DiMillo's On the Water
The entrance to the DiMillo's parking lot from Commercial Street
Restaurant information
Established1982 (1982)
Owner(s)DiMillo family (1999–present)
Previous owner(s)Tony DiMillo (1982–1999)
Head chefMelissa Bouchard
Food typeSeafood
Street addressLong Wharf
CityPortland, Maine
Postal/ZIP Code04101
CountryUnited States
Coordinates43°39′15″N 70°15′02″W / 43.6541°N 70.2505°W / 43.6541; -70.2505
Seating capacity550
ReservationsYes
Websitewww.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]

History

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] The DiMillo family also owns the marina that surrounds the vessel.[2]

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,[8] was the company's president until her retirement in 2015.[7]

As of 2022, Melissa Bouchard is the head chef at the restaurant,[9] which has a seating capacity of around 550.[8] Bouchard began working in the DiMillo's kitchen in 1998.[7]

Chris DiMillo manages the yacht sales operation.[5]

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. 1 2 Watterson, Karen (2016-05-04). "DiMillo's". The Maine Mag. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  9. ↑ Howard, Miles (2022-10-03). "Where to Get the Best Fall Food throughout New England". Boston Magazine. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
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