Photo / Renee Cordes
The Danforth restaurant and bar, which closed in September 2023, was at 211 Danforth St. in Portland.
Updated: January 19, 2024
Friday Food Insider: East meets West at brunch spot slated to open in Portland
Courtesy / Ocotillo
The Ocotillo team from left: Melanie and Pliny Reynolds, the owners of Saddle Up Hospitality; Wilson Rothschild, executive chef of Saddle Up Hospitality; Al Zoni, head chef at Ocotillo; Justin Dewalt, chief operating officer of Saddle Up Hospitality; and Lea Pilsbury, front-of-house manager at Ocotillo.
The team behind the Terlingua restaurant in Portland’s East End say they will open a sibling restaurant, Ocotillo, this spring in the West End.
Owners Pliny and Melanie Reynolds are under contract to purchase 211 Danforth St., which most recently was the home of the Danforth restaurant. It closed in September.
Ocotillo, with indoor and outdoor seating for up to 106, will offer brunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. In the evenings, the restaurant will have events including private parties, pop-ups, corporate functions, wedding parties and more. A weekly schedule will be set after opening.
The restaurant is named after the semi-succulent plant that helps define the landscape of the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico. The interior will have abundant natural light and a bright paint palette, with a combination of calming desert and golden-hour tones.
“The beautiful thing about this location is the prior business owners had phenomenal taste and expertise when they equipped and designed the space,” said Pliny Reynolds.
“For us, the daytime concept we’ve designed for Ocotillo meant we needed to brighten it and incorporate our Terlingua-style color palette. We look forward to carrying the torch as good neighbors in Portland’s West End community and beyond.”
The owners told Mainebiz that they had been exploring the opportunity to develop a brunch-focused restaurant in Portland for some time.
“This new space gives us the ability to create a daytime neighborhood hub and host memorable events at night,” said Pliny Reynolds. “Engaging in events, large groups and pop-up opportunities is a big part of the vision for this space. We think of Ocotillo and its offerings as Terlingua adjacent but will definitely be its own thing!"
About the menu
The menu at Ocotillo is inspired by flavors from Texas and Mexico. Guests can expect rotating seasonal specials, a selection of breakfast tacos, tortas and benedicts featuring house-smoked meats. Plus, there will be some table-shared must-haves like homemade churros and Texas-style French toast.
There will also be an agave-focused beverage program, coffee drinks and agua frescas. A full opening menu will be announced in March.
“Guests still ask us about our brunch menu from the original Terlingua and we’re excited to bring back those fan favorites and introduce new Ocotillo signature dishes from our talented culinary team,” said Melanie Reynolds.
What are some new restaurants that you're excited to see open in 2024? The Mainebiz Food Insider wants to know! Contact Alexis Wells at awells@mainebiz.biz.
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