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Address and Contact Information
Address: 747 Congress St, Portland, ME 04102
Phone: (207) 613-9568
Website: http://waysidetavernmaine.com/
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Order and Reservations
Reservations: resy.com
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Wayside Tavern
We are a neighborhood restaurant & bar next to the Francis Hotel. Settle into a cozy corner to relish good food and renew your spirits.
Book Your Wayside Tavern Reservation Now on Resy
Wayside Tavern is a neighborhood restaurant & bar located in Portland’s West End. Our food is European-influenced while celebrating the local bounty of Maine.
Wayside Tavern (@waysidetavern) · Portland, ME – Instagram
9.6K+ followers · 443 posts · Cozy neighborhood restaurant + bar Sunday, Monday, Tuesday + Thursday 4PM – 9PM Friday + Saturday 4PM – 9:30PM.
Reviews
Kelsey Lally
We got married at Wayside Tavern last October, and their team was phenomenal! We had a smaller wedding of 20 people and it truly was everything we wanted in a smaller wedding. We had 2 semi-private spaces that were so cozy and the ambiance was perfect. The food was incredible, from our small cocktail hour to the apps and dinner – everything was delicious. The manager, Siobhan, was so easy to work with and emailed us throughout the year helping us with our various questions that we had. They accommodated everything that we wanted/needed, I truly couldn’t give them more praise!!! Thanks Wayside & their team for making our wedding night perfect – we are so lucky to have this special place in our neighborhood.
… moreJaida King
Our bartender Cassie was very attentive. The team seemed to work well together. They were knowledgeable and friendly. We loved loved the scallops (tender, flavorful) and the mussels (plump, juicy). The best part is that the apps were priced per piece so we could get a bunch of small tastes of everything. Wish we lived here so we could go back and try everything.
… moreCaty Maloney
Friendly service and cozy atmosphere. Came here with my mom for dinner during our weekend trip to Portland. Cabbage salad and Eggplant Terrine were standouts. Delicious!
… moreKatrianna Robinson
We like to tour Portland when we get the chance and decided to choose this place as next on our list to try ! We were excited and it was my man’s birthday , the place is beautiful, drinks were great . Waitress was ok . They asked if it was his birthday for whatever reason lol, because they don’t off
The appetizer was great. The butter beans to be exact . But when we got to main dishes they all tasted like the appetizer , vinegary lol. We wanted to like it we really did ! The halibut was dry and Chewy and the steak was chewy . Long horn would’ve been better than this .
… moreThe appetizer was great. The butter beans to be exact . But when we got to main dishes they all tasted like the appetizer , vinegary lol. We wanted to like it we really did ! The halibut was dry and Chewy and the steak was chewy . Long horn would’ve been better than this .
Chris Cahill
My girlfriend took me for my birthday! We had the fried cod cheeks (phenomenal app, tartar was incredible) cabbage salad (tastefully executed and large portion), then she had the Tonnarelli which she loved and I had the Roasted Chicken which was everything I was looking forward to, hearty, rich, and filling! Our bartender made her a lovely and refreshing grapefruit highball and me a great sazerac incorporating apricot and strega! The aesthetic is lovely and inviting as is the service. We’ll be back.
… moreCristina Certano
We were visiting and staying next door. We had a heavy travel day and wanted something easy so we went next door as walk-ins. Although they were not able to accommodate us (Labor Day weekend), we ordered to go. We asked if they could text us when the food was ready since it was going to be 30 mins, they did and boy were we pleased with our choice. The food was delicious and hot. We ordered the cod cheeks, chicory salad, tonnarelli, and pork schnitzel. All was expertly cooked. Plus we were given a sweet note and dessert. The care behind that note took our breath away. We will be back the next time we visit Portland and come with a reservation. Lol
… moreConnor McKeon
What a cool cozy spot. The food was delicious, the drinks were thirst quenching and the service was helpful and efficient.
3 people was $200 before tip. Apps dinner and drinks
For starters we had the Blue Fin Tuna ceviche and cod cheeks. The ceviche was minty and refreshing while the cod was savory crispy and light.
For dinner the pork schnitzel was excellent, the fennel and celery complemented the tonnato sauce nicely. The suggested wine pairing was a great choice too although I don’t recall what it was.
We passed on dessert
… more3 people was $200 before tip. Apps dinner and drinks
For starters we had the Blue Fin Tuna ceviche and cod cheeks. The ceviche was minty and refreshing while the cod was savory crispy and light.
For dinner the pork schnitzel was excellent, the fennel and celery complemented the tonnato sauce nicely. The suggested wine pairing was a great choice too although I don’t recall what it was.
We passed on dessert
Kayne Usita
My partner and I took a road trip to Portland, Maine over the Easter long weekend to explore the food scene, and Wayside Tavern was on our list of must-tries. We wanted to love this place — and it started off strong.
First off, the ambience is fantastic. The space is cozy and intimate, perfect for a date night. The different dining rooms gave off serious Clue board game vibes — moody, classic, and charming in a very intentional way.
We started with the “greens and beans” special, which was a highlight. Perfectly seasoned with a bright, acidic kick that opened up the palate nicely. That said, we wished there had been a bit more kale in the mix — it felt a little skimpy and the balance leaned more heavily on the beans.
Unfortunately, things went downhill with the mains.
My partner ordered the roast chicken over ricotta toast, and it just didn’t make sense. The dish felt disjointed, like something thrown together from pantry leftovers at the end of the week. The textures didn’t work well together — the chicken, ricotta, and toast felt oddly mismatched. He also noted a vinegar flavor that ran through the bread — not overwhelming, but it felt out of place and unnecessary.
I had the smash burger special, which our server hyped as “the best burger in the city.” It was… fine. Not terrible, but not memorable either. The edges didn’t have that crispy sear you expect from a proper smash burger. The house-made American cheese was a nice detail but leaned too salty.
All in all, the ambiance is lovely, and the starters show promise, but the menu could use some refinement — especially when it comes to the main courses. We might give it another shot in the future, but for now, it was a bit of a miss.
… moreFirst off, the ambience is fantastic. The space is cozy and intimate, perfect for a date night. The different dining rooms gave off serious Clue board game vibes — moody, classic, and charming in a very intentional way.
We started with the “greens and beans” special, which was a highlight. Perfectly seasoned with a bright, acidic kick that opened up the palate nicely. That said, we wished there had been a bit more kale in the mix — it felt a little skimpy and the balance leaned more heavily on the beans.
Unfortunately, things went downhill with the mains.
My partner ordered the roast chicken over ricotta toast, and it just didn’t make sense. The dish felt disjointed, like something thrown together from pantry leftovers at the end of the week. The textures didn’t work well together — the chicken, ricotta, and toast felt oddly mismatched. He also noted a vinegar flavor that ran through the bread — not overwhelming, but it felt out of place and unnecessary.
I had the smash burger special, which our server hyped as “the best burger in the city.” It was… fine. Not terrible, but not memorable either. The edges didn’t have that crispy sear you expect from a proper smash burger. The house-made American cheese was a nice detail but leaned too salty.
All in all, the ambiance is lovely, and the starters show promise, but the menu could use some refinement — especially when it comes to the main courses. We might give it another shot in the future, but for now, it was a bit of a miss.
Snicker Doodles
Quaint and cozy atmosphere. Chairs were uncomfortable but I suggest to bring a coat to sit on or to place on the back of your chair for support .Staff was terrific and friendly. The food was outstanding and the drinks, fun! It is a bit on the pricey side, however, worth the experience. Not a lot of vegan options, though. I suggest you make a reservation. I highly recommend!
… moreJosiah Utsch
This place is definitely a contender for the best restaurant in Portland. I had perfect sunchokes for appetizer and halibut for the main, both were supperb. It’s the service that really takes this place to the next level. I went here just for a nice dinner with family, but our waitress made it feel like a special occasion. She brought out some port wine for dessert, completely free of charge, and it perfectly rounded out our meal. I had never payed much attention to port, and now I am a Port enthusiast! This is why people go out to eat.
… more