One monthly price includes: Month-to-month lease with no buy-in fees Live-in managers Signature Freedom Dining program Social activities & wellness programs Sable Lodge Retirement Community Affordable, resort-style, independent living made simple. Discover the peace of mind that comes with an all-inclusive lifestyle. 74 Running Hill Road South Portland, ME 04106 SableLodgeRetirement.com See how enjoyable life can be! Call today to schedule a tour: 207-352-3611 Fitness center 24-hour concierge Room service and chef's pantry Weekly housekeeping Valet parking with snow/ice removal O c t o b e r 2 0 1 7 5 7 meaghan maurice tractive, right up to the red paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling. It’s a happening spot at happy hour. Chef Takashi (Thomas) Cooke and his minions are intent at their grill and frying pans in the open kitchen as barstools fill. Flame-haired bartender Lucy presents a tray of assorted sake cups, both porce- lain and pottery, no two alike. “Choose your cup,” she says before placing a six- ounce carafe of cold Ozeki Sumo Junmai sake on the bar–a tiny but charm- ing gesture. A special starter of a fresh mackerel fi- let–lightly pickled, sliced, and then seared on the skin side with a blowtorch–is a spar- kling gem. Slipping each morsel in the soy and dabbing it with wasabi makes a perfect pairing with the sake. “Portland’s kind of spoiled us,” says a young, baseball- capped fellow from Amesbury, Massachusetts, sitting nearby. “Portsmouth’s pretty good,” says his blonde goddess companion, “but we come here and there’s always some- thing new to try.” They decimate an Age Ochazuke–fried rice ball in seafood broth–and a plate of tu- na carpaccio with their chopsticks while sipping Campari cocktails. “This street didn’t used to be like this, did it?” asks the goddess. n ThainyBodatakesLongfellowSquarefavoriteBoda “VeryThai”Kitchenontheroad,featuringThairedcurry (upperright).VermicelliricenoodlesatNomBai Cambodianfoodtruck(center).