Category: Reviews

The Portland Phoenix has reviewed Mi Sen,

Asian noodle soup has unrivaled capacity to efficiently deliver richness, complexity of flavor, variety of texture, and satisfying infusions of umami. At Mi Sen they deliver it in deep white bowls of a dignified size. The best was the num sai — a chicken broth soup, which we ordered with flat rice noodles. The broth had a light, bright quality, and the fat little wontons were not too heavy. Ground chicken clung to the tender noodles, while green beans, sprouts, and crispy wonton added some crunch.

and The Golden Dish has reviewed Fore Street.

While the greater world of fine dining gets more complex, where chefs are like mad scientists reinventing a universal culinaryscape, Portland’s inimitable Fore Street restaurant works within a scope it created years ago and refines it daily.

Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Frog & Turtle.

Fortunately, good friends have a way of making time fly by, but after nearly a nearly three hour meal, it was time to wrap up. The meal came to about 100 first presidents after tip. I appreciated the desserts FOC as they certainly added to the meal and we enjoyed them greatly. Our drinks were great and our meals were very good except for a bit of underseasoning on one item. In the end, it’s safe to say that The Frog and Turtle is a fun spot in Westbrook for good times with good food. Get there soon in case a meteor shower destroys the planet as we know it and restaurants no longer exist.

The Bollard has gone on a Tour de Taco,

I recently moved back to Maine after living for a time in Tuscon, and if there’s one thing I miss about that sun-baked city, it’s the tacos. It seems like there’s a taqueria on every block. Maine’s about as far from Mexico as you can get in the continental U.S., but Portland’s robust food scene gave me hope I could assuage my nostalgia as Cinco de Mayo approached.

and Portland Magazine has assembled a list of late night drinking and dining options.

It’s getting late. You’ve just emerged from a paranoid dystopian thriller at the Nickelodeon, or Anna Lombard’s set at One Longfellow Square. You’re hungry.

Conde Naste Traveller has included Portland in their list of the 20 Best American Cities for Foodies.

Sam Hayward’s Fore Street is the restaurant that kicked off Portland’s food revolution nearly 20 years ago and continues to be one of its great innovators with a daily changing menu of locally sourced items, prepared rustic-style in a wood-burning oven. While (relative) newcomers like Eventide Oyster Co. (pictured), a tribute to the old-fashioned raw bar, and the Miyake family of Japan-meets-Maine eateries are a testament to the city’s increasingly adventurous palate.

Out magazine has highlighted 6 “new and classic dining destinations” in Portland: J’s Oyster Bar, Eventide, Fore Street, Hugo’s, The Porthole, and the Portland Hunt & Alpine Club.

The Golden Dish has reviewed The Back Bay Grill.

Finally a beautiful specimen of pan roasted chicken breast is served as my main course.  It’s from the local Serendipity Acres Farm and has been marinated in thyme and sea salt and accompanied by potato gnocchi–the proverbial gossamer light pillows of pasta–arranged around English pea puree and salt-roasted beets.  [Maître‘d Adrian] Stratton suggested a glass of Bandol to go with my entrée, which worked perfectly.

The Golden Dish has published a review of Little Bigs.

I loved Little Bigs crueller with the maple glaze and smoky bacon. I had one right after I finished my hand pies. It was a lot of calories down the hatch all at once. But there’s a saying in the food world—“don’t waste your calories.” But if it concerns these crafty sweet and savory devils, who’s counting?

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Central Provisions.

In Portland’s ever-expanding restaurant scene, Central Provisions is this city’s newest and perhaps brightest star. Chef and co-proprietor Chris Gould has created some of the most inventive food in Portland right now. After multiple visits and some 30 dishes, the restaurant’s trendy small-plate concept has been superbly achieved on each occasion. The format further allows you to create your own tasting menu from a list of nearly 50 small plates ($5 to $26) that form a fusion of cooking styles inspired by the cuisines of Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Also in today’s paper are a profile of the Salt + Sea CSF owner Justine Simon, an interview with Food & Wine Best New Chef Cara Stadler, an article about dandelion greens and the rest of this week’s edition of Source.