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Billy's Back
In Town
Barbeque with a Quebecois flare: music to
our tastebuds.
BY DIANE HUDSON
"You've got
to try the Poutines," says Uncle Billy's Jonathan St. Laurent, who
provides French Canadian fare with a zesty twist at his new downtown
Portland location at 653 Congress Street. "It's enormously popular," a
melange of hand-cut fries and hearty beef gravy topped with salty curd
cheese.
Also
tantalizing: St. Laurent's splendid Buckwheat Crepe with Maine Shrimp
and Mushrooms ($13.50), the Steak Frites, Grilled Skirt Steak, and Fries
a la Francais ($13.50), or the classic Belgium inspired Moules Frites-mussels
steamed in beer and garlic and served with wonderful fries and a tasty
homemade mayonnaise.
During our
visit, we couldn't resist the BBQ Ribs ($13.50), Piri Piri Chicken
($12), Haddock with Basil, Tomato, and Romano ($13.50), and Beef Brisket
($13.50).
The ribs
here are tops, the sauce addicting. The melt-in-your-mouth beef brisket
defies description: try it, if you're able to pass up braised lamb with
polenta and mushroom ($13.50).
St. Laurent
plans to cook lamb on the rotisserie soon, which should be an exquisite
treat, judging by the wonderfully flavorful Piri Piri Chicken prepared
this way. You get a half chicken with a spicy Portuguese hot sauce for
only $12! Savor this with garlic or chili fries and you'll go out
singing. Or stay right here at Billy's and sing. Music is a mainstay
here, firing out of a mammoth jukebox or performed live by bluesy
stoppers-by. "People just show up here and play," marvels St. Laurent,
"like Curtis Oark on the keyboard with a stand-up bass, and we have
blues on Thursday."
Uncle
Billy's has a full bar, with a good sampling of beer and wine. We
enjoyed a smooth tasting BV Merlot as well as the popular Goats Do Roam
red. The De Koninck is "a well-rounded medium-bodied Lambie beer with a
dry finish-great with Moules Frites." Budweiser and Pabst Blue Ribbon?
Natch, my friend.
St.
Laurent's desserts, like his BBQ take no prisoners and include his
legendary Death by Chocolate Sundae ($4.50), Chocolate Cold Medina ($4),
and Izzy's Cheesecakes ($4.50).
Welcome
back, Uncle Billy's. It's good to see you takin' it downtown!
Uncle
Billy's Resto-Bar, 653 Congress Street, Portland. Tuesday-Saturday
5-c1ose, Sunday, 12-c1ose.761-5930.
APRIL 2007 PORTLAND MONTHLY MAGAZINE
Uncle Billy's Resto-Bar,
653 Congress Street, Portland.
Tuesday-Saturday 5-c1ose,
Sunday, 12-c1ose.
761-5930. |
