Timber Steakhouse & Rotisserie
106 Exchange St, Portland, ME, 04101
Timber Steakhouse & Rotisserie Menu
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Address :
106 Exchange St
Portland, ME, 04101 - Phone (207) 805-1469
- Website https://www.timberportland.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:00 pm - 10:00pm
- Mon : 4:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Daniel F.
Went with a large party. Good service (although the manager told us on the phone there was a highchair...and, nope, no highchair, so kid sat on my lap). Food was hit or miss. I got the rotisserie chicken. Soggy skin. Ok flavor, but an anemic bird. The poor thing couldn't have weighed much more than a pound, and I only got half of that. Sides were good. But aren't provided with the mains. "Just like a steakhouse!" our server informed us. Speaking of steak: several members of my party got some. These are Lugers regulars (they even have Lugers credit cards), and they compared the food, unfavorably, to Longhorn and Outback. For the quality and atmosphere, Timber is ridiculously overpriced. I mean, almost criminally.
(2)Michael B.
We got appetizers and some great cocktails. The place is very welcoming and relaxing. Great music, great food and drinks and will make sure to come back.
(5)A H.
I had family visiting from NYC, and they are accustomed to steak houses like Peter Luger and The Palm, so I suggested we have dinner at Timber and emailed them the menu. They were open to it but apprehensive about the pricing; not because they couldn't afford it, but compared to NY it's HIGH. We wanted to see if our meals matched the asking price and sadly they did not. I had the $39 16 oz Cowboy T-bone which comes with...nothing. It had grizzle (gross!) and was not very flavorful. My father had the same steak and ordered it black and blue. He said it was cooked properly and that it was "OK." Another ordered the "rotisserie" chicken. The skin wasn't very crisp but they said it tasted good. We ordered a few sides- Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, spinach and broccoli with cheddar. Those were good. The bread was not crusty and seemed microwaved. As for the setting, it was hot and stuffy inside, and their solution is to keep the back door (fire exit) propped open to allow air to circulate. That didn't last long because someone was seated practically in front of it. It wasn't clear why they couldn't turn on their central air to keep a constant comfortable temperature other than saying the building is old so they can't control it. It's also very noisy inside. I give the pricing and my steak one star, the setting two, and the rest three.
(3)Karen A.
Most amazing steak house hospitality amazing in portland. If you've been to New York it's the same stuff totally awesome and ridiculous
(5)Michele P.
My husband and I went here last night based on many recommendations from friends that live in the area. It did not disappoint. The moment we walked in we were greeted by the hostess and she very quickly tried to accommodate us even though we didn't have a reservation. She had a few couples ahead of us so she went into the bar herself to find us a seat at the bar to wait. Above and beyond what she needed to do. The atmosphere in Timber is like nothing else in Porland. Swanky and warm and very inviting. The bartenders were simply awesome. Also very nice and welcoming along with making some killer drinks. They were all very ingaging and friendly even though they were rockin busy. They serve a full menu at the bar and we were having so much fun there we stayed put. We both had the hanger steak, which, I am not exaggerating, melts in your mouth. It was one of the best pieces of meat I have ever had. Over all we had an excellent expierence! The prices are on the higher side but worth every penny. One of my favorite restaurant experiences ever! Well done Timber.
(5)Sally B.
Thank you for the magnificent Manhattan, Henry. Fantastic gentleman hosting the bar guests. Knowledgeable and engaging. Love the soft, low lighting, the casual, yet refined atmosphere of the place, the friendly customer service from what appears to be a very content staff. But the five stars would not be five stars but for the utterly perfect steak. We shared the hangar steak and it was outstanding. And, as has been noted, great selection of bourbons/ryes.
(5)Mairead O.
I'm a vegetarian. I give this restaurant five stars. Enough said.
(5)Andrea C.
This place is terrible. My food was very undercooked and the sous chef was clearly unskilled.
(1)Anonymous P.
This one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. Horrible food, ambiance was non-existent, and waited so long to get seated. I would never go back.
(1)Stephen R.
I am perfectly happy to spend $$$ at a restaurant if it is worthy, and though I have no especially negative things to say about Timber, I just found it a little overpriced. (definitely Boston prices in Portland, ME). All the food was good, but nothing that really wowed any of us, which we somewhat expected given the overall perception once you are seated. 2 of us ordered the T-bone steak and it was pretty expensive but disappointingly thin, though was cooked to perfection. The drink menu had drinks that all sounded nice, but they were all pretty flat on wow factor, and some drinks even seemed to be missing the one unusual ingredient that made it sound interesting in the first place. Service was friendly, though we had a couple snags on simple stuff - like never getting water once we were seated and having to request it three times. Granted, it was a Saturday night, but there seemed to be plenty of staff roaming about. Very subtle cosmopolitan dining room - so does make a nice spot for a special night out - just wish the food lived up to the expectation.
(3)Boston Italian Girl O.
We ate at Timber at the suggestion of the concierge at the hotel we were staying at. It was good, but not as good as he made it out to be. We arrived a couple of minutes before our reservation and the place was empty. We were sat at a small table by the window, right at the end of the bar. This would have been fine, but it was FREEZING and the menu was right in the front window so all night we had people stopping to look at the menu and looking at our food, we felt like animals in the zoo. Then, about 10 minutes in there was a big party that came over and sat at the bar right on the other side of us, we just felt surrounded. Not sure why we were put in the bar when the whole restaurant dining room was empty except for one table. For an appetizer we got the onion rings, they were fine, nothing to write home about. The house made ketchup and parmesan truffle sauce they were served with were the bigger hit. We split a wedge salad which was the best part of the meal. Everything from the bacon to the real chunks of blue cheese and fresh iceburg lettuce made it delectable. I got the short ribs and though the flavor was good, they were very dry. They were served with a delicious red wine sauce, but it sopped it all up pretty quickly and after it was gone there was really no way to eat the other piece of beef. The fingerling potatoes that it was served with were undercooked, to the point of cutting with a knife. My husband got the steak tips which he says were good but also dry. We felt things were good, but definitely overpriced for what you got. The thing that made this meal great was the service! I wish I could remember the name of our waitress, she was fantastic! Very attentive and pleasant and took good care of us. The Manager also came over and said hello and had a little conversation with us, which was nice. Overall it was a good meal - stuck between a 3 and 4 star.
(3)Brett F.
Timber's owners boldly proclaim the restaurant to be Portland's only true steakhouse (a jab at another local proprietor), but I'd have to agree. Grill Room aims to please all with an expansive, diverse menu that covers the spectrum from vegetarians to the most voracious carnivores. Timber is aimed straight at the meat loving crowd. Which is why I will update this review in the coming weeks, as I have yet to try a steak. The restaurant, quite simply, is gorgeous. You enter to the long wooden bar backed by the soft glow of the yellow lighting that is becoming the owners' trademark. There are tables in the bar section, a true dining room further back and a beautiful outdoor section that seats 40+. Enclosed by Allagash beer barrels and populated with 6+ seat tables, tiki type umbrellas and thick, comfy chairs, this is sure to be a top outdoor seating destination. They plan on employing a 3 piece jazz band for weekends. Happy hour runs until 6 pm with a mixed drink of the day for $6, most draft beers for $4 and all wines by the glass $5. Similar to North Point, it's a great happy hour and by far the best time to come here for the price conscious. Because Timber is very, very expensive. There isn't a steak under $30. In fact, prices have already gone up and the Porterhouse is now around $87. I wish the New York born owners would offer options for all (the soups are $10+ and basic salads are in the $12 range), but that doesn't seem to be the goal. So this restaurant will live or die by the quality of the steaks. They look excellent and I can't wait to try. On my first trip my companion and I ordered the Jalapeño Mac and Cheese, which the (excellent) bartender proclaimed to be the best in the city. Since my friend is a vegetarian, we ordered it without bacon. It was not the best in the city. In fact, it may have been the worst. Removing the bacon somehow turned this dish into mac and cheese soup. It was barely edible. We saw another party order it with the bacon intact and it appeared slightly less soupy, but still not good. On my second trip I ordered the buffalo croquettes ($12). 5 meatball sized fried balls of gooey cheese, chicken and buffalo sauce quickly arrived with a side of bleu cheese. Absolutely delicious. I could eat these all day long. The fried bacon with maple drizzle was another winner. My heart may hate me, but this is indulgence at its finest. The drink menu is similar to the North Point but with more emphasis on whiskey and bourbon. It's a strong menu with something for everyone, and prices are normal for the city in the $10-$12 range for cocktails and $8-$12 for wine. The bartenders are excellent. Friendly, informative, and great at their jobs. The staff in general are top notch, with the manager being exceptionally nice and helpful. Overall Timber is a big winner on atmosphere, service and drinks. The non-steak food items have been mixed. It's a new restaurant and I'm sure they have kinks to work out, but so far they're doing a fantastic job. With $40 filets, the steaks better be the best in Maine, and I'll be back to try at some point this summer to find out.
(4)Zoe Z.
Came here on a random Monday evening (May 18 2015). First started with the batter fried bacon strips with an accompaniment of maple syrup - what a way to start! Then on to the main course of a 10oz filet ($42) with a side of grilled asparagus ($9). Definitely the best steak I've ever had in Maine, and it certainly ranks in my personal top five of all time, which includes Prime at the Bellagio, SW Steakhouse at the Wynn, Bull and Bear at the Waldorf Astoria, etc. Wasn't an inexpensive meal out - with my significant other having the marginally lesser inexpensive hangar steak at $39, and two glasses of wine at $12 each. With tip it was around $170 but money well spent. Will definitely be back again, soon!
(5)Kylie D.
Okay, so in a few years (okay maybe months) this will mean nothing to anyone, but from the time my friend suggested we go to Timber until I got my first drink, I kept hearing that awful, eponymous Kesha/Pitbull song in my head. "Make it go away!!", I kept thinking - and it did - just as a beautiful cucumber martini was placed in front of me by our mixologist, Henry. As I took the first few sips of my cocktail, enjoying the blend of cucumber and basil with a hint of lime, I started to notice the amazing décor. There are woodcuts everywhere and if you look up you'll see a cluster of hand saws hanging from the ceiling and other large crosscut saws on the walls. Timber indeed. We were sitting at the bar near the entrance so we also had a great view of something else quite wonderful.... A wall of bourbon. This made my friend very happy but the selection he made (I think it was Calumet) made him a little less happy. On the bright side, there are still another 40+ bourbons to try. Our plan was to try some appetizers and if we were still hungry, split an entrée. My friend lived in Hawai'i for many years so he was curious about the poke and I ordered the crab cakes. To be honest, there weren't many items on the app menu that appealed to me - not because they didn't look delicious but there just wasn't anything that I was dying to try. The crab cakes were quite good and the poke was... TREMENDOUS! I was skeptical about ordering a raw tuna dish in a steakhouse but I'm so glad my friend did! The little kick of sriracha put me over the edge from like to love. Go figure! As other reviewers have said, Timber is pricey but I really liked our bartender, Henry, and the service was excellent. I wasn't so thrilled when the other bartender came over and tried to get me to order a pear martini of some sort (fyi: all women don't like or want sweet, fruity cocktails) and the second cocktail I ordered, a Presbyterian something-or-other was dimensionless, but other than that the experience was very positive. Good drinks, lovely food, and POKE!
(4)Sarah W.
I love starting my Portland Yelping with all the highest ranking spots. Timber is near the top of my list. Bartender, Henry, is a wizard. I had a Boulevardier, wonderfully done, and a Sazerac which bested the (still very, very good) one I had at Portland Hunt & Alpine. Noah, one restaurateur behind this spot, is a gregarious and delightful host. My meal--my standard--steak frites was also a delight. I opted for Stilton butter at Henry's recommendation and that was the right choice. The cut was perfect. The temperature was perfect. Pairing it with a wedge salad to start was brilliant in its simplicity and straightforwardness. It is a rare occasion when I join the Clean Plate Club. I look forward to Timber being around for a long time.
(5)Sally V.
The first time we went to Timber the cocktails were great and we really enjoyed chatting with Bob and Henry. We've since returned a number of times for a great experience at the bar. I like the Ginger St. Germaine and the espresso martini. Timber is a really beautiful space, too, and last time we were there a glass of port felt very appropriate. There are lots of tempting items on the menu and creative daily specials. Try the mussels if they're available. The fries are a tasty bar snack when I need some food with my drink. We sat in the dining room once, for a birthday dinner - french onion soup, rotisserie chicken with two dipping sauces and mashed potatoes (try the bourbon peppercorn dipping sauce on the mashed potatoes!). Mmmmm, everything was delicious. We've never tried their steaks but they look and smell great. We brought guests from out of town and they enjoyed Timber as much as we do.
(5)Bruce D.
Having dined here twice, I am awarding the coveted five star rating. Food, service and atmosphere were firing on all cylinders for both visits. Across a five course tasting menu and two entrees all of the food was nothing less than excellent. Steaks are, as expected and priced, outstanding in both seasoning and cooking. The beef was dry aged. Dry aged beef is superior to the 'wet packs' employed by lesser steak houses. Dry aging requires liquid weight loss as the meat cures, a longer lead time and a skilled hand for trimming. That's why many places have given up. Portions were just right. Side orders and appetizers were flavorful and well thought out. The rotisserie chicken is produced in a very expensive machine ans the flavor reflects this. Service was impeccable: prompt, unobtrusive and thoughtful. Suggestions were sincere and accurate. The atmosphere, upscale casual, is warm, woody, romantic and inviting. Prices are steep however this level of prep, ingredients and service does not come cheap. The rotisserie cooker alone costs more than many cars. Happy hour drink prices can diminish the bill. This is a very nice splurge and a high end "sometimes treat" for carnivores.
(5)Rachel D.
I decided to treat my Dad to a high end Father's day dinner instead of buy him more stuff he doesn't need. I heard that Timber, a high end steak house had just opened, so I couldn't think of a better place to try. I actually was privy to the fact that the owners of The North Point had opened Timber, and once I found that out I was even more pleased I chose Timber. It's quite dark inside but the hostess was extremely friendly and let my Dad choose where he wanted to sit. The decor is lovely and they hand stained the wood floor panels. The bar is quite exquisite. They do have an outdoor patio which is quite nice, but since the back section of the restaurant was empty we chose to have that section all to ourselves. The menu is quite pricey but definitely worth it, so make sure you aren't pinching pennies when you come to eat at Timber. To start I ordered the St. Germain Moscow Mule. It was quite delicious and I would definitely recommend this. There was a sugar cube plopped in the drink which made it extra fizzy and delicious. My Dad had the Riesling and was not disappointed. You also receive complimentary wasabi peas and buttery bread with your meal - quite hearty. Because this is a steak house I decided to go all out and order the Filet Mignon (actually their cheapest, price wise, piece of meat on the menu), $31. It was quite amazing and one of the best pieces of steak I've had. I ordered it with the bernaise sauce, which only added to the rich flavor and perfect sear (perfectly cooked to medium rare). My Dad ordered the whole chicken and it came with two sauces of his choice. I don't think I'd personally go back for the whole chicken but it was very good! Mainly, I think I'd be too tempted to not get that delicious steak again. He also ordered a side of mashed potatoes ($8) and it was quite a generous side, with scallions and butter on top. Needless to say we were very full when we left. I've heard their desserts are definitely worth it, even though they sound standard, so I will have to go for dessert sometime. Our waitress was extremely friendly and the restaurant manager and owner both stopped by our table to chat about our meal, the experience of creating the restaurant (they had just opened two weeks prior) and how excited they were to have people enjoy their offerings. Great staff, excellent meal and I will definitely be back.
(4)Mike S.
Let me preface this by saying I am NOT vegetarian (haha, sorry Steph, had to make fun of you!). Are you a non vegetarian like me? If so, you will love it here. Starting with fried bacon (yes, really) to giant steaks, the favors are great. The bacon tastes like a fancy version of a carnival food, satisfying all the savory taste buds! I suggest it! We had the Mac and cheese as a side and ours was good, unfortunately, our table-mate had a watery version. The steak was perfectly cooked, exactly as ordered and had such great flavor. The duck, yes we got a dish with duck in it also, was actually executed with quality --- very much a suggested dish! It was sad that the bread was cold... Quite unfortunate as I wanted a fresh hot slice to sop up all the juices from the dishes! Is it the best I ever had, no, but it's right up there and I plan on coming back a bunch!
(4)Justin B.
I will state that like many of the other reviewers, this restaurant is overpriced. That is the biggest problem, but there are problems with the food as well. On the positive side of things, the Tomato and Buffalo Mozarella salad was very good. You assemble it yourself and the quality of ingredients and flavors was excellent. I also had a very good Margarita as my second drink. Additonally the service was very friendly and attentive. The rest of the food was where the issues started. The bloody mary which was my first drink was not good. No salt and a weird mix of flavors in a very chunky mix. We got the large ribeye, some duck egg rolls, the portabella mushrooms, a daily special of maple corn, and au gratin potatoes as the main course. We ordered the steak medium and it was essentially rare. I don't mind rare steak so we ate it, and I gave my wife the end pieces. The Au Gratin potatoes were way too salty and the mushrooms way too vinegary. The duck egg rolls were not bad, but had been left in the fryer too long. The corn was the biggest issue. It was a single small cob of corn with some butter on the side and was either 7 or 9 dollars (I can't quite remember) but it was totally not worth it. At the end of the day we were there during a slow period so the steak not being cooked enough and the egg rolls overcooked seem to indicate some need for improvement in kitchen quality control. Finally, like many other reviewers, I strongly suggest a reevaluation of pricing.
(2)Bill M.
Portland Maine officially has a Steak House! Warm inviting atmosphere, dozens of brands of whiskey, and perfectly dry aged beef. For me, this adds up to heavenly perfection. Knowing we were destined to have steak we started with the shrimp cocktail and tuna tartar. The shrimp cocktail had 7 very large shrimp and had both a delicious house made sauce and a delightful micro green salad. The tuna in the tartar was perfectly diced into glistening Jewels coated in a sesame oil and spices to make a rich savory start and served with crispy wanton.Next came a Cesar salad with a dressing that was so dense it was more a delicious jam. For the main event we chose to share the 24 ounce bone-in ribeye. After being dry aged for 40 days, the steak was dense and flavorful with a crust so beautiful that it is destined to show up in my dreams. Everything is a la carte, we stuck to the classics,fries and creamed spinach. Both were very satisfying. If you can save room the chocolate mouse cake was much,much,much better than its generic name would suggest. Be advised this steak house is not for the budget conscious, but it is on par with the top steak houses.
(5)Jay N.
Delicious fillet and the service is attentive and friendly. Seating was painfully cramped and uncomfortable for our party of 6, who had a reservation. My partner had a NY Strip. We had three alcoholic drinks between us and one dessert along with one side an an appetizer. The bill was north of $200.00. OUCH! I would have to recommend to you the house margarita if you go, but aside from that, as good as the service and food were, I could have received the same taste and quality of steak at a series of restaurants in the area for much less. In the end, the experience and taste come nowhere near worth the unreasonable, poorly calibrated price. We'd like to return, but not until this still newcomer to Portland's dining scene comes to its senses.
(2)Noah A.
Far East Meets Down East, Xmas Eve Pre Fix Chinese restaurants have another thing comin! First Course: Duck Confit & Shrimp Wonton Soup. Homemade wonton was ideal, not too doughy and not too crisp. Filling was full flavor with a great combination of shrimp and duck confit. Wild mushrooms were a great surprise at the bottom, and it added to the earthiness of the broth. Second course: Chilled Soba Noodle Salad. Refreshing and light. Noodles were cooked perfectly. Tahini was a great addition in the apple dressing. Third course: Tuna Two Ways. Tartare has a nice back heat. It's served alongside two pieces of seared the tuna, which has a nice toasted sesame flavor. The two are pulled together with crispy wontons and a seaweed salad, great pairing and touch. Fourth course: Grilled Ah-So Spare Ribs. The combination of barbecue spice and pickled veggies was a great compliment. Fifth Course: Peking duck. Amazing glaze on the duck that was prepared incredibly tender. Served with the best short of rib fried rice and marinated broccoli.
(5)Peter T.
Excellent steaks. Huge. So big that they tend to cook under because they're so thick. My ribeye was crusty on outside, rare inside. A sear outside and finished with a broil would have done the trick. Scotch selection was decent, but nothing exotic. Service was excellent.
(4)Jessica G.
After a few nights of lobster we felt it was time for a major change, and this place did not disappoint. We're used to high quality steakhouses in NYC and this place was totally comparable. Here are the highlights of our meal- Cocktails-Ginger St. Germain and Cucumber gin martini, both excellent. Appetizers-The duck tacos are not to be missed, we could have eaten 2 more orders Entree-The filet with stilton was delicious and cooked to perfection. My husband ordered a whole rotisserie chicken (and while maybe that sounds like a lot) once we got it along with the two dipping sauces it was gone soon. Our waiter says they make their own BBQ sauce in house, it was awesome. Dessert-The creme brulee was great and their homemade ice cream was even better. If you want a change after all your tourist trap lobster rolls definitely give this place a try. We will surely be back next summer.
(5)Michaela M.
Gimme dat Happy Hour. Killer wine specials & possibly the best HH food menu in Portland. If you think I'm wrong, please tell me where else you can get real, good food for so cheap. Not just tiny "snack food" for a few bucks. I've done HH multiple times, dinner for the first time last week. My friend and I split the half chicken (we didn't even finish it), asparagus & jalapeno cornbread. We actually didn't finish anything fully, and we can eat. It was kind of pricey, but you know that going in here. You get what you pay for.
(4)Alise K.
Dinner at timber last night was fun. Although none of us ordered steaks, other patrons did and they looked delicious! We all got apps and salads. French onion soup, scallops, chili and crab cakes were all delicious. The Cobb and Chinese chicken salad were large and easily big enough for a a main course or to be shared as an appetizer. Heads up on the Chinese chicken salad, it is very spicy!!!! Also, it could have used a little more chicken in it. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't have ordered it if is known how spicy it was Ambiance was nice, lots of wood and some banquet seating with pillows. We sat in the front window seat and the lighting was great . It seemed very dark in the rest of the restaurant. The bar was large and there were lots of customers availing themselves of the comfy seats. One thing I would change is the music. It was very loud. All the staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I think timber is a great addition to exchange street!!! Looking forward to going back for steak with my husband.
(4)Yelena S.
We went with several other people for a friend's birthday, definitely prepare your wallets if you decide to head here for dinner. One of our friends ordered the bourbon marinated steak tips, he requested them 'medium,' they were tasty but at least a third of them were rare. For $31 I'd hope the steak tips would be properly cooked to order. My bf and I each ordered the timber wagyu burger, both medium. I had a pool of blood at the bottom of my plate from the under-cooked meat, I switched plates with my bf who's meal was "slightly" more cooked. We only finished half of our burgers, not because we were full but because it was simply unpleasant to eat. Sides do not come with the meals, not even the burgers which is kinda silly when you're spending $16 on one. A handful of fries or something! We split the roasted golden Yukon potatoes but they had an odd taste to them, not sure if it's because I've never had veal stock before? The cucumber gin martini was delicious though, but that's probably the only thing I'd go back to Timber for.
(2)Caitlyn M.
Great spot with an amazing outdoor patio! I highly recommend the truffle fries and the award winning "High port cocktail" which was delicious and refreshing. I highly recommend stopping here if you're ever in Portland! Even if it's just for a quick drink and some complementary wasabi peas!
(5)Bea L.
We went for some whiskey and ended up getting lots of food because it sounded so good. The lobster mac app is great. We ended up getting more togo. Some great whiskeys on the large list though would have loved to see some really special ones. Service was great, very attentive.
(4)Tim G.
So, let's start with the positives, because there were some. The venue itself is very nice. Rustic and woodsy feel. Handcrafted timber chairs. The patio where we sat was beautiful. Very quaint. Jocelyn, our server was wonderful. Rich, the general manager was warm and welcoming. I travel all over the world and I use Yelp as my guide to make sure I get the best experience in the cities I visit. More often than not Yelp serves me well. This was my first visit to Portland and the place I wanted to go, Central Provisions didn't serve their full menu until 5 and we had a boat to catch at 5:30 so that wasn't going to work. Thus, we ended up at Timber. A steakhouse wasn't my idea of a typical Maine restaurant but the reviews were good so thought we'd try it. My sister ordered the filet and lobster and it was good (it should be and really, that's pretty hard to screw up, right?) my Brother-in-law ordered the Lobster mac' n cheese as an entree and that was delicious too. My girlfriend ordered the Scallops. The scallops themselves were excellent and I've never seen such a huge portion. The base the scallops was served on was a sweet potato and kale and she said it was bitter. So here's my advice...when you're at a steakhouse be weary of the catch of the day! The other 4 people at the table ordered the catch of the day and it was HORRIBLE. Let me repeat. HORRIBLE! My bad, right? I shouldn't order seafood at a steakhouse? BUT I'M IN MAINE FOR CRAP'S SAKE! The catch of the day was Turbot. I was the only one who had had turbot before and said it was a light flaky white fish. That it was but what we didn't know is this dish was served as a whole fish. (This is my only criticism of Jocelyn. She should have been more descriptive of what it was because I guarantee my mother would NEVER order a whole fish). The fish was served skin side up (unappetizing) with the fishes mouth wide open (even more unappetizing). You literally couldn't take a bite without getting bones. We even asked Rich the best way to eat it. His method didn't help. The fish itself was mostly tasteless and by the time I got done cleaning the carcass I might have gotten a total of 4-5 ounces of fish. Pretty disappointing, especially with a $33 price tag. The chef clearly knew that it was a meager portion of protein because they put a huge pile of white bean and bacon succotash under the disgusting fish body. The succotash sucked! (How can anything with bacon suck you ask??....it did!!) Bottom line..... I take the blame for ordering fish at a steakhouse. BUT....the chef should be ashamed for even serving that dish I had. If I lived in Portland I would go back. But only if I wanted red meat. My guess is there are plenty of other places where you can get the best of both worlds.
(2)Jak K.
First: the manager, Richard, was a gentleman and the staff really worked at accommodating us and correcting the problems with our steaks. Although that didn't overcome the poor quality of the meat and the fact that it was over cooked. 4 of our 5 steaks were delivered at the wrong temperature. The dry aged t bone was mostly fat and very little meat. No one in our party Had a steak that was tender or of the quality reflected by the prices on the menu. The Caesar salad was spot on. The drinks were served correctly and properly made. The deserts were all odd but thoughtfully put together. If our experience is not very unusual this restaurant needs to change meat purveyors and find a grill person who can cook a steak. My wife said she would give them another chance. Perhaps I would just because Richard and staff made such an effort to make things right.
(2)Jennifer M.
Holy meatiness, this was good! We went the second night they were open and were impressed with how smoothly everything flowed. Be warned that the portions are large, as are the prices. But it's worth it. We started with the shrimp cocktail and tuna tartare. The shrimp was good, but the tuna tartare was fantastic! We then moved on to a soup/salad course. I had the onion soup, and it was exceptional, but by that time, I was already getting full, so I only had a few spoonfulls. Thankfully, I convinced my husband and dining partner to split the 24 oz. rib eye. It was quite a sight to behold. Cooked perfectly! Gluttons for punishment, we rounded out the evening with a delicious dessert of chocolate mousse cake. Unlike the usual dry restaurant standard, it was moist, chocolately, and divine!
(4)Cliff C.
Place is amazing!!! Noah, the owner, is a great guy and made us feel right at home. Great service and the food was awesome! Can't wait to go back!!
(5)Beatrice T.
I debated giving this a 3 or 4 star. Let's start with the positives: For one, Portland needs a steak spot, so it's kind of nice that Timber covers that. Two, all of the food at our table was great. Amongst my group of 5, I witnessed some really awesome food porn. Steak tips, surf and turf (for me), rotisserie chicken, fried bacon, various potatoes, ratatouille and beyond, all appealing. I didn't partake in dessert or cocktails, but my friends raved about the seasonal chocolate dish, as well as martinis. The waitress was really friendly and attentive as well, kudos to her. Dislikes: -The lighting was hard for me to enjoy. The yellow was so overpowering, I sort of started feeling like a mosquito. You know, like we were a family of bugs all congregating under the fluorescent light... -In terms of food, my lobster tail was served in the shell atop my steak. It was not cut or cracked, nor was I provided any tool to do so. I ended up breaking It caveman style (with my hands). It seemed a little bit out of place to be doing that, so I'm not sure how they anticipate guests ought to. - Steak was good, but not quite on the level for their price point that matches a NYC steakhouse. I'm not necessarily concerned with price, but I did also find it to be somewhat of an outlier in the Old Port's restaurant scene. Overall: Will I go back? Yes.
(4)Steff D.
Sometimes I feel the need to preface my reviews with the fact that I'm a vegetarian. Some (closed-minded) individuals believe that people with my diet are unnecessarily critical on meat-centric places or that our opinion doesn't matter because we're clearly biased/don't know what we're talking about. If you're one of those people, feel free to ignore this review - no hard feelings, I promise. So, how did I end up here? Well, let's see... I like Portland. I like food. I like exploring new places. I like exploring new foodie places in Portland. Yes, I knew Timber was a steakhouse, but I knew they'd have options for me (no restaurant in their right mind opens in Portland in this day and age and doesn't have something vegetarian or gluten-free on their menu). And I like to be a cool kid in the know, so that's what got me in the door. What did I like? + The service. Man, the staff is SO thoughtful, so accommodating, so patient, so eager to please. And they were like this with everyone. They went above and beyond making sure every customer was attended to, and it never once felt disingenuous! + The ambience/decor. It felt so rustic and woodsy inside that I felt immediately at home. It didn't feel sterile or pretentious, but inviting - like I could curl up in a corner booth with a beer and be content for hours. Maybe it was all the wood or the gentle, yellow lighting subliminally continuing me of this... But it was absolutely beautiful inside. It's the one thing I keep finding myself telling people about! + The outdoor patio. Barrels from Allagash make the perfect border, and who knew a space literally in the heart of Portland's Old Port could feel so secluded! + The happy hour specials (4-6pm, $4 select drafts, $5 select wines by the glass, and a $6 specialty cocktails). What didn't I like? - The jalapeño-cheddar macaroni and cheese (the only food thing I tried). Our bartender upsold it to us, promising it was "the best" mac and cheese in the city. It was not. Flavorful? Yes. Cheesy and spicy? Yes. But ours was more like a super thin soup; while friends of ours got it and theirs was more similar to a potato salad. Inconsistent much? Yes. Neither we or they finished the serving. - My cocktail choices. I first tried the bloody mary; again, the staff was very thoughtful about my diet. Unsure of whether the horseradish had egg or fish in it (sometimes they do), the bartender made me a special version. I appreciated that he even allowed me the opportunity to dictate how spicy it was. But... It wasn't as good as others in town and I found it to be slightly watered down. My next drink was the orange creamsicle martini - in all fairness, after assessing what I liked and didn't like as far as alcohol goes, the bartender did try and talk me out of it (and into a whiskey smash which he thought I'd appreciate more and even let me try some of). It tasted just like a creamsicle, but was VERY milky, artificially sweet, and (dare I say) too girly for my liking. - The prices. Holy exorbitant!!! Get ready to drop some serious cash. Would I recommend this place to steak lovers? Yes. Am I glad I got to check it out? Sure. Will I be back? To be honest, absolutely not. Not every place is for every person, and while I feel Timber does certainly fill a niche here in Portland, it doesn't fill any niche in my own personal foodie/cocktail world.
(2)Michelle E.
It's summer. I ordered the chilled gazpacho and tuna tartare. My husband ordered the Cobb salad, side of potato gratin, and cornbread. I should say that I'm not a meat eater so this review is based entirely on what I ordered and I realize that this is not the food that they specialize in. However, that being said, I've had some pretty amazing side dishes at other carnivore establishments. Here's my main issue, if the soup is called "chilled gazpacho" it would lead me to believe that it would be served cold. Gazpacho is a cold soup. What arrived in front of me was a room temp/warm soup. Edible? Yes. Chilled gazpacho? No. I also ordered the tuna tartare. The portion was larger than I was expecting but again it was just ok. Nothing memorable. The cornbread looked delicious but was just ok. My husband said that the potato gratin was delicious and his salad was good too, and again the portion was large. But we won't be coming back. The food we ate was average at best. And while I realize that this is a steakhouse and we didn't eat steak, the quality of food that we did eat did not stand out enough to make us want to return. Our server was friendly and seemed knowledgable. But the food lacked the wow factor that we were hoping for based on the other reviews we had read.
(2)Heidi H.
Service was 5 star. Atmosphere was 4+. Food 5. But the prices were outrageous. The "sides" were way, way too big (enough for 2) and added up on our tab. Either Timber cuts the side portions, and price, in half or you should split any side with your co-diners. I'm not sure how these prices will survive in Portland when you can get many delish meals with excellent service for 30% less than what we paid.
(3)Jocelyn W.
So much great food. Especially recommend the truffle fries and battered bacon. Steaks were perfectly cooked and delicious. Cocktails were wonderful as well, i got pressie drop (ginger) and a cucumber melon martini. They are a little dangerous though, delicious but pretty strong, can't taste the alcohol. Would definitely go again.
(5)John C.
More often than not, I can think of thousands of details about a restaurant, but for this restaurant I can only think of three things: 1. Service was solid. 2. Decent food 3. OVERPRICED For the owner's sake, I hope they keep finding new customers because my guess is there won't be many coming back a second time. Genuine tip for guests: consider buying a 'shot' of your alcohol of choice and adding it yourself to a virgin version of your drink. That way, you'll be sure there is actually alcohol in the expensive drink being added to your tab.
(2)Scott W.
Was looking forward to going. Very disappointed. Over priced for Portland. For these prices I could go to NYC. Said one thing and delivered something very different. Will not be going back. Vinland is a much better choice for a top meal in Portland
(1)Jared H.
I had my first (and last) experience at the new Portland restaurant Timber on Saturday night. Our table of 4 ordered two half chicken dishes and a large porterhouse steak to share. The $80 steak was completely under seasoned and need a good amount of salt to make it palatable. The chicken was dry and came out with soft slimy skin (as opposed to crispy). The side of jalapeno mac & cheese was far too spicy yet also required additional salt, the other sides were mediocre at best. All of this plus a bottle of wine brought a bill of over $300. It's obvious that they don't have things figured out yet and I'll be surprised if they last 6 months unless drastic improvements happen. With so many great dining options in Portland, there is no reason to spend your time and money at Timber. Very disappointed.
(1)L L.
Walked in with a party if 9 after touring the Old Port all day and was very impressed with this new place.. Decor is awesome, the menu is diverse enough for everyone's taste. Cocktails were yum... Know that during the busy hours the entrees need time to cook but are worth the wait.. Expect to pay an average of $60 per person if u have a drink, appetizer and an entree.. Very nice dining!!
(5)Colin C.
I am quickly falling in love - or maybe it's lust? - with this restaurant, as I have yet to find something that doesn't blow me away. So, let's roll up to the bar first, shall we? The bar itself is well stocked with a selection of higher end liquors, but they do seem to specialize in bourbons, ryes, and scotches - lined neatly along the top shelf. (I was disappointed that they had VanWinkle listed in the bourbon menu but none on stock, but no one has it right now, so I've long since drank away my sorrow with some of their other exceptional offerings.) I've had the standard Manhattan and Old Fashioned, and they were both incredibly well done with the now-requisite bourbon-marinated cherries. They also have a collection of beers (and a cider) available, mostly if not completely local or semi-local. Their appetizers are a mix of creative and classic - and quite delicious. I have had the shrimp cocktail (very good), jalapeno mac and cheese (also very good), sauteed scallops with corn-based puree (fantastic), and the crab cakes (amazing). I've not regretted one of them! There are abundant sides to work with if you want to go with a small-plate style dinner. I recently tried the green beans and never thought I could enjoy it so much. I literally left the scallops for after... it was that great, full of salty bacon goodness that I couldn't put down. Steaks. We're here for that, right? I went right for the bell-weather filet, and was not disappointed here either. It arrived cooked perfectly to spec, was incredibly flavorful and I sourced locally in Maine. I went with the bearnaise on top, because it's a frikkin' filet and that's what you do. (Right? Right.) I would love if they could serve it up Oscar style (topped with crabcake and asparagus) but I have not found a place in Portland that will do it that way yet! I hope to make the suggestion at some point in the near future, because all restaurateurs should heed my hack, would-be-foodie advice, naturally. The staff? Excellent. Food arrives on time and well done, and they are attentive with a shallow drink or need for further food items. At the bar, you can expect some friendly but not intrusive conversation, and everyone seems very well versed in the menu options. On the whole, this is one of my new go-to spots and I don't think you're going to find a better steakhouse in the city any time soon.
(5)Kevin D.
We ordered the tuna takaki - which was disappointing. The tuna was cooked well but the presentation was weird and the flavor combinations were just not right. It needs some sweetness to balance the acidity of the jalapenos (which one could argue should be omitted altogether). The bed of wilted greens was unappetizing and the seaweed salad appeared to be pre-made. The short ribs were just meh. They could have used some more time braising as there was still lots of fatty tissue that was disgusting to bite into. They were not seasoned well and we agreed that our recipe for short ribs was considerably better. The wagyu burger was excellent. Wonderfully seasoned, cooked perfectly, and the accompanying fries were a nice touch. The creamed spinach was just ok. The drinks were spot on. The value to price ratio just wasn't there.
(3)Denise K.
Just ate here for the first time tonight. I had the filet mignon and my husband had the ribeye. The ribeye was huge but instead of medium it was rare. Not a lot of seasoning on the steak. Very pricy our bill was $130 plus tip. We had no appetizers, no salad and no dessert. 1 drink each. I won't go back, it wasn't worth the money. Service was good though.
(2)Colleen C.
Let me start off by saying that the service and the drinks were the best part of this experience by far. The ambience in this place is amazing, from the seductively lit bar to the cozy both tables, to the fun outer patio - all which have a rustic woodland feel. The drink menu is impressive, although I was over whelmed since it heavily focuses on whiskeys and bourbons. The cucumber martini here is one of the best I have had and I highly recommend it. For an appetizer my boyfriend and I shared the grilled shrimp and scallop skewers ($16$). Unfortunately it was only one skewer which had 3 shrimp and 2-3 scallops. Not what I imagined for 16 dollars but very tasty. I got the fillet mignon in a Bernese sauce, the cheapest steak on the menu ($31) and my boyfriend got the steak tips. My fillet was pretty good, I would say a little above average, the sauce was a make or break and did an amazing job bringing out the flavor of the steak. The steak tips were cooked to perfection but the pea tasting sauce it would not have been my first choice. We also ordered 2 sides since none of the dishes come with any sides. The handcuff fries with a truffle sauce which actt reminded me a lot of Duck Fat fries, and the French beans with bacon. Both were just "ish". We finished up dinner with an espresso martini, which the waiter claimed to be the best in the city. I beg to differ. It was decent but The Bar of Chocolate and PTs actually have much better renditions of this drink. The total bill for two people, 1 appetizer, 2 of the cheapest steaks on the menu, 2 sides, and 5 drinks was a whopping $175. Definitely not a bargain place. But the service was undeniable. Our waiter Ethan was friendly, charismatic, and knowledgable, and coming from someone in the service industry he was GREAT at up selling in a casual non threatening manner.
(3)Craig D.
Had a great experience enjoying whiskey at the bar with a couple of friends. I would love to make it back for steak sometime. But the bourbon selection is enough for now. Our server, Mike, makes a mean Old Fashioned and did a great job recommending an interesting array or whiskeys to taste! If you are looking for a whiskey night cap, be sure to check them out.
(4)Katelyn P.
My boyfriend and I spent our anniversary here last night and the entire evening was OUTSTANDING. After we sat, we were given wasabi peas to snack on while browsing the menu. We each started with a cocktail. Mine was a cilantro, lemon, lime martini. My boyfriend had a whiskey and kahlua drink. Both were excellent. We shared the caesar salad and jalapeño mac and cheese. The salad was crisp and fresh and the dressing was flavorful and light- not too mayo-y like some restaurants. The mac and cheese was creamy, cooked perfectly, and had just the right amount of spice. Then we were brought bread. It was pretty standard but thoughtful. For our main dishes, I ordered the 10oz filet mignon and lobster tail with a side of mashed potatoes (so good!) My boyfriend ordered the 24oz tender aged ribeye and got the battered fried bacon. The bacon was so decadent and over the top but it was a must try item. My lobster was unbelievable and my filet mignon was cooked to my liking and very enjoyable. My boyfriend's steak was a fattier cut which isn't my favorite but he enjoyed it very much. We ordered a second round of drinks. I got a Bloody Mary (nice fresh flavor) and he ordered the Whiskey Smash I believe. We both loved our drinks of the evening. Service was attentive without being overbearing, the atmosphere was SO fun and different from anything I've seen in Portland, the bar was VERY well stocked, and we were barely able to finish our meals so we have plenty of leftovers. Win! Your bill can add up fast here but it was worth it. This would also be a great place to order a lot of appetizers and share a steak. We're very happy that we spent our anniversary here and we will be back!
(5)Claire D.
AAAHHHMAZING!!! This place rocked everything. Had red wine (canonball, delightful), my husband had a rum and coke, also good. Shrimp cocktail and the scallops appetizer. The cocktail was so good, chilled, huge and tasty sauce. The scallops with the creamed corn base was AWESOME. I had the half a chicken with lemon garlic dipping sauce and bacon bleu cheese dipping sauce. My husband and I shared the potatos au gratin. Nom Nom nom. I wanted to high five the chef. My husband got the bone in rib eye and it was Huge!!! He said it was cooked perfectly. Go here. Eat. Drink. You will be happy to spend money in there.
(5)Jimmy H.
A great addition to the downtown scene! We had the shrimp/scallop skewers, fried bacon, duck egg hash, and chicken balls - all delicious! Can't wait to try the steaks! Service was spot on too! I think they will hold their own even with the jammed packed downtown culinary scene.
(5)tman s.
These guys know what they are doing. I came in with a party of 7 they are pleasant and the staff is very friendly... I had the beef short rib and some of my friends had cowboy steak, t-bone steak and mussells. I hope to return soon again next time i'am in maine area!
(5)Sam H.
Let me start by saying this was the best meal I have had in a very very long time so much so that I decided to make a yelp just for this. I have eaten all over the world from NYC to Paris. I have eaten everywhere in Portland from Miyake to Central Provisions to Duckfat you name it if they have good food I have tried it. Let me start by saying what sets Timber apart is the service. Over the top service. We walked it and immediately said "is this the reservation for Sam?" I have never been there before and it was packed the hostess/manager was spot on. Upon sitting down our waitress Joslin was bubbly friendly and attentive from start to finish recommending perfect wine pairings and helping decided on apps and sides she was the star of the show. The food. The food was something else, I started with the Tuna and the other guests had french onion soup and the other opted for a strawberry Mojito. All of which were fabulous. Only complant was the mojito was a bit too sweet. The tuna with the fish row, jalapeños, and pepper crust was absolutely epic! The French Onion soup was some of the best I have ever tried. For our meals two of us had the filet with Stilton on top and the other had the catch of the day which was a heaping plate of epic mussels. The steaks speak for themselves. The cheese was amazing. The steak Perfect. Truly the best I have had and I have had many many filets. Dry aged and flown up daily from NYC cooked to perfection. The wine pairings a Pino noir and a Malbec accompanied the steaks great. Joslin made the choice and couldn't have done better. The real cap to the meal was the owner Noah. I have never been to a restaurant with a better owner. On a packed night he made sure to come to every table and check in and talk about the restaurant. Noah then said he would like to pay for our desserts. What! A perfect meal great service and the owner just wants to pay for out desserts! We had the creme Brule and the chocolate mouse. Both epic! Overall: If you want to PAY for the best customer service and the best meal start to finish come to Timber. Next time we will try the bourbon menu (they have over 100). Be back soon!
(5)Kate S.
Late night cocktails were phenomenal. Service & ambiance & strong, progressive drinks are really taking the Portland scene to the next level. The North Point team knows what they are doing. Looking forward to going back for dinner.
(5)Genna P.
We only had drinks, but it is a nicer place with a focus on beef. The decor is all about saws, logs and beef with a classic touch. The service was great and knowledgable. We plan on coming back to grab dinner.
(4)Justin S.
It is rare that I will return to a restaurant solely for their cocktail menu, simply because most restaurants tend to overlook the importance of that part of the dining experience. I have been to Timber twice this week. The first time was for late night cocktails with my best bud, Luke. He had a glass of Chilean Sav Blanc, which was light and crisp with notes of honeydew, cantaloupe, and a slightly more "mellow" overtone of grapefruit (compared to the citrus bombs of the NZ or So African variety). I ordered the New York Sour from the specialty drink list. This happens to be one of my favorite cocktails, and it is so rare to find it on a cocktail menu. I watched as Jake, the bartender, expertly crafted this smooth, lemony concoction, rounding it out perfectly with a float of Cabernet. Last night, I went back with Adam for cocktails again. It was our first date, and Adam is new to Portland, so I wanted to introduce him to somewhere fun, inviting, and hip. He ordered an Espresso Martini (the best I have ever tasted), and i got the Strawberry Mojito, made with fresh strawberry puree and mint... again I watched our bartender, Bob, carefully craft the cocktails. I was particularly impressed to see Bob strain the mojito through a julep strainer (call me pretentious but i hate to have bits of mint floating in my cocktail) and even spank the mint garnish (releasing the oils for the aromatic effect) before rubbing it around the rim of the glass. Once the drink was garnished, he even carefully placed the sipping straws (double straw - encourages you to drink twice as fast!) right up against the mint garnish, thereby allowing me to take in the aromatic essence of the herb as I sipped this truly artistic cocktail. Bob is truly a master at his craft, and his thoughtfulness, attention to detail, and passion for great bartending made our experience truly fabulous. Kudos to the bar manager for creating such a unique cocktail experience and for hiring the perfect staff! For our second round, Adam and I ordered New York Sours because, hey, I just couldn't resist! And Bob made absolutely the best New York Sour I think I will ever have... It was pretty quiet in the restaurant, but that was Wednesday at 10:30pm. Even though the kitchen was closed at that time, I appreciated that the bar is open late. Richard, the General Manager, introduced himself to Adam and me. We had a very pleasant chat, and he took us outside where we christened the new outdoor patio with our cocktails. It is evident that Richard cares very much about the clientele, and his courtesy made us feel valued as customers. Sorry for the long review, and even though we did not eat anything, I think it is really important to acknowledge fantastic cocktails and service in a city where these types of experiences can be hit or miss. I can't wait to go back for dinner and of course, more drinks! (And if you are wondering... Adam asked me on a second date...) Cheers!
(5)Lindsay L.
Pros: tasty meat, servers are really trying Cons: 1. insulting prices. When you eat at Peter Luger's, you don't mind paying an obscene price because it's the best steak you've ever had in your life. You cannot say the same about the steak that you get here. 2. Unimaginitive/bland food. Meat sauces were bland to meh. The rest of the food was shockingly inept for the price and location: underwhelming potatoes and greens, rolls that tasted day-old and were definitely microwaved. Either the food has to come up to the prices they're asking for it or the prices have to come down to the food that they're offering.
(2)K L.
Ok - Good stuff - specialty cocktails are well composed and not too sugary, wines are very very good, meat is tender and delicious, rolls with thyme are superb, some sides are ok, service was excellent. Cons - steak sizes are ridiculous. If you want ribeye the only option is 24 ounces - stupid not to have a variety of sizes and they have had a LOT of feedback on this and have done nothing to change. If you want a steak any other wellness other than rare you have to strongly discuss this when you order (had mine sliced so it was not too rare). Fried bacon was not good at all - and the batter was delicious...but way too much of it and bacon was not cooked all the way. The kitchen says they cannot cook the bacon first and then deep fry, but I told them how to do it two ways. Hope that changes soon. The creme brûlée was overly burned...turned the creme to mush. Noise level when the small place was half full was plenty loud with the music - would not want to be there when it was full and try to have a conversation. Happy Hour seems to be the best time to go....all glasses of wine are $5 - even the $14 a glass Cab and Malbec which were superb. $5 appetizers (hope the rest of them are better than the fried bacon). Two cocktails are reduced price each day also. This has the makings of a great steak place for Portland - since there are none in town - but they have a way to improve in the food arena.
(2)Christina C.
Overpriced and more snooty than it needs to be. I went here on a recommendation and was not impressed. The beer selection is sub par only offering items on tap. While I like artisan beers, I am surprised that you could not get any of the "traditional" beers in a bottle. The steaks are overpriced for the serving size (I ordered the 10 oz filet and my friend the 8 oz steak tips). The area competition list the same steaks for almost half the price. My filet was cooked properly, but burnt on the outside. The steak tips were thin and not as tender as expected. All the sides are ala-cart and while the portion size it s decent, they are also overpriced. What is advertised as a "hipster" type place is nothing more than a Ruth Chris want-to-be sans the white table cloths and superior service. Our waiter was pleasant but not as attentive as I expected. I had to ask to have my water refilled and more rolls to go with dinner. The seating is uncomfortable with benches on one side and chairs on the other. There is really no intimate seating and the acoustics of the space make it hard to hear any conversation at all.
(2)William S.
I hate to be negative, since the staff were earnest and pleasant. But our foursome did not have a dining experience we can recommend to anyone else. Choosing to dine here may have been our mistake, since none of us had steak, which seems to be the specialty. A couple of things were good -- our server, the tuna appetizer, a bloody mary. But this is the kind of restaurant which charges high prices for enormous portions, more than I want to eat. At this price point, the food would have to compete with some terrific restaurants in Portland, and it does not come close. And diners should be warned that it if you would like to be heart-healthy, the choices are very limited. Almost everything seems to have bacon or cheese in it, or both. Of three orders of chicken, two seemed over done, and two of us found the sauces uninspired. The shrimp and scallop entree also was not well received. The side of brussels sprouts were significantly undercooked and underseasoned, and the potatoes were overwhelmingly cheesy. And be warned as well that the noise level here makes conversation challenging.
(2)Wanda B.
Dinner was extremely disappointing. Started by ordering fried calamari appetizer - it was 6-8 oz at most, and completely tasteless - definitely not worth $16. Told the waitress that it had no flavor and she didn't know what to say - except to ask us if the sauce at least had some flavor. Ordered the Cowboy Tbone, green beans with bacon, and fries. The steak was ordered medium rare, it came out well done. The beans were cold. Sent both the steak and beans back. When the steak came back it was cooked properly but had absolutely no flavor. I don't know how you can have beef that has no flavor, but Timber seems to have figured it out. The manager came over at the end of our meal and offered us a dessert on the house, which did not make up for such poor quality food in my opinion. With the prices such as they are, comparable to Ruth's Chris - I would expect at least the same quality - this was a far cry from it.
(1)Joseph S.
I had dinner at Timbers recently after hearing great reviews. I was looking forward to having a great steak so I ordered the rib-eye. The side dishes (mashed potatoes and string beans) were excellent but the steak was a big disappointment especially if you are charging $58.
(2)Annie M.
This place is so cute. I loved all the wood and the chill atmosphere. We sat at the bar and the service was great. Mike, our bartender was charming and fun. We highly recommend.
(5)Meghan B.
This place was great. They have a very interesting menu and the good is delish! The staff was so incredibly welcoming and attentive. The manager was so hands on and really wanted to make sure you enjoyed your experience! Any in the Portland area looking for a yummy steak this is the place to go! Also the bar is super cool too.
(5)Sam M.
Overpriced and over rated. Despite a great atmosphere and very polite/friendly staff, not a place I would recommend. I celebrated an anniversary with a trip to Timber, we tried a lot of the menu and when it was all said and done, felt ripped off. The cuts of meat were good but when I pay $50 for a steak, I should not have to pay 10 more for cornbread and another 12 for potatoes. We had lobster bisque that tasted like a bowl of melted butter (after a few spoon fulls I actually got sick and threw it up in the bathroom), buffalo chicken croquettes that had absolutely no flavor and corn bread that was served soggy. It was not all bad, the jalapeño mac and cheese and wagyu beef cupcakes were great but by no means worth the price we paid. The New York strip was cooked to my liking and it was a good steak but for $49 I expected a much better steak. We also got a bottle of wine with our meal which was a let down. Overall the redeeming qualities of the meal were a few appetizers, a decent steak and a very friendly blonde gentleman waiter. Unfortunately we quickly forgot all of that when the check came.
(2)Bill N.
Excellent meal and exceptional service. Meat was cooked to perfection. Mussels were to die for and the battered fried bacon was decedent. Only warning is don't order the French onion soup. It is not what you are expecting.
(4)T K.
Nice whiskey selection. Ate the bar a few times. Staff was great. Good vibe. Ate mostly small plates. Very impressed.
(5)John S.
We dined at Timber last night for the second time this summer. Our first experience in June was nothing short of flawless. Everything we ate, especially the steaks were amazing. We told some friends from Boston who are big time steak house fans. We told them that we finally had a steak house in Portland worth a visit. Everything seemed fine as we arrived and had some cocktails, then the waitress arrived and started talking about the meat. Imagine our surprise when she told us the restaurant has now started buying beef from a local farm and that it would be the freshest steak we ever ate?! She told us that the steaks would be no more than 2 days old, why bother aging the beef when it's this fresh she told us. We were confused but assumed maybe she just made a mistake with the description. Why would a great steak house not age their beef! That's the hallmark of a great steak! The appetizers were very good so we were still happy, then the steaks arrived. 3 of the 4 were cooked improperly, all of them were bland and very under seasoned. The most disappointing aspect was the complete lack of beefy flavor! The comment from our friends was that they could buy better steaks at the grocery store.( Hello, aging anyone) we were a little embarrassed to have so highly recommended Timber. I have read other very recent negative reviews of Timber and my hope is that they take the criticism seriously. With the prices they charge they cannot afford to sell mediocre beef. The side dishes were all very good, the creme brûlée was meh and a little curdled and the cappuccino was really bad with a 2 inch thick layer of curdled foam. We completely understand that a restaurant can have an off night and I hope that's what we experienced, but the quality of the beef has us concerned for the future of Timber.
(2)Betts F.
Disappointed. Went opening week, place was packed & had alot of energy. Food including tuna tartare and ribeye was awesome. 2nd time back mid-week...same food ordered...not so good on all counts. No people, no vibe and food lackluster.
(2)Abbie L.
Yum!
(4)Sharon B.
I wanted to love Timber. Unfortunately, the decor in the back room was odd (stapled burlap ceilings), the prices were overinflated, and the staff did not have the professionalism to pull off a menus of this price. My rotisserie chicken and pork belly crostini was fantastic, my husband's fried bacon was raw and doughy, and his strip steak was fair. The portion sizes were overinflated. Steak prices hovered around $50 for large cuts (24 oz ribeye). I'd rather have a smaller portion that I could eat for $10 less, commensurate with the service level and decor. For those prices, I'd rather go to Boston or Manhattan for a weekend. I prefer David's and the Grill Room in Portland for a good steak.
(2)Leslie A.
Fantastic and diverse menu with stellar service, nice portions and fabulous flavors. I had the Monk fish entree. Also, the fresh cut fries with Aioli are decadently delicious with the aioli dipping sauce being the best I've had. Also had the creamed spinach and green beans as sides which were cooked to perfection. The General Manager, Richard Ferraro, is doing a wonderful job. I also met the Sous Chef, Jason Daly, who is extremely knowledgeable and talented in the kitchen; and kind enough to explain some of their techniques that made the food so delicious. TImber is famous for their steaks, but check out all the diverse options too.
(5)Jess B.
Don't believe the hype, this place is THE WORST--with so many options downtown, don't waste you time at Timber. To start, I found a hair in my food.... the management couldn't care less when I brought it to their attention. THEN, the service was soooo slow (apparently more concerned with flirting with one another than bringing me my entree).... and when I finally got my I will not be coming back, and I advise you all to do the same.
(1)Andy F.
exactly what portland needed - a NY style steak house - excellent shrimp cocktail - aged prime strip steak - perfectly cooked med rare as ordered - hand cut fries - bravo - molto bene - mazel tov ( a ny specific comment ) the portland food scene is now almost complete - just need a proper deli !!
(5)Carolyn D.
We went to Timber three times this summer. We found the owner, Noah and manager, Richard, most welcoming and attentive. We live in NY and are accustomed to the very best steakhouses, and Timber ranks in that class! It's the only restaurant in Portland serving prime, AGED beef. So where some may say its expensive, prime aged beef costs so much more than any other grade, but the taste is out of this world!! The 24 oz ribeye was about 34 oz! Tender and very,very tasty! The sides, creamed spinach, potatoes soaked in veal stock and broiled with cheese was out of this world! The Cesar salad is first rate with the homemade croutons; the fried bacon app and tuna tartare were delicious! The Winston Churchill Bloody Mary was the best we ever had! We've always been too full to order dessert so we can't comment on that. Some people may say its expensive, but if you're accustomed to going to a prime aged steakhouse, you will see the prices are right in line, as is the quality. Timber is a much welcomed and long overdue addition to a foodie town like Portland. Can't wait to go back!
(5)John C.
More often than not, I can think of thousands of details about a restaurant, but for this restaurant I can only think of three things: 1. Service was solid. 2. Decent food 3. OVERPRICED For the owner's sake, I hope they keep finding new customers because my guess is there won't be many coming back a second time. Genuine tip for guests: consider buying a 'shot' of your alcohol of choice and adding it yourself to a virgin version of your drink. That way, you'll be sure there is actually alcohol in the expensive drink being added to your tab.
(2)Beatrice T.
I debated giving this a 3 or 4 star. Let's start with the positives: For one, Portland needs a steak spot, so it's kind of nice that Timber covers that. Two, all of the food at our table was great. Amongst my group of 5, I witnessed some really awesome food porn. Steak tips, surf and turf (for me), rotisserie chicken, fried bacon, various potatoes, ratatouille and beyond, all appealing. I didn't partake in dessert or cocktails, but my friends raved about the seasonal chocolate dish, as well as martinis. The waitress was really friendly and attentive as well, kudos to her. Dislikes: -The lighting was hard for me to enjoy. The yellow was so overpowering, I sort of started feeling like a mosquito. You know, like we were a family of bugs all congregating under the fluorescent light... -In terms of food, my lobster tail was served in the shell atop my steak. It was not cut or cracked, nor was I provided any tool to do so. I ended up breaking It caveman style (with my hands). It seemed a little bit out of place to be doing that, so I'm not sure how they anticipate guests ought to. - Steak was good, but not quite on the level for their price point that matches a NYC steakhouse. I'm not necessarily concerned with price, but I did also find it to be somewhat of an outlier in the Old Port's restaurant scene. Overall: Will I go back? Yes.
(4)Tim G.
So, let's start with the positives, because there were some. The venue itself is very nice. Rustic and woodsy feel. Handcrafted timber chairs. The patio where we sat was beautiful. Very quaint. Jocelyn, our server was wonderful. Rich, the general manager was warm and welcoming. I travel all over the world and I use Yelp as my guide to make sure I get the best experience in the cities I visit. More often than not Yelp serves me well. This was my first visit to Portland and the place I wanted to go, Central Provisions didn't serve their full menu until 5 and we had a boat to catch at 5:30 so that wasn't going to work. Thus, we ended up at Timber. A steakhouse wasn't my idea of a typical Maine restaurant but the reviews were good so thought we'd try it. My sister ordered the filet and lobster and it was good (it should be and really, that's pretty hard to screw up, right?) my Brother-in-law ordered the Lobster mac' n cheese as an entree and that was delicious too. My girlfriend ordered the Scallops. The scallops themselves were excellent and I've never seen such a huge portion. The base the scallops was served on was a sweet potato and kale and she said it was bitter. So here's my advice...when you're at a steakhouse be weary of the catch of the day! The other 4 people at the table ordered the catch of the day and it was HORRIBLE. Let me repeat. HORRIBLE! My bad, right? I shouldn't order seafood at a steakhouse? BUT I'M IN MAINE FOR CRAP'S SAKE! The catch of the day was Turbot. I was the only one who had had turbot before and said it was a light flaky white fish. That it was but what we didn't know is this dish was served as a whole fish. (This is my only criticism of Jocelyn. She should have been more descriptive of what it was because I guarantee my mother would NEVER order a whole fish). The fish was served skin side up (unappetizing) with the fishes mouth wide open (even more unappetizing). You literally couldn't take a bite without getting bones. We even asked Rich the best way to eat it. His method didn't help. The fish itself was mostly tasteless and by the time I got done cleaning the carcass I might have gotten a total of 4-5 ounces of fish. Pretty disappointing, especially with a $33 price tag. The chef clearly knew that it was a meager portion of protein because they put a huge pile of white bean and bacon succotash under the disgusting fish body. The succotash sucked! (How can anything with bacon suck you ask??....it did!!) Bottom line..... I take the blame for ordering fish at a steakhouse. BUT....the chef should be ashamed for even serving that dish I had. If I lived in Portland I would go back. But only if I wanted red meat. My guess is there are plenty of other places where you can get the best of both worlds.
(2)Jak K.
First: the manager, Richard, was a gentleman and the staff really worked at accommodating us and correcting the problems with our steaks. Although that didn't overcome the poor quality of the meat and the fact that it was over cooked. 4 of our 5 steaks were delivered at the wrong temperature. The dry aged t bone was mostly fat and very little meat. No one in our party Had a steak that was tender or of the quality reflected by the prices on the menu. The Caesar salad was spot on. The drinks were served correctly and properly made. The deserts were all odd but thoughtfully put together. If our experience is not very unusual this restaurant needs to change meat purveyors and find a grill person who can cook a steak. My wife said she would give them another chance. Perhaps I would just because Richard and staff made such an effort to make things right.
(2)Rachel D.
I decided to treat my Dad to a high end Father's day dinner instead of buy him more stuff he doesn't need. I heard that Timber, a high end steak house had just opened, so I couldn't think of a better place to try. I actually was privy to the fact that the owners of The North Point had opened Timber, and once I found that out I was even more pleased I chose Timber. It's quite dark inside but the hostess was extremely friendly and let my Dad choose where he wanted to sit. The decor is lovely and they hand stained the wood floor panels. The bar is quite exquisite. They do have an outdoor patio which is quite nice, but since the back section of the restaurant was empty we chose to have that section all to ourselves. The menu is quite pricey but definitely worth it, so make sure you aren't pinching pennies when you come to eat at Timber. To start I ordered the St. Germain Moscow Mule. It was quite delicious and I would definitely recommend this. There was a sugar cube plopped in the drink which made it extra fizzy and delicious. My Dad had the Riesling and was not disappointed. You also receive complimentary wasabi peas and buttery bread with your meal - quite hearty. Because this is a steak house I decided to go all out and order the Filet Mignon (actually their cheapest, price wise, piece of meat on the menu), $31. It was quite amazing and one of the best pieces of steak I've had. I ordered it with the bernaise sauce, which only added to the rich flavor and perfect sear (perfectly cooked to medium rare). My Dad ordered the whole chicken and it came with two sauces of his choice. I don't think I'd personally go back for the whole chicken but it was very good! Mainly, I think I'd be too tempted to not get that delicious steak again. He also ordered a side of mashed potatoes ($8) and it was quite a generous side, with scallions and butter on top. Needless to say we were very full when we left. I've heard their desserts are definitely worth it, even though they sound standard, so I will have to go for dessert sometime. Our waitress was extremely friendly and the restaurant manager and owner both stopped by our table to chat about our meal, the experience of creating the restaurant (they had just opened two weeks prior) and how excited they were to have people enjoy their offerings. Great staff, excellent meal and I will definitely be back.
(4)Mike S.
Let me preface this by saying I am NOT vegetarian (haha, sorry Steph, had to make fun of you!). Are you a non vegetarian like me? If so, you will love it here. Starting with fried bacon (yes, really) to giant steaks, the favors are great. The bacon tastes like a fancy version of a carnival food, satisfying all the savory taste buds! I suggest it! We had the Mac and cheese as a side and ours was good, unfortunately, our table-mate had a watery version. The steak was perfectly cooked, exactly as ordered and had such great flavor. The duck, yes we got a dish with duck in it also, was actually executed with quality --- very much a suggested dish! It was sad that the bread was cold... Quite unfortunate as I wanted a fresh hot slice to sop up all the juices from the dishes! Is it the best I ever had, no, but it's right up there and I plan on coming back a bunch!
(4)Brett F.
Timber's owners boldly proclaim the restaurant to be Portland's only true steakhouse (a jab at another local proprietor), but I'd have to agree. Grill Room aims to please all with an expansive, diverse menu that covers the spectrum from vegetarians to the most voracious carnivores. Timber is aimed straight at the meat loving crowd. Which is why I will update this review in the coming weeks, as I have yet to try a steak. The restaurant, quite simply, is gorgeous. You enter to the long wooden bar backed by the soft glow of the yellow lighting that is becoming the owners' trademark. There are tables in the bar section, a true dining room further back and a beautiful outdoor section that seats 40+. Enclosed by Allagash beer barrels and populated with 6+ seat tables, tiki type umbrellas and thick, comfy chairs, this is sure to be a top outdoor seating destination. They plan on employing a 3 piece jazz band for weekends. Happy hour runs until 6 pm with a mixed drink of the day for $6, most draft beers for $4 and all wines by the glass $5. Similar to North Point, it's a great happy hour and by far the best time to come here for the price conscious. Because Timber is very, very expensive. There isn't a steak under $30. In fact, prices have already gone up and the Porterhouse is now around $87. I wish the New York born owners would offer options for all (the soups are $10+ and basic salads are in the $12 range), but that doesn't seem to be the goal. So this restaurant will live or die by the quality of the steaks. They look excellent and I can't wait to try. On my first trip my companion and I ordered the Jalapeño Mac and Cheese, which the (excellent) bartender proclaimed to be the best in the city. Since my friend is a vegetarian, we ordered it without bacon. It was not the best in the city. In fact, it may have been the worst. Removing the bacon somehow turned this dish into mac and cheese soup. It was barely edible. We saw another party order it with the bacon intact and it appeared slightly less soupy, but still not good. On my second trip I ordered the buffalo croquettes ($12). 5 meatball sized fried balls of gooey cheese, chicken and buffalo sauce quickly arrived with a side of bleu cheese. Absolutely delicious. I could eat these all day long. The fried bacon with maple drizzle was another winner. My heart may hate me, but this is indulgence at its finest. The drink menu is similar to the North Point but with more emphasis on whiskey and bourbon. It's a strong menu with something for everyone, and prices are normal for the city in the $10-$12 range for cocktails and $8-$12 for wine. The bartenders are excellent. Friendly, informative, and great at their jobs. The staff in general are top notch, with the manager being exceptionally nice and helpful. Overall Timber is a big winner on atmosphere, service and drinks. The non-steak food items have been mixed. It's a new restaurant and I'm sure they have kinks to work out, but so far they're doing a fantastic job. With $40 filets, the steaks better be the best in Maine, and I'll be back to try at some point this summer to find out.
(4)Justin B.
I will state that like many of the other reviewers, this restaurant is overpriced. That is the biggest problem, but there are problems with the food as well. On the positive side of things, the Tomato and Buffalo Mozarella salad was very good. You assemble it yourself and the quality of ingredients and flavors was excellent. I also had a very good Margarita as my second drink. Additonally the service was very friendly and attentive. The rest of the food was where the issues started. The bloody mary which was my first drink was not good. No salt and a weird mix of flavors in a very chunky mix. We got the large ribeye, some duck egg rolls, the portabella mushrooms, a daily special of maple corn, and au gratin potatoes as the main course. We ordered the steak medium and it was essentially rare. I don't mind rare steak so we ate it, and I gave my wife the end pieces. The Au Gratin potatoes were way too salty and the mushrooms way too vinegary. The duck egg rolls were not bad, but had been left in the fryer too long. The corn was the biggest issue. It was a single small cob of corn with some butter on the side and was either 7 or 9 dollars (I can't quite remember) but it was totally not worth it. At the end of the day we were there during a slow period so the steak not being cooked enough and the egg rolls overcooked seem to indicate some need for improvement in kitchen quality control. Finally, like many other reviewers, I strongly suggest a reevaluation of pricing.
(2)Bill M.
Portland Maine officially has a Steak House! Warm inviting atmosphere, dozens of brands of whiskey, and perfectly dry aged beef. For me, this adds up to heavenly perfection. Knowing we were destined to have steak we started with the shrimp cocktail and tuna tartar. The shrimp cocktail had 7 very large shrimp and had both a delicious house made sauce and a delightful micro green salad. The tuna in the tartar was perfectly diced into glistening Jewels coated in a sesame oil and spices to make a rich savory start and served with crispy wanton.Next came a Cesar salad with a dressing that was so dense it was more a delicious jam. For the main event we chose to share the 24 ounce bone-in ribeye. After being dry aged for 40 days, the steak was dense and flavorful with a crust so beautiful that it is destined to show up in my dreams. Everything is a la carte, we stuck to the classics,fries and creamed spinach. Both were very satisfying. If you can save room the chocolate mouse cake was much,much,much better than its generic name would suggest. Be advised this steak house is not for the budget conscious, but it is on par with the top steak houses.
(5)Jay N.
Delicious fillet and the service is attentive and friendly. Seating was painfully cramped and uncomfortable for our party of 6, who had a reservation. My partner had a NY Strip. We had three alcoholic drinks between us and one dessert along with one side an an appetizer. The bill was north of $200.00. OUCH! I would have to recommend to you the house margarita if you go, but aside from that, as good as the service and food were, I could have received the same taste and quality of steak at a series of restaurants in the area for much less. In the end, the experience and taste come nowhere near worth the unreasonable, poorly calibrated price. We'd like to return, but not until this still newcomer to Portland's dining scene comes to its senses.
(2)Scott W.
Was looking forward to going. Very disappointed. Over priced for Portland. For these prices I could go to NYC. Said one thing and delivered something very different. Will not be going back. Vinland is a much better choice for a top meal in Portland
(1)Caitlyn M.
Great spot with an amazing outdoor patio! I highly recommend the truffle fries and the award winning "High port cocktail" which was delicious and refreshing. I highly recommend stopping here if you're ever in Portland! Even if it's just for a quick drink and some complementary wasabi peas!
(5)Zoe Z.
Came here on a random Monday evening (May 18 2015). First started with the batter fried bacon strips with an accompaniment of maple syrup - what a way to start! Then on to the main course of a 10oz filet ($42) with a side of grilled asparagus ($9). Definitely the best steak I've ever had in Maine, and it certainly ranks in my personal top five of all time, which includes Prime at the Bellagio, SW Steakhouse at the Wynn, Bull and Bear at the Waldorf Astoria, etc. Wasn't an inexpensive meal out - with my significant other having the marginally lesser inexpensive hangar steak at $39, and two glasses of wine at $12 each. With tip it was around $170 but money well spent. Will definitely be back again, soon!
(5)Sarah W.
I love starting my Portland Yelping with all the highest ranking spots. Timber is near the top of my list. Bartender, Henry, is a wizard. I had a Boulevardier, wonderfully done, and a Sazerac which bested the (still very, very good) one I had at Portland Hunt & Alpine. Noah, one restaurateur behind this spot, is a gregarious and delightful host. My meal--my standard--steak frites was also a delight. I opted for Stilton butter at Henry's recommendation and that was the right choice. The cut was perfect. The temperature was perfect. Pairing it with a wedge salad to start was brilliant in its simplicity and straightforwardness. It is a rare occasion when I join the Clean Plate Club. I look forward to Timber being around for a long time.
(5)Sally V.
The first time we went to Timber the cocktails were great and we really enjoyed chatting with Bob and Henry. We've since returned a number of times for a great experience at the bar. I like the Ginger St. Germaine and the espresso martini. Timber is a really beautiful space, too, and last time we were there a glass of port felt very appropriate. There are lots of tempting items on the menu and creative daily specials. Try the mussels if they're available. The fries are a tasty bar snack when I need some food with my drink. We sat in the dining room once, for a birthday dinner - french onion soup, rotisserie chicken with two dipping sauces and mashed potatoes (try the bourbon peppercorn dipping sauce on the mashed potatoes!). Mmmmm, everything was delicious. We've never tried their steaks but they look and smell great. We brought guests from out of town and they enjoyed Timber as much as we do.
(5)Bruce D.
Having dined here twice, I am awarding the coveted five star rating. Food, service and atmosphere were firing on all cylinders for both visits. Across a five course tasting menu and two entrees all of the food was nothing less than excellent. Steaks are, as expected and priced, outstanding in both seasoning and cooking. The beef was dry aged. Dry aged beef is superior to the 'wet packs' employed by lesser steak houses. Dry aging requires liquid weight loss as the meat cures, a longer lead time and a skilled hand for trimming. That's why many places have given up. Portions were just right. Side orders and appetizers were flavorful and well thought out. The rotisserie chicken is produced in a very expensive machine ans the flavor reflects this. Service was impeccable: prompt, unobtrusive and thoughtful. Suggestions were sincere and accurate. The atmosphere, upscale casual, is warm, woody, romantic and inviting. Prices are steep however this level of prep, ingredients and service does not come cheap. The rotisserie cooker alone costs more than many cars. Happy hour drink prices can diminish the bill. This is a very nice splurge and a high end "sometimes treat" for carnivores.
(5)Bea L.
We went for some whiskey and ended up getting lots of food because it sounded so good. The lobster mac app is great. We ended up getting more togo. Some great whiskeys on the large list though would have loved to see some really special ones. Service was great, very attentive.
(4)Kevin D.
We ordered the tuna takaki - which was disappointing. The tuna was cooked well but the presentation was weird and the flavor combinations were just not right. It needs some sweetness to balance the acidity of the jalapenos (which one could argue should be omitted altogether). The bed of wilted greens was unappetizing and the seaweed salad appeared to be pre-made. The short ribs were just meh. They could have used some more time braising as there was still lots of fatty tissue that was disgusting to bite into. They were not seasoned well and we agreed that our recipe for short ribs was considerably better. The wagyu burger was excellent. Wonderfully seasoned, cooked perfectly, and the accompanying fries were a nice touch. The creamed spinach was just ok. The drinks were spot on. The value to price ratio just wasn't there.
(3)Denise K.
Just ate here for the first time tonight. I had the filet mignon and my husband had the ribeye. The ribeye was huge but instead of medium it was rare. Not a lot of seasoning on the steak. Very pricy our bill was $130 plus tip. We had no appetizers, no salad and no dessert. 1 drink each. I won't go back, it wasn't worth the money. Service was good though.
(2)L L.
Walked in with a party if 9 after touring the Old Port all day and was very impressed with this new place.. Decor is awesome, the menu is diverse enough for everyone's taste. Cocktails were yum... Know that during the busy hours the entrees need time to cook but are worth the wait.. Expect to pay an average of $60 per person if u have a drink, appetizer and an entree.. Very nice dining!!
(5)Jennifer M.
Holy meatiness, this was good! We went the second night they were open and were impressed with how smoothly everything flowed. Be warned that the portions are large, as are the prices. But it's worth it. We started with the shrimp cocktail and tuna tartare. The shrimp was good, but the tuna tartare was fantastic! We then moved on to a soup/salad course. I had the onion soup, and it was exceptional, but by that time, I was already getting full, so I only had a few spoonfulls. Thankfully, I convinced my husband and dining partner to split the 24 oz. rib eye. It was quite a sight to behold. Cooked perfectly! Gluttons for punishment, we rounded out the evening with a delicious dessert of chocolate mousse cake. Unlike the usual dry restaurant standard, it was moist, chocolately, and divine!
(4)Cliff C.
Place is amazing!!! Noah, the owner, is a great guy and made us feel right at home. Great service and the food was awesome! Can't wait to go back!!
(5)Noah A.
Far East Meets Down East, Xmas Eve Pre Fix Chinese restaurants have another thing comin! First Course: Duck Confit & Shrimp Wonton Soup. Homemade wonton was ideal, not too doughy and not too crisp. Filling was full flavor with a great combination of shrimp and duck confit. Wild mushrooms were a great surprise at the bottom, and it added to the earthiness of the broth. Second course: Chilled Soba Noodle Salad. Refreshing and light. Noodles were cooked perfectly. Tahini was a great addition in the apple dressing. Third course: Tuna Two Ways. Tartare has a nice back heat. It's served alongside two pieces of seared the tuna, which has a nice toasted sesame flavor. The two are pulled together with crispy wontons and a seaweed salad, great pairing and touch. Fourth course: Grilled Ah-So Spare Ribs. The combination of barbecue spice and pickled veggies was a great compliment. Fifth Course: Peking duck. Amazing glaze on the duck that was prepared incredibly tender. Served with the best short of rib fried rice and marinated broccoli.
(5)Peter T.
Excellent steaks. Huge. So big that they tend to cook under because they're so thick. My ribeye was crusty on outside, rare inside. A sear outside and finished with a broil would have done the trick. Scotch selection was decent, but nothing exotic. Service was excellent.
(4)Jessica G.
After a few nights of lobster we felt it was time for a major change, and this place did not disappoint. We're used to high quality steakhouses in NYC and this place was totally comparable. Here are the highlights of our meal- Cocktails-Ginger St. Germain and Cucumber gin martini, both excellent. Appetizers-The duck tacos are not to be missed, we could have eaten 2 more orders Entree-The filet with stilton was delicious and cooked to perfection. My husband ordered a whole rotisserie chicken (and while maybe that sounds like a lot) once we got it along with the two dipping sauces it was gone soon. Our waiter says they make their own BBQ sauce in house, it was awesome. Dessert-The creme brulee was great and their homemade ice cream was even better. If you want a change after all your tourist trap lobster rolls definitely give this place a try. We will surely be back next summer.
(5)Michaela M.
Gimme dat Happy Hour. Killer wine specials & possibly the best HH food menu in Portland. If you think I'm wrong, please tell me where else you can get real, good food for so cheap. Not just tiny "snack food" for a few bucks. I've done HH multiple times, dinner for the first time last week. My friend and I split the half chicken (we didn't even finish it), asparagus & jalapeno cornbread. We actually didn't finish anything fully, and we can eat. It was kind of pricey, but you know that going in here. You get what you pay for.
(4)Steff D.
Sometimes I feel the need to preface my reviews with the fact that I'm a vegetarian. Some (closed-minded) individuals believe that people with my diet are unnecessarily critical on meat-centric places or that our opinion doesn't matter because we're clearly biased/don't know what we're talking about. If you're one of those people, feel free to ignore this review - no hard feelings, I promise. So, how did I end up here? Well, let's see... I like Portland. I like food. I like exploring new places. I like exploring new foodie places in Portland. Yes, I knew Timber was a steakhouse, but I knew they'd have options for me (no restaurant in their right mind opens in Portland in this day and age and doesn't have something vegetarian or gluten-free on their menu). And I like to be a cool kid in the know, so that's what got me in the door. What did I like? + The service. Man, the staff is SO thoughtful, so accommodating, so patient, so eager to please. And they were like this with everyone. They went above and beyond making sure every customer was attended to, and it never once felt disingenuous! + The ambience/decor. It felt so rustic and woodsy inside that I felt immediately at home. It didn't feel sterile or pretentious, but inviting - like I could curl up in a corner booth with a beer and be content for hours. Maybe it was all the wood or the gentle, yellow lighting subliminally continuing me of this... But it was absolutely beautiful inside. It's the one thing I keep finding myself telling people about! + The outdoor patio. Barrels from Allagash make the perfect border, and who knew a space literally in the heart of Portland's Old Port could feel so secluded! + The happy hour specials (4-6pm, $4 select drafts, $5 select wines by the glass, and a $6 specialty cocktails). What didn't I like? - The jalapeño-cheddar macaroni and cheese (the only food thing I tried). Our bartender upsold it to us, promising it was "the best" mac and cheese in the city. It was not. Flavorful? Yes. Cheesy and spicy? Yes. But ours was more like a super thin soup; while friends of ours got it and theirs was more similar to a potato salad. Inconsistent much? Yes. Neither we or they finished the serving. - My cocktail choices. I first tried the bloody mary; again, the staff was very thoughtful about my diet. Unsure of whether the horseradish had egg or fish in it (sometimes they do), the bartender made me a special version. I appreciated that he even allowed me the opportunity to dictate how spicy it was. But... It wasn't as good as others in town and I found it to be slightly watered down. My next drink was the orange creamsicle martini - in all fairness, after assessing what I liked and didn't like as far as alcohol goes, the bartender did try and talk me out of it (and into a whiskey smash which he thought I'd appreciate more and even let me try some of). It tasted just like a creamsicle, but was VERY milky, artificially sweet, and (dare I say) too girly for my liking. - The prices. Holy exorbitant!!! Get ready to drop some serious cash. Would I recommend this place to steak lovers? Yes. Am I glad I got to check it out? Sure. Will I be back? To be honest, absolutely not. Not every place is for every person, and while I feel Timber does certainly fill a niche here in Portland, it doesn't fill any niche in my own personal foodie/cocktail world.
(2)Alise K.
Dinner at timber last night was fun. Although none of us ordered steaks, other patrons did and they looked delicious! We all got apps and salads. French onion soup, scallops, chili and crab cakes were all delicious. The Cobb and Chinese chicken salad were large and easily big enough for a a main course or to be shared as an appetizer. Heads up on the Chinese chicken salad, it is very spicy!!!! Also, it could have used a little more chicken in it. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't have ordered it if is known how spicy it was Ambiance was nice, lots of wood and some banquet seating with pillows. We sat in the front window seat and the lighting was great . It seemed very dark in the rest of the restaurant. The bar was large and there were lots of customers availing themselves of the comfy seats. One thing I would change is the music. It was very loud. All the staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I think timber is a great addition to exchange street!!! Looking forward to going back for steak with my husband.
(4)Yelena S.
We went with several other people for a friend's birthday, definitely prepare your wallets if you decide to head here for dinner. One of our friends ordered the bourbon marinated steak tips, he requested them 'medium,' they were tasty but at least a third of them were rare. For $31 I'd hope the steak tips would be properly cooked to order. My bf and I each ordered the timber wagyu burger, both medium. I had a pool of blood at the bottom of my plate from the under-cooked meat, I switched plates with my bf who's meal was "slightly" more cooked. We only finished half of our burgers, not because we were full but because it was simply unpleasant to eat. Sides do not come with the meals, not even the burgers which is kinda silly when you're spending $16 on one. A handful of fries or something! We split the roasted golden Yukon potatoes but they had an odd taste to them, not sure if it's because I've never had veal stock before? The cucumber gin martini was delicious though, but that's probably the only thing I'd go back to Timber for.
(2)Heidi H.
Service was 5 star. Atmosphere was 4+. Food 5. But the prices were outrageous. The "sides" were way, way too big (enough for 2) and added up on our tab. Either Timber cuts the side portions, and price, in half or you should split any side with your co-diners. I'm not sure how these prices will survive in Portland when you can get many delish meals with excellent service for 30% less than what we paid.
(3)Jocelyn W.
So much great food. Especially recommend the truffle fries and battered bacon. Steaks were perfectly cooked and delicious. Cocktails were wonderful as well, i got pressie drop (ginger) and a cucumber melon martini. They are a little dangerous though, delicious but pretty strong, can't taste the alcohol. Would definitely go again.
(5)Kylie D.
Okay, so in a few years (okay maybe months) this will mean nothing to anyone, but from the time my friend suggested we go to Timber until I got my first drink, I kept hearing that awful, eponymous Kesha/Pitbull song in my head. "Make it go away!!", I kept thinking - and it did - just as a beautiful cucumber martini was placed in front of me by our mixologist, Henry. As I took the first few sips of my cocktail, enjoying the blend of cucumber and basil with a hint of lime, I started to notice the amazing décor. There are woodcuts everywhere and if you look up you'll see a cluster of hand saws hanging from the ceiling and other large crosscut saws on the walls. Timber indeed. We were sitting at the bar near the entrance so we also had a great view of something else quite wonderful.... A wall of bourbon. This made my friend very happy but the selection he made (I think it was Calumet) made him a little less happy. On the bright side, there are still another 40+ bourbons to try. Our plan was to try some appetizers and if we were still hungry, split an entrée. My friend lived in Hawai'i for many years so he was curious about the poke and I ordered the crab cakes. To be honest, there weren't many items on the app menu that appealed to me - not because they didn't look delicious but there just wasn't anything that I was dying to try. The crab cakes were quite good and the poke was... TREMENDOUS! I was skeptical about ordering a raw tuna dish in a steakhouse but I'm so glad my friend did! The little kick of sriracha put me over the edge from like to love. Go figure! As other reviewers have said, Timber is pricey but I really liked our bartender, Henry, and the service was excellent. I wasn't so thrilled when the other bartender came over and tried to get me to order a pear martini of some sort (fyi: all women don't like or want sweet, fruity cocktails) and the second cocktail I ordered, a Presbyterian something-or-other was dimensionless, but other than that the experience was very positive. Good drinks, lovely food, and POKE!
(4)Michelle E.
It's summer. I ordered the chilled gazpacho and tuna tartare. My husband ordered the Cobb salad, side of potato gratin, and cornbread. I should say that I'm not a meat eater so this review is based entirely on what I ordered and I realize that this is not the food that they specialize in. However, that being said, I've had some pretty amazing side dishes at other carnivore establishments. Here's my main issue, if the soup is called "chilled gazpacho" it would lead me to believe that it would be served cold. Gazpacho is a cold soup. What arrived in front of me was a room temp/warm soup. Edible? Yes. Chilled gazpacho? No. I also ordered the tuna tartare. The portion was larger than I was expecting but again it was just ok. Nothing memorable. The cornbread looked delicious but was just ok. My husband said that the potato gratin was delicious and his salad was good too, and again the portion was large. But we won't be coming back. The food we ate was average at best. And while I realize that this is a steakhouse and we didn't eat steak, the quality of food that we did eat did not stand out enough to make us want to return. Our server was friendly and seemed knowledgable. But the food lacked the wow factor that we were hoping for based on the other reviews we had read.
(2)Jared H.
I had my first (and last) experience at the new Portland restaurant Timber on Saturday night. Our table of 4 ordered two half chicken dishes and a large porterhouse steak to share. The $80 steak was completely under seasoned and need a good amount of salt to make it palatable. The chicken was dry and came out with soft slimy skin (as opposed to crispy). The side of jalapeno mac & cheese was far too spicy yet also required additional salt, the other sides were mediocre at best. All of this plus a bottle of wine brought a bill of over $300. It's obvious that they don't have things figured out yet and I'll be surprised if they last 6 months unless drastic improvements happen. With so many great dining options in Portland, there is no reason to spend your time and money at Timber. Very disappointed.
(1)Colin C.
I am quickly falling in love - or maybe it's lust? - with this restaurant, as I have yet to find something that doesn't blow me away. So, let's roll up to the bar first, shall we? The bar itself is well stocked with a selection of higher end liquors, but they do seem to specialize in bourbons, ryes, and scotches - lined neatly along the top shelf. (I was disappointed that they had VanWinkle listed in the bourbon menu but none on stock, but no one has it right now, so I've long since drank away my sorrow with some of their other exceptional offerings.) I've had the standard Manhattan and Old Fashioned, and they were both incredibly well done with the now-requisite bourbon-marinated cherries. They also have a collection of beers (and a cider) available, mostly if not completely local or semi-local. Their appetizers are a mix of creative and classic - and quite delicious. I have had the shrimp cocktail (very good), jalapeno mac and cheese (also very good), sauteed scallops with corn-based puree (fantastic), and the crab cakes (amazing). I've not regretted one of them! There are abundant sides to work with if you want to go with a small-plate style dinner. I recently tried the green beans and never thought I could enjoy it so much. I literally left the scallops for after... it was that great, full of salty bacon goodness that I couldn't put down. Steaks. We're here for that, right? I went right for the bell-weather filet, and was not disappointed here either. It arrived cooked perfectly to spec, was incredibly flavorful and I sourced locally in Maine. I went with the bearnaise on top, because it's a frikkin' filet and that's what you do. (Right? Right.) I would love if they could serve it up Oscar style (topped with crabcake and asparagus) but I have not found a place in Portland that will do it that way yet! I hope to make the suggestion at some point in the near future, because all restaurateurs should heed my hack, would-be-foodie advice, naturally. The staff? Excellent. Food arrives on time and well done, and they are attentive with a shallow drink or need for further food items. At the bar, you can expect some friendly but not intrusive conversation, and everyone seems very well versed in the menu options. On the whole, this is one of my new go-to spots and I don't think you're going to find a better steakhouse in the city any time soon.
(5)Katelyn P.
My boyfriend and I spent our anniversary here last night and the entire evening was OUTSTANDING. After we sat, we were given wasabi peas to snack on while browsing the menu. We each started with a cocktail. Mine was a cilantro, lemon, lime martini. My boyfriend had a whiskey and kahlua drink. Both were excellent. We shared the caesar salad and jalapeño mac and cheese. The salad was crisp and fresh and the dressing was flavorful and light- not too mayo-y like some restaurants. The mac and cheese was creamy, cooked perfectly, and had just the right amount of spice. Then we were brought bread. It was pretty standard but thoughtful. For our main dishes, I ordered the 10oz filet mignon and lobster tail with a side of mashed potatoes (so good!) My boyfriend ordered the 24oz tender aged ribeye and got the battered fried bacon. The bacon was so decadent and over the top but it was a must try item. My lobster was unbelievable and my filet mignon was cooked to my liking and very enjoyable. My boyfriend's steak was a fattier cut which isn't my favorite but he enjoyed it very much. We ordered a second round of drinks. I got a Bloody Mary (nice fresh flavor) and he ordered the Whiskey Smash I believe. We both loved our drinks of the evening. Service was attentive without being overbearing, the atmosphere was SO fun and different from anything I've seen in Portland, the bar was VERY well stocked, and we were barely able to finish our meals so we have plenty of leftovers. Win! Your bill can add up fast here but it was worth it. This would also be a great place to order a lot of appetizers and share a steak. We're very happy that we spent our anniversary here and we will be back!
(5)Claire D.
AAAHHHMAZING!!! This place rocked everything. Had red wine (canonball, delightful), my husband had a rum and coke, also good. Shrimp cocktail and the scallops appetizer. The cocktail was so good, chilled, huge and tasty sauce. The scallops with the creamed corn base was AWESOME. I had the half a chicken with lemon garlic dipping sauce and bacon bleu cheese dipping sauce. My husband and I shared the potatos au gratin. Nom Nom nom. I wanted to high five the chef. My husband got the bone in rib eye and it was Huge!!! He said it was cooked perfectly. Go here. Eat. Drink. You will be happy to spend money in there.
(5)Jimmy H.
A great addition to the downtown scene! We had the shrimp/scallop skewers, fried bacon, duck egg hash, and chicken balls - all delicious! Can't wait to try the steaks! Service was spot on too! I think they will hold their own even with the jammed packed downtown culinary scene.
(5)Meghan B.
This place was great. They have a very interesting menu and the good is delish! The staff was so incredibly welcoming and attentive. The manager was so hands on and really wanted to make sure you enjoyed your experience! Any in the Portland area looking for a yummy steak this is the place to go! Also the bar is super cool too.
(5)tman s.
These guys know what they are doing. I came in with a party of 7 they are pleasant and the staff is very friendly... I had the beef short rib and some of my friends had cowboy steak, t-bone steak and mussells. I hope to return soon again next time i'am in maine area!
(5)Sam H.
Let me start by saying this was the best meal I have had in a very very long time so much so that I decided to make a yelp just for this. I have eaten all over the world from NYC to Paris. I have eaten everywhere in Portland from Miyake to Central Provisions to Duckfat you name it if they have good food I have tried it. Let me start by saying what sets Timber apart is the service. Over the top service. We walked it and immediately said "is this the reservation for Sam?" I have never been there before and it was packed the hostess/manager was spot on. Upon sitting down our waitress Joslin was bubbly friendly and attentive from start to finish recommending perfect wine pairings and helping decided on apps and sides she was the star of the show. The food. The food was something else, I started with the Tuna and the other guests had french onion soup and the other opted for a strawberry Mojito. All of which were fabulous. Only complant was the mojito was a bit too sweet. The tuna with the fish row, jalapeños, and pepper crust was absolutely epic! The French Onion soup was some of the best I have ever tried. For our meals two of us had the filet with Stilton on top and the other had the catch of the day which was a heaping plate of epic mussels. The steaks speak for themselves. The cheese was amazing. The steak Perfect. Truly the best I have had and I have had many many filets. Dry aged and flown up daily from NYC cooked to perfection. The wine pairings a Pino noir and a Malbec accompanied the steaks great. Joslin made the choice and couldn't have done better. The real cap to the meal was the owner Noah. I have never been to a restaurant with a better owner. On a packed night he made sure to come to every table and check in and talk about the restaurant. Noah then said he would like to pay for our desserts. What! A perfect meal great service and the owner just wants to pay for out desserts! We had the creme Brule and the chocolate mouse. Both epic! Overall: If you want to PAY for the best customer service and the best meal start to finish come to Timber. Next time we will try the bourbon menu (they have over 100). Be back soon!
(5)Kate S.
Late night cocktails were phenomenal. Service & ambiance & strong, progressive drinks are really taking the Portland scene to the next level. The North Point team knows what they are doing. Looking forward to going back for dinner.
(5)Genna P.
We only had drinks, but it is a nicer place with a focus on beef. The decor is all about saws, logs and beef with a classic touch. The service was great and knowledgable. We plan on coming back to grab dinner.
(4)Betts F.
Disappointed. Went opening week, place was packed & had alot of energy. Food including tuna tartare and ribeye was awesome. 2nd time back mid-week...same food ordered...not so good on all counts. No people, no vibe and food lackluster.
(2)Abbie L.
Yum!
(4)Andy F.
exactly what portland needed - a NY style steak house - excellent shrimp cocktail - aged prime strip steak - perfectly cooked med rare as ordered - hand cut fries - bravo - molto bene - mazel tov ( a ny specific comment ) the portland food scene is now almost complete - just need a proper deli !!
(5)Justin S.
It is rare that I will return to a restaurant solely for their cocktail menu, simply because most restaurants tend to overlook the importance of that part of the dining experience. I have been to Timber twice this week. The first time was for late night cocktails with my best bud, Luke. He had a glass of Chilean Sav Blanc, which was light and crisp with notes of honeydew, cantaloupe, and a slightly more "mellow" overtone of grapefruit (compared to the citrus bombs of the NZ or So African variety). I ordered the New York Sour from the specialty drink list. This happens to be one of my favorite cocktails, and it is so rare to find it on a cocktail menu. I watched as Jake, the bartender, expertly crafted this smooth, lemony concoction, rounding it out perfectly with a float of Cabernet. Last night, I went back with Adam for cocktails again. It was our first date, and Adam is new to Portland, so I wanted to introduce him to somewhere fun, inviting, and hip. He ordered an Espresso Martini (the best I have ever tasted), and i got the Strawberry Mojito, made with fresh strawberry puree and mint... again I watched our bartender, Bob, carefully craft the cocktails. I was particularly impressed to see Bob strain the mojito through a julep strainer (call me pretentious but i hate to have bits of mint floating in my cocktail) and even spank the mint garnish (releasing the oils for the aromatic effect) before rubbing it around the rim of the glass. Once the drink was garnished, he even carefully placed the sipping straws (double straw - encourages you to drink twice as fast!) right up against the mint garnish, thereby allowing me to take in the aromatic essence of the herb as I sipped this truly artistic cocktail. Bob is truly a master at his craft, and his thoughtfulness, attention to detail, and passion for great bartending made our experience truly fabulous. Kudos to the bar manager for creating such a unique cocktail experience and for hiring the perfect staff! For our second round, Adam and I ordered New York Sours because, hey, I just couldn't resist! And Bob made absolutely the best New York Sour I think I will ever have... It was pretty quiet in the restaurant, but that was Wednesday at 10:30pm. Even though the kitchen was closed at that time, I appreciated that the bar is open late. Richard, the General Manager, introduced himself to Adam and me. We had a very pleasant chat, and he took us outside where we christened the new outdoor patio with our cocktails. It is evident that Richard cares very much about the clientele, and his courtesy made us feel valued as customers. Sorry for the long review, and even though we did not eat anything, I think it is really important to acknowledge fantastic cocktails and service in a city where these types of experiences can be hit or miss. I can't wait to go back for dinner and of course, more drinks! (And if you are wondering... Adam asked me on a second date...) Cheers!
(5)Lindsay L.
Pros: tasty meat, servers are really trying Cons: 1. insulting prices. When you eat at Peter Luger's, you don't mind paying an obscene price because it's the best steak you've ever had in your life. You cannot say the same about the steak that you get here. 2. Unimaginitive/bland food. Meat sauces were bland to meh. The rest of the food was shockingly inept for the price and location: underwhelming potatoes and greens, rolls that tasted day-old and were definitely microwaved. Either the food has to come up to the prices they're asking for it or the prices have to come down to the food that they're offering.
(2)Daniel F.
Went with a large party. Good service (although the manager told us on the phone there was a highchair...and, nope, no highchair, so kid sat on my lap). Food was hit or miss. I got the rotisserie chicken. Soggy skin. Ok flavor, but an anemic bird. The poor thing couldn't have weighed much more than a pound, and I only got half of that. Sides were good. But aren't provided with the mains. "Just like a steakhouse!" our server informed us. Speaking of steak: several members of my party got some. These are Lugers regulars (they even have Lugers credit cards), and they compared the food, unfavorably, to Longhorn and Outback. For the quality and atmosphere, Timber is ridiculously overpriced. I mean, almost criminally.
(2)Michael B.
We got appetizers and some great cocktails. The place is very welcoming and relaxing. Great music, great food and drinks and will make sure to come back.
(5)K L.
Ok - Good stuff - specialty cocktails are well composed and not too sugary, wines are very very good, meat is tender and delicious, rolls with thyme are superb, some sides are ok, service was excellent. Cons - steak sizes are ridiculous. If you want ribeye the only option is 24 ounces - stupid not to have a variety of sizes and they have had a LOT of feedback on this and have done nothing to change. If you want a steak any other wellness other than rare you have to strongly discuss this when you order (had mine sliced so it was not too rare). Fried bacon was not good at all - and the batter was delicious...but way too much of it and bacon was not cooked all the way. The kitchen says they cannot cook the bacon first and then deep fry, but I told them how to do it two ways. Hope that changes soon. The creme brûlée was overly burned...turned the creme to mush. Noise level when the small place was half full was plenty loud with the music - would not want to be there when it was full and try to have a conversation. Happy Hour seems to be the best time to go....all glasses of wine are $5 - even the $14 a glass Cab and Malbec which were superb. $5 appetizers (hope the rest of them are better than the fried bacon). Two cocktails are reduced price each day also. This has the makings of a great steak place for Portland - since there are none in town - but they have a way to improve in the food arena.
(2)John S.
We dined at Timber last night for the second time this summer. Our first experience in June was nothing short of flawless. Everything we ate, especially the steaks were amazing. We told some friends from Boston who are big time steak house fans. We told them that we finally had a steak house in Portland worth a visit. Everything seemed fine as we arrived and had some cocktails, then the waitress arrived and started talking about the meat. Imagine our surprise when she told us the restaurant has now started buying beef from a local farm and that it would be the freshest steak we ever ate?! She told us that the steaks would be no more than 2 days old, why bother aging the beef when it's this fresh she told us. We were confused but assumed maybe she just made a mistake with the description. Why would a great steak house not age their beef! That's the hallmark of a great steak! The appetizers were very good so we were still happy, then the steaks arrived. 3 of the 4 were cooked improperly, all of them were bland and very under seasoned. The most disappointing aspect was the complete lack of beefy flavor! The comment from our friends was that they could buy better steaks at the grocery store.( Hello, aging anyone) we were a little embarrassed to have so highly recommended Timber. I have read other very recent negative reviews of Timber and my hope is that they take the criticism seriously. With the prices they charge they cannot afford to sell mediocre beef. The side dishes were all very good, the creme brûlée was meh and a little curdled and the cappuccino was really bad with a 2 inch thick layer of curdled foam. We completely understand that a restaurant can have an off night and I hope that's what we experienced, but the quality of the beef has us concerned for the future of Timber.
(2)Carolyn D.
We went to Timber three times this summer. We found the owner, Noah and manager, Richard, most welcoming and attentive. We live in NY and are accustomed to the very best steakhouses, and Timber ranks in that class! It's the only restaurant in Portland serving prime, AGED beef. So where some may say its expensive, prime aged beef costs so much more than any other grade, but the taste is out of this world!! The 24 oz ribeye was about 34 oz! Tender and very,very tasty! The sides, creamed spinach, potatoes soaked in veal stock and broiled with cheese was out of this world! The Cesar salad is first rate with the homemade croutons; the fried bacon app and tuna tartare were delicious! The Winston Churchill Bloody Mary was the best we ever had! We've always been too full to order dessert so we can't comment on that. Some people may say its expensive, but if you're accustomed to going to a prime aged steakhouse, you will see the prices are right in line, as is the quality. Timber is a much welcomed and long overdue addition to a foodie town like Portland. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Christina C.
Overpriced and more snooty than it needs to be. I went here on a recommendation and was not impressed. The beer selection is sub par only offering items on tap. While I like artisan beers, I am surprised that you could not get any of the "traditional" beers in a bottle. The steaks are overpriced for the serving size (I ordered the 10 oz filet and my friend the 8 oz steak tips). The area competition list the same steaks for almost half the price. My filet was cooked properly, but burnt on the outside. The steak tips were thin and not as tender as expected. All the sides are ala-cart and while the portion size it s decent, they are also overpriced. What is advertised as a "hipster" type place is nothing more than a Ruth Chris want-to-be sans the white table cloths and superior service. Our waiter was pleasant but not as attentive as I expected. I had to ask to have my water refilled and more rolls to go with dinner. The seating is uncomfortable with benches on one side and chairs on the other. There is really no intimate seating and the acoustics of the space make it hard to hear any conversation at all.
(2)William S.
I hate to be negative, since the staff were earnest and pleasant. But our foursome did not have a dining experience we can recommend to anyone else. Choosing to dine here may have been our mistake, since none of us had steak, which seems to be the specialty. A couple of things were good -- our server, the tuna appetizer, a bloody mary. But this is the kind of restaurant which charges high prices for enormous portions, more than I want to eat. At this price point, the food would have to compete with some terrific restaurants in Portland, and it does not come close. And diners should be warned that it if you would like to be heart-healthy, the choices are very limited. Almost everything seems to have bacon or cheese in it, or both. Of three orders of chicken, two seemed over done, and two of us found the sauces uninspired. The shrimp and scallop entree also was not well received. The side of brussels sprouts were significantly undercooked and underseasoned, and the potatoes were overwhelmingly cheesy. And be warned as well that the noise level here makes conversation challenging.
(2)Joseph S.
I had dinner at Timbers recently after hearing great reviews. I was looking forward to having a great steak so I ordered the rib-eye. The side dishes (mashed potatoes and string beans) were excellent but the steak was a big disappointment especially if you are charging $58.
(2)Annie M.
This place is so cute. I loved all the wood and the chill atmosphere. We sat at the bar and the service was great. Mike, our bartender was charming and fun. We highly recommend.
(5)Colleen C.
Let me start off by saying that the service and the drinks were the best part of this experience by far. The ambience in this place is amazing, from the seductively lit bar to the cozy both tables, to the fun outer patio - all which have a rustic woodland feel. The drink menu is impressive, although I was over whelmed since it heavily focuses on whiskeys and bourbons. The cucumber martini here is one of the best I have had and I highly recommend it. For an appetizer my boyfriend and I shared the grilled shrimp and scallop skewers ($16$). Unfortunately it was only one skewer which had 3 shrimp and 2-3 scallops. Not what I imagined for 16 dollars but very tasty. I got the fillet mignon in a Bernese sauce, the cheapest steak on the menu ($31) and my boyfriend got the steak tips. My fillet was pretty good, I would say a little above average, the sauce was a make or break and did an amazing job bringing out the flavor of the steak. The steak tips were cooked to perfection but the pea tasting sauce it would not have been my first choice. We also ordered 2 sides since none of the dishes come with any sides. The handcuff fries with a truffle sauce which actt reminded me a lot of Duck Fat fries, and the French beans with bacon. Both were just "ish". We finished up dinner with an espresso martini, which the waiter claimed to be the best in the city. I beg to differ. It was decent but The Bar of Chocolate and PTs actually have much better renditions of this drink. The total bill for two people, 1 appetizer, 2 of the cheapest steaks on the menu, 2 sides, and 5 drinks was a whopping $175. Definitely not a bargain place. But the service was undeniable. Our waiter Ethan was friendly, charismatic, and knowledgable, and coming from someone in the service industry he was GREAT at up selling in a casual non threatening manner.
(3)Craig D.
Had a great experience enjoying whiskey at the bar with a couple of friends. I would love to make it back for steak sometime. But the bourbon selection is enough for now. Our server, Mike, makes a mean Old Fashioned and did a great job recommending an interesting array or whiskeys to taste! If you are looking for a whiskey night cap, be sure to check them out.
(4)Sam M.
Overpriced and over rated. Despite a great atmosphere and very polite/friendly staff, not a place I would recommend. I celebrated an anniversary with a trip to Timber, we tried a lot of the menu and when it was all said and done, felt ripped off. The cuts of meat were good but when I pay $50 for a steak, I should not have to pay 10 more for cornbread and another 12 for potatoes. We had lobster bisque that tasted like a bowl of melted butter (after a few spoon fulls I actually got sick and threw it up in the bathroom), buffalo chicken croquettes that had absolutely no flavor and corn bread that was served soggy. It was not all bad, the jalapeño mac and cheese and wagyu beef cupcakes were great but by no means worth the price we paid. The New York strip was cooked to my liking and it was a good steak but for $49 I expected a much better steak. We also got a bottle of wine with our meal which was a let down. Overall the redeeming qualities of the meal were a few appetizers, a decent steak and a very friendly blonde gentleman waiter. Unfortunately we quickly forgot all of that when the check came.
(2)A H.
I had family visiting from NYC, and they are accustomed to steak houses like Peter Luger and The Palm, so I suggested we have dinner at Timber and emailed them the menu. They were open to it but apprehensive about the pricing; not because they couldn't afford it, but compared to NY it's HIGH. We wanted to see if our meals matched the asking price and sadly they did not. I had the $39 16 oz Cowboy T-bone which comes with...nothing. It had grizzle (gross!) and was not very flavorful. My father had the same steak and ordered it black and blue. He said it was cooked properly and that it was "OK." Another ordered the "rotisserie" chicken. The skin wasn't very crisp but they said it tasted good. We ordered a few sides- Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, spinach and broccoli with cheddar. Those were good. The bread was not crusty and seemed microwaved. As for the setting, it was hot and stuffy inside, and their solution is to keep the back door (fire exit) propped open to allow air to circulate. That didn't last long because someone was seated practically in front of it. It wasn't clear why they couldn't turn on their central air to keep a constant comfortable temperature other than saying the building is old so they can't control it. It's also very noisy inside. I give the pricing and my steak one star, the setting two, and the rest three.
(3)Karen A.
Most amazing steak house hospitality amazing in portland. If you've been to New York it's the same stuff totally awesome and ridiculous
(5)Michele P.
My husband and I went here last night based on many recommendations from friends that live in the area. It did not disappoint. The moment we walked in we were greeted by the hostess and she very quickly tried to accommodate us even though we didn't have a reservation. She had a few couples ahead of us so she went into the bar herself to find us a seat at the bar to wait. Above and beyond what she needed to do. The atmosphere in Timber is like nothing else in Porland. Swanky and warm and very inviting. The bartenders were simply awesome. Also very nice and welcoming along with making some killer drinks. They were all very ingaging and friendly even though they were rockin busy. They serve a full menu at the bar and we were having so much fun there we stayed put. We both had the hanger steak, which, I am not exaggerating, melts in your mouth. It was one of the best pieces of meat I have ever had. Over all we had an excellent expierence! The prices are on the higher side but worth every penny. One of my favorite restaurant experiences ever! Well done Timber.
(5)Sally B.
Thank you for the magnificent Manhattan, Henry. Fantastic gentleman hosting the bar guests. Knowledgeable and engaging. Love the soft, low lighting, the casual, yet refined atmosphere of the place, the friendly customer service from what appears to be a very content staff. But the five stars would not be five stars but for the utterly perfect steak. We shared the hangar steak and it was outstanding. And, as has been noted, great selection of bourbons/ryes.
(5)Mairead O.
I'm a vegetarian. I give this restaurant five stars. Enough said.
(5)Sharon B.
I wanted to love Timber. Unfortunately, the decor in the back room was odd (stapled burlap ceilings), the prices were overinflated, and the staff did not have the professionalism to pull off a menus of this price. My rotisserie chicken and pork belly crostini was fantastic, my husband's fried bacon was raw and doughy, and his strip steak was fair. The portion sizes were overinflated. Steak prices hovered around $50 for large cuts (24 oz ribeye). I'd rather have a smaller portion that I could eat for $10 less, commensurate with the service level and decor. For those prices, I'd rather go to Boston or Manhattan for a weekend. I prefer David's and the Grill Room in Portland for a good steak.
(2)Leslie A.
Fantastic and diverse menu with stellar service, nice portions and fabulous flavors. I had the Monk fish entree. Also, the fresh cut fries with Aioli are decadently delicious with the aioli dipping sauce being the best I've had. Also had the creamed spinach and green beans as sides which were cooked to perfection. The General Manager, Richard Ferraro, is doing a wonderful job. I also met the Sous Chef, Jason Daly, who is extremely knowledgeable and talented in the kitchen; and kind enough to explain some of their techniques that made the food so delicious. TImber is famous for their steaks, but check out all the diverse options too.
(5)Jess B.
Don't believe the hype, this place is THE WORST--with so many options downtown, don't waste you time at Timber. To start, I found a hair in my food.... the management couldn't care less when I brought it to their attention. THEN, the service was soooo slow (apparently more concerned with flirting with one another than bringing me my entree).... and when I finally got my I will not be coming back, and I advise you all to do the same.
(1)Andrea C.
This place is terrible. My food was very undercooked and the sous chef was clearly unskilled.
(1)Anonymous P.
This one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. Horrible food, ambiance was non-existent, and waited so long to get seated. I would never go back.
(1)Stephen R.
I am perfectly happy to spend $$$ at a restaurant if it is worthy, and though I have no especially negative things to say about Timber, I just found it a little overpriced. (definitely Boston prices in Portland, ME). All the food was good, but nothing that really wowed any of us, which we somewhat expected given the overall perception once you are seated. 2 of us ordered the T-bone steak and it was pretty expensive but disappointingly thin, though was cooked to perfection. The drink menu had drinks that all sounded nice, but they were all pretty flat on wow factor, and some drinks even seemed to be missing the one unusual ingredient that made it sound interesting in the first place. Service was friendly, though we had a couple snags on simple stuff - like never getting water once we were seated and having to request it three times. Granted, it was a Saturday night, but there seemed to be plenty of staff roaming about. Very subtle cosmopolitan dining room - so does make a nice spot for a special night out - just wish the food lived up to the expectation.
(3)Boston Italian Girl O.
We ate at Timber at the suggestion of the concierge at the hotel we were staying at. It was good, but not as good as he made it out to be. We arrived a couple of minutes before our reservation and the place was empty. We were sat at a small table by the window, right at the end of the bar. This would have been fine, but it was FREEZING and the menu was right in the front window so all night we had people stopping to look at the menu and looking at our food, we felt like animals in the zoo. Then, about 10 minutes in there was a big party that came over and sat at the bar right on the other side of us, we just felt surrounded. Not sure why we were put in the bar when the whole restaurant dining room was empty except for one table. For an appetizer we got the onion rings, they were fine, nothing to write home about. The house made ketchup and parmesan truffle sauce they were served with were the bigger hit. We split a wedge salad which was the best part of the meal. Everything from the bacon to the real chunks of blue cheese and fresh iceburg lettuce made it delectable. I got the short ribs and though the flavor was good, they were very dry. They were served with a delicious red wine sauce, but it sopped it all up pretty quickly and after it was gone there was really no way to eat the other piece of beef. The fingerling potatoes that it was served with were undercooked, to the point of cutting with a knife. My husband got the steak tips which he says were good but also dry. We felt things were good, but definitely overpriced for what you got. The thing that made this meal great was the service! I wish I could remember the name of our waitress, she was fantastic! Very attentive and pleasant and took good care of us. The Manager also came over and said hello and had a little conversation with us, which was nice. Overall it was a good meal - stuck between a 3 and 4 star.
(3)Bill N.
Excellent meal and exceptional service. Meat was cooked to perfection. Mussels were to die for and the battered fried bacon was decedent. Only warning is don't order the French onion soup. It is not what you are expecting.
(4)T K.
Nice whiskey selection. Ate the bar a few times. Staff was great. Good vibe. Ate mostly small plates. Very impressed.
(5)Wanda B.
Dinner was extremely disappointing. Started by ordering fried calamari appetizer - it was 6-8 oz at most, and completely tasteless - definitely not worth $16. Told the waitress that it had no flavor and she didn't know what to say - except to ask us if the sauce at least had some flavor. Ordered the Cowboy Tbone, green beans with bacon, and fries. The steak was ordered medium rare, it came out well done. The beans were cold. Sent both the steak and beans back. When the steak came back it was cooked properly but had absolutely no flavor. I don't know how you can have beef that has no flavor, but Timber seems to have figured it out. The manager came over at the end of our meal and offered us a dessert on the house, which did not make up for such poor quality food in my opinion. With the prices such as they are, comparable to Ruth's Chris - I would expect at least the same quality - this was a far cry from it.
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