Maine’s Oldest Restaurant Has Been Serving Since 1927 — Tried It?

Been around since flapper dresses and Model Ts — and still serving today!

Lovefood is a popular online food platform that provides recipes, cooking guides, food news, restaurant reviews, and meal planning.

They also make lists, which we love, so when it came down to listing the oldest operating restaurants in the United States, we were curious which one in Maine is still going strong!

Maine's oldest diner, The Palace Diner, in Biddeford, is housed inside an old Pollard railcar that was built in 1927. Today, it's one of just two Pollard railcars left in America, which truly does make this a one-of-a-kind destination.

The diner was originally started by Louis Lachance, a former locomotive engineer, who, alongside his brother-in-law, operated it from 1927 until 1962 as a favorite meal stop for mill workers.

After Lachance, the diner passed to Roland Beaudoin and then to his son, remaining a family-run establishment through decades.

Over the years, ownership has changed hands six times in total, but its legacy as a beloved local staple still lives on today.

Current owners Greg Mitchell and Chad Conley, keep this iconic spot running smoothly, making it one of Maine's most enduring legacies.

At The Palace Diner, everyone sits and eats in one line along the bar, just as they would if it were still a working rail carriage. It seats just 15 people!

They serve all-day breakfasts, including buttermilk flapjacks, omelets, French toast, and granola, as well as a short lunch menu featuring favorites like fried chicken and cheeseburgers.

It even caught the attention of national food critics, earning a nomination as one of "America's Best Restaurants for 2014" by Bon Appetit.

If your travels take you to Biddeford, this is a Maine bucket list destination, that you have to try.

They are open 7 days a week, from 7am-2pm.