Category: Reviews

The Maine Sunday Telegram has published a review of Outliers.

Outliers Eatery is as good as Portland’s dining scene gets. The atmosphere balances modern austerity with welcoming charm; the location is neighborhood-y with a harbor view. Parking is easy, the staff is professional and charming, and the food is thoughtfully prepared with a balance of freestyle and control. The menu winks at diners with literary sensibilities, but never dips into obnoxiousness.

Peter Peter Portland Eater has published a review of Zapoteca,

Overall, the meal – really a pre-dinner warm-up – was a huge redemption for Zapoteca. The so-so meal I remembered from there became a distant memory and I had a renewed sense of what Zapoteca was all about. The service was very good, the food was much improved, and the atmosphere was fun and inviting.

and The Golden Dish has published a review of In’finiti.

By 8:30 the placed started filling up.  It was unclear if people were coming in for drinks or dinner.  Either way, In’Finiti is hitting all the right notes ringing in excellent food served in a dramatic space that should be eagerly filled with an adventurous dining public.

Bon Appétit has selected Eventide Oyster Company as one of the 50 Best New Restaurants in America.

In a state where lobster is king, Eventide’s dedication to the oyster is a bold move. The menu lists around 20 different varieties displayed in a massive hunk of Maine granite on the bar. All are offered raw with creative “accouterment” like kim chee ice. There is lobster here too, only Eventide’s lobster roll comes in a Chinese bun and is offered with not just mayo, but a brown butter vinaigrette or hollandaise. The spare, bright dining room relies on the bar around the perimeter, but two picnic tables in the back can accommodate those who’d rather slurp sitting down.

On August 14th, Bon Appétit will be releasing their list of the top 10 as well as their selection for the overall best new restaurant in America.

Eat Maine has published a review of the Small Axe food truck,

…food trucks have been popping up everywhere, offering finger-friendly bites like pizza cones and cup cakes. But in the midst of all this casual fare, Small Axe is serving up something pretty special. Helmed by two of Portland’s top chefs, this truck is making restaurant worthy food available in the middle of a parking lot. Craving a quick bowl of fish curry? Small Axe can make that happen.

The Blueberry Files has published a review of Wannawaf.

So Wannawaf seems to be more for the “stop in with the kids for the afternoon and buy a round of ice cream; get it served over a waffle if you wanna be silly” set. I am not in that set and I don’t know if that will be enough to sustain them in Portland. Time will tell, I guess.

and Peter Peter Portland Eater has published a review of Novare Res.

There’s hardly a better place in Portland to try new libations than Novare Res. With well over a hundred beers, Novare Res is a beer garden for the casual beer enthusiast all the way to the most serious of beer connoisseurs.

Foodie Journey has published a review of the lobster rolls at Red’s, Bite into Maine and Eventide.

My favorite?  It’s a tie between Bite Into Maine and Eventide.   But I wouldn’t turn down Red’s.  It all comes down to the type of lobster roll and experience[sic]

A number of Maine creameries were among the award winners at this year’s American Cheese Society competition:

• Crooked Face Creamery won 3rd place for the whole milk ricotta
• Silver Moon Creamery won 2nd place for their provolone
• Pineland Farms won 1st place for their cheddar cheese spread and 3rd place for their smoked cheddar
• York Hill Farm won 3rd place for their capriano

Wine Maniacs has published a review of MJ’s Wine Bar,

You start with a tasty French rose by Jean Luc Colombo ($5.00 a glass) for happy hour and finish about an hour or so later with a rare late harvest Viognier from Spain at $9.00 a glass. In between you have a real wine bar experience complete with well selected cheese, tunes on a turntable (Neal Young works well) and a well selected group of wines.

and The 207 Foodie has published a review of Hot Suppa.

Hot Suppa! is a great place to go for your dining desires, especially if you like dishes that have a little extra Southern flavor! Lunch or Dinner, they will serve you a meal that is sure to impress. But don’t take my word for it..try it out for yourself!

The Golden Dish has posted a review of Spread. The kitchen at Spread is now under the direction of Frenchman Frederic Eliot.

With Frederic Eliot at the helm Spread deserves recognition once again for its fine cuisine.  The restaurant is busy at times but it should be packed with lines of diners waiting outside to experience its novel menu.  We have a Frenchman in our midst, the only one here, and the next time I must try Eliot’s torchon of foie gras because who else but a French chef can do it justice?

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Artemisia.

The first sign was off the menu actually: a complimentary amuse-bouche of a smoky creamy seafood soup — perfect on a rainy evening, with big pieces of fish piled into the tiny bowl. The menu features more “small bites” that offer intriguing flavors for just four or five dollars, from a Hawaiian style poke to a Lebanese muhummara spread. We tried a grilled peach with pancetta and pea shoots. The grill had brought out the sour and tart flavors in the fruit, but there was still enough sweetness to work well with the crispy strips of salty pancetta. A balsamic drizzle emphasized the sour saltiness of the dish.