Category: Reviews

Casa Novello received 3½ stars from this week’s Taste & Tell column in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.

This utterly solid resource for inexpensive Italian-American dinners, so welcome in the winter, has the added attraction of exceptional service.

Borealis Breads received 3 stars from this week’s Eat & Run column in the Press Herald.

Whoever made this chowder did everything right. The flavors were well-balanced, and the consistency just right. The herb wasn’t overwhelming, and the potatoes were neither over- nor undercooked. And did I mention there was lots of shrimp? At $6.50 for a 12-ounce bowl, it was worth every penny.

I was less impressed with my sandwich. The roast turkey with onion jam and cream cheese (sounds good, doesn’t it?) came without the onion jam because they were out of it that day. Some kind of caramelized onions was substituted.

Later, I also discovered there was no cream cheese.

The Portland Phoenix has reviewed the prix fixe option at Blue Spoon.

Our salad offered an even more generous helping of mushrooms — in this case an interesting variety from the mushroom-masters at Oyster Creek, where they combine foraging and cultivation. The best was the earthy-sweet hedgehog mushroom, shaped like an ugly fist. The subtle bitter of baby arugula would have worked better with the earthy fungi if the vinaigrette dressing had been a bit less sweet.

The Portland Bar Guide has reviewed Shay’s.

Being a happy hour hot spot, Shays boasts $5 martinis everyday, all day. Choices include cosmos, Bourbon Lemonade Martini and a questionable choice- the Bleu Martini. That’s right folks, it’s a vodka martini with bleu cheese stuffed olives and the waitress told me people love it. (What is wrong with you people?)

The Boston Globe has reviewed Marcy’s.

Earlier, when Michaelene put a hot triple stack of blueberry buttermilk pancakes in front of my husband, he took a bite, handed me a forkful and announced, “When blueberry pancakes were invented, this is what they had in mind.” My beef stew arrives in a “cup” the size of a big cereal bowl. The stew is rich and meaty. Michaelene insists on grilling my peanut-butter-and-chocolate-chip muffin. More calories? Who cares? Lunch for two is less than $14.

Type A Diversions has published a brief review of the eats at Brian Boru. Her conclusion?

Go for the Guinness. Skip the food.

Accidental Vegetables has weighed in with a brief review of Loco Pollo.

Otis and I finally made it over to Loco Pollo on Washington Ave yesterday, and we were really glad we did. For $14 we got a filling, flavorful meal for both of us– in a friendly and colorful atmosphere.

The Portland Bar Guide formerly known as 1:00 a.m. Curfew and before that know as John Everett’s Bar Guide has reviewed Turf’s Sports Bar. The reviews conclusion was that Turf’s is “Nothing special. Just the average, bland, Warren Avenue sports bar.”

What is good about the place? It’s huge. If you have a very large party and looking to get everyone seated for food and drinks, Turf’s can accommodate you. If you’re stuck with a kid and want to have a few drinks, you can ditch the baby at Joker’s and kick back with a tall one on the other side of the building.

They must be doing something right because they’re still in business while many others are folding.

The Bogey’s Bar and Grill received 3½ stars from this week’s Eat & Run column in today’s Press Herald.

Our chili connoisseur (who’s eaten this classic in at least a dozen Old Port eateries) gives the Bogey’s version ($4.95) five out of five stars.

The green peppers, meat and beans were fresh, spicy and satisfying. She cleaned the bowl.

Travels with Hilary has reviewed the bar food at Fore Street.

It’s easy to make a meal out of the apps here, especially if starting with the wood oven roasted wild Maine mussels. Oh my! These are a must. A hefty bowl of plump mussels hailing Gurnet Strait, Brunswick, served in a rich garlic almond butter, accompanied by crusty bread and a soup spoon. I savored, I dunked and dredged, I slurped (quietly, very quietly). If it had been socially acceptable, I would have licked the bowl.