Portland is one of those towns with more great restaurants per capita than any other town in America.  Ribolitas is one of their best.  Its an intimate restaurant with seating for 30 or so, that features wonderful Italian dishes.

During our most recent vist we had steamed mussels with pistachio butter (a dish you won’t find any where else), polenta crusted calamari, giant red tomatoes with tascia (sp?) cheese melt and balsamic, tuna steak nicoise, and my favorite, north end linquine which has clams, mussels, shrimp and calamari in the red sauce.  What is amazing about Ribolitas is that its such a small intimate restaurant, that produces flavors you don’t find anywhere else.  Each dish was unique.  This is not your normal Italian restaurant.

The people are really nice, the dishes are all made to order so don’t expect a fast food experience.  You won’t get it.  But you will get some of the best flavors in a wonderfully intimate setting in New England.

It is located in Portlands Old Port.  Take some time this fall and travel to Portland, walk around exploring, and reserve a table a Ribolitas.

41 Middle St
Portland, Me 04101
207-774-2972

If you are a chocolate hound and you also like discovering small intimate restaurants we have a restaurant for you.  Located in Portlands Old Port, a block from the Rail Road that goes around the promenade, Ribolitas is the kind of cozy small seating restaurant with great food that everyone looks for.  And Portland has no shortage of great truly world class restaurants.  It is small and romantic, and ideal for intimate dinners. The food is exquisite.  The pistachio butter mussels are unbelievable, and alone are worth the trip.  And, at the end of your meal Ribolitas serves a flourless chocolate torte that is the best we have encountered in 4 continents.  When we are in Portland, no matter where we eat, dessert is always at Ribolitas.  A quick phone call for the pick up and home to the sublime experience of chocolate th at even the Swiss would envy. 

If you live in Portland or nearby, don’t wait.  If you are from “away”, plan a trip to Portland.  Ribolitas is worth it.

Do you like great barbecue?  By that I mean do you like the barbecue joints like the ones you find in Chicago, South Carolina, Texas and all the usual suspect locations?  Well, you’re in luck.  There is a new barbecue restaurant in Brighton Center called, “Smokin Joes” and it has great barbecue.  Ribs where the meat is so tender it falls off the rib because it is cooked to perfection.  Pulled pork sandwiches that are heaping with meat, and wonderfully smokie flavored.  Not to mention 6 different kinds of barbecue sauce.  My favorites are the restaurants own hot sauce and the South Carolina white barbecue sauce.  White barbecue sauce?  Yeah, its great!

Check it out.

Smokin Joes Barbecue
351 Washington St
Brigton, Ma.

617-254-5227

We went to the new pub on Beacon and St Marys from the owner of the great Pub in Washington Square.  The restaurant is in a space that has never been successful, so we weren’t very optimistic.  Its called Beacon Street Pub. 

It has a great outdoor seating area on the street.  Food was great.  Campari and soda on the boulevard?  What can be better in late summer.

My friends who were raised in India swear that Rangoli Restaurant on Brighton Ave, in Brighton is the best Indian food they have had since leaving India.  I was just there.  I can’t compare it to India because I have never been, but I loved it!  Great chutney.  Great appetizers.  Wonderful breads.  Really nice owners. 

Don’t miss it.  It is going to be a weekly for me.