Portland, Maine, is a beautiful little New England city about two hours north of Boston. Located right on the water, Maine's biggest city is a favorite weekend getaway for Bostonians looking to enjoy incredible shopping and even better dining. While you may not have time during your busy trip to Boston to hop on one of the five daily Amtrak departures to Portland from North Station, an extremely popular part of the seaside town has come to us.
Eventide Oyster Co. is an award-winning oyster bar in Portland that always has a seemingly endless wait to get a table, but don't worry: the shellfish is worth it. Some might think it's a little bizarre to go up to Maine just for the sake of a restaurant, which is silly. The oysters really are that good! However, if you're looking to keep it local, the James Beard Award-winning duo of Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley and business partner Arlin Smith just opened Eventide Fenway on Saturday, October 7.
Unlike the full-service mothership to the north, Eventide Fenway will be a fine-casual counter-service venue. Boston magazine reports staples like the brown butter lobster roll, expertly curated beer and wine list, and, obviously, oysters will be just as prevalent on the Boston menu as the one back home. In turn, Boston's branch is a lot bigger. Eventide Fenway seats 70, is designed to look like a spiraling shell, and features a 10,000-pound granite oyster bar (Portland's is "only" 1,500 pounds). 16 outdoor seats will also be around once spring has sprung.
What: Eventide Fenway
When: Now Open!
Where: 1321 Boylston St., Boston
Website: www.eventideoysterco.com