Loved everything about this place! My husband and I have been there a few times and I can't wait to go back! Excellent atmosphere, great service, and excellent food!
(5)
Kate S.
Great mix of traditional coastal Maine restaurant + slightly progressive food/drinks. Bar / lounge is the only place to sit. The 'dining room' area feels too brightly lit and old-school - but then again we're typically the youngest in the place, and we're both 32. Surprisingly great cocktails, terrific bartenders, and nice little touches like the homemade tortilla 'chips' used in the nachos (so so good). Not everything on the menu is exciting or out of this world, but it seems they're catering to a range of palates.
(4)
Deb R.
I love this place! Their breakfast on Sunday mornings competes nicely with any other breakfast place in town. Their staff is amazing! Those gals strive to remember my name, and greet my guests warmly each time I stop by. I am partial to the Shedd brown ale they serve, icy cold! I have tried most things on the menu, and have been very pleased with the quality and quantity. This has been my go-to place this past winter, as I frequently take advantage of the overstuffed leather sofa and club chairs in front of the fireplace. We enjoy dining right there, in front of the fire. This is a place where they remember what you drink, and how you like your steak and eggs. Their specials are quite pleasing, with a nod to fresh ingredients. One of my favorite things about the Snow Squall is that there is ample parking! The restaurant nuzzles right up to the wharf, so the clanging and visuals of large boats is fun, not to mention the squawk of sea gulls and the smell of the sea.
(4)
Crys S.
The service was friendly and the deck was quite full, so we sat inside in a booth. We started with the house made chips appetizer. This bowl was so big, it could have been a meal! Honestly, my husband and I would have been AOK with that. They were crunchy, not over salted, almost airy, and a perfect thickness for the accompanying dips. We had to bring half home to my dad to insure room for the actual meal. My husband said how much he enjoyed the salmon wrap and I tried the sweet potato fries where were quite yummy. I had the seafood special of the day. I was told it's "chef's whim" as to what goes in and that day was lobster, haddock, and shrimp over penne. I have to confess, I lived in Maine 22 years and never had lobster. I know, I know....I KNOW!! I confess my shame at waiting so long. This was delicious. Rich, but not heavy. Filling, because of the generous portion. There was trully an equal amount of quality fresh seafood as there was pasta. I once again gave dad my leftovers. He had them a day or so after we left and could not stop raving over how awesome it was! (That's two days in the fridge later, mind you!) The prices were a tad higher on first blush, but having now enjoyed the quality, it is well justified. Next visit, if it's warm enough, we will sit outside on the patio.
(5)
Caleb P.
Worst experience I've ever had anywhere! Not only were the bartenders extremely rude but I waited 20 minutes to be able to order my food and 10 minutes for a to go box(it wasn't busy at all either). I've never felt so disrespected when in an establishment. I wouldn't recommend anyone coming here and I won't be coming back to this place again either. I would strongly recommend going elsewhere, especially if you're looking for a warm welcoming experience.
(1)
Colleen B.
Still delicious- had the salmon wrap today served by Garth. Great food and great service!!
(5)
Patrick C.
No deck for us, middle of winter when we stopped in at Snow Squall. Nice, quiet ambiance, small bar, soft lighting. Good service, decent prices (little pricey), good food, smallish beer list, but good options for what they offered. I had the fish n chips, very good, nice light fish with tasty batter and fries that made you keep wanting to eat them. My girl had the steak tip salad and enjoyed it. Solid place, would go back at some point, many other options in area though
(4)
John C.
Great Friday happy hour. Lot of cheap eats if you do not want to be a big spender. There is a great menu and specials to have I you want a full meal. Great waitstaff the checks in often.
(4)
Connor P.
I went here for dinner and to grab a drink or two. I'm a little tougher on this place because the ambiance wasn't what i was truthfully expecting. It's a bit of a small restaurant and it wasn't too packed on a Saturday at 5PM. For some reason they had the lights as low as possible, almost to the point that we were about to request them to turn it up so we could see our food. The menu is decent with a good portion focused on fresh seafood. I had the fish sandwich and it came out great. Cooked how you'd want fish and chips to be cooked, and the tartar was ok. Their fries are GREAT! I'm not sure if they cook them with onions or if they cook them in balsamic dressing, but these might be some of the tastiest fries I've had. Friendly wait staff, food came out slow, dark lighting, good drink selection. Solid 3/5.
(3)
Suzanne R.
What a disappointment. Food was mediocre but high priced. The mussels were under cooked, many didn't even open. When I asked the waiter to replace the bad ones he said he couldn't that since the kitchen was too busy. If a kitchen is too busy to cook food thoroughly, maybe soon hey won't be busy at all. After I complained, then the waiter treated us very rudely. The rest of our food wasn't very good either. You can get much better food for that kind of money somewhere else.
(1)
Eduardo G.
Came over from Portland after a couple of days of overpriced gourmet white trash food served by similarly "newly adjusted"kids now accepted as hipsters by their friends, but I digress... Snow squall is a very civilized place with a nice wood and brass interior and a cozy patio located just the other side of the bridge from Portland. They use high quality, fresh ingredients in everything. We had a salmon salad, a Thai lemon grass soup other shrimp dumplings and roasted salmon on a bed of quinoa and spinach. These were all done to perfection, but the mussels we had for appetizers were whatwe were really impressed with. I just wanted to drink the garlic and white wine broth!! These are the best I've had since Montreal, where they are a regional specialty. We topped everything off with a blueberry crumble that was generous, fresh and surprising in its simplicity. Our server Jessica was a genuine person who was very always there with suggestions. She was honestly was a fan of the restaurant. I would come back every day to try everything on the menu if it weren't advice hour plane trip!!!
(5)
Scott L.
Not the same as it once was. To be fair, we left and food not eat there this time. No towels in restroom, worn menus. Our last time there several years ago it was a fancier place but also more expensive. You should know if you haven't been in several years that it now has a smaller menu (at least for lunch, dinner might still be elegant). Nice setting but more of a cafe feel. Since we were celebrating graduation we left to find something a bit nicer.
(3)
Piper P.
I'm going to give the Snow Squall a 3 here. It is more like a "conditional" 3.5 because a second visit is really in order to be accurate, but I have to say, my first experience here was rather positive, so here's to hoping. Tonight I was craving a rare burger and David's 388 is always my "go to." However, we had a party of three and they were booked until 7:30 (on a Wednesday!). We took a shot at the Snow Squall. As a local, I am a bit surprised at myself for passing over this restaurant in the past, but it's definitely on my radar now. The homemade tortilla chips are a must. They arrived hot with guacamole and salsa. Awesomeness on a platter. I did indeed order an Angus burger with caramelized onion and blue cheese, rare. It was cooked absolutely perfect (this doesn't happen often; when I say "rare," I mean it). The sweet potato fries were good (really, is there anything better than David's 388 white truffle & garlic fries? I think not). Also, Snow Squall can definitely do better on their choice of hamburger bun. Really. I challenge them to kick it up a notch. Being a gin gal, I ordered the gin/elderberry/cucumber drink. Elderberry can be overpowering, and our server was great in recognizing that I may send it back for a different balance (yes, it was, and more gin balanced it out nicely. It was served in a ball jar (I expected a martini glass) and was quite strong in the end (this is not a negative, just an observation). I was really impressed with their mixed drink selection; it was inventive for the venue. Nice selection of beer on draught as well. The service was great. Our waitress is buddies with our favorite chef at David's, Dylan, so I think she met our approval early on! She was just fantastic. Overall, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed my experience at Snow Squall. The atmosphere is a tad stale for my taste, but the experience and food will definitely bring me back in; I could even be a regular.
(3)
Rachel D.
We wandered into the Snow Squall on a warm Sunday morning. The porch seating was shaded and cool, perfect! Meghan was our wonderful server, she was so personalble and friendly. She took the time to learn our names and invited us back. The brunch food was delicious and the plates so bog we couldn't finish. I ordered a Mimosa and it wasn't one of those dinky cups filled with ice. It was large and worth the price. This place is worth a visit. We will def be back once we move to the area!!
(5)
Nini M.
Great party atmosphere on a Friday night, many customers seemed to know each other. Spontaneous dancing to the live music by a couple who had just sold their business that day. Drinks so so. Large and inexpensive. Food however not so good. Had salmon on quinoa with side of spinach. Everything soaked in oil. Would have preferred drier meal with citrus instead of oil. Gastrointestinal distress shortly after meal. The mussels we had as an appetizer were good but broth too salty. Would return for drinks, or much lighter fare.
(2)
Jena K.
My husband and I love this place especially in the off season when it's less busy. Great tasty good quality food. We eat here all the time and haven't found a dish we don't like. There soup bowls are huge so bring your apatite if you are going to have one. It's a great friendly atmosphere and the staff is very welcoming. We only usually sit in the bar area and it's nice because we will stay there for a bit and have never felt rushed. It's a nice hidden gem in South Portland.
(5)
Betsy M.
The Snow Squall continues to improve each time we visit. Since the dining room has been changed to a more casual atmosphere, combined with the new bar, the feel is lively and fun! The music, Adam Waxman on Friday evenings, just adds to the relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere. The happy hour 1/2 priced wine, combined with a few appetizers, makes for an enjoyable evening. Our waitresses have been pleasant, efficient and do not hurry us even when we are there to enjoy ourselves without ordering full course meals. We will continue to frequent the Snow Squall and offer our props to the owner for all of the positive changes.
(5)
Joshua C.
Would it kill the chef to use some seasoning? Bland food in a nice pubby atmosphere. I found it expensive for what it is. I'm not in love, but might try it for lunch in the future.
(3)
Haven Road Locals N.
This place is so much fun! Great food and great staff ...... Jessica is outstanding - Great smile and very sweet. We are so lucky to have this restaurant in SoPo.
(5)
Fred F.
A local hangout that is very popular on weekends. Solid food, nothing spectacular but reasonable for the price. However, tonight I had a terrible experience. Simply, it was crowded, told that the wait for a table would be 30 minutes. No problem. At 1 hour 10 minutes I asked the hostess if the wait would be much longer. She told me that they had told their diners, who were lingering, that they had 10 minutes to vacate their tables. That I thought was surprising. However, we were indeed seated in just a few minutes. Service was good, food slightly better than adequate, however, we spent one hour at dinner (which seems long for the food/atmosphere) and I could not get a second drink. I asked a new waiter who started to serve my table for a drink and several minutes later reminded him that I was waiting for my drink. Alas, no drink and the meal was over. For some reason, asking our original waitress to split the bill for two people seemed over the top and a definite attitude set in. Huffy, short, sarcastic. When we left I mentioned it to the hostess I did not appreciate the short attitude from the waitress and that in 3 hours and 15 minutes we could only be served two drinks. I was told if I didn't like it I should consider never coming back. Also, my attitude about asking the status of how quickly we could be seated was "confrontational" in her opinion (sorry, being told 30 min and it turned out to be 1 hour 15 minutes is reasonable, don't you think!!!!). Anyway, very very unprofessional and quite disappointing. I was told I could speak to the manager which I did immediately after leaving the restaurant (by phone). Her name is Heather, quite professional and apologetic. Granted, I was not pleased that our service was inadequate but to be told if I didn't like I could take my patronage elsewhere speaks volumes. Bottom line - I would not give them my business again. Chronically understaffed and the snotty attitude of the hostess is a complete unprofessional example of not being well suited for the position. I spent years working in the food industry. As much as you don't like it, the customer deserves respect. The irony - 1 good review and a few take notice. One bad review and everyone will pick up on it. Too bad.
(2)
Heather F.
I was pretty hesitant to make reservations here, since the overall reviews weren't great. I am glad I did! The service was great-not too slow, but didn't feel rushed. They have a casual yet upscale atmosphere, with some nice live music on Friday/Saturday nights. Water is served at the table without having to ask and nice cloth napkins are provided. A great beer and wine selection. We order bruschetta and crispy chicken wings to share between 4 people. Chicken wings were to die for-not deep fried but so crispy and tossed with house made buffalo sauce and served with house made ranch and blue cheese. Bruschetta was made on locally made focaccia and was delicious! Our entrees and appetizers were nicely spread apart. We enjoyed a special of pancetta Mac n cheese with seared scallops, a hanger steak entree, a chicken, artichoke and Smoked bacon entree, and a haddock sandwich. Everything was superb. The desserts are house made too and are also wonderful. I also appreciate that anything that is not made from scratch in house is purchased from local businesses, right in Portland! We will be back to try brunch!
(5)
Stephen P.
The Snow Squall had been on my list to try for sometime. I always imagined it to be a fancier restaurant and I think that delayed my visit. After checking out their website and noticing their nice happy hour specials (1/2 price apps and good drink prices) we decided to give it a try. The main dining room is fairly large and there were several groups having dinner. We decided to sit at the bar for a more casual atmosphere. There was a good crowd around the bar and the restaurant had excellent live music going ( I think they do that every Friday). One of the patrons actually joined in on vocals at one point and was spot on. We split three appetizers and left stuffed - the portions were large and the food was very good. The woman behind the bar, who I believe was the owner, was very friendly. They have outdoor seating and she said during warm weather they have the live music outside. It seemed like the Snow Squall can cater to those looking for a more intimate setting or those just looking for a casual bite. We'll definitely be back.
(4)
Michael S.
Waiting for a reservation at expensive Old Port restaurants? Don't bother! You will find a great new eatery just over the bridge in South Portland called The Snow Squall. It has a mix of casual bar atmosphere and a white linen dining area. Menu is healthy and tasty! Their fish chowder is the best in Portland IMHO. Large glass windows give you a view of the marina and Portland harbor. Outdoor seating seasonally. We fell in love with the place and will be back with family and friends.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dessert Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jessica N.
Loved everything about this place! My husband and I have been there a few times and I can't wait to go back! Excellent atmosphere, great service, and excellent food!
(5)Kate S.
Great mix of traditional coastal Maine restaurant + slightly progressive food/drinks. Bar / lounge is the only place to sit. The 'dining room' area feels too brightly lit and old-school - but then again we're typically the youngest in the place, and we're both 32. Surprisingly great cocktails, terrific bartenders, and nice little touches like the homemade tortilla 'chips' used in the nachos (so so good). Not everything on the menu is exciting or out of this world, but it seems they're catering to a range of palates.
(4)Deb R.
I love this place! Their breakfast on Sunday mornings competes nicely with any other breakfast place in town. Their staff is amazing! Those gals strive to remember my name, and greet my guests warmly each time I stop by. I am partial to the Shedd brown ale they serve, icy cold! I have tried most things on the menu, and have been very pleased with the quality and quantity. This has been my go-to place this past winter, as I frequently take advantage of the overstuffed leather sofa and club chairs in front of the fireplace. We enjoy dining right there, in front of the fire. This is a place where they remember what you drink, and how you like your steak and eggs. Their specials are quite pleasing, with a nod to fresh ingredients. One of my favorite things about the Snow Squall is that there is ample parking! The restaurant nuzzles right up to the wharf, so the clanging and visuals of large boats is fun, not to mention the squawk of sea gulls and the smell of the sea.
(4)Crys S.
The service was friendly and the deck was quite full, so we sat inside in a booth. We started with the house made chips appetizer. This bowl was so big, it could have been a meal! Honestly, my husband and I would have been AOK with that. They were crunchy, not over salted, almost airy, and a perfect thickness for the accompanying dips. We had to bring half home to my dad to insure room for the actual meal. My husband said how much he enjoyed the salmon wrap and I tried the sweet potato fries where were quite yummy. I had the seafood special of the day. I was told it's "chef's whim" as to what goes in and that day was lobster, haddock, and shrimp over penne. I have to confess, I lived in Maine 22 years and never had lobster. I know, I know....I KNOW!! I confess my shame at waiting so long. This was delicious. Rich, but not heavy. Filling, because of the generous portion. There was trully an equal amount of quality fresh seafood as there was pasta. I once again gave dad my leftovers. He had them a day or so after we left and could not stop raving over how awesome it was! (That's two days in the fridge later, mind you!) The prices were a tad higher on first blush, but having now enjoyed the quality, it is well justified. Next visit, if it's warm enough, we will sit outside on the patio.
(5)Caleb P.
Worst experience I've ever had anywhere! Not only were the bartenders extremely rude but I waited 20 minutes to be able to order my food and 10 minutes for a to go box(it wasn't busy at all either). I've never felt so disrespected when in an establishment. I wouldn't recommend anyone coming here and I won't be coming back to this place again either. I would strongly recommend going elsewhere, especially if you're looking for a warm welcoming experience.
(1)Colleen B.
Still delicious- had the salmon wrap today served by Garth. Great food and great service!!
(5)Patrick C.
No deck for us, middle of winter when we stopped in at Snow Squall. Nice, quiet ambiance, small bar, soft lighting. Good service, decent prices (little pricey), good food, smallish beer list, but good options for what they offered. I had the fish n chips, very good, nice light fish with tasty batter and fries that made you keep wanting to eat them. My girl had the steak tip salad and enjoyed it. Solid place, would go back at some point, many other options in area though
(4)John C.
Great Friday happy hour. Lot of cheap eats if you do not want to be a big spender. There is a great menu and specials to have I you want a full meal. Great waitstaff the checks in often.
(4)Connor P.
I went here for dinner and to grab a drink or two. I'm a little tougher on this place because the ambiance wasn't what i was truthfully expecting. It's a bit of a small restaurant and it wasn't too packed on a Saturday at 5PM. For some reason they had the lights as low as possible, almost to the point that we were about to request them to turn it up so we could see our food. The menu is decent with a good portion focused on fresh seafood. I had the fish sandwich and it came out great. Cooked how you'd want fish and chips to be cooked, and the tartar was ok. Their fries are GREAT! I'm not sure if they cook them with onions or if they cook them in balsamic dressing, but these might be some of the tastiest fries I've had. Friendly wait staff, food came out slow, dark lighting, good drink selection. Solid 3/5.
(3)Suzanne R.
What a disappointment. Food was mediocre but high priced. The mussels were under cooked, many didn't even open. When I asked the waiter to replace the bad ones he said he couldn't that since the kitchen was too busy. If a kitchen is too busy to cook food thoroughly, maybe soon hey won't be busy at all. After I complained, then the waiter treated us very rudely. The rest of our food wasn't very good either. You can get much better food for that kind of money somewhere else.
(1)Eduardo G.
Came over from Portland after a couple of days of overpriced gourmet white trash food served by similarly "newly adjusted"kids now accepted as hipsters by their friends, but I digress... Snow squall is a very civilized place with a nice wood and brass interior and a cozy patio located just the other side of the bridge from Portland. They use high quality, fresh ingredients in everything. We had a salmon salad, a Thai lemon grass soup other shrimp dumplings and roasted salmon on a bed of quinoa and spinach. These were all done to perfection, but the mussels we had for appetizers were whatwe were really impressed with. I just wanted to drink the garlic and white wine broth!! These are the best I've had since Montreal, where they are a regional specialty. We topped everything off with a blueberry crumble that was generous, fresh and surprising in its simplicity. Our server Jessica was a genuine person who was very always there with suggestions. She was honestly was a fan of the restaurant. I would come back every day to try everything on the menu if it weren't advice hour plane trip!!!
(5)Scott L.
Not the same as it once was. To be fair, we left and food not eat there this time. No towels in restroom, worn menus. Our last time there several years ago it was a fancier place but also more expensive. You should know if you haven't been in several years that it now has a smaller menu (at least for lunch, dinner might still be elegant). Nice setting but more of a cafe feel. Since we were celebrating graduation we left to find something a bit nicer.
(3)Piper P.
I'm going to give the Snow Squall a 3 here. It is more like a "conditional" 3.5 because a second visit is really in order to be accurate, but I have to say, my first experience here was rather positive, so here's to hoping. Tonight I was craving a rare burger and David's 388 is always my "go to." However, we had a party of three and they were booked until 7:30 (on a Wednesday!). We took a shot at the Snow Squall. As a local, I am a bit surprised at myself for passing over this restaurant in the past, but it's definitely on my radar now. The homemade tortilla chips are a must. They arrived hot with guacamole and salsa. Awesomeness on a platter. I did indeed order an Angus burger with caramelized onion and blue cheese, rare. It was cooked absolutely perfect (this doesn't happen often; when I say "rare," I mean it). The sweet potato fries were good (really, is there anything better than David's 388 white truffle & garlic fries? I think not). Also, Snow Squall can definitely do better on their choice of hamburger bun. Really. I challenge them to kick it up a notch. Being a gin gal, I ordered the gin/elderberry/cucumber drink. Elderberry can be overpowering, and our server was great in recognizing that I may send it back for a different balance (yes, it was, and more gin balanced it out nicely. It was served in a ball jar (I expected a martini glass) and was quite strong in the end (this is not a negative, just an observation). I was really impressed with their mixed drink selection; it was inventive for the venue. Nice selection of beer on draught as well. The service was great. Our waitress is buddies with our favorite chef at David's, Dylan, so I think she met our approval early on! She was just fantastic. Overall, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed my experience at Snow Squall. The atmosphere is a tad stale for my taste, but the experience and food will definitely bring me back in; I could even be a regular.
(3)Rachel D.
We wandered into the Snow Squall on a warm Sunday morning. The porch seating was shaded and cool, perfect! Meghan was our wonderful server, she was so personalble and friendly. She took the time to learn our names and invited us back. The brunch food was delicious and the plates so bog we couldn't finish. I ordered a Mimosa and it wasn't one of those dinky cups filled with ice. It was large and worth the price. This place is worth a visit. We will def be back once we move to the area!!
(5)Nini M.
Great party atmosphere on a Friday night, many customers seemed to know each other. Spontaneous dancing to the live music by a couple who had just sold their business that day. Drinks so so. Large and inexpensive. Food however not so good. Had salmon on quinoa with side of spinach. Everything soaked in oil. Would have preferred drier meal with citrus instead of oil. Gastrointestinal distress shortly after meal. The mussels we had as an appetizer were good but broth too salty. Would return for drinks, or much lighter fare.
(2)Jena K.
My husband and I love this place especially in the off season when it's less busy. Great tasty good quality food. We eat here all the time and haven't found a dish we don't like. There soup bowls are huge so bring your apatite if you are going to have one. It's a great friendly atmosphere and the staff is very welcoming. We only usually sit in the bar area and it's nice because we will stay there for a bit and have never felt rushed. It's a nice hidden gem in South Portland.
(5)Betsy M.
The Snow Squall continues to improve each time we visit. Since the dining room has been changed to a more casual atmosphere, combined with the new bar, the feel is lively and fun! The music, Adam Waxman on Friday evenings, just adds to the relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere. The happy hour 1/2 priced wine, combined with a few appetizers, makes for an enjoyable evening. Our waitresses have been pleasant, efficient and do not hurry us even when we are there to enjoy ourselves without ordering full course meals. We will continue to frequent the Snow Squall and offer our props to the owner for all of the positive changes.
(5)Joshua C.
Would it kill the chef to use some seasoning? Bland food in a nice pubby atmosphere. I found it expensive for what it is. I'm not in love, but might try it for lunch in the future.
(3)Haven Road Locals N.
This place is so much fun! Great food and great staff ...... Jessica is outstanding - Great smile and very sweet. We are so lucky to have this restaurant in SoPo.
(5)Fred F.
A local hangout that is very popular on weekends. Solid food, nothing spectacular but reasonable for the price. However, tonight I had a terrible experience. Simply, it was crowded, told that the wait for a table would be 30 minutes. No problem. At 1 hour 10 minutes I asked the hostess if the wait would be much longer. She told me that they had told their diners, who were lingering, that they had 10 minutes to vacate their tables. That I thought was surprising. However, we were indeed seated in just a few minutes. Service was good, food slightly better than adequate, however, we spent one hour at dinner (which seems long for the food/atmosphere) and I could not get a second drink. I asked a new waiter who started to serve my table for a drink and several minutes later reminded him that I was waiting for my drink. Alas, no drink and the meal was over. For some reason, asking our original waitress to split the bill for two people seemed over the top and a definite attitude set in. Huffy, short, sarcastic. When we left I mentioned it to the hostess I did not appreciate the short attitude from the waitress and that in 3 hours and 15 minutes we could only be served two drinks. I was told if I didn't like it I should consider never coming back. Also, my attitude about asking the status of how quickly we could be seated was "confrontational" in her opinion (sorry, being told 30 min and it turned out to be 1 hour 15 minutes is reasonable, don't you think!!!!). Anyway, very very unprofessional and quite disappointing. I was told I could speak to the manager which I did immediately after leaving the restaurant (by phone). Her name is Heather, quite professional and apologetic. Granted, I was not pleased that our service was inadequate but to be told if I didn't like I could take my patronage elsewhere speaks volumes. Bottom line - I would not give them my business again. Chronically understaffed and the snotty attitude of the hostess is a complete unprofessional example of not being well suited for the position. I spent years working in the food industry. As much as you don't like it, the customer deserves respect. The irony - 1 good review and a few take notice. One bad review and everyone will pick up on it. Too bad.
(2)Heather F.
I was pretty hesitant to make reservations here, since the overall reviews weren't great. I am glad I did! The service was great-not too slow, but didn't feel rushed. They have a casual yet upscale atmosphere, with some nice live music on Friday/Saturday nights. Water is served at the table without having to ask and nice cloth napkins are provided. A great beer and wine selection. We order bruschetta and crispy chicken wings to share between 4 people. Chicken wings were to die for-not deep fried but so crispy and tossed with house made buffalo sauce and served with house made ranch and blue cheese. Bruschetta was made on locally made focaccia and was delicious! Our entrees and appetizers were nicely spread apart. We enjoyed a special of pancetta Mac n cheese with seared scallops, a hanger steak entree, a chicken, artichoke and Smoked bacon entree, and a haddock sandwich. Everything was superb. The desserts are house made too and are also wonderful. I also appreciate that anything that is not made from scratch in house is purchased from local businesses, right in Portland! We will be back to try brunch!
(5)Stephen P.
The Snow Squall had been on my list to try for sometime. I always imagined it to be a fancier restaurant and I think that delayed my visit. After checking out their website and noticing their nice happy hour specials (1/2 price apps and good drink prices) we decided to give it a try. The main dining room is fairly large and there were several groups having dinner. We decided to sit at the bar for a more casual atmosphere. There was a good crowd around the bar and the restaurant had excellent live music going ( I think they do that every Friday). One of the patrons actually joined in on vocals at one point and was spot on. We split three appetizers and left stuffed - the portions were large and the food was very good. The woman behind the bar, who I believe was the owner, was very friendly. They have outdoor seating and she said during warm weather they have the live music outside. It seemed like the Snow Squall can cater to those looking for a more intimate setting or those just looking for a casual bite. We'll definitely be back.
(4)Michael S.
Waiting for a reservation at expensive Old Port restaurants? Don't bother! You will find a great new eatery just over the bridge in South Portland called The Snow Squall. It has a mix of casual bar atmosphere and a white linen dining area. Menu is healthy and tasty! Their fish chowder is the best in Portland IMHO. Large glass windows give you a view of the marina and Portland harbor. Outdoor seating seasonally. We fell in love with the place and will be back with family and friends.
(5)