Portland Food Map

Upcoming Events

July 31, 2023July 31, 2023 | Posted in 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

July 30, 2023 | Posted in General News

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)

July 30, 2023July 31, 2023 | Posted in Openings

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

July 30, 2023July 30, 2023 | Posted in Maine

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

July 28, 2023July 28, 2023 | Posted in People

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.

Bite Into Maine Opens Today

July 27, 2023August 9, 2023 | Posted in Openings

The new Bite Into Maine (website, facebook, instagram) in East Bayside is opening today. The 26-seat counter service cafe is located at 31 Diamond Street. A 14-seat deck and takeout window are in the final stages of being completed as well.

The menu (see below) includes their line-up of lobster rolls (try the Picnic) as well as a growing roster of sandwiches, soups, sides and whoopie pies for dessert. The cafe is BYOB.

Also under construction at 31 Diamond Street are Orange Bike Brewing, a gluten-free brewery, and Freedom’s Edge, a cider company headquartered in Albion, Maine. Both plan to open later this year.

Owners Sarah and Karl Sutton launched the Bite Into Maine food truck in Fort Williams Park in 2011. They also have a second truck at the Allagash Brewing tasting room. The cafe’s kitchen is serving as the production kitchen for both locations.

The East Bayside cafe will initially be open Thursday through Sunday, 11 am – 8 pm.

Lido’s 2 in the Old Port

July 26, 2023September 28, 2023 | Posted in Under Construction

This week’s Portland Phoenix includes an update on Lido’s 2, the new Old Port restaurant being developed by the owners of Cong Tu Bot.

It will be a multilevel restaurant and will have a takeout counter during the day. They plan to serve grilled items and hotpot in the dining room, and “Chinatown-style baked goods, boba and rice plates” at the takeout counter, according to a press release.

Joining Cong Tu Bot co-owners Jessica Sheahan and Vien Dobui in the business will be Bounahcree Kim. Kim will be a co-founder/GM and will be the chef at the new restaurant.

See this earlier report for additional details on the location, layout and name inspiration for Lido’s 2, and visit the Nu Market site to contribute to their crowdfunding campaign.

Update: Since this article was published the prospective name of this business has been changed to Oun Lido’s.

Vena’s to Forego Congress Street

July 25, 2023 | Posted in Under Construction

Vena’s Fizz House (website, facebook, instagram) has decided not to proceed with opening their bar and retail shop. They had been working since late 2021 to renovate the church at 867 Congress Street in Parkside. Their announcement on instagram reads, in part:

We have always had the intention of eventually returning and reopening a physical venue and went about purchasing a property on Congress St. in Portland. However, we have come to realize that much has evolved since we last closed our doors on Fore Street in Portland. The hospitality industry itself has undergone significant changes, and we have also undergone our own transformation. Our priorities, both personally and professionally, have been reshaped by our current focus. The transition to an ecommerce business has provided us with the opportunity to achieve a healthier work-life balance. Just as the ingredients in a beverage are adjusted to cater to individual preferences, the adjustments we have made to our business model have helped clarify our priorities.

Upcoming Events

July 24, 2023July 25, 2023 | Posted in General

Monday – Little Pig (website, instagram) is transitioning from pop-up mode to being fully open Monday through Saturday, noon – 8 pm.

Tuesday – Little Brother and Smalls are collaborating on a pop-up dinner with a menu that includes Dan-dan Noodles (pork or vegan options), Chicken Spring Rolls, a summery Celery Salad (v), and Chili Crisp Sundaes.

Wednesday – it’s the Frying Dutchman’s last day in business.

Thursday – Absolem Cider in Winthrop will be hosting chef Justin Smillie for a pizza pop-up called Slow Fires. Absolem will be serving a special line-up of cider, cocktail, and wine for the night and the crew from Table Bar is DJing the event. Petite Jacqueline will be serving 7-course chef’s tasting menu.

Thursday-Saturday – The Kneading Conference and Maine Artisan Bread Fair will be taking place in Skowhegan.

Saturday – The Festival of Nations is taking place in Deering Oaks Park, and the East Bayside Block Party is taking place.

August 3-5 – 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.

August 5/6 – Wild Blueberry Weekend is taking place—visit a wild blueberry farm is a county near you.

August 6/7 – Chef Amy Kayne from 2Gether is serving a pair of candlelight dinners on House Island in Casco Bay.