Visitor's Guide 2015

{ RESTAURANTS }

With so many tempting tastes to choose from, you’ll agree Greater Portland has great eats!

Photo: Tim Greenway, Harraseeket Inn

DINING Long known for serving the freshest of lobster and seafood, Maine has now gained a national reputation for its innovative restaurants, craft beers, and growing number of award-winning chefs.

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Culinary tourists from around the country are making pilgrimages to partake of the creativity of world-class chefs who have settled in the area and shaped an epicure’s paradise. The southern Maine region has a startling number of restaurants, but it’s their quality not quantity that’s got everyone buzzing. Greater Portland’s dining scene targets all personalities and tastes, from sophisticated restaurants to funky, artsy cafes. Breakfast is one of our specialties; early risers can start their day dockside with the fishing crews at Becky’s Diner or at the retro Miss Portland Diner. For dinner, enjoy views of Casco Bay from restaurants that line the harbor or soak

up the ambiance of venues tucked away inside beautifully restored historic buildings. Many of Maine’s restaurateurs are proud to be part of the authentic farm-to-table movement and primarily use fish, meat, organic produce, and naturally grown fruit that come from local farmers, fishermen, and suppliers. You can’t walk down the street in Portland without bumping into several ways to treat your taste buds, which is why Maine Foodie Tours now offers culinary walking and trolley tours, so you can sample delectable foods while getting a behind-the-scenes look at the craft makers and their industry. In the past couple of years, a fanciful fleet of food trucks has emerged on the

Portland scene, serving everything from tacos to cupcakes; fast food is definitely more fun when discovered outdoors from these mobile urban eateries. Ethnic offerings are also prolific with new restaurants fusing modern interpretations with traditional Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Asian cuisines. Harvest on the Harbor, a celebration of Maine’s culinary creativity, takes place the 4th week of October on the Portland waterfront. Join us for four days full of scrumptious edibles, cooking demon- strations, and over 150 wines, beers and spirits to sample. Whenever you visit, make reservations to ensure you can experience the food and ambiance at the dining spots that most intrigue you.

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