Category: Maine

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

• Love Point Oysters is working to launch Love Point Provisions (instagram). The new oyster shop and market will sell tinned fish, wine, beer, and, of course, LP oysters. It will be located at 43 Old South Freeport Road in Freeport and is expected to launch on May 30th.
• Auxillary Brewing Company in Limerick is holding their grand opening today. This weekend they’ll be open Friday through Sunday, noon – 8 pm, and moving forward they’ll also be open Thursdays, 2 – 8 pm. Both their Klipsch Kolsch and Hefeweizen will be on tap today with additional beers from Abomination, Argenta, Barreled Souls, Belleflower, Mast Landing and Schilling also available. The Beef Haus food cart will be at Auxillary on Saturday and Sunday, and the K-Pop Kimbap food truck will be at Auxillary Brewing for today’s grand opening. For more information see this post from the Brewers Guild.
• XO Bakery & Mercantile (facebook, instagram) owner Hailey Sylvain has scheduled the grand opening of her Pownal bakery for May 30th when they’ll be open 9 am – 2 pm.
• The Bangor Daily News reports that Cou-yon’s Cajun Shack has relocated to Madawaska from Grand Isle.
• The Bollard has published a review of the Q Street Diner in South Portland. “A great diner differs from a café or a swanky bistro not only by its menu, but also its vibe. Case in point: during our meal at Q Street, our friendly server called me “hon” and never let our coffee mugs go empty. I felt like I was 18 again. What more could anyone ask for?”
• The Maine Sunday Telegram has published a review of the Sea Salt Fry Company in Wells. “Outstanding dishes include a splendid smash burger, mixed local mushrooms and a twist on the French bistro staple, frisee aux lardons, topped with a panko-coated soft-boiled egg. Look for his Asian-influenced tuna tartare cannoli this summer, when the rice paper shells will be stuffed with Maine bluefin tuna.”
• Cara Stadler is a finalist in the America’s Culinary Cup cooking competition show on CBS, reports the Press Harald. The next episode will air on Wednesday and if Stadler wins she’ll receive a $1 million grand prize.
• Mainebiz has published an article about Tootie’s Tempeh in Biddeford.

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:

• The New Gloucester Village Store (website, facebook) is undergoing renovations and the owner Sam Coggeshall hopes to relaunch this local institution in May. It’s located at 405 Intervale Rd in New Gloucester. According to a statement on their website, “We are reviving New Gloucester’s longstanding community hub and marketplace, much as it was 2008-2022, only better. An expanded array of Ready-Made meals, salads, sides, soups, and such will make dinner easy, delicious, and economical. Pizza from the wood-fired brick will be available made-to-order, as slices, and as precooked, heat-at-home pizzas out of the cooler. The kitchen will also serve sandwiches, salads, breakfast and more, as before: 3 meals a day, 7 days a week. The biggest change is that in the dining room and on the deck, you’ll be able to have beer and wine. And in the market you’ll again be able to get meats, cheeses, produce, beer, wine, gourmet groceries, as well as basic sundries. Hopefully you’ll run into a neighbor you haven’t seen lately while you’re here.”
• The Portland-based Nordic candy shop Sodt (website, facebook, instagram) has announced plans to open a second location. The Freeport store will be located at 58 Main Street and they hope to launch it in June. Sodt opened their Portland store on Cumberland Ave in May.
• Lady Oyster (website, instagram) owner Virginia Shaffer is launching her 4-seat raw bar called The Parlor (instagram) today (photos above). It’s located at 1 Shaw Street in Bath. 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 and wine 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. You can read more about the development of the business on the Lady Oyster website. The Parlor will be open Thursday through Saturday, noon – 7:30 pm. Reservations are strongly recommended.
• The Bangor Daily News has published an article about La Laiterie in Jonesboro. “The cafe offers homemade breads, pastries and classic French dishes — from almond croissants, pain au chocolates and kouign-amanns, which is a type of caramelized butter cake, to buckwheat crepes with ham and cheese and escargot made with local whelks, a type of sea snail native to Maine.”
• The Rockport Donut Festival (website, facebook, instagram) is scheduled to take place June 12th and 13th. According to a report from the Pen Bay Pilot, Ruckus Donuts, Old Time Donuts, The Only Doughnut, Eighty 8 Donut Cafe, Graffiti Donuts, The Donut Grove, and The Holy Donut will be taking place in the event.
• Mainebiz has published an interview with Briana Warner, the president of Oxbow Brewing.
• The Penobscot Bay Press has published an article on Stonecutters Kitchen in Stonington which is celebrating their 5th anniversary.
• The Harpswell Anchor reports that the Harpswell Schoolhouse restaurant will be closing “indefinitely”.
• The Times Record reports that Morning Glory Natural Foods has opened a second location on Brunswick Landing.

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:

• Meg Randall has leased space at 564 Bath Road in Wiscasset where she plans to launch Maine Ocean Buzz Coffee (instagram). Ocean Buzz will serve tea, beer, wine, and coffee from Coffee on the Porch, Swift River Roasters, and Claw Coffee Roasters. The menu includes quiches, breakfast burritos and sandwiches, baked French toast and other house made baked goods as well as locally made donuts, scones, cupcakes. The coffee shop will seat 75 people between indoor and outdoor seating. Randall plans to launch on May 1st. After the opening day when they’re open until 8 pm,  Ocean Buzz will be open Thursday through Monday, 8 am – 3 pm.
• Black Pug Brewing (website, facebook, instagram) has announced plans to move to 103 Maine Street in Brunswick. They will be moving into the Moderation Brewing space when Moderation vacates it this summer to move into their new building at 21 Town Hall Place in the old Central Fire Station. The move will enable Black Pug to expand their brewing capacity by 150%. They’ll also begin using a canning line rather than packaging in bottles.
• The Purple Whisk in Westbrook is launching a Pie Club. Subscribers to this pie CSA will be signed up for a series of four fruit pies—one each in June, July, August and September. “Lots of berries, peaches and apples will be in these all butter crusts! Signing up for Pie Club gets you a 15% discount on each pie, a thank you from me (Lizz) for supporting the bakery.”
• Maine Famous has published an interview with Camp DeForest owners Jessica and Brady Brim-DeForest. As reported earlier, Camp DeForest is launching a tiki bar this summer and they delve into the plans for Tiki Scout (instagram) around the 13 minute mark.
• Wild Bevy Distilling has announced plans to launch the Wild Fire Kitchen in Wells.
• Owner Rick Boyd shared his plans to convert the back patio of Rambler Irish Bistro in Yarmouth into a seasonal seafood restaurant called Rawbar. The menu will include local oysters, lobster along with sandwiches, small plates, cocktails and local beers.
• The Bangor Daily News reports that The Chocolate Drop is for sale, and has published an article about the Deer Isle Apple Corps, and about a beer garden planned for the Mainescapes garden center in Blue Hill. “Janney wants to “recenter beer as an agricultural product,” which led to the purchase of Mainescape. He aims to create outdoor space there for customers to linger, with tables for beer and hot food among the plant displays.” Spencer Janney is the owner of Naiad Country Brewery in nearby Orland.
• WCYY reports that Maine Jamaican Kitchen is taking the place of Elevation Burger at 85 Western Avenue in South Portland.
• The Press Herald reports that chef and restaurateur Jose Garces (wikipedia) has built a “culinary studio” called Shokutsu where Garces will be holding pop-ups, cooking classes and other uses. Garces was a Beard Awards winner in 2009 in the Best Chef Mid-Atlantic category. Reservations for upcoming pop-up dinners in May and June are available on chefgarces.com.
• The Portsmouth Herald has published an article about York Street Kitchen (facebook). It is located at 7 York Street in York next to SoMe Brewing. “Although York Street Kitchen has been open only since March 28, 2026, owner Jon Adelson’s café‑style restaurant is already off to a sizzling start.”
• The Waterville Sentinel reports that Juliette’s Bakery and Deli (website, facebook) is for sale and set to close on the retirement of owner Gerard Turmelle.

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:

• Hailey Sylvain has taken over the former North Pownal General Store building where she plans to locate XO Bakery & Mercantile (facebook, instagram). The counter service cafe will offer a menu of coffee, tea and a rotating menu of baked goods like bagels, English muffins, sweet treats, cookies, whoopie pies, croissants, tarts, pies as well as ready-made breakfast and lunch sandwiches. The popular XO cinnamon rolls will be available on Saturdays. Sylvain plans to have cinnamon rolls, breads, croissants, pot pies and quiches ready to take and bake-off at home and cakes that she can decorate to order. XO will have table and bar seating as well as a “cozy couch nook”. Renovations are underway with hopes to launch XO on June 1st.
• Jill Moses and Frank Curran are the new owners of Old Smith Farm (facebook, instagram) in Falmouth. Some renovations are underway with hopes to reopen Old Smith Farm to the public in early May. Nate Feld has joined the team as the OSF’s chef. The new menu will feature farm-to-table cuisine along with a pizza program with the goal of “offering approachable, flavorful dishes designed for all ages—especially families.” The bar will serve craft cocktails and have “an extensive wine list”. Curran and Moses will be working with Rachel Sagiroglu from Experience Maine on event planning for Old Smith Farm. For additional reporting see this article in Mainebiz.
• Great Wall Buffet in Augusta has announced they’ll be going out of business. Their last day in operation will be April 20th. Their statement reads in part ” We want to take this time to extend a thank you to the community we’ve had the opportunity to serve for all these years. During our time here, it has been an honor to see children grow up, people come together, and milestones celebrated. Your smiles, stories, and loyalty filled our restaurant with warmth and joy, and truly made the Great Wall Buffet a special place. It’s been a privilege to share our food and culture with you. On behalf of our entire staff, thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives and for supporting us throughout the years.”
• Rialto in Sanford is opening a second seasonal location in Old Orchard Beach.
• Auxillary Brewing Company in Limerick is holding their grand opening on May 8th.
• Maine Scuttlebutt has published an article about Day Boat Cafe in Waldoboro.
• The Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum at Bowdoin College has an exhibit up entitled Mamaqtuq! It is Delicious!: Traditional Foods of the North. The exhibit description reads in part, “Food is at the heart of Inuit culture. In the Arctic this means food hunted, fished, or gathered from the land, air, and sea. Whales, seals, caribou, muskox, fish, and birds, as well as berries and other plants, have provided untold generations with all the healthy nourishment they needed to thrive. These foods continue to be important to Inuit, and many consider hunting, gathering, sharing, and eating these traditional foods to be central to Inuit identity.”
• As previously reported, Broadway Bowl in South Portland will be going out of business on May 17th.

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:

• Daniel Vannah and Jennifer Powers have taken over the former Movie Pizza Shoppe building (above) at 258 Jefferson Street in Waldoboro where they plan to open the Waldoughboro Pizza Shoppe (facebook). Powers and Vannah hope to be open by early winter.
• Oak Table & Bar in Augusta has leased space at 146 Mt Vernon Ave where they plan to open a restaurant for their side business Taco Rico (website, facebook).
• The owners of the Sand Dollar Bar & Grille (instagram) in York Beach are launching a pair of new eateries in the same building as their restaurant. Shorties Beach Cafe (instagram) will be a coffee and bagel shop with full line of brewed and espresso coffee drinks plus breakfast sandwiches and burritos. The Flounder (instagram) will be a counter service cafe serving sushi, poke, lobster rolls, chowder, and offering a raw bar. They hope to launch both prior to Memorial Day Weekend.
• The owners of the All Grill food truck, opened their Scarborough restaurant in January. All Grill (website, facebook, instagram) serves a menu of Venezuelan dishes like asados boards and hervido soup. It’s located at 238 Gorham Road near Nonesuch River Brewing and is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon – 9 pm (until 8 pm on Sundays).
• The Bollard has published a review of Rattle Shake Grill in South Portland.
• A Longer Table and The Commons are organizing a potluck dinner in Bethel in honor of Jacque Pepin on May 1st.
• The Columbia Falls General Store (instagram) is closing on April 26th. They are seeking a new spot where they can relocate the business.
• A North Berwick mushroom farm, The Mushroom Hut, has suffered a fire. Owner Nicholas Doucette has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to help them rebuild.
• The Midcoast Villager has published an article about Day Boat Cafe in Waldoboro, and a report on a pair of new business, Camden Charcuterie and Vacationland Coffee Roasters, slated for the Lyman Morse Wharf in Camden, and a new board game bistro called Munching Meeple under development in Camden.
• The Portsmouth Herald reports that Forbes Seafood in Wells hopes to reopen their second floor as an 80-seat bar. The second floor of the building has been out of commission for several decades.
• The Waterville Sentinel reports that Park Lee Chinese Restaurant in Skowhegan has gone out of business.
• As previously reported, the owners of OhNo Cafe are working on to launch a new business called The Dooryard Pub in South Portland.

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.

You can scroll through the past weeks’ Maine Food & Dining reports and get caught up on food news from around the state via this link.

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

• The Chametz (website, facebook, instagram) is scheduled to open on May 19th and has begun taking reservations. Founders Lina Mamut and chef Jared Rudnick plan to serve a locally sourced chef’s tasting menu with the option of alcoholic or nonalcoholic pairings. The sample menu on their website includes dishes like duck rillettes with poached peach, green strawberry and duck gribenes. For additional background information see our earlier report on the restaurant from December 2023..
• Knead & Nosh (website, facebook, instagram) has leased space at 4 Bowdoin Mill Island in Topsham where they plan to open a retail shop and cafe. They hope to launch this June serving bagel sandwiches and coffee, and retailing NY-style bagels. The new space will also provide space to hold baking and cooking classes.
• Makoto (see photos above) is now open for business and taking reservations on Resy. The Japanese restaurant has been launched by the owners of Yosaku at 448 Cottage Road in South Portland in the building formerly occupied by Elsmere BBQ. In addition to similar range of sushi options as Yosaku, the restaurant also serves a selection of wood-fired dishes like the mackerel shown above. You can see the full menu on their website.
• Camp DeForest in Lincolnville plans to launch a cocktail bar this summer. Tiki Scout (instagram) is envisioned as a “spirited cocktail bar opening in July that brings a touch of tropical fun to the Maine woods. With playful tiki-inspired drinks and laid-back camp energy, the bar offers a lively new social hub for guests looking to toast the end of a day outdoors.” When it launches the 20-seat bar is will be open Thursday through Saturday evenings serving a menu of  “Maine-influenced tiki style pupu platters and nostalgic camp favorites.”
• Swell House (website, instagram) has leased space adjacent to their coffee shop in Cape Neddick where they will open Swell Kitchen (instagram) this spring. They plan to offer grab-and-go foods as well a build-a-bowl option and house signature bowls. “Executive Chef, Mathew Barksdale and Operations Manager, Randy De Vega will be lining up Goldilocks’ favorite beds of eggs/breakfast potatoes, healthy starches, and mixed greens ready to be topped with fresh produce and proteins, unique toppings like house-made kimchis and dreamy dressings to pair so that it is JUST RIGHT.”
• Ross Florance and McKenna Koledo have published some renovation photos of La Laiterie. The grand opening weekend for the Jonesboro cafe is scheduled for April 23-26. As reported back in January, the restaurant’s menu will be draw its inspiration from the culinary traditions of Brittany. Florance and Koledo plan to offer a wide range of options from convenient grab-and-go items to dishes like moules-frites, oysters on the half shell, and classic French sandwiches like jambon-beurre for a sit-down meal. French baked goods and pastries, buckwheat crepes, and quiches will be available for breakfast. Additionally, La Laiterie will host Florance’s tasting dinner series Flora.
• The Kennebec Journal has published a Q&A with Pear Nalaphas and Trever Cherette, the owners of Bao and Beyond, which launched in Augusta this past October. “For Nalaphas and Cherette the focus goes beyond serving food, it’s about sharing flavors and cultures that have helped shape their cooking, while also creating an experience that feels both approachable and exciting for the local community.”
• The Midcoast Villager reports that a group of three residents have formed a nonprofit community development corporation to buy the Thomaston Grocery.
• The Portsmouth Herald has published an article about Bob’s Ugly Bagels in Shapleigh.
• Eating Though the Seacoast has published a selection of 15 Hotel Bars Worth Exploring in Maine.
• Moderation Brewing has published an update on the new location they have under development in Brunswick

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.