I've heard good things about this restaurant so my expectations were a bit high but nonetheless still open-minded.
It was hard to decide if Thistles was casual dressing or a little dressy. The interior was dimly lighted and was decorated in a modern way. Our waiter was courteous.
We had ordered 4 appetizers and 4 entrees and just 1 dessert to call it a night.
Not a bad Shrimp Ceviche at all, it definitely had a kick to it and the shrimps were plump which is always a good thing.
The Lobster Caponata Crostini was a bit of disappointment. I guess I expected better since Maine is the lobster state. This dish was quite underwhelming, felt like I just had a lobster roll...I mean, there was plenty of lobster meat but the flavor and taste was just kind of boring.
Absolutely love this dish. I was so skeptical about the Queso Fresco with Guava since it was a cheese dish and fried cheese is a bit odd. In the end, it was the best appetizer I've had. The guava sauce paired so nicely with the fried cheese, I would honestly go back just for this dish.
The Argentinean Empanadas were just ok, nothing special about them. It could use a bit more crunch, the center was starting to get a bit soggy.
I find all the entrees to be mediocre, nothing exactly stood out. The Paella Valenciana was a huge portion; the Mofongo de Camarones were a bit mushy because of the mashed green plantains; the Veal Special was on the tomato-y side; and the Latin Grilled Pork Chops was ginormous with a heavy soy-balsamic white wine reduction sauce.
Their portions are very inconsistent as you can tell from the pictures. Portion size control is not welcomed in Maine so watch out.
For dessert, I stuck with the Spanish Flan with Caramel Sauce. I think I would've liked it better if it was a round shape, don't know why but the flan felt "thick." A little thinner, flatter and rounder would be perfect. Maybe I'm just picky.
What better way to end a meal with than with espresso. Nice palette cleanser.
Thistles Restaurant
175 Exchange Street
Bangor, Maine 04401
