The Dogfish Cafe - Portland, Maine

We stopped in for lunch at the Dogfish Cafe while running errands earlier this week. Across the street from my favorite Portland hardware store - Maine Hardware - The Dogfish Cafe is located at 953 Congress Street.

It had been years since I had dined at The Dogfish Cafe. With a number of fast food establishments in the neighborhood, this colorful building stands out from it's St. John Street neighbors. The interior decor reminds me of the old Cafe Uffa -- a mix of warn hardwood floors, bright colored walls, and an eclectic mix of painted table tops and decorations. Half the restaurant is a bar, but at lunch most patrons choose the tables and booths.

I asked the waitress what her favorite appetizer was and without hesitation, she recommended the Quesadilla ($9.99). Abandon your preconceived notions of what a quesadilla should look and taste like when you order this appetizer. Served open-faced like a pizza, the light, crisp shell was topped with grilled chicken, tomatoes, scallions, black beans, cheddar cheese, diced mango and a drizzle of sour cream. Light and fresh, with oh-so-subtle flavors, the quesadilla reminded me of something we would eat in the Caribbean. I would definitely order it again.

Though I was leaning towards the Portabella Mushroom Sandwich, I decided to up my Omega 3 intake for the day and ordered the Grilled Salmon Salad instead ($8.99). A bed of mixed greens was topped with a piping hot grilled salmon filet, thinly sliced red onion rings, cucumbers, tomatoes, and served with a creamy tomato ranch dressing. All of the ingredients were fresh; several slices of soft baguette were served with the light, yet satisfying entree.

My husband declared his BBQ Chicken Sandwich ($9.99) "the best BBQ chicken sandwich in Portland." A soft kaiser roll was topped with grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onion, cheddar cheese and house made BBQ sauce that was neither too tangy nor too sweet. The BBQ sauce is what made the sandwich so delicious. For a $1.00 surcharge, he "upgraded" the chips to a side of Sweet Potato Fries. Though they would have been better if they were served hot, the flavor of these fries was fantastic. I particularly liked that they weren't laden with grease.

Though we stuck to iced tea and Pellegrino, I did take a peek at their wine and beer selections. They had a decent selection of moderately priced "everyday" wines like Blackstone, Sterling, Four Vines and Steele - priced in the low-to-mid $20s. Draft beers included Allagash, Geary's and Shipyard.

The cuisine at the Dogfish Cafe was simple, fresh, delicious and moderately priced; the service was friendly and relaxed. While it's not a place I would choose to dine for dinner, I would stop into the Dogfish Cafe again for lunch. Given it's proximity to Maine Medical Center, it's also made the list of places my husband will be sent to pick up take out when I'm cooped up at the hospital later this month!