The Dogfish Bar & Grille on Free Street received 4 stars from the review in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.

Dogfish Bar and Grille elevates the concept of neighborhood bar. The food is the hearty comfort type, well-prepared and presented in all forms — dinner, sandwich, salad, dessert and snack. Local music and art add to the experience, and there are dining options for everyone — downstairs in the bar, upstairs in the intimate dining room, and two outside decks for warm weather. I am imagining the Dogfish as a terrific first date or “catch up with a friend” choice — intimate, many food and drink choices, good music, good service and a sense of being local, but still off the beaten path.

Instant Portland has published a review of LeRoux Kitchen.

Here’s what the locals know about LeRoux Kitchen: if you need something — anything — for your kitchen, be it a humble whisk or a high-end stockpot you’ve been saving up for years to get, then LeRoux is the place to go. Sure, there’s that place in the Mall, with the catalogs and the fancy name, but — I kid you not — their selection pales when compared to the selection at LeRoux.

The Press Herald has published reviews of the Crooked Mile Cafe,

Dare I say it was one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had? Yep, I’m saying it, and with good reason. First off, the baguette on which it was served was sheer perfection. Crispy yet chewy, it afforded a comfortable home to the dense stack of ham, salami, pepperoni, provolone, lettuce, mayo, oil, vinegar and oregano. (Hold the tomatoes for me, thanks).

and Binga’s Stadium.

I got mine smothered in the Jamaican Jerk sauce, which was absolutely delicious. My friend got the Thai BBQ version, which was equally delicious. She also insisted on getting the fried pickle chips side dish. I’m not as big a fan of them as she is.

I polished off my half order of tenders, though, washing it down with some hard cider. There’s nothing like wings and a good drink for a break from the bustle.

Instant Portland has published a review of Cobblestones.

The menu is full of foods you’d find in any sandwich shop from here to Ohio – but the food is clearly crafted with love and care, and that careful attention to the most important thing in food – flavor – is that sets Cobblestones a little apart from the onslaught of salad and sandwich places in this city.

Plush West End received 3 stars from the review in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.

This bar and tapas lounge offers enough satisfying food to make it a good spot to drop in for a casual dinner and a drink with friends, especially when appetites vary. It’s also a late-night nosh option. The dishes are interesting if not outrageously original, but most are very well-prepared, and a collection makes for an agreeable and filling meal in a relaxing, stylish and spacious atmosphere.

The January issue of Down East magazine includes a review of Miyake,

What impresses most about Miyake’s creations is his mastery of a wide range of techniques and the quality of the ingredients. This isn’t your standard fish. It glistens. The spicy tuna roll combines tender tuna with creamy avocado slices, topped with seared yellowtail, toasted almonds, plum paste, and radish sprouts. The combination of color, texture, and flavors makes you rethink sushi.

as well as articles about bootleggers,

Mark’s applejack — that’s what distilled hard cider becomes — is the best I’ve ever tasted. Better than apple brandy that’s been aged twelve years. Better than imported Calvados at forty bucks a bottle. It’s dry, robust, and carries spicy hints of the fruit it was made from as well as the smoky flavors of the autumn harvest. When I first tried it a couple of years ago after a leisurely lunch at a mutual friend’s house, I thought it was paradise in a bottle.

and Farming in Maine.

What’s in the middle? Not all that much, actually. Rare are the midsized producers who can send a steady supply of crops to even a handful of grocery stores. If Mainers are to follow through on their demonstrated interest in eating locally — as well as making progress on existing efforts to further develop the state’s food system — we’re going to need some of those little farms to grow a bit bigger, while keeping the bigger guys healthy and strong.

The Blueberry Files has published a review of Bayou Kitchen.

So check out Bayou Kitchen for a brunch that’s a bit different than the tried and true served up at Becky’s, Miss Portland Diner, Marcy’s, etc.  Between the charming service and the southern food, I bet you’ll find something that makes you want to return.

Eat Here. Go There. has published a review of Taco Escobarr.

Overall, I think that Taco Escobarr is doing a lot of things right. They have a small menu and they are mastering that. It’s also fairly inexpensive, we only spent $16. For Americanized versions of tacos they were really well done and I wouldn’t hesitate to eat here again or recommend it to others. If you are looking for a cheap and quick sit down dinner I think this is a great option in Portland, I just beg them to get real crema.

A new blog named Instant Portland has published reviews of Fresh Approach,

So, if you love quality meats and home baked goods, if you love the idea of a neighborhood grocery store where folks will learn your name, or if you just need something urgently on a day when the Great Big Supermarket is closed, give Fresh Approach a try. I guarantee it will become a regular stop for you on your grocery-buying adventures.

Local Sprouts, and

In a way, the experience of eating at Local Sprouts is like having lunch at a friend’s house (a friend who is a really good cook).  Through the long winter months ahead, they provide a warm space to come in from the cold, eat a healthy meal, and be a little warmer in body and soul.

Market Street Eats.

So, if you’re doing your holiday shopping in the Old Port, or you have an appointment downtown, or you just want to try something new for your weekday lunch, I cannot recommend Market Street Eats highly enough. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Food writer Brian Duff from the Portland Phoenix makes it to Pho Hanoi, Pai Men Miyake, Petite Jaqueline and Top Thai to sample some of the cuisine that he hadn’t had the chance to try yet in 2011.

So that is a sample of dishes almost missed. So much of life often comes down to the right words at the right time. It’s a relief that eating out in Portland is so forgiving. The best dishes of the last year will be around for a while, and whether word gets around slowly or quickly, good food, and drink, will out.

Brea Lu has received 4½ stars from the Eat & Run review in today’s Press Herald.

Despite the cheery disposition of the place, what impressed me most was the dedication to breakfast-food excellence. I like sunny-side up eggs. And I know it’s not easy to get them perfect – yolks full of juice, not overcooked, whites cooked just enough, not runny and not burned. Every time I’ve gotten them at Brea Lu, my sunny-side up eggs have been perfect.

Also in today’s paper is a write up of Shipyard’s Applehead Ale which is due to be released later this month.

The Golden Dish has published a review of Five Fifty-Five.

After a long overdue visit to Five Fifty-Five I’m happy to report that nothing has really changed since my last dinner there. The food is as spectacular as it was at the restaurant’s initial trail-blazing restaurant debut in 2003. In fact,Five Fifty-Five gets better with age. That wisdom of experience and expertise continue to shine upon chef and co-proprietor Steve Corry and his extremely able kitchen crew.

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

So, Gogi is meat. Or not, depending upon your preference.

Go to Gogi for the novelty of Korean tacos. The service is friendly, the vibe is casual, and the Arts District locale is ripe for conversation fodder.

Most importantly, the food is a unique and delicious “fusion” of Korean flavor and Mexican style.

Vrai-lean-uh has posted a review of Pai Men Miyake.

I went tonight and branched out and didn’t order the brussels sprouts, which was big for me because I order them basically every time I go. When they first opened, I was iffy on the ramens, but Dave got a pork and chicken ramen tonight and it was just fantastic. FANTASTIC.

Eat Here. Go There. has published a review of brunch at The Corner Room.

If you are an adventurous eater, don’t forget to order the black pudding. While the Corner Room didn’t have an overwhelming ‘wow’ factor for brunch (I prefer their dinner much more), I really liked some of the items we had. The theme just seemed a little lost, if you have an Italian inspired restaurant one would think the brunch would be more Italian inspired… but I digress. While I will probably eat here in again in the future there are many other brunch spots I would rather try before coming here again.