Category: Reviews

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

The Golden Dish has written about a recent meal at the SMCC Culinary Arts Center where students prepare and serve meals to the public as part of their education.

The choice of starter offerings included either clam chowder or house-cured gravlax.  My guest chose the soup and I opted for the salmon.  The chowder was too thick for his tastes, without much clam flavor.  My salmon, however, was beautifully cured (nicely citrusy) and accompanied by perfectly diced egg yolk, onions and capers.  There was herbed cream cheese (very tasty) to spread on crostini.  This was a good dish.

Eat Maine has published a review of Salvage BBQ,

With multiple sauces, plenty of peppers, and easily mixable sides, Salvage has a menu that can be customized for your tastes. A dash of hot sauce here, an extra pickle there, and soon you’ll be swapping your Maine-made IPA for some Kentucky bourbon and pretending your latitude is much, much lower. End the meal with a slice of peach pie, and you’ll completely forget the coming snow.

and Drink Up and Get Happy has published a review of Elsmere,

Overall Elsmere BBQ and Wood Grill is  great place to get out of the busy downtown Portland and enjoy great brews and excellent food all in a warm, welcoming space supporting local businessmen and the local farms they source from.

and the Press Herald has published a bar review of The Grill Room.

The ambiance is warm and somewhat cavernous – exposed brick walls throughout the restaurant and dim lighting – and the service is upbeat, prompt, and knowledgeable. There might be a wait for a table, but the food is delivered exceptionally fast. It’d be easy to spend a decent amount of money at the Grill Room, but thankfully for happy hour, it’s also possible to spend under $10 for a drink and a snack – and there’s usually not a wait for a seat at the bar.