Here’s 20 Portland, Maine, Restaurants Featured on Food TV Shows You Should Try

Food TV Shows

I can't tell you how many hours I have wasted devoted my life to food-oriented television programming. Realty shows, game shows, travel shows, holiday shows, the concept doesn't matter. If it's about food, I'll give it a shot.

It's also a wonderful way to discover restaurants in towns or places of travel interest.

However, nothing beats when a restaurant or chef from Maine is featured. I don't know if it's the collective chip on Mainers' shoulders, but the level of proud can't be measured. Our restaurants and people are really just our children. And, when they make it big, well...we think we all do.

Portland Food Scene

It is special, though, especially in Portland. Maine's largest city has a tremendous food reputation. Portland has become very trendy over the last two decades. Countless articles and television features have promoted the city to America's masses, and there's no sign of it slowing down. And then of course, there's the vast number of restaurants and chefs that have been featured on national television programs.

Maine Restaurants on Television

Below is a closer look at 20 Portland restaurants that have proudly been featured nationally on the popular foodie television shows. Those shows include Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, Best Thing I Ever Ate, Food Paradise, Drinking Made Easy, and Man v. Food.

There's no surprise that things trend heavily to seafood, specifically lobster dishes. Lobster is Maine currency, so it's a totally legit strategy by the showrunners.

But there's much more to Portland's cuisine than seafood, and that comes through, whether it be pizza, potato donuts, beer, and much more.

Is one of your favorite restaurants on the list? Ready to find new favorites?