Jonathan St. Laurent, once known as southern Maine’s “guru of barbecue,” is on his way back.
St. Laurent and his wife, Schyla, plan to open a new barbecue restaurant on Portland’s East End in November or December, according to a liquor license application filed with the city.
The application, which will be reviewed Monday, lists 166 Cumberland Ave. as the home of the new Uncle Billy’s Bar-B-Que. That address, at the base of Munjoy Hill, is the former home of the Bayside Variety convenience store.
St. Laurent is best known for the original Uncle Billy’s barbecue joint that opened in 1989 in South Portland, on Ocean Street next to the Griffin Club. After that restaurant closed in 1995, he opened more barbecue places in Portland and Yarmouth, but they were never as successful as the original restaurant.
In a letter accompanying the liquor license application, Schyla Laurent wrote that the new restaurant “will be a reincarnation” of the South Portland Uncle Billy’s, with a small outdoor dining area included.
A sample menu lists a variety of smoked meat sandwiches and “Squealin’ Shack Plates” made with pulled pork and chicken, tri-tip, brisket, sausage links, burgers, pork chops. Baby back pork ribs will also be served.
Meredith Goad can be contacted at 791-6332 or at:
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