Portland, Maine | From Street Eats to Top 50 Restaurants

I originally planned a car-free day trip to Portland, Maine… but who knew? I ended up staying an extra night just to eat at Twelve—and let me tell you, it was 100% worth it! 🍽️ Restaurant Roundup 😍 TwelveMaine even has a spot on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list—and it lives up to the hype! The food is fantastic, but the bread? Chef’s kiss—total game-changer. The desserts are great too, no misses at all. The prix fixe menu is reasonably priced, so it’s a must-try if you’re in town. 😍 The Highroller Lobster Co.Their lobster roll is delicious—and their jalapeño mayo? I’m obsessed! It adds just the right kick to the sweet lobster meat, making every bite even more flavorful 🦞. ☺️ ISF TradingIt’s cheap and filling (great value!), but there was a small hiccup: some of the fish we wanted to order had to be thawed first, so we had to wait a bit. Tasty, but plan for a little extra time if you’re ordering fresh fish. 😐 EventideIt’s super popular online, but honestly? We all thought it was just “meh.” It’s not bad, but it doesn’t live up to the massive hype—nothing stood out as memorable. 🍦 Desserts & Snacks ☺️ Gorgeous GelatoIt’s good… until you try The Gelato Fiasco. It’s tasty, but it gets overshadowed by the next spot! 😍 The Gelato FiascoI’m obsessed—I’d practically buy the whole shop if I could! All three of us agreed it’s way better than Gorgeous Gelato. The flavors are rich, creamy, and so fresh—absolute gelato perfection 🍨. 😍 Fresh Milk for the Win!!!I’m a total milk lover, so this was a highlight for me! Also, their peach-flavored yogurt is amazing—it tastes like it has popping candy in it (so fun! It fizzes in your mouth 😆). Super unique and delicious. 😐 Holly DonutsI love donuts, but these felt more like fried dough (like youtiao) than traditional donuts. Not my favorite, but my friend said their hash browns are really good—so maybe stick to savory here! 🥐 Coffee Shop Roundup (Some Didn’t Make It to Photos) ☺️ Tandem Coffee and BakeryThere’s a long line first thing in the morning, and seats are hard to come by—but the coffee and pastries are solid. Worth the wait if you don’t mind a little hustle. ☺️ Bard CoffeeWe only had coffee here, but it was good—perfect for popping in to rest your feet after walking around downtown. Cozy and casual. ☺️ Standard Baking Co.The bread is “okay”—not as amazing as everyone says. It’s fresh, but nothing about it blew us away. #Worlds50BestRestaurants #Maine #MaineLobster #MaineRestaurants #PortlandMaine #PortlandMaineFood #BostonDayTrips