The Corner Room Italian kitchen & Bar
A Casual , Affordable, Italian-Inspired Restaurant
Harding Lee Smith, Chef, Restauranteur
13+ Years of Service
The Corner Room, founded in 2009, is the third restaurant from award-winning chef Harding Lee Smith. Preceded by The Grill Room, an urban steakhouse, and The Front Room. serving new American comfort food, master chef Harding created an Italian-inspired rustic dining experience at The Corner Room.
Patrons can expect a warm, comfortable atmosphere marked by the rich aromas of housemade pastas, pizzas, antipasti and artisanal breads. Come and enjoy the taste of Venice in the heart of Portland, Maine!
Reservations available. Please call 207-879-4747. Walk-ins welcome.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
BETTY Rodriguez
13:45 03 Dec 23
Delicious authentic Italian cuisine. Lovely ambience!*Tables are very close to one another especially the ones by the windows!
Valerie Borges
23:28 25 Nov 23
My husband and I had dinner here and my thoughts are a little mixed. Service was great and it was a cozy little place. We started with the arrancini, which were delicious if a little dark, and the focaccia, which was fine. The focaccia comes with olive oil and vin cotto, but it was hard to get to the vin cotto because it was at the bottom of the olive oil. My husband had the hangar steak, which was excellent and cooked perfectly. The potatoes were great as well, but he wished the broccoli rabe came with more of the pesto because it was tasty, but a very small amount. I got the chicken parm. On the plus side, it was a large piece and cooked through without being burned. On the downside, it came swimming in a plate of fairly watery sauce which made the crust soggy. It also didn't come with anything else, so I paid $9 for a cereal bowl of buttered penne and felt a bit ripped off.We would definitely try this place again, but be a bit more careful about what we order.
E. Maria
05:21 18 Nov 23
Such an adorable atmosphere and delicious food. Love the ambiance. The focaccia bread was phenomenal- I hope they keep it as a permanent menu item.
Jennifer S White
01:30 16 Nov 23
Omg the Aracinis are the best things on the planet!
Mandy Ho
19:46 28 Oct 23
Amazing HH experience at the bar. Arielle was our server and we agree with our reviewers; she's great and friendly. Food and service was impeccable too. Only downside: HH only served at the bar with limited seating.
David Maguire
01:33 26 Oct 23
So good!! Homemade pasta with mushrooms was absolutely perfect. Wine was great. Service was as expected. Creme brulee was way better than the not so sweet canolli. Awesome for pasta night!
Timothy Goodell
11:35 18 Oct 23
Great food and a really fun, buzzy atmosphere.
Jeffrey Mcwilliams
16:37 14 Oct 23
Great food and atmosphere.
Tony Hessert
02:48 12 Oct 23
Jillian... fabulous.
Sonji Johnson
23:40 01 Oct 23
The mushrooms pasta in a truffles cream sauce was absolutely DELICIOUS! I asked for extra mushrooms which made it even more tasty.Nice atmosphere however the service was a bit slow. I would definitely eat here again the next time I'm in Portland.
Jean L
16:45 24 Sep 23
Start to finish one of the best dining experiences in Portland. They have a happy hour at the bar from 4-6pm.Arielle is the bartender and she delivers some of the best cocktails. Be sure and try her Fall Manhattan.I ordered the bolognese and my husband had the duck special. Both dishes were perfection.Can't wait to return!
Daniel Przystac
06:16 22 Sep 23
My dad came up to visit my girlfriend and I and wanted to go out. We were already excited because of how many great restaurant there are in Portland that we haven’t tried yet. After he chose here we got lucky with parking and it looked fancy but not to fancy. The bruschetta was the best I ever had and the antipasti platter was probably the same. From taste to presentation they really did have it all. Our server was extremely knowledgeable and friendly which can be hard to come by these days even in a customer service position like serving. She also never made us feel rushed the entire time we were there which is another rarity. I don’t remember the names of the 3 entrees but they were also outstanding. Without question the corner room gets 5 stars all around, with 3 new and happy patrons that will 100% be back. Hats off to the chefs, servers, and management. Well done.
Erica M
04:36 10 Sep 23
Excellent little spot! Not many seats available and is by reservation only (at least on Saturday). We didn’t know that but showed up around 4:45 & were able to grab two seats at the bar. They have happy hour from 4-6pm. Ariel was our bartender and she is amazing! She was so sweet, funny, and just a good time!! We got the focaccia bread to start, then got garlic bread, the mushroom farfalle pasta, & the penne arribata with sausage added. My sister also got a couple glasses of wine & an aperol spritzer & said they were great. The pastas and garlic bread were all to die for! We got the full orders and had plenty to take home. Highly recommend any of them. Ariel’s service & personality really made the night though. She is a gem!
Nicole Freitas
01:16 20 Aug 23
The food was fabulous! The carpaccio was one of the best I’ve ever had. Service was wonderful as well
Gary Journeay
00:20 07 Aug 23
We had arancini balls for a snack and wonderful cocktails at the bar. Arielle was warm and engaging making cocktails and wonderful conversation. We saw many dishes and the looked and from what the other patrons said- were delicious. We will be back to sample more offerings 💕.
Phil Levinton
00:16 29 Jul 23
Wonderful dining experience. I had the fettuccini bolognese and my wife had mushroom truffle cream fettuccini. Both were excellent. Our waiter Sean provided excellent very friendly service.
Tania Carosi
20:57 09 Jul 23
We decided to come to The Corner Room for a drink & appetizer as we waited for our dinner reservation. We are SO GLAD we did!! The atmosphere was quaint and perfect for a low-key night out!! The wine selection was great, and the antipasto was delicious! The whipped ricotta was amazing, and I couldn't get enough of the pickled veg! Prosciutto was my favorite of the meat selection! I would recommend extra crostini!!
Daphne Hargis
22:55 30 Jun 23
Definitely make a reservation! Our server was phenomenal and he was very knowledgeable about the menu. Even though he got pretty busy, he was very attentive and sweet. The gluten free pasta was probably the best I've ever had! Their seasonal cocktail was delicious with earl grey tea and gin.
Paul Milliken
01:36 07 Jun 23
I can only say that I wish I had found this gem sooner!
Stephanie Foster
22:08 21 May 23
Food was excellent and our server was great. Good atmosphere and enjoyed the breeze from the open door. The only negative was the older lady I assume was the hostess. Quite dismissive and short, the only unpleasant partWill come back next time I’m in town.
Kimball Packard
20:26 26 Apr 23
Always a great meal at The Corner Room. The only glitch this time, my server neglected to ring in the appetizer I ordered, discovered when my entree was delivered. She made up for it by comping a dessert for me, (but I sure was looking forward to the app).You gotta try the focaccia!
Devin Gourley
02:42 18 Apr 23
Absolutely wonderful Italian dinner. Nice happy hour menu, though not a huge selection of drink specials. The staff was warm and welcoming, knowledgeable with the menu and specials, and provided wonderful service all evening long. Some of the best pasta we'd ever had.
Robin Holden
09:11 17 Apr 23
Always our favorite spot to go for a date night, love it. The food is outstanding, we always get the bolognese. We also had the aranci this time, some of the best we have had, charcuterie, and a hanger steak special cooked perfectly with asparagus and confit potatoes.
Johnny Thompson
23:13 12 Apr 23
Excellent. Had caesar salad and Pappardelle mushroom dish. Great service!
Katie Lauver
16:42 11 Apr 23
After The Grill Room we had to try the Corner Room for my birthday dinner.We were skeptical based on reviews about service and even still concerned when we arrived and may have had the server in the negative reviews. We got lucky and had the best server ever.Everything was spot on. Great flavor, good portions, and a large variety. The whipped feta should be a permanent item on the menu. We couldn't get enough.As for cocktails, the current special was and iced earl grey and vodka drink. It was so refreshing.
Michael Koehler
10:42 08 Apr 23
Nice place, but...I really did like this place, but there were some quirky things that were wrong. The food was really good - I had the chicken Parmesan, which was huge and quite tasty - baby girl had the truffle mac and cheese, which was awesome - we had the Garlicl bread which was a large portion and very good. The service was Ok... the bartender was awesome - hostess and waitress not so much. The restaurant has a neat vibe, but the curtain used to block the cold when people entered and exited the restaurant really didn't work. The restaurant was either really hot or really cold. Which i think could be less of a problem in the summer. Other than that, it is a good place to dine
thomas
14:37 27 Mar 23
Been here multiple times and loved it. However this time we went in for some apps and drinks. Once the waitress found out we weren't there to spend $200 she developed a very rude and dismissive attitude towards us. Older lady with an accent, horrible service. Will still go again from previous good experiences but she was bad.
Kaitlin Altieri
00:15 13 Mar 23
The corner room was delicious! I am so surprised it took me so long to get here, but I made it! The food was great. Everything that came out was hot, fresh and delicious. The Squid Ink Campanelle was delicious and spicy in such a good way— the flavor was amazing! The arancini was the definition of comfort food. Perfectly crusted and salty! One of my favorite things about the menu is that you can order small or large portions of almost every dish. The staff and service was good, quick and kind. Reservations are usually available online, I would recommend taking advantage of that. There is no off street parking, so give yourself a little extra time to park!
Faylinda Kodis
14:43 21 Feb 23
This place is so yummy & the decor is warm & inviting. We ordered the beautiful piled-high charcuterie board full of favorites and surprises. 5 of us worked hard to demolish it. We also shared the beets. If you like this vegetable it is a terrific salad speckled with pistachios. I was so full I ordered the soup for dinner - garlic and walnut & I loved every mouthful. The restaurant stocks an Italian white wine that has a crown on the label - cannot remember the name- & even our non-wine drinkers liked it. Everyone at our table enjoyed their meal & appreciated the ambiance
Rich Cleaves
21:10 06 Jan 23
Little pricey but excellent!
Shealynn Williams
16:29 02 Jan 23
Lovely New Years Eve dinner. Excellent service, wasnt rushed or ignored. Food was superb, thoughtful and complex, just a great meal. Only small complaint was that it was so hot in there. The front door was open but it could only do so much.
Gerald Sousa
18:58 31 Dec 22
I always order short ribs if they are on the menu when we go out to eat, so I think it's fair to say I can do a reliable comparison. So of course I ordered the short ribs and have to say they were unbelievable. They were the best I have ever had. Even my wife who is not a big fan of meat loved them. We will definitely be making the146 mile trip to Portland again so I can get the short ribs. The appetizers were also great. We had Verduras marinated beets and roasted olives. The service and atmosphere was great.
Jim Saint
14:32 12 Dec 22
Went this past Thursday evening. First time in Portland for us and ended up at the Corner Room at the suggestion from a waitress at another Italian restaurant that we decided not to eat at (a “new Italian” place that didn’t even have any proteins like chicken, beef or veal). Well she made a great suggestion so thank you.Our waitress and service was excellent. It’s a small but vibrant welcoming atmosphere as well and the food was very good.We split a Caesar for an app, then we had cioppino and the fresh fish of the day which was scallops. Both meals were excellent, properly cooked and seasoned.We wouldn’t hesitate to go back again.
S Erickson
02:15 12 Nov 22
Food was amazing and service was fabulous.
Kevin M. Doyle
18:38 04 Nov 22
Good food, good vibes, value for money. Make a reservation if its the weekend....its a popular place!
Rachael Coleman
13:19 28 Oct 22
My favorite place for brunch, lunch or an after event nosh. I have too many favorites to list, but my go to nosh is the beet salad. Love the wait staff, always a delightful interaction.
Elyssa Cohen
00:00 13 Oct 22
This restaurant checks all the boxes - fantastic food, outstanding service, nice ambiance and best server in town (Megan). The space is quaint and homey.lThe chicken Parmesan maybe the best park in Maine. The cocktail list, soooo good and always fun and invigorating... Megan was friendly, helpful and attentive. Best value in Portland because of the service. It’s rare as we all know! The bartender makes the best drinks in the city!
Joshua Locke
06:32 08 Oct 22
Very dark,and small but food was fantastic. Waitress sucked older foreign lady
Sunita S
14:30 01 Oct 22
Sat at the bar. Great ambiance and perfect dat spot. Wish I'd got there in time for happy hour though. The bread that comes out complimentary was sooooo good! My drink was excellent. I got the beet salad and arrabiata pasta. It was exactly what I was craving. Delicious! I didn't take pics of those, that's how good they were. I just wanted to enjoy it.
Kayla F
02:45 04 Sep 22
I have to say thank you to the staff that closed two Saturdays ago. My husband and I were going on a belated honeymoon to Portland and we found this spot to eat. It looked so nice, and I love Italian food. It was going to be closed the rest of our time in town, so we booked a reservation for the night we arrived in Portland. Our flight was delayed and it was going to push us dangerously close to closing time. When I called ahead to notify them -- they were more than happy to work with us. We ordered the PIZZA MARGHERITA and TRUFFLE MAC & CHEESE. They got it out in no time and it was phenomenal! Instead of turning us away (for missing our reservation by most standards) they gave us a fantastic meal and a wonderful memory. We are so grateful for their kindness that night!P.S. My husband said their pizza was some of the best he had ever eaten!
Jeff Gendron
23:07 20 Aug 22
Our favorite restaurant in Portland. Amazing food. Seriously. Happy hour specials are an unexpected treat. Walk in early and snag bar seats. Can't wait to go back!
Madison Hubler
22:42 10 Aug 22
Stumbled upon this gem of a restaurant, and I’m so happy we did. The best Italian food I’ve ever eaten.
James MacWilliams
22:35 29 Jul 22
I would eat their fried squid every day. The microshaved lemon that is fried with teh sqiud and pepperoncis is so damm good.
Kyle Arnold
20:06 29 Jul 22
My wife and I ate here during dinner for our one night trip to Portland. The bread was incredible. The pasta dishes were incredible. The dessert was incredible. Our waitress was top notch and cleared up some confusion we had on the menu. Small place and every table was full by 7pm (we had a 6pm reservation). Some people were turned away because they didn't have a reservation (Thursday night), so make sure you make a reservation ahead of time. We will be back.
Paul Hathaway
14:16 17 Jul 22
Busy little Italian restaurant on the corner across from the Press hotel.Good food and a vibrant atmosphere. Did have to wait quite a while for service but overall experience was positive.
Mike Stevens
09:48 25 Jun 22
Very good. We had salads, several pasta dishes, and pizza. All were great. The summer sangria was really nice as well. Our second "room" restaurant. Long time fan of the Front Room.
Matt Roberto
01:23 23 Apr 22
Great service and phenomenal food for the price. Highly recommend
sarah simpson
10:23 21 Apr 22
Excellent cuisine and prompt service with courtesy. Have been visiting here since it first opened. Portland being the top among best cities in the U.S. for restaurants...and this place still is la crème de la crème. Authentic and exquisite ❤️
Sean Kaplan
01:23 03 Apr 22
The garlic bread and homemade marinara is is magnificent. Everything else is good too but that stuff is just memorable.
Max L-S
16:13 29 Mar 22
I've been here 3 times in probably 10 years and God do I love this restaurant. I'm not here enough, apparently. This particular time we had transcendent ricotta toast, cioppinno and mushroom and cream pasta as well as excellent rabbit ragu and a lovely, virtually unknown wine made with a lovely cousin of Riesling, Kerner. Paired with the most excellent service of Suzanne... How do you go wrong. Keep doing you corner room, and let me know when the oxtail hits the specials menu.
Steven Mccoy
00:46 29 Mar 22
Food is excellent great atmosphere
