ET

Message: Am looking for suggestions re: B&B's, Inns, or a nice hotel. Want to surprise my husband with a weekend in Portland for his birthday. Please offer any suggestions or comments. We will be going in early February. I would love some restuarant recommendations as well. I thought I would try to make a reservation at The White Barn Inn for dinner on one night if possible. Would appreciate any and all suggestions. Thank you. ET

herself

Portland has many great restaurants. Fore St Grill, Cotton St. Cantina, Rachels are a few of my favorites. Nothing beats the White Barn. Go for it. I don't know about B&B's in the area, there is one very fine hotel in Old Port, it's an old armory. I have forgotten the name of it. Hope someone else can help you. Have fun.

Dick

The hotel in the old armory is the Portland Regency - nice place, and a great location right in the Old Port section of town.

Audrey

The Portland Regency is very nice and its location, in the middle of the Old Port, is great. The Pomegranite Inn is a good choice too. Street & Company is another good restaurant (same owner as Fore Street) as is Local 188, a new tapas-style restaurant. Big Mamas is a diner in the Old Port, and Bintliff is good for brunch. The White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport and Arrows in Ogunquit are my absolute favorites for an extraordinary dinner/special occasion. Let us know what you do!

Beth

The Pomegrante, 49 Neal Street, Portland, Maine 04102 - absolutely gorgeous. Every room is individually hand painted. This one stays at the very top of my list of B&Bs. Check out the website. On our arrival, the owners gave us their symphony tickets because they couldn't use them - made a great impression on us.

babycakes

Try Commisary in Portland. Mathew Kenney(who is from Maine) has opened this and it is reputed to be great. He has at least 2 wonderful restaurants in NYC that are getting great reviews.

Laura

I've lived in Portland and all the previous posts are right on. Pomegranite Inn, The Danforth, or the Inn at Spring are great B&B's (Pomegranite being tops); the Regency is wonderful as well. My favorite restaurant is Street & Company -- only fish on the menu. You need reservations, or get to the restaurant right at 5:30, when they open, put your name on the list (they reserve 30% of the tables for walk-ins) and then go across the way to Wharf Street Cafe, upstairs in the wine bar for a glass or two before dinner. Wharf Street also has a wonderful menu and it's very cozy. Fore STreet is always a favorite with the locals -- great food but I find it a bit noisy for my taste. Rachel's Wood Grill is always excellent. I've been to the new Commissary, which is in the Portland Public Market. It opens onto the market and can be cold and noisy, but the food is good. Not my favorite though. For sure White Barn Inn and Arrows are fabulous (service at the White Barn is almost TOO much -- your fork is replaced each time you put it down it seems). For after dinner in Portland, get tickets to the Comedy Connection -- a fun spot for great comedy.

Have a great time and feel free to email me with any other questions.