Category: Reviews

The Seagrass Bistro in Yarmouth received 4 stars from a review in the Maine Sunday Telegram.

Eight pan-seared scallops, nicely crusted outside and tender inside, surround braised fennel, all placed atop a piquant tomato sauce ($24). It’s a simple dish that’s beautifully prepared.

Eat Here. Go There. has published a review of Bull Feeney’s.

Overall, we thought the food/atmosphere at Feeney’s was great! We escaped with a $40 tab. It would have been relatively cheap had it not been for our $6 beers, so I think it’s worth giving a try. Though it’s far from authentic Irish food, it can satisfy one’s banger craving. It’s a cool place to grab some pub grub, have a good beer (because life’s too short to drink crap beer), and people watch. So, sometime do yourself a favor, go to Bull Feeney’s order an O’hara’s and some bangers…I feel pretty confident you’ll be glad you did.

The Golden Dish has published a review of Bar Lola.

Why I never cottoned to the place in the past is a mystery. I think I felt the ambiance too dull and the room uncomfortable. This time the experience worked on all levels. The service is thoughtful and the kitchen keeps up to speed. I’m glad to add it to my list of five or six Portland restaurants that I go to regularly for pure gustatory indulgence.

The Blueberry Files has published a brunch review of District,

But for brunch in Portland?  District.  Go to District.  I ordered a Bloody Mary to start and perused their short-ish menu, which has a mix of breakfast and lunch items.  Was tempted by the Soft Shell Crab Benedict special (until I saw the big X through it), but then landed on All You Can Eat Chicken and Waffles.

and John Golden has revisited Otto’s and posted an updated review. Golden’s first review was critical of Otto’s and a revisit seems to have attenuated his opinion somewhat but not to the degree that he’d agree with the result of the Phoenix readership poll which rated Otto’s the Best Pizza in Portland.

 

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Figa.

An entrée of seared cod was served with funny, chewy little bits of beet and watercress spaetzle that shined and curled like a veggie organ-meat. The fish was firm but moist, and the sauce both buttery and bright with lemon. The meat of the braised rabbit was very mild, without a hint of gameyness. This bunny really chilled on the farm, I suspect. It was served with a simple red wine sauce, and sat on a profoundly creamy puddle of polenta.

The Portland Daily Sun has published a review of Gogi.

Both the BBQ pulled pork and the Marinated Shiitake Mushroom tacos were nicely seasoned, and meaty each in their own way. Tacos are dressed with tomato, red onions, a lettuce/cabbage mix, pickled cucumber and pickled bean sprouts. Good innards but the tortillas were lackluster. It might be their supplier or a reluctance to put those little disks on a griddle.

Where is Jenner’s Mind has published a brief review of Gogi,

given the affordability and uniqueness of gogi in portland, i think this establishment is a great addition to the portland food scene.  what is really cool is that gogi is open late night so if you need some korean/mexican fusion at 1 am, and who of us hasn’t, you have a great option.

and Vin et Grub has published a review of brunch at Caiola’s.

The Bird’s Nest consisted of two eggs, cooked over medium, nestled into pieces of Pullman Toast- which had been highly praised by other food bloggers- and lived up to their impressions I must say, served with country sausage gravy, and roasted sweet potatoes.  The toast was buttery, flaky, and delicious.  Toasted to a crisp, but sopped in some runny egg yolks did the trick to add a bit more flavor.  The sausage gravy was creamy and savory.  It had a pleasing aroma- somewhat resembling Shepard’s Pie, but highly reminiscent of my stay down south last year.  All in all, this dish blew my mind.

The East Ender has received 3½ stars from today’s review in the Maine Sunday Telegram.

Barflies and dinner guests alike will want to dig into the traditional and novel items on the snack menu. Tasty trout fritters ($7) served with caper aioli and lemon have a good portion of smoked trout inside light dough. Even better are the mussels mirepoix ($10), the carrot/celery/thyme/parsley aromatic adding a subtly sublime flavor. A hunk of grilled bread is served alongside. Include a salad, and you’ve got a lovely dinner.

From Away has published a review of Deux Cochon.

And boy, did I like it. This is barbecue unlike any we have seen in the Portland area, with big, pull-apart chunks of moist, mouthwateringly slow-cooked pork shoulder piled high on a warm, fluffy bun, and speared with two pieces of pickled okra. The sauce (which I insist you add by the ladleful) only enhances the natural flavors of the meat, with the mustard, the acid from the vinegar, and just a tiny bit of heat combining marvelously with the fat and the smoky flavor of the pork.

Scratch Baking in South Portland received 4½ stars from the Eat & Run review in today’s Press Herald.

The bagels alone are worth the trip. I had a sea salt bagel ($1.25) that was as big and as good a bagel as I’ve had. I’m not the world’s biggest bagel fan, but this one made me want more.

It was chewy (but not too chewy) and buttery tasting on the outside; light and airy inside. The sea salt added a warm flavor, and was not as salty as I thought it might have been. Cream cheese cost $1 extra, and came in a container big enough to cover a couple of bagels at least.

The Golden Dish has published a review of Norm’s.

In some ways Norm’s on Congress Street in Portland is the perfect hangout to find highly seasoned fare from an eclectic bar menu. Whether it’s grilled lamb and feta with onions and tomatoes served over greens or big burgers, nicely charred and gutsy, the flavors inspire and are easy to take.