Chef Colin Wyatt, at the TWELVE Restaurant this Afternoon on the Portland Waterfront.  “We Are Always Looking for Qualified Additions to our Staff,” Chef Wyatt Said.

The much anticipated Grand Opening of TWELVE, a celebrated event on a legendary spot on the Munjoy Hill waterfront, is scheduled for Thursday, July 14, 2022, according to Chef Colin Wyatt this afternoon.  TWELVE will be open from 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm   The menu for opening night will include monk fish and local strip steak.   It will be a four course meal with a set price of $82.00 –  a prix fixe menu.  Initially, TWELVE will be open five (5) days a week; closed on Sunday and Monday.  At a later date, TWELVE will be open seven (7) days a week.

TWELVE will seat 60 – 70 guests and that includes the bar.   Outdoor seating is not ready yet, but Chef Wyatt said it will be soon.  Wyatt was formerly chef at Eleven Madison Park in New York City.  The restaurant is frequently on the best fifty restaurants worldwide and in 2019 was  # one on that list. Every year it is one of the world’s top five restaurants – known  for its New York cuisine and fine dining. Daniel Garlas, manager of TWELVE was formerly with Per Se, 10 Columbus Circle, New York City.

Adding to the anticipation of the opening of TWELVE is the fact that it was named as one of the most anticipated restaurant openings for the summer of 2022 by VOGUE magazine.  Other recipients of this coveted recognition were located on both the east and west coast and in between.

Chef Wyatt was taking a break from an on-going staff training session in the upper floors of building 12.  “We are always looking for qualified additions to our staff,” he said.

TWELVE’s name is derived from the former use of the brick building as the pattern storehouse for the former Portland Company that once occupied the almost ten (10) acre property.  The building was built in 1895 intentionally separate and apart from the other buildings in the complex.  Portland Company was the major manufacturer in the area and a major employer in the area.  The Company reused its wooden patterns repeatedly. So, they needed to be stored in a fire proof building that could withstand damage from a fire should that ever occur.  This blogger has written extensively on the subject since 2019 and recommends those posts to the reader herein.

TWELVE restaurant was expected to open on July 1, 2022.  It’s opening was delayed due to supply chain issues.  Kitchen equipment had been ordered from all over the US and overseas – causing unanticipated delays in its arrival here in Portland because of the pandemic.

The nearby Fore Point Marina Bar, also owned by the Prentice Hospitality Group, of which Casey Prentice is President, will not be opening this year because the Portland City Council nixed the popular waterfront site.  Councilor Robert Rodriguez said last November that the marina bar was not his “vision” for the Portland waterfront.  But it was part of this blogger’s vision for the waterfront.  It is missed, Councilors.  In fact, it was a favorite vision for many walking and biking on the adjoining Trail as well as patrons of Fore Ponts Marina. For this blogger, it often served as a waterfront respite with a cooling breeze and a panoramic view of Casco Bay while enjoying a drink (alcoholic or non-alocholic) and a snack plus from the EVO Kitchen & Bar food truck on site.  You have blurred vision, Councilor.  Fix it.

For more background information on TWELVE, please read posts herein:  May 17, 2021, May 1, 2019, April 19 and April 3, 2019.