Espo’s Trattoria received 3½ stars from the review in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.

Espo’s Trattoria offers a traditional expectation of Italian favorites in a laid-back, comfortable atmosphere.  Portions are enormous, pricing is fair, and the wine list shows a native food pairing intelligence. Try the marsala sauce over spinach.

Chubby Werewolf has published a review of the El Rayo Cantina.

All and all, the Cantina at El Ray delivered on just about every level for me. The price was reasonable, the service exceptional and the food outstanding. I had arrived feeling rather skeptical about the prospect of a cheeseburger served at an establishment specializing in Mexican cuisine, but departed  having enjoyed one of the better burgers in recent memory. I’ll return again soon, and the only question will be whether my Slow Burn is accompanied by another outstanding burger or one of the restaurant’s many other tempting offerings.

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of China Taste.

But first it’s worth trying China Taste’s very good appetizers. The scallion pancake sizzles loud enough coming out of the oil that the whole waiting area looks up. It has a great crispy-chewy exterior with an underlayer of soft dough and ample scallion. You dip it into a terrific spicy-sour soy-based sauce. A splash of the same sauce perfected a bite of the house egg roll. The crisp exterior is surprisingly light, and the inside has that slight pinkish hue from the spices mixed into the ground pork. The chopped veggies inside still have a sweet crunch.

Also in this week’s Phoenix is a survey slice bars in Portland.

Travel and Leisure has included Five Fifty-Five in their list of America’s Best Bruches.

Executive chef (and 2007 Food & Wine Best New Chef winner) Steve Corry serves up everything from nostalgia-inducing homemade “Fig Newton” bars to the more traditional hearty steak and eggs, and even an Asian-inspired burger topped with kimchi.

Instant Portland has published a review of Maine’s Pantry,

All in all, Maine’s Pantry pleasantly surprised me. I was, honestly, expecting something of a tourist trap, but they are far from that. Instead, owner Elena Morrow-Spitzer is clearly passionate about supporting local food and local businesses, and has done a tremendous job gathering the best of Maine’s bounty and showcasing it on the shelves of this tiny shop. Even if you are local — actually, particularly if you’re a local – I encourage you to stop in and get introduced, as I did, to something new and delicous made right in your own back yard.

From Away has published a sandwich review of Mike’s,

…The result, though, is satisfying:  A moderately-priced, pleasantly musty-flavored sandwich, heavy with quality meats and cheese, as well as some inventive twists on Portland’s signature sandwich. It’s enough for a hearty meal, and enough to make me anxious to try Mike’s other offerings.

and the Press Herald has published a review of lunch at Asylum,

Was this a gourmet odyssey of a lunch? In two words: Not really. But will I go back? Another two words: You bet.

and a bar review of Silly’s with a Twist.

One of their early creations, Shelley told me, is dubbed a Blushing Beauty. The idea of mixing Absolut Vodka with Izze Sparkling Grapefruit sounded delightful, so I ordered the drink. It is aptly named, because the sparkling fruit juice is the color of rosy cheeks — the same hue my face takes on when I drink. And the nice twist is that the drink is served with the whole bottle of Izze, so you can add more to the vodka or order more vodka to add to the juice. Can you guess which addition I chose?

Breaking Bread with Joe has published reviews of Ribollita, Five Fifty-Five and Olive Cafe. Here’s an excerpt from his post on Ribollita,

I didn’t think we had reserved enough room for dessert, but as fate would have it we ordered anyway.  I ordered the homemade espresso ice cream with chocolate chips, Steve had the same and Kate ordered the cottage cheese cheesecake.  Wow.  Each of these dishes were rich, fresh and delightfully satisfying.

Our stay was perhaps a little longer than normal for a weekday dinner, but each of us had a terrific experience at Ribollita and we all agreed that we needed to eat here more frequently!

BiBo’s Madd Apple Cafe received 3 stars from today’s review in the Maine Sunday Telegram.

Service was acceptable and unerring, and the atmosphere quiet during our stay. While the food here may not blow your mind with creativity and flamboyance, Bibo’s (pronounced Bee-bo’s) is primed to get you to the show on time.

The restaurant also offers a leisurely and satisfying dining option in Portland’s arts district. And it’s a good spot for post-theater dessert and coffee.

Eat Here. Go There. has published a review of Blue Spoon.

Overall, this is a great little lunch spot. It’s a little more expensive than your usual sandwich joint, but the quality is far superior, so higher prices are to be expected. So, pop in sometime you are up on Munjoy Hill for a nice sit down lunch. After all, you’re probably getting sick of getting Colucci’s sandwiches all the time anyway.

Vin et Grub has published a review of Cinque Terre.

Having been quite disappointed with the entrees, I hoped dessert would be considerably better– as my own philosophy regards dessert as the pinnacle of every meal, I tend to have quite high expectations.  And they were met.  I ordered the banana date cake, and oh my god, it did not disappoint.  The flavor affinity of banana, caramel, and rum always appease my taste buds.  The cake, which had a nice like marscapone vanilla bean frosting, was light and airy.  The flavor of banana, in the cake, and then paralleled with the caramelized bananas on the side, was very present, thus I was a happy camper.  I was glad that Cinque Terre was able to end the meal on a good note…

Serious Eats has published a review of Schulte & Herr.

The carbs were equally good. Potato pancakes are light—almost souffleéd inside—with a crisp crust. A basic order ($5) comes with thimbles of sour cream and, thanks to being cooked with the skins, rose-colored housemade applesauce. Better yet, upgrade to the entrée-worthy version ($9) with wide ribbons of silky house-cured gravlax, capers, cornichons, julienned radish, and more of that tasty horseradish cream.

The Maine magazine blog has published a review of Sabor Latino.

… I will definitely return in hopes of sampling the variety of soups (only served on weekends), the chicharron, tongue tacos, and of course, the Cuban element. This is a small, family run establishment that, in its first week of being operational, is a welcome addition to the Latin American food scene here in Portland.

Vrai-lean-uh has published a review of RSVP.

…Inside, however, they have a really good selection of products (including local beers and hard ciders) and a completely wonderful and adorable saleswoman who has taken my ridiculous questions and given thoughtful recommendations.

The Golden Dish has published a review of Ruski’s.

Dinner at this neighborhood bar was quick, easy and inexpensive, and I’ll be sure to try their breakfasts, which get high marks from regulars. But what I’m looking forward to on my next visit is to order my very own burger, especially if it does turn out to be the best in town.

Instant Portland has published a review of Port Bean on Commercial Street.

My first surprise was how large, sunny, and comfortable the space was. With free Wifi, their seating area is designed for either a quick bite or a longer work session. (They even have high chairs!) The high ceilings, white walls, and coastal art makes the space feel a bit like a gallery rather than a coffee shop.

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Little Seoul.

The durp-bop, which sounds a bit like a K-pop phenom, lacks the colors of its cousin bi bim bop, with soft egg mingled with multigrain rice, onion, and pieces of chicken. Spotted throughout were interesting little sesame seeds that were dense and chewy. Its many interesting textures benefited from a dollop of thick, hot red chili sauce.