Portland207

Mousse Cafe is perhaps the most underrated and over looked dinning spot on the peninsula.  They opened their doors late last Summer and have been a personal favorite ever since.  Everything is home-made; from the clam chowder, to the baked goods, to the ice cream.  Lunch is their specialty, but they also have a killer breakfast, that is served all day.  Their hours are generous as well.  Only closed on Sundays.  


Top meals:

-Turkey panini:  The greatest sandwich in Portland.  I hold this truth to be self evident.  The fries that come with it are amazing as well.  Regular, garlic or sweet potato.  

-Turkey chili w/ jalapeño scone:  Also friggin’ amazing.  There is a dearth of turkey chili in this town.  Hunt no more, it is the perfect bowl.

-Breakfast burrito:  If you attempt to polish this monster off for breakfast, you may spend the remainder of the day on your couch.  That is not always a bad thing.

1 Monument Way
Portland, ME 04101 (map)
822-9955

Recounting a pilgrimage to The Little Lad’s Basket.  Manager Mike greeted me with a handshake and a tour of the recently re-opened space.  This consisted of pointing out the new buffet positioning and gesturing to their recently unveiled sandwich menu.  A quick glance at the board was all that was afforded to me, as my host had already selected my meal.  The first hand burger.  This is no typo.  Their vegan menu is awash in choices that are slightly tweaked to do away with any traces of meat and dairy.  Items such as pizza and grilled cheese on the sandwich board out front do not indicate the restaurant's vegan intentions to those passing by.  What also is not inherently clear from the exterior is the fact that The Basket is a vessel of the Seventh-Day Adventist church.  I had heard rumors of a Christian outpost on Congress Street promoting the vegan lifestyle, but assumed it was a Portland myth, like the supposed bowling alley in the basement of some apartment building on the peninsula.  The rumor turned out to be true.  Contemporary Christian rock provided ambiance and there was plenty of pious literature displayed prominently next to the cash register.  Back to the hand burger.  It consisted of a veggie patty, some sort of soy cheese, the usual veggies, a generous serving of mustard and a whole wheat bun.  The bun was fantastic.  As for what lay between the 2 halves, I was a bit under whelmed.  While my host Mike did provide me with a money back guarantee, I still felt the FHB was worth the $4 or so I shelled out.   It is worth noting that the Basket is more known as a very decent vegan bakery, rather than a true first class eatery.  They had plenty of bread, cookies, granola and other packaged offerings for guests to take with.  Then there is the famed hippie crack popcorn.  No denying that this stuff has some mystical properties bordering on the divine.  I would say that everyone should experience one trip to the Basket.  One is probably all you need.  Unless of course you enjoy your lunch served with a side of God.  In that case, The Basket is for you.  Besides the 482 Congress Street location, they also have a café in Manhattan and a bakery in Corinth, Maine.  The website is impressively robust.

Gyro and kabob lovers delight, this former food cart has wheeled itself into the Public Market House in Monument Square.  The latest edition to the ever expanding Public Market.  No word on whether the old food cart operation will remain parked down the street by 1 City Center.  Amidst the confusion of the ongoing renovation and second floor expansion, the Spartan Grill opened quite unceremoniously earlier this week.  Located between Big Sky Bread (recently promoted to the front of the store) and Maine Beer and Beverage (recently doubling in size at the back of the building), it should provide some relief for the brutal lunchtime lines at Big Sky.  The new location has allowed for a massive expansion of offerings.  The much beloved and hastily prepared gyros still grace the menu, but there are now souvlaki and salad options as well.  Bring cash, as the credit card machine is not yet up and running.  Just pretend you are back at the food cart.