The Grill Room & Bar

The Grill Room & Bar has been on Exchange Street in Portland's Old Port for more than 15 years, built around a wood-fired grill and oven that anchor an open kitchen visible from the dining room. Chef Harding Lee Smith runs it as part of a small local restaurant group that also includes the Corner Room, Front Room, and Mountain Room.

The menu leans into what the wood fire does best — steaks and other wood-grilled proteins, seafood, and classic steakhouse starters — with Pineland Farms meat and local produce worked in when available. The dining room itself is open and rustic, tall-ceilinged, with warm colors that match the food.

Happy hour runs daily from 4 to 6 at the bar, ahead of dinner service that starts at 5.