Category: Reviews

The Press Herald has published a review of The Sinful Kitchen,

I tried the pulled pork version, since Mallari is known for his pork, and it came with fresh salsa and a jalapeno Hollandaise. The eggs were perfectly runny, and the pork was nice and tender. I ate so much of it – it was a huge plate – I couldn’t finish the home fries, which were seasoned well and browned just right. That dish was just $10.

and a bar review of Hella Good.

Hella Good Tacos transitioned from food truck to a 75-capacity restaurant last year, opening in the space that was occupied by Steve & Renee’s Diner for 30 years. Josh and Melissa Bankhead, both from California, eased Steve & Renee’s clientele into an authentic Mexican menu by including some original diner staples, like pancakes and French toast. Open until 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Hella Good is also a place to find great craft beer, both local drafts and some of the Bankheads’ favorite California brews. The atmosphere is fun and funky, with quick service and a unique neighborhood feel.

And, Peter, Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Mi Sen.

I’ll definitely be back to Mi Sen. The food was good and the prices are very reasonable. Our meal came to just over $50 after tip. There’s still a lot I want to try there, so next time, I’ll definitely get something completely different. I must say too that the food I brought home was even better the next day when I wasn’t overly full. See for yourself. Go and order a bunch of items like me, so you can have some left over to enjoy later.

The Maine Sunday Telegram has published a review of Sonny’s.

Located in a striking historic building in the heart of the Old Port, Sonny’s is a laid-back restaurant with a bustling bar scene and a somewhat eccentric dinner menu the owner calls “Latin-inspired.” Sit up front for a view of the kitchen and maximum buzz, or ask for a table in the back room if you’re searching for something quieter. Empanadas are made daily and filled with a variety of different meats and vegetables. (Watch out for the five-alarm chipotle sour cream; it’s likely to bring tears to your eyes.) If you’re sticking with a South American theme, try pulled pork enchiladas. Looking for something simpler? Seared fish with herbed butter sauce is reliably good. Chocolate lovers will want to leave room for a mocha ganache-drenched cake with black cherry almond filling. Made with Bob’s Red Mill wheat-free flour, the velvety confection gives gluten-free a much better name.

The Press Herald has posted a bar review of Bao Bao.

This is the kind of place that would be hard to resist ordering at least one or two things off the menu – an order of six dumplings, a plate of smashed cucumbers – but the cocktails, sake, local beer on tap and the unique array of teas are quite worth the wait and the charming atmosphere.

The Bollard has published a brunch review of Bao Bao.

Many of the offerings at Bao Bao are not particularly authentic, but they’re all good, and a few are downright great. The incredibly friendly waitstaff was happy to explain anything in detail and help us make good choices — service you’re not likely to find at a big-city banquet hall. Until the day when a true dim sum experience becomes available in Portland, Bao Bao will fill that niche admirably.

The Golden Dish has reviewed The Honey Paw.

A grand opus of thoroughly masterful culinary achievement is nearly an understatement of how good the food is from the master chefs who brought us Eventide and Hugo’s, with chef de cuisine Thomas Pisha-Duffly leading the charge.

The Press Herald has reviewed The Local Press.

The Local Press is known for serving Boar’s Head meats and for its bowls of “Rundown,” a spicy Caribbean chowder made with coconut milk, curry and root vegetables. The chowder is a huge draw; a bowl of Rundown and a panini certainly make for a complete and filling meal. The menu also always includes a soup of the day, such as sweet potato bisque.

This week’s Press Herald Food & Dining section highlights the restaurants to eat at now—before the tourists show up and tables become scarce.

Bayside/Bintliff’s Boone’s, Cafe, Central Provisions, Duckfat, East Ender, Eventide, Flatbread, Fore Street, Hot Suppa, J’s Oyster Bar, Lolita, M.C. Union, Pai Men Miyake, The Honey Pot were all mentioned in the article.

All too often, the act of simply making it to a restaurant table in Maine during the summer months sucks so much of the joy out of dining that we slink away until the leaves of autumn start to fall and it feels safe to return. So, before the Fourth of July hordes descend upon our fair city, here are our suggestions for places we suggest you visit during the next two months, before it’s too late. Take a deep breath – or two – and actually enjoy yourself.

Also, the paper’s Bite draws attention to the open-faced sunflower butter and lingonberry jam sandwich at Ten Ten Pié.

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Tiqa.

Bright, attractive and busy, Tiqa is a large “pan-Mediterranean” restaurant on the western edge of the Old Port. With dishes and recipes inspired by the foods of southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, there’s a broad range of lunch and dinner options, from flatbreads and skewered meats – the chicken merguez kefta is excellent – to pan-seared Egyptian-style fish and memorable braised oxtail from Sicily. Avoid the fried food: fried broccolini (fritto misto) and chickpea fritters (falafel) here both fall flat. And take advantage of the free valet parking (after 5 p.m.), the opportunity to sample wines before ordering and the superb fruit sorbets made daily. Those sorbets blend silky texture with intense flavor for a deeply satisfying finish to a meal.

The Golden Dish has reviewed Sur Lie.

Everything was so good that I felt no need to end the meal with a final sweet, of which there are some tempting choices on the menu.  But one fact is certain.  Sur-Lie has hit its stride since it opened in October of last year.  Now it’s right up there with the best in town and should be indubitably on the top of your list to enjoy fine dining in Portland.

The May issue of Bon Appétit features Tandem Bakery in their article Will Fly for Food which highlights 29 locations worldwide “to get lost and fed”.

A cool coffee bar tucked inside a brilliantly restored old gas station? This is Tandem Coffee + Bakery in cozy Portland, Maine, where you’ll find some of the most impressive and innovative baked goods this country has seen in years. Here’s why we’re heading north for our sugar fix.

The article includes a sidebar which lists a few other venues in town: Bao Bao, Bissell Brothers, East Ender, Maine & Loire, Slab, The Danforth Inn, The Press Hotel.

The magazine should begin arriving in mailboxes and on newsstands in the next few days.