Category: Reviews

The Portsmouth Herald has published a review of Bresca.

But I say, no. No, it wasn’t the hormones. It was that I had just enjoyed one of my best restaurant experiences in many years from beginning to middle and then, with the description of those desserts, those roasted black plums and then buttermilk panna cotta with passionfruit broth and white pepper and orange blossom sorbet with — I would later learn — all its cream and tang, brightness merged with mellow floral allure, I knew it wasn’t over. There was still more. This lovely evening was going to last just a little while longer.

Cupcakes! Cupcakes! Cupcakes! has posted a review of the banana cream cupcake at Scratch Baking.

This cupcake was definitely amazing and in contention for the best cupcake in the Portland area. The frosting wasn’t so much frosting as it was a whipped cream cloud placed on top of the cupcake. It tasted exactly like homemade whipped cream that my mom makes every year at Christmas. In the middle of the cupcake there was pudding, which made the cake portion even more moist than it already was and added another delicious dimension to the cupcake. There were also little pieces of banana within the pudding and on top of the frosting.

Eat Here. Go There. has published a review of Yordprom Coffee.

Don’t hang on the fence waiting for a better time to go–go now! Tommy is running a creative startup that isn’t just about coffee. It’s about service, ambiance, and quality products and ingredients. Yordprom is a must if you love your coffee strong and your pastries fresh.

Bar Lola received 4½ stars from the review in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.

Outstanding food prepared in different- size portions and courses to mix and match according to the diner’s whim. Top quality ingredients, well-conceived combinations and meticulous preparation make every dish a delight. Opened five years ago by Guy and Stella Hernandez (Guy is chef), Bar Lola is an intimate space with skilled service in the Munjoy Hill neighborhood outside of the city center.

The Golden Dish has published a review of Deux Cochon.

Deux Cochon received 4½ stars from the Eat & Run review in today’s Press Herald.

The pork in the pulled pork sandwich ($6) was smoky and very flavorful, as close as you’ll find in the Portland area to what you can get down South. My friend and I, however, immediately and independently had the same reaction when we bit into our sandwiches: the meat, while delicious, was too dry. A vinegary, Carolina-style sauce from the Deux Cochon counter solved the problem, although it was a little overpowering…Despite that minor issue, I would highly recommend this pulled pork sandwich.

Vin et Grub has published a review of Gogi.

The tofu taco I liked the best- it was great, simply because I love tofu.  Otherwise I felt like they weren’t anything special, and had too much stuff packed onto the corn tortilla itself- which I might add ended up tearing apart upon picking it up.  I don’t want to eat my taco with a fork… and I guess they should have given more than one tortilla per order, because the amount of food could easily fill two tacos.  The cucumber salsa was delicious- maybe that was the high point of the tacos in general.

Eat Here. Go There. has published a review of The Front Room.

Overall, The Front Room is a very good deal for the quality of food. They don’t accept reservations so there can be a wait on the weekends, but just get a drink. A bonus if you get there between 4-6 on Friday–Happy Hour! They have $2 glasses of house wine and a number of other beer and cocktail specials. Both of our entrées were $19. Their daily special list could be a menu in and of itself, and makes me wonder why they even have a traditional menu at all. We will be back again this summer for sure, and can’t wait to give it a whirl at brunch!

Chubby Werewolf has published a review of the burger at Petite Jacqueline.

As good as the burger looks, it tasted even better. Cooked exactly as I had requested (I tip my hat to you, Rebecca and kitchen staff!), the grilled burger patty was tender, flavorful and juicy. On its own, without the toppings, it would have been an example of a really outstanding straightforward burger. But the addition of the salty blue cheese and those amazing, sweet-tasting caramelized onions propelled the burger to a sublime level. Whereas lesser buns might have given way to the weight and juiciness of the patty, mine held up extremely well. I was provided with mustard and ketchup, but found that I had want for neither.

Portland Magazine has published a review of Petite Jacqueline.

Next to arrive is the terrine of foie gras ($13), graced with local honey, brioche rounds, and a compote of cherries and apricots, which plays silky and sweet on the palate. Following up is the roast pork belly with cabbage and herbs ($8). The buttery and salty belly is crisped on the outside, and the kraut lends well-balanced crunch and acidic tang.