SPRING IS A POPULAR time for opening new restaurants in Maine. It’s a good time to test-drive menus before the hordes of tourists arrive for the busy summer restaurant season. Here’s a look at some of the new restaurants on the horizon in the southern Maine area. Also included are some new distilleries and places to grab a cocktail.
RESTAURANTS
BLUE ROOSTER
5 Dana St., Portland
Type of food: Cafe (sandwiches, soups, etc.) open for breakfast, lunch and late night
Opening date: In about a week
BOONE’S FISH HOUSE AND OYSTER ROOM
6 Custom House Wharf, Portland
Type of food: Seafood
Opening date: Late May
CHINESE LAUNDRY
Pop-up restaurant
Type of food: Dim Sum
Opening date: Mid-April
facebook.com/TheChineseLaundry
AS-YET UNNAMED restaurant from Chris Gould, formerly of Ken Oringer’s Uni Sashimi Bar in Boston
Closing on a space in Portland soon.
Type of food: International small plates
Opening date: August
DAVID’S AND DAVID’S OPUS TEN
21 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport
Type of food: Second incarnation of David Turin’s Portland restaurants
Opening date: Hoping to have a soft opening in mid-May.
ENIO’S
347 Cottage Road, South Portland
Type of food: Mediterranean
Opening date: Late March
FOOD FACTORY MIYAKE
129 Spring St., Portland
Type of food: Japanese comfort food
Opening date: June 1
IN’FINITI DISTILLATION & FERMENTATION
Union Wharf, Commercial St., Portland
Type of food: Casual — tapas, burgers, pizza
Opening date: Spring
OUTLIERS EATERY
231 York St., Portland
Type of food: Locally harvested organic food
Opening date: Late March/early April
SALVAGE BBQ & SMOKEHOUSE
919 Congress St., Portland
Type of food: Carolina-style barbecue
Opening date: Early June
facebook.com/SalvageBbqSmokehouse
VINLAND
593 Congress St., Portland
Type of food: Maine food from small farmers
Opening date: Summer
DRINKS
BLUE CURRENT SAKE
Kittery Point
Type of place: First sake brewery on the East Coast
Opening date: April or May
To read more about Blue Current, go to: bit.ly/WaG6Bl or
facebook.com/BlueCurrentBrewery
PORTLAND HUNT AND ALPINE CLUB
Portland location to be determined
Type of place: Cocktail bar
Opening date: Spring
MAINE CRAFT DISTILLERY
101 Fox St., Portland
Type of place: Spirits distillery
Opening date: Unknown
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Comments are no longer available on this story