REGARDS — Restaurant in Portland

Your experience here may depend on your expectations. Mine were high based on the reviews, but I felt disappointed on a Tuesday dinner (chef's night off?). First, the noise level is very high. Even after most of the restaurant patrons cleared out, the few people at the bar were generating a high level of noise way back where we were seated. Some acoustical treatments are needed. It would help to tone down the hip-hop music.

The decor is nice, although if you are seated on the long padded bench, you stare at a vast blank wall. Those facing the bench get the nice view. The tables are a bit too close together, so hang onto your drink if someone at an adjacent table decides to get up, you're apt to lose it.

The small plates menu is mysteriously divided into sections that even the staff couldn't competently convey. I'm just not a small plates advocate if anyone in the party has foods they wish to avoid, and the randomness and pace at which plates arrive places your meal timing at the mercy of a roulette wheel. You cannot choose to have one dish before the next, they just arrive willy nilly, whether there is room on the surface of the table or not.

Some dishes were excellent, and some were disappointing. The salt cod tetela was heavily charred, which was the dominant flavor. The shrimp taco was good, but the tails were left on, leaving the task of finding them and removing them to the eater. The hamachi collar was very good, although I got no hint of the mezcal marination. The guava and black cherry sorbet was the only dish I felt was delicious.

The extensive mezcal (and tequila) menus are entertaining. Each is given 2, 3, or 4 taste attributes, all unique, which makes me want to see if the creator of the menu could really distinguish them. It is probably more of a fun gimmick than a true distinction of each.

The cocktail menu is very small, and mine was not inspiring.

The cost is high for the quality of...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Regards in Portland, Maine, and it was an extraordinary experience from beginning to end. This gem, led by a rising star chef Neil Zabrieski, masterfully blends coastal cuisine with an innovative Japanese-Mexican flair, creating a unique and unforgettable dining adventure.

The ambiance at Regards is both warmth and inviting. The soft lighting and thoughtfully arranged seating enhance the cozy yet sophisticated atmosphere. The service is welcoming and none pretentious at all, which I love. The staff were warm, attentive, and well-versed in the menu, offering insightful recommendations and ensuring a seamless dining experience.

The menu features locally-sourced seafood. Tuna, shrimp, and a variety of fish are Portland’s best ingredients. Each bite is a harmonious blend of textures and flavors, showcasing the chef’s soul and creativity.

They use heirloom corn and milled it in-house. Sourcing the best product from Masienda, they turn it into delicious tortillas to pair with the fish collar dish. Lots of fermentation such as masa miso and many things. This is the star of my night. To taste something beautiful and different is a lifetime experience.

Regards in Portland, Maine, provides an exceptional dining experience that beautifully marries coastal cuisine with inventive Japanese-Mexican flavors. The combination of a stunning ambiance, extraordinary food, and top-notch service makes this restaurant a must-visit. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, Regards promises a culinary adventure that you won’t soon forget.

Thank you for your hospitality and an amazing food memory on my travel journal. I eagerly look forward to returning and exploring more of their...

Out of everything I tried in Portland, this was the most chef-oriented experimental. It definitely won't be for everyone, but for the adventurous eater looking for new flavors, this is the ticket.

It's a heavily Mexican inspired Tequilla bar with a lot of mixed hybrid flavors, we tried over a third of the menu as a table, and I tapped out after that, not realizing how big the portions are on the end of the menu listing.

The menu changes daily based on availability, so if they have them available: the Fried Chicken, the Tamale, and the Seeded Bread are all must do's. The Fried chicken is crispy as all get out and the Mole sauce was the best I've done to-date. Same with the tamale.

One critique, I thought the Fried Cape Elizabeth squid was overdone. The texture was tough and rubbery. Not sure if it was overdone, or just due to the nature of having such large rings being deep fried, but that was one of my least favorite dishes I had over the course of the meal due to the preparation.

Rachel and our hostess (so sorry I forgot your name!) as well as the bartender were phenomenal front of house staff. They gave us recommendations and provided insight into our order. They were all warm and friendly. We could tell the kitchen was hard at work all night, even on an otherwise slow Sunday.

I'll be back to try a new menu hopefully on the next visit. As an aside, the inKind app offers a $50 coupon to orders over $150 so we were able to take advantage of that deal!

I don't drink, but according to my compatriots, the cocktails were among the best of the trip.

Thanks again. Stay creative and keep trying new things! Also, shoutout to Chef Josiah at Beckon in Denver for recommending this phenomenal...