Category: Reviews

The Press Herald has published a review of Veranda Asian Market,

I decided to stick with takeout, which is prepared to order in a kitchen in the back of the store. On my first visit, I tried a plate of grilled sliced beef, jasmine rice and salad for $12.95. The beef was tender, the rice well-cooked, and the salad much tastier than I expected it to be on first glance.

and Novare Res.

There are plenty of bars in Portland that offer an extensive selection, but none quite like Novare Res Bier Cafe. The drink menu is literally a book listing 25 rotating taps, two hand pumps and more than 500 varieties of bottled beer.

Eventide has made it on to Find Eat Drink’s list of the top 50 restaurants in North America to eat at in 2013.

From big cities to tiny towns, Texas BBQ to Vancouver dim sum to a Maryland crab shack, here are 50 North American restaurants the Pros think are worth going out of your way to dine at in 2013. Some are new, some are classic, some are trendy, some off the beaten path, but all serve delicious food.

The Golden Dish has published a review of The Corner Room,

While the Corner Room is not exactly like  being on  Little Italy’s  Mulberry Street I’m glad to have rediscovered this stylish Old Port dining venue, where the food, drink and  good times are almost always on the menu.

and Eat Maine has published a review of Sea Glass.

The menu at the Sea Glass is simple, traditional, and executed perfectly. The food mirrors the setting in perfect harmony—they are both simple, yet elegant. Familiar, yet spectacular.

The Press Herald has published reviews of Rosie’s,

As it has for many people, Rosie’s became our regular pub. We appreciated the familiarity of the place, the casual nature of the space and the friendliness of the staff. The quality of the food and beer selection were givens, but not our motivating factor for going there. We just liked the place and how we were treated.

and Gritty’s.

I could be wrong, but I feel like Gritty McDuff’s (fondly known to most as just Gritty’s) is a fan favorite of the Old Port. It’s one of those bars that kind of feels like home despite its size and how many people it serves on a daily basis.

The Bollard has published a review of Samuel’s.

Calling something the “best kept secret” is a tired trope used by lazy writers who are out of ideas. Except when it’s true. Such is the case with Samuel’s Bar & Grill, whose weekend breakfast is, in fact, the best kept secret in Portland.

The Golden Dish has published the third and final installment in its series on lunch.

The Blueberry Files has published a review of Buck’s Naked BBQ.

Delights & Prejudices, the in-house blog of the James Beard Foundation, has included Eventide’s Cucumber-Cured Arctic Char with Melon, Mint, and Kasha on the list of their favorite dishes of 2012.

Our favorite dish during an excellent lunch was this Arctic char crudo, which was joined by an unexpected but memorable scattering of toasty kasha and soft pieces of melon, made honey-sweet from the warmth of a fleeting Maine summer.

Food & Wine Executive Editor Dana Cowin has named both Eventide and Petite Jacqueline to her list of the Best Restaurants of 2012.

She praises PJ for their “Pitch-perfect bistro with magnificent renditions of classics” and calls Eventide a “supercute oyster bar with a great local selection and some Asian-accented dishes, like the lightly grilled Gloucester surf clam with daikon and nam prik.”

Cowin was in Portland for a visit in early August.

The Press Herald has published a review of Scratch Baking Company,

But it was love at first sight when I saw the list of sandwiches (all $7.95), and this was followed by further infatuation when I sunk my enthusiastic teeth into the pulled pork. It’s described as “slow braised pork shoulder, house-made pickles and slaw on a house roll with tangy sauce.”

I describe it as zippy and delicious sandwich perfection. The pork melted on my tongue, and the coleslaw, pickles and sauce held a flavorful dance party in my mouth.

and a bar review of the Old Port Tavern.

As someone who has ended many a night at Old Port Tavern, I can tell you — don’t let the quaint tavern charm fool you. Sunday through Thursday, the tavern features karaoke, and on Friday and Saturday nights, tables and chairs are moved aside for a dance floor, disco lights and a DJ. The tavern quickly becomes a nightclub with $2 Jell-O shots and all your favorite alcohols to mix any cocktail under the sun.