Review of Yolked, Jamaican Restaurants, Vegan News

| Posted in Reviews

Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram includes a 4½ star review of Yolked in Windham.

Both Bouchards are preposterously good in the kitchen, and Jesse Bouchard’s deft touch with seasoning deserves special mention. With barely a misstep, the duo pulls off dishes like rack of lamb with a panko crust and sundried-tomato relish, maple-vinaigrette-dressed salad of local baby greens and roasted fall vegetables, and a stunning hazelnut-and-chocolate crème brulee. Prices are justifiably high on the food side of the menu, and perhaps less so with respect to bottles of wine, but the couple are canny and have engineered a menu that allows for a spendy special-occasion meal or a moderately priced weeknight supper. Yolked Farm to Table is unmissable.

It also has a feature article on the growing number of Jamaican restaurants in Maine, and a wrap-up of vegan news from around Maine.

Two Fat Cats Cafe Opens Today

| Posted in Openings

Two Fat Cats (website, facebook, instagram) is opening their new West End cafe today. It’s located at 175 Spring Street/144 State Street in the former Mercy Hospital building. Today they’ll be open 7:30 am – 4 pm and this Sunday they’ll be open 9 am – 2 pm.

The 2,477 sq ft space includes table seating (see above) as well as a lounge area and an outdoor area shared with their neighbors Chocolats Passion and MaineFlavor ice cream.

The cafe serves breakfast sandwiches, yogurt and granola, overnight oats, quiche and their house baked goods for breakfast. Soups, salads and sandwiches like the Cape Cod Chicken Salad and tomato soup (see above) are on the lunch menu.

After this initial weekend the regular hours for the West End Two Fat Cats will be Tuesday through Saturday, 7:30 – 4:00pm and Sundays 9 am – 2 pm.

Lone Pine and Lord Hobo Merging

| Posted in Beer

Lone Pine Brewing and Lord Hobo Brewing in Massachusetts have announced they are merging their two businesses.

We’re beyond excited to announce that Lord Hobo Brewing and Lone Pine Brewing are joining forces to create a powerful new partnership in the craft brewing industry! First and foremost, we’re not evolving into some great corporate clone. By joining forces, we’re unlocking exciting new possibilities that neither of us could have achieved on our own. Together, we’ll have the power to offer even more innovative opportunities and take things to the next level. We’re still going to operate both the Gorham and Woburn breweries, along with all our retail locations from Seaport Boston to Anderson St. Portland. Our vision is to expand the accessibility of each brand, nurture their unique identities, and stay true to our roots, never blending into one soulless corporation. At the end of the day, it’s about honoring what matters most to our loyal fans who’ve supported us at every step. Your passion fuels our commitment to delivering exceptional quality and memorable experiences first, second and third.

Lone Pine launched on Anderson Street in 2016 and expanded into larger quarters in Gorham when they took over the former 31,000 Sebago Brewing building in 2019.

Maine Food & Dining News: Wiscasset, South Portland, Rockland, Freeport, Cape Elizabeth

| Posted in Maine

New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine. Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know:

For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties.

Upcoming Food & Dining Events

| Posted in Events

Monday – Peer Workforce Navigator is holding two sessions to help recently unemployed restaurant workers understand the process to apply for unemployment. Anyone interested in attending can register online.

All Week – 207 Beer Week is taking place. You can see the full schedule of events on the Maine Brewers Guild website.

Tuesday – Gross Confection Bar is holding a (sold out) pastry baking class.

Friday-Sunday – The Downeast Cider and Cheese Festival is taking place in Ellsworth.

Saturday – Chef Jeremiah Langhorne from The Dabney in DC will be at the White Barn Inn for a 5-course collaboration dinner. Onggi is holding the 4th Annual Kimjang kimchi-making class. Two Fat Cats is holding a Grand Opening for their new location in the West End.

Sunday – Coals will be holding a pop-up at the Leisure Time Cocktail Company serving their wings and “and other delicious creations.”

November 11 – Chef Amadeus Florendo will be holding his next Filipino Pulutan pop-up at the Hunt and Alpine Club.

November 11-17 – Brunswick Wine Week is taking place—here’s a link to their full calendar of events.

November 12 – Table Bar in Gardiner is teaching a Thanksgiving wine class.

November 14 – Angoor Wine Bar and Taj are collaborating to hold a Friendsgiving Feast with a 3-course meal from Taj paired with a set of wine pairings.

November 16 – Primo is celebrating their 25th anniversary with a dinner in collaboration with 6 guest chefs along with chef/owner Melissa Kelly: Nancy Silverton, Ilma Lopez, Jody Adams, Emily Luchetti, Kathleen Blake, and Larry Forgione. SaltWater Fields in Thomaston is hosting their 1st Annual Cider Gala featuring cider from Orchard Girls Cider, Ayuh Cider, Freedom’s Edge Cider, Apres Cider and Absolem Cider.

November 17 – Wander at Long Woods is holding a 6-course harvest wine dinner.

November 20 – GMRI is holding an event to discuss Climate Resilience Potential in Gulf of Maine Fisheries.

November 21 – Nina June in Rockport is serving a dinner featuring the new pressing of olive oil from chef/owner Sara Jenkin’s family farm in Italy.

November 25 – Friends & Family is holding a Thanksgiving wine tasting with a 10% discount off bottles that are part of the event.

November 27 – It’s the last day of the outdoor Portland Farmers’ Market for the 2024 season. The market will operate indoors starting on December 7th, see below for details.

Thanksgiving – See our 2024 Maine Thanksgiving List for a fast growing list of dinners, community resources and take-out options as well as turkeys, baked goods and side dishes for your meal at home. We’re adding new info every day.

November 30 – The deadline to submit recommendations for the 2025 Beard Awards.

December 1 – Sean Turley will be delivering a presentation on cider & pomology at Lambs in South Portland.

December 7 – It’s the first day of the indoor Portland Farmers’ Market. It will be once again located at 631 Stevens Ave, and will run from Dec 7th through Apr 12, 2025.

December 15 – A gingerbread house decoration event is taking place at the Hilton Garden Inn. The event is a fundraiser for Portland Firefighters Children’s Burn Foundation.

December 31 – Elk’s Lodge 188 is holding a Vegas-themed New Year’s Eve party; $80 per person.

February 2 – Rafael Zimmerman from Magnus on Water⁠ will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.

February 8 – Adrian Arvizu from Big Tree Hospitality⁠ will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.

February 13 – Devin Finigan from Aragosta⁠ will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.

March 2 – Sara Jenkins, Dustin Martin, and Lauren Radel from Nina June will be the guest chefs at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.

Planning a wedding, holding a business event, or hosting visitors from away? Our printed guides are a great resource to help your guests explore the Maine restaurant scene.
25-packs of the Portland and Midcoast pocket guides are now available on our online store.

 

Review of Thames Landing

| Posted in Reviews

Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram includes a review of Thames Landing.

After nearly four months in business, Thames Landing is finding its feet, albeit slowly…If you visit, order the expertly fried salt cod croquettes, the autumn salad, and perhaps the Statler chicken. And if you’re lucky enough to drop by in the winter, try to score one of the 36 seats in Thames Landing’s new heated, plexiglass “hyperdomes” that allow for a cozy outdoor nosh, even in winter.

Restaurant Real Estate: November 2024

| Posted in Under Construction, Real Estate

Welcome to the November 2024 edition of the Portland Food Map restaurant real estate listings sponsored by The Boulos Company—a commercial real estate brokerage that has helped Maine’s restauranteurs buy and lease restaurant spaces since 1975.

This resource gathers in one convenient place the spaces available in Portland (and a few in the surrounding area) that could be potential sites for restaurants and food producers and retailers to locate their next business. Finding the right spot is one of the crucial early challenges in launching a new business and hopefully this resource will make that step just a little bit easier.

West End/Valley/Libby Town

87 Brackett St – Ohno Cafe is closing the day before Thanksgiving and the owners are seeking someone who might want to take it over.

919 Congress St – the 9,540 sq ft former Salvage BBQ building is available. Lease terms are negotiable.

1227 Congress St – Anania’s on Congress Street is set to close on Christmas Eve. The business and property is for sale for $1,235,000.

211 Valley St – a 1,260 sq ft former garage and the .13 acres it is on are for sale on Valley Street for $1,300,000.

235 Vaughan St – the former Vaughan Street Variety storefront in the West End has been completely renovated. The 620 sq ft space is available for $2500/month (MG). Call (207) 650-0846 for more information.

Arts District

554 Congress St – 1,621 sq ft former Dunkin’ Donuts space for $17.04/sq ft (NNN).

555 Congress St – the 1,908 sq ft former 555 dining room and mezzanine are available to lease for $20/sq ft (NNN).

594 Congress St – the 2,592 sq ft space in the Upper H. H. Hay Building formerly occupied by Starbucks is available for $28/sq ft (MG).

602 Congress St – The ~1,500 sq ft ground floor space at the corner of High and Congress is available to lease. The Schwartz Building has been under renovation for more than a decade. For more info contact Joe Atwood at (207) 899-7373.

77 Free St – the space previously occupied by the Free Street restaurant and bar is available. The 17,000 sq ft space is for lease for $5/sq ft (NNN). Call (207) 761-6500 for additional details.

Bayside/Inner Washington

170 Anderson St – a 5,519 sq ft industrial space in East Bayside is listed for $35/sq ft (NNN).

52 Hanover St – On the first floor of the Armature is 1,500 – 3,000 sq ft of retail space available for $30/sq ft (NNN). One spot in the building has earmarked for a coffee shop.

65 Hanover St – the 1,800 space formerly occupied by the When Pigs Fly bake shop is for lease for $24, sq ft.

178 Kennebec St – 2,644 sq ft of space are available in a newly constructed Bayside building for $25/sq ft (NNN).

55 Washington Ave – this 7,815 sq ft space is in the Nissen Bakery building right in between Cong Tu Bot and Hardshore Distillery. It’s available for $21.05/sq ft (NNN).

186 Washington Ave – the 7,620 sq ft Am Vets building is for sale for $1,600,000. See the listing for photos of the bar and seating area.

Old Port

0 Canal Plaza – the 1,350 sq ft oval-shaped build in Canal Plaza is for lease for $60/sq ft (NNN). Nosh Taco continues to operate in that space but the owners are open to speaking with people who may be interested in the space.

1 Canal Plaza – 4,284 – 14,412 sq ft of ground floor retail space will be available as part of upcoming renovations; $30/sq ft (NNN).

15 Chestnut St – the building that was home to Grace restaurant is for sale. It includes the property, business assets and all FF&E. The restaurant seats 175 and features a large circular bar on the first floor of the former church. The building has 14,358 sq ft of space. It’s for sale for $2,595,000.

185 Commercial St – a new building on Commercial Street has a 2,334 sq ft ground floor retail space that is available for $55/sq ft (NNN).

266 Commercial St – a 6,689 sq ft retail space is available in this new construction building for $20-22/sq ft (NNN).

327 Commercial St – the 6,981 – 7,981 sq ft space currently occupied by Tiqa is available for lease or to buy. The lease rate is $30/sq ft (NNN). The sale price is $3,500,000.

383 Commercial St – 1,193 – 4,805 square feet of space in a newly constructed building on Commercial Street is available for $28/sq ft (NNN).

10 Cotton St – Thistle & Grouse closed in September. The business is now for sale for $975,000.

8 Exchange St – 1,800-3,600 sq ft of space formerly occupied by The Bar & Bites on lower Exchange Street is available for $34.99/sq ft (MG).

89 Exchange St – The space that had previously been the home of Dobra Tea is back on the market. The 1,350 sq ft space is available for $45/sq ft (MG).

201 Federal St – a 2,300 sq ft space in the new 18-story Casco building is available for $40/sq ft (MG). The building owners are looking for someone who wants to open a market in that space.

433 Fore St – a 930 sq ft space on the first floor of the Hyatt is for lease for $60/sq ft (MG).

477 Fore St – the 1,361 sq ft space formerly occupied by B + B Bakery is available for $30/sq ft (MG).

40 Free St – a 1,511 sq ft space in the new building constructed by JB Brown is available for $27.50/sq ft (NNN).

127 Marginal Way – the 3,040 sq ft former All Speed bicycle shop space across the parking lot from Trader Joes is available for $35/sq ft (NNN).

100 Middle St – a 350 sq ft cafe space on first floor of an Old Port office building is available for $850/month (MG).

115 Middle St – the 2,065 sq ft space formerly occupied by Beach Boys Cannabis is for lease for $6,840/month (MG). Back in the 1970s it had been the home of Model Food Importers which retailed wine, cheese and other imported foods.

121 Middle St – a 2,482 sq ft retail spot is available for $45/sq ft (MG).

157 Middle St – 2,039 – 5,155 sq ft of retail space is available for $27.95/sq ft (MG).

184 Middle St – this newly renovated space was formerly occupied by Blanche & Mimi. It includes 1,169 sq of first floor retail and 808 sq ft of basement storage space all for $48.43/sq ft (MG).

5 Milk St – this 2,199 sq ft former hair salon is available for $28/sq ft (NNN).

1 Monument Square – 1,500 sq ft of first floor space adjacent to Cera is available for $25/sq ft (MG).

28 Monument Square – a number of spots on the first and second floors of the Public Market House are available.

25 Pearl St – 1,689 sq ft former Subway space available for $30/sq ft (MG).

66 Pearl St – the 5,796 sq ft space that was formerly the home of Bull Moose is available for $15.75/sq ft (MG).

35 Silver St – The North Point closed in October. The business is now for sale for $75,000.

3 Spring St – the space formerly occupied by Stage Cannabis is for lease; 2,000 sq ft for $15.50/sq ft (NNN).

54 York St – a 1,605 sq ft space is available for $30/sq ft (MG). It’s located in the same building as the new Weldon Hotel at the corner of York and Maple Streets.

Old Port Bar – an undisclosed 1,160/sq ft bar/restaurant in the Old Port is for sale for $195,000.

India Street Area

239 Congress St –the 780 sq ft space formerly occupied by Tiny Tims is available for $2,500/month (Absolute Gross). It’s nearby Cocktail Mary, The End of Portland, Quanto Basta and LB Kitchen.

144 Fore St – the former VA building is near the Portland Foreside development and adjacent to several new office buildings off Thames Street. It has 1,560 – 10,620 sq ft of space available for $22-29/sq ft (NNN).

Outer Forest Ave

503 – 509 Forest Ave – the exterior of this building is slated to be restored to its historic design. It has 1,268 – 6,313 sq ft of space available for $10-15/sq ft (NNN). See this feature article for more information.

1871 Forest Ave – the former Tortilla Flats is for sale. The 8,771 sq ft building is on 3.43 acres of property and is listed for $1,750,000.

Deering

164 Veranda St – the 1,000 sq ft former location of Other Side Deli is available for $2,500/month (Gross).

550 Washington Ave – 2,000 – 2,400 sq ft of the former Botto’s bakery is available to lease for $18/sq ft (NNN).

Elsewhere in Portland

Northgate Shopping Center – 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft of space is available.

Westgate Shopping Center – three spaces are for lease 1,400, 3,800 and 5,000 sq ft. The lease rates are negotiable and the property owner has a strong interest in finding a restaurant tenant for the shopping plaza.

Other Spaces – some vacated restaurant spaces haven’t yet been formerly listed for by the owner. Check the closing announcements for insights on where those opportunities may be.

Outside of Portland

The Downs – A 2,019 sq ft restaurant space is for sale in The Downs mixed use development.

881 Route 1, Yarmouth – Shared kitchen space formerly utilized by MaineFlavor before they moved to the West End is available.

188 Lincoln St, Lewiston – This 2,371 – 5,554 sq ft former fire station has been renovated for use as a retail/restaurant space. It’s listed at $5-14/sq ft (NNN). See this instagram article for additional information on the building and the neighborhood.

372 Cottage Rd, South Portland – The building that formerly was home to Omi’s Coffee Shop is for sale for $675,000. Contact Gail Bruzgo at 372maine@gmail.com for more information.

60 Mile Rd, Wells – The former Varano’s Restaurant building and a 2 bed room apartment are for sale for $2,095,000. See this instagram article for additional information on the building and the neighborhood.

449 Main St, South Portland – The former Rudy’s Diner and an adjacent home are for sale for $849,000.

Billy’s Chowder House – Both the building and business of Billy’s Chowder House in Wells is for sale. The ~200 seat restaurant comes with a 62-car parking lot and sits on Mile Road which connects Route 1 with Wells Beach. See this instagram article for additional information on the building and the neighborhood.

111 Bath Rd, Brunswick – The Fat Boy Drive-In business and property is for sale for $875,000. Fat Boy has been in business since 1955.

239 Ocean St, South Portland – the 1,621 sq ft former Pizza Joint building in South Portland is for sale for $895,000.

145 Ocean St, South Portland – The BenReuben’s building in South Portland will become available with the closure of the knishery in September. The ~1,000 sq ft space is for lease for $3,000/month (MG). Contact Josh at (207) 408-3879 for more information.

Trudy Birds, North Yarmouth – The business, land and both building are for sale for $1,450,000.

358 Main St, Yarmouth – The building that had housed a collection of gluten-free baking businesses is for sale for $440,000.

Bayley’s Seafood, Scarborough – This 3,018 sq ft turnkey seafood restaurant is available to lease for $24/sq ft.

1200 Portland Rd, Arundel – An undisclosed turnkey 9,938 sq ft restaurant is for sale for $2,500,000.

Glossary

MG – Modified Gross which indicates that the operating expenses (taxes, insurance, maintenance, etc.) for the property are included in the lease rate. The tenant would pay its own utilities, which sometimes includes heat.

NNN – Triple Net which indicates that operating expenses are not included in the lease rate, and the tenant will pay them separately. They are often referred to as CAM (Common Area Maintenance) charges and taxes, which are expressed as $/sf. The tenant is also responsible for utilities.

Gross – Gross indicates all expenses including utilities are included in the lease rate. The tenant would be responsible for phone and internet access, as well as interior janitorial.

Elsmere BBQ Closing

| Posted in Closings

The owners of Elsmere BBQ, Jeremy Rush and Adam Powers, have announced they plan to close their South Portland barbecue restaurant. November 9th will be their last day in business.

Their statement on instagram reads in part,

After 11 amazing years in South Portland, Jeremy and I are leaving the Elsmere ownership group. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve you this entire time. We will carry with us fond memories of creating and testing all the wonderful recipes that became the backbone of Elsmere, of learning the subtleties and nuances of Mama, our big beautiful smoker, and of staying up until 3:00 AM painting the dish room so we could get our food license in time to open the next day on August 17th 2013…We never could have anticipated the warmth and encouragement the community would provide to us. We thank you all for embracing us with open arms and allowing us to be the cornerstone of the neighborhood.

Powers and rush launched Elsmere in 2013. They went on to open a second location on Stevens Ave which opened in 2018 and closed in 2022.

Sissle & Daughters Opening Friday

| Posted in Openings

The new Sissle and Daughters (website, facebook, instagram) all-day cafe is set to open this week. It’s located at 634 Forest Ave, and starting Friday, November 1st, Sissle & Daughter will be open daily 8 am – 8 pm.

The new Woodfords Corner business is a coffee shop by day, a wine bar in the afternoons and evening, and a food retail and grocery shop that stocks wine, pantry goods, prepared food, take-and-heat meals and their wonderful sandwiches all day long.

In the morning Sissle and Daughters serves brewed and espresso-based coffee drinks made with whole or oat milk as well as tea, iced tea and chai. Daytime snacks include a frittata, blueberry coffee cake, and other baked goods. They source the coffee for the cafe from Precipice Coffee in Ellsworth.

During the afternoon and evening the menu features house-made pates and rillettes prepared by chef Joe Gaudet along with cheeses and charcuterie, olives, and other wine bar fare. The menu is complemented by a selection of 14 by-the-glass pours along with draft and packaged beer, non-alcoholic beverages and a few wines by the bottle.

The furniture and bar for ~20-seat cafe were designed and built by Studio 89 and design elements including the two portraits were selected with help by Jenny Bravo from Viand Mercantile.

Owners Mary Chapman and Will Sissle opened their first business The Cheese Shop of Portland on September 28, 2018 and moved it into larger digs in 2019. They recently renamed the Washington Ave store Sissle & Daughters Cheesemongers and Grocers. At the new Forest Ave location the Chapman-Sissles run the business with the help of Adelia Scheck who leads the front of office staff and chef Gaudet who manages the kitchen.

Cargo Pizza on Forest Ave

| Posted in Under Construction

Gregory Mihos, the owner of the Cargo Pizza Company (website, facebook, instagram) food truck, has leased the former Falafel Time space at 1053 Forest Ave where he plans to open a pizzeria. He hopes to launch the new restaurant in December.

Cargo Pizza will be serving “Neo-Neapolitan/New Haven-style brick oven pizza”, smash burgers, and house-made fried foods (mozzarella sticks, fries, wings, etc.)  for lunch and dinner. Mihos is also developing a breakfast menu with breakfast sandwiches and coffee to go. He shared,

Our goal is for as many items as possible to be made in-house, delivering a quality product free from fillers, preservatives, and unnecessary ingredients. We aim to create options that are mindful of health and autoimmune considerations, allowing people to enjoy their favorite foods without compromising their wallet or well-being.

The counter service pizzeria will have seating for 20 people with additional outdoor seating in warmer months. The menu will also be available for takeout and delivery.

Mihos launched the Cargo Pizza food truck in 2019. His father Dimitrios Mihos owns Romeos Pizza, and the younger Mihos gained experience working at a number of their locations and managing the Scarborough Romeos.