
Fore Street Restaurant
A beloved Portland institution since 1996, known for its rustic wood-fired dishes, open kitchen, and commitment to local ingredients.

Highlights
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Fore Street Restaurant

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A beloved Portland institution since 1996, known for its rustic wood-fired dishes, open kitchen, and commitment to local ingredients.
Book Ahead
Reservations are essential and should be made well in advance to secure a table at this popular spot.
Walk-in Strategy
Arrive at opening (4:30 PM for 5 PM seating) or join the waitlist for a chance at a same-day table.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
New American
Price
$$$
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Wood-Fired Cooking & Open Kitchen
Experience the sizzle of the open wood-fire grill, oven & spit creating rustic, smoky flavors in an industrial-chic setting.

Farm-to-Table Excellence
Savor expertly prepared meat and seafood dishes, showcasing the freshest local ingredients from Maine's farms and waters.

Exceptional Desserts
Indulge in standout desserts, like the unforgettable brown butter pecan butterscotch pie, a perfect end to your meal.
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Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book Ahead
Reservations are essential and should be made well in advance to secure a table at this popular spot.
Walk-in Strategy
Arrive at opening (4:30 PM for 5 PM seating) or join the waitlist for a chance at a same-day table.
Highlight Specials
Ask about daily specials; they often feature the freshest ingredients and unique culinary creations.
Don't Skip Dessert
Save room for dessert; options like the pecan butterscotch pie are highly praised and a must-try.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book Ahead
Reservations are essential and should be made well in advance to secure a table at this popular spot.
Walk-in Strategy
Arrive at opening (4:30 PM for 5 PM seating) or join the waitlist for a chance at a same-day table.
Highlight Specials
Ask about daily specials; they often feature the freshest ingredients and unique culinary creations.
Don't Skip Dessert
Save room for dessert; options like the pecan butterscotch pie are highly praised and a must-try.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Fore Street Restaurant is celebrated for its rustic, wood-fired American cuisine and vibrant atmosphere. Diners rave about the high-quality, locally sourced ingredients, particularly the expertly cooked meats and fresh seafood. While reservations are hard to come by, the exceptional service and unique open-kitchen experience make it a must-visit destination. Some note that certain entrees might not be as standout as the highly acclaimed small plates and desserts.
"Definitely book your resy far in advance, first timer learned the hard way but we made it work at 5:30 on a Friday. And, this place is clearly worth it.
Chartuterie and oysters with martinis to kick it off. Obviously, it's ME so the oysters were as expected but the charcuterie highlighted farm to table with an outstanding mix of flavors. The fois grasse mousse takes home the gold.
Mains were a couple Ribeyes, Schnitzel, and Haddock with Brussels and Sweet Potato sides for the table. Ribeyes were perfectly cooked with a rustic glaze that really brought out the flavor. The Haddock was delightfully flakey and stuffed with crab in a really nice fumet creme sauce. Who doesn't love a good Schnitzel and this one rocked with a nice spaetzel compliment. Brussels were good but the sweet potato side is to die for...must have.
Service was excellent...very attentive and matched the quality of the meal.
Absolutely coming back but next time I will book the resy a couple months in advance because there is no early bird special pricing...lol"
William “Rhino Reviews” Clark
"Excellent dining experience. Very cool vibe and venue. Our server, Hannah, guided us through the menu and made stellar recommendations based on our tastes and sensibilities. Everything was cooked perfectly and was delicious. We were lucky to score a reservation on a day's notice and when we showed up 30 minutes early they accommodated us and seated us immediately. Worth a stop in Portland!!"
Scott Beatty
"Highly recommend going when they open and getting on the wait list if you don't have a reservation. We went at 5pm and they were able to seat us around 6:30. We were able to leave and go shopping and get a text when the table was ready.
Our server was wonderful and attentive. The drinks came out quickly and so did the food. Highly recommend trying whatever specials they have, but all the food was great. The oysters were fabulous. Save room for dessert!"
Courtney Correia
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Reservations are highly recommended and can be very difficult to secure, often needing to be booked weeks in advance. [^M1]
You can try arriving at opening (4:30 PM for 5 PM seating) or joining the waitlist, as a limited number of tables are available for walk-ins. [^M1]
Many praise the wood oven-roasted mussels, hanger steak, and the half roast chicken. Don't miss the desserts like the pecan butterscotch pie. [^M6]
The restaurant has a warm, hip, industrial ambiance with exposed brick, dark wood, and a mesmerizing open kitchen showcasing wood-fire cooking. [^M4]
Yes, Fore Street is renowned for its commitment to local, farm-to-table ingredients, partnering with farmers and fishermen. [^M2][^M4][^M9]
Despite the high caliber of food, the restaurant maintains a more casual atmosphere and does not have a formal dress code.
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Restaurants in Portland
One of Maine's most legendary chefs, Sam Hayward, opened this much-lauded restaurant in a renovated warehouse on the edge of the Old Port in 1996; today every copper-top table in the main dining room has a view of the enormous brick oven and soapstone hearth that anchor the open kitchen. The menu changes daily to reflect the freshest ingredients from Maine's farms and waters, as well as the tremendous creativity of the staff; if the tomato tart is on menu, order it. Reservations can be exceedingly difficult to score in the summertime, but Fore Street leaves a portion of space for walk-ins, which go fast when they open at 5 pm.
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A multi-award winning Portland institution since 1996, this high-ceilinged, brick-walled warehouse space overlooking the historic Old Port is known for its large, open kitchen and live-fire cooking. A bustling bar opens into the main dining room where, from tables on two levels, you can watch a team of chefs as they man a wood-burning oven, grill, and turnspit fire, open dozens of fresh local oysters, and reach into a glass-windowed vegetable humidor to pick locally farmed and foraged fruit, herbs, and vegetables. Not to be missed are the signature rope-cultured mussels cooked in garlic-almond butter and dry vermouth.
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Twenty years ago, Portland wasn’t the eating destination that it is today, but then Fore Street opened and that all changed. This was one of the first places in town to really focus on using local everything, and today, it’s still one of the city’s most popular restaurants. Eating here feels like you’re at a dinner party in a house you could never afford, with a large open kitchen in the middle of the restaurant and plenty of exposed wood to constantly remind you that you’re in Maine.
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The upscale eatery Fore Street was among the city’s first buzzy spots, and it remains worthy of your time. Meanwhile, playful Thai fried chicken at Crispy Gai, cocktails with Puerto Rican flare at Papi, and Vietnamese fare at Cong Tu Bot prove the city’s got range. Twelve is perhaps the most ambitious fine dining restaurant in the city at the moment, serving a seasonal prix-fixe menu crafted by Eleven Madison Park alum Colin Wyatt.
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Fore Street‘s staples include wood oven roasted Maine mussels with garlic almond butter, wood grilled natural hanger steak with a tomato and horseradish vinaigrette, and the turnspit roasted and dry rubbed pork loin with sauerkraut and pickling spices. Fore Street’s wine list features flavors from around the world that have been carefully selected to compliment the menu selections.
good place in Portland (Maine) for lunch?
Is it the Back Bay Grill and Fore Street that are owned by the same people?. They are very popular and busy restaurants. They may be a bit pushy to get their table back if there is a cruise ship in town.
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Street & Co., Fore Street, and the chic sushi spot Miyake are a few of the best spots to eat in the Old Port (Street & Co. and Miyake do local fish particularly well), but they aren’t cheap. If you want a more affordable spot, try the taqueria El Rayo on the neighborhood’s outskirts, Flatbread brick-oven pizza (perfect for families and right on the water), Duckfat (whose staff chef has won on Food Network’s show “Chopped”), The Thirsty Pig or the East Ender, a bright, family-friendly tavern on the east end whose chef-owner comes up with surprising takes on BBQ and pub grub. For simple but delicious takes on lobster, check out the Portland Lobster Co. right on the wharf.
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An extensive list of accolades: When it opened in 1996, Fore Street was one of the first restaurants in Maine to feature an open kitchen with a wood-burning oven, grill, and turnspit. Chef/owner Sam Hayward, winner of the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef in the Northeast in 2004, was a leader in showcasing local ingredients and built up a network of farmers, fishermen, foragers, and cheese makers. Add to this more than a decade of rustic, wood-fired dishes—from the wood oven–roasted mussels to the seasonal fruit desserts, such as caramelized pear tart—and you get one of the finest restaurants not just in Portland but in the Northeast.
It does the seafood standards better than most, and its airy, two … el pollo loco paterson nj Web# 5 of 854 restaurants in Portland $$$$ Spanish Opens at 4PM Fore Street Restaurant # 6 of 854 restaurants in Portland $$$$ New American Opens at 5PM Izakaya Minato # 7 of 854 restaurants in Portland $$$$ Japanese Opens at 5PM Blyth & Burrows # 8 of 854 restaurants in Portland $$$$ Cocktail bars Opens at 4PM Eventide Oyster Co. Web28 aug. 2019 · Our top recommendations for the best bars in Portland, Maine with pictures, reviews, and details. Find the best spots to drink, including fun, trendy bars, breweries and more.
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Fore Street has been a bona fide culinary institution in the city since 1996—and with its dramatic high ceilings, brick walls, and a kitchen decked out with a wood-burning oven, grill, and turnspit that’s visible from nearly every seat, it feels like one, too. The menu changes daily and uses as much local produce, meat, and seafood as possible, so in the summer you might find Maine wild blueberries dotting a salad, while roasted rope-grown mussels might be on the agenda in winter. Reservations are available up to two months in advance, and you’ll probably need them.
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Don’t miss classic restaurants like Fore Street (or its sister spot, Street and Co.), Central Provisions or Eventide Oyster Co. for the best of Maine’s local bounty, with rotating farm-and ocean-to-table menus, and shared plates. Trattoria Fanny, the latest eatery from Vinland owner David Levi, offers solid Italian classics. Tipo, from Central Provisions owners Chris and Paige Gould, features wood-fired pizzas, house-made pasta and a raw section on the menu featuring oysters, crudo and carpaccio.
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Since it opened more than a quarter-century ago, Fore Street has earned well-deserved local and national praise, like a James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Northeast award for chef-emeritus Sam Hayward back in 2004. But the farm-to-table restaurant never quits, never stops incorporating locally sourced (sometimes even foraged) ingredients, never stops placing a premium on its cooks (and I mean every one of its cooks, from the line to the pass) maintaining focus on technique and quality.
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Twenty years ago, Portland wasn’t the eating destination that it is today, but then Fore Street opened and that all changed. This was one of the first places in town to really focus on using local everything and today it’s still one of the city’s most popular restaurants. Eating here feels like you’re at a dinner party in a house you could never afford, with a large open kitchen in the middle of the restaurant and plenty of exposed wood to constantly remind you that you’re in Maine.
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Fore Street has cemented its place in the hearts of Portland foodies with its focus on the freshest local ingredients, wood-fired cooking methods, and a cozy, rustic ambiance. Its menu, rich with flavors of New England's oceans and farms, showcases the region's finest produce and meats. The open kitchen concept adds an element of theatre, allowing diners to witness the culinary craftsmanship that goes into each dish, making every visit a unique experience.
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Located a block from the waterfront in Old Port, Fore Street is well known as one of the original fine dining restaurants of Portland. The restaurant re-opened for indoor dining on June 24 and is reservation only at the moment. A large wood-burning oven, grill and turnspit is visible from most tables in the restaurant and the hardwood and apple wood fires in each flavor the seafood, meats, game, and vegetables on the menu.
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For a bit more upscale yet hardly fussy meal, get a reservation at Street & Co. (or its harder-to-get-into sister spot, Fore Street). Start with the chicken liver mousse and the beautiful grilled octopus with Maine potatoes, then move on to scallops pan-seared in Pernod. End up at Novare Res Bier Café to find a deep selection of craft beer from Maine and around the world as well as a focused spirits and wine list.
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A Portland institution, Fore Street has set the standard for farm‑to‑table cooking since 1996. Reservations disappear weeks in advance, but here’s a pro tip: show up right at opening and you can often nab a bar seat or an early table; that’s how we scored a 6:15 slot on our first visit. From the warm, loft‑like room to every perfectly executed dish, it was one of the most memorable places to grab a meal in town!
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Fore Street Restaurant is the perfect venue for a memorable wedding rehearsal dinner in Portland, Maine. Located a block from the waterfront in Portland’s Old Port District, this rustic spot has served guests since 1996 and offers an unforgettable dining experience. The unique interior features a brick and soapstone hearth consisting of a wood-burning oven, grill, and turnspit – visible from most tables.
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Fore Street offers fresh and locally sourced ingredients cooked in an apple-wood-fired oven - If that doesn’t get your taste buds tingling, I don’t know what will. The daily deliveries to the kitchen extend far beyond lobster and blueberries; so you can be assured a great mix of fresh seafood, vegetables, and meat for their daily dishes. Their dessert menu is crafted as attentive as their main courses.
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Fore Street: Our one reservation was well worth making a reservation a few weeks in advance!. My pilates instructor actually recommended this spot to us and everyone we met in Portland ahead of our dinner affirmed our decision to dine there. It’s right above it's partner spot, Standard Baking Co., so they serve the bakery's phenomenal bread that essentially make ordering the mussels a no-brainer.
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Fore Street is one of Portland’s most well known restaurants, and reservations here should be made way, way in advance. If you are lucky enough to get in, there are a few staples on the menu that should not be missed, one being the garlic almond butter wood oven roasted mussels. Fresh from the Maine ocean, and perfectly prepared by the Fore Street professionals, this dish is a must-have.
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Fore Street Restaurant is located in Portland’s Old Port District just one block from the waterfront. Created by the same people who brought you Street and Co., Fore Street Restaurant has a warm, cozy décor centered around the brick and soapstone hearth and wood-burning oven. This hearth is where the restaurant cooks its award-winning seafood, meat, game, and vegetable dishes.
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This Old Port hotspot is celebrated for its refined, seasonal American fare, with farm-to-table dinners centered around an open wood-fire grill and spit. The setting at Fore Street is rustic, located in a historic building that originated as a ship’s armory. It can fill up quickly, so although there are a handful of tables reserved for walk-ins, recommendations are advised.
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There are many restaurants on Portland’s Fore Street, but you won’t want to miss this one, which gets its name from the famous neighborhood. Here, you’ll find a fresh menu that changes daily based on what seasonal ingredients are available. Fore Street Restaurant partners with fishermen, hunters, farmers, and foragers to stock its kitchen.
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Just a stone's throw from Portland’s waterfront, Fore Street is rooted deeply into the city's culinary identity. The restaurant's commitment to sustainability and local sourcing is evident in every dish served. The wood-roasted specialties and a menu that changes nightly reflect the region's seasonal offerings and the chef's creativity.
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Fore Street has been a staple in Portland’s food scene since the beginning, and is part of the reason we are seen as the city to eat your way through. Fore Street is all about the farm to table lifestyle. Everything is fresh, whether it’s their wood fired mussels (divine), duck cooked 2 ways, or their beautiful desserts.
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Fore Street is another popular restaurant that is known for serving some of the best food in all of Portland. This is an upscale spot with rustic wooden accents and large windows that let in lots of natural light. Fore Street is a farm to table restaurant that is known for using only the freshest ingredients.
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James Beard Award–winning chef Sam Hayward and his talented team continue to set a high standard at Fore Street, which has remained on the short list of Maine’s best restaurants for nearly two decades. Pro tip: Fore Street holds a few tables and the bar in reserve each night. Slip in when they open at 5 p.m.
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Critically acclaimed Fore Street, headed by James Beard Award-winning chef Sam Hayward, is seen as a leader in the city and state's farm-to-table movement. Although the menu is adjusted to fit the season, you'll want to sample the wood-roasted mussels, locally sourced oysters and the sustainable red fish.
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We couldn’t do the best restaurants in Portland Maine without including Fore Street. Located in the Old Port of Portland, Fore Street Restaurant is one of the best spots for fine dining. Fore Street sources its food from local farms, fishermen, and foragers, which is reflected in its seasonal menu.
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Dive into Fore Street, Portland’s beloved farm-to-table gem. Wood-fired ovens sing, coaxing out the essence of locally sourced meats, fish, and seasonal veggies. Savor their signature roasted chicken, crisp-skinned and juicy, or indulge in the decadent lobster thermidor, a creamy, cheesy dream.
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Chef Sam Hayward's 11-year-old Fore Street is one of the Northeast's great restaurants; at Hugo's, chef Rob Evans (an F&W Best New Chef 2004) prepares a truly avant-garde menu. And then there's Browne Trading Company, the seafood supplier to many of New England and New York's best kitchens.
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Be sure to check out Fore Street for farm-to-table dining, or grab a lobster roll at one of the many local seafood spots. If you're in the mood for a drink, Portland has an impressive collection of craft breweries, such as Allagash Brewing Company, Bissell Brothers, and Rising Tide Brewing.
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Fore Street was hands down my favorite Portland dining experience. It comes with a pedigree of James Beard accolades and was once a top 50 best restos in the US by Gourmet magazine. Most importantly, Fore Street introduced me to Standard Bakery so how could it not be the creme de la creme?
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More than 25 years ago, chef Sam Hayward was on the vanguard of a simple and revolutionary concept in fine dining: use local and organic ingredients as much as possible and avoid fussy presentations. Fore Street has since become one of northern New England’s most celebrated…
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Named after the street on which it sits, Fore Street is a New American restaurant that specializes in seafood. Guests can enjoy mussels and a glass of wine at the bar while they wait for their table. There is an open kitchen, so diners can watch their food being prepared.
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Why It's Great: Fore Street is a local favorite, known for its commitment to fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from Maine farms. Their lunch menu offers a taste of the farm, featuring delicious dishes like grilled octopus with chorizo and a pan-seared scallop appetizer.
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Located in the walkout basement of sister restaurant Fore Street, Standard Baking is easy to find due to the aroma and consistent line that is always present. Locals and tourists know exactly where to go to get a great treat for breakfast or a delicious loaf of bread.
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Fore Street came recommended from almost every person we talked to. It’s supposedly one of the best restaurants in town. And the vibe is rustic yet elevated, the type of place that feels woodsy, intimate, and warm despite its high ceilings and industrial accents.
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For dinner, enjoy a fine dining experience at Fore Street, a pioneer of the farm-to-table movement in Portland. Afterward, end your evening with a nightcap at Novare Res Bier Cafe, home to one of the largest selections of Belgian and craft beers in the state.
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Don’t forget to check Fore Street, as it offers wood-fired dishes to give a smokey taste. Savor the famous brown butter lobster roll and fresh oyster at Eventide Oyster Co.. Wine the award-winning Belgian-style beers at Allagash Brewing Company.
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This is another seafood joint, and it’s heavily regarded as one of the best restaurants in Portland. The menu changes daily, but you can expect a selection of fresh seafood and meats prepared over a wood-fired grill or in their wood-fired oven.
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I flew in late on a Friday, dropped my bags, and headed straight into town for a dinner at Fore Street. The rest of the time was spent wandering around both in and out of the main downtown area, sampling the calm local life the entire way.
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Fore Street: We made a reservation here but was sadly too full to make it. This is a sister restaurant of Street & Co and from what I’ve heard, it is the fancier branch. According to my friend Ashley, the tomato tart is to die for.
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We had already made a reservation here before seeing the list, as Fore Street did came up in searches as THE restaurant to try in Portland. It was an amazing meal. We opted to take a seat at the bar, instead of the dining room.
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Sometimes I think this is the nicest restaurant in New England. At the center is a hearth with a wood-burning oven and grill, meat turning on spits over flames. A comforting whiff of wood smoke hangs in the background.
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Hugo's and Fore Street are the two best in the city, IMHO, for high end dining. Fore Street might have a dress code, but Hugo's is probably still the most casual place in the city to drop $300 if you're inclined.
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In fact, it's part of one of the most successful restaurant groups in Portland that also includes Scales, Standard Baking, and the iconic Fore Street. That is like the 1927 Yankees of restaurant lineups.
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Best Chef: Northeast – Sara Jenkins, Nina June; Jason LaVerdiere, Flux; Courtney Loreg, Woodford Food and Beverage; Tony Pastor, Fore Street; Isaul Perez, Isa Bistro.
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Seek out the parking garage by the Hampton Inn on Fore Street. Here’s the view from the Holiday Inn’s garage on a spring day. Count the lighthouses.
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Our server made navigating my gluten sensitivity seamless by going through each menu item with me at the start. Not to miss when visiting Portland!
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- Rating: 4.1/5 (1318 reviews)- Price level: $$$- Address: 288 Fore St. Portland, Maine - Categories: New American, Seafood- Read more on Yelp
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Tonight we're off to Fore Street, and tomorrow we hope to go to Evangelene's on Monday.... If we stay longer, hoping to hit Hugo's yet
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