About Big Tree Hospitality
In 2012, with more ambition than common sense, Arlin Smith, Andrew Taylor, and Mike Wiley purchased Hugo’s restaurant and opened Eventide Oyster Co. The next several years are a blur: we opened The Honey Paw, Andrew had a bunch of kids, we built a commissary kitchen and opened Eventide Fenway, Mike got way into barbecue, we wrote a cookbook, we started Big Tree Catering, and in that time Arlin carved nearly a 1,000 pounds of jack-o-lantern.
It’s a thrill to own and operate such unique and intertwined businesses, and we’re honored to work alongside such a talented and driven team. Apart from having fun at work, our goals extend to running the kind of restaurants that create and sustain community. We view our purveyors, employees and guests alike as important stakeholders in our business, critical to the vitality of each restaurant.
We believe this is the way restaurants should be.
Owners
ANDREW TAYLOR
Big Tree Hospitality chef-owner Andrew Taylor’s appreciation for the history of New England’s food grew out of an affinity for fishing and foraging. He is a James Beard Award-winning chef and father of four who has become adept at culinary improvisation, crafting innovative cuisine out of the most seasonal ingredients Maine provides. When he isn’t stomping through the woods searching for matsutake or reviewing the company’s financials, Andrew can be found cooking alongside his team. He is constantly looking toward the future and leading the company in new and exciting directions.
ARLIN SMITH
Owner and General Manager Arlin Smith hails from Buffalo, New York, and holds a degree from the Culinary Institute of America. Early in his career, his appreciation for all things hospitality drew him out of the kitchen. He has since led Big Tree’s front of house teams and spearheaded the melding of function and design in establishing each of the Big Tree Hospitality restaurants. He has become something of an authority on hospitality, and has spoken on the subject in podcasts, on panels, and to many print journalists. Arlin leads by example in his commitment to instilling a spirit of generosity in the company’s staff by managing all of Big Tree Hospitality’s philanthropic efforts.
Restaurants
A revival of the great American oyster bar, Eventide Oyster Co.offers pristine oysters and shellfish, the famed brown butter lobster roll, and a James Beard Award-winning take on classic New England fare, in the Old Port in Portland, Maine.
The Honey Paw began as a globally inspired noodle bar but has evolved to focus on South East Asian cuisine, deploying Maine ingredients in sometimes heretical, sometimes traditional takes on favorite dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, Singapore, China, and beyond.
A Beantown reimagining of Eventide Oyster Co., Eventide Fenway offers the tried and true classics made popular at the Portland restaurant and a sleek setting for seafood lovers.
Big Tree Hospitality operated Portland institution Hugo’s from 2014 until its closing in 2020. Under Big Tree’s proprietorship, Hugo’s menu was driven by intellectual curiosity and modern technique, with ingredients farmed, fished and foraged almost exclusively in Maine, reflecting the dramatic seasonal shifts in Northern New England.
Neighborhood Markets
Breakfast sandwiches, wood fired bagels, baked goods, lobster rolls, pizza, soft serve ice cream, beer and wine in Scarborough, Maine.
Breakfast sandwiches, baked goods, lobster rolls, sandwiches, pizza, beer and wine, provisions and more, across from the town landing in Falmouth, Maine.
Baked goods, coffee and espresso, breakfast sandwiches, provisions, beer and wine, and more in Freeport, Maine.
Catering & Events
Big Tree Catering brings the beautiful food and warm hospitality of our restaurants to weddings, private parties, and custom events in unexpected venues—anything from a sand bar, to a barn, to a formal ballroom—in locations across New England.
BIG TREE AT LOCAL
Big Tree Catering is proud to open the former Local 188 restaurant for private events and pop-ups in downtown Portland. Whether it’s a holiday celebration, rehearsal dinner, welcome party, or corporate gathering, Local offers a warm, eclectic space for great food and even better company.