Sample Menu and Craft Beer Connection for Upcoming King's Head on Merrill's Wharf

Future home of The King's Head. [Photo: Tom Minervino]

The Portland City Council is considering The King's Head's application for a restaurant/lounge license at tonight's meeting. The application filing (first unearthed by Meredith Goad on the Press Herald's Maine a la Carte blog) posted on the city's website reveals a bit more about the somewhat mysterious restaurant coming to the first floor of the Pierce Atwood building on Merrill's Wharf, including a sample menu and some potentially exciting news for local beer aficionados.

In the letter of intent, owners Rick Binet and Justin O'Connor say,

The King's Head will provide diners with the kind of relaxing, convivial atmosphere that spurs a feeling of community and a sense of ownership and pride in our patrons.Our product mix will include locally sourced produce and beverages to the utmost extent possible.

We intend to draw on Portland's history in the execution of the buildout. Maritime and historical themes will be prevalent. The fixtures in the customer areas will be vintage and or antique wherever possible.

According to application, the restaurant will serve "classical American cuisine" seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The targeted opening date is listed as October 15. The blueprint calls for 78 seats, 26 of which are at the bar. Here's the sample menu:

The exciting news for beer geeks: Binet, of Vermont, owns the Blackback Pub in Waterbury, which is known for its excellent local craft beer selection (Hill Farmstead and Lawson's Finest Liquids are draft list regulars; sadly neither is available in Maine). Binet certainly knows his beer, so the King's Head should form a formidable craft beer triangle with In'Finiti Fermentation & Distillation and Three Dollar Dewey's.
· Sneak Peeks at Two New Portland Restaurants: The King's Head and Casa Fiesta [PPH]
· City of Portland [Official Site]
· Blackback Pub [Official Site]
· All Coverage of King's Head [~EMAINE~]