Maine Sunday Telegram restaurant critic Andrew Ross has assembled his list of the best meals he had last year.
Looking back, I count myself extraordinarily lucky to have lived in Maine over the past 12 months – fork (and occasionally chopsticks) in hand to fend off the world outside.
The Golden Dish has reviewed Tuscan Table, and
The restaurant is barely a week old, but it seems like it’s been there forever; the well-trained staff keeps it all going. This certainly is a restaurateur’s marvel of good work and efforts, and I’m glad that it has established itself so quickly.
Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Boda.
Boda createss Thai food that transcends typical takeout and makes the customer feel like they’re dining finely, but in a very casual, relaxed atmosphere at a moderate price. It’s one of the first places I bring guests when I have someone visiting. If you haven’t been there, you should probably go.
The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed El Corazon,
It’s easy to get distracted at El Corazon, a Portland restaurant that offers an enormous range of dishes from across Mexico. Some, like carnitas-filled quesadillas, a jiggly housemade flan and fruity hibiscus agua fresca, demonstrate clearly why the business, an offshoot of a local food truck, has built up such a loyal following. Yet on the same, vast menu are bland items like albondigas soup, chicken sopes and fried pollock tacos, listed alongside overcooked carne asada and a saccharine seafood cocktail.
Portland Phoenix has reviewed Woodford F&B,
Proprietors Birch Shambaugh and Fayth Preyer — along with chef Courtney Loreg — have created an intimate venue for well-executed bistro food on perhaps the most hectic corner in the greater Portland area, and it’s amazing how well it works. Despite the unfortunate, near-24/7 presence of construction and traffic buzzing outside as part of the major Woodfords Corner redesign, the room itself remains warm, lively and romantic. F&B’s interior showcases both classic and modern elements of design, evoking feelings of sitting in a Blade Runner-esque diner with slightly Parisian leanings.
Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Lazzari, and
Lazarri isn’t redefining pizza, it’s just taking it and making it to exacting standards. They’re also making sure that all the side notes – non-pizza food, drinks, and staff – are killing it too. Whether you’re starting your night there, ending it, or it’s your entire evening, there’s no doubt a visit to Lazzari will make you happy. It seems to be what they do. And they’re doing it well.
the Press Herald has reviewed Bite Into Maine.
I tried the LGC, a lobster grilled cheese with chipotle aioli and fontina and sharp cheddar cheeses on sourdough bread for $11.95. It was buttery and golden brown on the outside. The cheeses were creamy, the lobster chunks were tender, and the chipotle aioli had a little kick that took a few seconds to register.
Eat Drink Lucky has assembled a list of 32 ‘must drink’ cocktails, coffees and other imbibables available in the Portland area.
Portland has clocked in at #27 on Zagat’s 2017 list of the Most Exciting Food Cities in America.
Maine’s formerly sleepy little coastal capital has blossomed into a full on dining destination over the past few years, led by an ambitious flock of artisans, brewers, bakers and chefs…and it’s safe to say that Portland is officially taking the New England culinary scene by storm.
Bon Appétit has declared the Montreal-style bagels from The Purple House the Best Bagels We Ate in 2017.
I planned my entire trip around being able to make as many visits as possible to The Purple House. (I managed three.) There, I found hearty, rustic sandwiches and striking pastries like gooseberry-studded financiers. But the most important thing I found was the bagel that had been missing from my life: crackly and deeply flavorful in the Montreal style, yet homey and comforting in what I’ll call the Jewish-American deli style.
The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Noble Barbecue,
The culinary freedom Noble allows itself creates the space for a menu where a terrific, Texas-style smoked brisket can live happily alongside a New York pastrami or a wacky, yet completely addictive smoked spaghetti squash sandwich. A few dishes, like under-seasoned cubed pork and overcooked fries, need a tweak or two, but they are the exception, not the rule at Noble. Most, like macaroni and cheese prepared to order, are inventive and well-executed – way beyond the quality of anything you’d have any right to expect from a BBQ sandwich shop in Maine, of all places.
Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Blyth and Burrows, and
Blyth and Burrows turned my expectations upside down. I expected little and got everything. The drinks were solid, the food even better and the atmosphere as good as any around. The establishment is comfortable, looks really sharp, and feels like a place one could happily hang out in for hours. My two hopes are that next time I go I’ll spend some time in The Broken Dram downstairs and that at some point my wife will stop telling me how great her bao was.
the Press Herald has reviewed Sun Bakery & Restaurant.
For an entree, I tried the chicken lemongrass with rice ($8.50), which came with well-cooked (not clumpy) white rice, chunks of white meat chicken and a ton of vegetables, including broccoli, carrots, celery, onion, green beans, and both green and red peppers. The vegetables were perfect — cooked through, but they still had a little bite to them. The lemongrass flavor was very subtle, and at times I found myself wanting more, something to elevate it above a simple stir-fry.
Bon Appétit editor Alex Dealney was recently in town and has posted this report on Little Giant, Cong Tu Bot, Noble Barbecue, Belleville, Island Creek Oyster Shop and Rose Foods.
Portland, Maine is a bit of an anomaly. For such a small city, it has no business having such a high concentration of killer restaurants, bars, and breweries. Every time I’m there, I’m amazed. From diners to serious cocktail establishments to bakeries, Portland shows up in full.
I recently spent a few days eating around Portland, checking out spots that had opened since I was in town in the spring, and falling into comfortable, beer-coaxed sleeps. I’m happy to report that, like any noteworthy food city, Portland’s scene is still changing, growing, and impressing.
The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Little Giant,
An eclectic menu of hearty dishes contributes to the restaurant’s homey vibe, especially comfort-food classics like rolled buttermilk biscuits ($6), as light and laminated as croissants. Executive chef Rian Wyllie serves them with a mound of aerated lardo (cured pork fat), into which he whips rosemary, garlic and maple syrup. Spooned over the top is a tart hot-pepper jelly that tap-dances tiny prickles of heat along the back of your tongue.
the Portland Phoenix has reviewed Noble BBQ,
Barbecue is nothing without the support of a smattering of rib-sticking sides, and Noble covers familiar ground with two types of slaw (“old school” and citrus-apple, both noticeably different from one another in taste and texture), baked beans, mac ‘n cheese, fries and addictive house-pickled vegetables. “Scrappy Fries” give the restaurant a signature item of sorts — a pile of crunchy fries topped with baked beans, meat scraps, poblano sauce and cotija cheese. Is it poutine? Not really, but sort of, and it works.
the Press Herald has reviewed Leavitt & Sons,
When I got back to the office and a co-worker asked if I’d ordered the Our Famous Chicken Salad sandwich (which incorporates bacon and ranch dressing, obviously for health reasons), I felt a twinge of regret. I’d been tempted by it, then backed away. This gives me another reason to go back, and now I know I can find my way there. If I lived anywhere near downtown though, I’d walk, to skip the parking hassle. In spring and summer, a sandwich or salad to go and a trip into Deering Oaks with Leavitt & Sons would be just the ticket.
The Bollard has reviewed Hot Suppa,
Such hiccups aside, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Hot Suppa. The service was friendly and efficient, and the room was warm in every way. I look forward to exploring another corner of the dinner menu, and there are plenty of chilly evenings ahead.
Map & Menu has reviewed Island Creek Oyster Shop.
As a raw bar, The Shop’s menu is refreshingly simple – $1.50 oysters, tinned fish, caviar, beer, wine, and champagne. Island Creek’s own Duxbury oysters are served alongside some of Maine’s native varieties, including Damariscotta’s Mookie Blues, Scarborough’s Abigail Pearls, and New Meadows River’s Eider Coves. If you’re not in the mood for oysters, Tinned sardines, squid, octopus, or razor clams are served on a heaping tray filled with bread, butter, pickles, cabbages, and mustard.
Vinepair included Blyth & Burrows in their list of the Best New Cocktail Bars of 2017.
More importantly, there are exceptional drinks. The navy strength selection is booze-forward, and can involve brown butter-washed rum, smoked bitters, and house-made celery kombucha, while the rotating special drinks list includes a Silk Road-inspired menu with globetrotting accents.