Sur Lie

To start off they have the best desserts I have ever had. The parsnip cake and spruce ash ice cream were innovative and absolutely delicious. We got a spread of food and everything was amazing, but my favorite was the crudo. I wish I had a whole bucket of that. Would absolute recommend to anyone visiting or in Portland. Plus they had a great selection of non alcoholic drinks as well which was a welcome sight.

Oh do we love a chefs menu in this house. Amazing cocktails, great food with small shareable portions. The chefs menu was just perfect. It was an anniversary dinner and they went out of their way, which is always appreciated. For the price, easy to rate this one 5-stars for the food quality and service. Meg, you are a rockstar.

One of the best meals I’ve ever had. I’m gluten free and there were several options! Exceptional quality that is evident from the presentation to taste. The restaurants in Portland are fantastic but I’d vote that this is among the best. Tapas style but the portions were larger than I expected!

Sur Lie isn't just a meal; it's an experience that lingers long after the last bite. The intimate bistro captures the essence of fine dining without any pretense. The staff elevates the dining experience. They're knowledgeable about the menu, attentive without being intrusive, and genuinely excited to share their recommendations. The owner in particular is very involved and makes sure both her staff and the guest are having a good time. It's clear the whole team is invested in making sure every guest leaves happy. The ingredients were fresh, everything was cooked to perfection, and the flavors were bold while maintaining balance.The tapas sized portions are perfect for sharing, letting you try more of the menu. We ordered 7 to start and ended up added 2 more because it was so good (sadly I didn't photograph everything!) Highly recommend sitting at the chefs counter! It was such a fun experience. The chef was really engaging. We'll be back again in the future :)

Excellent food and friendly service with unique and inventive dishes. We made dinner reservations for a Saturday night and were seated when we arrived. The server was friendly and helpful and recommended 4-6 dishes for two people to share. The dishes were unique and came out as prepared and all very flavorful with quality ingredients. Some were a bit small for sharing but others were much larger and overall balanced out on value. The Lobster Popovers were very good but our favorite were two fall inspired dishes the roast acorn squash and mushroom gnocchi. We would definitely order all three again. Prices were reasonable considering flavors and quality however we skipped dessert as nothing on the menu interested us. A great place for dinner out.

Minus the extra bright light over our heads, we had an amazing experience. Please get rid of the halogen and put in a dimmable LED

I have never left a review before but for this place, I just have to! We ate here last week for our anniversary dinner. And let me tell you. It blew. My. Mind.The food was so damn good, I can’t stop thinking about it.. especially the pork belly, scallops and the steak! Our server was so great.. explained everything when it came out. The atmosphere is cozy yet super vibey! Wish I could give Sur Lie 10 stars! We will definitely be back when we visit Portland next!

What a delicious meal! From the moment you walk in the server greets you with a smile. The music was almost like low-fly, loud enough to enjoy but easy to talk and hear over. We started with cocktails which were so fine. Then a few dishes of yummyness. Dinner was spaced out just enough to make the meal flow but not feel rushed. Price was just right… super happy!

We had the tasting menu with pairing and it's something I recommend to everyone. Let them make the choices, they are good at this food and drink thing and have spent time thinking about it so let them steer the ship! The food is spectacular, everything - all courses start to finish was great, some courses were next level = Crudo, Mussels, Popover, cocktails. The Crudo makes the most memorable dishes ever list for me! Cocktails Blood Sweat and Tears was awesome - sweet, sour, spicy = goes down too easy! Service was top notch, (Meg) was perfectly attentive and professional, excellent service! A must try if in Portland, don't skip this place.

I made this reservation not realizing they change their menu daily and that even then, they might not have everything on the menu available. Had I realized that, I would have looked at the menu and more than likely wouldn't have gone. There weren't enough menu items that interested me. Fortunately, we had been to happy hour earlier and I wasn't too hungry. I can't remember the name of my cocktail but I know it had vodka, some kind of citrus, and something else. I did not like it at all. My husband thought it was okayish and drank it after he finished his Old Fashioned. Our server was friendly when she first approached us. After we ordered two smaller items (it's a tapas menu), she seemed quite a bit less friendly. We got the popover. It had some lobster in it (should have been more) and the sauce was good and there was a lot of bread. We also ordered the crab dip that was seriously la king in crab and all we really tasted was warm cream cheese. We each had about two bites and left the rest. I wouldn't go back. I would suggest looking at the menu the day you go to make sure there are things you may be interested in!

Sur Lie in Portland, Maine, lives up to its James Beard-nominated reputation with a menu that brilliantly balances creativity and flavor. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it perfect for a relaxed yet refined dining experience. Each dish is thoughtfully crafted, showcasing fresh, local ingredients with a modern twist. Whether you're enjoying small plates or indulging in one of their signature cocktails, Sur Lie offers a culinary journey that is both memorable and satisfying. It's a must-visit for anyone looking to experience the best of Portland's vibrant food scene.

We went with four friends for dinner. The ambience is very bougie. Dark but comfortable. The menu is mostly a shared item menu, which is not some thing. I am usually comfortable with, but after looking online, I could tell most of the choices looked great. We ordered 15 plates to share, which was plenty I loved all of it minus one order which was a watermelon with a tiny cube of sushi. The drinks were fantastic. We ordered all three dessert options and they were delicious. I would highly recommend going with a group so you can share.

Sur Lie is a tapas restaurant with a menu that combines both French and classic Maine flavors. I'm always slightly skeptical of tapa-style food, given that I often find that it's an excuse for restauranteurs to overcharge for smaller portions and pass it off as culinary excellence. However, the portions did not leave me wanting more, which I had hoped for given the somewhat-exorbitant prices. The Chef's Board and Crab Dip are both filling must-trys. Great service, great food, but overpriced compared to comparable restaurants in the area.

On a friend of a friend's recommendation, I booked Sur Lie for an early Friday evening dinner while I was in Portland, and I'm pleased I did. The ambiance isn't intimidating despite the chef's James Beard semi-finalist status; it's sleek but open to the kitchen, with taseful decor that isn't fussy. The server explained two to three dishes per person from the tapas menu is recommended since the dishes are assembled for flavor and not portion, thus somewhat differing in scale. I chose the chef's choice tasting and its wine pairings. The chef's choice tasting included four courses. Starting with a bluefin tuna special was a highlight in terms of drink pairing, as the sparkling wine pairing complemented the ginger in the dish spectacularly. The lobster popover and steak were both fabulous; the popover seems to be a classic here for very good reason, and the Calabrian chile aioli on the steak was fantastic. The amaro paired with the chocolate cremeaux for dessert was also quite nice; the macerated cherries played well against the amaro. Service was friendly and I didn't feel rushed. The menu includes cocktails, non-alcoholic cocktails, wine, beer, and liqueurs. This really is a fab special occasion space!

We stopped in for a "second dinner" around 7pm on a Thursday and were able to grab 2 seats at the bar. The bartender was awesome, I forget his name, but he was very personable and gave great recommendations on the menu. He also had 2 Pokemon cards (Snorlax and Machamp) behind the bar which I found very cute as I love Pokemon. The food is tapas style so it was perfect for sharing. We got the Wild Arugula Salad, Hanger Steak, Pasta, and the Crab Dip. The arugula salad was light and fresh and the chickpeas added crunch. The Hanger Steak was a great size for sharing - it was about 2 slices each. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare and I enjoyed the little potato pave on the side. The pasta came in a shallow bowl and had a little broth which I was not expecting. Although I prefer my pasta on the savory side, the corn added sweetness which was not bad and there was some saltiness from the pancetta. The crab dip was yummy! This could have been shared between 4 people as the little bowl is deceiving in how much in contains! I enjoyed our dining experience in Sur Lie and would recommend it! It would be a cute place for a date night. The menu has a decent variety!

I've wanted to eat here for months. Finally made an early reservation. The menu is composed of small dishes. The server recommended 6 dishes for both. Honestly we would have been fine with four. Our favorites were the Korean beef brisket, the mussels and popover. The brisket was absolutely melt in mouth tender, the mussels were some of the freshest ever with a lovely coconut curry broth and the popover massive. The scallops were a little over cooked but the sauce was delicious. The daily catch was good but compared to the other fishes underwhelming. We had the banana bread pudding and honestly I was just too full to enjoy it - I couldn't taste the bananas nor caramel at this point. This was a great experience to taste the different flavors but I felt we were a little too greedy. Service was wonderful.

Having had the good fortune of going to sister restaurant Gather, I was eager to try Sur Lie--and I was definitely not disappointed! This was an event with Dinnermates, and our group of 10 people had a multi-course prix fixe menu served family-style. Love that as a concept generally; being able to order plates to share is a great way to get a variety. Our first course was a burrata in a smoked butternut squash puree flavored with cumin, with these delicious crispy endive and parsnip chips on top, followed by a baked squash (not sure what kind) with both a sweet and salty bite. Both dishes did tilt more toward the sweet than the savory; not a criticism per se, as they were both beautifully layered with flavor and texture (I just prefer something more savory, or at least not two sweet dishes in a row). Next up (did I mention that each course was actually *two* courses?) were Korean short ribs that had been braised and simmering for hours to the point where they were just melting in our mouths. (I barely got a photo of this, we all scarfed it down so fast.) Then the pasta, which was my favorite: the perfect al dente bite--not actually something you get all the time, which is why I noticed and appreciated it--with different wild mushrooms, fried sage, and cheese. The best way I can describe the dessert is to say that it was a muffin (they called it a parsnip cake), which doesn't do it justice! It was something like both a cake and a muffin, soft on the inside and a bit crisp on top, with dollops of ice cream and caramel and fresh honeycomb. (And actually a lot less sweet than our first course, tbh.) Based on this, I can't wait to return and try more of the menu! Wonderful staff too; they described every dish well and made great wine recommendations. And just a lovely vibe overall--the restaurant feels both cozy and spacious, and I can easily see coming here for a dinner night with friends or just a few bites at the bar. Very clear why chef Krista Cole (of both Sue Lie and Gather) is on the short list for the James Beard awards, and I highly recommend!

It was good! I liked the spot and the bartender was friendly. Cool dishes, very unique

Oh my gosh such a great place! The bar tender listened to what my taste was and built a cocktail that was so delicious! Also I recommend the mussels!

Service. Our waiter was excellent. He was informative and on target with mood, discussion, and feedback. The server missed a few Items in description. First world problem, however, noted. Ambiance. So laid back and relaxed. Enjoy the atmosphere. And location. Food. The popover with lobster was amazing. Seriously. Stupid good! Not transformative, other dimension. The panna cota with cucumber gazpacho. Who thinks of that! We were savoring every bite! The cod was excellent. Perfectly cooked, light flavorful, and good size portion. The Sumer squash cake, less than thrilled. It was a heavy dish at the end of a big meal. Suggests having the gelato as the focus and making a crumble. Highly recommend this restaurant.

So not what I expected. I had really high hopes for this place but it let me down. The atmosphere is a little strange to start with, but we were seated on the weird little ledge in a corner overlooking an ally, we could see into the kitchen at sort of knee level which is never good and our whole experience felt like an afterthought. The food was ok as individual plates, but together as a menu it was really disjointed and all over the place. The cocktails felt forced, like they were trying to be as funky as possible, but in all honestly just were not that good. I will give it a second chance, but they should really get rid of the odd seating.

So, I got stood up. Not at Sur Lie, but elsewhere. Left to my own devices and ravening, I sort of drifted into Sur Lie because it seemed inviting and after the ugliness of that rejection, I needed to imbibe some beauty. And God, is Sur Lie beautiful. The décor is understated and classic, and Travis the bartender is highly skilled. I also appreciated the conversation he gave me: we talked of Tennyson, Auden and Kendrick Lamar. I got the duck, and have you seen a more photogenic duck? Absolutely scrumptious. In general, I have a love-hate relationship with duck. In lesser hands, the meat can taste oddly mettalic and the animal, when alive, has a hostile mien about it. Here, the duck breast was succulent, bursting with flavour and the Brussels sprouts were caramelised in a way I didn't think possible. Remember, my dears, men can be fickle creatures, but take yourself out on a date. If you do it at Sur Lie, you'll have a capital time!

We love Sur Lie! If I didn't have to pay my bills I'd eat there weekly! We love the chefs and everything there. My husband doesn't like veggies but loved their braised cauliflower and sweet pea hummus !! Love all of their food- have never had a problem. Hoping to go back very soon!

We have enjoyed the chef's choice many times, but last night, we were underwhelmed to say the least. When two people order a prefix menu, one would think the food would arrive in pairs. However, this time, the food arrived sporadically, often one plate placed in the middle of the table. And the portions were super small. For example, the only real green offered was a so, so arugula salad followed by super salty pork belly, only to be followed by very salty Korean short ribs . The iconic popover was mushy inside with almost no lobster. The redeeming dish was a seared cod on delicious bed of fava beans. One deconstructed cheesecake arrived suddenly, plopped down without any offer for coffee. Sadly this signaled an abrupt end to a very fragmented and expensive series of random plates. I'm sure we will go back because Sur Lie was once a favorite, and we love Gather, the sister restaurant in Yarmouth, but I hope for a more consistent and balanced experience next time.

Travis, the bartender, was fantastic. Extremely talented mixologist, and a very enjoyable guy to be around... put up with our banter and bullshitting from behind the bar with a genuine smile (or he's just good at his job). Thanks, Travis! Tart and crab dip were also killer. Hope to visit again.

I cannot recommend this restaurant for anything other than the bar. The three dishes we tried, after two of our choices were unavailable, after we ordered them, left us underwhelmed and a bit confused. Our first dish was prawns and it was fine, but lacking in visual appeal. A sloppy mess actually. Second dish was a lobster popover. This one was misrepresented on the menu. It was described as follows: "Popover herbed popover, Gulf of Maine lobster, cream of corn, tarragon beurre monté, scallion" When it arrived at our table it was... unappealingly dark. The first bite we were treated with was the taste of burnt toast, which was just the beginning. Apparently Gruyère is an ingredient in cream of corn so there was no need to include it as an ingredient in the description of the dish and overpowered the previously overpowering taste of burnt toast. If there were any lobster in the dish (there was) we could not taste it, and there was only a hint of corn, and that was only due to its texture. The final dish was the hanger steak. The steak was under temp at damn near raw ( we were never asked to what temp we preferred) and a thick vein of gristle made it difficult to cut through. The gristle is unavoidable as it is not always visible but the rest of the dish was an over salty hot mess. The server was robotically apologetic and not the most attentive but did remove the steak from our check. Yet never offered a dessert menu or other drink. We left feeling fleeced and unappreciated as a guest. The bartender and the great selection of house drinks brought this review up to, way up, to two stars, otherwise this was a negative starred review. I am a chef and don't ever leave negative reviews on any social outlet knowing that every restaurant has its off nights but this was such a bad experience; the staff seemed so disinterested; the menu poorly conceived and written; poor quality control, all signal to me that this may be SOP. If you're planning a trip to Portland, stop in to Sur Lie for a drink before heading off to dinner elsewhere.

Was visiting Portland and decided to give this place a try. My husband has celiac disease and they were promoting a gluten free menu on this night. The Food was excellent but service was incredibly slow.

I'm really conflicted about Sur Lie. The food is so good but so overpriced, most of the small plate dishes between $24 and $31 each. Interesting variety of specialty cocktails but in very small glasses, seem like half cocktails. We had the corn fritters, snap peas, shrimp, scallops, short ribs, and two orders of lobster pastry. All of it was excellent especially the lobster dish and the short ribs. The scallops might've even been the best but they are a perfect example of my conundrum about this review. Two very small scallops perfectly cooked in a wonderful sauce for $24! Maybe reasonable if there were four small scallops but having to settle for a half scallop each was not nearly enough for our party of four. I had to wonder why the restaurant was 3/4 full on a Friday night when everyone else is packed, and I can only conclude that it is the pricing, because the food is top-notch. They recommend two small plates per person and we had seven total for the four of us so just under, plus one cocktail each and with tip ran almost $300. The food is so good that I could be a regular but the value is just not there unfortunately.

Great service by knowledgeable staff! Beautifully presented food Delicious Lovely and lively atmosphere

Amazing restaurant. Great staff. Everything was to die for!! Grilled cabbage, snap peas, lobster popover all wonderful

Tapas and small plates are the in-thing right now in the restaurant industry, especially the Portland restaurant industry. After a few lackluster experiences with small plate-focused restaurants, I was quick to dismiss the idea of tapas, however, Sur Lie rejuvenated my views on small plate dining. Since then, I have been to Sur Lie a few times. I love the aesthetic of Sur Lie, which has a modern, rustic perspective with wooden walls, sliding farm doors, dim lighting, and an open-concept kitchen design. Both times I have come for dinner, it has been quiet with not a ton of people, which also adds to Sur Lie's laid back vibe. The drinks and food are really well-done, too. They consistently change their craft cocktail menu, and they often try to highlight local distilleries with their alcohol choices. On a recent visit, I ended up ordering the Oh Jeez Rick with Back River gin. It was refreshing and had a nice jalapeño kick to it. As for food, it's suggested that you order 4-5 dishes per two people. My date and I ended up ordering 4 main dishes which included the sweet pea hummus (always a go-to whenever I come!), seared scallops (which were definitely a highlight and perfectly seared), Tonkatsu (the spicy mayo was amazeballs), and the Broiled Spanish Octopus (which was INCREDIBLY tender and good!). Honestly, I have never had anything I didn't like here. The food comes out as it is ready, which is something I also like, and it adds to the unique dining experience. I will certainly continue to come back and try more dishes!

One of my absolute favorite places for date night or a girl's night. The food is incredible. So good and creative. The atmosphere matches the meals and the staff is always pleasant and knowledgable.

Maine Restaurant Week is fun because it allows the broke locals to try out restaurants they never would be able to otherwise. Enter: Sur Lie! We made a reservation for a Friday night at 8:15 to try out their tasting menu. The hostess was nice, waitress was sweet (a bit stressed and short with us, but quite understandable), and the ambience in here is very romantic and pretty. It's also a lot larger than I thought it would be. They offered vegetarian options, hooray! For starters, my boyfriend and I both ordered the Maine Board: salami (none for me per usual), gouda, house pickles, roasted garlic Pretty good. Small serving and the little bread was like a see through piece of tulle. LOL. I think this is my opinion because I am a working-class and unfancy lady not used to it. Second course: boyfriend got the fried oysters (which came with some big leaves of cabbage which I inhaled since I am a rabbit), and I got the celery & fennel salad. HOLY MOLY. This salad. Shredded celery (?), roasted pecans, Pineland Farm cheddar, Maine maple syrup vinaigrette. Light, flavorful, a perfect amount of nuts and fresh cheese. The chef actually came out to check on us and I asked him if this is on the regular menu. He said no and I almost caused a scene. I SO HOPE they make this a regular. For the third course I got the Red Dragon Udon: bok choy, Chinese broccoli, coconut chili sauce. It was spicy and delicious and perfectly saucy. I thought I'd be hungry with tapas, but by this point I was pretty full. Yay. For dessert we each got a fresh, homemade and warm donut. Delicious. For a drink I had the Prisoner of Azkaban, which at $13 and tiny was a bit steep, but when in Rome. It was delicious. The hostess at one point asked us to move tables to seat a larger party, and she comped a round of drinks - um, YES, thank you. Stellar service and stellar idea. I'll come back eventually, I'm sure. I certainly am not the target clientele, but it's fun to feel fancy sometimes. And if that celery salad is ever on the menu, I will be returning an inappropriate amount.

The waiter was rude when I asked a question about the beer and when he found out we weren't ordering much food he stopped paying attention to us and asked if we were ready for the bill in an attempt to get us out. Beer was mediocre. Cheese plate was good.

Very underwhelming. I had high expectations since the place came highly recommended from a couple of foodie blogs. The dishes are a good portion size, but lack real flavor. The grilled octopus was okay, but the pork shoulder was highly disappointing. The pork shoulder was lacking in the dish, no flavor to it and presented like something left over and put together. The toffee popcorn was an interesting touch, but didn't pull the dish together at all. For being a fine dining establishment, the food was nowhere in that category. The staff was polite and the space is pretty, if anything positive.

Dinner at Sur Lie was fantastic. The staff took great care of us. We got the 4 course tasting menu and wine pairings. The wine paired with the food perfectly. The dishes were thoughtful and well balanced in flavor and texture. There's a good reason it's James Beard nominated. Highly recommended.

Travis, the bartender/mixologist is amazing. His cocktails are full of nuanced, multifaceted flavors. Worth the trip for him alone, but the tart and crab dip are also amazing.

Very expensive for the quality. Granted, they were out of about 1/4 of the menu so we didn't get to try the things we would've probably liked more. That's a kitchen management issue, though given the pandemic it's probably pretty difficult to gauge demand from week to week. It would have been nice if they'd told us how much they were out of while we were looking at the menu and waiting for our table, we'd have probably gone elsewhere. Had a reservation in the dining room, after a short wait we were brought to a table in the bar. Service was slow but otherwise just fine. The food was either unremarkable or just bad. Fried oyster mushrooms tasted pretty much the same as the fried mushrooms you can get at a dive bar. Root vegetables came absolutely bathed in a sour cheese my husband wouldn't touch. Delicata squash was served with a toasty red quinoa that highlighted the worst notes of delicata squash. Duck was well cooked, but the dish was drab, in desperate need of some acid or something, anything to make all the rich umami flavors pop a little, parsnip purée wasn't the answer. Crab dip tasted fine, but we couldn't find any crab, and anyone can make a bunch of melted cheese taste good. The mussels were pretty good--the broth was lovely. Almost $200 after tips and my husband had to get a burrito delivered later. Things were well-prepared, but the flavor profiles and plating were not so great. It feels like a sous chef who is just on the cusp of being able to get creative is in charge of making a creative, rotating menu. Technique is on point, but the composition needs work. They make a killer cocktail. Go for drinks and a snack. Get dinner elsewhere.

My first time visit with friends who have been before. They told me it is great so my expectations were a bit higher then usual. Very casual but yet classy decor. Hang out at the bar area or go fancier and sit in the dining area. Either have the same menu I believe. Anyway. I like to try different things and share, this is the perfect place for that. So my friend and I ordered arugula salad, beet salad and mandarin orange, fried pork with slaw and a chicken rice dish. OMG. Not sure what to expect, but it was all excellent. Thanks goodness the food comes out as it is ready, so you can pace yourself. Otherwise I would have had a massive pig out session. I will share pics, which does not do justice for the taste. Wow. The blend of spices, in all the dishes were perfect. I look forward to my next visit. Thanks.

We chose this place based on the Yelp reviews and pictures. The menu when we got there was totally different so just be prepared. The waitstaff was very friendly and service was great . Food was pretty good . Very limited menu and nothing that was very interesting . The chicken thigh dish was served cold and we sent it back . They handled it well and it was much better served hot. Delicious drinks . Too many good choices in Portland so I'm not sure I'd go back

Sur Lie has always been good, but seems to have really hit it's stride. Every single thing we had was better than expected and that doesn't happen a lot. Starting with a beautifully presented happy hour cheese plate, plus tender yet beautifully spiced salmon pastrami, followed up with scallops perfectly seared with a delightful pineapple mojo and a fantastic cutlet tonkatsu crunchy and served with a zesty ginger slaw. I really enjoyed it all. Such wonderful shareable plates, perfectly prepared full of surprise and flavor. Even with all we ordered there were plenty of other things that I wanted to try, but we were just tofull. So good! New Chef , even better than before. Still Tapas, but now a touch of southern comfort which can be found in all the wonderful creamypurées! From the fantastic dressing of the Caesar salad with its red wine reduction, to the out of this world caramel carrot base of All The Carrots, every dish had layers of flavor and textures done right ! So good, I didn't even realize until now that four of the dishes we ate were practically vegetarian! Such simple things so well done! Especially the Captains Cod, perfectly cooked on a bed of the most delicious celeriac and topped with a dollop of salty and sweet! So happy we stopped in to try this refreshed and reinvigorated restaurant! It was all so very good!

Having been here under previous chefs and incarnations of Sur Lie, tonight's meal was spectacular. The menu is curated with local flavors and creative dishes. Everything we ate was elevated to another level. Service was knowledgeable and friendly, and one of the chefs - George - came out and discussed some of the dishes with us at the end of the meal. Great wines and cocktails, with a relaxing, chill vibe. More people should discover Sur Lie!

My husband and I came here for our anniversary after it came highly recommended by some Redditors. We've been to Portland many times but have never tried any of the fine dining options and were excited by the creative menu and all the talk about the new chef. We ordered a bunch of dishes that may or may not still be on the menu and which I'll try to sum up below: -Sweet Pea Hummus: Disappointingly grainy and lacking in any pea flavor. It was hard to taste the mint oil at all, and the only part that made it somewhat interesting was the lemon sabayon. The "lavash" that came with it was overly salted and didn't feel quite right as a partner to the hummus. I think soft pita would actually go better alongside. -Crab: From the description, we were not expecting a crab cake, but were pleasantly surprised. Lots of crab flavor and interesting textures. Unfortunately, my husband found a piece of a crab shell in one of his bites, which put him off the rest of this dish. -Toast: We didn't realize this would come unassembled, and if we had known, would not have ordered it. I'm not a fan of the assemble-your-own concept at this price point. If I'm paying you to make the dish, I don't want to put it together myself and guess at what the chef envisioned. This was just okay. One of the bread slices was overly toasted, and it was challenging to make a satisfying bite with all the components. The goat cheese espuma was too light on the goat cheese flavor, and I wanted more of the nori mustard vinaigrette since the whole dish seemed to be overwhelmed by the bread. A confusing dish that didn't quite come together. - Scallops: Easily the best thing we ate all night. We loved that it was a clever riff on a Korean corndog with a lovely scallop flavor and delightful presentation. The textures were lovely, and the shiso kewpie was perfect alongside. I wish we had ordered another round of this. - Duck: The duck breast slices were tiny and could have been more tender, but were at least cooked to a nice medium rare. The farro fried rice was delectable and difficult to stop eating. Great concept and well-executed overall. - Octopus: They were out of octopus by the time we ordered it, which was disappointing as this was the dish I was most looking forward to that night. However, the chef was nice enough to take the leftover octopus scraps and make a mini portion of this for us on the house. From the tiny bite we had, I can tell the real thing would have been outstanding and I'd definitely order it next time. - Pork Belly: This was the special for the night. The pork belly was succulent and perfectly cooked. We didn't care for the turnip green sisig, which was grassy and bitter, nor the turnips, which were bland. It's a shame because the meat was so nicely executed, but we disliked everything else on the plate. So overall, there were hits and misses (about 50/50 each way). The portions are very small for the price, but we weren't exactly surprised by this. We ordered 7 dishes for 2 people, and my husband complained that he was still a little hungry. Expect to spend at least $75 per person for food and drink. Service was great. We made a reservation and were promptly seated as soon as we showed up by our very sweet waitress. Throughout the night, she was attentive but gave us our space. She forgot to take the octopus off our bill, but handled it graciously when we pointed it out. Overall, the food was a bit of a mixed bag, but we had a pleasant time and it didn't ruin our anniversary. I don't think we'll be back anytime soon as I think there are better restaurants in Portland at this price point (and lower), but I admire the chef's willingness to take risks and be playful with food.

To expensive for the quality and menu offering. I think I'm going to stay away from the tapas scene. I like my food to all come out together--Not piece meal. The cheese and charcuterie should just be combined. It seemed redundant to order both. Neither wowed us. Fried asparagus was good but not really a shareable portion. The hanger steak was delicious, but $30 worth? I could've gone to a great steakhouse and gotten a steak dinner, instead of an appetizer portion. The restaurant is casual and loud. Tables are oddly placed. Service is friendly and the meal was expensive.

Three of us went to Sur Lie for dinner a few weeks ago, and I must say I was disappointed. All of us had been to Sur Lie before, but it was about three or four years ago. At that time, we really enjoyed the restaurant, but this time, we left disappointed. And hungry. To be clear, the food is tasty, but the biggest issue is the portion size. Now I know this is a tapas restaurant, and I know it's meant to be small plates, but even with that foreknowledge, the amount of food you get for the cost is outrageous. There were three of us, and the server recommended getting three dishes each because as he said, everything is meant to share. But here's where it gets silly. The mackerel, for example, is smaller than a piece of sashimi you would get in a Japanese restaurant. Try splitting that into three ways? Each of us ended up with half teaspoon of meat - and this was $13 or 14 dollars! The grilled octopus has one small tentacle - for $16 dollars. Again, after sharing, you got less than a folk full. When you first see the menu you think the prices are reasonable, but when it takes at least four dishes to feel satisfied, you're up to $56 dollars per person for a decent meal. Tapas originated as bar snacks - something to snack on while you drink. And that's exactly what you get here - snacks. Never have I left a restaurant and walked across the street to another restaurant (El Rayo), to pick up some tacos because we were still hungry. And for three us, each with one drink, we paid $165 dollars before the tip.

I will say that the Service was very good. So probably deserves a 4 star for that. However. The Wine wasn't great. Tried 2 different glasses and a bottle. Just didn't hit. The food was good. Not great. We did the tasting menu for 75$ a person. Again the good was good. But it is kind of a scam that they didn't bring out anything with meat or fish. Those are likely the costly items to the resty. Almost felt like they just brought out what didn't sell or the likes and didn't cost them money which is smart business, but not what is implied in the term tasting menu. So disappointed. 350$ for the dinner and wine. So at that price I would have liked to be more wowed by the wine and food. But again service was fantastic.

For all the vibe go to Sur-Lie. We had the lobster popover with its unique pairing. The curried mussels were impressive and the servers were knowledgeable, attentive, and personable. Our inaugural visit was a smash and we are heading back the next time we are in the Portland area.

Sur Lie is so good! The food here is a culinary treat and some of the best in the city. They have a menu that changes regularly with seasonal foods and its very clear the chef here is very talented. The drink menu is also very nice. We had cucumber mojitos that were delicious. A top notch restaurant through and through!

We had dinner here recently and agree that while it was good, it was not as good as we'd expected based on the reviews. There wasn't anything that was bad, and most of what we got was very good. Overall it was slightly off key though. The restaurant itself lacks a feeling of warmth or atmosphere, I suppose. Service was fine, nothing to complain about. We started with a cheese board with two very nice cheeses - a bleu and aged gouda. The cheese was excellent, but I wasn't to thrilled with the toasts served. As you can see from the pictures, they are paper thin slices of toast that lack any substance. I like something a little more sturdy to go with the cheese. We also had a potato dish that was good, and the broiled octopus that was somewhat lacking in seasoning. I don't want to leave the impression that this wasn't good - it was, but in my view there are better options. I'll put it this way, it wouldn't be in my top choices to return to next time we're in Portland.

The food was microscopic, cold, and tough to chew. I paid 50 bucks to remain hungry! RIP OFF.

One word - scrumptious! Awesome from start to finish. Crowed but we were able to snag a reservation at the bar. Michael - our bartender served us well. I'm picky about my classic drinks - and the Negroni and Manhattan were spot on. I recommend sitting at the bar as it was fun to watch Michael mix drinks drinks. We had the oyster mushrooms to start, then the short ribs, then came the duck. All perfectly done and presented. Desert was the cheesecake - a perfect portion. After dinner drinks were the Ex Lion Tamer and she had another Manhattan. Great, food, perfect portions, awesome vibe.

We had dinner last night and it was outstanding. There was 5 of us and we ordered 6 small plates and bread. All the small plates were delicious. The bread was perfect to soak the remaining sauces. So good! John was an outstanding, attentive waiter. Travis, the bar manager, makes some excellent, creative drinks. This restaurant is definitely a keeper!

One of the best dining experiences I've ever had! I travel frequently around the country for work, and organized a work dinner with my colleagues at Sur Lie. The bar was set high, and my colleagues and I were thrilled! The atmosphere is great, and Chefs George and Mimi are even better - the food is flavorful, unique, and memorable, and the chefs came out and described each dish with such passion. Our whole group had the tasting menu, which we highly recommend. Some highlights of the night include the mussels (holy wow), the handmade gnocchi, the sugar snap peas, and the Maine blueberry cobbler. Will return to Sur Lie any time I get the chance!

3.5 stars, because the price was great for the quantity: $100 for a 4-person dinner. Our experience here wasn't bad but was ... underwhelming. The only memorable dish was the sweet pea hummus, but it was served with plain, greasy chips not pita bread. The Swordfish Ceviche Tostada and Roasted Beets were alright - I'd definitely had fresher, more flavorful versions. The Taters relied too much on salt for seasoning. The 'Shrooms and Brussels Sprouts left more to be desired, given such great veggie canvases of textures & flavors. The Lamb Bolognese was a solid comfort dish, and we finished with the Coffee Cheesecake which was on point. After a weekend in Portland, I concluded the Yelp ratings here are hyped up 0.5-1 stars compared to big cities. Maybe because lower expectations are set for small towns, or because most reviewers are on vacation hence in a good mood. :)

Wow!!! LOVED this place on all fronts. I am still dreaming of the food. If I lived in Portland I'd be there all the time! In addition to the amazing dishes the ambience is wonderful and the service excellent!

I have been to Sur Lie twice - once for dinner and once for brunch - both times I delighted in the presentation and unique flavors of all the plates. I love tapas, more specifically, I love being able to taste bits of a variety of foods and share flavors with others. I think I would always eat tapas style if my friends didn't mind sharing! The highlights of dinner, which I would order again every time, are the Fried Milk Braised Cauliflower, the Pinto Bean Dip, and the Sur Taters! The cauliflower literally melted in my mouth, it was divine! And the bean dip and taters, both seemingly normal dishes, were bursting with flavor. Every dish from the cheese to the drinks was beautifully presented. They serve the plates staggered, so you can enjoy each one on its own, but never have an empty table (until you're stuffed). For brunch the menu had a variety of savory and sweet options, everything I tried was full of flavor. They were generous with the coffee refills, and the mimosa was perfectly boozy. Though I was sad to see that they were unwilling to modify their Fat Boy Breakfast (fluffy buttermilk pancake with bacon, sausage, maple syrup, cheddar sauce, fried egg) without meat for us vegetarians. I love that they use lots of local vendors, and certainly made a point to go during Happy Hour (4p-6p daily). Meals can get pricey, but I would recommend to friends for a date night or celebratory brunch! Sur Lie, I will be back to try more of your small plates - and next time I'll probably order two braised cauliflower!

Best menu yet. George is a killer in the kitchen. 10/10 would recommend in general, specifically the lamb, crab dip, and that clam broth is to die for you. Best experience yet!