Roma Cafe on Congress Street in Portland, shown in 2017, and the downstairs bar Bramhall recently announced that they will close Nov. 21. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer)
Roma Cafe and Bramhall announced on Wednesday their plans to close later this month.
The historic Congress Street properties are owned by restaurateur Michael Fraser, who could not be reached immediately for details on the decision.
“It’s hard to find the right words for this, but after so many years of good food, strong drinks, familiar faces and nights that turned into mornings, Bramhall and Roma will be closing their doors on November 21st,” a post on Roma’s Instagram page reads in part.
Bramhall was a speakeasy in the 1920s, located in the basement beneath Roma Cafe. It later became Bramhall Pub before closing in 2009. Fraser reopened Bramhall in 2014.
Roma Cafe opened in 1924 at 489 Congress St., then moved to its current location at 769 Congress St. in 1935. Before it closed in 2009, it was considered one of Portland’s best special occasion, romantic restaurants.
Fraser reopened Roma along with partners Guy Streitburger and Anders Tallberg in 2017.
Tim Cebula has been a food writer and editor for more than two decades. He was most recently senior editor at Cooking Light magazine, where he worked for 13 years. His work has appeared in Time, Health,…
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