Four Stars for Susan's; Wannawaf; Nosh; Nebo; More

As has become tradition, Shonna Milliken Humphrey gave out four stars once again in her Maine Sunday Telegram Dine Out Maine review. The lucky recipient this time of the "excellent" rating: Susan's Fish-N-Chips. The third paragraph does raise some questions as to what, exactly, is being factored into the number of stars handed out:

With a tangle of old buoys outside and a walk-up counter, old carpet and large garbage bins along a wall inside, the whole space initially feels a little grungy. Add the hot oil fryers, hand scrawled signage, walls covered haphazardly with items that straddle a fine line between kitsch and junk, and expectations must be managed.

The fried fish is fresh and well executed, but is that enough for a dining experience to earn four stars from the state's most prominent newspaper? Apparently so. [MST]

This week's anonymous Press Herald Eat and Run reviewer gave Wannawaf four stars. On the Blue, Bacon & Brie waffle: "It was an interesting blend of flavors, but I wished the brie pieces had been a little larger, because most of the chunks blended into the batter and got a little lost. When all the flavors came together in one bite, it was heaven." [PPH]

Claire Jeffers hits up Nosh Kitchen Bar for happy hour for the Press Herald's Bar Guide. She's on a quest to determine whether Nosh stands alone "as simply a bar," but after a couple drinks, she ultimately can't resist ordering some fries when she finds out how to get them for free. "My lack of willpower is partly to blame, but I think this is what Nosh intended to create -- an open, casual space that caters to the masses and ultimately keeps people hanging out long enough that they'll want to order fries, a burger, a meat and cheese plate, or all of the above." [PPH]

John Golden spent the week posting dispatches from North Haven on his Golden Dish blog, his visit to the Nebo Lodge inspiring some prose of a purple tint: "[T]here's something special about traveling 12 miles out to sea to the exquisite shores of North Haven Island where a soignee summer citizenry meet in this charming hillside inn above the salty confines of North Haven's protected harbor." [TGD]

Diane Hudson has nice things to say about the Dolphin Restaurant in Harpswell in the July/August issue of Portland Monthly. On the classic fish chowder: "The bygone splendors of the simple–holy smokes, just some good fresh fish, lots of butter, and surely a bit of salt pork–pulls on our heart strings."

From the Bloggers:
·The Blueberry Files gets a good first impression of the brand-new MJ's Wine Bar.

·Map & Menu makes you really want a lobster roll or six with it's guide and pretty pictures.

·The (207) Foodie finds Brea Lu "amazing" even on a college student budget.

Susan's Fish-N-Chips [Photo: Facebook]