Much Needed, Late-Night Pizza Joint Coming to Portland’s Old Port

The Portland Press Herald had some exciting, if not limited news about a new by-the-slice pizza joint in the Old Port. It will be where the now-defunct Lupita’s Taqueria was at 15 Exchange Street. That's right in the thick of the Old Port.

Here's the good news. People who know what they are doing with Old Port food are behind the unnamed pizza place they hope to open in January.

The Miranda Restaurant Group is backing the new place. They own Via VeCCHia, cocktail bar Blyth & Burrows, Puerto Rican bar and restaurant Papi, and Henry's Public House. It's two managers from Via Vecchia who will partner to run the place. It's Beverage Director Mark Hibbard and Executive Chef Mitchell Ryan, and I love what Mark told the Press Herald:

Mitch and I have been working together since day one at Via Vecchia, and when this opportunity came along, we decided that basically, we haven’t killed each other yet so we figured we may as well keep the ball rolling. It’s not so far of a departure from what we’re doing already as far as Italian-style cuisine.

They will have the all-important New York-style pizza by the slice, and sandwiches with focaccia. There won't be a bar, but they will have pre-bottled cocktails, beer, and wine. It's months away from opening, and I can't wait!