The Knotted Apron opened its doors in early 2020 hoping to establish itself as the neighborhood bistro in Portland’s Rosemont neighborhood. And we all know what happened next… Though not availed the opportunity to find its footing before the pandemic shutdown, the Knotted Apron is certainly making its mark now.
Co-owned and operated by husband and wife duo Chef Ryan Hickman and Manager Kate Hickman, the Knotted Apron brings decades of culinary and hospitality expertise to Woodford Street. The restaurant’s menu revolves around seasonality and locality.
Not to get all philosophical on you, but Aristotle once said that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. While the beautifully balanced flavors of each plate echo that statement, it’s the thoughtful curation of individual ingredients that makes the Knotted Apron stand out.
The Cucumber Salad with tahini, red onion, and mint is the perfect example. The flavors complement each other exquisitely. I’m not personally a big fan of tahini, but I’d eat this refreshing summer salad seven days a week if I could.
The Knot, as Ryan and Kate call it, sources ingredients from local purveyors, including beef from Caldwell Farm in Turner, pork from Breezy Hill Farm in South Berwick, seafood from SoPo Seafood, and organic produce from Stonecipher Farm in Bowdoinham. Even in the winter, which can sometimes feel like half of the year here in Maine, Ryan credits Stonecipher for maintaining the greenhouse. “It’s really impressive to have a minus 20 degree day and to be able to come in and eat fresh, local greens,” he said.
Ryan’s commitment to scratch cooking is reflected in nearly every dish on the restaurant’s menu. From house-whipped butter to freshly chopped chives to Maine-grown potato tater tots, the restaurant is a haven for local foodies.
Speaking of locals, Thursday night is burger night at the Knot. Birthed during the slow mid-week days upon reopening after the pandemic, burger night began as an act of neighborhood camaraderie after over a year of social distancing.
We get local beef, we hand cut the fries, and just do a really nice gourmet burger at a reasonable price point. And it's really taken off, especially with the locals and the people that live in the neighborhood. People want to come early, like they’re banging down the door at five o’clock to make sure they get a burger. It’s chaotic excitement.
I would be remiss to leave out where the name the Knotted Apron came from. Anecdotally, Ryan shared that throughout his tenure in the restaurant industry, he has always washed his own aprons. Inevitably, the aprons tangle themselves into a giant mess of a knot while in the washer and dryer. “I was really struggling with it one day, and I just said to myself, oh, this would be a great name for a restaurant.”
“With the name, a lot of industry people, they just get it,” Kate added, accompanied with laughter. “They don’t even have to ask because we’re not the only ones that wash and dry our aprons and can’t untangle the knot.”
When they’re not at the Knot, the couple enjoys dining down the street at Bird & Co. and at Isa Bistro in the West Bayside neighborhood, praising each for their high-quality food and service.
With 32 seats indoors and an additional 25 on the patio during the warmer months of the year, the Knotted Apron is a terrific spot to dine with the whole family or to catch up with friends. Dinner is served Wednesday through Saturday starting at 5 pm.
Did we miss something? Have something exciting on the horizon for us to share? Shoot us an email at info@portlandoldport.com
