Local’s Recommendations & Fails for Portland, Maine‼️

Let’s take a look at what I ate before leaving Maine~ ❶ Bard Coffee ☕️ They roast their own coffee beans, and the coffee quality is consistently good. The beans themselves have a berry-like acidic note, which fits my taste perfectly. Their specialty drink, Thai Basil Blueberry Tonic 🫧, is really nice – they use Maine blueberries, so it has a unique local touch. The shop also carries bread from Belleville. Their croissants have a beautiful shape, and when you cut into them, you’ll see the perfect honeycomb texture inside. They have a crispy outer layer, a moist interior with a slight chew, and a rich buttery aroma. On my last trip to buy coffee, I saw a barista making coffee while taking care of a kid – that looked so tough, haha! ❷ The Standard Baking Co. 🥖 My favorite bakery in Portland! They collaborate with many restaurants, like Street & Co. (That’s where I first fell in love with their Rustica!) Their Rustica is similar to ciabatta – springy, soft, and chewy. It’s truly the "bread of my dreams"! I highly recommend their vegetarian-focused breads. Their croissants are well-made but not particularly amazing (just standard quality). Their desserts are on the sweeter side, but they still have great flavor – don’t miss the Chocolate Cork and Chocolate Pecan Financier. ❸ Yosaku 🍣 Being a coastal city, Portland does seafood right – the sashimi here is super fresh, cut thick, and the prices are affordable for Japanese food. ❹ Gorgeous Gelato 🍨 I like this spot better than Gelato Fiasco. They don’t have as many flavors as Fiasco, but the sweetness is just right, and the flavors are more prominent. For dark chocolate lovers: besides the classic dark chocolate flavor, they also have rotating "twists" – like dark chocolate with rum, brandy, or coffee. They’re all incredibly rich. Recommendations: Dark Chocolate, Tiramisu, Sabayon, Lemon Sorbet, and Coconut. ❺ Twelve 🍽️ Ranked among the Top 50 Restaurants in the US, it’s located by the sea with stunning views. They offer a prix-fixe menu, with creative dishes and great seasoning. The restaurant has a chill vibe, and the staff are very friendly. You MUST order the Lobster Roll! ❻ Bar Futo 🍢 HUGE FAIL!!!! The skewers were cold and burnt to a bitter crisp – totally inedible. I left hungry and unhappy. #SmallBitesCityShowdown #PortlandBites #Maine #EatDrinkPortlandMaine #PortlandMaineFood #COTDCoffeeSpot #PortlandEats #PortlandFoodie #PortlandMaine