Category: 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 ice cream shop called Half Pint Giant (instagram) is under construction in Brunswick. It will be located at 147.5 Maine Street (above right) in the space formerly occupied by The Frappe Shop. They plan to offer hard serve and soft serve ice cream with “unique and nostalgic” toppings, parfaits, sundaes, milkshakes and custom mixed sodas. The owners of Half Pint hope to launch in early April.
• Spun Bakery (website, facebook, instagram) has taken over the 175-year old building at 11 Mechanics Street (above left) in Freeport where owner Don Gaile plans to open a retail bakery this June. Gaile initially launched Spun out of his home kitchen in 2016 and this is the next step in scaling up his business. The new space will have seating for 15 and Gaile is planning to expand the menu to also include savory dishes like frittata, toasts made on house made Japanese milk bread, and croissant sandwiches.
• Bintliff’s Corner Brew in Gardiner has been building out a new seating area. The “Conservatory” will provide an addition 15 seats in a sunny room constructed with reclaimed beams, a roof sourced from an mill building in Lewiston, and a circular window that is a design echo of the one in the nearby Gardiner library.
• Aragosta chef Devin Finigan is serving a 9-course tasting menu at the Norumbega on Saturday March 14th.
• Fish & Whistle is holding a 4-course lunch and learn called Eating Invasives. The meal will feature locally harvested invasive species, and it will be complemented with a presentation by marine biologist Aubrey Jane. The event is taking place May 31st and tickets are available online.
• Biddeford Saco Restaurant Week is taking place March 15 – 22.
• The Biddo Foodies have published a field report from the Blushing Hen farm and bakery stand in Lyman.
• The Bangor Daily News has a report on The Rolling Pin Cafe and Bakery (facebook) which recently opened in Winterport. They serve breakfast and lunch and are located at 145 Main Street. “The Norrises have plans to make the spot even more of a community hub in the coming months. They’re scoping out dates for evening painting workshops, and will open their outdoor patio with seating in the spring. They are also planning to host a farmers’ market in their parking lot.”
• The Press Herald has published an article about Lotso Tacos which opened on Main Street in Yarmouth in last fall., and an article about the Ogunquit food scene.
• As reported on Thursday, the owners of Yosaku and in the final stretch to launch their new Japanese grill and sushi restaurant called Makoto (instagram). Makoto is located on Cottage Road in South Portland and will be opening in April.
• As reported this past Sunday, the owner of Taj will be launching a cafe in South Portland called Cobblestone Coffee & Company.

For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of 100+ coffee shops, bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, plus other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties.

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

• Lady Oyster (website, instagram) owner Virginia Shaffer has renovated a space (above left) at 1 Shaw Street in Bath where she plans to open a 4-seat raw bar called The Parlor (instagram). Shaffer envisions it as an oyster tasting room and market where customers can try oyster flights along with a glass of wine and homemade bread, and can also pick-up some oysters to enjoy at home. Each week The Parlor will feature oysters from three of Maine’s 150 oyster farms and a set of three new wines. Shaffer expects to launch The Parlor on May 1st. You can read more about the development of the business on the Lady Oyster website.
• A new restaurant called Shamee in Maine (instagram) in under development in downtown Bangor. Shamee will serve Levantine cuisine. Owner Abdullah Al-Fdeilat has been operating on a pop-up basis out of the Korean Dad space in Veazie but their new restaurant will be located at 23 Hammond Street in a space formerly occupied by Bahar Restaurant.
• Morning Moose (website, facebook, instagram) held the grand opening for their new coffee shop in Topsham today. It’s located at 11 Main Street and is open today 6 am to 6 pm. Their menu includes a full line-up of brewed and espresso coffee drinks, specialty lattes, donuts, breakfast sandwiches and some other baked goods.
• A new wood-fired pizzeria called Bambino’s Kitchen (website, facebook, instagram) opened earlier this month in Scarborough serving a wide ranging menu of pizza, sandwiches, burgers, pasta and appetizers. They’re located in the space formerly occupied by Burano’s. Bambino’s is open daily, 11 am – 8 pm (until 9 pm on Friday/Saturday).
• WJBQ reports that a new restaurant called Fletcher’s Tavern (facebook, instagram) has opened in the former Wessie’s Den spot in Westbrook. Wessie’s Den closed in late October.
• Ted’s Fried Clams is under new ownership and will be relaunching in Shapleigh. Ted’s originally launched in 1950 and closed in 2023 after operating under three generations of the Mavrakos family. New owners Joe Christopher, Rob Orr, Matt Orr, and Roger Zeghibe plan to relaunch Ted’s on May 1st. According to a facebook post announcing the news, “The reopened Ted’s will feature classic menu items, vintage recipes, take-out, and lunch counter service. It will also offer new healthy options, including fresh salads and vegan dishes from Veggie Life Foods of Wells, Maine. Ted’s plans to add a full bar and improved ordering technology. The revival will also bring dozens of jobs back to the Shapleigh area.”
• Blue Ox Malthouse in Lisbon Falls won medals at the 2026 Malt Cup awards run by the Craft Maltsters Guild. Up against other malt houses from North America and around the globe, Blue Ox took home the silver medal in the Light Munich category, the bronze medal in the Pilsen category, and the silver medal in the Unique Malt category for their Golden Triticale malt. Blue Ox was founded in 2014 and produces products using a traditional floor malting process.
• Two Maine cheese makers are featured in the March issue of Food & Wine. Lakin’s Gorges Cheese Rockweed cheese which has “a ribbon of powdered seaweed running through it” and the Applewood Cold Smoked Ricotta from Crooked Face Creamery in Skowhegan.
• An interactive staged dinner called tender (tickets) will be taking place over six nights in Rockland this April. As described by the organizers “tender is a night of exploration – presenting themes of comfort, discomfort, belonging, safety, autonomy, and selfhood through the lenses of space, place, food, and collective creation. The evening will emerge through constructed spaces that actively change and shift, evoking various public and private places, each with their own implications of belonging and acceptance. The food itself will serve as a bridge to childhood memories, ideas of ascribed value, and culturally informed moments of uncertainty.” Tender is the creation of Aaron T. Stephan, Gabriela Acero along with chef Brent Foster, designer Alexa Stark, ceramicist Bea Willemsen, and music by Amy Stacey Curtis and Henry Redman.
• Natalie’s in Camden is holding a series of Indonesian dinners and related classes starting this weekend and through the middle of March. They include a Martini Masterclass taught by acclaimed bartender Trevin Hutchins, a cooking class by Alfie Jerome Mossadeg and dinners February 28 and March 5, 7, 12 and 14. For more information see the Natalie’s website.
• Seaweed in the News: Maine Startup Insider has published an article about the frozen cookie dough company Buba OG which is run by marine scientist Jessie Muhlin. One of the Buba OG products incorporates dulse, nori and sea lettuce into the dough. The Bangor Daily News has published an article about the kelp kimchi produced by Red Kettle Foods in Belfast.
• The Harpswell Anchor has published an article about Baked on Maine, the new restaurant that opened in Brunswick in early January.
• Seven new entries have been added to the Maine Food Map: the Crooked Spoon Company in Thomaston, Panacea in Wiscasset, J&J Jamaican in Warren, Yu Takeout in Hancock, Enzo Benzo in Eliot, Lemon Bar in Rockland, and The Purple House in North Yarmouth. Our guide on Where to Eat in Maine now has 102 entries representing 50+ communities from all of Maine’s sixteen counties. A recent post of ours on instagram included photos from Sassafrass Cafe, Marmee Dearest Espresso, Cafe Grazie, Panacea, Enzo Benzo, Yu Takeout and Bon Vent Cider. Keep sending in your recommendations for places we should visit, share on social media and add to the list.

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.

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

• Down East magazine has published a profile of Joe Robbins, the chef at Marsh Island Kitchen in Hampden which opened last fall. Robbins was a Beard Awards semifinalist in 2024 and participated in the White House Tribal Nation Summit in 2023 and 2024. “Cooking in a little town in central Maine, sprinkling his menu with influences from Native American cuisines, he garnered national acclaim. Now, at a new restaurant, he’s doing things differently — and rethinking what it means to make Indigenous food.”
• A Bangor food truck called Dreamer Food (website, facebook, instagram) is set to open their new restaurant on February 18th. Dreamer Food serves a menu of Lebanese & Armenian food like shawarma, soujouk, falafel and baklava. They’ll be located at 97 Allen Ave.
• The Maine Famous has published a video interview owner Cody Gordon and Chef Brian Weber from Mountain Social in Bethel.
• Mainebiz has published an article about Belle Boulangerie, a bakery that opened this past May in Hallowell.
• The Bangor Daily News reports that Saylor DesJardin is soon to be the new owner of the Flexit Cafe cafe in Ellsworth. “Flexit Cafe, located at the center of Ellsworth’s downtown on Main Street, has been owned by Paul Markosian and Lorena Stearns since March 2015. The couple is selling the cafe to 24-year-old local Saylor DesJardin, who has worked on and off at Flexit since 2021. The sale will be official later this month, Markosian said.”
• The Portsmouth Herald reports that chef Jon Adelson is launching York Street Kitchen. It will be located at 7 York Street in York next to SoMe Brewing. “Now he’s launching a concept of his own with York Street Kitchen at 7 York St., where he’s building a menu around made-from-scratch soups, salads with homemade dressings, and sandwiches made on sourdough from his 20‑year‑old starter.”
• Tickets are now on sale for the Blenheim Hanami Picnic which takes place on May 17th in Bremen.
• We’ve added several more entries to the Maine Food Map: TunkJoy in Steuben, Neat in Boothbay Harbor, Circumstance in Swanville, Rooted Heart in Buxton, Pier French Fries in Old Orchard Beach, Winona’s in Camden, Bintliff’s Corner Brew in Gardiner, Peng’s Pizza Pies in Biddeford, and both Mancini’s Italian Deli, and Bene’s Beef in Lewiston. Our guide on Where to Eat in Maine currently has 95 entries representing 50+ communities from all of Maine’s sixteen counties. We plan to continue catching up with the backlog of great spots to write about, and road-tripping around Maine to find more throughout 2026. Keep sending in your recommendations for places we should visit, share on social media and add to the list.

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.

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

• Mainebiz reports that Briana Warner is joining Oxbow Brewing as its new CEO. Warner was previously a leader in the American seaweed aquaculture industry as the CEO of Atlantic Sea Farms and when she first moved to Maine ran a business called Maine Pie Line in Portland. “Tim Adams, founder and owner of the Newcastle-based brewer, will stay with the company after the transition, focusing on brand development, creative direction, sales, company culture and community engagement.”
• The owners of Rattle & Shake (website, facebook, instagram) in South Portland are taking over the former Rise Pizza & Pub building in Cumberland where they plan to open a second location. They are making some light renovations to the space and hope to open the 60-seat restaurant by April. The menu will be the same as the one offered in South Portland with the addition of pizza enabled by the ovens already onsite. Rise co-owner Tobey Moulton will be joining the staff at the new Rattle & Shake.
• A new restaurant called Ocha Thai (facebook) has been under construction in Westbrook at 100 Larrabee Road in the space formerly occupied by Phoever. You can see some photos of Ocha on their facebook page.
• The owners of Chaba Thai have taken over the former Terra Cotta Pasta space in Scarborough where they plan to open Taste Me (instagram). They hope to launch the Asian fusion sandwich shop this month.
• Bakers Briana Holt from Tandem Coffee, Kristen Lamontagne from Plum Pizza, and Kerry Hanney from Night Moves Bread will be taking part a panel discussion about baking at Table Bar in Gardiner on February 27th.
• Down East magazine has published a feature article about Winona’s in Camden. “A visit to Winona’s, in Camden, feels like walking into a groovy ’70s dinner party. Vintage landscapes and still lifes adorn moody emerald walls; mid-century-style wooden tables and bright salmon-colored chairs dot a checkerboard floor; cookbooks and kitschy cat figurines decorate an arched wooden bookshelf…”
• The Harpswell Anchor has published an article about Solo Pane e Pasticceria in Bath. “Making something better is Laboa’s goal with this summer’s expansion. The small bakery and coffee bar recently more than doubled its inside seating space, and Laboa plans to expand the menu from breakfast and lunch offerings by adding an evening menu featuring small plates, house-made pasta and sauces, Genovese street food and aperitivo cocktails.” Solo’s dinner service (see menu here) is now in operation and they’ll be open Fridays and Saturdays, 4:30 – 7 pm.
• Chef Cara Stadler of the former Bao Bao, Tao Yuan and ZaoZe in Brunswick is competing in the CBS TV show America’s Culinary Cup. The show is expected to premier in early March.
• The Portsmouth Herald published an article about A&B Breakfast and Brunch Diner (facebook) which opened in mid-January in Eliot. They’re located at 28 Levesque Drive.
• WCYY has a report on the Capital Bar and Grille (facebook, instagram) which is set to open today in Augusta. They’re located at 228 Water Street. Here’s a look at their food and drink menus.
• The Jack in Camden has announced they’re going out of business. This Saturday will be their last day.
• As previously reported, five Maine food producers are finalists in the 2026 Good Food 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.

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

• A new business called Day Boat Cafe (website, facebook, instagram) is under construction in Waldoboro. Located at 17 Friendship Road (above) in the town center, Day Boat is the creation of Anna Hymanson and Kelsey Woodworth. They envision a menu that is “intentionally straightforward and comforting” which will include sandwiches, soups, salads, and baked goods like cookies, cakes, pies, cupcakes, and other sweet treats. A deli case will have ready-to-eat dinners like lasagna, chicken pot pie, bacon-wrapped meatloaf, vegetarian stuffed peppers, twice-baked potatoes, roasted vegetables, and pasta salads. The cafe will also offer catering services.
  They shared, “At Day Boat, our goal is simple: to create a space that feels welcoming to everyone. Two things we say often are ‘everyone deserves a nice thing’ and ‘we want to meet people exactly where they’re at.’ Whether you’re coming off a long workday, shuttling kids around, passing through town for an appointment, or visiting seasonally, we hope Day Boat feels like a place you can count on — where you can order your favorite sandwich the same way every time, treat yourself to something nice, and maybe even grab dinner to reheat later and take one thing off your plate.”
  Woodworth and Hymanson are renovating the space which will include 13 counter seats, two “jewel box” window booths, and a large community table in an open kitchen concept. Outdoor seating will also be available. Both owners have more than 15 years of experience in restaurants and hospitality. Hymanson is a whole-animal butcher as well as experienced working in front of house service. Woodworth is a 2012 Culinary Institute of America graduate who’s worked at a number of Midcoast Maine restaurants as well as a private chef in New York city and Los Angeles. They hope to launch Day Boat this spring, and expect to eventually add a weekend brunch service to their hours.
• Aragosta chef/owner Devin Finigan has announced the upcoming launch of her first book, A Kitchen on Goose Cove. As she shared on instagram “A Kitchen on Goose Cove is a reflection of me at my core: a chef at home. It’s my love affair with Maine. Inside you will find more than 75 recipes for traditional Maine dishes, and new spins on the classics: Lobster Rolls, Scallops with Wild Ramp Sauce, Mussel Chowder, Grilled Vegetables with Fish Caramel, Tomahawk Steaks with Chanterelles, and Whoopie Pies to name a few.” You can pre-order a copy of the book which is expected to be out on May 19th.
• Taj in South Portland has made the decision to make their free food program a permanent part of the restaurant. They had begun the current effort during the suspension of SNAP benefits in late 2025 and now stock the hot foods cabinet with 100 meals each day.
• Born Yesterday Bakery (website, instagram) is holding a soft opening tomorrow. They’re located at 11 Mechanic Falls Road in Oxford just down the road from Oxbow Beer Garden and will be open 9 am to 3 pm.
• The Swanville restaurant Circumstance (website, instagram) will be serving a 6-course pop-up dinner at the Villager Cafe on February 14th featuring locally sourced ingredients. Tickets are now on sale. Circumstance was launched in in the summer of 2024 by chef Khristopher Hogg.
• News broke earlier this week that a group of investors have have stabilized the Fork Food Lab commercial kitchen and saved it from closing.
• The Sanford Springvale News has a report on a new bakery instructor on staff at the Sanford Regional Technical Center. Kristen Perry has worked at several restaurants and bakeries in Boston before relocating back to Maine.
• The Lincoln County News has published reports about the new owners of Treats in Wiscasset, the expansion of Delano Seafood in Waldoboro, and the new Cider Hill Farm Taproom in Waldoboro.
• The Bangor Daily News reports that Shogun Japanese Restaurant (facebook) will be moving into a new space in Presque Isle, and that the new Bangor candy shop Oh, Grow Up (facebook) opened on Friday.
• The Pen Bay Pilot published a report on Glo’s Market (facebook), a pan-Asian market that recently opened in Belfast.
• Chef Gary Cooper will be serving a 5-course wine dinner at Dos Gatos (facebook, instagram) in Belfast on February 11th.
• The Press Herald reports that Tacos y Tequila in Cape Elizabeth has gone out of business. It had opened for business in December 2020.

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.

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

• Bombay Bistro (website, facebook, instagram) opened last week in the former Frog & Turtle space at 3 Vallee Square in Westbrook. The Indian restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 am – 3 pm for lunch and 5 pm – 9 pm for dinner.
• A new bakery called Brill’s Bakery (instagram) is under construction in Wiscasset at 27 Summer Street. Father and daughter team Emily and Steve Brill plan a full launch of the bakery this summer with some pop-ups and other events in the plans in the interim. Brill’s Bakery will specialize in “sourdough, other breads and rolls, focaccia with unique toppings, international baked goods, and sweet treats like sticky buns, candy, and cookies.” Steve Brill will be the main bread baker with Emily producing sweet treats, pastries, and focaccia.
• The past weekend’s Maine Sunday Telegram included a feature article on Bartlett Maine Estate Winery in Gouldsboro.
• The Bodines have announced their decision to permanently close Sweetgrass Winery & Distillery. They plan to continue producing Back River Gin in collaboration with Mossy Ledge Spirits in Etna. Sweetgrass suffered a fire in September that burned their Union distillery to the ground.
• Koi Asian Cuisine in Biddeford went out of business on January 15th.
• Mainebiz reports that The Maine Diner in Wells is for sale. “Third owner Jim MacNeill told Mainebiz that after nearly 30 years, it was time to move on. The Maine Diner and adjacent gift shop have been listed for $3.3 million by Portland-based Daigle Commercial Group.”
• The Portsmouth Herald reports that a new building owner is seeking restaurant tenants to move in to 60-68 Wallingford Square in Kittery. The building had been occupied by Anneke Jans which closed last January.
• The Maine Grain Alliance has announced that David Bauer from Farm and Sparrow in North Carolina will be the keynote speaker at the Kneading Conference taking place this summer in Skowhegan.
• On Wednesday Dolce Amici in Norway is holding a Feast of Jupiter prix fixe dinner; $75 per person.
• Norumbega in Camden will be hosting a one-night 4-course dinner in collaboration with chef Charlie Zorich from The Hichborn on January 31st.
• Maine Beer Company in Freeport will be serving 5-course Bistro Night dinners Wednesday nights through the end of April.
• Nina June in Rockport has a pair of upcoming special dinners featuring Oaxacan cuisine (January 28th) and Palestinian cuisine (February 20th and 21st).
• Revel (website, facebook, instagram) has opened for business in Falmouth. Read our previous report for more information.
• Plum Pizza (instagram) is under construction in Gardiner. Read our earlier report for all the details.

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.

Kristen Lamontagne is working with Table Bar to locate a pizzeria and bakery inside the downtown Gardiner wine bar. Plum Pizza (instagram) will be serving 16 inch New York-style sourdough pies and slices, a simple side salad, and tiramisu to start with the hope of growing a pastry program in the future. The menu will feature classic pizzas like margherita, pepperoni, sausage and peppers, and a New Haven-style tomato pie with rotating specials to make use of local/seasonal produce and meats.

Lamontagne shared, “To me, a perfect pizza has thin, crisp crust with a nice chew – but never dry. The bake is dark, with the beautiful caramelized flavors of well-fermented wheat. Dough made slowly and with intention, naturally leavened and stretched with care. The sauce is made from the best canned tomatoes we can find – and in the NY tradition, we don’t cook it beforehand, retaining hits of a good tomato’s bright and fresh acidity underneath, melting together with the complexity of a nice char from a hot oven. Each component is crafted with layers of flavor, and well-seasoned in a way that allows you taste the quality of the individual ingredients themselves. The ingredients list is small, there’s nothing to hide behind.”

Table Bar was launched in 2022 by Billy Rosser, Morgan Peirce, and Zach Lyons. They shared, “We are thrilled about working with Kristen. The dream has always been for Table Bar to be an incubator. One of the things that brings us the most joy is making room for others to step in and grow with us. We are huge fans and supporters of Kristen and knew there would be no question that she could succeed at anything she set her mind to. We are excited to ‘let her cook’ so to speak and focus 100% of our energy on wine and events.”

Lamontagne has been the baker and pastry chef at The Alna Store since it launched in late 2022.  She will be working with her partner Chris Chella to operate Plum Pizza. They hope to launch in early March, and plan to be open Thursday through Sunday, 4 – 8 pm.

Photo: The storefront of Table Bar in Gardiner from the summer of 2024.