Veranda Kitchen & Bar Set to Open at Old Port Square

East Brown Cow and Old Port Square are pleased to announce that Veranda Kitchen & Bar has signed a lease at Suite 103, 425 Fore Street in Portland’s Old Port. The family-owned restaurant group has signed a seven-year lease for the 1,381-square-foot space. Peter Harrington of Malone Commercial Brokers brokered the deal. Expected to open this fall, it will bring the brand’s traditional Vietnamese and Thai cuisines, including legendary bowls of hot pho, to the Old Port.

Husband-and-wife restauranteurs Hai Pham and Sonka Nguyen launched their culinary brand in Portland’s East Deering neighborhood in 2009. They first opened Veranda Thai on Veranda Street and due to its quick success, opened the Vietnamese-focused Veranda Noodle Bar directly opposite. The restaurants have an extremely popular take-out service. They next expanded across the area, with the Veranda Asian Market on Forest Avenue, the Veranda Kitchen & Bar in Westbrook—and most recently, the Veranda Kitchen & Bar in Coral Springs, Florida.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Hai and Sonka to Old Port Square,” said Jacob Soley, Director of Development at East Brown Cow. “They’ve spent nearly two decades creating a product people love and building a real sense of community across Greater Portland.”

“Portland has been home to our family and our restaurants for many years, and we’re excited to bring Veranda Kitchen & Bar to Old Port Square,” said Sonka Nguyen. “We look forward to welcoming longtime guests and meeting new diners and visitors from around the world.”

Old Port Square reimagines a four-acre site as a new urban heart for Portland, with residences, retail, restaurants, hotels, offices, parking, and inviting public spaces. Veranda Kitchen & Bar will be located within the Old Port Square Garage, which has undergone extensive renovations in recent years led by Safdie Architects.

The new restaurant joins other local innovators in the retail spaces occupying the lower level of Old Port Square Garage, including Barkada (Portland’s first Filipino restaurant), and Gelato Fiasco. The space had originally been fitted out as a fast-casual restaurant, and the new restaurant will utilize these features. Veranda Kitchen & Bar will also make use of the popular outdoor patio dining area along Fore Street.

Veranda Kitchen & Bar is expected to open later this fall.