mainemal's Profile
Trip To Maine In July
Well, there's also a bus line run from Bangor down the mid-coast, with stops in Camden, Rockland, and Damariscotta. Any/all of these have some great food stops...and for a side trip you can take a ferry from Rockland out to North Haven island.
Trip To Maine In July
I suggest you search the board for recent discussions of Bangor and Augusta. PI is pretty much a "Chow desert," and I'd have to say that our part of the country is NOT a good place for steak. Why not eat our lovely seafood, and head to Iowa for the cow?
A few questions for Portland / Scarborough
There are a number of places on Commercial St where you should be able to purchase live lobster, and prices should't differ too much. I'd start at Free Range, which is at the end of the street closest to the bridge to S. Portland.
A few questions for Portland / Scarborough
I beg to differ on the subject of the Cheese Iron, and am only sorry you haven't had good experiences. Vince (the owner) is the most knowledgeable fromagier I've ever met, and the selection IS spectacular; WF doesn't even come close and doesn't keep their cheese as well. I'd advise stopping in and asking to taste, which Vince is always happy to do.
Street & Company. Order suggestions?
Great choices, and I second the suggestion that you come to your own conclusion re: Street, which we always find excellent. One possibility: instead of Front Room (which is fine, but can be very noisy and crowded), Bar Lola across the street on Congress. Petite J is great if you want a classic bistro menu. I'm among those who think J's is over-rated unless all you want is atmosphere.
Best Breakfast/Brunch in Portland Maine
I think the brunch menu is really good, with some different approaches to classics and some unique dishes, at Artemesia.
Why Bar Lola (Portland) deserves more attention
Perhaps because it's smaller (24 top), away from the downtown center of Portland culinary life, and doesn't [yet?] have a James Beard nominee, Bar Lola [http://barlola.net/] gets overlooked on the "go to" list...but it shouldn't. SO and I eat there once a year or so, and it's always spectacular: eclectic menu with unique tastes. Last Saturday was a great example. We appreciate the ability to choose a sequence of small, larger, largest plates as we wish, and that you can do all 4 for a $36 prix fixe. So this time around, SO's first was agnolotti with an eggplant and goat cheese filling served over arugula: pasta was so light it practically elevated itself to your mouth, and taste was subtle. I really enjoyed mussels, in this case in a preparation of spiced yoghurt and garlic that was a first in my experience. Seconds (salad) were fine: a flavorful beet for one, and frissee with apple and bacon for the other. Entrees were the hit: roasted cauliflower on quinoa with harissa, where the veg was charred just to the point of a little caramelization; and my braised lamb on chickpeas with fennel, red pepper, and preserved lemon: amazing. The Mediterranean emphasis seems to be a seasonal chefs' choice, which was fine with us; probably will change with onset of spring ingredients. Wines are very reasonably priced, and good matches with the food. We shared a dessert, a lemon steamed pudding that seemed like a cross between a creme brûlée and panna cotta: light texture, excellent tangy lemon to finish the meal. One of things we always appreciate is that one can eat four courses and be very satisfied but not the slightest bit too full. And all this (including 4 glasses of wine) for $102 plus tip! I contend there is no better value for $$ in Portland. There were a couple of small service glitches (server spending a bit too much time chatting with other staff so had to be waved down several times; glass of wine with some floaters and smudges, promptly replaced), but overall, this is a great dining experience every time.
Maine Maple Sunday - March 25, 2012
True, indeed. Of course, this year any actual production of maple syrup on the date won't be possible...but the farms are great, food is good, etc.
Portland, ME--Fore Street, Hugo's or 555
Completely agree with Bobbert's alternatives suggestions (we're huge BBG and Bresca fans), and would add one: Bar Lola: consistently interesting, very well prepared menu with a great "mix and match" option for mingling pas, small plates, and entrees, and a great chef's choice prix fixe. Could definitely stay away from fish on everything except the tasting.
Looking for Best Destination Restaurants in VT, NH, ME
Sorry not to have responded sooner, CBeth: I was referring VERY specifically to Weathersfield Inn.
Traveling with elderly parent from Boston!
Not sure if they'll be open on Sunday at this time of year, but we found Kennebec Tavern on the waterfront in Bath surprisingly good recently, including a unique smoked tomato soup. Not fancy, but quite acceptable: http://www.kennebectavern.com/
For seafood dinner on a Sunday evening in Portland, you should definitely try Street and Company on Wharf St. I know they're open on Sunday, food is perfect. Reservation would be needed, and you can ask for a back corner table.
Portland advice please
I concur. Portland isn't really much of a meat-eaters / great steak town, and Fore St. is definitely the best: superb wood-grilling of all sorts of things, sure to please. And it's not a "steak place;" rather, one of the 2-3 best restaurants in town.
Looking for Best Destination Restaurants in VT, NH, ME
I completely agree. I posted a review of this fantastic place here in February of 2009, and I would make the trek from Maine again in a heartbeat.
Dinner for About 30 In Portland?
We're doing a similar event in the back room at Sonny's on Exchange this coming Saturday evening. They will set the room apart for the event, multiple tables (although we're doing a buffet of their many tasty pas).
Portland - Disappointed at Miyake, but Duckfat was Fabulous (LONG)
Yes, and glad you asked: had my first omikase experience last night, and it totally lived up to expectations. First of 7 was a combination of uni (spectacular, in the shell as a mouse) and monkfish liver: 4 slices of elegance, although two would have done. The following sashimi combination including lobster was extremely tasty, with high points being salmon belly, a gorgeous fluke "carpaccio" accompanied by amaranth sprout (!), and my favorite, flaked horse mackerel. I particularly liked a course of squid and fennel: perfect flavor pairing. Best course of the evening: scallop and Maine shrimp, with simple seared and scallop carpaccio, and shrimp tempura and raw in sesame oil. Only problem I have with the 7-course is it's about one course too much! Meat was the disappointment: duck confit perfect, but chicken only ordinary.
Weekend in Portland area
This 65-year old thinks regular helpings of duck fat is just perfect. And please think carefully about the Peaks Island possibility: the ferry is a great way to get back and forth, operates on a good schedule, etc., and unless it's the middle of winter or a hurricane, couldn't be more pleasant. Of course, you originally wrote in July and now it's January, so not sure when you're coming. The Regency's a nice hotel, but not an exciting destination for your special event.
Reconsidering Cinque Terre (Portland)
SO and I took my son and his fiancee to Cinque Terre (their choice) for an engagement celebration. Haven't been in several years, and have noted some negative posts here, so was wondering what the situation was. Here's the short take: not a great wow factor, but some excellent tastes. For pas, I had an usual take on bruschetta: rabbit! Two hearty slices of tasty grilled break with some good-tasting pieces of meat, etc. Others had fried calamari (good, but could have been crispier), and classic prosciutto. Stand-out main course was a ravioli that included tasty lamb (again, an unusual take on a classic dish) and a gorgeous poured-over mushroom sauce: first rate. I had quail served with a nice melange of autumn roots, including small red turnip that really made the dish, serve on faro. Soon-to-be d-in-l had the whole roasted sea bass, perfectly prepared. Last secondi was lobster risotto, very tasty but slightly diminished by over-large pieces of sound-dried tomato that tended to overwhelm. Desserts were nothing to write home about. My overall impression is that this isn't very Italian any more: much more Italian-style / influence dishes in the contemporary "a piece of something on top of some interesting stuff" approach.
Bottom line: still very good, reasonably priced (no second more than $24) for Portland, decent service and well-priced wines, but not in the top rank any more.
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Cinque Terre
36 Wharf Street, Portland, ME 04101
Private party space in/near Portland?
Need to plan 60th birthday party for my SO, February 5. Any suggestions for good venues for about 30 people, with or without food? Have Mariners Church, Camp Hammond in Yarmouth, and possibly Saltwater Grill in SoPo on my list. Know that Fore St has a private room, but that's probably over the budget limit. Suggestions welcome! It's a Saturday night, so probably can't look to take over a restaurant.
Portland Saturday Dinner Help - Hugo's Alternative?
We also like Petite Jacqueline, but the fare, while completely delicious, is doing a great job of recreating the classica Parisian bistro and so isn't perhaps as innovative as the others mentioned.
Portland Saturday Dinner Help - Hugo's Alternative?
I am in complete agreement with HD on both counts. My SO and I find Hugo's to be somewhat affected, and to be honest, the service leaves something to be desired: if you don't along with each and every pretension of the place, they don't treat you well. BBG is our "go to" place for excellent creative food and service in a much more welcoming atmosphere, and 555 comes right along behind. And for food almost as good, in a more relaxed bistro atmosphere, consider Bar Lola on Congress St.
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Bar Lola
100 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04000
Edible Chinese in/near Mansfield?
Coming from Portland next week for a bridge tournament at the Holiday Inn, Mansfield. Good Chinese is one thing we don't have in Portland. Any suggestions?
Northern Spy: out-of-towners' report
I saw a review of Northern Spy a few years ago when it opened, and it was on our list for our next visit to NYC from Portland, ME. Glad we made it: for the style and type of place, it was really excellent. SO, her niece, and I were there early on Friday p.m. since they don't take reservations; service was excellent throughout. For aps, SO and niece throughly enjoyed the kale salad with almonds, and my bluefish rilette was outstanding. The entrees kept the theme of simple, deep flavors going: roasted cauliflower was well-browned and rich; potato gnocci nicely skillet browned; and the dish of the evening was a special, hen-of-the-woods mushrooms served over lentils w/ leeks. Coming from a "farm to table" restaurant scene in Portland, we particularly appreciated the fresh flavors of everything we ate. Beers and wine list is limited, but more than adequate, and pricing is very moderate for high-quality food in NYC. Definitely recommended.
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Northern Spy Food Co.
511 E 12th St, New York, NY 10009
Northern Spy Food Co.
Any more recent experience? SO and I are venturing to Manhattan from the food delights of Portland Maine in a few weeks, and I had read about Northern Spy in a review a year or so ago.
Portland - Dining with a vegetarian
A few others to think about: Ribollita (classic, mostly non-red sauce Italian) always has at least two excellent vegetarian options like white bean ravioli on Middle St., and Boda, the not-your-usual Thai restaurant on Congress St (same owners as Green Elephant). My partner is a vegetarian, and those are two of our "go to" places.
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Ribollita
41 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101
The Crowned Jewel of Brunswick, Maine [Athena]
You might want to mention the name, "Athena"! I ate there for the first time a week ago, and completely agree: excellent and creative cooking, great flavors. My partner and I particularly enjoyed the carciofi misto: beautifully coated and fried artichoke leaf and stem as an ap. Daily home made pasta was great. I suspect everything else is similarly good, and plan to return.
Looking for some resurants in Portland,ME
Actually, Caiola's is NOT an Italian restaurant.. I definitely agree with bobbert (below) on Ribollita, one of our favorites, and on Paciarino.
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Caiola's
58 Pine St, Portland, ME 04102
Ribollita
41 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101
Paciarino
468 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101
Washington County Maine in Mid-September--Advice Please!
Not to contradict, but had good friends who are very savvy eaters who ate there last month and loved it.
Washington County Maine in Mid-September--Advice Please!
Sorry to say I think some geographic confusion is present here. Qianning, I think you're meaning Deer Island, which is a Canadian island across the bay from Eastport, Maine, while rockblogsterbdn is referencing Deer Isle, Maine, which is off the Blue Hill peninsula.
Caiola's alert
Yikes, not good news! C's is one of our long-time favorites, also. Anyone else had a similar experience?
