The Honey Paw - Portland

We waited for about 30 minutes since we didn't have a reservation. The restaurant had a text system that allowed us to go get a drink and return once seats were available. We ended up eating at the bar. I had the dry rose on tap, which was not too sweet. I started with the kale salad and then had tamarind mussels and khao soil. All the food was delicious and the service was top-notch. Even though the restaurant was closing, there was no pressure to finish quickly. It was a very enjoyable meal.

The Honey Paw is set to become one of the most popular restaurants in Portland. Their Asian fusion cuisine is a perfect blend of their roots and the flavors of Maine, featuring a variety of seafood dishes as well as traditional Asian staples. Be sure to make a reservation in advance, as the wait can be long regardless of the day or time. And be sure to save room for dessert, as their honey soft serve with honeycomb and dark chocolate sea salt is a dream come true.

On my first night in Portland, the restaurant was bustling but I was able to get a spot at the bar. The bartender was fantastic - knowledgeable and busy, but still took the time to chat and recommend his favorite drink (a variation of an Old Fashioned) that was unique to Portland. The food came out quickly and was delicious. The mussels were plump and sweet, and the broth was so flavorful we wished there was more of it. Our group of four shared half of the menu and every dish was well-prepared, visually appealing, and delicious. It was a great way to start our vacation in Maine and the staff made it a wonderful experience.

The bartenders were friendly and the yuzu frozen drink was the standout highlight. The pickle plate was good, but a small part of it was hard on mushrooms. The mushrooms had a taste and texture that I personally did not enjoy, but that was my fault for not asking about the type of mushrooms on the plate. My friends received their food 10 minutes before me. I ordered the mapo doufu, which was supposed to have Korean chili in it, a spice that I use at home and enjoy for its kick. However, this dish tasted like it had an excessive amount of chili, making it too spicy for me to eat more than a few bites. Despite diluting it with three-quarters coconut milk when reheating it later, it was still too spicy for me.

We had to wait about 30 minutes because we had no reservation. they have a text system that allowed us to get a drink and then come back as soon as places were available. we ate the bar. I've got the rose on the dry, not sweet. I started with the Kale salad and had her tamarinden mussels and Khao soils. that was delicious. I appreciate the quality service. even if the restaurant was closed, there was no hurry to get us out of the place. it was a very pleasant meal.