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Spread has been open only about a month, but The Portland Press Herald's Shonna Miliken Humphrey cites owner Jung Hur's long experience (Fuji on Exchange Street is also his) - and Spread's arty-glam factor - as her reasons for the early-days review. Despite an "uneven" experience with a dish of Bang Island mussels (they were "unusually tasty" on her first visit, not so much on a second) and some service issues, Humphrey gives Spread four out of five stars:
If you want to see and be seen, Spread is the space. With an upscale menu, chic signature cocktails and urban lounge decor, Spread is as contemporary as Maine gets.
John Golden of DownEast's The Golden Dish goes star gazing at Carmen at the Danforth, marveling that in a city of nationally known chefs, recent transplant Carmen Gonzalez "displays a cuisine of refinement based on Latin flavors and classical cooking woven into a lustrous fabric of flavors." Not only the food, but the entire experience wins his praise.
It all takes place in an 1823 Federal mansion with three intimate dining rooms that form the nucleus of a culinary parlance unmatched by other restaurants in the city. The tables are large and well spaced, the accoutrements are beautiful and the service is flawless.In its weekly cheap-eats review, The Portland Press Herald gives four stars to The Works Bakery Cafe, calling it "steadfast, like a loyal friend who's always available."
Joe Ricchio, food editor for Maine Magazine, writes a positive review of Clementine in Brunswick for his Eat Maine blog. He first notes the ease of parking in downtown Brunswick and the calm atmosphere of the 45-seat storefront, then approves the restaurant's "concise" wine list and "enticing" cocktail menu before getting down to the food.
A liberal portion of Sautéed Sea Scallops, cooked to the appropriate temperature and complemented wonderfully by a velvety corn velouté with tarragon, makes up the nucleus of my entree. Green beans and fingerling potatoes work in harmony with the sauce as well, and being a self-proclaimed “tarragon addict” I am quite content.El Rayo Cantina gets some more review love from Brian Duff of The Portland Phoenix. Remarking that its sister restaurant next door, El Rayo Taqueria, is "a prissy sort of tacqueria," he is more approving of the Cantina, where "the proprietors have embraced their inner priss, and to good affect." Duff also approves of the food he samples, including a crab-coconut salad, pozole and bistec con cafe. His reference to Mexican politicians to make his final point - that El Rayo Cantina has both style and substance, is pretty darn impressive.
· Inventive Menu, Upscale Style At Spread [PPH]
· Star Chef Comes To Portland [TGD]
· The Works Bakery Cafe, Portland [PPH]
· Delicious And Well Executed Cuisine At Clementine [Eat Maine]
· Review: El Rayo Cantina [PP]
· All Coverage of Carmen At The Danforth [~EMAINE~]
· All Coverage of El Rayo Cantina [~EMAINE~]