Category: Under Construction

Mr Sandwich, Mama’s, Bayside Bowl

| Posted in Under Construction, Reviews

Today’s Press Herald includes a review of Mr. Sandwich & Mrs. Muffin,

I thought the roll was fresh and tasted fine, but I was disappointed not to have the crunchy baguette. I also couldn’t tell if there was jalapeno and mayo dressing (it seemed to be just mayo), but that may have been because of the strong taste of the pepperjack cheese. I really liked the kick of the cheese, because it jazzed up what amounted to a standard ham sandwich. I got chips, but no pickle.

a bar review of Mama’s Crow Bar,

At Mama’s, like any good neighborhood bar- you never know what you are going to get and there is something for everyone. That’s why you go. Well, that and the fine drink and good company, because that never changes.

and an update on Bayside Bowl which is slated to open next month.

There’s also focaccia bread pizza, grilled ribeye, mini chicken chimichangas and double cheeseburgers. The veggie stir-fry and garden burger mean the meat-free won’t have to brown-bag it.

Trader Joe's Update

| Posted in Under Construction

The Press Herald has published an update on Trader Joe’s efforts to open a store in Portland.

The specialty food chain on Monday applied for city licenses to provide food service and sell beer and wine in the former Wild Oats store in Portland, according to City Clerk Linda Cohen.

That doesn’t mean that Trader Joe’s fanatics can finally exhale.

See The Forecaster for additional news coverage.

Trader Joe’s Update

| Posted in Under Construction

The Press Herald has published an update on Trader Joe’s efforts to open a store in Portland.

The specialty food chain on Monday applied for city licenses to provide food service and sell beer and wine in the former Wild Oats store in Portland, according to City Clerk Linda Cohen.

That doesn’t mean that Trader Joe’s fanatics can finally exhale.

See The Forecaster for additional news coverage.

Under Construction: The Cookie Jar

| Posted in Under Construction

The Cookie Jar bakery, a well loved fixture on Shore Rd in Cape Elizabeth, is rebuilding the damage from a 2006 storm and, according to an article in today’s Press Herald, plans on opening on Memorial Day weekend.

At the Irving service station next door, Ray Clark and his employees field questions about the bakery every day. “I have heard from all the customers, ‘What’s happening with The Cookie Jar?'” Clark said. “They even come from out of state.”

Donna Piscopo said all of the old favorites will be back when The Cookie Jar reopens, as will the soup and sandwiches she had introduced before the storm. The business will likely open with 12 employees, and have more than 15 once it’s been running for awhile.

Under Construction Local Sprouts/Bomb Diggity

| Posted in Under Construction

The Portland Daily Sun has published a report on the upcoming openings of Local Sprouts CSK and Bomb Diggity at 645 Congress Street, the old USM Portland Hall.

Local Sprouts Cafe will be Portland’s first “community-supported cafe”, according to the its website (www.localsproutscooperative.com), and will be operated by a worker-owned business — Local Sprouts Cooperative — which acquires its food from urban gardens in Portland and local farms in Maine.

Under Construction: Soju & Havana South

| Posted in Under Construction

Some fresh under construction news:

  • A new restaurant called Soju is planned for the old Thai Chef Buffet space on Congress Street. They plan on serving Japanese and Korean cuisine. You can see a draft of their sushi menu (page 86) in the supporting materials they supplied to the city as part of their liquor license application.
  • Havana South has also applied for a liquor license (see partial draft menu, page 106). One of the more interesting things to note on Havana’s floor plan (below) is an area right along Union Street marked Butcher Shop.
  • In related news, Chiang Mai which moved out of the the butcher shop space on Union Street looks like they’re getting close to reopening at their new location on Washington Ave.

Under Construction: Soju & Havana South

| Posted in Under Construction

Some fresh under construction news:

  • A new restaurant called Soju is planned for the old Thai Chef Buffet space on Congress Street. They plan on serving Japanese and Korean cuisine. You can see a draft of their sushi menu (page 86) in the supporting materials they supplied to the city as part of their liquor license application.
  • Havana South has also applied for a liquor license (see partial draft menu, page 106). One of the more interesting things to note on Havana’s floor plan (below) is an area right along Union Street marked Butcher Shop.
  • In related news, Chiang Mai which moved out of the the butcher shop space on Union Street looks like they’re getting close to reopening at their new location on Washington Ave.

Miyake's Noodle Bar Field Research

| Posted in Under Construction

Portland Food Coma has published a report on the Miyake team’s field research in NYC getting inspiration and ideas for the opening of Pai Mei Miyake in Longfellow Square.

To get us on the right track, Masa took the restaurant staff down to New York City for a full day of eating noodles and drinking recklessly. It was an experience that I will never forget, that I feel very fortunate to have been a part of. This is how it went…