Category: Reviews

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of the Lost Coin Cafe.

The head waiter, James, is 11 years old. He handled formal service deftly even as he sporadically entertained a rambunctious five-year-old. He explains the prix fixe, takes your drink order (Pepsi, diet, root beer, or orange), and gives you a choice of soup.

Portland Bar Guide has published a review of Samuel’s Bar and Grill.

As the bartender took over and our waitress headed out from a double shift, we appreciated the service that met our demands. This is the type of place where people really do come in to see people they know and if you are a stranger, no one really cares. Go ahead, saddle up to the bar or grab a table and make yourself at home.

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of The Corner Room.

While the warm antipasti draw the eye, we had the best experience with the cold ones. Octopus and potato, for example, had more round slices of tender seafood than potato. It was dressed lightly with oil, lemon, cilantro, and crunchy red onion. In the eggplant caponata, often served as a mushy dip, the chunks of eggplant maintained a bit of chew. With the sugar and cocoa in the sauce it took on a figgy flavor and the aroma of clove.

Portland Food Heads has published a brunch review of Artemisia.

I’ve eaten here enough times to say that you aren’t always going to come out satisfied. However, that is pretty typical of just about every restaurant in the country, and if you can get over the risk of taking a small gamble, you’re likely to be rewarded with what is usually a delicious meal at Artemisia.

Diet for a Small City has published a review of Pom’s Thai Taste.

The Vegetable Delight was a perfect meal.  The vegetables had been cooked to a crisp bite; not a single limp pepper appeared on my plate.  The garlic sauce was savory and sweet and nicely complemented the brown rice served alongside my meal.  Afterward, I felt energized and satisfied.  I felt I had consumed a fairly healthy meal.

The Corner Room received 4 stars from this week’s Taste & Tell review in the Maine Sunday Telegram.

Given the perfection of the bucatini all’Amatriciana and the $9 price for a medium bowl, the Corner Room ranks as a foodie resource in this economic lull now and in the future.

Portland Magazine has published a review of Miyake.

The first course, three gorgeous pieces of Alaskan sockeye salmon nestled over a smooth lemon mayo sauce and topped with delightful fresh scallion and capers, was a hint of the treats to come. Next was a single very large scallop, browned to a crispy outside, sprinkled with bright red roe, and set to bask on top of tasty miso sauce. And then, an amazing plate of eight pieces of Edo-Mae nigiri, consisting of the finest salmon, yellow tail, fluke, red snapper, shrimp, scallop, and mackerel, all of it perfect, but the mackerel almost astounding with its subtlety and texture.

“Eating out has become more of a luxury than ever” declares Gourmet magazine and so they’ve put together a list of restaurants that “you can trust to provide exceptional food and a memorable experience every single time”. Fore Street made it on to the list along with 125 restaurants from across the nation. Gourmet writes that the dishes at Fore Street are “…simple but never boring, and often astonishing.”

The Salt Exchange received 3 stars from this week’s Taste & Tell column in the Maine Sunday Telegram.

The small plates favored by the Salt Exchange delight when they are delightful, but my meal was composed of hits and misses. Try the fish and the lamb, and enjoy the good wine.