Portland's 16 Hottest Brunch Restaurants, Winter 2013

by Susan Axelrod Mar 7, 2013, 7:59am EST

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by Susan Axelrod Mar 7, 2013, 7:59am EST

Brunch is a city thing, and in this regard, Portland can certainly keep pace with our bigger, flashier East Coast sisters. Maine brunchers like their eggs fresh off the farm, their bacon cured in-house and their bloodies good and spicy. With that in mind, we present Eater Maine's first-ever Brunch Heatmap, spotlighting the 16 hottest places for brunch on the peninsula and just beyond. If we've missed your favorite spot, do let us know in the comments.

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. The Bayou Kitchen

543 Deering Avenue
Portland, ME

(207) 774-4935

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A funky fixture off the peninsula, whose brunch menu spotlights crawfish and andouille sausage, the cornbread is studded with blueberries and the servers often break into song.

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2. Bintliff's American Cafe

98 Portland St
Portland, ME 04101

(207) 774-0005

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Off the beaten tourist path, Bintliff's fans are locals, who revel in the quirky antique decor, friendly service and corned beef hash. Expect a wait.

Also Featured in:

23 Great Spots for Brunch in Maine, Winter 2017

3. Caiola's

58 Pine St
Portland, ME 04102

(207) 772-1110

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Caiola's has almost a cult following of brunch regulars, who go for the scene as much as the fanciful food: House-made cinnamon-sugar pop tarts; oyster po' boys and egg creams.

4. Cantina At El Rayo

85 York St
Portland, ME 04101

Visit Website

Late-night revelers who end their evening at the Cantina may be hesitant to stumble back for Sunday brunch, but any walk of shame would be worth it for tres leches French toast, chilaquiles and other hangover helpers.

Open in Google Maps

5. Eventide Oyster Co.

86 Middle St.
Portland, ME 04101

(207) 774-8538

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Offered Sunday and Monday (a nod to industry people) Eventide's brunch menu features a deep fried softboiled egg with albacore tuna confit, pork and beans and of course, oysters.

Open in Google Maps

6. The Farmer's Table

205 Commercial St
Portland, ME 04101

(207) 347-7479

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The Farmer's Table's enviable location and big menu make Jeff Landry's a hot spot in tourist season, but locals go 'year round for his varied benedicts and signature brisket-sweet potato hash.

Open in Google Maps

7. The Front Room

73 Congress St
Portland, ME 04101

(207) 773-3366

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THE spot for brunch in the East End, offering all the usual menu suspects and a few curve balls: baked beans and brown bread with a basted egg; potato gnocchi with spinach, bacon, eggs and hollandaise.

Also Featured in:

8. Hot Suppa

703 Congress St.
Portland, ME 04101

(207) 871-5005

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Perhaps the only place in town were you can get grits and fried green tomatoes, Hot Suppa's New England meets the South menu also includes corned beef hash and biscuits with sausage gravy.

Also Featured in:

9. Local 188

685 Congress St
Portland, ME 04102

(207) 761-7909

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With its wall of windows and colorful decor, Sonny's sister restaurant is a bright spot on a weekend morning. Specialties include baked eggs in sofrito and Caribbean-spiced corned beef hash.

Open in Google Maps

10. Pai Men Miyake

188 State Street
Portland, ME 04102

(207) 541-9204

Visit Website

There may be no better hangover cure in town than a Bloody Samurai (made with sake and topped with a nugget of wasabi to mix in), the pork bun-egg sandwich mash up and a steaming bowl of ramen.

Open in Google Maps

11. Petite Jacqueline

190 State St
Portland, ME 04102

(205) 530-7044

Visit Website

Watch the action in Longfellow Square while brunching on French bistro classics such as croque madame, pain perdu and quiche Lorraine. Or, read the paper, sip cafe au lait, nibble a croissant and pretend you're in Paris.

Open in Google Maps

12. Schulte and Herr

139 Cumberland Ave
Portland, ME

Visit Website

The interior is plain Jane, but who cares when the kitchen is turning out such cozy German food: potato pancakes with house-cured salmon; bratwurst and sauerkraut; and the Sunday roast with gravy and potato dumplings.

Also Featured in:

23 Great Spots for Brunch in Maine, Winter 2017

13. Silly's Restaurant

40 Washington Ave
Portland, ME 04101

(207) 772-0360

Visit Website

If your crowd includes people with food issues, head for Silly's, where you can get gluten-free "Bonzo Cakes" and a vegan "Hashpipe Burrito" in addition to fun and funky "regular" brunch stuff.

14. Sonny's

83 Exchange St.
Portland, ME 04101

(207) 772-7774

Visit Website

Sonny's menu leans Latin American, so you'll get rice and beans with your huevos, plus a hunk of cornbread. The lone sweet option is pancakes, so this is better choice for those who like a savory brunch.

Also Featured in:

15. Vignola Cinque Terre

10 Dana St, Portland, ME 04101
Portland, ME 04101

Visit Website

A quiet, cozy spot for brunch and a great people-watching perch if you get a window seat, VCT offers and Italian-ish menu with a nice mix of sweet and savory.

Open in Google Maps

16. Zapoteca Restaurant

505 Fore Street
Portland, ME 04101

(207) 772-8242

Visit Website

Portland's more refined Mexican restaurant offers a relaxed brunch with a variety of distinctive huevos dishes and Maine's largest selection of tequilas. Just in case you need one.

Also Featured in:

16 of Maine's Top Destinations for Tacos

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1. The Bayou Kitchen

543 Deering Avenue, Portland, ME

A funky fixture off the peninsula, whose brunch menu spotlights crawfish and andouille sausage, the cornbread is studded with blueberries and the servers often break into song.

543 Deering Avenue
Portland, ME

Visit Website

Open in Google Maps

2. Bintliff's American Cafe

98 Portland St, Portland, ME 04101

Off the beaten tourist path, Bintliff's fans are locals, who revel in the quirky antique decor, friendly service and corned beef hash. Expect a wait.

98 Portland St
Portland, ME 04101

Visit Website

3. Caiola's

58 Pine St, Portland, ME 04102

Caiola's has almost a cult following of brunch regulars, who go for the scene as much as the fanciful food: House-made cinnamon-sugar pop tarts; oyster po' boys and egg creams.

58 Pine St
Portland, ME 04102

Visit Website

4. Cantina At El Rayo

85 York St, Portland, ME 04101

Late-night revelers who end their evening at the Cantina may be hesitant to stumble back for Sunday brunch, but any walk of shame would be worth it for tres leches French toast, chilaquiles and other hangover helpers.

85 York St
Portland, ME 04101

Visit Website

Open in Google Maps

5. Eventide Oyster Co.

86 Middle St., Portland, ME 04101

Offered Sunday and Monday (a nod to industry people) Eventide's brunch menu features a deep fried softboiled egg with albacore tuna confit, pork and beans and of course, oysters.

86 Middle St.
Portland, ME 04101

Visit Website

Open in Google Maps

6. The Farmer's Table

205 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101

The Farmer's Table's enviable location and big menu make Jeff Landry's a hot spot in tourist season, but locals go 'year round for his varied benedicts and signature brisket-sweet potato hash.

205 Commercial St
Portland, ME 04101

Visit Website

Open in Google Maps

7. The Front Room

73 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101

THE spot for brunch in the East End, offering all the usual menu suspects and a few curve balls: baked beans and brown bread with a basted egg; potato gnocchi with spinach, bacon, eggs and hollandaise.

73 Congress St
Portland, ME 04101

Visit Website

8. Hot Suppa

703 Congress St., Portland, ME 04101

Perhaps the only place in town were you can get grits and fried green tomatoes, Hot Suppa's New England meets the South menu also includes corned beef hash and biscuits with sausage gravy.

703 Congress St.
Portland, ME 04101

Visit Website

9. Local 188

685 Congress St, Portland, ME 04102

With its wall of windows and colorful decor, Sonny's sister restaurant is a bright spot on a weekend morning. Specialties include baked eggs in sofrito and Caribbean-spiced corned beef hash.

685 Congress St
Portland, ME 04102

Visit Website

Open in Google Maps

10. Pai Men Miyake

188 State Street, Portland, ME 04102

There may be no better hangover cure in town than a Bloody Samurai (made with sake and topped with a nugget of wasabi to mix in), the pork bun-egg sandwich mash up and a steaming bowl of ramen.

188 State Street
Portland, ME 04102

Visit Website

Open in Google Maps

11. Petite Jacqueline

190 State St, Portland, ME 04102

Watch the action in Longfellow Square while brunching on French bistro classics such as croque madame, pain perdu and quiche Lorraine. Or, read the paper, sip cafe au lait, nibble a croissant and pretend you're in Paris.

190 State St
Portland, ME 04102

Visit Website

Open in Google Maps

12. Schulte and Herr

139 Cumberland Ave, Portland, ME

The interior is plain Jane, but who cares when the kitchen is turning out such cozy German food: potato pancakes with house-cured salmon; bratwurst and sauerkraut; and the Sunday roast with gravy and potato dumplings.

139 Cumberland Ave
Portland, ME

Visit Website

13. Silly's Restaurant

40 Washington Ave, Portland, ME 04101

If your crowd includes people with food issues, head for Silly's, where you can get gluten-free "Bonzo Cakes" and a vegan "Hashpipe Burrito" in addition to fun and funky "regular" brunch stuff.

40 Washington Ave
Portland, ME 04101

Visit Website

14. Sonny's

83 Exchange St., Portland, ME 04101

Sonny's menu leans Latin American, so you'll get rice and beans with your huevos, plus a hunk of cornbread. The lone sweet option is pancakes, so this is better choice for those who like a savory brunch.

83 Exchange St.
Portland, ME 04101

Visit Website

15. Vignola Cinque Terre

10 Dana St, Portland, ME 04101, Portland, ME 04101

A quiet, cozy spot for brunch and a great people-watching perch if you get a window seat, VCT offers and Italian-ish menu with a nice mix of sweet and savory.

10 Dana St, Portland, ME 04101
Portland, ME 04101

Visit Website

Open in Google Maps

16. Zapoteca Restaurant

505 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101

Portland's more refined Mexican restaurant offers a relaxed brunch with a variety of distinctive huevos dishes and Maine's largest selection of tequilas. Just in case you need one.

505 Fore Street
Portland, ME 04101

Visit Website