Before March of 2020, it would not have occurred to me to get a nice pub sandwich and some Maine craft beer to go.
The pandemic, however, has changed our dining habits, and restaurants have adapted. Foulmouthed Brewing in South Portland has long been a favorite spot of my family, for the creative food and the incredibly diverse selection of beers they make. My wife and I especially have enjoyed the flights of different beers, while my daughters are partial to the pulled pork sandwiches.
Early on in the pandemic, Foulmouthed started using an online ordering system for takeout. I love online ordering, especially the convenience of doing it hours ahead, going about my day, and then just picking up the food at the appointed time.
Foulmouthed is now open for in-person dining, and business was booming on the recent Saturday evening I visited. But they still have the online system as well. Since I’ve grown very fond of eating and drinking in front of the TV lately – my obsession with the Winter Olympics may have something to do with that – I decided to use Foulmouthed’s online ordering for a Saturday night dinner and settle in for some curling and skeleton.
A Swedish meatball sub from Foulmouthed Brewing in South Portland. Photo by Ray Routhier
I had a Swedish meatball sub ($16), which featured beef and pork meatballs, mushrooms and onions in a cream sauce and cranberry fig spread on a toasted bun. The restaurant’s Facebook page said it was perfect with a crispy lager or kolsch. So I ordered four-pack of 16-ounce cans of 56K Lager for $13.99. It was described as a “European style premium lager.” It was indeed perfect with the Swedish meatballs. Maybe because Sweden is in Europe, but I’m not sure.
My wife had a sandwich of house roast beef, Brie cheese, arugula, mushroom duxelle, fig and cranberry compote on a thyme butter bun, for $15. The roast beef was thick, tender carved slices about medium rare and was not overpowered by the cheese or the fixings. I would love to try that sandwich sometime.
But the menu changes fairly often at Foulmouthed, which means there are always new things to try. A couple weeks after I visited, the Swedish meatball sub and roast beef sandwich my wife had were no longer on the menu. Instead, I found a mushroom bomb, with sauteed mushrooms, onions, garlic spread and melted provolone and Parmesan cheese. I also saw a Southwest roast beef sandwich with mixed greens, red chimichurri and cojita cheese on a bolillo roll.
The Local Burger at Foulmouthed Brewing in South Portland. Photo by Ray Routhier
Other sandwiches on the menu recently were the local burger – which my daughter Dinah had and loved. Hers was $15 and included a side order of fries. My sandwich and my wife’s did not come with fries and we didn’t order any, so Dinah shared.
The recent menu I looked at also had a bahn mi with grilled pork, a peachy chicken sandwich, and a sandwich of beer-battered local fish. The “snacks and shares” section of the menu included garlic or jalapeno fries, chicken wings, poutine, nachos, a giant pretzel, mini short rib Wellingtons and beer battered fish and chips.
Foulmouthed Brewing opened in 2016, near the end of Ocean Street in Knightville, a short walk from a park under the Casco Bay Bridge. Since that time, Knightville has continued to evolve into a foodie destination. Other nearby restaurants, bakeries or food shops that have opened nearby in the last couple of years include Cafe Louis, BenReuben’s Knishery, Judy Gibson, Solo Cucina Cucina Market and SoPo Seafood. Other dining spots on the street include Taco Trio, Verbena, Cia Cafe, The Bridgeway and The Snow Squall.
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