Another "Going to Portland" Thread: But this one's a bit different

Been to Beckys' for breakfast? Or to the porthole on the pier?

 

Honey Paw is great and better than standing in line at Eventide

 

Forgot about Standard Baking Co. - glorious pastry, warm brioche fresh out of the oven on weekend mornings. And Miss Portland Diner for fishcake eggs benedict.

 

I see you like bakeries....south Portland has scratch baking which is flat incredible. Bagels, pastries, amazing cakes. The coconut cake is every bit as compelling to me as Bissell Swish etc. Literally get nervous as we approach/park that the last cake will be sold!! They also have another location in an old/gorgeously refurb’d gas station that is a “Toast Bar”. Don’t ask - just go.

 

Back this thread up! Oxbow might be the best brewery in Maine. But if you don’t like Belgian style beers and barrel-fermented beers, you probably won’t care for Oxbow. They don’t get the juice bro crowd, thank God.

But if you are looking for 7 or 8 breweries making little more than hazy IPAs, Portland won’t disappoint.

 

I share your aversion to the proliferation of small plate restaurants that don't really fill you up. Short answer, yes, it kind of is one of those. However, the food is higher quality than most, and I did not find the prices to be unreasonable. After a basket of fries at Mash Tun, my wife and I were satisfied with splitting four plates at CP. Without the fries I would have probably wanted a little more.

 

Honey Paw

 

Pro tip: Holy Donut has a second location in Scarborough (Route 1) in an old Honey Dew or Tim Hortons location. Closer to my mom's house which is why I frequent it, but their stock seems to last a little longer into the afternoon. Sounds like you will be convenient to the original location, but if you wanted some donuts to go for home and were leaving early afternoon, that and then Barreled Souls driving south on Rt 1 before getting on the Turnpike is a good combination. Actually my ideal Scarborough sequence on the way out of town is: Lois' Natural Marketplace --> Oak Hill Beverage (convenient cooler just inside the front door with Battery Steele, Mast Landing, Bunker, Lone Pine etc cans) --> Holy Donut --> Barreled Souls. Then if you stay on Rt 1 past the Old Orchard connector you have Banded Horn with Portland Pie next door in Saco, but by that time you'd probably be ready for a hotel room to stay in Maine yet another night!

 

Fore Street is awesome (had dinner there last night actually) but they pretty much book reservations 8 weeks out, which is the earliest you can book. So I'd get on that. They hold back a percentage of tables for walk ins, I want to say 33% but don't quote me on that, but I have no idea how easy those are to come by. My guess would be not very, but maybe others here have experience doing a walk in there.

 

From what I've heard, yes. Worth the $$. Coolship room, vintage bottle tastings, pulling nails from barrels. Different level of intimacy.

 

If you get in line at the door at Fore St. by 5pm, you can get a seat in the bar area to eat there. Doesn't work for groups - 2 people max. Only way I can get dinner there in the summer.

 

I really enjoyed that Oxtoberfest when I had it at Eventide in September. I also realize that it's nothing like a traditional Oktoberfest brew, and that you are well versed in the Belgian and German styles, but that's what I liked about it. It was a little tart, almost a little smoky, and delicious. My only qualm with Oxbow is how expensive their beers are.

 

Not yet mentioned:

It's far from hip, but J's is a god damned institution! Grab some steamers, a bottle of good ol' American lager, and honestly, probably nothing else. The steamers really are amazing though. And it's right in Old Port so it's just a quick detour while you're on your way to something else.

And while I'm here:

Love King's Head too. The service is hit or miss but the beer list is top notch. Food is pretty good and affordable. Always something from Bissell, always something from Oxbow. And what's great about it is it seems to be more of an industry bar and it's not often packed to the rafters.

Also, at least for me, Oxbow is just about the best brewery in New England right now. I think once the pilsner craze officially ignites these guys are going to blast off.

 

Agreed. I think we get hung up on determining “best” and get caught up on hype. Meanwhile there’s a brewery like Oxbow that just f’n knocks it our of the park with both crushable beers AND beers that are fancy (and expensive) af.