Category: Under Construction

Jim Keithly from ABC affiliate WMTW interviewed Harding Lee Smith about his new Italian restaurant The Corner Room (via Portland Psst!). According to the report, Smith plans on opening The Corner Room on June 25. As you can see from this photo I took today, there’s still a lot of work to do to get the space ready.
The WMTW report also includes some footage and information on Smith’s Windham farm where he’s currently raising 350 chickens. The farm to table operation is being expanded with a 48 foot green house that “will eventually produce a variety of herbs, lettuce and other vegetables”.

A new pizzeria, Otto Pizza, is under construction on Congress Street near the intersection with Forest Ave.

The owners of Veranda Thai plan on opening a Vietnamese restaurant across the street in the old Supper at Six location. Construction started several weeks ago, and according to papers filed with the city they hope to later this month. The new restaurant will be named Veranda Noodle Bar.

Here’s a look inside the construction site for Figa at 249 Congress Street. A bar will be going in on the left side and a banquet along the right. The kitchen will occupy the back end of the space. Figa is the creation of Chef/Owner Lee Farington. According to the restaurant’s website, Farrington is a 1998 graduate of the French Culinary Institute in Manhattan and worked at a number of restaurants in NYC before moving to Portland where she has cooked at Fore Street and Uffa.

Here’s a look in the window of The Salt Exchange on Commercial Street. The latest word from the owners is that they plan to open on Friday 6-10 pm with “passed canapes and cash bar” but no table service. They currently plan to have their full service opening on Monday.

There’s a feature article in today’s Press Herald about Grace—the restaurant located in the historic Chestnut Street Church that is slated to open later this month. Owner Anne Verrill is quoted describing the menu as “It’s going to be affordable food – a little higher-end experience, I think, but really affordable . . . We’re going to offer a lot of appetizers and small plates, and maybe a dessert menu, just to capture that Merrill Auditorium crowd.”

When the massive red doors open, patrons of Grace will be able to choose from a seasonal menu prepared by New York Chef Eric Simeon, a wine list that includes about 20 wines by the glass, and a selection of beers and specialty cocktails. In a nod to the building’s origins, one of the nonalcoholic offerings will be Holy Tea, a specialty infusion from Homegrown Herb and Tea that includes the herb holy basil.

Portland Fodder has some updated photos of the construction site for Harding Smith’s new restaurant The Corner Room, and a report that The Grill Room is closed for a few days while some work gets down on the kitchen floor.

It’s Only Natural . . Gluten-Free is the name of a new Portland area business that plans to serve the expanding market for gluten-free food. I talked last week with one of the organizers, Andrew Pettingill. Pettingill said that as a first step, It’s Only Natural plans to start selling prepared glutten-free meals, and then move on to opening a market/restaurant/juice bar in the city. They are already scouting locations in Portland for the market.

Portland Fodder was part of kitchen crew that cooked for the wedding reception recently held at Grace, and he has published a report on the food at the event:

Passed items included Truffled Grilled Cheese, Gougeres, Chicken Confit Tartlet, Braised Duck Tacos, Oysters with Blood Orange Mignonette, Fried Clams with Chorizo Mayonnaise and several other finger foods. Also a carving, crudite, dipping and chef manned pasta station were setup throughout the dining room for guests to choose from. The flavors and aromas acheived were amazing! The flavor of the chicken confit was hands down the best chicken I have ever had!

More photos of the interior of Grace have surfaced. This set is from a wedding reception that was recently held there. The restaurant is scheduled to open to the public sometime in late June.