One of our favorite weekends of the year is coming up — the annual New England Made Giftware & Specialty Food Show.  It’s a time to get reacquainted with old friends, make new ones, and see New England’s best new products by artisans, craftsmen, cooks, and designers.

The New England Made Show is a great reason to come to Portland, Maine, a city small in population, but big in options, especially when it comes to food.  While the trade show keeps vendors and buyers busy by day, the evenings leave time to relax and enjoy a good meal.

Here are Betsy and Jennifer’s top picks for restaurants:

The Old Port Tavern – quick pub food in the heart of the Old Port

Dry Dock — casual seafood choices ;like lobster rolls & chowder in old-fashioned quarters with a waterside deck.

Veranda Noodle Bar – delicious Vietnamese,  dine-in or take-out ( if you’d rather dine in the comfort of  your hotel  room)

Kon Asian Bistro – Japanese steakhouse and sushi – fun and full of flavor, right down the road from the trade show, open late night

Local 188 – Spanish-inspired cuisine, local ingredients, large lounge area, fun atmosphere

The Front Room – New American Comfort Food, at the top of Munjoy Hill, a very popular neighborhood eatery,  fresh local ingredients

Caiola’s – cozy, quaint, Northern Italian in Portland’s West End neighborhood, fresh local ingredients, some call it “upscale comfort food”

Boda Thai – best Thai food in town, creative menu, offers many gluten-free options

Otto’s Pizza – where else you can get traditional New York style pepperoni, plus mashed potato pizza?

Hot Suppa! — Southern home cookin’ — fried chicken, mac n’ cheese, biscuits — enough said!

If you want to splurge a little, here are some higher-end favorites.  Call for reservations:

Miyake — Japanese

Ribolita — Italian

Walters — Mediterranean, Asian and Caribbean inspired

Eventide — Oysters, small plates, and reportedly the “best lobster roll” in Portland

These are just a few of the many wonderful restaurants in Portland. There are plenty of other great spots, too, so please stop and visit us at booth 515 and we’ll be happy to help you find just the right place.