Category: Reviews

The Bollard has published a review of brunch at District,

My friend’s spinach-and-cheddar omelette ($8) was also outstanding. She particularly appreciated the top-shelf sharp cheddar and the nutty, delicate wheat toast baked on premises. Her side order of bacon ($3) was cooked just right — thick and meaty, yet still somehow light and crispy.

Gogi received 3 stars from the Eat & Run review in today’s Press Herald,

Despite our criticisms, we recommend you give Gogi a try. They are trying to do something different, and it’s worth checking out. Would I eat there regularly? Probably not; at least not without some tweaking of the tacos. But I would go back for a late-night, early-morning meal.

From Away has written up Amato’s Spaghetti Calzone,

It was a celebration of contrasting texture; each bite of spaghetti was wrapped with warm, buttery, lightly crisped pizza dough. Any spaghetti that fell off my fork could be mopped up with the corner part of the remaining crust. Finally, I was able to pick the whole thing up, dip my spaghetti calzone into the included plastic container of additional sweet marinara sauce, and smile…

and the Phantom Gourmet has published a review of Grace which received an overall score of 87.

Next, bone-in tenderloin was simply divine, a succulent hunk of beef served with sinfully creamy potato gratin and fried greens beans, doused with silky red wine sauce. Praise be to cod…the pan-roasted cod, that is—paired with baby artichokes, briny clams, olives, and tender fingerlings.

Petite Jacqueline received 4 stars from today’s review in the Maine Sunday Telegram.

At Petite Jacqueline, tables are close, portions are reasonable, service is casual and attentive, and food is consistently excellent. The traditional French fare may be regular sustenance to those across the Atlantic, but in Maine, cassoulet, foie gras, coq au vin and steak tartare expertly prepared in-house and served in a lively bistro atmosphere has added another welcome dimension to the city’s dining choices.

The Spiced Plate has published a review of Local 188.

The star of the night, however, was this dish:  A squash roasted to perfection and filled with saucy garbanzo beans, spiced in a mix of Indian-style spices with Italian-style tomato flavor, served with the garnish of coconut-cilantro chutney.  I couldn’t talk while I was eating this.  Every bite I ate with concentration on the flavors and textures of the dish.  I couldn’t get over the sauce, the softness of the squash, or how the chickpeas were just so darn lovely.

Cupcakes! Cupcakes! Cupcakes! has published a review of Aurora Provisions.

I am so glad that my tipster let me know they had cupcakes there that day, since it really was the best basic cupcake I have had in a while. The butter cream frosting was really light and not too sweet. The flavor for the frosting was spot on to complement the chocolate cupcake. The sugar sprinkles gave it a fantastic crunch and obvious visual appeal…

Appetite Portland has posted a review of Paciarino.

Next to me, Adam’s “oh man-ing” over fat ravioli pillows stuffed with goat cheese and Vidalia onions caramelized with a touch of fresh sage. A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil glistens on his fork as he stabs chunks of the tender pockets slathered in traditional Pomodoro sauce speckled with fresh ground parmigiano.

From Away has published a review of District.

In conclusion, I am once again stumped and confounded. I wanted to like District more than I did but am not making any sweeping judgments or passing pronouncements as yet. There are certainly reasons to have dinner at this neighborhood hopeful and perhaps a more narrow path to follow. Stick with the raw bar, offal and appetizers, I’m thinking. Have many cocktails at the bar. Go when it’s already dark. Be part of a large party. Laugh a lot, and loudly. There’s room there. Share food, eat off each other’s plates…

From Away has published a review of Tu Casa.

With the newly-opened Taco Trio, the gas station-turned-taco-stand El Rayo, the kimchi-drenched “fusion” tacos at Gogi, and the upcoming entries into the Mexican scene, in the form of Nosh’s new “Taco Escobar” project, and the Old Port’s upcoming “Zapoteca,” Portland seems intent on finally shaking off its iceberg-lettuce-and-cheese-quesadilla reputation, with varying degrees of success. Today, though, we learned the good news: Inexpensive, delicious, authentic Latin-influenced food has been here all along, and you can find it at Tu Casa, in Portland’s East End.

A Slice of Earthly Delight has published a review of Nosh.

Whether you are in the mood for tasting the apocalypse or just want some pork belly with your fries, Nosh is a great spot to hit up for on a night out. It’s one of the many must-eat-at restaurants in Portland that you’ve got to try if you’re in the area.

Portland Lobster Company received 4 stars from the Eat & Run column in today’s Press Herald.

Fried dinners — including fish and chips, fried haddock and fried clams — run $10 to $14, and lobster dinners are priced to market. They’re also well out of the budget for an Eat & Run. But for folks who aren’t financially restricted by dining review guidelines, the lobster here won’t disappoint.

Free Food Boston recently was in town and has published reviews of Tony’s,

The blueberry and the cruller were both fun and intensely sweet from the glaze. The nice thing about the molasses donut is that the more robust flavor from the molasses provides a solid base and contrast for the sweet glaze. It is less of a sugar bomb than some of the other varieties. Tony’s Donuts has firmly earned itself a spot amongst my Portland favorites. I fully intend to get a molasses donut, or six, on my future trips to Portland.

and of Duckfat,

The fries were golden yellow, some a crispier golden brown, piping hot and salty. The crunchy fried outside gives way to a sliver of warm potato inside. There’s no distinct taste from the duck, at least not that I could detect. The truffle ketchup was sweet and tangy, with a rich and earthy truffle flavor. As a big fan of ketchup, I worried that the small jar would not be sufficient for the cone, but the fries were so good, I ended up eating many of them on their own. But the ketchup was certainly a welcome addition.

Another food site from away, Tasting Table, highlighted Miyake, Browne Trading, Glidden Point Oyster Company and Chebeague Island Inn in one of their daily travel destination emails.

From Away has published a review of Fit to Eat.

We’ll definitely be visiting “Fit to Eat” again to sample some of their other offerings, particularly their homemade soups and their breakfast sandwiches, available until 11:00 AM. We like the space, we like the reasonably-priced local art on the walls, and, to use a term that makes me gag, we liked the “vibe.” Owner Mike Mastronardi is a soft-spoken guy who bakes his own bread, mixes his own sauces, uses local ingredients, and spends more time thinking about sandwiches than we do, and there’s a lot to respect in that.

Vin et Grub has published a review of Nosh.

Nosh proves not to be my cup of tea, but for the foodies out there who love truffle oil, pork belly, pate, and the sort, Nosh should be on your list of places to go upon your arrival in Portland.  Jason Lorring, the owner of Nosh, is rumored to be opening up a taqueria across the street! I hope he gets over his affair with the ostentatious ingredients and instead opt for a more traditional route with his taqueria! If he goes down that path, I know that I will certainly enjoy the tacos he puts on his menu!!

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Aroma.

But Aroma is doing great things with sauces as well, often by using their spices with restraint. The dark, thin saag, for example, is modestly spiced, which highlights the bitter flavor of the spinach and the lamb. The big pieces of meat were as tender, juicy, and richly flavored as the best lamb chops. The spices in the navaratan koorma were similarly mild. The creamy sauce had just a hint of nutty flavor, and among the mix of vegetables the cauliflower and green beans were the most assertive.

Slice has published a review of the Sicilian Slab at Micucci’s.

The crust is surprisingly light, striated, and almost cakey with a pleasant chew—qualities that Lanzalotta attributes to thoroughly hydrating the dough (about 90 percent), using high-quality ingredients (King Arthur Bread Flour, SAF yeast, grey sea salt, water, and a particularly floral Portuguese olive oil), and letting the dough rise five times over the course of its three-hour fermentation. By the time it’s ready for baking, the jiggle-y five-pound mass has risen a bit and formed a thin skin that keeps it from sticking.

The Golden Dish has published a review of Petite Jaqueline.

Of the main courses, I’ve tried the roast chicken, boeuf bourguignon, and fluke meuniere which were all first rate. The braised beef seemed to luxuriate in its deep, rich, dark brown sauce; and the chicken was perfectly delicious—crisp skin, very flavorful ( a local bird), and oozing all the goodness of its natural juices.