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Tom Sharpe, 85, witty British writer of comic novels
By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press June 7, 2013 7:32PM
This is an undated handout photo issued by Random House of British novelist Tom Sharpe. Sharpe, who satirized everything from apartheid to academe in a series of best-sellers, has died at the age of 85. Sharpe's Spanish publisher, Anagrama, said he died early Thursday June 6, 2013in the Catalan town where he lived. (AP Photo/Susan Sandon/Random House/PA) NO ARCHIVE NO SALES
Updated: July 9, 2013 6:20AM
LONDON — Tom Sharpe was aptly named, a writer who turned a razor-edged eye for absurdity on everything from the racism of apartheid to the squabbles of academia.
The British writer behind a string of comic novels including the campus classic "Porterhouse Blue" has died at 85.
Mr. Sharpe's Spanish publisher, Anagrama, said he died Thursday in Llafranc, the Catalan town where he lived. His physician, Dr. Montserrat Verdaguer, said the cause was complications from diabetes.
Mr. Sharpe's first novel, the South Africa-set "Riotous Assembly," was published in 1971. He became one of Britain's most popular comic novelists with books that combined satire and farce, including "Blott on the Landscape," the "Wilt" series about a long-suffering college lecturer, and "Porterhouse Blue," set in a fictitious Cambridge University college.
Born in London on March 30, 1928, Mr. Sharpe studied at Lancing College and Pembroke College, Cambridge, before serving in the Royal Marines after World War II.
Some of his skeptical outlook may have stemmed from early disillusionment with the ideals of his father, a Unitarian minister and admirer of Adolf Hitler. Mr. Sharpe later told a BBC interviewer that when he found out about Nazi atrocities as a teenager, "my mind was blown by the horror of what had been happening."
He sharpened his satirical ax as a young man working as a teacher and social worker in South Africa. He was deported in 1961 after he wrote a play criticizing the apartheid regime.
His comic novels drew on his own experiences in South Africa; in Cambridge, where he studied; and on his time working as a college lecturer.
Both "Blott on the Landscape" and "Porterhouse Blue" were made into TV series.
Susan Sandon, Mr. Sharpe's editor at Random House, said he was "witty, often outrageous, always acutely funny about the absurdities of life." She called him "one of our greatest satirists and a brilliant writer."
Mr. Sharpe moved from England to Spain in the early 1990s, where he became something of a local celebrity despite his steadfast refusal to learn Spanish.
"I don't want to learn the language. I don't want to hear what the price of meat is," he once said.
Yet Britain did not appeal to him.
"It is so depressing," he said. "I can't bear it. There is no such thing as the English gentleman any more. Money rules everything."
Mr. Sharpe's widow, Nancy Looper Sharpe, said she would remember her late husband for his sense of humor, his sense of morality and his love of travel.
She said the writer's ashes would be scattered in Llafranc; in Cambridge; and at a church in his father's home village of Thockrington, northern England, where he spent summers as a child.


text:
So these are the "Big 3″ of Japan now…. …
Comment on Top Selling BD of 2012 = Gundam UC, Top Movie = K-ON! by Primus de Pedos:
So these are the "Big 3″ of Japan now….
Recent comments by Primus de Pedos:
- AKB48 Members Maimed in Saw Attack:
#Cut4AKB48 oh wait…
- Imouto Paradise Banned for "Glorifying Incest":
ummm, the "imoutos" are actually just cousins. So it can stay right? RIGHT?
- Natalia-tan Banned by EU:
Natalia-tan did nothing wrong.
- Imouto Okashii Mangaka: "They Made The Movie Too Adult!":
I don't know about the rest of you guys but I failed to see how being more erotic than anticipated is detrimental to the movie.
- Super Sonico Addicted To Pussy:
Should have let Shoko-tan to voice her.

subset: commoncrawl


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Maine - Good, Bad, or Eh...ok?
I've been fortunate enough to travel the great state of Maine for work purposes, and so I've been fortunate enough for the last 2 years to sample some of the best that the state has to offer. In reading the boards, I've been curious to know what places I have been missing. Since I get to travel from Portland to Ellsworth and everywhere in between, along 95, 295, and Rte 1.. I'm curious to know other's opinions. Here are some of my samples:
The Front Room, Congress St. Great food, relaxed atmosphere. Small place, get there early on weekends.
Fore Street & Street & Co. - Typically great fare all around, some of the best I have found in Maine, considering same ownership.
Tony's Donuts - Portland. Share the top spot in donuts for me, along with:
Congdon's Donuts, Rte 1, Wells.
Bagel Mainea (sp?) - Western Avenue, Augusta. Great sandwiches + bread.
Bintliffs, Rte 1, Wiscasset. I know there is another Bintliffs on the Southern Coast, but this one is pretty good fare.
King Eider's - Newcastle. Good pub food, good atmosphere all around.
Lucerne Inn, Holden or Dedham. On 1A from 395 to Ellsworth on Phillips Lake. Great food all around - I have not been able to sample much of Bar Harbor food, but this place is definitely among the top in the Bangor area.
Big G's deli - Fairfield. "Interesting" sandwiches with lots of variety, and pretty tasty also. Don't take credit cards, so make sure to bring cash.
Full Belly Deli - Brighton Ave, Westbrook. Great Jewish Deli in Westbrook. Large & tasty sandwiches.
Liberal Cup, Hallowell. Great beer selection and better-than-good pub food.
Slates, Hallowell. Also a bakey - have not tried the food but heard it is very good.
Cafe Bangkok, Hallowell. Located on the same street in Hallowell as LC and Slates - very good Thai food and sushi in Augusta area.
Yosaku, Benkay - Portland. Two different sushi houses in Portland, on opposite ends of the Old Port. Both very good, in my opinion, and can't miss.
Cook's Lobster House - Bailey Island. Located at the very tip of a peninsula south of Brunswick... was famous for being in an Visa (or was it Mastercard) commercial a few years back, but very very good seafood. Also a working lobster pound. Worth the drive from Brunswick, but can be slightly on the pricier side.
Royal River Grill - Have not been, but heard good things - thoughts?
The Senator - Augusta. Located on Western Ave just off of exit 109 in Augusta - one of the better restaurants in the area, attached to a hotel.
Captain Daniel Stone Inn - Brunswich. Very good food and atmosphere, good choice for a romantic dinner. Kind of a pain to find, though.
Back Street Bistro - Brunswick. Also slightly difficult to find on a back street in downtown Brunswick, but very good food and wine selection.
Diamond's Edge Restaurant - Great Diamond Island. Have not been to, but also have heard very good things about.
Thats all I have for now... I travel to all of these areas frequently, so my goal is to try the best Maine has to offer. Thoughts?
The elephant in the room is the midcoast scene. From Rockland to Camden we have the pleasure of residing with many great chefs. Not seasonal places to pleasure the tourists but year round gourmet destinations. The big names that get the writeups in the major publications are Primo in Rockland, of course, and Francine Bistro in Camden. Others that deserve recognition are my personal favorites, Amalfi in Rockland, and In Good Company in Rockland. For a unique Maine seaside meal, Cod End in Tenants Harbor or further down the same peninsula, The Dip Net in Port Clyde are both exceptional for their niche. A couple of places that deserve a mention are Natalies at the newly renovated Camden Harbor Inn, and The Edge restaurant at The Inn at Oceans Edge in Lincolnville. Both of these places have great intentions and talented chefs on staff but are still making a name for themselves. Stop at the Market Basket in Rockport for great specialty foods and lunch to go if you find yourself driving by on Route 1.
re: mainecoastchef
Have to second Primo, Amalfi, and In Good Company, but particularly Francine because Brian was recently nominated for a James Beard award (best in the Northeast, I think - left the list at work). Good luck getting in there this summer. There are also several great restaurants in Portland that deserve exploration, Hugos' was also a JB nominee.
re: bi11me
The Beard list is the initial 20 for the northeast. That gets whittled down to the top 5 for the actual award. Anyone can nominate a chef, including themselves.
re: bi11me
Yeah, you already need a reservation all the time in the winter at Francine's. Brian Hill has now been written up in every major food magazine in the last few months. I go there a lot, but lately haven't been able to make reservations and even the 6-7 bar spots where they don't take reservations have been filled.
re: mainecoastchef
Josh, 'mainecoastchef' is so right. (He's a great chef himself.)
I moved to the mid-coast last spring just for the amazing food thing that is going on. I am a food and wine writer and consulting chef and I have been helping dozens of businesses and it just blows me away. So much so that I am slowing down my consulting business and partnered up with a winery to open a distillery and brewery to bring some more good stuff to the scene. By next Fall you will be able to buy my whiskey, vodka, gin, etc. made from all Maine grown organic grain and botanicals.
For great gourmet provisions, charcuterie, foie gras, cheese, boquerones, ice cream, the Sage Market in Rockland is a must.
Francines, In Good Co.,The Edge, Natalie's are all great. I am starting to think that In Good co. may be my favorite. I have had problems at Primo's on more than several occasions. I hope they pull it back together for the 2008 season.
Don't leave out Suzuki Sushi in Rockland. They just may have the best sushi in the state, and Yuki is developing some great new dishes. Her Maine Shrimp shumai are fantastic. I helped develop a new product that Suzuki and several other places will soon have on their menu. Smoked local uni. It's amazing stuff that is being made by Chef Carl Johnson of Grindstone Neck of Maine in Winter Harbor. i shopped it down in NYC this past week at top restaurants and to some of the best chefs and they loved it. Also Gourmet Magazine tried it and played with it in their test kitchen. they raved anout it and there will be an artidle in Gourmet.com and maybe in the magazine.
By the way, the word is that The Dip Net is opening a location in Rockland where Amalfi's is right now, after Amalfi moves to their new location.
re: JMF
We just spent the weekend up in Camden, and had dinner at In Good Company in Rockland Saturday night. Fantastic meal, excellent wines, great atmosphere, nice pace, surprisingly reasonable bill. We look forward to going back this summer, though I fear the in-season experience will be quite a bit different from our off-season treat. The artisan cheese platter was exceptional and featured three selections: a blue, a raw cheddar and a Portuguese cheese whose name escapes me. Our salads were fresh and delicious. Can't say enough good things about the place. Go!
re: man of salt
In good company is serving dinner? I thought they only served Hors d'Oeuvres.
re: Farnam897
No, they serve meals, not a huge menu, but really nicely done, they have a cold filet of beef that is really excellent.
re: aynne35
I haven't been there for over a year (wine gives my significant-other a migraine) — now I have an excuse!
re: mainecoastchef
Scott Yakovenko's original Dip Net is no more. Has it been over a year now, longer? since Linda Bean purchased dock, stock, and barrels over in Port Clyde?
As of this writing, still no word about the next Yakovenko treasure.
re: Passadumkeg
Really? I only went to Cleonice once but wasn't impressed. Nothing we ate really jumped at me and several weren't that hot.
re: JMF
For little Ellsberg, Me, it's the best we got. Primo or Francine's it ain't. I'd hate to think of the dining options w/o it. I do not, however, care for their paella. Coming to the far downeast coast of Maine from, NYC, I feel, perhaps, your standards are higher than some poor schmuck who left the NY area 40 yrs ago. For us it is a place where we can eat tapas and drink sherry on a Fri. night and be home in 5 min. We appreciate that. Try it again.
The post is the Good, the Bad or the Eh... Cleonice is good.
re: Passadumkeg
Well said, Passadumkeg. I very much appreciate the amazing variety and quality of the restaurants and shops in the midcoast area, in all of Maine, really, and I'm just happy they're there.
wince when posters apply er-urbanized and overwrought critiques.
re: Passadumkeg
Passadumkeg and Shooley- I think you are making some major, and incorrect assumptions about me and reading a lot into the little I said. I much prefer the little places where a chef is trying to do the best they can with local products. Ur-urbanized? What is that supposed to mean?
By the way Shooley... do I know you? Which wine shop do you work in? TWS?
re: jspear
Kennebec Tavern is decent and an easy place to get to from Rte 1 in Bath. You can see it from the bridge when heading South.
Try and go there once it warms up so you can sit outside.
re: jspear
stayed at the daniel stone, what a wreck. the food by observation was only fair and the restaurant basically empty, doesn't speak well.....
re: mainemal
I agree to avoid Diamond's Edge. It is as expensive as the top restaurants in Portland but the quality and service doesn't come anywhere near the top Portland restaurants. Caiola's should be on anyone's Portland list.
re: hicow
I know Bangor is a place we'd all like to skip, but after living there for 5 years, I found there really is some good food. Not much, but some worth stopping for en route to Bar Harbor. DON'T go towards the mall. That's the trap everyone falls into and then you're stuck in chain restaurant hell. Get off at Hammond Street and go towards the real downtown. Stop in to Bangor Wine and Cheese and Cafe Nouveau. Such a great place to eat, sip some amazing wines, and eat some fabulous desserts. It's a gem. Also, Ichiban is one of my personal favorite sushi places. Better then any I have had in Portland or NYC. Have fun and don't skip Bangor. It's worth a drive by at least!
re: billyblue
Yes Cafe Nouveau is a find. So is the place around the corner that sells a lot of take out dinners. A Mexican hombre that serves a nice lunch, "International" cuisine. And BYOB too. What is the name? I was in Bangor yesterday and surprised to see the new Italian market and the bakery next to it. Have you tried them? Glad to see Bakkala(?), the Pakistani place, looked open. I've found the 3 Eng/Irish Pubs, so close together, all disappointing for food. Have you any recs.?
re: Passadumkeg
You get up early.... Caught you on your home turf! A Zappa fan, no less, who loves chili. Who wouda thunk it for such an eloquent person that uses fifty-cent words. Mornin' to you!
BTW, is your handle related to the town or the Passamaquoddy indians?
re: Scargod
I don't sleep a lot. We have a great local community radio station,WERU (www.weru.org). If you listened late on Tues. night I played Zappa on Woodstock Radio. Today, a Latin show, Gracias A La Vida and I took in 2 doz, burritos for fund raising folk. I just made a good chicken mole verde. This Tues. eve. at 8, blues, Zydeco and Tex Mex on Southern Winds. As a side line I teach high school English.
At the end of April, I plan to head south for Russian Easter and hit some of the taco trucks in New Haven. Any recs.?
Havee you ever been to O'Rourkes?
North Haven is also an Island in Maine.
I love Rositas Al Pastor on Riverside in Austin.
Do the nasty nasty on the White House Lawn!
Mozart is the Man.
Carpe Diem
Tigers pee on Bull Dogs!
Julias' summer home was at Laupus Pt., Bernard Me.
Got it?
re: Passadumkeg
O'Rourke's Diner in Middletown? No...
Uh, I don't think I got it. :^(
Women's basketball game
Place on Lopaus Point Road (looks like a beautiful spot).
Nope, don't got it. Too cryptic for me.:^)
And, you're not going to believe this: I made chicken and chorizo in mole verde last night! I had to use sunflower seeds, but I had frozen tomatillos from the garden last year. Brown rice and avocado for sides.
re: Scargod
Our sides were brown rice & pintos w/ a salad.
Our eldest went to Wesleyan and we got to enjoy O'Rourkes
I like Mozart too, besides Zappa
I grew up near Princeton, you live near Yale
I cook a lot of Mexican, but youngest is home this week from Amherst, so lamb and duck this week.
If in the area try Chester Pikes Galley in Sullivan on Rt. 1
re: Passadumkeg
Montes International Catering and gourmet cafe is where the Mexican Hombre was cooking. They have great lunch items. everything homemade. Great sandwiches, salads and quesadillas. Their desserts are to die for.
Check out Cafe Miranda in Rockland. An amazing menu that includes mind boggling fusions of different flavors and cuisines. Its small only about 35 seats but has a wood fired oven. The seats at the bar right by the oven are best...only open for dinner.
re: Jim Amaral
Is this the same Jim Amaral of Borealis? Welcome to Chowhound. I actually need to talk to you about some Maine food stuff sometime soon. I hope my following comments don't upset you, but what is great about CH is that we can agree to disagree.
I have been to Miranda several times and I have to say that the place is one of those love it or hate it restaurants. I am not a fan of indiscriminate fusion, there needs to be a plan that brings it all together, but Miranda is all over the globe and not in a good way. Personally I have had two good meals, three barely mediocre ones, one I couldn't even eat, then got dragged there again since the fire and had a decent meal. They try real hard but that crazy menu with like 80 items is a pain in the ass. Lots of schtick but no substance. The first time I was there Kerry wanted to hire me as a consultant and that led in a progression to me moving to the area.
I know a ton of people who love the place... or hate it... and not many on the fence. I know they started the whole Rockland restaurant scene, and I am glad they did, but they really need to find some consistency and a solid voice of consensus, rather than a scream of a massed collage of cultures thrown together haphazardly and even nonsensically.
re: mainehound
Captain Daniel Stone the restaurant is defunct (though the B & B is still going) and is now Augustine's, owned by the same guy as a place in Wiscasset. Haven't heard any reports on it, though.
re: Jim Amaral
I think the food at Mirandas is well prepared, delicious, idiosyncratic, soulfull and anarchic
We ate at Cafe Miranda this evening and I would agree. However the menu is a disaster of enormous proportions. 80 items or so will give you a brain freeze just reading the menu. Service was friendly but all over the place. Blackberry sorbet was fantastic but the house made ice cream was poor and the coffee was best described as swill.
Still this place has a cool eclectic vibe and I was digging it. Service was spotty but our waitress was busting her behind.
The entree which was a local haddock fell just short of the mark. The chef needed to season the fish, clean the tarragon etc. A great dish and good flavor combinations but not executed perfectly.
A good meal over all and solid food.
re: JMF
A bit late but jumping in on the Miranda comments. It is for me in the hate it category. So many dishes that are just messy, poorly conceived and indiscernable. They make no sense and that menu is a jumbled mess. I always think of Miranda as a huge case of the emporer's new clothes. Francine, Suzuki's, The Edge, In Good Company, all are far better than Miranda. Primo is too hit or miss, but with the new bar, it is nice to have an option for a smaller meal and some great drinks.
re: aynne35
We agree on many restaurants. Long time, no see. Been to Lily's yet? I was there last friday on their "soft opening" night. I felt really sorry for them. They should have spent a week practicing with friends and waited. Everything that could go wrong in the front of the house did. And some back of the house issues as well. I have to see how they are in a few weeks. It was such a funny fiasco that I got out to my car afterward and laughed myself silly, then went home and cooked myself a good meal.
re: aynne35
Saw this thread a while after the fact, and had to comment on Cafe Miranda. I'd compare it to Shopsin's in New York: if you think the menu has too many items, you're probably in the wrong restaurant. The whole point is for people who really love food to get something that'll be right up their alley. When my fiancée and I were there, the place more than delivered on flavour and texture: greens roasted to an amazingly perfect crisp, a gooey mound of blue cheese and roasted garlic. Most other upscale restaurants in the area have seemed to me like the kind of generic food that could be anywhere. Café Miranda is something really special, something worth a trip. (The one other place I've found up there that's in the same class is Red's Eats in Wiscasset: not just the lobster roll, but the fried shrimp and fried dough may be the best I've had anywhere.)
Red's Eats
Main, Wiscasset, ME 04578
Cafe Miranda
15 Oak St, Rockland, ME 04841
re: Displaced Hoser
<<Saw this thread a while after the fact, and had to comment on Cafe Miranda. I'd compare it to Shopsin's in New York>>
I haven't been to Shopsin's, have only seen "I Like Killing Flies," but that seems like a pretty fair comparison. I am also a fan of Cafe Miranda's and go whenever I get up to Maine. Haven't been up there for a year, but still raving about a simple, but perfect salad of arugula, pine nuts and shredded beets I had - have tried to recreate it at home, but never quite hit the mark. Super-nice waitstaff at Miranda's, too.
I like other Rockland spots as well - Lily Bistro, Rockland Cafe (fish cakes, oh my) - but Miranda always delivers an interesting, tasty meal.
Cafe Miranda
15 Oak St, Rockland, ME 04841
Lily Bistro
421 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841
re: Newdaawn
The Crocker House is definitely a diamond in the rough. For being so far from anywhere this is a fine country Inn and Restaurant. The food is fresh and local, well thought out menu and well executed dishes. The wine list accompaniment is quite nice. The restaurant usually requires a reservation and is a local favorite. I have frequented the Crocker House about once a year for the last 10 years and I have always had a fine meal. (I very much enjoy staying in the Inn as well.) If you are in the Ellsworth or Bar Harbor areas this is a great choice.
re: comet246
Comet, "for being so far from anywhere..", the Crocker House is in my back yard! I drive by the Hancock Pt Rd twice a day. It is indeed a fine establishment. Thw scallops are my favorite.
Le Domaine has fine, but expensive fare as well. We just ate at The Arbor Vine in Blue Hill. The duck served 3 ways was excellent!
Welcome to chowhound!
I too like Cleonice in Ellsworth, but it's not my favorite.
Things to add, that I don't think have been mentioned yet:
Bagel Central in Bangor - been around for a really long time, jewish deli, good soups (and bagels!)
Finelli Pizza in Ellsworth (also in Bgr, but Ells. location is better) - delicious thin crust pizza. I've met people there who drive from Machias just for the pizza.
Beale Street Barbeque in Bath - yummy pulled pork, french fries, cornbread, and fizzy lemonade! (also in Portland and August, but I've only been to Bath)
Guiness & Porcelli's in Bar Harbor - if you want to go that far. Delicious fancy Italian. And largish portions. (compared to most other fancy restaurants)
Thistle's in Bangor - fancyish, lots of business people there at lunch during the week
re: BirlyFive
We heard about Finelli's pizza, tried it and ended up liking Pat's Pizza better. I guess pizza is such a personal thing, but how lucky are you to have two good places in one area. I have never heard of Guiness & Poecelli's! Is it new? What is it near in Bar Harbor! HOW did I miss a great Italian restaurant!!
re: BirlyFive
I know where Guiness & Porcelli is! We went there once. Do you like that better than the restaurant it used to be? We used to LOVE the other Italian restaurant it was, sad story about the owner, he was great. LOTS of garlic!
re: Alica
Which Pat's? I haven't been to the one in Ellsworth for 20 years or so... but I have noticed that the parking lot is always full, so they must be doing something right. I do like the Pat's in Orono and Hampden. The problem is, if I'm in Ellsworth, how could I not go to Finellis!?
I only lived in BH last year, so I had never really eaten at restaurants there before then. (We always try to avoid downtown BH if at all possible.)
re: BirlyFive
We liked the Pat's in Ellsworth, right around the corner from Finelli's. You know, I think the owners of Finelli's are from Rhode Island (where I am) and I think there is a Finelli's here. I'll have to double check that. We have many favorite restaurants in the BH area. We are coming up the end of September and CANNOT wait. We love Cafe Thisway, we used to love lompoc but it has not been as good the last few times, we love Cleonice in Ellsworth.... What a great area!
re: Alica
The owner of the Lompoc died too. Finelli's owner Paul was in Rhode Island, Bar Harbor too. I think it was called Felinni's, couldn't bring the name w/ him. He is a German-American native of Yonkers NY. We just had Pat's last Mon. night. As our U Maine son said the one in Orono(the original) is better. Pat's is good and cheap, but Finelli's is better.
We enjoy the tapas at Cleonise.
A Joisey Boy speakin'
re: Passadumkeg
Did the owner of Lompoc die recently? Do you think that is why it has not been as good the past few years? I guess I'll have to give Finelli's another go!! You might know this, what ever happened to the owners of Bubba's? We used to love that place. Did they just decide to get out of the business?
re: Passadumkeg
I agree that Finelli's is definetly a better pie. We usually come up and stay at our camp on Newbury Neck about 6wks out of the year and Finelli's is a staple for a quick comfort food fix. Some very unusual beer choices as well. Not the most comfortable seating around. Owners and staff very friendly. Is there anything new and exciting foodwise in the area?
re: kickin back
Not much. World Soup is gone in Blue Hill.
We were in Blue Hill on Sunday at I thought Arbor Vine and Wescott Forge should be added to the list. Fisherman's in Stonington as well.
We live just opposite Contention Cove. Keep your eyes pealed for a handsome, silvered-haired "young" man in a red kayak.
re: Passadumkeg
I too have a red kayak but it stays in the Morgan Bay area off Newbury Neck. Ever eaten at/with Perry at the Lobster Shack. I am a big fan of WERU. Listen all the time when in ME. and on computer in the sunny south.
re: kickin back
I just finished Southern Wind at WERU, am kicking back w/ a glass of wine before bed and facing the eager young learners at EHS. I work as a kayak guide in the summer. No to Perry.
Listen Sat. at 11 am.
re: Passadumkeg
My Grandfather was born in Sedgwick, we still use the land there
every summer.
I can't believe how big Fisherman Friend is! They blew apart
Bartlett's market and overlooks Stonington Harbor, The food has always been good but with this location they got to be making
money! is the whaletail still open?
re: brucekc
Do you know what Stonington is called in the Ellsworth-Bangor area? Land's End. It is just so far to drive to on bad secondary roads. Goos for them, bad for us. Have you ever eaten at the Mrxican place in Sedwick? Any good? Both the mosquitoes and black flies are fierce.
re: Passadumkeg
Sedgwick looks like a blink and miss it kind of place. The black flies and skeeters are fierce competitors for the Mexican food?
re: Scargod
Scar, my man, Segwick is to look out from at the gorgeous Maine coastal scenery! I do wish, however, that The black flies and mosquitoes would eat at The Mex, in Ellsworth, and die! Tex black flies and mosquitoes together are the Maine equivielent of being tied to a red ant mound in the great state of Texas.
re: BirlyFive
Beale Street Barbeque sold their place in Augusta a coupla' years ago. I do like the one in Bath and they have a cool new location in South Portland.
I like Mary Ellenz in Bath, also. They have a chicken with balsamic vinegar and polenta that is so good.
re: skeptical
Amen to MaryEllenz, I don't do the barbeque as often as I should.
re: skeptical
This thread sure is all over the place.
For accuracy's sake...Beale Street BBQ was owned by brothers. The partnership was split up...the location in Augusta was taken by one brother (now Riverfront BBQ), the other locations remain with other brother as Beale St.
In Brunswick, we've had quite good dinners this past winter at two new restaurants: Clementine's and Bacari. Both are on Maine Street; both are small. Bacari is owned by a member of the family that runs the Dolphin Restaurant in Harpswell, which we've enjoyed in the summer. The deserts at Dolphin are outstanding, and the view overlooking the harbor is lovely at sunset if you can get a window seat.
if you erase Benkay and Fore Street you have a pretty tight list there.
Hugo's is the next Fore Street
I always liked Cinque Terra, fresh Italian food that doesn't make me feel like I ate an entire truck load of pasta.
Bintliff's is my newer obsession, strictly for the bayou eggs benedict...DELICIOUS!
bunch of other great places in the Portland area...
Cook's is vastly overpriced. The food is all your basic New England seafood classics...lobsters, steamers, fried seafood. You pay for the view, and it's over 1/2 hour drive from Rte. 1 at Cook's Corner. For the best lobster, steam it and eat it at a picnic table in your backyard (it's just *so* messy), or if you don't want to work for your lobster, get a lobster roll from Red's in Wiscasset. For excellent fried seafood go to the Rockland Cafe at lunch, or Shaw's Wharf down in Pemaquid.
re: skeptical
Shaw's Wharf! Yum! I've only ever had fish and chips, but everything else looks good too. It's also nice to actually be able to smell the ocean.
re: BirlyFive
It's one of the few places where you might watch the fisherman haul your lobster out of the water and be eating it an hour later! (But if you sit outside, watch out for the seagulls!) :)
re: skeptical
Cook's isn't cheap, but if you're staying on Bailey Island and want some lobster, it was good the time I was there. At the time it was the best, freshest lobster I'd ever had. It was very slim on non-fish options for my husband, but it was nice to not have a long drive from our motel to get good lobster. :)
re: Morganna
Cook's is fine, but somewhat of a tourist trap. Dolphin Restaurant in South Harpswell, mentioned above, has better food and a more "genuine" feel.
Have been really disappointed with Royal River Grill in Yarmouth. Menu, service, food just not what it should and could be. It's a shame - such a good location.
You totally missed Freeport and Yarmouth! I hesitate to tell you about Conundrum in Freeport, by the Big Indian, as it is already wildly popular and hard to get in. Nice little wine bar with great, inexpensive cuisine. Miyako has good Japanese food (Main St. above China Rose, which is also good), and the Harraseeket Inn--lunch buffet at the Broad Arrow (or anything else there) is really great-- costs $16 per person. Azure Cafe has a great lunch, and both Azure and Broad Arrow have outdoor seating in good weather. For quick but yummy fare, grab a sandwich, soup, salad or baked goods at Clayton's in Yarmouth (closed Sunday), and delish, but not very spicy, burritos across the street at Bruce's (also closed Sunday). Enjoy!
I used to go to Bagel Mainea but then I found Bay Wraps, which is also in Augusta on the rotary. I love their eggplant parm wrap. In addition to the Liberal Cup, you might try Slate's which recently reopened after a fire. It's good. Their brunches are especially yummy. The A-1 Diner in Gardiner, just up the road from Hallowell, is also worth checking out.
How did I forget Le Domaine on Rt 1 in Hancock, national write ups Normandy cuisine. My wife's birthday favorite.
Henry and Marty in Brunswick has some seriously good food. I also like the Robinhood Free Meetinghouse in Georgetown, for the wonderful atmosphere as well as good food, but I liked the food at H and M even better.
Will give you my opinion......
Henry and Marty's in Brunswick is just OK at best.
Clementine is probably the best in Brunswick, and as stated above, service, food, and atmosphere is good. The place is also spotless, and parking is easy.
Broad Arrow Tavern in the Harraseeket Inn is also very good.
I really do not like Azure, but Clayton's on Rt 1 Yarmouth is also excellent and offers good variety of sandwiches and baked goods.
re: topfuziel
Pepperclub Restaurant
off Franklin
lots of vegetarian selections
also, Local 188 Restaurant on Congress St
Hi All,
Just returned from a great trip to Maine, and with the help of this board we ate very well! Harraseeket Inn--lunch in Freeport was very good! A real sour note on the trip however was the Whales Tooth Inn in Lincolnville. Just bad from beginning to end, bad service and horrible food - Lobster bisque was salty and the lobster was fishy. We also had baked Haddock which was over cooked and not fresh, as well as Maine shrimp which was well past the due date. When we spoke to the server we received no help, just a load of attitude. Fellow travelers beware!