The Grill Room

Elite '08

64

191

Shaina G.

Cambridge, MA

It's about time that Portland literally beefs up its restaurant scene by adding The Grill Room to compete with top dining establishments such as Fore Street and Five Fifty Five.  The Grill Room is a new sister to The Front Room, popular for its welcoming, moderately priced, and delicious brunches and lunches.

ATMOSPHERE The Grill Room is two large rooms with high ceilings in one of Portland's many old brick buildings.  The first room houses the long bar complete with liquors, wines, local beer taps, and the perfect addition: guy with long white hair and classy western style moustache.  The second space is separated by arched brick walls and the step down brings to the main dining area, a sultry yet social surrounding great for a date.  The kitchen sits in the back and has its own bar seating area with pots hanging from an iron hanger overhead.

FOOD Steaks (fish, beef, and rack of lamb) with sides a la carte, wood grilled personal pizzas, THE popular burger (order one step of doneness over what you'd normally get!), and an excellent selection of soups, salads, appetizers, and entrees.  All entrees begin around $16-29.

+ My appetizer was from a selection of specials for the day.  Chilled duck over watercress, blue cheese, and cherries. I was advised that the duck would be rare cooked and thin sliced, but when it arrived it was anything but rare.  I later found out that "luck you, you got the last duck salad!" No wonder it wasn't rare anymore...  This was the main disappointment.
+ Dave's minestrone came served with a dollop of fresh pesto possibly made with a little dill - yummo.
+ Mike's "steak & cheese" was beef carpaccio piled over a crisp baked goat cheese cake on a platter sized dinner plate.  Could have served all of us.  

+ The NOTEWORTHY DINNER of the night was Dave's duck.  He asked for it to be cooked medium and it came out juicy and pink (he was going for medium rare).  It had the most amazing flavor ever!  I was ready to trade, but my shortrib was melt off the bone buttery and tasty.

+ The NOTEWORTHY WINE was a bottle of Stag's Leap Petite Syrah for $39 a pop.  

Please try The Grill Room, the meal, the service, and atmosphere were all superb!

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