Portland recommendations

I always think of Swish at Bissell being a beer you should try in winter up there if normally you're only there in the summer. I don't recall any breweries being closed in winter or the top restaurants off hand.

 

Thanks!

I’m not sure how I missed this in my research??

 

I was only in Portland once for a summer day trip a few years ago and wasn't doing anything beer-centric. Now thinking to spend a few days, but since it will be winter need a plan of what to do. The trip will be with kids, so it cannot be just breweries.

 

Drove up to Portland for the day today. Went right to Terlingua for lunch. With the Mrs., a 13 yr old and a 7 year old. All 3 are very “particular” about their food.

We shared the Ceviche, Deviled Eggs, Nachos w/ pulled chicken, Blue Corn Tostada Salad, Fish Tacos, and of course the Brisket Tacos. I with say everything got wiped clean except the nachos. The Brisket and Eggs were the favorites with the Salad close behind.

However, I felt everything was a little overpriced for portion sizes. The 3 half eggs were $12. I could take down $36 in eggs without batting an eye. You’re getting good quality and a great space to eat in. I’ll pay a little more for that in the end I guess. The patio is a hidden gem too. The place now has to be in the rotation.

Oh yeah, and a Bissell The Substance to go with it never hurts.

 

Fortunately there is a children's museum and in February the skating rink will be open, both only steps from Bissell.

 

With those eclectic choices … your family isn’t that particular about their food! My daughters wouldn’t touch a thing you listed!

 

threadjackingoff here srry- any Oktobrfest events up in Portland this yr?

 

Haven't been to RSVP in years but I walk in today and they got Framboos, Hommage, Golden Blend, Armand & Gaston, Intens Rood, and the regular 3Fs. I have never been so happy, sad and angry in my whole life.

 

The only one I ever recalled from year's past was Thirsty Pig had one one year.

But I didn't really look that hard both times I've been up in the fall since each time was for Zwanze Day.

 

Just looked at Maine Beer's website - Dinner being released while I'm there.
Any recommendations for getting bottle shipping boxes and shipping in Portland?
I see there's a FedEx in Portland proper, but not sure if anyone knows a good shop to pick up a bottle shipper.

 

Update: Portland remains awesome.
Maine Beer Co didn't disappoint, per usual.
Belleflower was good, but I wasn't blown away. Missed Goodfire this go around.
First time hitting Terlingua, and wow! I should have been going there every time.
Hot Suppa was great - that's a stop every time.
Hit The Shop for oysters for the first time, and it was another winner.
The ferry to Peaks Island was a new experience and just ok.
We did a hike around Wolfes Neck State Park, which was pretty cool if you're looking for a short one.
Returned to Duckfat due to some long lines at other places - solid as usual. Lucked out on the last day when they tapped Hill Farmstead Edward, which was a perfect brunch beer.
High Roller was good, but I think it's overpriced at this point.
Portland Alpine and Hunt Club was a new one too, which was to switch it up from just beer all the time. They have some great cocktails.

 

Just left Portland after a 4 day / 3 night stay @shkin - these are the places we hit, 95% of which were recommended by @rightcoast7 who never steered us wrong! We stayed at the Francis hotel which was decent.

Wednesday

East Ender - oysters/drinks
Eventide - late lunch*
Seaweed - I know it has a bad rep of being the $$ dispensary but wanted to try it and the guys who worked there were cool
Blyth and Burrows - great cocktails
Fore Street - very indulgent, delicious meal

Thursday

Tandem Bakery - coffee/breakfast
Morse Mountain > Seawall beach hike - beautiful walk through pine forest to the beach. Around 5 miles there and back including some walking on the beach
Maine Beer Co - hit it up on the way home. Great pizza
The Shop - cocktails/wine and oysters
OMG - wasn’t planning on stopping here but we’d left edibles at hotel so stopped by. Cool place/friendly staff
East Ender - drinks here again while we waited for dinner at:
The Honey Paw - great non country-specific Asian noodle place

Friday

Cong Tu Bot - late breakfast at this awesome Vietnamese place
Oxbow - enough said; supplemented with poutine from Duckfat
Goodfire - really impressed by this brewery
Belleflower - also really impressed
Independent Ice Co - solid cocktails and got to have a drink with @rightcoast7 which was awesome!
Crispy Gai - I think much has been mentioned in this thread already, but went there for dinner and absolutely lived up to the hype!

Saturday

Tandem Bakery (it was opposite hotel) - breakfast again
Standard Baking company - great pastries for breakfast part two
Allagash - enough said on the beer front; the lobster truck (blanking on name) has awesome lobster rolls

And now headed home! Fantastic city. Jealous of all of you who live there.

Edit - i’m a keen runner and was able to do a couple of really nice long runs round the coast going past East End and up to Back Cove



*this was the one place rightcoast said he was on the fence about, but peer pressure from other friends who’d visited Portland meant we hit it. Really tasty food but portion size / price ratio is very aggressive (which was rightcoast’s verdict - totally in agreement)

 

I walked past this place a few times and told my wife that if we were a few years younger it would have been a good spot to stay at; seemed cool and right in the thick of a lot of the spots we went to

 

Nice list, thanks, I'll keep it in mind.

 

Hope you had some giftcards to burn or somethin. That sounds like a real awesome trip. One for the ledger!

 

https://boston.eater.com/22765588/portland-maine-off-season-dining-drinking-guide

Nice little article, there’s some stuff in there I didn’t know about.

Planning a trip in January, so this article is timely

 

Damn, now I want to go.

 

And I will be eagerly awaiting the detailing of the vast amounts of food and drink!

 

Was lucky enough to spend part of a day in Portland last weekend and got some Swish at Bissell Bros, which was nice because the timing hasn’t worked out the last few years. They had a great selection of other cans and bottles as well. Ate lunch there with my son but the boy let me down - the plan was to hit Duckfat for fries later in the afternoon but he was still full! The kid usually has a bottomless pit for a stomach.

 

He needs to be trained in the fine art of Portland gluttony.