Category: Reviews

The Press Herald has reviewed Joy’s Crepe Cafe.

And the Mr. Crabby itself? Once it came out of the kitchen, I didn’t really care anymore about the price. It was simple and delicious. The crabmeat comes from The Fishermen’s Net next door, and it’s mixed with just a little Japanese mayonnaise – enough to hold it together and add some flavor, but not enough to overwhelm the taste of the crab. The crabmeat was fresh, bright and left me wanting more.

I was very impressed with the crepes, which were ultra thin and the perfect texture. I could bite right through them easily, but they held together well. I would definitely order the Mr. Crabby again.

The Blueberry Files has reviewed Boone’s.

When the boyfriend suggested Boone’s for his mom’s birthday dinner, my first response was, no way. Then I thought, ugh, don’t be such a B, give it a shot. It’s a nice restaurant on the water, and I wanted to have an open mind about the food there. I called and made a reservation for a Monday night – I asked to sit outside, but they don’t make reservations for the outside decks. So we crossed our fingers and went.

If you want to be all TL;DR about it, the takeaway is that the food is fine, the service was not so fine, and I was unfortunately not impressed despite trying to find a silver lining.

Bon Appétit has included both East Ender and Tandem Coffee + Bakery in their list of 50 nominees for this year’s best new restaurants.

Every year, we announce the Bon Appétit Hot 10, our list of America’s Best New Restaurants. And it all starts with these 50 nominees. Over the last several months, Andrew Knowlton and Julia Kramer criss-crossed the country seeking out the truly original, innovative, and unexpected cooking taking place right now. These are the spots that killed it this year. The restaurants range from a quintessential French bistro to a place that serves pretty much only hummus, an eclectic brewpub to a vodka-soaked Russian joint. The one thing they have in common is this: flat-out deliciousness. Which ones of these 50 nominees will earn a spot in the Hot 10? Check back August 18 to find out.

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed The Honey Paw.

A chef once told me that restaurants are a lot like relatives. There are those you visit frequently and always enjoy, a few you see only on special occasions, and several you tolerate. If you’re lucky, though, there are one or two you want to know better. Sure, they have a few quirks, but they’re bright, creative, known for their good taste, and filled with such energy that you look forward to your next encounter…The Honey Paw is that last kind of restaurant.

The Press Herald has published a bar review of Crooners & Cocktails.

A classy joint with a major throwback vibe to the 50s and 60s era of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, Crooners & Cocktails offers classic cocktails, beer on draft, a great happy hour, and a full dinner menu.

Central Provisions (30), Eventide (32) and Caiola’s (97) have made it on to the Opinionated About Dining Fresh List.

The FRESH List celebrates the 100 best American restaurants that feature; F – Farm-to-Table cuisine; R – Regional American Cuisine; E – Ethnic Cuisine; S – Sustainable Ingredients; served with American-style H – Hospitality.

The list is a response to readers who regularly ask for dining advice about where they can find reasonably priced restaurants that offer an interesting take on American regional and ethnic cooking. It’s the perfect list to use to help plan your summer vacations.

Portland Magazine has reviewed Evo.

Chef de cuisine Matthew Ginn (executive chef is Brendan Hicks, also chef at Chebeague Island Inn) calls Evo’s menu “refreshing–less butter and cream, more olive oil and sumac.” Succulent sautéed chicken livers ($10) from nearby Sumner Valley Farm are prepared with fresh pomegranate and lemon juices, olive oil, and sumac and served with bite-sized crackers inspired by a 10th-century recipe involving crushed walnuts, pomegranate, and vinegar.

The Portland Phoenix has reviewed The Honey Paw.

The Honey Paw, a third contiguous Middle Street restaurant from the folks behind Hugo’s and Eventide, hews closer to the latter strategy. Like Roger in full flight, Honey Paw seems willing to try anything, certain they have the talent to pull it off.  The menu has a lot of noodles, and the flavors lean toward Asia. But these serve as basic ideas, not rigid constraints, and many of the dishes pleasantly surprise you with unexpected combinations of approaches, textures and ingredients.

Food Republic has set of 5 restaurant recommendations for Portland: Bao Bao, Lolita, Salvage, Union, Vinland.

During the summer months, Portland, Maine, is as irresistible as a destination gets. The weather is comfortably warm, with low humidity. The skies are crystal-clear, and the water is, well, right there. Aside from the postcard-perfect backdrop of the city and its natural surroundings, there’s plenty of good eating to be done.

Fine Cooking magazine talked with chef Sam Hayward to get his Portland tips on where to eat and go in Portland. His suggestions include: Browne Trading, Central Provisions, East Ender, Eventide, Harbor Fish Market, Hugo’s, Scratch Baking, Standard Baking and The Lobster Shack.

The article also includes Hayward’s recipe for beer-steamed mussels.

The August/September issue of Fine Cooking isn’t online yet.