Drifters Wife

"Drifter’s Wife is the kind of spot where you stop by just for a glass of natural wine at the bar, and end up staying all night. It’s attached to a wine store called Maine & Loire, and while that might make it first and foremost a place to drink great wine, it’s also very much a place to eat very good seasonal food. We’d recommend it for a low-key night that’ll still be one of the most exciting dinners you have in Portland." - Katherine Lewin

"The vibe at Drifters Wife, a gorgeous 60-seat restaurant with an organic and natural wine shop, is at once warm and welcoming; sophisticated without pretense. It echoes the personalities of owners Orenda and Peter Hale, and their close friend and comrade, chef Ben Jackson. The wine comes mostly from limited vintages and Jackson's menu is both hyper-local and micro-seasonal, making a meal at Drifter's on any given night feel like a unique experience. Recognized by just about every major local and national press outlet, and a recent James Beard nominee for Best New Restaurant, the place has garnered a serious cult following." - Joe Ricchio

"Visit the wine bar of my dreams: Drifters Wife (another Top 50 nominee!). Basically, I want the life of owners Peter and Orenda Hale. They’re constantly popping open bottles of chuggable natural wines from their wine shop and then skipping over to the dining room to feast on mussel toast with nduja and other seasonal plates from chef Ben Jackson. At least this is how I want to believe they live." - ByAndrew Knowlton

"Drifters Wife (Portland, ME) is one of the nominees for America's best new restaurants." - ByAndrew Knowlton