MaineBiz has published an article about Bruno’s Pasta Company.
Napolitano, the general manager of Bruno’s Restaurant and Tavern, bought the extruder — a machine that makes rounded and hollow pasta — for a few hundred dollars. That purchase spurred the idea and now new state-of-the-art equipment imported from Italy is making ravioli by the batch in the Bruno Pasta Co.’s new commercial kitchen on Read Street in Portland.
The Island Creek Oyster Shop (website, instagram, twitter, facebook) is scheduled to open today, noon – 8. Island Creek is serving an assortment of oysters from Maine and Massachusetts, littleneck clams, tinned seafood as well as beer and wine. They’ll also be selling shellfish to go.
Here’s an excerpt from their press release:
The Shop gives guests an opportunity to engage with local products in a casual setting, underscored by the deep understanding of aquaculture Island Creek Oysters is known for. Seasonal seafood offerings for purchase include local bivalves such as Little Island oysters from the Bagaduce River and Mookie Blues oysters from Damariscotta, Maine. Inspired by the heritage of Maine’s canneries, The Shop will feature a selection of international tinned fish and caviar. A rotating selection of champagne and wines by the glass will complement The Shop’s simple, ingredient-forward menu. With 75 total seating capacity inside and outside on the seasonal patio, The Shop is designed to reflect Island Creek’s stripped-down, product driven approach to farming oysters and the people who grow them – the oyster is the focal point.
Island Creek is located at 123 Washington Ave. They’re the latest of a string of new restaurants and bars that have opened on inner Washington over the last couple years, including Oxbow, Drifters Wife, Izakaya Minato, Hardshore, Maine Craft Distilling, Cong Tu Bot and A&C Grocery.
The new incarnation of the Roma Cafe (facebook, instagram, website) is scheduled to open today. You can make a reservation on OpenTable.
As you can see from the menu below, chef Anders Tallberg along with co-owners Mike Fraser, and Guy Streitburger are serving a menu of Italian classic such as Caesar Salad, Clams Casino, Tagliatelle Bolognese, Veal Piccata, and Shrimp Scampi. The Roma is located in the West End at 769 Congress Street. The restaurant is donating $1 for every caesar salad sold to Full Plates, Full Potential, a program to fight childhood hunger in Maine.
The original Roma Cafe was founded by Dominic Marino at 489 Congress Street in 1924 and moved to 769 Congress in 1935. The restaurant remained in the Marino family until 1985 when it was bought by Peter Landrigan. The restaurant closed sometime in the early 2000’s.
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Rose Foods (website, facebook, instagram) has opened. The bagel shop and cafe is owned by Chad Conley, co owner of Palace Diner.
See below for a full menu. When you go for lunch, be sure to not miss the Pastrami on Rye.
Here are some photos of the food and space from yesterday’s friends and family event and today’s opening.
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Paletas (instagram), a new popsicle cart, launched yesterday.
Here’s details on a few more restaurant opening:
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Noble Barbecue opened yesterday at 1706 Forest Ave. Here’s a look at their menu and the Brisket Sandwich.
