"From the minds of Vien Dobui and Jessica Sheahan, Cong Tu Bot on buzzy Washington Avenue offers ca phe sua da martinis — a Vietnamese iced coffee play on the espresso martini — and wine by the glass, shareable dishes, and sultry lighting that Cong Tu Bot dubs “bisexual.” This is also the first independent Maine restaurant to unionize in four decades. Dobui learned how to make noodles at his uncle’s shop in Vietnam and uses traditional techniques to create dishes like chao so, a littleneck clam congee featuring savory pork sausage and pickled shiitake mushrooms. Look for Cong Tu Bot’s Cambodian-focused sibling, Oun Lido’s, popping up at local hot spots like the Jewel Box and opening an express counter soon." - Stasia Brewczynski
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