David’s 388

Adorable little place with excellent food and service. I had the fillet mignon and they cooked it perfect just how I like it– delicious. It was a little crammed eating at the bar, but it’s part of the experience, the clientele and staff are very friendly and fun.

My favorite restaurant in SoPo! It’s my «go to» birthday restaurant and any other excuse I can find to go. I’ve tried the Beef Carpaccio & it’s simply divine, melts in your mouth. I often get the scallops, which are always cooked to perfection. Service, ambiance, everything is just top notch in my opinion. It’s small & cozy and if you have an opportunity to sit at the «chefs counter» which is only 4 seats in the open kitchen area, go for it. It’s a treat to chat with the chef and have him serve you your food. Amazing. On one visit we got dessert, bananas foster! Again, perfection. I cannot say enough about David’s 388. Give it a go, you will be happy you did!

Food was delicious. Had spiced pecans and blue cheese to start. I ordered lobster Mac and cheese as an entrée along with an arugula salad. My husband ordered the filet mignon with the garlic mashed potato and mushroom– Madeira jus. For dessert, warm apple tart with ginger ice cream and the chocolate pecan tartlette with bourbon sauce. Only four stars because server was not very attentive. Had long wait for dessert and then she brought the plates with no dessert forks. Had to flag down another server. Another long wait for ticket. Not much parking available either.

Yum yum yum. This restaurant was on point. We started with the lobster bisque and the lobster Mac and cheese. Both of these dishes were amazing. The bisque was creamy, light and full of flavor. The Mac and cheese was great. It had nice chunks of meat and an awesome creamy sauce.
For our entrée we went with the haddock and lobster. I guess you can say we went lobster overboard. However, it was so fresh and delicate. The sweet potatoe cake was phenomenal and the greens added a bitter component. The whole dish was delicious.
I had the pomtini which was lovely.
Overall wonderful meal!

Love love love 388!!! Do yourself a favor and go across the bridge into South Portland for this place. It’s easy to just think of Portland for where the restaurants are at, but 388 is a great restaurant. It’s kind of small and it gets very busy, so I suggest reservations, certainly in the summer time. If you can, I highly recommend sitting at the chef’s counter and watching Chef de Cuisine, Dylan, fire up some delicious dishes. Very entertaining, super friendly guy and a joy to watch. The service is always on point as well. Great staff.
The FOOD, oh the food!!! I’ve been coming here for years and have never been let down or wanting more. It’s a simple menu, with different specials every night, and everything I’ve tried has been delightful. My friend and I hadn’t seen each other in months, as I no longer live in Maine, so we talked for what seemed like 3 days before we even looked at a menu. However, a small tuna appetizer dish ended up in front of us, compliments of the Dylan. It was two pieces of pepper seared tuna, accompanied by coconut soba noodles, peach salsa, and ginger garlic fried onion. It was perfect, tuna cooked great, and lovely flavors. This is a dinner entrée but he made it into an appetizer for us to try, what a guy. We finally decided on food and thought it would be wise to split lots of things so we could try more, my favorite way of dining out. We started with the lobster mac and cheese. Oh my god. Wow. Every bite made me so happy. I wanted 3 more orders. Everything about is dish was perfect and the size was good too for an appetizer and for sharing. Definitely the best lobster mac we have both had. We then split a romaine salad with roasted tomatoes, pistachios, and ricotta buttermilk dressing. I certainly enjoyed this salad but I think the arugula salad I like here more. Like we didn’t order enough or anything, we obviously needed French fries. I really just have a thing with fries. We are BEST friends. They’re made with truffle oil and truffle ketchup and they are seasoned perfectly and I love them oh so much. We were already slowing down but we knew we had to persevere. I need to stop eating delicious bread, but I can’t. Next thing I see is a small dish of quail eggs and hash. Thanks again Chef. It was so good what I had of it but once again, needed to slow down, we hadn’t even gotten our entrée yet. It took us a minute to decide on an entrée, only because we wanted 4 different ones. I love love love seafood and I like their seafood dishes here tremendously but still my favorite thing on the menu is the house made mushroom pappardelle pasta, which we did not get. I have had it many times though and I highly recommend it. It comes with goat cheese, mushrooms, truffle oil, tomato, and arugula. By far one of my favorite dishes period. Anyways, we are obsessed with scallops, so we ordered scallops. They were pistachio crusted scallops with a risotto cake, green beans, and arugula pesto. They were WONDERFUL. Scallops really are the bomb. It came with 5 large scallops, all cooked to perfection. The risotto cake was yum, and the pesto was super yum. Skipped dessert because we couldn’t breathe but the bourbon pecan pie is out of this world, so get it.
All in all, another beyond successful trip to 388, of which I miss dearly. You are sure to leave happy and satisfied after dining here.

We have eaten here — only once a summer really — for the past few years. And it is only after this third year that I figured I’d review David’s — since it is not IN the real Portland I never think of it in my restaurant list most of the year, but it’s a gem in the South Portland /​Cape E region and possibly worth going out of your way for.
I am always happy with the food — Realize it is a very simple menu. But I have never been left wanting more from it. A nice salad split between the two of us. Scallops appetizer. Filet mignon. They do a nice job with the micro-​greens and glazes/​dressings without over doing it. You know, like excessively sweet balsamic reductions or those places that use truffle oil like a kid with ketchup. David Turin, is no newbie in the restaurant world and he know what works. And for this little bar — meets Bistro, he hits a solid double.
Consider grabbing one of the seats at the bar looking over the kitchen if you want a more intimate look at the food. It’s one of the nicer bar-​dining experiences. I’ll be there next summer, gladly.

Excellent, excellent, excellent. Nice, quiet little neighborhood place. Locals, not tourists (although we were tourists). Nice menu, great flavors, very nicely priced.

My girl and decided to get a little fancy, dress up and go to a quality restaurant… and it certainly was at David’s 388.
Small, quaint place on the corner of a busy intersection, little noisy, poor acoustics… but great food. She started with beef carpaccio and I with the scallops bacon and fig. Both great presentation, great flavor. Followed by filet mignon for her and the pepper seared tuna for me. Both outstanding!
The only downside… the noise and watery mixed drinks, which makes it a four.

Wonderful small restaurant with easy, free street parking (unlike Portland)! Reservations are a must… they were turning people away on a recent Monday night. Table seating, bar seating or Chef’s table bar seating overlooking the open kitchen. Waitstaff is very well-​versed in the offerings and will steer you right. Food is beautifully presented, cooked to perfection and delicious to eat. A recent Salmon special over risotto was moist and flavorful. The focaccia bread, warm and with herb topping, is scrumptious. Leave room for dessert! The chocolate-​pecan constructed dessert was excellent and the warm chocolate chip cookie concoction looked amazing, too. Can’t wait for a return trip to the area just to have another meal!

My family and I came here after my brother graduated from UNE physical therapy school. We were very pleased with everything and it made our celebration that much more enjoyable.
We all started off with drinks, wine beer and my sister and I tried one the speciality cocktails called the cape Elizabeth. It was delicious. We also ordered the cheese plate for a starter. All of the cheeses were delicious. For the entrees, we tried the scallops, the salmon and the beef tenderloin. Everyone enjoyed their meals and all plates were licked clean! The only thing is they ran out of green beans, which was a side for many of the dishes but they substituted it with asparagus and everything worked out fine. Lastly, we had the Crème brûlée to finish off our perfect meal.
The service was phenomenal! Our waitress was so pleasant and shared the history of the restaurant with us. Overall, I give this restaurant a 10 out of 10! If we ever go back to Portland, ME, I would definitely pay David’s a visit again!

i don’t understand this restaurant
my partner and i have been here twice, thanks to a 200 dollar gift card courtesy of maine magazine, which, in turn, was probably courtesy of chef turin himself as part of his advertising costs.
the last time i went, i tipped the remaining 60 dollars on the card –a 100% tip on our meal– to the server because i can’t imagine ever wanting to go back.
to start, everything in this fucking restaurant tastes like truffle oil. i can understand that this is acceptable for the restaurant’s apparent audience of retired cape elizabeth natives with more money than they can possibly spend on tacky coastal maine real estate, but i can’t imagine that anyone over the age of 18 and under the age of 65 would be enchanted by truffle hunter’s finest.
their cocktails are terrible. i’m not sure that the bartender has ever seen a strainer in their life, and i’ve never tasted a pear-​based cocktail that tasted more like an artificial pear flavor. i would take an applebee’s cocktail over this, or at least a heineken (which, to chef turin’s credit, is a drink you can order at his restaurant).
the restaurant itself is tiny and i’ve never had a comfortable table and the men’s restroom is actually ON THE LINE. if i ever have the misfortune to return, i’m gonna steal all the goddamn truffle oil so they can’t ruin a perfectly good hamburger by throwing it on a grease-​soaked foccacia
shit

Overrated. We ate here during restaurant week– my wife had the special menu, I had the burger. My wife’s dish was so over seasoned lacking a balance of flavors that she could barely taste the main flavor of the entrée she ordered and couldn’t finish it-​The waitress did offer to bring her something else but after a long wait to check in with us. The desert was also disappointing. The ambiance is nice, but can’t say I’d recommend.

Plus: Incredibly tasty food which is well presented. Very professional and attentive wait staff. Good selection of wines. 3 – 4 seats at the chef «bar» puts you very close to the action and lets you interact with the chefs.
Minus: If you sit on the kitchen side you will smell like a restaurant when you get home. The menu doesn’t change much.

This place is fantastic!
Best food that I have eaten in Portland. I’ve been here three times; each time was excellent. 2 out of the 3 times we were lucky enough to sit at the chef’s counter. Such a good experience watching them prepare the meals and food.
If I could eat here everyday I would. All the meals are prepared with fresh ingredients, and locally sourced food, cooked perfectly. They do it right.
I highly recommend this place!

This is a smaller version of the original David’s. It is hard to even choose an appetizer or two much less the entrees. Come prepared to share or to return several times. From the haddock and Salmon to the duck to the mushroom pappardelle pasta (house made). All is amazing with classy presentation. Highly recommend

During July 4^th weekend we happened to find David’s 388 in South Portland for a late night dinner (post fireworks). While only a few customers remained and the staff looked to be preparing to clean, they were very accommodating and seated us at a nice window table.
The staff was helpful and friendly and knew the menu well. Starting with the vegetable dumplings, arugula salad, and tuna tartare all three were tasty and together filling. However, we ordered our main courses. The salmon was well prepared with a nice char which left the filet flaky and moist. The haddock was also excellent and flavorful.
While we were the last customers to leave, we appreciated the hospitality and care that went into the meal preparation and service. When I am back in the south Portland area, I will certainly be back to visit David’s.

I still can’t believe how tiny our portions were… and this is coming from someone that will happily fork over lots of dough for plates of tapas that others find overpriced for the portion.
Pretty sure my scallop entrée included 2.25 average sized scallops and a scoop of risotto. Granted, it was a rich, truffle risotto but still. One of our dining companions had a similarly meager portion. We all actually laughed out loud.
We dine out frequently and all recently relocated from larger, food-​focused cities.
Seems they are stuck in the late ‘90s style of super small «artist» plating.

Love love LOVE this restaurant. David’s 388 has a neighborhood feel, very welcoming and the food is always excellent. I have eaten a few times alone at the bar, and the waitresses/​bartender are always friendly. The cheesey rosemary focaccia bread at the beginning of the meal is so tasty! I especially love their scallop appetizer, carpaccio appetizer and the bacon mac and cheese. I like this David’s so much better than their Monument Square location insofar as food, location and atmosphere. Be sure to call ahead, make sure they have a table or seats at the bar available. Request the «chef’s table» if you can, it’s fun to watch and the chefs will answer any question you may have.

My favorite place to eat in Portland has always been David’s. It’s the best meal for the money in town.
Now that I’ve moved to S. Portland, and David’s 388 is a block away, I’ve hit the jackpot!
It’s more upscale and moor pricey than the Monument Square location, but so worth every penny.
Treat yourself to this dining experience. It will become a go-​to for you too.

I really like this place. It has a nice homey cozy feel. The food is top notch. Casual not pretentious like the David’s on monument square. Nice friendly people working here.
Now to the food. Small bites, appetizers and main courses. My husband and I shared the scallop appetizer and the vegetable pot stickers. Both amazing. I would get both myself and skip the entrée! We both ordered burgers, we really could have ordered 1 to share as they were a good size. Served on cheesey focaccia with a pickle tomato and lettuce. Comes with truffled fries and truffled ketchup. I could have used more truffle oil in the ketchup :) burgers cooked perfectly and my husband kept repeating that the fries were the best he’s ever tasted.
We sat near the back of the main room, next to the chef’s bar., It got a little hot as the night progressed. Ask for a table up front next to the windows if you are prone to hot flashes!:(