Category: Openings

Changes on Exchange Street: Steak House, Mornings in Paris, Holy Donut #2

| Posted in Under Construction, Openings, Closings

There are a number of changes taking place on Exchange Street:

  • The Mornings in Paris coffee shop at 13 Exchange Street is closing down sometime next month. From what I’ve heard the owners are closing their Portland location in order to focus their energies on the MiP in Kennebunk.
  • The new Holy Donut location at 7 Exchange Street is scheduled to open this coming Wednesday at 7 am.
  • North Point owner Daniel Talmatch is launching a steakhouse. He’s hasn’t signed a lease yet but hopes to locate the new restaurant at 106 Exchange, the longtime home of Oriental Table.

Empire Chinese Kitchen Now Open

| Posted in Openings

Empire Chinese Kitchen (website, facebook) has now opened at 575 Congress Street. The venue has been completely recast by owners Theresa Chan and Todd Bernard as a Chinese dim sum restaurant—harkening back to the building’s early 20th century past as a Chinese restaurant. Despite the rain, the restaurant was packed when The Blueberry Files and I stopped by for dinner.

According to the Press Herald,

The menu, a press release sent out today says, will feature “truly authentic Chinese cuisine and Dim Sum. The menu of traditional and modern ‘Chinese soul food’ will feature local meats, seafoods, and seasonal produce. The kitchen will be headed by a Dim Sum Master Chef with 40 years’ experience creating specialty dumplings in world class kitchens around the world.”

For more details see today’s article about Empire from the Bangor Daily News.

Historical tidbit: Maine’s first Chinese restaurant was opened on Custom House Wharf by Ar Tee Lam in 1880.

Portland Hunt & Alpine Club Now Open

| Posted in Openings

The Portland Hunt and Alpine Club (website, facebook, twitter) held a soft opening on Tuesday and their public grand opening starts today at 4pm. Portland newest venue diverse menu of well-crafted cocktails (be sure to try the Chartreuse Swizzle) and as a set of Scandinavian-inspired small plates all presented in a thoughtfully designed modern space on Market Street.

Hunt & Alpine is run by Andrew and Briana Volk, who ran the popular Hush Hush series of events earlier this year.

For additional photos and commentary see the latest post on Map & Menu.

Images: a Left Hand cocktail, the view from inside the Lodge Room towards the bar, table and counter seating, charcuterie and cheese plates.

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Elsmere BBQ Opened Yesterday

| Posted in Openings

1070093_483587071727882_1695414297_nElsmere BBQ & Wood Grill(website, facebook, twitter) opened yesterday. Located near Willard Square in South Portland, Elsmere aims to be a “neighborhood family restaurant and perfect place to meet friends”.

The restaurant is owned by longtime friends Jeremy Rush and Adam Powers. Powers has spent the last 15 years as the chef at Three Dollar Deweys. The pair will be serving Texas-style barbeque. Elsmere’s menu is available on their website.