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Your Guide to Portland, ME.
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The word around town is that Portland, Maine has more restaurants per capita than any US city except San Francisco. It may be hard to prove, but one thing is certain: there are hundreds of restaurants in town and even more if you leave the city limits. How do you choose? Here are some of Portland's most talked about restaurants, from simple diners like Becky's to fine nationally recognized restaurants like Fore Street. Try one, or try them all, but call ahead for days and hours of operation.

Anthony's Italian Kitchen
Real Italian restaurant serving handmade Italian foods plus subs, wraps, soups, salads, pastas, pizza, and more. 151 Middle Street, Portland. 774-8668.

Becky's Diner
Famous for it's great home-cooked breakfast, this old-fashioned American diner serving hearty, home-style food at inexpensive prices opens at 4:00 a.m. (that's not a typo) and caters to fishermen and locals. 390 Commercial St, Portland. 773-7070.

Brian Boru's
A traditional Irish pub in Portland's Old Port, with an eclectic menu and lots of Irish beer. 57 Center St, Portland. 780-1506.

DiMillo's Floating Restaurant
Best known for the fact that it's located aboard a converted ferry car docked on Portland's waterfront. People like to bring their out-of-town visitors here for lobster and other seafood because of the great views of the Portland waterfront and Casco Bay. 25 Long Wharf, Portland. 772-1081.

Fore Street
Portland's best-known restaurant, headed by Chef/Owner Sam Hayward, is located on, you guessed it, Fore Street, above Standard Baking Company, which is on the outskirts of the Old Port near the Franklin Arterial. Food is cooked in an apple wood-fired oven and on spits turning over an open hearth in view of diners. It can take several days to get a reservation, so be sure to call ahead, especially in summer. The restaurant has been written up in nearly every fine food magazine, including Saveur, Food Arts and Wine Spectator, and was ranked 16th of the nation's top 50 restaurants by Gourmet Magazine. 288 Fore Street, Portland. 207-775-2717.

Great Lost Bear
a restaurant/pub with a huge menu, including many appetizers (nachos, wings, and more), soups and salads, steaks, chicken, lasagna, ribs, burgers, a large vegetarian selection--the list goes on and on. Over 50 drought beers, many of which are brewed in Maine. See more at Great Lost Bear Review. 540 Forest Avenue, Portland. 772-0300.

The Roma Café
Classic Italian food in the former Rines mansion, featuring northern Italian and New American cuisine. Voted Portland's most romantic restaurant. 769 Congress St., Portland, 773-9873.

Imperial China
Perhaps Portland's most authentic Chinese restaurant. Located on the Maine Mall Road in South Portland, near Husson College. 774-4292

Chinese Valley Cuisine
Arguably one of the top Chinese restaurants in Portland. 'Nuff said. 688 Forest Ave., Portland. 773-8889.

Village Café
Home-style Italian cooking with an emphasis on Italian specialties, seafood and steaks. A long-time Portland favorite at 112 Newbury Street.

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