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?

Boothbay Experiences A Glow Up

Boothbay is very much a summer destination. During those months, every business is working to fulfill the needs of the summer crowd.  However, once Indigenous Peoples Day hits, most of the town shuts down.  Yet, starting in mid-November, the town of Boothbay experiences a resurgence, and that is owed to Gardens Aglow at the botanical gardens.

Gardens Aglow is a massive undertaking, with 750,000 lights strung up in the gardens. There are certain parts of the gardens that are shut off to visitors because it might not be safe to visit those areas at night, but the areas that are accessible makes up for the loss of those sections.  There are cafes set up throughout the compound that provide bathrooms, a place to rest and serves hot drinks.  Furthermore, there are signs and staff members throughout the gardens that can help and guide those wishing to see the lights.

The botanical gardens also provide a map upon entry to help in planning out the best route.  Due to the garden’s popularity, parking and tickets are extremely limited, so make sure to plan ahead, and definitely buy your tickets online to ensure you can enter the gardens.

After I finished my tour of the botanical gardens, I made my way into town.  While there, I dined at Ports of Italy.  Small and intimate, reservations are recommended.  There are tables scattered throughout the restaurant, and there is seating at the bar.  Street parking can be found out front, while additional parking can be found in the rear.  Unfortunately, Ports of Italy is only open from mid-April to New Year’s Eve, so make sure to plan accordingly.

Ports of Italy has a sizable wine menu, along with a cocktail list, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks. Typical Italian food with a bit of seafood dot the menu, and any guest will find something delicious to eat.  I had the spaghetti alle vongole, which is a pasta dish with clam sauce.  It is absolutely delicious, and I find myself ordering that whenever I stop at Ports of Italy.

Gardens Aglow is definitely worth the trip to Boothbay.  I try to go at least once a year, and I always find something new whenever I go.  If you are interested in Gardens Aglow, you can click here, and if Ports of Italy sounds appetizing, you can click here.  As always, I have to ask, where should I go next?

Banging On About Bangor

I love to go on adventures. One of my favorite places to visit is Bangor.  I have already written about Bangor once before, and I’m happy to do so again.  I visited Bangor a couple of times for this post, so there is plenty to read about in this post.

 

There is a ton of places to eat in Bangor.  One of the first places I went to was the Bangor Beer Company. Located right behind the Oriental Jade, this brewery has twelve beers on tap.  These beers are also available to take home with you in cans. Furthermore, people can order cocktails, red and white wine, along with mocktails and ciders.  Additionally, people can order sandwiches and burgers, along with sushi.  Appetizers like calamari and chicken wings and tenders are available.  I had the BBC Burger, the Bang Bang Shrimp and the Red Dragon Roll.  All of it was delicious, and I highly recommend it.

 

Patrons can sit at the picnic tables, at the seats at the bar, or at the booths.  There is even outdoor seating during the warmer months.  There are pinball machines where people can play while they wait for their food.  Finally, people can purchase merchandise to remember their time at The Bangor Beer Company.

 

For dinner I ended up at Miguel’s, a Mexican restaurant that was absolutely delicious.  Their drink menu is extensive, including cocktails, beer, cider, wine, non-alcoholic drinks, and flights of tequila.  There are appetizers like wings and avocado fries.  Tacos, burritos, salads and tacos can be found at Miquel’s. The décor is absolutely wonderful and looks like it was imported straight from Mexico.  Free chips and salsa are also provided while people wait for their food.  I had the Miguel’s street tacos, which came with two sides.  I had the refried beans and the Spanish rice.  All of it was very good.

 

Bangor offers a lot of recreational activities as well.  I started with the Zillman Art Museum. There are donated pieces, along with visiting artists.  Staff are on hand for any questions or if you’re looking for more information. Furthermore, there is information about the artists and paintings on the wall.  There are benches and stools throughout the museum so people can sit and take in the artwork.  There was even a painting by Diego Rivera at the museum.

 

I also visited the Bangor City Forest as well as the Orono Bog Walk.  You might say “but Merry Mainer, you’re writing about Bangor, not Orono!”  That is very true, however the Bog Walk starts in the Bangor City Forest, so I decided to include the Bog Walk in Bangor’s post.  The Forest is open year-round, while the Bog Walk is only open from May to November.

 

There are two parking lots, so there is plenty of parking spaces.  Furthermore, there are benches and picnic tables scattered throughout the forest as well.  There’s only one bathroom in the forest, so make sure to plan accordingly.  There are trail maps throughout the forest.  The maps are numbered or lettered so you know where you are.  Information about the forest is also posted throughout the forest.  The bog has seats throughout the trail to rest or take in the scenery as well as information about the bog.  Dogs are allowed in the forest, but not in the bog, so make sure to plan around that.

 

Finally, I went to the Coleman Land Transportation Museum. The museum includes a brief history of Bangor. The museum has a large collection of land vehicles, including old snowplows, fire trucks, trains, and farming equipment.  There is a small section dedicated to military history, along with a Vietnam War Memorial outside.

 

I love Maine quite a bit.  There is so much to do and I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface.  If you want to learn more about The Bangor Beer Company, you can click here.  If you want to do more research on Miquel’s you can click here.  If you want to go to Zillman Art Museum you can click here.  Finally, if you want to visit the forest and the bog, you can click here and here.  As always, I have to ask, where should I go to 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?

A Meal at a Sicilian Table

I’ve written three blog posts about three restaurants owned by the same person.  These restaurants included Tuscan Table in South Portland. While researching those posts, I heard whispers of a fourth restaurant opening at some point in the future.  Recently, I was looking for a place to eat on the internet, and Sicilian Table, the fourth restaurant to be opened by the same owner, had begun serving customers.  I knew immediately that I had to try it, so I hurried over and ordered some lunch.

 

Sicilian Table offers a large drink menu. Cocktails, mocktails, wine, soda, and bourbon populate their drink menu.  Sicilian Table has a great food menu as well, offering a variety of food options.  There are appetizers like meatballs and mussels, as well as salads like caser salad and a Greek salad.  There is a section reserved for pizza, as well for their house made pasta.  Finally, Sicilian Table also offers sandwiches like a burger or the chicken parmesan. There are seats at the bar as well as bar seating.  There are booths and tables, along with outdoor seating. There is also two floors available for patrons to sit.  I had a Caesar salad, along with a bee sting pizza, and both were delicious.

 

I enjoy these four restaurants, and I’m glad that I was able to try the newest addition.  Maine has a great variety of places to eat, so I’ll keep looking for new places to try. If you want to check out Sicilian Table, you can click here.  Now that this post is done, where should I go next?

Feeling Blue? Go See a Live Show

Maine plays host to a lot of live shows.  Whether you’re in Bangor or in the Greater Portland Area, chances are you might be able to see a live show.  While I’ve never been big on live shows, I decided to broaden my horizons.  I chose to go see a comedy show, followed by some live music.  With my mission in mind, I decided to head to The Clambake in Scarborough to see Bob Marley.

 

If you’re confused by that statement, I don’t blame you.  I’m a fan of Bob Marley, the reggae singer, but I never heard of a comedian also named Bob Marley.  When I was planning which shows I was going to see, Bob Marley’s name kept popping up.  Marley happens to be from Maine himself, and cinema fans might recognize him from the cult classic film The Boondock Saints.  He has a long-standing relationship with The Clambake, which I’ve written about before, so he has a number of performances there. Marley also does shows around Maine and the US, so make sure to check his tour dates, to see if he is performing near you. The Clambake also has an event room for such an occasion.  There are tables at the back of the room for those who want to eat while watching the show, along with three rows of seats surrounding the stage.

 

Bob Marley is quite popular here in Maine and his tickets tend to sell out quickly, so make sure to buy your tickets early.  Furthermore, doors open at six pm for a seven pm show, enabling guests to get there early and pick out their seats.  If you want your pick of seats, make sure to get to the venue early so that you can get the seats you want.  There was an opening act, who was very funny, and he was able to warm up the crowd for Bob Marley.  After the opener finished at 7:30, Marley took the stage, and his material is hysterical. His show is quite dynamic, as Marley moves about the stage and interacts with audience members.

 

I was on a roll with my research, so the next day I went to Blue, a live music venue in Portland.  Blue is a small venue, so if you want a seat make sure to get there early.  Sometimes there is a cover charge, while other times the performance is donation based.  The doors open at seven pm, while the show starts at eight.  If you enjoy watching the band set up, go through their sound check, and prep for their show, definitely show up at seven.  There are tables facing the stage as well as seats at the bar.

 

Blue is a twenty-one and over establishment, so there are wines, cocktails, shots, spirits, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks.  Blue also offers combo drinks like the Howdy Neighbor.  The Howdy Neighbor is a can of Narragansett and a shot of bourbon.  Their menu is small, offering hummus and naan, flat bread, and a variety of grilled cheese.  I had an OG Grilled Cheese, along with a Margarita and a double chocolate cupcake.  I saw a musician Javier Rosario perform, who plays jazz music.  The band was focused on the music, so there was little talking from the band between songs, which I definitely appreciated.

 

I’m glad that I got to experience these two shows.  I had so much fun that I’ll definitely see Bob Marley again, and I can see myself going to Blue a second time.  If you want to learn more about Bob Marley, you can click here. If you want to see what Blue has to offer, you can click here.  As always, I pose the question; where should I go next?  I already have my next post planned out so make sure to stay tuned.

Exploring Some of What Portland Has to Offer

Portland offers a lot of different places to eat, though some of these restaurants are easy to miss.  Over the course of a couple of days, I decided to discover some of these hidden gems.  My first stop was Black Cow Burgers for some lunch.  Situated right on the cusp of the Old Port, Black Cow Burgers has big windows overlooking a tree-lined plaza.  Seats are available at the bar, along with tables and booths around the restaurants. Though the menu is small, Black Cow Burgers still offers quite a bit.  There is a sampling of cocktails, along with house crafted sodas available for purchase.  Furthermore, there are floats and shakes if one is feeling adventurous.

 

There is a selection of sandwiches for patrons to peruse, ranging from burgers and grilled cheese to fried fish sandwiches. There are a ton of sides to add to your entrée as well.  French fries can be added, but there is so much more as well.  Tomato soup, fried brussel sprouts, and buffalo chicken dip is just some of what Black Cow Burgers has to offer.  If you still have room for dessert, there is plenty to choose from. Customers can buy ice cream or sundaes. I had a cheeseburger with fries and a chocolate shake. I finished my meal with a vanilla shake and a tin roof sundae, and I thoroughly enjoyed my meal.

 

After I went to Black Cow Burger, I found myself craving oysters, so I decided to satisfy my hunger by sampling two different oyster bars. My first stop Eventide Oyster Company here in Portland.  While Eventide Oyster Company is small, there is a wide variety of seating available. Seats at the bar, tables overlooking the street, and wooden picnic tables are offered to diners. The picnic tables are big enough for multiple parties to be seated at. Their drink menu is extensive, offering cocktails, sake, beer and non-alcoholic drinks.

 

The oyster selection is massive, with plenty of oysters from Maine and from away. Furthermore, there is a sizable food menu available for those who might want something else. This includes soups like clam chowder, and sandwichs like burgers and lobster rolls.  There is even a dessert menu, that includes whoopie pie. I had a big meal while researching Eventide Oyster Company. I had a half-dozen oysters, an Eventide Brown Butter Lobster Roll, a burger, clam chowder, and a whoopie pie!  It was all delicious, and I recommend everything.

 

After I recovered from my feast at Eventide Oyster Company, I went to Maine Oyster Company.  This restaurant is smaller, with a more intimate setting.  There is beer on tap and in bottles and cans.  Wine is also available for purchase.  Oysters are definitely the star here at Maine Oyster Company. They offer oyster shucking classes, and you can visit their oyster farm here in Maine (I sense a future blog post!).  Their menu is definitely smaller, so I decided to focus on their oysters, which were delicious.  While during the off season, Maine Oyster Company has a small selection of oysters, the summer season sees six to eight different types of oysters available for purchase.

 

All that walking made my feet sore, so I decided to stop by Soakology, located right on Congress Street.  This massage parlor specializes in foot soaks, while offering twenty- or forty-minute messages.  The foot soaks come in a variety of scents, adding to the sense of peace that Soakology strides for.  Since my feet were bothering me, I decided to have a foot rub.  Soakology also offers a number of teas, along with hot chocolate. The soundproofing at the spa is incredible, and I found myself forgetting that I was in downtown Portland and was able to relax completely.

 

I thoroughly enjoy writing for you, dear reader, as it enables me to experience much of what Maine has to offer.  Portland itself has so much to do, so this little excursion took a couple of days to complete.  If you want to learn more about Black Cow Burgers, click here.  If you want to experience all that Eventide Oyster Company has to offer, click here.  If Maine Oyster Company is more your speed, click here.  Finally, if you want to research Soakology, you can click here.  As always, I have to ask, where should I go next?  As it happens, I know exactly where I’m going next.

A Major Steak in the Restaurant Business

 

I love steak, though I find myself not eating it as often as I would like.  Therefore, I decided to fix that.  I visited two steak restaurants, each vastly different from the other.  I went to The Steakhouse, in Wells, and Bonissoni, in Ogunquit.

 

The Steakhouse is a popular restaurant.  They’re only open for dinner, and they don’t accept reservations, so be prepared to wait a bit before you’re seated.  There is ample parking and two floors available for seating.  Despite The Steakhouse’s size, there is still a cozy and intimate feeling to the eatery. There is a massive drink menu available for patrons of all ages.  There are draft beers and beer in bottles and cans.  Furthermore, there are wines, cocktails, and frozen drinks.  The food menu is just as big as well.  There are soups, appetizers, salads, steak, and seafood that can be purchased.  

 

On my first visit to The Steakhouse, I decided to sample some appetizers.  I settled on having four different dishes. I ordered a cup of lobster stew, steakhouse cheese fries, boneless buffalo wings, and the mussels. For my second trip, I ordered the filet mignon with a side of French fries and Caesar salad.  My meals were delicious, and I would recommend everything.  The Steakhouse does close down for a month or so, so make sure to check their website before you make the trip.

 

Bonissoni was a different experience.  Bonissoni is a Brazilian Steakhouse, which means that the servers walk around the restaurant with skewers of meat.  They place the skewer onto the table and ask if you want a slice of meat.  If you say yes, then the server will cut a piece of meat off and place it onto your plate.  Bonissoni has a large menu as well. There are cocktails, desert drinks, non-alcoholic drinks, as well as a selection of wines. Furthermore, there are a number of sides that customers can order, ranging from French fries to Caesar salads.  Like The Steakhouse, Bonissoni is cozy and intimate, making for a great visit.

 

My experience eating at two superb restaurants meant that I had a great meal.  I’ve spoken before about the versatility of Maine’s restaurant scene, and I know I’m far from finished eating my way through all that Maine has to offer.  If you want to know more about The Steakhouse, click here, and if you want to research Bonissoni, you can click here.  As always, I have to ask, where should I go to next?  As it happens, I know exactly where I’m going.

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?

A Royal River, A Royal Meal

As I mentioned in my previous post, I visited three restaurants who are owned by the same person. Therefore, my next trip brought me to Royal River Grill House. Located in Yarmouth, the Royal River Grill House sits right on the water, providing a wonderful view as you eat. Seating is plentiful here as well, with seats at the bar, tables, seating upstairs, and patio seating. Like Tuscan Table, the décor is beautiful and the interior is cozy.

The drink menus is extensive, offering beer, wine, cocktails, and soft drinks. The menu is extensive, offering appetizers, a raw bar, salads, entrees, and an a la carte menu. I decided to sample a wide variety of what the Royal River Grill House had to offer. I had two oysters, the clam chowder, a Caesar salad, and a burger. Everything was delicious, and I even took my burger home with me to have later.

While the Royal River Grill House is tucked away in Yarmouth, this eatery is well worth the trip. Whether you’re looking for a meal with a view, or you’re looking to experience something new, the Royal River Grill House has something for everyone. As usual, I would ask where I would go next, however my next post will conclude the series on restaurants owned by a singular person, so stay tuned.