Haven Hot Chicken to Open on Main St

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Haven Hot Chicken is setting up their latest outpost in Middletown. The press, falsely, had them opening in the old Whey Station location. Nope! They will be going where the salad joint was.

Haven on Main Street

While not exactly Nashville style, Haven Hot Chicken comes pretty close. With 5 heat categories from “Country” (no heat) to “Haven” (yeah man, pretty damn hot) Haven has something for every taste. Though they offer few menu items such as nuggets, waffles, man & cheese, Haven is best know for their sandwich. Nothing else like it around here save for Bird Code in WeHa. No real intel yet on an opening date.

The Sandwich

Quality Ice Cream on Main Street?

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Affiliated with the folks from Harries Jailhouse and NORA cupcake, “Al’s” will open an ice cream shop next to NORA. “Hand churned” – yeah right…anyone who tried making ice cream in a hand churn knows this is nonsense, so Al is already off the reservation with the kitchy spin. We are excited, however, that Al may be carrying over the 2fer theme from Harries…2 scoop Tuesday maybe?!

Seriously, we’d be doubly titillated if Al can bring Arethusa level ice cream to Middletown. Prediction: Since NORA and Harries are involved, don’t be surprised to see $10 cones. Okay, we’ll just see ourselves out the DDoor (!)

Avella Italian Takeout

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Located on William Street, Avella is a block and change west of all that Main Street circus. Avella, in the storefront that used to peddle that sad, nostalgia pizza, puts out some serious grinders, calzones, pizza and stromboli. The case is overflowing with fine specialties like broccoli rabe, stuffed peppers, lasagna, fava bean salad…and way more.

Avella makes sandwiches to order, they slice the meat alla minute, and assemble everything right in front of you. Need to take some cold cuts home? Save a trip, Avella will do that too while you’re there. Ask the story behind the Salvatore Juliano pizza special, a really great tribute to Sicilian pride and honor…And the Sicilian pie aint bad either:

Hop Nope Rides Again

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Despite loud claims they were not shutting down in Middletown, Hop Knot closed.  Despite loud claims they were simply going across the street, an eyebrow joint opened in that location instead…or is it the tshirt place?  WhAtEveR!

It looks they have, however, moved into the White Dog location in Portland.  A shame, as White Dog was doing some great things like the best burger in Portland, the very delicious boutique chicken operation and to-go cocktails. White Dog will be missed.  But if you want a mediocre pretzel and an overly salty sandwich, Hop Nope, er, knot can be your jam.  Or is all just a conspiracy?

Marino’s Exits the Pizza Scene

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We can all make grandma pizza at home pretty easily, so slinging nostalgia pie could only last so long, especially given Marino’s odd hours and ridiculous wait times. 

Mama’s lives another day

Maybe back in the day it was able to survive, as the bar was pretty low for pizza in Middletown.  Now, we are thankfully living in quality pizza times with titans like Vero Cucino Rustica and Mondo.  It looks like another incarnation of Mama’s is taking over, can’t be any worse than hamburg pie.