JP’s Bistro

had a wonderful dinner tonight– ate at the bar where master mixologist Jordan (think was his name) served and entertained us– he is an artist with cocktails! I had short rib ravioli and onion soup for dinner– both were delicious!!! I make onion soup that I love — this was the best I have ever had– the ravioli and wonderful– My husband has chicken Parmesan and said it was fabulous (one of his favorites– said it was great) The service was super– all good !!!

JP’s was recommended by Joel while we were golfing at Riverside. He said we should definitely go to JP’s. His recommendation was wonderful. I had blackened salmon over, linguine in an Alfredo sauce. It had such great taste. Ed had the pecan chicken and was also very pleased with his dinner. We sat at the bar and Jordan was very helpful. It was extremely busy on a Saturday night, and yes it is small, but we would travel from NH just to go back to JP’s! I would ignore the very few 2 – 3 star rating some give!

Fantastic meal! Not over priced. We felt like we paid fair prices for the meals we ordered. A long list of specials to choose from as well as the traditional menu. My haddock topped with crab and asparagus was top notch. Only second to the mud pie. Oh my god. Do yourself a favor and get the mud pie. I would highly recommend splitting it with a buddy though. We left happy and satisfied. I can’t wait to come back again.

Simply the best! Get the bourbon steak or if it is available as a special, the double thick pork chop w/​melted cheese over it! As an app, get the ribblet raviolis. I have never had a better sauce than what is on those pork raviolis! Sit at the bar with Jordan! He is amazing. My favorite restaurant!

I’m back in the area where I grew up, but it’s been 30 years since I lived here. So, when I found myself at the Clarion hotel on Congress street needing a takeout dinner, I turned to Unilocal.
Hmm, Parm crusted haddock, Caesar salad, I can do that! 35 minutes to pick up? Ok, I’m on California time, so not exactly starving.
When I went to the restaurant, I thought I should have eaten there! Great atmosphere, great wait staff, and seating at the bar for dinner as well as outside. The aroma of good food hit me when I walked in. The person who took my order hustled to finish some orders and quickly got mine to go.
Wondered if fish to go was a mistake, but haddock is a firm fish and the Parmesan crust made it hold up well. I was eating it maybe 15 min after pickup, and it was yummy. The vegetables were crisp and fresh. When I looked at the portion I thought I could eat half. Before I knew it, all the fish and veggies were demolished!
When I waited for my order, I watched dishes being served. In particular an appetizer called meatballs marinara looked really good. I plan to go back!

Incredible neighborhood restaurant. Creative dishes but still grounded in great taste. Pistachio mussels just great taste.
Huge portions. We stop on way to Manchester airport and had best lunch on Southwest Airlines that anybody had that day.
Need reservations because people know quality.
Still friendly and great value.
Thank you to everyone that works at JP’s

JP’s makes it easy to spend your hard-​earned cash money on a tasty, authentic meal. Their list of specials is extensive (to say the least) and allows you to tailor your meal to your liking by substituting nearly any meat with any pasta/​sauce you see. Their cocktails are always recommended by the waitresses and they’re usually pretty strong!
On my most recent trip, I shared the Calamari and Asparagus Salad. The asparagus was by far my favorite! I’ve been pleased with all the entreés, except for the Linguini in White Clam sauce. I’m not sure what made up the sauce, but it looked like millions of tiny little baby clams… While it wasn’t exactly unpleasant, I wouldn’t choose to eat it again.
Come for a solid meal or for a cute date night, and expect to be treated like family! I’m only giving 3 stars because Italian/​American isn’t exactly my cup of tea, but this place seems to be quite a hit.

My husband & I went there last night. Husband was mildly satisfied with his dishes, but I was very disappointed in my bland, flavorless Shrimp Louis. The dish was served over pasta, contained a few very TINY pieces of calamata olives (a few more & slightly larger pieces such as ½ an olive size could have added at least some flavor to the dish), dry shrimp which may have been overcooked, a clear watery sauce with no flavor, whole cherry or grape tomatoes surrounding the dish, & 2 asparagus pieces cooked to death over top. Asparagus was as limp as canned asparagus. In short nothing in this dish «married» into any flavor. Therefore it was nearly inedible for me. Stupidly I did not send the dish back. Finally near the end I did tell the nice server the dish was bland. There were guests sitting nearby so I didn’t wish to cause a scene by telling more of the story of the dish. I should simply have drunk my dinner with additional blood orange martinis.

Love, love, love this place. The wait staff are very knowledgeable on the entrees and specials, and extremely friendly. The place is a favorite with locals and they have many «regulars.» That said, they’re friendly and welcoming whether it’s your first or twentieth visit. I should also mention that the food and drinks are spectacular!

This restaurant was recommended to us and I’m glad we followed the advice! Doesn’t look like too much from the outside on Woodford Street. Cute but small inside– definitely make a reservation! Nice wine list and huge specials list on the blackboard. Our waiter was super nice and knowledgeable about the menu– he made some very thoughtful suggestions. We had the stuffed mushrooms, which were excellent. I had haddock for dinner and my boyfriend had veal– both were wonderful. Prices were reasonable and you can order a half size of most entrees if you think you don’t want leftovers (but who wouldn’t?). We will definitely be back!

Consistently is reason to come here. A great neighborhood place. Noisy bistro with creative dishes. Excellent service and one of the best bartenders in town.

I brought my parents to this place when they visited Portland this winter. They’re not into ethnic or spicy food, so I had to find a place with familiar dishes done well. JP’s was the perfect choice.
I got the risotto with scallops, and I have to echo everyone else and say that it was amazing! A great meal for a cold winter night. I wasn’t quite as crazy about the crab-​stuffed fish entrée that my mom got, but she really enjoyed it.
Aside from the food being tasty, I thought the atmosphere was really cozy and inviting. The restaurant is pretty small but somehow it didn’t feel too crowded or noisy; it felt more like an intimate family gathering. Our server was also friendly and incredibly patient with my indecisive family members.
I’d recommend this place for when you need a crowd-​pleasing menu but still want tasty food and good service.

My family has followed JP where ever he goes! Ever since I was 12 I have been ordering his pecan chicken. Over ten years later it never lets me down! Jp’s is consistent and delicious whether you want to eat your old favorite meal or try something new!

This place is terrific. Really friendly staff, cozy atmosphere and delicious food. The bread and homemade herb butter was divine! We shared a Cesar salad and my dining partner had pasta Bolognese. I had scallops with mushroom risotto. Both dishes were scrumptious! The risotto was creamy and garlicky and the scallops were perfectly seared. The Bolognese was authentic and hearty. It’s in that perfect sweet spot between fine dining and casual neighborhood place. We will definitely return.

JP’s is a not-​so-​secret little gem. Located by Cumberland Farms in Rosemont Center, the space is small but attractive. It’s become quite busy so reservations are a good idea, and be prepared for close quarters.
The namesake chef is somewhat of a local legend. He formerly worked at a series of more divey bars (Samuels, Bernie’s) which was an odd fit for his upscale cuisine. You can order a variety of foods off the regular menu but the expansive specials menu holds the best surprises. Think rich dishes of fish, chicken and veal loaded with butter and oil. JP’s is definitely not health food, but it is delicious. Last night the chicken francese and swordfish couldn’t have been better.
With the flood of expensive, small plate restaurants opening in Portland recently, JP’s is a relief. The portions are as substantial as the menu and you’ll leave completely stuffed. Price points are slightly cheaper than downtown too in the $ 18-​$ 23 range.
JP’s is one of the best restaurants outside of the Old Port, and It’s great to have such a satisfying option without having to deal with the parking hassles.

My husband and I had reservations at JP’s Bistro tonight and everything exceeded our expectations! We were seated immediately and the staff was incredibly helpful and kind. We ordered the short rib ravioli for an appetizer. It didn’t last long and we used the warm, fresh bread to soak up the left over sauce. My husband had the seafood casserole and I ordered the chicken cordon bleu. Both were amazing! We will definitely be returning very soon!

One of the most consistently good restaurants in Portland. A down to earth great neighborhood place. Very busy tonight, and if you don’t have a reservation, be prepared to wait. The waitstaff is very friendly and helpful. Sip a cocktail while waiting for your table. Lots of cocktail options and a fairly good wine list.
The food is to die for. Short rib raviolis, stuffed mushrooms, French onion soup and arugala salad were our appetizer choices tonight. All perfectly cooked. Chicken cordon bleu, baked stuffed haddock, pistachio mussels and a seafood fra diablo were our entrees.
Everything was so good, and best of all, not over priced. Generously portioned as well.
Everyone, go try this place!!!

Dining at a place like JP’s Bistro makes one reevaluate all the five star ratings they’ve handed out, as all of a sudden you realize other places just can’t be rated the same as JP’s.
How to begin, the food was spectacular, the service was spectacular, and the atmosphere was great.
The first night I ordered Shrimp Athena, the wife the crab cake appetizer and a half order of shrimp scampi. We’re not used to places that offer you half orders of things. It’s not noted on the menu, but worked out great for us.
My Shrimp Athena was one of the very best meals I have ever eaten in my life. The shrimp were large, perfectly cooked and plentiful. But the sauce really made it so special. My wife surprisingly allowed me a taste of her scampi, and it was unbelievable too, the best scampi I’ve ever had, quite a different style to it.
So when we were done, we got up from the table, and went to the hostess station to make reservations for the next night, our last night on our vacation here.
The second night I had chicken Parmesan, the wife shrimp scampi again, and French onion soup. She said the soup was great, and guarded her scampi from me this time. My chicken parmesan was great, quite different from any I’ve had, and a very large portion which I couldn’t finish. The one bad thing was that my side of linguine was kind of cold.
The service was amazing. It wasn’t stuffy, the emotionless proper service. Everyone we interacted with was genuinely friendly, and very helpful. The first night the managers little brother who was in training, was our server.
The menu on-​line is less than half of what they actually had, as on a blackboard they had specials listed. It was very hard deciding as there were so many things that sounded good. The manager helped me decide on my entrée the first night, and as I said, it was a remarkable dish. The hostess called us the second night as we were on our way, saying they had a cancellation, and remembered we wanted an earlier time, saying we could come in sooner. The manager brought our drink orders the second night simply from remembering what we had the night before.
I have never been made to feel so special at a restaurant as I was here. Everything contributed to this, but the friendliness and great attitude of the staff is just remarkable.
And the prices are surprisingly low. Our meal the second night came to $ 44!
They only have about seven tables, plus two high tops at the bar, a small space. Reservations are needed. It is a lovely place, with great atmosphere.
If we lived within an hour of JP’s, we would be dining here every other week at least.
The one really terrible thing about this place is that we have nothing like this at all where we are from. We are stuck knowing there is such wonderful food and the experience not available to us.

I’m on the fence as to whether I should be giving 4 or 5 stars in my review. 4.5 would be ideal, but I tend to round down versus up in my ratings. I made my first trip to JP’s last week and was really impressed with the experience.
My mom was in town, so my wife and I wanted to take her out and try something new in the process. All three if us were very happy with our experience. To get started we all shared an order of crab meat stuffed mushroom as well as an order of muscles. The muscles in particular were very good.
Both my wife and I ordered the scallops with mushroom risotto and both of us loved it! It’s a heavy/​rich meal so come with your appetite intact. My mom got a seafood casserole from the specials board that she was a big fan of as well.
Our server was great. Enthusiastic and very knowledgable about the menu and specials. Loved the cocktails, but if there was something to gripe about it was the seemingly excessive wait for cocktails to arrive after ordering.
JP’s is a pretty small space so reservations would be wise and where we were sitting it was pretty loud. That doesn’t bother me, but I know others feel differently.
Overall, a great meal at very fair prices. Will certainly be back.

Went here because our friends suggested it. Finally, an Italian place that is creative yet not super high end. Sat cozily at the bar on a busy Saturday night. Our wait person/​bartender was awesome. Knowable, friendly and smooth. It was entertaining watching her make specialty drinks in the limited space without missing a beat. There was a good selection of beverages from the full bar.
We started with the short rib ravioli. I could have eaten them all night long. They were that tasty. The appetizer actually out shined the chicken Marsala I had for my entrée. I was good but a little rushed. The coating on the chicken could have been browner which would have made the dish a bit richer. Also, could have been stronger on the Marsala. Overall, better than some concoctions masquerading as chicken Marsala that I’ve had. My wife had a very delicious linguine with white clam sauce. Really a white wine, garlic broth. Tons of clams! Yummy! The hot bread with the garlic herb butter hit the spot. As well as the demi garden salad with house Gorgonzola dressing we had between courses. This place is great. I can’t wait to go back!