Scales

Name: Scales
Address: 68-72 Commercial St, Portland, ME, United States, 04101
Telephone: (207) 805-0444
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.8

4.8

4438 Reviews

$31 to $50

Seafood

Top Tags:

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.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 3, 2022

8:30 PM

Booked 63 times today

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Seafood, American, Contemporary French
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(207) 805-0444
Website
http://scalesrestaurant.com/
Payment options
AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Frederic Eliot
Private party contact
Assistant Front of House Coordinator Kelly Scharf: (207) 805-0444

Location
68-72 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101
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

Featured in

Popular dishes

Maine Clam Chowder
- Cup$8.25
- Bowl$12.50
Tomato & Fennel Soup
confit mussels
- Cup$7.25
- Bowl$11.00
Green Salad$12.00
mixed lettuces, cucumber, red wine vinaigrette
Chopped Vegetables$13.50
iceberg, crisp lettuces, creamy buttermilk dressing
Endive & Stilton$14.50
crispy prosciutto, sourdough croutons, dijon vinaigrette
Asparagus$14.50
Spring herbs, shaved mushrooms, smoked almonds, goat gouda, lemon

Appetizers

Maine Steamer Clams$19.50
drawn butter, white wine broth
Bangs Island Mussels$18.50
hard cider, Raye's mustard, cream, dill
Salt Cod Croquettes$10.50
roasted pepper aioli
Smoked Bluefish Paté$13.50
olive & caper relish, toasted sourdough
Fried Cauliflower$13.50
cucumber yogurt sauce, herbs
Grilled Octopus$19.00
chorizo & hazelnut vinaigrette, crispy yuca
Crab Fritters$15.50
Jonah crab, tartar sauce, radishes
Fried Oysters
tartar sauce, smoked jalapeño aioli
- Side$21.00
- Plate$34.00
Fried Squid & Cherry Peppers
tartar sauce, smoked jalapeño aioli
- Side$18.00
- Plate$32.00
Fried Whole Belly Clams
tartar sauce, smoked jalapeño aioli; available in Side or Plate
- Market

Raw Bar

On the Half Shell

served with house cocktail sauce, seaweed mignonette & lemon

Oysters*
- 1/2 Dozen$18.00
- 1 Dozen$34.00
Littleneck Clams*
- 1/2 Dozen$11.50
- 1 Dozen$21.50

Fish & Shellfish

Kingfish Crudo*$19.00
Fresno chili, garlic, lime, tempura crisps
Halibut Ceviche*$16.00
roasted pineapple hot sauce, jalapeño, corn crisp
Tuna Crudo*$19.00
lemon aioli, fried shallot, fennel, Aleppo pepper
Tuna Tartare*$18.00
maitake confit, pumpkin seeds, black garlic

Sea

Pan Roasted Halibut$44.00
brown butter, hazelnuts, Maine fingerling potatoes, lemon
Seared Scallops*$42.00
asparagus, applewood bacon, oyster mushroom, spinach, morel cream
Pan Roasted King Salmon*$44.00
spring vegetable ragout, tarragon butter
Baked Haddock$39.00
morel mushrooms, salsify, cipollini onion, fumet cream
Grilled Swordfish$44.00
tarbais beans, kale, red pepper & pine nut vinaigrette
Broiled Cod$37.00
mushroom & leek ragout, hakurei turnips, mustard beurre blanc
Seafood Stew$38.00
clams, mussels, white fish, squid, pancetta, roasted fennel, soffrito
Fish & Chips$28.50
beer battered cod, tartar sauce, smoked jalapeño aioli
Grilled Whole Branzino$34.00
roasted almond butter, paprika, coriander, grilled lemon
Fried Whole Market Fish
citrus-chili slaw, sweet & sour vinaigrette
- Market
Steamed Maine Lobster
cornbread, coleslaw, drawn butter
- Market
Pan Roasted Lobster
fines herbes pan sauce, toasted pullman, butter lettuce
- Market

Land

Pineland Farm Bavette Steak*$38.00
Spring Brook Reading, potato gratin, maitake
Pan Roasted Duck Breast*$42.00
smoked duck & pistachio sausage, chard, confit potato
Short Rib Pot Roast$41.00
roasted root vegetables, red wine beef jus

Sandwiches

served with French fries, coleslaw & a dill pickle on house-made bread

Scales Warm Buttered Lobster Roll
griddled split top roll, house mayonnaise
- Market
Fried Fish Sandwich$18.50
iceberg lettuce, tartar sauce, sesame bun
Grass-Fed Cheeseburger*$18.50
Caldwell Farm beef, aged white cheddar, burger sauce

Vegetables & Sides

French Fries
- Side$5.50
- Plate$7.50
Loaded Hasselback Potato$12.50
Cauliflower Gratin with Bacon and Gruyère$8.25
Broccolini with Guanciale$8.50
Scales Coleslaw$4.50

What 4,438 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.8Service
4.7Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Boston / New England
Seafood
Maine
Best Food
Maine
Hot spot
Maine
Seafood
Maine
Most Booked

Sort by

Filters

o
oliveswhoeat
Atlantic Canada
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Scales did not disappoint. The Crab Fritters and Pistachio Cake were amazing, and the bartender made delicious signature cocktails that were flavorful and original. The atmosphere was fun and decorated beautifully for the festive season!!
CW
CecilyW
New England
8 reviews
vip
4.0
8 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall4food4service5ambience4
I ordered the seafood stew that wasn’t nearly as abundant or flavorful as usual . My dining companions ordered the salted cod cakes and mussels that were superb as usual. The tuba crudo was a little bland . Overall only 4 stars tonight but I will go back again hoping I just hit the chef on an off night
OT
OpenTable Diner
Charleston
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Date night with spouse. Wonderful, and Delicious every time!
JG
JosephG
New York Area
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall3food3service4ambience4
Very nice ambiance and good food but Fore street and Street and Company are the better of the bunch.
LM
LizM
New England
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Exceptional as always.
JN
JoanN
New England
16 reviews
vip
5.0
16 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
As always, food, service, and ambiance excellent. Without a doubt one of the most professional restaurants in Portland serving consistently great food. Highly recommend the seafood stew, fish and chips, scallops, and the rolls are heavenly.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service4ambience4
As usual our taste buds were doing their happy dance! Everything we have eaten at Scales is spectacular.
EB
EllenB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great restaurant. We shared the octopus, Halibut ceviche, whole fried clams, and several breads as appetizers. I wished any of these items were served as main courses. The scallops in my entree were properly seared and the entire dish was delicious, very rich. Everything was well prepared and tasted like MORE!
MR
MichelleR
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
This place was awesome! Sitting at the bar, we had Sam our server and he was right on top of everything. Food and drinks and recommendation. He did it with a smile and great energy. Everyone was fantastic. Food was outstanding and worth the wait!
S
Scoot
New York Area
16 reviews
vip
5.0
16 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Octopus, halibut, tuda crudo all must haves...one of best meals you'll ever enjoy.
D
Datenight
New England
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Went for our 2 year anniversary and it was amazing! Incredible service and the food was scrumptious!!!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great place
CL
CitizenLambertville
New York Area
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food, service, setting excellent. I little hard to find at the end of a pier if you are not from the area, but in the end that adds to the atmosphere.
MS
MicheleS
New England
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
As always, the food was excellent and the service was outstanding.
CC
ChristinaC
New Orleans
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 26, 2022
overall4food3service4ambience5
Pretty dining room with nice lights. Fresh fish displayed on ice in front of the kitchen. Food was good but heavy on the salt (clam chowder and black bass special). We had a similar problem at their sister restaurant, Fore Street and the waiter said the chef was “bold” with the seasoning. I would suggest the kitchens have a lighter hand with the salt. Cloverleaf rolls were very good.
m
moody
New England
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 25, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Each experience at Scales is wonderful! The food is delicious and the staff is outstanding!
WW
WendyW
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 25, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The sourdough bread with the steamers was exceptional. The bar staff was great.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Scales is our go-to everytime we come to Portland...
JL
JohnL
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great restaurant…. Highly recommend Wonderful ambiance
B
Barbara
New England
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 22, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
Perfectly prepared seafood. Excellent wine list. OMG, the bread. Beautiful spot. My pick for a special dinner in Portland.
MC
MarkC
New England
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on November 21, 2022
overall3food3service5ambience4
I enjoy Scales very much. Good and Service excellent. I must admit I was quite disappointed in the haddock dish. It appeared to be a very small piece of fish smothered in a crème sauce. I would certainly recommend Scales but not this fish. It seemed to be very little to eat for a $39.00 charge.
j
js485squid
New England
34 reviews
5.0
34 reviews
Dined on November 21, 2022
overall5food4service4ambience3
Excellent roast lobster, pastrami tuna, salads, frappes, steak. Service excellent. Noisy though.
AR
AndrewR
San Francisco
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great experience and food, service was on point and drinks were excellent.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Halibut was fantastic and our server was so attentive.
JS
JimS
New England
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Outstanding seafood restaurant with wonderful selection and preparation. The service is first rate as well.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was superb
J
Joanna
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
I was on a girls trip and our first dinner was at scales. It was perfect. An upscale but approachable vibe. Gave me a warm, cozy feel being in there. The food was delicious and our waitress was on top of everything and super professional. Loved scales, can’t wait to come back!
LS
LindaS
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 19, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience5
The appetizers were 5 star. Very good crab fritters, salad, oysters and the most fabulous octopus. The main meals were very good, served hot, but we all felt they were over-salted, compared to the last time we ate there. The dessert was very homey - apple cake. A bit too underwhelming for $11. It should have had some actual pieces of roasted apples or a better cake element. Just okay. The service was good. We liked our waitress, but we weren't asked if we liked the food until the very end of the meal. All in all a 4, especially considering the cost. Still, I like the place and would recommend others to go. Nice vibe in many ways. Oh, the cocktails were first rate and the wine was very nice.
BB
BillB
New England
16 reviews
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on November 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service as always. Best seafood place in Portland hands down.
MB
MichelleB
New York Area
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our son’s birthday dinner. The food was beyond our expectations.
v
vtouch82
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food and service was great! Shout out to our waiter Neil! Very pleasant and all around great service. Will definitely comeback again! ❤
B
Beth
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is just a magical dining experience!!! Yes, it is costly. But if you want delicious, flavor exploding food in an awesome environment, this is your spot!!! The staff are so knowledgeable about the items they offer. Has been my favorite for years!!! Thank you!
J
Jeff
New England
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Just a great experience, from cocktails, to oysters at the bar, to an excellent meal, followed by an espresso and a little aperitivo!
LZ
LauraZ
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
amazing as always ...............................................................................
T
Travelchef
San Francisco
18 reviews
5.0
18 reviews
Dined on November 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Crowded but fun…bouncing with good energy. Excellent food, generous servings.Great efficient staff and friendly. Lovely decor, attractive lighting, lots of windows bringing the outside in. Definitely worth returning to!
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing food and great service! Charlotte was awesome, attentive and described the dishes perfectly.
B
Boodles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing service and food, great atmosphere! 100% recommend this place!
HD
HenryD
New England
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on November 15, 2022
overall3food5service2ambience4
Server forgot to bring one of our first courses. Unusual for Scales
j
js485squid
New England
35 reviews
5.0
35 reviews
Dined on November 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience3
Roast lobster outstanding, pastrami tuna outstanding special appetizer, French fries and coleslaw excellent, frappe excellent, steak excellent, steamers excellent, cod excellent. Great seafood restaurant with outstanding chef.
SA
SallyA
New York Area
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Wonderful food, great service,server attentive but not intrusive. However acoustics are terrible and as a result the noise level too high for the evening to be enjoyable.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
- Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

Scales is rated 4.8 stars by 4438 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 3, 2022

8:30 PM

Booked 63 times today

68-72 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101

Dining areas

Additional information

Neighborhood
Portland
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
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

Website
http://scalesrestaurant.com/
Phone number
(207) 805-0444
Private party contact
Assistant Front of House Coordinator Kelly Scharf: (207) 805-0444

Scales

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

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Seafood Stew

Oysters

Seared Scallops

House-Made Breads

Ramp Rolls$5.25

Anadama Bread$4.25

New England Cornbread$4.25

Griddled Brown Bread$3.25

Soups & Salads

Maine Clam Chowder

Tomato & Fennel Soup

Green Salad$12.00

Chopped Vegetables$13.50

Endive & Stilton$14.50

Asparagus$14.50

Appetizers

Maine Steamer Clams$19.50

Bangs Island Mussels$18.50

Salt Cod Croquettes$10.50

Smoked Bluefish Paté$13.50

Fried Cauliflower$13.50

Grilled Octopus$19.00

Crab Fritters$15.50

Fried Oysters

Fried Squid & Cherry Peppers

Fried Whole Belly Clams

Raw Bar

On the Half Shell

Oysters*

Littleneck Clams*

Fish & Shellfish

Kingfish Crudo*$19.00

Halibut Ceviche*$16.00

Tuna Crudo*$19.00

Tuna Tartare*$18.00

Sea

Pan Roasted Halibut$44.00

Seared Scallops*$42.00

Pan Roasted King Salmon*$44.00

Baked Haddock$39.00

Grilled Swordfish$44.00

Broiled Cod$37.00

Seafood Stew$38.00

Fish & Chips$28.50

Grilled Whole Branzino$34.00

Fried Whole Market Fish

Steamed Maine Lobster

Pan Roasted Lobster

Land

Pineland Farm Bavette Steak*$38.00

Pan Roasted Duck Breast*$42.00

Short Rib Pot Roast$41.00

Sandwiches

Scales Warm Buttered Lobster Roll

Fried Fish Sandwich$18.50

Grass-Fed Cheeseburger*$18.50

Vegetables & Sides

French Fries

Loaded Hasselback Potato$12.50

Cauliflower Gratin with Bacon and Gruyère$8.25

Broccolini with Guanciale$8.50

Scales Coleslaw$4.50

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Sort by

Filters

Cleaning & sanitizing

Screening

FAQs

How is Scales restaurant rated?

Is Scales currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas