We ventured into Portland on a recent Friday night, and after stopping at Maps for a happy hour drink, strolled over to the waterfront and into Boone’s Fish House & Oyster Room. One of my absolute favorite things to do on a warm summer evening is to eat outside while enjoying ocean views. Fortunately, there are an abundance of choices available to me in Maine.

When I saw a Groupon posted for Boone’s Fish House & Oyster Room, I knew it was the perfect excuse to head back to this charm filled waterfront restaurant. But, as it can be quite pricey I was happy to have the discount in hand.

We hadn’t made any reservations, but it was one of those relaxed occasions where we were enjoying a leisurely evening and not watching the clock, so we were fine grabbing a drink at the bar while waiting for our table to be ready. It is amazing how much slower time moves when you are unscheduled. It’s wonderful.

Boone’s is a two-floor restaurant with multiple bars and dining areas. We grabbed a few seats at their downstairs, inside bar. The dark wooden bar was brightened by a block of large windows that were propped up and opened wide letting in light, and providing lovely views of the outside, lower deck area.

The bar also gave us a good vantage point to scope out the local oyster specials with names like Otter Cove and Flying Point which, while highlighting their point of origin, also conjured up visions of fanciful seaside destinations. The hand written specials were recorded in green and blue chalk on one of the the chalkboards hung above a sleek curved bar where hungry, oyster loving patrons are able to enjoy their selections while overlooking the open kitchen area.

The views were nice, but it was the drink selection that we were focused on once we took our seats. My husband normally gravitates towards craft beer, but decided to try one of the local ciders from Urban Farm Fermentory. It was a great summer option, and now in addition to checking out every craft beer brewed in Maine, which is a herculean endeavor, we may need to add craft cider to our list. He liked the cider a lot.

Boone’s

Boone’s

Boone’s

Boone’s

Boone’s

While our drinks were enjoyable, we began to realize that quite a long time had passed since we first sat down at the bar. Even though we were not in a rush, we were starting to get hungry. After a quick check with the receptionist, we realized they had forgotten about us tucked away at the bar. It was quickly rectified and we were shown to an outside table on the upper deck.

It was a little cool, but still a gorgeous night to be enjoying an al fresco meal overlooking the water. Seafood is our go to food of choice at Boone’s Fish House & Oyster Room and this night was no exception. We ordered two half mugs of clam chowder, along with the fried market platter to share.

The chowder arrived in sturdy, blue-brown glazed mugs with clams and potatoes peaking from the broth. I tossed in the oyster crackers served with the chowder, and then dove into my chowder which was full of flavor and a great kick-off to the meal.

The fried market platter arrived. The seafood was covered in a crumb batter and served with fries. The batter was light and really enhanced the seafood. The fried clams were especially moist, juicy, and flavorful. We enjoyed the seafood platter but were happy to be sharing. There was plenty for both of us although I think the seagull perched on the roof top would have liked it if we had shared with him too.

While we certainly liked our meal, my favorite thing about going to Boone’s Fish House & Oyster Room is the cozy atmosphere and fresh air views from the decks. It’s always such a great summer experience. I know the reviews for this destination are often mixed, but we’ve always had good luck when we’ve come here and this night was no exception. It probably helped that we had no time constraints and used a Groupon.

Boone’s Fish House & Oyster Room | Portland, Maine