I see all the natives don’t like Linda Beans, but I do enjoy their lobster roll. It has become a tradition for my family to eat there when we stop in Freeport. We also buy a wicked whoopie, walk through the outlet stores, check out the bookstore and British import shop, and use the restrooms at LL Bean. I know that Tuscan Bistro is a much better restaurant, but eating that lobster roll is the official start of our Maine adventure.
If you want a place on the water that has a varied menu where you can sit outside, try Gilbert’s Chowder House, right near RiRa on Commercial Street. Gilberts is not part of the newer foodie scene, but then neither is RiRa, and although it is popular you may actually be able to get it. Central Provisions, definitely the foodie scene, is a ways up Commerical. I like Evo, which is another small plate place nearby. Like Bao Bao Dumpling House. Not far away, on the eastern edge of the Old Port, is East Enders, a nice place which has a really fabulous burger with cold smoked meat. In Brunswick, I like Enoteka Athina.
Honestly, the possiblities in Portland are endless. Some professional opinions:
We knew a chef in Nola who worked at Peche and other Donald Link restaurants and he also did monthy pop ups of freshly made pasta because he liked to make pasta, lol. He’s now in Portland and working at the Honey Paw. It looks to be about a block from the waterfront.
Honey Paw is good.
We went to J’s Oyster right on the port waterfront. Not fancy but very good seafood.
Back from Maine. We changed plans and stopped in Freeport both coming and going. Partly after hearing about a fire at two of the restaurants on Commercial St. and partly because we wanted to make the stop faster. Going we did Linda Bean and got the lobster rolls, Coming back we did Tuscan Bistro and the pizza was excellent (highly recommend).