John "Sonny" Severino, 80

| Posted in People, Uncategorized

John “Sonny” Severino, longtime co-owner of the Sportsman’s Grill, has passed away.

For nearly 50 years, he ran the former Sportsman’s Grill on Congress Street, a popular restaurant where people from all walks of life gathered to watch sports. It was the place to go after events at the Portland Expo Center, and before the annual Portland and Deering high school football game on Thanksgiving Day.

The Sportsman’s Grill operated 1952-1999 on Congress Street near the intersection with Gilman Street. John Severino operated the restaurant with his two brothers and for the last 13 years of its existence with his son Paul.

John “Sonny” Severino, 80

| Posted in People, Uncategorized

John “Sonny” Severino, longtime co-owner of the Sportsman’s Grill, has passed away.

For nearly 50 years, he ran the former Sportsman’s Grill on Congress Street, a popular restaurant where people from all walks of life gathered to watch sports. It was the place to go after events at the Portland Expo Center, and before the annual Portland and Deering high school football game on Thanksgiving Day.

The Sportsman’s Grill operated 1952-1999 on Congress Street near the intersection with Gilman Street. John Severino operated the restaurant with his two brothers and for the last 13 years of its existence with his son Paul.

Review of Walter's

| Posted in Reviews

Portland Magazine has published a review of Walter’s.

We swing back to the Mediterranean with a flawless Milano linguine ($14/21), tossed in tangy lemon butter with tender shrimp, spinach, artichokes, tear-drop tomatoes, feta, olives, and capers. The perfectly seared gnocchi fungi ($9/19) is also an audience-pleaser, with an earthy cream sauce jumping with chanterelles, pine nuts, and fresh parsley.

Review of Walter’s

| Posted in Reviews

Portland Magazine has published a review of Walter’s.

We swing back to the Mediterranean with a flawless Milano linguine ($14/21), tossed in tangy lemon butter with tender shrimp, spinach, artichokes, tear-drop tomatoes, feta, olives, and capers. The perfectly seared gnocchi fungi ($9/19) is also an audience-pleaser, with an earthy cream sauce jumping with chanterelles, pine nuts, and fresh parsley.

Lunch Hop on the Chopping Block

| Posted in General News, People, Profiles

The Metro bus service is considering eliminating their free lunch time service known as the Lunch Hop, according to a report in the Portland Daily Sun.

“We need revenue, we need farebox revenue,” explained David Redlefsen, general manager of the Greater Portland Transit District METRO bus service. “We want to eliminate the Lunch Hop.”

and the newspaper has also published a brief profile of the Fishermen’s Grill and it’s owner Tom Hincks.

Maine Lobster Chef of the Year Competition

| Posted in Events

Today’s Press Herald reports on the Maine Lobster Chef of the Year competition taking place October 22.

Bill Clifford, the new executive chef at the Portland Harbor Hotel, will compete for the title against Clifford Pickett, who is a banquet chef at DiMillo’s Floating Restaurant, and Kelly Patrick Farrin, who works at Azure Cafe in Freeport.

The three chefs will cook their lobster dishes next month in front of 200 people during the Harvest on the Harbor food and wine festival.

Happy Terriyaki –> Korea House

| Posted in Openings

Soooo . . You Really Like Cats has written about Happy Teriyaki’s impending transformation into Korea House. The new restaurant will feature a fully Korean menu. The changeover is scheduled to take place on October 1.

One of the big differences in the menu is that there are so many Korean entrees now that they are grouped by food group (e.g. meat) or dish type (e.g. stews). What was previously only three lonely seafood dishes has expanded dramatically to at least a dozen different seafood dishes, which makes me absolutely delighted to see. Fish specifically makes a big entrance to the restaurant’s transformation. She has two preparations for it, grilled and braised. Below are three of the four grilled fish that are new on the menu.