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Bintliff's American Cafe
Category: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
98 Portland StPortland, ME 04101
(207) 774-0005
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
152 reviews for Bintliff's American Cafe
Review Highlights
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"My corned beef hash was AMAZING." In 30 reviews -
"I had the Lobster benedict for breakfast (amazing." In 14 reviews -
"And get the veggie homefries with a mimosa on the side..." In 4 reviews
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152 reviews in English
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Review from Eliza M.
5/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
I can't say anything that hasn't already been said about Bintliff's. Get there early on a weekend, weekdays are pretty easy. We went for brunch yesterday and it was great. Small, intimate setting (so be forewarned - if the woman behind you can't stop hyperactively talking about her problems, your breakfast has potential to be ruined)... friendly knowledgeable staff. My coffee cup never once was empty. Awesome decor that highlights both its accomplishments and history.
I had the veggie benedict and my husband had the huevos rancheros. Delish. -
Review from John A.
5/1/2012
The breakfast food here was excellent and the vibe was fun but I can't in good conscience recommend this place to anyone because the wait was just too long and breakfast is not a meal you want to be waiting around for! The restaurant is extraordinarily popular and I came here on a Sunday morning during the height of the breakfast rush. We waited an hour to be seated and the food came out of the kitchen way too slow. Again, this place is super popular and they have no control over the crowd they attract so overall this place is definitely a 4-star breakfast spot for good food an attentive waitstaff.
If you do have plenty of patience I recommend getting an omelette. The omelets come with four ingredients, home fries and toast for $10. Good deal. -
Review from Lisa D.
Boston, MA
3/24/2012
I was in Portland in July of 2011, and am STILL impressed by how much I enjoyed my experience at Bintliff's. No joke, Blintliff's is the reason I joined Yelp.
The food was tasty and creative (and vegetarian friendly!!!)
The outside patio roof area was the perfect summer brunching location.
But the real reason why I am writing this review 8 months later is for the following:
JET FUEL COFFEE (coffee, cream and sugar combo reduced to perfection)
and the server suggestion we add JAMESON.
HEAVEN. ON. EARTH.
I don't know if they still have that on their menu (it was written on a chalk board upon entering) but if it is, I will happily drive from Boston to get it again! -
Review from Cindi W.
San Anselmo, CA
Updated - 5/4/2012
Well, not as good as the last few times. BUT, still ok. I think I will give it a little break and come back in a few months. Need to try other Portland haunts.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/9/2010
Awesome. Nice day, sat outside and enjoyed it all. The cafe is so cute. I love th building and the… Read more »
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Review from Francesca S.
Lombard, IL
Maine Lobster Benedict, crab cakes Benedict, raspberry almond pancakes, chocolate and peanut butter pancakes, granola crusted French toast. WOW.
I'm a total breakfast loverrrr. Waiting an hour on a Sunday was completely worth it. While waiting we had their dark roast coffee which definitely hit the spot.
Since we're from Chicago we did our best to consume seafood at every meal. When in Maine, right?? Both Benedicts were cooked to perfection. I'm a sucker for Hollandaise sauce so I knew that was going to be amazing. Both came with a side of 3 potatoes that were well seasoned. I'm not a big fan of sweet potatoes so the girlies at mine. We couldn't pass up their pancakes so we were glad there were options for single orders. The raspberry/ almond combo melded well together. It wasn't too sweet even with the special Maine maple syrup.
Service was top notch, very attentive. We were on the ground floor. A bit tight seating area but great for watching all the action from the kitchen and staff.
If you are visiting Portland, make it a POINT to have brunch here. Cannot be missed! -
Review from Lindsay P.
Gray, ME
1/31/2012
Would be 5 stars if we didn't have to wait so long every single time!
Over all - great spot. A favorite of ours. -
Review from Aaron P.
Los Angeles, CA
3/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Incredible brunch. Lobster frittata has great balance of chunky lobster, chopped tomatoes and sharp cheese. Attentive and friendly waitress. Lovely decor, especially the upstairs eating area.
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Review from cassie r.
11/7/2011
Oh my.
I can't think of a better welcome to this great city than brunch at Bintliff's. After arriving in Portland Saturday morning, my parents and I were ready to get our grub on. The raves from fellow Yelpers steered us here -- and they didn't steer us wrong. We arrived around 11:30 a.m, and after only a 25 minute wait we were seated upstairs. One glance at the menu and I knew I had to order the lobster frittata - first, because it seems sacriligious to go to Portland (or any New England coastal town) and NOT get something with lobster in it. And second, I do love me some oven baked egg and cheese goodness. Needless to say, the combo was delectably amazing.
What I also LOVE about Bintliff's menu is their sides - homemade honey wheat toast AND a divine combo of roasted sweet and regular potatoes? Lordy, two of my favorite things, on one plate. It was heavenly.
There were a few downsides that docked a star from this review - first, we walked in and had no idea how to put our name in for a table. We waited a few minutes, and none of the wait staff seemed inclined to address us, or explain the process -- they just kept walking by, apparently oblivious to our confused state. Second, I'm not sure if this is a Portland thing (since we experienced it multiple times while there), but refills on drinks are a difficult thing to come by. My parents ordered a cup of coffee with breakfast, and were ready for more before our food came out. Yet, they weren't offered a second cup until we were finished eating. Similarly, I was never offered a refill on my soda - yet my glass sat empty for 30 minutes, and the waiter came by about four times while said drink was clearly gone. Not cool.
So while we left a bit undercaffeinated, our stomachs were at least delightfully full. -
Review from Rachel E.
Philadelphia, PA
3/9/2012
This place is clearly the ultimate brunch locale for Portland. We came here around 11:30am on a weekday and it was hopping! Even though we had to wait in the tiny front area (felt like we were in everybody's way) it was TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!! Huge portions, reasonable prices, friendly staff, great coffee, even better cocktails, huge selection. My two complaints were that the waitstaff was clearly stretched thin, and that the corned beef hash was way too salty. Everything else was awesome: lobster and smoked salmon omelet, home fries, homemade toast, coffee, you name it!
Whether you are a local or a tourist, this place is a MUST for brunch in Portland. No wonder it is so popular! -
Review from Simon L.
8/31/2011
Hands down: best breakfast of all time. Six extremely hungry and thirsty gents sit down by 900am Saturday. My crab cakes benedict arrive only in fashion of a dream: perfectly poached eggs, runny that hard to arrive at perfect amount. Lightly curried hollandaise sauce covering a moist and crab-full crab cake. No fillers here, a hint of onion, parsley and loads of crab.
Follow this with a massive bowl of lobster bisque: a nicely creamy, rich and slightly spiced version with plenty of lobster meat.
Add a couple of the best bloody marys I've had garnished with shrimp, carrot, celery and rimmed with cajun rub.
The table orders several orders of biscuits and gravy, a couple omelettes and sides of corn beef hash. Basically, corned beef hash arrives as an entire corned beef hacked into three portions and dumped onto three bowls of carrots and potatoes. Seriously, more like an entire bowl of corned beef stew, outrageous and amazing.
Attentive service, comfortable seating and rustic american decor make this lace a must try when in Portland!Listed in: Fall Driving Joints
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Review from Cecilia J.
Andover, MA
10/15/2011
Aw, well now I feel bad because all the other reviews are so good. But I really didn't think this place was THAT good. The portions are large and the service was fine. We came here for Sunday brunch during Labor Day weekend and the line was sooooo long. We wait was about 40 minutes.
I got the vegetable hash with a poached egg on top. It was really just okay. It had a lot of spice to it but not enough salt. The dish just didn't come together and I relied on the ketchup I added to give it more flavor. It did come with two thick pieces of homemade toast, though. My dad's french toast was also really dry. -
Review from Gary B.
Portland, ME
2/28/2012 4 Check-ins Here
My second 5 star review !! What can I say that has not already been said about this place !!! The food was amazing, service great and the portions to price ratio just right !! Will definitely recommend this place and become a regular customer !!
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Review from Rob K.
7/21/2011
Look at all the reviews, browse the menu, and start waiting in line. There's a reason why Bintliff's only has a few reviews under four stars. After writing an unkind, but accurate review of The Lobster Pot, it's only fair that I replace the negativity with a glowing review for another Maine institution.
At Bintliffs, in downtown Portland, you will feel like you just woke up at a fancy bed and breakfast. Unlike a B&B, you will have to wait in line, but it's worth the crowded awkwardness, plus the coffee is gratis. The wait was at least a half hour for Sunday brunch.
Not really a place you go to wearing the same clothes after a night of shots and interrupted sleep on your buddy's floor. More like a place you bring that special someone for brunch. The wait on Mother's Day must be dreadful.
It's classy, but not overly expensive. The Crab Cake Benedict was a rich and unique explosion of breakfast and sea. An eating experience you think about days after. One that can rarely be duplicated.
I'm used to average city diner home fries, so the addition of sweet potatoes in their fries is the perfect twist. The Bloody Marys looked like they could cure Gary Busey's hangover. The scrambles, the lobster Benedict, the French toast- all looked mouth-watering.
My experience at Bintliff's was limited to one encounter, but I guarantee future affairs.Listed in: Irresistible New England!
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Review from Michael D.
Boston, MA
10/31/2011
Superb breakfast - maybe the best I've had ... in New England? The french toast is gigantic, caveat emptor, as was the single pancake on the side I ordered along with the acadian omelet. Lobster benny received good reviews, as did the eggs beurre noir.
Also we had the bizarre pleasure of strolling in through a crowd of what I presume were parties of 2-4 and getting seated immediately instead of waiting 20+ minutes. It was just luck, I think: our party of 5 must have been the only group that could fill their upstairs 6-top. -
Review from Jordan K.
Portland, ME
10/6/2011
This is by far my favorite place to eat breakfast in Portland. The food is top notch, the atmosphere is upbeat, and the servers go above and beyond every time I have the pleasure of eating here.
Oh! And get the veggie homefries with a mimosa on the side- they are both decadent. -
Review from Sheila S.
8/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
This was one of the most delicious breakfast/ brunch meals that I have ever had! Go Bintliff's!!
I ordered the Veggie Homefries with two eggs over medium and the homemade honey wheat bread. Everything about my meal was incredible. The veggies were super fresh and plentiful, and the potatoes were well seasoned and a nice mix of sweet potatoes, red-skinned potatoes, and a third variety. The bread was incredibly fresh, and a nice thick slice to go with my eggs. The entree was $9.99.
A couple friends got the Bintliff's scramble which they also raved about. We also liked the house coffee to go with our meal.
The restaurant is a little off the beaten path, down the street from the post office and near the highway. But Bintliff's is worth venturing to! -
Review from Lacey P.
Saint Paul, MN
8/25/2011
Um, yeah. I can see why people freak out about this place. I ate here about a week ago and I'm still thinking about it. The building is really cute, and they have an awesome balcony. The portions are huge. The corn beef hash was the best I've ever had. The lobster bisque was amazing. Basically everything was impressive and reasonably priced. They have a pleasant view and it's good for eavesdropping. There was a group having a meeting next to us and for an hour of listening we still couldn't tell what sort of boring business they were in.
I love this place! -
Review from Erik L.
Rocky Hill, CT
2/20/2012
Top notch ambience, the food was very good
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Review from Erin R.
6/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I wish I lived near this place! Although, it might be a blessing in disguise that I do not, as my waistline would surely suffer.
We decided to try this place on Memorial Day after a quick Yelp search for "breakfast". As per usual, Yelp did not disappoint. This place is tops! We had to wait 30-40 minutes to be seated, but once our time finally came, we were given a charming table out on the back deck under a big tree that provided some wonderful shade on a warm sunny day.
Our server was extremely friendly and attentive, even on such a busy morning. And the food... ohmygod the food! I ordered the corned beef hash after hearing of its high praise on Yelp. While what I got was nothing like what I was expecting, it was one of the best breakfasts I've ever had! Large hunks of melt-in-your-mouth, tender corned beef were served to me over large hunks of soft, hot, perfectly seasoned potatoes. To top it all off were 2 eggs (over easy, in my case). It was huge, it was delicious, and I didn't want to stop eating it, even long after I was full. I was so sad to leave the leftovers behind, since we were on the road and had no way of keeping it. The boyfriend ordered the apple and raisin stuffed french toast, which was equally fantastic!
Overall, a delicious breakfast on a beautiful day. Who could ask for more? -
Review from Brian M.
6/3/2011
Our breakfast options for our final day of vacation basically boiled down to shelling out $8 for a plate of scrambled eggs at the hotel, go across the street to Dunkin' and get what we can get back home, or type "breakfast" into Yelp to see what pops up. Bintliff's popped up first with mentions of "the best corned beef hash" and "the best french toast". Since I'm a big fan of french toast and the girlfriend is a big fan of corned beef hash, it seemed like the gods of breakfast fate were calling out to us.
There was a crowd waiting outside the door so we knew we were in for a wait. Sure enough, we stood around outside for about half an hour before our name was called. We also waited a long time for our food to come out after placing our order. I suppose that's one of the perils of a meal made fresh to order and probably also because of how busy it was. From the time we put our name in until the time our food was placed in front of us was a little bit more than an hour. So if you're on the brink of dying from starvation then this isn't the place for you. If you can wait, however, I recommend it.
They have a pot of fresh coffee out that you can start on while you're waiting for a table. And while we were waiting for our food we were sitting outside on their back deck on a gorgeous day under a huge maple tree. It also may have been an oak tree. I'm not exactly a plantologist so for all I know it was a birch tree. Bottom line, the deck was nice and shady and a great place to eat a meal.
The corned beef and the french toast were both as good as we were lead to believe. Her plate of food was more than enough to fill her up and leave her with leftovers. It's not very often that you get leftovers from a breakfast place. My french toast was also quite a portion, but I managed to finish it all.
We plan on head back to Portland some day and when we do we'll be heading back to Bintliff's for breakfast at least once.Listed in: Road trip!!
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Review from Tim S.
Brookline, MA
Stumbled across this hidden gem while looking for great breakfast places in the Portland area. Apparently in business for over 20 years, Bintliff's has tons of charm, an amazing menu, grooving background music and friendly quick service.
Think of your favorite Boston's South End/Cape Cod/Nantucket/Martha's Vineyard brunch place and move it right up to the heart of Portland and you've got Bintliff's. The pancakes are the size of frisbees, if there is a wait, they'll give you coffee to enjoy on the sidewalk.
Highly recommended if your in the mood for a great breakfast experience. -
Review from Tamarleigh G.
Belmont, MA
9/19/2011
Wow! Loved it!
Having to wait more than a half hour for a table was less than fun--but it was worth it! All the many others waiting assured me it would be worth the wait (and they give you coffee while you wait--nice touch!).
The drinks were huge and tasty. The portions were huge. The food was terrific.
Even listening to the kitchen staff work (while I was waiting to use the ladies' room) was a pleasure--they communicate so efficiently and consistently. Seems like the place is really well run.
Everyone sitting around us really enjoyed their meals and drinks as well--it was a very friendly place, people talking to one another.
The outside patio was gloriously ceilinged by a huge tree--simply magnificent if the weather is conducive to outside brunching.
I will make a point of visiting it again next time I'm in Portland. -
Review from Kate P.
Medford, MA
1/28/2012
I've been here twice so far and both times, the food was delicious. I had quite possibly the best French toast in the world and the hot chocolate was perfect. The restaurant itself is cozy and warm. The service was a little slow (even on a mid week morning when the crowd was minimal) but other than that, the experience was great!
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Review from Jing Y.
Manhattan, NY
8/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Beware of the long lines, even when you go at 10am on a sunday! I guess people in Maine like to get up really early, but I certainly wanted to give myself a pat on the back thinking we would beat the crowd if we show up around 10. We ended up waiting 1.5 hours before we got seated!
Granted, it's nice that they provide coffee while you wait, and the food does make up for some of the wait, I would only recommend this place if you are not in a rush and you are mentally prepared to wait over an hour to get seated.
I didn't get the lobster benedict, which seems to be their specialty b/c I had wayyy too much lobster from the night before, the server recommended the steak benedict, which was really well prepared! -
Review from Diana C.
Great breakfast place with great service at reasonable prices! It's homey, slightly cramped and loud, but good food and service make it very enjoyable.
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Review from Kendra E.
Portland, ME
12/28/2011
Big DELICIOUS portions with decent prices. What more could you ask for in a breakfast joint? Ordered an eggs benedict and would eat it again :)
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Review from Lindsey D.
Austin, TX
6/5/2011
I'm stingy with my 5 star brunch ratings. And Bintliff's gets it no question. This was probably one of my favorite dining experiences of all time.
Nice porch on the 2nd floor out back, but I bit too chilly for my meal.
Kick ass bloody mary with tons of horseradish. Add a shrimp if you want to. And several other tempting breakfast beverages.
I had the Beurre Noir, which left me weak in the knees. I am still salivating over it. My single slice of the orange graham french toast was a bit too dense for me taste, but still good.
To top it all off, the relax nature of my sever, Andrew C., truly put me at ease and allowed me to enjoy my meal. Bintliff's come to Texas please!!! -
Review from Sean B.
New London, CT
11/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hash is dyno-mite. Fun place to grab a Blood Mary and brunch.
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Review from Nicole F.
Odessa, FL
8/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
The waitstaff was top notch only surpassed by the delicious food! It was the best breakfast/brunch of our entire trip. And we found it with the help of Yelp. A big thank you to all the Yelpers!!
We ordered french toast, chocolate chip pancakes, eggs, home fries and bacon. ALL of it was worthy of 5 starts. -
Review from Jacki H.
Philadelphia, PA
7/1/2011
Found this place during a recent New England road trip.
Basically, if a place has decent reviews, outside seating and a few vegetarian options, I'm in.
I must admit, from the outside this place isn't much to look at. But they have a really cute patio in the back.
Also, I generally abstain from eating meat. But c'mon. Crab cake benedict. Seriously?
I got it, with the poached eggs on the side, because I don't like poached eggs.
So basically it was buttered english muffin + crab cake + hollandaise sauce= best thing I've ever eaten.
The only thing I'll say didn't work for me were the sweet potatoes mixed with the white potatoes. The sweet potatoes were uncooked. But the white ones were yummy. Tough task, mixing the two.
It took a little while for our food to come out but we weren't in a hurry. Kudos to the server for coming out to let us know that they were backed up.
Sad they were out of peach juice. I wanted to try their special peach cooler thing.
If I ever find myself in Portland, ME this is definitely the place I will be going for breakfast or brunch. -
Review from Tiffany T.
Portland, ME
12/11/2011
Brunch lovers rejoice! This place is for you. I like my brunch spots homey, slightly cramped, and two-storied. Bintliff's satisfied all 3 criteria. Every time I try out a new Thai restaurant, I have to try their phad thai. Eggs benedict is my phad thai for new brunch places. So not surprisingly, I ordered the Eggs Florentine Benedict -- a spin on the classic eggs benedict but this one has spinach, tomato, smoked bacon, and parmesan cheese sauce. I also ordered the seafood bisque as a small side because I had heard good things about that too. The portions here tend to be a bit larger so come hungry and you won't be disappointed.
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Review from Maureen M.
San Francisco, CA
11/10/2010
Plank coho salmon, wasabi mashed potatoes.... Lovin' Bintliff's!
The ambiance is amazing, and the service exceptional. I love sitting upstairs where it is quieter, and less intense.
Pretty impressive place located within walking distance from the Eastland, or the Sea Dogs.
Did I mention the wasabi mashed potatoes? -
Review from Anthony M.
Houston, TX
9/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here after seeing it highly recommended by Yelpers. This place is just ok. The service sucked and the restaurant was dirty. The food was nothing special. I guess there aren't many good breakfast/brunch places in Portland and this place is all they have. Expect to wait a good 30 min. to an hour to get a seat.
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Review from sonia t.
Farmington, MI
2/18/2012
Louisiana Bayou eggs Benedict, 2 eggs and homefries, a side of thick cut apple wood smoked bacon with a Honeymoon cocktail. Everything was absolutely phenomenal down to the fact that their homefries have two types of potatoes and yams. Great ambiance, friendly prompt service, and sriracha sauce for a condiment; what more can I ask for?
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Review from josh b.
Portland, ME
Updated - 10/27/2010
OK so i returned to the mighty Bintliffs after my last poor review and i have been converted to a fan.
I now live here in Portland and my mom is here visiting, so i took her there on a monday morning for a breakfast treat. There was no wait (it is october so the tourism is down) and we were greeted very quickly.
The server was quite friendly and quick to get us or drinks and take our order.
I had the Hash because i had to know what all the hype was about. As its been listed here hundreds of times it is legitimately a well made dish, huge chunks of corned beef and 3 types of potato. I actually don't care much for sweet potato, but the way these are prepared with large chunks and crisp on the outside made me appreciate both the flavor and the texture of this potato.
My mom had the lobster benedict, i didn't try it but it looked great and she cleaned her plate, which says quite a bit to me about the flavor.
I ordered the crab cake benedict to bring home to my wife and she is a small person so the portion was a bit much for her but she killed the crab cakes, eggs and sauce, she just wasn't able to finish the muffins and potatoes.
all in all i would highly recommend the place for anyone looking for a great breakfast or brunch experience, even after my one bad experience.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/31/2010
COMPLETLY DISAPPOINTED!!!!
OK so i am moving to Portland, Maine, i read all the wonderful reviews of… Read more »
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Review from Marcin M.
9/21/2010
Totally unassuming from the outside. You could easily dismiss this place just walking by, but once you're inside, it feels like an English tavern. It's even better if it's a nice day and you can score a table out on the patio.
The food here was very good. My corned beef hash was AMAZING. My friends were happy with it too and kept eating it from my plate. It was good portion size and not ridiculously expensive either. There is a reason why the hash is popular at this place. It lived up to the hype.
Service was friendly, but it was spotty at times. Things moved a bit slowly at first.
I'm knocking off one star for the slow service and the fact that our silverware was a bit dirty when we first got seated. We exchanged it, but it was a bit gross. -
Review from S. K.
San Francisco, CA
10/22/2011
Always call or go early, especially on the weekends. The wait can go up to an hour. But the food is delicious. The must order dish is the Lobster Benedict. So good. The lobster bisque was a little spicy so I didn't like that too much (it's stated on the menu). Overall, good food and a very cozy place (there's 2 stories of seating but still kinda small).
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Review from Mary H.
North Kingstown, RI
2/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great food and staff. Coffee is strong. Veggie Eggs Benedict very good. Louisiana Bayou Benedict outstanding. Poached eggs done perfect for my taste, whites done, yolk runny - yum! Peach Fizzy drink great nonalcoholic, not all juice refresher!
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Review from J D.
Warren, RI
10/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Thank you Yelp n Yelpsters..! I dont think I will ever be able to enjoy cornbeef hash anywhere else for the rest of my days.. It was that good n more. The wait was a little painful (45mins?) but it was worth it (and you could get yourself a cup of coffee while you waited outside). Back to the CB-hash... it was thick cut (stew beef size) corned beef perfectly seasoned with onions matched with the three types of potat's n some fresh honey wheat bread.. Super hearty n delicious.
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Review from anne k.
MA
9/23/2011 1 photo
For brunch, I had the Lobster Frittata which came with 3 potato home fries and a thick slice of wheat toast. Hands down, one of the best meals I have ever had. A must stop in Portland!
