Portland Bar Guide has published a review of The Corner Room.
Instead, our swift server delivers hot hard cheese encrusted house focaccia with a pitcher of a lightly hued olive oil. Dizzy with joy, I realize I should’ve opted for something from the many splendored, all-Italian all-handpicked wine list (Gabbiano Chianti, Toscano for example, for $6.50 a glass) instead of the knee jerk local draft (Geary’s Winter, $5).
Back in February Opinionated About Dining published their list of the top 30 restaurants in United States and top 15 in New England. They’ve now released an extended New England list which also recognizes: Paciarino, Back Bay Grill, Five Fifty-Five, Street & Co., Caiola’s, Bar Lola, and Local 188. (via a post on Edible Obsessions)
Viet Bangkok Cuisine was the focus of this second round of the Thai-o-rama collaborative food writing project. Looking across all reviews for the restaurant, the Pho is the dish nearly everyone agrees is one of VBC’s strengths. Earlier reviews in 2007 by Accidental Vegetables and the Maine Sunday Telegram also complimented the Thai entrees but that wasn’t the experience this time around.
Appetite Portland details two reasons to visit the Viet Bangkok Cuisine, “1. The authentic Pho, 2. The trippy, giant lobster mounted to the wall.” In her review she writes of her non-Pho dining “As for the rest of our meal? Mixed results.”
Edible Obsessions had an “odd and highly disappointing” meal and reports she “Probably won’t be heading back.”
The Blueberry Files went with a group of friends including blogger Strawberries in Paris. She writes that the appetizers were “good, but nothing to write home about” but it sounds like the Pho was the standout dish of the night “There were thin slices of beef, skinny rice noodles, thinly sliced onions, and floaty green onions. Deeeelicious.” with other entrees suffering from an “odd sweetness”.
Where is Jenner’s Mind describes VBC as “small clean restaurant with all the requisite kitschy south east asian decor”. She echoes The Blueberry Files assessment that their were “some weird elements” that cropped up in their dinner but sums up with “you may get some surprises in your dishes, but overall i think it will be enjoyable.”
Portland Daily Sun had this to say “The vegetables were limp, the color olive drab, something you’d find in an army surplus store rather than a farmer’s market or produce section…It must be mentioned that the Massaman Tofu was good but the flavor was identical to that which I make with canned stuff. All in all, Viet Bangkok is a place to be skipped. There are too many better alternatives in Portland to frequent a place that goes by the numbers.”
PortlandTown has published a set of photos illustrating the nominees from the Best Dessert Place category in the Portland Phoenix readership poll.
Photo Credit: Michael Barriault
Portland Bar Guide has published a review of Walter’s.
Our server was attentive, but hardly overbearing, and helped us narrow down the drink choices while we relaxed in our cushy chairs. The bar menu was satisfying and I was quite happy with my Walter’s experience. I’m sure you will be too.
The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Po’Boys & Pickles.
…the new Po’ Boys & Pickles offers a formula for short-term buzz, and perhaps long-term loyalty: have a clear and distinctive vision and stick to it. In recent weeks, every time I mentioned Po’ Boys someone piped up to say they have been wanting to try that place. And everyone liked it once they got there. Po’ Boys gets the details of a New Orleans sandwich shop right, without an off-putting authenticity obsession.
Edible Obsessions has published a review of the donuts at The French Press Eatery.
Words cannot describe how f’ing good these are. The base of the doughnuts are dense, without being heavy and the outsides are crunchy, yet not greasy. To say that these are the perfect doughnut would not be an exaggeration. Then add on the toppings and you are well into the realm of pure gluttony.
Dine In Portland has published a review of Nosh Kitchen Bar.
In sum, the food is fantastic, atmosphere loud, and we’ve seen many people walk in and right out. If you are one of those individuals, turn around and wait for a table – you will not regret it.
Appetite Portland has published a review of Homegrown Herb & Tea.
Drawn back to Homegrown again on Saturday, I tried one of the limited-time seasonal tisanes that had caught my eye the day before. Dense with coconut milk and the scent of lavender, the Coco-Kava was a revelation. Creamy and lightly spiced with cocoa and sedating kava-kava, the milky liquid was slightly sweet and soothing to both body and mind.
The Blueberry Files has published a review of Nosh Kitchen Bar,
While I really love the transformation of the space from the old, kinda cold and dark White Heart to a cozy, warm, well-lit space that meshes kitchen, bar, and restaurant well, I don’t see myself frequenting the place unless I hear that my next $10 won’t yield me disappointing results again.
and Cornucopasetic has published a microreview and had this to say about the pork belly reuben.
From those ingredients it should have been a legendary sandwich to tell my grand children about, but it somehow ended up being just okay.