After operating in obscurity for nearly 5 years, the PineCrest Club, a private restaurant located on Rt. 114 in the heart of Gorham, is now open to the public. “91 South”, formally known as the “PineCrest Club” officially opens its doors to the public on Thursday night, January 27th. “What sets ‘91 South’ apart is the wine list,” said Matt Mattingly, Managing Partner of the PineCrest Inn. “This is a wine list that defies common restaurant pricing ideals and sets the stage to upset restaurants throughout the region and beyond.”
The wine menu at 91 South offers a staggering 65 wines by the glass and each bottle is priced under $30. Standard restaurant bottle prices are usually 2 to 3 times cost. “If you are like me and love wine but hate paying restaurant prices you will know what I am talking about. Often, I know what the bottle costs in a restaurant and many times I feel like I am being robbed,” says Mattingly. Since real wine lovers hate paying restaurant prices, 91 South has chosen a different path. Each bottle is priced at only $10 over retail. So there is no guessing what you might pay in real life for a bottle from this great wine list.
Chef Maureen (Mo) Terry, the former owner of Café Always in Portland, heads up the kitchen. 91 South offers an intimate dining room less than 25 seats and is located in the PineCrest Inn. Conveniently the Inn is located at 91 South Street in the village of Gorham. The Restaurant is open Thursday through Saturday from 5:30 to 10:00. Reservations are highly suggested.
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For more information contact: Matt Mattingly 207-839-5843 or email matt@pinecrestmaine.com or on the web at www.pinecrestmaine.com
Background on 91 South
After purchasing the PineCrest Bed and Breakfast in 2005, Matt & Amy Mattingly wanted to open an intimate restaurant and recruited Chef Maureen Terry to join them. Chef Mo, as she is known, was the former Chef and owner of Café Always on Middle Street in Portland.
Due to a zoning restriction they were not allowed to operate a commercial restaurant. Mattingly appealed the Code Enforcement Officers decision. After a short time the Town of Gorham Appeals Board found an opening in the permitted uses of the zone allowing the restaurant to open but only as a private club with dues paying members.
“We began with list of about 20 people and sent an invitation to join. Several did and from those first few folks, we grew on an invitation only basis and after a short time 6 members became 50,” Mattingly said
During the spring of 2008, Town Councilor Matt Robinson, who was not a club member but wanted additional places to eat in Gorham, started the process to amend the permitted uses in the UR zone. Almost 18 months later, a new ordinance was created paving the way for the little known PineCrest Club to open its doors to the public. From 2005 until this past December, the club operated on little more than word of mouth, hosting private dinners, events and house concerts.
In late December of 2009, Matt & Amy Mattingly and Chef Mo Terry raised a glass of champagne after a late night dinner service and toasted their decision to open the doors to the public.
91 South is very unique and intimate. The wine list features an extensive array of wines from around the world serving a staggering 65 different wines by the glass. For those who know wine, they will appreciate this list because the bottle prices are set at a flat rate of $10 over retail. For those who don’t know wines just ask for the tasting list. This 40 page book contains tasting notes on every wine along with more information than you could ever read during dinner.
The Wine Pub has very intimate seating for only about 8 to 10 people and the restaurant seats less than 25. Guests walk through the kitchen on their way from the wine bar to the dining room which features painted rough barn boards and fireside dining.
On Friday nights, dinner guests are treated to solo jazz guitarist Ken Karby and as the evening wares on, the innkeeper Matt Mattingly joins in on keyboards. Once a month, the dining room transforms into one of the most personal performance venues in Maine. Musicians and performers, some from across the country, perform in this unique house concert setting. Local favorites have been featured at the Inn, like Pete Kilpatrick, Amelia Dahlin, Dave Rowe Trio, Don Roy Trio and many more.
91 South is located at the PineCrest Inn, 91 South St (Rt 114) in the village of Gorham and is open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 5:30 to 10:00. Reservations are highly suggested. FMI 839-5843
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For more information contact: Matt Mattingly 207-839-5843 or email matt@pinecrestmaine.com or on the web at www.pinecrestmaine.com
