DINING GUIDE
RESTAURANT REVIEW
Anthony’s Italian Kitchen 30 years of Old World recipes. Best meatballs in town. Mile-high lasagnas, fresh-filled cannoli pastries, 54 sandwiches, pizza. A timeless great family spot. Beer and wine. Free parking. 151 Middle St., Portland, AnthonysItalianKitchen.com, 774-8668. Bandaloop has moved into a restored 1700s barn on Route 1 in Arundel. Since 2004 we have offered locally sourced, globally inspired, organic cuisine. Our new home has plenty of space, parking, outdoor seating, takeout, and an event space in the loft. We continue to offer something for every palate— from vegans to carnivores and everything in between. bandalooprestaurant.com BlueFin North Atlantic Seafood Chef Gil Plaster creates the quintessential Old Port dining experience: classic, contemporary dishes with fresh, locally caught seafood & seasonal ingredients. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, or your favorite cocktail in comfortable elegance or out on the patio w/fire pit. 468 Fore St. 775-9090, bluefinportland.com Brickyard Hollow Brewing Company offers unique craft pizza delivery, pickup, and dine-in from our new waterfront location at 9 Commercial Street in Portland. Featuring a diverse menu and our own craft beer, we were established by Mainers with a passion for community involvement and great experiences. Visit us in Portland, Freeport, or at our original Yarmouth brewpub. brickyardhollow.com Boone’s A Portland landmark since 1898. Original home of Alexander Boone’s world-famous Baked Stuffed Lobster. Two waterfront decks, two full bars, two cozy dining rooms, fireside tables. Perfect setting to enjoy the finest seafood from Maine and the world. Steaks, chowder, lobster rolls, grilled dishes, daily features. Visit Boone’s for a romantic date, business luncheon, family gathering or large banquet. BoonesFishHouse.com Hurricane Restaurant New England cuisine with an international twist. Lobster & blueberry pie! Local produce and seafood, full bar, award-winning wine list, in-house dessert chef. Sunday brunch. Live music Wednesday nights. Lunch and dinner seven days a week. Bar menu always available. Good restaurants come and go. Great restaurants get better and better. Reservations suggested. 29 Dock Square, Kennebunkport. 967-9111, hurricanerestaurant.com.
STAFF PHOTOS
Maria’s Ristorante Portland’s original classic Italian restaurant. Greg & Tony Napolitano prepare classics: Zuppa di Pesce, Eggplant Parmigiana, Grilled Veal Sausages, Veal Chop Milanese, homemade cavatelli pastas, Pistachio Gelato & Maine’s Best Meatballs. See our own sauce in local stores. $11.95$22.95. Open at 5 Wed.-Sat. Catering always avail. 1335 Congress Street 772-9232, mariasrestaurant.com. Portland Lobster Company “Maine’s Best Lobster Roll,” lobster dinners, steamers, fried claims, chowder. Enjoy live music daily w/ ice-cold local beer or fine wine on our deck overlooking gorgeous Portland Harbor. 180 Commercial St., 775-2112, portlandlobstercompany.com.
Against the Odds Jackie’s Too comes through.
T
B Y COLIN W. SARG EN T
he race is on! Where can we find a fast-turnaround bistro to grab a bite before catching a show at Jonathan's? Why not dine at the seafood restaurant with the best view on Perkins Cove? Who are we kidding? Because it’s a perfect night, Ogunquit traffic is crawling at a snail’s pace, and the lively streets are naturally filled with a jillion revelers. It’s easy to catch the fever, but it’s nearly 8 p.m.! Before we call the whole thing off, news flash: At 8 p.m. parking right beside Jackie’s Too, owned by Jackie Bevins, is free. Feeling slightly dazed by our luck, we sit down at outdoor tables under a tent with panoramic views of the waves, rocks, and some lucky tourists venturing onto the Marginal Way cliff walk. Our gracious server wears a black T-shirt with the message “Be nice.” We know she's nice. I hope she isn't referring to me! We order a Dark and Stormy and a Basil Lemonade made with Tito’s Vodka and elderflower liqueur. As we sip, a private sloop with its nav lights on ducks behind a
peninsula where some people are climbing on the rocks, dressed for an Old Navy commercial. Don't you love September, with the delicious chill in the air? Sweater weather. We order Bacon & Blue Cheese Broiled Scallops with baked potato. There's no way I'm coming in here without ordering the Clams with Fries & Cole Slaw. The batter is so airy and perfect I'm starting to take credit for planning the whole evening. There’s plenty of room under the tent for everyone to keep their distance. Inside, the reception area near the entrance has the look of a sports bar. Except sports bars don't have views like this. Now the sloop is back and the Finestkind tour boat is out there sharing the view with us. Not only did we beat the rush, we enjoy the rush as we watch the Marginal Way party of strollers come back in for a landing. Against all odds we make the show! On the way out, there are eight parking spots wide open just steps from the door. Our little secret, okay? n
Better Than Betty Broderick
A Lifetime Movie waiting to happen: As reported by the Washington Post and Seacoastonline, in 1991 Portland’s Dan Lilley—Maine’s answer to Johnnie Cochran—pioneered the first successful battered-wife-syndrome defense in Maine to free the beloved Jackie Bevins from charges of murder for the death of her abusive husband, whom she shot fifteen times (with two reloads) as he rose from the bathtub. SEPTEMBER 2021 73