In its 30th year this remains a very great restaurant.
If you’re not too hungry and want a cheap dinner, I had what they describe as Heirloom Bean Chili. I don’t think it’s chili, I think it’s one of the best soups of my life. With bacon, scallions and sour cream, it’s a monument to the American heartland. Twelve bucks. Bangers and Mash had wild boar sausage and Aroostook potatos in a caramelized onion base, truly amazing.
Eileen had their garden salad, been on the menu since day 1, springtime on a plate. She also had mushroom toast, strangely served cool on what was still a cold winter day. There was a lot of balsamic; the only dish that did not work for me. She also had parsnips, hot, still crisp, seasoned with an amazing panoply of other flavors.
I am not normally a Prosecco guy, had never heard of Ruggeri, trusted them and got a fine glass of bubbles with some depth and some age. A glass of 2019 Chateau Barreyre stood Eileen in good stead, as did my glass of 2018 Colpetrone Cab/Sangiovese from Umbria.
The glasses are big, I didn’t have a measuring cup in my pocket but at least 6 ounces. This incredible dinner, 5 apps and 3 glasses, set me back $150, including a tip of ~25%.
Portland is a great restaurant city, really amazing for ~75,000 people. There’s always some new, something hot, something cool, Fore Street remains at the heart of a city of great food and great soul. Reserve early, or wait outside as they hold seats for walk-ins.