Central Provisions, pictured here, was among the Press Herald’s top-75 restaurants of the greater Portland area for 2024. Fred Field/Boston Globe
Portland is undoubtedly a food destination in New England, and each year, a slate of new restaurants serve up surprises, while old restaurants continue to deliver what they do best. They each contribute to the crowd of top-tier restaurants and bars that make up Maine’s biggest city and surrounding areas.
The Press Herald’s food critic, Andrew Ross, put together his top-75 picks for the year, noting that the constant fluctuation of the restaurant industry in a post-pandemic year of 2024 made this list incredibly challenging to compile.
“Some beloved businesses shut their doors forever, … others faltered in the late/post-pandemic environment, and a few were simply edged out by talented newcomers,” Ross wrote. “Unfortunately, selecting only 75 out of hundreds also means leaving out many deserving bars, restaurants, and food businesses. It never gets easier.”
But including 75 businesses allowed a diverse mix of restaurants and bars — from binchotan-fired yakitori and Costa Rican cuisine to bakeries and seafood (of course). It was also a showing of multi-year-winning legends and exciting newbies.
Reduced down even more is his top-10, listed in alphabetical order, which we’ve included below:
Bar Futo, Portland
The focus: Japanese-inspired skewers
Cafe Louis, South Portland
The focus: Costa Rican and Caribbean food
Central Provisions, Portland
The focus: Seasonal small plates
Elda, Biddeford
The focus: Prix fixe menu inspired by Maine and seasons
Fish & Whistle, Biddeford
The focus: Fish and chips shop and seafood
The Garrison, Yarmouth
The focus: Seasonal new American
Little Pig, Portland
The focus: “Thai-ish” street food
Norimoto Bakery, Portland
The focus: European and Japanese-inspired baked goods
Quanto Basta, Portland
The focus: Sourdough pizza
Wayside Tavern, Portland
The focus: European-inspired neighborhood restaurant and bar
To see Ross’s extended list of 75 restaurants and bars, including by category, visit the Press Herald here.
Loading…