If Maine won't go to the pizza...
DESCRIPTION: As a newcomer to the wonderful state of Maine (I moved here 15 years ago, making me, in Maine culture, from-away for life), I've often said that, despite all of Maine's many delights, no one ever moved here for the pizza. Having spent most of my life in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, I can say with some authority that the pasty, tasteless stuff they call pizza here is anything but. And why do they serve it with french fries?! And what's with the funny quilted pattern on the bottom? Even the "gourmet" pizzas here are, if pleasant dishes, just not pizza. Until Flatbread - the best pizza I've every tasted. I've been to Flatbread once so far, and put them to the ultimate test. Forget the papaya/stilton/chipotle/monkeymeat toppings that hide a blah pizza under an avalanche of distractions. I wanted to taste pizza. So I ordered a small plain-crust topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and mushrooms - a timeless classic. What did I get? Perfect crust - thin, crisp yet chewy, bubbled around the edge, with sag-free structural integrity. Perfect sauce - and no wonder: all fresh organic ingredients in rapturous harmony. And perfect cheese - rich and generous without glomming up the works. Thank you, Flatbread. Now Maine has it all.
DATE: 2005-02-10
OVERALLRATING : 10

Always a Treat
DESCRIPTION: My wife and I make the trip up from Boston (2 hrs) for a meal at this upscale, yet comfortably so, Portland hotspot. In the 2 years we've been doing so not once have we been disappointed by the selection, quality or portions served. Add an excellent wine list and some candlelit warmth and you've got the makings for a wonderful evening.
DATE: 2000-09-04
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Any fish, something that accents the wood-grilling

Henry the Eighth Meets Kenneth Cole
DESCRIPTION: I had one of the best meals I've ever had here, and a large part of the pleasure was in the restaurant's ambience and service. The open kitchen is absolutely captivating - the pizza-style wood oven with its glowing embers, the turnspit with its endless parade of different meats, and even the hissing grills invoked in me a child-like fascination. The plain walls and rich wood decor struck exactly the right tone - elegant but simple, and the service was great. As for the food, it achieved exactly what it set out to do - give the diner the experience of how good meat tastes if you just cook it beautifully. Yum! I recommend it high
DATE: 2000-09-15
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : The mussels in a herb and nut broth were out of this world (and off the calorific scale, judging from the amount of butter than I watched being dolloped in the pan before it was thrust into the wood oven). A breast and leg of duck was succulent and rich, the smoked pork chop was fit for a king.

Just Incredible
DESCRIPTION: The food was fantastic. Only been once, but still dream about it. Service, ambiance, decor - just beautiful. It was a busy night and everything went smoothly; nice view of the water at our table. Will come back again and again.
DATE: 2004-03-31
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : crab or clam bake appetizer

Best Roast Beef I've Ever Had.
DESCRIPTION: I love roast beef. Its my my favorite sandwitch ever. So when i went to this portland eatery i was very exighted about the classic desinged roast beef hand carved, and certafied angus beef. But the sandwitches at henry the eigth served in rich decor on a busy street in downtown portland, are amazing the roast prime rib of beef is so tasty, and the barcube sauce and bread make it a near perfect sanwitch. It simply is the best roast beef ever.
DATE: 2005-08-20
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : The roast beef sandwitch with barbacue suace and red onions.