Delicious Musings on The Jewel Box

Delicious Musings has published an article about The Jewel Box and interview with owner Nathaniel Meiklejohn.

Velvety cushions line the front window bench. The aesthetic is a thoughtful blend of history and romance, with hints of punk and modern tech—less curated than conjured. Victorian frames meet party lights. It doesn’t feel like it’s trying. It just is: timeless, a little mysterious, and utterly inviting—and encourages you to be too.

While you’re on author Sharon Kitchen’s substack you might also read about her visit to a bean supper in Sabattus and a conversation with Tandem co-owner Will Pratt about the books he’s been reading.

Portland’s Baking Soul

The May issue of Food & Wine includes an article about Portland area bakeries.

Portland, a town of just 69,000, is now home to a dozen or so destination-worthy bakeries, many leaning on only-in-New-England local flavors and Maine-grown, house-milled grains. Despite recent national acclaim, Portland’s bakery landscape has held tight to its soul.

The article highlights Zu Bakery, Night Moves, Mari, Belleville, Bread & Friends, Norimoto Bakery and Siblings.

Maine Food & Dining News: Lewiston, Skowhegan, Kingfield, Camden, Phillips, Hallowell, Scarborough, Wells

New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine. Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know:

  • Bene’s Beef (instagram) is bringing North Shore roast beef sandwiches and tallow French fries to Lewiston. Chef/owner TJ Castiello is from the Boston area. He has leased the former El Pochos location at 990 Lisbon Street and hopes to launch Bene’s sometime in June. El Pochos relocated last year to the space in town formerly occupied by Boba.
  • The Millers Table in Skowhegan will be launching a new 125-seat restaurant called The Biergarten (instagram) at the new Spinning Mill development. Chef Erik Levine will be serving a menu inspired by traditional German dishes like bratwurst and schnitzel prepared with locally sourced ingredients. The bar program will offer craft beers, cocktails and mocktails. A specific date hasn’t been set yet but they’re hoping to launch The Biergarten in late May.
  • The new Kingfield coffee shop we wrote about back in January, Marmee Dearest Espresso (instagram) is set to open on May 7th. the 20-seat cafe will serve brewed coffee and espresso-based drinks as well as locally made baked goods. Rhodes plans to feature coffee from roasteries in New England and Canada and from woman-owned roasteries. Her house coffee is roasted by Tern Coffee Roasters which is launching its own retail coffee shop in Brunswick. Marmee Dearest will be open Wednesday through Saturday, 8:30 am – 2 pm, and is located at 256 Main Street.
  • Bold Journey has published an interview with Joanna Spinks, the owner of First Fig in Camden.
  • The Rangeley Highlander has published an article about Clifford’s Donut Stop (facebook, instagram) in Phillips. The self serve donut kiosk (left photo above from last October) was launched last June by Tiffany and Chris Otteng and Rosemarie Jenau. It’s located at 2427 Rangeley Rd, and open Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 am.
  • The Kennebec Journal has a report on a new bagel cafe/pizzeria called Lately’s that’s under construction on Water Street in Hallowell (right photo). Owner Ryan Ellis hopes to launch Lately’s next month with plans to initially be open Thursday through Sunday, 8 am – 10 pm.
  • The Maine Scoop Company plans to hold the grand opening of their Pine Point ice cream shop on May 15th. The Maine Scoop is taking the place of Bayley’s Ice Cream on Pine Point Road.
  • The Portsmouth Herald has published an article about the new generation that’s taken over management of Congdon’s Donuts in Wells.

For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, plus other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties.

Zero Bar & Grille on Riverside

Olivia True has leased the 155 Riverside Street property formerly occupied by Volcano where she plans to open Zero Bar & Grille (website, facebook). True had previously worked at 155 Riverside for 4 years when it was known as Seasons Bar & Grille.

The menu is still under development but if the draft one supplied with the liquor license application is a guide the restaurant will serve an approachable menu of pub food. Zero will have a full liquor license serving beer, wine and spirits, and will be hosting bands and DJs, karaoke nights, comedians, dances and other events. Pool tables and darts will be available.

The business is named in honor of True’s dog. The adjacent Ramada Inn is a pet friendly hotel and Zero will offer a “doggie bag” of  fresh grilled chicken, green beans, carrots and rice with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the local shelter of the month. True also anticipates hold pet friendly events in Zero’s event room.

Watch for Zero to launch sometime by the end of June.

Mandy & Matt’s Cafe Has Opened

Mandy & Matt’s Cafe (facebook, instagram) opened for business on Monday. The cafe is located at 1160 Forest Ave in the building formerly occupied by Samuel’s. Mandy & Matt’s is open daily 6 am – 2 pm with lunch served 11 am – 2 pm.

Owners Amanda and Matt Lebel have made some renovations to dining room and its decorations. The overall layout with a bar on the right and table seating in the rest of the room remains the same. The menu includes a wide range of classic breakfast and lunch fare like pancakes, eggs, oatmeal, with cold and hot sandwiches for lunch. You can see all three pages of the menu on the Mandy & Matt’s Facebook page: page 1, page 2, and page 3. Shown here are blueberry pancakes with grilled ham and home fries, and a pastrami reuben on marble rye with fries.

Samuel’s owner Sam Minervino recently closed Samuel’s and is in the process of launching the North Deering Tavern at 1349 Washington Ave in the former Parker’s building in Allen’s Corner.

Upcoming Food & Dining Events

FridayMay 4Maine Seaweed Week is taking place. The program includes a one day seaweed festival at GMRI on the 26th.

SaturdaySeaFest will be taking place in Westbrook. The 2nd Annual Chowderfest is taking place.

SundaySalty Water Pasta will be holding a pop-up at Coveside Coffee, and Seconds Bakery will be holding a pop-up at Lay Day Roasters.

April 28 – Chaval is holding 4-course dinner featuring with Spanish winemaker Raul Perez. Chef Nikhil Naiker from Nimki in Providence will be at Bar Futo for a collaboration dinner. Chef Amadeus Florendo will be holding an edition of his Pulutan Filipino pop-up series at the East Ender.

May 3 – Chef Tara Canaday from Pot + Pan Kitchen will be teaching a cake decorating workshop.

May 4Chaval will be holding their annual Star Wars May the Fourth Dinner.

May 9Botanically Curious is hosting the first of a monthly Curious Mocktail series in collaboration with Elevate Mushrooms.

May 10/11 – The Taste of Nations Food Festival is taking place. Vendors will include Amira Cuisine, Battambang Bistro, Cambodia’s Best, Eduardo’s Brazilian Grill One, Flores Restaurant, Gunnar’s Icelandic Hot Dogs, Hellenic Kitchen, La Gallera, Niyat Catering, Yardie Ting, and Young Nonna. Tickets are now available.

May 11 – The 2025 edition of Cider Feast is taking place.

May 17 – The Maine Wild Wine Fest is taking place in Freeport. Camden Famous is cohosting a Spring Market featuring 20 bakers, restaurants and other food producers.

May 30 – June 1 – The Maine Fungi Fest is taking place.

June 13/14 – The Rockport Donut Festival is taking place.

June 26-28 – The Holy Trinity Greek Festival is taking place.

June 28 – The Wavy Days beer festival is taking place.

June 28/29 – The Maine Oyster Festival is taking place in Freeport.

September 14 – The Maine Cheese Festival is taking place in Pittsfield.

September 19-21 – The Common Ground Country Fair is taking place in Unity.

October 12 – The Maine Open Creamery Day is taking place.

Planning a wedding, holding a business event, or hosting visitors from away? Our printed guides are a great resource to help your guests explore the Maine restaurant scene.
25-packs of the Portland and Midcoast pocket guides are now available on our online store.

Review of Noble

The Maine Sunday Telegram has published a review of Noble Pizzeria and Barbeque.

At the end of the evening, I found myself just a little envious of the regulars from Deering Center who were next to us at the bar. I don’t live in Deering Center, or even Portland, yet it felt odd when I left to make the 20-minute drive home. Maybe, because like all good neighborhood restaurants, Noble Pizzeria & Barbecue makes you feel like you’re home already.

Maine Food & Dining News: Brunswick, Gorham, Cape Neddick, Camden, Stockton Springs, Lisbon Falls, Boothbay Harbor, Biddeford

New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine. Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know:

  • Tern Coffee Roasters (website, instagram) owners Chris and Heidi Townsend have leased space at 141A Maine St in Brunswick. The storefront will be part production space for their line of coffee and teas, a retail shop, a to-go coffee counter and a coffee lab where customers might participate in cuppings and learn more about coffee. In addition to coffee and tea Tern will also offer a selection of house-made baked goods. The Townsends hope to have the shop open to the public in May when it will be open Tuesday through Saturday. The Townsends have been looking for a space to add a retail element to their coffee roasting business and when they saw 141A Maine Street it immediately felt just right for their vision.
  • The Villager Cafe (websiteinstagram) in Camden opened for business Friday morning. The cafe is located at 25 Mechanic Street and will be open Wednesday through Sunday, 8 am – 2 pm. The menu (see lunch menu below) includes pancakes, breakfast skillets, breakfast sandwiches and tacos, cold and hot sandwiches, salads and desserts. The cafe is being launched by the parent company of the Maine’s newest newspaper, the Midcoast Villager, which serves Knox and Waldo counties.
  • A specialty market and gift shop in Gorham called Third Space Market (website, instagram) is expected to launch on April 22nd. The Littlefield family is stocking the shelves with locally made pantry items and will also sell baked goods, sweets and ice cream. They also hope to get Third Space licensed to serve beer and wine. There’s seating for ~15 people with a mix of couch lounge seating, tables, and standing desks for remote work use. The market is located at 18 Elm Street in the space formerly occupied by Carter’s Greenmarket and will be open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am – 6 pm.
  • The outdoor eatery Food for Thought has moved from their original location in Ogunquit to  Odd by Nature Brewing in Cape Neddick. They opened for the season yesterday.
  • The seasonal farm-to-table restaurant The Hichborn in Stockton Springs has closed and is for sale. Owners Kirk Linder and Charlie Zorich continue to operate their popular bar and restaurant Hey Sailor and adjacent event space the Starboard Lounge in Searsport.
  • The Bangor Daily News reports that Cutterman’s Variety Story in Stockton Springs has closed.
  • The Lewiston Sun Journal has a report on how women-owned hospitality businesses are making an impact in Lisbon Falls. Mentioned in the article are Olive Pit Brewing, Two Moms Diner, and the Lisbon House of Pizza.
  • The Boothbay Register reports that the owners of Harborside 1901 Bar and Grill are taking food service at  Oceanside Resort’s Coastal Prime Restaurant in Boothbay Harbor.
  • The Saco Bay News reports that The Hamburger Stand in Biddeford has closed. The announcement posted on the Hamburger Stand’s social media accounts cites “rising operational costs, increased rent, and vendor prices” that made it increasingly difficult “to stay afloat—especially while trying to keep our prices affordable for our amazing patrons.” The social media post goes on to share, “While we’re sad to say goodbye, we’re incredibly proud of the 9 fun, flavorful, and fulfilling years we’ve had. From the families who made us part of their weekly routine, to the travelers who stumbled upon us and stayed for the vibe—thank you. It’s been a joy to serve you, to share laughs, to build connections, and to be a part of this community.”

Allagash Brewing at The Downs

Allagash Brewing has announced plans to launch their new tasting room at The Downs in Scarborough in July.

…we couldn’t be more excited to expand the Allagash experience to Scarborough at The Downs. The space will have the same Allagash good vibes we’re known for, plenty of fun events, and more drink options—including house-made cocktails, wine, and of course, our beer. You can also expect a new menu from the celebrated team at Bite Into Maine.

Allagash first announced plans to have a Scarborough tasting room in 2022.

Tony’s Donuts

The Press Herald reports that both the building and the business of Tony’s Donuts is for sale.

The article quotes manager Michelle Goddard “We were trying hard not to have to do it,” Goddard said. “I’m still hoping somebody buys it and keeps it what it is.”

Tony’s was founded by Antonio Fournier in 1965 and his son Rick Fournier took over in 2005.