June 17, 2009
Wharf Gem: Cinque Terre
Felicitously named after the rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera, Cinque Terre is an Italian restaurant and bar located in The Old Port's most rugged street: Wharf.
Without a doubt, Wharf Street is the most bi-polar cobble-stoned street in existance. Several of the city's hippest wine bar/restaurants (The Chocolate Bar, The Wine Bar, Street & Co and, of course, Cinque Terre) are nestled in one-block with Portland's "club" scene. Late night, the walk-way is riddled with tramped out "ladies" and the googly-eyed men who adore them. Daytime, the Wharf is a much tamer beast with la-la-la families frolicking, couples holding hands, people wearing really ugly clothes and groups of friends cruising the Old Port.
The Cinque's small patio is an intimate little spot where you can people watch while sipping an Italian beer, white or red wine or a Long Island Ice Tea. The Cinque closes (9:30 pm) before the hold-on-I-have-to-puke-before-I-fight-you and the oh-my-God-I-like-totally-fell-down-in-the-street crews take over the block.
Really, the best time to visit is during happy hour, every day from 5-7 pm, for Prosecco on the Patio. A glass of Prosecco is $5 and appetizers are $5. The specials apply at the bar as well. If you've got your heart set on a patio seat, call ahead for reservations. The Cinque gets packed fairly quick.
This fine-dining restaurant/bar is also a great place for a first date, should you be planning to impress your date with your vast knowledge of wine and willingness to throw down big bucks for it.
The colossal wine selection is sure to please any wino, er, wine lover. Wine by the glass will cost you $6-12.50. You can also purchase a 2 oz glass for $2.40-5. Wine by the bottle ranges from $26-250 and is organized in categories of "Sparkling," "White," "Red" and "Reserve". While I'd like to pretend I know a little about wine, I just don't. (I buy wine at Cumby's.) However, your Cinque servers are schooled and can help you find a wine that fits your taste and wallet.
Most beers are Italian and sold on tap or by the bottle. Bottled beers - ranging in price from $4 (12 oz) to $18-22 (750 ml) - include Birra Moretti, Noel, Al-Iksir, Allagash Grand Cru, Allagash Triple Reserve, Montegioco Draco and Demon Hunter. If you want a beer on tap, order Allagash White, Birra Moretti, or Old Thumper ($5-6.50). There is also a full bar for any liquor cravings you're suppressing.
When it comes to the food, Executive Chef and Co-Owner Lee Skawinski is known for his long-time commitment to authentic, farm-to-table, Ligurian-inspired cuisine. He's been nationally celebrated by Gourmet, The Washington Post, USA Today, The Food Network and many others. You'll be served all the old-school, tried-and-true dishes like ravioli (braised Maine veal with Ricotta and Pecorino cheese and broccoli rabe with balsamic sage brown buter), fettuccini (shitake mushrooms, Alto Adige speck and fresh herbs) that stand the test of time. View the full menu.
Because the menu is so beloved you'll see a lot of foodies. Most of the people at the bar are those who couldn't get a seat at a table. However, you'll find a selection of late-20s-to-early-30s drinkers, too. The bar is a niche below the loft of dinner tables and seats around 15 or so. Candles adorn black lacquer top and long-stemmed lights hang from the 40'(?) ceilings. It's low-lit and romantic, as you would expect.
The Cinque will stay open close to 10 pm or so if the foodies are still eating. That leaves you just barely enough time to escape the Wharf before it morphs into a flesh-revealing, meat-eating, grind-dancing, I'm-so-drunk-but-I-still-want-to-go-home-with-you scene. Unless you're into that sort of thing - you may want to stick around and laugh at people.
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