Dizzy Birds Rotisserie-Biddeford

23 BEST Local Restaurants on the Southern Maine Coast

If you’re planning a Southern Maine getaway, add some of the best Southern Maine Coast restaurants to your itinerary.

The Southern Maine Coast is known for its unparalleled beauty, cool weather, and delicious food. A combination of creativity from restaurant owners and an influx of young talent has contributed to a thriving restaurant scene that spans the entirety of the southern coastline.

Regardless of whether you are planning on checking out the city of Portland or exploring some of the smaller towns, such as Biddeford and Kennebunk, the culinary scene has something for everyone. Check out the best of the best in our list below!

TIP: Remember to call ahead to make a reservation if you want to guarantee a table.

Magnus on Water-Biddeford
Magnus on Water | photo via iatethisinmaine

Top Restaurants in Biddeford Maine

The town of Biddeford Maine, located a short distance from Old Orchard Beach and Saco Bay, has several restaurants that everyone should check out during their visit. Here are some of our favorites.

Mulligan’s

23 Lincoln St, Biddeford, ME 04005

Mulligan’s is the perfect place to hang out with friends and family members, grab some fresh beer, and enjoy some sports. It has a casual atmosphere, a full bar, and an affordable menu that serves large portions.

Given the variety, flexibility, and versatility of this restaurant, it is easy to see why it has been so popular for decades.

Magnus on Water

12 Water St, Biddeford, ME 04005

The next restaurant that you may want to explore is Magnus on Water. This is a refined restaurant that has a menu created completely with local ingredients.

It is a high-end restaurant, so you should expect to find a variety of upscale creations. Also, the restaurant has an exceptional cocktail list.

Dizzy Birds Rotisserie-Biddeford
Dizzy Birds Rotisserie | photo via nicholsoninnfreeport

Dizzy Birds Rotisserie

65 Main St, Biddeford, ME 04005

If sustainable, organic, and locally grown food is what you are looking for, you should check out Dizzy Birds Rotisserie. All of the chicken is organic, and the restaurant offers everything from traditional chicken dinners to pot roasts. It also has plenty of fresh bread, salads, and soups.

With a family-style menu and a wide array of desserts, Dizzy Birds Rotisserie has something for everyone.

Elda

14 Main Street, Second Floor, Biddeford, ME 04005

One of the nicest restaurants in Biddeford Maine is called Elda. Each evening, it puts together a tasting menu, and each night is different.

Elda is the perfect place when you want to taste local seasonal flavors at their finest. If you have dietary restrictions, though, keep in mind that the restaurant can’t make any substitutions.

Palace Diner

18 Franklin St, Biddeford, ME 04005

The Palace Diner in Biddeford Maine is very different than a traditional diner. It is a dining car that only has 12 seats.

This restaurant has an award-winning menu, so even though people stand in line for hours in the middle of the winter for a seat, they know that the food is delicious. It has a large and varied menu, so if you are willing to tolerate the wait, you can certainly find something that suits your fancy.

Inn on the Blues-York
Inn on the Blues | photo via fernsfoodieadventures

Best Southern Maine Coast Restaurants in York Maine

York Maine is a beautiful town near the southern tip of the state. Since it is situated right on the Atlantic Ocean, it is a popular location for tourists looking for a view of the rocky coast. Of course, York has its fair share of delicious restaurants as well, and here are some of the top options.

Inn on the Blues

7 Ocean Ave, York, ME 03909

With a unique combination of delicious food and rock-and-roll music, Inn on the Blues is one of the most enjoyable dining experiences in York Maine. It has been open for more than 100 years.

The restaurant exquisitely combines traditional cooking methods with innovative technology to serve a wide variety of burgers, sandwiches, and flatbreads.

1637 & Ship’s Cellar Pub at York Harbor Inn

480 York St, York Harbor, ME 03911

The 1637 & Ship’s Cellar Pub restaurants at York Harbor Inn have won a variety of awards for their delicious, expansive menus. The pub dining room is situated like an old-fashioned ship.

At both restaurants, you will be treated to all the fresh seafood you can eat. Examples include lobster, scallops, and haddock, but the menu also has chicken and veal. Plus, these restaurants have expansive wine lists.

The Central Restaurant & Bar

127 Long Sands Rd, York, ME 03909

If fine dining is what you are looking for, you should check out The Central Restaurant & Bar. Located in the center of town, you can try sirloin steak tips, fresh seafood, and pork dumplings. The restaurant has an extensive wine and cocktail list too, so don’t forget to ask for pairing suggestions when you arrive.

Shearwater at Stage Neck Inn-York
Shearwater at Stage Neck Inn | photo via frasherfinocchiaro

Foster’s Clambakes & Catering

5 Axholme Rd, York, ME 03909

When you come to York Maine, you need to experience a clambake, and one of the best places to do so is Foster’s Clambakes & Catering. This amazing restaurant has been open for more than 70 years and has even served the White House!

You are always welcome at the restaurant, and you can choose delicious classic barbecue if you aren’t in the mood for a clambake. Or, you could choose a mix of both.

Shearwater at Stage Neck Inn

8 Stage Neck Rd, York, ME 03909

Would you like a gorgeous view of the water while you enjoy dinner? Shearwater at Stage Neck Inn will give you a beautiful view of the ocean.

With fresh seafood, seasonal specials, and unparalleled sandwiches on fresh bread, Shearwater could be the perfect place for a date night. The restaurant also has a very large wine and cocktail list, so you should be able to find something perfect to go with your meal.

Central Provisions - Portland, Maine - Portland Restaurants
Central Provisions | photo via @kaju.eats

Best Portland Maine Restaurants

Portland Maine is the state’s largest city, and it is a bustling hub of young professionals, college students, tourists, and some retirees. Because of that, the restaurant scene has to cater to everyone, so there are plenty of delicious restaurants in Portland for every palate.

Eventide Oyster Co.

86 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101

Small but never overlooked, Eventide Oyster Co. is known for having some of the best oysters on the East Coast. With such a large selection, you can taste the differences in the flavor of the oysters depending on where they were caught, but don’t hesitate to try a lobster roll as well!

If brine is your thing, ask for a double-dirty martini. If you get there early enough, you could take advantage of happy hour specials as well.

Jing Yan

90 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101

Jing Yan is a delicious Asian restaurant that only opened in 2020, and it is the perfect place to go if you want authentic Asian eats.

The restaurant has a variety of duck and fish creations that are paired with an unparalleled variety of flavors, providing the perfect opportunity to try something new. Also, the owner ran a cocktail bar in China, so ask for some cocktail pairing suggestions.

Jing Yan-Portland
Jing Yan | photo via la.la.eats

Fore Street Restaurant

288 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101

A fine dining restaurant constructed in a former warehouse, Fore Street Restaurant has just about everything you could desire. The menu is locally sourced, the food is cooked right on the grill, and the restaurant has a beautiful view of Casco Bay.

On top of that, some seasonal specials grace the menu from time to time, so don’t forget to ask for suggestions when you arrive.

Izakaya Minato

54 Washington Ave, Portland, ME 04101

If you are looking for authentic Japanese food in Portland Maine, Izakaya Minato could be the best place to go. The restaurant has a variety of small dishes, ranging from whitefish to tofu.

There are family dining options on the menu as well. Of course, Izakaya Minato also has an impressive sake list, so don’t hesitate to branch out and try a few plates and selections.

Central Provisions

414 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101

A rustic restaurant that has a beautiful bar, Central Provisions is consistently listed among the best restaurants in the state. You can choose from a variety of small dishes that give you an opportunity to enjoy a litany of flavors.

With everything from coconut smelts to whipped goat cheese and spicy beef plates, everyone should be able to find something on the menu to enjoy. When these delicious dishes are paired with amazing cocktails, the best flavors will rise to the surface.

Nunan’s Lobster Hut-Kennebunkport
Nunan’s Lobster Hut | photo via pivot4fun

Best Southern Maine Restaurants in Kennebunk & Kennebunkport Maine

The dining scene in Kennebunkport Maine has evolved significantly during the past few decades. The town even hosts an annual food and wine festival. Plus, nearby Kennebunk Maine has a fantastic farmers’ market, and many of the items make their way onto restaurant menus.  

Admiral’s Table

41 Turbats Creek Rd, Kennebunkport, ME 04046

If you are willing to brave the crowd at the Rhumb Line Resort, you will eventually make your way to Admiral’s Table. This seasonal bar and grill has some of the most affordable food in The Kennebunks.

Typically, it is only open from June to September, and you will definitely want to try a lobster bake. While you wait, you may be able to sip some cocktails by the pool, which could make everything worth it.

Alisson’s Restaurant

11 Dock Square, Kennebunkport, ME 04046

For more than 50 years, Alisson’s Restaurant has graced the center of Dock Square. Open for lunch and dinner, you can find everything from lobster rolls and clam chowder to freshly caught fish and unique shellfish.

There are also themed nights from time to time, along with paired specials, so you may want to call ahead to find out if there is a theme before you show up for dinner.

Chez Rosa-Kennebunkport
Chez Rosa | photo via madelinemarie_s

Chez Rosa

Cross St, Kennebunkport, ME 04046

If you want your food with a French twist, Chez Rosa is one of the best places to find it. A husband-and-wife team was inspired by their time in France, and you will be treated to a variety of French Comfort foods that have been made entirely with local ingredients.

With pollock, steak, and fresh cocktails — alongside original artwork — Chez Rosa has quickly become one of the staples of the Kennebunkport Maine dining scene.

Nunan’s Lobster Hut

9 Mills Rd, Kennebunkport, ME 04046

If delicious lobster rolls are what you are looking for, Nunan’s Lobster Hut is probably the best place to get them. The hut has been open for more than 70 years, and it is situated in Cape Porpoise.

You can hold a lobster roll in one hand and do some shopping with the other. The hut itself used to be a workshop, but it has since been converted into a kitchen with a dining area.

Earth at Hidden Pond

354 Goose Rocks Rd, Kennebunkport, ME 04046

If you want a unique dining experience unlike anything you have ever tried, Earth at Hidden Pond is the place to find it. An innovative menu is served under a canopy of birch and balsam trees, and every item on the menu has been made using fresh meat and seafood.

The produce is even grown and picked on-site, and all pasta has been made by hand. The menu changes regularly, so call ahead if you want to know what to expect.

Lobster Shack at Perkins Cove-Ogunquit
Lobster Shack at Perkins Cove | photo via letshavedinnerinboston

Top Restaurants in Ogunquit Maine

Ogunquit Maine is a popular coastal beach town situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Ogunquit River. It is known for its amazing coastal views and hopping cultural center, but there are some amazing restaurants you should check out as well.

Lobster Shack

110 Perkins Cove Rd, Ogunquit, ME 03907

Of course, Ogunquit Maine has plenty of seafood restaurants, and the Lobster Shack at Perkins Cove has been open for four decades.

With freshly caught lobster, clams, and a variety of other seafood options, this is the perfect place to get a meal. It also has a rotating seasonal beer list, so ask for some pairing suggestions.

The Greenery Cafe

369 Main St, Ogunquit, ME 03907

If you are looking for some vegetarian options, check out The Greenery Cafe. The food is sourced from the local area, and it is one of the best places to go for breakfast and lunch. In addition to the expansive vegetarian menu, the restaurant has plenty of vegan options.

That Place in Ogunquit

331 Shore Rd, Ogunquit, ME 03907

A restaurant so good that it is usually just called “That Place,” this restaurant has a large menu complete with appetizers, steaks, seafood, wine, cocktails, and fresh beer.

Serving everything in a bustling atmosphere that is endearing to residents and tourists alike, consider swinging by That Place in Ogunquit for an unforgettable meal.

The Greenery Cafe-Ogunquit
The Greenery Cafe | photo via neilchambers40

Enjoy Your Dining Experience on the Southern Maine Coast

Regardless of where your journey takes you, there are plenty of amazing restaurants on the Southern Coast of Maine that are perfect for locals and visitors alike. While the region is certainly known for its delicious seafood, there are plenty of other options as well.

Because many of these restaurants are extremely popular, do not forget to call ahead to make a reservation to guarantee a spot at the table!

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3 Comments

  1. The restaurant at the Anchorage hotel is awesome. Have eaten at just about all the restaurants you mentioned in kport and ogunquit. nothing like being in Maine !!!

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