The dining room area has a large, lighted stage backed by a colorful mural created by local artist Lawton Mann. “You’ll find varieties you’ve probably never had.” Smoke & Steel, a new barbecue restaurant with a bar, stage and axe-throwing lanes is set to open next week on Stillwater Avenue in the same development as Buffalo Wild Wings. “If you’re a whiskey lover, we have the best selection in the region,” Solari said. The massive, 25-seat bar will feature craft cocktails, local beers and, as Solari proudly points out, 75 varieties of whiskeys and bourbons from all over the world. Pizza, sandwiches and burgers, all featuring smoked meats, round out the menu. Chef and pitmaster Chris Kenney has worked in barbecue kitchens for years, most recently at Moe’s Original BBQ in Bangor. Memphis, Carolina and Kansas City sauces will be served, alongside less traditional sauces including Buffalo and Thai chili. The Axe Pit in South Portland is already a member of the World Axe Throwing League, which has 157 members in the U.S.Īs for the food, barbecue is the star, with pulled pork, brisket and smoked chicken platters available, alongside burnt ends, wings, ribs and special items including a 24-ounce tomahawk steak and a weekly local seafood dish. There’s a small private area on the far side of the lanes, available for party rentals, and eventually, Hawes plans to offer throwing leagues. Hawes, who also owns G&M Family Market and Stompers Beverage in Holden, first got turned onto axe throwing while he and his wife were traveling in the Midwest in early 2020. Solari owns Kostas Restaurant in Brewer, while Chris Jones owns Miguel’s Mexican Restaurant on Hogan Road in Bangor. We struck a deal with the landlord to rent the entire property, and that’s when Jeff and Chris came on board to really turn this into something bigger.” “But when I acquired Brothers Cannabis, this space was available. “The plan originally was just to do an axe throwing venue, with just targets and a small bar,” said Hawes, who also owns Brothers Cannabis next door. Chris Jones, Jeff Solari and Greg Hawes are co-owners of Smoke & Steel, a new barbecue restaurant with axe-throwing lanes on Stillwater Avenue in the same development as Buffalo Wild Wings. The only other dedicated axe throwing venue in Maine is The Axe Pit in South Portland, though G-Force Adventures will offer axe throwing when it reopens later this year at the Bangor Mall. When the weather allows and you fancy some terrace dining, consult our list of outdoor restaurants and book a lovely meal in well-curated surrounds.Axe throwing, the contemporary version of which utilizes specialized throwing axes to hit large wooden targets at the end of a lane, came out of lumberjack competitions, but has grown to become a popular entertainment option across the U.S. If you're after something new, consult our Restaurant of the Week column, which chronicles the latest openings to know about. Whether you’re looking for fine dining or a quick bite, tasting menu or sharing plates, these are the restaurants not to miss in the capital, in no particular order. When choosing who should make the list, good food was paramount, but so too were atmosphere, service, wine list and overall experience. To help narrow down the choices, we've whittled them down to the top 50 list, compiled by House & Garden's food editor Blanche Vaughan and digital features writer Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes. From the most popular restaurant in London to the hottest new restaurant opening, the city's food scene is booming and showing its resilience in the face of adversity with summer pop ups too. There's never been a better time to book back in to all your favourites and discover those you may have missed. After what can only be described as a tumultuous year for the industry, restaurants are firmly back open in the UK. London has one of the best restaurant scenes in the world, and for good reason.