Hunt & Alpine has landed on the Liquor.com list of the Best Bars in America.
Portland’s first craft-cocktail bar continues to shine with a deep cocktail list that spans from approachable to geeky. There’s a smoky spin on a Negroni made with Cynar, tequila, mezcal and Fernet Branca and the simple Green Eyes: a gin sour sharpened to a keen edge with a healthy splash of green Chartreuse.
The Press Herald has reviewed Eve’s.
Tucked away on the second floor of the Portland Harbor Hotel is Eve’s at the Garden, a warm and elegant hotel bar and restaurant that boasts a toasty fireplace nook, superbly comfortable bar stools, and peaceful views of the patio sanctuary, which transforms into an ice sculpture garden come winter. While the cocktail list is mediocre, this is the perfect place to enjoy a nice glass of Scotch, share a bottle of red, or order a warm Irish Dream Coffee.
The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Terlingua.
Terlingua is a boutique BBQ restaurant serving at least three – sometimes as many as five – house-smoked meats, plus a variety of Latin American specialties. With almost every dish available as a large or small plate, it’s also an affordable place for trying and sharing. Start with the bean and corn salad – it’s light, fresh and beautifully balanced – or the intensely flavorful chicharron, a square of pork belly with a crispy, scored skin that’s drizzled with a rosy ribbon of house-infused hibiscus honey.
Bill Addison, Eater’s roving national restaurant critic, has posted an article about his recent visit to Portland.
Given its favor as a vacation destination, it’s widely known that the town has an astounding breadth of quality restaurants. And the options only keep growing broader and better. It is Maine’s largest city, though the population of the town proper only numbers around 67,000. In my 16 months of near-constant travel for Eater, I’ve yet to encounter a U.S. metropolis of its modest size where I eat more superbly.
The article provides tasting notes and observations on: Central Provisions, Chez Okapi, Emilitsa, Eventide, Fore Street, Hugo’s, Miyake, Palace Diner, Rabelais, Tempo Dulu and The Honey Paw.
The Press Herald has published a bar review of the East Ender,
Brought to you by the owners of the former SmallAxe Food Truck, East Ender is a two-story casual eatery in the eponymous neighborhood of Portland. Fit with two full bars, one upstairs and one downstairs, this is the kind of place where you can find a little bit of everything – a quiet drink with a friend, enough space upstairs to meet a group, or a romantic evening out in a cozy corner. The cocktail list is new for the season and is cleverly crafted with care. Several local brews, as well as Miller High Life, are available on draft. Mocktail menu, and sodas by the bottle and gun.
The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Evo.
Roasted cauliflower ($8) is a lacy revelation. (Unlikely, yes, but you’ll just have to believe me.) The tiny florets are delicate and moist, with caramelized brown edges and the merest hint of salt. That deep, sesame flavor you taste with each forkful comes from a few drops of tahini sauce drizzled over the plate, and there’s an intense sweetness from a dab of what turns out to be pureed raisins that Ginn uses to balance the dish. We’re bowled over.
The Golden Dish has reviewed The Treehouse.
Fast forward to 2015, nothing has changed at the Treehouse, nee The Cafe. It’s still the same second-floor rabbit warren of rooms that’s it’s always been, with Christmas lights wrapped around bouquets of dried leaves. Nor is the menu much different. Yet, it has a fiercely loyal following who flock to its chambers nightly for elaborate plates of big portions moderately priced…
The Press Herald has reviewed Terlingua.
Terlingua is a small BBQ restaurant in Portland featuring smoked meats and Latin American fare. There are eight rotating local taps, a new cocktail menu featuring Southwestern- and Mexican-style drinks, and a nightly deal on rotating bottles of wine for $25. This is an ideal neighborhood hangout for drinks and/or dinner.
The Portland Phoenix has reviewed Union.
The entrees have similar virtues. You know a fancy restaurant is really exploring comfort food when it has turkey and pot roast on the menu. The later was quite good, with a generous serving of tender meat surrounded by jus soaked root vegetables. A bit of truffle and fresh horseradish animated the rich flavors. A risotto dish was served a great al-dente, with fat slices of grilled pear scattered about. It had some blue cheese, but it was mild enough that it did not overwhelm the nutty flavor of a walnut pesto dolloped in the middle of the dish.
The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Isa.
The atmosphere and the service at Isa are decidedly relaxed and informal. Based on the number of friends who seem to be meeting up after work, it’s already become a popular place for a drink. And with modest-sized portions that are reasonably priced, it’s also a fine choice for a laid-back supper. So start at the bar. Bask in the buzz. And savor the braise. This is a bistro that works.