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Restaurant Reviews

Hearty and sweet

Sonny's finds the right mix of flavors and textures
America's war on obesity is going nowhere.

By BRIAN DUFF | March 17, 2010

Po' Boys & Pickles gets it just right
As sandwich shops continue to proliferate during this down economy, the new Po' Boys & Pickles offers a formula for short-term buzz, and perhaps long-term loyalty.

By BRIAN DUFF | February 24, 2010

How the other half eats?

Sampling suburban fare in Falmouth
Seeking to understand our once-and-future masters, I headed up to Falmouth, where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats, to examine how they eat. I followed some expensive sedans to Johnny's Bistro.

By BRIAN DUFF | February 17, 2010

The brunch quandary

In Portland, there's always one more place you haven't tried
There seems to be an endless number of places to try in Portland. So many, in fact, that I keep discovering well-established restaurants that I didn't even know served brunch. One of those places was Vignola.

By LEISCHEN STELTER | February 03, 2010

Don't be chicken

Dig right in at Binga's Stadium
Last year was a weird one for chicken wings.

By BRIAN DUFF | January 27, 2010

A winter outing

Heading indoors at the Picnic Basket
All ideals are oppressive, and the ideal picnic is no exception.

By BRIAN DUFF | January 20, 2010

Adventures in pot stickers

Exploring new worlds of flavor
My friend from Thailand taught me how to make real pot stickers and pad Thai.

By LINDSAY STERLING | January 13, 2010

Tests of time

Don't let old standbys drop off the radar
It feels like every week I read about a new restaurant opening in Portland.

By LEISCHEN STELTER | December 09, 2009

Busy options

Sampling Kon Asian's broad spectrum
For a place that is largely about performative hibachi dining and Asian kitsch, Kon is very into the Buddha.

By BRIAN DUFF | December 02, 2009

Some strong choices

Shima melds tastes, traditions well
A pan-Asian restaurant comes in handy if you are having trouble making a decision. But thanks to several openings in the last year, Portlanders looking for a menu with several Asian cuisines will have to make a choice.

By BRIAN DUFF | November 25, 2009

The way it 'Otto' be

Congress Street slice shop sticks to the basics
People queued up along Congress Street during the First Friday Art Walk last week may have been in town for the art, but they were in line for the pizza.

By LEISCHEN STELTER | November 11, 2009

Triple shot

Visiting three new Portland cafés
As a sign of difficult economic times, a turnover in cafés is a noisy indicator but a significant one.

By BRIAN DUFF | November 04, 2009

Brave new world

Styxx’s management sets an oddly pleasant menu
How many marriages are born or nursed in our city’s bars?

By BRIAN DUFF | October 28, 2009

Solid food, found

Hang on to your dosh -- visit the Lost Coin Café
The Lost Coin Café is unlike any other restaurant in Portland.

By BRIAN DUFF | October 07, 2009

Gustation junction

Flavors mingle at The Corner Room
Since all three of Harding Lee Smith's restaurants are on corners, one wonders why he chose to name his newest one The Corner Room.

By BRIAN DUFF | September 30, 2009

Community appeal

The Café at Pat's is a classic local spot
It is tricky to manage the transition from cult of personality to a rationalized institution.

By BRIAN DUFF | September 16, 2009

Seasonal fare(well)

The chef of Five Fifty-Five bids adieu to summer
With Labor Day weekend behind us, so goes the high tourist season here in Maine. While this means less crowded beaches and the possibility of finding a weekend parking space in the Old Port, it signifies a major transition for restaurateurs around the city.

By LEISCHEN STELTER | September 09, 2009

Amazing Grace

Sweet tastes, beautiful building, heavenly reward
Few of us bother to go to church, so Mainers must find ways to reuse our houses of worship, just as we do our riverside mills in this post-industrial age. While several restaurants have put mothballed mill buildings to use, Grace Restaurant's repurposing of the Chestnut Street Methodist Church is the most impressive reclamation project yet.

By BRIAN DUFF | September 02, 2009

Hot exotic adventure tonight!

Shave cabbage, rub pork ribs, peel yuca, and more
Unless you're a vegetarian or fried-pigskin-intolerant, I have an adventure for you. It requires about three hours. It's exotic, but does not require calling the phone numbers on the next few pages. Depending on who you are, it requires little or a lot of bravery. It's called cooking.

By LINDSAY STERLING | August 26, 2009

Life after the Old Port?

Owners of Rachels L'Osteria share their experience moving to the neighborhood
As the central hub for tourists and locals alike, the Old Port seems like the perfect spot for a restaurant. But sometimes being in the center of the madness can detract from the experience, not only for diners, but also for the owners.

By LEISCHEN STELTER | August 19, 2009

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