Downtown 48 p o r t l a n d monthly magazine classic kitsch and Black Cow’s reasonable prices ($5 hamburgers) are sure to appeal to parents and their kids alike. The restau- rant looks a lot less friendly for those with dietary restrictions–most options contain meat and dairy. À La Cart A cross Exchange Street you’ll find the brick-and-mortar realization of Highroller Lobster Co. food cart. The punchy design of the interior–a vibrant red and white canteen–and the creative menu list dispel the notion of a lobster roll joint as a seasonal enterprise. As if to prove this, Andy Gerry and Baxter Key opened the restaurant’s (lobster-red) doors in the depths of December. If you like your lobster shacks with a little edge, you’ll feel right at home with a tasty taco made of crisped cheese, filled with a bounty of lobster meat, fresh romaine, and lashings of lime mayo. Wharf Street, But Not As You Know It The narrow, cobbled walkway tucked par- allel to the bustle of Commercial Street is an after-hours destination for fine dining (think Street & Co., Central Provision) and after-after hours debauchery (think Bon- fire and Oasis nightclub). Mark Barnett hopes to change your mind. The owner of Wharf Street’s uber-chic new coffee shop and apothecary, Higher Grounds, has a big dreams for this little street. He moved into 45 Wharf Street in October 2017, af- ter he connected with landlord Joe Cooper over a shared vision for its future. “We re- ally want to shift the public perception of Wharf Street. Imagine if it could be pedes- trianized–we could create boulevard with a European feel right here.” Grab a Speckled Ax coffee and light bite and take a seat among the tropi- cal plants and succulents (some of them whimsically adorned with name tags) amid shelves of locally made tinctures, tonics, and salves. Barnett hopes to ex- pand his herbal offerings in the near future–he’s following state legislature closely to see if the possibility of ex- panding Higher Grounds into a can- nabis retail space could become a via- ble prospect. “The space next door [49 Wharf Street] is empty. If cannabis re- tail becomes a legal possibility, we could always expand.” In the meantime, “we’ll be open till around 7 or 8 p.m. this sum- mer, and we’ll have patio seating out front of here and 49 Wharf.” Retail-Orientated You can indulge more than your taste buds in the Old Port. A sleek set of boutiques and international brands has found its perch along these narrow streets in recent months. If the food scene leaves you feeling inspired to flex your own Epicurean mus- cles, SKORDO at 372 Fore Street has all the gadgets and ingredients you could desire to at least look the part of the Michelin-star chef. John Karonis and his family launched the business online in 2016. “SKORDO is Greek for garlic,” he says, a nod to his fam- ily’s heritage, though it’s not all Hellenic wares. The tastefully designed storefront sells everything “from ceramic rice cookers to Tunisian tagine pots.” Pick up a bag of Greek seasoning and a pot of Maine blue- berry pork rub to add a rush to your grills and picnics this summer. Beyond the kitchen, find interior de- sign inspiration at the petite Fitz & Bennett “We want to shift the public perception of Wharf Street. Imagine if we could create boulevard with a European feel right here.” –Mark Barnett From left: Lobster grilled cheese at Highroller Lobster Co.;Tessa Storey and Mark Barnett of Higher Grounds coffee shop and apothecary hope to see a new wave of local businesses to Wharf Street; Carefully curated homewares and gifts at Fitz & Bennett.