Enlisting the renowned designers at Portland's Might & Main and architecture firm Canal 5 Studio, the Prentice Organization opened Evo Kitchen and Bar in June. Connected to the new Hyatt hotel, the chic restaurant makes good use of its tight quarters with huge windows, angled bar seating for a sense of intimacy, and even a mezzanine with a few two- and four-top tables. Though the immediate highlights are visual, the food and drink are worthy, as well; chef Matt Ginn and bar director Michael Gatlin have made their mark on the city's dining scene with Middle Eastern small plates and inventive cocktails despite the recent departure of executive chef Brandon Hicks.
In a recent Dine Out Maine review for the Portland Press Herald, critic James Schwartz gave Evo 4-and-a-half stars, noting "it's like entering a glittering urban loft where you know you'll find something unexpected — and immediately feel part of the cool crowd." A September bar guide from Press Herald parent company MaineToday said the establishment "feels like a swanky bar in Manhattan" and concluded, "Evo is a great way to experience the Old Port this fall."
Take a look through the space on a busy Friday night to see what's so appealing about the perfect people-watching spot, recently voted Maine's most attractive restaurant in the 2015 Eater Awards.