Restaurant Bubble?

Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram examines whether the Portland restaurant industry is a bubble about to burst.

“Portland was undergoing a little restaurant boom,” Guy Hernandez recalls, “and people were already saying that there were too many restaurants in the city.”

Things haven’t changed much in the past 13 years. Every year, it seems, locals have worried about a pending “restaurant bubble” that, when it bursts, will result in restaurants and bars furiously closing their doors like a stack of dominoes. This year was particularly troubling to city residents who saw a lot of favorites close – places like Silly’s, Lolita, Walter’s, Vignola Cinque Terre, Local Sprouts Cafe, the Irish pub Brian Boru and Andy’s Old Port Tavern. And yet, roughly twice as many other restaurants and bars have opened to take their place. This was the year we welcomed Flood’s, Gross Confection Bar, CBG, Other Side Diner, Royale Lunch Bar, Maiz, Bird & Co, two cider houses, a whiskey bar, a cocktail bar and several smaller eateries.

For a little historical perspective see this PFM post in 2010 about a 1977 Maine Times article. It’s so funny to think anyone would think Portland had reached a tipping in 1977. I suspect they’ll feel the same way about our 2019 concerns from the perspective of the mid 21st Century.

Reviews: Sun Vietnamese Restaurant, Cocktail Mary, Anoche, A & C

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Sun Vietnamese Restaurant, and

With more time to dedicate to labor-intensive, mostly traditional Vietnamese dishes, chef Truc Nguyen has upgraded the quality of her menu substantially. Her banh mi sandwiches, bursting with house-made carrot and daikon pickles and grilled meats or cold cuts, are among the best in the state. Her pho (both chicken and beef) is also terrific, and at less than $10 a bowl, is one of Portland’s best bargains. Having eschewed pastries in its reboot, Sun no longer offers desserts, but its Vietnamese coffee – blitzed with ice and sweetened condensed milk to the consistency of a rough granita – is the sort of sensational meal-capper you’ll crave even in the middle of a Maine winter.

The Blueberry Files has published a first look at Cocktail Mary, Anoche, and A & C Grocery.

I went out last Friday night to visit several new Washington Avenue businesses. A friend who moved away in August was visiting for the holiday and since we both used to live on Munjoy Hill, we wanted to see what’s new in the old neighborhood. On our agenda: drinks at Cocktail Mary, a new cocktail bar on Congress Street, drinks at Anoche, a cider and tapas bar, and dinner at A&C Grocery, a former market turned diner.

Lost & Found Speakeasy for Bayside

According to a report from Mainebiz, a new speakeasy called Lost & Found is under development in an out building situated behind 360 Cumberland Ave.

A new speakeasy called Lost & Found leased the block building out back and expects to open by early spring, Soley said. The bar is in the process of going for city applications and will be in the lower-middle of the price range for food and drinks, he said.

Nura Opens Friday

The owners of Falafel Mafia, Dylan and Cameron Gardner, are opening their new restaurant Nura (instagram) on Friday. Nura is located at 1 Monument Way, in the space formerly occupied by Foley’s/Scattaloni Bakery and which many years ago was home to the Victory Deli.

Nura will be a 30-seat hummusiya open for breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. They’ll open 10:30 am – 7 pm on this Friday.

Here’s a look at their opening day menu:

Dean’sSweets on NPR’s Marketplace

Dean’sSweets was interviewed for the NPR radio show Marketplace as part of a 3-part story highlighting holiday sales through the eyes of small retailers around the country.

The November 25th program was the first of three segments. Co-owner Kristin Bingham describes (start listening at the 10:43 mark) the preparation and pressures of making, marketing, and selling specialty chocolates for the holiday season. Dean’sSweets is scheduled to be featured again in the second and third parts of the series airing in mid-December, and then again just after the holidays.

This Week’s Events

Wednesday – the last Monument Square Farmers’ Market of the year is taking place. The Winter Farmers’ Market is scheduled to start-up on Saturday December 7, 9am – 1pm at 631 Stevens Ave.

Thursday – it’s Thanksgiving.

Beekeeping Classes – the University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering two beginner beekeeping courses in the new year starting in January and in February.

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.

The Seven Sisters

Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram has an interesting article on the traditional crops grown by Maine’s Native Americans.

The seeds being grown at Motahkokmikuk include heirloom varieties of corn, beans and squash – the well-known Three Sisters, which are traditionally planted together in mounds. In addition, tribe members are growing ancestral sunflowers, sunchokes and ground cherries, which together with gourds used as vessels, form the culturally significant Seven Sisters.

Rockin Ricky’s to Close in December

The Bangor Daily News reports that Rockin’ Ricky’s is planning to close in late December.

A few minutes after its 11 a.m. opening time on Thursday, nearly half-a-dozen patrons sat at the bar, sipping yellow beer from plastic cups. All of them had heard the news and none were enthused.

“I’m not too happy about it,” Mary Bonnevie said.

The announcement was released by Rockin’ Ricky’s on their Facebook page last night.