Outliers Eatery History
“Those three things – autonomy, complexity, and a connection between effort and reward – are, most people will agree, the three qualities that work has to have if it is to be satisfying.”
“We prematurely write off people as failures. We are too much in awe of those who succeed and far too dismissive of those who fail.”
– Malcom Gladwell, Outliers.
In many ways that sums up how Outliers Eatery came to life. The neighborhood, bistro-inspired restaurant is located on the outskirts of the Old Port and the West End overlooking the Atlantic.
Similar to the location of the restaurant, owner Peter Verill considers himself a bit of an outlier. A Portland restaurant owner for over 10 years, Pete wanted to create a restaurant experience that was unparalleled in Portland and pushed the limits.
Inspired by his culinary and life experiences around the globe, his love for quirky, modern design (think Hunter S. Thompson and Ralph Steadman) and his anti-establishment management style, Pete set out to create Outliers: an accurate representation of life’s constant contradictions.
He brought on Chef Jon Dexter of Yarmouth and designers Ryan Wither of Denver and Paul Lewin of Chicago, all of whom he feels lucky to call friends.
Jon, educated at Johnson & Wales, creates cuisine inspired by local, fresh ingredients. Jon changes the menu at Outliers offering a variety of seafood, game & vegetarian dishes as long as the freshest ingredients last. Every item, including the bread is made in house.
Not only does the menu aim to be sustainable but so does the design. There are solar panels for both hot water and electricity; the only establishment in the state to do so.
For Pete, the aesthetic of a restaurant contributes to a diner’s experience just as much as the food does. Paul and Ryan, having known Pete for sometime, knew just what he was looking for. In fact, Pete agreed to never look at the restrooms until they were completed. He never looked inside, at an invoice or listened to the details. What resulted was a woman’s room that transports you to a Four Seasons and a men’s room to a Trainspotting alley: life’s good and bad. The design they created for Outliers won them the American Institute of Architects Restaurant Design Award.
Whether you’re having a day where everything seems to be going wrong, a day of celebrating, or are just looking to meet some friends for a beer, Outliers offers a nurturing experience providing comfort in the accurate reflection of life and wholesome, satisfying cuisine.