Top Best Italian Restaurants in Sebago Lake

"At Solo Italiano, Genoa-born chef Paolo Laboa turns out an impressive menu that changes daily and reflects a perfect balance of his Northern Italian background and adopted Maine home. The mainstay handkerchief pasta, rolled thin and bathed in the smoothest, greenest, most vibrant basil pesto you’ve likely ever seen, has become his calling card, but the rest the menu sings, too. Don't miss the gonfietti, a lightly fried sage focaccia topped with paper-thin prosciutto and creamy burrata cheese, and be sure to try one of each of the gorgeous crudos and salads."

"The gist: In a rustic, warehouse space in bustling Old Port, Genoa-born chef Paolo Laboa makes daily updates to his extraordinary Northern Italian menu. The food: Laboa’s traditional six-section menu begins with a beguiling array of crudo. Start with a plate of Atlantic Bluefin tuna tartar with salsa verde, a farm egg yolk, and beet mostarda then move on to antipasti."

"Solo Italiano is one of the most beloved restaurants in Portland, ME to get Italian food. The menu here changes daily, but you will not be disappointed with the chef’s choices. Salads, pasta, or seafood, whatever you are craving, you can find at Solo Italiano."

"A true exponent of the farm-to-table movement, Vignola Cinque Terre is a chic Italian restaurant owned by Dan and Michelle Kary who also own and operate Grand View Farm in nearby rural Greene, Maine. The historic farm, in operation since the 1780s, grows around a quarter of all fruit, vegetables and herbs used by Vignola Cinque Terre with other ingredients sourced from fellow local farmers, fishermen and artisan cheesemongers. Executive chef and co-owner Lee Skawinski, a New England native, creates flavorsome and traditional Italian fare with the best ingredients Maine has to offer."

"Much like proper Italian cooking, the decor at Tipo is simple and clean, its wood and chrome accents meant to conjure up Roman Holiday-esque imagery and impart a light, airy feel to the atmosphere. Chef Chris Gould, who also owns Central Provisions, teams up with Chef Mike Smith to offer modern interpretations of classic Italian dishes, such as black pepper tagliatelle en brodo, meatballs and "gravy" spiked with harissa, and luscious rabbit saltimbocca. Their impressive brick oven cranks out an excellent Neapolitan-style pizza whose crust is crispy and charred crust yet fluffy and chewy."

"Paciarino is a cheerful, informal eatery and market that specializes in Italian classics, house-made pasta, and made-to-order dishes prepared with fresh local ingredients. Open for lunch and dinner, the casual restaurant is named for the Italian expression that roughly translates to “the food that makes you happy,” and owner Fabiana de Savino strives to do just that. The dining room is warm and welcoming with Tuscan-inspired pale, yellow walls and large windows which flood the interior with sunlight and has light wooden tables and hanging lights made from stainless colanders, which add a whimsical touch."

"Nestled in what was once a bustling Italian neighborhood between Portland's historic Old Port and East End districts, Ribollita is a traditional Italian restaurant that serves artisanal Italian food in an intimate, unpretentious setting. Chef/Owner Kevin Quiet uses fresh locally sourced ingredients to fuse traditional Italian cuisine with modern culinary innovations to create dishes of fresh local seafood, homemade pasta and sauces, fresh salads, and Italian favorites like veal Osso Bucco, and the signature namesake dish, ribollita. The cuisine is accompanied by an exclusively Italian wine list, with a wide range of offerings from Orvietos to Brunellos, which are paired with dishes by friendly and knowledgeable staff."

"Located in a historic 19th-century mansion on Congress Street in the heart of the West End, Roma is a throwback, classic American Italian restaurant that serves traditional red-sauce Italian in a relaxed and comfortable setting. The casual neighborhood outpost pays tribute to the great American Italian restaurants of decades past with simple bistro tables, deep red banquettes, and a working fireplace, and serves classic Italian-American fare such as housemade tagliatelle, veal piccata, and shrimp scampi. The cuisine is accompanied by an extensive wine list with vintages from Italy and around the world, as well as craft beers and craft cocktails."

"This place serves excellent potato donuts, which are just a slightly denser version of the donuts you’re probably used to. Their flavors are all over the place and they usually have 20-30 options available, like pomegranate, maple bacon, and our personal favorite, chocolate sea salt. Stop by The Holy Donut shop for breakfast, or when you need a midday snack."

"The restaurant name is fitting, considering the Holy Donut produces some of the best donuts on the East Coast. There are two locations in Portland, so you’re never far from these sweet treats. The donuts are slightly denser than your typical donut, but delicious regardless."

"This cult-favorite shop serves up fresh, handmade Maine potato doughnuts in flavors such as maple, coffee brandy, sea salt, and toasted coconut. There’s a doughnut for everyone here — even gluten-free and vegan options!. The Holy Donut | Guide to the Old Port"

"At The Honey Paw, communal tables and pretty mismatched plates show off vibrant New England–influenced Asian dishes like rare beef salad with smoked oyster mayo, peanuts, and pickled carrots, fried wings with lime, chili, and coconut; and lobster wontons in a seafood curry with cauliflower and basil. Don't miss the fry bread with ssamjang butter, smoked lamb khao soi, mapo tofu; and whatever vegetables or noodles are being wok-fried or wok-charred that day. End with soft serve or a slice of the ever-changing layer cake."

"If you walked past The Honey Paw by chance, you’d probably think it was just another brightly-colored bar. And then you’d walk inside, hear the music, and see that they also play great vinyl. And once the door closed behind you, you’d notice that everyone inside is actually eating bowls and plates of papaya salad, noodles, and fried chicken."

"Right next to the trendiest (and busiest!) restaurant in town—Eventide—the same folks offer up a completely different vision of Portland with Honey Paw. Asian street food meets small plates meets Maine seafood meets noodle bar. If you’re having a hard time imagining what that looks like, it’s understandable."

"Imagine the storybook version of coastal Maine: rocky beaches, bikes with big wooden baskets, and tiny shops and cottages. This is Peaks Island - a small island three miles off Portland’s coast. It’s one of our favorite places to visit, and it’s only reachable by ferry (which runs on a limited daily schedule and costs around $8 roundtrip)."

"Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. No trip to Portland would be complete without trying some of their fantastic seafood, and one of the best places to do so would be at the Portland Lobster Company!. Here, you and your loved ones can enjoy their fresh and organic seafood - classic clam chowder, crab cakes, lobster rolls, shrimp cocktails, and other delicious meals."

"Artemisia Cafe is one of the top brunch restaurants in Portland, ME. You can find all of your classic brunch foods on the menu and feel at home in the environment. This little spot is beautiful to visit, and it opens a bit earlier than most places in Portland, so you don’t have to wait until 11 a.m."

"Though a mention of Portland, Maine still brings to mind lobsters for many, the city offers so much more than seafood. Gone are the days when everyone flocked to the waterfront district of Old Port. Impressive pockets of eateries have sprouted up in places like Longfellow Square, the east side of Washington Avenue and the historic West End."

"Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. The Great Lost Bear has been a mainstay in the Portland area for years now, and for good reason. This small, yet popular restaurant serves up some of the most delicious and indulgent comfort food in the area!"

"Though the name seems somewhat vague at first, after your first meal here "Hot Suppa" starts to make a lot more sense. The menu is essentially the definition of comfort food, inspired by places as varied as Maine, Montreal and Louisiana, and it is a rare occasion to arrive for brunch — served seven days a week, at any hour — and not experience a wait for a table. Eggs Benedict with velvety BBQ pulled pork, sweet Belgian waffles, and country sides like fried green tomatoes and proper stone-ground grits anchor the brunch offerings."

"A Southern kitchen and bar, Hot Suppa is always there when you need it - whether you had a late night of brewery hopping in Bayside or have a big day of walking around the Old Port ahead of you. Just make sure to follow their number one rule found in the entryway: Be nice or leave!. Fill up on French-style rolled omelets, corned beef hash, and buttermilk waffles for breakfast, or the fried green tomato BLT and poutine with local cheese curds at lunch."

"Hot Suppa sure isn’t new to Portland; they’ve been serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch in a West End brick Victorian since 2006. But at every step of the way, Hot Suppa has been ahead of the trends. They’ve been partnering with local farms before it was cool."

"Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. One of the best ways to start the day right in Portland is to enjoy a delicious breakfast at the Egg and I Restaurant. This charming diner-style restaurant serves up breakfast meals that are not just filling and healthy, but also delicious and fun!"