Category: Reviews

From Away has published a review of The Great Lost Bear.

The Great Lost Bear succeeds in the ways you need it to, providing a great selection of mostly local draft beers in a cool, calmly-lit environment, serviced by an easygoing, yet attentive staff. Knowing what to order and what to avoid seems key, and it seems like sticking to simpler dishes (chicken wings) and skipping their more “exotic” fare (Peanut Thai Chicken Rollup? Spanakopita? Seriously?) might be the order of the day. So far, it is our favorite choice for a cool place to lay low until October with a few beers and some good pub food.

For the 10th round of this comprehensive survey/review of Thai restaurants in Portland we visited Vientiane on Noyes Street. It’s a combination market and restaurant. There a few tables but is probably better known as a spot to get takeout.
Appetite Portland – read the full review

The food certainly doesn’t come close to Boda’s or even Pom’s. But, compared to the other neighborhood Thai restaurants, Adam and I both feel it fares quite well. Rather strongly, even.

The curry was quite nice and the atmosphere — authentic and weird — can’t be beat.

Edible Obsessions – read the full review

Later on that evening we talked about our dishes and I came to a conclusion: Perhaps, over the past six years of trying other places in town, it wasn’t really Vientiane that had changed but us. The meal was still enjoyable, just not the best we’ve had. Our tastes and preferences now lie elsewhere in the Thai spectrum offered in and around Portland. Like any relationship that fades away because people change I have this to say to Vientiane, “I’m sorry, it’s not you–it’s me.”

The Blueberry Files – read the full review

So I’m excited to eat at and review Vientiane, because I know their Pad Thai is the best I’ve ever had. That’s right, the best I’ve ever had. So if you’ve had their Pad Thai and are immediately thinking a me a philistine, that’s fine. At least you know where my tastes lie. This Pad Thai is my personal measure for all other Pad Thais.

Where is Jenner’s Mind – read the full review

after a summer break from thai food and blogging, vientiane was a great welcome back. while they offer the average thai fare, vientiane does a good job at it. its very convenient and we will definitely be going back for thai take-out.

Food in Portland published the one prior review of Vientiane about a decade ago and gave them 3½ stars, “My freshly made spring rolls were large, tasty and lovely to look at. The vegetables (mostly cucumber, carrot and sprouts) and the mint were very fresh and the rice wrapping itself was soft and easy to bite into. They came with a sweet Thai sauce with bits of peanut and pepper flakes.”
There are just 3 Thai restaurants left for us to visit: Chiang Mai, Sengchai Thai, Siam Orchid. Where we should go next?

Soju received 2½ stars from the Taste & Tell column in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.

Yaki udon ($8.50) held big, fat, square rice noodles — again not a favorite, but well-liked by my dinner companion. The mild sauce and scallions, zucchini, carrots, onions and mushrooms mixed with cubes of tofu that had a crisp, thin fried coating kept the dish interesting.

From Away has published a review of DiMillo’s.

It’s the sort of place where you share molten chocolate cake. It’s the sort of place you bring your grandma for her 90^th birthday and delight in watching her wear a bib adorned with anthropomorphic shellfish. It’s the sort of place where your waitress forgets to fire your order but you forgive her and she comps you a glass of Chardonnay while career waiters in their black vests swan around mocking her failures. It’s crenolins and mary janes and falling asleep in the back of the station wagon while your parents smoke and argue, The Moody Blues on the radio. DiMillo’s is nostalgia for the future.

From Away has published a review of DiMillo’s.

It’s the sort of place where you share molten chocolate cake. It’s the sort of place you bring your grandma for her 90^th birthday and delight in watching her wear a bib adorned with anthropomorphic shellfish. It’s the sort of place where your waitress forgets to fire your order but you forgive her and she comps you a glass of Chardonnay while career waiters in their black vests swan around mocking her failures. It’s crenolins and mary janes and falling asleep in the back of the station wagon while your parents smoke and argue, The Moody Blues on the radio. DiMillo’s is nostalgia for the future.

From Away has published a review of Hot Suppa.

Open for breakfast and lunch, but not actually “Suppa,” a fact that my 11-year-old nephew finds hilarious and fascinating, you may hit a bit of a wait on the weekends. The tables turn quickly, though, and seeing the smiling, satisfied faces on their way out inspire you to wait just a little longer. Hot Suppa has emerged, in our brief time in Portland, as our favorite place to bring out-of-town guests for a cozy, bleary-eyed breakfast.

Mike’s, the new sandwich shop on Congress Street, has received 4 stars from the Eat & Run review in today’s Press Herald.

Opened this month, Mike’s is a small restaurant. The front room houses a few stools, where you can eat looking at Congress Street out the front window, beverage coolers and the kitchen. The back room has tables for seating. There are band posters and other art work celebrating rock ‘n’ roll decorating the restaurant’s two rooms.

Mike’s, the new sandwich shop on Congress Street, has received 4 stars from the Eat & Run review in today’s Press Herald.

Opened this month, Mike’s is a small restaurant. The front room houses a few stools, where you can eat looking at Congress Street out the front window, beverage coolers and the kitchen. The back room has tables for seating. There are band posters and other art work celebrating rock ‘n’ roll decorating the restaurant’s two rooms.

Edible Obsessions has published a review of Caiola’s.

I am going to start simply by laying out the fact that I am undeniably and absolutely in love with Caiola’s. I am biased from the second my hands hit the keyboard and I am more than ok with that. Truth be told, in spite of what my friend Kate says, they serve up the best brunch in town (or within at least a 50-mile radius) and we haven’t gone to another spot since they started serving it over two years ago.

Edible Obsessions has published a review of Caiola’s.

I am going to start simply by laying out the fact that I am undeniably and absolutely in love with Caiola’s. I am biased from the second my hands hit the keyboard and I am more than ok with that. Truth be told, in spite of what my friend Kate says, they serve up the best brunch in town (or within at least a 50-mile radius) and we haven’t gone to another spot since they started serving it over two years ago.