Location: Portland
Top Restaurants in Portland
Top Things to do in Portland
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Most Popular American food in Portland, Connecticut, United States
Reviews on American food in Portland, Connecticut, United States. Portland is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,732 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed as a census-designated place (CDP). It is situated across the Connecticut River from Middletown. Brownstone quarried in Portland was used in the construction of Hartford's Old State House in 1796. The vast majority of the brownstone buildings in Connecticut (see College Row at Wesleyan University and the Long Walk at Trinity College) as well as the famous brownstones in New York City were built with brownstone from Portland's quarries.
Things to do in Portland
10. Eli Cannon's
Overall Ratings
3 based on 159 reviews
Reviewed By BeachesAreBest123
We stopped in for lunch. Itâwasnt crowded, we got a nice wooden booth and checked out the interesting memorabilia while ordering. I ordered a burger with blue cheese, jalapeños and bacon. It was the best burger Iâve had in literally years. The burger was juicy and cooked exactly right and the bun wasnât soggy. It was delicious! I didnât care for the seasoned homemade chips that came with it, and they nicely made me up a fresh batch of unseasoned chips. My husband enjoyed his grilled chicken sandwich. He got a couple of 6 oz. beers just to try. A great place to kick back for an hour or so. Fabulous! Will be back.
9. Tavern at the Armory
Overall Ratings
4 based on 89 reviews
Reviewed By Chambesy
The Tavern is bar and restaurant at the same time. While we were having dinner a large group came to drink at the bar. They were quite loud.We ordered the lamb and lobster ravioli and asked the waitress to choose two local beers for us. She served us a dark and a light beer, locally brewed. Both excellent. The lamb was cooked to perfection. I also liked the mashed potatoes that came with it and the undercooked string beans (better under than over cooked. But if you want all your customers to be happy maybe you should just cook them 1 minute more ;-). No room for desert. An herbal tea to finish the excellent meal.Service really friendly. Prices on the higher end for a bar meal.Thank you for your comments about your dining experience. We have just renovated the tavern and we are looking at ways to muffle the noise a bit like you experienced. We went from carpeting to all hardwood floors and there is more echoing. It is being addressed. I agree there is a fine line between under cooked / raw and overcooked and we try to be perfect. Overall is seems like you enjoyed the evening.
8. Farrell's Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 61 reviews
Reviewed By Diane D
We went to Farrell's Sunday night 11/11/2018 and never had such terrible food. We were a family party of six. I ordered the prime rib, which was awful, I think it was some other cut of beef that they passed off as prime rib. My husband ordered the clam roll special at $12.99. It came on a cut off roll to accommodate the 4 clams that was on the roll. Clams were awful. He complained to the waitress and she talked to the chef and he said the clams go by weight. He took $6.99 off the clam roll. We had a terrible appetizer of calamari worst we ever had. Ordered three margaritas. Our bill was$65.00.This was our first and last time at Farrell's restaurant.
7. Eggs Up LLC
Overall Ratings
4 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By Lisa H
For the old-time Portlanders, this is the place for breakfast. Newbies might be looking for Flo, it has that feel. Honest breakfast/lunch diner menu, diner tables and diner counter. Reasonable prices. The homemade hash is pretty good, but make sure it's the home made or you'll get canned.Gluten-free menu, someone on the staff must be gluten-free.
6. Sarah's on Main
Overall Ratings
5 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By ideadensity
Saw this restaurant listed as number two of the ten best breakfast places in Middletown area so we decided to try it. Not sure how long itâs been around, but weâve been missing out! We will definitely be back. Went this morning and had a maple banana nut waffle â to die for, and Reuben scramble. Both were delicious. The home fries were outstanding â crispy and deliciously seasoned.
5. Taino Smokehouse
Overall Ratings
4 based on 222 reviews
Reviewed By Int_Bus_Travel
We went to Taino on recommendation of friends and were not disappointed. They get the BBQ right in this modest spot. We enjoyed house made sausage, pulled chicken, and great sides of BBQ baked beans, mashed potatoes, and corn bread. Beers on tap were good. There are a few tables inside and picnic tables outside. Service was friendly and efficient.
4. Cafe 56
Overall Ratings
4 based on 89 reviews
Very new restaurant. Only opened for about one month
Reviewed By d0wnhiller
I have eaten here numerous times since reviewing it, and thought it was good enough to bring to your attention again. I had a simple omelet filled with an herbed soft cheese, served with a fresh chopped salad of mesclun, cherry tomatoes, carrots, radishes and scallion topped with my choice of dressing. The omelet was soft, delicate, not overcooked, with a runny delicious filling. I finished with a piece of Washington Inn apple cake - a large wedge which I had no trouble polishing off.If there's a single word which best describes the food at this restaurant it's FRESH. Everything is made from scratch daily, including the house-made potato chips. The restaurant is very vegetarian friendly, and offers a good selection of daily seasonal specials. Sabrina, the chef/owner will probably visit your table to make sure you're satisfied. Service is very good.While it provides breakfast and lunch during the week, once a month there is a (BYOB) dinner featuring the cuisine of some other culture. This is really special - and if you're vegetarian, let Sabrina know and you won't be disappointed in their offering. You will have to call ahead for reservations, as it's usually sold out.There are a couple of ways to gauge the quality of a restaurant. If I asked you to pick the top five restaurants in Middletown you'd almost certainly include this one. If I had to pick one restaurant of those five for my last meal it would be this one. To slice it another way, if I had to eat at only one restaurant in Middletown, it would still be this one.
3. O'Rourke's Diner
Overall Ratings
4 based on 286 reviews
Reviewed By jtpcarroll5212
Amazing food and amazing service. The best breakfast experience I've had in a while. Stood on a line for it and was not disappointed. Owner came out and gave my wife and the other women tea and biscuits while we waited and anyone who wanted a coffee got it as well. The wait was not more than 15 minutes.
2. Luce
Overall Ratings
4 based on 291 reviews
Reviewed By happytraveler552
Celebrating a small reunion of friends and the staff was wonderful. They gave us a great table to enjoy conversation and the wait staff were excellent and pleasant. The food was absolutely scrumptious. We completely enjoyed the portobello mushroom and eggplant appetizer as well as the calamari. Our entrees were delicious. We all enjoyed a different meal, and the presentation of the pork loin was beautiful as well as delicious. I was torn between ordering the spinach gnochi or the mushroom ravioli and I was delighted with the mushroom ravioli. We were celebrating a birthday and the waiter brought our dessert with the cutest candle. Such a delightful place. Easy access to the highway right on Main Street and perfect parking in the free lot next to the restaurant. We will return!
1. Celtic Cavern
Overall Ratings
4 based on 100 reviews
Middletown's first and only gastropub ... featuring 18 beers on tap and a dynamic menu designed to tempt every palate. (Kitchen open LATE: Sun-Thr til 12:00am and Fri-Sat til 1am)
Reviewed By Sgs8960
Celtic is a very special place, and always my first choice for both dining or grabbing a drink at the bar, with family or friends, for social or business. The food is unbelievable (thanks, Bill), and the house is the friendliest ever (thanks, Brandon). And the staff is professional, attentive, and just fun and welcoming. Too many to list - but Lauren, Chris, Sara, Kasey, Lexi, Courtney, Ang, Mea,Taylor, to start. - thanks guys!
