Editor Pick
Natasha's
- January 5, 2006
- Rated 5 of 5 by
NYwriter86 from Chestertown, New York
Natasha's is an elegant restaurant that serves eclectic food with an Asian influence. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and it's easy to feel comfortable and relaxed at Natasha's. On our trip we ate at Natasha's most of the evenings, and each experience was fantastic.
We ate at Natasha's on our first night in Maine. It was the weekend after my graduation, and being the end of the school year and the beginning of summer, the whole family felt like spoiling themselves. We ate until we nearly burst and spent a lot of money that night, but you could easily get out of Natasha's for less money and still feel full and satisfied.
When we sat down, our server (a young college student who did an excellent job) brought us bread with olive, kosher salt, and pepper. We enjoyed the bread while choosing our meals from the one page menu and the specials he listed. For an appetizer, the four of us split a dim sum platter that included tastes of many Asian-inspired dishes, such as crab rangoon and wontons.
Next, we all had salad. I tried the salad special for the evening, which was topped with goat cheese, cherries, walnuts, and champagne vinaigrette. My dining partners opted for the bruschetta salad and the Caesar salad. (The presentation of the Caesar was amazing and unique, I don't want to give away the surprise, but you should try it).
Though almost full already, we were eager for our entrees to arrive, and when they did, they were beyond our expectations. Each member of my party chose a different dish this time. Duck with foie gras, veal with truffle mashed potatoes, scallops and a lobster cake, and roasted escolar with potatoes all arrived at our table. I ordered the escolar with potatoes. The fish was cooked to perfection and the potatoes (roasted and stuffed with walnuts and sage then wrapped in pancetta) were the perfect complement.
By this time we were all about to burst, but we ordered dessert anyway. Each was spectacular: white chocolate cheesecake, espresso and chocolate pudding (served in a tall glass and topped with whipped cream), and chocolate mousse cake with chocolate gelato.
On other nights that we went we were more modest and tried several of their other dishes, including a spicy rice bowl with bananas and some specials that sometimes included local fish. Whether you are looking for an entree and dessert or to fill your stomach until it bursts, Natasha's is the perfect place to start your vacation with a fine-dining experience.
From journal Portland, ME: A Journey of Food