9 Delicious Rockport Maine Restaurants to Fuel Your Visit
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Rockport Maine is a small town known for its charming, laid-back atmosphere. Over the years, it has seen a revival with a burgeoning art community opening galleries and visitors enjoying the beauty of the waterfront town.
Gorgeous parks and harborfront activities draw in tourists, especially during warm weather. And despite the town’s small size, visitors can experience big-city, upscale dining vibes at Rockport Maine restaurants.
From oyster bars to seafood diners to authentic Italian restaurants, Rockport is home to a thriving restaurant industry. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite to eat or a family-friendly or multi-course meal, this town has indulgent options. Check out these Rockport Maine restaurants during your next visit.
Bring a Date to 18 Central Oyster Bar & Grill
18 Central St, Rockport, ME 04856
Every town has one upscale eatery that’s sought after for a special occasion or date night. In Rockport Maine, that place is 18 Central Oyster Bar & Grill. It has breathtaking Rockport Harbor views and a romantic ambiance for dinnertime.
Serving an exceptional raw bar and entrees that look like works of art, this restaurant is not to be missed. Start the night with locally sourced oysters served on a tray of ice.
For entrees, the hanger steak with bone marrow butter and the wood-grilled scallops with roasted delicata squash are highlights of the menu. Finish the evening with butterscotch bread pudding or parsnip cake for a special treat.
Also, 18 Central has a full cocktail menu with unique, house-made concoctions. There is a 1.5-hour limit on tables, so plan accordingly. Reservations are recommended because the restaurant is one of the most popular dining spots in town.
Get a Taste of Thai & Japanese Cuisines at Tomi Sushi & Noodle Bar
106 Commercial St, Rockport, ME 04856
Tomi Sushi & Noodle Bar has been serving two delectable menus for the past decade. The sushi menu is extensive and has sushi staples — nigiri, sashimi, and maik roll styles. Favorites like maguro (tuna), lobster, ebi (shrimp), unagi (eel), and tobiko (fish roe) are all on the menu.
Also, guests will find vegetarian options — kappa maki (cucumber), oshinko maki (pickled radish), avocado salad, and sweet potato maki.
The Thai menu offers traditional soups, including hot and sour, miso, and dumpling soups. Pan-fried noodles and rice in flavors like pineapple, mango, tomi, and pad thai are all available.
Traditional appetizers, such as crab rangoons, chicken fingers, tempura, and seaweed salad, round out the Thai menu.
Be sure to check the restaurant’s hours before you go because they change seasonally, and sometimes, the restaurant is only open for takeout.
Indulge in the Seasonal Prix Fixe Menu at Nina June
24 Central St, Rockport, ME 04856
No two visits to Nina June are the same because the menu changes weekly depending on the chef’s inspiration. No matter what, though, it always features the freshest ingredients from local purveyors, fishermen, and farmers.
Typically, there is a soup or salad course followed by a meat or seafood option. The meal is usually finished with a seasonal dessert.
Nina June’s chef, Sara Jenkins, enjoys adding Mediterranean flare to her weekly menus. She grew up in Maine but has traveled across Spain, Lebanon, and Italy and was a professional chef in the city of Boston.
Jenkins draws from these experiences to bring guests delectable multi-course meals each season. To see what is offered each week, the menus are posted on the Nina June Facebook and Instagram pages.
Nosh on Hearty Italian Dishes at Ports of Italy
141 Commercial St, Rockport, ME 04856
Ports of Italy is a first-class Italian eatery perfect for family dining and special occasions. It offers dinner every evening and brunch on Sundays.
Ports of Italy’s specialties include antipasto (zucchini, eggplant, asparagus, beets, white beans, and peppers) and porchetta (roasted suckling pig). Guests rave about the homemade pasta, delicious focaccia, breads, and desserts.
For a real taste of Italy, order a whole branzino fish. It comes directly from Italy and is de-boned right at your table. It’s a unique experience watching the preparation process!
Feel Warm & Fuzzy Nostalgia at The Rockport Diner
420 West St, Rockport, ME 04856
The Rockport Diner is a step back in time with its 1950s-themed dining room and menu. The diner serves a greasy spoon breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast offerings include omelets, Benedicts, Maine blueberry pancakes, eggs, and French toast.
Lunch and dinner offerings include homemade chowders, burgers, subs, sandwiches, wraps, fried seafood dishes, and home-style dinners — meatloaf and fried chicken. This is the perfect place to bring the whole family because the menu is affordable.
Check Out the Market for Pastries & Coffee at Bleecker & Greer
310 Commercial St, Rockport, ME 04856
Bleecker & Greer began as a local butcher shop and has since evolved into a small grocer, deli, and bakery with a cafe all in one location. In a historic one-room schoolhouse, it has a vintage vibe that customers love.
The bakery and cafe serves homemade breads and pastries, breakfast sandwiches, soups, pizza by the slice, and deli sandwiches. Weekly bread specials include cheese bread on Tuesdays, olive sourdough on Wednesdays, sourdough on Thursdays, semolina sesame bread and country rye sourdough on Fridays, fruit and nut sourdough on Saturdays, and seeded whole wheat on Sundays.
Bring a good book or meet up with friends, and relax while sipping a freshly brewed coffee, cappuccino, latte, hot chocolate, or iced tea. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the horchata, which is a Mexican rice and milk drink with cinnamon.
Enjoy a Slice of Brick Oven Pizza at PORTS Pizzeria
139 Commercial St, Rockport, ME 04856
Every town has that one go-to pizza place, and in Rockport, that place is PORTS Pizzeria. It is located right next to its sister restaurant — Ports of Italy. The pizzas are crispy on the outside crust and tender on the inside of the pie. The kitchen uses simple ingredients for the dough — just flour, yeast, salt, and water.
The pizzas are all Italian style and come in flavors like Margherita, diavola (salami), arugula and prosciutto, barese (mushroom and sausage), ortolana (pepper, zucchini, and olives), and carbonara (caramelized onion, pancetta, and fontina cheese).
For those looking for something other than pizza, PORTS has meatballs, chicken parmigiana, lasagna, wings, garlic knots, and Caesar salad.
Experience No-Frills, Family-Friendly Dining at Offshore Restaurant
770 Commercial St, Rockport, ME 04856
Offshore Restaurant is a local staple that has been serving seafood dishes and prime rib for years. This is a great place to bring the family or a group because it’s affordable and casual and has a menu with something for everyone to enjoy.
Menu favorites include baked stuffed haddock, boiled lobster dinner, clams, scallops, bourbon steak, chowders, and prime rib. Other options include pasta, salads, and chicken tenders. Guests are sure to leave full with money left in their wallets!
Share Tapas-Style Dishes at La Bella Vita
220 Warrenton St, Rockport, ME 04856
La Bella Vita is a lovely place to share a meal with friends because many of the dishes are served tapas style. We recommend starting with the antipasto della casa, which has handcrafted cheeses, salami, nuts, fig jam, and Italian cracker bread. It’s a large portion and sized for sharing.
Next, sample the meatballs with three cheeses or the La Bella surf and turf, which includes a grilled filet and Maine lobster cooked scampi style. Also, order a cordial, such as a Remy Martin or Hennessey, or top the night off with a Baileys coffee or Nutty Irishman for a bit of zing.
Additionally, La Bella Vita has a breakfast menu with egg favorites — omelets, paninis, and Benedicts. Buttermilk pancakes and French toast are available with blueberries, cinnamon, or chocolate chips. And, take in the gorgeous golf course and ocean views from the patio area during your satisfying breakfast.
Discover More Tasty Rockport Maine Restaurants
Rockport sees the bulk of its tourists arrive from May through early September. This means that some restaurants operate seasonally, so it’s always best to check hours and availability before visiting.
No matter the time of year, visitors will find something delicious to enjoy in this town. Whether you’re in the mood for Italian, seafood, Thai, Japanese, or American comfort food, or a yummy dessert, Rockport Maine restaurants have an option for you to enjoy.
And to make the most of your visit, there are several Rockport Maine hotels and other lodging options to choose from.