Portland recommendations

How dare you not like a beer style I like!

I will not be giving suggestions.

 

Duckfat and Eventide Oyster Co are two of my favorites, I think both are only open for take out.

last summer duck fat had tables outside, I’m assuming they’ll reopen that when it gets a little warmer.

 

I've actually said this a lot when people ask me about Portland recommendations. You can walk into a lot of joints -- the big name places you've heard or just hole in the wall taco joints (for instance) -- and find good beer in Portland. And good food too across the city. I feel like no one ever says Salvage, so I'll say that. Go to Salvage!

If you get a nice weekend, sit on the deck at Novare Res. Slab is great too, but I don't know much of their dining situation currently.

 

Just go to Oxbow

 

I mention Salvage! It's one of the few places I've never been in Portland.

@Providence if you want to shoot me a PM, I'll send you my word doc with all kinds of recommendations, the locations, and hyperlinks to the menus/websites. I update it after each trip (unfortunately there was no one last year....sad face).

 

My brothers Chef lives in Portland and has worked there plus I was probably through there at least a dozen times last Summer. Last time I talked to him not much was in full swing yet. Theres so much its hard to pick places. I mean EVERY place has good beer.
I will second Salvage though that place is awesome. And if you want true local vibes it Jays Oyster bar- but thats PBR and local seafood on the water. Love going there and shooting the shit with locals- but again might not be open. Central Provisions has killer food.
So many breweries
Austin St, Liquid Riot, Lone Pine, Bissel Bros, Foundation, Rising Tide, Definitive.....I mean you could probably spend a week there and not go to all of them. Second Oxbow for lagers and traditional styles...

 

Mathew's!

 

Was there .....but cant remember what I did.....

 

That’s Mathew’s!

 

My $.02 would be to put off this trip just a bit. The way things are going currently, I think you’ll have a much better and more “normal” time in May, and you can still beat the huge summer crowds that start in June. Right now most stuff is open for some kind of table service, but it’s really variable based on the place, some of the best places (Allagash, Goodfire) are still closed, and it’s just generally a pain to navigate where you can go, what the indoor/outdoor setup is, etc. Not saying you wouldn’t have a good time, but Portland is really awesome and I think you’ll have a better experience in just a couple months.

And don’t go to Jay’s, it’s trash. If you want local vibes, go to Great Lost Bear.

 

Appreciate the local advice. Planning to get up there in mid-May as most things presumably will be open. Gonna be a $hit show for all summer post-Memorial Day as will every other destination in New England

 

Ive had some ahem "memorable" times in Portland. Wont even begin to tell you about the time I busted the security guards nuts after hours at Five Guys.....

 

We got hotel rooms for June and August with the thinking that if enough isn’t open in June, August should definitely be good to go.

 

Thats why I like Jays....
But then again I grew up in NY/NJ so I have a sweet spot for shitty bars...

 

Sounds like a good plan. Best wishes for a fun and safe trip.

 

The questionable part of that story is why you would spend hours at Five Guys in Portland with all your restaurant options...

 

Well thats a great question. When youre day drinking and have been to 4 or places to eat already and youre stumbling late.....and it wasnt hours it was "after hours"

 

I totally get that. If you go soon, I would definitely recommend Novare Res and Oxbow with some Duckfat fries for easy outdoor spots. Then walk down the street to the Shop for oysters. Further down the hill you’ll find Austin Street.

I don’t think we have any brewery that really excels at lagers, but I’ve a few around that were solid, and you should find some good ones on tap at Novare.