Category: Reviews

From Away has published a review of Local 188,

Why we waited so long to eat there, I don’t exactly know. We didn’t want to be disappointed? Our fears proved misguided, once again. We had a great night out in their dining room, and walked back to our apartment, sated and sober.

Eat Here. Go There. has published a review of Hot Suppa,

All in all, I think it’s a great place to treat yourself and the ones you love to some Southern style soul food. It’s a little off the beaten path so I don’t think it’s been fully discovered for dinner yet. I can’t wait to go back!

The Bollard has published a review of the Blue Burrito Cafe in Westbrook,

When you think of Mexican food, one of the last words that pops into your head is “Westbrook.” One trip to Blue Burrito Café will change that.

From Away has published a sandwich review of The Cheese Iron,

This is not your lunchbox’s ham and cheese. Smoky ham, taleggio, sweet chutney and basil, grilled on crusty baguette. This is the sandwich I have been wanting all year, maybe all my life.

The Golden Dish has published a review of the Falmouth Sea Grill which is sibling of the Old Port Sea Grill in Portland,

Connolly has definitely taken the menu to a higher culinary standard, a middle of the road goodness that’s easy to like.

Is it a menu or a dining experience meant to send you to the moon? No. And that’s OK. Not every meal needs to wow and dazzle. But in such a fun, convivial setting, you couldn’t ask for more.

Portland Bar Guide has published a review of the new Sebago Brewing on Fore Street.

The beers serve as an embodiment of various places and experiences in Maine. The most popular with customers is the medium-bodied Frye’s Leap IPA ($4 for a pint; $5 for 22 ounces), but many staff members and beer connoisseurs (me included) prefer the malty Runabout Red. You need only look to the wall over the raised booths to see the painted labels of the year-round craft beers and five seasonal brews. If the smorgasbord of beer choices overwhelms you, you can always try the sampler ($5), which offers a selection of five 4-ounce glasses.

Audrey Ruth has published a review of Fez.

Despite its unassuming (to say the least) ambiance, and casually-dressed staff, and relative emptiness (the three of us were dining simultaneously with a couple, also on their first trip, though a few other parties trickled in as the nine o’clock hour ticked nearer), the food was unparalleled. As the first Moroccan place in Portland that I know of, there’s no bar to speak of, but Fez is setting it high for any successors.

The Bollard has published a review of the lobster takeout at Three Sons,

There’s nothing quaint about Three Sons. You can get fancier fare in a more stylish setting almost anywhere else in town, but there’s nowhere more affordable and authentic.

Summer is tourist season in Maine, food bloggers from away that make a trip to our state often write about their eating adventures.

Recently two Boston area food bloggers, Delicious Dishing and A Slice of Earthly Delight, have been posting write ups on their eating experiences in Portland at: Bar of Chocolate Cafe, Boda, Brian Boru, District, Duckfat, The Corner Room, The Lobster Shack, and Walter’s.

From Away has published a 3-day eating itinerary for Portland in response to request from one of their readers,

It got us thinking about what we would do if we were limited to eating every single meal out, during a long weekend visiting Portland. We’re going to assume just four things: That you have access to a car (because frankly, we’re not sure how you would get from the bridge in Kittery to Portland without one), that you’ve got plenty of time to get from one restaurant to the next, that you want to stick close to Portland (though this limits your lobster roll options somewhat), and finally, that you have a very healthy appetite.

The Portland Maine Gazette has published a review of the Exchange Street Cafe.

Our impression is that the owners have managed to capture the ambiance and essence of a good little North End Italian style eatery, and coupled it with Portland’s culinary sense and style.

From Away has published a review of Zapoteca.

The inevitable success of Zapoteca spells the end of careless, cartoonish, bottomless-margarita kid-friendly Mexican cuisine in Maine. Each dish we tried included an unexpectedly sophisticated, delicious surprise, whether it was in the use of additional ingredients, or in the different way those ingredients were assembled and presented. Ultimately, where Zapoteca succeeds most completely is in its dedication to authentic ingredients, with clever twists and spins that don’t take each dish outside the realm of what it essentially is.

The Bollard has published a review of The Wine Bar in its guise as an afternoon summertime taco bar.

Comfy and cool, sophisticated yet unpretentious, The Wine Bar has been a refuge from the bachelorette madness of Wharf Street for many years. Earlier this summer, the nocturnal lounge began opening most weekdays for cheap lunch, providing refuge from the factory-burger madness of Five Guys. Tuesday through Friday afternoons, The Wine Bar effectively becomes The Taco Bar.