The Front Room - Cliff Island

Overall a miss for us. We have not been in a few years. The noise level remains high expected . The AC may have not been working ? as we were sweating. The carbonara previously a fan favorite in our family definitely is different than we recall more of a pasta with garlic aioli with overdone pancetta . The pork was good but tough. Food came out quickly and server Nate was very efficient and friendly. Will we go again, maybe! Prefer the other rooms based on our most recent visits.

Portland Maine is known for its excellent dining scene and The Corner Room definitely adds to the legacy with a superb culinary experience. We used to dine here frequently before Covid hit, and since then, we havent really had this fine establishment on our return to list until last evening. Unpretentious and very welcoming by the staff, the service was absolutely spot on in all regards, from being greeted by the host to the last minutes of dessert (a killer creme brulee made by our server! . Our sever didnt miss a beat, even though the first turn was packed. Every meal and side was prepared perfectly, the portions substantial, the seasonings balanced and interesting (and NOT oversalted, like so many places . Even the plates had been heated up, which is always a nice touch. The food and wine prices were right in line, being quite affordable in comparison to so many places these days. And after dinner, we closed out the check and our server said we had the table no push out the door, even though they were near closing. I highly recommend The Corner Room for all the reasons we enjoy dining out. This will now be in our monthly rotation as we socialize with friends and want to be guaranteed a superlative meal. Thanks CR!

Overall we were very pleased and we will be back! It's a small and cozy spot nestled in a neighborhood with street parking we were a little worried we'd struggle to find parking but it wasn't an issue at all. Prices were all very reasonable and food was great. We got cornbread and burrata to start (both were VERY good! , and salmon and sirloin for entrees the salmon was cooked perfectly, didn't care for the cauliflower puree that came with it (that's just preference though, nothing wrong with the way it was cooked ; the steak was good, but not fantastic again, not poor quality at all, just not over the top flavorful. The ambience inside is great, it's a bit small so can feel perhaps a little cramped, but not enough to impact the experience. Our server was great very attentive and personable, there when we needed her. Overall, we were very pleased definitely recommend and we will be back!

Hadn't been in ages. Not even a shadow of what it was 5 and more years ago. The “schnitzel” is a thick piece of fried pork with a mustard sauce glopped on it nothing like real schnitzel. Cornbread very dry and overcooked. Puréed cauliflower, puréed sweet potatoes...too many puréed sides with no texture or flavor. This place was so much better when Harding Smith was really involved there is just no way he is now given what it used to be. Bring back the duck confit and meatloaf and the delicious dishes that made this place.

The Front Room is a great restaurant for date night, dinners with friends family, special occasions or just for a bite to eat. Our waitress was wonderful, but the kitchen must have been short staffed because it took a long time (45 mins) between the appetizers the main meal. Our food was delicious, presentation was beautiful kitchen staff were able to accommodate my gluten dairy intolerance. It would be nice to have a gluten dairy free desert option.