The Snow Squall

I rarely review but I feel the need to warn others about the false impression you might have of this place if you’re going by Unilocal alone. Based on our one dinner, this is a 1 to 2 star restaurant. The servers and atmosphere were nice, though furnished and adorned with conflicting themes. That’s totally besides the point, though. We had two appetizers and two entrees. I’ve had canned soup that tasted better and contained more meat than what barely passed as haddock chowder here. Although I was just starting out my meal, I had no desire to finish the bowl’s contents. The fried brie was OK but wish it had more cheese, we received what was basically an over-​sized cheese stick. I like cheese sticks but don’t like paying $ 10 for one.
I returned my French Dip after one look and a taste. $ 15 for what is barely passable as bar food… not cool. It lacked good taste and effort. Pretty sure a teenager put it together.
The haddock/​shrimp risotto was very meh. Though I shared it with my wife, I simply did not want to help her finish it. The haddock was fine but the shrimp was over salted. The risotto was more like cheesy rice than creamy rice.
All in all, consistently bad. I left with some poorly made food in my stomach and a desire to put something tasty on top of it.

How can you not appreciate a place that has a Cheap Eats menu where not only is the food $ 10 and under… there’s a lot of it and it’s darn good, too?
To begin with, I came here with a large group, and making the reservation couldn’t have been easier. They were abundantly accommodating from the moment I called to make the reso to the moment we paid our bills and left the restaurant. There was an abundance of parking and the staff was extremely friendly and attentive — probably some of the best service I’ve had. I can’t believe we had one server for twelve people… and she never missed a beat (even making sure to let the chefs know each of our dietary restrictions)!
Drink:
+/​-​Rosemary Grapefruit Mule, fresh squeezed grapefruit juice with vodka, ginger beer, and rosemary, $ 9: This was a really solid mule and I would order it again, however I don’t think it tasted anything like grapefruit (and that was the ingredient that inspired me to order this).
Food:
+ Nachos with roasted veggies, $ 12: I wasn’t expecting these nachos to be good, but… damn. They were. And I’m annoyed that I had to share with people. Fried flour nachos topped with red peppers, tomatoes, cheese, and scallions with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.
+ Eggplant Napoleon, panko encrusted eggplant stacked with fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes, $ 10: This was everything I was hoping it was going to be. Thick layers of perfectly fried eggplant, creamy mozzarella, and fresh tomatoes. It tumbled to it’s side when it arrived at our table, but that didn’t make it any less yummy. Stick to your ribs vegetarian fare that’s good for winter days? Yes, please! I will think about this dish in the cold months to come.
+/​-​«Yummy Dumplings», veggie potstickers with wasabi mustard dipping sauce, $ 10: I can’t believe how many there were in this serving! They were good… definitely stuffed full of beautiful green vegetables… but a little greasy.
— Warm Pretzels, $ 5: This was a mistake. Flavorless, cold pretzel sticks. Just get a second order of the eggplant napoleon and thank me later.
The only thing I wasn’t sold on here was the atmosphere. It was a little underwhelming, though I dug the fireplace we got to sit next to. I also dug the elderly woman who let us know she was so happy to hear our table laughing so much — that it brought life to her evening. Warm fuzzies! Full bellies! And my budget isn’t busted!

The Snow Squall is the Toyota Camry of local restaurants. Everything about it is really good and reliable, but it will never «Wow» you with flashiness.
Twelve of us arrived on a winter Wednesday with few expectations. The restaurant is attractive but maybe a little plain. It’s so close to the ocean in South Portland but (from what I could tell) has no water views. Our server was incredible. All night she displayed impeccable timing with drink refills and orders. I can’t think of better service anywhere in recent memory.
The cocktail menu is creative and the $ 9-​$ 10 price point yields value. I was excited for the Rosemary-​Grapefruit Mule but left mildly disappointed. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t exceptional. The Gunpowder Old Fashioned with local Whiskey, blood orange bitters and simple syrup was much better.
The nachos were surprisingly maybe my favorite in Portland. The secret was flour tortillas instead of corn, and they were housemade. With buffalo chicken and cheese generously slathered, I literally could not stop eating them. The «Yummy» dumplings were veggie potstickers with a wasabi mustard sauce. They were decent, and the portion of eight was huge, but I would have preferred a pork version. The 7 ounce burger, a steal at $ 9, was a really solid burger.
The menu is extensive with cheap eats, bistro fare, entrees, salads/​soups and apps in a variety of price points. Everything that appeared from the kitchen looked delicious, and I’m eager to return.

Arrived and our table was a set and ready. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. We had nachos for an app which were very good. Just the right amount of topping and were served with sour cream and guacamole. I ordered the seafood risotto which was very nice, but a little too cheesy. The scallops were cooked perfectly. Service was good as I know its not easy with a large group, but the timing of everything was great. Great selection of wine. I had the sauvignon blanc which was crisp and with hints of citrus. I’d recommend to friends and go back myself!

This was a fabulous new find and I wish it was closer to home because everything is sooo good. They not only have a spectacular menu filled with filling savory entrees, a board of delectable desserts, a list of specialty cocktails but an everchanging specials board of spectular delights. The staff were attentive, smiling, fun, engaging and a wealth of information about the menu. No cup was empty for more than a moment and no belly left without being stuffed. The prices are perfect for the large portions and high quality eats. The setting was a lovely harbor, right next to a yacht club. There were patrons of all sorts and all friendly and smiling. This place was quite busy for a weelday evening and they kept up with the flow.
The nachos were some of the best I have ever had, fluffy crisp flour crisps with cubes of buffalo chicken and loads of melty cheese served with fresh salsa, creamy guac and smmoth sour cream. The carnivore in me hesitated to order veggie potsticker but my taste buds couldn’t deny the down right awesome taste of these fried morsels with a wonderful soy dipping sauce. By the time all the apps were devoured I could hardly fit another bite. Then my sausage cavappati dish arrived with tender italian sausage, sundried tomatoes, shaved parmesan, portabella mushroom slices all coated in a delicous creamy marsala sauce that was amazingly divine. I had to take most home with me. but it was still good on day 2. Them came the tollhouse cookie pie. A sweet and slightly salty treat that satified my sweet tooth. It was soft and not too rich but was such a wonderful treat.
I cannot wait to come back and try even more of their mouth watering food. I may have even had some cheesy dreams after all this goodness

Came here with a large group tonight and could not be happier. The food, the service and atmosphere was all awesome. We ordered nachos and dumplings to start. The buffalo chicken nachos were probably in my top ten nachos. The dumplings were served very hot and very tasty.
For dinner I wanted to order the special, bbq pork sliders. The issue was they were out of the buns. The waitress who was very helpful gave me the idea of turning it into a quesadilla. This idea was the best of the night. Very very good. All the food that came out of the kitchen looked amazing and I wish I could have tried more items.
I was so full I couldn’t even fathom eating dessert but I could fathom ordering the toll house cookie pie to go. I’m actually excited to come back to this place to try some more items off the menu.

I Went here with some friends to celebrate the holidays. The service was excellent. The fire was warm and toasty. I shared the lobster sliders — so yummy! The roll was toaster and worked perfectly with the lobster.
Nice place to get to see friends from the area!

Excellent all around restaurant! The service is great and the food can’t be beat! We’ve been there several times and are never disappointed!

This is our go to place for our Friday night date! Great live music, never a bad meal, and the staff and décor is very inviting! Drop in and sit at one of the two hand built bars and order the nachos! Best ever! Make reservation if you don’t want to wait– busy and full of happy customers!

Still delicious– had the salmon wrap today served by Garth. Great food and great service!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 Montréal, 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!!!

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!

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.