A Room With A View…Of Food

When people ask me what my favorite kind of food is, I tend to struggle to answer that question.  I like having options, and my palate has a wide range, starting with American food and ending with Mexican food.  Therefore, when a coworker told me about a series of restaurants owned by the same person, I jumped at the chance to try a wide variety of food.

My first stop was the Grill Room and Bar.  The Grill Room is a highly popular please, so I recommend making a reservation.  There are seats at the bar and tables available for patrons. The seats at the bar are first come, first serve.  Happy hour runs from 4pm to 6pm every day and is only available at the bar. The Grill Room is open Tuesday to Sunday, and they are only open for dinner. However, the dinner menu isn’t available until 5pm.  I went to The Grill Room twice and had a different meal with each visit.  For my first trip, I had a couple of oysters with the house burger.  My second trip included a Caesar salad and a filet mignon.  Both meals were absolutely delicious, and I recommend both entrees.

My second stop was The Corner Room. Specializing in Italian food, The Corner Room is only a block away from The Grill Room. There are seats at the bar, booths and tables available for guests.  Happy hour, again, runs from 4pm to 6pm, and dinner doesn’t start until 5pm. Happy hour is only available at the bar, and has such snacks as meatballs and mixed greens.  The Corner Room is open from Tuesday to Saturday, and reservations are highly recommended. Bar seating, like The Grill Room, is first come, first serve.  For my first trip, I had an order of garlic bread and a plate of spaghetti and meatballs.  For my second trip, I had a Caesar salad and a pepperoni pizza.  The food was delicious, and I recommend everything.

My final stop was The Front Room, which serves brunch and dinner.  There are seats at the bar, tables and booths available for patrons.  The Front Room has the typical breakfast fare like eggs, omelets, and pancakes. Furthermore, sides like potato salad, bacon, ham and sausage populate the menu. Finally, there are sandwiches like the B.L.T. is available for purchase as well.  Coffee, Bloody Mary’s and mimosas, as well as non-alcoholic beverages are also available. The dinner menu is vastly different.  There is sparkling, red and white wine, as well as beer and cocktails available for purchase.  Appetizers range from oysters and Caesar salads, while the main dishes range from the double wagyu burger and crab pasta.  For brunch, I had the two-egg plate, which was eggs any style, with home fries, bacon and a choice of toast. For dinner, I had the double wagyu smash burger.

I highly recommend all three restaurants, and as I’ve mentioned before, I recommend reservations for The Grill Room and The Corner Room. If you want to learn more about The Grill Room, click here.  If The Corner Room is more your speed, click here.  Finally, if The Front Room caught your eye, click here.  As always, I have to ask, where should I go next?

Butcher Burger

Portland is one of the best places to go out and find a place to eat.  Sometimes people recommend their favorite places, while sometimes I find someplace to eat by conducting my research. Butcher Burger falls into the latter.  I stumbled across it by accident and decided to give it a shot.

 

The restaurant is small and intimate.  There are seats at the bar and stools looking out onto the street.  There is patio seating available as well, but I believe that the patio seating is only set up during the warmer months.  There is plenty to drink here as well. There is draft beer, as well as beer in bottles and cans.  Additionally, there are cocktails like spicy margaritas and Texas mules.  There are non-alcoholic drinks available as well, like coke products and iced tea. There are all sorts of burgers like the cheeseburger and the bacon burger.  Sandwiches are also available for purchase as well.  There are such sandwiches like the crispy fish and the lobster grilled cheese.  Butcher Burger also sells lobster rolls as well, including the Maine lobster roll with mayo, or the hot buttered roll.  There are even munchies as well, including the Caesar salad, wings, and fish tacos.  If someone wanted fries for the table or with their meal, they can order the fries as well.  Finally, there are dipping sauces like spicy mayo and bleu cheese.

 

I visited Butcher Burger twice, and I enjoyed both meals. During my first visit, I had the Maine lobster roll with mayo and fries and a spicy margarita.  My second trip I had the cheeseburger and fries.  I do recommend going to Butcher Burger.  If you want to check out Butcher Burger, you can click here.  As always, I have to ask, where should I go next?

Live Life With A Little Moxie

I’ve mentioned before that I am not native to Maine.  However, I have always summered in Maine, and I’ve been living here in Maine for almost eight years.  In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s I attended sleep-away camp in Raymond, and it was here where I was introduced to Moxie, the state soda of Maine.  While many dislike the taste, I found that I had acquired a certain fondness for the drink.

A few years after I moved to Maine, I heard whispers of a festival in Lisbon celebrating my favorite soda.  After doing some research and clearing my schedule, I was able to attend the Moxie Festival.  The festival is always the second weekend of July, and the celebration runs from Friday to Sunday.  The first day I attended was Friday, and I enjoyed myself immensely.  The first thing I noticed were the food trucks and food stalls.  There was Cheese The Day, a grilled cheese food truck, Boba Tea and Dumplings, a fried dough stall selling Moxie floats, and LA Tacos.  There were a number of other food trucks as well, so there were plenty of options. Some of the vendors accept credit and debit cards, but most others only accept cast.  There is an ATM available, so you’re covered if you need to withdraw some money.

 

There is a ton to do as well while attending the festival. There is live music that can be heard throughout the celebration and vendors selling a wide variety of products including jewelry, home décor, and Moxie products.  Furthermore, there was a face painting stall, as well as toys and clothes for sale.  There was even a dance performance from a nearby dance studio.

 

On Saturday, the day started with a 5K for adults and children.  However, the main draw for the festival on Saturday was the parade. Billed as the largest parade in Maine, people started lining the route way before the 10am start time.  I recommend getting to the parade route early to not only get a parking spot, but to get a good spot for the parade.  The parade included go karts, an appearance by the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and even an orange Darth Vader!  Saturday’s festivities continued after the parade, including a whoppie pie eating competition, as well as a Moxie chugging contest.

 

I was unable to attend the third and final day but it sounded like a lot of fun.  The online schedule mentioned a lot of different activities, like a car show.  While disappointing, there is always next year.  However, I enjoyed myself quite a bit, and I’m definitely looking forward to next year’s festivities.  If you want to learn more about the Moxie Festival, you can click here.  Keep in mind that as the festival is over, the website is pretty bare, so make sure to check back in as the next celebration.  As always, I have to ask, where should I go next?

Bangor, The City of Kings

When I first started writing this blog, I knew I wanted to go to Bangor. Celebrated horror writer, Stephen King, famously lives in Bangor and one of Maine’s two casinos, the Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway, is located in Bangor. After booking my room, I began the two hour drive to Bangor.

The Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway is situated on prime real estate.  Located right off the highway on Main Street, the facility catches your eye almost immediately.  There is a parking garage attached to the casino and hotel, so parking is plentiful.  Access to the casino and the lobby can be found on the first floor of the parking complex, which makes checking in and gaming that much easier.  The rooms are spacious and clean, and there are a variety of price points for rooms.  I highly recommend getting a room with a view of the Penobscot River, as it’s truly a sight to behold.

The casino is located right off the lobby. There are slot machines and tables available for those looking for a night of gaming. There is a bar located in the casino, so one can enjoy a drink while gambling. Maine state law dictates that in order to play the games, you have to be twenty-one or older, so make sure you bring a valid ID. While the slots are fun, I tend to stick to the table games. I particularly enjoy Black Jack, as that is the game I’m most familiar with. Regardless if you win or lose, you’re bound to have fun!

There are two places to eat at the hotel. The first is the Take 2 Snack Bar, where someone can order breakfast items.  Take 2 Snack Bar is typically closed for the winter, so make sure you check to see if the snack bar is open during your stay.  The second eatery is called Hops House 99. It’s a decently sized restaurant with seats at the bar and tables available.  The food is good with plenty of offerings, and an extensive drink menu.  The hotel offers a five dollar credit for each night that you stay. You can use the credit at Take 2 Snack Bar, Hops House 99, and the little continence store located by receptions.

As mentioned before, Stephen King resides in Bangor. Furthermore, the town of Derry, a location mentioned frequently in King’s books, is based on Bangor. Because of this, there is a company that does a Stephen King tour of the city of Bangor, and the surrounding area. The tour includes locations from King’s books, and a visit to all of King’s philanthropic endeavors. The tour company picks guests up at a variety of locations, including a number of hotels. The tour lasts three hours, so there is a bathroom break about halfway through the tour.

My travels also took me to the Mount Hope Cemetery. As the second oldest garden cemetery in the country, there is a ton of history here. Al Brady, who was a gangster in the 1930’s is buried here. Local legend states that if you don’t leave a penny on his tombstone, his vengeful spirit will haunt you. Furthermore, a U.S. Vice President, ten Congressmen, two U.S. Ambassadors, four Governors of Maine, and many more are buried here. Additionally, Stephen King found inspiration for two of his characters names here at Mount Hope Cemetery. Those names are Georgie, from the novel It, and Carrie, from the book Carrie.

When I first told a coworker that I was heading to Bangor, she got very excited. She told me I had to see the Duck of Justice. After some probing, I found that the Duck of Justice was a stuffed duck, and it was effectively Bangor PD’s mascot. While the police department’s door is locked, they do have an intercom system. If you let them know that you’re there to see the Duck, they will let you in and show you to the Duck.

Finally, I highly recommend visiting the Paul Bunyan statue. Bangor is the supposed birthplace of Bunyan, and the statue was erected in 1959. Fans of the movie IT:Chapter 2 might recognize the statue as the one that attacks Richie in the park.

I finished up my trip with a visit to The Oriental Jade. If this restaurant sounds familiar, it’s because King based The Jade of the Orient, an eatery in the book It, on The Oriental Jade. There is a massive drink menu, including soft drinks, craft beer, and cocktails. Patrons can eat sushi and typical Chinese fare. Seating is plentiful, with seats at the bar, booths, and tables. There is beautiful décor, with statues and vases scattered throughout the restaurant. I had the Calamari Sesame Chicken with Pork Fried Rice and Crab Rangoon.

Bangor has so much to offer, that I barely scratched the surface. If you want to learn more about the casino and hotel, click here. If you want to book a Stephen King tour, click here. If you want to visit the Mount Hope Cemetery, click here. Finally, if you want to eat at the Oriental Jade, click here. As this post comes to a conclusion, I have to ask, where should I go to next?

I’m Back with a Vengeance…and Pizza!

The past couple months have been rough. Covid definitely slowed things down, and back in December, I broke my wrist. However, after I healed enough to write, I got back in the saddle. I decided to focus on three restaurants. One might wonder what connects these three restaurants, and the answer is that they’re owned by the same person. Therefore, my adventure starts with Tuscan Table, located by the Maine Mall in South Portland.

Shopping can make any one hungry, which might explain why malls have food courts.  While it might be tempting to fuel your shopping excursion at the food court, I highly recommend going to Tuscan Table.  Located right by the Mall, this restaurant should be on any foodies list of eateries to visit.

Seating is plentiful, but be prepared to wait, as Tuscan Table is popular. However, reservations are accepted.  There are seats at the bar, high tops, booths, and seating on the second floor.  The interior is cozy and the décor is absolutely wonderful.

The drink menu is extensive. There is an extensive beer list that includes canned beer, bottled beer, and draft beer.  Furthermore, Tuscan Table offers cocktails, as well as mocktails and soft drinks for those who are underage.  Additionally, wine is also offered by the glass or the bottle.

The food menu is massive as well.  Oysters are available for purchase, as well as quite a few appetizers. Sandwiches and salads are also offered as well.  The pizza that is sold at Tuscan Table is cooked in a brick oven pizza, giving it an extraordinary taste.  Finally, the pasta is made in house, guaranteeing freshness during your meal.  Whether you’re stopping in for lunch or dinner, Tuscan Table is bound to have something to your liking.  If you want to find out more about Tuscan Table, you can click here. Typically, I would ask where I should go next, but as it happens I went to Royal River Grill House, so stay tuned for my next write-up.

Two Nations, Double the Fun

Whenever I discover a new restaurant, I feel a sense of excitement.  What kind of food will they serve?  How does the environment feed into the meal?  These are questions that I ask myself whenever I go somewhere new.  I discovered Dos Naciones when I was on my way to King of the Roll, and I knew I had to give this restaurant a chance.  Dos Naciones, which translates to Two Nations, serves Mexican and El Salvadorian food.  I admit that I have a soft spot for Latin American food, so I was excited to say the least.

 

There is plenty of seating. Booths, tables, high tops, and seats at the bar are all available to guests who want a meal.  Latin American music plays over the speakers, adding to the ambiance.  The food, as well as the service are both great, making this a great place to eat.  As I ate my meal, the restaurant continued to fill up, making Dos Naciones a sure-fire hit!

 

Since Dos Naciones is a new restaurant, the number of websites dealing with this eatery are limited.  For the time being, I will link Yelp here, which shows that Dos Naciones with a five star rating.  My meal at Dos Naciones marks the end of my Restaurant Week.  It was a great experience, and I had the opportunity to try a new restaurant.  So now, I look towards my next adventure, completely unsure of where my next adventure will take me.  So, with some excitement, I ask; where should I go next?

The Gritty Reality of Good Food

Freeport, like Portland, has a great restaurant scene.  So, it should come as no surprise that my next stop during Restaurant week was Gritty McDuffs Freeport Brewpub.  Located on Lower Main Street, this blink and you miss it pub is a great place to stop during your shopping adventure.

 

Seating is plentiful, and during the off season, guests are able to find a place to sit relatively easily.  There are seats at the bar, tables, long tables that seat eight, and picnic tables.  The menu is large, with soups, salads, burgers and so much more.  Gritty’s has a rotating menu of soup, chowder, and cheesecake.

 

The service is top notch, and the drinks are absolutely delicious.  I settled on the cheeseburger, with a side of fries, which was great, and I also had the cheesecake of the day, which was the peanut butter finger cheesecake.  If you want more information on Gritty McDuffs, you can click here.  Sadly, tomorrow is my last post during Restaurant Week, but I’m far from done visiting restaurant’s in Maine.  As always, I ask, where should I go next?

A Meal Fit for a King

Growing up, I was never a big fan of sushi.  There was something about eating raw fish that grossed me out.  However, I’ve recently found that my palate has changed, and I absolutely love sushi.   So, for the fifth day of Restaurant Week, I made my way to King of the Roll, a Japanese restaurant located right here in Portland.

 

Stepping into King of the Roll, you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported Japan.  Beautiful, Japanese inspired decorations adorn the walls and hang from the ceiling, while Japanese music emanates from the speakers.  Booths, tables, and seats at the sushi bar are available for patrons, so seating is plentiful.

 

While there are conventional menus, the main menu is quite unusual.  It lists most, if not all, of the sushi offered at King of the Roll.  Guests mark the quantity of the sushi they want, and hand the menu to their server.  Once ready the sushi is brought to the table, and you’re ready to dig in.  The drink menu is also quite extensive, with plenty of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase.

 

King of the Roll is able to fulfill any sushi lover’s dream, and I highly recommend anyone visiting Portland make the trip to this Japanese restaurant.  If you want to learn more about King of the Roll, you can click here.  With my Restaurant Week starting to wind down, I ask myself, where should I go next?

…And Now, For Something Completely Different.

The state of Maine, along with a number of other states, participate in an event called Restaurant Week.  In span of twelve days, foodies can delight in the celebration of food, drink, and good times. While there is an extensive list of restaurants who are participating in Restaurant Week, I will be doing something a little different.

 

For the first seven days of Restaurant week, I will be going to a different restaurant each day, and bringing my experience to you.  However, here is the twist, I will be going to restaurants that are not featured on Restaurant Week’s list.  I can expect certain question’s to be asked of me.  “Merry Mainer, doesn’t it defeat the purpose of Restaurant Week if you do your own thing?”  That is a good question, and my answer is two-fold.  My first response is that many of the restaurants are open only for dinner, and my schedule for the time being does not permit me to eat at these restaurants while many of them are open.

 

My second answer is that the restaurants that participate in Restaurant Week are featured on Restaurant Week’s website, with links to their site.  I want to write about restaurants that won’t be featured, to add to the ever-extensive list of restaurants.

 

My first stop was Boda, a Thai restaurant located on Congress Street.  They have an extensive drink menu, with plenty of beers, wines, cocktails, and non-alcholic drinks to choose from.  Boda offers two menus, a dinner and a late night menu.  Boda has a sizable dinner menu, with classic Thai food, including the ever-popular Pad Thai, along with a variety of other food like skewers and sticky rice.

 

There are tables and seats at the bar available, but make sure you leave enough time for a wait if you go during peak hour.  There’s sometimes a wait for a table, but the turnover is pretty quick, so you don’t have to wait long.

 

As I mentioned, this is the first posting in a series of posts in honor of Restaurant Week.  Make sure to check in daily, as I will be posting a restaurant review every day for the first seven days of Restaurant Week.  If you want to learn more about Boda, you can click here, and if you want to learn more about Restaurant Week, you can click here.

A double date with Linda and Maria

One of my biggest talking points about Maine is the versatility of the food.  While it’s easy to see Maine as a major seafood destination, there is so much more to experience.  To showcase Maine’s range in dining options, I’ve decided to do another double feature.  I had the opportunity to dine at Linda Beans, located in Freeport, as well as Maria’s in Portland.

 

Linda’s is situated right across the street from L.L. Bean, which provides shoppers with a great dining experience.  Linda Bean’s is one of the bigger restaurants in Freeport, boasting two floors with plenty of seating.  Each floor has it’s own bar, with seating available at the bar, along with high tops, tables, and booths.  There is patio seating on the first floor, while the balcony is open for those who wish to sit outside during their meal.  During the peak summer months, Linda’s is absolutely packed, so make sure you get there early enough to beat the rush.

 

The first floor looks like your standard restaurant, but the second floor has more of a lounge feel. Art is found all along the walls, and a brightly colored Grandfather Clock sits up against the far wall.  The seating is comfortable on both floors, and the menu is extensive.  Seafood and pub fare dominate the menu, and I have to admit that Linda’s is one of my favorite places to grab a burger.  Televisions can be found at both bars, with news outlets and sports channels being broadcast to the patrons.

 

My next stop was to Maria’s Ristorante.  A classic Italian eatery located right in Portland, it’s easy to miss this hidden gem. Found within a brick building, Maria’s is a cozy and intimate restaurant, and it’s chef owned and operated. Artwork and family photos dot the wall making the atmosphere welcoming and friendly.  Opera music greets guests as the walk in and the music can be heard through out the restaurant.  Booths, tables, and seats at the bar are available for patrons looking for a classic Italian meal.  The food and wine menu offer a great selection, and my Caesar salad and lasagna were delicious.  I highly recommend making a reservation, as Maria’s tends to fill up quickly.  \Recently, Maria’s has revealed that they acquired a new space, and will be moving in October 2019.  This means, that I’ll be able to visit their new location, sample more of their food, and update my readers on Maria’s exciting new move, so make sure to stay tuned.

 

Eating in Maine is so much more than seafood, and it always brings me joy when I get to share my dining experience with my readers.  Maine’s culinary experience is just as extraordinary as the rest of the state, and I’m eager to bring it to you.  Make sure to check back regularly, as I some exciting new trips planned in the near future. Typically I will ask where I’ll be going next, but this time around, I already have something cooking.