Portland restaurants
About to set off on our annual trip to Portland and vicinity. Does anyone know? Has Emilista's closed. I can find no recent posts about the place and no website. Also, some fairly recent posts have suggested Fore St. is going downhill. We have had three meals there (most recently a year ago) and found the food and the service superior. Any opinions? And what about 555? Any other newer places worth trying?
Cabbagehead
cabbagehead
Oct 22, 2008 07:35PM
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No information on Emilitsa. We ate at Fore St a few weeks ago, and found it as excellent as ever...for what it is: pretty meaty. Newer places that might be worth a look: The Grill Room (where Natasha's used to be), by the same chef/owner who has The Front Room in the east end; Evangeline (Longfellow Sq.) which has gotten strong reviews; and, for a change of pace, head 20 min. out to Westbrook to "The Frog and Turtle" gastro-pub in Westbrook: really interesting food in a relaxed atmosphere: www.thefrogandturtle.com.
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As far as I know Emilitsa is open and going very strong. My personal favs: Caiola's and Ribollita. The newest restaurants getting buzz are Evangeline and the Grill Room.
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If you've not been to Hugo's, it's at least worth exploring. It's a superlative dining experience. I would also explore Evangeline and Bresca, French and Italian, respectively...all high-end dining.
For more mid-end dining, try The Blue Spoon and I concur with Ribollita's rec....and both the Grill Room and Front Room are getting good press.
If you enjoy Maine, microbrew or Belgiun-style beer, try Novare Res. And if you like sushi try Miyake.
I know 555 is a board favorite, but I don't recommend because my experience did not live up to the hype.
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Hi all
After perusing this board for quite some time before heading up to Portland for a weekend a couple of weeks ago- I really wanted to check out The Blue Spoon- but we couldnt find it! I know its on Congress Street, but where?
Otherwise we had an amazing time, and will absolutely be back- SOON if I have anything to say about it :-)
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89 Congress, up on Munjoy Hill. They don't have a web site, but here's a reference: http://entertainment.mainetoday.com/d...
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no report on your visit? :(
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Im a bit of perfectionist to be honest and I didnt know if I could do it all justice!
We started with a late lunch at Brian Baru (I think thats how you spell it) and it completely hit the spot for weary travelers. We started with Garlic Fries which were so decadent that I still cant justify them, and then I had their meatloaf sandwich which was really tasty and hearty on a cold day.
We had dinner at The Street & Co which was...honestly perfect. Every thing that they served us was delicious, to outstanding, I had a Salmon special that was dressed with an olive tapenade. The salmon was perfectly medium rare, and the tapenad added a beautiful salty flavor. My DC had their scollaps and found them to be flawless-and hes a picky eater :-). We had started off with a crab stuffed pepper, and a tuna and olive spread-though Im not doing justice to the names of those. They were both out of this world. Haha Being the obsessed amateur cook that I am- I thoroughly enjoyed the open kitchen.
Breakfast we had at The Merry Creperie- I think that was its name. My crepe filled with cheese and ham and topped with an over easy egg- was completely delicious- though I wish their coffee had been a bit stronger.
We had lunch that day in two spots- a few appetizers at Demillo's Floating Restaurant- Mussels and Crab Cakes. The crab cakes were awesome- lots of crab, a little spice-delicious. The mussels...they werent so good- seemed to be over cooked and not very flavorful.
Then we headed over to a german beer cafe...though I cannot remember the name at all. We had a delicious cheese plate with some salami added in. A VERY tasty end to our time in Portland.
I completely fell in love with the city- will definitely be heading back sooner rather than later
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Brian Boru's chef is relatively new - a few months. He's really changed the focus here - some say for the better, but regulars miss the simpler (and less expensive) pub food.
I had the cassoulet earlier this week for lunch and it was amazing. Chef Bryan told me he used the duck stock to simmer the beans. The duck confit was really good and the sausage was piquant and delicious. I ate every bean and gnawed at every morsel on the leg bone. It was a special for $14.
The German beer cafe was probably Novare Res - which I've never been but gets rave reviews from friends.
4 Canal Plz, Portland, ME 04101
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Thanks for the tips! As it turned out our lunch hostess served us so generously in the afternoon that we were not up to the calories (and the expense) of an upscale meal, so we had chowders in a small waterfront place. The chowders were OK. Your recommendations are on file for out next visit! Thanks again.
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