Portland Maine Breakfast & Lunch Spots 2022.
Started coming to Maine 1970 from The NYC area. Lived in downtown Portland since '87. Moved out to the Morril’s Corner neighborhood which is 3 or so miles out from downtown… and SPARSE eatery wise.
Now this is by no means a comprehensive list-- just the places we go & a couple three that always get good local press.
According to their web sites all are still open but in these COVID times short staffing & reduced hours can/will affect us all. YMMV.
Becky’s Diner. Our go-to place for Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner (good priced specials after 4pm)-- a 5 minute walk from our old apt. We really miss not being able to go once a week.
Marcy’s Diner-- honestly, good food but I don’t know how they stay in business. They typically shut down for a month about now & will often be shut down.
I see they’re closed 2 days a week now & if it’s Raining Takeout & delivery ONLY? HUH? and I doubt those hrs are COVID related. It’s a TINY place & always had a line outside but still…
Dutch’s-- Great breakfast sandwiches & regular lunch ones.
https://www.dutchsportland.com
Rosie’s-- Our former go-to Pub. My vote for best Burger in Portland (until just dethroned for me by Bruno’s this past fall) Dinner specials but I almost always got their Fish & Chips.
Portland Pie Co. Now this is a case of a first impression making a huge difference in subsequent meals. Their flagship was a 3 min walk from us. Went there our first night 7 years ago in our now old apt. Had a beer crust sausage/mushroom pie…started eating & immediately ordered another to take home with us (where I had 2 more slices). We ate there often & forgave them the couple disastrous meals.
Had their Lasagna & it was Fab!-- went back couple weeks later-- came out COLD in the center, sent it back, came out CARBONIZED…looked at it & said “You’re Kidding!” MGR brought out 3rd attempt & comped it.
Hot Suppa-- only ate there a few times despite walking by them almost everyday. Also a bit pricier. It’s also a Tiny place & slammed on the weekends.
Ruski’s is an odd place. It’s a Dive bar that’s very popular with 3rd shift workers from nearby Maine Medical Center & Mercy Hospitals.
(Mercy just closed down this & reopened on 1/4 in their NEW facility in Foreriver a couple miles away) They open early for them. Always slammed on the weekends. Former local food critic says best cheese burger in town. Had breakfast a few times-- good!
https://www.instagram.com/ruskistavern/
Yardie Ting in the Portland Public Market– Jamaican Meat Patties are something I crave & they get it done!
https://www.yardieting.com/#/
Taco Escobar their Bisteck is awesome!
Black Cow-- They do a good smash burger. A ridiculous amount of shoe string fies per order, & a really good chocolate egg cream. They also have a full bar for beer & cocktails.
Union at the Portland Press Hotel. Very upscale. Brunch one of the best in the city.
The Bayou Kitchen– Only spot I really regret never having been. Always great local press & slammed on the weekends. Warning-- Extreme FOOD PORN on their web site!
https://thebayoukitchenmaine.com/portland-the-bayou-kitchen-food-menu
Bao Bao Dumpling house. Upscale dumplings, younger crowd. Good!
https://www.baobaodumplinghouse.com
Golden Lotus-- Old school Americanized Chinese (My personal pref!) Pre-COVID had the best lunch combo prices in Portland. No idea now.
Zen Chinese Bistro-- trying for somewhat more upscale Chinese. A bit pricier, like a buck or 2 more but makes diff at our income. Inconsistent-- best Orange Chicken in town but sometimes not so much.
Ate there a lot despite the price-- literally a 60 second walk, 2 minutes if dawdling.
https://www.zenchinesebistro.com
They were written up in Gourmet or Bon Appetite or someplace as having the best home-fries in the country some years ago-- I suspect their well used flattop contributes mightily to the food.
