For all the hype leading up to the opening of Taco Escobarr (548 Congress Street, Portland, ME) the new restaurant under-deliver in taste, flavor, and ambiance.   As a fan of Nosh Kitchen Bar I walked away with one word describing my experience: bland. 

El Rayo Taqueria (Portland, Maine) has been an easy choice for a mid-week meal.  Location, simple parking, good beer, and a relaxing atmosphere are certainly part of that decision.  They have had their ups and downs and now - possibly - El Rayo has attained some level of stability.  Not great, but at least a solid option for a meal.

El Rayo Taqueria (Portland, Maine) has been an easy choice for a mid-week meal.  Location, simple parking, good beer, and a relaxing atmosphere are certainly part of that decision.  However, I go there to eat good food - and after this visit I might just have to stop.  Last week the food was borderline revolting.

On my last visit to El Rayo Taqueria (Portland, Maine) I was greeted by a host.  El Rayo Taqueria began trying to convert to standard table service.   I suppose this was somewhat understandable, as the restaurant was busy.  Unfortunately,  you could tell that their attempts at reversing entropy were futile when a beer-order placed at the counter had a 5 minute wait, and required the delivery by a waitress...

My first visit to El Rayo Taqueria was during the 2009 Old Port Festival (Portland, Maine).  As usual, I heard about this place by word of mouth, the reviews were so great that I simply had to see it for myself.   Turns out El Rayo Taqueria was in its infant stages - open for just over a week - when I finally arrived.  El Rayo Taqueria is a converted gas station, but the size of the building is mis-leading as the dining area is much smaller than expected.  On that Sunday the inside tables and the picnic tables outside were so packed that I ended having to sit out on a park-bench.