Photo / Peter Van Allen
Papi Portland
May 5, 2023
Friday Food Insider: It's Cinco de Mayo, and Maine restaurants are ready
Peter Van Allen
Lenora which is located at 2 Portland Sq., opened on Feb. 6. It is an upscale Mexican restaurant that is open from breakfast time into the late evening.
What is it about the first week of May that makes you feel like you are heading into the summer? Is it because we start the month off with Cinco de Mayo.
If you are reading this at work and can't wait to get your margarita and taco fix, you have come to the right place. Welcome to the Friday Food Insider.
Although Cinco de Mayo seems like a great time for drinks and good food, there is some history behind it. It is a yearly celebration on May 5, commemorating the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day; that is celebrated on Sept. 16.
Since this is the Friday Food Insider, let's talk about some places you can enjoy a good margarita today.
New Restaurants
If you are looking to try out a new restaurant, you are just in time.
Tacos la Poblanita in Westbrook has opened a location at 57 Bridge St. The restaurant launched as a food truck in 2019 and moved into the Maine Mall in 2022. Their menu includes tacos, enchiladas, burritos and quesadillas. The Westbrook location opened in March and still operates its location in the mall.
Lenora, located at 2 Portland Sq., opened on Feb. 6 and was formerly occupied by Walter's, a fine dining restaurant that closed in May 2019. The upscale Mexican restaurant is open from breakfast to late evening. It specializes in Mexican-inspired street food. Their all-day menu consists of street corn, fish tacos, margaritas, and carnitas, to name a few.
Papi Portland, a Puerto Rican-inspired bar and restaurant, opened at 18 Exchange St. on March 14. If you are looking to try a beef empanada, churrasco (skirt steak, yuca hash, pickled mango, blistered shishito, leek puree), or yuca fries, this is the spot to check out.
Casa Jalisco is a family-owned and operated Mexican restaurant, which opened in September 2022 and is located at 205 High St., in Ellsworth. They offer all the classics, including burritos, tacos, enchiladas, and more.
Local events
Pedro's, located in Kennebunk at 181 Port Rd, will open at noon with happy hour from 3-5 p.m. and live music.
The $12 Margarita Flights are back this weekend with four rotating flavors each day at the Maine Beer Cafe located in Kittery at 439 U.S. Route 1.
Footbridge Brewery is celebrating the upcoming reopening of its brewery. The event is called Cinco de Footbridge. The event begins at noon. They will have pulled pork tacos, new beer releases, and trivia questions around town. The brewery is located at 25 Granary Way, Boothbay Harbor.
El Pocho's Mexican Grill, located at 990 Lisbon St., in Lewiston, celebrates Cinco de Mayo by giving away free t-shirts with orders of $45 or more.
Baxter Brewing Co., also located in Lewiston, is celebrating the release of its new beer called Lagerita, which according to the website, is a lime lager. The pub will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. The brewery will also have tequila cocktails, tacos and food specials.
Taco Escobarr, which can be found by its beautiful light display inside, is starting the party early. It will serve breakfast favorites from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the taco classics from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. The restaurant will also announce their giveaway winner for a set of Casamigos candles and a $50 gift certificate. Information about the giveaway can be found on their Instagram page.
Pacifico, a Pan-Latin restaurant located at 120 Main St., Suite 254, in Saco. Is celebrating the day with a special menu. It will have small plates, a taco platter and their amazing cocktails.
Peter Van Allen
Shown here is El Rayo Portland.
El Rayo, located at 26 Free St. in Portland and 245 U.S. Route 1 in Scarborough, will have live music, margaritas, beer buckets, giveaways and of course Jell-O shots. The fun starts at 4 to 7 p.m. P.S. their giveaway is an electric scooter.
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