It's harder and harder to find a really good sammy these days. These guys make really good sammys…read more My pastrami and swiss was one of the better I've had in years, my girlfriends chupacabra blew her minds. Thumbs up and all that

Fantastic sandwich shop with very innovative menu options and lots of variety. Pleasant and fairly…read morefast service. Maybe on the pricey side. The Bada Bing is probably my favorite sandwich from here so far, but I've yet to have something I didn't like.

LOVE having a place to grab a fantastic GF treat! I went in to pick up a specific item my daughter…read morehad asked for, but was thinking I would be leaving empty-handed when I didn't see said item behind the glass. I'm glad I waited and asked at the counter, because it turned out there was a whole spread of yummy looking treats that were ALL gluten free. What I chose was moist and delicious. I will definitely be returning!

BLUF: This is a gluten free place, not vegan. They have great options for everyone, and a great…read morevibe with lots of parking. I parked behind Roots and realized it's a super cute place as I walked up. It shares the building with Green Tree Ministries. They might be one in the same? But they are definitely related. I walked in and saw all these books on shelves, and upon closer inspection, there was little cards in the shape of business cards that were for the taking. Each with a different Christian saying or a verse from the Bible. There was something for everyone. This wall of books goes between Roots Cafe and Green Tree Ministries... so I suspect. Well, I did grab a book ("Why Business Matters to God" by Jeff Van Duzer) and a iced Sugar Plum Latte (latte with a lovely purple blackberry vanilla foam). And I also got some chicken meatballs that were yummy and warm. The service was super nice. I thought the barista was so well hidden back there, though, I prefer when you can see the barista crafting beverages, I just find it neat. But that's okay, the ambiance of the place is warm. There is a huge meeting table, there is two different bar areas to sit, there's a couch corner, and tables. It's winter so I didn't see the outdoor seating, but I am sure it's neat. Food was good, coffee was great, service was kind, bathroom was super clean, parking was easy. I mean what's not to like? I LOVE that it's Christian. I felt so included and loved. I enjoyed the ambiance and the people around me. Some reading bibles and doing study, others just enjoying the good food. I also had a brownie that was quiet tasty.

We needed calmer respite from the crowded Portland downtown, and this place could not be more…read moreperfect for our family. The food was delicious, with some interesting options (breakfast pizza, Thai chili chicken salad, etc.) alongside some Greek and pizza classics. The real star here though is the service - the owners could not be more welcoming and friendly. Wish we lived closer so we could be regulars!

Excellent, very friendly service, above and beyond in my opinion…read more The atmosphere is comfortable and the building itself is mucher bigger inside than it appears outside. There's also a full bar in the back. I had a small greek pizza, and a side of spanakopita, and it's all homemade. Very delicious, very satisfying, I'd definitely return again.

Co-workers and I called for a pick up order. I did the Big-O and the others the Orchard Turkey…read more Both delicious and we all wished we had tried them a long time ago! Staff was great, too.

For some reason I hadn't been by the Local Press for awhile (no particular reason, just not in the…read moreneighborhood) so today when I was in the Woodfords area I stopped in and was reminded what a great sandwich place this is! It was a freezing winter day and something melty sounded good, so I went for the Orchard Turkey, which also includes bacon, apples, melted sharp cheddar, and spicy mayo. So good! I can also vouch for their Reuben, having had that in the past. Super friendly staff, always, and next time I need to try the little sitting area they have inside as well, which looks cheery! Terrific local shop and worth remembering when you're in this part of town.

Stopped in for lunch, yesterday, with a friend. Plenty of parking. We were seated right away…read more Love the casual vibe. High and low tops. Booths and tables. Our waitress was friendly and the food was really good. We opted for the unwrapped egg roll bowl (yum) - I would definitely get this again, and the salmon with quinoa and power greens (also very good). It was mid-day and I had to go back to work so we didn't get drinks but there were lots of (local) options. The only reason I'm giving 4 vs 5 stars is that we had to wait a while for our food and then the tab. The restaurant was quite busy but not ridiculously so. We weren't in a tremendous hurry, so it wasn't the end of the world, but, still... 4 stars is definitely a "would do a gain" vote.

Such a cute place with very cool vibes. We stopped in to grab some drinks from the to go case…read more Didn't stay. Very nice employee immediately greeted us and offered assistance with purchase. Super reasonable prices! And what we got was tasty!

I'm spoiled when it comes to Poke. When I'm in Hawaii, I get my poke at Foodland. Yes Foodland!…read more I've been to many poke places in the mainland and for some reason this hits the authenticity of Hawaiian Poke. I ordered the Hawaiian Original with extra protein. Loved every single bite. Will definitely come back when I'm here for business!

I've been here a few times now and as delicious as the food is, the prices are crazy, especially…read morefor that portions and compared to other poké places. I'm a huge fan of poké, especially a spicy tuna bowl. The options here are more limited and more expensive than other places around the state. The service is ok, but not very friendly. The space is clean and I appreciate the number of unique drink offerings, but I won't be frequenting here very often.

great beer and great pizza! Happy hour pint with a slice is the best deal around. Super friendly…read morestaff.

Solid brewery in the area! I liked that there were also solid options for non-beer drinkers (like…read morethe lemonade), which I don't think is always the case at breweries. The pizza was pretty good! I've had Detroit style pizza before and this wasn't my first take on it, but was still pretty good. Ordered at the counter and they brought out food to us. This brewery is on the smaller side, but there was a good variety of seating options - tables & at the bar.

This is one of our go-to spots. We usually sit at the tables, but Ben behind the bar makes…read morefantastic margaritas and is always great. The drinks and food keep us coming back, and we also appreciate that we can usually get in and out within about an hour without ever feeling rushed. That said, the last two times we've gone our table service has been disappointing. We had two different servers, and both experiences felt pretty cold and unfriendly. The interactions were brief and came across as rude, which was surprising because we've had such positive experiences here in the past. It's honestly a bummer because we really do love this place and will absolutely keep coming back. I'm hoping these last couple visits were just off nights, because Rio Bravo is usually one of our favorite spots around here.

Rio Bravo happily accommodated our party of 7 late on a Saturday night. Our waitress was right on…read moretop of things. All our meals came out at the same time. We all had something different and we all enjoyed our meals, all the ingredients were fresh and flavorful. I like how they gave us each a bowl for salsa. I had a house margarita that was large. The decor is bright and festive. They are a small chain with locations along the east coast.

Busy day running around and I was STARVING! While in Gorham, my wife suggested Miller's Market. At…read morefirst, I was put off by the atrocious parking, but what else could I expect in down town? This place definitely gives "butcher" and "market" vibes, which was expected. Indoor seating was lacking, and the menu wasn't huge...but trust me, the variety was just enough to satisfy just about anyone. I ordered the smash burger, which was messy, greasy and absolutely fantastic. I got the turkey club for my kids to split (and this thing was HUGE) they didn't finish it . My wife got the Cesar wrap, and she was beyond happy with it. She even brought half back home with us. I strangely suggest going on a nice day and sitting outside, it was wonderful. (Pro-tip; if going during peak lunch, expect a wait on the food. We went into Azul Tequila and got an appetizer to go so we could eat this while waiting for our sandwiches. Honestly, it's the best of both worlds)

Ahh, the sign of a butchers cleaver. I am not sure what this provokes in most people, but as I've…read moresaid before, Stephen King gives me the heebie-jeebies. So for me, the butcher cleaver represents something tasty--except for when the shmuckabaloos haven't a clue what they are doing. Fortunately, this tasty little joint, Miller's Market up in Gorham, Maine, knows what they're doing! I'd been cruising the highways, riding the coast of Vacationland for some time now, and somehow, someway, ventured a bit further inland. Once I saw the burnt-orange cleaver in the window, I knew I'd have to give it a try and see if these hullabaloos knew what they were doing. I was greeted with a "Hey, how you'rrrr doin'?" The soft, rolling extension on the r made me feel right at home in Maine. Jeezum crow, you Mainers speak funny. But by golly, you are a lovable bunch of hillbilly farmers and fisherfolk. Anywho, I ordered myself a chicken Caesar wrap--wanting to feel nourished, but not to the point of comatose. Salad in a wrap--a genius way to feel healthy. Mind over matter. "Hand-cut fries or hand-cut chips?" the counter guy asked me. Now, I love a fry, but I'm feeling crunchy in these overcast late-April days. I hesitate, and somehow this mind reader behind the counter could sense it. "I can see you want the chips, but you gotta try these fries. Why don't I give you a little of both?" he says to me. Now I'm looking at him cockeyed--just another Mainer who seems to be able to read a man's soul. Well, I am here now--no turning back. And then my eyes widen when I spot a tasty crème soda in the fridge next to the register. My lucky day. Crème soda--the most underrated of all sodas. What's not to love? Creamy and poppy all in the same bottle. This guy seems nice, and I am in no rush, so I say, "Hey, throw it on my tab. I'm going to be a while. After I eat, I'm going to write something!" I pull up a spot without paying and know that there's no expectation to do so--at least not right away. Good ol' Maine courtesy, as good as this blueberry Jalapeño salsa from Pemberton partners, which I can apparently purchase at Millers Market, where it just ain't sangys it's home goodies too. I open up my futuristic-typewriter and get to work on my latest novel, but can't seem to find a single word. I glance at the menu--buffalo chicken pesto sandwich. Hard tellin', not knowin'. Mainers--brilliant folk when it comes to food. Pesto and buffalo sauce! Never had it, but I need it. That's bound to be tasty--as warm buttah' on lobstah. "Hi, I'll take my butter with lobster, please."--how it should be ordered. Dee-EEE --licious. You Mainers are shaking your heads right now, pesto and buffalo is probably a common thing round these parts, from ya? Nope I ain't and the rest of the country is far behind on the trend of the buffalo/pesto combo, I can promise you that. Then my food is brought out to me. It looks tasty--but the fries have me skeptical.... Find out how it all turned out at https://ryanccurtis.com/blog/timeless-fries-at-millers-market/n19c63

I will start this off by saying that I never would expect this small establishment to serve some of…read morethe best tacos that we have been privy to in a long time! It is a quaint and small and unsassuming place that packs 'em in tight but the great thing is that I was able to book a reservation ahead of time for a Friday night and we were able to be seated right away and our adventure begins. There were many vegan options for my better half and she also got a non alcoholic margarita that she enjoyed tremendously. I got three different styles of tacos and appetizers and they were divine ... (Pork Belly, Carnitas, Fried fish taco) The ambiance and the energy of the place was fantastic with the server being very good at what he did. We will definitely be back!

Bird & Co is the best Mexican spot in Portland…read more I'm not saying it's the most authentic, I'm not saying it's perfect, I'm not saying their cocktail program is going to change your life, but... 1. They take reservations (including for brunch on the weekends) and it's super easy to do online. How many places in this city are doing this? The answer is: still not many. 2. Their menu is clearly labeled with what's vegan and vegetarian. No guessing here, and the staff has always been quick to double-check with the kitchen if there are any questions or concerns. Segue... 3. The chips and guacamole for currently $10 are the same quantity of (and I mean this lovingly) overly salted, house fried - sometimes too fried - chips and a tiny scoop of good guac as most places in town that are CHARGING YOU MORE. Segue... 4. There are places in town now charging $8 to $10 for ONE TACO. And they're sometimes quite small. The tacos here average between $4.75 and $6.50 for creative, flavorful, interesting, filling options (also you can get them on either flour or corn, no upcharge). The menu changes from time to time, and I wish they'd bring back the fried yuca taco, but the solid vegan solid options right now are Adobo Sweet Potato, Fried Plantain, and Crispy Tofu. Segue... 5. The taquitos, brussel sprouts, and cheesecake are all vegan. Segue... 6. The brunch (10am to 2pm, Saturday and Sundays) options for vegans are probably the most impressive in town: tofu or chorizo or fresh avocado tacos, huevos rancheros, churro french toast, avocado toast, chimichangas. 7. The Mexican cold brew might change your life (... or at least make you really happy when you're playing hooky from work and having an 11am drink). Switch the tequila for house whisky, skip the vespertino, ask for a side of oat milk... no changes to the price when doing this, by the way, because they're THAT kind of place that isn't trying to punish you constantly with extra fees. 8. The staff is so accommodating, they're thoughtful, they check-in just the right amount. Sure, I've had a few bad experiences here, but overall... sit at the bar, make a friend, and just ask/just talk to them if you're missing something/need something etc. 9. The atmosphere here is Portland right before it became too cool (IYKYK). It's casual and relaxed, it can be intimate and loud when it's busy, it feels quite trendy yet still approachable when they've got their newly updated outside area set-up. 10. It's off peninsula which also changes the demographic and vibe entiiiiiiiiiirely. For the good. 6/5 no notes.