DiMillo's On the Water

Last updated
DiMillo's On the Water
DiMillo's logo.png
DiMillo's April 2024.jpg
Viewed from the end of Long Wharf in 2024
DiMillo's On the Water
Restaurant information
Established1982(42 years ago) (1982)
Owner(s)DiMillo family (1999–present)
Previous owner(s)Tony DiMillo (1982–1999)
Head chefMelissa Bouchard
Food typeSeafood
Street address Long Wharf
City Portland, Maine
Postal/ZIP Code04101
CountryUnited States
Coordinates 43°39′15″N70°15′02″W / 43.6541°N 70.2505°W / 43.6541; -70.2505
Seating capacity550
ReservationsYes
Website www.dimillos.com

DiMillo's On the Water is a floating restaurant in Portland, Maine, United States. It is located on the former New York car ferry, [1] which ran between Norfolk and Hampton, Virginia, then between Newport and Jamestown, Rhode Island. [2] It is now permanently berthed at Portland's Long Wharf. [3] The vessel is 206 feet (63 m) long, 65 feet (20 m) wide, and weighs 700 tons. [4] The DiMillo family also owns the marina that surrounds the vessel. [2]

Contents

History

The vessel viewed from Portland Pier in 2024 DiMillo's 2024.jpg
The vessel viewed from Portland Pier in 2024

The restaurant was established in 1982 by Tony DiMillo (1933–1999), who reused the name of his previous business, a lobster restaurant located on the opposite side of Commercial Street. DiMillo's Lobster House opened in 1965. [2] [3] [5] DiMillo's slogan, "The clams you eat here today slept last night in Casco Bay", was kept. [3]

Two menus from DiMillo's are included in a collection of menus held at the Portland Public Library. One is from 1982 and one is from 1989. According to the 1982 menu, that year a complete shore dinner cost $18.95, a lobster roll was $4.75, and spaghetti with plain sauce was $3.25. [6]

As part of a renovation in 2015, the restaurant's tables were made in Millinocket from reclaimed river logs. [7]

In January 2024, pilings were damaged, hingers were broken and the pier buildings flooded during the 2024 Portland flood. [8]

Management

Steve DiMillo is the restaurant manager, [7] a role he shares with three of his eight siblings: brothers Dan and Johnny and twin sister Stephanie Quattrucci. [5] Arlene DiMillo, widow of Tony, [9] was the company's president until her retirement in 2015. [7]

As of 2022, Melissa Bouchard is the head chef at the restaurant, [10] which has a seating capacity of around 550. [9] Bouchard began working in the DiMillo's kitchen in 1998. [7]

Chris DiMillo manages the yacht sales operation. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland, Maine</span> Largest city in Maine, United States

Portland is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine and the seat of Cumberland County. Portland's population was 68,408 in April 2020. The Greater Portland metropolitan area has a population of approximately 550,000 people. Historically tied to commercial shipping, the marine economy, and light industry, Portland's economy in the 21st century relies mostly on the service sector. The Port of Portland is the second-largest tonnage seaport in the New England area as of 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Pier</span>

Portland Pier is located at the intersection of Commercial Street and Silver Street on the eastern waterfront in Portland, Maine. It is located between Custom House Wharf and Long Wharf, on the edge of the Fore River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Diamond Island</span> Island in Casco Bay, Maine

Great Diamond Island is an island in Casco Bay, Maine, United States. It is part of the city of Portland. At the 2000 census, the island had a year-round population of 77. The island is not accessible from the mainland by motor vehicle and has a limited network of roads. The primary modes of transportation are golf carts and bicycles. This fact has become a selling point for the island, marketing the area as "car free" and "kid friendly". The island was used as a military base starting in the late 19th century and continuing through World War II. After the base was decommissioned, the bunkers and residences were left idle for over 30 years before being developed and sold to private citizens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floating restaurant</span> Ship type

A floating restaurant is a vessel, usually a large steel barge or hulk, used as a restaurant on water. The Jumbo Kingdom, formerly located at Aberdeen in Hong Kong, was at one time the world's largest floating restaurant, until it sank at sea in 2022. Sometimes retired ships are given a second lease on life as floating restaurants. The former car ferry New York, built in 1941, serves as DiMillo's in Portland, Maine. Another example is the train ferry Lansdowne, which served as a restaurant in Detroit. Plans for Lansdowne to continue in this capacity on the Buffalo, New York waterfront came to naught and it was scrapped in the summer of 2008. A third example of a ship's hull converted for this purpose is Captain John's Harbour Boat Restaurant in Toronto, which was located on MS Jadran, a former Yugoslavian ship but has since been closed and scrapped. Normac, the first Captain John's restaurant, was moved to Port Dahousie as the floating cocktail lounge Big Kahuna and is now the Riverboat Mexican Grill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irving Street Kitchen</span> Defunct restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Irving Street Kitchen was a restaurant serving American cuisine in Portland, Oregon's Pearl District, in the United States. Conceived by Doug Washington, Mitch Rosenthal and Steve Rosenthal as their interpretation on American cuisine with a Southern influence, it opened on May 6, 2010. With executive chef Sarah Schafer, Irving Street Kitchen added to their serving hours over the years, opening up for lunch and brunch. The restaurant also shifted towards casual dining in 2019, revamping its menu and ambiance. Irving Street Kitchen ultimately closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Han Oak</span> Korean restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Han Oak is a restaurant serving Korean cuisine in Portland, Oregon's Kerns neighborhood, in the United States. Owned by chef Peter Cho and partner Sun Young Park, Han Oak was The Oregonian's Restaurant of the Year in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castagna (restaurant)</span> Defunct restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Castagna was a restaurant in Portland, Oregon's Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood, in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everybody Eats PDX</span> Defunct restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Everybody Eats PDX was a soul food restaurant in Portland, Oregon. The business closed in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canard (restaurant)</span> Restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Canard is a French restaurant with two locations in the U.S. state of Oregon. The original restaurant opened in Portland. A second location opened in Oregon City in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Village Cafe</span> Restaurant in Maine, United States

The Village Cafe was a 550-seat family-owned Italian restaurant in Portland, Maine, United States. It was in business, at 112 Newbury Street, for 71 years (1936–2007) and was one of the few restaurants in the Old Port during the restaurant's existence. It stood across Hancock Street from the Shipyard Brewing Company, in a space now occupied by condominiums—The Village at Ocean Gate—which maintain The Village's name. The restaurant closed at 11:30 PM on weekdays and 12:30 AM on weekends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pizza Thief</span> Pizzeria in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Pizza Thief is a pizzeria in Portland, Oregon, in the United States. The restaurant has a "sibling" adjacent bar called Bandit Bar. Chef and co-owner Darby Aldaco opened Pizza Thief with partner Tony Pasquale in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caffe Mingo</span> Italian restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Caffe Mingo was an Italian restaurant in Portland, Oregon, United States. A fire caused the restaurant to close indefinitely in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berlu</span> Vietnamese restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Berlu is a Vietnamese restaurant and bakery in Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lazy Susan (restaurant)</span> Restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Lazy Susan was a New American restaurant in Portland, Oregon's Montavilla neighborhood, in the United States. Akkapong "Earl" Ninsom, as well as Andrew and Nora Mace, opened the restaurant in early 2020, just prior to the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite garnering a positive reception, the restaurant closed permanently in July 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RingSide Fish House</span> Defunct seafood restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

RingSide Fish House was a seafood restaurant in Portland, Oregon. The business operated in southwest Portland's Fox Tower from 2011 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Great Lost Bear</span> Restaurant in Maine, United States

The Great Lost Bear is a bar and restaurant at 540 Forest Avenue in Portland, Maine, United States. Established in 1979 by Dave and Weslie Evans and Chip MacConnell, it is noted for its selection of draft craft beers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Wharf (Portland, Maine)</span> Historic wharf in Portland, Maine, U.S.

Long Wharf is a historic wharf in Portland, Maine, on the edge of the Fore River. It stands across Commercial Street, between Market Street and Moulton Street and, on the waterfront side, between Portland Pier and Chandler's Wharf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Portland flood</span> 2024 disaster in Portland, Maine

The 2024 Portland flood was caused by heavy rainfall, an astronomical high tide, and high winds in Portland, Maine. It occurred, across coastal central Maine, on January 13, 2024, causing severe flooding, especially in Portland's Old Port district and around Back Cove. The storm followed another one, three days earlier, which also occurred during high tide.

BerlinMillsWharf is a historic wharf in Portland, Maine, on the edge of the Fore River. It is located on Commercial Street between Hobson's Wharf and Holyoke Wharf. It is located across Commercial Street from High Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Câche Câche (restaurant)</span> Defunct seafood restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Câche Câche was a seafood restaurant in Portland, Oregon's Buckman neighborhood, in the United States.

References

  1. Charles, Eleanor (1983-06-12). "WHAT'S DOING IN PORTLAND, ME". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  2. 1 2 3 Clem, Lauren (2022-08-23). "The Former Jamestown Ferry is Now a Restaurant in Maine". Rhode Island Monthly. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  3. 1 2 3 "Restaurant Portland | History | DiMillo's on the Water Maine". DiMillo's on the Water. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  4. Griffin, Nancy (2017-07-15). 50 Things to Do in Maine Before You Die. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN   978-1-60893-630-4.
  5. 1 2 3 Axelrod, Susan (2018-03-01). "All Hands On Deck". Old Port Magazine. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  6. "DiMillo's Restaurant, 1982". Portland Public Library Special Collections & Archives. 1982.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Watterson, Karen (2016-08-04). "DiMillo's Restaurant and Lounge". The Maine Mag. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  8. WGME, Mal Meyer (2024-01-15). "Portland businesses rebound after historic high tide causes extensive damage". WPFO. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  9. 1 2 Watterson, Karen (2016-05-04). "DiMillo's". The Maine Mag. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  10. Howard, Miles (2022-10-03). "Where to Get the Best Fall Food throughout New England". Boston Magazine. Retrieved 2023-09-08.