Category: Reviews

Down East has published a review of Petite Jacqueline.

And then there’s the food, which ranges from deceptively simple dishes featuring one star ingredient to classic French preparations including escargots, terrine of foie gras, charcuterie, coq au vin, and moules frites. If your French is rusty, you may need help deciphering a few menu items. Fortunately, Petite Jacqueline’s friendly, knowledgeable servers — wearing the long white aprons of their Parisian counterparts — are happy to provide translation services for those unaware that, say, poireaux is a delicately flavored pool of braised leeks draped in vinaigrette. The wait staff is also up to speed on the heavily French wine list, which includes both house wines by the carafe and an extensive list by the glass and bottle.

Dine in Portland has published reviews of Havana South,

Overall, Havana South is a descent choice on a warm night; with large doors and ample patio space it feels vibrant.  The food is far from aggressively seasoned, which makes it a safe bet for any palate.  The bill, and the end of my lonesome night, was steep but manageable.   It’s not a weekly destination, or even a monthly, but every now and then Havana South will keep me coming back.

and Pho Hanoi.

I tried to compare my view of Pho Hanoi with others online before writing, and was seriously puzzled by less than favorable reviews of this restaurant.  To my knowledge, there is no Vietnamese restaurant in downtown Portland to even make a comparison to.  Pho Hanoi’s dishes are well priced, reasonable portions, and full of flavor.   Best of all, because they are balanced and fresh, there is nothing to feel guilty about.  Admittedly, I’ve felt so “not-guilty” that I’ve made two trips in one day.

Flavor & Zest has published a review of the White Cap Grille.

For a restaurant in Maine, it has the obligatory seafood options (baked Haddock and pan-roasted Salmon) as well as steak dishes, a Chicken confit entrée and a pasta dish. It doesn’t push the bounds of ingredients or try any complex recipes, but holds its own to the various pubs and American-style restaurants in Portland. It has a nice ambiance and versatility, with reasonable prices (lunch for a three with a round of drinks came to around $55) as well as a cocktail menu and bar for a comfortable stop on a night out on the town, although perhaps not the destination.

Food Republic has published their top 10 list of Portland restaurants,

Inevitably when I spot a headline about eating in Portland I click on the link, eager to see which of my favorite restaurants made the cut, only to find that the article is not about Portland, Maine, but rather Portland, Oregon. I’m sure the Oregon Portland is terrific (I’ve never been), but in my book, nothing beats the food scene in New England’s Portland. Let the rivalry begin.

The Exchange Street Cafe received 3½ stars from the Eat & Run review in today’s Press Herald.

Overall, this little cafe is a really nice addition to the Old Port, where it can be tough to get any kind of decent lunch for $10 or less these days. It’s nice to have a place that serves good food at reasonable prices that isn’t some kind of chain. I’ll be back to try the arancini, the panzerotti and more of those amazing meatballs.

If you haven’t tried this little cafe yet, it’s definitely worth a visit. And you can top off your meal with one of their homemade cannolis.

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of The Well in Cape Elizabeth.

Leaving the Well, you have not been burdened with a lesson regarding how one should eat. Instead, you have just had a very pleasant meal in beautiful surroundings, for a reasonable amount of money. If you leave the Well at dusk, just as the bugs descend, you can shoot down to Higgins Beach and watch the sky get orange and the ocean turn purple and inky. There is no lesson there either. The view is, like your meal at the Well, just profoundly pleasant.

The Bollard has published a bar review of Boda.

When I’m at Boda’s bar, I start most evenings with a Thai Basil Tom Collins ($9). It’s a visually attractive drink with a soft, opaque, yellow-green hue, served in a stemless martini glass with bits of the muddled basil dancing throughout. The flavor is nice and round. It fills your palette and leaves a hint of sweetness on your lips…

Vin et Grub has published a review of Street & Co.

I left with a knot in my stomach, with rage emanating, and with a desire to NEVER return to Street & Co.  I’ve given it three chances, and unfortunately, it’s gotten worse every time I’ve gone back.  I think I can now officially say, I will never have the desire to go back- no matter how delicious their Sole Francaise is, because honestly, food is only 40% of the dining experience, 60% is the overall atmosphere, environment, and service.

Flavor and Zest, Portland’s newest food blog, has published a lunch review of David’s.

For quality food and traditional dishes with slight quirks, I think David’s excelled. It was also reasonably priced – smaller portions but bigger flavors – and for four entrees, four alcoholic beverages, one appetizer, one dessert and a cappuccino, we made it out under $100 before tip. Not to mention four very happy and satisfied diners, which is the most important number to any meal.

For the August edition of our collaborative food writing project the group is publishing a set of lobster roll reviews. Think of it like the director’s cut edition guide to Maine lobster rolls. 6 Bloggers have produced 8 reviews of establishments in 5 towns plus a lobster roll conversion of Appetite Portland, a lobster roll confession by Chubby Werewolf,  Fishermen’s Grill removed from the unreviewed list, a seal rescue, the phrase “shiny and toothsome, like a Fox News correspondent”, detailed (no, really) directions on getting to Calder’s, and an examination of the hot vs cold lobster roll debate.

Appetite Portland – Billy’s Chowder House & Brunswick Diner

It truly was a revelation. Adam (who demurred from purchasing his own roll due to “a lack of hunger” – always a dubious claim) practically arm-wrestled me for it in the end. Heavy on fresh lobster (with a healthy amount of the succulent claw) and light on the mayo, it featured a crisp lettuce leaf and a generously buttered, split-top roll toasted to perfection. A seriously awesome sandwich. Simple. A credit to it’s genre. A roll that tempered my biases and made me hanker for more..… read the full article

Chubby Werewolf – Fishermen’s Grill & Maine Diner

I’m just going to come right out and say it. I did not have my first lobster roll until I was 32 years old. I know, I know… its a pretty horrifying thing to hear… right up there with finding out that the guy you’ve been dating for six months murders prostitutes in his spare time. But we all have our crosses to bear, and lobster roll ignorance was mine for more than three decades.… read the full article

Edible Obsessions – The Lobster Shack

The lobster was cooked perfectly, with nary a touch of rubber in the texture. The mayo went nice–my dollop was not overwhelming. The slightly toasted roll and shredded iceberg lettuce added a nice crunch through all of the fat and richness. It isn’t high end and it doesn’t try to be. It was just honest and very satisfying. … read the full article

From Away – Portland Lobster Co.

This lobster roll ($15.99), it’s peculiar. It was neither the hot-and-buttered version I grew up eating in Connecticut, nor the mixed-with-mayo type I have come to adore from my favorite seafood spot of all time, Patty’s in Edgecomb. Instead, a somewhat sparse pile of unscathed claw-and-knuckle meat, served, as the menu observes, “brushed with sweet butter,” but with none of the promised “mayonnaise on the side,” sitting within a chlorophyll-color leaf of lettuce tucked into a bun, shiny and toothsome, like a Fox News correspondent.… read the full article

The Blueberry Files – The Porthole

I didn’t find the best lobster roll in town, but I really enjoyed talking to people about their lobster roll preferences. I’ve yet to met a person who doesn’t have an opinion, and usually they suggest the best rolls are from places up and down the coast. This makes me think that eating a good lobster roll is less about the lobster and the bun and more about the scenery.… read the full article

Vrai-lean-uh – Calder’s Clam Shack

The lobster roll was $11.50, $13.50 with fries. The meat is sweet and tender, tossed lightly with mayonnaise, and topped with salt and pepper. It’s wedged into a toasted hotdog bun with a piece of lettuce for variety or as a gesture towards healthfulness. The lobster is cut up into small enough pieces that the whole thing doesn’t fall apart on you as you’re eating it.

It was perfect.… read the full article