Twelve is everything you’d want from an upscale, special occasion New England restaurant. Set on the Portland waterfront, this spot does a prix-fixe and a la carte menu with dishes on both that re-envision the classics—you’ll see stuff like locally-foraged Maine mushroom porridge, Ritz cracker halibut, and a lobster roll on a hand-laminated croissant. All the food is well-executed, especially any desserts or pastries, while the service feels attentive without being intrusive.

Bar Futo doesn’t take itself too seriously. There’s a secret chicken menu and they serve up a Big Mac skewer to nod to the fact that their space used to be a former Five Guys. Generally, though, they do a lot of cooking over Japanese binchotan, whether it’s all kinds of skewers or small plates like charred shishitos with horseradish ranch and Maine uni with potato mochi. Go for one of their highballs from their short cocktail menu.

Regards is a warmly-lit spot in the Arts District that has range. Grab a seat at their marble bar for a margarita with eucalyptus during their Happy Hour, or make a reservation at one of their banquettes and let their knowledgeable waitstaff walk you through their menu that’s inspired by the chefs and owners’ time spent in Los Angeles, Mexico City, New York City, and Maine. Come for cocktails, delicious desserts, and great seafood that goes beyond the usual suspects you’ll find in Portland.

The word "tavern" might make you think of a dark and rowdy pub with tired people in need of a heavy drink. And even though Wayside Tavern is snug and dim, this restaurant in a boutique hotel in a historic Portland building is a far cry from what we described in our first sentence. There’s a simple neon sign outside, and a green glowing interior with a fireplace for amped-up coziness inside. The staff is always friendly, and everything on their menu is expertly made and comforting.

We live for mornings with a coffee and pastry at Ugly Duckling, a bakeshop and luncheonette in Portland’s West End neighborhood. Stay awhile at their horseshoe counter to chat with the barista while you wait for a breakfast sandwich that comes on a homemade buttermilk English muffin. Or, stop on your way out of town to take one of their eclairs, Venezuelan cachitos, or constantly rotating flavors of trocaderos with you.

When you’re in Portland, there are two things you have to do: theorize about Stephen King’s childhood and attempt to eat your body weight in lobster and oysters. For the latter, head to Eventide Oyster Company, which serves some of the best seafood in the city. This small oyster bar near the East End carries 20 different types of bivalves, along with one of the most popular lobster rolls in town, which is served with brown butter in a steamed bun rather than the typical hot dog bun.

Island Creek Oysters harvests some of the world’s best oysters, supplying restaurants all over the country. Instead of scouring menus to find them, though, just stop by The Shop, where they sell a selection to the lucky people of Portland. It’s the perfect spot for an afternoon snack of a couple of dozen oysters and a bottle of wine.

Yosaku has withstood the test of time to become a Portland classic with their homestyle Japanese food that ranges from sushi to soba and teppanyaki. Fishmongers bring their freshest product to the sushi chefs here where the local catch becomes lobster sashimi or scallops on the half-shell served on little wooden boats. But what makes this place special is their large, outdoor patio with lots of space for big parties to enjoy their manicured Japanese garden.

If you’re celebrating a special birthday, or just enjoy a quick glass of champagne and oysters as much as we do, then Scales should definitely be on your shortlist of dinner reservations when visiting. In a town where seafood is on the menu nearly everywhere, this place sets itself apart by keeping things elegant and simple with quintessential New England classics like homemade breads, fish and chips, and a stunning dessert list that features Indian pudding and a butterscotch sundae.

Twenty years ago, Portland wasn’t the eating destination that it is today, but then Fore Street opened and that all changed. This was one of the first places in town to really focus on using local everything and today it’s still one of the city’s most popular restaurants. Eating here feels like you’re at a dinner party in a house you could never afford, with a large open kitchen in the middle of the restaurant and plenty of exposed wood to constantly remind you that you’re in Maine.