New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine. Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know:
- The latest episode of The Road Less Eaten (above) travelled to Freeport, Camden and Biddeford where host Biju Thomas visits with Spartan Sea Farms, the Freeport Oyster Bar, Brodi’s Blueberries, Blue Barren Distillery, Fish & Whistle and Magnus on Water.
- Seacoast Stories has publish a podcast interview with Black Birch co-founder Ben Lord.
- Maine Macarons has run into a setback in the final run to launching their new bakery in Auburn. They’ve launched a GoFundMe campaign for help to pay for some unexpected rework on the bakery.
- Perch in Waldoboro has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise the money to replace their espresso machine. $11,914 has been raised so far towards a $16k goal.
- Parade magazine has published an article about Biddeford. It highlights Palace Diner, Time & Tide Coffee, Elements, Edelweiss, Fish & Whistle, Magnus on Water, Reilly’s Bakery, Pizza by Alex, Colleti’s, Sacred Profane, Banded Brewing and Lucky Pigeon, Round Turn, Nibblesford, Rover and Sweetcream, Batson River and the Lobby Bar at the Lincoln Hotel.
- Eighty Ate Hospitality in Brunswick has announced plans to merge their restaurant operations under one roof. Bao Bao is shutting down on September 27th. Then starting October 1st ZaoZe Cafe and market will reopen for counter service lunch, and in the evenings ZaoZe Dreamscape will take over the space with a table service dinner menu prepared by chef Leon Vuong. The former Tao Yuan/Bao Bao space will transition to being used as an event space.
- The Midcoast Villager has published an article about the New York Times recent recognition of Sammy’s Deluxe in Rockland.
- The Biddo Foodies have shared a set of photos from Spanish Point which opened in Scarborough this summer.
- Nikaline Iacono from Vessel & Vine will be teaching a Vermouth making class at Full Hearts Farm at Durham this Sunday.
- The Pemaquid Oyster Festival is taking place this weekend in Boothbay Harbor. Ten Maine oyster farms will be participating in the festival on Sunday and an oyster wine dinner is taking place Saturday night.
- A Longer Table Homestead in Bethel is holding a farm dinner on Saturday. The meal is a collaboration with Morning Glory Farm and will feature dishes using recipes from a Kurdish family living in Lewiston.
- My Buddy’s Place has announced they’ll be closing their Bucksport restaurant at the end of September. “It is with heavy hearts that we share we will be closing our doors on September 30, 2025, due to a variety of ongoing issues, one of them being health. This has not been an easy decision, as this restaurant has been more than a business—it has been a place where we’ve shared meals, laughter, stories and memories with all of you. I truly love the community that has been made, each of you individually have a purpose, place and belong. Thank you.” The announcement goes on to say that the owners open another restaurant someday in the future. My Buddy’s Place opened in July 2024.
- The Bangor Daily News reports that Evenrood in Bangor is planning to close at the end of the year, that Serendib in Ellsworth plans to close December 20th, and that MeMe G’s Bakery in Old Town has closed. They’ve also explored what might be driving this recent set of closings.
For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, plus other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties.