The Puritan Tea Room was open at 566 Congress St. in Portland from 1921-1974. It was a popular restaurant and confectioner and was the first establishment in New England to offer year-round gas-powered air conditioning. This exterior view photo ran in the Evening Express on Jan. 25, 1940.
Theodore's Lunch restaurant was located at 53 Oak St. in Portland. The menu featured many single and double-decker sandwiches including liverwurst, pickled lamb’s tongue and lobster salad which you could wash down with strawberry, sarsaparilla, banana and several other flavors of soda. This exterior view photo ran in the Evening Express on Dec. 28, 1943.
Langley’s was located at 630 Congress St., in Portland. The restaurant offered seafood and steak among other dinner entrees along daily lunch specials. This exterior view photo ran in the Press Herald on Aug. 11, 1947.
The Continental Lounge, which was later known as the Penguin Lounge and then Downtown Lounge, was located at 21 Preble St. in Portland. It was part of the Graymore Hotel which was demolished in 1985. In this interior photo that ran in the Evening Express on Sept. 23, 1981, painted murals are visible.
McDonald’s is still at 332 St. John St. in Portland, but it looked a lot different when it first opened in 1964. In this photo that ran in the Maine Sunday Telegram on Feb. 22, 1970, the drive-up style version of the restaurant, complete with full golden arches, is pictured. It was eventually rebuilt to accommodate indoor dining.
Bentley’s Restaurant was at 551 Congress St. in Portland. The popular spot offered a wide range of sandwiches, a la carte specials, homemade muffins and fountain drinks including milkshakes and frappes. In this photo that ran in the Press Herald on March 30, 1981, the exterior of Bentley’s, as well as part of Rogers jewelry store, is visible.
Café Always was a bistro that opened in 1985 and was owned and operated by Cherly Lewis and Norine Kotts at 47 Middle St. in Portland. In 1987, a New York Times review shared that the restaurant “exuded high-tech chic with yellow tablecloths, triangular rubber placemats and nifty cutlery and stoneware.” The newspaper also mentioned the eggplant soup, grilled red snapper, veal loin and fresh pasta. In this photo that ran in the Maine Sunday Telegram on Nov. 19, 1992, the exterior of Café Always is seen.
Bella Bella was an Italian restaurant at 606 Congress St. in Portland. It was owned by Jim LeDue, who also owned Alberta's Café and Seafood Grill on Pleasant Street. In this photo that ran in the Press Herald on May 15, 1994, the exterior of Bella Bella can be seen. The space is currently occupied by the Downtown Lounge.
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