Timber Steakhouse & Rotisserie

Okay… so we stopped in to Timber to get out of the cold tonight and were initially impressed with the ambiance, warm and inviting with a tasteful décor fitting its name. Then we scanned the menu. Wow. Sixty-​five bucks for a 40 oz. rib-​eye (seriously, who could consume that much meat in one sitting?) NOT INCLUDING sides. You could get a 2 lb. Porterhouse for $ 79! Wine by the glass at $ 15, an Oregon Pinot Noir. So we opted for the half chicken (at least you get a side included) for $ 26. Bread at the table consisted of 2 SMALL practically bite-​size pieces. They are REALLY trying hard at Timber: solicitous manager working the room, chef-​served food, mini-​carafe of wine to warrant the inflated price. But a $ 90 tab for 2 entrees and wine/​beer with no appetizer, no salad, no dessert, and no coffee? FOR REALLY AVERAGE food. Such a rip off. We will not return to Timber.

We only got drinks so don’t put too much stock in our review. Kind of like a New York steakhouse in a Maine hunting lodge. With country muzak. Lots of graybeards so not really our scene. No substantive complaints though.

First of all, if you are looking at grabbing a steak in downtown Portland on a tight budget or you are trying to squeeze that wallet tight then this place is definitely not for you. The prices here were crazy high. and I am not one that usually complains about price but woah but I digress here is my review:
Goods:
The waitress we had was completely amazing, she was attentive, knowledgable and super friendly but in a way that is needed when you are at a place that cost as much as it did. She knew a ton also on the good pairings for the wines and of course the Allagash that is aged in bourbon barrels that she recommended to me was divine.
Everything was super clean and immaculate and well kept and the crowd was a mellow yet fun crowd that seemed to lighten and flavor the mood of the restaurant as a whole.
The appetizers that the group had that I was with were delicious and decadent in every way. The beer battered friend thick cut bacon was a bit hit and the scallops drizzled in a sauce that I literally could have licked the plate after we were done but this isnt the kind of place due to the price (wait did I mention that)
Loved the style of fusion/​jazz playing in the background to set the mood to the dim lights and the wood and western/​art deco décor of the restaruant. The liquor selection was amazing and literally was a top shelf selection going all the way to the roof on three shelves toppes off with the butt ends of trees cut and layered on the back wall like you would stone or granite.
Bads:
I know that I mentioned the prices so I wont go into too much except the fact that I got a regulr medium rare new york steak that was not very seasoned and was 50 buckaroos just for the steak … no sides (extra). So although the steak was good and cooked well, I just dont justify paying that price for it.
We were cramped with our party of 6 so seating is a little cramped but nothing that any other resutaurant in Portland doesnt have.
So, as you can see the only real drawback was the price everything else was great, good feel, good service, good ambiance … Now I know I know there are some people that might ask, well, what do you expect from a steakhouse/​rotiserrie in downtown Portland? I say that I can see paying a good price, just not breaking the bank.

Greeting: Friendly hostess who promptly seated us. Our waitress was unmentionable. She was neither over friendly or rude.
Atmosphere: Pretty at first with unique wood working through out. The lighting was low which often times is nice but in this case we had difficulty determining which part of the chicken to eat.
Drinks: We both had Espresso Martini’s which were delightful.
Appetizer: We had the Grilled Shrimp and Ricotta Flat Bread. It seemed to be completely lacking in flavor and actually tasted bland. I couldn’t detect the garlic or some of the other ingredients. It seemed like a creative idea but turned out to be something that probably shouldn’t be on the menu.
Dinner: We both had the Slow Roasted Rotisserie Chicken. It was, okay. We’ve had a much better chicken at Buck’s for half the price and twice the quality. All of the sauces we sampled were uninspired. The Thai Peanut Sauce was more of a Thai Peanut paste minus the Thai spice. The BBQ sauce was standard, nothing special again Buck’s much better. The Bourbon Peppercorn sauce was flavorful. Asparagus was over cooked and mashed potatoes were sub par. Everything seemed to be lacking flavor and spice.
Check: After a hefty bill were left 2 packages of «Smarties» candy, the old throw away candy from Halloween. For the price we paid this seemed rather odd, but on par with the wasabi peas they served us when we first got seated rather than bread.
Overall Experience: We’re not afraid to pay for good food and have eaten at several high end establishments in Portland, which this at first glance appeared to be. Unfortunately the luster was lost starting with our Appetizer. Not worth the price or return visit.

Food, atmosphere, all outstanding… Their own steak sauce phenomenal … Makes A1 steak sauce taste like bad ketchup…
Cranberry maple cognac butter with home made rolls is a step above…

it looks good on paper, but that’s about it. My wife and I showed up about 5 minutes prior to our schedule reservation and were told, despite there being only a handful of other tables, that we’d have to sit at the bar, because our table wasn’t ready. As soon as we HAULED ourselves up onto the tallest (uncomfortable) barstools in the world, we watched the bartender pour a large cocktail into a starbucks cup for the hostess… then the GM delivered it to her. That should have been enough of a clue that we weren’t in the right place, but we persevered. eventually, we were taken to our table, and our server introduced herself. She was either new, or awkward, and was a little loud, and too enthusiastic. We ordered salads that were ok. the Mozzarella salad was good. the Ceasar was just a caesar… nothing special… i think the dressing was pre-​fab. Then, after a 45 minute wait after the salad, our steaks came out. My wife ordered the filet mignon, medium well (erring on the side of medium) — it was so well done it was crunchy — completely gray and dried out. further, it was on a cold plate, with cold sauce. I ordered steak au poivre. it was perfectly medium rare, but cold. on a cold plate with cold sauce. Our server brought me some warm sauce, which helped some, but can’t make up for cold food. neither steak had been seasoned before they went on the grill. The sides were ok. the fingerling potato poutine wasn’t really poutine — just some warm potatoes with cheese melted on top. the seared spinach was fantastic. it was worth getting a second helping. We did speak to the general manager who was kind enough to remove the inedible steak from the bill, and offer us a dessert to share to make up for the rest of the meal. unfortunately, we’d just had enough and decided to forgo the dessert.
i don’t think this is even worth a second try.

I debated giving this a 3 or 4 star.
Let’s start with the positives:
For one, Portland needs a steak spot, so it’s kind of nice that Timber covers that.
Two, all of the food at our table was great. Amongst my group of 5, I witnessed some really awesome food porn. Steak tips, surf and turf (for me), rotisserie chicken, fried bacon, various potatoes, ratatouille and beyond, all appealing. I didn’t partake in dessert or cocktails, but my friends raved about the seasonal chocolate dish, as well as martinis.
The waitress was really friendly and attentive as well, kudos to her.
Dislikes:
–The lighting was hard for me to enjoy. The yellow was so overpowering, I sort of started feeling like a mosquito. You know, like we were a family of bugs all congregating under the fluorescent light…

–In terms of food, my lobster tail was served in the shell atop my steak. It was not cut or cracked, nor was I provided any tool to do so. I ended up breaking It caveman style (with my hands). It seemed a little bit out of place to be doing that, so I’m not sure how they anticipate guests ought to.
— Steak was good, but not quite on the level for their price point that matches a NYC steakhouse. I’m not necessarily concerned with price, but I did also find it to be somewhat of an outlier in the Old Port’s restaurant scene.
Overall: Will I go back? Yes.

So, let’s start with the positives, because there were some. The venue itself is very nice. Rustic and woodsy feel. Handcrafted timber chairs. The patio where we sat was beautiful. Very quaint. Jocelyn, our server was wonderful. Rich, the general manager was warm and welcoming.
I travel all over the world and I use Unilocal as my guide to make sure I get the best experience in the cities I visit. More often than not Unilocal serves me well. This was my first visit to Portland and the place I wanted to go, Central Provisions didn’t serve their full menu until 5 and we had a boat to catch at 5:30 so that wasn’t going to work. Thus, we ended up at Timber.
A steakhouse wasn’t my idea of a typical Maine restaurant but the reviews were good so thought we’d try it. My sister ordered the filet and lobster and it was good (it should be and really, that’s pretty hard to screw up, right?) my Brother-​in-​law ordered the Lobster mac’ n cheese as an entrée and that was delicious too. My girlfriend ordered the Scallops. The scallops themselves were excellent and I’ve never seen such a huge portion. The base the scallops was served on was a sweet potato and kale and she said it was bitter. So here’s my advice… when you’re at a steakhouse be weary of the catch of the day! The other 4 people at the table ordered the catch of the day and it was HORRIBLE. Let me repeat. HORRIBLE! My bad, right? I shouldn’t order seafood at a steakhouse? BUT I’M IN MAINE FOR CRAP’S SAKE! The catch of the day was Turbot. I was the only one who had had turbot before and said it was a light flaky white fish. That it was but what we didn’t know is this dish was served as a whole fish. (This is my only criticism of Jocelyn. She should have been more descriptive of what it was because I guarantee my mother would NEVER order a whole fish). The fish was served skin side up (unappetizing) with the fishes mouth wide open (even more unappetizing). You literally couldn’t take a bite without getting bones. We even asked Rich the best way to eat it. His method didn’t help. The fish itself was mostly tasteless and by the time I got done cleaning the carcass I might have gotten a total of 4 – 5 ounces of fish. Pretty disappointing, especially with a $ 33 price tag. The chef clearly knew that it was a meager portion of protein because they put a huge pile of white bean and bacon succotash under the disgusting fish body. The succotash sucked! (How can anything with bacon suck you ask… it did!!)
Bottom line…
I take the blame for ordering fish at a steakhouse. BUT… the chef should be ashamed for even serving that dish I had.
If I lived in Portland I would go back. But only if I wanted red meat. My guess is there are plenty of other places where you can get the best of both worlds.

First: the manager, Richard, was a gentleman and the staff really worked at accommodating us and correcting the problems with our steaks. Although that didn’t overcome the poor quality of the meat and the fact that it was over cooked. 4 of our 5 steaks were delivered at the wrong temperature. The dry aged t bone was mostly fat and very little meat. No one in our party Had a steak that was tender or of the quality reflected by the prices on the menu.
The Caesar salad was spot on. The drinks were served correctly and properly made. The deserts were all odd but thoughtfully put together.
If our experience is not very unusual this restaurant needs to change meat purveyors and find a grill person who can cook a steak. My wife said she would give them another chance. Perhaps I would just because Richard and staff made such an effort to make things right.

I will state that like many of the other reviewers, this restaurant is overpriced. That is the biggest problem, but there are problems with the food as well.
On the positive side of things, the Tomato and Buffalo Mozarella salad was very good. You assemble it yourself and the quality of ingredients and flavors was excellent. I also had a very good Margarita as my second drink. Additonally the service was very friendly and attentive.
The rest of the food was where the issues started. The bloody mary which was my first drink was not good. No salt and a weird mix of flavors in a very chunky mix. We got the large ribeye, some duck egg rolls, the portabella mushrooms, a daily special of maple corn, and au gratin potatoes as the main course. We ordered the steak medium and it was essentially rare. I don’t mind rare steak so we ate it, and I gave my wife the end pieces. The Au Gratin potatoes were way too salty and the mushrooms way too vinegary. The duck egg rolls were not bad, but had been left in the fryer too long. The corn was the biggest issue. It was a single small cob of corn with some butter on the side and was either 7 or 9 dollars (I can’t quite remember) but it was totally not worth it.
At the end of the day we were there during a slow period so the steak not being cooked enough and the egg rolls overcooked seem to indicate some need for improvement in kitchen quality control.
Finally, like many other reviewers, I strongly suggest a reevaluation of pricing.

I love starting my Portland Unilocaling with all the highest ranking spots. Timber is near the top of my list.
Bartender, Henry, is a wizard. I had a Boulevardier, wonderfully done, and a Sazerac which bested the (still very, very good) one I had at Portland Hunt & Alpine.
Noah, one restaurateur behind this spot, is a gregarious and delightful host.
My meal – my standard – steak frites was also a delight. I opted for Stilton butter at Henry’s recommendation and that was the right choice. The cut was perfect. The temperature was perfect. Pairing it with a wedge salad to start was brilliant in its simplicity and straightforwardness. It is a rare occasion when I join the Clean Plate Club.
I look forward to Timber being around for a long time.

The first time we went to Timber the cocktails were great and we really enjoyed chatting with Bob and Henry. We’ve since returned a number of times for a great experience at the bar. I like the Ginger St. Germaine and the espresso martini. Timber is a really beautiful space, too, and last time we were there a glass of port felt very appropriate.
There are lots of tempting items on the menu and creative daily specials. Try the mussels if they’re available. The fries are a tasty bar snack when I need some food with my drink. We sat in the dining room once, for a birthday dinner — french onion soup, rotisserie chicken with two dipping sauces and mashed potatoes (try the bourbon peppercorn dipping sauce on the mashed potatoes!). Mmmmm, everything was delicious. We’ve never tried their steaks but they look and smell great.
We brought guests from out of town and they enjoyed Timber as much as we do.

Having dined here twice, I am awarding the coveted five star rating. Food, service and atmosphere were firing on all cylinders for both visits. Across a five course tasting menu and two entrees all of the food was nothing less than excellent.
Steaks are, as expected and priced, outstanding in both seasoning and cooking. The beef was dry aged.
Dry aged beef is superior to the ‘wet packs’ employed by lesser steak houses. Dry aging requires liquid weight loss as the meat cures, a longer lead time and a skilled hand for trimming. That’s why many places have given up. Portions were just right. Side orders and appetizers were flavorful and well thought out. The rotisserie chicken is produced in a very expensive machine ans the flavor reflects this.
Service was impeccable: prompt, unobtrusive and thoughtful. Suggestions were sincere and accurate.
The atmosphere, upscale casual, is warm, woody, romantic and inviting. Prices are steep however this level of prep, ingredients and service does not come cheap. The rotisserie cooker alone costs more than many cars. Happy hour drink prices can diminish the bill. This is a very nice splurge and a high end «sometimes treat» for carnivores.

Excellent steaks. Huge. So big that they tend to cook under because they’re so thick. My ribeye was crusty on outside, rare inside. A sear outside and finished with a broil would have done the trick.
Scotch selection was decent, but nothing exotic. Service was excellent.

Far East Meets Down East, Xmas Eve Pre Fix
Chinese restaurants have another thing comin!
First Course: Duck Confit & Shrimp Wonton Soup. Homemade wonton was ideal, not too doughy and not too crisp. Filling was full flavor with a great combination of shrimp and duck confit. Wild mushrooms were a great surprise at the bottom, and it added to the earthiness of the broth.
Second course: Chilled Soba Noodle Salad. Refreshing and light. Noodles were cooked perfectly. Tahini was a great addition in the apple dressing.
Third course: Tuna Two Ways. Tartare has a nice back heat. It’s served alongside two pieces of seared the tuna, which has a nice toasted sesame flavor. The two are pulled together with crispy wontons and a seaweed salad, great pairing and touch.
Fourth course: Grilled Ah-​So Spare Ribs. The combination of barbecue spice and pickled veggies was a great compliment.
Fifth Course: Peking duck. Amazing glaze on the duck that was prepared incredibly tender. Served with the best short of rib fried rice and marinated broccoli.

Delicious fillet and the service is attentive and friendly. Seating was painfully cramped and uncomfortable for our party of 6, who had a reservation.
My partner had a NY Strip. We had three alcoholic drinks between us and one dessert along with one side an an appetizer. The bill was north of $ 200.00. OUCH!
I would have to recommend to you the house margarita if you go, but aside from that, as good as the service and food were, I could have received the same taste and quality of steak at a series of restaurants in the area for much less.
In the end, the experience and taste come nowhere near worth the unreasonable, poorly calibrated price. We’d like to return, but not until this still newcomer to Portland’s dining scene comes to its senses.

Gimme dat Happy Hour. Killer wine specials & possibly the best HH food menu in Portland. If you think I’m wrong, please tell me where else you can get real, good food for so cheap. Not just tiny «snack food» for a few bucks.
I’ve done HH multiple times, dinner for the first time last week. My friend and I split the half chicken (we didn’t even finish it), asparagus & jalapeño cornbread. We actually didn’t finish anything fully, and we can eat. It was kind of pricey, but you know that going in here. You get what you pay for.

I decided to treat my Dad to a high end Father’s day dinner instead of buy him more stuff he doesn’t need. I heard that Timber, a high end steak house had just opened, so I couldn’t think of a better place to try. I actually was privy to the fact that the owners of The North Point had opened Timber, and once I found that out I was even more pleased I chose Timber.
It’s quite dark inside but the hostess was extremely friendly and let my Dad choose where he wanted to sit. The décor is lovely and they hand stained the wood floor panels. The bar is quite exquisite. They do have an outdoor patio which is quite nice, but since the back section of the restaurant was empty we chose to have that section all to ourselves. The menu is quite pricey but definitely worth it, so make sure you aren’t pinching pennies when you come to eat at Timber.
To start I ordered the St. Germain Moscow Mule. It was quite delicious and I would definitely recommend this. There was a sugar cube plopped in the drink which made it extra fizzy and delicious. My Dad had the Riesling and was not disappointed. You also receive complimentary wasabi peas and buttery bread with your meal — quite hearty.
Because this is a steak house I decided to go all out and order the Filet Mignon (actually their cheapest, price wise, piece of meat on the menu), $ 31. It was quite amazing and one of the best pieces of steak I’ve had. I ordered it with the bernaise sauce, which only added to the rich flavor and perfect sear (perfectly cooked to medium rare). My Dad ordered the whole chicken and it came with two sauces of his choice. I don’t think I’d personally go back for the whole chicken but it was very good! Mainly, I think I’d be too tempted to not get that delicious steak again. He also ordered a side of mashed potatoes ($ 8) and it was quite a generous side, with scallions and butter on top. Needless to say we were very full when we left. I’ve heard their desserts are definitely worth it, even though they sound standard, so I will have to go for dessert sometime.
Our waitress was extremely friendly and the restaurant manager and owner both stopped by our table to chat about our meal, the experience of creating the restaurant (they had just opened two weeks prior) and how excited they were to have people enjoy their offerings. Great staff, excellent meal and I will definitely be back.

Let me preface this by saying I am NOT vegetarian (haha, sorry Steph, had to make fun of you!). Are you a non vegetarian like me? If so, you will love it here. Starting with fried bacon (yes, really) to giant steaks, the favors are great. The bacon tastes like a fancy version of a carnival food, satisfying all the savory taste buds! I suggest it! We had the Mac and cheese as a side and ours was good, unfortunately, our table-​mate had a watery version. The steak was perfectly cooked, exactly as ordered and had such great flavor. The duck, yes we got a dish with duck in it also, was actually executed with quality — very much a suggested dish! It was sad that the bread was cold… Quite unfortunate as I wanted a fresh hot slice to sop up all the juices from the dishes!
Is it the best I ever had, no, but it’s right up there and I plan on coming back a bunch!

Timber’s owners boldly proclaim the restaurant to be Portland’s only true steakhouse (a jab at another local proprietor), but I’d have to agree. Grill Room aims to please all with an expansive, diverse menu that covers the spectrum from vegetarians to the most voracious carnivores. Timber is aimed straight at the meat loving crowd. Which is why I will update this review in the coming weeks, as I have yet to try a steak.
The restaurant, quite simply, is gorgeous. You enter to the long wooden bar backed by the soft glow of the yellow lighting that is becoming the owners’ trademark. There are tables in the bar section, a true dining room further back and a beautiful outdoor section that seats 40+. Enclosed by Allagash beer barrels and populated with 6+ seat tables, tiki type umbrellas and thick, comfy chairs, this is sure to be a top outdoor seating destination. They plan on employing a 3 piece jazz band for weekends.
Happy hour runs until 6 pm with a mixed drink of the day for $ 6, most draft beers for $ 4 and all wines by the glass $ 5. Similar to North Point, it’s a great happy hour and by far the best time to come here for the price conscious. Because Timber is very, very expensive. There isn’t a steak under $ 30. In fact, prices have already gone up and the Porterhouse is now around $ 87. I wish the New York born owners would offer options for all (the soups are $ 10+ and basic salads are in the $ 12 range), but that doesn’t seem to be the goal. So this restaurant will live or die by the quality of the steaks. They look excellent and I can’t wait to try.
On my first trip my companion and I ordered the Jalapeño Mac and Cheese, which the (excellent) bartender proclaimed to be the best in the city. Since my friend is a vegetarian, we ordered it without bacon. It was not the best in the city. In fact, it may have been the worst. Removing the bacon somehow turned this dish into mac and cheese soup. It was barely edible. We saw another party order it with the bacon intact and it appeared slightly less soupy, but still not good. On my second trip I ordered the buffalo croquettes ($ 12). 5 meatball sized fried balls of gooey cheese, chicken and buffalo sauce quickly arrived with a side of bleu cheese. Absolutely delicious. I could eat these all day long. The fried bacon with maple drizzle was another winner. My heart may hate me, but this is indulgence at its finest.
The drink menu is similar to the North Point but with more emphasis on whiskey and bourbon. It’s a strong menu with something for everyone, and prices are normal for the city in the $ 10-​$ 12 range for cocktails and $ 8-​$ 12 for wine. The bartenders are excellent. Friendly, informative, and great at their jobs. The staff in general are top notch, with the manager being exceptionally nice and helpful.
Overall Timber is a big winner on atmosphere, service and drinks. The non-​steak food items have been mixed. It’s a new restaurant and I’m sure they have kinks to work out, but so far they’re doing a fantastic job. With $ 40 filets, the steaks better be the best in Maine, and I’ll be back to try at some point this summer to find out.