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Scales, Portland, ME

Scales

4.9 (6790)
$31 to $50
Seafood
68-72 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 120 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
  • Hot spot
A traditional New England restaurant with modern touches, Scales is located on Maine Wharf next to the Casco Bay Ferry Terminal. Enjoy classic fried seafood as well as locally sourced land fare, while enjoying the view of a quintessential working Maine harbor.

Bar seating is available for dinner service by reservation only. Please check with the host to inquire about bar seating.

Our lounge is open for cocktails and raw bar every day beginning at 4:00pm.

We are only able to seat complete parties at this time. Please note: our patio reservations are weather dependent. If we need to make a change because of weather, we will call you on the day of your reservation to cancel or reschedule your booking.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, American, Contemporary French
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:30 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Frederic Eliot
  • Neighborhood
    Portland
  • Parking details
    We have complimentary valet parking while you are dining with us.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 6,790 people are saying

Scales reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Maine

    Hot spot

  • Maine

    Most Booked

  • Greater Portland

    Best Overall

  • Greater Portland

    Best Food

  • Greater Portland

    Best Service

  • Greater Portland

    Best Ambiance

  • Greater Portland

    Innovative

  • Greater Portland

    Good for groups

  • Greater Portland

    Hot spot

  • Greater Portland

    Great for fine wines

  • Greater Portland

    Good for special occasions

  • Greater Portland

    Lively

  • Greater Portland

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Scales in Portland offers a truly "amazing experience" with its exceptional seafood and impeccable service. Enjoy "some of the best scallops" and "delicious" creative dishes in a cozy, maritime ambiance. The waitstaff is attentive, ensuring a memorable dining experience. Reservations are recommended for this bustling waterfront gem.
6,790 Reviews
  1. Lauren

    New York City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing food and service! We Can’t wait to go back!

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  2. Sandy

    Houston1 review

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Scales is a must if you are visiting Portland! Best food and ambience in town. The halibut and hasselback potato are the best.

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  3. Richard

    Atlanta2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely host showed us to our table just as we were about to order a bottle of wine from the very wine-knowledgeable bar waitress. So, we continued that order with our excellent, wine-knowledgeable, table waitress. She was very helpful assisting us in decisions regarding this or that appetizer, order of plates, etc. The preparations were “spot-on,” perfectly prepared, excellent sauces, and impeccable quality seafood.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Patricia

    Greater Boston3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Best fish and chips ever! Our server was wonderful. It’s a very busy, loud place but we had a great view of the water. We try to come here every time we visit Portland.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Katherine

    Kansas City / Kansas1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was amazing! If we are in Maine again we will be back

    Is this helpful?

  6. Paul VIP

    Phoenix / Arizona28 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    So loud it’s hard to have a conversation at your own table.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Kimberly

    Denver / Colorado2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Scales never disappoints. The food, drinks, service and vibe was amazing. It isn't cheap to eat here but worth every penny.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Rick VIP

    Houston42 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My husband has never had such a thick piece of swordfish. It was delicious. The scallops were the best I’ve had. Loved the chunks of bacon. The sauce with the oyster mushrooms and asparagus was delicious. Recommend the brown butter bread

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  9. William

    Greater Boston3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a good take. Scales has the best raw bar in the city. A granite counter with a trough for the ice and shell fish. Staff is knowledgeable and has resources at their disposal to answer questions about the expansive menu. We usually take bar seating and order raw bar and appetizers until we are full.

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  10. Cari

    Philadelphia County9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We had an excellent dinner from start to finish. Loved the selection on the menu as well as the daily specials. The wine selection and unique cocktails were also excellent. Quality of ingredients, preparation and presentation are at the highest level. The fried oysters were some of the best I’ve ever had and the black cod was divine. Service was impeccable- attentive but not cloying and each course was timed perfectly. It’s a cavernous dining room, so expect some noise. Overall, a wonderful, top notch dining experience.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Scales is rated 4.9 stars by 6790 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Maine
  4. Greater Portland
  5. Portland

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 120 times today
Google Map for Scales

68-72 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Portland
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:30 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, American, Contemporary French
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    We have complimentary valet parking while you are dining with us.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Frederic Eliot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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