The Press Herald has published a review of the FortiFem Martini Lounge.
At FortiFem, all cocktails fall under the “martini” header on the drink menu, and there are some delicious ones from which to choose. With the seasons changing to the crisper autumn air, I was excited to see a Manhattan made with Maker’s Mark at the top of the list ($12).
The Golden Dish has published a review of the Miss Portland Diner.
On another occasion the hamburger platter was excellent: A half-pound of Angus beef grilled just right. But it was marred by a tomato slice that came from one of those warehouse-ripened varieties.
Breakfast, served all day, is classic stuff. All manner of eggs, decent home-fries, excellent corned beef hash, and respectable pancakes and French toast are well made.
The Blueberry Files has published a review of Zapoteca.
At $17 a dish, the enchiladas drew all of us in for our entrees. Above is the one I ordered, a Maine crab and chipotle shrimp with a creamy green chile sauce. The refried black beans were also tasty and the arugula and pickled red onions were a bold garnish.
Mainely Eating has published a review of the Veranda Noodle Bar.
Located on 14 Veranda Street in Portland, ME, Veranda Noodle Bar is tucked out of the way next to a Beal’s Ice Cream, and across the street from Veranda Thai (owned by the same family). It doesn’t invest in flashy advertising, and it’s hard to spot from the main road. But, if you do happen to stumble upon this gem, you won’t be disappointed. Each time we’ve been in, the restaurant has been comfortably full of local regulars who order their favorites confidently, spending little time having to contemplate the menu.
The Portland Phoenix has published a review of District.
Does this hard-to-define approach work better for a television show than a restaurant? Sure, because watching TV is basically free and you can sit on your couch with your box of wine. You need to get to the restaurant and pay for the food, which heightens your level of scrutiny. That’s why Las Vegas is the best and District is pretty good. Was staying home to watch Las Vegas what you hoped you would be doing on a Friday night? Probably not. But once you did, you rarely regretted it. When you think upscale, District might not be the first place you think of. When you think pub, or cocktail bar, it won’t either. But if you end up at District, you won’t regret it.
From Away has published a review of Granny’s Burritos.
Ordinarily, if you told me about a new burrito place that was completely divorced from the burden of any kind of South-of-the-border influence, I wouldn’t have high hopes. Granny’s, however, by virtue of their fresh flavors, contrasting textures and temperatures, and focus on wholesome ingredients, is a solid choice for a quick, workday lunch.
The Golden Dish has published a review of Caiola’s.
Having her own restaurant has allowed Harmon to cook as she pleases, igniting a culinary brigade of fire and light that has kept her in fine fettle ever since. Her food is big and bold — inspired comfort food that’s done with style and creativity.
Snap Reviews has continued to post ultra brief commentary and photos of Portland eateries on Flickr. Recent additions have included Mom’s, Taco Escobarr, Ariel’s Hummus, and Salads, etc.
The Blueberry Files has published a review of The Thirsty Pig.
A very critical part of any grilled tube meat is the bun, and the Pig pulls it off well- a buttered and toasted split top bun. The salty crunch of the bun adds a nice textural element, whereas most soft white rolls simply serve as a vehicle, rather than a player in the overall taste.
Joe Ricchio has penned a review of the Cafe at Pat’s for the Maine magazine blog.
It is important to keep in mind that, as of this visit, the Cafe at Pat’s had only been open for about two weeks. Nothing about my experience even remotely suggested this to be the case, as each aspect was seamless and well executed. I look forward to joining the many regulars here for more ambience- and wine-induced ramblings throughout the fall and the long winter that follows.