Drinks, food and entertainment at the Porthole Restaurant

As soon as you mention that glorious word "summer" to me, I find myself daydreaming of camping, BBQ's, hanging out with friends and family and a cold one on a deck somewhere. Then the thought of a deck has me thinking about the Porthole Restaurant and I can conjure up the smell of the ocean, envision the boats willing me to take them for a ride, actually feel the warm sun on my shoulders and I can practically taste the beer. Some days I have to drag myself to work, forcing myself to remember all those bills, so as to not become that person I so desperately want to be.

Why do I love the Porthole so much? I don't even know if I can put it into words. Located on 20 Custom Wharf St. in Portland, it's slightly off the beaten path. That helps. Inside, it's slightly eclectic, giving the eye something to do other than people watch. There are 10 seats at the bar and 10 large tables throughout the inside of the restaurant, meaning there is plenty of room to eat if it's cold outside. If not, head right out to the deck and find a picnic table.

One of the down to earth employees will be right with you, offering full service. Choose from Coors Light ($3.50) or Allagash, Shipyard and Shipyard Summer ($4) on tap, and bottles include Miller Lite, Corona, Corona Light, Red Stripe, Sam Adams or Sam Adams Light, all in the $3.50 to $4 range. They'll happily making me mimosas day or night, and the bartender will also pour you a glass of wine (pinot grigio, shiraz, merlot, chardonnay) for $6. With a full liquor license, whatever you drink is on its way- so sit back and relax. How could you not?

I'm always starving, so let's talk about food. Breakfast includes buttermilk pancakes, Frenchie's Toast or a breakfast sandwich ($7.95.) Don't be as daunted by that price, as I was. It's served on focaccia bread, consists of two eggs, a pile of cheese and bacon and is served with home fries.

If you slept late and it's already lunch, choose from several burgers and wraps or try the lobster and crab salad, served with fruit, vegetables and brie for $16. A must-have is the P.E.I. mussels that are sautéed in garlic, tomatoes, fresh basil and marsala for $14. The Porthole boasts the only mussels I have ever liked in my life.

Dinner sneaks up on you when you are melting away your worries on the deck, so stick around for the pan-seared salmon ($17) or try the crab-stuffed haddock served with rice pilaf for $18. For a more complete idea of all menu items, go here, but the prices need updating.

What's there to do other than eat and drink and daydream? Who cares! OK, there's a lot more to do at the Porthole than that. Until the talks of Red Sox Tuesdays and movies on the deck are finalized, you can currently plan on spending every Thursday and Friday night watching local bands play for free. Friday happy hour is presented by The Coast 93.1 and the deck fills up with the TGIF work crowd. On Sundays you can be sure to find reggae rocking the deck from 3 to 7 or 8 pm. That's plenty for you to do, if staring at boats isn't enough.

I don't know if I've given you enough reasons to head over to the Porthole, but I sure have convinced myself. Is it supposed to be sunny tomorrow? I already don't want to go to work.