Davids 388 Restaurant

Recommended to us by our BnB host. Loved the atmosphere and the staff. Wife ate the focaccia breadcrumb haddock and wiped the plate clean. I had the burger and really enjoyed it. What I enjoyed the most however was their mirage mocktail.

Excellent food and great staff -- thanks for an outstanding dinner!

My mom and I are from Louisiana, and we've been driving up the East Coast over the past few days. There is nothing we enjoy more than great food. In fact, I plan most of my vacations around what I'm going to eat! After doing some research, we had planned to try another restaurant. Then, by pure chance, my mom struck up a conversation with a couple staying at our Airbnb, and they couldn't stop talking about David's 388. That conversation completely changed our dinner plans, and I'm so glad it did. We were seated at 5:00 p.m., and the moment we walked through the door, the incredible aroma coming from the kitchen had us hooked. We immediately looked at each other and said, "Whatever that is, that's what we're ordering!" The couple had recommended the Seafood Pappardelle, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Being from Louisiana, we're no strangers to amazing seafood and pasta dishes, but this was unlike anything we've had before. It was lighter than the rich cream-based pastas we're used to, yet every bite was packed with incredible flavor. The fresh bread was perfect for soaking up every last drop of the sauce...we weren't about to leave any behind! The Brussels sprouts were another surprise. Perfectly crispy with toppings that created little bursts of flavor in every bite. They were outstanding. Best we've ever tasted. While we were eating, I noticed an award hanging on the wall and asked about it. My mom and I immediately looked it up and started reading about the restaurant's recognition. They had received the 2026 Dirona Award of Excellence! After tasting the food, it all made perfect sense. One of the unexpected highlights of the evening was sitting at the counter with a front-row view of the kitchen. Watching Ian and Emma work was like watching a symphony. The kitchen may be small, but don't let that fool you. They moved effortlessly around one another while juggling pan after pan, many of them literally on fire, without ever looking rushed or overwhelmed. It was like watching master craftsmen who have worked together for years. You could tell they were a perfectly synchronized team. Even with a completely full restaurant, Emma still took a few moments to answer some of our questions between creating one beautiful dish after another. That personal touch made the evening even more memorable. I've eaten at a lot of wonderful restaurants, but I've never tipped the chefs before. This time, I couldn't leave without doing so. They were the true stars of the evening. If you're anywhere near Portland or South Portland, don't miss David's 388. Come hungry, sit at the counter if you can, and enjoy not only one of the best meals you'll have in Maine, but also the chance to watch two incredibly talented chefs turn an evening out into an unforgettable experience.

We just stopped in for a drink, before a reservation somewhere else, and they were super accommodating and friendly. They didn't have any tables, but because we just wanted a drink, they sat us at the kitchen bar. Best hibiscus margaritas we've ever had!

In search for a quality burger, found it here..and well done as requested. Will be returning to sample their other menu items now that I know they/chef can cook a great burger. Dan, your friendly conversationalist bartender and waiter will take care of you. Enjoy

David’s 388 is delicious, fresh, consistent and just all around good vibes! We love everything but especially the seafood pappardelle, lamb, filet, and burger.

We have been coming here often and usually have a great experience here. I had booked a reservation for Sunday the day after valentine's day to celebrate a late valentine's day with my boyfriend since we work on valentine's day. They had put us in the far back corner for a table that was meant for 8 people. The rest was not too busy and it seemed that they isolated us from the rest of the crowd there and there were two top tables available. Seemed like they did not know where to place us even though I had booked a reservation. We would have been fine with it but we had gotten forgotten about multiple times. The biggest issue and concern was that I was served a alcoholic drink when I had ordered a mocktail and my boyfriend was served my mocktail when he had ordered the alcoholic drink. I strictly do not drink alcohol due to health issues, past issues with alcohol abuse in my family and it is part of my beliefs to not drink alcohol. We had notified the waitress that our drinks were wrong. She did not really apologize and even stated that she had tested our drinks with a straw and was not sure which drink was which. With that knowledge she still served us the drinks without even knowing which drink was which. This upset me and she didnt even offer for our drinks to be remade. This was suppose to be a special night to celebrate a late valentine's day and the experience was horrible.

One of the best dining experiences! Staff was very friendly, the restaurant was extremely clean and the food was exceptional! definitely be back

The food was overpriced and did not meet my expectations. The fish was overcooked and dry, and the soup was cold when we got it. I also heard the owner yelling profanities at the kitchen staff while I was there. Would not recommend.

We've enjoyed David's 388 many times in the past. This month they are featuring Wednesday 'date night' special which provided a little extra nudge to get us out on cold nights. We had a wonderful time. As always the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. The food was great. Of special note was the "Mushroom & vegetable risotto - Mushroom mix | carrot | leeks & shallots | - parmesan | tomato | kale | cream". It had an incredible layered flavor. The proportion of rice was much lower than typical – with a wonderful vegetable-forward mix of flavors/textures. Outstanding. Also notable was the "Cheese Cake Cinnamon rum caramel ". It was deeply flavorful with perfect textures