A new cocktail bar called The Teal Duck (instagram) is under construction at 8 Exchange Street in the space formerly occupied by Portland Bar and Bites.

Owner Brandon James Allegue shared in the cover letter of his liquor license application his vision for the bar, “The Teal Duck is designed to be a sophisticated, intimate, and dim-lit sanctuary within the heart of Portland. Our focus is on the art of the classic cocktail, paired with a curated menu of charcuterie boards, artisan breadboards, and locally sourced marinated vegetables. We aim to provide a relaxed atmosphere that encourages slow-paced social interaction and an appreciation for culinary craft.”

Allegue plans to serve riffs on classic cocktails, draft beer from brewers in Maine and New England and wines by the glass. The food menu will include a choice of 10 different meat and cheese boards as well as a dessert board.

The 1,800 sq ft space will include a 15-seat bar and table seating for 60 people. Allegue is planning for The Teal Duck to be open daily 5 pm – 1 am. He plans to make some light renovations to the space and hopes to be open to the public in early May.

The photograph above is from this past July.

As we reported back last May, Yosaku owners chef Rattanak Tray and Hope MacVane-Tray purchased the former Elsmere BBQ building in South Portland where they are working to launch a new restaurant.

Construction is nearly completed and if you’ve driven past 448 Cottage Road you’ve seen the newly clad exterior. The restaurant will be named Makoto (instagram) and chef Tray shared that he’s hoping to launch the Japanese grill and sushi restaurant April 1st.

The seasonally driven menu will feature wood-fired dishes like grilled duck, fish, and steaks as well as a similar range of sushi options as Yosaku. The Trays intend to have a intimate and interactive service model at Makoto.

The reservation system for Makoto is expected to go live in the middle of March. Stay tuned later this month for some photos of the interior and a look at the menu.

Jordan and Marisa Rubin have announced plans to open a new restaurant called Ladyfish (instagram) at 425 Fore Street in the space that was formerly occupied by their restaurant Bar Futo.

Ladyfish will be a summer pop-up restaurant operating May through October headlined by chef Christine Lau. The menu will include specialty dishes like Whole Fried Fluke Francese, Lobster Frites, and Little Neck Clams roasted on the half shell as well as Maine seafood standards like oysters, chowders, lobster rolls. The beverage menu will offer local beers, cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, and wines by the glass.

The Rubins shared, “Conceived as a relaxed, summer-only concept, Ladyfish will offer a menu rooted in approachable seafood classics made with exceptional Maine-sourced ingredients and with touches of Chef Lau’s rich expertise in Chinese, Italian and Latin American cuisine. The Rubins—also owners of acclaimed Portland restaurant Mr. Tuna—are bringing their deep waterfront relationships and sourcing ethos to a format designed for easygoing, casual seafood- forward dining.”

Lau will be relocating to Portland to lead the kitchen at Ladyfish. She was the executive chef at Kimika which was a Beard Awards semifinalists for Best New Restaurant in 2022. Her press accolades include an Eater NYC Best Dishes of 2020 nod, Condé Nast Traveler’s 2021 Hot List for Best New Restaurants, and Food & Wine magazine’s Best Bites of 2021.

Jordan Rubin launched the Mr. Tuna food truck in 2017 and the Mr. Tuna restaurant on Middle Street in 2024. With partners Cyle Reynolds and Sasha Brouillard the Rubins launched Crispy Gai on Exchange Street in 2021. Last year Rubin was named to the 2025 class of Best New Chefs by Food & Wine magazine.

Tom Minervino, Michael Barton and Matthew Reid have launched a NuMarket campaign to raise funds to enable the launch of their restaurant Playmakers Pizza and Pub (website, facebook, instagram). As with all NuMarket campaigns, contributors get credits worth 120% of the funds they contribute. The Playmakers team plan to use the funds on “building out the existing function space with a quick-serve food and beverage center and entertainment options for those visiting the Portland Sports Complex for various sports tournaments and events”.

As we reported in early January, Playmakers will be located at 512 Warren Avenue in the space formerly occupied by Turf’s Sports Pub. The menu will include pizza by the slice and full pies as well as wings, burgers, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos, snacks like mozzarella sticks and fried pickles, and desserts. The restaurant is expected to seat around 100 and will have a room for events. They anticipate being open weekdays 4 – 10 pm, and weekends 11 am – 10 pm.