Haruki Murakami-Recommended Seafood Restaurant in Portland

Street & Co33 Wharf St, Portland, ME 04101🍳 In his book If Cats Disappeared from the World, Haruki Murakami wrote: “If you come to Portland and have only one chance to eat out, I would probably recommend this place to you.” 📖🦞 During our trip from Acadia National Park to Boston, we planned a one-night stop in Portland—meaning we only had one chance to dine out. By the time we arrived, most restaurants had already closed, but luckily, this spot stays open until 10 PM. 🦪We called the restaurant around 9 PM, and the friendly front desk staff was kind enough to hold a table for us at 9:45 PM 😊. The restaurant is tucked away in a beautiful back alley in the Old Port area. There’s street parking nearby, but it takes a bit of luck or patience to find a spot 🚗. We’d done our research beforehand, so we ordered the “Lobster for 2” right away—it was priced at $95 (market rate). The restaurant’s vibe was super chill, just like Murakami described: “casual and lively.” Through the open kitchen, we could watch the busy chefs preparing dishes, adding to the warm, bustling atmosphere 👨🍳. When the dish arrived, we were shocked—it was a huge pot, packed with food! There was a mountain of pasta, a whole lobster, countless mussels, and a handful of scallop pieces and squid 🦞🦪. The two of us barely finished it—we had to push ourselves to clean the pot. The seafood was incredibly fresh: the lobster meat was tender and sweet, the mussels were juicy and briny, and the squid had a nice chew. All of it was coated in a rich, garlicky sauce that made every bite feel indulgent and satisfying 🧄. #Portland #BostonArea #Lobster #MurakamiRecommended #PortlandSeafood #AcadiaToBoston #OldPortPortland #SeafoodFeast #TravelEats