The Portland Logbook #5

This Week in Portland Maine

Jake Newman
March 04, 2025

Mesmerizing animated ocean waves in a vintage Japanese-inspired style, evoking the rhythm of the sea. Perfect for coastal design lovers and those drawn to maritime aesthetics.

Local Bite: Where Industry People Eat

Some places just get it. Wayside Tavern is one of them. The second you step inside, it’s all warmth—low lights, cookbooks stacked on the waitress stand, and that effortless, lived-in atmosphere that makes you want to stay a while. And lucky for me, it’s just a stone’s throw from my apartment, which means I do. Often.

My must-hit list is short but sacred: a morning croissant from Zu Bakery or a breakfast sandwich at Tandem, a turkey Caesar with extra Calabrian chili oil from Ramona’s, and at Wayside? Fish cheek bites, and pork schnitzel with tonnato sauce.

That familiar green neon glow outside Wayside pulls you in before you even know what you’re craving. Inside, the soft green plaster walls and dim lighting set the tone—cozy but not cramped, stylish but not trying too hard. It feels unpolished in all the right ways, like a place that’s just doing its thing and doing it well.

And the staff? The kind of people who make you want to come back before you even finish your meal. No pretense, no ego—just genuinely good people who care about what they do. I’ve run into the head chefs and owners across the street at Five of Clubs, and while they have no clue who I am, they carry that same energy—laid-back, welcoming, and just happy to be making great food.

Now, about the food.

What to Order

🐟 Beer-Battered Cod Cheek – Exactly what you want when you're craving fish and chips but don’t want the full order. Crisp, golden, flaky inside, with a perfectly punchy aioli. One bite, and you get it.

🍖 Foie Gras Truffle – Playful, rich, and just the right amount of indulgence. The outer shell has a delicate snap, giving way to a silky, buttery interior that lingers in the best way. I couldn’t eat more than one, but I’d never skip it.

🥬 Cabbage Salad – Crispy bacon, spring onion, buttermilk dressing. Fresh, crunchy, perfectly dressed.

🍆 Eggplant Terrine with House-Made Mozzarella – Silky, layered, and packed with flavor. Like the best eggplant parm, but somehow lighter.

🥩 Schnitzel with Tonnato Sauce – Golden, crisp, and way more comforting than you’d expect from a dish that involves tuna sauce.

The Burger Regret Quest!

Here’s the part where I admit my fatal mistake—it’s Tuesday (newsletter send-out day), and I just realized I missed Smash burger Monday at Wayside.I’ll have to wait until next week, but in the meantime—who’s got the best burger in Portland?

I’ll go slightly outside the city, but let’s keep it local. Tell me where I should go next.

An Unexpected Recommendation

Before I left, I did what I always do—I asked my waitress where I should eat next. They thought about it for a minute, then told me to hang on. A few minutes later, they came back with a Wayside Tavern postcard, handwritten with a few local spots.

✨ Zu Bakery
✨ Smalls
✨ Chaval
✨ Taco Trio

So, I’m taking their advice and going with the first pick—Zu Bakery is next.

Wayside is one of those spots that makes Portland feel like home. It’s casual, but every detail is dialed in. The menu never tries too hard, but always delivers.

If you haven’t been yet, fix that.

🐾 Adoptable Buddies of the Week! 🐾

🐱 Bergamot – A gentle, shy tabby looking for a quiet home. He’s sweet but still learning to trust, so he’d do best in a calm space with older kids and minimal chaos.

🕊 Zuko – A social, opinionated dove who loves time outside his enclosure and isn’t shy about asking for attention. If you’ve got dove experience (or a feathered friend for him), he’d be thrilled to meet you.

No dogs, bunnies, or chickens this week! If you know a local rescue I should feature, let me know.

🐕 Interested? Check them out here

Portland is packed with things to do—so many that sometimes my newsletter gets clipped because there’s just too much to fit.

If you can’t see the full list of events, just scroll to the bottom of your email and click “View entire message” to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Too many events? Maybe. But that’s a good problem to have.