New Taco Bar ‘Lenora’ Opening This Week in Portland, Maine

What is Replacing Walter's in Portland, Maine?

Remember Walter’s?

For years, the restaurant nested at 2 Portland Square bringing in regulars on a nightly basis. My grandparents used to frequent the famous Old Port spot for their weeknight date nights. The sign still hangs high in memory but the space has been vacant since 2019 when they closed their doors for good.

I walk by the empty space every day for work, using the floor-to-ceiling windows as a last-minute outfit check on my way into the office. I have often wondered when and what will replace it.

The answer? Lenora.

According to an Instagram post by Portland Food Map, owners and partners of Lone Star Taco Bar and Deep Ellum in Boston will be moving into the vacant space with a Mexican-inspired street food restaurant called Lenora.

Rian and Jen Wyllie are former partners of Lone Star and Deep Ellum with Aaron Sanders and Max Toste, according to Portland Food Map. Rian Wyllie is the current chef of the beloved brewery in Freeport, Maine Beer Company and was once the chef and partner at Lone Star.

Given that impressive restaurant lineup, it sounds like he knows what he’s doing. I’d trust him with a taco and some street corn.

When is Lenora Opening in Portland, Maine?

In the months that have passed since the Portland Food Map posted about the new taco bar coming to Portland, the restaurant has been silent.

Until recently.

Lenora has been posting on Instagram fairly consistently, dropping hints on what the restaurant will be like. In September, they let us in on their brand and identity curation, describing their look as, "bright + astral with a little bit of grit!".

They've also been posting about hiring employees.

Even more recently, the taco joint finally released its opening date: Monday, Feb. 6.

Over the weekend, Lenora posted on their Instagram sharing the news and now their Instagram bio says they will be opening this coming Monday, Feb. 6.

The spot will start off by serving breakfast daily 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. before they launch lunch and dinner later on in a few weeks. They'll be serving breakfast tacos, bodega sandwiches, pastries, fruit & curd parfaits, fresh juices, and an espresso bar.

The long-awaited moment is here.

I will be one of the first to let you know how this spot is; I am a taco connoisseur.

19 of Portland's Oldest Bars and Restaurants That Have Stood The Test of Time

Before Portland, Maine become a trendy foodie town, there were still dozens of incredible restaurants that laid the foundation for what the city is today. Many have closed over the years but a handful have stood the test of time and continue to thrive today.