Category: Reviews

Left coast food blogger Feed the Monster has made a return trip to Portland, having last been here October 2012. From this trip he’s published reviews of the Dry Dock, Grace, Local 188, Local Sprouts and Vaughan Street.

The Moster was particularly taken with Grace,

There are restaurants nestled in Franschoek wine country that take your breath away.  Places in the farthest reaches of Peru that are Valhalla amidst the ordinary.  Restaurants along the Amalfi only accessible by boat that are pure heaven. And then there is Grace in Portland, Maine and it is every bit as transcendent.

The December edition of Dispatch includes a list of the Best Bakeries in Maine and NH. Portland area bakeries dominate the list: Scratch, Standard, The Holy Donut, Two Fat Cats, 158 Picket Street Cafe, Aurora Provisions, Bam Bam, Big Sky, Borealis, East End Cupcakes and Rosemont. The article isn’t available online but you can pick-up a paper copy at Longfellow Books.

And in separate news, Standard Baking is #4 on a list of America’s 50 Best Bakeries put together by The Daily Meal.

Peter Peter Portland Eater has published a review of the Portland & Rochester Public House.

Reasonably priced, our meal came to just a notch below 70 bucks before tip. Portland and Rochester Public House is definitely onto something. I had heard mixed reviews prior to visiting, but there was no uncertainty on my part. The food was amazing, the service was right where it should be, and the scenery was among the best around. The worst criticism I have is that the beignets were a little short on peanut butter flavor. Other than that, the food was perfect right down to the last lima bean in my succotash.

The Maine Sunday Telegram has published a review of Piccolo.

For authentic southern Italian cooking, elegantly and simply prepared, Piccolo offers an outstanding dining experience in a small, casual café setting. The wine list offers serious bottlings from Italy’s outstanding wine-producing regions; the list is well-priced. The menu changes daily, but best dishes include any of the pastas, pork, lamb and fish preparations. When available, the slow-baked fish with potatoes cooked in whey is a standout, as is the brined sardines and cavatelli with lamb ragu. Desserts are made by pastry chef and co-proprietor Ilma Lopez.

The Golden Dish has published a review of Becky’s Diner.

I had a simpler dish of broiled haddock with lemon and buttered crumbs.  The fish was flakey, cooked just right and the lemon-scented crumbs were perfect.  I chose the twice-baked potato and Brussels sprouts with bacon as my sides.  The potato was so big it looked like a beached dirigible.  The flesh from a giant spud was scooped out and mixed with a kitchen sink of spices, sour cream, onion and plenty of bacon.  It’s put back into the skin and baked until crisped and puffed.  The boiled Brussels sprouts were still firm and nicely smoked from the bits of bacon.  The buttermilk biscuit was classic.

The Press Herald has published a bar review of the Port of Call.

The Port of Call Lounge at Holiday Inn by the Bay might not be the coolest place to hang out for a drink, but that’s just it – why does every bar need to be the next best thing? Sometimes the irony of a kitschy bar is all the cool you need. Brace yourself for somewhat of a dull atmosphere but with fine service and solid drink options.

The Maine Sunday Telegram has published a review of the Sea Glass restaurant at the Inn by the Sea.

For stylish seaside dining in one of Maine’s premier inn resorts, Sea Glass offers a menu of admirable dishes that are well prepared. The wine list is extensive and offers superb choices in all price ranges. Best dishes include gaucho steak, mushroom tart, roast chicken under a brick and any of the desserts by pastry chef Karen Voter.

Fettle Vegan has published a review of The Holy Donut.

Opened for about a year and a half, The Holy Donut began as one woman’s mission to create a better-for-you, traditional style donut with tons of flavor. Leigh Kellis teamed up with her Dad to start producing what I now know as vegan donut gold after longing for far too long for delicious donuts near where she lived.

The latest episode of Booze, Fish & Coffee includes a review of visiting food truck Cafe Crepe.

New to the area, this food truck is the real deal. Lauren certainly knows how to make a crêpe that rivals those in France–hers are light and perfectly cooked. As for ingredients, she isn’t playing around here. Tons of variety, and you can get both sweet and savory crêpes — for the savory, there’s one with baked brie, another with mozzarella, spinach and pesto, and another with goat cheese and caramelized onions with balsamic reduction.

For more on Cafe Crepe visit their Facebook page.

Map & Menu has published a brief (beautifully illustrated) review of Piccolo.

Photo Credit: Map & Menu