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    North43Bistro

    4.1 (120 reviews)
    ModerateNew American
    Open 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM

    North43Bistro Photos

    NORTH43BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - North43Bistro

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    Food was great! Brussels were excellent. Burger was flavorful juicy and warm. Cold items were cold and the warm items were warm. Great service from Jack!

    crème brûlée

    Food and service were very good. The pomegranate mule was delicious (N/A). crème brûlée was delicious. steak was good but not ~fantastic~, everything else on the plate was delicious. the creamy spinach polenta was fabulous.

    Flourless chocolate cake
    Maryann K.

    Great service, great views, great food! Stumbled upon this place when trying to find a last minute reservation for dinner on July 4th. Great wine list. Also, mocktail options were good as well. Started with the tuna tartare and it was so fresh and delicious. I was in the mood for a lighter meal and had a salad with salmon. The salmon was perfectly grilled and the salad was very fresh and satisfying. My husband had a lobster pasta and said it was fantastic. They make the pasta fresh in house. Lastly we got a flourless chocolate cake for dessert and it was soooooo yummy. Items that can be done gluten free are clearly marked in the menu. Great place for dinner by the water!

    Muscles
    Craig Y.

    Wonderful restaurant with beautiful decor and an amazing view of the marina. I went on a Sunday night and sat at the bar. I had a drink and a number of heavy appetizers. The mellow margarita was very tasty. The Barata with warmed tomatoes was simply delicious. Cornbread with butter was also good. I had a large order of muscles. They came in a wine and garlic sauce. I prefer a cream sauce in New England, but they were very good as well. I will certainly return and you should too.

    Strawberry cucumber giblet
    Ivette V.

    Beautiful view, amazing staff and great options for vegans/vegetarians! Started off with this tasty strawberry cucumber drink and it was nothing but a great experience. Buffalo cauliflower bites are delicious with a tiny kick at the end. Veggie burger is made with real veggies. No beyond or impossible in this burger. Its was all that a vegan would enjoy. The goddess salad with chicken for me. Absolutely surprised how much I enjoyed this salad considering it had beets. Im not a beet eater but the inventive way they did these beets I could actually enjoy eating them (thin noodle style). This was an amazing find and highly recommend.

    On deck dining
    Dennis H.

    Wonderful ocean dock view with excellent sea food and attentive service. Try the Salmon sandwich with tomato beacon jam.

    Cocktails
    Sean W.

    Ambiance was very nice as the restaurant is right off the water. Food was good, and the drinks were strong. Service was a little slow, but I think it was just a busy night.

    Even a "take out" dessert it presented with style!
    Norma H.

    Enjoyed an early dinner. The staff was friendly and the food was good. I had Jackfruit Cacciatore which was an inventive, delicious surprise. It was a generous helping and I used the leftovers to make an omelet the next morning.

    Building
    Rina A.

    This restaurant is placed down near smcc and didn't even realize it was there until my sister brought me. It's kind of hidden in the way back of the boat yard lot, but sits right on the water. We sat outside since it was a beautiful day and loved the view we had. Food came out quick and was good. I had the grilled chicken sandwich and for someone who's not a huge spicy/hot fan. The "spicy red pepper jam" on it was bearable and delicious. The fries came with a light seasoning on them too. The eggroll of the day was steak and cheese. Kind of different taste for a balsamic drizzle on the plate for a pairing underneath. Our waiter was friendly and food came out at a reasonable time. *The only thing I'm confused about is why they do an energy surcharge as extra on the bill at the end. They said it's to help with the delivery services because of inflation. They don't warn you and I didn't see anything in the restaurant or online saying they do that. I don't understand why they just don't up their food prices like everyone else does. Definitely threw us off as we never saw that before and thought we got overcharged at first since we had no clue what it was. It was only a small amount on top of our bill and I believe they said they do a percentage of your total to get it. Not a huge deal breaker, but something to keep in mind as it was different.

    Crystal C.

    We sat outside on a beautiful summer day. You can't beat the view here! We had glanced at the menu online ahead of time and knew what we wanted to eat. We ordered the egg roll of the day, which was steak n cheese. They were good but tasted like a basic pub style appetizer. My entree was a sirloin topped with a corn & black bean salsa paired with riced cauliflower. The steak was cooked to my liking (medium) but I felt it could use some sort of sauce with it. The two cold sides didn't bring out the best of it. The dish needed a little more pizazz. After we were finished, our waiter brought the bill and to our surprise there was an "energy surcharge". When I asked what that was about I was told that instead of raising the prices of dishes, the owner decided to make up some of the price difference (due to inflation of food and delivery costs) by adding on this charge. Personally, I felt that was a little tacky and deceptive. Just raise the prices of your dishes so you can be transparent and the customers knows what their final bill is going to be.

    @hinman4373
    Sarah H.

    *NEW FAVORITE RESTAURANT ALERT* I really was looking for a place with outdoor seating and this just happened to be close to a friend we were visiting. So glad we stumbled upon it! North43Bistro is an updated replacement for Joe's boathouse- new construction, beautiful interior, great bar, very food focused menu (they even have a pastry chef!!). We had the burrata salad, miso crusted salmon, the seared sirloin, and the "brownies and milk". All was very delicious, but the dessert actually stole the show. The entire dessert menu was so unique! Also this was easily the best salmon I've ever had at a restaurant. 10/10 would recommend coming back here.

    Rodney M.

    I have been there a couple of times over the last few weeks. First it was for my birthday and my friends took me. We were a group of 10, which was awesome, and considering the space, did not think it would be possible, but no problem. The menu offered variety for all guest and all tastes. The drinks were great and everyone had a great time. The staff was super friendly and answered our questions regarding the menu. The services was quick and everyone enjoyed their meal. The space is so nice...lots of glass to enjoy the marina and the water. The dark wood and lighting was just right for my birthday celebration. A couple of weeks later, we went there for Happy Hour on Friday. Because of the glass, the space is so bright and cheerful. The views of the marina and the coast are nice. They have their main dining area and a space for events upstairs. Both have nice decks for outdoor seating and entertaining. Can't go wrong. Just wish my birthday party was upstairs....wow....so nice. Next time I guess. Thanks R

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    21 days ago

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    4 months ago

    Food is always dependable. Delicious apps and salads. Lunch is even better than dinner.

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    2 years ago

    Good food, friendly service, very nice space with a chill vibe. Would definitely return again next time I'm in the area.

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    We had a wonderful dinner with our friends at 43 Bistro. The food was delicious and the service first class!

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    2 years ago

    Great view from the patio and friendly service. I enjoyed the main dish but the highlight of my meal was the blueberry pie for dessert.

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    3 years ago

    Delicious burger, Buffalo tempura cauliflower bites, and Mussels. Will definitely be back!

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    2 years ago

    Rough service on the patio. Steamed clams were rubber bands and expensive to boot. No wonder the inside was empty.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - North43Bistro

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    The Honey Paw

    The Honey Paw

    4.3
    (787 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    I had a great dinner experience here last night with my partner. We love love love the honey paw!…read more For starters, it's a great location. Close to more bars for extra drinks, easy to run into other friends. Also, it's a beautiful spot with outdoor seating in the warmer months. We opted to sit outside and enjoyed khao soi, katsu pork sandwich, and the honey soft serve. The portions are generous, as we were able to share and have leftovers. Each plate had so many great textures and flavors. We did experience a long wait between ordering, getting food, and receiving the check. It was a busy summer night so I wasn't upset, but do not plan on having a quick meal here. Get cozy, get an extra drinks and enjoy your time here. Apologies, but phone did not eat first this time-no pics!

    Good meal, prices definitely on the high side…read more Vibe: really cohesive, cool, themed decor. Large shared table in the middle flanked by bar seating. Service: Great Food: We started off with soft serve and the seasonal earl gray outshined the house honey. The earl gray had a great flavor topped with an excellent syrup while the honey was mild and the chocolate shell didn't add anything, although the 'honeycomb' bits were delic. Crispy eggplant special - good, very small portion Pork katsu sandwich - pretty solid, interesting pickle Pad mee korat - good, small portion Value: Aside from the soft serve, the portions were very small for ~$17 price point, and the food was good but aside from the earl gray soft serve, didn't amaze to the point of paying a higher price point. Overall I did like this meal but portions were small for prices. I hope they keep the earl gray soft serve around!

    Photos
    Restaurant
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    Half Fried Chicken
    Half Fried Chicken
    Honey soft serve

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    Central Provisions

    Central Provisions

    4.3
    (1.4k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$$

    Great tapas spot in the downtown area! Had such a lovely waiter too during our visit. Liked all the…read moresavory dishes too, each with its own distinct taste! Ranking: 1) Spicy beef salad 2) Suckling pig 3) Pinkytoe crab 4) Lobster pasta 5) Bone marrow toast The desserts were nothing special but I did like the strawberry white chocolate one. The rhubarb one was meh personally; tasted like yogurt I could eat from the grocery store.

    We were happy with the service and speed at which the small plates were delivered to us however…read morethere was a small instance where we got a dish we didn't order (not pictured and it was the special). The lemon sole (fish) and octopus carpaccio (not pictured) were filled with flavor! The pork belly was very underwhelming and I would not order again. The waiter said 2-4 plates per person. I recommend starting on the lower end and adding additional dishes based on how you're feeling. The amount of food was very different from dish to dish. For example the tuna dip had way too much bread and the pork belly was very small in size. Overall I was half impressed. I wish the staff would take a moment to announce the plate as it's placed next to you or point it out on the menu for those hard of hearing and wanting to know what they are about to enjoy. However the music, overall restaurant vibe and half the dishes exploding with flavor made my experience pleasant and I will return again knowing a bit more of what to expect and looking at photos of the menu/meal options beforehand.

    Photos
    Open kitchen
    Open kitchen
    CP Frites
    CP Frites
    Cold Fashioned

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    Cold Fashioned
    Thames Landing

    Thames Landing

    4.4
    (86 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    Family-owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    The atmosphere is lovely (music was a good volume), lots of light from the big windows, comfortable…read morechairs, nice decor, and spacious...it didn't feel like they crammed as many tables as possible into the place. The service was great. Very attentive and efficient. The food was as great. My party had a variety of items, from the beet & goat cheese salad, deviled eggs, pancetta and Brussels sprouts, cheeseburger, and BLT with Lobster. Everything was high quality and delicious. The fries which came on the side of the burgers and sandwiches were also excellent. The restaurant has a nice outdoor space but the weather was a little rainy the day we went so we didn't sit outside. I do suggest they add more barriers and greenery/plants to separate the beautiful outdoor seating space from the parking lot across the way.

    Took my mom here while she visits Portland, and we were pleasantly surprised to learn they were…read moreparticipating in Restaurant Week! We shared the street fries to start (YUM) and I opted for the French onion soup as my starter. We then each had a fish dish, the haddock almondine and stuffed salmon, and we ate in silence because that's how delish they both were. Finally we had the chocolate lava cake which was just okay, but that's fine because we were so full from the rest of our meal! The staff is incredibly friendly, and though the space is small it wasn't too loud or cramped. And the igloos outside looked so cool - would definitely be worth visiting on a snowy day!

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    Thames Landing
    Thames Landing
    Thames Landing

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    Union Restaurant

    Union Restaurant

    4.1
    (372 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Wow... I've been going to Union for over a decade. Tonight, it would seem, may be the last time I…read morevisit. Before I rip them a new one, let me be totally up front and say the service was very good. Like many places in the Portland area, they're short staffed, and the people who work there are doing the best they can. Friendly, like genuinely friendly and nice waitstaff. They're doing the best they can with too few people. So, to be clear if any management read this? Your staff is fantastic. The food? That's another story. They used to have things on the menu like roasted Brussels Sprouts with all kinds of delicious. There was a pot roast, cooked over three days, which melted in your mouth, with truffle oil and parsnips and carrots. The cocktails? WAY above par. Now you may as well go to Applebees. Over seasoned, boring, and generally NOT worth the money by a long shot. It just tastes like all the other places who use Sysco or Gordon foods. I had the burger, which was so average. I mean REMARKABLY average. Yes, the lettuce on it was actually not just boring iceberg, but that doesn't make up for serving someone a mass produced, firmly packed slab with way too much salt. It says it's some fancy farm beef, but it sure as heck didn't taste like it. The dish my wife had was similar. Some decent ingredients but for the most part it was literally no better than what you'd get in something in a mall. WAY too much salt, way too little flavor. I also ordered a Manhattan. In a Manhattan, the forward flavor should be the whiskey (rye or bourbon or whatever). All I could taste was vermouth. AND it was served in a highball glass with a massive ice cube, and it was warm. The ingredients should go in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass, with ice, then stirred for at least 15 seconds while stirring. It should be served in a cocktail glass like a coup or a martini glass which has been chilled. Mine was in a highball glass. Not sure what happened, but I'm sure profits had something to do with it. You've got dozens of better choices in easy walking distance.

    Nice, friendly service. Enjoyed our meal here. I had the farmers salad with lobster added and it…read morewas very tasty. The lobster was fresh and a decent portion. We also enjoyed the hand cut fries - can add truffle powder to it - and the spelt bread. For cocktails I had the dirty moon martini, which was just the right amount of dirt. Solid place, located at the Press Hotel. A few other things on the menu caught my eye that I'd come back to try.

    Photos
    Union Restaurant
    Scallop risotto
    Scallop risotto
    Shakshuka

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    Shakshuka
    Scales

    Scales

    4.3
    (1.2k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$$

    Scales delivered one of the best meals I've had in Maine. We were seated right along the window…read morewith a perfect waterfront view of the boats and fishing gear on the wharf below. It gave the entire evening that authentic, working-harbor Portland feel while still feeling polished and comfortable. We started with a crisp, refreshing local Belgian wheat beer that was light, slightly citrusy, and an ideal match for the seafood-heavy meal ahead. For appetizers, the grilled octopus was excellent -- tender with a proper char, beautifully seasoned, and full of flavor. It came with pommes dauphine, pine nut and espelette vinaigrette, and garlic whip. There was a light touch of oiliness toward the end of the plate (typical with generous finishing oil), but it didn't detract from what was otherwise a very well-executed dish. The dozen raw oysters were exceptional. All three varieties were local Maine and served ice-cold: Fare Well (Newcastle), Nautical Sisters (Yarmouth), and Weskeag (South Thomaston). I had them with just the mignonette and was rewarded with clean, sweet, briny flavor. These were some of the freshest, highest-quality oysters I've had in Portland. The main courses were the real stars. The Stuffed Lobster Frites was outstanding. The lobster was sweet and perfectly cooked, the claws were pre-cracked for easy access, and the tail was cleanly split with a buttery, herby breadcrumb crust that added excellent crunch and texture. It was accompanied by scallop mousseline and dijonnaise. This is a premium dish, but the quality and generous portion made it feel worth it. Equally impressive was the seared scallops, served in a cast-iron skillet. The scallops had a beautiful golden crust and were cooked exactly right -- sweet and tender. They were paired with crisp corn, applewood-smoked bacon, kale, and roasted peppers in a light, well-balanced cream sauce. This dish avoided the common issue of being overly salty. Every bite offered a nice variety of textures and flavors, and the cast-iron kept everything hot throughout the course. It was precise, thoughtful cooking. We finished with the Chocolate Silk Pie*, which was rich, silky, and deeply satisfying with lovely hazelnut undertones and a crunchy chocolate-hazelnut topping. The presentation was beautiful, and it made for a perfect ending. Service was attentive and professional without feeling rushed or intrusive. The pacing between courses was ideal. Bottom line: If you're serious about high-quality Maine seafood, Scales is delivering at a very high level right now. The ingredients are pristine, the execution is precise, and the waterfront setting (especially from a window seat) adds real character. This was easily one of the best meals I've had in Portland. I'll definitely be back. Highly recommended for seafood enthusiasts, special occasions, or anyone who appreciates a restaurant that respects its local ingredients.

    Scales was an incredible disappointment. I'd been looking forward to this experience for a few…read moremonths. Scales is lively and vibrant and the host staff was friendly. My server was nice enough, though a bit aloof. When I booked, there was only bar seating available, which is not my preference, but I was so excited to dine here that I did not care. I wish I had made a different decision. I found the cocktail list uninspiring, so I started with a lovely Albariño. I ordered the halibut ceviche, swordfish, and griddled brown bread. Being a Bay Stater, I was looking forward to the brown bread. It never arrived. No one noticed. My server did not say anything until the end, where I was offered a free coffee and ice cream/sorbet. Insulting does not begin to describe it. The halibut ceviche was delicious. It was briny and salt and tasted of the sea. I loved it. The swordfish was rich, heavy, and overcooked. I am always cooking heirloom beans, so maybe that is why I did not love the beans. I don't think I even ate half of my entree. At dessert, my server noted the missing bread and offered a sorbet or ice cream. However, he offered after I had ordered the strawberry cream puff, so it seemed like it was an option for that, not an in lieu of offer. It was not clear until the sorbet arrived along with my cream puff. The strawberries had no flavor. I took a few bites of dessert and was over the whole experience. My server did clearly offer a complimentary coffee though, which again, was insulting. From what I can tell, the kitchen never saw the mostly untouched food, due to my seat the bar. The server placed my dishes below the bar. However, he didn't ask any questions about why I didn't finish the dishes, so it must have been clear to him. I do wish the kitchen had been informed as well. I have never regretted a meal as much as the one I had at Scales. I was looking forward to a delicious dinner with a few glasses of wine. Instead, I left hungry and sad. Scales is a waste of time and money. It's a definite skip in Portland.

    Photos
    Beautiful !
    Beautiful !
    Endive & Stilton Salad
    Endive & Stilton Salad
    Buckwheat brownie

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    Buckwheat brownie

    North43Bistro - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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