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    The Rusty Lantern

    3.7 (25 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

    The Rusty Lantern Photos

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    Brett F.

    Compared to any other large gas station/convenience store that I've been to in the Portland area, this is an easy five stars. The Irving station/Rusty Lantern recently opened on Congress Street by Unum, and it is definitely not your usual gas station. Think Kamasouptra soup, Coffee by Design coffee, a whole back room for craft beer, a thoughtful selection of wine, etc. There's a lengthy menu of made-to-order sandwiches and meals in addition to many grab-and-go items. It's a huge, clean building that is leagues above the usual "Circle K" type store. For employees in the Unum or Mall area, this is a great addition for a quick lunch.

    Shains ice cream
    Kerrie D.

    This review forces me to openly admit something I would rather keep to myself. I can get really excited about convenience stores attached to gas stations. So far, my gold standard is Wawa, although I have very fond memories of stopping in at a Sheetz years ago. Sadly, here in Maine there is nothing that can even come close to Wawa. No expanded coffee bar, no ordering your own sandwiches on a tablet, no fee free ATM (!). I guess Cumberland Farms has been sort of trying, but honestly, are still pretty lame in comparison. I had driven by this Rusty Lantern attached to a large, new Irving gas station a few times and never had reason to stop in, until yesterday, and...WOW! The Rusty Lantern is nothing like Wawa, they are their own kind of awesome!!!! They have an excellent wine and beer selection, super clean bathrooms, local sodas on tap, an epic local coffee selection and a kitchen staff in the back cooking and setting out quality hot and cold prepared food all day long! There are even a few tables for sitting and free wifi! Be careful as you get in the check out line, as there is a table holding warm, freshly baked cookies right out of the oven, calling your name as you wait to pay. Now, if only, they had a no fee ATM machine...

    They bake their own cookies right in the store.
    Rene C.

    This Rusty Lantern has brought the level of gas station convenience stores to a whole new level. One major plus for me is they make their own baked goods right in the store. I tried one of their brownies filled with cream and it was crazy moist, stuffed with cream which made it completely delicious! Although it is an Irving Gas Station, I am not all that sure people will flock here to purchase gas. They also offer Maine Root handcrafted beverages, plus an assortment of meal type foods ranging from specialty pizza to breakfast sandwiches. The place is clean and has some available counters and tables to sit at. I most definitely will be coming back here soon!

    Yes!!
    Chad B.

    I hate a gross gas station so this store was absolutely needed. No going To lie the fact they have Maine root on fountain is going to keep me coming back.

    the inside of a grocery store
    Paul V.

    What a delicious meet ball sub I had here Rocco made it fresh & they will all make it that way just ask everyone is friendly. Clean wide open with a small seating area with tables & plenty of cold adult beverages for the road. The ladies are all very nice & yes it's a GAS STATION. STOP IN FOR A SNACK LUNCH COFFEE SIX PACK FILL YOUR TANK

    Now that's a cookie...

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    7 months ago

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    3 years ago

    Open all night. Provisions, gas, walking distance to Airport. Haven't tried the lobster rolls or hand made sandwiches he's yet.

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Went for the coffee and a fill up. The coffee wasn't great but not bad for inexpensive convenience store coffee.

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    10 years ago

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    Review Highlights - The Rusty Lantern

    Although it is an Irving Gas Station, I am not all that sure people will flock here to purchase gas.

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    Wayside Tavern

    Wayside Tavern

    4.7
    (105 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    We finally got to Wayside Tavern and I don't know what took me so long! Oddly, there are so many…read morerestaurants not open on Monday's and I get it but it is the one night my friends and I can all meet up, so we are limited on trying new places. Wayside is definitely going to be in our rotation now. We each got an appetizer and entree and nothing disappointed us! The daily Crudo was a scallop dish that was amazing. We also had a cabbage salad that sounds so plain in the description but it was delicious and cabbage is not my go-to normally. I was able to try the smash burger and it lives up to all the hype I had heard about it. Staff was super friendly and prices were not crazy.

    **November 2025: Thanksgiving Dinner**…read more I made a reservation through Resy about a week before Thanksgiving and was able to successfully secure bar seating for two. We got a text reminder as well as phone call reminder leading up to our reservation. On the day of our reservation we were greeted with a warm smiled and directed to our seats. Since we visited on Thanksgiving Day it was a prix fix menu which included the following: -Bread and Turkey Jam -Winter Squash Soup -Chicory & Arugula Salad -Roasted Turkey Breast -Braised Short Ribs -Ilma's Maple Bourbon Pie -Pumpkin Budin This menu was specifically made for Thanksgiving so I imagine guests who have to wait until the next Thanksgiving to enjoy the fare. What I can say is that the soup was my favorite and the turkey breast was not in the slightest dry. The short ribs were my friends favorite and we both loved the pumpkin budin. Service was polite and efficient and te music was upbeat and lively, despite the restaurant emiting a dark romantic vibe. I'm really thankful that they had reservations available and that the food was delicious since many restaurants in the area were already booked out. Thank you Wayside Tavern for a delicious meal!

    Photos
    Bar seating
    Bar seating
    Salt cod mantecato (fish dip) topped w/olive tapenade. Delicate fish (think whitefish salad) and wonderfully salty. Comes w/ 2pcs focaccia.
    Salt cod mantecato (fish dip) topped w/olive tapenade. Delicate fish (think whitefish salad) and wonderfully salty. Comes w/ 2pcs focaccia.
    These guys were close to closing last night, but showed a no rush great time.  The food and service was 5 *****. The chef sent us a slice of

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    These guys were close to closing last night, but showed a no rush great time. The food and service was 5 *****. The chef sent us a slice of
    Thames Landing

    Thames Landing

    4.4
    (86 reviews)
    4.4 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)
    3.8 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)
    4.2 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
    Fore Street

    Fore Street

    4.1
    (1.5k reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $$$

    A beautiful visit to this fine restaurant! Our server,…read moreElizabeth, greeted us with a warm smile and information about the restaurant after learning it was our first time there. Husband started with a fresh lettuce salad that had a nice vinegar & oil with fresh garlic dressing on it. I ordered the Squash soup which was savory and perfect for a cool evening. Cod for me and halibut for him were the main entrees. Both were deliciously prepared and had wonderful flavor and didn't last long, even with a nice serving size! We added the mashed potatoes(OMG!) and carrots as side dishes and both complimented our mains perfectly. I'd let the staff know that it was my husband's birthday so when the Rhubarb Crisp came out, it included a birthday candle and Happy Birthday written in chocolate on the plate. Elizabeth was outstanding and a delight to meet. Fore Street has a great reputation that is well deserved. We spent $200 including tip which included one beer with our dinner. Highly recommend for future visits!

    THIS WAS THE BEST RESTAURANT IN PORTLAND!!!! We did not have a reservation, so we got in line on a…read moreFriday at 4:30 right when they opened. We were able to snag 3 bar seats right away or they gave us the option to come back for a table at 5:15. Both great options. Everything we got was seriously so amazing, you cannot go wrong ordering. My favorite was the tuna tartar & the roasted carrots side we ordered. I have never tasted for fresh tuna tartar in my life. The haddock was also cooked perfectly and smothered in an amazing sauce. All the drinks we got were great too. I'm normally not a cosmo girl but we saw these being brought to another table & they looked so good we had to order them. I'm so glad we did because they were delish! The chefs and bartenders really know what they are doing here. Cannot recommend this place enough!!!!!

    Photos
    Bar
    Bar
    Skate Wing
    Skate Wing
    Delicata squash

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    Delicata squash

    The Rusty Lantern - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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