Breakfast is more a state of mind than a meal to be taken at a specific time of day. That’s the notion behind signs in restaurants that proclaim, “Breakfast All Day!” Happiness is knowing that whatever time you show up, you’ll get a plateful of made-to-order eggs, thick slices of buttery toast, crispy potatoes, or a short stack of maple syrup–soaked pancakes.
There are no hard and fast rules about what gets served for breakfast, but we’re partial to the classics, especially when there’s a twist to make them stand out. While assembling this list of best breakfast items from around Maine, we focused on finding classic items that distinguish themselves in remarkable ways. Whether you rise early to get these foods first thing in the morning or consider yourself a “breakfast all day” kind of eater, you’ll find lots to love on this list.
Lil’s Café Crullers
7 Wallingford Sq., Kittery
lilscafe.com
The donuts are as light as a June breeze. They’re made with an eggy choux pastry, which makes them puff up into airy, delicate rings that then either get dipped in a thin vanilla glaze or covered with cinnamon sugar. Each is so tender you might want two.
Image by Christopher Buerkle
Palace Diner’s Flapjacks
18 Franklin St., Biddeford
palacedinerme.com
Stacks of pancakes can leave you feeling like you need a nap. But not these. These stunners are outstanding, made with a bit of lemon doing double duty as a subtle flavor enhancer and reacting with the baking soda to give a little extra lift. They come with a generous scoop of butter and all the pure Maine maple syrup you want, at no extra charge—just the way it should be. Beware, they often sell out.
Dutch’s Crispy Hash Browns
28 Preble St., Portland
dutchsportland.com
Pardon the hyperbole, but the little squares of potatoes are eye-rollingly, mouth-wateringly, breath-takingly marvelous. Owner Ian Dutch fries them to order so they’re always hot and fresh, crisp and tender. “The hash browns have become a monster we have to feed,” he says. We like them straight up alongside a breakfast sandwich, but we’ll never refuse an order loaded with cheese sauce, bacon, and scallions.
Hot Suppa’s Hash
703 Congress St., Portland
hotsuppa.com
The corned beef hash at Hot Suppa has a serious reputation and is one of the southern-influenced spot’s bestsellers. Hash-hungry diners don’t mind the typical wait (Hot Suppa doesn’t take reservations) since they know they’ll be getting a well-seasoned, pan-fried patty made of house-made shredded corned beef, potatoes, onions, and carrots. Toast is included. Eggs are optional. You can further indulge with a huge hash brown or creamy grits, or opt for the healthier baby kale side.
Rose Foods’ Henry VIII
428 Forest Ave., Portland
rosefoods.me
As an establishment, Rose Foods is an updated homage to the traditional Jewish deli. Its overstuffed bagel sandwiches go far beyond tradition. Our pick here is the Henry VIII, with a blend of flavors that’s a wake-up call at any time of day. It comprises your choice of bagel, a schmear of mild horseradish cream cheese, and a pile of pastrami-spiced nova lox, thinly sliced onion, and parsley leaves. Open-faced is the way to go—easier to eat and twice as much lox.
Tandem Bakery’s Loaded Biscuits
742 Congress St., Portland
tandemcoffee.com
While any biscuit can be considered a classic, these ones are out of the ordinary. Baker Briana Holt, a James Beard Award finalist, turns out the flakiest, most buttery biscuit around, then piles on a thick smear of sweet butter and adds a generous slick of whatever house-made jam is nearby. Don’t mess with perfection! But maybe do get a malt iced coffee to go alongside it.
Mae’s Eggs Benedict
160 Centre St., Bath
maescafeandbakery.com
At Mae’s, eggs benedict of all kinds are top of menu. Each version rides on an English muffin, bathed in house-made Hollandaise with eggs poached to gooey-yolk perfection. But from there, you’ve got choices. If you like a little kick in your breakfast, get the Big Papi with chorizo sausage and pepper jack. The Kennebec has Maine crabmeat when available. And the Renee sports avocado, tomato, spinach, and chèvre.
Farm 23’s Cinnamon Rolls
102 Ocean Point Rd., Boothbay Harbor
farm23bbh.com
Owner Laura Puchalski has been baking irresistible cinnamon buns for over 20 years. These big beauties, made with Maine grains and stuffed with spicy cinnamon, are everything a morning treat should be—rich but not too sweet, indulgent but right-sized for sharing.
Peace, Love & Waffles’ Waffles
1282 Bangor Rd., Dover-Foxcroft
facebook.com/PeaceLoveWaffles
In this antique barn (and outdoors on picnic tables, weather permitting), it’s wall-to-wall waffles and super-friendly service. The French toast waffles, though, are the twist on the classic. They’re the best of two breakfast worlds. The sweet and savory Maple French Toast Waffle, with bacon crumble baked into the batter and candied bacon on top, is a house favorite. Dogs are welcomed with a woofle.
Tinder Hearth’s Croissants
1452 Coastal Rd., Brooksville
tinderhearth.com
Everything baked in this Brooksville barn deserves applause, but the croissants really grab the spotlight. Owner Tim Semler credits the pastries’ unusual three-day fermentation, high-fat French butter, and local milk for their deeper, complex flavor and crisp and chewy texture. A shot of espresso from the coffee bar in the Tinder Hearth barn is a fitting complement.
Harbor Café’s Chicken and Waffles
36 Main St., Stonington
harborcafe.me
Chicken and waffles, traditionally a Southern staple and not a Maine one, have made the trip north to Deer Isle, and we couldn’t be happier. Harbor Café’s version includes buttermilk-brined fried chicken, which gets its tickle from Tabasco and sits atop a beautiful golden-brown Belgian waffle. The dish gets some New England cred with maple syrup in play—the more the merrier.
Two Cats Café’s Summer Scramble
130 Cottage St., Bar Harbor
twocatsbarharbor.com
Breakfast here comes with a seat on the restaurant’s shady porch in the heart of town. The Summer Scramble is a tasty combo of eggs, tomato, herbs, scallions, and feta. Served with home fries, a house-made biscuit, and strawberry butter, it’s hearty enough to fuel a body for a full day of scrambling around Acadia National Park. But before you go, take a second cup of coffee and enjoy the porch.
