His sandwich LOOKED beautiful! This cauliflower salad is proof. Any chance this place is baby-friendly (high chair optional)? He did say the inside of the sandwich was delicious. I do not think this is a baby friendly place at all. While Portland’s cocktail bar and restaurant Central Provisions is housed in a historic brick building dating back to the days of the East India Trading Company, its … Transfer to a large bowl. (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained, rinsed, and patted dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels, Juice of 1/2 of a small lemon (about 1 tablespoon), small Gala apple, cored and cut into matchsticks. We rank these hotels, restaurants, and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. I was a little taken aback that when I was given the tablet to add the tip and my signature, it preselected an 18% tip! Note: your question will be posted publicly on the Questions & Answers page. Central Provisions concentrates on small plate meals and a large array of drinks. We chose to wait for upstairs and sat at the counter right in front of the open kitchen, which was free entertainment to see everyone work with such precision. Add the roasted cauliflower and chickpeas to the ras el hanout vinaigrette and toss to combine. The estimated wait time was 20-30 minutes but it was ready in about 15. We went for dinner on a Saturday and tried to go early, fully expecting it to be very...busy and knowing they don't take reservations. I believe you can go downstairs through Wharf St at the bar and still get the same menu available. The bacon on my burger was grossly undercooked, and the burger patties were dry. The restaurant is busy, and not taking reservations during COVID-19 pandemic. Why is it that salads almost always taste better at restaurants? Transfer the mixture to one large platter or individual plates. You may end up sitting "elbow to elbow" with someone else but nobody really seems to care. What People Want from a Healer in the Midst of a Pandemic, A Middle School Math Teacher Planning Lessons and Lunch, The Columbus, OH-based Forager Who's Become a TikTok Star, A Food Justice Advocate and Mother Talks Breastfeeding and Herb Gardens, Bryant Terry's Sautéed Cabbage and Roasted Potatoes, Vivian Howard's Baked Pimento Cheese and Sausage. Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor. Maybe I was looking at an outdated one. I requested the cilantro and peanuts on the side since my fiance hates cilantro, and I don't like peanuts in my food, and they packaged it into two little containers. Got a tip, kitchen tour, or other story our readers should see? So there really isn’t any wait service to speak of, and it’s a bit treacherous trying to navigate the uneven surface carrying food and beverages. Really outstanding tapas place. Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You should contact them directly. Specialties: Seasonal inspired small plates with international influences, local beer, pre-prohibition cocktails, and eclectic wine. In June 2020, it introduced its … If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Nothing else on the menu at the time really appealed to me so I doubt I would come back until they have another seasonal update to it.More, Fusion of flavors and locally sources foods made for a memorable casual dining experience at moderate prices. Maybe I was looking at an outdated one. Central Provisions, Portland, Maine. Crumble the feta cheese over the salad, sprinkle with the lemon zest, and serve. Menu for Central Provisions: Reviews and photos of Suckling Pig, Bone Marrow Toast, Spicy Beef Salad The hostess told us we could put our names down but there was no guarantee we would be seated before they closed. The cheeseburger was fine but the bacon was just super salty, and ended up overpowering the foie gras. The best part of my burger was the pickles, which were phenomenal! The smoky, caramelized cauliflower and crunchy chickpeas play off of the bright, crisp apple and fresh herb salad, which are then both tied together with briny, salty feta cheese crumbles. The quality of the meats was good, but really should reconsider the bread choice, especially for the Italian. You just order/pay online, go around to the front, wait outside, call them and someone will bring your food out. Note that we have immense hearts for wait staff during this pandemic and regularly add tips of 30-35%, but to be gently forced to tip above the standard 15% for NO wait service seemed a bit much. I believe you can go downstairs through Wharf St at the bar and still get the same menu available. ... this spot in the Old Port is excellent and extremely popular with both out-of-towners and the people who visited Portland once and never left. Open now : 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Food is awesome and the cocktails are really original and delicious. Meanwhile, whisk the lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of the oil, a pinch of salt, and a few grinds of pepper together in a medium bowl. Their fried cauliflower salad is so well-loved that it’s one of the few dishes never seems to budge from their ever-changing menu. But I added the 18%. I wish we could go again to try more plates but we especially enjoyed the bone marrow toast, the pig and the beet salad. 16 ratings $$$ Gluten Free Menu, Late Night, Delivery, Restaurant. I loved the spicy raw beef salad. The servers were very attentive and friendly. I loved the spicy raw beef salad. Add the apple, parsley, and mint and toss gently to combine; set aside. The big disappointment was when we cleared our table as required and went to settle the bill. Add the garlic and Aleppo pepper and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Drinks and rations menu were wonderful! It's not really a salad but more of a tartare of thinly sliced and well-marinated beef. We had the fried cauliflower that was okay but rather greasy and double bacon cheeseburgers which were okay, not remarkable. I hadn't dined upstairs in several years, so how does it hold up? Remove from heat and whisk in the honey, red wine vinegar, ras el hanout, and a big pinch of salt. 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Ordering was super simple. We will not return.More, Sat at the downstairs bar and spent a couple of hours with the tapas sized plates. We’ve adapted their recipe a touch, to make it more accessible for the home cook, but it still remains as complex and intriguing as the original. Staff was friendly. The cheeseburger was fine but the bacon was just super salty, and ended up overpowering the foie gras. Zagat's guide to the top restaurants. Share. Awesome cocktails and food with casual vibe. maybe outside and cover hurt the experience, We understand the pandemic has thrown a wrench into the protocol of restaurants, but every other restaurant in this town that we’ve visited has gotten it right. Add the shallot and sauté until softened, about 2 minutes. We still had to wait about 90 min but well worth it. On that page, it only gave the alternate option of no tip or tips above 18%. I was a little disappointed because I didn't see a lot of the items I wanted on the current menu (like the foie gras and bone marrow). I don't believe they take reservations. It comes to us from Chef Christopher Gould at Central Provisions, a James Beard Award Best New Restaurant finalist in Portland, Maine, with inventive small plates and craft cocktails. Central Provisions made various national Best New Restaurant lists when it opened in 2014, and it’s only upped its game since. It was crazy even on a late Tuesday night! We chose to wait for upstairs and sat at the counter right in front of the open kitchen, which was free entertainment to see everyone work with such precision. Their fried cauliflower salad is so well-loved that it’s one of the few dishes never seems to budge from their ever-changing menu. There was too many things going on at once. Well worth the wait.More, for the first time I was a little disappointed but that may be because all the other meals there were amazing...They seemed to have an Asia theme going on.. arrival, we were seated at picnic tables outside, which was fine. (A fact that makes our Production Editor, Lauren, happy, as it’s her favorite salad!). The roll my burger was served on had the same issue, dense and inedible. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian. We will not be ordering again!More, Just tried lunch here. Ordered the burger and the Italian sandwich. Seasonally inspired small plates with international flavors, craft cocktails, local beers and eclectic wines The Best Things to Do in Portland, Maine in the Winter, Exploring all Things Local in Portland, Maine. We wandered Old Port, which is the quaint, brick-filled downtown area in Portland. If you are looking for heavy portions, this is not the place. Reported to be doing delivery during COVID-19. Review. It was disappointing that a glass of Prosecco on their online menu was $8 (in a small plastic cup) incurred a charge on the bill of $10. We were looking for a place with outdoor dining to grab a few small plates since we had a late lunch and weren't that hungry. We put our name on the waiting list (45 minutes) and spent the time walking around the...harbor area. They do not take reservations, but the service is attentive and efficient. Central Provisions, Portland: See 977 unbiased reviews of Central Provisions, rated 4.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #21 of 512 restaurants in Portland. busy and knowing they don't take reservations. Start us off with an overview. First, sitting at the lengthy counter and watching the chefs work is a fun experience. Expect longer wait times during peak hours at the top foodie spots, but here's an insider tip: Central Provisions has a first-come, first-served bar section downstairs with full menu access! Nothing else on the menu at the time really appealed to me so I doubt I would come back until they have another seasonal update to it. For drinks, try the glass slipper which consists of… Are you sure you want to delete this answer? We could not have enjoyed ourselves more. Central Provisions, Portland: See 976 unbiased reviews of Central Provisions, rated 4.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #20 of 511 restaurants in Portland. central provisions. Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. And although the restaurant makes their own house blend of ras el hanout — the smoky-sweet North African spice blend of cardamon, coriander, cumin, and more — using a store-bought blend gets this salad to the table a whole lot faster. But I added the 18%. We had the fried cauliflower that was okay but rather greasy and double bacon cheeseburgers which were okay, not remarkable. Hoping this was just a one time thing. She told us our other option is to order takeout, so we decided to do that instead and just bring it back to the hotel room. Central Provisions, Portland, Maine. dishes were pretty average for the price.. You just order/pay online, go around to the front, wait outside, call them and someone will bring your food out. I returned and had the entire bill recalculated but this time reduced the tip to 10%. Imagine my dismay when I walked away and checked the bill and found an $18 cocktail added that neither of us ordered!!! Unfortunately the bread was terrible on both. Glass Slipper at Central Provisions "Please note, this is a tapas styled restaurant. Baby sitter for two hours. I do NOT recommend the new lunch takeout! The name Central Provisions pays homage to the original name of Dana Street and the first use of the building. Note that we have immense hearts for wait staff during this pandemic and regularly add tips of 30-35%, but to be gently forced to tip above the standard 15% for NO wait service seemed a bit much. Can a gluten free person get a good meal at this restaurant? Ordering was super simple. If you can’t get to Portland to try this salad at Central Provisions in the near future, the good news is that you can recreate it at home. After not being able to get in on our last visit we showed up at open on Friday night and luckily was able to grab two seats at the bar(our preferred… We ended up getting the Spicy Raw Beef Salad (with sriracha, cilantro, and peanuts), and the Bacon Cheeseburger with foie gras. Fries were very good....Staff was friendly. Are you sure you want to delete this question? Central Provisions - Updated COVID-19 Hours & Services - 1486 Photos & 1025 Reviews - Tapas/Small Plates - 414 Fore St, Old Port, Portland, ME - Restaurant Reviews - Phone Number - Menu - Yelp. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a small skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Overall Rating. I would definitely put this place on your list if visiting Portland. We ended up getting the Spicy Raw Beef Salad (with sriracha, cilantro, and peanuts), and the Bacon Cheeseburger with foie gras. 6K likes. I'd love to visit but will have a 5mo in tow! Find reviews on the hottest restaurants, make reservations and see full menus by Zagat. 414 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101-4027 +1 207-805-1085 Website Menu. On that page, it only gave the alternate option of no tip or tips above 18%. Other cocktails include the Lion's Tail, Perfect Storm and the Last Century. I returned and had the entire bill recalculated but this time reduced the tip to 10%. It was crazy even on a late Tuesday night! Ana C. Celiac. Not cheap, not big and you will almost certainly wait but just do it! We studied the menu online and upon...arrival, we were seated at picnic tables outside, which was fine. Central Provisions. Which is a good thing, because it just might be the best salad you’ve brought to the table in a long time. While the cauliflower and chickpeas are fried at the restaurant, roasting them is easier, less messy, and gives you equally irresistible results. The small plates are meant for sharing. The big disappointment was when we cleared our table as required and went to settle the bill. he had to take the filling out and make a new sandwich with bread we had at home. 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