Local 188

Name: Local 188
Address: 685 Congress St., Portland, ME, United States, 04102
Telephone: (207) 761-7909
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.7

4.7

1080 Reviews

$30 and under

Spanish

Make a booking

2 people

11 Sept 2024

19:00

Booked 5 times today

Neighbourhood gem
Charming
Innovative

We accept reservations online or over the phone. For reservations of 7 guests or more, reservations must be made over the phone. Our menu offers a full range of tapas, raciones, and entrees creating a set of choices for any sized appetite. The menu is printed nightly with frequent changes in steak, gnocchi, risotto, appetizers and fish specials. Our feature dish is a classic Spanish paella filled with local seafood. Our wine list is extensive featuring over 100 bottles focused in Spain, France, and Italy. Our beer list features local micros, seasonal, domestic and imported selections. We offer an ever changing array of house made cocktails, many of which feature intriguing house infusions. Weekend brunch is served from 9am-1pm. Brunch is walk in service only. Our Brunch menu features delicious house made pastries, rotating seasonal scrambles, as well as eggs benedict, huevos rancheros, and more. For brunch drinks, we offer multiple different house bloody marys and infused cocktails.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Spanish, Mediterranean
Hours of Operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 09:00–13:00 Dinner Wed, Thu 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
Phone number
(207) 761-7909
Website
http://local188.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress Code
Casual Dress
Executive Chef
Jay Villani

Location
685 Congress St., Portland, ME 04102
Area
Portland
Cross Street
State St
Parking Details
enter via the alley to the left of the restaurant. Park anywhere in the immediate lot out back.
Entertainment
Jazz every Tuesday 10pmMovie Night every monday 10pm
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,080 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.7Service
4.6Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Maine
Innovative
Maine
Good for groups
Greater Portland
Innovative
Greater Portland
Good for groups
Greater Portland
Healthy
Greater Portland
Lively

1,080 Reviews

K
Kim
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Never disappointed eating at Local. Service is attentive, the food is so original and delicious.
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J
Jon
Western NC
148 reviews
5.0
148 reviews
Dined on 30 August 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We are summer residents and Local 188 is our favorite Portland restaurant. The food is innovative and excellent, the service friendly and prompt and the prices are reasonable for downtown. There is a free parking lot in the back too. It's as good or better than the best restaurants in the old port and easier to get to.
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r
robert
New York City
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on 22 August 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
A quaint little spot in a nice pRt of Portland. The munu is well thought out however it didn’t seem like the Chef tasted his own cooking because out food was vert salty!
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J
Jon
Western NC
148 reviews
5.0
148 reviews
Dined on 16 August 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Don't miss this gem! We are seasonal residents who eat at Local 188 every week. The food is innovative and delicious, the service is prompt and appropriate to the order (we order lots of apps and ask that they be delivered separately) and the prices reasonable for Portland. There is free parking behind the restaurant and you don't have to deal with the hassle of the Old Port.
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S
Sharon
New York City
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 10 August 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Sat outside. Food was excellent. Great service from staff and well dressed manager!
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S
Sarah
Greater Boston
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on 3 August 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Order the Cauliflower dish. You won’t be disappointed!!!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 2 August 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We hadn't been into Portland for dinner for a while and had forgotten just how great this place can be. The food and service was top notch. Highly recommend.
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D
David
E. Tennessee
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on 27 July 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Okay Portland, you have so many choices of where to spend your dining dollars. Right in your face, right under your nose is a place to put at the top of your list. Local 188 has been operating for 25 yrs. The owner is a man who cares about what he is serving, and it comes from his heart. He has worked very hard to create such an experience. Hopefully his family (son) will take up the mantle. The food is very unique in composition and presentation. Everything our table for 3 ordered was a first of its kind for us all. It was all fantastic and I was with 2 of my favorite picky people. The food was great all the way through dessert. The drinks and wine were very good and that partly was due to new options rather than the ordinary. So, go for it and make that reservation and see for yourself what I'm preaching about. I wish I could go tonight, but I'm back in TN. As a matter of fact, tell the owner that crazy guy from TN sent you! dp
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p
portsmouthfoodie
Washington DC
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on 25 July 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
My husband and I had a wonderful experience at Local 188. We ordered house salads, deviled eggs, the jambon y manchego plate (ham and cheese plate), Pan Amb Tomaquet (tomato bread), and patatas bravas, which were a special. Everything was absolutely delicious and we both left feeling full and happy. It also all came out fairly quickly - we were stopping in before heading to a show at Thompson's Point and were in and out in under an hour. I'm very much looking forward to going back next time we're in Portland.
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t
tshepherd9999
Maine
19 reviews
5.0
19 reviews
Dined on 19 July 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
First time at Local 188 and would highly recommend. Started with a bottle of Montana Rioja, surprisingly good for the price, the deviled eggs, and the jamon y manchego. Both apps were strong, the latter was really excellent. Ordered teh gnocchi and the risotto, which had a somewhat similar flavor but very good. Finished with the cheesecake and some espresso and cappuccino. Service was excellent, price was reasonable enough.
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FAQs

Local 188 offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (207) 761-7909.

Local 188 is rated 4.7 stars by 1080 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

11 Sept 2024

19:00

Booked 5 times today

Order delivery or takeout

685 Congress St., Portland, ME 04102

Additional information

Cross Street
State St
Area
Portland
Hours of Operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 09:00–13:00 Dinner Wed, Thu 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Spanish, Mediterranean
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress Code
Casual Dress
Parking Details
enter via the alley to the left of the restaurant. Park anywhere in the immediate lot out back.
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Jay Villani
Entertainment
Jazz every Tuesday 10pmMovie Night every monday 10pm
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://local188.com/
Phone number
(207) 761-7909

Local 188

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Menu

Tapas

OlivesUS$6.00

House BreadUS$6.00

Deviled EggsUS$6.00

Muffalata MontaditosUS$14.00

CauliflowerUS$13.00

Patatas BravasUS$10.00

What 1,080 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

FAQs

Does Local 188 offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Local 188 restaurant rated?

Is Local 188 currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information