Portland Food Map

Maine Food & Dining News: Wells, Deer Isle, Warren, Bangor, Yarmouth

July 27, 2024July 27, 2024 | 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:

Lee Frank has leased the former Gravy location in Wells (321 US Route 1, above left) where he plans to open a second location of his eponymous restaurant Lee Frank’s (website, facebook, instagram). The menu, branding and concept is expected to remain the same in Wells as at the original Lee Frank’s which opened in South Berwick in 2021. Brooke Frank will be the general manager of both restaurants. The Franks hope to open the Wells location in late August and expect they’ll seasonally close the restaurant in January and February. While there are no definite plans, they may expand to other communities in the future.
Aragosta (website, facebook, instagram) on Deer Isle and its chef/owner Devin Finigan are the subject of a feature article in the August issue of Food & Wine magazine (above right). The April issue of F&W had named Aragosta to their list of the Top 20 Restaurants in the United States.
The Bangor Daily News published a report about The Key Room (facebook) a new cocktail bar that opened this week in Bangor. Owners Tan Tai, Katie Ratchatavech and Jira Rustana also operate Umami Noodle Bar which is next door to the bar.
Avery Yale Kamila has assembled a round-up of Maine plant-based food news for the Maine Sunday Telegram.
Cat Biggar and chef Derek Ronspies have announced they’ll be closing down Black Goat Test Kitchen in Warren later this year and moving to Europe to launch a new business. Additional details on the timing of their departure and where they’re relocating to are still TBD.
Chef/owner Christian Hayes announced he’ll be closing his restaurant The Garrison. Tonight is the Yarmouth restaurant’s last night in business.

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.

The Garrison Closing Saturday

July 26, 2024 | Posted in Closings

The Garrison in Yarmouth is closing. Their last day in business will be this Saturday, July 27th. The restaurant first opened almost exactly 5 years ago on July 25, 2019.

Chef/owner Christian Hayes shared a statement, which in part reads,

To say we have been submerged in an education about life for the last five years is a drastic understatement, and to say we are the same humans we were when we started couldn’t be further from the truth. This journey has been both the absolute definition of the best and worst of times, and an education in not just business but mental health, physical health, expectations, pressure, failure, and success.

The last year has been brutal for so, so many reasons, and for the first time the actual struggles which usually hide within our spreadsheets and behind our facade has spilled over to our dedicated staff and it is not okay to continue on when we struggle to meet payroll and pay bills.

Hayes concludes with,

In the end, we are so proud of what we built, along with our incredible team beside us, and we know that our home on the river has made a nest of core memories and experiences that will carry on after the last plate is cleared. Thank you all for making this so much more than just a place to eat. It’s literally been a dream come true.

Hayes shared that he will be consolidating his efforts into his other businesses Dandy’s Handy (website, instagram) corner store and Thoroughfare (website, facebook, instagram) “and the endless potential to focus solely on creating food and restoration for our community around us through such a special spot.”

Here are a few photos from The Garrison back in 2019.

Looking Back at July 2009, 2014, and 2019

July 26, 2024 | Posted in History

The Portland Food Map archive provides a chronicle of the past 16+ years of the Portland restaurant scene. While a lot of the reporting here is about what’s happening now and coming next, we thought it would be fun to take a look back each month at what the hot topics were from 5, 10 and 15 years ago.

Here’s are highlights from July 2009, 2014 and 2019:

Grace and The Corner Room both launched on July 2nd 2009.
O’Naturals closed. They were located on Exchange Street in the space now occupied by Black Cow.
Owners Cheryl and Jeff Buerhaus began the process of moving Walter’s to Union Street.
Sara Lemieux and Kellen Tucker opened an ice cream shop from the then Bonobo takeout window.
Portland & Rochester closed in 2014. They were located in the space now occupied by Coals.
Work got underway to open the Oxbow Brewing location on Washington Ave.
El Rayo opened their new restaurant in Scarborough.
Maps Cafe opened for business on July 17, 2014.
Andrew Zimmern shared his 10 of his favorite dishes in Portland with the readers of Food & Wine.
For the 60th anniversary issue in 2014, Down East magazine intensively searched the state for the best lobster rolls. Their conclusion was the the roll from Greet’s Eats on Vinalhaven had the state’s best.
The first issue of Zest magazine was published.
Construction of Sur Lie got under way on Free Street.
Gross Confection Bar launched their breakfast bakery in 2019.
Three of Strong opened their distillery tasting room and bar.
Dean’s Sweets opened their location in East Bayside.
Press Herald published restaurant critic Andrew Ross’ list of the 75 places to eat and drink in Greater Portland in 2019.
The food truck Maine Maple Creemee launched.
The Garrison opened for business.
Word broke that a new restaurant called Leeward was under development on Free Street.

Circumstance in Swanville

July 25, 2024 | Posted in Maine

Chef Khristoher Hogg opened his new Swanville restaurant Circumstance (website, instagram) in early June. It’s open for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights, Saturday afternoon for snacks and wine, and for Sunday brunch.

For dinner Circumstance customers have a choice between a 3- or 6-course menu. Wine and cider are available by the glass or bottle along with an optional set of pairings to go with your meal. Here’s a look at the restaurant and some of the dishes from a meal last weekend:

The entrance to the barn/restaurant in Swanville
A bowl of fennel soup with oyster cream and dried scallop flakes with a glass of Oyster River Winegrowers Morphos from the Midcoast
A bread salad made with fermented Japanese knotweed, radishes, roasted garlic and feta
Day Lilies stuffed with a pork rillette with carrot and browned honey sauce
A glass of Iapetus Tectonic wine from Vermont
Pork and chanterelle sausage with confit leeks and chanterelles
The full menu for the dinner
Chef/owner Khristoher Hogg at work in the open kitchen

Circumstance is open now through early October. See their website for more information on the menu and details on making dinner reservations.

Lucky Cheetah Opening in August

July 23, 2024July 25, 2024 | Posted in Openings

Lucky Cheetah (website, instagram) is scheduled to open in August (tentatively planned for August 6th). The 110-seat restaurant is being launched by Wills Dowd and Jared Dinsmore, the owners of Bird & Co, in the former Old Port Tavern space on Moulton Street.

Lucky Cheetah bar manager Ben Bozeman is creating a cocktail list that showcases Asian spirits. The restaurant will have a sparkling wine list with a 20+ bottle selection of champagnes including the 2013 Dom Perignon and Laurent-Perrier La Cuvee Brut. Bozeman had previously been the bar manager at The Honey Paw.

Chef Zachary Johnson will serving a menu of Cantonese-style dim sum like xiaolongbao and char siu bao. The menu will also include some dishes with modern twists like a foie gras blackberry dumplings topped with a brown butter miso crumb. Johnson has previously worked at Central Provisions and Bird & Co.

Ana Jovic will be the general manager for Lucky Cheetah. She was previously the food and beverage manager at Earth at Hidden Pond in Kennebunkport.

Dowd and Dinsmore have worked with Susie Smith Coughlin on the renovation and interior design of the 5,000 sq ft space. It now features a 10-seat Italian pink marble bar, a lounge area, a dining room with circular corner booths and a 16-seat private dining/event space. Displayed throughout the dining room are a collection of large format prints by photographer Slim Aarons.

Lucky Cheetah will be open Tuesday through Sunday, 5 – 10 pm. Reservations will be available via OpenTable.

Upcoming Food & Dining Events

July 22, 2024August 8, 2024 | Posted in Events

Tuesday – Old Port Wine Merchants is holding a Kermit Lynch wine tasting (4-6 pm).

Wednesday – It’s the opening day of Leisure Time Cocktail Company. Christina Zani from Pasta Night (instagram) in Philadelphia will be holding a pasta making workshop and dinner at Subcircle Residency in Biddeford. The Coastal Alchemist in Ogunquit will be serving a 5-course dinner featuring wines from Spain and Portugal.

Thursday/Friday – The Kneading Conference is taking place in Skowhegan.

Saturday – Andare is holding a pasta pop-up dinner at Otto Pizza. On the menu will be a walnut pesto, Tuscan chicken, and a gochujang arrabbiata. The 22nd Annual Festival of Nations is taking place in Deering Oaks Park.

Sunday – Frith Farm in Scarborough is holding a dinner featuring food and drink from the Republic of Georgia. It’s Maine Open Farm Day.

July 30 – Thai supper club Gaaeng will be at Crispy Gai for a pop-up menu.

July 31 – The Taste of Waterville at the Waterville Riverwalk.

July 31-August 4 – The Maine Lobster Festival is taking place in Rockland.

August 2 – Crown Jewel is hosting a (sold out) Art of Entertaining dinner in collaboration with Cherry Bombe.

August 3/4 – The Maine Wild Blueberry Weekend is taking place.

August 4 – Yardie Ting will be in Deering Oaks for the 9th Annual Jamaican Independence Day Festival.

August 6 – Acclaimed author and thought leader Dana Cowin along with Allagash brewer Jason Perkins and Maine Grain Alliance executive director Tristan Noyes will be participating in a panel discussion at Allagash Brewing to “discuss the ways that locally sourced food / food systems can bring joy, connection and positive transformation.”

August 9/10 – The Saint Peter’s Italian Bazaar is taking place.

August 10 – Space Gallery along with Goodfire Brewing, The Jewel Box and the Ten Mothers food truck will be holding Feastland, a farm dinner, at Broadturn Farm in Scarborough.

August 11 – Dinner en Blanc—a food event and auction—is taking place in East Boothbay as a benefit for Veggies to Table.

August 11/12 – 2Gether is holding their next Secret Table dinner at an as-yet-undisclosed farm in the Portland area.

August 15 – Billy Hager and Hannah Buoye from Waxwing Bakery will be the featured chefs at the August taco night at Dandelion Spring Farm in Bowdoinham.

August 30 – September 1 – The Maine Apple Camp is taking place.

September 8 – The Maine Cheese Festival is taking place in Pittsfield.

September 20-22 – The Common Ground Fair will be taking place.

October 13 – The 16th Annual Open Creamery Day is taking place.

October 24-26 – Harvest on the Harbor is taking place.

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.

Maine Food & Dining News: Winslow, Bucksport, Castine, Kittery, Ellsworth, Biddeford

July 19, 2024 | 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:

The Waterville Morning Sentinel has a report on the sudden closure of Big G’s in Winslow. The restaurant launched in 1986 in town and had been at its current location since the mid 1990s.
The Bangor Daily News reports that a new “Sicilian-inspired” restaurant called My Buddy’s Place (instagram) has opened in the space formerly occupied by Friar’s Brewhouse Tap Room which closed last year. My Buddy’s Place is open Tuesday through Saturday 11 am – 8 pm and Sunday 8 am – 3 pm.
Harbor Burger Shack (instagram) opened last week in Kittery. They’re located at 355 US Route 1. Mainebiz reports that the restaurant is part of the First Serve Hospitality Group which include Bob’s Clam Hut and Mabel’s Lobster Claw. Harbor Burger Shack will be open daily, 11 am – 9 pm.
Mainebiz also has a report on the Black Moon Public House (facebook) in Ellsworth which opened in early June.
A recent Forbes article about Biddeford and Kennebunkport highlights Magnus on Water, the White Barn Inn, Palace Diner, Elements, Fish & Whistle, Nibblesford, Dizzy Birds Rotisserie, Vietnamese Que Huong, the Chinese Happy Dragon Restaurant, The Jewel of India, Thai ME, Layalina, Batson River, and Mexican Coco Bar & Grill.
The Press Herald reports on the relaunch of Dennett’s Wharf (website, facebook, instagram) in Castine.

Leisure Time Opens Next Week

July 18, 2024July 18, 2024 | Posted in Openings

Leisure Time Cocktail Company (instagram) is set to open on Wednesday next week. Owners Kai Parrott-Wolfe and Matt Noyes have renovated the 1,400 sq ft former Rwanda Bean coffee shop on Thompson’s Point into a 50-seat bar with a mix of bar, banquette and table seating.

The Leisure Time drinks menu (see below) will feature a range of draft and freezer cocktails like the Strawberry Rhubarb Lemonade (top left), Teeny King’s Tea Martini and Negroni (both bottom right). There’s also a selection of wine and beer. The food menu (see below) prepared by chef Emma Reed includes pierogis, salads and house made hot dogs and sausages. Shown above are the Kielbasa sausage sandwich and the wild mushroom and kraut pierogis.

Leisure time will be open Wednesday/Thursday noon – 9 pm, Friday/Saturday noon – 10 pm, and Sunday noon – 8 pm.

Tiqa Reopening

July 17, 2024July 17, 2024 | Posted in Openings

Owners Deen Haleem and Carol Mitchell are ramping up to reopen Tiqa (website, facebook, instagram). The pan-Mediterranean restaurant on Commercial Street had announced they were temporarily closing back in April 2023 while they “consider all possible future options.”

Haleem shared that after “a year of contemplation and self-reflection” they’ve decided to relaunch the restaurant. Philip Sokowolski will be the new chef at Tiqa. Sokowolski has moved to Maine from Annapolis where he had been the chef at Libations Tavern and previously at The Severn Inn.

Tiqa will be launching with a new menu but with the same concept of exploring the various cuisines of the Mediterranean region. Haleem and Mitchell hope to reopen Tiqa sometime in the next few weeks.

Tiqa originally opened on January 21, 2015 and the Tiqa Cafe in the Deering Oaks Castle (now closed) launched the following year.

Upcoming Food & Dining Events

July 15, 2024August 8, 2024 | Posted in Events

Thursday – Richard Lee and Clair Guyer from Little Brother Chinese will be the featured chefs at the July taco night at Dandelion Spring Farm in Bowdoinham.

Friday – Cafe Mugen (instagram) will be holding a ramen pop-up at Belleville on North Street. Belleville baker and self-described “ramen nerd” Noah Codega will be serving a take on a classic Tokyo-style shoyu ramen with homemade noodles. The menu will also include a blueberry-ginger sorbet for dessert.

Friday-Sunday – The Yarmouth Clam Festival is taking place.

Saturday – The Maine premiere of the movie One Pint at a Time will take place in East Bayside. The screening is part of a two day event in partnership with Toad & Co, Orange Bike Brewing, Black Travel Maine, The Third Place and the National Black Brewers Association.

Saturday/Sunday – It’s the grand opening weekend for Blue Lobster Urban Winery.

July 24 – Christina Zani from Pasta Night (instagram) in Philadelphia will be holding a pasta making workshop and dinner at Subcircle Residency in Biddeford. The Coastal Alchemist in Ogunquit will be serving a 5-course dinner featuring wines from Spain and Portugal.

July 25/26 – The Kneading Conference is taking place in Skowhegan.

July 27 –Andare is holding a pasta pop-up dinner at Otto Pizza. On the menu will be a walnut pesto, Tuscan chicken, and a gochujang arrabbiata.