Bayside American Cafe

The food prep and presentation is just the beginning. Wonderful, fluffy egg scramble, perfectly crispy waffles and sourdough bread on the side. The only drawback is the noisy acoustics which could easily be handled by a few hanging clouds.

Worth it. Even though the waiting time was a little bit long. Everything we ordered were beyond our expectation. Don't forget to try their homemade hot sauce，it is pretty hot. 总之，好吃，冲，不用犹豫

This is a great little cafe with a quaint outdoor patio space. Food was amazing! Staff was sweet and attentive. They said it would be a 30 minute wait (which was fine) but it actually on took about 20. Beautiful park across the street to kill the wait time. Worth the wait!

This is an amazing breakfast spot. Their blue berry pancakes are a great Maine staple. Also my wife loved the lobster Benedict. The waiter was extremely helpful and wanted to make sure we had exactly what we wanted and was attentive. The only downside is the seating. We got there early with no issue, but as we were leaving there was a long wait to be seated. If you have hangry members in your party this may not be the best spot.

Quaint little shop with divine eggs benedict. The omelette was fluffy and perfectly made as well. There will almost certainly be a wait because this place is pretty popular, but it's worth it.

Superb breakfast! The atmosphere is lovely and cozy, and the staff are incredibly friendly. I strongly recommend trying the lobster benedict and cinnamon roll pancakes - they were absolutely delicious.

It’s almost an unwritten rule: never dine at the same restaurant twice while you’re on vacation. I broke that rule for Bayside. My first visit - I was seated quickly (easy for a table for 1) and enjoyed a classic French toast (yes to the local maple syrup, and add a side of fresh strawberries, please) and a cup of black tea. The next day I knew I had to come back to try the lemon curd French toast, and I’m glad I did. I mixed my seasons, sipping on an apple cider mimosa with cinnamon sugar rim, and I have no regrets. Aside from the incredible meals, the staff are welcoming, friendly, and eager to please. The atmosphere is comfortable and cozy, even when seated at the corner of the bar (talk up the bartenders, they’re all fantastic). Any other restaurant in Portland would have a hard time convincing me to dine there on my next trip.

Incredibly delicious and pleasant breakfast. The bayside scramble was phenomenal. Super balanced flavors and came with impressive potatoes and a huge 1 inch thick slice of toast. They make two homemade hot sauces too! The blueberry and chocolate chip pancake was a star - not too sweet, perfectly soft, drizzled in syrup. The maple sausage was also great. Iced coffee was fine. Love this place!

I've wanted to try Bayside for quite some time but the weekend waits are always long. My son and I managed a Tuesday morning visit and now I totally understand why people are willing to wait. I'm hard to impress when it comes to breakfast because so many places have the same basic dishes, slung out quickly and without too much thought or effort. Bayside does indeed have the classics, but they elevate them in their own way. For instance, my home fries were comprised of a trio of potatoes and were actually cooked and crisped to perfection. I've lost count of how many times home-fries are served undercooked and under seasoned. I don't look forward to them most of the time. These, dipped and swirled through the extra roasted garlic cream sauce that was over my benedict, were so dang delicious! The entire dish came together beautifully. I highly recommend. Although I didn't taste it, my son would say the same for the chocolate waffle. It was plated as standing quarters, drizzled with chocolate sauce and topped with whipped cream. He gasped when he saw it. I have zero complaints, only applause for the food and service. I do have one constructive criticism... do a deep clean. The dust along the banister that my table was set against was off-putting.

Meh, I'm only giving this an extra star because the server was amazing! We have eaten here many times over the years first when it was Blintifs, like 16+years ago. The man working the wait system is a tool, and has no business being in front of the house. He really needs a proper host! We both worked in restaurants for over 20 years, and that's a piss poor job! Yes there was a wait, not a problem, how I felt treated was unacceptable. I waited 15 min to just get on the wait list. I should have sent in my 6'4" hubby, but it was packed in there and we didn't want to add to the congestion! The owner took everyones info but me in the wait line then ran around with his head cut off. These two college acting girls I've never met enter and they are seeming to try to edge me up, while I'm trying to maintain patience with the situation. They legit were trying to spoon with me. I almost thought they were trying to pick pocket, you never know these days! Then he finally comes back isn't friendly said 30 min wait. We were legit the last people seated, people that came 15 after I finally got on the list were given tables first. If you had a proper person working the front it would create more order and you can run around helping expedite, clear, sanitize, and check on customer satisfaction. One person waited like 15 to pick up take out? Why even do take out during rush? But if you're gonna, have someone available to cash them out. What a confusing mess of a reception! Service was good, food not so much. The homemade bread was flavorless, needed a touch of salt(I have also worked as a baker, and grill/line cook)and not toasted well and cold when received. My partners poached eggs were way over cooked, our server brought new ones and comped his meal. The second set of eggs still could have been runnier. They cook the eggs in a silicone mold so they are round=not professional or good. The corned beef hash was over pulled, not much meat, with way too many potatoes. This was the dish I came in for and it was a shell of it's former glory. Thank goodness they serve alcohol! This experience kinda summarizes what Portland has become in summer, tourist hell, and then the area is rough for downtown with dogshit all along the block next to the restaurant. Well we won't be back to this restaurant. They don't need or want my business and the feeling is mutual. To our server we appreciate you and hope it's tolerable and lucrative with all you probably put up with. Sheesh

Food is mediocre at best. Sausage gravy and Hollandaise are often separated and runny in the serval times I've gone there over the years. Service was good, very sad to see that the kitchen staff openly make sexual comments towards servers in front of guests. I've heard this happen almost every time I've gone in, thinking the next time would be better. I think one of the servers must of quit recently because of it. It's a shame, I liked that Morgan girl. Hopefully she did quit, because honestly the atmosphere feels like a football team locker room with all the sexual talk amongst the owner and other men there. Sausage gravy and Hollandaise is runny and separated.

I'm not sure anything here is special. On a rainy March day, I stumbled into Bayside for a Sunday morning breakfast. The friendly front of house sat me right away at the upstairs bar, which has 3 seats. There's a real lived-in feel to the establishment. I went with a granola French toast special. I realized belatedly that I hadn't specified that I wanted the wheat toast option, but the waitress didn't catch it either. Then it took nearly 20 minutes to come out. The fruit was delicious, and honey with vanilla yogurt is a classic combination. But I wanted much, much more crust from the French toast. The granola was soft - it should've sat in the skillet for at least two more minutes per side. And it was plated in the yogurt, making part of the bread soft. I got a real kick out of reading the breakfast cocktails menu, which included not only mimosas, but also the bourbon smash, which is a bold choice for a breakfast drink! I might've been happier if I'd gotten a lobster or crab benedict.

I've been anticipating this place for a while now. My friends and I decide to go after work right at 7 AM. There was no wait but already a few people in there. I got the Irish Benedict with extra hollandaise sauce and it was very good. An apple cider mimosa is also a must try! This cafe was pretty small and limited to a size for certain parties but very cute.

3.5 stars Update after dining here a second time: the food was really underwhelming this time around. I got the Irish Benedict that features the homemade hash. The hash was not as good this time around and the potato hash while deliciously seasoned featured a lot of under cooked potatoes.

Well folks, I am going to go against the majority here. I've had this place bookmarked ever since I moved to Maine two years ago, and today was the first visit. Let me make clear there was nothing *negative* about my experience here, it was just underwhelming for me. I believe it was the owner/host who seated me. There were a few empty seats, so he allowed me to choose. Both he and my server were extremely friendly and charming, no complaints there whatsoever. The interior is really warm and welcoming, tastefully decorated. The Bayside Scramble was fine, but I couldn't help but think it's the sort of thing that I make at home every once in a while. Nothing particularly special about it. The potatoes were good, but they did seem slightly on the charred side. Their homemade hot sauces are delicious, though. There was a slight sweetness to everything on the plate, which isn't for me, but I suppose it caters towards 'American' tastes. I didn't try any of their sweet selections, but looking at other tables, they looked quite impressive. Maybe the sweet stuff is their go-to? So, with the breakfast plate, a latte, and an orange juice, the total came to $30... not including tip, for one person. That's pretty steep, even for poncy downtown prices. Bayside presents themselves as fancy, but in my opinion, you can get the equivalent at a much better value at the 'blue-collar' diners in the city. It's out of my way to come here, so sadly, I probably won't be back.

From getting a table to paying the bill, an all around excellent customer experience; this is my new personal favorite breakfast spot in Portland (always have issues with parking we took a Uber in for a nice brunch). It's most definitely worth the wait -if you get their and are told it's really busy be patient and we weren't disappointed. 1-Waitstaff and front of house treated us with great kindness and hospitality. Fast attentive staff who clearly respect their customers and the food they serve. 2. Food (Including the people who cooked our meals) was very clean and fresh, no soggy grease and plates were plated in a very appealing manner). Great eggs benidict and the special sausage gravy and biscuits were delicious. ‍‍‍ Absolutely would recommend as someone who lives in the area. The only thing I would suggest is to get fans/AC moving cause it is was stale and humid air upstairs; and first coming inside it was confusing to know where to go -do we get seated upstairs or a big sign saying wait here to be seated would be helpful.

Food was excellent. Service friendly and personable. The atmosphere is quintessentially New England!

This restaurant gets 5 stars for so many reasons! The unique old building converted into this thriving little cafe, the organization of the staff to keep everything running smooth and efficiently and most of all, the food! WOW! The strawberry cheesecake French toast is an absolute must! I also saw a table next to me get the chocolate waffles and I have to admit, I was a bit envious! If they still have the strawberry kiwi drink on special, hop onboard, it was so refreshing, I had two! We all enjoyed our meals so much and really wanted to go back the next day, but I have to admit, the area made us feel a bit uncomfortable to walk to and from.

Yes...yes...100% yes. The staff was so kind. We came in around 1:30 (they stop seating at 2) and they were so accommodating and kind. The food was amazing. We were REVIVED by the pancakes and the lobster Benedict was incredible. I definitely recommend splitting a few items bc so much good stuff to try. Such a quaint atmosphere and so happy we made it here during our trip!

This is such a great place for breakfast! the waiters here are so nice and hospitable. It's such a nice cozy restaurant that looks like a two story house. lobster benedict - 5/5 - the lobster was well cooked and had so much flavor. the sauce really paired everything together. the muffin was also cooked with egg yolk and butter which gave it a crisp but soft on the inside. the potato's were also nicely spiced which gave it so much flavor belgium waffles - 4/5 - the waffles had a nice consistency and was crunchy at the same time. the strawberry were fresh and the maple syrup was so good and it really brought the waffles all together. it wasn't mind blowingly great but this amazing maine chocolate chip pancakes - 3.5/5 - the pancakes were a little doughy as if they weren't well cooked but the maple syrup was so good to put on top that it made the pancakes taste better. also there's a good amount of chocolate chips if you really like chocolaty pancakes. dark chocolate oatmilk latte - 5/5 - the latte was really good and it didn't have a strong dark chocolate flavor but it was flavorful enough where it wasn't overpowering the espresso flavor itself overall this restaurant is amazing and would definitely come back!

Definitely see why this place is as popular as it is! The staff was incredibly friendly and the general ambiance was light and fun. I liked the menu options, a lot of variety! I will say that to me, the food was mostly okay. Nothing to really obsess or crave over, personally, but I see why it's a local favorite. I will say, I don't think this restaurant is very accessible, especially for people with wheelchairs. There are only a few small tables on the bottom floor plus there is a large step up into the restaurant from the already crumbling bricks outside. Other than all of that, it was overall a decent breakfast I think.

Really enjoyed the grilled chicken sandwich. Had pepper Jack cheese and jalapeños but left off the chipotle mayo. The home fries were also good. Three types of potatoes including sweet potatoes. Nice spot but a long wait and slow service.

The food was good and even with the wait it was worth it. It is an eclectic place and our server was very nice. There are stairs with a very few tables downstairs. Parking is very difficult.

Ordered the lobster roll here, don't see much of a reason to come here for lobster roll compared to all the other good spots in Portland. I know this is a brunch/cafe spot, so can't comment too much on the other food. But the lobster roll was bland, not much flavor, and not impressive.

I really think that this is the best place for breakfast in the State. We started with the caramel pecan waffle as a appetizer and it hit on all cylinders. We then split a friend's with Benedict's and we loved it. The portions, price and service can't be beat.

Make sure to get there early and put your name in. No reservations but worth the wait. I have waited over an hour before and just walked around, they will text you when the table is ready. The Mimosa's are fantastic and I haven't had a bad meal here. I typically go for the breakfast burritos. The French toast is amazing as well.

This is one of my favorite places for breakfast/brunch. It's my annual tradition on my birthday to come here and treat myself. Normally I dictate whatever I had, but every menu item is a hit. I've never had a single miss here. Not from food, not from service... This is the best place to eat in the city. I will say... Get a mimosa. Just do it. Any mimosa. Today's special was the cider mimosa. But I've had the original, I've had the spruced up version with Grand Marnier... They're always large and delicious!

Everything you want in a joint. Good people, great service, and the food is wow! Located in the heart of town.

Omg! Their food was delicious! Great place for brunch. So yes, it is worth the wait. Even their coffee was smooth. We had the omelets a steak and eggs. The potatoes had so much flavor. Yumm! And the pancake was perfect! Not too sweet. I started eating before I realized I need to take a pic. I was impressed!

Food was so good! My first time in Maine and I knew I had to try lobster. The service was pretty good quick too and the vibe of the restaurant was nice. Very home-y type of ambiance. I really enjoyed myself!

Great food one of the best in Portland. Hard to get in with the big line but worth the wait

This was one of our favorite places we enjoyed while on our trip! It was just the most perfect morning and we loved sitting outside and eating a delicious breakfast before our day started. Our service was outstanding and the food was phenomenal. I loved the blueberry and lemon french toast. I will have dreams about it. Everything we got was amazing and we tried several dishes because we couldn't pass up all their french toast flavors. Definitely plan a visit! You won't be disappointed!

A really fun brunch spot! So many good smells! My buerre noir mushroom scrambled eggs were decent, but according to my friends the Louisiana Bayou eggs benedict and the (giant!) cinnamon bun pancake were phenomenal. Be mindful to plan to avoid a busy time, but if the place is packed when you get there, never fear. The staff had a really great system to manage the rush, and while there was a wait, it was a pleasant one knowing that we would be seated promptly and fairly.

Very good, a solid choice. Be prepared to wait in line for a table, to wait to order, and to wait for your food. Don't come if you're in a rush. Everything was very good, but be warned it's heavy. Not somewhere for a light breakfast. They bake all of their own bread and it's THICK. They make their own hot sauce and it's DELISH. Overall a solid 4. Would be a 5 if it wasn't so much waiting. Just be prepared to wait.

During my 5 day stay in Maine, I had one of my best meals here. I stopped in for breakfast and had the bagel and smoked salmon. The food and the coffee was top notch. The staff was attentive and friendly. The next time I'm in Maine, I'll definitely be back.

Another amazing dining experience!!!! The owner Joe is so welcoming, courteous and professional. Even though it is a wait for a table, the time passes quickly enjoying a cup of Coffee By Design signature roast. Always hot and fresh here. Once seated I ordered the Veggie Home fries, which consisted of sautéed baby spinach, tomato, roasted beets, mushroom, onion, red bell pepper, broccoli, Italian cheese blend and two eggs served over three-potato homefries, with homemade grilled Tuscan toast. This was so flavorful, the veggies caramelized, and the eggs unctuous. Ahh...and the toast, pillowy with the perfect crunchy grill notes. A very hearty, healthy breakfast that I thoroughly enjoyed. Big food portions, reasonably priced, and deft hands in the kitchen. Best breakfast/ brunch place in greater Portland! Not to be missed.

The food was delicious. Had the lemon Blueberry French toast and I can say it wasn't overly citrusy was just the right taste. The country potatoes were my favorite. Bacon was pretty basic. Customer service was pretty good and the look of the restaurant was very cute and welcoming.

Visited back in August and couldn't miss the chance to right up a review! The wait was about an hour so we were super hungry! Ordered the hash, pancakes and a few other things to share. Everything was cooked to perfection. Super helpful waitress. Good coffee and then bloody Mary's were spot on! I'll be back on my next trip!!

This place was one of the highlights of our trip to the Northeast. We came by for brunch on a weekday and luckily we're able to be seated right away. We were seated upstairs by a window, it was nice having our own little corner. I had been scoping out the menu for a while and anything I could've ordered I would've been delighted with, but I was especially delighted with the lobster benedict. When in Rome! My boyfriend ordered the crabcake benedict and conceded to my superior choice, although his was great too. The lobster was deliciously succulent and I could've eaten four more of those plates. Super excellent food, my boyfriend has not stopped talking about it. Would highly recommend!

Consistently great food every time. The wait staff have changed over but the service has not lost a step. Only had to wait ten minutes this morning. Even if it was the usual 45 minutes it would always be amazing. I just love the ability to grab a coffee while you wait. Now they have paper cups just in case you have to wait outside. I had an omelette, home fries and their amazing homemade white Tuscan toast. If you like bread, this is it!! Will be back as soon as I can.

Yes, a great place. A must eat. I'm so full. It's so good! The server, Jason, was so sweet!

Breakfast here was pretty good, the waitress was really nice, the food was delicious, the only mark against it is that it feels a little sticky inside, like it could use a good clean!

Our meal was delicious and I would definitely order everything we ate today again! We came on a Monday morning around 9am. I had the lobster scramble with honey wheat toast and three-potato home fries while my boyfriend had the crab cake Benedict. We split the bacon cheddar scallion pancake that came with bourbon syrup (yes, you can definitely taste the bourbon). The service was really great too. We walked in and were seated immediately even thought it was full.

I was so hungry and found this little place nearby. It's super cute. I got there about 20 minutes before close and they didn't bat an eye no always get nervous going close to close because I feel bad but I really wanted to sit down and eat breakfast(or at this point brunch). The poached eggs were a bit undercooked so extra running. The potatoes were good. The steak was very bland so I needed to add salt. The toast was so good and so big!! Of course a nice cup of coffee. Decent brunch place that I would go back again to. Service was good and bathrooms clean. Kind of a hole in the wall feel but cleaner.

So good! Highly recommend the peach mimosas and crab cakes eggs Benedict. The also have a habanero pepper sauce that adds a tangy spice. The server was very friendly. There was a 45 minute wait, but well worth it. We will definitely be back!

Our last eating excursion in Portland before heading back to NY was here at Bayside American Cafe. I like to indulge in breakfast when traveling, so I made it my intention to seek out good breakfast spots. Bayside was on a number of lists I checked out, including here on Yelp. We thought it would be a good conclusion to our trip, so we walked over from our hotel to check it out. I read up on Bayside before arriving; it seems like a super popular spot, and they do not seem to take reservations every day. Since we were up early anyway, we decided to get here for opening in hopes of snagging a table with little to not wait. We arrived at 7am and were warmly greeted by the staff and seated immediately. The exterior is very bright with white and blues but the interior has a more classic-style aesthetic; think warm colors, wood chairs, and simple but effective decor. There was a really old diner menu framed on the wall where our table was which was fun to look at, and overall the entire aesthetic really worked. The menu has a great selection of breakfast options - most notably a section dedicated to specials and another just to Benedicts. Since I was in Maine and also on vacation, I decided to indulge and get the blueberry pancakes. I was given the option of one or two (two, of course) and also ordered a side of bacon. The pancakes were great - ever so crispy on the outside and warm and fluffy on the inside with lots of blueberries. The bacon was good too - albeit a tad greasy, but good nonetheless. Bonus points to them for offering real maple syrup - the coffee was great as well. Service was awesome - our waitress was super friendly, and all our food came out a good pace. I did notice that everything was served on paper plates (COVID purposes?). It didn't bother me, I just found it a little odd. Nevertheless, Bayside served a great breakfast, and the great service only augmented our experience. I would definitely consider returning the next time I'm in Portland.

Phenomenal place. Visiting from NJ. Dog friendly deck (you can't see the deck from the outside). The deck is up a few short wooden stairs. Very nice inside. Fantastic staff. Liz, our waitress, was so friendly and kind. Other waitress Shannon was great too. Both were loving to our puppy. Liz even brought Mia a puppacino (a cup of whipped cream). The host was the manager. He was fantastic too. He really listened. When it was time for our table he even called Mia's name so she was excited to follow him. I had the half portion of the veggie home fries (home fries with veggies and eggs and toast). Truly delicious. Healthy but very flavorful. The beets were yummy! Great coffee! Heads up there may be a wait so be prepared but totally worth it. Will definitely come back next time I'm in Portland.

Food great. Mobbed. Service was good considering how crowded it was. Pricey but delicious

Great food, good service. Would definitely DRIVE back. However, would not recommend walking along Portland Ave near that area, it was pretty sketch, felt unsafe.

Delicious food, good service. We got the chai latte, sparkling mango juice, lobster Benedict, and lemon blueberry French toast. All supreme. Servers and host were all great. Indoor and outdoor seating

A gem of a place. We tried to have breakfast someplace else but didn't want to deal with the crowds. Yelp hardly disappoints! We pivoted and found Bayside American Cafe and had a delightful breakfast. Will definitely be returning.

Amazing.Everything from the food to service,m and the waitstaff. Away from the busier old port area,this place has a vintage vibe with both outdoor and indoor seating. The people who work here are very very friendly,nice and accommodating. We ordered the lobster benedict,omelette and a kids pancake.Everything was fresh and delicious.The home fries were perfect. Definitely check this spot if you are in portland.Worth the detour from the happening old port area.

Bintliffs was well worth the hour long wait. They had self-serve coffee for guests waiting for tables. Once seated upstairs, our server was attentive and immediately took a drink order. The breakfast cocktails were delicious and they had a wide variety of classics (bloody marys and mimosas) as well as unique drinks like a iced cappuccino with grand marnier, white chocolate liquor and cinnamon. Everyone drooled over the breakfast menu, but settled on the savory options for our Sunday brunch. I had the lobster Benedict- perfectly poached eggs, light, tasty hollandaise and a generous portion of lobster! The fresh spinach was also a nice touch. Others in our party had chorizo Benedict on corncakes which sounded amazing, and the lobster fritatta. They added some sweet potatos to their homefries, which I always find to be a nice touch. All in all the bill came to around $100, which was very reasonable considering we had two lobster dishes and 5 cocktails. I left feeling satisfied but not overstuffed.

This is my favorite local restaurant. Close friend took brought me there for my recent birthday and when I arrived home, I received a gift certificate from my son and daughter-in-law. Food is outstanding, service friendly and attentive. Love the antique furniture pieces.

I came here with my daughter. Really great breakfast and service. Waitress was really nice and courteous. Enjoyed their scallion pancake and Lobster Egg Benedict. Exceptional food and service.

Had breakfast here and it was very good. The wait staff was very friendly and helpful. I will definitely come back again when I'm in the area

Excellent Saturday family Brunch. Always a treat to relax and enjoy a beautiful brunch at Bayside American. Fantastic every item we ordered ! Corned Beef Hash, Eggs Benedict , Cinnamon Roll Pancakes ,Huevos Rancheros , bacon , bagels and wonderful Mimosas. Our server was wonderful and what a great all around dining experience . Thanks for doing it right!

This place was really cute! The food was fantastic, I loved the lemon curd blueberry french toast! The service was great!