Photo / Renee Cordes
After renovations Taco Trio will move back into its former location at 119 Ocean St. in South Portland.
January 3, 2025
Friday Food Insider: Despite recent closures, there are new restaurants to try in 2025
Photo / Renee Cordes
The Send Brewing Co. is located at 15 Ocean St. in South Portland.
A wave of new restaurants has opened in the past month and more are expected in the new year.
Over the past several months, we've seen a number of restaurants close, and this week a prominent Portland chef announced he would take a career break.
But don't despair: Here is a list of new restaurants to try this month.
Apéro opened at 20 Alfred St. in Biddeford in early December. The cocktail bar offers an array of small plates, charcuterie boards, artisanal cheeses, craft cocktails and wine. Sisters Sophia Normantas and Marie Grasser own the business. Grasser also owns Charcutemarie, which prepares charcuterie and cheese boards for weddings and events.
The Send Brewing Co. opened on Dec. 27. The brewery is located at 15 Ocean St. in South Portland in the former Foulmouth Brewing location, which closed in August 2024. The brewery offers a dynamic and growing selection of beverages, including fresh house-made beer styles, wine and sake, with a program of signature Japanese lagers. It also serves a Japanese comfort food menu, including matcha green tea ice cream, salads, miso soup, onigiri and more. The brewery is open Thursday through Monday, 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and on Sundays, 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Ocotillo, a brunch spot opened in Portland in April 2024 by the owners of Terlingua, now offers dinner. The menu ranges from birria grilled cheese, fajitas, chips and salsa. As well as various desserts, including churros and a chocolate tres leches. Their dinner service is held Thursday through Sunday, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Insomnia Cookies, founded by college friends at the University of Pennsylvania in 2003, will now have a location in Portland at 53 Wharf St. According to its website, the bakery should open soon. Watch for a future Friday Food Insider when it does.
Sissle and Daughters, located at 634 Forest Ave. in Portland, recently opened as an all-day cafe. In the mornings, it offers coffee and espresso drinks featuring Precipice Coffee and fresh baked goods. In the afternoons and evenings, it transitions to a wine bar, food retail store and grocery shop. It will offer wine, pantry goods, prepared foods, take-and-heat meals and sandwiches.
Another spot to check out is Taco Trio, which is renovating and moving back to its original location at 119 Ocean St. in South Portland. The business is expected to move into its former location this month.
Augusta's Cushnoc Brewing Co. shared on social media last week that it plans to open its restaurant and bar, Cushnoc Cantina, very soon. The restaurant will occupy the ground floor of the Bill & Joan Alfond Main Street Commons at 150 Main St. in Waterville. Cushnoc Cantina will seat up to 80 people and have a full kitchen and bar. It will offer beer, tequilas, mezcals, and cocktails. Menu items will include tacos and other fare, emphasizing fresh, local ingredients.
Queen B’s Bakery, located at 261 Water St. in Augusta, opened on Dec. 18. The bakery offers various sweet treats, including cookies, cakes, cinnamon rolls, and more. The bakery is actively taking orders for Valentine’s Day.
Your Friday Food Insider friend has returned. I hope you enjoyed some delicious food during the holidays. I am ready to be back telling you all about the food news. Stay tuned for more restaurant news as we head into the new year. Please email me if there is anything I should check out or restaurants I need to try that I may have missed last year. Contact Alexis Wells at awells@mainebiz.biz.
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