Pigeons

The details

Pigeons
Location: Portland, Maine
​Parking: On Washington Ave & Metered Parking
Family Friendly: Yes - but I'd recommend this for a day date. No dedicated kid's menu.
Dog Friendly: No

A daytime spot on Washington Ave, from the team behind the incredible Drifter's Wife, that's super airy, bright and where it is expected + celebrated to stuff a burger in your face with a classy glass of rosé all before 6PM? Sign me up!

On my last visit, I tried the french onion soup (a soup that I actively search for on menus), french fries, the mussels and the burger. Oh, the burger. That's a 3-4 napkin burger and I'd recommend you eat this in front of someone you feel comfortable making a total mess in front of. I was licking my fingers, audibly saying OMG after most bites and just sort of entered my own messy & content little world (even though my husband was seated next to me at the bar.) I asked the bartender if he had ever seen someone eat this gracefully to which he replied only one - because they used a fork and knife - oh puhhhlease. Grab that thing and dig in!

But the thing that I appreciate most about this place is entirely separate from their phenomenal food. The pivot they decided to take after closing Drifter's Wife because of COVID is something that I sat with for a bit. I had really fond memories of dinners at Drifter's Wife, and this newly imagined version with only daytime hours was, obviously, different. I think some might look at the hours and be worried they won't be able to take full advantage of this spot if they work a 9-5, but my two thoughts on this worry are as follows: go on Saturday and good for them. Seriously, good for them. I imagine many people on the team have kids (or at least this is the idea I've spun up in my head - I tend to do that with restaurants and restauranteurs that I admire) and I bet with these hours, many people on staff are able to make it home for bedtime. After a year like 2020, a year where family and friends that are basically family, meant literally everything - I love this decision (you know, the decision I made up in my head.) Do what you love, let the community be able to relish in your ridiculously amazing food and then, maybe, on good nights, get home for the last bedtime story or at least the chance to watch a couple Netflix series you are behind on.

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Regardless of the reason (or not the reason) they committed to hours of 12PM-6PM, they are the first place I think of when I have friends in town and want to treat them to a boozy lunch and the place I rush to when I finish my day when I could use a reallllllly good glass of wine. I look forward to visiting Pigeons and it feels like a treat whenever I am able to work it into my week. There's an excitement to getting there before the kitchen closes at 6PM & getting to partake in their all day happy hour that hasn't let up for me since they opened.

So, if you see me at the bar looking contemplative - I'm likely spinning up romanticized stories about the people around me. And if you see me with a burger in hand and stains on my shirt, just know I am very happy.