Date Night Guide – Portland

Portland, ME is the ideal weekend trip destination. Now, as the city starts to defrost and things begin to open up, there is no better time to take a trip. Today, we’re giving you three of our favorite can’t-miss Portland date night spots.

Fore Street

We love any place that brings you bread and olive oil at the beginning of your meal, but we love it even more when the bread is baked right in front of you. When you walk into Fore Street, your eyes are immediately drawn to their open floor kitchen, boasting a large wood fire oven, glass pantry, and baskets of fresh veggies. It’s often said, “You eat with your eyes first,” and in that case, here you will enjoy a five-star meal before even getting to your seat.

Fore Street prides itself on using fresh seasonal ingredients, so their menu is constantly changing, but if you are lucky enough to try their take on calamari, then do not pass it up. It is wood-grilled with huge chunks of hand cut bacon in a white cream sauce and a bundle of fresh herbs. There really is no comparison. At Fore Street, the high expectations that are set when you walk in are far exceeded when you actually get your meal.

Via Vecchia

A newcomer to the robust Portland food scene, Via Vecchia, in the heart of Old Port, is the perfect spot to start or end a night. Via Vecchia brings a unique cocktail list, which reimagines some classic cocktails. If you are looking for a great vibe, look no further. As you walk in, you’ll notice the long bar that wraps around an impressive display of bottles, and as make your way to the back, it opens up to a second bar with a wrap-around second floor.

Via Vecchia’s pizzas are packed with flavor while being light enough to split a few and not be out for the night. Their pastas are a perfect dish to soak up all the beer in your stomach, if you have been brewery hopping all day. There are very few things better than freshly-made pasta. So, whether this is a stop for a few cocktails or for a sit down dinner, Via Vecchia has you covered.

Central Provisions

Central Provisions is one of our favorite spots in Portland. In the summers, you can expect long waits to get in to what is one of Portland’s top restaurants. With a relatively small dining area, Central got creative, and turned into Central Sandwich & Provisions for the winter, operating as a takeout-only sandwich and drink operation. They have taken some of the fan-favorites like bone marrow toast and suckling pig, and turned them into sandwich form (don’t knock it until you try it).

With spring upon us and summer quickly approaching, we are excited for full operations to resume. Central Provisions boasts an extensive raw bar, offering up the best local seafood from Maine. If you are looking for a spot to share plates of some creative dishes then look no further.