Permanently Closed - Tempo Dulu

Excellent experience!

I knew this was not going to be a restaurant where one is "fed." However, I thought it would be a superb dining experience. Regrettably, the preparation - execution of the food etc. didn't overcome the EXTREMELY small portions (the smallest I have ever encountered).

The octopus was overcooked - burnt almost and as such chewy. That was the appetizer. I opted for the vegetarian entrée -- the majority was a small bowl of plain white rice. Really? The risotto in my husband's beef entrée was undercooked. I have to admit the slither of coconut cake as dessert was lovely but, the portion was so tiny -- such a tease really -- it left me thoroughly unfulfilled.

Sorry -- although the restaurant's aesthetics are lovely...the food was supremely OVERRATED.

It was our anniversary and a celebration of a big birthday. The staff was fantastic, the sommelier was wonderful. We went with the restaurant week menu. This is a great special occasion spot. The portions are refreshingly small.

Outstanding food. And the wine pairings were spot on.

We love Indonesian and Asian Fusion food. This was the second time we went for a romantic dinner to Tempo Dulu and very much enjoyed the Chef's tasting menu (aka Indonesian Rijstafel). The restaurant (part of the Danforth Inn) has a wonderful ambiance, and the service was excellent.

Our experience last night was outstanding! The food was artful and exquisitely presented. All the flavors were spot on! We are hard to impress foodies and we were not let down. You MUST give this place a try! Wow. Wow. Wow.

Tempo Dulu is a delight. From the relaxed yet impeccable service to the delightful and innovative twists on food, this place is a must try in Portland! This was our second time, and I cannot wait for the third!! The mixologist makes excellent cocktails. The sommelier adjusted the tasting wine selection to accommodate my taste. We had a great time!

The bar was lovely; there were several amazing specialty drinks based on a Southeast Asia theme. The dining room was beautifully and tastefully decorated with items from Indonesia and Thailand; the noise level was low so we were able to have a lovely conversation while enjoying our dinner. The food in the restaurant was fantastic; every item on the menu was beautiful in presentation and had incredible flavor; a variety of Southeast Asian flavors such as sambal and tamarind were incorporated into the dishes. Service was superb; our waiter Harry was friendly and knowledgeable. We will absolutely come back to this restaurant again next time we are in Portland.

Tempo Dulu offers gourmet food of the highest quality as good as any NYC restaurant past or present. The flavors are are a work of culinary art masterpieces. The wine selection is perfect.
While the plates are on the small size, the massive tasting experience makes up for it.
Definitely worthwhile for a special occasion or a special person.

Enjoyed New Years Eve at the Danforth and the staff, cocktails and food were as wonderful as always. Only issues were that as we had booked through OpenTable we did not know that it was one sitting and arrived at the time of our booking only to have to wait an hour to be seated in the dining room. The bar Opium was lots of fun with a DJ and psychedelic lights, we had fun but it was not what we expected and might not have worked for us. The other issue was we were seated in the atrium beside the window and got horribly cold before the heating was turned on half an hour before we left.

We had the lobster tasting menu, it was excellent, creative.

A wonderful experience! The wine pairings were especially interesting and on target. One of our favorite places in New England.

An exceptional meal all around. Helpful but unintrusive service, subtle flavors, great portion sizes, lovely atmosphere.

Tempo Dulu is taking Indonesian Rijsttafel to new heights. Creativity is the one word that comes to mind while tasting these splendid flavors! The sommelier did an excellent job pairing the different courses with the appropriate wines. Highly recommend, this was our 2nd visit and we will be back!

This was among the best dining experiences we've ever. From food to service everything was impeccable. You will not be disappointed.

This was our third time at Tempo Dulu. We found the service amateurish and intrusive. The hostess greeted us with an inappropriately familiar comment on clothing; the bartender came to the table and introduced herself and shook our hands (???); way too many conversations were interrupted by the wait staff; and a conversation about our friends' check was inappropriately started at the table. The room is lovely and the food is very good and interesting, but the service needs work.

one of the best meals i've ever had.. stunning experience!

This restaurant flies low - almost under the radar - when people talk about restaurants in Portland. However, it deserves much more notice. We stumbled upon it as we ran down a list of restaurants looking for a 6:30PM booking. This was the only one that could accommodate us.

The food, drink and service here are outstanding, but you'll pay for it. This may be one of the most expensive restaurants in Portland, but you're paying for very attentive wait staff, knowledgable sommelier, superb food and exquisite wine pairings. I'm not a cocktail drinker, but the sip I had of one was amazingly good. Portions are small, but we all left feeling well satisfied. If you can afford it, try it.

Entrees were excellent t. Appetizers not so much. We had the crab and corn- really soupy- but if it were a soup it would be too thick. They take themselves a little to seriously.

It was a memorable evening of dining---some of the best food we've ever eaten + service.
All details were thought of including extra appetizers, explanations of the menu, etc.

It was very expensive for Portland----more a concern for the longevity of the restaurant----but worth the pleasure for us.

We will return to enjoy the bar----The signature drink, Jakarta was outstanding!

Over the top staff attitude, could have cut back on pretentiousness, at least from the bartender and dining room manager. Still, an enjoyable experience for special occasions.

A true fine dining experience in a beautifully designed restaurant and hip lounge with some of the best cocktails we have ever had. The food was complex , delicious and beautifully plated. Service attentive and friendly. Top dining experience .

My husband and I really enjoyed our dinner. Handmade cocktails, fine service, experienced sommelier and of course creative, delicious food. The atmosphere was quiet, relaxing and decorated beautifully for Autumn (Oct 15).

Inventive take on Indonesian food. Wonderful service and staff. A gentleman at a neighboring table set his napkin and tablecloth on fire while paying his bill (!). I mean a real fire with tall flames and stuff. So there's that. Here is a line you don't often hear a waiter utter in a restaurant: "Sir, your table is on fire." The staff handled it with humor and grace. The guy paid and left calmly, as if nothing at all had happened. The Candid Camera team never materialized as expected. A trip highlight, for sure. We had the "rice table," which was delicious, but more food than humans should eat at a sitting. Good food in a cool setting.

I cannot say enough good things about Tempo Dulu. Yes, it's expensive. We each got the four-course meal for $70 (which, with all the free courses they bring you, is closer to an 8-course meal). But the food is so creative – and more importantly, so insanely delicious and unique and memorable – that the price doesn't matter.

Here are some highlights for us: The Maine lobster poached in lobster butter over crabmeat fried rice; the pork belly w/ five-spice egg, cilantro puree and sambal tamarind glaze; the halibut w/ grilled pineapple puree and chiles; the hoi tod w/ smoked oysters; the lime mouse dessert; the free rice cakes w/ dipping sauces; etc., etc., etc.

Portland has a lot of amazing restaurants. Tempo Dulu is among the best of the best. Go as soon as you can.

A wonderful experience highlighted by a very inventive menu which was executed at a good pace and with professional service. A quiet setting focusing on the food. Well worth a special splurge.

Chef's tasting menus was an excellent way to experience all the tastes of this East Asian food. The serve rice was timely and excellent. The sommelier was very informative as were his different cocktails. Very pleasant quiet setting. Never felt rushed. The portions were more then adequate.

We had a memorable dinner at Tempo Dulu while visiting Portland, which has become quite a foodie destination. We dined on a quiet night, with only 1 or 2 other tables filled. The ambience is great, and although the restaurant was empty, the music was upbeat with an 80s's vibe and added to our dining experience. The cocktail menu is creative but the bartender was happy to create a new drink for me. I chose the lobster tasting menu and OMG, it is a meal that I will never forget. The lobster bisque was uniquely amazing, and every course included delicious ,adventurous ingredients . Caroline served us very professionally, yet was friendly and not stiff or stuffy. One of my top dining experiences.

Fantastic food. A wonderful experience.

We recently went to Tempo Dulu for our anniversary. We've been several times but it is one of those places that says "special occasion". It just has this quality about it, upscale and refined, and you feel special when you are there. The food is amazing, probably the most inventive in Portland, and the service is fantastic. Really recommend Tempo Dulu highly.

I live in Portland and have eaten at most of its restaurants, and I think that Tempo Dulu is the best.

Really awesome guys well done

Outstanding food, beautifully presented in an elegant setting. Best restaurant in Portland.

Had the lobster tasting. Totally amazing presentation, unique and exceptional.

Wow! Hard to impress in this town of great restaurants, but we were impressed. Most formal dining experience in the City right now, but still comfortable. Don't miss it.

The experience was marvelous- we had the tasting menu (reichstaffel?) and the floors were extraordinary.
The meal takes a long time, so it is perfect if the dinner is a special occasion or if you really want to talk. Also, the cocktail menu was incredible- creative, interesting and fun.

The restaurant is beautiful and so is most of the food but it wasn't unique enough or flavorful enough to justify the prices. Even if I had lid usual restaurant prices I wouldn't return. One course chosen by the chef as pet of the 4 course menu was green gazpacho - no seafood, no cream, just murky green veggies in an unseasoned broth. Gazpacho is not hard!

Fantastic date night. Very expensive, so not a weekly visit, but delicious!

This is allegedly the most expensive restaurant in Portland Maine now...and it probably is. Tab for 3 w/ tip was $360. BUT it was an incredible culinary experience. All 3 of us got a tasting menu and it was superb. This is a place for your anniversary or Valentine's e.g. once a year but it will be memorable.

Excellent service and a very creative Indonesian/Asian/Continental fusion Menu..
Great Somalier, fun presentation of cocktails and delicate flavours!