Portland, ME

[MitchW]

10 hours ago, Wilfrid said:

$18 for a dozen outstanding local oysters.

My favorite oysters in this country, without a doubt.  In certainly one of my favorite eating cities in this country.

[MitchW]

Also, and possibly not for you, but we always have breakfast (or maybe lunch) at Becky's Diner...it's a classic...https://www.beckysdiner.com/

Dutch's is not bad either...https://www.dutchsportland.com/

And the surprise I learned from a Portland native...in South Portland...SoPo Seafood...https://www.soposeafood.com/

[Wilfrid]

After the museum of art I ended up wandering around the Old Port, so back to Eventide for the lobster roll. 

[Wilfrid]

Last adventure begins with a smoked rye Manhattan at Independent Ice Co

 

[Wilfrid]

My daughter reports that it’s sixty degrees warmer where her mother is than where I am, but I suspect she’s making do with a bottle of Presidente.

[Wilfrid]

Glad I got here before 7, swarms of people at the door being turned away.

Vieux Carre.

[Wilfrid]

How completely different Eventide and Scales are. Eventide does have a bar and several dining rooms but is still compact and cozy. Scales is a massive barn of a place on the docks and it was packed last night.

The oysters, again, were great. Crab fritters were okay but the tartare sauce, I assume made fresh, was delicious. Main was a reminder of my childhood: baked haddock.

Three courses, three good wines BTG, a digestif and espresso, about $160. Another saving here, it’s hard to pay as much as $10 for an Uber.

 

[Wilfrid]

One of those occasions a direct comparison in eating is easy. I was in New Orleans last month and ate a lot of oysters, from high end (Seawitch) to low end (fried at the market).

The oysters in Portland are at a different level.

Edited December 8, 2024 by Wilfrid

[MitchW]

Though our trip got chopped in half due to illness, and instead of driving down to Portland from Montreal, we drove up to Portland from NYC. And did a bit of damage - to whit:

The six on top are Pemaquids, from the Damariscotta River. The bottom 6 - Wolfe Necks, from Yarmouth.  Along with a nice pasta dish or two:

Then on to Scales, to sit at the bar and enjoy:

From left to right:

And a lovely local halibut ceviche:

Could Significant Eater refuse?

And for me:

Beautifully cooked fluke, in its entirety and enough for at least 3 people.

A lovely dinner was had at Leeward, though no pictures taken. Except:

All house-made pastas, and they were lovely.  Then onto our long-time favorite:

Clockwise, from the top, 4 of each: Wet Smack, Bombazine and Cora Cressy.

So all in all, 8 different varieties of oysters - and all quite good.

Also, a new bar, right around the corner from our AirBnB - Gill's - was great for a nightcap.