Scratch Baking Co

I came into the shop knowing I wanted a salt bagel and to then find MAINE SEA SALT bagels was quite the delight. We arrived around 9:45am and they were sold out of their everything bagels (had plain, sesame, and sea salt left). So get there decently early if you want to make sure you get your pick of the litter. Cream cheeses were also available in the cooler but we got some at the grocery store to not break the bank

Great bagels! My favorite is the Asiago and Montreal Spice bagel. The line can be very long but usually moves fast. Rotating bagels and pastry’s. The scones are great as well. The coffee can be dairy heavy at times but overall a great spot for breakfast and bakery treats!

Scratch Baking is my favorite breakfast spot in Portland! On my recent trip to the South Portland area I went here three out of five days I was in town. The bagels and pastries are top notch. The grab and go service is fantastic and even when there is a line the staff works hard to make everyone’s experience fast and smooth. Although the atmosphere is a bit different from your traditional breakfast spot, once you get the hang of it this will be your new go to stop.

The best fresh sourdough bagels around. Did you know that fresh sourdough isn't meant to be toasted? They're so deliciously perfect anyway that they don't need to be toasted. Crusty outside with soft insides. I moved away for a few years but it was one of my bestie's birthday so of course I had to make the drive back and surprise her with birthday morning bagels. I got there at 7:30am on a Wednesday and they had already sold out of both everything and sesame bagels. Ended up grabbing sea salt, plain, and cinnamon raisin. Sea salt will always have my heart. Their cream cheese is so delightfully whipped, don't forget to grab some from the cooler!

Scratch Baking Company has been a neighborhood favorite for over 20 years, offering handcrafted bagels (and assorted accompaniments), breads, pastries, and variety of sweet treats, traditional and not so traditional. I chose a cinnamon roll, at my sister’s recommendation, and she had shortbread. I would not have chosen the cinnamon roll had my sister not recommended it because it just didn’t look that good. Well, it wasn’t that good, it was incredibly good. Dare I say the best cinnamon roll I’ve ever had? Yes, I dare say, though the comparison to other cinnamon rolls is a tad unfair given that Scratch’s version was a laminated pastry (think croissant, and all those thin, buttery, crispy layers) which I don’t recall ever seeing before. In a word, or fourteen: it was incredibly good and rich and satisfying; so flaky, so rich, so yummy. The shortbread was also excellent, and it was a treat to have a really well-made shortbread, plain. By itself. No topping. No flavoring. It was as shortbread should be: a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth indulgence that crumbles delicately with each bite. It was elegant in its simplicity, yet utterly decadent.

I highly recommend this place! Coffee was very flavorful and smooth. Bagels were the perfect texture. I got the savory scone. I am a big fan of scones. This was one of, if not the best, scone I've had. The cherry on top were the employees. Everyone was so kind and friendly. It seems like everyone enjoys working there.

I was recommended to come here by a friend last year and when I tell you I’ve been thinking about it since I came back to visit… I really have. I’m a native New Yorker (so our bagels are famous) but they don’t compare! Probably the best bagels I’ve ever had, the staff is super friendly also. Get here early because they are always busy and rightfully so!

Legit The Absolute Greatest Bagels in Portland area; get there early or they will be gone! Also, a latte is a great choice to go with. We love to get an assortment of other pastries to sample and have never been disappointed. The only down side is the long lines in the winter, but we have found that we usually make new friends in line.

I was super excited to try this place having read it was the best bagel in Maine. These were okay, tasted a lot like Einstein bagels that are puffy vs a dense ny bagel. I will say they are very efficient and I was in & out in 5 minutes. Their other bakery items were very good but sadly for this New Yorker fuggetaboutit. These are fugazy NY Bagels.

Was so excited to find this bakery when I moved to Portland a few years ago. They truly have the best selection, the best quality, the best prices and the best service of ANY bakery in the greater Portland area. Yes, I have indeed visited them all. This place is truly down to earth, unpretentious, joyful and delicious. I know the owners thought they were opening a quiet business to retire to, but they did everything right and are greatly acknowledged for it. I wish them continued great success! I love their bagels. I always say I am going to get one thing but I always seem to get a chocolate chip cookie, a brownie and a chocolate raspberry ganache cake. Thank you so much for satiating my sweet tooth! Rock on!!!

As a new resident to the South Portland area and no stranger to the Portland culinary community, I mean this with my whole heart: these are the best bagels in the area. They are fluffy. They are savory. They are pillowy baked goods that deserve to be purchased in bulk and shared with anyone with a gluten-positive pulse. I will say that the bakery has a well-oiled workflow that makes it less "mom & pop" vibe, but when you're that good and you have this many visitors a day, they needed to manage the chaos! There is no seating available, except for one or two benches immediately outside. In the summer months you can mosey on down to Willard Beach to enjoy your goodies.

Reasinably priced, adorable bakery and yummy coffee joint. Super busy on a sunday morning but had a great selection of pastries and bagel. It's a bit overwhelming at first to decide what you want since it all looks so good! They have a system in place so you open a tab under your name and order different items from each counter and then pay for everything at the end. Friendly and helpful service. Tons of street parking available in a quieter area

I keep coming back to this bagel place in South Portland Maine. They make the best bagels in Maine, I assume. Maybe I'm exaggerating but maybe I'm not but I do love their bagels. The first time I tried them back in 2015. I came back in 2018 and they do still make the same quality. Again with family in 2023. They run out of the good bagels by 9 AM. Yes that's good. So that means you have to wake up early come here. Grab some bagels and coffee and take it to the lighthouse and enjoy the scenery over there. They have the oldest lighthouse with in five minutes from this place. The staff are standard and to the point. The place has no seats. So it's only for grab and go.

I came here on a whim as I just found out about it through Instagram. The bagels here were the best bagels I've ever had. They were so good. They were exactly what I would expect from scratch bagels. They were so moist and so fresh well seasoned . Even though the place was kind of busy they did a really good job of getting through all the customers in there. I also got the latte which was pretty good. The only downside is that there's no seating in there. However, there is a beautiful beach we can sit next to.

This bakery is always crowded, come early if you want a specific kind of bagel. Street parking can be sparse. Our favorite bagels are the cinnamon raisin and the salt. Not a traditional bagel but the best I've found in southern Maine. After you order your bagels I dare you to walk by the cake and pastry section without nabbing something. It's hard to resist! I also buy the herb cream cheese to go with the bagels.

This place is amazing. The bagels and bread are great. I loved the Maine sea salt bagels. They are super addictive. I had to stay away after a few days because I do love bread. They paired well with the herb cream cheese. I came here last year while staying at my friend's place, and I was excited to be back. It did not disappoint. She is very lucky that Scratch is in her neighborhood!

Salt bagels were so good, maybe the best I've had, and I've had a lot of NYC bagels. Get there early as pastries run out fast.

Until this weekend I had only had these bagels when my sister brought them down to MA for a Mother's Day brunch or similar occasion. We decided on the last day of our mini vacation to start our day here and bring bagels home for ourselves. We are (VERY, VERY!) early risers but since we knew this bakery is located in a small residential neighborhood we waited until 20mins before they open to arrive. We were about 15th group in line which kept growing in length the whole time we were there. We got a mixed dozen bagels, and some individual cream cheeses. Their cookies, sweets, loaves of bread, coffee and sweet loaf options looked amazing, but will have to wait for another visit. I like their system to give your name when you order and again when you check out/pay at register, seems like a smart way to stay on top of a morning rush. We had a little picnic out of the back of the car since I couldn't wait to dig in. The sesame, main sea salt and everything bagels are delicious. Mr Julia (who'd never tried these before) is a very picky eater, especially when breads are concerned and he only had good things to say too.

The bakery and the food is very delicious. I will start there however there just seems to be a lot of rules. Can I get a bagel toasted? No. Can I use the restroom? No. Can I look over there before I order what I want because I don't know what you have over there? No. But if you go in knowing that you just have to follow their way and their way is the only way then you will be fine. The people are genuinely nice but again be ready to follow the rules.

The food here is amazing! I got the apple spice cookie and mocha babka slice and both were delicious. I've never been a big fan of babka before, but it turns out I just hadn't had good babka! The apple spice cookie was perfectly chewy in the center and crisp on the edges. 10/10, no notes. There's no seating inside or inside, but most people seemed to grab their food to go. My friend and I sat on the single bench outside while we enjoyed the baked goods. Drinks: I got the iced tea which was a black tea with mint notes, delicious! My friend got the Dark Krystal latte which she loved. Service was great, everyone was super friendly. They were sold out of bagels by the time we got there around 11:45am (close at 1pm on Saturday), so I'm guessing their bagels might be pretty good too.

The best chicken salad I have ever had! Amazing bagels, bread and the cookies? Oh my! So good. Get there early if you want bread or bagels. Arrive at 11 AM for sandwiches as they sell out quick. The ONLY bad thing about Scratch is that they aren't open enough.

Breakfast here this morning and while they were already sold out of bagels the ham and cheese baguette was amazing. We ate it too fast and forgot to take pictures but would definitely go again!

The best bakery in Maine! I'm a local and have the pleasure of going very often, whether it's the winter season or the summer season. No matter the day the service is always brilliant and even if you see a line out the door it is worth the wait! Trust me! The variety they offer for sweets is unmatched. The bagels are the BEST and sandwiches are consistently GREAT! Do yourself a favor and TRY IT.

Scratch has changed *a lot* over the years, but one thing remains the same: their absolutely exceptional baked goods, pastries, breads, and bagels! Scratch is extremely popular and it's almost always busy. Like line-out-the-door-and-down-the-block busy. And they frequently run out of bagels (the goodie they're probably known the best for) because they really are *that* good (I will forever be smitten with their dense, chewy, abundantly flavorful Everything - formally known as Seed - bagels) and *that* popular. So if you're looking for bagels at 9am on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday morning and it's nice out (read: not downpouring or a blizzard)... there's a good chance you just won't get any. Before the pandemic this issue was alleviated with their Toast Bar. During the pandemic this issue was alleviated with their online ordering system (which many locals are frustrated they discontinued the use of, but we understand the importance they feel of being a community gathering space). Now? Even though the interior is brand new, we're back to the way things used to be circa 2018 (eg "out of stock"). If I want bagels, I try to get there at opening on a Wednesday or a Thursday, and I buy as many as they'll let me (there's a limit, and that limit changes depending what day or time of year it is). They hold up REALLY well in the freezer though, so yay! Two final notes: 1) For locals who haven't been inside in a while: the new interior is *very* different. It's set up in a big circle, so when you enter, you give your name and order to various people along the way (there's one employee to hand you your bread, one to hand you your bagels, one to hand you your baked goods, one to hand you your pastry, etc. - the days of help-yourself are long gone) and at the end of the loop you pay for everything. I think people (and I've noticed employees too) are still figuring out how this works, because I watch people dip in and out of the line however they want. 2) For non locals: YOU CANNOT GET A TOASTED BAGEL WITH CREAM CHEESE HERE. You can get bagels. You can get house made cream cheese (the herb cc and the pimento cc are especially delicious). And you can take them back to wherever you're staying and slice, toast, and spread yourself (some folks even bring their bagels down to the beach, rip off pieces, and dunk it in their cc containers). But it's important to note: Scratch is a bakery, not a cafe. Okay, okay two more final notes that only matter at holidays: a) If you like pecan pie, their maple bourbon version is probably the best you'll ever have. b) One of the *all time greatest* baked goods in the state of Maine is Scratch's CHOCOLATE cinnamon rolls. Their regular cinnamon rolls? Not for me. But the chocolate ones? There's nothing else like them (melt-in-your-mouth, chocolatey but not overly sweet, hints of spice, all the love). Unfortunately, they are offered about as often as blue moons occur, so if you happen to ever see one: GET THEM. And get me a couple as well, please!

If you're reading this, then welcome to your Scratch addiction. They currently hold the title of My Absolute Favorite Bagel, and also The Best Bakery Known to Man, I'm pretty darn sure!?!?! The bagels are supreme, so if you go for nothing else, get a sesame or Maine sea salt bagel. I like to toast them, and they're best served with the herb cream cheese, which is the most decadent, creamy, dilly experience -- can't think about it without drooling. The scones and danishes come in sweet and savory :-) I love how flaky the danishes are, and they're offered with all kinds of seasonal fruits-- rhubarb, peach etc! I also can't not comment on the "Super Duper Cinnamon Roll"- if a cinnamon roll and a croissant had babies, this would be their golden child. Most of my experience with Scratch has been since online ordering became their primary M.O. It can be tricky, because you need to hop on early to get the goods before they sell out! But I like being able to make my selections ahead of time, and then you don't have to stand in line when ya get there. All the yumyums are perfect to be taken home or brought over to Willard Beach, just around the corner. If I could go here every day, I would. Fellow Scratch addicts, let's never look back!

Some of the best bagels I've ever had in my life. The line is no joke and I got there half an hour before opening. Employees are so nice despite the weekend rush being overwhelming!

The best fresh sourdough bagels around. Did you know that fresh sourdough isn't meant to be toasted? They're so deliciously perfect anyway that they don't need to be toasted. Crusty outside with soft insides. I moved away for a few years but it was one of my bestie's birthday so of course I had to make the drive back and surprise her with birthday morning bagels. I got there at 7:30am on a Wednesday and they had already sold out of both everything and sesame bagels. Ended up grabbing sea salt, plain, and cinnamon raisin. Sea salt will always have my heart. Their cream cheese is so delightfully whipped, don't forget to grab some from the cooler!

On my way to a lighthouse, I saw a line outside Scratch Baking Company and decided to stop by on my way back. However, it was too late. I got there at 11 am and all of their bagels and some other items were sold out. I still got a ginger milk tea, which is basically a ginger syrup Chai tea, a chocolate chip cookie, and a brownie. Both the cookie and brownie were pretty big and so delicious! The brownie was fudgy, which I loved. Next time, I'd have to get there earlier for the bagels. No entrance inside the building.. Everything was ordered through a window. Items are brought out through a door and placed on a table. It's very covid-safe.

You can pretend the stupid way you force customers to order is superior to every other bakery on earth but that doesn't make it so. Your staff's snippy, condescending attitude doesn't help either.

Easy checkout process. Great bagels and the cream cheese is to die for. Definitely a place to come back to. Get there early there's a line out the door!

A 1/3 of a mile walk puts me into a slice of heaven called Scratch. Everything I've ever bought is absolutely delicious and unique. My faves: the ham & cheese sandwiches (giant), sourdough wheat bread which toasts up nicely all week long, choc. raspberry ganache mini cake, all the now and then creations are spectacular and force me out of my preferred foodie comfort zone, all the time to, experience a new favorite. Have never been to a bake shop/gourmet store/coffee shop that hits all the spots, SO well, every time!

Nope. Not worth the hype. First time at Scratch (yes, I know late to the party but it's a party I don't want an invitation to) there wasn't a line today and I was in the area. I entered and ordered a bagel and the two girls behind the bagel counter were so damn rude to me, "we don't do that!" I asked for a bagel toasted with CC. Ok. Strike one for me and stick one for Scratch. I didn't realize. Forgive me. I then asked for one bagel flavor and what are my options for the other flavors? (again, new here) I was treated as though I was stupid and should know their (limited) menu. I was asked my name repeatedly, then I asked if they slice the bagels, again I was told, we don't do that. I asked what are the cream cheese options. I was told they don't know and to look in the cooler on the other side of the shop. Handed a sack of bagels and disregarded. I looked at the other pastries, cakes and offerings. They looked delicious but all had at least one odd ingredient, like a poppy cake? Not interested. There were giant tubs of cream cheese. Girl at the register was sweet but who wants to buy an entire tub of cream cheese for 2 bagels? I stopped at Mister Bagel on the way home and got two perfectly sized sides of specialty CC. Now, the bagels. Cinnamon raisin and Asiago. Neither have onion and that's the flavor that was most prominent (my guess is the very "sweet" girls working there touched an item with onion flavoring/ingredients prior to handling our bagels) Bagels were soft and easy to slice however both also had a wood fired taste. Are they wood-fired? They tasted burned. Overall they were gross and I'm desperately sorry I ever cheated on you Rose food!!! If you want a real bagel and exceptional service don't go to Scratch go to Rose Food on Forest Ave. in Portland.

Best of the best sourdough bagels and baked goods. Wonderful staff and once you have their bagels you will never forget them. Wonderful!!

A bit strange to be a bagel place and offer no services for cutting, toasting, or adding toppings. Service was a let down.

Whole family loved it. bagels are naturally leavened with sourdough culture. The line seems to always be long, but, in our experience it tends to move pretty fast.

Everyone mentions the bagels but the breads they serve the lunch sandwiches on, baguette or otherwise, are all worthy of acclaim. This place is great. Try it all. Hard to leave without multiple bakery items in-hand!

We went here two days in a row! Cool location with a beach walking distance away. Service is super friendly! They do have an awkward system of how you order what your getting but I think it works. Both times we came the long line moved quickly and then was a holiday weekend. Their bagels are very good though there is only your basic types, nothing cool or special but good nonetheless. I tried a few times to get a muffin and I got a few diff answers like, sold out or not baked yet. I even came back the same day again to try again at the time she said they'd be there. I was there at like 8:30 and then again at 9:30: Too bad because I prefer muffins to bagels! The coffee was tasty. This isn't a place your going to get a breakfast sandwich hot off the flat top, or even a toasted bagel with cream cheese. They don't do that, everything is sold as is and you can cut and cream your own bagel. Little tricky to eat in the car but we bought a bunch for home.too early in the am for sweets but they have all that good stuff too!

If it's baked and you want it, Scratch has it. Want a bagel that rivals New York? It's there. Sweet Tooth? Peruse the shelves. Bread? What kind? Take your pick. You want it, Scratch has it!

This lovely neighborhood bakery at Willard Square is worth going out of your way for (and totally worth ditching the diet for)! Their bagels, baguettes, cookies and other baked goods are made fresh daily and never fail to disappoint. They've adapted well to the whole Covid situation, offering same day online ordering, or walk up ordering at a separate place than order pickup. It was easy to social distance during the ordering and pickup, and the staff were all wearing masks. Go pick up some goodies and head down to Willard Beach to enjoy your bounty and the view!

What a great place. Line that moves quickly. Friendly customers, Very efficient service. Such fun to see the crew baking. Incredible breads and sweets. Bagels are tasty, but if you're looking for an authentic bagel, that's not what you will find here imho. Again, very tasty, but more like a fine artisan bread shaped to look like a bagel.

You can't go wrong here. Everything is delicious and well made. Perhaps this sounds like an outlandish claim made out of outsized loyalty (or just an absurdly large love of all things made of gluten) but in fact everything I've tried is delicious. Every time. Coffee is fantastic, bagels are top notch, and the pastries are heavenly (especially the daily savory scone). In the summer I've also enjoyed grabbing a sandwich and some side salad for an impromptu beach picnic down the street on Willard Beach and have only found every last crumb and morsel to be delicious. As just mentioned, the location is also great because of the proximity to the beach. Expect a line (but also expect it to move quickly) and if you're better at planning ahead than me, you can also order online for pickup. Either way, you won't regret it.

I wish I had made it in time to try their bagels before they sold out! Ended up trying their bread instead and was not disappointed. Perfect spot to grab some food if you're heading down to the lighthouses.

This is a nice artisanal bakery in South Portland that was recommended to us by a friend who has a vacation home here. The (socially distanced!) line was extremely long which was a good sign. They take online orders but sometimes they run out of things if you're ordering in person. We got two everything bagels and a raspberry lemonade muffin. The bagels were nice and chewy and honestly not bad for not being a NJ/NY bagel. It could've used a more garlic taste though. This isn't a typical bagel shop -- they don't cut them for you, so even though we wanted cream cheese and butter on our bagels, we had to cut and spread them ourselves (hard to do with a plastic knife!). The muffin was very different from any baked good i've tasted but I really liked it! Nice and sweet and there was a nice glaze. Get here early to ensure your favorite treats don't run out!

Scratch is a cute little bakery located in South Portland's Willard Square that serves a variety of fresh baked goods. One Sunday morning, my husband and I decided that we wanted to get fresh cinnamon rolls and decided to scope out a local bakery...who knew that getting fresh baked cinnamon rolls were a rarity? Scratch was one of the only bakeries that were serving cinnamon rolls, so we decided to check them out. Walking in, Scratch has a rustic feel with wooden floors and is consistently buzzing with a constant flow of customers. The minute you walk in, they have a variety of bagel and bread offerings that you can grab and go. They also have a variety of bottled wine offerings, which was cool. As you continue to make your way through the bakery, there are a great deal of baked goods to choose from. These range from cinnamon rolls, crumb cake, monkey bread, scones, muffins, etc. They are consistently restocking the inventory, so the good are fresh. I ended up getting a cinnamon roll, which was huge, along with the crumb cake. Both were amazing. The cinnamon roll was flakey and gooey, even though there was no frosting on it. The crumb cake was also delicious and had some amazing flavor to it. Overall, I love what Scratch is doing and what they have to offer. I will definitely be back to try their bagels and their toast bar!

IYKYK. Scratch bagels are the best AM ritual. Hope you don't mind waiting on line! The bread and pastries are delicious, too. Renovated space is sleek and organized.

We stopped by their other location to pick up some snacks before heading over to the lighthouse. The place was bombarded with online orders that they didn't have much available/didn't know how much they could spare for customers who came into the shop. It doesn't seem like they were very prepared for the online and walk in rush and we're continuing to accept online orders even when they seemed overwhelmed. Hopefully it was an off day/they have it figured out a bit better by the summer. The food however was great! Amazing bagels - salt and jalepeno cheddar were the only ones available but both were delicious with the herb cream cheese. Also the coffee was great. Hopefully we have more options the next time we stop in!

We were traveling thru Portland on our way up to Acadia National Park when we stumbled upon this gem! You walk in, and your senses are just taken over by all of the sights and smells that surround you. The place is a community staple by the looks of things, everyone seemed to know each other. The outside had a nice place to sit, tie up your dog while you go in, and even had water and greets for your furry friend. Our favorite purchase here was the freshly baked bread with pieces of fruit baked in, and the Bagles. The Bagles are so fresh they'll smack ya! Love it here and will make sure to make this a regular stop any time we're in the area!

- as close to a montreal bagel as you're going to get in the united states - please pre order - bagels were getting sold out right before my eyes, as i was scrolling through the options This occurred on a friday morning, 10am - bagel does get hard very quickly it needs to be eaten right away

Great croissants. Excellent coffee. Really enjoyed the funky vibe of the place. Definitely would recommend to anyone.

This is an extraordinary bakery. The cookies. Wow. The scones. Whoa! And the bagels...oh the bagels...as good as any I've ever had. Note: I lived in NYC and recognize this is a BIG claim. Note2: the Salt bagel is my favorite. If you're anywhere near Portland - find Scratch - go to Scratch - and fall in love with Scratch. Final note: they SELL OUT. Everything is super fresh. So get there early and buy way more than you need....like me.

Just across the bridge into South Portland is Scratch Baking Company. If you're going to Portland Head Light, Scratch is essentially on the way. I first tried a blondie and a chocolate chip cookie because they had already run out of bagels (around 11am on a Sunday). The chocolate chip cookie is huge! And unlike other cookies that large that can get a bit overbaked, this cookie was perfect. The edge was crispy while the middle was chewy. The chocolate chips were plentiful and they had just the right just-about-to-melt texture. The taste was wonderful. I love cookies that are chewy instead of the big thick underbaked gooey ones that get so much Instragram love these days. For me, I'd rather have this perfect cookie from Scratch any day. The blondie was great as well. I'm not usually a blondie type person since a brownie always seems more enticing. But today was my day to try new things and so I got the blondie. Surprisingly pretty darn good! I again enjoyed the texture. It was even more chewy than I was expecting. The walnuts added a nice flavor and some crunch. I came back the next day to get bagels and I'm really glad I did. They're a style that's all their own and I find them equal in greatness to a perfect New York bagel. I loved that they were nothing like the bagels I was used to. The sourdough gave the bagel a complexity a New York bagel does not have. The chew on the bagel was far greater than any New York bagel. I had the everything bagel as well as the Maine sea salt bagel and they were both delicious. The herb cream cheese was the perfect accompaniment and tasted more like Boursin cheese than cream cheese. The sea salt bagel was just gently salty and really enhanced the flavor of the herb cream cheese. Oh! And the cinnamon roll! Get the cinnamon roll! It's gigantic, it's flaky, it's cinnamon-y, and it's not too sweet!

Scratch has, without a doubt, my husband and I's favorite bagels in the world. We ordered bagels from them for the morning after our wedding, and the bulk ordering process was seamless and easy. We got several mini pastries that were delicious too. Our family RAVED about the bagels and ate every single one (and we had more than a 1:1 ratio). Important note: this location is for bagels (not sliced/toasted), pastries, sandwiches and drinks only -- if you want a bagel toasted with cream cheese you have to go to their Toast Bar which is nearby. I was quite confused by that the first time! Scratch is understandably extremely busy, so try and go early or be ready to wait.

I grew up in Portland. I now live in Cape Elizabeth. In the 10 years I was gone from town a whole universe of new places opened, but that doesn't mean I visited all of the old places before I left. It took me until I was a mom to make the time to find the best bakeries in town as inspiration for my own efforts at home. Few places are more inspirational when it comes to quality baked goods then scratch. The absolute only reason this does not receive 5 stars is the size of the store front. It is almost the size of a healthy walk in closet which means 90 plus percent of the time the line is majoritaly out the door in the parking lot. That said, it is completely worth bringing an umbrella for something to read and wait in the line. Whole loaves of bread as well as any number of muffins, cookies, croissants and other specialties. There are typically samples waiting at the register and they also have a coffee bar available. I've never had to order something in bulk or advance from here, but it would be the 1st place I think of if the need arose.

I have returned to Maine and one of my first stops has always been Scratch. I have travelled from Texas to Maine and have tried bagels in various states. Scratch is the best in my opinion, and they never disappoint and they didn't this time. I did see they have a new system in place due to Covid and it seems as if it is working especially the ordering online and picking it up. I will say the ordering at the window and waiting for the order takes a little longer, but it is well worth the wait. Let's not forget the pastries. The almond horseshoes are the best ever. I am definitely taking some to Texas! So needless to say even though you may have a wait, I highly recommend it.

Good bagels ...no complaints there. Person behind counter was kinda rude when I asked to have a bagel with cream cheese. I didn't realize it was DIY.

I need this place to open up a store right next to my apartment in New York PLEASE !!! I read about this bakery on a blog post while planning my trip to Maine and knew I had to go. I stopped in around 9:30 on a Tuesday and there was no line and definitely enough bagels! I got the sea salt bagel and was going to get cream cheese to go with it but honestly it looked so good plain I just went with it and I was very happy. I also got a giant chocolate chip cookie and my boyfriend got some vegan almond chocolate chip cookie - both were excellent. We also got a coffee and ate it at the picnic tables outside. We loved this place SO much that we decided to try and stop on our way home from Acadia. We couldn't have driven any faster but unfortunately we got a late start to the day and didn't arrive till 530. They ran out of bagels at like 1 apparently so we were way too late. We decided to grab some food anyway as we were starving so we got the pesto pasta salad, the protein salad, and I got a brownie for the road. They also had a piece of coconut cake that was calling my name but I had to control myself *cries* I am so sad that I don't know when I'll be at this bakery again. It was the best bagel I have ever had .... and I'm from New Jersey! So that says a lot!!!!! PLEASE OPEN A LOCATION IN NEW YORK ID DIE HAPPY AND KEEP U IN BUSINESS JUST BY MYSELF !!!!

This is a very cute, local bakery. Definitely a place everyone would want for a neighborhood bakery. They have all the baked goods laid out for a come and take style. Far as their best sellers: bagels (the Maine sea salt and herb cream cheese is a great combo), chocolate chip cookies, spiced cookies, coconut cake, and ding dongs. Everything is very good, however, the bagels aren't the best I've had (as others have stated - very different texture yet very good, just not the best). Same goes for cookies...very good and worth the money but not the best. Right outside they have a few bike racks, along with a leash tie and water bowel for dogs. Very neighborhood friendly.