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The 18 Essential Maine Restaurants

Off-the-Grid Spots Where Bartenders Go To Booze

by Tom Minervino
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by Tom Minervino

By Eater Maine contributor Natalie Ladd
Don't Portlanders love the claim that the city has more restaurants and bars per capita than anyplace else besides San Francisco or NYC? It might be true, which means we have a boatload of bartenders keeping the shaken, stirred and infused libations coming. But where do these giants of gin and victors of vodka go when they want to ditch the spotlight or get off the grid? Check out the map below, with Cocktail Confidential recommendations from 10 of Portland's favorite mix masters.


· All Coverage of Cocktail Week 2013 [~EMAINE~] Read More
Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Profenno's Pizzeria & Pub

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934 Main St
Westbrook, ME 04092
(207) 856-0033
(207) 856-0033
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"Profenno’s Pizzeria and Pub," says Vignola Cinque Terre bar manager Matt Lambert. "They have great two-for-one stuff on Mondays."

2. PT's Showclub

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200 Riverside St
Portland, ME 04103
(207) 772-8033
(207) 772-8033
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For Fore Play asst. bar manager Sarah Paige, it's Portland's lone strip club: "A good friend of mine is the bartender and my old roommate works there. Actually, I’m friends with a lot of people who work there. I drink Bud Light."

3. Rosie's Restaurant & Pub

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330 Fore St
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 772-5656
(207) 772-5656
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Melissa Lefler, bartender at the Blue Spoon, lives out in the 'burbs now, but "when I lived on the Hill, I loved Rosie’s," she says.

4. Ruski's

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212 Danforth St.
Portland, ME 04102
(207) 774-7604
(207) 774-7604
Christina Klein, bar manager of Sonny's, says, "I like Ruski’s Tavern. It’s close to home and really casual."

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5. Flask

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117 Spring St
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 772-3122
(207) 772-3122
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Grill Room bartender Alison Hartford likes the Home of the Moxie Bomb: "Believe it or not, I go to the Flask on Friday nights. Hey, they have really talented DJs that come through town and it’s what I like."

6. Brian Boru

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57 Center St
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 780-1506
(207) 780-1506
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Mike Willett, bartender at Shay’s Grill Pub, says, "The staff is great, the place is friendly and it’s an all around good atmosphere. You can’t go wrong."

7. Howie's Pub

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501 Washington Ave
Portland, ME
(207) 347-7107
(207) 347-7107
Says Local 188 bar manager Jeb Davis: "Howie’s is just a great place. I love the fact that it’s cash only there.”

8. Commercial Street Pub

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129 Commercial St
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 772-9414
(207) 772-9414
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This is veteran Armory Lounge manager Ben Bragdon's pick, though "with two little kids I don’t get out like I used to." It's also the favorite spot of "Lifer" bartender Kelly Geary (Gepetto's) and many others in the industry.

9. Evelyn's Tavern

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121 Sawyer St
South Portland, ME 04106
(217) 299-3778
(217) 299-3778
"I live in South Portland," says longtime Commercial Street Pub bartender Jacqueline Casey. "So I go to Evelyn’s Tavern. It’s in the crappy part of town and it’s a trip, but it doesn’t frighten me. I don’t care what goes on.”

10. Spring Point Tavern

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175 Benjamin St
South Portland, ME 04106
(207) 799-2245
(207) 799-2245
Says Zapoteca bartender Erin Beaupain: "Spring Point Tavern is just an interesting crowd. It’s really fun to hang out there. The bartender is great, really personable and you never know what you’re gonna get."

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1. Profenno's Pizzeria & Pub

934 Main St, Westbrook, ME 04092
"Profenno’s Pizzeria and Pub," says Vignola Cinque Terre bar manager Matt Lambert. "They have great two-for-one stuff on Mondays."
934 Main St
Westbrook, ME 04092
(207) 856-0033
Visit Website

2. PT's Showclub

200 Riverside St, Portland, ME 04103
For Fore Play asst. bar manager Sarah Paige, it's Portland's lone strip club: "A good friend of mine is the bartender and my old roommate works there. Actually, I’m friends with a lot of people who work there. I drink Bud Light."
200 Riverside St
Portland, ME 04103
(207) 772-8033
Visit Website

3. Rosie's Restaurant & Pub

330 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101
Melissa Lefler, bartender at the Blue Spoon, lives out in the 'burbs now, but "when I lived on the Hill, I loved Rosie’s," she says.
330 Fore St
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 772-5656
Visit Website

4. Ruski's

212 Danforth St., Portland, ME 04102
Christina Klein, bar manager of Sonny's, says, "I like Ruski’s Tavern. It’s close to home and really casual."
212 Danforth St.
Portland, ME 04102
(207) 774-7604

5. Flask

117 Spring St, Portland, ME 04101
Grill Room bartender Alison Hartford likes the Home of the Moxie Bomb: "Believe it or not, I go to the Flask on Friday nights. Hey, they have really talented DJs that come through town and it’s what I like."
117 Spring St
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 772-3122
Visit Website

6. Brian Boru

57 Center St, Portland, ME 04101
Mike Willett, bartender at Shay’s Grill Pub, says, "The staff is great, the place is friendly and it’s an all around good atmosphere. You can’t go wrong."
57 Center St
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 780-1506
Visit Website

7. Howie's Pub

501 Washington Ave, Portland, ME
Says Local 188 bar manager Jeb Davis: "Howie’s is just a great place. I love the fact that it’s cash only there.”
501 Washington Ave
Portland, ME
(207) 347-7107

8. Commercial Street Pub

129 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101
This is veteran Armory Lounge manager Ben Bragdon's pick, though "with two little kids I don’t get out like I used to." It's also the favorite spot of "Lifer" bartender Kelly Geary (Gepetto's) and many others in the industry.
129 Commercial St
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 772-9414
Visit Website

9. Evelyn's Tavern

121 Sawyer St, South Portland, ME 04106
"I live in South Portland," says longtime Commercial Street Pub bartender Jacqueline Casey. "So I go to Evelyn’s Tavern. It’s in the crappy part of town and it’s a trip, but it doesn’t frighten me. I don’t care what goes on.”
121 Sawyer St
South Portland, ME 04106
(217) 299-3778

10. Spring Point Tavern

175 Benjamin St, South Portland, ME 04106
Says Zapoteca bartender Erin Beaupain: "Spring Point Tavern is just an interesting crowd. It’s really fun to hang out there. The bartender is great, really personable and you never know what you’re gonna get."
175 Benjamin St
South Portland, ME 04106
(207) 799-2245

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