Yosaku Owners Expand to South Portland

| Posted in Under Construction

Yosaku owners Rattanak Tray and Hope MacVane-Tray have purchased the former Elsmere BBQ building in South Portland where they plan to open a new restaurant.

The as-yet-to-be-named business will serve a similar sushi menu to Yosauku and in addition will offer a choice of small plates and grilled Japanese dishes with a seasonal approach to the menu. The menu will reflect a vision chef Tray has had for a number of years that the South Portland location provides an opportunity to bring to life. Renovations to the building are underway with the goal of opening the restaurant in the spring of 2026.

The couple became the owners of Yosaku upon the retirement of the restaurant’s founder Takahiro and Susan Sato in 2022. Elsmere BBQ launched in 2013 and closed in November last year.

Maine Food & Dining News: Wells, Topsham, Nobleboro, Westbrook, Brunswick, Swanville, Columbia Falls, Harpswell, North Yarmouth, Freeport

| 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:

  • Renovations of Baker Bru Cafe (instagram) in Wells have wrapped up and owners Alex d’Emarese and Tiffany DeMartino have announced plans to launch the new business May 21st. Baker Bru (see photos above) is located at the former Drake’s Island Cafe building at 2073 Post Road in Wells. The 2,400 sq ft counter service cafe seats 30. d’Emarese and DeMartino will be serving house-made pastries, meat pies and quiches as well as açaí bowls, breakfast bowls, and focaccia sandwiches (see the full menu below). Baker Bru Cafe will be open Wednesday through Sunday, 7 am – 3 pm.
  • The Morning Moose (website, facebook, instagram) coffee truck has bought the building at 11 Main Street in Topsham where they plan to open a coffee shop. Renovations will start later this summer and they expect to be open by the end of the year.
  • Wanderwood (website, facebook, instagram) in Nobleboro has rolled out the schedule for their 2025 farm dinner series. The dinners run June through October and are produced in collaboration with a series of guest chefs.
  • The board game cafe Owlbear’s Rest is scheduled to open on May 30th. They’re located at 506 Maine Street in Westbrook and will be open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am – 9 pm (until 10 pm on Friday and Saturday).
  • The Maine Sunday Telegram has published a review of Pomelia, the Sicilian-inspired restaurant that opened this past January in Brunswick.
  • Circumstance has published the opening menu for their farmstead restaurant in Swanville. Their first dinners of the season will be May 23rd and 24th.
  • The Bangor Daily News has published an article about the reopening of Columbia Falls General in Washington County.
  • The Harpswell Anchor has a report on new management of the Holbrook Store (facebook) and Harborside Grill (facebook) at Holbrook’s Wharf in Cundy’s Harbor. The store and restaurant opened for the season this past weekend.
  • Well and Good Brewing owners Byron and Elise Kern have acquired Mainely Custard. They plan to sell frozen custard pints at their North Yarmouth brewery, and will be launching a beer garden next to Mainely Custard’s location on Route One in Freeport which will serve beer and sausages.

BayCider Fest in June

| Posted in Events

Apres has announced their plan for BayCider Fest (instagram), a cider festival taking place on June 7th in East Bayside that will feature Maine cider producers. The line-up includes: Absolem, After Harvest, Bon Vent, Cellardoor, Cornish, Freedom’s Edge, Norumbega, Orchard Girls, Sea Hag and Whaleback as well as Apres’ own ciders.

Whether you’re a seasoned cider lover or just hoping to enjoy local community culinary and beverage — join us under the big tent in our Tasting Room’s backyard for what is sure to be an unmissable day of good drinks, people, and fun outside in the East Bayside sun.

Tickets are now on sale: $35 for general admission and $50 for VIP admission.

Woof Play Eat in Allen’s Corner

| Posted in Under Construction

A new business called Woof Play Eat (website, facebook, instagram) has leased 15k+ sq feet of space in Portland. Owners Brad and Marissa Sterl plan to launch a combination indoor dog park and bar/restaurant at 49 Northport Drive in North Deering near the Allen’s Corner.

The dog park will offer both off-leash spaces as well as an on-leash area where pet owners can enjoy drinks and a meal along with their dogs. The separate restaurant, coffee shop and bar will serve a range of coffee drinks, alcoholic beverage and soft drinks. The menu is still under development but is expected to include offerings like pizza and house made pasta.

Brad Sterl has worked for three decades in food industry and is the CEO of Rustic Crust/American Flatbread. Joining the Woof Play Eat team are professionals with a combined 30 years expertise with “dog care space, including training, dog behavior and enrichment.” The Sterls hope to launch Woof Play Eat this fall.

As reported in April, another hybrid indoor dog park and restaurant called The Barkery is under construction in South Portland.

Tin Pan Bakery Closing

| Posted in Closings

Tin Pan Bakery on Brighton Ave has announced plans to close later this month. Their Facebook post reads in part,

It is with mixed emotions that I have to announce the end of Tin Pan. Over the past nine years we have weathered inflation, tight labor markets, a pandemic, ingredient shortages, and more, including my own inexperience with business and some questionable decisions. But it turns out I can’t keep enduring arthritis and its constant toll on my aging joints, which makes this decision sad but inevitable…Lindsay and I are filled with gratitude for the kindness of our customers and your willingness to entrust your family celebrations with us. Fortunately Portland has many excellent bakeries and we know we leave you in good hands.

GMRI Tastemakers Awards

| Posted in Events

GMRI recently announced the winners of their annual Gulf of Maine Tastemakers. Two local restaurant were award winners this year.

  • Portland Lobster Company was the recipient of the Climate Award which recognizes a business adapting to a changing ocean and climate by modeling strategies that support long-term resilience.
  • Mr. Tuna/Bar Futo was the recipient of the Innovation Award which highlights efforts to creatively expand market opportunities for Gulf of Maine seafood.

Me Lon Togo Crowdfunding Campaign

| Posted in Under Construction

Chef/owner Jordan Benissan has launched a NuMarket campaign to help fund the launch of his 1,800 sq ft Freeport restaurant Me Lon Togo (website, facebook, instagram).

After three successful years in Rockland, Mé Lon Togo is embarking on an exciting new chapter in downtown Freeport. Chef Jordan is transforming an 1,800-square-foot space into a vibrant, welcoming destination where every dish tells a story and every gathering feels like coming home. This move isn’t just about a new location—it’s a meaningful step toward sharing the rich traditions of West African cuisine with a broader audience, while finding a year-round home that overcomes the seasonal challenges of the Midcoast region.

The new restaurant is under construction in a courtyard space at 58 Main Street. Benissan is planning a two phase launch. He plans to open the MLT bar with drinks and light fare first, and then with once the kitchen is completed and sprinkler system is installed, he’ll begin serving the full Me Lon Togo menu of West African cuisine. The successful NuMarket campaign will support the phased launch and help pay for the sprinkler system.

Upcoming Food and Dining Events

| Posted in Events

Tuesday – Leda (instagram) is having a launch party for their cafe at Salud in East Bayside. Owner Naomi Hall, co-owner of the former Omi’s coffee shop, is launching Leda—stay tuned for an official opening day. In addition to serving coffee, snacks and smoothies, Leda will also offer drop-in childcare “providing caregivers a chance to relax, recharge, or enjoy a fitness class while their little ones have fun in a supervised play space.” Also, Cuties is starting their daytime hours opening at 8 am.

Wednesday – It’s the opening day of Benny’s.

Thursday – Mrs Gee Free Living and Sur Lie are collaborating on a gluten-free dinner. Browne Trading is holding a sparkling wine and caviar tasting.

Saturday – The new Nordic candy store at 119 Cumberland Ave, Sodt (instagram), is scheduled to launch at noon. The Maine Wild Wine Fest is taking place in Freeport. Camden Famous is cohosting a Spring Market featuring 20 bakers, restaurants and other food producers.

Sunday – Taj, Boda, Thanh Thanh 2, Mi Sen, and Pulutan are producing a 5-course dinner at Crispy Gai in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month.

May 22 – Allagash is hosting an event to support Farmers for Food Equity. The event, Let’s Spring into Action, is a tasting event where attendees can try oyster, beer, sausages and other Maine produced foods. Farmers for Food Equity supports local farms by purchasing produce that might otherwise go unharvested and redirect that food to organizations like Good Shepherd Food Bank or Preble Street.

May 30 – June 1 – The Maine Fungi Fest is taking place.

June 13/14 – The Rockport Donut Festival is taking place.

June 26-28 – The Holy Trinity Greek Festival is taking place.

June 28 – The Wavy Days beer festival is taking place.

June 28/29 – The Maine Oyster Festival is taking place in Freeport.

September 14 – The Maine Cheese Festival is taking place in Pittsfield.

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

October 12 – Maine Open Creamery Day is taking place.

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

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

Maine Food & Dining News: Kennebunk, Bath, Monmouth, Biddeford, Greenville, Camden, Brunswick, Verona Island, South Berwick, Lewiston, Waterville

| 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:

  • Old Vines in Kennebunk served their last glass of wine on May 3rd. Kyle Robinson and Yazmin Saraya Jean, the owners of Chez Rosa, are taking over the Old Vines space where they plan to relocate their Kennebunkport restaurant. The last day of business at the current Chez Rosa location will be May 25th. Jean and Robinson plan to relaunch at 173 Port Street in Kennebunk in mid-June.
  • Bay Bowls will be opening a new location in Bath in May. The new Bay Bowls will be moving into the former gas station at 45 Water Street. Bay Bowls serves a menu of bowls made with acai, dragon fruit, coconut and mango as well as smoothies. They also have locations in Portland and Brunswick.
  • Bluuma Flowers (website, facebook, instagram) in Monmouth has rolled out the schedule for their 2025 farm dinner series. Each of the 5-course dinners (June through October) features a seasonal menu with dishes drawing from Eastern European cooking traditions.
  • Biddo Foodies have published a dozen photos showing dishes from the new brunch menu at Banded Brewing.
  • The Blair Hill Inn has hired chef Jason Borajkiewicz for their in-house restaurant Slate.
  • The Bangor Daily News has published an article about the Villager Cafe in Camden. “It’s also the only eatery in the state — possibly even the nation — where they can expect to speak regularly with reporters, editors, the publisher and owner of the region’s local paper.”
  • The Harpswell Anchor has published an article about Pomelia in Brunswick.
  • The Bangor Daily News has a report on the recent discovery of a rare French variety of apples on Verona Island. “Called the Drap d’Or de Bretagna, the cultivar came from the Brittany region of France and was likely brought to Maine by Castine’s early French settlers in the late 1600s. The tree, believed to be a direct descendant of early plantings, was rediscovered by a group of local “apple explorers” who are passionate about old apples and what they reveal about history.”
  • The Portsmouth Herald has a report on chef Lee Franks appearance on the cooking TV show Yes, Chef! Franks is the owner of Lee Franks in Wells and South Berwick as well as The Otis in Exeter, NH.
  • The Lewiston Sun Journal reports that Casey and Ali Peacock are opening a new restaurant called The Blue Feather Kitchen + Bar (facebook) at 49 Lisbon Street in Lewiston.
  • The Morning Sentinel has a report on Popo’s Food Truck Park which recently launched on Kennedy Memorial Drive in Waterville.

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.