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Updating the Eater Maine Heatmap, May 2014

by Eater Staff
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by Eater Staff

More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right freaking now? Restaurant obsessives want to know what's new, what's hot. And while the Eater 18 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the state, it is not a chronicle of the 'it' places of the moment. Thus, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change continually to always highlight where the crowds are flocking to at the moment. This month, we say goodbye to Top of the East and Blaze, and we add Small Axe Truck and Ebenezer's Brew Pub.

Did we miss your personal favorite blisteringly hot restaurant? By all means, let us know in the comments. Know of a hot upcoming opening? Hit up the tipline. The anonymous tip form is also there for all forms of correspondence.


12/6/12 Added: Gather, Yarmouth; Tao, Brunswick; Zen Bistro, Buck's Naked BBQ and David's Opus Ten, Portland.
1/3/13 Added: Otto (Arts District), Portland
2/7/13 Added: Owen's Farmhouse, Kennebunk
4/4/13 Added: In'finiti Fermentation & Distillation, The North Point, Little Tap House, Blue Rooster Food Co.,
7/11/13 Added: David's KPT, Hugo's, Seabright
8/1/13 Added: Portland & Rochester Public House, MJ's Wine Bar
9/5/13 Added: Elsmere BBQ & Wood Grill, Salvage BBQ, Boone's Fish House & Oyster Room, Portland Hunt & Alpine Club
10/3/13 Added: Piccolo, Empire Chinese Kitchen, b.good
11/7/13 Added: Seaport Fish and Orchid Thai
12/5/13 Added: Verve and Otto (South Portland)
1/2/14 Added: Top of the East and Vinland
2/6/14 Added: Central Provisions, Miyake Diner, Blaze (Bangor)
3/6/14 Added: Easy Day
4/3/14 Added: Mill 67, Palace Diner and Fresh
5/1/13 Added: Ebenezer's Brew Pub and Small Axe Truck

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Ebenezer's Brew Pub

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Chris Lively's revamp and rebrand of the Lion's Pride (the sister pub of the renowned Ebenezer's Pub in Lovell) has beer aficionados pumped, as it now pours the brews of the new and attached Lively Brewing Company. An elevated pub menu accompanies the creative and diverse beers from veteran brewer Michael LaCharite.
112 Pleasant St, Brunswick, ME 04011
(207) 373-1840
(207) 373-1840

Small Axe Truck

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After a winter hibernation, Eater Maine's 2013 Food Truck of the Year from chefs Karl Deuben and Bill Leavy has a prime new location in Congress Square to offer up its scratch-made, locally sourced fare. Lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with evening service at the same spot on Wednesday through Friday starting at 5 p.m.
Congress St., Portland, ME 04101

Mill 67

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Situated in the renovated Sanford Mill overlooking the Mousam River, Mill 67 offers a locally-focused menu of gourmet pub food in an industrial-chic setting. It gives the unheralded Sanford dining scene an exciting new option.
61 Washington Street, Sanford, ME 04073
(207) 324-6767
(207) 324-6767

Palace Diner

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Chad Conley and Greg Mitchell reopened Maine's oldest diner, keeping the classic feel while elevating the menu with scratch-made diner standards, like corned beef that's brined and braised in-house using local, grass-fed beef.
18 Franklin St, Biddeford, ME 04005
(207) 284-0015
(207) 284-0015

Also featured in:

Easy Day

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A bowling alley, restaurant and lounge all in one, this spot offers diners water views. There's a focus on fresh, local ingredients, "Detroit-style" pizza (with the sauce over the toppings and cheese), 10 lanes to bowl and a full bar with a solid draft beer selection.
725 Broadway, South Portland, ME 04106

Vinland

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David Levi's restaurant is taking local to a whole new level. The food is 100% locally sourced, organic and gluten-free. That means there are no kitchen staples like black pepper, olive oil or lemons. There are creative, beautiful plates served from the open kitchen.
593 Congress Street, Portland, ME
(207) 653-8617
(207) 653-8617

Miyake Diner

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The original Miyake Food Factory has been reborn as a 16-seat izakaya-style sake bar. With local food celeb Joe Ricchio on the bar most nights and an all-star crew in the kitchen, Masa Miyake's latest venture has generated a huge buzz despite its diminutive size.
129 Spring St, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 541-9175
(207) 541-9175

Central Provisions

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Chris Gould's brand new Old Port spot features a wide-ranging small plates menu, pre-Prohibition cocktails, an impressive wine program and local craft beers on tap, all in a beautifully renovated space that captures the character of the historic building in which it resides.
414 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101

Also featured in:

Fresh

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During the off-season, chef Steve Steeves and his wife bought and renovated the waterfront restaurant. The revamped and reinvigorated menu has Mediterranean and Balkan influences and showcases fresh, local ingredients.
1 Bayview Lndg, Camden, ME 04843
(207) 236-7005
(207) 236-7005
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Ebenezer's Brew Pub

112 Pleasant St, Brunswick, ME 04011
Chris Lively's revamp and rebrand of the Lion's Pride (the sister pub of the renowned Ebenezer's Pub in Lovell) has beer aficionados pumped, as it now pours the brews of the new and attached Lively Brewing Company. An elevated pub menu accompanies the creative and diverse beers from veteran brewer Michael LaCharite.
112 Pleasant St, Brunswick, ME 04011
(207) 373-1840
(207) 373-1840

Small Axe Truck

Congress St., Portland, ME 04101
After a winter hibernation, Eater Maine's 2013 Food Truck of the Year from chefs Karl Deuben and Bill Leavy has a prime new location in Congress Square to offer up its scratch-made, locally sourced fare. Lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with evening service at the same spot on Wednesday through Friday starting at 5 p.m.
Congress St., Portland, ME 04101

Mill 67

61 Washington Street, Sanford, ME 04073
Situated in the renovated Sanford Mill overlooking the Mousam River, Mill 67 offers a locally-focused menu of gourmet pub food in an industrial-chic setting. It gives the unheralded Sanford dining scene an exciting new option.
61 Washington Street, Sanford, ME 04073
(207) 324-6767
(207) 324-6767

Palace Diner

18 Franklin St, Biddeford, ME 04005
Chad Conley and Greg Mitchell reopened Maine's oldest diner, keeping the classic feel while elevating the menu with scratch-made diner standards, like corned beef that's brined and braised in-house using local, grass-fed beef.
18 Franklin St, Biddeford, ME 04005
(207) 284-0015
(207) 284-0015

Easy Day

725 Broadway, South Portland, ME 04106
A bowling alley, restaurant and lounge all in one, this spot offers diners water views. There's a focus on fresh, local ingredients, "Detroit-style" pizza (with the sauce over the toppings and cheese), 10 lanes to bowl and a full bar with a solid draft beer selection.
725 Broadway, South Portland, ME 04106

Vinland

593 Congress Street, Portland, ME
David Levi's restaurant is taking local to a whole new level. The food is 100% locally sourced, organic and gluten-free. That means there are no kitchen staples like black pepper, olive oil or lemons. There are creative, beautiful plates served from the open kitchen.
593 Congress Street, Portland, ME
(207) 653-8617
(207) 653-8617

Miyake Diner

129 Spring St, Portland, ME 04101
The original Miyake Food Factory has been reborn as a 16-seat izakaya-style sake bar. With local food celeb Joe Ricchio on the bar most nights and an all-star crew in the kitchen, Masa Miyake's latest venture has generated a huge buzz despite its diminutive size.
129 Spring St, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 541-9175
(207) 541-9175

Central Provisions

414 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101
Chris Gould's brand new Old Port spot features a wide-ranging small plates menu, pre-Prohibition cocktails, an impressive wine program and local craft beers on tap, all in a beautifully renovated space that captures the character of the historic building in which it resides.
414 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101

Fresh

1 Bayview Lndg, Camden, ME 04843
During the off-season, chef Steve Steeves and his wife bought and renovated the waterfront restaurant. The revamped and reinvigorated menu has Mediterranean and Balkan influences and showcases fresh, local ingredients.
1 Bayview Lndg, Camden, ME 04843
(207) 236-7005
(207) 236-7005