Off the charts, off the map
Even a slice of zucchini makes you want more . . . zucchini. You are perhaps vegan? Order two of these and sneer at the carnivores of the world.
By ROBERT NADEAU | August 20, 2008

Schmaltz Coney Island Lagers

Freaking delicious
The latest offerings from New York’s Schmaltz Brewing Co. celebrate — as Elvis Costello once put it — the “other side of summer.”
By MIKE MILIARD | August 13, 2008

Strange brews

Tapping into the drinking life
This summer, Portland saw the opening of two notable spots to sip our way towards an obesity-induced infarction.
By BRIAN DUFF | August 13, 2008

Sweet release

Cupcake OD
Peanut butter and jelly, gin and tonic, milk and cookies, indie rock and microbrew beer — these are pairings that have stood the test of time.
By MEREDITH HASSETT | August 13, 2008

Red Stripe(1)

Moules frites for the masses
Now it’s starting to get scary.
By BILL RODRIGUEZ | August 06, 2008

Bottle Shock

Bland vino
I found myself thinking, “I detect corn, laced with cheese.”
By BRETT MICHEL | August 05, 2008

The Publick House

Grab a drink while you wait
The true focus here is the far frontiers of craft brewing, especially the many styles of Belgian ales.
By ROBERT NADEAU | July 23, 2008

Estragon

And you thought Taberna de Haro was authentic . . .
A divorce and new partners have put Julio de Haro in the position to open Estragon, a larger restaurant with a 1930s-tapas-bar theme. Nostalgia deepens authenticity, no?
By ROBERT NADEAU | July 16, 2008

Italian Corner

A treat, but not every night
Italian Corner offers gourmet grinders every day, but from 5:30 to 8:30 on Saturday nights — and Friday nights, come August — proprietor Osvaldo Pirrò comes out of retirement as a master chef (Golden Fork Award and all) — to provide dinner.
By BILL RODRIGUEZ | July 16, 2008

Bright flavors

The Merry Table serves crêpes to linger over
The Merry Table, whose crêpes are quite good, deserves a better name.
By BRIAN DUFF | July 09, 2008

Le Central

A winning French touch in Bristol
Le Central’s décor, like its menu, is a mix of bistro fare with updates on French classics.
By JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | July 09, 2008

Let it all hang out

Underbear at the Alley
It’s hard to feel too threatened by an IT administrator in SpongeBob boxers sipping a Long Island iced tea through a stir straw.
By MICHAEL BRODEUR | July 08, 2008

New Guitar Summit: Jay Geils, Duke Robillard, Gerry Beaudoin

Shivers | Stony Plain
This cool, sleek soundtrack for a night of cocktails, sophisticated banter, and, hell, maybe even nookie brings the elegance of ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s jazz blues crisply into the present.
By TED DROZDOWSKI | July 08, 2008

Audubon Circle’s habanero-infused guava margarita and grilled shrimp with citrus dipping sauce

Red-hot summer
They start with the world’s hottest peppers and let them soak in white tequila for three days until a mere whiff puts tears in your eyes.
By KENJI ALT | July 03, 2008

Vintage Lounge

Simplify, simplify — and enjoy the wine
As often happens at wine festivals, the wine at Vintage is actually more exciting than the food.
By ROBERT NADEAU | July 02, 2008

The Little Inn

Instant nostalgia
The menu declares allegiance to “Slow food, prepared and cooked to your order, very carefully!”
By BILL RODRIGUEZ | June 25, 2008

He ain't heavy — well, maybe a little bit

Performance art
For Armen Moradians's "100 Carry Project," he plans to carry 100 people — one by one, piggy-back style — along a two-mile route through downtown Portland.
By JEFF INGLIS | June 25, 2008

Up River Café

Sipping Prosecco on the Pawcatuck
It’s always a shame when a restaurant with a great location fails to equally impress with the actual food. Not to worry, however, about the Up River Café.
By BILL RODRIGUEZ | June 18, 2008

Taco Loco

Fresh reasons to break out of your rut
Like many Boston-area Mexican restaurants, Taco Loco is run by Salvadorans, here a friendly, hustling bunch serving cheap, very fresh-tasting tacos, burritos, and pupusas to local crowds.
By MC SLIM JB | June 18, 2008

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