Leeward
Restaurant · Portland ·
Fresh pasta, seafood, meat dishes, desserts, and wine
Fresh pasta, seafood, meat dishes, desserts, and wine
"With warm ochre walls and homey bookcases full of dried bouquets and books, I find Leeward to be the archetype of a mom-and-pop-gone-perfectionist restaurant: beyond lovely dishes like Maine scallop crudo with ginger and grapefruit and chicken liver mousse with bacon and chokeberry mostarda, it’s the handmade pastas that steal the show—shapes and textures made to showcase ultra-fresh local ingredients, exemplified by a pine nut–studded tagliatelle with bright pea-tendril and mint pesto and salty ricotta salata." - Alexandra Hall
"Housed in what was once a men’s department store in downtown Portland, Leeward is a contemporary, Italian restaurant where, like a good suit, everything is tailor-made. Almost the entire menu is prepared and baked in-house, whether that’s the focaccia or carte di musica that accompanies their homemade chicken liver mousse. You can’t go wrong here with any of their constantly rotating shareable plates like salty, crispy artichokes and butter-poached radishes. Or their freshly made pastas that range from light and pillowy sheep’s milk gnudi or the heartier pork and beef rigatoni bolognese. The dining room is large enough for celebrations but still feels spacious and warm, making it the perfect fit for any type of special occasion. While reservations book up quickly, there are plenty of bar seats and smaller tables that are saved for walk-ins." - alana dao 2
"Find respite from the notoriously windy section of Free Street at aptly named Leeward, where gorgeous plates of Maine scallop crudo and beef and pork ragu bolognese have made this pasta haven a fast favorite. Owned by chef Jake Stevens — whose resume includes Portland, Oregon’s beloved Beast (now closed) and Portland, Maine’s renowned Eventide (another entry on this list) — alongside general manager and wine director Paige Buehrer, Leeward also offers a smart selection of cocktails (both alcoholic and non-) to go with its excellent house-made pasta." - Stasia Brewczynski
"Housed in what was once a men’s department store in downtown Portland, Leeward is a contemporary, Italian restaurant where, like a good suit, everything is tailor-made. Almost the entire menu is prepared and baked in-house, whether that’s the focaccia or carte di musica that accompanies their homemade chicken liver mousse. You can’t go wrong here with any of their constantly rotating shareable plates like salty, crispy artichokes and butter-poached radishes. Or their freshly made pastas that range from light and pillowy sheep’s milk gnudi or the heartier pork and beef rigatoni bolognese. The dining room is large enough for celebrations but still feels spacious and warm, making it the perfect fit for any type of special occasion. While reservations book up quickly, there are plenty of bar seats and smaller tables that are saved for walk-ins." - Alana Dao
"A Maine pasta-focused restaurant described as a favorite, with chef Jake Stevens nominated for Best Chef in the Northeast." - BySam Stone