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Friends of Eater Name Maine's Top Restaurant Newcomers of 2015

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If you haven't tried these spots yet, go now.

The Honey Paw, Portland.
The Honey Paw, Portland.
Bill Addison/Eater

As is tradition at Eater, we close the year with a survey of food writers, bloggers, and industry experts. We posed eight questions, from meal of the year to top restaurant newcomers. All will be answered by the time we turn off the lights at the end of 2015. Responses have been cut, pasted, and largely unedited. Readers, please add your survey answers in the comments.

Q: What were the top restaurant newcomers of 2015?

Rachel ForrestSeacoast Online:
The Wallingford Dram, Kittery. While they don't have a large menu, it's just right for the outstanding cocktails. They've really shaken up the drinks scene in the Southern Maine and Seacoast region. Pun always intended. Keep an eye on Nolka which just opened in S. Berwick, too. Very talented young chef in Nick Gratton.

Kate McCartyThe Blueberry Files blog, Eater Maine contributor:
Terlingua, The Honey Paw, Dutch's (opened late 2014, but it's a sleeper hit that grew on me in 2015).

Claire JeffersMaineToday:
Isa, Honey Paw, Roustabout.

Karen WattersonMaine Magazine:
Honey Paw; Evo; Tempo Dulu.

Emily BurnhamBangor Daily News:
I didn't make it out to quite enough new restaurants as I'd like to have, but I very much enjoyed the English-style fish and chips I had at Dudley's Refresher in Castine.

John GoldenThe Golden Dish blog:
Terlingua, Roustabout, Tempo Dulu, Union, Isa.

Rob SchatzEating Portland Alive blog:
Isa, Mami food truck, Portland Patisserie, Union.

Kathleen PierceBangor Daily News:
Isa Bistro, Custom Deluxe, Velveteen Habit, Tempo Dulu.

Kathy Gunstcookbook author:
Louie's in Portsmouth, NH (I know it's not Maine but it's real close). The Wallingford in Kittery is a whole lot of fun. Very sexy cocktail scene.

Joe RicchioDispatch Magazine:
Honey Paw is one of the top newcomers in the past 5 years.

Don LindgrenRabelais Books:
Honey Paw, Custom Deluxe.

Susan AxelrodPortland Press Herald:    
Evo, Dirigo in Yarmouth, the new East Ender, Tempo Dulu.

Paul KoenigOld Port magazine:
Ramen Suzukiya. Mami food truck. (I feel stupid at this point for not trying Honey Paw yet.)

Union

119 Exchange St, Portland, ME 04101 (207) 808-8700

Dirigo Public House

305 Route 1, Yarmouth, ME 04096 (207) 847-5600

The Honey Paw

78 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101 (207) 774-8538 Visit Website

Tempo Dulu

163 Danforth St, Portland, ME 04102 (207) 879-8755

Dudley's Refresher

5 Sea St, Castine, Maine 04421 (207) 812-3800 Visit Website

ROUSTABOUT

59 Washington Ave, Portland, ME 04101 (207) 536-4008

Custom Deluxe

140 Main St Ste 101, Biddeford, ME 04005 (207) 494-7110

East Ender

47 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101 (207) 879-7669 Visit Website

Evo Kitchen + Bar

443 Fore Street, , ME 04101 (207) 358-7830 Visit Website

The Wallingford

7 Wallingford Square, Unit 101, Kittery, Maine 03904 (207) 703-4298 Visit Website

Portland Patisserie and Grand Café

46 Market St, Portland, ME 04101 (207) 553-2555

The Velveteen Habit

37 Ogunquit Rd, Cape Neddick, Maine 03902 (207) 216.9884 Visit Website

Terlingua

40 Washington Avenue, , ME 04101 (207) 956-7573 Visit Website

Dutch's

28 Preble St, Portland, ME 04101 (207) 761-2900 Visit Website

Isa

79 Portland St., Portland, Maine 04101 (207) 808 8533 Visit Website

Ramen Suzukiya

229 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101 (207) 761-0905