Month: August 2025

Y%F in Congress Square

| Posted in Under Construction

Yousif Albadri has leased the long vacant space at the corner of Congress and High Streets where he plans to open the Y%F (instagram), an 80+ seat cafe. Albadri has begun building out the 2,200 sq ft space and hopes to open Y%F by the end of November.

The cafe will have their own in-house coffee roasting operation. In addition to the standard line-up of drip and espresso-based drinks, they’ll be serving some specialty hot and cold drinks like Spanish lattes, pistachio lattes and Turkish coffee. Albardi also plans to have teas and a variety of nonalcoholic mojitos on the menu. Their in-house bakery will make a wide range of cakes and sweet treats, and breakfast sandwiches will be available in the mornings.

Visit the Y%F instagram account to see some photos of the construction underway, and follow them to stay in the loop as they work towards an opening day.

Maine Food & Dining News: Eastport, Monroe, Westbrook, Brunswick, Beals, Rockland, Kittery, Lewiston, Stockton Springs, South Portland

| Posted in Maine

New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine. Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know:

  • The Quoddy Tides has published article about Phoenix Fine Wines in Eastport and their new chef Philipp Player. “The day starts well before that with Philipp Player coming in from his Rob-binston farm to start prepping homemade pasta and fillings that might feature lobster or garlic scapes, dough for flam-mkuchen or a variation on beef Wellington featuring haddock. The menu changes fre-quently, but with some stalwarts, and this is as Player and the Phoenix’s owner, Laura Stanczyk, want it, with a wide net cast out to local food sources.” Shown above is the panzanella salad served this past weekend at Phoenix.
  • Are you excited for the start of apple season? Then you may want to plan a trip on Sunday to Monroe where North Branch Farm is holding a tasting with 10+ varieties plus a farm tour.
  • A new restaurant called Sumo Sushi & Grill is under construction in Westbrook. It will be located at 57 Bridge Street in the space formerly occupied by Tacos La Poblanita. An announcement on facebook shares “Our kitchen will bring the best of Asian flavors to the community — from fresh sushi and poké bowls to sizzling hibachi, flavorful noodles, and delicious fried rice. Every dish is made with clean, healthy, and fresh ingredients you can feel good about.” The owners hope to launch the restaurant in September.
  • The Maine Bagel Bake-Off is taking place at the Crystal Spring Farmers Market in Brunswick on Saturday. Taking part in the event are Rover from Biddeford, Dutchman’s and Knead & Nosh from Brunswick, Union Sourdough from Camden, ORchard Ridge Farm from Gorham, Forage from Lewiston/Portland, Hootenanny from Nobleboro, Spark Bagel in Northport, Miller’s Table from Skowhegan, Scratch from South Portland, Sunrise from Waterville/Augusta, and La Tartine Artisan Breads.
  • Chef Ross Florance is participating in Pépin 90/90, a celebration of the chef Jacques Pepin’s 90th birthday with 90 dinners by 90 chefs throughout the country. The dinner is taking place at the Downeast Institute in Beals, Maine on October 18th. Tickets are available online.
  • Owner Kyle Apel has announced he’ll be closing down Wiley’s in Rockland at the end of this summer. September 6th will be the last day in business for the downtown food shack. “Wiley’s has been a transformative work of passion for me, but I always knew it was a stepping stone on my journey. I’m incredibly excited for what is coming next and I’m happy to be staying in Rockland and being able to continue serving this community.”
  • Definitive Brewing announced plans to close their Kittery location. The Kittery tasting room opened 5 years ago and their last day in business will be Monday September 1st.
  • The Lewiston Sun Journal published a report on the closing of Luigi’s in Lewiston.
  • The Bangor Daily News has reported on the opening of Bucks Cafe in Stockton Springs.
  • Dok Mali is closing down their South Portland location. Taking it’s place is Asia House Kitchen and Bar.

Silver Street by Taj Opens Today

| Posted in Openings

Silver Street by Taj (instagram) is opening today at 5 pm. It is located at 35 Silver Street in the Old Port in the space formerly occupied North Point. It will be open daily, 5 pm – 1 am.

Owners Sai Guntaka and Jim Baldi and beverage director Cody Brann will be serving (see menu below) a range of cocktails as well as wine by the glass or bottle, non-alcoholic cocktails, and local draft beer including the Sai Lager produced in collaboration with Oxbow Brewing Company and the Talwar IPA produced in collaboration with Bissell Brothers.

Silver Street will launch with a more limited food menu but they plan to expand the offerings in the near future. You can see from the menu below there are a pair of entree, taco appetizers and desserts already available.

The 1,000 sq ft space has been completely renovated. It features a 10-seat bar, flexible banquette seating and can accommodate 40 people overall. The interior design is reminiscent of the look of Guntaka’s South Portland restaurant.

Guntaka is the owner and Baldi is the bar manager of the popular South Portland restaurant Taj Indian Cuisine.

 

Henny’s Now Open

| Posted in Openings

Henny’s (instagram) is now open. The 22-seat cafe is located at 87 Brackett Street in the West End. Today and tomorrow they’ll be open 8 am – 2 pm. They’ll be closed over the long weekend and then starting on Tuesday they’ll be open daily 6 am – 4 pm.

Owners Heidi and Kenny Chestnut are serving breakfast and lunch. The breakfast menu that includes standards like pancakes, scrambles, omelets, breakfast sandwiches, avocado toast, and biscuits and gravy. Shown above is the Mill Stack made with a fried egg, bacon, cheddar jack cheese, blackberry jam and served on house made waffles.

For lunch Henny’s will offer a range of sandwiches like a Henny’s Italian, a chicken Caesar wrap and the Pea’s Knees made with grilled falafel, tomato, red onion, tzaziki on a grilled pita. Salads and grilled options round out the lunch menu. There is also a kids menu with breakfast and lunch options like PB&J, junior sized sandwiches and a short stack of pancakes.

Weekly specials will augment the regular menu, and grab-and-go sandwiches, salads and cut fruit for customers will also be available. Henny’s will be sourcing bread from Big Sky and coffee from Carrabassett.

LB Kitchen in NY Times

| Posted in General News

The New York Times has published an article about (and the recipe for) The Classy Chip cookie that’s a staple on the menu at LB Kitchen.

Ashton’s cookies, which Ms. Farrington had to adjust only slightly, are now best-sellers at LB. Kitchen in Portland, Maine (co-owned by Ms. Farrington and her wife, Bryna Gootkind). I sampled one on a visit to Maine earlier this summer, and I couldn’t get the snappy texture and butterscotch flavor out of my head. I wrote to ask for the recipe the minute I got back home.

They’re absolute bangers: candy-like and crunchy at the edges from caramelized brown sugar; chewy and dense at the center from a mix of almond and oat flours; and speckled all over with mini chocolate chips.

Dok Mali & Asia House

| Posted in Under Construction, Closings

Dok Mali has announced plans to close their South Portland location, Dok Mali Noodle Bar. Their last day in business will be this Saturday. The flagship Dok Mali restaurant on India Street is not impacted by the change. Owner Nonglack Thanephonesy launched her India Street location in 2022, and the noodle bar in 2024.

Old Orchard Beach’s Asia House will be taking over the noodle bar space where owners Piranun Piradetpaopong and Rossarin Penna plan to open Asia House Kitchen and Bar (instagram). They will be serving a pan-Asian menu featuring poke, Thai dishes and Korean dishes. Renovations are underway with hopes of launching the restaurant and bar by the end of September.

Upcoming Food and Dining Events

| Posted in Events

Saturday – The Maine Bagel Bake-Off is taking place at the Crystal Spring Farmers Market in Brunswick.

Sunday – Sun Market and Mi Sen are collaborating on a Korean pop-up dinner.

September 7 – Cherie (instagram) will be holding a pop-up at Lambs. The menu includes gougeres, tomato galette, seared scallops, grilled lamb and corn creme caramel with wine pairings by Lambs. Cherie is being produced chefs Melody Medina and Quinn Williams.

September 11 – A Loire wine dinner is taking place at Crown Jewel.

September 12 – The Portland VFW is holding a bourbon tasting.

September 13 – The Portland Hotdog Safari is taking place at eight locations around town including Allagash, Crispy Gai and Thirsty Pig. Proceeds from the $10 Hotdog Safari scorecards will benefit The Locker Project.

September 14 – The Maine Cheese Festival is taking place in Pittsfield. The Tender Table Night Market is taking place.

September 19-21 – The Common Ground Country Fair is taking place in Unity.

September 21-28 – Maine Lobster Week is taking place.

September 23 – Luncheonette is holding a Korean dinner.

September 25 – A part of Maine Lobster Week is the Lobster Roll Remix, a benefit for the Maine Lobstermen’s Relief Fund. It will on September 25th at Southern Maine Community College. Chefs from Chaval, Dok Mali, Douro, Great Wave Sushi, Little Pig, Portland Lobster Company, Sichuan Kitchen, Sicilian Table, Taj, and Terlingua/Ocotillo will each be serving their own creative take on the classic Maine lobster roll.

October 12 – Maine Open Creamery Day is taking place.

November 1-9 – 207 Beer Week is taking place.

November 10-16 – Brunswick Wine Week is taking place.

Planning a wedding, holding a business event, or hosting visitors from away? Our printed guides are a great resource to help your guests explore the Maine restaurant scene.

The Portland and Midcoast pocket guides are now for sale in packs of 25 on our online store.