Category: Reviews

Instant Portland has published a review of The Salt Exchange.

Overall, although it is not my favorite restaurant in Portland (there are so many choices, after all) our Restaurant Week excursion to The Salt Exchange was a delightful evening filled with great, memorable food. We never felt rushed, we were all excited by the choices and flavors available, and everyone at the table walked away satisfied. I’d be interested to try their lunch menu, and I do feel that they are unpretentious enough to make a comfortable “fancy” dinner choice for anyone here visiting the city. Despite the white tablecloths, this isn’t a place where you are expected to have a suit jacket or pearls.

Back Bay Grill received 4½ stars from the review in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.

Its quality comes from a keen dedication. Chef/owner Larry Matthews Jr., who became executive chef in 1997 and bought the restaurant in 2002, was fully engaged on the night we visited, keeping one eye on the open kitchen and examining each plate as it left for the table and the other eye on front-of-house flow. Creating a complete and exceptional dining experience is his art, and his standards appear to be sky-high.

Lucky us, for that translates into an atmosphere of unpretentious elegance, a menu that changes frequently and mixes traditional fare with some adventure, and food that sings.

The Blueberry Files has published a review of Ruski’s.

The Golden Dish has published a review of Blue Spoon.

For a main course I chose what’s known as chicken under a brick and my partner had the seafood stew. My last encounter with this preparation occurred recently at the uninspiring Macaroni Grill. Needless to say the two interpretations are worlds apart. Blue Spoon’s take reveals beautifully seasoned and extremely moist white and dark meat served over a mass of seared Brussels sprouts with addictively delicious caramelized fingerlings. But the real prize is the resounding bacon and mustard sauce that elevates this dish to a higher realm indeed.

Joe Ricchio has written a review of Harmon’s Lunch for Maine magazine’s blog.

I don’t think I’m alone when I say that very few things satisfy the soul like a great burger, and Harmon’s Lunch has stood the test of time by consistently offering one of Maine’s best.

Who needs Happy Meal toys, anyway?

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Marcy’s.

The sausage at Marcy’s is a step up from the typical chewy diner links — you get something fatter, more tender, and less bluntly salty. The new owners have also upgraded the bacon, which is thicker and has a better mouthfeel. “Homefries” are really hashbrowns of the simple shredded potato variety — a big pile whose brief time on the grill imparts every possible potato texture — from soft and tender to hard and crisp. French toast is simply and nicely done, with a flavor more eggy than sweet. Either the French toast or big fluffy pancakes can be included with your egg breakfast to create a huge meal for less than seven bucks.

Eat Here. Go There. has published a review of Sonny’s.

Sonny’s turned out to be a great double-date night spot. The striking red brick walls are loaded with big, bold art, while the bold and colorful flavors were served up on bright white plates. The ambiance is superb, and the service is fantastic. This is an upscale establishment, but it doesn’t feel stuffy in the least. The wait staff is alternatively clad lending even more depth to the vibrant and eclectic atmosphere of the space. If you haven’t gone yet, GO! If you don’t like the food order another cocktail. If you don’t like the cocktails, you should probably just move out of the state.

The resident food bloggers at Down East and Maine magazine have coincidentally both published reviews of El Rayo Cantina today. Joe Ricchio writes for Maine that,

Though I rarely encounter deviled eggs that I don’t like, the Cantina’s version are pickled with hibiscus, giving them a brilliant magenta coloring and providing a nice amount of tangy acidity to compliment the rich, creamy yolks. These would pair up brilliantly with a glass of mellow Anejo tequila such as Don Julio 1942.

and reflecting on the same dish John Golden writes in his blog The Golden Dish,

I also loved the deviled eggs, colored from its pickling process in hibiscus. The lighting is low in the room, and the egg whites looked brownish, but in bright light one would have seen that it had red hues.

The Press Herald has published a bar review of Mesa Verde,

Located in Portland’s arts district, Mesa Verde would be easy to miss while walking down Congress Street because it blends into the block of buildings. But it’s the ideal place to swing by for happy hour or before a show at the State Theatre.

The Portland Phoenix has published a review contrasting sausage and beer options available The Thirsty Pig and Novare Res,

Overall the Thirsty Pig gets recession-era beer and sausage right. It’s a space for those truly in need of escape from life’s unpleasant realities. Novare Res, opened in pre-recession 2008, has a different feel.

and Breaking Bread with Joe & Kate has reviewed lunch at The Salt Exchange.

To sum it up: We loved our Valentine’s Day lunch date, the meal, the service and the overall experience we had at The Salt Exchange once again!  …And on Valentine’s Day, isn’t it all about the love?