Category: Reviews

The Press Herald has reviewed LB Kitchen,

I ordered the Hell Yes Kale Caesar bowl ($11), filled with things I might usually pass on. It had chickpea croutons, kale and a mixture called “cashew obsession” on romaine lettuce. But it also had pieces of chicken poached in broth, so my whole lunch, which looked like a salad, smelled like chicken soup. And it tasted like a very rich chicken soup that had been poured onto a very fresh salad.

Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed a beer dinner at Union,

I really liked what UNION did with this meal. First of all, they put out some awesome food. Regardless of whether you order from the menu or eat a prix fixe meal, you’re sure to get something great. But the pairing with a top shelf local brewery is a long overdue endeavor. More restaurants should be doing this.

and while Camden is far beyond the bounds of Portland I can’t but include this review from the Maine Sunday Telegram of my favorite Midcoast restaurant, Francine Bistro.

It’s simple, but exceedingly good. Very much like his local, skillet-roasted chicken ($25), braised with in-season artichokes, leeks and Fiana wine, then basted with butter and thyme. Served with a crunchy slice of lemon ricotta-brushed toast, it’s classic French comfort food executed perfectly – the kind of plate that highlights Hill’s talents and reminds you how even a modest dish can manage to conjure a little springtime magic.

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Sichuan Kitchen,

 Ignore the décor; the restaurant’s space is a work in progress. Instead, focus on the menu’s extravagance of flavors – everything from pungent and sweet doubanjiang paste painted onto the double cooked pork, to shamelessly garlicky noodles with wok-fried minced pork loin. And yes, you will find spicy dishes, like bone broth-poached Swai fillets slicked with chili oil and showered in crispy, numbing Sichuan peppercorns. But it’s not all about heat. Perhaps the restaurant’s best dish is neither elaborate nor spicy: a simple plate of cabbage slices sautéed in a luxuriously savory sauce of soy, sugar and black vinegar.

The Blueberry Files has posted the first review of lunch at Woodford F&B,

I had to try the crabcake sandwich ($15), and while I always prefer a blue crab cake, this one had great flavor, with a crispy exterior on a buttery, soft bun. The jicama slaw with pungent red onion was a nice alternative to coleslaw. 

The Bollard has reviewed Bayside American Cafe,

Nostalgia aside, this was an excellent brunch, on par with many of the newer, “foodier” places in Portland. I’m sorry it took me a decade to return to this old standby. I won’t make that mistake again.

the Press Herald has reviewed Crepe Cafe, and

I chose the Billy Goat ($8), with herbed goat cheese, roasted red peppers, spinach and a balsamic glaze. It was terrific. Satisfying and substantial.

The Golden Dish has reviewed Union based on a preview of the upcoming MBC beer dinner.

My favorite dish–if not an unexpected pleasure–was the braised local rabbit, which was the second course. It was set within a delicate mash of of green curry sauce with a punch of kefir lime and beautifully roasted and caramelized local sweet potatoes. It was served with Maine Beer’s “Another One,” a complex brew that married well with the dish.

The Huffington Post has posted a travel guide to Portland by visiting chef Jenny Dorsey.

NYC: I swear I’m not cheating on you, but I’ve found a second love on the East Coast. I was recently up north in Portland, ME for two weeks through a work-study grant with Browne Trading Co. and the James Beard Foundation. It is the perfect mix of a friendly, New England “small town” feel with all the convenience, culture, and good food & drink as a bigger metropolis.

Featured in the article are: Allagash, Benkay, Boda, Central Provisions, Drifters, Eventide, Holy Donut, Maine Mead Works, Mini Mogadishu, Red Sea, Standard Baking, Tipo, Urban Farm Fermentory, Vena’s

Congratulations chefs Andrew Taylor an Mike Wiley from Eventide on being named the 2017 Best Chefs: Northeast by James Beard Foundation.

Yankee magazine has released their 2017 Best of Maine list.

The Well, Nosh, Coffee by Design, Piccolo and Miyake all made the list.

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Tipo,

But if you order nothing else at Tipo, be sure to try the pizza, baked in a Hephaestian wood-fired oven whose ceiling temperature tops out at over 1,000 degrees F. It’s here, on the most dangerous piece of equipment in the building (or perhaps the neighborhood) where Gould’s single-minded focus yields its greatest dividend: a perfectly blistered, crisp and char-marked crust – good enough to make even a Neapolitan jealous.

The Golden Dish has posted a first look at Mami,

I considered several of the snack plates for lunch, dishes like a steamed bun filled with lamb, a hot dog with nori and scallions or grilled octopus balls. But I opted for the standard bearer of izakaya fare, okonomiyaki—the pancake spread with cabbage, seasonal veggies, katsuobushi, benishoga, okonomi sauce and kewpie. Since I was by myself I didn’t have the option of sharing the plate-size pancake, the thing to do with a dish that large. But I wolfed it down anyway to the last drop and crumb and loved it.

the Press Herald has reviewed the bar at Stroudwater Distillery,

Head down to Stroudwater Distillery if you are in the mood for something different. Whether you’re looking for a tasting of spirits or something from the carefully curated selection of cocktails, Stroudwater is all about high quality, so you really can’t go wrong.

and Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Hot Suppa.

If you head over for brunch, the options are practically limitless. Among the choices are French toast, waffles, burgers, and eggs benedict. They’ve truly got something for all tastes. Their sprinkling of southern flair in Maine creates food that sounds great and eats even better. I challenge you to go to Hot Suppa any time of the day and not absolutely love it.

The Portland Phoenix has published results from their annual Best of Portland readership poll.

There are dozens of food and drink categories represented long time favorites such as Allagash (Best Brewery, Best Maine Beer) and newcomers like Woodford Food & Beverage (Best New Restaurant).

Two Maine restaurants are on the Opinionated About Dining list of the Top 200 Gourmet Casual restaurants in the US.

Eventide is #46 and Central Provisions is at #86.

The Golden Dish has reviewed Becky’s,

But let me tell you about the clams.  The batter coats these meaty local clams quite delicately and not the least greasy.  The Cole slaw is creamy with just the right vinegary-sweet Mayonnaise dressing.  This is excellent slaw.  The fries are well done, crunchy on the outside and creamy within.

and Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Silly’s and Bramhall.

Bramhall isn’t always my go-to for a dinner, but when they are, they’ve got what it takes to satisfy. With a bit of a dark, brooding atmosphere set below ground, they create a feeling like few places can. I recommend trying anything that suits your fancy, but be sure to order the Loaded Crisps.

USA Today has reviewed Otto Pizza,

The pizza that wowed me was the three-cheese tortellini, common as a standalone pasta dish but almost never seen as a pizza topping, where it works really well. The top of the pasta gets just a bit crisped in the oven adding a great textural element, and it is all coated with a thick, old school red sauce like your Italian American nonna would make on Sundays.

The Blueberry Files has reviewed Baharat,

It’s exciting to watch food truckers grow their business into something that’s familiar and yet grows the concept of the original truck. Baharat takes the bright, unique flavors of CN Shawarma and gives them a home in East Bayside, where you too will be “all in” at first sip and bite.

The Golden Dish has reviewed LB Kitchen,

My favorite dish besides the Figa bowl is the egg sandwich. It’s made with lightly toasted white bread from Standard, with a really tasty turmeric fried egg with kimchi and cashews, another crunchy element that imparts great flavor and texture.

Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Boone’s and a mezcal dinner at Sonny’s, and

Despite my one criticism of their menu, I always enjoy Boone’s. I’ve tried a number of different items there and have never been disappointed. They serve solid food, good drinks, and if you go between 4 and 6, you’ll be able to take advantage of some pretty decent happy hour specials. I’ll be keeping them on my list of restaurants to visit, especially in the warmer months when I can sit outside and eat close to the water.

the Portland Phoenix has reviewed Izakaya Minato,

Perhaps most pleasing and comforting of all is the okonomiyaki. The pancake was pleasantly light on egg and flour and the cabbage had a bit of crunch. Kewpie mayo offered some tang and spice, and a brown sauce some sweet. Flakes of bonito, which curled and swayed eerily as the steam rose from below, joined seaweed in lending some salt and funk.