My husband and I are huge foodies and have been to almost all of the top rated restaurants in Portland. We both agreed that Isa is our new favorite restaurant in Portland. Everything from the service, to the atmosphere, to the food and drinks are exceptional. Ingredients are fresh, food is well seasoned. Perfectly sized portions - they're not too big or too small. You won't be disappointed! The 5 or so dedicated parking spots are an added bonus. We can't wait to go back again soon. read more

See all

Isa is an amazing local Bistro. A little hidden gem. Every dish is well thought out and the menu changes seasonally. The hibiscus margarita is the bomb. Must go here for a delicious meal my favorite are the Mexican seasonal specials! read more

Cozy, friendly accommodating staff, top level food. We returned to Isa recently and I'm sorry it had been so long. We just love the place, food, ambiance, service. We started with the Lobster Tostado, which was almost to beautiful to eat. Crisp tortilla with avocado, and aioli and a nice balanced amount of lobster. The shaved fennel salad was bright with a nice amount of acid from the grapefruit- unique. Grilled pork chop expertly cooked and I loved it. We also had the seared halibut also perfectly cooked. While the menu is on the small side, I'd come back to order a few more appetizers and maybe split a main dish so I could try more things. Our waiter was great, and suggested wine and changes to accommodate some food sensitivities for my wife. One of our favorites in Portland. read more

See all

Our food tasted amazing! The coconut cream pie was the best I ever tasted. Great service. Quaint and clean! read more

Amazing service. This was by far the best food we had in Portland. The halibut was amazing. Very little to accommodate a child's palette, but amazing for mom and dad. read more

They did a great job setting up a tent outside. The food and service was very good, I wish we had moren menu options but everything we had was very good on presentation and flavor. Thank you! read more

Isa Bistro - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

Reserve ahead of time as place is small and very popular. Several of my friends consider it among their favorites. Service is excellent. Ingredients sourced locally, so menu changes. read more

We had different brunch plans, but the line was too long, so we decided to try Isa on a whim. Boy, am I glad we did! The atmosphere at Isa is definitely trendy/hipster with a flair for steampunk and retro decor, which was fun. Plus, it's a cute, cozy place with about 8 tables and the bar. Overall, an intimate atmosphere. The food took a while to get to us, which was rough on my hungover husband. We waited about 40 mins, which is usually longer than I'd like. That said, it was worth it! The eggs Benedict was delicious, and the touch of balsamic on it was unique. The hash browns were perfectly crispy. My husband got the seasonal gingerbread pancakes, and they were fluffy and delicious. Plus, the coffee kept coming, which was great, and our waiter was fabulous! Can't complain! read more

Isa Bistro - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Excellent table service of excellent food. Eggplant lasagna is a staple and it lives up to its reputation. My companion had the sole and it was also excellent. Broad but small range of beers and wines. We enjoyed our dinner very much The neighborhood? I'm insulated from these citizens of Portland because I live in the woods. Still, for the food it was worth the walk. read more

Found Isa and was thrilled with all aspects of dining there. The space is intimate, calm, and elegant. Food was perfection. The eggplant parm exceeded expectations as well as all the other dishes, including desert. Attentive and friendly waiters. On site parking lot a plus. Not a large space, so make a reservation. read more

Neighborhood gem! Excellent food with exceptional service. Beautifully presented, perfectly prepared and flavorful. We had the following: duck liver mousse appetizer, watermelon salad, fennel salad, lobster tostadas, halibut, crab cakes and the bolognese. Don't skip dessert: the coconut pie and tres leches cake were to die for. Yum! read more

See all

Arrived at this establishment based on my wife's research (it's what she does when we are visitors anywhere on the planet). This place is quality through and through. Quaint atmosphere, good service, great food. Local Rabbit Ragu was incredible. They even came through with a complimentary Anniversary dessert. Will be back for sure. read more

Isa Bistro - Local Rabbit Ragu - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

Of all of the restaurants in Portland, Isa is one of the most underrated. It is always on my list when I am in the city because of the warm atmosphere and excellent food. Portland tends to be on the pricey side when it comes to dining, yet Isa is an exceptional value. Dinner here seems to be about a quarter of the price of other places in the city, and the quality is just as high. Perhaps it is because the neighborhood isn't as charming as the Old Port. The menu is somewhat small, but extremely varied, and everyone should be able to find something that suits them. There are always a few homemade pasta dishes, several seasonal seafood options, and some elegant meat preparations. You can't go wrong, but I am a big fan of their pasta dishes in particular. This is a great neighborhood establishment, and I recommend trying it out soon! read more

See all

If someone asked me what my favorite restaurant in Portland, MAINE! is this would be it. I LOVE the salt cod fritters and order them every time. Everything on the menu is good. I have been to many other restaurants in Portland, MAINE! that have reputations that precede them, and typically have had a good time but also have been let down too. I have not been let down at Ish, my only let down is sometimes the serving size portion is a little small, and I have left there still hungry. They make some nice cocktales here also. The wait staff, all very friendly, and they remember me. 5-stars, Best of Portland, MAINE! read more

Spectacular dinner. It was a chilly night and we stepped into a warm and welcoming restaurant. The dressing on my green salad (ginger tahina) was so yummy I could have eaten two or three salads. Just the right consistency- not overly tahina flavoed, gingery and a little salty. So so good! My husband had the squash soup and it was a bowl of warm silkiness that didn't taste like any squash soup I've ever eaten. I had the branzino with lentils- just can't say enough about how delicious it was and my husband had the short rib- scrumptious. We hope to come back here over and over. read more

I LOVE everything about this place. It's such a beautiful, decorated restaurant and welcoming/friendly atmosphere. I wish the location was in a better spot, but it was very easy access and plenty of side street parking. We sat at the bar and were talking to the bartender, which we found out was family runned, and they all work together there just about. We loved hearing the back story, and they got back to us fast on Facebook. I was craving duck that day, and they luckily had that as their special when we asked if they did thru messenger. I fell in love with the whole dish as it was prepared very well with cooked duck and a combination of flavor. The short rib just fell right apart and also cooked very well. The cheesy potatoes have a nice crisp on the outside and soft in the middle. I wish I had more portation of it so yummy! The cranberry sauce was a different flavor mix for Brussel sprouts but came together well. I would definitely come back here and was sooooo satisfied with the whole experience. Very good job, everybody ! read more

See all

A really nice place for a brunch! The food was great and so was the service. Not so many opinions on the menu, but a great quality on the food they serve. The service was also great! read more

See all

Thoroughly enjoyed our fine dining experience here! Friendly staff; great service. We sat outdoors and the setup was lovely under a spacious tent. The heirloom tomato appetizer blew me away: prepared with goat cheese, peaches, and balsamic vinegar. Trust me on this one. My shrimp pasta was also very good; the fresh pasta especially...pretty sure it was made in house. The bistro is located away from the busy tourist area closer to the waterfront. It's in a more residential area...made our meal more relaxing. read more

Isa Bistro - Shrimp with pasta - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

My first time coming to isa was a couple summers ago when I went for lunch. I was incredibly impressed with the aesthetic of the restaurant. The venue is somewhat smaller, but intimate. It instantly made me think of how it would be the perfect place to go out on a date. They have a small bar with some seating, and when there is nice weather, they have a fenced in outdoor patio space with cafe dangling lights. The restaurant has accents of modern lighting fixtures and has contrasts of black and white between the checkered floor, the black tables and chairs, and the white walls. I will say, my first experience with their lunch didn't leave me wanting more. I had ordered a quinoa dish, and while it was okay, the portion was incredibly small and the taste was just "meh." I had never planned on really coming back, but I'm super happy that a few months later a friend of mine wanted to come here for dinner. My dinner experience ended up being terrific and I have come numerous times since then for dinner. isa's menu has a variety of options, and it changes pretty consistently since they have a farm-sourced menu that changes with the seasons. Their menu is separated by a variety of starters, main dishes, salads, and sides. I have had the chili-rubbed pork chop, the bolognese pasta, a haddock dish, the cheese plate, brussel sprouts, an eggplant quesadilla, bistro steak, and a pasta dish with rabbit. Honestly, all of the dishes that I have had for dinner are incredibly flavorful and are decently portioned. I would recommend any of the dishes that I have ordered here, however the standout for me is the pork chop! If they have it on their menu, GET IT. Service is always top notch as well. There is a fine line of being neglected and/or being checked on too much, and the serving staff at isa has really mastered this art. I honestly could go on about the greatness of isa's dinner, but I definitely suggest that you give it a shot! read more

See all

Visit on a Friday early evening. Sat on patio, nice drinks, limited but wow menu. Really enjoyed octopus with chimichurri and chickpeas, then great local meatballs, Caesar salad hit the e spot. Great place for date night, nice crowd excellent serving staff, very attentive. Will go again when back in Portland. read more

Couldn't have asked for better ambience, service or food. The staff provided a terrific evening for a special event we were celebrating. The drinks, appetizers and entrees were all outstanding! The level of professionalism and pride taken by the owners and staff is obvious. Order the Night Owl specialty drink, it was a huge hit, as was everything at Isa Bistro. I wish I could grade higher than 5 stars. Thanks you for taking the time and effort to make our evening such a nice memory. We will definitely be back. read more

Great atmosphere, lots of excellent choices on the menu & the service was attentive without being over the top. Outside of downtown but well worth the trip. read more

Food was just okay. A lot of hype but not worth all the hype. Sat at the bar. Restaurant came highly recommended, but I'm sure there are others in the area that are much better. read more

Amazing food. Great service, great lighting and music. Had the lobster stew special for an app, hubby had the octopus. Entrees we had the tagliatelle bolgnese and the halibut. We may be back on our short trip. Compliments to the wait staff and the chef! read more

Well done, Isa. You have won the prize for Best Hidden-In-Plain-Sight Gem Of Portland's Brunch Scene (it's a new title, don't worry about it). More on this in a second... I had been to Isa before for dinner (they hadn't been open very long at that point). The food didn't wow me - it was, in my opinion, overly priced for underwhelming portions of just alright food. The outdoor "patio" (for lack of a better term) area, however, did wow me - it felt like I had been transported out of Portland and was nestled away at some known-by-locals-only, hip spot in Brooklyn. The long, narrow alley-way feel with exposed brick on one side, the pots of homegrown cherry tomatoes, the Edison light bulbs above... very, very cool. I recently came back for brunch. While the inside didn't wow me, this time the food and service did. Arrived at 11am when they opened; stayed until well past 3pm and, long after the bills had been paid and we had outstayed our welcome (though we were *never* made to feel that way!) our water glasses and coffee mugs remained full. They were super considerate about (and even two-steps ahead of us regarding) dietary restrictions. There was no real wait for table. They served food and cocktails off both the lunch and brunch menu until 4pm. This is EVERYTHING other brunch places in Portland should be doing and are not. So yes... brunch perfection hidden in plain sight. The egg sandwich (currently for $8 sans meat) is twice as big as everyone else's sandwich in town. All that scrambled egg, cheddar, and smear of the day (I've seen pesto as an option, I've seen onion jam as an option) on house made focaccia is almost too much, but it's not (no it reallh is, but I don't want Isa to change this bargain breakfast deal, so ignore I wrote that, mmmkay Isa?!). Get a side of hollandaise to dip your sandwich in, skip the home fries (they're a little greasy) and get the perfectly golden fries instead, and enjoy what has to be the best coffee-based alcohol drink in the city: the Boozy Hot Mexican Coffee (no spice here! this baddie is just coffee, tequila, kahlua, cardamom syrup, and cream). Also, get the Hibiscus Margarita while you're indulging. I don't even like tequila, guys. I. Don't. Even. Like. Tequila. But those two drinks are flavorful, balanced, and no less than uhmaaaaahzing. All in all, having been to Isa during different seasons for different meals, if you can score brunch outside in their pretty little alley... You will love, love, love it. Went a long time ago for dinner and haven't been back? This is one of those places you probably need to try again... for brunch. Or go have brunch elsewhere then come here for second brunch since they're the lone place in town offering it so late in the day! read more

See all

This is one of the best restaurants in Portland. Excellent food and service. The staff is very attentive and work so well together. Lots of attention to detail like filling your water glass, giving you new cutlery with each course. Very clean. More down to earth and less pretentious than other high end places. Our waitress (likely a co-owner) was superb. She helped us pick a glass of wine to go with our meal - she knew the details of each wine, since she told us she created the wine list. Reasonable wines by the glass and very reasonable by the bottle if you go that way. The eggplant lasagna was incredible as was the short rib. Attractive bar and interior. We had a corner table in the back which seemed to capture and focus some of the noise - I am being picky but maybe some acoustic wall tiles or something to tone down the noise back there would be nice. Again, this place is incredible, will definitely return. read more

See all

If you want fantastic food with good ambiance this is your place - Isa delivers. Came here with a crowd of New Englands finest. Try pairing the moscato with the crème brûlée to isa-perience food pleasure. Lauren K was the coolest p to plan this event. happy new years!!! read more

What a phenomenal 4 hour meal we had at ISA. Yes, that's right, I said 4 hour meal. A few of us went to celebrate a birthday on Saturday and the lucky birthday goer got a LONG celebration. Four stars alone for not making us feel like a**holes for enjoying our time with each other. They kept out water and coffee filled. But, let's not forget to talk about the food and drink. The cocktails were on point, with a phenomenal boozy coffee, excellent (but not vegetarian) Bloody Mary, and an AWESOME spicy tequila drink. My croquet monsieur (I have NO clue if I'm spelling this correctly) was salty and crunchy, a breakfast sandwich lover's delight. It may have been made to eat with a fork, but I picked that sucker up with my hands and devoured it. The rest of my party ordered egg sandwiches, French onion soup, and a grilled cheese. It was smiles all around. We also had delicious fries with a side of aioli and desserts to top off the 4 hour marathon. The cheesecake with a walnut glaze was worthy of a Golden Girl night time escapade. This place is no All American diner, the prices are high and the atmosphere is modern and clean. Be prepared to drop some cash for brunch, but you won't leave disappointed. This place is like brunch heaven... I will be back. read more

See all

The service was great with attentive, inviting, and informative staff. All around, a great dining experience. We had the Grilled Octopus as an appetizer, which was fresh and tasty. The marinated Bistro steak was well seasoned with a delicious potato gratin. The pork chop was also delicious. Lastly, the Mascarpone cheesecake was the best cheesecake I've ever had in my life. Definitely recommend. read more

I ate here twice in two days, I would've eaten there three times had they been open. Chris makes excellent cocktails. I especially like the Cider sour. Octopus was good, oil-poached mackerel special was like a baby fish pate. The star for me was a very simple dish, perfectly executed: noodle fin shaved fennel with a very light vinaigrette, pecorino, grapefruit Supremes, apples, and mint. I think I could literally eat the salad every day, beautifully balanced flavors and textures. I wish I knew how they got the sharp anise bite out of the fennel "noodles", so mellow. Also the braised rabbit hash with eggs the next day was gooey rich and wonderful read more

See all

The food is incredible, & the staff is amazing - we will definitely be back! And even if you don't like eggplant, the eggplant lasagna is a must-try! read more

We have been going to Isa Bistro regularly for many years. Isa NEVER disappoints. We were greeted by the owner, Susie. The waitstaff (Justin), was friendly, informative and very attentive. The food was amazing. We can highly recommend the cod fritters, shaved fennel salad, bolognese and meatball sandwich. To add to all of this, Isa is a small neighborhood bistro, well decorated with a very warm, inviting feel. We really enjoy our meals here and always look forward to returning. read more

Just great food. I had pork chop. Wife had short ribs. Really flavorful and good. Staff great. It was noisy interior. Kind of a weird people parade outside also. We went 6 PM Sunday. There was a parking spot in their lot. I think we could've parked in the closed usps across the side street. read more

Great food! Our waiter was rude, he wouldn't give me a recommendation and was condescending. You would expect a nicer staff for a $200/ couple meal... read more

Isa Bistro - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Isa is a super cute little restaurant with some really delicious food. We went here a couple weeks ago to try out a new place for dinner. We arrived at about 8PM for dinner and were the only group waiting for a table, which was good as there is not much waiting room inside. The hostess was very kind and offered us some drinks while we waited. She personally took our orders and brought us our drinks. The interior was very elegant. It is on the smaller side, however this creates a very cozy intimate feel. It is in a beautiful brick building which provides a nice touch of rustic charm. The décor is also very calming and tasteful which just makes you feel relaxed and able to enjoy your experience. We were quickly seated as soon as there was a table available for us. We were greeted by our server and offered some water. The menu was great and offered some great options that you probably wouldn't see at every restaurant. We started out with some of fries and brussel sprouts. The brussel sprouts were absolutely delicious. They had a wonderful glaze and were served with some bacon.... Yum! For my meal, I decided on the braised local rabbit which is something that I had never tried before...... or even thought about trying for that matter! But, boy am I glad that I did. This was absolutely delicious. The rabbit was served with garganelli and English peas. The flavor was simply amazing. Other meals at the table included the marinated bistro steak and the grilled pork chop. I was able to have bites of both of these and they were also delicious. Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted excellent. The service throughout our meal was excellent and very consistent. We were appropriately taken care of without feeling like we were being hounded. This was a wonderful place, and I will definitely be returning. read more

Most of the time we like to try different restaurants everytime we go to Portland, but this time, we visited Isa for the second time. The first time was so memorable that we kept wanting to go back and make sure it wasn't a fluke. I don't often have octopus, but the last time we were there, we got that dish and it was the best octopus I had ever eaten. This time we started with the happy hour taquitos for $5. They had potato and cheese and a delicious romesco on top. You can tell they were homemade and at 3 to an order, it was quite a deal. Nice and crispy with manchego cheese lightly dusted on top. Next, we had salt cod fritter was dill pickle tartar dipping sauce. I have had many cod fritters in the past, so my mind was expecting one thing and my pallet got an entirely different experience. These salt cod fritters were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The texture was like a really soft crab cake, which made me believe they were freshly made. The sauce was a excellent compliment along with the spritz of lemon completed the dish. We really enjoy getting one thing at a time. One, because it prolongs the dining experience allowing us to take in the atmosphere and service. Also, we like to get a taste of the food before really committing to a full meal. Many times, people order way too much and just guzzle it down without enjoying. The last thing we got was the eggplant lasagna - housemade pasta, ricotta, and tarragon. This dish was also excellent! The pasta was cooked perfectly and the eggplant was sliced to mimic the pasta sheets. On top was a delicious helping of ricotta they make in-house. You can tell time, love, and care went into this dish. And it was drizzled with an excellent olive oil. Isa is a beautiful restaurant that is neat and clean and makes you feel very comfortable. The food and service are both outstanding, making for a pleasurable dining experience. We will definitely be back. read more

See all

Came back to Isa for the first time in a long time and it was incredible. The Mexican Style Branzino was really creative and delicious. Highly, highly recommend. read more

This place is amazing! The chef is so creative. The watermelon salad was the only thing that was merely good. Everything else was incredible. The fennel salad with grapefruit, OMG!. The lobster tostada and grilled octopus were absolutely delicious, but the real treat was the branzino with fresh tortillas. Imagine five-star fish fajitas. So scrumptious! We didn't get to try the pork chop, but we saw several come out of the kitchen and we were quite jealous haha. Bryan, the bartender, treated us like royalty, and he makes a mean dry martini. You could also tell he had a lot of pride in the restaurant and the team in the kitchen. We were stuffed come dessert time, but we had to order some sweets just to see what the chef and his crew whipped up. The coconut cream pie and tres leches did not disappoint whatsoever. There is so much good food in Portland, but Isa really stands out. So happy we stumbled across this gem! read more

Four of us ate at Isa's and were amazed that we had never eaten there before. The menu is short but finding a favorite for all of us was easy. The entrees were exceptional, the overall noise level was quiet, the wait staff was attentive and educated, and the general ambiance was sophisticated. This restaurant needs to let people know about it! read more

We went there during our Portland trip. Like many small restaurants, the lunch menu was short but every dish we ordered was good. I can tell the chef has put a lot of thoughts into every dish. I would rather having a small menu with every dish is good and thoughtful than having a menu like a phone book with mediocre quality. I do agree with a review saying the service was "missing something". The waiter seemed and sounded cold. However, it didn't affect the star rating in this case. We ordered salt cod fritters, octopus salad, lobster tacos, tuna sandwich and pork sandwich. Salt cod fritters was crispy outside and soft inside and the aioli brought the fritters to another level. Octopus salad "wow" me. I made salad and salad dressing almost everyday. I constantly looking for salad ideas. This salad was very refreshing with lemon aroma but not overly sour taste. Lobster tacos was an interesting twist of lobster roll. I will visit again next time when I am in Portland. read more

Isa Bistro - Salted cod fritters. Crispy and delicious - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all