Where to Eat and Drink in Portland’s East Bayside Neighborhood
Maine’s latest culinary hotspot is yet another delicious reason to visit Portland.
A spread of food at Izakaya Minato. / Photo by Caroline Alden
Perhaps you’ve already spent some time exploring the incredible food and drink scene in Portland, Maine. But one area you may have overlooked is East Bayside—an increasingly delectable neighborhood inside the parameters of Congress Street, Washington Avenue, Route 295, and Franklin Arterial that’s home to young families and a vibrant East African community.
Still-reasonable rents have attracted culinary entrepreneurs, who are channeling new life into the area. Local businesses feel personal; many got their start at the affordable Black Box, an incubator-style retail space with five tiny units built out of repurposed shipping containers. An assortment of locally owned restaurants, breweries, and distilleries clustered around pedestrian-friendly Washington Avenue are catnip for food lovers.
Lobsters and blueberries may be hallmarks of this state’s cuisine, but epicureans know that Portland goes way beyond those staples, with a surplus of offerings from around the globe. Bring your appetite and get ready to explore East Bayside’s dining and drinking scene, from Greek mezze and Eritrean stews to Philly-style hoagies and traditional fish and chips.
Where to Eat
The Cheese Shop of Portland. / Photo by Jenn Bravo
The Cheese Shop of Portland
The Cheese Shop of Portland presents a curated assortment of farmhouse cheeses from small producers across New England and around the world. Customers benefit from an affable staff who’ll gladly offer samples. The store also stocks charcuterie, specialty items like imported pasta and olive oil, and delectable take-away sandwiches with whimsical names (see the Mortadella Fella or the Jamwich), served on Portland’s favorite Standard Baking baguette. For a deep dive into dairy, book one of the team’s informative classes or try your hand at a cheese-board-building workshop.
107 Washington Ave. Unit 1, Portland, Maine, 207-400-5344, thecheeseshopofportland.com.
Making bagels at Forage. / Photo by Allison Tibaldi
Forage
At Forage, you can watch the bakers make chewy bagels before you devour them in the spacious setting. The bagels, leavened with wild yeast starter, are made with flour, water, salt, and malt. Each one is rolled by hand, aged for two days, boiled, and baked next to the hardwood fire. The bagel sandwiches are a hearty way to start the day, whether you go for lox with a schmear or egg and bacon from Sumner Valley Farm.
123 Washington Ave., Portland, Maine, 207-274-6800, foragemarket.com.
Izakaya Minato. / Photo by Caroline Alden
Izakaya Minato
For a slice of Tokyo transported to Portland’s Washington Avenue, head to Izakaya Minato. An izakaya is essentially a Japanese bistro, and the restaurant’s casual menu reflects this. From ultra-fresh sashimi to ethereal tempura, the food has a masterful attention to detail, including glazed platters and bowls hand-made by the chef-owner. A large selection of sake, served in carafes and bottles, offers excellent liquid accompaniment. The four-to-five-course chef’s choice omakase menu must be ordered for the entire party, so be prepared to convince any tablemates who are on the fence.
54 Washington Ave., Portland, Maine, 207-613-9939, izakayaminato.com.
A spread of food at Lil Chippy. / Courtesy photo
Lil Chippy
Lil Chippy is an unpretentious new spot that’s quickly gained a loyal clientele. The namesake Lil Chippy is the go-to order: fish and chips served with tart slaw and traditional tartar sauce. The batter is feathery light, the chips crisp, and the locally sourced hake mild and firm. And don’t miss the Lobster Buddy, Lil Chippy’s take on a lobster roll, dressed with either butter or mayo and served on a milk bun. There’s wine by the glass and fresh lemonade that hits the right balance of tart and sweet. Gluten-free batter and buns are also available.
52 Washington Ave., Portland, Maine, lilchippymaine.com.
A spread of food at Magissa. / Photo by Richard Yu-Tang Lee
Magissa
Another new kid in the neighborhood, Magissa is a shining example of just how satisfying Greek cuisine can be. The staff is cordial, the Mediterranean décor seems lifted from the set of Mamma Mia!, and the food is light and luscious. Start with a selection of mezze (think cucumber-forward tzatziki and taramosalata made with cod roe), accompanied with warm pita for dipping. Move on to the large plates, such as gyros and stuffed eggplant, copious enough for two. For dessert, the baklava has a touch of orange flavor, elevating the nutty filling to new heights.
91 Anderson Ave., Portland, Maine, magissaportland.com.
Onggi. / Photo by Allison Tibaldi
Onggi
This market and café’s name comes from a Korean earthenware vessel used to store fermented products, evoking an image of traditional Korean foodways. Onggi sells all things fermented, from the usual suspects such as miso paste to the more unusual, such as sea urchin shoyu. The cozy café serves tangy sourdough chocolate chip cookies and a kimchi, corn, and cheese soufflé that defines umami.
131 Washington Ave., Portland, Maine, 207-352-3528, onggi.com.
The Margherita pizza at Quanto Basta. / Courtesy photo
Quanto Basta
The pizza at Quanto Basta is so light, it might as well levitate off the plate. Chef-owner Betsy English developed a passion for naturally leavened dough while living in Italy. After moving to Portland, she opened a pizza truck in a vintage car. The food truck—er, car—gained traction, and she debuted the brick-and-mortar location in 2023. Her dough is made with 20 percent whole wheat flour from Maine Grains, boosting texture. The Margherita—brimming with tomato, buffalo milk mozzarella, and basil—showcases the simplicity of Italian cooking blended with fresh Maine ingredients.
249 Congress St., Portland, quantobasta.me.
Ramona’s. / Photo by Allison Tibaldi
Ramona’s
You’ll need both hands to eat the takeout, made-to-order, Philly-style hoagies at Ramona’s. The restaurant is best known for its roast pork sandwich: thin slices of garlicky meat, sharp provolone, and broccoli rabe piled high on a chewy, sesame-seeded hunk of Italian bread. The warm meat melts the cheese, and the broccoli rabe adds pungency, equaling sandwich perfection.
98 Washington Ave., Portland, Maine, 207-956-7194, ramonas.me.
Red Sea Restaurant. / Photo by Allison Tibaldi
Red Sea Restaurant
Authentic Eritrean cuisine served in a barebones setting is on the menu at Red Sea. If you’re familiar with Ethiopian food, Eritrean food is a close cousin. Zigni, a stew made with beef or lamb slow-simmered with tomatoes, aromatics, and spices, is served with the spongy flatbread injera, fundamental for sopping up all the juices. There are numerous vegetarian options, including a veggie sampler plate. Everything is fragrant and flavorful, though do ask for mild if you’re spice-adverse.
30 Washington Ave., Portland, Maine, 207-805-1488, facebook.com/habrom2.
The Shop by Island Creek Oysters. / Photo by Allison Tibaldi
The Shop by Island Creek Oysters
Boat-to-table may be a trendy catchword in much of the country, but in Maine, where the chilly sea overflows with crustaceans of every shape and size, the concept resonates. The Shop by Island Creek Oysters is a raw bar run by people who are committed to serving quality seafood. Diners select from a menu of Maine ocean and river oysters that changes daily. It’s very casual, with customers bringing their paper order form up to the counter and waiting for the staff to serve oysters so fresh you can still taste the brine. There’s also a selection of tinned fish and a smoked trout dip that’s impossible to resist.
123 Washington Ave., Portland, Maine, 207-699-4466, portland.islandcreekoysters.com.
Pistachio ice cream from Sticky Sweet. / Photo by Allison Tibaldi
Sticky Sweet
Sticky Sweet makes ice cream that is 100 percent vegan, 100 percent gluten-free, and 100 percent delicious. Walk up to the window to find flavors like pistachio, butter pecan praline, and key lime pie scooped into house-made cones or cups. (Some flavors are also available by the pint.) The recipe is a secret, but it’s safe to say there’s plenty of coconut used.
119 Cumberland Ave., Portland, Maine, instagram.com/stickysweetmaine.
A barbecue board at Terlingua. / Courtesy photo
Terlingua
If you’re a carnivore, Terlingua’s Texas-style barbecue is a preview of heaven. For a palate-opener, the deviled eggs have tang, thanks to a dash of pickled peppers and heat courtesy of chili oil. The popular dinner boards come in a variety of sizes and include an assortment of house-smoked meat served with rotating sides, pickles, barbecue sauce, and a hefty helping of honey-butter cornbread. These robust boards are great for sharing. Bonus: There’s outdoor seating year-round on the heated decks.
40 Washington Ave., Portland, Maine, 207-956-7573, terlingua.me.
Where to Drink
The bar at Hardshore Distilling Company. / Courtesy photo
Hardshore Distilling Company
Hardshore Distilling Company’s tasting room is a convivial spot to explore gin cocktails. The flagship spirit, Hardshore Original Gin, is the essence of locavore, made from family-grown grain and water from nearby Sebago Lake, with rosemary and mint adding zing. The balanced botanical notes make it an ideal foil for a gin and tonic, gimlet, or Negroni, yet smooth enough to be savored with only an ice cube. The bartenders spin gin cocktail magic that might turn even confirmed gin haters into juniper lovers, but there are additional spirits served, too, including Hardshore’s popular Shorebird whiskey.
53 Washington Ave., Portland, Maine, 207-536-0592, hardshoredistilling.com.
Maine & Loire. / Photo by Allison Tibaldi
Maine & Loire
Owned and operated by a husband-and-wife team of passionate oenophiles, Maine & Loire is a wine shop with a soul. The focus is on producers who value working on a human scale rather than industrial productions. The wines have been produced with minimal intervention, both on the vine and in the cellar. There’s a noteworthy selection of bottles priced at under $25 per bottle. The tip-free wine bar is open until 6 p.m.—it’s a lovely spot to sip and savor a glass before dinner.
59 Washington Ave., Portland, Maine, 207-805-1336, maineandloire.com.
Moonday owner David Kessel. / Photo by Allison Tibaldi
Moonday Coffee
Portland has a serious coffee culture, and Moonday is its finest expression. Owner David Kessel started out of a mobile espresso cart before moving into the repurposed shipping containers that he shares with a jewelry store at the Black Box. Moonday serves locally roasted Speckled Ax coffee, masala chai based on a recipe Kessel learned in India, and a selection of tea. Each beverage is made with care that borders on the spiritual. Baked goods by Kelsey Mari—such as individual pistachio cakes topped with red-as-a-ruby raspberry jam and blood orange cornmeal cakes with fruit from Fairwinds Farm—are a baked goods lover’s fantasy.
93 Washington Ave., Unit 1, Portland, Maine, moondaycoffee.com.
Rising Tide Brewing Company. / Courtesy photo
Rising Tide Brewing Company
Hopheads flock to Rising Tide Brewing Company’s tasting room and dog-friendly patio, where an assortment of year-round and seasonal beers infused with locally grown ingredients are showcased. Maine Island Trail Ale, a refreshing session IPA with a hint of pine and citrus, is the most popular. Seasonal blueberry-infused beers, such as Blue Fall and Blueberry Squadron, taste like Maine in liquid form. Order a flight and sample four brews. Hungry? A menu of elevated comfort food includes a messy-meets-luscious Philly-style cheesesteak and a basket of panko-coated chicken tenders served with Aroostook County potato shoestring fries that are the dictionary definition of crisp.
103 Fox St., Portland, Maine, 207-370-2337, risingtidebrewing.com.
Root Wild Kombuchery. / Photo by Allison Tibaldi
Root Wild Kombucha
Root Wild Kombucha is widely sold in New England, though the Washington Avenue tasting room is where the team produces this fermented beverage. Visitors may try a flight from the list of rotating flavors. There’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, and customers are welcome to bring takeout: Salvadoran pupusas, thick cornmeal tortillas filled with meat or cheese, from Tu Casa across the street are a favorite.
135 Washington Ave., Portland, Maine, rootwildkombucha.com.
