Upcoming Food and Dining Events

| Posted in Events

Tuesday – Graziano Nicosia will be at Old Port Wine Merchants for a tasting of wines from his family’s Sicilian vineyard Tenute Nicosia, 4 – 6 pm.

Friday-Sunday – The Common Ground Country Fair is taking place in Unity.

Sunday – Cherie will be holding a pop-up at Lambs in South Portland.

September 21-28 – Maine Lobster Week is taking place.

September 23 – Luncheonette is holding a (sold out) Korean dinner.

September 25 – Twelve is hold a Billecart-Salmon Champagne 4-course wine dinner. A part of Maine Lobster Week is the Lobster Roll Remix, a benefit for the Maine Lobstermen’s Relief Fund. It will on September 25th at Southern Maine Community College. Chefs from Chaval, Dok Mali, Douro, Great Wave Sushi, Little Pig, Portland Lobster Company, Sichuan Kitchen, Sicilian Table, Taj, and Terlingua/Ocotillo will each be serving their own creative take on the classic Maine lobster roll.

October 2 – Wayside Food Programs is holding their annual Inside Wayside event.

October 9 – A Maine Food Producer Social is taking place at the Maine Tasting Center in Wiscasset.

October 11 – A community cider pressing will take place at the Mount Joy Orchard.

October 12 – Maine Open Creamery Day is taking place.

October 14 – The Maine Farm & Sea to Institution Summit is taking place at Colby College.

November 1-9 – 207 Beer Week is taking place.

November 10-16 – Brunswick Wine Week is taking place.

Planning a wedding, holding a business event, or hosting visitors from away? Our printed guides are a great resource to help your guests explore the Maine restaurant scene.

The Portland and Midcoast pocket guides are now for sale in packs of 25 on our online store.

Maine Food & Dining: Hampden, Bass Harbor, Rockland, Nobleboro, Bethel, Deer Isle, Old Town, Castine, Brunswick, Kittery, East Boothbay

| Posted in Maine

New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine. Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know:

  • Marsh Island Kitchen (website, facebook, instagram) has launched in Hampden. The menu includes soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, wings, poutine and entrees like fish and chips and ribeye steaks. Joe Robbins joined the team earlier this year as the executive chef for Marsh Island Kitchen. Robbins was a 2024 Beard Awards semifinalist in the Emerging Chef category, and has cooked at the White House Tribal Nations Summit in 2023 and 2024. This is the second Marsh Island Brewing location, they were founded in 2016 in Orono.
  • A breakfast food truck called Actual Foods (instagram)  launch yesterday in Bass Harbor on Mount Desert Island. Owner Steffy Amondi is serving a build-your-own menu from which customers choose the bread, protein, vegetables and sauce for a breakfast scramble. The menu also includes the egg dish shakshuka. Actual Foods is located next to the ferry terminal in Bass Harbor at 53 Granville Road, and is open Thursday through Sunday, 7 am – 1 pm. Amondi had operated a earlier iteration Actual Foods truck in in Portland in 2020.
  • A wine and cocktail bar called Lemon Bar (instagram) is under construction in Rockland. As reported by the Midcoast Villager, “[Co-owner] Carly Summers said Lemon Bar will be an intimate bar/lounge with an extensive focus on wines and cocktails. ‘The real focus will be a multi-faceted space where you can come for a date night, or a book club can meet,’ she said.” Lemon Bar will be located in the former Brass Compass Cafe at 305 Main Street. The space is under renovation and owners Carly and Wesley Summers hope to open for business this fall.
  • The Lincoln County News reports that a bakery called Savory Moose has (re)opened in Nobleboro. “Close to a year after they shuttered Ginger Mousse Bakery, Karen and John Kelly have reopened the business with a new name and some familiar favorites.”
  • Down East magazine has published an article about Watershed in Bethel. “Up the front steps and inside, the atmosphere is relaxed, the layout is snug, the pastas are house-made, and the chocolate pot de crème is served in vintage Italian espresso cups, quite a few of which have been in chef-owner Victoria Fimiani’s family for generations. What the place is, in essence, is a proper trattoria.”
  • The New York Times has included Sammy’s Deluxe in Rockland and Pilgrim’s Inn on Deer Isle in their 2025 Restaurant List of the “50 best places in America right now.”
  • The Bangor Daily News has word on Yahweh Cafe and Bakery which is set to open this Saturday in Old Town, and a report on the closure of Safe Harbor Cafe in Castine.
  • The Maine Sunday Telegram has published a 3½ star review of the Ram & Bull in Brunswick. “The menu includes classic pub fare like fish and chips, mussels, a variety of sandwiches and burgers — including a cheese-stuffed Juicy Lucy, in a nod to Khristine [Leeman]’s native Minnesota.”
  • New England Fishmongers has announced plans to close their shop in Kittery which opened in 2021. “We’ve made the tough choice to not renew our lease so that we can return to our roots, commercial fishing. This shift will give us more time on the water and allow us to bring you even more seafood directly from our vessel.”
  • Eating Through the Seacoast has provided a look at Color Field Coffee Company (instagram), a honor system self serve coffee shop in East Boothbay. Colorfield is a micro-roastery run by a “family of artists”.

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.

More NYT Love

| Posted in Reviews

The New York Times shared some Portland dining guidance as part of the launch of their 2025 Restaurant List. As part of that effort they published this guide to eating in Denver, San Diego, San Antonio, Minneapolis/St Paul, and Portland.

The Portland section highlights: Bite INto Maine, Bread & Friends, Franciska, LB Kitchen, Luke’s, Minato, Mr. Tuna, Ocotillo, Sur Lie, Tandem, The Shop, and Zu Bakery.

Watami Now Open in the Old Port

| Posted in Openings

Watami (website, facebook, instagram) has opened for business. They’re located in the former Sapporo location at 230 Commercial Street. This is the second location for the Brunswick-based Japanese restaurant.

Watami serves a menu of sushi, sashimi, rolls, poke, ramen, hibachi dishes and noodle and rice dishes. Shown above is the Daily Selection of Sushi, 8 pieces of sushi and a Maine crab roll.

Watami is open daily 11:30 am – 9 pm and until 9:30 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Jordan Rubin F&W Best New Chef

| Posted in People

Food & Wine has named Jordan Rubin to their 2025 class of Best New Chefs. Rubin is the chef and co-owner of Mr. Tuna which he launched as a food cart in 2017. The now fully realized Mr. Tuna restaurant opened for business on Middle Street in 2024.

Rubin is one of just ten Best New Chefs this year which Food & Wine identified as “the most dynamic and promising up-and-coming chefs in the country.” The article about Rubin and Mr Tuna reads in-part,

The food at the standalone incarnation of Mr. Tuna is delightful, impeccable, honest, and full of surprises. The emphasis is on Japanese-inspired sushi: elaborate, overflowing donburi rice bowls, gorgeous sashimi, and over a dozen types of hand rolls. Rubin also pulls from the global pantry, as in his ravishing Tuna de Tigre dish, a Peruvian- and Thai-inspired ceviche in which creamy avocado and ruby-red cubes of tuna get dressed in a sauce made from coconut, fish sauce, lime juice, and bird chiles, then topped with herbs and crispy shallots.

The article about Rubin also includes editor Raphael Brion’s recommendation for the “perfect order” at Mr Tuna which starts with the Skin N Dip and ends with Tuna Tasting.

Begun in 1988, the annual Best New Chef program highlights chefs from around the country. You can see a full list of prior honorees on the F&W website which include luminaries like Nancy Silverton (1990), Wylie Dufresne (2001) and David Chang (2006). Four Maine chefs have received this recognition in the past: Rob Evans (2004), Steve Corry (2007), Bowman Brown (2011) and Cara Stadler (2014).

NYT: Best Restaurant List

| Posted in Reviews

The New York Times has included Sammy’s Deluxe in Rockland and Pilgrim’s Inn on Deer Isle in their 2025 Restaurant List of the “50 best places in America right now.”

With regard to Sammy’s Deluxe  they wrote in-part (right photo),

The chef Sam Richman ditched the haute cuisine halls of Jean-Georges and the Fat Duck for Midcoast Maine, opening Sammy’s Deluxe with a clear mission: to celebrate the state’s pristine ingredients without any high-end fuss. Mr. Richman forages his own mushrooms, pickles local alewives (those overlooked fish from the herring family) and smokes his own haddock snacks, which you can order with a side of sweet homemade brown bread…

With regard to the Pilgrim’s Inn they wrote in-part (left photo),

…A lobster and fennel chowder, with diminutive hush puppies scattered throughout, made the culinary connection up the seaboard. Ruby-red tiles of Maine bluefin crudo hummed with salted radish and Aleppo pepper. And the roasted monkfish with clams and tomato broth had a bouillabaisse-goes-Down East notion to it. The menu in the cozy tavern room, including the unmissable grilled skewers of local eel, stays relatively constant.

The Times shared this about their perspective on list making.

What does it mean to be a “best restaurant”? And what to make of a list as wide-ranging as this one? Can a storefront barbecue spot in Kansas specializing in turkey legs sit next to a tiny jewel box of a restaurant with a tasting menu in the Bay Area? What about a sultry new Miami steakhouse and a rustic 135-year-old dining room on Deer Isle, Maine?

The answer is yes. And when you read the list, you’ll see why. These places all have delicious food and a mastery of craft, but also a generosity of spirit and a singular point of view.

This isn’t the first time Maine restaurants have appeared in the list. Cong Tu Bot was featured in 2021. Leeward and Twelve in 2022, Tinder Hearth in 2023 and The Alna Store in 2024.

Interview with Harding Lee Smith

| Posted in People

The latest episode of the Boulos Beats podcast features an interview with Harding Lee Smith, the founder of The Front Room, The Corner Room, The Grill Room, The Mountain Room at Sunday River, and The Last Run Room in Newry.

Chef Smith shares his remarkable journey, from his introduction to the restaurant industry at the age of seven to his formal training at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America. Together, they explore the vision, inspiration, and challenges behind Smith’s five celebrated establishments…The discussion also delves into the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, persistent staffing challenges, and the complexities of rising operational costs.

Upcoming Food and Dining Events

| Posted in Events

Monday – Wiggle Room—a collaboration with the excellent Boston cocktail bar The Wig Shop—will be taking place at Room for Improvement.

Friday – The Portland VFW is holding a bourbon tasting.

Saturday – The Portland Hotdog Safari is taking place at eight locations around town including Allagash, Crispy Gai, High Roller, Red Dog Express, King’s Head Pub, Bite Into Maine, and Thirsty Pig. Proceeds from the $10 Hotdog Safari scorecards will benefit The Locker Project.

Sunday – Hoot Owl BBQ is holding a pop-up at Barber Brothers in South Portland. The Tender Table Night Market is taking place in Congress Square Park. The Maine Cheese Festival is taking place in Pittsfield, and Portersfield Cider in Pownal is holding a pizza party in collaboration with Night Moves and the Maine Grain Alliance.

September 9 – Phil Rosenthal of Somebody Feed Phil fame will be speaking at Merrill Auditorium.

September 19-21 – The Common Ground Country Fair is taking place in Unity.

September 21-28 – Maine Lobster Week is taking place.

September 23 – Luncheonette is holding a (sold out) Korean dinner.

September 25 – Twelve is hold a Billecart-Salmon Champagne 4-course wine dinner. A part of Maine Lobster Week is the Lobster Roll Remix, a benefit for the Maine Lobstermen’s Relief Fund. It will on September 25th at Southern Maine Community College. Chefs from Chaval, Dok Mali, Douro, Great Wave Sushi, Little Pig, Portland Lobster Company, Sichuan Kitchen, Sicilian Table, Taj, and Terlingua/Ocotillo will each be serving their own creative take on the classic Maine lobster roll.

October 2 – Wayside Food Programs is holding their annual Inside Wayside event.

October 12 – Maine Open Creamery Day is taking place.

October 14 – The Maine Farm & Sea to Institution Summit is taking place at Colby College.

November 1-9 – 207 Beer Week is taking place.

November 10-16 – Brunswick Wine Week is taking place.

Planning a wedding, holding a business event, or hosting visitors from away? Our printed guides are a great resource to help your guests explore the Maine restaurant scene.

The Portland and Midcoast pocket guides are now for sale in packs of 25 on our online store.

Fork Food Lab

| Posted in Profiles

Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram includes an article about Fork Food Lab, which highlights on several of the nonprofit business incubator’s members. Fork operates a 30,000 sq ft commercial kitchen in South Portland used by ~80 companies.

On any given day, you’ll find Fork Food Lab members at their kitchen stations baking hoagie rolls, simmering jams, prepping pork bellies or packaging spreads for sale at local farmers markets. Members run the gamut from food trucks and carts, packaged foods businesses and prepared meal shops to catering companies and private chefs.

“There’s really nothing quite like this in Northern New England,” said Corinne Tompkins, the facility’s deputy executive director. “Nobody’s doing under one roof what we’re doing to this scale and scope.”

Restaurant Real Estate: September 2025

| Posted in Under Construction, Real Estate

Welcome to the September 2025 edition of the Portland Food Map restaurant real estate listings sponsored by The Boulos Company—a commercial real estate brokerage that has helped Maine’s restauranteurs buy and lease restaurant spaces since 1975.

This month marks the seven-year anniversary of the project to create this service. See this morning’s article for the story of our collaboration with Boulos to develop the restaurant real estate list.

This resource gathers in one convenient place the spaces available in Portland (and a few in the surrounding area) that could be potential sites for restaurants and food producers and retailers to locate their next business. Finding the right spot is one of the crucial early challenges in launching a new business and hopefully this resource will make that step just a little bit easier.

West End/Valley/Libby Town

270 Saint John St – A 2,714 sq ft space in Union Station Plaza is available for $17/sq ft (NNN).

Arts District

540 Congress St – The 27,800 sq ft building currently occupied by Reny’s is for lease for $9.50/sq ft (NNN). Reny’s has decided not to renew their lease when it expires at the end of March.

555 Congress St – The 1,908 sq ft former Five Fifty-Five dining room and mezzanine are available to lease for $20/sq ft (NNN).

582-584 Congress St – The 680-1,555 sq ft space formerly occupied by Harmon’s is for lease for $2,500 – $5,850/month (NNN).

649 Congress St – The 3,000 sq ft space formerly occupied by Rebel Munchies and Libations is available for $22/sq ft (MG).

Bayside/Inner Washington

105 Fox St – a 1,950 sq ft space located between Rising Tide and Austin Street is available for $5,220/month (NNN).

52 Hanover St – 1,500 – 3,000 sq ft of retail space on the first floor of the Armature building is available for $30/sq ft (NNN). One spot in the building has been earmarked for a coffee shop.

127 Marginal Way – The 3,040 sq ft former All Speed bicycle shop space across the parking lot from Trader Joes is available for $27/sq ft (NNN).

65-67 Portland St – The 2,750 sq ft former Thai Esaan/Back Bay Grill space is available for $16/sq ft (MG).

114 Preble St – The former Coals building is available to lease. The 4,424 sq ft turnkey restaurant is listed at $26/sq ft (NNN) and includes onsite parking and outdoor seating.  For more information on the building and its history see this post on instagram.

Old Port

1 Canal Plaza – 4,284 – 14,412 sq ft of ground floor retail space will be available as part of upcoming renovations; $30/sq ft (NNN).

15 Chestnut St – The building that was home to Grace restaurant is for sale. It includes the property, business assets and all FF&E. The restaurant seats 175 and features a large circular bar on the first floor of the former church. The building has 14,358 sq ft of space. It’s for sale for $2,175,000.

327 Commercial St – The 6,981 – 7,981 sq ft space currently occupied by Tiqa is available for lease or to buy. The lease rate is $30/sq ft (NNN). The sale price is $3,500,000.

383 Commercial St – 1,193 – 4,805 square feet of space in a newly constructed building on Commercial Street is available for $28/sq ft (NNN).

10 Cotton St – The 4,606 sq ft former Thistle and Grouse is available for $19.05/sq ft (MG). It has a fully built out kitchen and the dining room was recently renovated.

8 Exchange St – The 1,800-3,600 sq ft space formerly occupied by The Bar & Bites on lower Exchange Street is available for $25/sq ft (MG).

373 Fore St – The 7,500 sq ft former Henry’s Public House building is for lease for $26.50/sq ft (MG).

425 Fore St – This 1,548 sq ft space had been built as a restaurant which never opened. It’s now available for $70/sq ft (MG).

433 Fore St – A 930 sq ft lounge space on the first floor of the Hyatt is for lease for $60/sq ft (MG).

477 Fore St – The 1,361 sq ft space formerly occupied by B + B Bakery is available.

40 Free St – The 1,358 sq ft space occupied by Auntie’s House is available for $27/sq ft.

100 Middle St – A 350 sq ft cafe space on first floor of an Old Port office building is available for $850/month (Gross).

151 Middle St – the 2,741 former Anthony’s Italian Kitchen space is available.

157 Middle St – A 2,039 – 5,155 sq ft retail space is available for $27.95/sq ft (MG).

191 Middle St – The 1,500 sq ft retail space formerly occupied by Crystal Joys is for lease for $60/sq ft (MG).

15 Monument Square – The 700 – 1,000 sq ft former Sisters Gourmet Deli space is available to lease for $3,600/month (NNN).

28 Monument Square – The building owner is seeking someone to lease the Public Market House and develop the food hall as an incubator space for new food businesses. The 8,064 sq ft space spans the 1st and 2nd floors and has a commercial kitchen in the basement. The well-loved Jamaican restaurant Yardie Ting already occupies part of the first floor and Bub’s Home Kitchen is moving in on the second floor with the remainder of the building vacant and already built out with kitchen infrastructure needed for new businesses. 28 Monument Square is listed at $12/sq ft (NNN). For more information on the building and its history see this post on instagram.

66 Pearl St – The 5,796 sq ft space that was the former home of Bull Moose is available for $15.75/sq ft (MG).

110 Thames St – Two spaces in the Sun Life building are available: a 5,772 sq ft space for $35/sq ft (NNN) and 2,575 sq ft space for $35/sq ft (NNN).

54 York St – A 1,605 sq ft space is available for $30/sq ft (MG). It’s located in the same building as the  Weldon Hotel at the corner of York and Maple Streets.

Camp Pennant – this brewery, distillery and restaurant is for sale. Contact Karen Rich for more information at karen@malonecb.com or (207) 210-6637.

Outer Forest Ave Area

49 Dartmouth St – A 1,310 sq ft retail space adjacent to Bow Street Beverage is available.

332 Forest Ave – A 2,309 sq ft space in a building at the corner of Bedford Street and Forest Ave is available for $16/sq ft (NNN).

503 – 509 Forest Ave – When renovations are completed this year, this building will have 1,268 – 6,313 sq ft of space available for $15/sq ft (NNN). See this feature article for more information.

683 Forest Ave – a space in Woodford’s Corner most recently occupied by a restaurant called Merveille is for lease. Call (207) 766-8845 for more information.

1569 Forest Ave – The Riverton Station Pizza, Bar & Grill and the property it is on are for sale for $1,700,000.

1871 Forest Ave – The former Tortilla Flats is for sale. The 8,771 sq ft building is on 3.43 acres of property and is listed for $1,750,000.

631 Stevens Ave – The 1,000 sq ft cafe space inside the Stevens Square Community Center is for lease.

Elsewhere in Portland

75 Washington Ave – A 770 sq ft kitchen space is available to lease for $1,600/month.

123 Washington Ave – The 10,894 sq ft space formerly occupied by Maine Craft Distilling is available for $16/sq ft (NNN). It includes a restaurant, an outdoor seating area and onsite parking.

550 Washington Ave – 2,000 – 2,400 sq ft of the former Botto’s bakery is available to lease for $18/sq ft (NNN).

Northgate Shopping Center – 1,700 sq ft of space is available.

Westgate Shopping Center – Three spaces are for lease 1,440, 3,800 and 5,000 sq ft. The lease rates are negotiable and the property owner has a strong interest in finding a restaurant tenant for the shopping plaza.

Other Spaces – Some vacated restaurant spaces haven’t yet been formerly listed for by the owner. Check the closing announcements for insights on where those opportunities may be.

South Portland

60 Ocean St, South Portland – The restaurant space had been occupied by Taco Trio is for lease. The 6,006 sq ft space is available for $12.98/sq ft (NNN). Taco Trio has returned to their original location at 119 Ocean Street.

239 Ocean St, South Portland – The 1,621 sq ft former Pizza Joint building in South Portland is for sale for $695,000.

Elsewhere in Maine

Bandaloop, Arundel – After 20 years in business the owners of Bandaloop have shared plans to sell the restaurant property. It’s priced at $2,100,000.

186 Main St, Auburn – A new building under construction along the Androscoggin River will include a 5,400 sq ft space that the owners hope to lease to a brewery or restaurant. It’s available for $18.50/sq ft (NNN). An additional 1,450 sq ft space will also be available when construction is completed later this year.

9 Centre St, Bath – A 2,700 sq ft space at the corner of Centre and Front Streets is available for $3,000/month (MG). It hasn’t been used for a restaurant before but the building owner is eager to find a restaurant operator to locate there. Contact Bath Maine Rentals at bathmainerentals@gmail.com for more information.

111 Bath Rd, Brunswick – The Fat Boy Drive-In business and property is for sale for $775,000. Fat Boy has been in business since 1955.

137 Longwood Rd, Cumberland – A 2,110 sq ft building that’s been partially converted for use as a restaurant is available for $20/sq ft (NNN). See photos in the listing for a look at the current state of construction.

319 Main St, Cumberland – The 2,148 sq ft former Rise Pizza & Pub building is for sale for $995,000, or available to lease for $6,500/month (NNN).

261 Shore Rd, Ogunquit – The Northern Union restaurant property is for sale for $2,950,000.

23 Terminal Lane, Owls Head – A restaurant space at the Knox County Airport is available. FF&E is $65,000 which comes with a $200/month lease which includes utilities.

In Good Company, Rockland – In Good Company on Main Street in Rockland is for sale for $187,140.

151 Congress St, Rumford – The town of Rumford is seeking proposals for the town’s 6,000 sq ft former fire station. The deadline is September 29th.

267 Scarborough Downs Rd, Scarborough – Six retail spaces in a new building at The Downs are available. They range in size from 1,091 – 2,208 sq ft. They’ll be available to occupy in the spring of 2027.

60 Mile Rd, Wells – The former Varano’s Restaurant building and a 2 bedroom apartment are for sale for $1,695,000. See this instagram article for additional information on the building and the neighborhood.

863 Main St, Westbrook – The former Frog & Turtle and adjacent retail spaces are for sale for $1,900,000.

4 & 7 Dana St, Westbrook – 2 retail spaces are available in a new building under construction in downtown Westbrook. The building is under construction with plans to open in 2027. 1,250 – 5,085 sq ft of space (NNN).

100 Larrabee Rd, Westbrook – The owners of Phoever are looking for someone to takeover their space when they move to a new location. They’ll be moving to 1227 Congress Street by this summer.

Glossary

MG – Modified Gross which indicates that the operating expenses (taxes, insurance, maintenance, etc.) for the property are included in the lease rate. The tenant would pay its own utilities, which sometimes includes heat.

NNN – Triple Net which indicates that operating expenses are not included in the lease rate, and the tenant will pay them separately. They are often referred to as CAM (Common Area Maintenance) charges and taxes, which are expressed as $/sf. The tenant is also responsible for utilities.

Gross – Gross indicates all expenses including utilities are included in the lease rate. The tenant would be responsible for phone and internet access, as well as interior janitorial.