Portland DIY Food Tour #2
Portland, Maine has been making headlines in the culinary world as it was named the “Restaurant City of the Year” in 2018 by Bon Appétit magazine. Our city is home to a thriving food scene that has garnered national attention and praise for its unique blend of traditional New England dishes, farm-to-table cuisine, and innovative culinary creations.
This post is a follow up to our first DIY food tour.
Join us as we will explore what makes Portland’s dining scene so special and why it continues to captivate foodies everywhere.
This time we are visiting:
- East Ender
- Duckfat
- The Honey Paw
- Scales
Click here to open the collection in Apple Maps.
Click the image below to open our custom Google map of this tour:
Table of Contents
East Ender
East Ender is known for its well-curated wine list, featuring a selection of local and international wines to complement their menu served street food style.
Tip: Duckfat (the second stop) is a very popular, but tiny restaurant. It is located next door to East Ender. Stop by Duckfat first to add your name to the waitlist. You will get a pager that has quite a long working distance range, so you could enjoy the Happy Hour at East Ender while waiting for the Duckfat table.
What did we get?
- Brut rose
- Paloma (silver tequila, grapefruit cordial, lime)
- Hake dip
Duckfat
Duckfat is a (very) small restaurant famous for its fries, which are hand-cut and fried in (you guessed it!) duck fat, resulting in a crispy exterior and creamy interior. In addition to its signature fries, the menu features a variety of dishes, including sandwiches, salads, and hearty entrees.
See the menu here.
What did we get?
- Bantam Rojo cider
- Duck confit poutine
The Honey Paw
The Honey Paw is a non-denominational (as they call themselves) noodle bar. Their menu features a variety of dishes, including dim sum, noodle dishes, and rice bowls, all made with locally-sourced ingredients and showcasing a fusion of traditional Asian flavors with a modern twist.
See the menu here.
What did we get?
- The Night King (coffee infused bourbon, demerara, mole bitters)
- Zamboni (spiced rum, brandy, evaporated milk, coconut, cinnamon)
- Pork & Crab Mee Goreng (wok fried mien noodle, jonah crab, chili crab sambal)
- Soft Serve Ice Cream (caramelized honey, honeycomb, chocolate shell)
Scales
Scales is one of the best seafood restaurants in Portland. It is located on the wharf, so expect to see quite a few boats.
Their menu features a variety of dishes, including raw bar selections, hearty chowders, and classic New England-style seafood entrees, showcasing the best of our state’s bountiful coastal waters.
See the menu here.
What did we get?
- Grilled Octopus (chorizo & hazelnut vinaigrette, crispy yuca )
- Baked Alaska (flourless chocolate cake, coconut frozen custard, passion fruit, toasted meringue)
With so many delicious options to choose from, it’s impossible to pick just one, but if had to choose:
And the winners are...
Drink
Zamboni from The Honey Paw
Food Item
This was a tie: Baked Alaska from Scales and Honey Soft Serve from The Honey Paw
(ok, we cheated a little here. We just couldn’t decide between these two!)
We hope that our journey through Portland’s food scene has inspired you to plan your own culinary adventure and discover all that our amazing city has to offer.
See our other Maine posts:
