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Scales, Portland, ME

Scales

4.8
4.8
6523 Reviews
$31 to $50
Seafood

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
  • 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
    (207) 805-0444
  • 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 6,523 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
  • 4.9Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Maine

    Hot spot

  • Maine

    Lively

  • Maine

    Most Booked

  • Greater Portland

    Best Overall

  • Greater Portland

    Best Food

  • Greater Portland

    Best Service

  • Greater Portland

    Best Ambiance

  • Greater Portland

    Innovative

  • Greater Portland

    Hot spot

  • Greater Portland

    Great for fine wines

  • Greater Portland

    Romantic

  • Greater Portland

    Lively

  • Greater Portland

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Scales is a standout dining destination in Portland, praised for its "excellent seafood" and "impeccable service." Diners rave about the "best dessert in Portland" and the "fantastic atmosphere." While reservations are recommended due to its popularity, Scales consistently delivers a "top-notch experience" with fresh, flavorful dishes and attentive staff.

6,523 Reviews
  1. Gayle

    Greater Boston

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was our first time dining at scales, but definitely not our last. Everything was outstanding!

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  2. Kevin

    Greater Boston

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The food was terrific, of course. There was one entree, the fluke, that they had run out of, so ordered the haddock instead. Delicious. I think I was most please with the endive & stilton salad, believe it or not. Everything was so good, but I could've had seconds on the salad! The host was great. The server was fantastic. She was polite, friendly. The place was slammed, full, and LOUD. Employees hustling in every direction, and yet she was patient, and warm. She never made us feel as if we should hurry. She was attentive, but not pushy. Oh, on of the coolest moments...they have valet parking...and this young man was literally running from car to car as he parked them and retrieved them. Not simply walking quick, he was running. Hustling that hard, and yet EXTREMELY pleasant and polite. When I saw he was a 20-something, I had to ask if he could even drive a stick. He answered that he could, and he did like he had years of experience doing it. When we came out, things were a bit slower, he was standing at his station in 20'F, and he retrieved our vehicle right away, we waited maybe 2 minutes. Overall, a great experience. Again.

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  3. Leigh

    VIP

    Maine

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was great I had the bavette steak (I know why) wasn’t the mood for seafood I guess. The bavette steak was amazing and my friend had the scallops. That looked amazing and she said they were terrific. Also fun to see movie star, William Defoe in the house.

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  4. Allison

    VIP

    Denver

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Tom was wonderful! Food delish. The seafood stew was perfectly cooked juicy and tender fish and shellfish, the flavor was so good unlike anything I’ve tasted and we are foodies. Branzino perfectly cooked bust slightly under seasoned as was the swordfish. Scallops delicious, salmon well prepared. We came early so noise levels were good . Will be back !

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  5. jamie

    New York City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Locals with a first time visit to Scales in the Off season. Loved the ambiance and food. We will be back!

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  6. Cindy

    Poconos

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful service, food, and atmosphere. Great variety on the menu.

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  7. Susan

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    25 reviews

    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Reliably delicious, from beginning to end! Halibut in a lemony brown butter with hazelnuts;, scallops in a smoky bacon mushroom cream sauce ; even the crunchy chopped salad —all uniquely prepared. Service was attentive and friendly. We finished with the best dessert in Portland: the butterscotch sundae on frozen custard, with maple whipped cream and salty popcorn on top— umami and addictive!

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  8. Mark

    Greater Boston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great seafood, maybe the best in Portland. Our server was terrific.

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  9. Mary

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on January 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The meal was excellent and the staff was very attentive. We were seated in a booth noise level was reasonable

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  10. Ingrid

    Maine

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was delicious and delightful! Thank you!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Scales is rated 4.8 stars by 6523 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
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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