Category: Reviews

Down East has published the ’09 edition of their annual Where to Eat Now feature. The  magazine compiled the favorite eating spots of  18 chefs, food writers and other eating experts into a timely guide of where to eat now. A number of Portland area restaurants made the cut this year: Susan’s Fish and Chips, Fore Street, Bonobo, Thanh Thanh II, North Star, Haggarty’s, Bar Lola, Bresca, Five Fifty-Five, Paciarino, Vaughan Street Variety, The Grill Room, Novare Res, Top of the East, Una.

Justin Henry’s Green Galoshes has posted a review of Bard Coffee.

Really want to get blown away? Try the breve macciatto. I believe my exact words were, “Wow. Is there cinnamon in this?”. Nope, the friendly barista across the counter replied, just a shot and steamed half-and-half.

The Portland Phoenix has reviewed The Farmer’s Table.

But while the Farmer’s Table gets its name a bit wrong, it gets many things right. There is clearly talent in the kitchen, and care goes into the ingredients and the preparation…Most importantly, the Farmer’s Table is the first restaurant in this part of town to feature this sort of food at the sort of price-points for both food and wine that make Caiola’s, the Blue Spoon, and the Front Room popular.

Type A Diversions has reviewed Sapporo.

All-in-all, we had a perfectly adequate sushi lunch at Sapporo, in line with my expectation. I have yet to be “wowed” by Sapporo on any of my visits. Bottom line: If you’re in Portland and in the mood for sushi, there are better sushi options than Sapporo.

Portland Bar Guide has reviewed Bubba’s Sulky Lounge.

Never been there? Oh, you are in for an experience to remember – one for all your five senses. In room after room there is memorabilia galore – old photos and ads displayed, mannequins of men, women and babies sitting on couches, and hundreds of tin lunch boxes displayed from the ceiling.

The Bar of Chocolate Cafe has received 3 stars from the Taste & Tell column in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.

The Cuban panini ($8) was encased in a well-browned oblong white roll, which wrapped up thin prosciutto and tender slices of house-roasted pork, melted cheddar and Swiss cheese and sour sliced pickle with a mustard sauce made of ground mustard, hot sauce and a lighter mustard. “It’s pretty spicy because it does have some red chilies,” Martin said.

Cornucopasetic has posted a brief first look at Grassroots Organic.

Things we liked: the almond, cacao, banana and nut milk smoothy; a miso sea veggie “soup” with shitaakes; an excellent sea veggie salad with ginger-miso dressing; the dog that hangs out on the sofa…The place is still coming together. Give them some support.

Portland Food Coma has written up what sounds like quite an amazing 10-course meal at Miyake.

7th [course] Skate and hotate salad with parsley garlic oil, and micros over rice. Presentation was beautiful. You’d think I would have had something that wasn’t amazing at this point. Wrong.

The Portland Bar Guide has published a review of Sapporo.

The sake list is a little small for the rice wine connoisseur, but for the average schmo there’s a fair range of sakes including the usual Ozeki – hot or cold – Nigori and Plum Wine. Even having a modest selection and big competition in the Japanese restaurant selection of Portland, this little restaurant and sushi bar is a hot number on Commercial Street.

Accidental Vegetables confesses that “left to my own devices, I will rarely leave the west end”. But she did manage to escape it’s gravitational pull long enough to enjoy lunch at the Blue Spoon on Munjoy Hill.

So, if you’re looking for a nice, friendly, reasonably priced lunch spot, give the Blue Spoon a try. There was a nice selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Next time, I’m going to try the burger. I promise, Munjoy Hill, I will forsake thee no more!