We didn't have a reservation but arrived at the restaurant 10 min. before they opened. There was a line already. By the time the restaurant opened their door the line was as long as the building. We were seated right away for not having a reservation. The atmosphere was good and open. We sat inside at a table. We ordered clams for an appetizer. For my entrée I ordered the scallops. I ate everything. I had ordered scallops up in Bar Harbor, ME at The Reading Room and their scallops were humongous. Scales did well in cooking the medium size scallops. The food was well done and it went with the great service. read more

Scales - Steamed clams - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

Another fantastic meal at Scales! The service (as always) is impeccable. We always request a spot at the bar to get oysters. Chad who prepared our oysters did an amazing job. It'd incredible to watch how well the team works together at Scales. Special thanks to everyone. Scales is one of the reasons we keep coming back to visit Portland! read more

Scales - Chad getting our shellfish prepped. - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

After living in Portland for a couple years and hearing rave reviews about Scales we were super excited to finally make a trip. The space is beautiful and the staff was well organized and quick - though nothing particular memorable about the service overall (masks were still required, though, which can certainly affect the interaction servers are able to have.) Sadly the food was just ok for us, especially for the price. My $42 halibut had a nice flavor to it but was very dry and swimming in a thin watery sauce. My husbands scallops were just ok. Definitely not "bad" food but we both agreed there are much better spots in Portland including Sur Lie for scallops and Evo for an expensive meal splurge. We would certainly give Scales another try as every restaurant has off nights but won't be rushing back due to the high price point of the menu. read more

Absolutely wonderful! We got in (shockingly) without a reservation. The ambiance is amazing and the food exceeds expectations. read more

Scales - Whole lobster - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

Great ambiance and rolls. The halibut was the best entree in our group and the calamari was very good also

This is our second time at Scales and confirming one of our favorite places to eat in Portland. High quality tastes and a great open concept. Valet parking, they leave about a third of the dining room for walking. We tried getting reservations the day before but was able to walk right in an be seated. My and my wife's meals were amazing with a Dessert of baked Alaska!! Cannot get enough of this place, 5 stars!! read more

See all

I decided to surprise my fiancé with dinner at Scales for our 5th anniversary. It could not have gone any better! We ended up having one of the best meals we've EVER had. They made us feel not just welcome, but like we were very special guests. All of our contacts with the staff, from the host, to the bartenders, to the wait staff, and even the bussers congratulated us on our anniversary. We even got a card from the restaurant to take home! The food and drink were exceptional. We started with the anadama bread, followed by oysters (of course), and fried squid with peppers. The bread was authentic, yet elevated with drizzled molasses and warm butter. The oysters were served with a homemade cocktail sauce and a mignonette, both of which complimented the oysters very well. The squid was cooked perfectly! We wrapped things up by ordering the steak and the halibut, both of which made us melt into our seats. We could not have had a better experience here. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. read more

Food is extraordinary! Servers knowledgeable of seasonings and prep techniques. Service is quick even with the crowds. Our meal was delicious! Hope to return on our next trip to Portland! read more

My Uber driver passed it 4 times before finding it, but once we did it was great. I had Smoked Fish Pate and a tequila for my appetizer and Paella (pie-aye-uh) for my meal. The Pate was tasty and for a moment I thought it would be ttoo much to have a meal too. But I think tthe tequila washed it down nicely and gave me room for more. The paella needed a little seasoning but once I hit it with that salt and pepper the flavors really popped. I enjoyed scrapping the hot skillet to get all the flavors off. My server was Caleb & he was great. He came just enough to make sure my water stayed full and that I was enjoying everything. I'll go again before I'm done with Portland for sure. read more

See all

Dear friend made reservations for a party of 8-seated immediately server was sweet and polite. Shared special of the day. Ordered the scallops with pork belly, friends sea bass, a few burgers and lobster. Appetizers: crab cakes and cauliflower. Everything was fresh and nicely presented--dinning among friends made It more worth it!!! read more

See all

In what is obviously a high-end restaurant in a heavily trafficked tourist area, Scales delivers the food as well as the higher prices. Our choices of the Lobster Roll and the Skillet Scallops were fine. In this town, it's very hard to kill a seafood dish with all of the available fresh seafood. However, my choice, the lobster roll was drenched in butter, so much so that the heartburn later that night was epic. Scales is a nice restaurant, very popular with the high prices to match. I am sure our choices on our next visit will be better. read more

Fourth of July weekend, we walked up around 8 pm, immediately got an outdoor patio table. The whole flounder was great, the stew was delicious and service was immediate and attentive. Recommended to other friends passing through to Bar Harbor. On the way out, we had a nice chat with staff about the massive tuna head on the iced display table. read more

One of the best restaurant experiences we've had. We came to Scales on a Tuesday night and were immediately sat. The ambiance was great, a nice restaurant but not overly fancy feeling and well lit. The kitchen is also an open concept and all of the oysters and fish is on ice at the front. We sat and each ordered glass of wine. The wine list was huge and really well priced. We started with 1/2 dozen oysters (2 of each that they have- they have 3 rotating choices- so we each got to have one of each). The oysters were very good and all local. For dinner, my friend ordered the seared scallops, which came with squash, pancetta, and kale in a delicious cream sauce. She orders scallops any time it's on a menu and said this was potentially the best she's had. I ordered the seared tuna (part of the raw bar menu and an appetizer/small plate) and the Brussels sprouts side as a DIY entree. The tuna was perfectly seared and tasted so fresh. The Brussels sprouts were also great, shaved and cooked perfectly (browned) with big, delicious pieces of duck. Since everything was so great, we felt we had to have dessert. We ordered the chocolate crémeux, which was rich but accompanied with many things that balanced it out. We also had a dessert wine to go with it (Colosi Passito Mascato), which was fantastic. On top of everything, our server was so sweet and really helpful in guiding us through ordering. I will - no question - return when I am back in Portland. I just left the restaurant and am already thinking about my next visit. read more

See all

Absolutely love this place came highly recommended My husband and son had the lobster, I had the fish Best fish I have ever had Excellent service If one place you're going to eat in Maine this would be it read more

Good was great, service was good and quick. Very high quality seafood. Attendees were attentive. Simple to the point.

My girlfriend and I and another couple and were really looking forward to it. A few greats but a some big minuses. If we go back again it will be a high (financial) risk for a great (tasty) reward. Pros: -Grilled Octopus -Seafood Stew -steamers -excellent service Cons: -The halibut was extremely dry and was smothered in hazelnuts and the dish needed a side of greens. This dish was maybe worth $20, not $38. A major disappointment. Both my girlfriend and our friend got it and both commiserated -when we arrived the seats weren't cleaned off with food scraps still on. -we love baked Alaska and unfortunately not on menu tonight to try. read more

Scales - Seafood stew - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

I really liked this place, with a few exceptions. I think its in a cool location on the wharf, it makes it a genuine experience. We showed up on time and had to wait a bit to be seated, nothing horrible, but a little longer than expected. But I know it's hard to manage how long patrons stay at their tables. Our server showed up promptly, she was very friendly and helpful. The appetizers were wonderful. The clam chowder was amazing. All the food in fact was quite good. But the pan cooked lobster, that cost a fortune, was almost non-existent. I literally got 3 small bites out of it, and that was it. I assumed they'd send another or take it off the bill when I mentioned it, but no. But overall, I'd go back. I just wouldn't trust getting a decent portion on the lobster, and I'd get one of the other wonderful dishes. read more

The waiter we had was friendly and attentive. Highly recommend starting off with the oysters that are served on ice and smoked haddock pate. So delicious! For the entree, the pan seared halibut and broiled cod were fresh and mouthwatering. For dessert, be sure to try the butterscotch Sundae and blueberry crisp. read more

This is a very nice restaurant with a very "Maine waterfront" vibe, even indoors. The menu is extensive, and I can see the draw. However, I prefer Fore Street, which I'm told has the same owner/s and is a little more down to earth, but still really nice. Scales is more decadent, with richer food, that I think stays the same seasonally, rather than changing daily. I had some of the best soup of my life here, though--I think it was a just a squash soup and so good. But mostly everything else was a bit too rich for me and much heavier than I normally eat, but that's not to say it wasn't good! read more

Exceptional from start to finish. Waitress was attentive and helpful but not disruptive. Food is simply amazing. Everyone in my party was delighted by their choices. I actually had a steak...perfection! Make a reservation or you will be waiting for hours! read more

Over the top fantastic seafood in Portland! Everyone we ran into said this was simply the best seafood in Portland, and I am so happy my wife made reservations before we arrived. The restaurant is in an unassuming building right on the wharf, but inside finds you in a spacious room, rustic but elegant in its simplicity. How such incredible food could be prepared for so many people amazes me, but my wife said the chef appeared a little stressed. It seemed like there were 150 people dining with us! What was impressive (and a little of a detractor) was the din of fellow diners. Perhaps everyone had decided to raise their voices to be heard over the general noise in the room. We chose to share all our selections: the clover rolls, garden salads, fried clams, broccolini and pan seared halibut. Wow!! Let me repeat, wow!!! Nothing more to add... read more

Busy, busy... but worth it, worth it! We were there on a Saturday night and luckily had reservations - even with reservations, we had to wait a while to be seated, but the hostess was apologetic and perfectly nice about it. We ordered the dinner rolls, appetizers, and then shared the scallops! Everything was tasty, cooked to the perfect temperature (not over cooked), and looked beautiful. Even though they were clearly very busy, the service was on point! They spaced our appetizers and entree like we asked - and the drinks were flowing! read more

See all

First visit to Portland on July 1; we had reservations at Scales (hard to get but worth it)! Adam is the GM and made our reservation work as my brother and sister in law ate at Scales the previous week. We were seated promptly and Meg was our server. She said she was relatively new but you wouldn't know it as she was both knowledgeable and had a great attitude. Our food was Awesome (pictures inserted) and I would definitely return to Scales on a future Portland visit. The vibe, staff and food were all top notch! read more

See all

Our favorite restaurant in Portland. Try all 4 types of artisan breads, all great. Grilled lobster is their specialty. Oysters fresh and literally right off the boats at the dock. Scallops are tasty and cooked perfectly. Steak is terrific. Desserts are all good. Service top notch. Great wine selection. Reservation a must. read more

See all

No complains about the food here, just slightly overpriced. As I wasn't too hungry that day, I ordered the fluke ceviche and the daily special of duck agnolotti pasta appetizer as my dinner. If you really like the flavor and sweetness of pineapples, you will love the fluke ceviche. For me, I felt that the dish lacked acidity, and was more like fish in a very sweet sauce. The duck agnolotti pasta with foie gras and morel mushrooms was on a totally different level, it was a dish bursting with umami and richness in comparison. The pasta was cooked al dente, and had a generous amount of filling. This was an appetizer sized pasta and it was the perfect portion size since it was so rich. I usually hate peas, but I loved the addition of peas on top as it was a nice burst of freshness in contrast to the creamy sauce. Order this if they have it available! Dishes that others at the table had: pan baked lobster (this is 1.5 pounds of lobster if you're wondering!), lobster roll, seafood stew, halibut. The scallop entrée looked really good, I would get that next time if I visited again. read more

See all

Everything I had here was awesome! We started with the clam chowder which was stellar! Not too creamy but also not too watery. He also had the cod cheeks for an appetizer. This was so good! Especially if you like fish. The vegetables underneath paired beautifully with the light fish! For dinner I had the scallops. It came with a sauce that I would willing take a bath in. The oyster mushrooms and pork belly just added such depth of flavor! read more

Absolutely amazing. Everything from the interior design, service and food is impeccable. Must have the octopus appetizer and then baked Alaska desert. Both were immaculate. read more

See all

Great lobster and nice service. Patio was comfortable-- but pretty dirty windows. Didn't matter. I came for the food

The food, service, location, and restaurant are all top 10 in Portland, ME. I did find the pricing to be about 5% above market and the fish and chips, a New England staple, overcooked. The steamers were good, but nothing special. The oysters were fresh and delicious and the clam chowder easily top 3 I have ever had. 4 stars - you can't have average to below-average fish & chips for $28 at a premiere Portland, ME seafood restaurant. read more

What a great experience we had at Scales. Prior to my trip to Portland I sifted through restaurant reviews and continued to see great things being said about this restaurant; now I know why. We got cocktails, the scallop ceviche special, and the scallop and halibut entree. Having regrets about skipping dessert but that makes for another reason to go back. We left almost everything out on the field and nothing on our plates. If you're trying to decide where to eat I would say Scales without a doubt. read more

Scales - Scales entrance - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

Everything about my experience was excellent. Great food, great service, and amazing vibe. The restaurant was completely packed but we got in right away. I'm vegetarian, so going to a seafood restaurant wasn't the best call but there were still some good options. I would say the must haves for me are the cornbread and buttered buns, and the sundae for dessert!! read more

Such a beautiful space with a maritime-industrial vibe. Light streams in through large windows with views of Casco Bay. We sat at the bar, a long stretch of cement which was perfect for the space. We had the grilled whole branzino and the seafood stew. Both delicious. We'll be back. read more

Scales delivered amazing foods and the freshest oysters to our dinner in the town. Ramp rolls is a must to start, soft bread in butter, heaven! We had the pleasure of sitting at the bar next to the oyster shucking station, Sam was a delight to chat with. We had a great time learning about oysters, and not to mention he's also very cute. There were 3 different varieties on the board, we tried all 3, surely all are fresh and top notch, a perfect kiss of the ocean is what they are. Their endive salad was light and refreshing. We also ordered grilled octopus, tuna crudo, razor clams, roasted lobster, and broccolini, all are delicious. Wow just wow. We then we topped the night off with the butterscotch sundae, what a sweet ending! Highly highly recommended Scales, it is definitely on the top of our best eats list in Maine. read more

See all

Should I go back to Portland, I will go back to Scales. You are welcomed and since we were early, escorted to a large bar area with excellent cocktails. Upon being seated, we had a couple of the breads, the rolls were really special. We all had fish specials, perfectly prepared, all delicious. Too full for dessert. read more

Slick as a salmon, the harbor side seafood emporium deserves it's rep as one of the best in Portland, Maine. It's a long rectangular room that gets full up as quick as the guests fill up on the freshest the sea has to erp up. If they gave you a shovel and a pail instead of utensils, I'd be happy. I'd even be happy going all cave man with no cutlery or plates. So there. The decor is ceiling to floor glass so it's like eating in a fish bowl, which is most appropriate given the menu and location next to where the daily catch is off loaded. The menu is not for guppy tummies, either. Sure, you can order dishes by the half but they are still ample for a fisherman's hunger. I suggest you bag the half biz and step/swim up to the task at hand. Wow factor food. The place is what Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco could've been instead of the third stop in the air conditioned motor coach (full of oddly dressed tourists) to buy an octopus coffee mug or a ball cap in the shape of a shrimp. Scales is a sophisticated yet casual, light, airy and open space. There are lots of tables with elbow room to work that lobster like they was payin' you to eat it. There's a Raw Bar and a Long Bar (at least 100 feet...could be imbibing is the local past time), to enjoy the full bar options. Feel free to discount the opinion of Yelpers who only gave 3 stars, dragging the overall average down as one complained at being asked to wait in the bar for 10 minutes. It ain't like a segregation at Gitmo, bisides this place is busy for a reason. Or the one who dissed the joint because he/she/it didn't like sea food. Yo, what was you thinkin? Re-read the name of the place, you enter through a boat door, and the place is drippin' with lures for decor. Go ahead, order the Short Rib Pot Roast but don't roast the place because you don't like fish. You probably wouldn't like Rome either because it has too many old buildings. The Vibe: Low key. Locals, yocals, and out of towners (and some Yelping downers), The Bar Program: Lot's of crafty brews, a few ciders for orchard insiders, and an extensive wine list with many by the glass choices. The signature cocktails tend to be on the sweet side So? Just like our server Mikela who was truly sweet, helpful, humorous and enthusiastic. The Bug Light was a flute of boozy fruit (which describes half the patrons at the Red Velvet Lounge in OC). Eight Bells Rum, Barrel Aged Maple Syrup, OJ and Brut (as opposed to O.J. the Brute). The Fort Sumter was Tanguerey Gin, Muddled Fig, and Fresh Lime served up. Now fully muddled and addled myself, let's eat. The Food: This is Sea-forward dining. Duh! Right in the harbor where the fishermen deliver the sea's bounty daily. This is a working restaurant featuring the freshest and best of God's little swimming creatures this side of the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. Nothing here that's been fried even knows it's been fried. No residue, no oil, no puddle of rendered fish fat on your plate, nothing heavy here so order a pile of whatever sings to you. All good. Whole Belly Clams. These puppies were flash fried and served with Smoked Jalapeno Aioli and Lemon. Most places don't bother with the bellies (unless you're at a bar in Vegas). Usually you get only strips (also something reminiscent of Vegas). Here, you get the entire clam corpse, fried by an expert. Each belly had a crisp coating form fitting crunch surrounding a briny juicy little treasure. (Yeah, you can find that in Vegas too, but it will cost.) The Special off menu offering the night I dined there was Diver Scallops. They too were fried, but it just seemed so right, and besides isn't America's favorite flavor crispy? Generally, scallops are too delicate to fry but the line cook manning that station had earned his fins, gills and tail badge and was truly a Fry Master...and I ain't shuckin' you, neither. And it came with a small hill of fries, done just right...my guilty pleasure. The Lobster Roll is a local legend as well. Oh, what a sweet fresh lobster! Look close and make sure in ain't still wigglin' in your bun (figuratively speaking). It is nestled in a split top, house baked, butter grilled roll, filled to over flowing with the crustacean that would drive a Rabbi off the Kosher cart. Served simply with Chives and Mayo, oh, I say, oh how wonderful was that little roll in the Bay? Dessert: No complaining that your own clam belly is obscuring the view of your shoes. Have the Concord Grape and Apple Pie baked in it's own ramekin with a crust as flaky as the current Presidential Transition Team. Scales tip the scales to terrific. read more

See all

Would give this 6 stars if I could!! Incredible food, everything was deliciously crafted and plated. Fresh seafood and sweet desserts. Staff was beyond friendly and knowledgeable on picking the perfect dish. Definitely make a reservation in advance. read more

Scales - Open concept kitchen - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

Amazing restaurant in all aspects. Came here on rainy Tuesday for our 6:45 reservation and the place was packed. A short wait and we were seated. Server and staff were super friendly and the service was on point. Food was amazinggggg. Highly recommend this place and will definitely be back when we're back in Maine read more

Scales - Dozen oysters - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

What a great restaurant. The decor is beautiful, with a cool, rustic vibe. The service is impeccable but not the slightest bit stuffy or pushy. And then there's the food. We focused on the appetizers: impossibly fresh, local oysters, perfectly fried clams and oysters, scrumptious mussels, and beautifully grilled octopus. The chocolate tart for dessert seemed as dense as fudge on the plate, but miraculously turned soft and creamy in the mouth. We will return at the next opportunity to sample the entrees which look just as enticing. read more

Went here on a Saturday night for our fifteenth anniversary. The restaurant was very noisy for our tastes. Not the romantic night we hoped for but... We decided to ignore the prices (as high as advertised with the 4 $$$$) as it was a special night. Started with some littlenecks and tuna tartare from the raw bar. Little necks were as sweet as they should be with a little too many shell fragments for a place that does raw bar daily. Tuna tartare was fantastic with a hoisin sesame sauce, thinly sliced maitake (hen of the woods) mushrooms and pepitas. We had the fried calamari with cherry peppers...calamari was nice and tender despite being sliced thinly...someone knows their stuff in that kitchen! My wife ordered the seafood stew with a side of broccolini and I had the seared scallops. Each of these dishes had its fair share of bacon. Bacon makes everything better, right? Not necessarily. The seafood in the stew was cooked perfectly (fish a little firm) but the sauce was a bit strong (too much butter or bacon?). The scallops were cooked perfectly and very tender inside with a nice thin crust. Service was a little inattentive at first but once our server checked in, she was on point for the entire meal! read more

Really enjoyed everything had here. The chowder was just right, the steamers did not have an ounce of sand on them/were absolutely delicious. Cocktails here are a must. Only complaint that even prior to having soup it was extremely warm inside. Did not feel any sort of air conditioning or fan relief. We were profusely sweating during and after our meal, which made us eat quicker than we would've liked. Staff were very nice and did not make us feel rushed. read more

See all