I heard great things about this restaurant but it left much to be desired. Upon our arrival we were spoken to by the hostess as we were walking through the door as we did not close it on ourselves. Apparently not letting the AC out is more important than letting their customers in. Next, this yellow dress woman has the audacity to sit us outside in the only table directly in the sun while every other table of equal size and place setting was unoccupied - we were the only ones out there and every other table was shaded. Drinks were refreshing - because my mouth was a desert. The food portions were small and overpriced, tasted good for the second and a half it took to consume it. When it comes to the main course - I can stay at home and cook store bought duck and have 4x the portion and 100x the flavor as the plate that was handed to me. 10/10 would not recommend.
Generally, there is a lull in dining establishments during a mid-week evening in Portland as restaurants ramp up for the weekend. Similar to other of the high-end eateries, the Knotted Apron begins service on Wednesday, an evening when we reserved a table and found the patronage to be high for the night. Demand for their kitchen on such an evening is a very good sign of very good things to come; we were not disappointed. The limited menu offers a four-course, a la carte meal with a small selection of starters, five or so first courses, three mains (duck leg confit, flatiron steak, and halibut), and a handful of desserts. We began our evening with delicate, soft and pillowy black-garlic gnocchi that set the stage for our entrees. The flatiron steak was cooked to a perfect rare and, although not melt-in-your mouth, was very satisfying. The sauce accompanying the halibut enhanced the dish to perfection, whereas the double caramel crème brulée was a bit of a disappointment. The caramelization of the sugar atop the dish was perfect; unfortunately, the custard base was not set properly, resulting in more of a soupy texture than that of a custard. If the custard base had been set, our rating of this evening's dinner would be higher. All in all, our waitress was attendant and helpful even when working this evening, alone; the outdoor seating was refreshing on a cool, Portland evening; and the kitchen was firing on most all cylinders to make us want to return for another meal.
What a lovely experience! From beginning to end, the staff and owner made our party feel special. The food and cocktails are thoughtfully curated and expertly prepared. If I didn't live so far away, the Knotted Apron would be a regular spot for my family and friends.
My husband and I enjoyed our experience at the Knotted Apron! The service was excellent, and the food was delicious. It is a bit pricey, but a high quality meal. Portions are a bit small, so be sure to order with that in mind.
Outstanding! Every dish is thoughtfully prepared and the service is friendly and competent. As good as, or better than, any place we've been in the old port.
What a fantastic meal! We followed the suggestion from our wait person and ordered a few of the smaller dishes to share followed by our respective entrees. The house made focaccia was the best we have ever had: it was fluffy, salty, a thin delicate crust on the outside made it just perfect. We had a beet salad with mache and chicken liver mousse had us licking the bowl clean. A small portion of all dente homemade tagliatelle with braised short ribs was perfectly balanced. Our entrees, Bay of Fundy salmon and flat iron steak with swiss chard were perfectly prepared and left us wanting to come back during our next visit to Portland. We were just a little taken aback the restaurant was not full. With that high a quality of food, there should be a long line waiting at the door.
Amazing food - possibly the best Hangar steak I have ever had. So tender it melted in the mouth! Wait staff are very attentive, the wine list is curated really well. Desserts are phenomenal too.
Outstanding service, food and environment! Limited menu done very well. Unique flavors and presentation. Like some of the best restaurants in Italy. Thank you!
I went to The Knotted Apron a bit randomly- when Back Bay Grill decided not to reopen, they let us know we could use our gift card at The Knotted Apron. We will certainly be returning! The bar is a super cozy space(love the Hydrological map of Maine, and may need one) and it's fun to watch the chefs at work. Everything we tried- the onion tart, beets, burger, and scallops- was phenomenal. Service was friendly and thoughtfully attentive but unobtrusive. Great wine list, and the chocolate cake was to die for. What a fantastic spot- can't wait to go back!
Haven't had a better meal! I was telling my husband perhaps we have had meals as good but I couldn't remember where or when. We've been twice now and will return soon. Everything we ordered was delicious! The focacciabread is the best I've had. The service was wonderful. Everyone there is gracious, warm and welcoming. We loved it!