WGME and the Press Herald have reported that Queenie’s Castle in Deering Oaks has closed.
The owner of Queenie’s Castle in Deering Oaks Park says they have closed for good after ongoing issues with the unhoused population for more than a year now.
Review of Gather
Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram includes a review of Gather.
Despite a small menu, food at Gather lags behind the beverage program and is, unfortunately, sometimes subpar. Stick to dishes like panko-crusted cod with smashed fingerling potatoes and olive relish, or the Boursin-and-smoked-gouda-topped smash burger, both of which are solid choices. Skip dessert and instead buy a drink for Cole, whose hustle and dedication are unparalleled.
Maine Food & Dining News
Here are some recent food and dining highlights from around the state:
- Rabelais Books owner Don Lindgren has announced he’s shutting down the bookstore’s Biddeford retail shop. Lindgren will continue to operate the rare book component of Rabelais as a virtual business. The bookstore will remain open through the remainder of August, Thursday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm with a 30% discount on all books priced under $1,000.
- Wolfpeach in Camden will be closing permanently. The Camden restaurant opened in late 2021 and was a James Beard Awards semifinalist for Best New Restaurant in 2023. Earlier this year Wolfpeach transitioned to a pizza-centric menu and has also been home to Pastoralia Wines which has run a daytime wine shop and wine bar from the restaurant.
- Jodie’s Cafe and Bakery has announced they’ll be moving their operations to 45 Water Street in Wiscasset where they’ll be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Last month owner Jodie Roquemore purchased the former Sarah’s Cafe from longtime owner Sarah Heald. The new Jodie’s is expected to open sometime in August.
- The Bangor Daily News reported on the use of invasive green crabs on the menu at Must Be Nice Lobster in Belfast.
The Continental Now Open
The Continental (instagram) launched on Thursday. It is located at 170 Brighton Ave at the intersection of Brighton and Saint John. The Continental will initially be open Tuesday through Saturday 4 – 11.
The concept is inspired by English and Irish pubs. The 2,200 sq ft former 7-11 building has been completely renovated. The dining room features dark wood along the bar and booths, blue and gold wall paper throughout and a polished and painted concrete floor. A rarity for a Portland restaurant, The Continental has a large parking lot in front of the building.
The beverage menu (see below) includes a variety of draft and packaged beers and wines by the glass. The Continental has a full liquor license as well. The initial food menu trends to comfort food pub dishes like scotch eggs, boxty, fish and chips (see below) and shepherds pie.
Michael Barbuto and Kevin Doyle are the founders of The Continental. Doyle and Barbuto along with Michael Fraser are co-owners of CBG and of Nosh Kitchen Bar.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Henry’s Public House Now Open
 |
 |
The newest restaurantand bar from The Miranda Group, Henry’s Public House (instagram), is now open. It’s located in the former Bull Feeney’s building at 375 Fore Street.
The menu includes appetizers like coconut shrimp and wings, sandwiches, salads, and some mains like surf and turf, fish and chips and moules frites.
The beverage program includes beer and wine with a strong focus on cocktails. The 16 house cocktail options are divided into categories titled: Dead Poet’s Society (try the Cease & Desist), From the Cannon, Writer’s Block and Martini Lunch. Shown below is a Bamboo (sherry, vermouth blend, cucumber, eucalyptus) from the Martini Lunch section and an off-menu Perfect Martinez.
The two-story restaurant offers a variety of room styles with an overall layout that remains true to what Bull Feeney’s customers were familiar with. On the first floor is a central bar with table/booth seating along the edges of the room and in the front windows. At the top of the stairs is a pair of rooms with a library theme (blue room show below); there is a second bar on the second floor and on the corner overlooking the intersection of Fore and Exchange is a upscale lounge.
Henry’s will be open 7 days a week: 4 – 11 pm on Mondays through Thursdays, 4 pm – 1 am on Fridays, 11 – 1 am on Saturdays, and 11 am – 11 pm on Sundays.
The Miranda Group also operates Blyth & Burrows (2017), Via Vecchia (2020) and Papi (2023). Bull Feeney’s closed earlier this year.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Upcoming Events
Thursday-Saturday – the Wavy Days beer festival and associated events are taking place. The beer festival itself will feature beers from 55 breweries and take place on Thompson’s Point.
Saturday/Sunday – Wild Blueberry Weekend is taking place—visit a wild blueberry farm in a county near you.
Sunday – Yardie Ting is holding their annual Jamaican Independence Day Celebration.
Sunday/Monday – Chef Amy Kayne from 2Gether is serving a pair of candlelight dinners on House Island in Casco Bay.
August 7 – Ramona’s will be hosting Liberty Kitchen (instagram) from Philadelphia for a BYOB pop-up dinner.
August 12/13 – The Saint Peter’s Italian Bazaar is taking place.
August 23 – An Outstanding in the Field dinner is taking place at Dandelion Spring Farm with guest chef Neil Zabriskie from Regards.
August 25-27 – chefs Sam Hayward, Evan Mallett and others will be leading Take a Bite out of Appledore: An Eco-Culinary Island Retreat.
September 10 – the Maine Cheese Festival is taking place.
September 24 – The Saltyard is holding a cocktail brunch at Wolfe’s Neck Center in Freeport.
September 30 – Tender Table is holding their 3rd annual food and art fair in Congress Square Park.
October 8 – Maine Open Creamery Day is taking place.
October 25-28 – Harvest on the Harbor is taking place.
November 5 – Chaval is holding a late harvest dinner at Wolfe’s Neck Center in Freeport.
Boba Tea in Maine
Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram includes an article on the growing interest in and opportunities to buy boba tea in Maine.
The boba boom has hit Maine for sure. At least five new bubble tea shops have opened in the state since November, including Kim Boba Tea & Coffee on Mellen Street and Lecha on Stevens Avenue in Portland, as well as farther-flung locations like Quickly Boba Café in Brunswick, Boba OOB in Old Orchard Beach, and Bubble Tea Café all the way up in Presque Isle.
The drink is also on the menu at many local Asian restaurants, like Keg and Kraken or Crunchy Poke, and has even been sold at major chains like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts.
Clam Bar Opening Today (Updated)
 |
 |
The Clam Bar (website, facebook, instagram) is scheduled to open today. The new seafood shack is located at 199 West Commercial Street on the site that was the longtime home of Benny’s Famous Fried Calms.
The initial menu (see below) covers all the seafood shack classics like steamers, fish and chips, a lobster roll, and fried clams each prepared with a little bit novel twist. The Clam Shack has a full liquor license and is serving cocktails, beer and wine. The adjacent Beer Garden shed has a selection of Maine draft beers.
Owner Garrett Fitzgerald has completely renovated the property to include Clam Bar, draft beer shed, the Royale Kitchen (instagram) food truck (opens daily at 8 am), indoor seating, picnic tables all connected by a set of wooden decks.
Clam Bar is open daily for lunch and dinner, 11 am – close.
Update: There was such an enthusiastic response over the weekend, the Clam Bar is taking Monday to prep and will re-open on Tuesday.
 |
 |
Maine Food & Dining News
Here are some food and dining highlights from around the state:
- The new owners of the Saint George River Cafe have launched a new business called the Black Goat Test Kitchen + Supperclub (website, facebook, instagram). Joe Ricchio (aka Food Coma) recently attended a preview of their supperclub. The first public edition of the supperclub is scheduled to take place on August 5th.
- The Penobscot Bay Pilot has published an article about three new restaurants in Camden: Mosaic, the new wine bar at Goods, and Paper Plane.
David Geary, 78
Brewery pioneer David Geary, the co-founder of the DL Geary Brewing Company, has passed away.
The Press Herald has published an article about Geary and his passing.