Category: Maine

Maine Food & Dining News: Wells, Saco, Bangor, Harpswell, Gardiner, Bath

| 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:

  • A new restaurant called Sea Salt Fry Company (website, facebook, instagram) is under construction in Wells. Chef/owner Norman Owens has taken over the space formerly occupied by Lee Frank’s. Renovations are under way, and Owens hopes to launch Sea Salt on December 12th. A draft menu (see page 5) includes dishes like moules frites, salads, clam chowder, falafel smash burgers, lobster rolls and NY strip steaks. You can read more about Owens and his plans for Sea Salt Fry Company in this article from the Portsmouth Herald.
  • The Maine Sunday Telegram has published a 4½ review of Finestkind in Saco (photos above). “Victoria and Tom Barthelmes consistently execute some of the region’s best brunch fare at Saco’s Finestkind. The couple scratch-cooks nearly everything they serve, and their extra effort, culinary know-how and near-obsessive attention to detail leads to stunners like the refined yet unfussy French omelet, a rich and wobbly deep-dish quiche, and a cheesy popover filled with poached egg and bacon-onion jam, a dish that delivers the savory comfort of French onion soup.”
  • The Bangor Daily News reports that a new candy shop called Oh, Grow Up! (website, facebook) is under construction at 21 Central Street. “The store will feature a pick-your-own-candy wall that includes gummies, sours and chocolate, along with other sweets. Individual treats will also be available, but the wall will be the “main focus” that people see through the window, he said.”
  • The Harpswell Anchor reports that Russell Coffin, Jeff Janvrin and Jen Brown are working to relaunch Fat Pat’s Take Out. The team hopes to open in spring or summer of next year.
  • The Maine Food Narratives Work Group is holding a launch part for their new zine, Freedom Feast in Gardiner tomorrow night.
  • The Chocolate Church in Bath will be hosting the 2nd Annual Hanukkah Mexicana on December 20th

For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, plus other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties.

Maine Food & Dining News: Old Orchard Beach, South Portland, Rockport, Hebron, Oxford, Belfast, Ellsworth, Brewer, Caribou, Rockland, Unity, Camden, Westbrook, Veazie, Skowhegan

| 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:

  • A new restaurant called The Local OOB (website, facebook, instagram) recently opened in Old Orchard Beach. They’re located at 23 Washington Ave in a space previously occupied by a restaurant with a similar name. Owners Aaron Gregory and chef Craig Pacheco are serving a menu that includes items like crispy brussels sprouts, coconut shrimp, steaks, shrimp risotto, soup, salads, sandwiches and pizza. The Saco Bay News reports that they hope to add some Portuguese dishes to the menu.
  • Asia House Kitchen and Bar (instagram) has opened for business (photo above). Asia House is located in Knightville in South Portland in the space formerly occupied by Dok Mali Noodle Bar at 169 Ocean Street.
  • A new food truck called 69 West (facebook) recently launched in Rockport. They’re serving burgers, hot dogs, tacos, burritos, sides and other comfort food options. They’re located at 495 Commercial Street. They’re open Monday through Saturday, 11 am – 7 pm.
  • Modestman Brewing (website, facebook, instagram) has announced plans to move their South Portland tasting from from Huntress Ave to 35 Park Ave. They anticipate launching the new tasting room in January.
  • Ruby on the Hill (website, facebook, instagram), a bakery in Hebron, is launching their new retail space on December 6th. Work continues to complete the bakery’s kitchen. You can find Ruby on the Hill at 294 Merrill Hill Road.
  • Born Yesterday Bakery (website, instagram) owner Syd Coty has announced a change of location—it had previously been planned for Lewiston. Coty is now planning to launch Born Yesterday at 11 Mechanic Falls Road in Oxford just down the road from Oxbow Beer Garden. Coty hopes to launch the bakery in early December.
  • The latest issue of the Maine Startup Insider email newsletter features an interview with Ger Liang Tysk, the owner of Red Kettle Kimchi.
  • The Bangor Daily News reports that a new wood-fired pizzeria called Danny’s Pizza will be opening soon in Ellsworth, that Mack’s Restaurant and Tavern in Brewer is closing on Sunday, and that the Burger Boy in Caribou has sold at auction for $155,000.
  • WABI reports that a new restaurants called Benjamin’s Brewer (website, facebook, instagram) is under development in Brewer at 46 Acme Road. It’s expected to open in January.
  • The Pen Bay Pilot has published an article about Lemon Bar (website, instagram) in Rockland. “Once known as The Brass Compass, the newly revamped space feels like a retro-vibe cocktail lounge, with faux lime-wash walls that make you think you’re sitting at the bottom of a swimming pool. Wesley carved the sapele wood wraparound bar, and they both added comfortable chairs and a lounge area in the back. A woodworking friend helped them decorate the place, providing a handmade chess set and a unique bathroom door.”
  • The Midcoast Villager has published an article about Maine apple expert and advocate John Bunker, and published an article about the new Amish-run Savory Meat Shop in Unity. “Tucked at the end of a long, unpaved drive on Leelynn Road, past a stretch of finely crafted Amish-built sheds, sits one of Waldo County’s newest culinary discoveries: The Savory Meat Shop, a modest, lantern-lit outpost where owner Tim Hochstetler is quickly earning a reputation for some of the region’s best smoked meats and cheeses.” It’s located at 41 Leelynn Dr in Unity in the space wher Matthew Secich formerly operated Charcuterie. The article reports that Savory Meat Shop is open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm.
  • CBS News has published an article about the Villager Cafe, the restaurant run by the Midcoast Villager newspaper. “The accountability issues and local sports and all that stuff is important to a lot of people,” [owner Reade Brower] said. “I don’t think that’s enough to sell and keep newspapers alive right now. I think it has to revolve around community. And what better way to serve community than to invite people here for food and to mix all this stuff together?”
  • The Bollard has published a review of Wakie Wakies in Westbrook.
  • The owners of Katahdin Kitchen are launching Vecchia Petria. The wood-fired pizzeria will be operating out of the Korean Dad space in Veazie and is expected to be open Mondays in December, 4 – 8 pm.
  • The Waterville Morning Sentinel has published an article about the ricotta cheese produced by Crooked Face Creamery in Skowhegan, The recently received a Super Gold medal for their plain whole milk ricotta at the World Cheese Awards.

For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, plus other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties.

Maine Episode of Dirt

| Posted in Maine

Episode 15 of the travel show Dirt pays a visit to Maine and features:

The episode also features creators, artists and organizations: Rancourt, Village Handcraft, Jaimie Wyeth, and the Wooden Boat School.

Maine Food & Dining News: East Machias, Biddeford, Wells, South Berwick, Bethel, Winslow, Kittery, Belfast, Naples, Eastport, Ogunquit, Old Town, Fort Fairfield

| 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:

  • Bold Coast Coffee (website, facebook, instagram) has opened a cafe in East Machias. They’re located at 447 Main Street in a newly renovated space in the building behind their food truck (photo above from late August) and which also served as their roastery.
  • Saco Bay News reports that K-Thai Kitchen has open in Biddeford serving “Thai curries, noodle dishes, fried rice, Thai coffee, mango with sticky rice and other Thai specialties.” They’re located in the former Hamburger Stand building at 138 Elm Street. Meet York County paid K-Thai a visit and has shared some photos of the space and the food.
  • The North Star Cantina (instagram) recently opened in Wells in the building formerly occupied by Fotogo at 1574 Post Road. Eating Through The Seacoast has published video of food, drinks and interior of North Star, and the Portsmouth Herald has written up an article about the business.
  • Hawk’s Nest Kitchen and Bar (website, facebook, instagram) has opened for business in South Berwick serving a menu that includes dishes like mac and cheese, haddock sandwiches, Philly cheesesteak eggrolls, pan seared salmon and vegetable soba noodles.
  • Harding Lee Smith has taken over the former GraceNote Inn in Bethel where he plans to operate an inn and launch a restaurant called The Mayville Union House. As reported in Portland Magazine, Smith plans to serve a menu of scratch made New American comfort food with a special focus on house dry aged steaks. Smith is the owner of The Front Room, The Corner Room and The Grill Room in Portland.
  • The Waterville Sentinel reports that a new restaurant called Rex’s Riverside Grill (website, instagram) has opened in Winslow in the building formerly occupied by Lobster Trap & Steakhouse. Owner Jeffrey Daigneault has launched Rex’s as a takeout restaurant while he continues renovations to the dining room. Watch for the launch of indoor seating in late winter or early spring. Their current hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 am – 8 pm.
  • The Portsmouth Herald has a report on a new raw bar called Salty Spirits (instagram) under construction in Kittery. The business is being launched by Deb and Michael McCluskey who own a number of other restaurants in southern Maine and New Hampshire including Lil’s Cafe.
  • The Pen Bay Pilot reports that a new restaurant called Must Be Nice Lobster (facebook) opened in Belfast earlier this month. Owner Sadie Samuels launched the business as a food truck in 2019 and has now taken the next step of launching a brick and mortar restaurant at the former Dockside Resturant space at 2 Cross Street.
  • Hospitality Maine held their annual summit and awards dinner. Congratulations to Josh Miranda who was named Restaurateur of the Year, and Gil Plaster from The Causeway who was named Chef of the Year, and David Turin for receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.
  • The Lewiston Sun Journal has published an article about Sebagels which launched earlier this year in Naples and just recently added indoor seating.
  • Phoenix Fine Wines in Eastport is holding a Thanksgiving wine dinner this Sunday.
  • Nikanos in Ogunquit is holding a 5-course Bourbon dinner in conjunction with Wild Bevy Distillery this Thursday.
  • The Elizabeth Inn has decided not to reopen their restaurant at their Bethel inn for the 2026 season.
  • The Bangor Daily News has reported on the closure of Yahweh Cafe and Bakery in Old town two months after it launched, and of Boondocks Grille in Fort Fairfield after 16 years in operation. Boondocks last day in business will be December 6th.
  • 180+ businesses and organizations have shared Thanksgiving plans for free community meals, holiday dinners and buffets and takeout options for sides, baked goods and even entire meals. See the Maine Thanksgiving List to find options in your community.

For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, plus other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties.

Maine Food & Dining News: Rockland, Brunswick, South Portland, Sanford, Hallowell, Kittery

| 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:

  • Carly and Wesley Summers have launched their wine and cocktail bar Lemon Bar (website, instagram) in Rockland. The menu (see below) features natural wines, spirit forward cocktails, spritzs, snacks and a selection of boilermakers. They’ll be open Wednesday through Saturday, 5 – 10 pm. You can read more about the Summers and their plans for Lemon Bar in this Midcoast Villager article from September.
  • Kyle Rogers, the baker who formerly operated the Brunswick bakery pop-up Bread Pedlar, is launching a new bakery called Porteur Breads. Porteur will be open beginning this Wednesday with bread, croissants, pastries, and Tandem espresso and drip coffee. Moving forward Porteur will be open Wednesday through Sunday, 7 am – 3 pm.
  • Asia House Kitchen and Bar (instagram) are planning to open their Knightville restaurant in South Portland on November 21st. The restaurant is located in the former Judy Gibson space at 171 Ocean St. They’ll be serving a pan-Asian menu and will be open daily 11 am – 9 pm.
  • The Sanford Springvale News has published a report on Flat Top Burgers (instagram) which opened in Sanford in late August.
  • Belle Boulangerie in Hallowell will be teaching a trio of cooking classes this month on baguettes and sourdough, brioche and challah, and eclairs and dinner rolls.
  • Eating Through The Seacoast has posted a look at the new Warren’s Seafood in Kittery. Warren’s  relaunched in Kittery under new management with the name Warren’s Seafood and More (website, facebook, instagram). The menu includes a range of lobster dinners, fried seafood, sandwiches and appetizers like clam chowder, steamers and shrimp cocktail. They’re located at 11 Water Street.

Maine Food & Dining News: South Portland, Yarmouth, Ellsworth, Limerick, Gardiner, Brunswick, Thomaston, Camden, South Bristol

| 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 Streetwich (instagram) opened for business this morning. Owner Chayuda Yeamsiriwut is serving breakfast and lunch  with a menu (above) that includes breakfast sandwiches, banh mi, boba tea, pastries and coffee. Today’s sandwich special is a Spicy Ka Prao. The Streetwich is located in the former BenReuben’s space at 145 Ocean Street in the Knightville neighborhood of South Portland. The 10-seat counter service cafe will be open Thursday through Tuesday, 8 am – 3 pm.
  • Lotso Tacos (instagram) recently opened for business in Yarmouth. Owners Ernesto Ramirez and Stacy Fuegen are serving a menu (see below) that includes tacos, burritos, salads, baked goods, agua fresca and coffee. Ramirez hails from Los Angeles and the food is influenced by his travels across Mexico. The taco shop called is located at 358 Main St in the space formerly occupied by the Little Bird gluten-free bakery. There are a couple tables but it’s primarily operating on a takeout basis. They’re open Tuesday through Friday, 9 am – 2 pm.
  • A new Indian restaurant called Cilantro Indian Bistro & Bar (facebook, instagram) recently opened in Ellsworth. They’re serving a menu of biryani, clay oven cooked entrees and breads, curries and vegetarian dishes. They’re open Wednesday through Monday, 11 am – 9 pm.
  • Maine Public has published a report on the new Food Security Hub that Preble Street launched last week in South Portland. “The 30,000-square-foot facility can create up to 2,000 meals a day, with the eventual capacity for up to 10,000 meals. The freezer inside can store 50,000 ready-to-eat meals, which could be distributed statewide in the event of an emergency.”
  • MaineBiz has published an article about the Auxiliary Brewing Company which is under construction in Limerick in the space formerly occupied by Gneiss Brewing.
  • The Bangor Daily News, News Center Maine, and Press Herald are assembling lists of restaurants that are offering to help people impacted by the upcoming gap in SNAP funding.
  • Table Bar in Gardiner is holding an event on November 7th featuring the beautiful apple photography of Pomme William, famed Maine apple expert John Bunker, and Absolem’s cider maker Zack Kaiser.
  • The organizers of Brunswick Wine Week (facebook) have released a detailed schedule of events. BWW is taking place at Taverna Khione, Enoteca Athena, Vessel & Vine, Pomelia, Flight Deck, The Abbey, and Bistro 165. Events are being held November 10 – 16.
  • Red Kettle Kimchi and the Uproot Pie Company in Thomaston are collaborating to teach an Asian Soup Class on November 19th.
  • The Villager Cafe in Camden is holding a game dinner on November 20th to celebrate the release of Always Game by Christi Elliott from Islandport Press.
  • The Christmas Cove Inn in South Bristol is holding a series of three cooking classes in November. The classes are being taught by chef Bob Brassard.
  • See our Maine Thanksgiving List to find restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinners, community meals and bakeries, butcheries, market and other businesses taking orders for sides, pies and even entire meals for you to take out and serve at home.

 

Maine Food & Dining News: Damariscotta, Auburn, Brunswick, Bath, Camden, Palermo, Belfast, Bucksport

| 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:

  • A new wood-fired bakery called Bagel Witch (instagram) is under construction in Damariscotta. Bagel Witch will be located at 72 Courtyard Street. Owner Caroline Zeller hopes to have the shop open in mid-January. Zeller will offer bagels, cream cheese and spreads, and prepared bagel sandwiches as well as coffee and other beverages. While primarily a retail shop there will also be some limited seating available.
  • Marvelous Macarons (instagram) owner Jenna Roberts has announced she’ll be opening her new Auburn bakery tomorrow on Sunday, 10:30 am – 4:30 pm. Roberts had encountered some last minute construction needs that delayed the opening from September.
  • Baker Barak Olins and historian Jordan Rosenblum will be giving a lecture at Bowdoin on November 6th entitled The Recipes and Rules of Jewish Bread. The event descriptions reads in-part “…this wide-ranging conversation will explore the recipes and regulations that have governed and continue to govern the production and consumption of Jewish bread across history. Bread, both as a powerful metaphor and a tangible substance, has always held profound historical and religious significance for Jews. Bringing their unique and complementary perspectives to bear, Rosenblum and Olins will discuss the relationship between the history of Jewish bread, the mechanics of making it, and the distinctive reverence it garners.”
  • Frosty’s Donuts (website, facebook, instagram) opened a new location in Bath on Friday. It’s located at 56 Centre Street and will be open Thursday through Sunday, 7 am – sellout.
  • Bistro La Cave in Camden has announced that they’re moving their business to Chicago.
  • The Midcoast Villager has published a feature article on Ægir’s Den (website, facebook, instagram), a meadery and restaurant located in Palermo. “Tucked along Banton Road, past hayfields and quiet woods, a simple, unmarked building hides one of Maine’s most surprising dining experiences. Inside, long tables glow under warm light; horns of mead and platters of slow-cooked food move from hand to hand. Guests, some strangers when they arrive, often leave as friends. This is Ægir’s Den Meadery, part restaurant, part farm, part cultural experiment: a modern mead hall where ancient Nordic hospitality meets Waldo County agriculture.”
  • Carousel Wine & Cheese (website, instagram) in Belfast was highlighted in the latest issue of Culture magazine.
  • The Bangor Daily News has published an article about the new Stowaways Town Tavern (website, menu) in Bucksport. “With a vast menu reminiscent of home cooking, generous portions, lower prices and a focus on a welcoming atmosphere, DeGennaro and his crew of nearly 30 want to create a “wow” factor that keeps people coming back weekly, employees said Thursday.” Stowaways is located at 63 Main Street.
  • The Biddeford Gazette has published an article about Thank You Cookie Box.
  • The owners of the Eighty-Ate Hospitality, Cecile and Cara Stadler and Emily Topaz, have announced they’ll be closing ZaoZe Café & Market. Their last day in business will be November 1st.

For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, plus other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties.