Magissa

I walked in a little before closing and the hostess was able to accommodate us at the bar. The appetizers were authentically Greek and the main dishes did not disappoint. But what was exceptional was the dessert, a fusion of blueberries and tahini on an ouzo cake. I have never tasted anything like it before. It was truly an amazing night with a great atmosphere. Shout out to the bartender who tended bar and took very good care of us.

Nice food. Great vibe and friendly staff. Prices very reasonable too. Some negatives: limited entrees. Also, we went all in for 5 mezze. They were good but we ran out of pita. The lamb chops were perfectly cooked but lacked punch. Gyros were good but I’ve had better. Overall very competent traditional Greek food. Worth going but not a super memorable experience if you’ve had Greek food elsewhere.

Such a cute, light, and tasty place. Haven't seen a Greek place do souvlaki tofu before, and it did not disappoint! Tried the ouzo lemonade and it was also a standout (but only if you like ouzo - not to everyone's taste!)

Wow! What a fabulous experience! Jake, our server, was 6 stars, no question. Chef Dillon prepared our lovely dishes, so fresh and delicious, and the best anchovies since Barcelona. Everything was awesome.

We popped in during their soft opening and were able to snag some bar seats. The bartender was quite helpful in guiding us through the Mediterranean wine selections. The decor was tastefully updated to reflect the Grecian menu. But most importantly, the food was phenomenal! We started with the mezze and a great tasting of spreads. For dinner, I opted for the Caesar salad with chicken, and my partner opted for the lamb gyro. The flavors were on point! We can't wait to make Magissa one of our regular establishments. Welcome to the neighborhood.

The food was fine, but I was expecting more. $21 for 5 sides in the mezze as you can see in the picture could have been more generous. The Greek salad had barely dressing, I would have expected to be generously seasoned with delicious Greek olive oil, and the romaine lettuce and tomatoes were bland specially costing over $20. I hope that the owners step it up with the quality and serving size as the food has potential. We ordered takeout, maybe it's better experience in person. I would not order again takeout.

The atmosphere was nice, but unfortunately, the experience fell far below our expectations. The portions were extremely small and definitely not filling — we came hungry and left hungry. Considering the portion size and quality, the prices are way too high. Sadly, it’s not worth the money and we wouldn’t come back.

Wonderful taste of Greece right here in Portland. The food and waitstaff were amazing, and the people overall vibe was also great. I would just recommend getting there right when they open or expecting to wait given its much deserved popularity.

I am happy and proud to give my full fledged support to Magissa, a restaurant that should stand proudly on its delicious food, its great service and its winning concept. We went there to celebrate my niece's birthday. Every year, she and her family visit us here in Portland and - every year - we find a Greek restaurant to enjoy. We are Greek and we grew up in a Greek restaurant so doing this is deeply emotional to us. In addition, Greek food is simply awesome so it satisfies all the needs we have. We were aware of Magissa because we used to frequent the Greeks of Peaks when they had their food truck there. We always enjoyed the Greek food from the truck and Magissa continued to "wow" us. We ordered the dolmades and the spinach pie as starters. We were very happy with these 2 appetizers! The dolmas, in particular, were well prepared and the avgolemono sauce was perfectly prepared and executed. For our main courses, we had several mousaka plates, some fish, some lamb dishes and they - likewise - hit the mark every time. In particular, the mousaka was nicely balanced. It had that perfect blend of cinnamon and savory notes from the ground beef and eggplant! The bechamel sauce was light and airy but held the dish together very nicely. The lamb was "Americanized" and served slightly rare - a good touch! Whoever prepared the lamb did a killer job and knows how to handle that meat!!! The service at Magissa is second to none. Jake was our server and he was helpful, well spoken, fun and hard working. We are playful crowd and we enjoy a waiter who can "play" back with us. He did! He has a great sense of humor and is a professional all around. Jake made our experience at Magissa all the better!!! The atmosphere at Magissa is also great. White rustic walls, Greek touches throughout, comfortable seats and modern finishes. The "Greeks of Peaks" people have transitioned beautifully from truck to brick & mortar! I have no doubt that Magissa will serve many satisfied diners many great meals throughout the meals. It certainly lives up to the tough food competition in Portland. I highly recommend Magissa to anyone who wants a very special dining experience in Portland Maine!!!

I'm not saying Magissa has the cutest bathroom in all of Portland... but I'm also not not saying that. This place is lovely. The Mediterranean vibe they've created is unlike anything else in town. It's giving Greece, it's giving Turkey, it's giving Mediterranean! They've turned what's been a revolving-door space over the years into a cozy little spot that feels fresh and different, though there's definitely room for improvement. We visited on a Saturday night and thankfully had a reservation -- I wouldn't go without one. It's a small space in a super popular area, and it fills up fast. Our hostess was great; friendly, and welcoming. Our server, on the other hand, was fine... he just seemed unamused. The main drawback for me was the menu. I knew it was going to be limited, but it felt REALLY limited and honestly kind of generic. That said, what we did have was pretty good. We ordered the 3-mezze option, and like others have said, the portions are small -- but for $12, I wasn't mad at it. The grilled halloumi and dips were delicious, and they didn't skimp on the pita. Price-wise, Magissa is super reasonable, which was one of my favorite things about it. Most items are under $20, with a couple of splurge-y mains. I got the Paros chicken -- the chicken was soooo good, but I didn't love the sides it came with. The rice and brussels sprouts were a bit dry. My husband got the lamb gyro and really liked it. The only exception to "the prices being reasonable" was the baklava; it was overpriced for the quality. Another standout: the cocktails. We tried a couple, including a few from their limited-time Seaweed Week menu, and they were fantastic. All in all, I think Magissa is a fantastic addition to Portland's food scene. It's cozy, stylish, and trendy without feeling too...Boston? I'll definitely be back -- especially in the summer.

my friend suggested this place when we were looking for a new sunday brunch spot, and i'm happy to say we were all so impressed! i've driven by this place so many times and somehow never noticed it, but the space is soo lovely. so much natural light and cute booths (shoutout to the hostess who noticed us admiring them and made sure we got one). our waitress was so so nice and welcoming. our food was so good! they have a pretty limited menu for brunch, but everything we got was impressive in presentation and taste. get the chicken and waffles with the chili honey sauce - you won't regret it. the mimosa and spritz were also good, but five dollars for a simple black coffee was a little much. anyway, can't wait for the next excuse to come back to magissa!

Small but perfectly executed lunch menu. Fantastic service. (Deafening noise but apparently when the glass wall/doors are open it's better, today was too hot.) I've never seen mastiha on a U.S. menu so will need to return for dinner as I don't drink at lunch. And plentiful free street parking which we have never before experienced in Portland. Several firsts!

Wasn't super impressed. Service was pretty good. But the food was just OK. Really hit or miss. Some dishes were great and others were weak. Maybe my expectations were a little too high. It is off in a neighborhood away from downtown. Ambiance is OK as well. I guess I just had higher hopes.

A little slice of Santorini in Portland? Okay! Magissa, your space is loooooooooooovely. The iconic textured whites and cerulean blue colours, the soft lighting, the ability to open up your walls to let in fresh air (... if only it were the Aegan Sea and not Kennedy Park outside your doorstep). The decor was executed beautifully! Magissa, your staff is loooooooooooovely. So friendly, so genuine (we appreciated our server's radical candor when we asked about specific menu items), and the accommodation of dietary restrictions/requests was so appreciated. But, for me, the food is a big miss both in portion and flavours. The mezze plate was SO MUCH SMALLER than I thought it would be. It is mostly pita bread, a sampling of Horitatki, and a few olives as well as your choice of three or five accompaniments. Despite our server really (tactfully) trying to explain just how small the servings were, the accompaniments are literally one or two bites. I got the herb marinated Artichoke Hearts (two pieces), the Briami (maybe a heaping tablespoon of grilled onions and green beans), and the Skordalia (maybe three spoonfuls of garlic dip?). The veggies somehow all tasted the same and the Skordalia felt muted (for lack of a better explanation) - where was that punch of garlic? the salt? how is the olive oil so bland? I showed up hungry, I left hungry. Would I come back for another Italicus Spritz if I was walking around East Bayside? Yes, it was looooooooooovely (and I never knew about the olive-in-the-spritz garnish before, and that's how I'm gonna make them at home moving forward). But would I come out of my way from off peninsula for this? Unfortunately, no.

My mother and I came here and had a great time. The food is very flavorful and was plated nicely. The dolma and kalamari are small plates which were great and all seemed to have fresh ingredients. Both my mom and I got the lamb gyro. The lamb was very tender and the pita was fresh. I wish they put more lamb in it as mine only had six pieces which was disappointing. Our server Makayla was lively, polite, and prompt with everything. The ambience was good and it wasn't too loud considering it was relatively busy. I would recommend getting a reservation as this place fills up fast with the limited amount of seating! Overall I'd come back here again and would recommend it to anyone who wants Greek food in the area.

Tonight (Saturday) was our first visit and we didn't know we needed to make reservations. Kind hostess put us on the wait list and got us in sooner than we expected (just enough time to get half pours at Bellflower!). My dirty negroni was divine! All the menu options were tempting so we got a little of everything - calamari, tzatziki, spanokopita, lamb skewer, htipiti, skordalia, and horiatiki (mezze) to share. Every single one was scrumptious! Servings sizes were perfect for the two of us - we were full and had no leftovers, with a tiny bit of room for dessert to share. Melopita with rhubarb was a perfect ending! Friendly, attentive service, fair prices, sweet views of the park from the big windows, and great energy in the space made it a true treat and we can't wait to go back! It lived up to all we'd been looking forward to, and even went beyond. A magical early summer evening!

Magissa is a wonderful addition to East Bayside. With a Santorini-esque color scheme (blue and white) in a bright space filled with plants galore, cozy nooks, and an excellent, authentically Greek menu, Magissa is a must-try. I personally recommend ordering a Mezze with 3-5 sides--As a pescatarian, I really enjoyed the combo of tinned fish, halloumi, and taramosalata (cod roe dip) for a savory and protein-packed light bite. I paired it with their housemade lemonade. YUM! They have a few vegan options as well, and keep dietary restrictions in mind when prepping food. Service was personable and quick. The space itself is beautiful and carefully decorated. Although I can't speak to their starters, mains, desserts, or cocktails, my first time dining at Magissa will most definitely not be my last, and I can't wait to head back and enjoy more of their menu!

I'm Greek-American and was excited to check this place out when we had friends in town-- unfortunately, it fell fall short of even basically-good Greek food. (Even the olives were subpar-- at a Greek joint, really!?) Front-of-house needs more training to deliver a smooth experience and avoid service mishaps like auctioning off food and drinks, running out of chilled drinks on a Thursday, etc. Food-wise I would give the constructive criticism of remembering what makes Greek food so delicious: highlighting fresh ingredients with herbs, lemons, excellent olive oil...Even simple mezedakia like halloumi, spanakopita, gigantes etc felt flat. I wish this place lots of success but they need to step it up.

Went here the other afternoon after wanting to try it out since they opened up. This is a nice little Greek spot on the corner with a cool and vibrant interior with nice outdoor seating. Staff was very friendly. Service was a little slow but it seemed busy and they also seemed a little understaffed. For a drink I got the kumquat sour which was fantastic. The flavors worked so well and the notes of honey were amazing. The food overall was pretty good. We started with the dolma and the spanakopita. It was my first time trying dolma and I was pleasantly surprised which the unique taste. And the spanakopita was flaky, filled, and packed with flavor. For the mains we got the lamb gyro and the caesar. The lamb in the gyro was a little overcooked but the flavors were great, the size was great, and the sauce was great! The Caesar was amazing! We got it with the shrimp special. It's not like any other Caesar we've had the dressing is so good and we highly recommend it. Overall our experience here was nice. We had no wait and left full and satisfied. Seems like they could use a little more staff but the place seems to be busy and they seem to be serving some pretty good food. Give this place a try if you're craving Greek food!

Friendly staff - good food - good vibes - get the chicken and waffles!! Compliments to the chef

Came here on a recent visit to Portland and so glad we found it! We were seated after about half an hour wait- from the other reviews, it seems like this restaurant is fairly new, but it was quite popular on a weekend night. Service was excellent and our server was very helpful with all our menu questions. Our table ordered the seared halloumi, stuffed eggplant, roasted carrots, and mezze dish to share. The food was all good, the standouts for me were the roasted carrots and halloumi sides. They were fantastic and very flavorful, I definitely recommend giving them a try! We ordered the pavlova as a dessert, it was very light and the lemon sauce was wonderfully tangy. All in all a great experience and would absolutely come back anytime we are in the area.

A little bit more than a little ridiculous to hold absolutely 0 tables for walk-in's...2 hour wait on a winter Saturday at 6:30 pm with two (2) parties in the waitlist is ridiculous, you should really consider holding 2-3 tables/bar stools for walk ins...especially for a 2 person walk in...we want to try so bad and we will be back but it's frustrating to say the least! Please consider holding a table for a walk-in

The food, drinks, ambiance and service were outstanding! I had the Messe, which is made for me! The tzatziki was the best I've had. Also had a glass xinomarvo, and the orange wine, both superb. I hope I can convince Brian to break our rule about not going back to the same place twice in one trip :)

This place really hit it out of the park for me. Ironic because it's right next to the park. location, right off, super strange and kind of counterintuitive and parking was a challenge. However, WORTH IT. we went for brunch on Sunday, my two best friends and I, we got seated at the cutest booth facing the window. It's small in there but it's open concept and it's cozy - it's well lit, it has a consistent color scheme and lots of pretty trinket shelves and breakfast booths with throw pillows. The service was quick, kind, and consistent. Our waitress was a literal angel on earth and the bartender was a hoot. As for the food, not an extensive brunch menu but everything we got was absolutely to die for. We had one vegetarian in our party, and they were very quick to substitute meat for tofu and accommodate in any way they could. They have mimosas and aperol spritzers, Greek coffee frappes, yogurt bowls. Overall the food was beautiful, flavorful, and authentic. This is the prime girlfriends brunch spot or date spot if you're taking out a boho, cool, instagram girly. It's a neat find. Will definitely be coming back.

This is probably one of my new favorite places in Portland! I ordered the shrimp gyro and it was incredible. The flavors are fresh and blend together so well! It's a great place for a date or a girls night! Magissa does a great job at making you feel like you're on a Greece getaway. The staff is super friendly as well!!

Excellent spot for Mediterranean / Greek food. Great mezze and great wine selection. Excellent service, too. Would definitely return here!

We went because it was listed as one of the 3 most beautiful restaurants in Portland, and it didn't disappoint. The food was awesome too. We shared the meze and the gyro and that was plenty, but wish I had also ordered the olive platter. Excited to go back.

A wonderful addition to the Portland food scene! The food was fantastic, the drinks were delicious, and the staff were wonderful, friendly, and gave great advice on what to choose from the menu. We ordered the mezze plate with three additions, kalamari with basil aioli, stuffed eggplant entree, chicken gyro entree, and the soko-latopita for dessert. Everything was delicious and the highlight was definitely the dessert - it was to die for! Though it doesn't affect my 5-star review, I would like to give some constructive criticism on the menu since Magissa is still a relatively new restaurant: First off, though the chicken gyro was tasty, it absolutely shouldn't be $16. There wasn't anything spectacular about the gyro to warrant that price when I could get a similar one elsewhere from a food truck for half that and double the ingredients. Maybe a larger pita or filled with more toppings would make me want to order it again. However, still tasty, just not elevated to that of restaurant quality for $16, I feel. Maybe offering a side would make it worth the price - side of zatar fries maybe? Secondly, I wish they offered just a couple more cocktails on their menu or even a cocktail special or two at all times. Just nitpicking here, but for someone who prefers sweet/fruity drinks the options were limited to only one or two the night we visited. All in all, a tasty Mediterranean restaurant that I can't wait to go back to and try things we missed the first time!

Magissa is a great spot! I had the tofu gyro which was really yummy. The interior of the restaurant is comfortable and beautiful, and our server Allissa was fun and very kind. Definitely recommend!

The place is small and the staff are sweet. Very nice idea to open a Greek restaurant in Portland but, from the look and taste of some items on the menu, the food may not be fresh/made in-house. The salads taste like at best the salad bar at Whole Foods and the servings are very small. It's hard to open a restaurant now but was hoping for better with such nice posts on Instagram.

Food 3-4: Greek salad was nothing special with small pieces of feta and chopped tomatoes with little flavor. Caesar had good flavor, but dressing was a bit heavy and croutons were small with no taste. Fried eggplant chips were a bit oily; accompanying Tzatziki was excellent. Main dishes (lamb chops and chicken) shined. Enjoyed beer (and wine), but would be great to have more choices on tap (only 2). Service 4-5: Very friendly staff. Service on the slower side. Ambiance/atmosphere 2: A bit too loud and freezing. We were sitting under the AC vent and were told that temp/unit could not be altered ("due to building problem")

My new favorite restaurant in Portland. You aren't going to find better Greek food in Maine.

This restaurant is truly outstanding--the best I've ever experienced. The food was phenomenal, and the staff's care and attention, particularly Molly's, were exceptional. It has quickly become my new favorite spot. An absolute gem!

When I walked in, and took a seat at the bar, the bartender just stared at me like I was a dead fish. Super unfriendly! When my gyro came, it was wrapped up to go, even though when I ordered I said I wanted to eat there. The bartender never came back over to see how the food was or if I wanted anything else., and he never even bothered to give me utensils. This was truly the worst service I can ever remember having anywhere. I might have just thought he was having a bad day, but he didn't treat the other people at the bar with the same contempt. The food was bland. About an hour later, I became quite ill, which I blame on the food. Do not recommend at all!

Absolutely adorable decor with fully open sliding glass walls, perfect for a summer or fall afternoon. We tried lunch, and sat at the bar (we didn't have a reservation for Saturday lunch; considering making one to be safe). Menu is tightly focused, albeit maybe a touch limited for lunch. Still, you'll certainly find a something for your palate. Indie hipster rock playing overhead. You can order the gyros as platters (more like a salad with the pita on the side). Chicken was so juicy; wow! Food was perfectly executed and richly flavored. Overall, highly recommended.

I need this to be in Portsmouth, but until then... I am more than happy to take the drive. Amazing menu, staff and space. I'm a Greek girl and I'd have to say, my Yiayia would approve.

The most amazing food. We have been several times and everything is delicious. The tomato martini is delicious, stuffed eggplant, chicken gyro, and spanakopita were all outstanding!

Been once as a walk in opening night, and, it was very good. What's not good is no phone #, and, after trying to make reservations four times on line with no one getting back to you, it makes me wonder of the viability of this place. What restaurant doesn't have a phone, or, respond to reservations?

Finally a great Greek restaurant in Portland! Beyond delicious--we had spanakopita, some mezze, greek salad, lamb, chicken, and two desserts. Filling without being too heavy. Great service--nice and quick. A little noisy but still a great place for a date night. Will definitely be back!