Recently, I was having some trouble choosing a restaurant for a dinner out in Portland and, after a few days of brainstorming, was forced to use my phone-a-friend option.
My friend (alright, alright fine—my mom) suggested that I check out Local 188, a Spanish-inspired bar and restaurant located in Portland's Arts District.
It is, in the words of my mother, the perfect place for a "hip, young and cool" crowd to grab a bite in the big(ger) city. I am at least one of those things—and aspire to the other two, so Local 188 seemed like the perfect fit.
My mother, renowned expert on all things "hip, young and cool," was spot on. Local 188 has great atmosphere and food which is almost as good. It has an expansive, open dining room in which tables are interspersed with couches and lounge chairs.
The space could feel like a random hodgepodge of furniture, but it manages to be cohesive. An open kitchen and a "culinary bar" occupy the long back wall of the restaurant. The front wall is all windows and, if possible, I recommend getting one of those tables for the people watching on Congress Street.
Local 188 does not suffer from the woes that plague most bar-restaurant hybrids. The food is delicious and the bar atmosphere survives unhindered by the slightly older (and less hip) crowd staying for dinner.
Furthermore, the menu is arranged so you can easily eat a full meal or simply have some light accompaniments to your drinks.
The tapas section of the menu offers the smallest servings, priced between $4 and $14. I tried the tortilla del d¡a, which had potatoes, caramelized onions, peppers and kale. Though the flavors were wonderful, it was served warmer than most Spanish-style tortillas (the Spanish equivalent of a French quiche) and made me feel a little sick afterwards.
I also tried the seared scallops with tarragon aioli, apple sticks, and lemon confit. This dish was an extremely small portion for the price tag, but it was so tasty I didn't care. The scallops were caramelized to perfection and the tarragon aioli was light and flavorful. A definite hit.
The raciónes section of the menu comprises slightly larger dishes and slightly-larger-than-normal appetizer sizes.
I ordered an excellent soup special from this section—a parsnip and apple soup that was rich and slightly creamy. The flavor combination had real depth and the parsnips, in particular, added a nice kick.
Other raciónes include steak tartare, Maine mussels in tomato broth, and house-made gnocchi.
The entrées section of the menu also has several tasty options. I opted for a special—salmon served over mushrooms and root vegetables with a truffle oil cream. As a real sucker for anything served with truffles, I found this dish to be my favorite of the bunch. The salmon was perfectly cooked, not too dry, and the truffle cream struck a lovely balance between being rich but not heavy. The vegetable accompaniments were also delicious.
Local 188's entrées also include a house and seafood paella (reputed to be very tasty), and a marinated portabello mushroom cap served over kale and white beans.
They serve a market white fish served over sherried French lentils and caramelized onions, finished with an anchovy butter.
The fish that night, hake, was perfectly cooked—moist and flaky. For anchovy-haters, the flavored butter was not overpowering and added a slight punch to the dish.
For dessert, I opted for a delicious apple tart with an almond crust and caramel toile. According to my mom, though, I missed out on the best biscotti in the world. So if you make it to Local 188, the gelato and biscotti dessert may be worth a try. They offer your standard chocolate brownie à la mode dish as well.
Although I did not take advantage of Local 188's extensive drinks menu (it was a school night), the options are many. A beer lover would be in heaven—Local 188 offers more than 50 beers from all over the world, mostly Belgians, but also many local brands.
The wine and cocktail lists are more limited, but the cocktail menu is especially creative.
Can't get into Fore Street? For a dinner in Portland, Local 188 offers a delicious and fun meal that takes you slightly off the beaten path. You might almost forget that you are in a city smaller than many colleges.
Local 188's food is great and it's atmosphere is even better. So, listen to me (and my mom) and check it out.
Local 188
685 Congress St, Portland
(207)-761-7909
Food: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Atmosphere: 4.5 out of 5 stars