Where to Eat in Portland

| Posted in Reviews

Hunt and Alpine Club co-owner Briana Volk has written an eating guide to Portland for Eater Boston entitled, How to Eat and Drink in Portland, Maine, Like a Restaurant Industry Pro.

As someone who has owned a restaurant for seven years now, I have always had a list of places I love to recommend. From the dive bar that serves great food to the restaurant that helped put Portland on the map, these restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, and bars are places you’ll hear as recommendations from others — or see your server/bartender after their shift.

The article highlights: Flood’s, Ruski’s, Little Woodfords, Highroller, Belleville, Oxbow, The Cheese Shop, Rose Foods, Fore Street, Salvage, and Izakaya Minato.

David Turin Explores Edgecomb Project

| Posted in Under Construction

Chef David Turin is exploring an opportunity to launch a new restaurant in the Midcoast. Turin recently spoke to the Edgecomb Planning Board about the former Muddy Rudder building which now operates as the Water’s Edge Banquet & Function Facility.

According to a report in The Lincoln County News, if the project moves forward the restaurant will likely be named David’s Water’s Edge with a target opening date in April and a menu that is “similar to David’s Restaurant in Portland, while likely being a little more seafood-oriented” with the possible addition of a raw bar.

Turin operates three restaurants in the Portland area: David’s, David’s Opus Ten and David’s 388 in South Portland.

BA: Restaurants We Couldn’t Stop Talking About

| Posted in Reviews

Bon Appetit has included Izakaya Minato on their list of the 24 Restaurants We Couldn’t Stop Talking About in 2019.

Obviously Maine is synonymous with fresh seafood, but everything at this little Japanese bar is treated with so much care, from the perfectly chilled carafes of nigori-style sake to the crispy-on-the-outside, pillowy-on-the-inside tofu. Oh, and the omakase is THIRTY DOLLARS and the perfect amount of food that leaves you feeling full without keeping you in your seat for three hours. They do every little thing so darn right there—it’s a must visit every time I’m in Portland.”

Ada’s to Open After Christmas

| Posted in Openings

Construction of Ada’s (website, instagram, facebook) is nearly complete and the new Longfellow Square restaurant is planning to open on Friday December 27th at 640-642 Congress Street.

Ada’s is divided into two sections: a counter service restaurant shown above serving Roman pizza and house-made pasta, and a retail store which will incorporate a Fiore Olive Oil tasting room and retail shop. The restaurant will seat 12-14 plus a standing bar.

Chef Siddharta Rumma plans to teach pasta and pizza making classes at Ada’s.

This Week’s Events: Holiday Dinner, Erin French, Mixology Class, Gibson Dinners

| Posted in Events

Monday – Lorne and Elda are collaborating on a 5-course holiday dinner with wine, beer and cider pairings.

Wednesday – the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce is hosting Erin French from The Lost Kitchen for an on stage conversation at Aura.

Thursday – Bartender Crystal Pomerleau will be teaching a mixology class at Three of Strong.

Saturday – the Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Judy Gibson Pop-ups – Chris Wilcox, the chef who is launching Judy Gibson in South Portland, has announced the details for a series of three pop-up dinners taking place January 2, 3, and 4 at Hugo’s. You can see the menu for each night on the Judy Gibson website. To make your reservations, email Wilcox at info@judygibsonrestaurant.com.

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.

Review of Enio’s

| Posted in Reviews

The Maine Sunday Telegram has published a review of Enio’s in South Portland.

 It’s hard to imagine anyone not enjoying the Butlers’ home-cooked Italian dishes: homemade pastas, jars of spreads like chicken liver mousse served with freshly baked sourdough and wood-grilled meats like king-sized pork chops drizzled with veal demiglace…Enio’s is the perfect tonic to overdesigned dining rooms and deconstructed desserts – it is a true mom-and-pop operation that, quite simply, feels like home.

Andy’s Old Port Pub to Reopen

| Posted in Under Construction

John and Tanya Lowell are in the process of buying Andy’s Old Port Pub with plans to reopen it “with the same operations that had been enjoyed by so many and bring back jobs to those that were suddenly displaced, yet, have loyally committed to return.”

John Lowell was a manager at Andy’s for a year prior to its closure on October 31st.  He hopes to reopen in early 2020.

Via Vecchia on Dana Street

| Posted in Under Construction

Blyth & Burrows owner Joshua Miranda has announced the concept for his new restaurant in the Old Port, Via Vecchia (instagram, facebook, website).

Located at 10 Dana Street in the 3,900 sq ft space formerly occupied by Vignola/Cinque Terre, Via Vecchia will be a “modern take on a European bistro serving small plates Italian food, classic cocktails, and Italian wines” with a focus on the bar and cocktail program.

For the design of Via Vecchia, Miranda and his team are “drawing inspiration from pre-WWI European bistros” with the aim of making it “feel both elegant and comfortable” The front room (see floor plan below) will have a long curved marble bar. In back restaurant area, “guests will eat in a greenery-filled space under skylights, akin to a courtyard in Venice or Rome.”

Principle members of the staff will be Randa Vashon as general manager, Chris Peterman as sommelier, and chef Mitchell Ryan. Ryan was the previously the executive chef at Vignola / Cinque Terre.

Here’s a look at the draft menu supplied with the liquor license application to the City:

Here’s a look at the floor plan. The front room (formerly occupied by Vignola) has a long curved bar with with some large format booths and a few tables looking out onto the cobble stoned streets outside. The back restaurant area maintains the layout formerly used at Cinque Terre.


Maria’s Opens Saturday

| Posted in Openings

Maria’s has announced they are opening their new restaurant at 1335 Congress Street this Saturday at 5 pm. They shared that they “highly encourage reservations for this night but we will hold a limited amount of tables for walk ins.”

As you’ll recall, Maria’s sold their longtime home on Cumberland Ave and taken over the former Esposito’s restaurant space on outer Congress Street.

The former Maria’s at 337 Cumberland is under development to become 207 Bar & Restaurant.

George’s North Shore

| Posted in Under Construction

A new food truck call George’s North Shore (instagram, facebook) is now under development. Owners Logan and Alison Abbey relocated from Massachusetts several years ago and the North Shore roast beef sandwich is a taste of home they’d like to introduce in Portland.

The feature item on the menu will be a Super Beef Threeway: a grilled buttered bun, thin-sliced rare roast beef, topped with white American cheese, mayo and James River BBQ sauce.

The food truck will launch this coming spring, and the Abbeys plan to do some pop-up events in the meantime. George’s is named for their dog, George Castanza.