• Jessica James, a school counselor, has just opened a lobster cart on Commercial Street in Portland. She sells lobster rolls with a quarter pound of fresh lobster meat for $12. The rolls are served in a toasted roll with warm butter. James also sells hot dogs and drinks.

• Colleen Kelley, owner of Silly’s in Portland, is opening a new location next door that she will call “Silly’s With a Twist.” The new place at 38 Washington Ave. will offer spirits, beer and wine, “some really silly food and our signature triple chocolate layer cake,” Kelley wrote in a letter accompanying her liquor license application. The space will be large enough for 50 people, with a waiting area for Silly’s.

• Ricetta’s in Falmouth has an expanded menu, a new bar and a new name. Ricetta’s Ristorante, as it is now known, is introducing its new bar, Al Grotto, with happy-hour specials, late-night eats and specialty drinks. The restaurant is located in The Shops at Falmouth Village on Route 1.

• A new Morrocan restaurant named Fez is now open at 30 Washington Ave., Portland, in the spot formerly occupied by Hamdi.

• The Fresh Batch, a locally owned cafe, has opened at 20 Bow St. in Freeport, in the space formerly occupied by a Samsonite factory store. The cafe serves homemade organic meals and gelato, and also caters to vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets. It has a coffee station and a children’s play area as well. Hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The cafe’s phone number is 865-5511.

• The owners of El Rayo in Portland have applied for a liquor license for their new restaurant next door, El Rayo Cantina, 85 York St. El Rayo Cantina will offer “a more comfortable dining experience with a full bar selection,” according to its owners, Tod Dana and Alex Fisher.

• District Grille, 45 Danforth St., Portland, is planning to add outdoor seating for 15.

• And in the “Why are so many restaurants named after their address these days?” department: Venue Music Bar and Grill in Portland, which closed in February, is re-opening in the same space, with the same owners, but will now be known as 865 Forest. The cooks and bar manager will be new. The restaurant is looking to open by Aug. 15.

 

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