Category: Reviews

The Maine Sunday Telegram has published a review of The Frog and Turtle.

The Frog and Turtle ups Westbrook’s foodie street credibility and style. Local music is a treat, and its brunch is a good one. (Try the homemade raspberry jelly doughnuts for a sugar rush; a pint-sized Bloody Mary will bring a rush of a different kind.) For those seeking dinner, make a reservation and consider ordering from the upscale pub menu. A plate of pork wings with fiery tangerine sauce while listening to excellent local music makes for a great evening.

The Golden Dish has published a review of the East Ender.

For main a course my friend had to have the Swedish meatballs served over American-style house-made wide noodles. What a sixties dish, perhaps  better served as a first course in a smaller portion.  Even so, they were beautifully presented and the flavor was intensely rich, the noodles  al dente and the spinach leaves a nice touch.

Bard Coffee got a shout out in a New Yorker article about the specialty coffee conference that took place last weekend in Boston.

“This is what coffee tasted like in nineteenth century!” Peter Giuliano exclaimed, holding a cup of Bard coffee’s Sumatra Wahana Natural as we talked at a small stand near the entrance of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, where the Specialty Coffee Association of America was holding its twenty-fifth annual exposition this past weekend. “I’ve never tasted anything like it.”

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of The North Point.

It’s a menu that says: my kitchen is tiny but I care about food — an experience familiar to many New Yorkers. There are lots of cold meats in the form of patés and charcuterie, and a nice selection of cheeses. A pheasant paté was quite good — sweet but peppery with some gaminess, with a texture more meaty than creamy. Even better was a trio of juicy sausages — a spicy-smoky andouille, a sweet and fatty kielbasa, and a peppery rabbit — served with four sauces.

Map & Menu has published a review of Blue Rooster.

The Blue Rooster fills the perfect need in Portland when you don’t want to sit down for long but still want to be wowed with every bite. If you work in the Old Port and don’t make the Blue Rooster a priority for your next lunch day, you’re missing out.

Photo Credit: Map & Menu

Lobster Gal has published a review of the lobster roll at Eventide.

Even fresh picked, tasty lobster on a perfectly grilled grocery hot dog bun can start to seem, dare I say, ho-hum.  Creativity can go wildly wrong with lobster rolls.  I can see why the chef at Eventide is considered a culinary genius.  Don’t question brilliance, just go with it, it just might blow you away.  My only regret is that I didn’t summon up the stomach space to try the warm, rum butter option.  Mmm, can anything be wrong that involves the words “rum butter”?

Maine a la Carte has published a brief review of Blue Rooster.

I had missed the soft opening and wanted to check it out. Be warned this is not health food, but if you are in the mood for a little indulging, you’ll find it hard to resist sandwiches like the Red Eye…

Imbibe magazine has included Eventide in their list of the Best Oyster Bars in America.

In as much as there is such a thing, Eventide’s cocktail list is as “classic oyster bar” as they come. It veers towards the savory, with tequila Bloody Marias, a Dirty Dirty Martini made with oyster brine, and even a Bubbly Mary with bloody mix and cava. And for the diehards? Oyster shooters served ”naked” with just frozen vodka or ”spicy” with a jolt of jalapeno tequila and salsa verde.

Dispatch has published a review of Kim’s, the banh mi shop on Saint John Street.

When I was finally alone with my sandwich I could really take the time to savior it. The French baguette roll was just crispy enough on the outside with a soft, chewy interior. Inside the baguette was coated with a creamy and mild pork pate and a small amount of mayonnaise creating a delicious spread. The ham and bologna cold cuts were piled high and topped with crunchy pickled carrots, daikon and cucumber. The sub was finished with a couple sprigs of fresh cilantro. The bread, meat and veggie combo was perfectly balanced and allowed each flavor to come through while working together to create a killer sandwich. I will definitely be back for more Bahn Mi’s, especially for this price!

Three Sheets Manufacturing has put together a set of recommendations selected from among the more established cocktail destinations in town.

I’m often asked where to go for a great cocktail in Portland, or where I go for drinks. I realize that the answer is increasingly varied depending on the fix I’m after. We thought it would be a good exercise to start cataloging those locations and what to get while you’re there. So, to start, Portland Comfort Classics… The places that I’ve had on my radar for at least a few years for whatever it is they do well.

They plan on posting another set recommendations that highlight best bets among the newer spots in town.