Food & Drink in Portland

The chefs at Zen Chinese Bistro infuse their extensive menu with authentic flavors and culinary techniques, as well as modern twists inspired by their customers’ dietary restrictions and concerns. They stir-fry bites of jumbo shrimp and normal-sized pork with either traditional udon noodles or gluten-free, organic buckwheat noodles. Though many of their entrees showcase spicy sauces slathered atop morsels of chicken and beef, the chefs pay equal attention to vegetarian options by turning the spotlight on ingredients such as Szechuan string beans and bean curd.

Forest Falls Cafe prides itself on using fresh, local ingredients in its made-from-scratch dishes. Its bread is purchased nearby and makes up an array of sandwiches, filled with everything from Maine lobster to teriyaki chicken. Chefs tuck sliced apples into individual-sized pie crusts while homemade soups simmer and turkey roasts in the kitchen. The café also serves breakfast all day, including dishes such as eggs benedict smothered in hollandaise sauce, veggie scrambles wrapped in tortillas, and pancakes filled with local blueberries.

The steak 'n' cheese sandwich at Down Home Cookin' weighs nearly a pound. Stuffed in a sub roll, melted cheese and 8 ounces of shaved steak press against green peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Aside from its weight, the sandwich boasts another feature: it's completely homemade, just like every other entree at Down Home Cookin'. Rather than jazzing up bland dishes with sprigs of parsley or sticks of TNT, cooks prepare homestyle meals with fresh, flavorful ingredients.

The chefs at The Dancing Elephant II prepare a large menu of traditional Indian cuisine complete with vegetarian options. Delectable chunks of chicken or lamb swim in spicy curries, mingling with potatoes, spinach, or cashews. Vegetarian specialties include green peas with potatoes or chickpeas and spinach. The restaurant also offers a full bar complete with beers and cocktails.

True to its name, Portland Discovery helps visitors explore the scenic coastal town's majestic, rocky coastline with tours by boat or vintage trolley bus. These tours include cruises among the lobster boats and seabirds of Casco Bay that pass lighthouses and historic forts, and trips through downtown that highlight local landmarks.

On the white-linen-draped tables beneath Al Huda Restaurant’s cranberry-hued walls, plates brim with shawarma and biryani. Slices of baklava, held together by honey like a beekeeper’s alibi, flake apart beneath forks, and falafel crackles in golden oil in the kitchen.