Portland207

As we close the curtain on the Maine political scene for a bit (nice win by Obama) I choose not to dwell on the recent democratic match-up and instead delve into another hotly contested race.  The battle between 2 hip Congress Street eateries.  In full disclosure, this was not the initial intent of the yesterday’s dining excursions and both meals were at different times of the day.  Furthermore, I am not really sure if these two locations even draw same patrons.  That said, in a day of stumping and choosing sides, it seems fitting to pit them head to head.  First up: Local 188.  The meal was brunch; something that not many realize they serve.  At the prime brunch hour (11AM), there was no line at all, but the place was sill comfortably full.  2 of our party of 4 arrived 20 minutes early, but the waitress was still quick to seat us at a table fit for 6.  Good for us, bad for the family of 6 that arrived shortly after.  Our waiter in the fine man-apron kept us filled with coffee and one of the finest mimosas on the peninsula.  The lexi-bun (a warm cinnamon bun served in a bowl) was as a fantastic starter.  A few orders of well adorned scrambled eggs (mushrooms, onions, cheddar, etc.) were received with applause, but not a standing o.  Ditto for the huevos rancheros.  Net net; a solid brunch choice, but not somewhere you would want to go week after week.  Skipping over the middle meal and heading right into dinner at Downtown Lounge.  The atmosphere is quite different from the previous candidate.  Cramped and dingy.  Still, this is part of the allure.  The dining group was cut in half, as was the range of ordering.  The spinach, onion and goat cheese turnover with mushrooms and garlic cream sauce turned out to be the only thing necessary for a prompt judgment.  Downtown Lounge takes the food vote, even with their small and understaffed kitchen.  Wise Sunday diners were seated comfortably in one of the 5 or 6 booths.  Those of us left to spots at the bar were lucky enough to enjoy the company of sullen regulars sipping one too many cocktails for a Sunday night. Local 188 redux takes the atmosphere card hands down.  That leaves a tie.  Can you call a draw in a caucus?

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