Nikole Holler, Bill Park and Katie Haggerty of 3 Buoys

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 1,231)

The recent opening of a seafood restaurant on the east end of Portland marks the beginning of a new experience for seafood lovers in the area.  Fresh seafood  has been missing from the area  too long. That void was filled when 3 Buoys Seafood Shanty & Grille opened on Monday at noon.  It’s located at 111 Cumberland Avenue-at Washngton Avenue.

The new owners had been racing against the clock to open by early December as was their plan. The inside is absolutely delightful; it’s decorated in a nautical motif with lobster buoys and art work that is for salehanging on the walls. It’s bright and light and a pleasure  to look at. Cleaning the inside was a major task because the former occupant was Buffalo Wings had been closed by the city  for  health code violations. The transformation is remarkable. and gives new hope for this busy corner on the east end.

The gluten free menu is something to behold as well!  It includes over 70 items  (I just finished counting them all)!  Seafood plates, sandwiches, burgers, salads, chowders.  The portions are large.  So much so that one dish could be split between two people if desired.  My fried clams and onion rings were delicious and more than I could eat at one seating!  LIkewise, the breakfast menu is large, but I’m not going to count all of he items!  Believe!  Local beers are also available here.

The two business partners behind 3 Buoys are former Legal Seafood officials.  Bill Park, chef/owner, directed the test kitchen for it.  I got tired of being a number,” Park said recently.  Legal Seafood has 30 restaurants between Boston and Florida.  Although they do have growth in mind, the first and highly successful 3 Buoys in York will always be the flagship restaurant for Park.  Currently, he’s looking for the right chef to step into his shoes here so Park can return to the larger York restaurant.  The other business partner is Bill Holler, formerly vp of purchasing at Legal Seafood, Boston, with his wife Nikole.  She’s  former employee in the seafood business and is the operations manager at 3 Buoys.  Nikole is looking for a few good servers, to fill out the staff.  Currently, Katie Haggerty is doing that job exclusively and exptremely competently!

3 Buoys, named for Holler’s three sons, is opened seven days a week from 8 am until 11 pm. Please call 207 619-7565 for take out orders and more information.

Please visit Post # 1,243, dated October 23, 2012, herein for more background information.