Planning a night out and wondering about Portland Maine restaurant week? You’ll find it as the statewide Maine Restaurant Week: set-price three-course menus at Portland spots, held in early March in 2023.
If you want the bigger picture of where to eat, start with this guide to portland maine restaurants.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Maine Restaurant Week founded | 2009 |
| 2023 edition dates | March 1 – 12, 2023 |
| Three-course menu price tiers (2023) | $25, $35, $45 or $55 per person |
| Restaurant registration fee (2016 report) | $495 per restaurant |
| Donations reported by the event (2016 report) | More than $60,000 |
| Year the restaurant-week concept began in New York City | 1992 |
These figures come from Portland Monthly’s February/March 2016 story and Foodgressing’s 2023 post. Dates, prices and fees can change, so check the source before you rely on them.
How Maine Restaurant Week works around Portland
Maine Restaurant Week is a statewide event, not a Portland-only one. Portland Monthly’s 2016 story named G Britt PR as the founders (in 2009) and curators of the week. Its organizer described it as “a celebrate event, not a deal event.”
Participants spread well beyond the city. The 2023 participant list includes restaurants in Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth and Bangor alongside Portland ones.
Both the 2016 and 2023 editions ran March 1 to 12, according to those two sources. Nothing in the sources used here covers later years, so confirm current dates on the event’s official website before you plan around them.
Price tiers and what 2023 menus looked like
As of Foodgressing’s February 28, 2023 post, restaurants could serve three-course menus at $25, $35, $45 or $55 per person. They could also create a Maine Restaurant Week special instead.
That special could take several forms:
- A dish created for the celebration
- A menu with wine pairings
- An appetizer and cocktail pairing
- A multi-course meal
Not every listing fit the four tiers. In the same 2023 post, one Portland restaurant listed a $75 dinner menu, and another listing offered a $22 two-course brunch, a $25 two-course lunch and a $30 three-course dinner.
The four-tier idea is not new. Portland Monthly’s 2016 story described three-course dinners for $25, $35, $45, or $55, and its organizer called the event “four-tiered.”
What participation costs restaurants
In 2016, a restaurant paid a $495 registration fee, according to Portland Monthly. In return it got a self-managed page on the event website for menus, hours and prices, plus posters, cards for guest checks and a place in the event’s promotion.
The same story quoted the event’s website saying it had donated more than $60,000 to Preble Street, United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine and others.
Owners had mixed views. A Midcoast restaurateur said “We see our business more than double during it.” A chef called it “a pretty hefty entrance fee,” and added that “a lot of the people, you may only ever see once.”
For you as a diner, the takeaway is practical: a popular event week means busy dining rooms, so book early.
How does it compare with other cities’ restaurant weeks?
The concept was invented in New York City in 1992, per Portland Monthly’s 2016 story. At that time the city’s set prices were $38 for dinner and $25 for lunch, and restaurants had to meet 14 criteria to be accepted.
Charleston took a looser approach. Its restaurant association said it had about 140 restaurants participating and that “now we let each place do its own thing.”
Maine’s version sits between the two. Restaurants sign up and choose from four price tiers, rather than applying through a screening process or setting any price they like.
How to book and plan your night
The 2023 post gave several practical notes, and they still make sense for any restaurant week. Work through them in this order:
- Check the official Maine Restaurant Week website for the up-to-date participant list and menus.
- Confirm days and hours with the restaurant, because they vary by restaurant.
- Reserve where you can, since reservations were recommended wherever possible.
- Ask in advance if the kitchen can modify items for dietary restrictions.
- Cancel as soon as possible if your plans change, so another table can fill your seats.
For more on securing a table, see these portland maine restaurant reservations tips. Also note that menus were subject to change without notice based on product availability.
If a three-course menu isn’t what you’re after, the guide to lobster roll portland maine covers a more casual meal.
Other Portland dining events and promotions to watch
Restaurant week is one of many food events. The Portland Food Map events archive posts roundups titled “Upcoming Food & Dining Events,” and its June 2026 roundup listed these:
- A corn baking workshop on June 8
- A Champagne tasting class on June 11
- A five-course wine dinner on June 17
Those are not restaurant-week deals, but they show where one-off dinners and classes get announced. Check each listing for details before you go, since formats and dates differ.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a separate Portland restaurant week?
Show answer
The sources used here describe Portland restaurants joining the statewide Maine Restaurant Week, not a separate city event.
When was the most recent edition in these sources?
Show answer
The 2023 edition ran March 1 – 12, 2023, per Foodgressing’s February 28, 2023 post. Check the event’s official website for newer dates.
How much does a Restaurant Week menu cost?
Show answer
In 2023, restaurants could offer three-course menus at $25, $35, $45 or $55 per person, or a special. Some listings fell outside those tiers.
Do I need a reservation?
Show answer
The 2023 post said reservations were recommended wherever possible. It also asked diners to cancel as soon as possible if they cannot keep a booking.
Can I ask for dietary changes?
Show answer
The 2023 post advised checking with the restaurant in advance about modifying items on its Restaurant Week menu for dietary restrictions.
