A hamburger plate and double cheeseburger from Dairy Delite in Berwick.Photos by Bob Keyes Dairy Delite has been delighting folks in Berwick for generations with its soft-serve and hard ice cream. It’s a spring and summer tradition to treat the kids after baseball practice, a soccer game or another occasion. Or, just because. I took my family for dinner after work on a recent weekday, and we couldn’t have been happier – or, frankly, more surprised. We knew the Shaker Pond ice cream was good. We had no idea how much we would enjoy our burgers, chicken, fries and onion rings. Dairy Delite has b ..read more

Conundrum is inviting from the cozy front porch facing Route 1 in Freeport. Photos by Angie Bryan Spoiler alert: There’s no way I’m not going to love a wine bar with over 500 wines by the bottle and a cocktail menu. But even before pursuing the drink options, I was charmed just entering from the cozy front porch at Conundrum in Freeport. Interior at Conundrum The main bar area was also inviting, with both high-tops and sofas, as well as music at a reasonable volume. But what really wowed me and my drinking companions was the large enclosed back patio, complete with heating when needed. It was ..read more

Exterior of The Blue Spoon Cafe in Portland’s West End Photos by Aimsel Ponti Blue Spoon Cafe, an extension of the restaurant of the same name on Munjoy Hill, opened in May in the spot that was home for many years to Aurora Provisions in Portland’s West End. The cafe has a glorious breakfast menu that includes scones, beignets, breakfast sandwiches and grain bowls. On the lunch front, you’ll find a daily soup, four types of salads, three varieties of tartines and, what got my interest, a selection of sandwiches. I rolled in there for a late-ish lunch on a dreary Tuesday afternoon, and the joi ..read more

Bath Brewing Co’s chocolate-inspired dark beer. Photos by Carla Jean Lauter Several years ago, Maine’s midcoast had a noticeable void of craft breweries. At the time, I chalked this up to the extreme seasonality of some of the coastal towns, many of which close down except for essentials in the winter months, which would be challenging conditions for any new brewery. In the last two years, however, the map has rapidly begun filling up with spots in the tourist-based hubs. The Bath and Boothbay areas in particular have shown growth, as several new breweries have opened with another on the way ..read more

Quality Shop is on Stevens Avenue in Portland, near Deering High. Photos by Ray Routhier I was hungry when I decided to get lunch from Quality Shop the other day, but I didn’t know what I wanted. I didn’t want to know what I wanted. I’m sort of decision-averse, and I get easily overwhelmed with all the little decisions I have to make all day. I was hoping something on the menu would just reach into my subconscious and I’d instantly know what to have. Two cheeseburgers and fries are $7.99 at The Quality Shop in Portland. Then I looked at the menu. Two cheeseburgers with fries for $7.99. Done. T ..read more

Dried herbs and fancy cocktail glasses hanging above the bar were the first indicators that creative cocktails were coming.Photos by Angie Bryan You know how some hosts set the mood before the party by sending out a really fun invitation card? (Yes, some people still mail paper invitations, I swear!) The owner of The Wallingford Dram in Kittery has done the same thing, but via décor. The minute you step into the tiny cocktail bar, you know you’re in for something extraordinary. The interior is decorated with deep forest green paint, dark stained wood and a subtle nautical theme, thanks to a fe ..read more

A large counter means less wait at Maine Beer Co.’s new tasting room. Photos by Carla Jean Jauter Maine Beer Co. has been steadily, massively growing – and if you haven’t been paying attention for a while, it may be time to come back around. This spring, the Freeport brewery opened a completely renovated tasting room, wood-fired pizza kitchen and gathering space, housed in an addition to the building and taking over some of the production floor that visitors could once look down on through glass windows from the original tasting room space. To say that the tasting room has expanded doesn’t se ..read more

The annual Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Portland is scheduled for June 27-29. Staff photo by Carl D. Walsh Is there anything more Maine than celebrating food outside in the summer? The concept of the food festival is perfect for Maine, where summer is short and glorious, and both tourists and locals alike take food seriously. This summer’s list of food festivals includes traditional church-run ethnic food celebrations in southern Maine, a block party of local eateries and breweries in Portland, a combination food festival and farmers market in the western foothills a ..read more

Every neighborhood needs a place like Other Side Diner, the new breakfast-and-lunch spot from Pete and Jessica Sueltenfuss, owners of the two Other Side Delicatessens in Portland. The food isn’t fussy but it’s well-prepared with fresh, local ingredients. The interior of this updated, retro diner has been well thought out: It’s a pleasant atmosphere with plenty of seating – and parking. The Sueltenfuss’ have done an excellent job renovating the space, which used to be the home of Hella Good Tacos and before that, Steve & Renee’s Diner. The dominant color in the diner is black (with chrome a ..read more

As fun as it is to visit tasting rooms to see what’s on tap, I always get a little spring in my step when I find a new beer I can take home. Thus, I was happy to find that Moderation Brewing Company has dipped a few toes into the world of canning, with small releases of its beers sold from its tasting room on Maine Street in Brunswick. Grog Shop is a new beer that will be available on draft and in cans starting this week. It’s an IPA that uses organic rye from Blue Ox Malt House to back up its dry-hopped goodness. Rye is a slightly spicier grain that adds some spunk to the beer’s profile. Foll ..read more