portland, ME during the November offseason, we decided to make a reservation at David's Restaurant based on recommendations from friends, Yelp, and our own review of the menu. We did book the reservation a week prior using their on line service, and I strongly suggest that you make a reservation too. The place was packed in the dinning room and the more casual bar area. When we left, there was a line of guests waiting in the cold to get inside. We were fortunate to score a corner table for two in the back room which was quieter and more relaxing. The staff was helpful and friendly. The food was very good. I ordered the peppercorn crusted tuna which was served with cold soba noodles. The portion size was good for dinner and the tuna was seared rare, just as it should be. Our other meal was at the suggestion of our waitress which was David's Meatloaf served with mushrooms and mashed potatoes; although she opted for vegetables instead. The serving size was very large and would have made for a good lunch the following day had we not been on vacation. While it was good, it was a little oversold by our waitress and next would definitely order something else from the menu. Overall, David's is a great destination for a Friday night date, escape from the kids, special celebration while in Maine, or just a night out when you don't want to do the cooking. Again, I definitely recommend reservations in advance. read more

We chose to dine at David's because it was one of the only places that we were even able to get a reservation at. Even then, the reservation was for 8:15 pm and for the patio in October. We lucked out and the night was warm. We saw that they had a heater for the patio but they didn't have to use it. Our table was ready when we arrived. The waitress arrived after a fairly short time and asked if we were ready. I think it must have been a long night for her. Though she wasn't surly she wasn't particularly pleasant either. Might just as well have been ordering fast food. I ordered a gin basil smash for my drink and the open faced lobster ravioli for my entrée. The gin basil smash was okay. It was a large drink so that was good but I though it could use more basil flavor, though there seemed to be plenty of basil in the drink. Confusing. The open faced lobster ravioli is an interesting dish for sure. Basically the lobster ravioli is used as the "bread" and then there are scallops, shrimp and veggies in a sherry cream sauce on top of the raviolis. It too was good and a decent sized serving but again just missed the mark in flavors. Maybe it needed some seasoning. Not really sure but overall it was an enjoyable meal. read more

David's Restaurant - Open faced lobster ravioli - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

We were looking forward to dining here based on the reviews, but we were really underwhelmed. We payed way more than our experience was worth. The open faced lobster ravioli felt unfinished and thrown together. read more

Hard pass. Walked in and my dad knows the owner. He asked "is David here?" -"yes" "Is he making rounds" -"he's in the back and he's busy" Then proceeds to act like this is the finest dining and they don't have time for us peasants. No thanks. Not worth it. Wont be back. It wasn't that it was just reservation only. The 2 individuals up front, both young, had an extremely) arrogant and condescending tone and attitude. Like they truly thought that we were beneath them and they let us know by their actions. Place was empty. read more

Exceptional service and food! We didn't have reservations and were very lucky to be seated quickly on the patio. Peppercorn crusted filet with brie butter, Maine potatoes and broccoli in a maple glaze = delicious!! Haddock and lobster with a crust and mashed potatoes also a winner. We started with chicken potstickers served with fresh greens, a dressing and rare beef...unusual combination but surprisingly good. The only negative, and completely out of the restaurants control, is the homeless in the area were yelling at each other with great joy! While I am glad someone homeless can find joy even in a terrible circumstance, it was distracting at times. Wait staff was very attentive and helpful. Highly recommend read more

David's Restaurant - Baked Haddock with Lobster - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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At first, I was a bit turned off because I felt like the hostesses were judging us for not being super dressed up... it's a vacation town so people are out and about exploring all day! I can't be walking around on the cobblestone streets in heels! Besides that, the waitress was great and the food was impeccable. We ordered the bruschetta to start and it was so unique. It was a goat cheese bruschetta with an olive tapenade, it was scrumptious! My fiancé ordered the steak tenderloin medallions with scallops wrapped in shrimp... *insert Janice voice* Oh. My. God. The steak was so juicy and tender; it came with a peppercorn sauce that was absolutely to die for. The seafood tasted so fresh! I got a pizza and it was also very good. But if I could rechoose, I would get the steak! Wow. Super impressed. read more

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Don't let the relaxed setting fool you. David's restaurant came to play! We started with appetizers -- Brussels and an avocado and tomato salad. The Brussels were crispy and sweet, the avocado and tomato salad (with fresh mozzarella) was fresh and ripe. My wife and I split a salmon dinner with couscous. Cooked perfectly, and complemented with a homemade sauce. Our youngest ordered the Oh My God pizza, and the cheese (especially the extra Parmesan) was worth the calories! On the money, including very attentive and friendly staff. read more

My husband and I arrived at 730pm for our fine dining experience. Our server approached our table and shared that we needed to order our entire meal at one time. We were literally pushed through our dinner and at 840pm we were leaving. The restaurant was empty!!!!!! What a terrible experience!! read more

I thought the appetizer were better than the main course. Duck was supposed to be medium rare but was closer to well done. Tuna tartare was really good. read more

David's Restaurant - Crispy Skin Duck Breast - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

My partner and I came here for a lunch date today. It's been years since we were here so we thought it would be nice to come back. Excellent covid precautions. I felt very safe the whole time. I had forgotten how much I loved the interior here: exposed brick, maroon ceiling to keep it darker, and the giant clock on the wall are such neat touches! I started with the garlic knots and they are HUGE. I order six (and our fantastic server Anthony gave us 8) and they were delicious. My partner started with the clam chowder. He didn't have a comment on it which means it was good! I had the burger for lunch and he had the haddock. Both were cooked perfectly! My burger was very juicy and well seasoned. I tried his haddock and it was decent, a little dry perhaps but good flavor. The only down side here is the price. Our lunch cost us upwards of $75. Definitely good quality but dinner prices for lunch fare. read more

Had a great meal here with friends. We arrived early to our reservation, the place was empty. It was a storm and they were friendly and accommodating. We ended up sharing a bunch of plates and everyone left fat and happy! Would recommend and go again! read more

We have dined here for at least a decade. Always a great experience with good food and attentive service. At our last visit, for the first time ever, something was not right. The wait staff was inattentive and inexperienced. Really did not say much. The menu options are much more limited. I recall the salads were always delicious with nuts and interesting flavor profiles. There was always a starter basket of bread with olive oil. We sat down and were not given any bread. Now there is simply a green salad listed on menu which we ordered and it came with just lettuce and a few tomato slices and croutons. Applebees fare. Disappointing. Especially for the price. No sides to speak of. I recall sides of seasonal vegetables or mashed or toasted potatoes before. No more. Our entrees took awhile to arrive. Prices are still expensive but the quality of food, the range of dining options and the service have declined. Not sure if they are struggling with hiring experienced employees and high prices of ingredients, but the dining experience has significantly declined. They used to have amazing service and the food was always delicious. This is no longer the case. Not sure we will return as it's not worth the money. Sad to see the decline in what was once a fine dining establishment. read more

I grew up in this city. There are many long term establishments then I either never got around to or could simply never afford in life before now. This qualifies as both. We went for the celebration of our 9th wedding anniversary. I wasn't sure what to expect since I'd never even really considered the menu before. A number of appealing specials were considered, one of which my wife did get, but I chose an item from the standard menu. After receiving or beverages and asking a couple dietary questions, our waitress brought the spicy Margarita for my wife and the coconut sunrise mock tail for me. Our pot sticker appetizer was a surprise. I assume that a pot sticker has all of its ingredients inside the fried shell. This had pot stickers mixed into a salad with marinated beef! While surprising, I admit it was quite tasty and easy to share between the 2 of us. My wife ordered the stew which was on the specials menu and included things like muscles and andouille sausage. I am not a professional chef, but every vegetable I saw in that dish has a high water content and the result was more soup then stew. It wasn't at all thick. That said, my wife seemed to enjoy it and finished her left overs when we got home. She also gave me one of the 3 pieces of bread which came with it. My standard menu item was the seared duck breast over Herb risotto with daily vegetables. Because of the dental issue I had to ask for an alternate vegetable and was given candied carrots which are typically served with their meat loaf. All in, from start to finish I could not have been more thrilled! The duck was not overcooked. The risotto was creamy and textured. The sauce and the compote on top were sweet without being overwhelming. And the carrots were perfectly cooked! The piece of bread my wife gave me was used to absolutely clean whatever was left on the plate! We had another stop to make so we did not have dessert at the restaurant. I did notice at another table people had ordered the garlic knots which I had been considering. I ordered 6 to take home. They are meatball sized if that makes sense? When warm,, the flavor is delightful and garlicky however the second they cool the bread becomes much more firm. So reheating them was necessary to enjoy them. Perhaps it's different if you eat them fresh served at the restaurant. For 2 people the final bill would strike most people as expensive. It was a special occasion so I don't mind. I would say it is special occasion dining, if that makes sense economically speaking. read more

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David's is a great little find literally and figuratively in Portland. We made a Friday night reservation at David's, which was walking distance from our hotel. On our way inside, we walked past a little outdoor seating area. The restaurant had a small bar and the tables were sitting in close proximity to the kitchen, close enough that the fumes and smoke overwhelmed the place. They opened the door to create a more welcoming environment. Our server was very pleasant and as we inquired about several appetizers that caught our eye, she made sure that we were on the right track. We started with the crispy potstickers with Asian beef and the parmesan and herb tater tots. The tater tots were not what we were anticipating...in a good way. They were huge crispy potatoes with a honeyed goat cheese and mango ketchup for dipping. The potstickers were also very good. Given that we were in Maine, I wanted lobster. I got their most popular dish - the open faced lobster ravioli. It was more of a seafood pasta dish with lobster, scallops, and shrimp. The portion was decent for the price. He ordered David's meatloaf with crispy cumin onions. A daily specials menu had several items that looked quite good. We enjoyed our meal at David's and the atmosphere was perfect for a quiet, romantic meal. read more

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I cant describe enough how wonderful open face lobster ravioli meal is. So delicious! read more

David's Restaurant - Open Face Lobster Ravioli - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Ok- I wanted everything on the menu- chose a Caesar Salad and the Lobster Ravioli! Truly delicious. I went around 4pm and it was fully open. My server, Daniel, was a sweetheart and he gave me great recommendations of things to do! read more

David's Restaurant - Caesar Salad - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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We started off with a special of the day, which were arancini balls (crispy fried risotto balls, poblano creme de brie, and a balsamic glaze). They were just perfection, so crispy on the outside, creamy and luscious on the inside. My entree was the Open faced lobster ravioli (Lobster/day boat scallops/white tiger shrimp/fresh herbed ricotta ravioli /sherried lobster cream). An absolute dream of a dish, so rich and delicious you cannot believe it unless you try it yourself. Service was wonderful but get there early because the place fills up fast. When we arrived there were maybe two tables occupied but when we left there were quite a few people waiting at the door. Word is out on that lobster ravioli I guess, haha read more

Came for Maine's restaurant week. They did a good job with social distancing, arranging table and all. Service is decent too. Food was fine. Not bad but not great either. The butternut squash way too sweet. Pork tenderloin slightly dry. The salad is great and fresh, prawn dish is good not over cooking it. Spicy margarita just "there". Do I want to go back ? I guess not read more

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Had the most wonderful meal last night! The food was absolutely delicious, service was great and the ambiance of this restaurant was just cozy and warm and a great vibe, the cheesecake I had last night was the best I have ever had! The salmon, the meatloaf and the lobster ravioli all just mouth watering delicious! I wish we lived close by so we could go again soon' read more

This is a fantastic restaurant in Portland. My wife and I recently celebrated her birthday. The food was excellent and the service was top notch. Be sure to order the garlic knots. read more

Highly recommend booking a reservation. However, they have a strict late policy where they will save your spot for 10 minutes if you arrive late prior to releasing your table. I called and notified them prior to my arrival that I got stuck in traffic coming back to Portland and would not likely be able to show up at the exact reservation time. I ended up showing up 15 minutes late and my table had already been released. I was given a bar seat instead after discussing with the hostess over the phone about the situation and she notified me that they had my table reserved after my allotted time slot and a bar seat would be saved instead to prevent "feeling rushed". The bar was staffed by only one person which led to difficult individualized service. I ordered an appetizer and the open face lobster ravioli which was quite rich and tasted good but the shrimp came with the tail on which was a turn off. Overall, food service was quite slow for entrees and I would not recommend this restaurant based on my experience. read more

Food was really amazing. I had the baked haddock and crab with risotto and spinach. It was elegantly presented but I just don't think the atmosphere really justified the price. However, the food quality was very high. Service was very good and attentive. One thing I didn't like was the seating, being crammed in a corner packed like a sardine next to another table. Not really a quiet restaurant to bring a date as you felt like you were part of another tables conversation. read more

I go to David's twice a year for lunch with a dear friend who loves it here. And when we arrived we could smell fresh bread from the open kitchen. Today's lunch certainly did not disappoint. Our server Elizabeth L was outstanding. She was very attentive and on point, despite being quite busy. Our food was wonderful as always. I had the mussels with truffle fries. The mussels were huge in this delicious chipotle cream sauce. The fries were amazing! In a day an age of mediocre service and small food portions, David's Restaurants give diners hope for a better meal. Well done! read more

Our server was sweet and funny. Food was pretty good. Appreciate that the host recognized that we were 2 couples that probably wanted to chat and we were seated in the back where it was quieter. read more

We arrived on a busy Wednesday night before 6, before happy hour ended and let me say that was a good choice. Why? Because they have incredible happy food!! We sat at a bar overlooking the chefs cooking and boy do they move, it was like watching a fine tuned dance. We ordered drinks to start and I got the Apple Cider Mocktail and my partner some type of beer. The Mocktail was good, not to sweet but not to water down either! We quickly placed our order as we knew happy hour was ending. What did we opt with? Well, everything...vegetarian that is. The start you off with complimentary garlic knots that are warm, soft and delightful! The cheese plate was a nice mix of goat, blue and cheddar cheese. They pair it with candied walnuts, grapes and little butter toasted cristini's. We also ordered truffle fries which we didn't read the description well to see it was actually chips on happy hour menu so we paid more than we thought but that was our mistake. They were good but I wish they had been a little more crunchy. My favorite two items were the Mediterranean bruschetta and the potstickers. The bruschetta was a perfect combination with hummus, artichoke fresh tomatoes and drizzle of balsamic. I could literally eat that everyday. The potstickers came with a good spicy but not overpowering dipping sauce. They were filled to perfection and tasted really really yummy. My husband the non vegetarian ordered pork buns and he said they were really good his favorite thing he ate. Since we literally ordered so much we were not hungry with it came time for dessert, we joked about the lack of affagato on the menu and offered to make me one. Overall I would say we had A+ service, amazing food and and drink and at a great price, we will back for SURE!! read more

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Doesn't look like too much when you walk past but what a GEM. Madeline is an absolute dream of a waitress there wasn't anything we wanted for or needed I really want to emphasize how much of a rockstar she was! I had the mussels & crispy skin duck both of which were melt in your mouth fantastic I am not from maine but if this is a taste of what it has to offer I may consider moving! :) read more

David's Restaurant - Crispy Skin Duck Breast - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Food was delicious service was excellent. Our group of 12 were well taken care of. Restaurant made a special dessert for Mom's 80th birthday. read more