Category: General News

Here are some additional Meal Deals for you:

• Portland Dine Around Club – members get a discount of $10 to $25 off a second entree at participating restaurants. Annual membership in Portland Dine Around costs $29.95.
• Old Port Sea Grill– 3 courses for $30 and the option of 3 different wines by the bottle at a 30% discount; they’re also doing a happy hour 4:30-6:30 with appetizers in the $3-$8 range; both offers are available Sunday through Thursday.
• Vignola Sunday Family Style Dinners –A 3-course family-style meals on the last Sunday of each month for $25 per person; will feature “antipasti, main course, cheese course and dessert with choices of traditional favorites and chef creations”.
• Vignola Happy Hours– Monday through Friday from 4:30-6 p.m, cocktail specials and complimentary antipasti.

The Portland Phoenix has kicked-off their 2010 Best of Portland readership poll. As in past years its a 2 step process:

• Step 1, nominate candidates you think are an especially good fit in any or all of the dozens of categories
• Step 2, based on the nominations, the Phoenix will publish a ballot next month summarizing the top nominees from each category for you to vote on.

There are a plethora of food and drink categories (Bagels, Bars, Barbecue, Beer Selection, Brewpubs, Brunch, etc) there’s even one for food blogs. A list of the 2009 winners is available online as a reference.

Here’s a few additional meal deals I’ve come across since last week’s post:

• Pepperclub – in celebration of their 21st anniversary, Pepperclub has a 4 course for $21 special
• G & R Dimillo’s – two pasta dishes for the price of one from a selection of 4 options, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
• J’s Oyster Bar – any 2 pasta or seafood dishes for $25
• Borealis Breads – in celebration of National Pie Day on the 23rd, Borealis is offering 10% off all apple, blueberry, chocolate mouse and chicken pot pies ordered by the 20th.

According to a news update from the Press Herald, chef Rob Evans of Hugo’s will be appearing on the Martha Stewart TV show on January 22.

Last year was such a success, the organizers of the Maine Restaurant Week 2009 are bringing the program back in 2010 and expanding its reach to include fixed price lunches ($15.10) as well as dinners ($20.10, $30.10, or $40.10).
However, with discount prices of Maine Restaurant Week still over the horizon in March it’s worth taking a look a what pricing specials, seasonal and otherwise, are available right now:

• Bar Lola – 5-course prix-fixe menu, Wednesday-Saturday, $36, optional wine pairings are an additional $24.
• Bonobo – slice and soup or salad for $6.50, get all three for $9, lunch Wednesday – Saturday.
• Emilitsa – wine and meze pairings, Monday – Thursday, 5-7 pm, $5 for wine, $7 for mezes. Starts January 11.
• Evangeline – 3-course prix fixe menu on Monday nights, $25-30.
• Hugo’s – 3-course (first course, main course and dessert), Tuesday-Thursday, $35.
• Duckfat – 3 courses, choice of soup or salad, panini specials & dessert, $15. Mondays – Thursdays, 5pm to 9pm; Monday – Saturday 11am to 9pm; Sunday 11am to 6pm.
• Five Fifty-Five – raw oysters $1.55 each & drink specials, Thursdays.
• Pom’s Thai Taste – $1 sushi, Monday & Tuesday.
• The Salt Exchange – Cioppino fish stew and green salad, Tuesday 5:30 – 9:00 pm, $20.10; $5 add on for a glass of Pinot Noir or a bottle of Anchor Steam. Starts January 19.

If you prefer you discount calories in a more liquid form take a look at the happy hour specials listed at Portland Taps.
Anything missing from the list? Post a comment and share what you know.

Last year was such a success, the organizers of the Maine Restaurant Week 2009 are bringing the program back in 2010 and expanding its reach to include fixed price lunches ($15.10) as well as dinners ($20.10, $30.10, or $40.10).

However, with discount prices of Maine Restaurant Week still over the horizon in March it’s worth taking a look a what pricing specials, seasonal and otherwise, are available right now:

• Bar Lola – 5-course prix-fixe menu, Wednesday-Saturday, $36, optional wine pairings are an additional $24.
• Bonobo – slice and soup or salad for $6.50, get all three for $9, lunch Wednesday – Saturday.
• Emilitsa – wine and meze pairings, Monday – Thursday, 5-7 pm, $5 for wine, $7 for mezes. Starts January 11.
• Evangeline – 3-course prix fixe menu on Monday nights, $25-30.
• Hugo’s – 3-course (first course, main course and dessert), Tuesday-Thursday, $35.
• Duckfat – 3 courses, choice of soup or salad, panini specials & dessert, $15. Mondays – Thursdays, 5pm to 9pm; Monday – Saturday 11am to 9pm; Sunday 11am to 6pm.
• Five Fifty-Five – raw oysters $1.55 each & drink specials, Thursdays.
• Pom’s Thai Taste – $1 sushi, Monday & Tuesday.
• The Salt Exchange – Cioppino fish stew and green salad, Tuesday 5:30 – 9:00 pm, $20.10; $5 add on for a glass of Pinot Noir or a bottle of Anchor Steam. Starts January 19.

If you prefer you discount calories in a more liquid form take a look at the happy hour specials listed at Portland Taps.

Anything missing from the list? Post a comment and share what you know.

According to an article in today’s Press Herald, a group of 22 current and former employees at Harding Lee Smith restaurants have written a letter in his defense. See the article for the full text of the letter.

Bob Murphy, a bartender at The Front Room, said he came up with the idea for the letter in support of Smith because he wanted the public to know that he and other employees feel Smith has treated them fairly.

Murphy said he worries that publicity about the lawsuit could hurt business at Smith’s restaurants, thus affecting employees, who earn much of their income through tips.

An article in today’s Press Herald reports that a group of six current and former employees are suing The Front Room.

A group of restaurant workers is suing The Front Room, claiming that it violated state and federal wage and hour rules.

The restaurant’s owner, Harding Lee Smith, disputes the claims, calling the lawsuit “frivolous.”

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Portland, is likely to be followed closely by the state’s restaurant owners because many of the alleged practices are widespread in the industry.

There’s also been news coverage from The Forecaster, MPBN, WMTW, Munjoy Hill News and the Portland Daily Sun.