Category: Under Construction

Portland Magazine reports that Otto Pizza owners Michael Keon and Anthony Allen have also leased 190 State Street and plan to move Ocho Burrito into to the former Petite Jacqueline space.

…marketing manager, Eric Shepherd, confirms that OCHO…will move into Petite’s vacated space on State Street. “We realized the concept behind OCHO is probably bigger than the space it’s in now. We’d like to provide a lot more interesting ingredients, with plenty of space to eat, and a bar.”

In addition, Allen and Keon will be opening a new Otto Pizza at 250 Read Street and are working on Hero, a sandwich shop under construction at 30 City Center in the old Soaklology location.

Press Herald food writer Meredith Goad has written a round-up of some the more interesting new restaurants expected to open in 2016. In the mix was a brief mention of a new distillery slated for Washington Ave called Hardshore Distilling Company.

Another new distillery, Hardshore Distilling Co., is slated for Washington Avenue – they’ll be making gin to start…

Founder Jordan Milne filed for a trademark and set-up an Instagram account earlier this year.

The Bangor Daily News has published an update on Woodford Food & Beverage (facebook, twitter, instagram, website).

When this 85-seat American brasserie opens in early January, “comfort food to fit the stark mid-century vibe” will be in session.

“We want this to be a go-to place. Like Caiola’s or the Blue Spoon,” said Preyer, of beloved joints in Portland’s West End and Munjoy Hill. “A place where you can come in and order a burger or come to celebrate. Daring, yet simple, for a reasonable value.”

Woodford F&B hopes to open in January.

Uban Eye has posted an update on Scales.

Fans of old Boston institutions like Durgin Park are sure to be hooked. Pot roast, brown bread, corn bread, Parker House rolls, even oyster crackers will all be made in house. Street, a Brookline, MA native, wants to restore the “peasant style,” anything goes, community dining he grew up with at rowdy places like Durgin Park. “It’s an American brasserie,” said Street, with a “19th, 20th century Boston Seaport,” vibe.

Urban Eye reports that the owners hope to open Scales in February.

The Purple House will serve Ogawa Coffee when the North Yarmouth wood-fired bakery and cafe opens early next year. Chef/owner Krista Kern Desjarlais tells me she “loved the richness of the roasts without bitterness or acid” and that both the dark and lighter roasts “remained balanced with citrus and hibiscus notes brightening the flavor without acid on the finish” that make for “really beautiful and delicious” coffees.

Desjarlais is currently looking for a barista to join her staff and participate in the training with Ogawa prior to opening The Purple House.

Ogawa Coffee was founded in Kyoto in 1952, and now operates nearly 40 coffee shops across Japan, and as of earlier this year, one in Boston as well. 2010 World Barista Latte Art champion Haruna Murayama “oversees the  menu development and barista training for Ogawa”.

Over the last few years with the opening of Bard, Speckled Ax and Tandem, Mainers have seen a diversification of the choices we have for coffee. The selection of Ogawa for The Purple House adds another great option to the mix. I had the chance to visit Ogawa’s cafe in Boston last month and am looking forward to having a local destination to get a cup of their coffee.

Restaurateur Phelps Craig (linkedin) has leased the first floor of the old Margarita’s at 11 Brown Street where she plans to open the Portland location of BRGR Bar (instagram, website, facebook).

Choose from one of their house specialty burgers or get creative with the build your own option. The menu also features some “adult” alcoholic milkshake options like the Apple Pie a la Mode made with house infused apple cinnamon bourbon.

Craig opened Brazo in 2007 which she sold to Friendly Toast owner Eric Goodwin earlier this year. The original BRGR Bar in Portsmouth is located at 34 Portwalk Place directly across the street from the Portsmouth branch of Green Elephant.

Eater Maine has posted an update on Pizzaiolo, the New York-style pizzeria under construction at 360 Cumberland Ave.

Alongside 12 different selections of white, whole wheat, and gluten-free slices (“no one else has gluten-free slices ready,” Scally insisted), the pizzeria will offer salads and precisely one type of sandwich: a meatball sub with roll and meatballs baked in-house.

Owner Pat Scally, the former director of Operations at Otto Pizza, hopes to be open in January.

 

A New York style pizzeria called Pizzaiolo is under construction at 360 Cumberland Ave near Schulte & Herr.

Union Bagel Company is considering moving their bakery to Westbrook where they’d also operate a second retail shop, according to a report from the Press Herald.

The Westbrook Planning Board reviewed a sketch plan Tuesday for the proposed location of the company’s wholesale operation, as well as a new retail shop, at 9 Cumberland St.

The building, located on the rotary leading to downtown Westbrook, has seen frequent turnover in recent years, having been home to Thanksgivings, Hoggy’s Market and most recently, Eddie’s Eatery.

Urban Eye reports that the Urban Farm Fermentory is expanding into the former Bomb Diggity space where they plan to establish a brewery.

In a 700 square-foot space under the same roof, UFF’s is opening a new grain fermentation facility called Gruit. “This allows us to do a few things that are new in the beer world.” Gruit, an ancient herbal beer, will be made here and served on tap in UFF’s tasting room. As will braggots (a barley malt mead).