Category: Openings

District Grille is opening with a limited appetizer menu and a cash bar tonight. They will be closed on Wednesday and plan to reopen with full dinner service starting Thursday . Pete Sueltenfuss is leading the kitchen staff with brothers Bill and James O’Brien along with Anthony Mastropasqua as owners of the restaurant.
The restaurant’s liquor license application states that they plan to serve an “Upscale American” menu.

Pizza Magnolia opened for business last month in South Portland. The pizzeria is run by Kristie Green who, in addition to being the owner of Maple’s Organics, is also the granddaughter of Jack Angelone, the founder of Pizza by Angelone (1947).

Hot Suppa! plans to start serving a new dinner service tonight.
The West End eatery famous for its hash will now be open 5-9:15 pm, Tuesday through Saturday with a full bar and a new dinner menu of choices to pick from such as Fois Gras Poutine, Jambalaya and Fried Green Tomatoes.

The news coverage of the Trader Joe’s opening extends into it’s first day with photos and commentary on From Away, and articles from the Bowdoin Orient and Press Herald.
Here’s an excerpt from the From Away,

In front of a crowd of people that circled the packed-to-capacity parking lot, Portland Mayor Nicholas Mavodones and Portland “Store Captain” Tracy Acciola performed a ceremonial lei cutting, before the first lucky patrons were let in the door, to cheers from the Hawaiian shirt-bedecked staff. Excited customers had taken the day off from work; one woman I spoke to pulled her daughter out of school for the day. Whole Foods, you’re in big trouble.

The news coverage of the Trader Joe’s opening extends into it’s first day with photos and commentary on From Away, and articles from the Bowdoin Orient and Press Herald.

Here’s an excerpt from the From Away,

In front of a crowd of people that circled the packed-to-capacity parking lot, Portland Mayor Nicholas Mavodones and Portland “Store Captain” Tracy Acciola performed a ceremonial lei cutting, before the first lucky patrons were let in the door, to cheers from the Hawaiian shirt-bedecked staff. Excited customers had taken the day off from work; one woman I spoke to pulled her daughter out of school for the day. Whole Foods, you’re in big trouble.

Trader Joe’s is scheduled to open this morning at 8 am. For additional reporting see the recent articles by the Press Herald, Forecaster, and Portland Daily Sun.

Trader Joe’s is scheduled to open this morning at 8 am. For additional reporting see the recent articles by the Press Herald, Forecaster, and Portland Daily Sun.

Figa is now open for business. Chef/owner Lee Farrington began her cooking career in NYC at Balthazaar and Al Di La and in Portland has worked at Fore Street and Uffa.

Happy Teriyaki has changed it’s name and menu and reopens today as Korea House which will be Portland’s only restaurant to serve an all Korean menu. A press release from the restaurant indicates they plan to prepare “authentic Korean dishes for both the epicure and casual eater”.

Soooo . . You Really Like Cats has written about Happy Teriyaki’s impending transformation into Korea House. The new restaurant will feature a fully Korean menu. The changeover is scheduled to take place on October 1.

One of the big differences in the menu is that there are so many Korean entrees now that they are grouped by food group (e.g. meat) or dish type (e.g. stews). What was previously only three lonely seafood dishes has expanded dramatically to at least a dozen different seafood dishes, which makes me absolutely delighted to see. Fish specifically makes a big entrance to the restaurant’s transformation. She has two preparations for it, grilled and braised. Below are three of the four grilled fish that are new on the menu.