It may turn out to be the most important restaurant to have entered Portland’s dining universe because it’s cooking up such comfortably delicious food, fare that we all want and love.  And Portland diners have taken notice.  When I arrived last night at 6:30, there wasn’t a spare space in the house at Scales.  That it was also filled with some of the cheffy-star-owners of other Portland dining rooms was no coincidence.  Everyone wants to be there.  Yes, I’ve heard some rumblings from those perennial malcontents who sort of shrug their shoulders, smirking, what’s all the fuss about?  Especially one local restaurateur sitting at a booth for four looking sour-faced and unimpressed.

Hogwash!

The scene at Scales.

The scene at Scales.

Scales is killing it, to be sure.  There’s a lot of dishes on the menu that I want to try.  As in my earlier review I cited the deliciousness of the clam chowder, the fish and chips, the pan seared cod, the lobster roll, the fried clams and the desserts served in such comely fashion as to be irresistible.  Just about every food item on the menu is locally sourced and utterly fresh.

But last night I wanted to try the other side of the Scales menu.  There are meat dishes like stews and burgers.  So I set my sights to begin my dinner with a half dozen oysters, followed by the lobster bisque, with a main course of Scales’ monumental hamburger platter.

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