Hungry Mother and Eastern Standard Alums Announce Roustabout in Portland

Washington Avenue at the base of Munjoy Hill is filling out quickly. Roustabout is the latest restaurant to join the fray, with co-owners Kit Paschal and Anders Tallberg announcing yesterday they'd signed papers for 59 Washington Avenue. That puts them next door to natural wine shop Maine and Loire and across from soon-to-open Terlingua and recently announced Lively.

Paschal (a longtime bartender formerly of Boston's Eastern Standard, Portland's The Portland Hunt and Alpine Club, and currently Portsmouth's Row 34) will manage the front of house. He estimated the 75-seat Italian-American eatery should open in early fall, with Tallberg (of 2015 James Beard Award-winning Hungry Mother in Cambridge and Hugo's in Portland) leading the team in the kitchen.

While it's early days and the concept may not be 100% clear yet, the press release noted, "Balancing care and thoughtfulness with a hearty, rugged New England sensibility, Roustabout will feature excellence in hospitality and a well considered bar program in a relaxed atmosphere." Considering the resumes of these two owners, expect anticipation to build steadily as build-out proceeds.