Reviews of Eventide Oyster Co. (Restaurant)

Adrian Cote

There's a reason the line is around the block and you have to wait to get in during tourist season. This place is worth it. You'll get to sample some of Maine's finest oysters here and the lobster rolls are great too. It gets 5 stars from me because I'm local and can wait till the crowds die down off season to enjoy them. But if your from out of town and want to try some great tasting oysters it's worth the wait.

Casey Maher

Spectacular, the best meal we had in Maine- hands down, full stop. If you are looking for a modern take on the classics this place hits everyone. You order a bunch of small dishes so you get to taste many things, every single dish was a perfect 10, honestly. I'm not easy, being a New Yorker, and this place was perfection.

Mary Conrad

Food was great. The way they allow you to put your number in and receive a text is convenient. It’s fresh and airy in atmosphere. Super clam chowder. Best lobster stew. The lobster roll and delicious. The oysters are perfect. Staff is hardworking.

Jason O’Brien

Great food, but a place you go knowing you’re going to drop a lot of money to get full. Go with a group so you can try a lot of things if you’re trying to not spend your whole paycheck.

Megan Cheek

One of the best bites I've ever had is the lobster roll at Eventide. It's AMAZING! They're a bit pricey and on the smaller side, but they are incredible. Just order more than one ;-)

Maxine Cohen

Unique seafood and superb service UPDATE: We went again and had a much harder time of it. I had made a reservation under my maiden name and the hostess and the manager were as inhospitable as can be. I understand most people don't know how to use technology, but don't make your clientele (they had my previous reservation on file) feel degraded. Luckily, the bartender opened up some space for us and we got to eat at the bar. Not too surprising, the hostess noticed immediately that we had sat at the bar and asked if we still wanted our table. Their excuse was there is a Phish concert. News Flash: you're supposed to plan for these sorts of things in the F&B Industry...not an acceptable excuse.

Damon Loper

Believe the hype ~ Eventide Oyster Co. in Portland, ME has it all. From the moment you walk in, you know that oysters are the lead players here. But, if you aren't a fan of oysters, try one of the best lobster rolls you'll ever have or the Butter Swordfish Belly Masala. They have a busy location near Portland's port with incredibly creative, fun, delicious food and remarkably attentive service.

Aurora Vintilescu

This place is crazy good! The lobster rolls are to die for! Waited in line for like 45 minutes just to get on the wait list, but it was all absolutely worth it. We also had the lobster stew, which was amazing, and really good sparking rose. Totally recommend checking this place out if in Portland.

Alexander Hong

Amazing food. This place is not cheap, but you get what you pay for - some of the best food you'll ever consume. I visited this place by myself on the recommendation of two friends. It was around 5PM on a weekday but already busy; I was seated at the bar. I ordered 6 oysters and chose two condiments - the bartender said "I'm going to throw in some of our red onion ice for you" - which I will be eternally grateful for, because that RED ONION ICE was one of the BEST things I have tasted in my entire life! After I finished my oysters, I seriously spooned the rest of the ice into my mouth, like I was eating a snow cone ... I also ordered their lobster stew - I asked the bartender between the stew and lobster roll, which should I order - she said the roll was the "Eventide experience", but the stew was her favorite, so I went with her recommendation. Wow, that stew was fantastic. Really, wow wow. The next time I'm in Maine, I'm definitely going back to this place!

Wang Suya

Great oyster!!! So fresh and meaty. Clam bake is also a star!

Evan Carew

Good drinks, and the happy hour raw oysters we're great.

Jamie Lai

Contrary to some other reviews I found the staff to be friendly and helpful! We didn't get there until an hour before closing so much of the oyster offerings were gone. The smoked clam dip was good. Would get that again.

Dawn Faris

1/2 Dozen oysters, clam chowder, buttered lobster roll, and a Whoopi pie, my husband and I split it all. Everything was so amazing, we will definitely be returning next time we're in Portland.

Chester Elliott

This place is super hip. We had a two hour wait on a Saturday afternoon so we walked around town and got a text when our table was almost ready. Had the best oysters I've ever had here. The lobster roll was very non-traditional but delicious nonetheless. I had one bite of the tuna crudo and was blown away by the quality of the fish.

Kathryn Kehoe

Oysters very good. Clam chowder, not. Staff has some weird attitude that they aren’t in the service business. Not a place I would ever wait to get into.

Scott Wilezol

I LOVE Eventide! So many raw options...everything I had was clean, sweet and fresh. Halibut was wonderful raw. Tuna was really tasty, with those Asian flavors. Really enjoyed the lobster roll, and the brown butter gave it a different twist, with deeper flavors. Nice beer selection too. There can be quite a crowd at times. Worth a visit! I will be back!

Korey McKinney

10/10 oysters, amazing tiki drinks

Adrian Cote

There's a reason the line is around the block and you have to wait to get in during tourist season. This place is worth it. You'll get to sample some of Maine's finest oysters here and the lobster rolls are great too. It gets 5 stars from me because I'm local and can wait till the crowds die down off season to enjoy them. But if your from out of town and want to try some great tasting oysters it's worth the wait.

R. L.

The buzz is real. Try the clam bake, with mussels, clams, potatoes, pork belly, and even a lobster tail. It's enough for two to share for a light meal or split a sandwich or grab a bowl of chowder to make it a dinner. Good beer selection.

Greg

Food was good, Service was great, not sure what the other reviews were talking about with bad service. The downside is the price. It is expensive and the portions are laughable tiny.

Dan Granucci

They do a great job with more common dishes and give them a world class feel. The lobster roll isnt cheap but it is amazing. The soup/stew were great. Oysters including their signature flavored ice are worth ordering and the ice cream sandwich for dessert is so simple but is one of the best desserts going.

Andrea Olson

Even if the wait is 2.5hours long, still put your name down. It's worth it. My first time having oysters and I'm so pleased it was here. Great server, Meg, who was funny, knowledgeable and shared with us that she spent time in Vermont (we live in Burlington, VT). Great vibe and menu. Just go!

Linda McLoon

Really fantastic selection of local oysters. Delicious but unusual lobster roll served warm on a steamed bun topped with warm browned butter. Heavenly. Lobster stew is also great!!

Alice Benson

Excellent fish options. Wait times are noted but put your name in and enjoy other sites the city has to offer. If you come to Portland put this restaurant on your list, you won't be disappointed!

Daniel Zinski

Had some ups and downs with this place. Their entire bao bun menu is a let down. Cocktails or good but not great, oysters and clams were fantastic. Some other foods had great flavor but middle of the road quality. Overall a good spot. Service and atmosphere were great and casual.

Nicolas Holthaus

Great seaside venue for traditional Maine lobster and raw and fried seafood. The stuffed lobster was to die for. There's also a feast selection of locally sourced raw oysters.

Casey Maher

Spectacular, the best meal we had in Maine- hands down, full stop. If you are looking for a modern take on the classics this place hits everyone. You order a bunch of small dishes so you get to taste many things, every single dish was a perfect 10, honestly. I'm not easy, being a New Yorker, and this place was perfection.

Mik O

Overall good experience. Expensive food. Lobster rolls were bit on a buttery side. had to eat standing up because there was no place to sit. Wait time for a table was over 90 min. Would definitely recommend to call ahead of time to reserve a table.

Mary Conrad

Food was great. The way they allow you to put your number in and receive a text is convenient. It’s fresh and airy in atmosphere. Super clam chowder. Best lobster stew. The lobster roll and delicious. The oysters are perfect. Staff is hardworking.

Erik K

Always a huge variety of oysters to chose from. The lobster bun is ridiculous. The cocktails are amazing. The staff generally LOVES working there and it comes through in their attitude and service.

Tahir Messam

I'll preface this review with I'm not an oyster fan so there wasn't much for me to eat here. This is a fancy, bohemian, kind of gastro seafood shack. Dont get me wrong everything here is delicious but the wait and the price are not necessary to have a good meal in portland. Also the brown butter lobster roll isn't worth the wait or price. One is not share able ever!

Andrew Phong

Really delicious food and great service. The waiter I had was pretty chill and gave us an assortment of his favorite oysters which were delicious. Fair warning is that there is a long wait to be seated (went at opening on a Sunday). The lobster roll is pretty unique with the bun they used, the bluefin was perfectly seasoned, and the scallop waffle was one of my favorite.

Joseph Clayton

Understand why others have complained about service. Treads the line between smart-aleck and snark a bit too thinly. The chowder was absolutely awful. Its badness was a total shock. Not sure if the crockpot was having a bad night, but waiting 30 minutes for a thin gruel with stale homemade saltines wasn’t worth it. Devastated that the famous Eventide was so disappointing. Recommend doing Bob’s Clams plus Island Creek if in Portland; or Row 34 in Boston & Portsmouth; both SO much better if you’re looking for a better seafood experience without the attitude and wait.

Will Kessler

I'm a local - went for drinks and some oysters with friends. Waiter was unhelpful and patronizing. Weird interior design. Prices seemed quite high. Basically an over-hyped tourist trap.

Stephanie Neal

If you're willing to wait (and there is a wait regardless of day or time), this small plate seafood-forward restaurant has delicious food. Do not miss the lobster stew with green curry. Great daily specials. And more raw oyster varieties than you can shake a stick at. If you're claustrophobic or can't deal with bumping elbows while you're eating, it's not the place for you. Seating gets so tight and the space is so small that they do offer SRO counters where you can stand and order of the full menu. Staff is knowledgeable and willing to offer suggestions. Nice local beer selection and a full bar. Pro tip: put your name on the list and head down to Vena's Fizz House for a drink while you wait instead of standing out front with everyone else.

David Counce

First, great food. As in everything we ate was outstanding. However... a few things are off; the napkins are rediculous and leave lint everywhere, the table for 4 was a foot wide (way too small), they charge for extra crackers beyond the few included with the dip, and ice tea doesnt include refills. That being said... still absolutely worth going to.

Erin Slonaker

I was in Portland on business and had a limited number of unplanned meals--and I ate lunch here two days in a row for two of them. The oysters were absolutely delicious and perfectly shucked. Staff were friendly and accommodating. There was a late season snowstorm the second day I went, and the bowl of clam chowder was the perfect thing!

Matthew Feinberg

Good food - however it was very busy. That usually isn't a problem, but they forgot my group's order of chips. They were very nice about it - took it off the bill, gave us a small cake to take home, but the review is 4 stars because of a missing item - regardless of the steps used to remedy it. Other than that mistake, great place and atmosphere.

Dakota Nicolucci

Coming to Portland comes with everyone suggesting or reading articles about Eventide. It's not a spot you need to spend long researching to learn everything you need to knows. What's impressive is in spite of all the hype it exceeds it. The amazing selection of fresh oysters alone is enough. But of course you have the almost legendary Brown Butter Lobster Roll that can't possibly live up to all the hype and yet. It's rich creamy brown butter bleeds into a perfect, simple salty piece of bread with the perfect amount of lobster. It's divine and worth it. This is without mentioning their tasted clams with flavor infused ices, or their unique full bar with great beer and shots or carefully crafted cocktails. This place is all the hype and more is and is a must go whether you're staying or driving through. Do yourself a favor and just go!

Nick Danisi

First day ever in Portland and first lobster roll. First impressions, I thought the sandwich was a little small (are all lobster rolls this size? I honestly have no idea), but was overwhelmed by the quality. So buttery and fresh! GF had the fish sandwich; she says it very good as well.

Jax Kane

We were visiting from SC and this restaurant was highly recommended. To say we were disappointed is an understatement. When we walked into the restaurant we were immediately advised by the hostess to KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED and to "step outside" and wait. It had been raining and there wasn't any covered room for standing. When there was room to enter the restaurant, the hostess, again told us designated areas where we could stand. We were treated like low class citizens like they were doing us a favor for us to dine there. Silver linings- once we were fed up with the rude treatment we walked next door to Hugos, their sister restaurant and had a lovely dinner with amazing food and were waited on lovely staff who treated us with excellent customer service and class.

Tony Griffiths

This place is amazing but a touch pricey. I ordered the lobster roll and a scallop waffle of some sort. They were both amazing but the waffle stole the show for me.

Amitasha Sinha

You gotta try the oysters and trust your server, and the lobster roll and fried oyester roll are out of this world

Truc Duong

The oysters were fresh, the lobster roll was delicious and the fried oyster buns were scrumptious! Highly recommend!

Maggie Carruth O'Connor

Ask for Hannah as your server. We asked her what oysters to choose based on our preference and she *nailed* it. We loved them so much we ordered another dozen. The kimchi is also impressive and the tuna tartare was solid. Can’t recommend enough!

Talin C.

We had the most amazing meal at Eventide Oyster Co. celebrating our bride-to-be! Our server went above and beyond to extend so much hospitality to us and the food was OUT OF THIS WORLD! Thank you x1000 to all the staff for helping us to kick off this bachelorette weekend right!

Brian McHenry

Visited here on a recommendation from a local. Excellent all around; food drinks service!

Michael Hadzopulos

Hadz's scale H - Health - seafood was fresh and full of the best ocean brine. Probably not healthy but who cares, oysters rule A - Atmosphere - fun, nautical, and smells like great seafood. I had a parrot cup so great times all around. The bathrooms were clean with cool oyster sinks D - Drinks - amazing style with a wide range. My walking dead came in a large parrot cup and I was tasting heaven. Z - Zenith - How high does the food take you. 10/10. Mt Everest climb. Some of the best oysters I've ever had. Clean. Smooth. And enjoyable

Melissa Peña

Prices are a bit higher, but they make up for it with the quality. Absolutely love the lobster roll and lobster stew. Be prepared for a long wait for a table during dinner.

Dave B.

Seriously inventive food. The lobster soup was killer, as were the oyster rolls. Lots of fun as a small bites meal.

DeChantel Kosmatka

Life changing foods. Picture the perfect Thanksgiving dinner roll, a golden brown with a hint of crispiness on the outside and soft, and warm on the inside. The rolls at Eventide are filled with delicious fresh buttery goodness lobster meat!! The Scalloped waffles are impeccable and the oysters go without saying!

Brian Collender

My girlfriend said the oysters were the best she had in Portland. I had the fish sandwich which was very good (it was fried, but one of the best fried fish sandwiches I have had). We also had a few other dishes as well that were pretty good.

Maranda Nielson

This is a super cute resteraunt with delicious food. We had their "lobster roll" and it was a really great spin on Maine's signature dish. It was very busy, but they were able to sit us at the bar quickly. It is a bit expensive and the portions are small.

Sadie Dawson

These guys work magic with seafood. I could eat at Eventide every day of my life. Everything is balanced, though fully prepared, super fresh, and delicious. The lines are long but the system is very organized and they move quick. And it’s worth the effort!

Susan Miller

This was my first stop in Portland Maine and it was outstanding! Best lobster roll in town, and worth the wait.

Sara Choi

Incredible lobster roll, one of the best I've ever had. They are on the smaller side, but absolutely worth it. The fried clams are just ok. They don't really have much flavor, but they were good with the veggies underneath. The oysters were also buttery and delicious. Will definitely come back here on my next trip to Portland.

Jeff Mcclelland

Awesome place...yummy food and great atmosphere

Yaprak DeCarmine

The raw oysters, lobster roll, lobster stew were all amazing! We sat outside under the umbrella & heat lamps on a chilly day, wasn't bad!

Lucy Segal

Incredible menu and impressive oyster bar. Excellent service. We always get great suggestions from staff. Try the delicious cocktails. And everything else on the menu. Expect a line up!

Cherie Koerber

Super fast seating for 6. Our waitress name was Hannah and she was fantastic. We got to try it many different items from menu and when the kitchen made a mistake and made an extra sandwich day last try that also. My friend had been raving about the rolls used for the lobster roll and they even have a gluten-free version that was fantastic. We ordered just the rolls they were so good. Fast service. Really everything was great. Fried green tomatoes, charred peaches, fish sandwich, fried tofu, chicken sandwich, kimchi,...we ordered a bunch and left nothing behind.

Heidi Kurniawan

I think the best strategy for this place if you don't have a reservation is to keep a positive attitude and open mind and come at an off hour. We put our names in at around 3 PM on a Saturday and were told we'd have about an hour wait. They have an easy texting setup so you can wander somewhere else and hang out while you wait for your table (we got a flight at Shipyard Brewery nearby). Once we were seated, the service was so quick it was unbelievable - they must know they get a lot of hungry guests. We ordered the Littleneck raw clams with red wine vinaigrette and red onion, and the lobster roll. Both selections were absolutely fantastic. I'd never had raw clams before but they were so tasty! And the lobster roll really is as good as everyone says. I love how fluffy and moist the bun was. This place is worth the hype - just have a little patience and plan your budget accordingly.

Jeff Stocker

Always outstanding, one of the absolute best lobster rolls and crab rolls I’ve ever had. Nice beers on draught and enjoyed the dozen oysters as wel.

Josh Haley

I cannot out into words how great this place is. Maybe the best oyster bar I've ever been to.

Dawn Peters

Best lobster roll hands down! Love eating outside. Busy, tiny place

Jane Jing

Very busy restaurant even when we came in around 1:45pm. The bar tender was very very friendly and thoughtful. The lobster stew was too salty for me but the bar tender brought hot water and extra bun for us. The oysters were so fresh and juicy. They were delicious. The ceviche was very interesting combination and it was delicious. We actually came for lobster ceviche but they changed menu and no longer serve that.

Maranda Nielson

This is a super cute resteraunt with delicious food. We had their "lobster roll" and it was a really great spin on Maine's signature dish. It was very busy, but they were able to sit us at the bar quickly. It is a bit expensive and the portions are small.

Patrick Fields

A long wait on a Monday night, great oysters. I highly recommend the local selection of oysters. However the rest of the menu and seating arrangements cloud the rating.

michael chu

so good. amazing oysters. the nori dipping sauce is something i want to inhale....

Sara Nicoles

Sub-par. Everything is overpriced. Don’t order any lobster/crab- type roll here. The bun is a sticky sweet yeast roll. And not enough meat/roll filling. They also don't course your meal so don't expect anything to come in any reasonable order. We got our lobster rolls before our drinks. It's obviously all premade if it takes 2 mins to order and get to your table. Just go anywhere else. Save your time and money.

stan yu

Food came out quick. The New England clam chowder was amazing. It had whole chunks of clams and seaweed. Really strong flavors. We also got the lobster rolls and boi was it delightful. The buns are not your traditional buns but they soak up the buttery flavors really well.

Jeremiah Alley

You don't necessarily have to be into oysters to enjoy what this place has to offer. Although, it wouldn't hurt considering the incredible oysters they are offering. But the entire menu is incredibly bold and creative. Could have easily ordered any number of things. It's a shame I had to settle for only a few in that visit. This is an elite eatery in a town full of awesome places. Make sure you give it a try, if you haven't already.

Jerry Garcia

Absolutely love this place. Hands down top 5 in portland.

Sadie Dawson

These guys work magic with seafood. I could eat at Eventide every day of my life. Everything is balanced, though fully prepared, super fresh, and delicious. The lines are long but the system is very organized and they move quick. And it’s worth the effort!

Phil W

Great oysters, delicious exotic drinks and more great food. The wait can be up to two hours to be seated, your phone becomes the pager with a text. Well worth it, you will not be disappointed. They have a winning business format.

Andrew Kucharski

Best Portland eatery... Loved it. Don't let the menu fool you, it's amazing

Zak Carney

An amazing Portland experience. Fantastic service, well shucked oysters and a great beer/cocktail menu.

Scott Kennedy

Get there at 11 AM to avoid the lunch crowd. Excellent food and craft cocktails!

Tammy Liu

A creative oyster bar with a hint of Asian fusion flare tapas menu. The wait could be quite long, so be prepared! The oysters were all very fresh, some sweeter than others. The lobster bun was pretty good, especially the bun. The fried shishito peppers were delicious. The blue fin tuna tartar had interesting flavors and good quality. Overall, it was a very enjoyable meal!

Varrick Nunez

Interesting place, I'll have to try the oysters next visit. This time, we had lobster rolls. The place was standing room only, but it's easy to understand, best lobster roll ever!

S.

My partner and I waited 30 minutes in line just to eat here for brunch. It’s our first time here so we ordered half a dozen oysters. Unfortunately it was wicked small but it was fresh and delicious. Then I ordered their famous lobster roll while my bf ordered their soft shell crab sandwich. Let me tell you, hands down, this place nailed their lobster roll! It was crazy good! The lobster roll bun was so soft and chewy, while their lobster was very well seasoned. My bf’s soft shell crab sandwich was good as well. Even though it was crazy busy their service was excellent!

Mike Johnson

The best place in town for oysters and beer. Best meal I had during my stay in town. Lobster stew was AMAZING! Awesome place!

ricardo despradel

Omg this place is amazing! Everything we had was delicious!

David Bonifas

Good spot. Unique rolls. My wife loved the lobster roll. The pastrami one was just ok.

Thomas Moran

Oysters galore, plus a very nice menu with seafood and land items! Full bar too! Be prepared to wait as this is a well known restaurant! Worth the wait!

A. K. Jones

A bit overrated and expensive. And the tempranillo wine tasted old. To be fair, most people love this place... it was just a bit overrated in my book.

Ted Cavanaugh

Loved it here. Staff is very knowledgeable about oyster. Very innovative menu items!

michael ta

Getting ready to revisit this amazing place. A few years ago, I had lunch here during an afternoon walk in Portland. A bit pricey but worth every penny. I wish I just ordered more. The scallop was super fresh, the raw lobster was amazing and the oysters were unforgettable. I miss the oysters and scallops the most. The sweetness of the oysters was ridiculous. Lesson learned, don’t hold back and just order more. Looked amazing and tasted delicious.

Mark Mancil

One of my favorite restaurants in all the world. The brown butter lobster roll is simply one of the best morsels of food you could ever have. Menu is always changing, super fresh ingredients, and plates are perfectly sharable.

lain galion

If you can bare the rude hostess, the food is simple but near perfect. I was standing by the front desk for a good 10 minutes before the staff standing two feet in front of me made eye contact. Another minute or two and I would have walked out like the two other parties that were standing behind me. A quick "Do you have a reservation? One moment please" would have gone a long way. The oysters were expensive but quality. They were smaller than expected. They are more or less a tasting to go with your entrée. The Maine oysters were a bit bland. Food is definitely five stars but I have knock the service.

Amy Wilson

Anyone complaining about the prices here has to realize that there is nowhere you can get this selection of oysters. We had oysters from around the world and each one had its own distinct flavor. Enjoy the location, enjoy the food, the lobster roll here is to die for!

Sara Parolin

Lobster rolls were so good we ordered another! The oysters are fresh and delicious, and the staff was very kind and helpful. 10/10 would recommend

Charlotte McClure

Just beautiful food. Eventide has created a playfully nontraditional Maine menu that stands out from the crowd in the best way. An astonishing balance of New England/Asian flavors, expertly executed every time. I'm still thinking about their coconut curry lobster stew. Perfect service, gorgeous interior and quirky beverage menu. I love this place!

Morgan Savy

The Clam Chowder was so delicious & so was our Mezcal Cocktail! Highly recommend. The waitress said the meals were quite small, but I had the Chowder, my friend had the tofu sandwich (a normal size, like a burger) & we both shared a bucket of French fries. It was more than enough food for us. Would definitely come back here!

Shawn Wolfe

Great experience. The oysters are good and the lobster roll is delicious and really unique. It's a little pricey but worth it for a special occasion, such as your first time in Portland.

joe durango

Great oysters, and original take on lobster roll. Best restaurant in Portland

Chari Kear

Freshest seafood and produce. For a culinary experience of exponential proportion, look no further.

Inna Z

There are a lot of amazing reviews and all for good reason. It has communal sitting and I wasn’t sure at first if I wanted to try. I am very glad I did. It was the best lobster roll I had. It was warm and delicious. Bun was also amazing. My husband loved his oysters. We also had Greens salad and it was very good. Service was great.

Charlotte McClure

Just beautiful food. Eventide has created a playfully nontraditional Maine menu that stands out from the crowd in the best way. An astonishing balance of New England/Asian flavors, expertly executed every time. I'm still thinking about their coconut curry lobster stew. Perfect service, gorgeous interior and quirky beverage menu. I love this place!

Stacy Malibu

This is a review based off my own experience. I will write every detail about my trip and I hope you will find this helpful. The wait. Before we went to Eventide Restaurant, we decided to read some pleasant reviews. Most of them said that the wait was long but it was worth it. When we went there they said that we cant reserve a table, but they can text us when there would be an available one. The worker also said we should wait about 1-1.5 hours before an available table. We waited 2 hours and they still didn't text us. When we went there after the 2 hours, they told us that they messaged us, but "apparently we didn't receive it." She said that there were technical difficulties. The service. Our waitress wasn't friendly at all. She seated us and that's all. She brought the food and didn't even bother to ask whether we liked it or not. We waited 10 minutes for her to get my friend's drink. 10 minutes to pour a liquid in a glass!! Wow! The food. The food was good. I ordered their Lobster Roll and it was delicious. My friend ordered oysters and she thought they tasted good. My other friend ordered a dish with mussels, lobster, potatoes, eggs, and more seafood. He liked it. Because of the long wait and unfriendly service I thought the food would be horrible, but it was pretty good. The prices. For 3 people, our total came to about $100.00. I'm not sure how to feel about this. I've been to better restaurants that I believe had better food than this. But you probably know, most restaurants are about $100.00 for 2-3 people. The atmosphere: We couldnt hear each other because of the SUPER loud music. We had to almost yell. About 4 tables. I'd say all of the people were tourists like us. I hope you found this review helpful. I dont know how this place got so many good reviews.

kendall thompson

Great Oysters! Lots of selections of local and non local oysters. It was very busy (30 min wait) but took 45 minutes (after 30 min) to get my oysters. By then my companion had already had her two small plates.

Christine Carleton

John is the best server! Oysters and oyster shooters were really good. Great service!

Jackie Jiaqi Tang

Awesome seafood tapas, popular and busy. Expect to wait for a bit for this place. There are various seating areas, bar, window side, outside, and table. The environment can be a bit loud because there's a osyter bar. All dishes here are so well presented, they are like mini pieces of arts being presented to you. Lucky the dishes are mostly tapas style, because they are so rich in flavors. This way I get to try a variety without getting full too soon. No brainier it is one of the best unique seafood joint in the area.

Tan Quach

Great place, but just get the oysters with horse radish topping. Everything else on the menu is too sweet and over-sauced.

Gary Kreissman

Simply the perfect lobster roll. And great oyster selection too.

Trisha Tower

The food is good, no doubt. However, the staff is extremely rude and they speak to you like you are incompetent. I’m local and enjoy going out to dinner at the amazing restaurants in Portland, especially after a long work week. Working in the service industry during tourist season is stressful, I get it. I have been there myself. But who feels like being treated like an “annoying tourist” when you’re out to have fun, eat good food and relax? Even I were a “tourist”, this would still be unacceptable. Unfortunately, this was the second time. I can pay for a meal elsewhere without the attitude. Be kind.

Brian Spinney

We had some of the best oysters there. We had the red wine mignonette and the cocktail sauce. It was so great. There was a very large selection of oysters from Maine. And the service was very friendly and incredibly fast. Our experience might have killed it for rival oyster bars.

Jacob Firle

Fantastic food experience and amazing service. Everything on the menu is incredible and showcases the talented chefs ability and attention to detail. I can’t see wait to return!

Kellie French

Unfortunately this was our worst restaurant experience in Portland. We were seated before two other tables, had our order taken first, after both tables got their oysters, then one of them got a second round, and over 30min we went inside to get our check and leave. They of course did not charge us for what we didn't get. They comped us $30 after my sister in law had to complain. It was unfortunate, but we were lucky to find a great place to go to instead... Blith & Burroughs... Amazing

Jon Jewett

Great friendly staff, but the portions are outrageously small for the price! It was disappointing because I was hungry.

Cliff Cullen

Really fun seafood restaurant. Excellent oyster selections. Their trademarked Eventide Brown Butter Lobster Roll was quite possibly the best lobster roll I've ever eaten. Their oyster shooters with tequilas and bloody Mary mix (pictured) were fun and delicious.

Craig Bell

Delicious seafood and I don't even like seafood. Cool atmosphere and best concept. Staff was great. Beer selection was on point.

N. Hiep Nguyen

Lobster roll was not a flavorful as other places and also too tiny for the price. A RIP off. Bun was too mushy. Good chicken burger though. Too busy and Service could be more humble.

Yin Zhang

Great experience! Wonderful food and services. Wait for two hours but completely worth for it!

Morgan Savy

The Clam Chowder was so delicious & so was our Mezcal Cocktail! Highly recommend. The waitress said the meals were quite small, but I had the Chowder, my friend had the tofu sandwich (a normal size, like a burger) & we both shared a bucket of French fries. It was more than enough food for us. Would definitely come back here!

Octobers World

BEST Lobster Roll in Portland Maine! Kids loved their burgers & chicken sandwich. The flaked halibut salad was AMAZING-a must try. If you are in Portland-you need to go to Eventide-it’s worth the wait

T Joe

Busy and efficient. Ordered the fried oysters and butter lobster roll. Both ok and nothing special. The servings are small and we expected that, but did expect more in flavor and taste but in my opinion/experience these dishes did not live up to the ratings. Lots of raw oyster choices and most people were ordering that. I can say I won't go back to try anything else. Staff seemed friendly enough but a bit full of themselves.

Luke Shaika

Wow just wow service,food, and atmosphere is amazing

Jonathan Collum

To say this place was a disappointment would be an understatement. I would give if less stars if not for their very solid if small beer menu and their nicely decorated space. It was not clear when we chose to go here that it was a small plate place. The waitress suggested 2-3 plates per person which basically meant $36 for probably not enough food to fill you up. Nothing was really big enough to share other than oysters which are probably the only thing really worth the trip here. My friend got this little scallop waffle which looked cool but didn't appear to have any scallops on it. The waitress informed us after that it was in a mousse infused into the waffle which was baffling honestly. I got a chicken sandwich which was pretty good along with a little bun that was standing in as some sort of Reuben sandwich but disappointed mostly. Overall I'd say if you like oysters and beer go here. Otherwise don't bother.

Kamiwp Linn

I love this place. Must visit!! I went there alone but I do not feel lonely. Service is excellent. Oysters are fresh like I kiss with the sea.

Debra Harper

Excellent food, very busy place but the kitchen and the wait staff did a great job.

Jinny Clancy

Great place well worth the wait

Marion Mahone

The lobster roll is 100% worth the money. Great ambiance, friendly staff

Alexy G

Wait to be seated, but worth it... The red onion ice for the oysters is a must have!

Theodore Pike

One of our favorite seafood restaurants in Portland Maine. Amazing selection of oysters but can definitely be a bit pricey and is often on the busy side. A must for oyster lovers

Rick Singh

Not fair to assess it at a 3. Super cool environment BUT always crazy full. Tried twice ...90 min wait. Finally made stand up...but was like sitting in the middle seat of an airplane so had to leave. Next time here, will try again :)

B

Wonderful food, drinks, and service! I highly recommend this place! Beth Ann Dollar

Jillian Burgess

Expensive and slow service. Food was good but I think it's over hyped for what it is. The plates are small so you have to be careful not to come starving and on a budget here. The desert was fantastic though. My boyfriend and I about also ended up stopping at the pizza place in town to get 2 slices after we left Eventide.

Bethany Walsh

Shot and an oyster is the best way to start your evening out in Portland! Eventide can get super busy, but you can often pop in and grab a spot at the bar for oysters and good beer.

J J

This place is obviously trending as the wait was ridiculous, but I can say the local following is loyal, as several people in line assured my party it was worth the wait. That in itself says something about this establishment and it's place in the Portland food scene. For me, I'm not sure the food matched the hype but I will say the offerings are unique and unlike other offerings nearby. Oysters, clams, stew, and buns all very tasty. Overall I enjoyed my meal and would dine here again, but I'm not sure I would wait 90 mins as we were first told upon arrival.(actually wait was only 65 min) But this place is happening and is clearly doing something right.

Jackie Apostolopoulos

Super friendly service. I don't generally like seafood- but damm this place is great. Order lots of items from the menu and share. The chowder was super and so were the waffles. The fish n chips was probably our least favorite of the 10 items we shared!

Carol Lau

Lobster stew is delicious. Everything else was ok. I think for the price I want it to be better. Crazy busy. Wait time over an hour to sit inside. Staff is really friendly. Would give them a 3.5 for food but gave it a 4 for staff.

Rachel McKnight

We arrived in Portland at 1030pm on a Monday and this place was still busy! Delicious food and great drinks! My sister had a shooter with an oyster + half a dozen various oysters and loved her meal. I had the burger which was delicious. The beer is nice and cold and the waitstaff is super friendly. I'd come back here again and again!

J. B.

Great oysters! The wait was fairly long. We waited 45 min to an hour for 3 people but it was also on July 4 weekend. It was worth the wait. A must if visiting Portland!

Dobri Dimitrov

Excellent good and service. Place is tiny, but the good makes up for it. Highly recommend!

Richard Dodson

Visiting Portland, my wife and I went here for dinner on 9/12/19, and I see from other 1-star reviews that our experience is not uncommon (should have read them). The non-smiling hostess had an "I hate my job" attitude. No tables available, so we were told to stand at the "waiting area," a wall with a shelf where you can look at the wall or at the people dining 2 feet from you. A "table" became available outside (street side). "Table" is in quotes as it wasn't even the width of an ironing board and had a support pole in the middle of it further reducing usable space (and conversation). The seating was exceedingly uncomfortable wood stools (like you would stand on in your kitchen to reach something). I had ordered a cocktail inside, which didn't come before we went outside so I made note of our move to the server. What finally came was not my cocktail but a glass of wine, so had to re-order again (that's 3 times for one drink). To start, we ordered oysters and two lobster stews (said to be between cup and bowl size). What came were no bigger than cups (no bread either) that we scarfed down in about 60 seconds. Having had enough of this "too cool for you" and physically uncomfortable environment, we left very "hangry." To review, we had gotten 2 drinks, 12 oysters, and 2 cups of stew for $100 including tip. This is a great example of a place trying to be so oh-so-trendy in design and with an expensive small plate menu, they have eliminated the reasons you go out to eat -- comfortable atmosphere, good service, and the reasonable expectation of not having to continue ordering food to get to some level of contentment. If those three elements are what you expect, DO NOT GO TO EVENTIDE in Portland, Maine.

Jonathan Bressler

Staff was very helpful in choosing oysters and the lobster roll was amazing (albeit a bit small).

Greg D'Augustine

Had a twenty minutes wait for an outside table at 1230 on a Wednesday, but it was well worth it chowder and lobster bisque were amazing. Excellent oysters too.

john paige

In all fairness I’m not much of an oyster person but my wife is and she loved them. She went on about their pink “ onion ice “ chips that you add to the oyster or maybe it was garlic flavored. We both got the $15 lobster roll and it was pretty sad as far as a lobster roll. The flavor was pretty good with the roasted butter but the lobster portion was tiny and mostly shreds of lobster in this tiny Asian roll I think they called it. I would go back for my wife but for my pallet I would keep on walking till you find a Boston style lobster roll

Bettina Pearson

Great food and drink. Hard to get in is fine, but once in it was so chaotic and noisy, impossible to have a conversation, hard to place an order, even hard to find someone to pay when done. A returning customer off season.

Takuya Ichikawa

Awesome selection of local oysters. It was super fresh and tasty. Cocktail choices are not bad either. Lobster rolls were served with generous amount of lobsters. Get here early!

Rick Nobers

Can be crowded and loud. A bit touristy. BUT! That lobster roll. Get it and get more than one. Worth the price.

Matthew B

Phenomenal food and service. To say that we left with a smile on would be an understatement. If you don't get an ice cream sammy, you goofed up.

John Hecht

Best of everything fresh. Great people taking care of their guests and having fun.

James Finn

I am fairly sure I would have given Eventide five stars IF I could have gotten in the door. Super popular restaurant. Tough seat to get.

Jessica Winford

Our server Will (I believe was his name) was very nice and have great recommendations. We had him pick his favorite local oysters and they did not disappoint. Great selection of beer. The squid salad was very interesting, filled with fresh citrus flavors and delicious. I've had the lobster roll before, and it's good but not my most favorite (also live in Boston so I'm a bit biased).

Cory Johnston

Lives up to the hype, that lobster roll is incredible

Brie Reid

We were seated right away, which was the best part of the experience. We waited about 15 minutes before someone even asked us if we wanted something to drink. The food did not take long to come out and it was good. But then we had to wait for our check and then waited for them to run our card. They were not busy and had more than enough staff. They need better organization of their staff. Also this is a small plate oyster bar, keep that in mind when dining there.

Cyndy Miller-Hughes

Awesome raw oysters and fried oyster roll. Great service!

Erik lazo de la vega

They dont take reservations so we went to standing room on a crowded saturday night - understandable - there were 2 seats by the window which they said were reserved for the waiting list but remained empty for the entirety of our meal..I wonder if being the only person of color in that place had anything to do with it.... 2 stars because the oysters were incredible

Vince M

I came here with friends and got the chicken sandwich and I believe the twisted tea cocktail. The cocktail was super strong and the chicken sandwich was amazing. Probably the best sandwich I've ever had. It has pickles onions and lettuce as well as a maple mustard that was super tasty.

Jacob R.

The place is packed and we waited for an hour to get a table for 4. The wait was worth it because the food is good plus they served it around 10-15mins after ordering. I got a half dozen oysters, lobster stew and crab sandwich. The price is okay especially if you compare it to New York. I recommend eating here if you ever visit Portland, ME.

Leah Fleegle

My favorite spot in Portland and my favorite lobster roll ever. Such a fresh, interesting take. Really delicious! The lines are always long but if you just want to try a roll or a few oysters they will let you stand at either the bar in front of the oysters or at the ledge in the back room.

Stephen Taylor

I wanted to like this place more than I did. The oysters were delicious, but the lobster roll was more like a snack as opposed to a meal. Service and atmosphere were nice. I'm just in town visiting - if I lived in Portland, I might go back. There seem to be lots of other seafood options to choose from.

Denise Mains

Love this place love being with my son hear good choice

Marcus Trujillo

Best Oysters in Portland I've ever had. $7 shooters, are you kidding me!!!! I will be back again and again!

Christopher Janikowski

Not to be missed! The scallop waffle-yaki is fantastic. Busy Friday night, but a pro host, amazing servers, and an obviously top notch kitchen got the job done with elan. Do yourself a favor and eat here.

Mark Koblenz

5 stars is not enough. Food is amazing, the staff rocks, and the late night menu during the week could be the best deal in town!

Sudhir Chadaga

Doesn’t take reservations. As a result wait time ends up being 2+ hours if you want to eat like a normal human being. Of course if you are willing to eat at 5pm or at closing time you may be lucky!

Joseph Carbone

OMG. The raw clams and oysters were fabulous. Best I have ever, felt like they were just plucked from the sea five minutes before I arrive. The were so fresh, full, plump and delicious. The food came out super fast. The staff was awesome and attentive. Highly recommend. Definitely worth the price.

Carol Lau

Lobster stew is delicious. Everything else was ok. I think for the price I want it to be better. Crazy busy. Wait time over an hour to sit inside. Staff is really friendly. Would give them a 3.5 for food but gave it a 4 for staff.

Amy Genest

We were there today. Five friends at the bar. Food was great! Bartender Sunny was great. There was a bartender swap and it all went down hill. We had designated drivers. All of a sudden we got shut off, not quite sure why. It really felt like the manager was having a bad day. Spent over $ 500. Too bad we left feeling bad...

Luis Cobos

Awesome food! Some of the best and freshest seafood that I've had with a ton of creativity in their menu!

MARK MULLICAN

This place is on another level, if you like food at all you must try Eventide!!! Everything we sampled was done to extreme perfection!!!

Branden Wynant

Something you have to try if you go to Portland! The beer selection was awesome! I highly recommend the New England Steamer. Great price and something native to this awesome place!

Rachel McKnight

We arrived in Portland at 1030pm on a Monday and this place was still busy! Delicious food and great drinks! My sister had a shooter with an oyster + half a dozen various oysters and loved her meal. I had the burger which was delicious. The beer is nice and cold and the waitstaff is super friendly. I'd come back here again and again!

Kimberly Peng

Didn't quite meet the hype for me or make up for the wait, but overall, the food was good. Decent Asian-fusion, seafood-style. The stand-outs were the waffle-yaki which was interesting and delicious and the oyster bun which beat out the lobster roll.

Lindsay Pettingill

Tbh this place seems a little over-hyped. The service was disappointing- when our oysters arrived 'sweet' we realized the waitress had no idea what we meant when we asked for a more briny type. Wish she had just told us she didn't know!