Portland Recommendations (2022)

The pizza is kinda like the ones at Jack's Abby (or at least the ones they used to have, I don't know how it is with the new chef/menu.) Similar sized, wood fired. MBC's is a little thinner, and I feel like the sauce is a smidge sweeter, maybe fresher tasting? Not quite as greasy too.

Rose Foods is a Montreal style bagel, so a little crispier on the outside than say, a bagel from Rosenfeld's in Newton.

 

Been a while since I've had either, but Brewer's Fork is probably the closest comparison to Maine Beer Co. pizza that I can think of for Boston places. It's not quite as legitimately neapolitan style as Posto - falls into that BF/Stoked/A4 in between category. I thought it was great pizza and a really fun lunch spot last summer.

 

Thanks to both of you!

Unfortunately I've only had Posto out of everything listed above.

But that alone gives me an idea of style. For Neapolitan you can't beat Ciao in Chelsea. And their pasta is even better.

Other pizza places I adore (multiple styles) in the Boston area are Avenue (Detroit style) in Somerville, Leone's (Sicilian) in Somerville, and of course Regina's in the North End. Nightshift's Lovejoy Wharf location also has some stellar Detroit style pizza.

I've heard great things about Jack's Abby's pizza, A4, and Brewer's Fork too.

 

Meant to comment on this earlier. I've found Bissell is typically dead around noon on a Friday. That's my first stop on the way into Portland, and it's often around noon on Friday.

Swish sticks around for a long time, so long gone are lines or even a busy tap room for a Swish release.

Now, head to Bissell around noon on Saturday and Sunday and the place is packed. Whole lotta kiddos running around too.

 

I was there the Friday after Memorial Day last summer and it was a mad house. I'm OK not doing that again...

 

Yeah, Bissell at open on Friday is my move also. We’ve also been getting lunch, or what I call First Lunch at Bissell, too. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how good their food has been.

Rose Foods just added to an already crazy Portland to eat list. Thanks for the recap!

 

In Portland there always has to be multiple lunches.

 

Especially for the BAs on here who run half marathons in every city they visit. They need to load up!

 

Ha...sure!

When I was running longer distances, and training for a marathon, it was depressing how you didn't need a lot of calories to sustain that training.

Really doesn't burn as many calories as one may think...especially if you're adding craft beer calories on top of the food.

 

"You can't outrun your fork."

 

Truer words have never been spoken.

Craft beer is the worst offender.

 

*half marathons using Trojan Magnum Swinglock™️ shorts

You think so? I consider myself an absolute glutton, and overall the running keeps things in check, and I don’t have any sort of insane metabolism (that said I am sure a week in Portland, the gluttony would win out in the short term).

 

Just wanted to note that this thread seems like it's been so helpful to a bunch of visitors -- thinking of using it as a template for a more comprehensive Philly Recommendation thread as we get the question in distinct threads every month or so anyway.

 

Not only that, but this thread helps me vicariously enjoy Portland until the next Maine trip comes.

 

I don’t know. As a 30 year, 5-6 times a week runner, it always seemed to keep my metabolism up and my weight down while still enjoying large portions and craft beer.

 

For the purpose of discussion, a mile only burns about 100 calories on average. It takes maybe 6 - 9 min. to run a mile. Your average craft beer is maybe between 150-200 calories per 12 oz. (and most are in 16 oz. servings).

A piece of pizza is about 330 calories, a bagel about 250 calories...you get the point. You can consume more calories far easier and quicker than you can run a mile.

On a weekend day I can put back 4-5K calories no problem and that's while TRYING to keep my calories lower. A day in Portland? Forget it, I don't even track. You're talking north of 6K calories without even trying.

While I work in BioPharm now, my degree is in Sports Med, and I was originally going to head directly to a Masters program in nutrition at Suffolk. Read quite a few studies on this, definitely far from an expert though.

If I had to guess you both likely have more than a few hormones well regulated to keep your weight down easier than most (could be wrong, maybe you were obese at one point in life).

Go to the Boston Marathon and tell me how many of the non-elites/non-qualifiers look ripped and in incredible shape...there's a reason this stat exists from the CDC...

• Percent of adults aged 20 and over with obesity: 42.5% (2017-2018)
• Percent of adults aged 20 and over with overweight, including obesity: 73.6% (2017-2018)

 

But who among us is drinking only average craft beers? In Portland no less? ;-)

 

Not to derail this from Portland to exercise/calorie discussion. I am aware of the calorie/mile breakdown and how high DIPAs are in calories. I’m just generally saying that being normally active and running 6 days a weeks on top of that, plus only drinking on weekends has helped keep the weight off. After playing football in college and eating/drinking way too much, I graduated around 230 lbs. Started running regularly that summer and ever since, been roughly 185 since, even after getting into craft beer. I’m just claiming all the running helps even when splurging during my beloved Maine/Portland trips. Better than NOT running for sure!

 

Oh absolutely! I mean, I walk about 10-15 miles per day on my Portland trips, definitely helps a little. I put on about 2-3 pounds per trip, would probably more like 5 if I didn't!

My marathon weight was 178 lbs. and I was 26 years old. Sprint triathlon weight at the same age was 176.

I'm 39 now (40 next month) and weigh a much leaner 167 lbs...go figure.

I do thoroughly enjoy a 6 mile round trip run to Notch's beer garden on Thursdays on occasion though!

 

Agree on the points above.

Realistically, for the average person who is somewhat active and maybe works a sitting job and enjoys to run or hit the gym 4-5 days a week it’s just understanding your BMR, and eat/drink accordingly. Which yes, at times sucks to think about. Especially if you see others who seem to eat what they want and remain the same. We’re all just different. For me, being in my 40’s now and being in the gym lifting quite hard for an hour and mixing in some days walking, plus a rest day or two. I still certainly have to be aware of what I consume and I do track it daily. Thankfully Em enjoys eating the same and also tracks, which helps for even non verbal support. I know almost down to a few hundred calories where I can be gaining, maintaining or burning body fat, while still maintaining as much muscle as I can. I probably walk 2 or at most 3 days per week for an hour at a strong pace for any cardio. No matter what, I can put on body fat very very easily. It’s scary how easy it can be. You absolutely can not exercise enough to compensate over eating. However, some folks caloric threshold can be much higher. It’s all about what works for you. And it probably will come down to getting a food scale and trying different amounts to work for you. Trying to judge food amounts is not going to work at first. Once you find it, then you can build in your beers along with it. Just balance out the food and certainly don’t sacrifice your health and food just to drink lots of beer. Covid fucked that all up for me with stress, no gyms, a new schedule where time ceased to exist and many nights just sitting around eating and have drinks at odd times since we were in such strange and scary times. Glad I was able to get back on track. It wasn’t anything detrimental but I hadn’t felt anxiety or stress like that for years.

One day might not destroy the gains for everyone. But for the sake of it let’s say I am around 2000 cal per day(random number chosen) to be losing a pound per week. My goal is to lose some body fat. 5-16oz beers ranging anywhere from 200-300 calories adds up quickly to between 1000-1500. That’s leaves less than 1000 to go for the day. Which you will most likely surpass with any normal diet of breakfast, lunch and dinner. Even if you were to exercise and burn off 300-400 of those calories. It’s still going to be way over. And I’m only using about 5 beers. That’s no including other sips or tastes. Also noting the 2-300 calories is based off of a 12oz pour scale. It just adds up. Here and there ok. Becoming a pattern, no way you can overcompensate at all with exercise.

Probably the most open I’ve ever been on here. I do hope someone gets something out of this