If I had the ability to eat the entire menu of The Porthole I would have. The menu was running over with a selection of items, but after lunch at The High Roller Lobster Company, I had to pick and choose what I was going to dine on. I will say, I had made plans to go to a famous BBQ joint in Portland, but again the local people convinced me to try The Porthole. It is located on the Wharf and was a short walk from where I was staying. It has a very enticing vibe, and I could easily see meeting friends or coworkers for a happy hour. I was there in October, so it wasn’t too busy, plus I went around 5:00 PM, before the crowd arrived. I can see this place getting very busy during the summer months, but I got in right away and decided to sit at the bar. What incredible staff, from the wait people to the manager. They have outdoor seating if you want to take in the scene, and there is live music some nights. This night I decided to order 3 items: shrimp cocktail, clam chowder, and baked lobster.
I love a good shrimp cocktail, and given the chance to order one, 9 out of 10 times I will. What makes a good shrimp cocktail? First, no tiny shrimp. Shrimp cocktail should have gigantic shrimp and not overcooked. Nothing can ruin a good shrimp cocktail than overcooked shrimp. It should be tender, not tough or mushy, as I have had before. When served, be sure to serve it over ice, crushed ice if possible. Next, the cocktail sauce should have a good zing to it because it has the right amount of horseradish. I like a strong horseradish in my cocktail sauce, so I usually ask for a side of horseradish to add into the cocktail sauce. I want to feel a slight burn. The cocktail should be accompanied by a wedge of lemon to squirt over the shrimp. I’m happy to say all three criteria were met at The Porthole. The cost for the shrimp cocktail depends on how many shrimps you want. Each shrimp will cost $5 each, so I ordered 5 and I could have gone for 10, but I had other things to eat.
After the shrimp cocktail came the clam chowder. It was a very traditional New England clam chowder, which is my favorite. I can’t handle a Manhattan style, it just doesn’t seem right to me. I can live with Rhode Island style and even Delaware style, just don’t set anything of New York’s version of clam chowder in front of me. There, I’ve said my piece about clam chowder and I’m not going to change my mind about it. The clam chowder from The Porthole was packed with all kinds of good things, but what stood out was the quality of the clams. The clam ratio was over the top, and I enjoyed every bite of it. We had tender potatoes, a little onion and celery, and I think there was some bacon in there. Needless to say this was a hot cup of goodness on a cool October evening. Oh, and by the way, the clam chowder had the right consistency when it came to thickness. Definitely get the clam chowder if you want to warm up on a cold night.
Now comes the main course for the night, the baked lobster. I have never had baked lobster before, so this was something I was looking forward to. The menu describes the baked lobster as a 1 ¼ lb. lobster filled with scallop and lobster stuffing. The lobster came with the vegetable of the day and drawn butter. The night I went the vegetable of the day was seasoned carrots and I also decided to get whole red potatoes. The body of the lobster shell had this incredible scallop and lobster stuffing, but you also get to crack the claws and get the lobster there also. Before pouring the butter over the lobster and potatoes, I squirted the lemon over the lobster as lemon just adds freshness to the dish. This was not a lite entrée to eat, and it is not diet friendly. I was on vacation though, and do diets really exist on vacation? Everything about this was a delectable adventure, and something I would order again and again. It was buttery, full of scallops and lobster, baked to perfection, and satisfying. You will not walk away hungry after eating this. I’m drooling just thinking and writing about it.
I do want to give a special mention about a dish that I didn’t order but was order by the gentleman sitting next to me at the bar. This was the Porthole Twin Lobster Dinner. It was two 1 ¼ lb. steamed lobsters, and served with corn on the cob, potato, and drawn butter. I had to get a picture of these because they were just beautiful looking. What amazed me the most was the efficiency with which this gentleman was able to dismantle and eat these lobsters. It was a marvel to behold. I couldn’t leave without getting a picture of this, if nothing else to entice you to make Portland, Maine a destination for your next trip. When you get to Portland, Maine, make sure you put in your reservation to The Porthole and eat the menu if you can.
| Website: | The Porthole Restaurant and Pub |
| Address: | 20 Custom House Wharf, Portland, ME 04101 |
| Phone: | (207)773-4653 |
| Menu: | The Porthole Menu |
| Visited: | October 2023 |
