Hidden Gems in Portland

Eventide ⭐⭐⭐⭐A popular "internet-famous" spot—food is tasty, but value for money is extremely low. Clam Bake ⭐⭐⭐⭐Steamed seafood seasoned only with butter, letting the ingredients’ freshness and natural flavor shine. The right amount of butter really enhances its deliciousness; the clams are amazing—big, fresh, and sweet. I haven’t found any substitute for them in the US yet.That said, let’s be real: compared to the price and portion size of steamed seafood back in China, a small steamer here costs around $11 (≈80 RMB) and can be finished by one person. The value for money is truly poor. Lobster Roll ⭐⭐⭐⭐Eventide’s version has a strong buttery flavor—rich, yet perfectly balanced. Bite in Maine focuses more on the natural sweetness of the lobster meat. It all depends on which flavor profile you prefer. Oysters ⭐⭐Way too expensive and too small. Recommendation: Buy them at Harbor Fish Market instead. Eventide’s cocktails are just average—head next door to Honey Paw for drinks ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Honey Paw gets how to make cocktails. Unlike most restaurants and bars these days that slap together a few liquors and dare to charge you $18, their cocktails have perfectly balanced alcohol notes—smooth and not overwhelming. Plus, the flavors are unique, not sweet, and lean towards being refreshing.You could skip Eventide’s Clam Bake, but you definitely shouldn’t miss Honey Paw’s cocktails 🙏🏻 Sichuan Kitchen ⭐⭐⭐Tasty Chinese food—it’s close to authentic, but not fully traditional. Gilberts Chowder House ⭐⭐First off, don’t order the bread bowl. Their bread isn’t the sourdough you get on the West Coast; it’s not tasty at all, pure waste of money.Second, about the chowder’s flavor: I found it a bit bland. It looks like it has lots of seafood, but you can barely taste the clam’s freshness in the soup. #Maine #MaineTravel #MaineFoodie #PortlandMaineEats