The North Point & Piccolo

Eat Maine has published a review of The North Point, and

As Noah Talmatch points out, there are a lot of fantastic places to eat in Portland, but those aren’t necessarily the spots you go to kick back and socialize. And while we have some great neighborhood bars, even the best pub grub can feel heavy after a few too many UFOs (unidentified fried objects). It was with this observation that The North Point, a casual yet decidedly Parisian flavored restaurant, was born.

Maine a la Carte blogger Meredith Goad has written about the cheese selection at Piccolo.

They’ve only been open about three weeks or so, and this was my first visit. I decided to indulge in the cheeseboard, and these cheeses, imported from Abruzzi by Bob Marcelli of Marcelli Fromaggio, were so outstanding I thought I would share them with the other cheese lovers out there so you can go try them if you want.

Review of Phoever Maine

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Phoever Maine.

None of which would matter if the food were not good, but it is. The pho #4, for example, was a good one. The broth had an almost floral fragrance, and was rich but not too heavy, with an oniony sharpness. Big slices of thin brisket had a great char flavor, while slices of rarer beef were more tender and sweet. With a squeeze of citrus, another of sriracha, and a dash of crunch sprouts and basil, it was a great bowl.

Review of The Front Room

The Golden Dish has published a review of The Front Room.

A continuing qualm that I have with Portland’s dining scene is that there aren’t enough casual restaurants serving moderately priced fare that’s well made and presented in an attractive setting.  But that’s just what the Front Room is all about—a neighborhood haunt (even if you’re from away) where a good time and good food are generally assured.

Reviews of Old Port Sandwich Shop & Miyake

The Press Herald has published a review of the Old Port Sandwich Shop,

My first foray into Old Port Sandwich Shop tastiness came in the form of creamy tomato soup ($3.75 for a cup, $4.55 for a bowl) and an antipasto salad ($6.99). The soup had just the right amount of zip and was a perfect way to kick off this fall’s soup season.

and a bar review of Miyake.

Don’t let the chic decor fool you. The mood and ambiance at Miyake on Fore Street are both warm and inviting. Sit at the sushi bar for a captivating experience.

Review of Phoever & Tandem Coffee

The latest episode of Booze, Fish & Coffee includes reviews of Phoever Maine in Westbrook and Tandem Coffee.

[T]his cozy coffee shop’s mellow espressos and drip coffees bring all sorts of java junkies to East Bayside. But these guys don’t just know coffee. In creating their café and roastery, owners Will and Kathleen Pratt used their carpentry and design skills to transform a 1930s brick building into a super neat-o space–open, modern, minimalist, and calming.

Review of Flatbread

Peter Peter Portland Eater has published a review of Flatbread.

Flatbread now has 11 locations, with most located throughout New England, though there is one in Hawaii and one in Canada. That’s really branching out. But Portland was their second and you never forget your second. Isn’t that what they say? So I think it’s fair to surmise that our humble, little food town will always hold a special place in the hearts of Flatbread Company. Ah hell, who cares? They’ve got great pizza. Go grab one and see for yourself.

Parting Words by Nancy Heiser

The Maine Sunday Telegram has published an article by departing restaurant critic Nancy Heiser that shares some of her favorites from the last 2 years and answers some common questions she gets asked about her work for the paper.

Who chooses the restaurants you review?
I choose them, but I always run options by the features editor, who occasionally makes a suggestion, as does the newspaper’s food writer, Meredith Goad. The other reviewer for Dine Out Maine, Shonna Milliken Humphrey, does the same. We divvy up the new places. The goal is to include a mix of types of establishments, cover the whole state, and not repeat a review for at least three years. But generally, more than half of the restaurants are in the greater Portland area.

Review of Boone’s, Restaurant Claims, Maine’s Seaweed Industry

Portland magazine has published a review of Boone’s,

It’s amazing that a lost institution like Boone’s can be found like this. The happy noise and fun and pounding music assures you you’ve found the mystical place you’ve been looking for. Come on in and crack one open. We rate this place five seagulls.

an interview with Tollef K. Olson of Ocean Approved about Maine’s seaweed industry,

A multi-billion-dollar industry is making a big splash on Maine’s shores. “We’re going global in the spring,” says Tollef K. Olson (pictured right), CEO and founder of Ocean Approved at 188 Presumpscot Street in Portland, an innovative firm that’s creating a lucrative market for Maine’s kelp beds overnight.

and an article about the claims made about and by Portland restaurants (go to page 47)

[There’s n]othing Maine loves more than food bragging rights, a best-of-boast, a pub fact.