Food was delicious & staff was great!! We would definitely go there again!! A plus in Portland is they have their own parking.

Greeted at our table by the owner himself ! Our table of 13 sampled almost all of the appetizers all were spot on ! Our meals were quite a variety from lobster , steak , chicken parm . No complaints from any in our party . Very beautiful boat ! Can't go wrong here ! read more

I've always tagged along with my own wife to DiMillo's one of her favorite haunts but I never felt was worthy of a 4 or 5* until today. There were 6 of us each ordering different meals. A new menu I've not seen before. Most everything was very good except the side cheddar polenta was a bust. Our server Janet was spectacular one of the reasons for a high mark. She alone was worthy of 10 stars!!! Go to DiMillo's you will be pleasantly surprised. Enjoy all the pictures attached. read more

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* Iconic Maine dining experience A very cool restaurant in Portland, Maine... such a unique dining experience aboard a boat! Fresh, delicious seafood, huge portions. Extremely kind & attentive staff. Great service! Stunning harbor views. An unforgettable experience! If you're visiting Portland, put DiMillo's on your list! Trust me! read more

I made a reservation here for a group of 7 on a Thursday for my mom's birthday. I called about 3 weeks in advance and the only time I could get before 7pm was at 5:15pm. Online reservations only allow you to reserve for a group size up to 4 and it seems like online reservations open 2 weeks in advance. I wish I had known I needed to call even earlier. Fortunately, on the day of my reservation, the restaurant called me and offered to move my group to an outdoor table overlooking the dock, which was really nice. It's covered outside and not loud. Our waitress was attentive. We shared calamari for an appetizer, which was good but could've used a little more sauce, preferably on the side for dipping; there was a bit too many capers for my liking. I enjoyed the clam chowder; nothing spectacular, but it was good. I really enjoyed the gnocchi & crab entree! The crab wasn't packed with flavor, but the serving size was really solid. My mom got the lazy lobster, which looked skimpy but she said ultimately it was filling enough. I requested the chocolate cake for dessert, which came with vanilla ice cream. My 4-year-old nieces thought it was too chocolatey and sweet, but I liked it. This place is probably popular primarily for the location, ambiance, and views; the food is OK, but still somewhere I'd recommend for a "classic Portland nice-ish dinner." read more

DiMillo's On the Water - Gnocchi - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

We were recommended to dine at DiMillo's by our hotel. The Canopy by Hilton. We started wi the mozzarella and fried artichokes served in a hot honey marinara. Very good. We also enjoyed the pecan crusted stuffed haddock with creamy polenta. Amazing flavors!! I enjoyed the broiled mixed seafood platter with roasted carrots. Very good!! Our server Erin is a local and has been with the restaurant for years. Thank Erin for a great dining experience. The atmosphere was top with complete nautical experience. A must try folks!! Enjoy the photos. read more

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Restaurant recommended by the most people for a classic steamed lobster. The kitchen was kind and pre-cracked the shell. Just what we wanted, and the cheddar polenta was good too. Loved our server! Loved eating at the port on a boat! Lunch crowd was casually dressed and we felt comfortable. read more

DiMillo's On the Water - The restaurant on the harbor - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Terrible service. I've never had a waitress speak to me that way before literally telling me that if I couldn't have butter I would have an issue eating at a restaurant before. She just didn't seem to care if we actually stayed or not. We ended up not eating here but the atmosphere was lovely so it was kind of disappointing. read more

Came in for a work dinner per our managers recommendation and boy were we in for a treat. I think almost everything on the menu was ordered but what I definitely had were the steamers, the bacon wrapped scallops, the lobster (of course), carrot cake and an affogato. Shared of course, except the lobster and the affogato, those were all mine! Absolutely delicious all of it! Dark upscale dining vibe, great place for a date or dinner celebration if you're ok spending some good money as it's not cheap. Will definitely be back! read more

DiMillo's On the Water - 1-1/2 lb. Lobster (GF) - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

We arrived in Portland from Tulsa and wanted some good lobster. DiMillos exceeded all of our expectations and Sophia was an incredible server. We sat on their outside porch and had the most amazing time. The food was simply amazing. We both got a different lobster dinner with delicious crabcakes to start! A fabulous first Maine meal of our trip!! read more

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My wife and I love the Old Portand and Dimillio's is a must see if you enjoy great food, drink, service and atmosphere. For this visit the steam clams were perfec, the haddock chowder was probably the best we've had years. What We shared an Espresso Martini...Yummy! You can't go wrong at Dimillio's so check them out and enjoy!! read more

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Once again we had a wonderful evening and dinner on the floating restaurant, (Dimillo's). We took my mother in law out for the evening and dinner. The servers are always so attentive and we were seated near the bow with breath taking views. I can't convey the depth of appreciation we have for this family, the Dimillo's. Yes it's a little pricey but well worth it!! read more

A friend told us about this restaurant, and it did not disappoint. We had the fish bites with spicy mayo and relish, the brown butter lobster roll, and a wedge salad. Loved the fish bites but they were spicy! The relish did a great job of cooling them down and keeping the fish light. The wedge salad was really good, and the restaurant split it in half so we could share. My only complaint during my visit was the salad was drowning in dressing. Sorry about the picture I had already cut it up when I remembered to take a picture. The lobster roll tasted very fresh and the brown butter was the perfect flavoring on the lobster. Chives added a bit of green without overriding the lobster. Our server was very attentive without being intrusive. She was friendly, kept drinks refilled, and checked in on us. We sat by a big window and watched one of the big sailboats being cleaned. Awesome views! There reservation areas (both) could work a little on being more friendly. They acted like because we didn't have a reservation, we couldn't get in, but we noticed the restaurant didn't have many patrons dining yet (it was earlier lunch time). Overall great place to eat if you want fresh seafood and great table service. read more

DiMillo's On the Water - Overdressed salad. - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

Yes, we visited Demillos 4 months ago. This time we had my daughter (44years old) and wife join the dinner. You know from my previous reviews that I will compliment or criticize as appropriate. The reception desk was staffed by Rachel who was less than welcoming and flippant. Had a cocktail at their beautiful bar while we waited for our table. Jess was our bartender who was very nice. I went back to the reception desk to see if our table was close to being ready. Solera was at the desk and was very nice. Iko was our server. He was attentive, informative and met all our dining requests. The food is top shelf. My wife is already suggesting that we go back again in the spring. Keep up the good work. read more

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When eating here one has dinner on a boat in the harbor with seats at and near the window getting a good look at all the boats in the harbor, which makes it a beautiful place to eat. 6 of us had a 5:45 dinner and the restaurant was maybe 80-90% full. My wife and I had a Maine crab roll and Caesar Salad. She really enjoyed her salad and I thought my dinner was just okay. Another couple split a Prime Rib and thought it was just okay while the other couple loved what they ordered. We all thought our server was okay. He was nice but took a while to take orders and bring the bill and didn't follow up during our meal to make sure all was good. In reviewing with everybody we decided to give it a 4-star because of the ambience and 3 of us loved their dinner. DiMillo's was recommended to us by a local and we'd recommend it too. read more

DiMillo's On the Water - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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We had such a great dinner at DeMillo's, the iconic floating restaurant right on the Portland waterfront. The baked stuffed lobster and haddock chowder did not disappoint ! read more

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OK, whenever I do five stars, I feel I have to qualify it (unless it's fine dining). Yes, this is a tourist trap. Yes, this is the same floating restaurant that had the tacky commercials when I was in high school ("half-time at DiMillos on the waterfront" - said with a wicked Maine accent ayuh). Yes, it still has the same loungey decor from the 80's too. But you know what? It also is charming (in a retro way), full of history (which you can see on the walls throughout), and it is a FLOATING RESTAURANT! How many places can you say that unless you're actually out to sea? The large boat is in the middle of the marina and the views are wonderful all around. The entrées were a bit pricey, but honestly the appetizers and sandwiches are reasonably priced and the ones we had were super filling. More than enough food for the average Jane. Bonus; free parking if you dine at the restaurant read more

My coworker and I chose DiMillo's for a business meeting with a customer. Fun atmosphere, nice views. We had the mussels and burrata to start, both were very tasty. I ordered the pecan crusted haddock, it was just okay. The Caesar salad and and the seafood sampler entree looked great. read more

Monday. May 19, 2025. Dinner. A fifteen minute walk from my hotel. I visited for happy hour, arriving about 4 PM. This restaurant is on the waterfront with a gorgeous view of the ocean. I sat at the bar, facing the window that opens to the ocean and boats. My waitress was training another waitress and they were both young and perky. I ended up ordering two draft beers with my happy hour food. I don't remember the names of my beers or the cost but they were good. I ordered the Sriracha dusted fried haddock bites with apple pico de gallo, cilantro, and ancho lime aioli ($10) and fried calamari with marinara sauce ($10). These dishes came out hot and I enjoyed the kick of the haddock bites. They had the right amount of chile. I talked to some local bar patrons sitting next to me. They were good conversationalists. They worked as pollution monitors. One of them owned a boat and told me how fun it was on the water. I enjoyed a good time at the Happy Hour at DiMillo's. read more

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Came to DiMillo's for a business dinner and it definitely delivers on atmosphere, housed in a converted ferry floating on the water, it gives off a cool, old-school nautical vibe that feels both historic and retro. You're not just eating dinner by the water, you're literally on it! We started with the Shell Yeah clams, and yep...shell yeah, they were great! A generous portion, mixed with chorizo and served in a rich, flavorful broth that had us reaching for bread to soak it all up. Highly recommend as a starter. From there we moved onto salads and then mains. I went with the 1 1/2 lb steamed lobster, because, well... it's Maine. Nice size, fair price, and served simply with lemon butter, the classic way. Overall, DiMillo's is a solid spot if you're in the mood for that traditional Maine seafood experience with a side of maritime nostalgia. There are a few other places in the area that I personally like a bit more, but this was a fun, unique spot to try and definitely worth checking out at least once if you're in Portland. read more

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I'm a frequent Portland visitor and am always looking for restaurants I haven't dined at. I've definitely overlooked DiMillo's in the past as I assumed it was a tourist trap, but I'm very glad I gave it a chance. Dining in this restaurant definitely feels like you're stepping back in time, but in a really good way. The restaurant is a ship of course so it is literally in the water and has great views. Ambiance is wonderful, it feels like a classy cruise ship from the 60's. Service was fantastic, we had an excellent waitress who was very attentive and friendly. The owner even cruises around the restaurant checking on all of the tables, definitely an old school move but it felt nice not cringey. Drinks were amazing, strong, you definitely get your money's worth. We started with the burrata appetizer which my husband and I polished off in no time. I had the filet which was perfectly cooked, I practically licked my plate. My husband had the fisherman's platter which he could not finish (and he always can) since the portion was so generous. The kids food is excellent as well, my son gave the chicken tenders "5 million thumbs up" and he is a true tender connoisseur. If you are thinking of skipping dessert, don't. We had the carrot cake and it was amazing- warm, spicy, like fall was giving you a hug. Is this a hip new trendy restaurant? Definitely no. Is this a classic restaurant that deserves your money? Yes. Will be back. read more

DiMillo's On the Water - Amazing steak, happy little boys - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

Great meal at DiMilllos. Best clam chowder I've had in a while Service was excellent and friendly. Fun atmosphere. read more

DiMillo's On the Water - Clam Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

Absolutely amazing restaurant right by the water. They serve some amazing fresh and delicious seafood. Reservations are highly recommended, but the staff will try and accommodate you based on availability and seating preference. I had an amazing lobster rolled here and their seafood pasta is great too. Love the vibes of the place and they have some great views of the pier and water and boats. read more

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Great atmosphere at the bar! Good bartenders especially Jess! And great food ! seafood Diablo was perfect and dirty spicy martini read more

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It's a unique restaurant, large boat on the water. While visiting Portland stopped in for a drink. The bartender Faithe was personable. Made the best drinks !! Next visit we will definitely dine. read more

DiMillo's On the Water - Lemon drop & Expresso martini - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

My family and I came here for dinner during our trip to Maine and came here on a whim. We did not have reservations so we placed our name and were told there was a 45 minute wait. They texted us much earlier than that so we were able to get there on time. My family loved their dishes and the portions were great with no leftovers for anyone. I got the salmon with crunchy coleslaw and would eat the coleslaw every day if I could. So good! The salmon as perfect and went well with the quinoa. Would definitely go back! read more

DiMillo's On the Water - Salmon - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

Food and drinks were delicious and the view was beautiful. But so incredibly expensive. Cheesy polenta? SO DAMN GOOD. Parking is nuts here too read more

I looked at other reviews and thought it would be a good place to try out. The appearance is different but it's obvious that there is some age on everything. The food, service, staff and price made up for the first impression issues. Good size portions, amazing flavors. Well done. A must try if you're downtown Portland. read more

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Our family drove up from NY for the lobster festival and this looked like a good yelp pick. Ambiance is very cool, on a boat in the water, can't beat it. Our waiter was tremendous, checked in frequently and helped with all of our requests as we were with a baby. We came at 4 so we got seated immediately. Was told earlier that reservations were booked and the wait would have been ~45 min at 5-530pm. Crab cakes were amazing with their sauce. The giant Sicilian meatball was very very great. And both the lobster and crab were very good. Would definitely come back in another visit to Maine! read more

A lovely place to enjoy some seafood and to day drink! The fun of this place was the collective effort of some other guests wanting the blinds to be hoisted up. So we all did it together! Once lifted, the entire mood shifted up to a joyous day drinking some wine with the best unencumbered views that you could ask for! read more

DiMillo's On the Water - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Amazing food!! My husband and I both ordered the DiMillo's Scallop Roll Fried scallops w/tartar sauce * bacon bits * pepper jack cheese on a roll. We're from Michigan so we don't get to enjoy unusual things like this. The scouts were crispy on the outside and perfectly cooked my husband ordered glazed carrots for his side and I ordered cheesy polenta which was delicious and very comforting. Purchase her my husband ordered blueberry cobbler with whipped cream on top and he enjoyed while I ordered the carrot cake which was loaded with whole pecans over the top and was fantastic! I highly recommend that for dessert! read more

DiMillo's was absolutely wonderful. I got a reservation the day before, and snagged the time that we wanted. Parking was easy, and FREE which was clutch and so convenient. The waitress we had was so warm, bubbly and gave her opinion on all of the dishes we asked about - it seemed genuine, and not forced/not for the money. The food was all very flavorful, warm, and good. The lazy lobster might've been slightly overcooked, but we still ate it all and had no leftovers to take home! Such a cute place in Portland, and I would definitely go back. read more

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I went to DiMillo's on the Water for dinner on a Saturday with a group of six. It is a restaurant within a docked boat. We had a reservation for 4pm, but unfortunately we ran 10 minutes late and ended up losing our table. The host said we might not be able to get a table because they were very busy. We ended up being seated before 4:30pm lol Our waitress gave us menus and took our drink orders. Service was friendly but slow. I ordered the clam chowder to start and the Fried Fisherman's Platter for my entree. The clam chowder tasted good, but it was more potato than clam. Then it took nearly 45 minutes for my entree to come out. It was good and filling from all the grease on the fried foods. The slow service could be a trend outside of my usual NYC area, as other restaurants i went to were also pretty slow. read more

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Beautiful restaurant on the water. We got a crab roll and scallop roll to share and both were fantastic.

Great location. You take a ticket to pay for parking upon entering their parking lot, but as long as you dine here, your parking is free. Bring your ticket with you and have it validated upon leaving the restaurant at the check-in desk. Nice restaurant. Spacious. The lobster stew is great! Plenty of lobster and perfectly cooked. The Mixed Seafood Broil is good. The Fried Fisherman's Platter was good. While the seafood was nicely cooked inside, the outside is a little overcooked than other restaurants that specialize in fried clams. Needless to say, it's still worth it. There were other dishes that our dining party enjoyed as well. The staff are nice and attentive. read more

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Dimillos is hands down the best dining experience my party and i have had in Portland. To start with the ambiance, you are situated on a boat converted to a restaurant. You get boat vibes without the dreaded seasickness. The appetizers were all very tasty. The scallops were complimented nicely with the bacon and the syrup, the crabcakes were more delicious and more crab than breadcrumbs (which is greatly appreciated), and the eggplant was alright just a little oily for my taste. Onto the entree, i had the lobster Mac and cheese. This was the highlight of my meal... Rich, creamy, and packed with fresh Maine lobster and complimented with great garlic bread. Andy, our server, was attentive and great overall. In conclusion, the combination of the marine atmosphere and indulgent and tasty food make this spot a must hit. Highly recommend. read more

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The service was adequate. Not slow, but not especially attentive, particularly toward the end of the meal. I ordered the signature dish, DiMillo's Lobster Mac and Cheese, and it's hard to believe this is what the restaurant is known for. It wasn't hot, it was bland, and the breadcrumbs on top gave the impression it had been pulled from a cooler. The pasta looked and tasted like it had dried out in a fridge, then was reheated in an oven just long enough to warm it through, but not enough to restore any quality. The steak was also disappointing. It came with a generous portion of mashed potatoes and gravy, and that was it. My friend asked for medium, but it arrived medium well. Given the restaurant's reputation, I expected a much better dining experience. The pricing made it worse. The two entrées totaled $95. The steak was $45, the lobster mac was $50. The portions were large, but that felt like an attempt to cover for poor quality. Loading up a dish with pasta or potatoes while skimping on premium ingredients is a clear sign of cutting corners. Presentation was uninspired. I've seen better plating at a roadside diner. Even if the prices were lower, the food still wouldn't measure up. For $50, I expected something flavorful and memorable. Instead, I got three large scoops of pasta in a watery, bland sauce with limp, overcooked lobster and a layer of breadcrumbs. It came with "toasted baguettes" that were really just sub rolls sliced to look the part. Again, more diner than fine dining. The waterfront location was nice, and the atmosphere was quiet. No music or background noise, which I appreciated, but it gave the space a subdued, almost lifeless feel. This felt like a place coasting on its reputation, relying on tourists who don't know better. Update: I now can confirm my suspicions that the lobster mac wasn't fresh. My stomach has been in knots all morning. read more

The thing is...we've been meaning to check out a number of seafood restaurants around the Portland area for years now. Typically, this is done by first previewing the menu to see what strikes our fancy. Well, I'm here to tell you - DiMillo's struck SEVERAL of our fancies! And just like the title says, it's literally on the water. In terms of ambiance, the restaurant is an actual ship, which you can see if you notice the horizon of the view slowly bobbing up and down. However, you never feel any significant rocking (similar to a cruise ship). So, no worries about getting sea sick during dinner. It's not that kind of boat. Also, the ocean views are spectacular! If you've never eaten seafood by the coast before, you seriously need to check this out. As for the food, well...let's just say it was a total lobster fest for wifey and I. Though, it was not without a minor hiccup or two (more on those in a bit). But first, we have.. Deep-fried lobster tails: Near as I can figure, they serve you anywhere between 8 to 10 ounces of pure Maine lobstah tails. Picture two 5 ouncers split down the middle, de-shelled, and deep fried to perfection. Lobsters were tender and flavorful like the sea. I'd expect nothing less from the great state of Maine. But honestly, the real MVP of the evening was wifey's lazy lobster entrée. Almost everything about this dish was perfect; tender, buttery, savory goodness that melts in your mouth the way a good crustacean should. Only thing that was missing.....was seasoning. May I ask....WHY?? Look, I get it. The ocean supposedly seasons the lobster meat for you. Except....you still gotta give it a lil somethin' somethin' prior to placing them in the broiler, steamer, or deep fryer. So, after adding copious amounts of salt to her dish, I made it a point to sample a couple pieces and....hot damn!! This one's a 9 out of 10 for me, whilst the deep fried tails were an 8 out of 10. Turns out, I prefer baked to fried. Who knew? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ You might be wondering what the other minor hiccup is with DiMillo's. Well....to probably almost no one's surprise, it was the crab cakes. This sort of thing used to bug me a lot more than it does now. But these days, whenever I get a subpar crab cake, I just take it with a grain of salt (sometimes literally) and remember that I'm in New England--not Maryland. If you don't know what that means, allow me to break it down. Ideally, the best crab cakes I've had (and I've tried several renditions) were primarily structured with like...98% lump crab meat whilst keeping the breadcrumbs to the minimum. The crab to breadcrumb ratio at DiMillo's, however, was more like 40/60 to the breadcrumbs' favor. I thought we ordered a crab cake, not a crumb cake. Needless to say, the crab cakes themselves were quite bland with a serious void of crab meat which could have resembled cat food, had it not been for the little bit of seasoning and spices applied in there. If you pair it with their remoulade sauce (which was blended brilliantly, btw), it starts to taste somewhat edible. Oh well. At least they tried, I guess? Ultimately, it's a 5 out of 10 for me. As for our waitress, she was a delight. I just wish she had came back to check on us a bit more frequently. Though it was somewhat busy in the restaurant, this was still a Monday evening. Not hardly as crowded as it must get during peak hours on weekends. It's worth mentioning we basically had to book a table in advance, as time slots were quickly filling up according to their website. There is a dedicated parking lot for this and other surrounding restaurants in the area, but it's paid parking. Good news is....DiMillo's will validate your ticket at the front desk. Just be sure to carry it with you and DON'T leave it in the car. One other caveat regarding the restaurant's physical location: right before parking, you'll possibly notice a giant sign up front with the restaurant's namesake on it. Only....you probably won't know where the building itself is at first. So, here's a hint: it's tucked in the way back by the water. Just keep walking toward the docks and you'll see it. Overall, not a bad experience for a first night out on 'staycation'. We will most certainly return here one day. At which point, I shall become #TeamLazyLobster once more! As of now, I'm giving DiMillo's On The Water 4 tender, buttery plates of lobstah meat WITH seasoning out of 5. read more

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I was at DiMillos today for lunch with 8 women- we had not seen each other in a long time so were anxious to catch up- was had drinks and asked for separate checks (nightmare table for a server) James M was our server and he went above and beyond! The food was excellent- I had a wedge salad and it was the best one I have had- everyone's plates looked fabulous - Highly recommend read more

Place is very welcoming. Especially our server who helped with our questions. The clam chowder is a MUST to start with , it's thick, flavorful, and all around the best!! read more

DiMillo's On the Water - Lobster roll with brussel sprouts - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine