Portland recommendations

God damn what a weekend that sounded like. Appreciate the recap!

 

Yea when I visited Portland last summer we only did Fri-Sun and that felt like more than enough time. We even made the trip out to Ebenezer's Pub which is a bit of a hike from Portland but it was definitely the highlight of trip, would 1000% recommend, especially if you enjoy Lambic/Belgian beer.

 

I've never been, always wanted to go. How's their list/selection compare to Novare Res?

I think you can do a bang up job in Portland for Lambic/Belgian between Novare, Oxbow, and Allagash.

 

Ahhh keep forgetting to mention the Portland Zoo near lone and goodfire!

Check that out when there as well!

 

Novare Res probably has a broader array of different stuff but Ebenezer's has some stuff you won't find pretty much anywhere else. The food is also really good, would really love to go back for The Night of Great Thirst in the future.

 

Heading to Maine for the weekend, can anyone recommend dog friendly Oyster/ Lobster spots?

 

Ever been to Novare for Zwanze Day or their Beer Geek Christmas?

They break out some incredible/rare stuff for those events, definitely worth checking out.

 

My favorite lobster is the Bite Into Maine food truck, which is parked at Allagash (was dog friendly, but don’t know post-Covid) and Fort Williams park (definitely dog friendly). Lobster is crazy taxed this year though.

The only correct answer to your oyster question is The Shop on Washington Ave. You can sit outside on their patio and parking lot, which perhaps isn’t the most ideal spot for a dog, but I believe dogs are welcome.

 

Please report back about your dog-friendly experiences, as I'm curious how much has changed in this regard.

 

This is a great resource. Thanks to everyone for contributing.

My wife and I are planning a trip to Maine in October, with a stop in Portsmouth, NH, a couple days (or so) in Portland, then along the coast and Mount Desert Island, and elsewhere TBD. Hopefully the Canadian Maritimes (though that’s looking like a separate trip of it’s own).

We have a rough sketch now. Once we flesh-out the plan, I will post the line-up and solicit suggestions for tweeks.

 

I didn’t want to create a separate thread. I’m hoping a few people might have some recommendations for the mid-coast area. Going camping with the family at Hermit Island next week. I’ve been there a half dozen times but not in 8 years or so.

Looks like some new breweries around Brunswick and Bath. Wondering which are worth a visit. Any food recommendations are welcomed too. Probably making a trip over to Boothbay for the botanical gardens so that area is in play too. Thanks in advance.

 

Pro tip if you need some donuts on the way out of town, there is a large Holy Donuts shop on Rt. 1 in Scarborough (an old Tim Horton's I believe) that stays stocked into the PM. Either I-295 to the Scarborough connector down Rt 1 south, or if you want to save a few minutes, are made of money and don't mind paying an extra toll then Maine Turnpike to exit 42 Haigis Pkwy and follow this down to Rt. 1.

My Sunday typically starts in Scarborough at my mom's, and we'll make one visit to a Portland brewery which we weren't able to get to the previous day, then backtrack all through our Rt. 1 Scarborough and Saco spots before getting onto I-195 back to the Turnpike. Usually:

* Lois' Natural Marketplace for my wife's essential oils and natural products
* Oak Hill Beverage for a look at their front cooler cans to go
* Holy Donut (but we usually stop on our way UP to Portland in the morning)
* Barreled Souls for bottles to go
* (Maybe Banded Brewery a few miles further if we realllly want to extend the weekend.)

 

Bath brewing co does not make good beer in my opinion.

Flight deck is a super cool spot, but again the beer is not great.

Better off going to maine beer co in freeport or oxbow.

 

Hear anything about Trinken Brewing? They have some decent reviews and good variety.

 

Trinken is pretty good for the area. I agree with the Maine Beer suggestion or Oxbow. Oxbow would be near by when you're at the botanical gardens. Could also hit Newcastle Publick house or Shuck Station for food when in the Damariscotta/Newcastle area. Bet's in Boothbay for great fried fish sandwiches. Brunswick/Harspwell food suggestions would be Taco the Town and Mr. Tuna for food trucks and Erica's for seafood by the water. Taverna Khione for Greek food and local beers. Enjoy the gardens. Was there a couple weeks ago in blazing heat. Very busy.

 

Just back from another Portland beercation from last weekend.

On the beer side, Belleflower is definitely legit. I'd say their Magpie (5.5% IPA) was the best beer I had all weekend. Only wish they hadn't run out of to-go cans. For reference, the other stops included Bissell, Goodfire, Oxbow, Austin Street, Definitive, Foundation, Battery Steele, Allagash, and Gritty's, plus Novare Res and then Barrelled Souls on our way out of town.

Also, can confirm that the brisket tacos at Terlingua are other worldly. Also enjoyed tacos for lunch at Bissell's new kitchen. But the big eye opener was Izakaya Minato, a Japanese place which is right near Terlingua & Oxbow - the food was outstanding, the space nice and cozy, and the bill was inexplicably low for the quality. Lastly, The Maine Oyster Company was another great meal in a smallish low-key space that really hit the spot.

 

I was wondering how that place was!

I walked by several times on the way to Holy Donut, and it looked nice (despite the area it was in). I figured it could be another "hidden gem" place to snag oysters that's not Eventide or J's.

 

So funny thing is that as we walked up from the other side of the street for our reservation, the place looks almost abandoned from afar, so we called them and asked them what the "new address" was since we thought we were at their 'old' spot Then the hostess opened the door to show us we were very much in the right place. ... Cool casual atmosphere, top notch oysters, and the staff was a lot of fun to chat with. .... Definitely consider if Eventide, etc. are too jammed up.

 

You mean WHEN Eventide is jammed up, which is all the time.

If I want oysters I don't even consider them, I just go to The Shop. And it sounds like this place is cool too!

Thanks for the recommendation.

 

Well we’ve got another gem here in town, Crispy Gai, Thai style fried chicken. It’s the crispiest, most delicious chicken I’ve ever had. All of the food was insanely good, cocktails were insanely good, just a top notch experience all around. It honestly may have been the best meal I’ve had in Portland ever.