Eat Here. Go There. has published a review of Bintliff’s.
Overall, it was a great brunch with great friends. My husband, Mark, thinks they have the best eggs benedict in town! Unlimited cups of coffee are $1.99, bloody’s are $6.99, the lobster dishes were $14.99, and the plain benedict’s were $11.99. So, reasonably priced for the large amount of food you get. We left there so full we didn’t eat until 6:30 p.m. Now that’s what I call a hearty brunch!
A new food blog entitled Eat Here. Go There. has been added to the Food Map blog list. The author is a transplant from West Virgina and a self described “newbie Mainer, writer, bon vivant, wife, and puppy momma”. The most recent two posts are reviews of Pai Men Miyake and Boda.
Finally, Ben decided on the Pork Hocks braised in Star Anise, which the menu told us is one of the most popular dishes in Thailand! Score! The pork was so tender it came apart easily with a fork, and it tasted great, with just the slightest hint of licorice from the star anise. All in all I thought it was one of the most interesting combinations of spices I have ever had in a dish. I would consider it a must try for anyone.
From Away has published a review of Harmon’s Lunch,
The burgers at Harmon’s are thin, and cooked to a solid medium. They are topped with a thick layer of American cheese, which melts and oozes perfectly into the nooks and crannies on the surface of the burger. The “red relish” is a kind of pickle relish/tomato hybrid, and the onions are sublime; slow cooked for so long that they become incredibly sweet, with the consistency of a marmalade.
and a review of Market Street Eats.
The pita that Market Street Eats uses almost requires a new term to be invented; the word “wrap” is no longer really descriptive enough. These are some inspired sandwiches, served by a friendly, conversational staff, in a casual restaurant space that it’s easy to imagine yourself visiting at least weekly.
Portland Bar Guide has published a review of Figa.
The bar menu is chosen specifically by Farrington, with input from her staff. With wine offerings evenly split between reds and whites and available by glass ($7-$15), half bottle and full bottle ($29-$88), there are many choices for a wine enthusiast. Especially of interest at Figa is the sparkling wine selection, with about ten different options it is one of the most extensive I have seen. If you want to try out a few, order the Sparkling Flight ($13), a sampling of Rose Brut, Cava and Prosecco sparkling wines.
The Portland Press Herald has published a review of Shanghai Tokyo.
Shanghai Tokyo has three personalities — one Chinese menu, one Japanese menu and a Thai menu. It would certainly take more than one visit to determine whether a diner is a good match for a place that has 288 items on its combined lunch and dinner menus. (Yes, I counted them.) We zeroed in on the lunch menu, which is much more manageable on its own.
John Golden gives a shout out to Back Bay Grill, Caiola’s, Five Fifty-Five, Fore Street, Grace, Walter’s among others as having some his favorite restaurant bars to dine at.
The Blueberry Files has published a review of The Porthole.
The Porthole can be warm and cozy or cool and happening, depending on the time of year. It’s the kind of place where you can spot your friends, mingle with tourists and the business happy hour crowd, and get your $5.99 All-You-Can-Eat Fish and Chips at lunch on Fridays.
Eve’s at the Garden received 3 stars from today’s review in the Maine Sunday Telegram.
One of my companions enjoys his pan-roasted swordfish steak ($24), cooked perfectly and simply seasoned. It’s placed over creamed spinach, and as such, the ensemble looks plainer than it tastes. A dash of a third color would help the plate.
Vin et Grub has published a review of the Sicilian Slab from Micucci Grocery.
Food and Wine, as well as Bon Appetit, have insisted on making a trip into Miccuci’s if it’s your first time visiting Portland. I agree. It’s hard to imagine that it’s even legal- because I really feel like its too indulgent. But I think any first time visiter to Portland should split one with a friend, and ponder over whether or not it should be considered pizza. Maybe it’s a revolution in the making? Maybe I’m just a little too stuck up to classify it in my normal pizza category for fear that it will soon take Otto’s # 1 seat?
Chubby Werewolf has posted a review of the Jalbert Burger at The Frog and Turtle.
Though the burger and poutine combination made for a filling meal, it stopped well short of being a deeply satisfying one. That said, one of the things that I really liked about my experience was that the general manager’s business card came to me stapled to my receipt. I have not seen this done on many occasions, and I really like the fact that the Frog and Turtle staff is so outgoing. The Jalbert Burger may have left me wanting, but I’ll definitely be returning to the Frog and Turtle soon, thanks to the great atmosphere, the friendliness of the wait staff and the various other temptations found on the menu.