Top Chef Alum Opens Rooftop Restaurant in Connecticut Next Week

Updated weekly, this round-up summarizes the latest restaurant news from New England, beyond the borders of Massachusetts — restaurant openings, closures, and more in Portsmouth, Providence, Portland, and elsewhere. (Find the archive of last season’s news here.)

Check back for updates — the most recent ones will always be at the top — and email boston@eater.com with any tips pertaining to New England restaurant news.

Note: Jump to the bottom of this page for a list of other links pertaining to New England dining, including a guide to Portsmouth and Kittery, an archive of Maine news, a map of the hottest new restaurants in Providence, and more.

Update, June 26, 2019: Spring 2019 is over, and this page will no longer be updated. Catch up on summer 2019 New England dining news here.

June 18, 2019

BANGOR, MAINE — Portland Pie Company, which has seven locations in Maine and New Hampshire, just added its first in Bangor, where it took over the Verve Burritos space at 89 Main St. The restaurant serves the chain’s familiar menu of pizzas, salads, soups, sandwiches, and appetizers like breadsticks and Buffalo wings. The restaurant also serves beer.

Also in Bangor, Kebab Den (621 Hammond St.) is slated to open this month or next, serving a fully Halal menu with a major focus on takeout, including options like shawarma, gyros, falafel, as well as samosas, salads, sandwiches, wraps, juice, and ice cream.

And Jersey’s Subs & Sweets will get a second location in Bangor. Owner Jason Coleman plans to open at 601 Stillwater Ave. in July, serving sandwiches, salads, milkshakes, ice cream, hot dogs, and penny candy.

DOVER-FOXCROFT, MAINE — An adolescent moose inadvertently perpetrated a crime in central Maine, breaking into the storefront of a former pizza restaurant. A town police officer shared a photo of the moose breaking back out of the restaurant window. The moose adds to the list of recent animal bandits in Maine, including an alleged lobster roll-thieving seagull (see below).

NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT — High George (9 High St.) opens at the Blake Hotel in New Haven on Wednesday, June 26. The rooftop bar and restaurant comes from Top Chef alum Tyler Anderson (Millwright’s, The Cook & The Bear, and Porrón & Piña), along with partners A.J. Aurrichio (of the same restaurants) and Tim Cabral (also of Ordinary and Porrón & Piña). Anderson is working with chef Ashley Flagg — an alum of Little Donkey in Cambridge, Massachusetts — to create a menu reminiscent of New England summers, including raw bar items and more. The three-season restaurant will operate from 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

PORTLAND, MAINE — Candy’s (34 Portland St.) is on its way to Portland this summer. The venue aims to serve as a queer community hub with a cafe, bar, library, and game space. Its proposed menu includes a variety of options, including overnight oats and cornbread waffles for breakfast, plus cucumber soup, mushroom sliders, and mussels, as well as dessert. The cafe will serve coffee from Arkansas roaster Onyx Coffee Lab. When it opens, Candy’s will host rotating pop-ups and queer artists, and it will have a full liquor license.

Yardie Ting (28 Monument Sq.) is now open in Portland’s Public Market House, serving Jamaican dishes with house-made rubs and spices. Options include jerk chicken, tofu, or pork, as well as curry stew and Jamaican tacos.

Novare Res alum Erika Colby has a cider and spirits bar in the works. Anoche will open at 43 Washington Ave., and construction is underway with a target opening in late August. The cider bar will also serve Basque-style food like pintxos (skewered breads with assorted toppings).

Coals Pizza (114 Preble St.) has officially opened its first location outside of New York, serving grilled pizza and a selection of local beer.

Island Lobster Company (20 Island Ave.) is now open on Peaks Island, with 64 seats, serving lobsters caught by owners Katie and Thom Werner. The restaurant serves a selection of lobster rolls, plus seafood appetizers like clam and crab cakes and steamers, as well as burgers, salads, and sides.

June 11, 2019

Birdman Juke Joint/Official Site

BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT — Chef Chris Scott, who competed on Top Chef in 2015, has opened Birdman Juke Joint (2931 Fairfield Ave.) with his wife and business partner Eugenie Woo, focusing on what Scott has called “Amish soul food” (he has roots in both the South and near Pennsylvania Dutch country.) That includes Southern-style dishes like smoked meats, fried chicken, and the chef’s own lineup of soft serve flavors like peach cobbler and buttermilk cornbread. (Sneak a peek at the menu via the online ordering system Toast.) The duo previously operated Butterfunk Kitchen and Sumner’s Luncheonette in Brooklyn. (This weekend’s opening was a preview, but the restaurant is slated to officially open this week, so keep an eye on Instagram for hours and other pertinent updates.)

PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE — The Rusty Hammer (49 Pleasant St.) will close on Sunday, June 16, as owners Crystal and Ryan Cronin prepare to close on a deal to sell the restaurant to Joe Scarlotto, who owns the Shanty and Lazy Jack’s restaurants. The new owners will reopen the restaurant in August with a new name and menu.

SKOWHEGAN, MAINE — A heist in Maine left a booth at the Skowhegan Fairgrounds low on whoopie pies. The alleged thieves stole more than 100 pies from the Lions Club booth, in addition to taking cookies out of the fridge and downing a half-gallon of iced tea. The odd incident caused about $1,000 in damages.

YORK, MAINE — A woman from California who, while on a work trip to Vermont, visited Maine to fulfill a bucket list item of eating a lobster roll ended up sharing it with a surprise guest: a seagull that swooped down and swiped the roll from her hand while she was taking a picture. Alicia Jessop, a law professor at Pepperdine, ended up having to buy two lobster rolls (for a total of $43) that day at Nubble Lighthouse.

June 4, 2019

Flood’s/Instagram

GORHAM, MAINE — Grand Central Wine Bar (7 Railroad Ave.) could open in September in Gorham. Owner Karen Nason has a vast history in arts and business and aims to create a food and beverage venue that doubles as a space for artists and musicians to display their talents. The focus will be wine and tapas, with space for events.

PORTLAND, MAINE — A food truck serving ice cream and shakes could launch this summer in Maine. Twist comes from Melissa Lombardi (previously of Woodford F&B) and writer Dan Zarin. Keep tabs on Twist’s social media for updates, including potential ice cream flavors like Maine blueberry and fruity pebbles.

Flood’s (747 Congress St.) is now open adjacent to the Francis Hotel, under the auspices of Greg Mitchell of Biddeford, Maine’s acclaimed Palace Diner. The restaurant seats 45 and serves dishes such as chicken schnitzel and Welsh rarebit.

Poke Maine food truck is now operating in Portland, serving a variety of poke bowls made with salmon, tuna, chicken, tofu, and assorted toppings. The truck parks on Spring Street Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In further food truck news, Tacos La Poblanita is forthcoming, appearing at Lone Pine Brewing (219 Anderson St.) starting June 11, according to the truck’s Instagram page. The truck will serve tacos, burritos, and quesadillas.

Candy’s (34 Portland St.) could open later this summer in Portland, cementing itself as a queer community hub with a cafe, bar, library, and game space. The cafe will host rotating pop-ups and queer artists, and according to the website, “all Candy’s revenue is recycled back into programming, the space itself, paying the people who work there, and supporting the community.” When it opens, Candy’s will have a full liquor license, serving cocktails, mocktails, wine, beer, coffee, and food.

May 28, 2019

The Garrison/Facebook

BIDDEFORD, MAINE — Magnus on Water (12 Water St.) is slated to open in late summer or early fall. The menu will feature foraged ingredients, and Brittany Saliwanchik and Brian Catapang (previously of Elda) will create the cocktail menu.

OGUNQUIT, MAINE — Nikanos Mediterranean Bar & Grille (173 Main St.) is on track to open this summer in Ogunquit, serving a selection of Greek and Mediterranean cuisine from chef Mark Segal, a longtime veteran of New England restaurants.

PORTLAND, MAINE — Yardie Ting (28 Monument Sq.) will soon open in Portland’s Public Market House, taking over for Maiz. The forthcoming stall will serve Jamaican dishes with house-made rubs and spices. The business has previously operated as a caterer, serving items like jerk chicken, oxtails, curry goat, baked mac and cheese, and rice and beans.

Quinn’s Bardega (79 Mellen St.) is headed for an opening ahead of July 4. The cafe will operate within the Mellen Street Market convenience store, with some seating and a menu of sandwiches, burgers, and more.

Ada’s Kitchen of Rockland will expand to Portland, opening at 642 Congress St., possibly in August. The restaurant will serve Roman-style pizza and will sell house-made pasta.

Portland’s LB Kitchen will open a second location at 231 York St. The new cafe is under construction, and it will reportedly carry on its health-conscious menu of smoothie and grain bowls, salads, and more. Look out for the new location coming in June.

The Whiskey Barrel (82 Hanover St.) will open June 1, from owners John Ferrara and Dennis Mahoney. The restaurant doubles as a live country music venue, with a stage, dance floor and seating inside and out.

Brewery Extrava (66 Cove St.) will open this summer, serving mostly Belgian-style ales. The brewery will span 5,000 square feet, with a tasting room, outdoor seating, and 12 beers on tap.

The decades-old Walter’s (2 Portland Sq.) will close on May 31, with owners Cheryl and Jeff Buerhaus sharing in an announcement that they “have no plans for the future but to enjoy [their] grandchildren.”

Chef Steve Quattrucci will open Monte’s Fine Foods (788 Washington Ave.) in early July. The business will consist of a market element, as well as a bakery and takeout component that will include Roman-style pizza cut to order and sold by weight. There will also be sandwiches and breads, and house-made vegan pepperoni and vegan cheese.

Across the harbor from Portland proper, Peaks Island is about to get a new restaurant serving “trap to table” steamed, broiled, and fried seafood, plus sandwiches, salads, and some desserts. Island Lobster Co. (20 Island Ave.) is opening imminently, and the property also has several AirBNB rentals available.

YARMOUTH, MAINE — Chef Christian Hayes of Dandelion Catering Co. will open a restaurant called the Garrison in Yarmouth in mid-July. Located at 81 Bridge St., in the historic Sparhawk Mill, the restaurant will serve a mix of New American dishes with some influences from Asian and Mediterranean cooking. It will seat 40 people, with 14 at a bar.

May 21, 2019

Luke’s Lobster [Official Photo]

PORTLAND, MAINE — Greg Mitchell of Biddeford’s Palace Diner will soon open Flood’s in Portland (747 Congress St.). The new restaurant, which seats 45 people and is adjacent to (but not affiliated with) the Francis Hotel, could open May 31, serving dinner Wednesday through Thursday. Mitchell reportedly describes Flood’s as a “modern-day tavern with Old World vibes.” Expect dishes like chicken schnitzel and Welsh rarebit.

Also in Portland, the flagship Luke’s Lobster location (60 Portland Pier) will open for dinner on June 5. The pier underwent a full reconstruction over two years, and renovations to the building include reclaimed wood and polished concrete accents. The restaurant will offer views of Portland Harbor — and into the company’s wholesale and distribution facility — and a menu of lobster rolls, chowders and bisques, fried clams, and lots more seafood. The head chef will be Zac Leeman, and the new Luke’s will have two full bars with beer, wine, and cocktails. This is a substantially different type of restaurant from the small, fast-casual Luke’s Lobster locations around the country (and the world — there are a few in Japan and Taiwan, too).

And one more Portland update for today: Coals Pizza (114 Preble St.) could open on June 11. Owner Billy Etzel also operates two locations in New York, but with family ties to Maine, he decided to expand to Portland. The restaurant will serve dinner Tuesday through Sunday, featuring grilled pizza, plus burgers, chicken wings, beer, and more.

PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE — Some new details on the aforementioned Street/Street’za sale (see the April 23 update below): Luigi’s West End Pizza (801 Islington St.) will be the replacement for Street’za, under the new ownership of Jay McSharry and Matt Louis of Moxy and the Franklin. The main focus will be New York-style pizza, but there will be other menu items including chicken parm sandwiches, a meatball sub, pasta, and salads. The restaurant will also offer delivery and take-out. McSharry and Louis also took over Street’za’s sister restaurant, Street, but do not plan to make major changes there.

VINALHAVEN, MAINE — The Nightingale (26 Main St.) is open for its second season as of May 17. The restaurant, which took over the longtime Harbor Gawker space last year, serves lunch and dinner six days a week (it’s closed on Wednesdays) — “Maine favorites from scratch, using the best ingredients available,” per the restaurant’s website, with dishes like lobster and crab rolls, burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, fish and chips, steamed pork bao, and fish tacos.

May 14, 2019

Knead Doughnuts/Official Site

FREEPORT, MAINE — Wanderlust Juicery is now crowdfunding to open in Freeport at 2 Mechanic St. The business will serve cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and smoothie bowls, and its founders aim to raise $12,000 to purchase kitchen equipment and cover the cost of some renovations.

PORTLAND, MAINE — Vignola Cinque Terre (10 Dana St.) has closed following a final service on May 12. Owners Dan and Michelle Kary said the time had come for them to move on after 18 years. Joshua Miranda of Blyth & Burrows (26 Exchange St.) plans to lease the space and open a new restaurant there. Stay tuned for details on that project.

In other Portland news, Saco, Maine’s Quiero Cafe has opened a second location, this one right in Portland. The new restaurant took over the space at 3 Deering Ave., previously home to Trattoria Fanny, and now serves its selection of empanadas filled with cheese, vegetables, and meats.

Grippy Tannins (16 Middle St.), a wine shop and tasting bar in Portland, is now open. In addition to wines for purchase, the shop offers wines by the glass, complimentary snacks (like olives, salt chips, and bread and butter) and more.

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND — Knead Doughnuts just expanded its production space into 5,000 square feet, increasing capacity and allowing the business to accommodate the opening of a third doughnut shop at that same location. The space, called the Providence Kitchen Collaborative, also includes seven food and beverage businesses. Stay tuned for updates on the opening of the shop, slated for sometime this month.

VERMONT — Douglas and Susan Harp have launched an Indiegogo campaign to crowdfund plans for an organic Vermont vineyard. They aim to raise $140,000, which will go towards building the production facilities for pressing, blending, crushing, storage, and more. Read more from their campaign.

May 7, 2019

Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

BARRINGTON, RHODE ISLAND — Rhode Island ice cream pop-up Vic’s is opening its permanent location on May 10 at 74 Maple Ave. Victoria Young, a former Noma intern who’s trained in classical pastry, has been serving Vic’s throughout Rhode Island since 2017 with a focus on local, seasonal ingredients. Her recent flavors have included strawberry shortcake sundae, pineapple coconut, French vanilla, and dark chocolate truffle. The opening weekend hours will run from 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday and from 12 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

BEDFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE — The Friendly Toast now has six locations around New England. The newest addition in Bedford (4 Main St.) seats 120 and has an outdoor patio. The restaurant serves all-day breakfast, as well as lunch and dinner, including dishes like chicken and waffles, omelets, pork belly banh mi, and more, plus cocktails, beer, wine, and flights of bloody marys and mimosas. Bedford’s Friendly Toast operates Monday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

ELLIOTT, MAINE — The Boston Globe delves into the story of Panera founder and former CEO Ron Shaich’s investment in growing local chain Life Alive (as well as Tatte, Clover, and the DC-based Cava). The story discusses Life Alive founder Heidi Feinstein a bit as well — while she originally planned to stay with Life Alive as it grows, it didn’t work out and she’s no longer involved. These days, she can be found running a small farm in Elliott, and once her non-compete runs out in about a year, she hopes to open a vegetarian restaurant somewhere around New Hampshire’s Seacoast region or in Maine.

PORTLAND, MAINE — The Blue Spoon (89 Congress St.) in Portland’s Munjoy Hill now has a sibling, Blue Spoon Cafe & Catering (64 Pine St.). Owners Liz Koenigsberg and chef Will Lavey have opened their new business in the former Aurora Provisions space, and they’re serving breakfast, lunch, coffee, and grab-and-go sandwiches. The cafe also sells some retail goods and wine, and it will allow the owners to expand their catering services.

PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE — Mr. Kim’s (107 State St.) opened on May 6, coming to Portsmouth from chef Gary Kim, who previously worked at Uni in Boston and cofounded Anju Noodle Bar in Kittery. The menu draws inspiration from Korean cuisine and beyond, featuring dishes such as kimchi waffles, bulgogi sliders on King’s Hawaiian rolls, and a noodle soup with fish. There are also cocktails, wine, and beer. Mr Kim’s operates six days a week for dinner, from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

April 30, 2019

Ted Axelrod

MILFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE — Greenleaf Restaurant (54 Nashua St.), from chefs Chris Viaud and Keith Sarasin (respectively the executive chef and founder of farm-to-table event series the Farmers Dinner), opens May 2, featuring seasonal, local food. The opening menu includes dishes such as hush puppies with spring onion dip; mushroom and ricotta tortellini; risotto with smoked peas and morels; and more.

NORTH YARMOUTH, MAINE — The Purple House (378 Walnut Hill Rd.) will close for the season, starting on May 12, as chef and owner Krista Desjarlais refocuses, preparing for a slightly updated format when the restaurant returns in October. Meanwhile, she’ll be spending the summer making ice cream and pastries at her other business, Bresca and the Honey Bee (106 Outlet Rd., New Gloucester, Maine). Desjarlais is a James Beard-nominated chef whose Purple House was a highly anticipated opening of 2016. She plans to reopen the Purple House with a new format in the fall, featuring pastries, bread, bagels, baked goods, pizza, and a “fancyish” lunch with two seatings and multiple courses. Stay tuned for further details on the Purple House changes.

PORTLAND, MAINE — Other Side Diner (500 Washington Ave.) is now open in the former Hella Good Tacos space. Owners Peter and Jessica Sueltenfuss (also behind Other Side Delicatessen) are offering an all-day breakfast and lunch menu from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with items like pancakes, crab meat melts, eggs, and more.

Atsuko Fujimoto, a former baker at Ten Ten Pié, just founded a bakery of her own. She’s running Norimoto Bakery as a wholesale operation out of Two Fat Cats in South Portland. Fujimoto is reportedly looking for a storefront around Portland.

Meanwhile, a Vietnamese restaurant could take over the former Ten Ten Pié space at 171 Cumberland Ave. Tuyet Le plans to open Banh Appetit in the next couple months, serving dishes like stuffed bitter melon soup, caramelized pork belly with hard boiled eggs, spring rolls, banh bao, and banh mi.

April 23, 2019

Acadia/Official Site

BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND — Portside Tavern (444 Thames St.) opened in mid-March in Bristol. The restaurant serves a selection of seafood like shrimp ceviche, mussel frites, and clam cakes, as well as burgers, sandwiches, chicken wings, cheese plates, and Korean barbecue pork wonton nachos. There are also drinks, including a nitro coffee martini, beer, and wine.

PORTLAND, MAINE — Cocktail Mary is in the works for 229 Congress St., the former Ramen Suzukiya space. Isaac MacDougal, current head bartender at Portland’s Izakaya Minato, is reportedly behind the new restaurant, which will seat 21 and could open later in the summer.

A wine shop and tasting bar slated to open this spring in Portland has shared a draft of its forthcoming menu. Grippy Tannins (16 Middle St.) could offer a selection of complimentary snacks (like olives, salt chips, and bread and butter) along with cheese, charcuterie, tinned fish, and items like empanadas, arancini, patatas bravas, and savory tarts.

PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE — The owners of Street and Street’za (801 Islington St.) are preparing to finalize a sale of the restaurants to two other local business owners. Michelle Lozuaway and husband and chef Joshua Lanahan will sell to Jay McSharry and Matt Louis (the latter is chef-owner of Moxy and Franklin House; the former has a hand in quite a few local restaurants, including Moxy and Franklin), who will aim to keep on staff at each restaurant. Street will largely stay the same, and there may be a few changes to the interior and menu at Street’za.

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND — Green Line Apothecary is now open in Providence, with another location in Wakefield, Rhode Island. The business is a hybrid pharmacy, retail store, and soda shop, serving sodas, ice cream, shakes, and floats, plus coffee and tea. There are classic soda fountain items as well, including phosphates, lime rickeys, and egg creams.

Over in East Providence, Jaya’s Kitchen (615 Waterman Ave.) is now open, serving indian dishes, including dosa, biryani, tikka masala, and more.

STONINGTON, MAINE — Chef Ryan McCaskey of Chicago’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant Acadia plans to open a casual sibling in Maine. (It’s a fitting expansion, as Chicago’s Acadia is largely inspired by Maine, which is home to Acadia National Park.) Acadia House is slated to open in the summer of 2019 at 27 Main St. in Stonington. “Not only is the area nationally known for some of the best seafood the nation has to offer, but also for the breathtaking views and peaceful way of life,” McCaskey wrote in a Facebook post about the forthcoming restaurant. Acadia House will operate seasonally, sourcing from local farms and craft beer producers and serving cocktails and wine.

April 16, 2019

Vic’s/Official Site

BARRINGTON, RHODE ISLAND — Rhode Island ice cream pop-up Vic’s is getting a permanent space at 74 Maple Ave. Victoria Young — who has interned at Noma and completed classical pastry training at Johnson & Wales — is at the helm of the company, which has been making Rhode Island appearances since 2017 (previously under the name Fountain & Co.), featuring small batches of ice cream flavors that showcase local, seasonal ingredients. Recent flavors have included rainbow sherbet, matcha coconut, sour watermelon sorbet, and more. Until the shop opens, keep an eye on social media for more pop-ups; the next is April 20 at Providence’s Stock Culinary Goods (756 Hope St.).

PORTLAND, MAINE — A distillery will open in Portland’s East Bayside neighborhood. Three of Strong leased more than 6,000 square feet of space at 35B Diamond St., and founders Dave McConnell and Sam Pierce have hired Graham Hamblett from Dogfish Head Distilling Co. in Delaware, along with Crystal Pomerleau, a Portland restaurant veteran, who will manage the tasting room. With an initial focus on rum, Three of Strong will make a spiced version using a blend prepared by chef Evan Mallet of Black Trumpet in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Good News Coffee and Package (28 Brackett St.) will change its stripes, switching from a coffee and retail shop to a cider bar. Owner Michael Vassallo reportedly plans to transition the space into the Cider House, which will serve a mix of local and global ciders, along with a tapas-style menu.

Other Side Diner (500 Washington Ave.) will open in the former Hella Good Tacos space, and owners Peter and Jessica Sueltenfuss (who are also behind Other Side Delicatessen) have shared a draft of the menu, which features all-day breakfast and lunch, including eggs, pancakes, crab meat melts, and more.

The owners of Blue Spoon (89 Congress St.) in Portland’s Munjoy Hill neighborhood plan to expand their operation. Liz Koenigsberg and chef Will Lavey leased the space at 64 Pine St. that previously housed Aurora Provisions, where they will open Blue Spoon Cafe & Catering, serving breakfast, lunch, coffee, and food to-go. The space will also allow them to expand their catering services. Look for the new Blue Spoon opening some time in May.

April 9, 2019

Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

EXETER, NEW HAMPSHIRE — An Italian restaurant called Trattoria il Cornicello will open in early May at 11 Water St., the former longtime home of 11 Water Street, which closed last year. Owner Tim O’Brien plans to offer a variety of house-made pastas on the restaurant’s seasonal, local menu. He is also behind another Italian restaurant, Enoteca Athena, in Brunswick, Maine.

GORHAM, MAINE — Portland’s Lone Pine Brewing Company is about to debut a new tasting room at its barrel-aging facility in Gorham (48 Sanford Dr., Building B): April 13 is the day (noon to 8 p.m.), and there will be new barrel-aged beers, food, merch, and more.

PORTLAND, MAINE — Royale Lunch Bar is now open at 11 Union St., serving Montreal smoked meats and “other lunchy treats.” Behold: a smoked meat sandwich, piled high.

Also now open in Portland: a new location for Maiz, which has expanded from the Public Market House to Woodfords Corner (621 Forest Ave.), serving arepas and other Colombian street food.

And in other Portland news, Other Side Deli alum Peter Murphy plans to open a cheesesteak food cart, Rebel Cheesesteaks, in early May, vending around Old Port. He’s originally from New Jersey, near Philly.

PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE — Chef Gary Kim, an alum of Uni in Boston who later co-founded Anju Noodle Bar in Kittery, Maine, has been popping up at Ore Nell’s BBQ in Kittery on Mondays and Tuesdays with dishes inspired by Thailand, Korea, and beyond. (One dish, for example, is Kim’s take on the “Cowboy Hat Lady’s” khao kha moo from Chiang Mai, Thailand, pictured above.) The pop-up, Sheep & Wolves, has three more occurrences at Ore Nell’s — tonight (April 9), April 15, and April 16. But that’s not all: Kim has announced that “after a few years of exploration, travel, and self-growth,” he has found a permanent restaurant space at 107 State St., where he’ll open Mr. Kim’s soon. The restaurant will be “a reflection of his Korean-homestyle cooking from childhood,” also drawing inspiration from his time at Uni and travels through Asia and Europe. Stay tuned for an opening timeline — job interviews are already underway.

PROVIDENCE — Long Live Beerworks has moved to an attractive new multilevel space, debuting over the weekend at 40R Sprague St. The brewery focuses on “hop-forward craft beer and inventive cask-conditioned ales.”

WEST OSSIPEE, NEW HAMPSHIRE / BELIZE — New Hampshire brewpub Hobbs Brewing Company has expanded — all the way to Placencia, Belize. At its new facility, Hobbs is starting with two brews: Wildcat IPA and Hummingbird Belizean Golden Ale.

March 26, 2019

Oba Noodle Bar/Official Site

BIDDEFORD, MAINE — Dizzy Birds Rotisserie (65 Main St.) opened last week in Biddeford — and there’s a pickup location in Portland, too. As the name suggests, the restaurant serves a menu of rotisserie-cooked chicken, including sandwiches, platters with sides and bread, and family-style dinners. There are also vegetarian options, as well as soups and salads.

EXETER, NEW HAMPSHIRE — Oba Noodle Bar (69 Water St.) is now open from the team behind Portsmouth’s popular 5 Thai Bistro, serving a variety of noodle dishes drawing inspiration from Thailand, Japan, and beyond. There are starters and appetizers like shrimp chips and dumplings, and entrees include kimchi udon soup, duck noodle soup, tofu nam daeng, and more.

PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE — The Zulu Hut (67 Bow St.) is now open in Portsmouth, serving South African dishes. There are grilled items with a braai spice rub (including sausage, pork chop, chicken, and steak), curries, roasted lamb shank, and more.

PORTLAND, MAINE — A juice and smoothie shop on Exchange Street in Portland plans to expand elsewhere. Blake Orchard leased a space at 561 Forest Ave., where it will open a second store. Founded by Alexandra Blake Messenger in 2014, Blake Orchard started out producing juices, nut milks, and other vegan foods and selling them at farmers markets in New England. In 2016, Messenger crowdfunded for her move to Portland to open the Blake Orchard brick-and-mortar, where the menu has grown and includes coffee, smoothie bowls, smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and nut milks.

Further Reading

• New England’s 38 Essential Restaurants: A guide to the best of the best throughout New England, compiled by former Eater restaurant editor Bill Addison with the help of food writers from around the region.
• The 9 Hottest New Restaurants in Providence, Rhode Island: Updated periodically, this map highlights some of the hot new spots to hit the Providence dining scene.
• Eater Maine: Eater Boston’s sister site to the north has been largely retired, but stop by the homepage now and then for updates to major maps, such as the Heatmap, which tracks some of the hottest new openings.
• Maine Restaurant News Archive on Eater Boston: While most Maine news appears right here in this New England news round-up, older stories are archived at the Maine Restaurant News Archive link.
• A Guide to Dining and Drinking in Portsmouth and Kittery: Take a trip up to the New Hampshire-Maine border.
• Eater Recommends: What to Eat and Drink in Portsmouth and Kittery: Don’t have time to read the whole guide mentioned above? Skip to this map, which highlights some of the Eater Boston team’s Portsmouth and Kittery favorites.
• Where to Drink Beer in Portsmouth, New Hampshire: And here’s the beer-specific accompaniment to the above two links.