Restaurants in Old Orchard Beach, ME

July 12, 2010 Val's won't reopen after license revocation By Brian Messenger bmessenger@eagletribune.com NORTH ANDOVER — Val's Restaurant on Main Street has served up cheap eats with a side of lively diner-stool debate since 1951. But after nearly six decades, the run is officially over. The restaurant's permit was revoked by the Board of Health in March for numerous health code violations. Last week, restaurant owner and manager Peter Vaillancourt said he will not reopen Val's and instead is looking to sell the property at 91 1/2 Main St. To reopen, town Health Department records show Vaillancourt would be required to clean the restaurant, train employees about food safety and upgrade kitchen equipment. "All it takes is money," said Vaillancourt, 57. "And I'm not sure I want to spend that kind of money in this economy and at my age." A notice of closure was posted outside the restaurant March 25. It stemmed from a February inspection where a town health inspector found the following: Meatloaf, gravy and turkey breast kept at 70 degrees on a counter for several hours Food kept in a bucket on the floor rather than raised off the ground Wooden surfaces like cutting boards in disrepair, porous and unwashable No knowledge of food safety basics demonstrated by staff members No sanitizer solution used in sink or in buckets to sanitize cloths Based on past inspections dating back several years, recurring problems identified in February included: dirty tables and refrigerators, holes in the ceiling, "grease dripping down walls," broken floor tiles, food debris under kitchen equipment, "trash cans encrusted and splattered with food debris and dirt," no fire suppression system over the Fryolator, and a hood system "laden with grease," according to town records. Vaillancourt's efforts to clean the restaurant after his license was revoked fell short of town requirements, according to an April 2 e-mail sent to the Board of Health by North Andover Health Director Susan Sawyer. "The floors and edges look great," wrote Sawyer, who described the cleaning as "approximately 75 percent done" in the e-mail. "The same can not be said about the kitchen floor areas, unfortunately." Board of Health member Larry Fixler said he attended two inspections at Val's Restaurant. After Vaillancourt's license was revoked, Fixler said he made efforts to explain specifically what he needed to do to get back up to code and reopen the restaurant. "You just don't close someone if they run into trouble; you try to help them," said Fixler. "It's up to Val's to fulfill that and have further inspections and it didn't happen."

I always liked the way they did English Muffins.

how about Pizza King on rte. 125? No matter what time of night we couldn't resist harassing the owners. But we were not as straight as we should have been!!

Palace Playland Arcade will be open at 5 PM on Friday, May 13 th.

You could have a beach photoshoot with me! :) www.facebook.com/robynannphotos

We were up last weekend, and the arcade was open, as well as the pizza shops and the candy shop at the top of the hill. We played darts and shot some pool at The Last Call on First Street behind Lisa's Pizza.

Landmark, Joseph's, Rising Tide

But having said that, Nita is right, The Steakhouse in Wells is awesome, always a wait there, but worth it!

Good Thyme Cafe without a doubt. ( next to Shop & Save)

Blackwoods Campground is right in the park. Havana is a really good restaurant in Bar Harbor. I love Acadia!