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Scales, Portland, ME

Scales

4.9
4.9
6725 Reviews
$31 to $50
Seafood
68-72 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 174 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 4:30pm Sunday - Thursday, and 4:00pm Friday - Saturday.

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 5:00 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 6,725 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
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Maine

    Best Overall

  • Maine

    Hot spot

  • Maine

    Great for scenic views

  • Maine

    Lively

  • Maine

    Most Booked

  • Greater Portland

    Best Overall

  • Greater Portland

    Best Food

  • Greater Portland

    Best Service

  • Greater Portland

    Best Ambiance

  • Greater Portland

    Best Value

  • 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 "perfect dining experience" with exceptional service, a "cool harbor vibe," and "amazing" seafood dishes. The ambiance is lively yet welcoming, and the waterfront location enhances the authentic Maine coastal feel. Frequent diners praise its consistency, making it a must-visit for seafood lovers.

6,725 Reviews
  1. Shawne

    Greater Boston1 review

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The whole operation - wait staff, delievery of dishes, cleaning up, was very smooth and quick without the feel of being hurried. Well done.

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  2. Carol

    Greater Boston6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great atmosphere, excellent food! Can’t wait to go back. Our first time here and we knew that reservations would be needed - we opted for the bar…a lot happening behind here for food prep - this was obviously a very well-run operation and clearly every employee was enjoying their role. It was amazing how smoothly it all ran as the restaurant filled up. Clearly reservations are recommended/needed as this is a very popular spot. Nice menu, great variety. My one disappointment was when I ordered the Endive and Stilton Salad. I am a HUGE fan of Stilton and found that it was lacking in my salad. I should have called attention to this but was so happy with all the rest of this meal/experience that I did not mention it. We will definitely be back to sample more from this great restaurant!

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  3. Shannon

    Greater Boston3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Lived up to the hype, food was excellent. Best piece of halibut I have ever had, scallops were "in the top three" according to my husband. Service was timely and efficient. Noise level was high, given the open concept and high ceilings that was to be expected. Would recommend a window seat for the view of the wharf if possible.

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  4. Leonie

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My experience was amazing. I love the ambiance of the restaurant. The food was great. We ordered the stuffed lobster and salmon. They are a must try. Also, the clover rolls melted in my mouth. Best bread I’ve ever tried.

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  5. Melissa

    Greater Boston1 review

    3.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    We usually love Scales, but this visit jut did not measure up. We ordered rolls the same time as we ordered out drinks, and still did not have it by the time we got apps. I assume the waitress never put them in. We enjoyed most of our meals except for the potato crusted cod. The entire dish had no flavor except for the veg. It was really odd how under seasoned the dish was. I was also expecting a layer of thinly sliced potatoes to make up the crust but it looked like just a little crumble on top. Very disappointing, don't know if we will be back.

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  6. Brianna VIP

    Greater Boston1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a great experience for our first time at Scales. I let the restaurant know with my reservation that it was my boyfriend’s birthday, and he received a birthday card and a candle/Happy Birthday message on the dessert we ordered. Oysters were fresh, our appetizer and main dishes were very good, service was exceptional. We will be back!

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  7. Lisa VIP

    Greater Boston51 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Always perfect at Scales. Service, food, and vibes.

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  8. Courtney

    Greater Boston2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great atmosphere. Very friendly staff. Delicious food Everytime

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  9. Liz

    New York City4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Had a great meal there for the 2nd time. Everything was delicious and love the vibe of this place. Chowder, Cloverleaf rolls, fish and chips Hassleback baked potato, lobster roll and butterscotch sundae were really yummy, One of the best meals you can have in Portland!

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  10. Jo-Ann

    Atlanta9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Duncan was very attentive and made our evening more enjoyable!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Scales is rated 4.9 stars by 6725 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 174 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 5:00 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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