D. Taylor's Food & Travel

Restaurant Review  By Don Taylor We arrived in downtown Portland very early for a show at the Merrill Auditorium.  We walked past the Union Restaurant and looked at the menus of several of the many restaurants along Exchange Street. We decided to come back to Union and give them a try. Before we went in, it was our plan to sit at the bar, have drinks and hors d'oeuvres before the show.  Seating was a breeze as there was only one other person sitting in the bar, although there were a couple groups seated in the lounge area.  Eric, our bartender was amazing.  His martini and Manhattan preparations were classic. Going against James Bond’s preference, his were “stirred, not shaken.” I think stirring is a much more civilized way to make a martini.  Also, as Eric stirred, he watched carefully and stopped when the melt was perfect, something that can’t be done when a drink is shaken. We ordered truffle laced potato chips with a goat’s milk r...

Review: Riverdance – Merrill Auditorium – Portland, ME – 1 June 2017 I’m sure it has been a grueling schedule for the cast of Riverdance on their 20 th Anniversary World Tour. We were able to watch the show at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine on June 1 st .  It is one of the last 7 locations for the cast this year before they return to Ireland for the summer and tour Europe during the fall. Originally known as the Portland City Hall Auditorium, the Merrill Auditorium is a lovely old theater built in 1911 in the eastern section of Portland City Hall. It underwent a major renovation in 1997 [i] . It seats 1,907 people. We arrived early and went to Union Restaurant up the street. (More about that later.) The doors into the auditorium opened about 30 minutes before showtime. We had great seats, Row G in Section 1 of the Orchestra; the seats were comfortable and had plenty of leg room. I was impressed with the venue. My new phone has a panoramic view option wh...

The Miss Portland Diner is a 1949 Worcester Lunch Car Company railroad dining car. It was originally located on Forest Avenue, but moved to 49 Marginal Way in 1964. Besides the original dining car there is an addition which provides additional kitchen, storage, bathroom, and dining space. Coffee Mug Miss Portland Diner - Est. 1949 A “seat yourself” sign let us know to wonder a bit.  The upstairs was fairly full, although there were some spaces at a long lunch counter area, so we decided on a booth in the addition. Our server took our coffee orders quickly and was back in a flash.  The coffee was served in absolutely beautiful, old fashioned cups.  The cup was the kind that would make a great souvenir. I later learned you can purchase one for $10.00. A great addition to my cups at home.   Corned Beef Scramble Our server was really helpful and attentive.  When I asked if the hash was locally made or Mary Kitchen™ out of the can she indicate...

Restaurant Review – Dogfish Bar and Grille – 128 Free St., Portland, ME We were recently at an event at the Cross Insurance Arena.   After the event, we thought we’d do a late lunch at a restaurant nearby.   The weather was miserable, snow blowing sideways, so we wanted somewhere close.   We decided on the Dogfish Bar and Grille on Free Street about a block away.   When we arrived, there were no other patrons at the restaurant; the weather clearly was keeping folks away. We were met by an attractive hostess who brought us to a table well away from the door, which when opened blasted the inside with cold wind.   Because our walk there was so miserable, we ordered a couple hot toddies to warm our spirits along with our usual “water with lemon.” Bar area - Dogfish Bar and Grill Portland, ME CC BY SA The bar area looked very nice and well kept.   A dozen things on tap, a couple televisions, clean looking and inviting. The drinks arrive...