Among the acclaimed restaurants that have taken to the streets this summer is Central Provisions, where you’ll find small plates and a new patio from which to savor, say, a caramelized bocadillo sandwich with sheep’s milk cheese, saba (Italian grape must syrup) and membrillo paste ($12) as you gaze toward a distant pier (414 Fore Street). This part of town is saturated with James Beard award nominees
Known for their small plates and craft cocktails, Central Provisions continues to be a popular lunch and dinner destination for those visiting Portland Maine. In the 1800’s, this historic building was the exact location where The East India Company would unload goods. Current owners, Paige and Christopher Gould have worked to preserve the historic details of this gorgeous building. There is no doubt that the food and drinks are as intricately thought through as the beautifully-designed interiors.
With an ever-changing menu, an impressive drinks program, and fantastic service, Central continues to make waves five years after it started turning heads. At their beautifully renovated Old Port spot, Chris and Paige Gould serve small plates of globally inspired cuisine like smoked halibut dip, a lobster and chorizo roll, and cauliflower-feta agnolotti.
2. Central Provisions & Baharat
There are two restaurants that I want to list next because both are fabulous and have shifted their offerings during the pandemic. I have had really special, life-changing meals at both, and can’t wait to try their new dishes when I get back to them.
Not all changes brought by the pandemic are bad.
For instance, I’m not sure when I ever would have sampled the fare at Central Provisions, the innovative Portland eatery that was named one of the 10 best new restaurants in America by Bon Appetit magazine a half dozen years ago.
With two kids, I don’t go to a lot of upscale restaurants in the Old Port. Along with so many restaurants that have adapted during the pandemic, Central Provisions has changed into a takeout and delivery place for the winter. It’s called Central Sandwich & Provisions, located in the restaurant’s Fore Street storefront.
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The craft cocktails, the inventive small plates, the vibe—oh, and Sunday and Monday brunch, too: Everything at Central Provisions is done in a way that makes those who really know food swoon. It's a fancy date-night favorite for locals and a destination that visitors "from away" consider a must. When it debuted in 2014, Central Provisions made such a splash it was nominated by the James Beard Foundation as one of the best new restaurants in the country. Much of the interior was handcrafted by Mainers; Chef Chris Gould's raw materials are sourced locally, too. You're going to want to try everything—from the tuna crudo to the chocolate pot du creme—so be sure to bring friends who are good at sharing.
The menu at Central Provisions changes daily, and small plates dominate. Think: ethereal bone marrow toast with fontina, horseradish creme, and red onion jam. Or the foie gras parfait with custard and daily fruit gelée. The crudos and tartare have a dedicated following, and the brunch menu carries almost all of the house’s greatest hits, plus breakfast-friendly dishes like smoked whitefish dip on Danish rye with cornichons, and a breakfast cheeseburger with egg, bacon, and fried onion.
Perhaps the most in-demand tables in town are found at this buzzing New American wunderkind, a recent James Beard finalist for best new restaurant in the nation. The rustic-chic restaurant in the city's historic Old Port emphasizes cuisine-hopping small plates — from Mongolian braised beef to bone marrow toast with fontina and horseradish creme. There's a reason Central is entering its fourth year as the darling of Portland's dining scene, and those continued queues out the door (no reservations are accepted) are testament to unwavering popularity.
414 Fore St., Portland; 207-805-1085
