Restaurant Review
I stopped into Fore Street with my husband for a
romantic dinner out in Portland, Maine. We didn't
have a reservation, which is typically a must for this
place, but we decided to chance it anyway. Our wait
ended up being about an hour, which we spent
socializing over cocktails with our fellow "waiters" in
the waiting area near the bar. When our names were
called, the hostess walked us past the open kitchen
with the giant wood fired grill. The sights, sounds, and
smells of all the action coming out of that space was
such a cool experience to take in as we made our way
to our table in the back room.
Fore Street is a quintessential New England
restaurant with a farm to table menu focused on local
fare that changes every night. We started out with
some of the excellent bread produced by the
Standard Baking Co., which is located literally
underneath the restaurant. We followed that up with
the chilled and smoked seafood platter, the monkfish
was our favorite, and sticking with our seafood theme
of the night, we ordered the hake and swordfish
rotating entrees of the night. We took our time and
ate and drank well into the night, taking in the brick,
post, and beam decor that just screams old world
Portland as well as the aromas roaring out of that
kitchen.
Would I eat here again? Definitely, our dishes were
some of the most unique and thought out we have
ever had. Would I get a reservation a few weeks in
advance like recommended? For sure, but it was great
chatting up fellow visitors as well. Would I wear a
smoking jacket if sitting close to the wood fired grill?
Absolutely, the wood fire scents are amazing in the
restaurant, but surely stick with you for the rest of
the night.
When planning a stop in Portland, Fore Street is a
foodie's heaven and a total must, just don't forget to
call ahead for reservations! - Jamie Palmer forestreet.
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