Under Construction Updates

Portland Psst! has published a round-up on changes of ownership at The White Heart, Thanh Thanh Bida and Awful Annie’s, as well as news that Po’Boy’s & Pickles (see sample menu) is replacing the D’Angelo’s on Forest Ave and G’Vanni’s Bistro (see sample menu) is going to occupy the spot on Exchange Street vacated by Walter’s.
The agenda from next week’s City Council meeting also provides a first look at the menu for Boda. For a more complete list of all the upcoming venues take a look at the Under Construction List.

Bangkok Thai –> Boda

According to an article in today’s Portland Daily Sun, the owners of Bangkok Thai are planning on turning it into an Asian fusion restaurant to be called Boda.

The restaurateurs are closing Bangkok Thai, their popular lunch and dinner restaurant at 671 Congress St., and converting it into a new Asian fusion eatery similar in some respects to their other Congress Street restaurant, the Green Elephant Vegetarian Bistro. Boda should be open in December.

“The food will change every two weeks, and we’ll have five to 10 items every night, that’s all. We’ll make it simple but good quality,” said Wongsaichua.

Bangkok Thai –> Boda

According to an article in today’s Portland Daily Sun, the owners of Bangkok Thai are planning on turning it into an Asian fusion restaurant to be called Boda.

The restaurateurs are closing Bangkok Thai, their popular lunch and dinner restaurant at 671 Congress St., and converting it into a new Asian fusion eatery similar in some respects to their other Congress Street restaurant, the Green Elephant Vegetarian Bistro. Boda should be open in December.

“The food will change every two weeks, and we’ll have five to 10 items every night, that’s all. We’ll make it simple but good quality,” said Wongsaichua.

Under Construction: Local Sprouts Cafe

There’s an article about Local Sprouts Cafe in today’s Press Herald. The LSC staff held a community design event earlier this week to go over their plans and gather fresh ideas for the cafe.

The Local Sprouts Cooperative is lined up as the first retail tenant at 645 Congress St., the former site of a University of Southern Maine dormitory.

The cooperative expects to open its Local Sprouts Cafe on the first floor of the building in February or March, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with an emphasis on local and organic foods.

IIK: Cambodian Bahn Chow

Lindsey Sterling has published another ethnic cooking adventures on her blog Inside Immigrant Kitchens. This time she’s cooking with Sopheap Im from Cambodia to make Bahn Chow.

The preparation I’ll take home with me is bahn chow, which I just tried making for a couple friends. The word is: thumbs up. Delicious. Said one: “I love the fresh mint, basil and cucumber. — Ooo! And I just got a little kick from the sauce!”

The article also explains that we’ll all be able to try Cambodian cuisine starting in October because that’s when Im plans on opening the Three Monkey’s world Cafe on Cumberland.

Under Construction: Linda Bean's Perfect Maine Lobster Roll

Today’s Portland Daily Sun is reporting that Linda Bean will be opening a restaurant in the space currently occupied by JavaNet at 37 Exchange Street.

Now, with a fresh lease in hand, Linda Bean’s Perfect Maine Lobster Roll & Dock Lobster will open at 37 Exchange St., the current home of Java Net Cafe. Bean has purchased a long-term lease at the location and will convert the space from a coffeeshop to a takeout and sitdown restaurant that features Maine lobster, Schneider said Thursday.

“This will be our flagship location, and we may go into franchising,” Schneider said.