Wonderful surprises await you at the sign of the swine. Look out for the
\ncolorful pig mural that catches your eye as you approach the Maine Mall.<\/span><\/h3>\nBy Claire Z. Cramer<\/span><\/p>\n![\"FM18-Restaurant-Review\"](\"http:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/FM18-Restaurant-Review.jpg\")
\u201cYou\u2019ll love this table,\u201d says the hostess as she leads the way up one of the two staircases to the second-floor balcony dining room of Tuscan Table<\/strong>. \u201cYou can see all the action.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nCan we ever. Settling into comfy wing chairs at a table overlooking a huge, bustling universe, we\u2019re enchanted. Soaring, latticed light fixtures of delicately shaved and shaped wood hang from the distant ceiling. As choice as our table is, there doesn\u2019t appear to be a bad seat in the house.<\/span><\/p>\nWe select glasses of Circa pinot grigio and Dipinti sauvignon blanc ($7.50 and $8 respectively) from the 20 Italian wines available by the glass. Drinks arrive in delicate stemware, quickly followed by bread and a dish of fruity, peppery olive oil.<\/span><\/p>\nWe ponder choices while sharing an antipasto of cavolfiore<\/strong>\u2013roasted cauliflower set on leaves of romaine hearts sparked by a zingy anchovy-lemon dressing laced with Grana Padano ($9). Dainty, crisp garlic croutons bring to mind a glammed-up Caesar salad. Other antipasti include platters of salumi<\/strong> and formaggio<\/strong>, $3 to $5 per selection; polpette<\/strong> (pork meatballs in tomato agrodolce<\/strong>), $9.50; and a fritto<\/strong> of scallops, whitefish fritters, and calamari served with artichoke aioli, $11.<\/span><\/p>\nA bowl of gnocchi with fresh porcini mushrooms braised in butter with leeks, garlic, and thyme ($19) is perfect for sharing. The airy, potato-fragrant gnocchi and the intensely earthy sauce are a deeply satisfying combination. Gnocchi and all pastas here are house-made\u2013we spot spaghetti carbonara ($17) being served below us at the bar, glistening strands beautifully coiled. Other pastas include fettuccine with Bolognese ragu ($19) and lemon-buttered capellini with clams, mussels, and lobster ($23).<\/span><\/p>\nAround Portland, gourmet pizza is pretty competitive, and our Porchetta pizza ($17) jumps right into the front of that pack. Sizzling from the glowing, wood-fired oven downstairs, it\u2019s topped with San Marzano tomato sauce, rich bits of pork belly and loin, and mozzarella. To serve, it\u2019s been dressed with a little green storm of baby arugula and a few judicious drops of pomegranate balsamic vinegar. Everything comes together\u2013crisp, chewy crust, divine porkiness, gooey cheese, and piquant garnishes. There\u2019s also a classic Margherita pizza that can be embellished with salami, prosciutto, or meatballs ($12 to $16). Fancier pies include the Bianco pie with roasted garlic, mozzarella, and fried sage ($13). Executive chef Lee Skawinski is the secret weapon here. He made Portland\u2019s Cinque Terre<\/strong> a haute-Italian runaway success back in the early 2000s. Skawinski and sous-chef Charles White make expert use of the restaurant\u2019s two rustic wood ovens.<\/span><\/p>\nThe lunch and dinner menus are very similar (including in price), though the wood-grilled burger, the fried haddock sandwich, or your pick from a selection of paninis are unique to the lunch menu ($11 to $14). The dinner menu adds wood-grilled salmon, haddock, or scallops, along with old favorites like chicken parmigiana ($19 to $29). Steak Fiorentina for two with Tuscan white beans and anchovy-lemon dressed salad is $79.<\/span><\/p>\nA pair of pretty little gelato-filled profiteroles finishes our feast\u2013one pistachio and the other salted caramel, topped with the delicious house chocolate sauce ($6.50). We sip cappuccino ($5) as we enjoy the people-watching.<\/p>\n
The location adjacent to the Maine Mall notwithstanding, you\u2019ll never mistake this for a mall or chain restaurant. (It does have two popular sister-establishments, the Tuscan Bistro in Freeport and Royal River Grill House in Yarmouth.) Most diners appear to be on dates or enjoying multi-generational, multi-coursed family meals. Everyone appears to have caught the celebratory vibe. <\/span>n<\/span><\/p>\n
Can we ever. Settling into comfy wing chairs at a table overlooking a huge, bustling universe, we\u2019re enchanted. Soaring, latticed light fixtures of delicately shaved and shaped wood hang from the distant ceiling. As choice as our table is, there doesn\u2019t appear to be a bad seat in the house.<\/span><\/p>\n We select glasses of Circa pinot grigio and Dipinti sauvignon blanc ($7.50 and $8 respectively) from the 20 Italian wines available by the glass. Drinks arrive in delicate stemware, quickly followed by bread and a dish of fruity, peppery olive oil.<\/span><\/p>\n We ponder choices while sharing an antipasto of cavolfiore<\/strong>\u2013roasted cauliflower set on leaves of romaine hearts sparked by a zingy anchovy-lemon dressing laced with Grana Padano ($9). Dainty, crisp garlic croutons bring to mind a glammed-up Caesar salad. Other antipasti include platters of salumi<\/strong> and formaggio<\/strong>, $3 to $5 per selection; polpette<\/strong> (pork meatballs in tomato agrodolce<\/strong>), $9.50; and a fritto<\/strong> of scallops, whitefish fritters, and calamari served with artichoke aioli, $11.<\/span><\/p>\n A bowl of gnocchi with fresh porcini mushrooms braised in butter with leeks, garlic, and thyme ($19) is perfect for sharing. The airy, potato-fragrant gnocchi and the intensely earthy sauce are a deeply satisfying combination. Gnocchi and all pastas here are house-made\u2013we spot spaghetti carbonara ($17) being served below us at the bar, glistening strands beautifully coiled. Other pastas include fettuccine with Bolognese ragu ($19) and lemon-buttered capellini with clams, mussels, and lobster ($23).<\/span><\/p>\n Around Portland, gourmet pizza is pretty competitive, and our Porchetta pizza ($17) jumps right into the front of that pack. Sizzling from the glowing, wood-fired oven downstairs, it\u2019s topped with San Marzano tomato sauce, rich bits of pork belly and loin, and mozzarella. To serve, it\u2019s been dressed with a little green storm of baby arugula and a few judicious drops of pomegranate balsamic vinegar. Everything comes together\u2013crisp, chewy crust, divine porkiness, gooey cheese, and piquant garnishes. There\u2019s also a classic Margherita pizza that can be embellished with salami, prosciutto, or meatballs ($12 to $16). Fancier pies include the Bianco pie with roasted garlic, mozzarella, and fried sage ($13). Executive chef Lee Skawinski is the secret weapon here. He made Portland\u2019s Cinque Terre<\/strong> a haute-Italian runaway success back in the early 2000s. Skawinski and sous-chef Charles White make expert use of the restaurant\u2019s two rustic wood ovens.<\/span><\/p>\n The lunch and dinner menus are very similar (including in price), though the wood-grilled burger, the fried haddock sandwich, or your pick from a selection of paninis are unique to the lunch menu ($11 to $14). The dinner menu adds wood-grilled salmon, haddock, or scallops, along with old favorites like chicken parmigiana ($19 to $29). Steak Fiorentina for two with Tuscan white beans and anchovy-lemon dressed salad is $79.<\/span><\/p>\n A pair of pretty little gelato-filled profiteroles finishes our feast\u2013one pistachio and the other salted caramel, topped with the delicious house chocolate sauce ($6.50). We sip cappuccino ($5) as we enjoy the people-watching.<\/p>\n The location adjacent to the Maine Mall notwithstanding, you\u2019ll never mistake this for a mall or chain restaurant. (It does have two popular sister-establishments, the Tuscan Bistro in Freeport and Royal River Grill House in Yarmouth.) Most diners appear to be on dates or enjoying multi-generational, multi-coursed family meals. Everyone appears to have caught the celebratory vibe. <\/span>n<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cYou\u2019ll love this table,\u201d says the hostess as she leads the way up one of the two staircases to the second-floor balcony dining room of Tuscan Table<\/strong>. \u201cYou can see all the action.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n