This Maine Breakfast Spot Was Named One of the Best in America

I’ll admit it...I spent a pretty good chunk of my 20's kicking around Portland’s Old Port, enjoying the nightlife and making questionable decisions that seemed like much better ideas at the time.

But one thing I could always count on the morning after was breakfast.

Portland has no shortage of great breakfast and brunch spots, and honestly, it’s hard to go wrong. But one Maine restaurant has earned some serious national bragging rights.

Bayside American Cafe in Portland has been named one of the best breakfast spots in America.

Lovefood, a food website known for its restaurant rankings, food lists and recommendations, ranked Bayside No. 40 on its list of the best breakfast spots in the United States, making it their top pick in Maine.

Located in Portland’s Bayside neighborhood, Bayside American Cafe has been serving up incredible, all-day breakfast since 1990, when it opened as Bintliff’s. Joe and Diane Catoggio took over in 2003, and the restaurant became Bayside American Cafe in 2015.

So, what makes it worthy of a national ranking?

For starters, there’s the Eggs Benedict. Bayside goes well beyond the traditional version, offering options featuring Maine lobster, smoked salmon, crab cakes, corned beef and more, including the Cajun-inspired “Louisiana Bayou.”

There’s also plenty of classic breakfast comfort food, from corned beef hash and French toast to pancakes, including the famously indulgent cinnamon-bun-style pancakes. And, there are plenty of Maine seafood favorites, including lobster, crab cakes and smoked salmon.

Bed sure to keep this in mind, Bayside doesn’t take reservations. It’s first-come, first-serve, and although there’s a text waitlist, you have to physically be at the restaurant to get on it.

With strong customer reviews and now a spot on Lovefood’s national list, Bayside has plenty of reasons to make your next Portland breakfast hit a little different.

And if you’ve ever stumbled into Bayside after a night in the Old Port, you already know: sometimes the best part of the night is breakfast the next morning.