I went in with some reservations, the people who highly recommended Central Provisions to us have different food tastes, but some of the items on the menu sounded appealing. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised, but Central Provisions is just on my list of, would go back to, versus will wait two hours to get into. The cauliflower was the big winner for me, great balance of flavors there. I will admit to not ordering any meat dishes, other than the crudo special, but they looked intriguing and from our seats at the Chefs counter we saw almost every dish being prepared and plated.
This is my favorite restaurant that I've been to. Ate here recently for the fourth time. One caveat is that since COVID they have started taking reservations whereas previously they were first come, first serve. The downside is you can't get a reservation for more than six people unless you opt for a $100 per person tasting menu. Since there were eight of us we made two reservations which was fine.
The atmosphere is great. It's a small, busy space and they tend to play '90s hip hop (definitely not a bad thing).
The food here is absolutely incredible. The tuna tartare with caviar is probably the best thing I've ever eaten. All the dishes have a ton of flavor and the menu has lots of options.
One minor quibble is that we had a late reservation (9:45) and towards the end we felt a bit rushed. Last call for food and drink came fairly early.
But the quality of the food more than makes up for it.
This was the meal of the trip! If I could give it more than five stars, I would. We ordered eight things: pics of everything and our bill (so you can see what we ordered) are included. The service is operating at a whole other level of "wow," and the food is out of this world! Definitely make a reservation and, if you can, request/sit at the counter that overlooks the open kitchen. Chef Chris is a gem and this place is outstanding in every possible way. Go hungry, leave full and happy!
Alcohol-free options included several "temperance drinks." I had one that featured red bell pepper that was fancy AF. 😊
We were able to walk in and sit at the counter. Our waitress was great and it was a cool space. The food was good but tended to be over salted for my wife's and my taste. Really enjoyed the bone marrow toast, cocktails we're good too.
Small plate Tapas and good energy. Starting my quick Portland Maine restaurant hop here. Sitting at the chefs counter with an entertaining look at all the food being prepared.
Ordered a “Peeper” local Maine Brewing Company beer (light and crisp $8) Which I paired with my first plate: “Spicy Beef Salad” (photo). This raw dish, was favorite of the night. Definitely a good slice combined with what I would call a Thai style peanut, great cilantro and spicy taste.
Delightful!! ($16)
I followed that with the Amaranth Crusted Scallops ($25) which was served atop a creamy coleslaw and included four medium sized scallops which I’d rate a 4 out of 5 after having the beef.
I was told to get there early (even on a Tuesday night) which I did. It was definitely full when I left an hour later.
This was one of those rare meals where there was consistency from the first bite to the last!
While there was no rhyme or reason to my dishes (Uni, bread, Spanish salad, cheese) or drinks (Manhattan, Slovakian wine, Pinky Pink wine, dessert wine), everything just paired well and tasted great.
I have no hesitation recommending Central Provisions, and can’t wait for my return visit!
Everytime I eat here or even think about when I ate here, I realize that I must be over-rating every other place I've ever given a 5 star. If there were more stars, I'd give them here. The food is deliciously complex, creative, and beautiful each time I visit. Thoughtfulness of texture and intention of flavor is infused into every bite. It's always a pleasure, vegetarians and all should rejoice. Shown here is a cauliflower chickpea dish, and a pan fried polenta cake. We also got smoked carrots but my heart wasn't in it so my photos weren't good enough to post ( another beautiful dish but I don't prefer the smoked flavor). Please never stop doing what you do. 🙏
After a long wait, I finally was able to have a proper experience at Central Provisions.
Without getting into every detail of this culinary exploration. I’ll simply say it was as good as I hoped, with only one real misstep. The bone marrow dish. The marrow was lost in the cheese and breading. But as you can see… we tried many different things, and frankly it was a party for the palette.
Don’t miss this spot… it’s one of the best places in Portland Maine.
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