Category: Reviews

Following up on their lunch review from earlier this Fall, Map & Menu has published a brunch review of Petite Jacqueline.

…Meredith ordered a Croque Madam (a gourmet ham and cheese, with ham, gruyere, mornay, and fried egg) to follow – it was fantastic, as I think I stole at least half of it right off her plate. I decided to try the Hachage Agneau (braise lamb hash with two poached eggs, homefries, hollandaise, and toast), and couldn’t have been happier than my selection.

Photo Credit: Map & Menu

Eventide was called out as one of the nation’s Outstanding Oyster Bars by the Wall Street Journal.

Since opening this summer, this bright, inviting spot has quickly established itself as the pearl of Portland’s Old Port. Grab a seat at the bar hewn from cement and Maine granite, nosh on house-made pickles and a cup of chowder, and browse the selection of oysters arrayed on crushed ice: 18 enticing varieties, nine from Maine and nine “from away.” Don’t neglect the top-notch cocktails, like the surprising and simple celery gimlet.

Diningsense has published a review of Paciarino,

This was another pleasing meal at Paciarino and with the Groupon, the bill was incredibly low. The dessert notwithstanding, there was nothing different about this meal vis a vis past ones—and this is exactly what I look for in a restaurant at this price point. The execution on the ravioli is consistently excellent, the prices are very reasonable, and the restaurant operates almost like a machine…

and The Blueberry Files has published a review of Eventide.

The food is deconstructed, small bites giving way to full flavor when taken together. It makes you think, this is what they’re talking about, those glossy magazines that gush over hip new places in cities that you’ve never visited, places you can’t afford.

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Flores.

The Flores version of chicharron (basically fried pork rinds) includes lots of juicy meat along with the crunchy skin. Their meatiness turns a salad of chicharron with yucca, cabbage, and tomato into something like a meal. The big pieces of yucca (cassava root, sort of resembling potato in texture) are boiled instead of fried. Salvadorans like to fry the tortilla in their tacos. But if you want to really appreciate the house-made tortillas at Flores it’s better to get your tacos soft. Fresh tortillas are too hard to find in Maine, and Flores offers a nice thick, hand-slapped version made from corn. Warm, sweet, and a touch greasy, they are pretty terrific.

The Press Herald has published reviews of Sangillo’s,

Those sipping cocktails all agreed they were poured with a generous hand. And we also agreed, you can’t beat the price at Sangillo’s — you can get a can of PBR and a Cape Cod cocktail for $6.

and of Full Belly Deli.

And speaking of Grand Central Station, the Full Belly Deli is one of the few places in Maine where you can get the best of traditional Jewish deli fare a la New York City haunts like Katz’s Delicatessen or the Carnegie Deli.

Map & Menu has posted a photo-infused review of Grace,

Our drinks, the Revelation and the Afterglow, were deliciously prepared and aptly named, and our first courses of Butternut Squash Ravioli for myself and a Bourbon Soaked Pear Salad for Meredith were seasonal and delicious. The puns are too easy for this post, so I’ll let it suffice to say that our entrees, my Giannone Farms Chicken and her Sweet Potato Pierogi, were simply divine.

the Bangor Daily News has published a review of Pai Men Miyake,

The relaxed atmosphere and affordable, top-notch food found at Pai Men Miyake has made it my go-to dinner spot in Portland. Ramen is one of the world’s great comfort foods, and fortunately, there’s a place to find it here in Maine.

and out of town blogger To Markt To Markt has posted a review of Bresca as well as commentary about Duckfat, Scratch, Rosemont and others.

The farm-fresh ingredients were celebrated on each dish: their flavors, shapes, and colors were enhanced and combined in a way that demonstrated the chef’s appreciation for their naturalness. The plates themselves were beautiful. Each and every component exemplified the owner’s unassuming tastes and her unabashed love and passion for her small but meaningful contribution to Portland’s restaurant scene, obviously appreciated by diners from near and far.

Photo Credit: Map & Menu

Food Coma has published a review of the latest edition of Pocket Brunch. The event took place earlier this month at Broadturn Farm.

Shortly after, the “pre-meal” snacks begin to appear, starting with beet red velvet muffins, frosted with goat cheese and topped with candied walnuts. These are probably some of the best muffins I’ve tasted in a very long time, with the cake itself being ultra-moist and perfectly complimented by the tangy frosting. Next are the apple cider donuts that I had been clamoring for, each filled with a dollop of candied apples. Lastly, as is tradition, we are presented with brimming chalices of “pocket bacon,” which in this case tastes as if it may have been lightly candied also. Someone once referred to this as “Like dog treats, but for adults,” and I would be hard-pressed to argue.

Tickets for the November edition of Pocket Brunch are now on sale. The event will feature French Canadian fare produced in collaboration with guest chef Nate Nadeau.