Heading up on a glorious summer day to see my sister in Portland, I was more than happy to let her make the decisions about where we would eat and drink (even if my last visit ended up being a rather interesting story). To start my brief visit to town (literally, 24 hours), my sister wisely booked us a reservation at Crown Jewel, a twee preppy cute restaurant located on Great Diamond Island, roughly 30-minutes on the ferry from downtown Portland. As my sister described Crown Jewel, it was a Lily Pulitzer dress come to life. Off the boat, and a slight walk up the hill is the small-ish Crown Jewel (think 25-30 covers, max). The pink and green tones of the interior, along with a quirky sharing concept menu and a great cocktail line up make this is a fantastic way to spend a summer afternoon (as well as a very Instagrammable location).
Given our ferry didn’t arrive until 1:45 PM, we showed up to the restaurant rather hungry and jumped right into the menu. But first, drinks. My sister and I were both pleased (as punch) with our Crown Jewel Punches, USD13. A perfect summer sip, two of these fruity (highly alcoholic) beverages will get you to a happy place in a short matter of time.
And the food? To start, we enjoyed the Loaded Fries, USD7. Covered in what I assumed was the CJ version of comeback sauce, we loved the fries so much that we ordered a second round. Don’t judge. Next up was the Sweet and Spicy Bacon Skewer, USD9. Lucky for us, this arrived in a stand of three, so each of us got to enjoy one of these little delights — the perfect combination of heat and sweet. Bro-in-law and sis enjoyed a half dozen Baked Oysters, USD20, because, well, this was Maine and that’s apparently what you do (more bivalves for others, I say). We then kept going with the Crab Beignets, USD15 and finished with the Grilled Octopus, USD18. Of all the dishes we had, the beignets were what I would ‘borrow’ and bring back to Dubai (mostly because I haven’t seen anything like it over here). Of this entirely eclectic group of food, the only thing I wouldn’t order again was the octopus. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve had REALLY great octopus recently, or if the rest of the fantastic food overshadowed the dish, but it just didn’t live up to how good everything else was.
Now, I’m going to tell you a story about The Toast, USD8. You might laugh because there is a before and after of toast in my life. Yes, I’m serious. Made with perfectly sliced bread, Ceylon cinnamon, toasted sugar, and farm butter, I can’t believe I was this-many-years-old before trying such a delicious dessert. Yes, I’m sure you will scoff at the price, but the taste… Well, I would happily pay that again. We managed to divide the piece of toast into four portions, and then my sister and split the remaining bit. Honestly, I get that toast on a menu might be a hipster move, but I don’t regret ordering it for a second. One bite and you will be transported. And really, who needs fine dining when there is toast such as this?
Are the prices a touch high at Crown Jewel? Sure, but given everything has to be imported to the island, I’m more than willing to let this point go. Also, do yourself a favor and stop in the small shop at the back for an excellent selection of ‘provisions’ for the return ferry ride (yes, open container isn’t a problem on the ferries). Also, whether you decide on breakfast, a substantial lunch or dinner, seafood, or just drinks and nibbles, I’ll admit that Crown Jewel has you more than adequately covered. Perhaps there are other venues with this sort of original menu approach, but at least in Dubai, I was impressed with the originality. Also, I think knowing that this is most likely a seasonal restaurant also is something that appeals to me. Whimsical places such as this which pop up for a few months of the year make them that much more enjoyable (or is that just me?).
Would I go back to Crown Jewel? In a heartbeat.
Who is Crown Jewel best for? Anyone without kids. Sorry gang, hate to be that person, but Crown Jewel operates best sans children. Let the adults adult.
Have you been to Crown Jewel? Do you have a favorite outlet in Portland?
