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    Wayside Tavern

    4.7 (103 reviews)
    Open 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Wayside Tavern Photos

    Business Info

    WAYSIDE TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

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    Recommended Reviews - Wayside Tavern

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    Reviews With Photos

    Foie gras truffle (did not taste truffle at all)
    Christine L.

    We chose this place based on location of our air bnb. Loved the decor and coziness of the inside. They do have limited hours so plan accordingly. The food, however was a bit disappointing. We got: -truffle foie gras (no taste of truffle at all) -broiled Maine oysters (way too salty) -smash burger (special of the day) (average burger) We wanted to love the food, but it didn't quite meet our expectations.

    Jose V.

    Great find after arriving in Portland. Sat at the bar and had a great conversation with the bartender who gave us great recommendations. Wine recommendation was great. Visited back in July. Food was delicious and we took recommendations from the regulars sitting at the bar. Cool, comfortable vibe. Will definitely go back. Loved the muscles and foie gras truffles.

    Cristina C.

    We were visiting and staying next door. We had a heavy travel day and wanted something easy so we went next door as walk-ins. Although they were not able to accommodate us (Labor Day weekend), we ordered to go. We asked if they could text us when the food was ready since it was going to be 30 mins, they did and boy were we pleased with our choice. The food was delicious and hot. We ordered the cod cheeks, chicory salad, tonnarelli, and pork schnitzel. All was expertly cooked. Plus we were given a sweet note and dessert. The care behind that note took our breath away. We will be back the next time we visit Portland and come with a reservation. Our pictures were not the best because we were hungry and dug in right away. Lol

    clams casino and foie gras balls
    Anne S.

    My visit to Wayside was a few months back when it was warm and my friends and I sat outside--and I definitely want to get back there soon! We indulged with wonderful cocktails, followed by a round of appetizers: clams casino seared off with Pernod, which left this amazing green finish and I dunno what else was in there, but taaaaasty; some foie gras truffle balls that were both decadent and spicy; a gorgeous tuna carpaccio; and a salad of perfectly in-season heirloom tomatoes that were pretty much just drizzled with oil and fancy salt, because they needed nothing else. Oh, and a cabbage salad with a drool-worthy ranch dressing and bacon. Mmmmm. Wine time! Some of the above are on the menu under "snacks" and some under "small plates"--and clearly we were hungry and chowing down, and even considered ordering another round of apps and smalls (which with Wayside's seasonally rotating menu, is always going to offer up several great options). But we were tempted by the "large plates" part of the menu too, and in fact all three of us got the exact same thing: roast chicken. Now, you may be thinking why order chicken at a restaurant?! and usually that's what I think, but OMG this. It's a generous roasted airline breast on earthy toast spread with ricotta and toasted pine nuts (and raisins, which normally I loathe but weren't bothersome). It is INSANELY good. These plates all definitely lived up to their large size, and we had leftovers to take home that I wasn't mad about the next day. On top of the fabulous food and wonderful table outside in the front, our server (whose name I am unfortunately forgetting) was amazing! She knew a ton about the menu and in fact talked us into the chicken when we were all wondering about it. I can't wait to come back to Wayside!

    Jordan K.

    We had a great dinner at the bar despite a wedding taking up 70% of the restaurant that night. The butter beans were unreal. Chicory salad excellent. Pork schnitzel very good. And the pasta was great too. Really nice restaurant with great food.

    Bill
    The D.

    I'm back for a second round on the "Smash Burger" I come to see what's the consistency! Is it the same hit as the last time... I would say no, was it enjoyable... absolutely! This time the onions have changed I can taste a little more acidity in the burger I don't know how to exactly pin point the flavor but it has to be the onions! I now have to come back for the third repeat next week or maybe the week after to see what will it be! The bun is always a simplicity hit don't over complicate a staple being potato or Hawaiian bun this is what makes a smash burger a smash burger! I had the chicory Caesar which was perfectly dressed and a perfect proportion for myself! Stay tuned to see what the next burger will be!!!

    Foie gras truffle
    Meghan B.

    A high end dining experience. I went here with friends for my birthday dinner and every dish was absolutely amazing. I'd highly recommend doing a dinner of small plates and share an entree for a good sample of the menu choices.

    Such a cozy place to dine during a rain shower. This place just has good vibes, overall. Service was perfect. Both cocktails were expertly prepared and garnished by a bartender who obviously cares. Cod cheeks were amazing. Each person needs their own. Maybe two. Lol. Halibut was absolutely divine perfection. Unfortunately, the scallops lacked any sear and were swimming in mayo-ish sauce. Not sure what the concept was supposed to be but they were not for me. I'd skip those if I had a do-over. It was a wonderful dining experience and we were greeted by a rainbow when we left.

    Cucumber with tahini

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    5 months ago

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    Siobhan S.

    Thank you, Geoff!!

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    6 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    Siobhan S.

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    7 months ago

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    Siobhan S.

    Thanks Jose! We'll look forward to seeing you next time!

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    19 days ago

    Excellent food, high quality of ingredients and inventive takes on classic dishes. Great ambience too.

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    4 months ago

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    Siobhan S.

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    7 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    Siobhan S.

    Aww thanks Cristina! We are lucky to have such a thoughtful staff :)

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    6 months ago

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    Siobhan S.

    Thank you, Allen! We hope to see you again soon.

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    1 year ago

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    Siobhan S.

    Thank you!! We're excited to have you back in soon!

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    8 months ago

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    Siobhan S.

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    1 month ago

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    8 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Menu was very limited and not appealing. Green interior makes food and people look sickly.

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    Siobhan S.

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    11 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    Siobhan S.

    Thanks Meghan!

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    10 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    Siobhan S.

    Thank you, Jacob! Glad you enjoyed the bar!

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    3 months ago

    Small Portions but tasty. Nice effort to be unique. Next time will get more food. Great service and vibes.

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    Siobhan S.

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    2 years ago

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    Siobhan S.

    Thank you, Mikayla!

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    8 months ago

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    Siobhan S.

    Thanks Filippo!

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    9 months ago

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    Siobhan S.

    Thanks Catie, we'll hope to see you again soon!

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    2 years ago

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    Siobhan S.

    thank you so much for the kind words, Andrew!

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    2 years ago

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    Siobhan S.

    Thank you, Sonya! We hope to see you again soon.

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    1 year ago

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    Siobhan S.

    Thank you, Heidi!!

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    7 months ago

    Food was amazing and the server was very knowledgeable about the menu, including the wine list.

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    2 years ago

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    Siobhan S.

    Thank you, Hannah!!

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    1 year ago

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    Siobhan S.

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    8 months ago

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    Siobhan S.

    Thanks Sydney! Cassie is wonderful :)

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    1 year ago

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    Siobhan S.

    We're so glad you enjoyed it!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    Siobhan S.

    Thank you, Anne! We're so happy you paid us a visit!

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Wayside Tavern

    What dish or dishes would you suggest for a semi adventurous 16 year old? I am thinking the default is the steak. My daughter loves most pasta dishes.

    Their current menu has a Tonnarelli pasta dish offering. All of their large plate menu items could be enjoyed by a semi-adventurous eater.

    Do you have gluten free options?

    We do! Some of our dishes are already gluten free and others we are happy to modify to make GF.

    Are there vegetarian options?

    Hi Colleen, Yes! We have plenty of items for vegetarians. More variety in the small plates &… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Scales

    4.3(1.2k reviews)
    1.1 miOld Port
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    Loved everything about this restaurant. The decor was…read morecostal casual with wood beam accents, a rustic feel. The service was on point. Our server was very helpful and attentive. I dont eat seafood but I keep trying .He gave me a couple of suggestions and explained why he picked the dishes he suggested. I ended up ordering the carrot appetizer. It had a middle eastern flair, the flavors popped and it was one of my favorite dishes while in Portland. My entree was the potato crusted cod over a lemon cream shaved brussel sprout sauce. The cod was mild and flakes. The lemon brussel sprout mixture was delicious. This dish made me a fan of cod. I also added the garlic butter rolls. I saw them going by and they were a great add on. Soft, warm with delicious melted herb butter. Scales is a winener on every point. Definitely a must go to.

    Unfortunately Scales did not live up to the hype for us. While we were seated right away at 7pm for…read moreour reservation, the rest of the service during the evening could have been better. Our server described to us the specials for appetizers but never said anything about entree specials (maybe there weren't any?). We ordered the cloverleaf rolls, a cup of clam chowder, a cup of lobster bisque, and the maine mussels before our entrees. Both the clam chowder and the lobster bisque were just ok.. nothing special. The bisque was too sweet and had very little lobster. The mussels were the highlight of the meal. The sauce of cider, mustard and dill was very interesting and had deep flavor. The bread served with the mussels was also delicious. The cloverleaf rolls were great too, but perhaps a little too soggy/greasy from the butter at the bottom of the skillet. For our entrees we had the scallops and the halibut. The scallops were delicious- nicely seared and served with mushrooms and a green pea sauce which was bright and flavorful. The halibut however was not my favorite. The fish itself was cooked very well with a crispy skin, but it was swimming in brown butter and hazelnuts and lacked depth of flavor. It also seemed like an odd choice of flavors for a spring menu. It was served with potatoes that needed a bit more salt. We were too full for dessert and also didn't finish our meals. We sat around for a fairly long time not touching our meals without the server checking on us. Eventually we had to flag them down to get boxes and pay the check. While the ambiance was very nice, for the price and the reputation we expected more. Everything else we have eaten in Portland so far has been fantastic so it was a bit of a letdown.

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    The Honey Paw

    The Honey Paw

    4.3(780 reviews)
    1.1 miEast Bayside
    $$

    This. Is. It. Seriously, do not pass go. No notes. If you want to take a journey into tantalizing…read moretastebud adventures you must make it a point to get here. Super funky vibes. There's records being thrown down, cool lighting, nice decor and even super friendly folks. The employees here are beyond nice and welcoming. Like they know what they are doing here and they are offering you an experience that is fun and funky. We started off with two drinks. One was called a salad of some sort (sorry, blacked out) and it was delicious. The other was just as good. Ordered the eggplant app - do not leave without this. Absolutely amazing. For food, we ordered a rice bowl with pork sausage and a noodle bowl (with lobster and clams). Don't remember the names. Both were absolutely fantastic. The flavor profiles are just incredible. The rice bowl had so many things happening. Just terrific. The noodle bowl has a broth that you would drink daily. There wasn't one thing that could have made these dishes any better. Do not leave without dessert. Read that again!!! Get the honey sundae. This is what dreams are made of. You will question reality. No matter how stuffed you think you are, order this. This place is just full of magic and wizardry. Like seriously.

    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!

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    The Honey Paw - Restaurant

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    The Honey Paw - Half Fried Chicken

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    The Honey Paw - Honey soft serve

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    Central Provisions - Popover

    Central Provisions

    4.3(1.4k reviews)
    0.9 miOld Port
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    Dinner at Central Provisions was such a standout experience. The small plates format made it fun to…read moretry a variety of dishes, and everything felt thoughtful and well-executed. The flavors were creative without being overcomplicated, and each dish had something that made it memorable. The atmosphere struck a perfect balance--lively but still intimate enough to enjoy conversation. Service was attentive and knowledgeable, with great recommendations that really elevated the meal. Definitely one of those places you leave already thinking about what you'll order next time.

    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
    Central Provisions - Open kitchen

    Open kitchen

    Central Provisions - CP Frites

    CP Frites

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    The Highroller Lobster - The HighRoller (captured by @a.bite.of.life)

    The Highroller Lobster

    4.3(2.3k reviews)
    0.8 miOld Port
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    From the minute we walked in, the staff could not have been more delightful! We sat at the bar and…read moretalked to one of the bartenders for suggestions, so we ordered 2 jumbo lobster rolls, with jalapeño and lime sauces, a basket of fries and coleslaw. All of the food was spectacular!! We loved the addition of the two sauces to the lobster ! My husband also had an ice cream sandwich and devoured it. Highly recommend!! Will definitely return next time I'm In town !

    We came here super excited about this place with its cool outside look and decor inside. We were…read morepretty disappointed leaving and wished we had gone elsewhere for dinner. We checked in and were sat down and told promptly to let anyone know if we needed anything and we would be helped. Went to order and there was some confusion amongst staff, and instead of taking our order then figuring it out, they had us wait and watch while they sorted things. Sat back down and realized we might have not ordered the lobby pop fried how we wanted but instead regular and went back up to change. Was charged an additional $2 when we had waited through the ordering scuffle and already paid $150. Food was brought to table in an okay span of time, and after drinking my soda, asked for a refill with one of the staff members that brought my food. She said I could go to counter and be helped - ironic after being told anyone could help if we needed anything. Know lobster is expensive, but felt it was overpriced for the experience we had. Seems as though they need to figure out if tables should be served or a kiosk system should be in place. Would not come back or recommend to anyone.

    Photos
    The Highroller Lobster - SO GOOD. Lobster tasted so fresh and tender. Bread was hefty and a great compliment. (Lobster Roll)

    SO GOOD. Lobster tasted so fresh and tender. Bread was hefty and a great compliment. (Lobster Roll)

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