Here at Turtle Love Co. we’re lucky enough to sell our artisan jewelry, vintage engagement rings, and eco friendly jewelry from an office in the very cool city of Portland, Maine. There are hundreds of cool things to do in our little city and to give you a selection of the best of those things we’ve asked the equally cool local members of the Vintage Style Council to recommend their favorites local recreational activities, places to eat, and places to shop. In this post, Ashley from Sweet William, Laura S. from Fore Front Fashion, Julia from Jeeze Julia, Laura D. from Sweeter Salt, and Erin from Just Plain Lovely tell you where to find the best food and drinks in Portland, Maine:
The Front Room-Laura D. says: “I just love their breakfast, the omelet with smoked salmon with goat cheese (and a biscuit) is my favorite.”
J’s Oyster Bar-Ashley says to visit J’s “for ‘real’ Maine food (aka, seafood)”
One Fifty Ate-Laura S. says: “My last breakfast on earth would be their hippi everything bagel. I dream about it.”
Green Elephant- Erin says: “This is my go-to dinner spot in Portland! Whether you’re a vegetarian or not, the food is amazing, the people are always friendly and I love the simple décor. Try the fresh rolls — you won’t be disappointed!”
Otto Pizza - Laura D. says: “As a former New Yorker I’m particular about my pizza, but theirs is my favorite in the world. Love the mashed potato bacon and BBQ pulled pork and mango.”
Hot Suppa!-Erin says: “This is my favorite place for brunch. No frills good food with a Maine accent to boot.”
Rosemont Munjoy Hill-Erin says: “ I lived on Morning Street in the East End for a year after I first moved back to Maine. Having a spot with great pastries, an excellent wine selection and all sorts of other goodies within walking distance always reminded me of my beloved Brooklyn! Plus, Hilltop coffee is right next door which makes for an amazing duo.”
West End Deli- Julia says: “Seriously, they have everything. A huge selection of beers, wines, and mead, made close to home as well as imported…There’s a deli counter in the back where you can order delicious soups, salads, and sandwiches, and up front they have everything from cat food to bandaids with a little station for hot coffee as well.”
Grace- Laura S. says to visit Grace “for their desserts, cocktails and ambiance”
Sonny’s- Ashley says to visit Sonny’s for their “amazing cocktails”
Coffee By Design- Julia says: “To me, Coffee By Design embodies what it is to live in Portland. It’s a comfortable, friendly environment with patrons and baristas alike who believe in the power of the local economy.”
Staff picks
Aubin- Food: “definitely Silly’s! Their abdullah wraps and fried pickles are delicious and they have a well thought out allergy-friendly selection on their menu.” Drinks: “Dobrá Tea is a great place to go if you want a real cup of tea in a quiet teahouse atmosphere. They also have a good selection of treats to snack on, including some excellent candied ginger.”
Alicia- Food: “Passage to India, tucked away on cobble-stoned Wharf Street in the Old Port, is my favorite place to eat in Portland. Their samosas and chicken dansak are to die for, especially paired with a mango lassi.”
Xander- Food: “158 in South Portland for bagels, Boda for Thai food (and cocktails),” Drinks: “Local 188 for cocktails, Bard for best coffee, Crema for coffee and atmosphere.”
Adrianne- “I love Thanh Thanh 2 on Forest Ave - the squid appetizer sounds weird, but even my husband who hates the very word “squid” loved it. (It’s not cheap, though, so I’ve only had it a couple of times.) Replicating their limeade is a little bit of an obsession of mine. A favorite dinner is the duck breast at Bresca - also a rare treat. Oh, and the finely shredded brussels sprout appetizer is amazing. Boda is awesome Thai food, though the service can be a little brusque. I really like the Beef Massaman Curry. The stirfried brussels sprouts there are also incredible. (Now that we’re on the topic of brussels sprouts, there are pretty good brussels sprouts at Pai Men Miyake, too.) Shumai appetizers and chicken curry at Sapporo are a family favorite. Hmm. I’ll stop now, otherwise I”ll be going on and on.”