Little Tap House

http://www.littletaphouse.com/#!

We have been to the Little Tap House many times for drinks, lunch and drinks, dinner and drinks, and drinks and drinks.  They have a really terrific selection of local beers.  Not many places have a better selection besides maybe The Thirsty Pig.  We will make note to do some research on the topic.  The wine list was small but has good options.  Soon after our drinks arrived the hostess brought over cauliflower shooter.  No charge. The shooter was creamy, smooth and full of flavor. 

The meat and cheese plates we had for an appetizer were great options.  We have had this at the bar before, mid-afternoon, and enjoyed it just as much. Great variety of cheese.  The meat plate included home made sausage, salmon and prosciutto.

We had the following for main courses: fish and chips with kimchi slaw, turkey sliders and chicken confit with risotto. Everything was full of flavor except for the sliders which was a little under seasoned.  The risotto was delicious.

The staff were friendly and relaxed. We really enjoyed our trip to the Little Tap House.

View of the bar from the back of the dining area

meat and cheese plates

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 4
Staff: 4
Drinks: 4
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 4
Parking: 3

The Bearded Lady's Jewel Box

http://thebeardedladysjewelbox.com/

We were thrilled that we finally had an opportunity to visit the Bearded Lady's Jewel Box.  We have been waiting to visit since we got the email from the owner that they had finally opened.  But, our schedule would not permit, until tonight.

The Bearded Lady is all about the drinks.  They do have a collaboration beer with Infinity for you beer drinkers.  The beer was very good.  Clean, crisp and very drinkable.  Highly recommended but get a cocktail instead.  The drink we tried was good and unbelievable strong. It included gin and several other ingredients which we could not pronounce. The person who made the drink checked on us to make sure we were okay because "its a strong one".  The drink menu is always changing so go with an open mind and be prepared to be wowed. 

We also tried the beet tahini with olives and pita. The tahini was very fresh and tasty.  I will probably try to make my own tabini from red beets.

There is a mezzanine in the back of the bar with a winding staircase to access the mezzanine.  The mezzanine is drinking/dancing area and DJ booth and disco light.  Lots of fun. 

The Bearded Lady is a jewel on Congress Street.  Its a fun place with a great staff and awesome drinks.

Beet Tahiti with olives and pita

 

View from the mezzanine level

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 4
Staff: 5
Drinks: 5
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 4
Parking: 2

Empire Chinese Kitchen

 

http://portlandempire.com/kitchen/

Empire is more of a modern Dim Sum restaurant.  They have the traditional small plates intended for sharing plus larger entrées and seating is not family style.  Regardless, the food is really good and satisfying.  We had a lot to eat this time.  We started with the boneless BBQ'd pork.  This had thick pieces of pork in a sticky sweet sauce.  We could have had four orders of this and been very happy.  The sauntered bok chow was cooked really well.  It was fresh, crunchy and full of flavor.  We then moved on to the pork steamed buns and the pan fried dumplings.  The steamed buns were little pillows of deliciousness hiding sweet pork. The dumplings consisted of pork and shrimp which we dunked in soy. The dumplings were really cooked well.  They were browned on the bottom and soft on the top providing a really enjoyable texture.  When we saw the bacon fried rice on the menu, the decision was made.  The dish had bacon with corn and onion.  The bacon with the corn was a really good combination of ingredients. 

The staff, and the bar and at the table, were very friendly, accommodating and easy to talk to.  The beer and wine list was what you would want.  The beer list had several local beers.  The wines had four red and four whites so there was plenty to choose from.

We rolled out the Empire full and very happy. 

 

boneless BBQ'd pork

 

 sauteed baby bok choy

 

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 4
Staff: 4
Drinks: 4
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 4
Parking: 4

Slab

https://twitter.com/SlabPortland

Like the rest of you, we have been waiting for months for Slab to open.  Our first visit was on a Saturday morning just after they opened to the public.  The inside is smaller than I had expected.  I would estimate that the bar has 15 stools and tables seat another 25?  The outdoor space is beautiful (see below).  There are seven, twenty foot long benches and tables.  I can see myself wasting several hours there eating and drinking.  In the corner is a stage where they plan to have live bands on a regular basis. 

The restaurants tag line is "Sicilian Street Food".  Perfect line to go with the Sicilian pizza and co-owner Steve Lanzalotta.  Lets talk about the menu and what we tried.  We started with the cole slaw.  An often overlooked item.  I always try restaurants cole slaw because a good slaw says a lot about the owners concern for good food. Some use it to fill an empty space on the plate  The slaw consisted of cabbage, fennel, red onion and whole basil leaves.  We tried the creamy curry orange cumin dressing.  The taste was light and refreshing.  There were large crystals of salt in the slaw which was wonderful to find.  Recommended!  They also have a sweet-tangy lime anise vinaigrette.

We ordered the half slab (4 pieces). Each piece of pizza is 6x9.  Yes, I measured it.  It was out of this world good.  We skipped the desert menu because we were so full. They also offer hand slabs (single piece) and full slabs (8 pieces).  There is still Luna Bread! They are stuffing things like braised beef and pork meatballs in luna. There are a few vegetarian items on the menu as well. The "shoes and gravy" sounds good.  This is Luna with sauce and a chunk of aged provolone.

The bar menu is also Sicilian.  Of course they have a Prosecco plus a rose, three whites and three reds (all from Sicily).  The beer menu is an interesting combination of high end beers (Sierra Nevada, De Struise), specially produced beers by some of our best local brewers (Banded Horn, Rising Tide, Oxbox, Bunker, etc.) and common beers like Miller High Life.  Both times we visited we had the coSLABoration by Rising Tide.

The second time we visited it was a Thursday evening.  This time we ordered two hand slabs.  We were surprised how fast the food arrived only to find that the pizza had been reheated.  It was a little dry and not as good as the first time. I would have preferred to have the pizza room temperature versus heated and dried out.  It was good just not like the first time. This time we had room for dessert.  We split the ice cream cone cannoli. It was really big and fresh.  Not too sweet.  The good news is that we now have a local source for GOOD cannolies and no longer need to go to Mike's Pastries in the North End.

They proudly claim themselves as a biodegradable and recycle restaurant.   There are no dishes.  The pizza is severed on paper. The utensils are wooden forks and knives.  Yes, they are easy to break but your eating light and fluffy bread dough so they are appropriate for the menu items.

The staff is very friendly and as excited as we were that the restaurant is open.  The Portland Public Market parking garage is right next door.  We did not park there but the location of the garage should be helpful in bad weather. 

Bottom line, we loved it and glad its open. 

.

view of the outdoor eating area

the half slab

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 4
Staff: 4
Drinks: 4
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 5
Parking: 4

The Bar of Chocolate

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bar-of-Chocolate/116495095042110

We like going to The Bar of Chocolate after a good meal at one of our favorite restaurants.  Today, we had dinner at the East Ender and had a nice walk to The Bar of Chocolate on a beautiful evening in Portland.

The interior is dark and lit with small lights.  Along one wall are long benches with high backs with tables and chairs.  There are also pairs of high back leather chairs giving the space a very comfortable relaxed atmosphere.  As you can tell from the name of the bar, they serve desserts, cocktails, and after dinner drinks.  Of course, chocolate is a popular ingredient. 

This evening we tried the chocolate torte with caramel and sea salt. It was very rich and dense and for true chocolate lovers only! I had to first show my Chocolate Lovers membership card to get a piece! (just kidding).  We had a Limoncello cocktail with the torte which was a great combination.  We also had the crème brulee paired with a port wine.  Wasn't sure it would go well but it did.  The brulee was a rich, creamy vanilla. Classic and satisfying.  Perfect end to the evening.

The staff is very friendly and can make suggestions on how to best pair a dessert with a wine of cocktail.  We highly recommend The Bar of Chocolate as a great way to start or end your evening.

 

chocolate torte with caramel and sea salt

 

Crème Brulee with a nice Port wine

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 4
Staff: 4
Drinks: 4
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 4
Parking: 1

Portland Hunt + Alpine Club

http://huntandalpineclub.com/

This was our second trip to the Portland Hunt and Alpine Club.  Both times were on the first Sunday of the month  which is Tiki Sunday at the Club.  They play tropical music. The music is more Hawaii 5-0 than Bob Marley.  Resident mixologist, John Myers serves up the drinks.  Tiki Sunday features 4 different drinks, each for $9:

• Corn + Oil - blackstrap run and falernum
• Viking Fogcutter - brand, rum, gin, orgeat, and citrus
• Yellow Bird. - rum, line and Galliano
• Montego Bay - rums, citrus, honey, allspice and bitters

If these drinks sound good, its because they are.  We recommend the Montego Bay.  As you would suspect, the drink menu is terrific.  Its why you go to the Club.  Wine and Beer selecting is limited.  But, last time we were there they did have Bissell Brother's Substance and Rising Tides Daymark.  The beer selection does change, always with good options. 

Food selection is simple but good.  We have tried the snacks but not the meals.  We have sampled the popcorn and the house pretzels.  Both options were addicting and satisfying.  The atmosphere has that clean and neat Scandinavian feel.  The location is on Market street with floor to ceiling windows looking out onto Post Office Park. 

Service was disappointing.  Not great but not bad.

In a coconut shell, we like the Portland Hunt and Alpine Club and we'll go back for the drinks.

  The bar

 

 

 The Montego Bay

 

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 3
Staff: 3
Drinks: 4
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 3
Parking: 3

Pai men miyake

www.miyakerestaurants.com/pai-men-miyake

Pai Men Miyake is a restaurant that you need to visit.  The focus of the restaurant is on ramen with broths rich in pork, chicken, beef & vegetables. We started with the pork buns.  The pork comes from the Miyake farm.  Its so much more flavorful than pork you get at the local store.  The cube of pork that comes with a pork bun is huge (golf ball size).  Try some of the pork without the bun so you can really taste the pork. The pork buns are delicious and I would image a great late night snack. We had the Paitan ramen and the Kimchee Beef ramen.  The Paitan ramen is pork belly in a chicken and pork broth.  The Kimchee Beef ramen was, as expected, spicy.  The chunk of beef was so tender that it easily pulled apart with chop sticks.
The beer menu has a least a dozen local selections.  The wine menu was limited with 3 reds and 3 whites.  But the options were satisfactory.  The service varied.  One day we went the service was excellent.  The next time we could not get a second beer from our server.
We really liked the atmosphere. The décor, the music.  With all the steaming in the kitchen the place can get quite warm so be prepared.  Speaking of warm, in the warmer months there are tables outside. 
In summary, delicious Japanese food, beautifully presented.

Brussels sprouts in a fish sauce vinaigrette

Shrimp gyoza

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 5
Staff: 3
Drinks: 4
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 5
Parking: 4

MJ's Wine Bar

www.onecitywines.com
Between all of us we have been to MJ's almost a dozen times.  MJ's has a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere. There is a wide wooden bar, long narrow table ideal for a large group, smaller tables and leather furniture. The wine selection must be the best in town. And, they are always changing the selection to reflect the season. They don't have the "standard" wines you'll find at other bars and restaurants but rather new and interesting wines. They may have a wine from a region you like but from a winery you have never heard of. If your not a big wine drinker you can describe what you like and they will make the recommendation so you get something you'll enjoy. Needless to say, the service is top notch. The menu includes nuts, olives and cheeses. The food selection is also routinely changed to reflect the season. If your not sure which cheese plate would go best with what your drinking ask because they will help you make the right decision.
Did I mention the outdoor seating in the summer!

Beer taps in the foreground, wine in the background.

The music selection.

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 5
Staff: 5
Drinks: 5
Mount Gay rum: No
Food: 4
Parking: 3

Otto's Pizza

http://ottoportland.com/
We have been to both Congress Street locations. Pizza from both location have been equally satisfying. Otto's mashed potato pizza with bacon and scallion is as good as it sounds. We were told its their best selling pie. The location at the top of Forrest Avenue is interesting. There are three doors. The door on the right and left leads to small dining areas each with a bar. The inside is clean and neat. The middle door looks like it's dedicated to walkup and selling slices. The best part is they are open until 2am on Friday and Saturday night. They have a few outdoor tables. The staff is friendly and welcoming. Beer selection was decent. There were 5 choices including Rising Tide's Zephyr. They also had Uinta Hop Notch IPA which we highly recommend. Wine selection was basic.
You can't go wrong with Otto's.

From left to right: 3 cheese Tortellini, Marguerite and the Mashed Potato

View of upper Forrest Ave from the bar

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 5
Staff: 5
Drinks: 3
Mount Gay rum: No
Food: 4
Parking: 3

Top of the East Lounge

http://www.westinportlandharborview.com/top-of-the-east
We were walking up High Street from the Little Tap House and saw the Top of the East Lounge. We took a quick vote and decided to go check it out. It was a good decision to change plans. When you walk in the front door of the hotel, walk straight to the back and take the elevator to the top floor. Very simple. Everyone we came in contact with were very friendly. We were there on a partly cloudy afternoon. But, the view was amazing. It's such a different perspective on Portland and the surrounding towns. The atmosphere is very comfortable. There are tables and couches. We sat on the couches. Some of the long tables have power outlets which is always handy. When you sit down the staff will bring over what our waitress jokingly call "Westin Crack". It was Carmel popcorn with wasabi peas. It was very addicting.
The wine menu is impressive. Excellent choices from all over the world. Some of the bottles are expensive but the wines by the glass are the same prices you would see anywhere else. The are many specialty drinks like the Pear & Brown Sugar Martini. The beer menu is all Maine beers. Menu consists of choices like Maine Beer Company, Allagash and Atlantic. For food we had the panko crusted goat cheese with crostini and the prosciutto, roasted red pepper and mozzarella panini. All the food was very tasty. The panini was sweet and salty and toasted perfectly.
Service was just okay. It seemed like our wait person had a large area to cover. But she was friendly and helpful. We are planning another trip back. We want to go at night this timer. See you there?

View of the lounge

 

panko crusted goat cheese with crostini

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 5
Staff:  5
Drinks: 4
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 4
Parking: 4

Portland & Rochester Public House

http://www.118preble.com/
We went to Portland & Rochester for dinner on Saturday night. When you enter the restaurant you come into the bar. The bar is organized, clean and warm. However, they did not have all the usual local beers that we prefer (Bissell, Rising Tide, etc.). Wine selection, by the glass and bottle, were good. The kitchen is visible to the restaurant. Sometimes this means noisy. It was not. There are two semi-private booths on one wall and tables throughout the rest of the restaurant. We had the stuffed artichokes, the brussel sprouts and the deep fried cheese curds for an appetizer. All were cooked well. I would get the cheese curds again for sure.
Dinner was the Cassoulet with seared Duck which was excellent. The Hake with parsley purée, roasted potatoes and beets were good but the fish was a little overcooked and a somewhat small portion. The mushroom risotto was excellent. The burger and fries were excellent. The fries had rosemary on them which gave them a nice earthy taste. The fish and chips was undercooked and we had to send it back to the kitchen. The kitchen quickly responded with the squash soup while they made a new sandwich. These things sometimes happen and they handled it quickly and professionally.
Overall, we were happy with the service, food and drink. Were going back.

Foreground: Cassoulet with seared duck.
Background: Hake with parsley purée, roasted potatoes and beets

Burger and fries

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 5
Staff:  5
Drinks: 4
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 4
Parking: 3

Ri Ra's

http://www.rira.com/portland/

We are not Irish but you think or WISH we were when you go to Ri Ra's. For those who don't go there often, there is a full restaurant upstairs. We have been there for private parties and dinner in the past. The food and the view are excellent. Check out the Chippers Menu in the bar. Basically, really good, late night bar food.
When you walk in thru front door there is a bar to the left and one to the right. Generally, the room on the right is less busy than the room on the right. Of course, they have Guinness. The only local beer on tap is Allagash. The atmosphere is the quintessential Irish pub. You have to love it. The staff are professional bartenders. The are polite, quick and know what they are doing.

The perfect pour

Guinness advertising

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 5
Staff:  3
Drinks: 4
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 3
Parking: 3

Central Provisions

http://www.central-provisions.com
Central Provisions was our last stop of the day and a good way to end it. Now there's an upstairs, accessible from Fore Street. This is more of the restaurant with a long sleek bar and tables. And, a downstairs accessible from Wharf Street. The downstairs is more of a bar. We chose the bar...
The downstairs bar smelled new. Like the polyurethane was still wet. Of course the bar wasn't wet but the business has been opened for just a month so it did, literally, smell new.
The staff were warm and friendly. You could tell they like working there because they kept everything spotless. We had already eaten so we just had the bar nuts and an order of croquettes. Honestly, we love the tapas-style menus. They have several tempting menu items like Smoked Carrots. I keep thinking about what they will be like. I must go back... And the Brussels Sprouts with horseradish, pine nuts and pecorino. Good selection of draft beer and wine selection. Cider is also available on tap. In summary, great location, menu and staff. Sounds like a home run.

The downstairs bar

My view of the bar

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 4
Staff:  5
Drinks: 4
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 5
Parking: 3

Holy Donut

http://www.theholydonut.com
Holy Cow these are good. We have been here before and loved the donut. We cannot resist buying 6 or 12 and bringing them home. And we could not resist again today. The atmosphere is like your typical coffee shop: tables, couches and coffee tables. Very comfortable. Our favorite is the Dark Chocolate Sea Salt and the Maple Glazed. They keep the Cheddar and Bacon donut in a display case on the counter. Its hard to resist them.
The staff is friendly and patient while you negotiate which donuts to buy and which your going to eat now. We are told they do run out occasionally but we were there mid-afternoon and they had plenty and were making more so just go and get some.

The display case

The Donut Queen

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 3
Staff:  3
Drinks: alcohol free
Mount Gay rum: n/a
Food: 4
Parking: 1

Sonny's

http://www.sonnysportland.com
We started our afternoon at Sonny's. Sonny's has a reputation for an excellent brunch. We have also been there for dinner. The night we were there for dinner we tried the Panko Fried Avocado as an appetizer. We like it so much that we made it at home (theirs was better). Sonny's also has a reputation for drinks. They have an awesome drink menu. The drink menu includes but is NOT limited to: Hot Pepper Margarita and Espresso Martini. I didn't count them but I would guess there 30 different drinks. Try some! Many of their specialty drinks are made with their infused liquors made in-house (see photo below).
The atmosphere is terrific. The bar is comfortable. There are tables, benches, couches and chairs. Very informal and relaxing. The restaurant overlooks Post Office Park and Tommy's Park. The windows that overlook the parks are huge. The afternoon we were there, the sun was pouring in making it a perfect afternoon to drink, talk and laugh. The staff is excellent, very attentive.

House infused liquors

The bar

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 4
Staff:  4
Drinks: 5
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 4
Parking: 2

Local 188

http://www.local188.com

We have all been to Local 188 in the past and really enjoyed our meals. We enjoyed it so much that paella became a favorite meal. We decided to stop by after LFK for more drinks and some food. Local 188 is a warm and inviting place. The couches and chairs are arranged such that you feel like your home. The staff is welcoming and friendly. They were very patient while we mixed and matched beer selections for our samplers. Great selection of beer. All the usual local suspects: Bunker, Bissell, Rising Tide and Allagash. The wine list is just as good. Wide selection from all the major regions.

We have the Chicken Pinchos which on skewers and marinated in coriander, citrus and garlic.

We also had the flatbread with roasted hummus. The flatbread was really big and had a healthy dollop of hummus.

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 5
Staff:  5
Drinks: 4
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 4
Parking: 5

East Ender

http://www.eastenderportland.com/

We stopped into the East Ender for drinks this afternoon.  The atmosphere was friendly and warm. We were immediately greeted by the staff.  We went upstairs for drinks.  We talked to the staff about the beer list which was full of our favorite local beers.  But, they were out of all of our favorites.  They patiently explained what the remaining beers were like and we made our choice.  We were told it was a busy weekend and they were getting restocked on Monday. No worries.  There was a good selection of wines as well. 

We snacked on smoked trout fritters and squash pizza.  The trout had a nice light smoke to it and breaded in cornmeal.  It was served with a garlic aioli with capers.  The aioli was so good I could have eaten it by the spoonful.  The squash pizza was recommended by the waitress and was excellent.  Nice chewy crust, squash and garlic flavors.  The menu was full of interesting options.  We definitely want to go back.

upstairs bar

the front of lounge

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 4
Staff:  5
Drinks: 4
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 4
Parking: 2

Salvage BBQ

http://www.salvagebbq.com/

We had heard from friends who had been to Salvage that we must go there.  So, we stopped by to have a few beers and food.  The restaurant is very casual (family friendly).  There is no table service.  You go to a window and order your food.  They give you a number and when the food is ready they find you and deliver your food.  Same with drinks.  You sit at picnic tables. Again, very casual very relaxed.
They have a great beer selection.  All our favorite local beers like Rising Tide, Bissell Brothers and Oxbow.  We had sausage and hush puppies. In case you are not familiar with hush puppies, they are deep fried balls of corn meal.  Deep fried goodness!  The sausage was moist and flavorful with a hint of smoke.  Some times  people go crazy with the smoke.  Not here, the smoke accentuates the meat.  They have a nice, sweet BBQ sauce and two mustards.  Personally, I didn't use the condiments.  I think the meat can stand alone.

There is free parking in the back of the restaurant.  Yes, you read that correctly.   

The taps

 

The bar from the back of the restaurant

Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 4
Staff:  3
Drinks: 3
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 4
Parking: 5

The North Point

http://www.northpointportland.com

I think we have a NEW favorite place. The North Point is small, quaint, warm, and friendly. Great selection of wine, beer, and food. The menu is full of delicious sounding items. We had the Serrano Ham, Taleggo cheese plate and a Mexican Flatbread. It was artfully presented on a cutting board with soft boiled egg, figs, pickled onions and two types of mustard. Service was excellent and friendly. Happy hour on weekdays and 1/2 off bottles of wine on Monday.

Really nice place.

We are planning our next visit already. I'm leaning towards the Sausage Tasting for $14.00. Its a sampling of exotic, savory sausages served with horseradish, Dijon, BBQ & hot Sauce. Need I say more?


Far wall, covered with warm light and art work.

The bar with wine list on the chalkboard on the wall.


Our ratings scale
Atmosphere: 5
Staff: 5
Drinks: 5
Mount Gay rum: Yes
Food: 5
Parking: 1