I clearly can be oblivious to businesses moving in and out over the course of time, because I didn’t realize Sebago Brewing Co. had relocated from its Middle Street location to Fore Street, and White Cap Grille had moved in. A friend joined me on a recent Saturday night to go check it out.
With the funky font on their signs and minimalist decorations, my friend thought White Cap Grille had a bit of an Asian influence, but it offers a pretty standard fare.
The tri-fold menu includes a page of wine, beer and drink specials. The beverage menu offers price points for everyone, from $3.75 for a bottle of Budweiser up to $10 for a margarita made with Silver Patron Tequila.
I looked over the list for special cocktails, which was broken down in categories by martinis, margaritas, “Tall Rocks” and “Marys.” A lot of the drinks sounded great, especially that top-shelf margarita, but I decided on something different and ordered the Blackberry Fizz. At $8, it’s a mix of Stoli Blackberry and soda with a float of liquor.
The bar offers Prosecco, white, blush and red wines, eight beers on tap with your choice of 14- and 20-ounce glasses, and 16 bottled options. My friend opted for a bottle of Woodchuck Hard Cider for $4.25.
The bartender served our drinks quickly and with a smile. My cocktail was a surprising shade of purple and fruitier than I expected, but very tasty.
The seats around the bar were almost full when we got there around 8 p.m., and patrons were seated at surrounding pub tables. The slate-gray walls created a relaxed atmosphere. One wall by the bar was adorned with a number of large mirrors and red curtains above, which covered the opening to a balcony area.
The restaurant and bar opened last July. As summer rolls around again, the owners plan to stay open later and include a second happy hour from 10 p.m. to close. They also will have seating on the patio outside overlooking Middle and Market streets.
Drinks in hand, we decided to order some food for a late dinner. My friend and I both ordered salads, hers with salmon, mine with grilled chicken.
Inside the menu, the White Cap notes how it tries to support local farmers and use fresh produce. Our salads lived up to that claim and were very good, right down to the light dressing drizzled over the greens.
I appreciated that, despite the late hour and the number of customers he had to tend to, the bartender was very attentive to each and every customer he had. He checked in a couple of times as we sipped our drinks and ate our meals.
While I’m a fan of Sebago’s food and drinks, White Cap Grille is a nice addition to the Old Port bar scene.
Emma Bouthillette is a freelance writer who lives in Biddeford.
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