Amazing meal at Fore Street! Reservation is highly recommended. Love the ambiance in here and the wood fired focused menu. Our favorite bites were the heirloom tomato pastry special , mussels, and the pecan butterscotch dessert. We had the chicken and ribeye for our mains but these were not as standout. Chicken was a very large portion though. The ribeye was a bit thin for our liking. Also tried the blueberry pie (not pictured) but preferred the other dessert. We hope to return one day! We would plan to share more small plates in lieu of entrees. read more

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Had another WONDERFUL experience at Fore Street last night. Wonderful servers, staff, and exceptional food. We got the scallops, the steak special (a little salty), and the fish topped with lobster meat stuffing. For starters we got the garden salad and the oyster. All fantastic. If you want a special experience and can handle a place that has a calming and quiet yet energetic vibe...this is your place! read more

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WOW! what a place! we came without reservations, waiting in line at 4pm until the doors opened at 5. we were second in line, and luckily our party of 4 got a seat. the atmosphere is incredible. you're surrounded by chefs cooking over open flames and preparing dishes. the place is dimly lit and intimate. our food was amazing - mussels are not my taste but the rest of our party enjoyed them. my chicken was amazing. we'll be back! read more

Fore Street - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Really disappointing. Rude service. Tiny portions. Mediocre food. Was waiting 5 minutes for a table because they weren't ready at the time of our reservation. Tried to order a quick drink at the bar and was denied. Never been to a bar before you can't walk up and order at. Was told I had to sit down to order and then was told "this isn't the place for you" when I said I just wanted a quick shot at the bar. Haddock was fine. Burned my arm on the plate when the handle wasn't covered and they never said it was hot. Mashed potatoes were good. Key lime pavlova was very bad. Extremely disappointing and rude and a terrible experience. Would not recommend to anyone. read more

Really loved our experience here. We didn't have a resy so we got there when they opened and got on their waitlist to dine. The food was sooo good. We got the mussels to start. So big and cooked so well. It was some of the best mussels I've ever had. For our entrees, we got the crab stuffed haddock and the scallops. The crab stuffed haddock was a bit too heavy for me since it was also cooked in butter. I also didn't taste any of the crab since it was burnt on top. The scallops were perfectly cooked and not too rich. To me, it was far superior to the haddock. For dessert, we got the chocolate pear tart which was chef's kiss. It was the perfect way to end the meal. Service was fantastic and ambiance on point. read more

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What a beautiful restaurant!!! I love the open kitchen concept as you can see what they're making at the various stations. It really speaks to the dedication and confidence the staff has in the product they're serving you. Our server, whose name I forgot was excellent. Made some great suggestions and checked on us throughout our meal To start we had the wood grilled squid, and it came with this tangy cherry pepper sauce that it was cooked in and it was phenomenal!!! I have never eaten grilled squid before and I never will unless it's cooked the way it was here. Also got the Mixed greens and my god as simple as it was it was also complex. The dressing was delicious! My husband got their schnitzel entree, which he devoured in its entirety. Good crunch and cooked well, and the spätzle it came with was so creamy and delicious. I had gotten the turnspit roasted chicken and it was so incredible juicy with a crispy skin and it was seasoned well. I wish we had this restaurant in New York!! It was truly an amazing experience and one of my favorite meals in Portland, and there is no shortage of good food in this city so that's saying a lot! read more

Been coming here for years, but 12/1 was the best meal in a decade. This place is back throwing aces. Great everything. Duck crepes and the butterscotch dessert thing were outrageous read more

Fore Street - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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I'll keep this review short and to the point. If you haven't been to Fore Street, go to Fore Street! I've been to this restaurant several times since it was first recommended to me. We try to go here every time we visit Portland. It is definitely a highlight of our trips. There's a reason that Fore Street has started the culinary revolution in Portland. Fore Street's service and food is perfect every single time. I have not had anything that has disappointed me. In fact, everything has been impressive, both in taste and in presentation. If you're looking for regular dishes, there are a few. The pork loin is a standout and worth a try. The only challenge is not ordering it every single time. It's really that good. They alternate their menu items quite a bit based on what's in season and available, so you're getting the freshest most locally sourced ingredients each time. The menu is impressive. The front side is appetizers and the back features entrees, but you can absolutely make a meal with just a variety of apps. I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. There are only two downsides. One is that it can be difficult to get a reservation, especially during summer peak season. The second is that the bar selection is fairly limited. However, that does in no way diminish the skill of the bartenders. They do an excellent Plymouth gin Gibson. If you haven't to pick just one restaurant on your next visit to Portland, make it Fore Street. They'll never disappoint you. read more

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I usually don't leave reviews but the service here was so bad that I would feel guilty for not warning others. Alec, our server, was one of the worst I've witnessed especially for a restaurant like this. He not only was unfriendly and cold, but unprofessional as he was dismissive of my food allergy. Every other wait staff and host were exceptionally friendly to us but him who was our main server which made the experience even more jarring. I am very disappointed to have spent money on what would've been a nice evening out here. Food was good though, but it would be hit or miss with service. There are much better high end restaurants in Portland. read more

Fore Street is easily my favorite restaurant in Maine--probably my favorite non‑steakhouse anywhere. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space looks incredible, with a warm, rustic design and an open kitchen that sets the tone the moment you walk in.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Their weekly specials, true farm‑to‑table dishes, and consistently excellent drinks and service keep me coming back every time. read more

Fore Street - Venison special. - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

I wish I could give this place 1 star. I am extremely disappointed with both the food safety and the way this situation was handled. During our meal, we found a live worm in one of our dishes. Understandably, this made the entire meal inedible for our table. We remained calm, respectful, and reasonable throughout the interaction. We were more than willing to pay for our drinks and intended to tip our server appropriately, as this was clearly not the server's fault. Our only request was that the contaminated food be removed from our bill. Instead, management refused to comp the meal. Finding a live worm in food is not a minor inconvenience--it is a serious food safety issue that should be addressed with urgency, professionalism, and accountability. Rather than demonstrating concern for the customer or attempting to make the situation right, management chose to argue over the bill, leaving us feeling completely dismissed. Mistakes can happen in any restaurant. What defines a business is how it responds when they do. Unfortunately, this restaurant's response showed a concerning lack of accountability and customer care. Charging customers for food they could not reasonably eat after discovering a live worm is unacceptable. Based on this experience, I cannot recommend this establishment and will not be returning. read more

Food: Grilled cabbage salad. Dry, boring and didn't seem to be grilled at all. Beef Stroganoff. The tiny amount of beef was fatty gristly and disgusting. Even the noodles were terrible. They seemed greasy and heavy. Roasted Pear Jubilee. Meh. Service: The service itself was adequate however, I ate one bite of the Stroganoff and was never asked why. Ambiance: It is a beautiful space but too noisy to talk. The entrance is always jammed and uncomfortable since there really isn't a place to wait for your table. Fore Street was my least favorite of Dana Steet's three restaurants. Now it doesn't even make the list. Go to Street & Co or Scales. read more

Fore Street was recommended to me by a good friend who has excellent taste, so I had high expectations, I really did! I can't remember the last time my high expectations were exceeded as spectacularly as this. Fore Street is truly special. They get an enthusiastic & ADAMANT 6/5 stars from me. The space is big & way more of a production than I originally expected it to be. The dining area can seat at least 80 people. Somehow, they still maintain a cozy vibe inside. The open grill & woodfire operation definitely helps that aspect - it was a very pleasant temperature inside. Our server was spectacularly attentive & magnetic. I could tell immediately that she excelled at her job. She knew everything there was to know about the menu (including which dishes had any gluten in them) & made excellent wine recommendations. Sometimes, when I write reviews, I grade the things on a classic school scale. Every single thing we ate & drank at Fore Street gets a slam dunk A+ grade from me. I wish a higher rating exists for one dish in particular - the corned beef tongue served with latke, roasted apples, & a delicious crème fraîche type sauce. I'm absolutely kicking myself for not taking a photo of the menu so that I could report on the specifics. This. Dish. Was. To. Die. For. I'll be dreaming about it for months to come. Thank you, Fore Street, for an impeccable meal. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]The scene is hard to beat. So cozy![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I have been several times over the years. Sometimes a reservation and sometimes a walk in. The host/hostess team is great. Food is great. Recently sat at the bar and had a non-5 star experience. It was dinner time. Bartender took the drink order and removed all menus. No inquiry of whether we were only having drinks or wanted food - he just walked off w/ the menus he collected. Waved him down to ask for menus. No apology or explanation. Not the usual service that the place typically provides. Or, that the price point would imply. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Yesterday night we had reservations and arrived on time and the restaurant was full of smoke, we received no explanation or reason, strong smell, slightly irritated my throat and eyes.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We just dealt with it and it got better after about 15-20 minutes. We were greeted within a reasonable time then things got worse. We asked for additional bread and it never showed up so we had to ask again and server seemed annoyed and he got an attitude. I have not problem paying if that's the issue. Then when one of the appetizers arrived the food runner didn't know whose it was and didn't name the appetizer and had to leave and come back. Then when delivering soup and salads it was an auction. Then with dinner it was an auction as well, food runners didn't know who had had which meal. Then I me and one other person in our group asked for a 2nd glass of wine as soon as our meals were served, the server came back to the table to check on us and that's when he realized we hadn't received our wine he said it should be right up. I asked him to cancel my wine since I was already done with my meal and wanted it to go with my meal, he got an attitude and didn't apologize. Then when he came back with the other person's wine, he said sorry for the wait and the other person didn't cancel his wine because he didn't want cause a fuss. Unacceptable experience considering the price and recognition they've received. On top of that the steak was just ok. The pork loin was amazing and cooked perfectly. Food was a 7.5-8 out of 10. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambience lacking the smoke was an 8 out of 10.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was a 5 out of 10. read more

Fore Street - Dry rubbed pork loin - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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This was an amazing meal - absolutely worth it and such a beautiful interior. I arrived early for my 5:15 PM reservation and was seated in the lounge area while they set up for dinner service. (Make sure to book a reservation ahead of time as they have limited walk-in options) The mussels, hanger steak, and tartare were totally divine and the best I've had! I also had their speciality ice cream dessert - a maple sundae with brown butter, ice cream, and blueberries with sage! Totally worth the hype if you're in town! read more

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This is our favorite restaurant in Portland, if not New England. The only factory ambiance, old wood, metal & open grill make for a warm, hip setting. If you are a meat lover, this is the place for you! Selections are spit roasted or open-flame-grilled- sometimes both. Pork seems to be their specialty, no matter the cut or the preparation. There are some salads and veggies, but know the focus is meat. Desserts were wonderful as well. Service is professional and efficient. read more

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delicious & fresh ingredients. I had the haddock & it was so tasty! Our server nick made sure everything was perfect. His suggestions were spot on. The restaurant was beautiful and had such a charm to it. Cozy yet sophisticated. Definitely made our first Portland trip special! read more

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Excellent food and ambience. We were in town for a long weekend and this was our "nice" dinner. Terrific ambience and you get to watch the chefs at work with the flame ovens and grill. There is a small room to the side with all the local produce they will be cooking up tonight. We had the mussel appetizer. Fresh, garlicky and a nice portion. For mains we had the ribeye which was the special of the night and also the pork chop. The steak was well seasoned, excellent. The accompanying potatoes were crispy and fluffy. The pork chop was a bit on the mild side but again also a generous portion. It's one of those meals where even when you're full, the food is so good you just have to finish every bite. We were stuffed after the meal! No room for dessert. Five stars. read more

Everything about this meal exceeded expectations. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Such a warm and inviting ambience.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Servers were professional and enthusiastic about the food and their role. Food was amazing. Every morsel brought to our table was 10/10. The mussels and their sauce were best ever. Just a fantastic dining experience in every way. Cant wait to come back read more

Food, service and ambiance were excellent. Setting in a historic building overlooking the Portland Waterfront. The Cod stew was the best I have ever eaten, served in a clay pot steaming with spices and herbs. Will return as often as possible! read more

ok, now. I love Fore Street! So much so that I waited a month to get a reservation! And so thus it was with a little tongue in cheek that I felt myself criticising some of the dishes from our meal. To start we had the beet salad with crabmeat which was amazing. I love a good beet salad and this one did not disappoint. But the scallop brandade? Swimming, literally swimming in butter. Enough! it was too much. the flavor of the minced scallops and cod with the mashed potatoes and velvety feel on the tongue was fabulous but the melted butter bath didnt give enough wallop and in fact, made it too greasy. My opinion! Then came the haddock, which my partner thought was "ok", really didn't say much else on the topic. My cod dish with miso butter and lobster sauce, leeks - a very elegant dish but it was warm not hot, and thus a little over cooked. Oh, shame on you! No no no, don't ever serve a dish lukewarm esp fish! And to top it off it was not a busy night for the restaurant. What's the excuse? Never, ever should have happened. It was a delicious tasting dish, however. Garlic mashed potatoes one of my faves but my memory of it was a much smoother dish and this one was missing the smooth part. Dunno, has Fore Street taken to dimming things down a bit? Less experienced chefs on a Sunday night in March? I will say this - we both agreed Solo Italiano where we had dined 3 weeks prior, was better. Fore Street is still putting it out - the crème de la creme of meals - but I'd advise taking a closer look at some of the dishes being served and step it up a notch. Laziness doesn't bode well in a highly competitive restaurant scene such as we have in Portland Maine. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Another note - we were seated at the row of 2 tops on the second level and somehow our table being sandwiched in meant I had to scoot my chair as close to the table as I could to not be getting bonked in the back by the person sitting behind me. A little too close for comfort.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Staff on this evening was as always, exceptional, to the point and. wry helpful. read more

The service and ambiance were amazing. The open fire cooking is so cool to see. I have tried several items the fresh greens, oysters and potato soup was amazing. The squid was fresh but salty. The boar chili was good but the chitterons were stale. Over great time. read more

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Everything was very mediocre, wouldn't suggest going out of your way expecting outstanding service or food read more

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The title of this review could very well be "familiarity breeds contempt." Trust me, Fore Street has great food, it really does. There has not been one bad meal here. We take people to Fore Street to impress them, we go to Fore Street to celebrate our own birthdays and anniversaries. Fore Street is NOT a slouch place. But maybe I've been going there too much. How lucky am I that I've been to such a great restaurant so many times! This last visit - which was NOT a disappointment, believe me - gave me an unusual opportunity to check it out with new eyes. We were there for my spouse's birthday and we had a great meal and a great time. But is Fore Street getting a little tired and in need of a freshening up??? Maybe. To be honest, the dining room has not changed in the nearly 20 years I have been going there. Now, to be fair, it has always been a very handsome restaurant, no doubt. Slightly industrial, slightly old port, edgy and very cool. But I think it's time to freshen things up. FOR SURE the men's room needs a re-do!!! The phrase "gas station bathroom" comes to mind! I also think that newer restaurants (like Twelve) have been nipping at Fore Street's heels. Fore Street has been the queen of the dining scene for two decades - show us why again, ok? And let the new restaurants give you a reason to re-invent yourself! Ok, now having said all that - probably I'm a bit nit-picky - the food is fantastic. My spouse had an inspired beet and Jonah crab salad. This appetizer was clearly 5 stars. The vinaigrette alone was worth MORE than the $18.00 price tag. I got the bratwurst and it was house made and very good! For our main, we both got the haddock with lobster sauce (with some lobster meat too)! Excellent! As a side dish, we shared the zucchini cacio e pepe and THIS side dish was outta control awesome! However, the haddock dish was SO BIG AND SO RICH AND SO FILLING that we just could not finish it. That's a shame because the zucchini was so freakin delicious! Maybe tone down the haddock palette a touch??? I don't want to give a wrong impression. Fore Street is and remains one of my favorite restaurants in any city. But I also think they should get ahead of the curve and freshen it up, re-do something, re-do anything! Don't give people like me a chance to say you're tired because you're really not. BUT I must admit that you "look" a little tired. read more

One of Maine's top eateries. Smoked mussels are to die for. The menu changes a bit daily depending on what's local and fresh. We sat at the bar, which is a nice spot with plenty of space to spread out a little. I had the chicken and an asparagus salad with a delicious lemon vinaigrette. read more

Food and ambience was excellent. You could tell that the menu and open kitchen area were well thought out and planned. Our server, was also very well informed and more than happy to explain anything and everything on the menu. In addition to the food in the pictures, my wife and I had the squid and a serving of the oysters (apologies-forgot to get a pic of those items). Get the squid, it was really good. Scallops were prepared well, steak was on point...this place knows what they're doing. read more

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There are no other words to describe Fore Street--this place is hands down my favorite restaurant in Portland! From the moment we walked in, you can tell it's a special spot. The service is top-tier, with staff on a first-name basis with regulars, which really adds to the warm, welcoming vibe. You know you're in good hands when the people working there truly care about their guests. Our server nailed the cocktail recommendations, and dessert was just as spot on. Can't recommend the beef tartare enough--so fresh and flavorful. My boyfriend was all about the mussels, so much so that he tried to recreate the dish at home (spoiler: it didn't work out quite as well, but we'll keep trying!). Huge shoutout to ChatGPT for recommending this gem! Can't wait to come back again--Fore Street truly has a little bit of everything, and it's a perfect mix of amazing food, atmosphere, and service. read more

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While visiting Portland we decided to check this restaurant out. We heard many positive things about it and I'm glad we did. To start with our server, she was super friendly and knowledgeable of their menu and gave us some recommendations. This restaurant is very nice it's feels cozy around this time of the year. Food was amazing, they said they change the menu constantly. Great wine selection. Their sourdough bread is great. I will definitely recommend people to try this restaurant. Highly encourage to call for a reservation. read more

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Service was very very good. They give a new menus daily. They list the farms where they get their ingredients on their menu. Everything is fresh. Everything was very good. Recommend the eggplant dish with the green beans and mash potatoes read more

Fore Street - Appetizer - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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A fine dining destination with a focus on food quality and the evening experience. On the advice of a coworker, I stopped at Fore Street for my last meal of my vacation. The open kitchen is a treat - watching someone diligently working is always fascinating. The daily menu gives me confidence that nature's bounty helps to decide what's most worth consuming. I was seated 15 minutes before my reservation, and before long, Megan showed up to talk me through the menu. You'll see from my pictures that I ate very well. I nearly passed up dessert, but I just had to go for it to help prolong the experience. It wasn't perfect. None of the available seafood entrees really lit my fire. The squid was great as an app, using a cherry tomato vinaigrette to help prime the palate. But I didn't really want plain old haddock to be my entree, and I wasn't adventurous enough to try the "poor man's lobster", monkfish - so I ended up going with an apple sausage, butternut squash, and scamorza pie. It was fancy and tasted good enough, but I wanted a fish entree like a salmon or a halibut. Megan, my attendant, noticed that I wasn't really into the Cabernet I'd ordered without really thinking. She generously switched it to the Sangiovese after talking with me about what I wanted from my wine. It was way more to my liking. If I were in the area again I'd at least consider the menu as part of making dinner plans. read more

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Went here for my husbands birthday dinner last week and had an excellent experience. We were thankfully seated in the back with a view of town and it was a little quieter which we really enjoyed. Our server (Adam I think?) was so attentive and helpful and was able to clarify menu questions so easily. We got the tartar which was so good, my husband got a steak and I got the scallops which were so good. The tuscan beans were a delight. The cornbread was almost too sweet and cakelike and I'd probably skip on that next time, especially with all the bread we ate before. All of the cocktails were perfection and he got a pecan cake thing that was SO tasty (and had a candle in it which I thought was a nice touch). This place is SPENDY but if youre celebrating worth it and my fave of the 3 street restaurants. read more

I have wanted to go to this restaurant for several years, but I'm also the type of person who wants to look at the menu ahead of time. Since I was traveling alone, I decided to just do a walk in and sit at the bar and see what it was like. I wish I had done it earlier. I'm not the type of person who's gonna build a wood fire at home And Koch, so this is definitely a treat. To say the food was amazing as an understatement. I sat at the bar and was warmly greeted by the bartender, gave me fresh bread and a lovely glass of champagne. I ordered the steak tart, the veal, sweet breads, and the flower. I saw someone next to meeting fresh fiddle heads, which also looked amazing. I will definitely be taking my family back next time but obviously need a reservation. Thank you for an amazing evening. read more

Fore Street - Steak tartare - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

A staple in Portland! The mussels are the best! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Crisp salads and open kitchen is fun to watch.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I have enjoyed their food and drinks for years! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Beautiful, cozy atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our waitress was very informative and patient and gave us some great recommendations. Most importantly, the food is top notch. Each meal we had was delicious and thoughtful. Can't wait to come back. read more

Food was absolutely amazing and the wine list was top notch. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very cozy yet lively atmosphere as well[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. Highly recommend. read more

Best dinner I have had in Portland Maine. And I have had a few!!! I loved the cheese plate and the hanger steak. Truly awesome experience!!

Fore St was one of those restaurants that was repeatedly recommended to us and it more than exceeded expectations! One recommendation is to make sure that you aim to book at least a few weeks in advance, especially on a weekend evening. We were able to get a table for 5 people on the later side on a Friday evening several weeks out and reservations were starting to get slim. We immediately were greeted with the delicious smell of meet cooking over a spit (pork shoulder) and spices. The staff was fantastic from the moment that we arrived - providing recommendations on food, drinks, and places to visit in the area. We enjoyed all of our appetizers with a special callout to the Foie gras and squid. Dishes are seasonal and with many of the ingredients locally sourced. The pork shoulder melted in your mouth and the crab stuffed haddock was also a table favorite. If you can, try to reserve the corner table in the back for groups of 4 or more. It provided a great view of the restaurant, port outside, and gave us a little extra space for hanging out. read more

The wood oven roasted mussels were succulent and juicy. This is one of the best mussels we've ever had. The wood grilled squid was tasty as well. Service was fantastic! read more

Fore Street - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Great food and even better service in a warm and inviting restaurant setting. After some particularly long and stressful travel delays, we decided to treat ourselves to Fore Street. We had long wanted to try it, having always stocked up at the downstairs bakery every time we visit Portland. I'm happy to say it lived up to the hype and then some. As soon as we arrived, our waitress, Sarah, noticed our table was wobbly and immediately fixed it. She then talked to us about the food, and her passion for the restaurant as a longtime employee was so genuine that we were even more excited about choosing this spot. We ordered the pork loin ($32), hanger steak ($36), and garlic mashed potatoes ($8). Everything was outstanding, but the pork loin might have been one of the best things I've eaten recently. Very tender and tasty. Throughout it all, Sarah was extremely attentive and friendly, elevating an already outstanding meal. It was exactly what we needed after a long day. We'll definitely return next time we're in town. read more

Fore Street - Turnspit Roasted Dry Rubbed Pork Loin ($32), Garlic Mashed Potatoes ($8), and in background the Pineland Farm Hanger Steak ($36) - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine