Eight starving young adults came here on a beautiful Sunday morning and the wait was long...about an hour long...but it was well worth it. Since we had a large group, we were seated on the first floor next to the open kitchen. I ordered a cappuccino and the crabmeat benedict and it was really good. My entree was served with a side of potato and sweet potato home fries. We also ordered a community dark chocolate waffles to share and it was amazing. It was served with strawberries and whipped cream. The waffles had the perfect amount of chocolate taste and it was not too sweet. I highly recommend it for sharing, as a dessert - You will not be disappointed. Our group also had the seafood bisque, corned beef hash, crab cake benedict, french toast, smoked salmon plate, blueberry pancakes and everyone loved their dish. The pancakes were soft and delicious! The one dish I did not think was good was their french toast. It is very thick and dry - maybe I needed to soak it in syrup...idk.
(4)
Rob K.
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.
(5)
Melita B.
Very cute ambiance, decent breakfast, but we waited over an hour for our table, after being told the wait would be 30 minutes. Our waiter was very nice but overall service was quite slow. The huevos rancheros were quite good, but the French toast was dry. My brother thought his eggs Benedict bayou was 5-star material.
(3)
Paula W.
Came here for breakfast. The staff was really friendly and the food was delicious. Had the veggie scramble which had a great selection of veggies and mushrooms, not just the standards. The coffee was good and they let you have some while you wait which makes the waiting not so bad. They don't take reservations on the weekend so be prepared to wait if you come during prime brunch time. Parking is on the street but we didn't have any trouble.
(5)
Sarah S.
I had high hopes about bintliffs when I went in January- after all, I love brunch, but I was disappointed, primarily on the service factor, so I will give it another chance in the future. 1. We were seated at the bar, which is fine, because there is a wait, but then it appeared that no one was actually assigned to us so we kept having to flag down any passing waiter/waitress to ask for anything. This is pretty much what ruined it for me. 2. We were on the second floor, which was cool, but perhaps this was the reason my food was lukewarm when it came? 3. The seasonal vegan item was underwhelming. I am not vegan, but my boyfriend is allergic to dairy so he always checks vegan options first. I can't remember what it was, but it was not interesting or appealing. Pros- The eggs were cooked correctly. They give you coffee while you wait, which is great because the wait could have been long. It is in an interesting location and everyone was nice. I will probably go back and just ask to not be at the bar.
(3)
Greg B.
Good flavorful fresh breakfast food is what we ate here. The andouille sausage was very spicy. My GF had a specialized fruit plate that was enhanced by the waiter's suggestions. Very good service.
(3)
Brian M.
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.
(5)
Michael S.
Had the dark chocolate belgium waffle. Looks better than it tastes, standard waffle colored brown. I would say more if there was more to say.
(2)
Clarida M.
Blintiff's was pretty good! We waited about an hour to sit, which is totally normal for a hopping breakfast joint. The really nice thing is that they serve coffee while people wait. This is such a no-brainer (cheap and makes people feel good), that I wonder why more places don't do this. Blintiff's is only the second I've seen that serves coffee to waiting guests. The atmosphere was very nice and the staff was really nice, too! We sat and ordered the Florentine Eggs Benedict and the Apple Cinnamon French toast. Our waitress, knowing we were in a rush, was honest about how long the food might take - we totally appreciated this, as we had duck tour plans. We were able to re-schedule our tour and enjoyed our breakfast (and a bellini). The Florentine Eggs Benny was SOOOO GOOD. The potatoes served on the side were delish. My honey liked his french toast, but I think he expected the order to be out of this world, so he was let down a little. All in all, a nice experience. Yum.
(4)
Keshar N.
Bob is a good man. He knows that when we go on vacation, one of the biggest things I am concerned about, is where we are going to eat for breakfast. Of course, being my fiance, he knows the only place to look is on Yelp. We found Bintliff's and of course went there for breakfast. The place is actually an old house. So it's really interesting when you walk in. It's like you're walking into an old Victorian home with the dark wood and interesting artifacts placed around the room... quirky is the right word. We were seated relatively quickly (about 15-20 minutes) and perused the HUGE menu. Our service was great, and the coffee was delicious! They also serve complimentary coffee while you're waiting. They still had the lobster Benedict when I went, so of course, that's what I got. Bob ordered the huevos rancheros with spicy chicken and then split the "pancake of the day" - pumpkin spice (I am a sucker for anything pumpkin so this was a no-brainer). The Benedict was delicious, the hollandaise not super creamy with a nice hint of acid, the eggs perfectly poached and the lobster was wonderful! Bob definitely had some food envy. His rancheros were good... not great. The pancake on the other hand was also phenomenal. Also, eating that delicious, spicy pumpkin goodness with real maple syrup - could breakfast get any better? All in all, the meal and service were great! The only negative i have is that since it is a converted home, the air flow is not optimal, so it gets pretty steamy while you're waiting. If you find yourself in the Portland area, make sure you check this place out. It's worth sweating it out in the lobby for a little lobster.
(4)
Fred V.
Outstanding Reuben!!
(4)
Lindsay P.
Would be 5 stars if we didn't have to wait so long every single time! Over all - great spot. A favorite of ours.
(4)
Erin M.
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?
(5)
Leah O.
This restaurant is cozy, warm, and a local gem. Tiny little booths with individual lights are packed into two narrow floors, tucked up against windows that look out over a park. There was a booth right next to the front window that my recluse alter-ego looked at with longing- the perfect place to tuck in with a book and a pot of coffee and not speak to anyone for an afternoon- a perfectly private place in the middle of a public space. Very rare. The service was impeccable. Truly likable and funny waiter, who walked around taking orders with a mug of coffee in one hand and a ready sarcastic comment in the other. I had the dream breakfast: a) one granola-crusted piece of french toast b) crab cake benedict with potatoes c) coffee I don't think I have ever eaten such a perfect breakfast. There was not a weak note in the meal. And listen- I DO NOT MESS AROUND WITH BREAKFAST. Please, go here on a regular basis and keep them in business until I can move to Portland to sit in that front booth, reading my blissful little heart out for the rest of my days.
(5)
Cecilia J.
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.
(3)
Juiana L.
Bintliff's is the perfect Portland ME local restaurant for people who love to eat gourmet breakfasts at brunch time. Loved my crab cakes benedict with a perfectly light hollondaise sauce. Coffee was delicious! Nice service, too. Liquer license is a plus, although we didn't partake on our first visit.
(4)
cassie r.
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.
(4)
Matt E.
4.5 stars....Bintliff's is awesome! If you have a chance to go, go. The second floor seating area is a great little space with interesting historic pieces and the wait staff here are extremely cool and friendly without being fake or douchey. The prices might be a tad on the higher side but everything they do, they do well. The only 2 things I wasn't a big fan of was the home fries weren't that crispy and they tasted a little different each time I went and I could hardly taste the bacon over the smokey flavor in the applewood smoked bacon. I didn't love that they charge about $1.80 or so per mini container if you want real maple syrup instead of the fake stuff; I understand them charging though, real maple syrup is like gold, even in Maine. The breakfast menu is full of creative things like graham cracker crusted orange french toast with lemon honey syrup and ginger bread pancakes (which were fantastic though very heavy). You can tell they put a lot of thought into the construction and execution of their menu and that's why this place is so good.
(4)
Lisa D.
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!
(5)
Danielle F.
Thank you Yelpers! Found this listing while looking for a breakfast spot on a weekend visit to Portland. We were not disappointed!!! The reviews paint an accurate picture - be prepared for a wait (we waited 30 minutes on Saturday morning), be prepared for an awesome menu with some difficult decisions, be prepared for large portions, and be prepared to love their homefries! I ordered the Louisiana Eggs Benedict as it was a unique spin on a classic dish. Really glad that I did. My friend ordered the Lobster Frittata which had a lot of lobster in it and was quite tasty as well. The stuffed french toast sounded fantastic and I was tempted to try that, but the eggs benedict did not disappoint. Add an iced coffee and I was in heaven! Definitely check this place out!
(5)
Lindsey D.
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!!!
(5)
Sheila S.
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!
(5)
Anne K.
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!
(5)
Lacey P.
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!
(5)
josh b.
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.
(4)
Jing Y.
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!
(4)
Jordan K.
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.
(5)
Michael D.
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.
(5)
Jeff P.
Always a wait. But it's worth it. Sometimes the staff are hit or miss...but it is always crazy busy. The food is excellent Maine brunch faire. Cocktails are tasty too...what's brunch without cocktails?
(4)
Nicole F.
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.
(5)
Jacki H.
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.
(5)
J M.
Only had the pleasure of eating here once for a special occasion, out of state Sunday brunch and it was the endall of brunches, as far as i am concerned. After a night of drinking and eating at Fore Street, our party (4) arrived around 930 am (after a blind iphone app recommendation) to a line out the door and to the corner. We parked and said..'must be good' is there's a line of locals like this. Nothing to look at from the outside, but once you get inside, the character and the smells eminating from the first floor/open concept-ish kitchen shined through..An old 'victorian' feel with dark wood and eclectic furnishings. The hostess led us up a flight of stairs, across a dining room and along a bar to sit us outside on a perfect summer morning. Bonus!. Beautiful touch and if the weather is cooperating, ask to be seated there. Fantastic brunch fare and our party decided to sample a bit of everything, as well as remove the haze from the night before with some well made cocktails and good conversation amongst a 70 degree sunny morning. Doesnt get much better than this. crabcakes..omelettes..pesto cream tips..thick sliced smoked bacon..you name it, the 4 of us ventured deep into their menu and came out full, nice buzz and highly impressed and satisfied. I will be returning, and i am out of state. Best breakfast/brunch Ive had. Period
When I walked in the hostess was nowhere in sight and one of the servers was ignoring me, looking in the mirror and complaining about how her makeup looked. Once I was finally seated, I sat there for 15 minutes, servers walking past me, and no one acknowledged my presence. I finally got good and angry and should have just walked out and gone somewhere else, but I walked around until I found someone to ask if my table even had a server today. IN FRONT of me, two servers disagreed on who had my table until one looked at some chart they had outlining who had what tables. The food was decent, not the best, not the worst. They gave me my coffee for free since I waited so long. I've read the other reviews and people seem pleased. Maybe they were having an off day? I'm from Portland, Oregon - where they aren't known for their service but at least the food is amazing... This place might have gotten more stars had the service been better.
(2)
Victoria F.
Portland is a city with plentiful brunch options - and I'm sad to say I had never experienced Bintliff's until today! We arrived a bit after 8 and it was great timing. The restaurant was bustling but not too crowded. By the time we left at 9:30, people were lined up out the door, so go early if you don't want to wait. The atmosphere is lovely - intimate but not claustrophobic, enough light to give you time to wake up without blinding you. Our server was great - attentive, efficient and friendly! My friend and I both chose the Eggs Benedict. I had the classic version, which came with plenty of thick hollandaise sauce and a generous serving of homefries. The spice in the three potato homefries was sweet, maybe with cinnamon. The only quibble I had was the hollandaise wasn't hot when the meal arrived at the table. I will definitely be a returning customer!
(4)
Jeffrey L.
The food was ok. But it was difficult to get past the fact that this place is dirty. Every surface is dirty - the tables, the walls near the tables, the menus and the bathrooms.
(3)
Burgwell H.
Wow! If you want standard issue breakfast fare, go to Denny's. If you are looking for a special way to start the day, don't miss Bintliff's. Free coffee while you wait for your table sets the right tone, and the menu is creative and tasty. This place will see me every time I'm in town, just to work my way through the menu! Note: the cornbeef hash is awesome, but it is like getting a huge bowl of meat! Share this dish, or simply ask for a ' to go' container at the start, and save half for later.
(4)
Cherie C.
Excellent breakfast. Deciding what to order was a big stressful only because there was so much on the menu. I'd heard about the benedicts, so I went with that. Everything was fresh and carefully prepared. Service was good. My benedict, made with spinach, was good. They even ask you how you want your eggs poached, which was a nice touch. The building itself is a cozy, crooked, converted-barn-looking building. The food was delicious. When I'm back in Portland, I'll definitely eat here. Go early. We'd heard about the wait, so we arrived early and were seated right away. But by the time we left, the line was out the door.
(4)
Heather G.
Came at around noon on Saturday, and the wait was about 35-45 minutes for 4 people. As we expected this, we grabbed a cup of coffee while waiting (nice touch, Bintliff's), and squeezed into a small space in the very tiny downstairs waiting area for our turn to be seated. Once seated (yes, it was about 45 minutes), we settled into an upstairs booth, where the space was a bit less frantic and more like a restaurant than the downstairs area, which is basically a glorified pathway to and from the kitchen, with a couple tables squeezed awkwardly by the door. If you have the option, wait for the upstairs tables to free up, because when it gets busy, the poor downstairs diners have the pleasure of eating while people queued up to be seated have no choice but to hover above them. Our server was helpful with suggestions and making meal decisions, and even let me try both the bloody mary and the mimosa before ordering because I was on the fence. Great touch. However, the service fell off a cliff after our food was delivered, when we couldn't find the waiter to get any water refills throughout the meal, butter for our toast, or a small portion of jam. He simply disappeared after we settled in to eat. Disappointing, but understood, as it was very busy. A tip for you: the thick, grilled homemade bread does not come with butter, so be sure to ask for some before your waiter disappears! What we had: Corned beef hash - yes this is homemade and yes it is delicious. It's not artificially salty or minced beyond recognition. It's really mostly corned beef, with some red onion and home fries. No filler of celery, bell pepper, etc. This is the best corned beef hash I have had to date, but it was painful to finish because it's about 3 peoples' worth of food. veggie home fries - nicely seasoned roasted veggies (zukes, summers, tomato, asparagus, broccoli, onion) over a base of home fries, with two eggs (as you like them) on top with cheese. The veggies were so well-cooked and fresh (no frozen veggies used here), and the portion was very substantial. Turkey wrap with Havarti cheese and roasted red pepper mayo - yes, this is only just a wrap, but they use herbed tortilla, stuff the thing full with meat, and apply a delicious red pepper mayo. For a "boring wrap", this was very flavorful and hearty. Blueberry pancakes were chock-full of fresh blueberries, and even a side of one-pancake was the size of a dinner plate. Overall, the portions are giant, the prices are low (even if the portions were smaller, this place is CHEAP), the food is offered up hot, delicious, and inventive. If you're willing to wait a bit on the weekend for a table, and are patient enough to deal with sometimes-sporadic service when the dining room gets busy, then you absolutely have to come here and try Bintliff's for brunch. It will very quickly become a favorite, as it did with my family.
(5)
Aaron P.
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.
(5)
Jessica B.
Is it a basement? Is it an attic? Is it an old antique shop? No folks, it's a restaurant with a lot of charm and the food is divine. From the free coffee when you walk in the door, to the desserts on your way out, you will not be disappointed. I recommend anything on the breakfast menu (truly), their eggs with capers are great. Tip: If you order a Bloody Mary, tell them to go light on the horseradish... unless you want to EAT your Bloody Mary. Just sayin'. Great place to take visitors to Portland!
(4)
Dorothy B.
We went to Bintliff's for breakfast and really liked it. We arrived at about 10 on Saturday and waited a little bit for a table. We drank some great coffee while we waited, so the wait didn't seem very long at all. The building was really interesting and old fashioned. We ate upstairs and all of the tables were full but it wasn't super loud and didn't feel crowded. It was nice. Our waitress was really nice, prompt, and friendly. The waffles with local syrup were great. Recommend!
(4)
Reid F.
One of the best breakfasts I've ever had, in very pleasant place. Try the lobster benedict (you can get it with scrambled eggs too) and/or any of the pancakes.
(5)
Michael J.
Since brevity is the soul of wit, Bintliff's is made of win. I don't throw down the five star lightly, but this place had it all. Totally unpretentious, cozy and out of the way, this place served up a Tolkienian brunch the likes of which I may never see again. Lobster eggs benedict. Need I say more? Alas, I must - my date had crab eggs benedict, which was even better. Great waitstaff, lovely building, and absolutely wonderful food that is not vexed with pretentious prices. I shall go here for breakfast every time I am in Portland.
What a cool little breakfast place! Bintliff's looks tiny from the outside, and it certainly is pretty small. The atmosphere is very cool though, very unique. We were there on a weekday, so it was pretty empty, and we were seated right away upstairs. I ordered an omelette with maple sausage, which I really liked--the sweetness in the sausage was really nice. It seems like the dish to get, however, is the corned beef hash, which my dad ordered. It was amazing. I definitely know what I'll be ordering next time I'm there!
(4)
Amy S.
Great breakfast! There's something for everyone, from scrambled eggs to banana pecan pancakes. From coffee to mimosas... This morning I had the Tuscany scramble, my breakfast mates had the pancakes and the french toast. What's better than french toast? French toast made with home made, thickly cut bread! What's better than pancakes? Pancakes with banana, pecans and maple syrup! What' better than coffe? Iced Rocket Fuel, which is probably the best coffee in Portand. nay New England (if you like sweet coffee). I had the Tuscany scramble, complete with tomatoes, cheese and croutons... yes CROUTONS in my SCRAMBLE!!! why didn't I think of that? A great balance fo salt, garlic, and tomatoes served with a slice of wheat toast and potatos. It was so yummy I will dream of it until the next time I can go back to Bintliffs for breakfast and have some more ! I wish I had noted the waiter's name because he was kind, friendly and efficient. The drinks were served immediately, the food just in time. The price was reasonalbe.
(4)
Thomas C.
Brunch at Bintliff's was overall an enjoyable experience. The food was very good. I had the Lobster Benedict with a side of red beans and rice. The lobster was very buttery, the hollandaise sauce was fantastic, and the potatoes w ere tasty. The red beans and rice had nice bite to it, and the beans were cooked al dente. We sat on the outdoor patio underneath a big tree, and the ambiance was very relaxing. The only downside was the wait, a little over an hour. Though we just went for a walk at the park and fed some ducks and came back. The wait for the food was slightly long as well, but we had a nice time just sitting and chatting. Our waiter was also very pleasant. Overall a enjoyable meal, would recommend.
(4)
Jason J.
When I was last home in Maine, I brought the lady with me and my dad and his girlfriend recommended Bintliffs. I had never been there before, but after hearing my dad rave about it, we knew we had to go. The inside is so incredibly cool and cozy looking. I mean, it's sort of standard fare for a lot of New England buildings, but having lived out of the state since I was 18, it's refreshing to once again feel new england style buildings. The food was absolutely delicious, and despite the fact that there was no lobster on tap (it was March, I know how it goes) the lady had crab benedict and still says it was one of the best breakfasts she has ever had in her life. I had some granola crusted french toast that was excellent, and it was a wonderful place. Prices were reasonable, service was great, and the food was awesome. Just a really fun breakfast, and it makes me excited to get back to Maine so I can go again!
(5)
J D.
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.
(5)
Andy C.
I went to Bintliff's American Cafe for brunch and found it to be typical diner fare slightly upscaled. It's not so terrible place I got sick from. I just didn't see what the hubbub was about especially after the long double wait. Upon arriving, the line was not long relative to weekend dim sum standards (about 4 groups in front of us), but we still had to wait over 45min for a table of two! I had my fill of their coffee at least. Eventually, we were upstairs by the window and instantly I had a bad feeling. The table next to us complained they hadn't received their food in over an hour. A manager had to come by their table and then comped half their meal. My gf and I looked at each other knowing full well our food may be late as well. I ordered the corned beef hash and my gf, the lobster benedict. The wait for our food was not long enough to get a comp for but we were already hungry and impatient. I think it was about half an hour before we got our hands on our forks ready to dig in to see why everything was worth the wait. My corned beef cubes were huge. I came in so hungry and I literally could not finish the plate! Too bad it's because there was a pool of oil on the bottom of my plate and the meat was rather flavorless. The eggs and toast were nice. I hoped the lobster benedict was better. My hopes were dashed when I thought they subbed in rubber for lobster. We left thinking how we could have better spent the past three hours. Maybe Sunday brunch was expecting too much to ask for a 7 day a week brunch place. Bintliff's seemed to be overloaded and unconcerned with bringing good food out in a timely manner. Perhaps on a less busy day, the food would be better.
(2)
Arthur M.
Tofu scramble was out of this world. Comfortable booths and tree top outdoor seating. My girlfriend loved the crab cakes with hollandaise. The server was on point.
(5)
Caesar R.
This place is as local as local can get. The staff is friendly and welcoming. The chefs were signing a duet from Dirty Dancing this morning as we walked in. They were actually pretty good. The fiance and I got uninspired dishes of lobster eggs benedict and corned beef hash with two sunny side up eggs. The dishes were overwhelmed by their 3 potato mixture hash browns. So I am giving the food a 2.5 star rating. The bright spot and saving grace was really the friendly service. The portion of lobster on the benedict was dismal and shameful. This is Maine, load up any dish you serve with your beloved crustacean. The corned beef hash on the other hand was decent and that portion was gigantic. The dish comes with the choice of toast and mixture of potatoes. It was all a bit potato focused for breakfast. The large piece of buttered wheat toast was a compliment to the dish, but not completely necessary since there were so many potatoes for the dish. So for you hearty breakfast eaters, fellas or you ladys out there, you won't be disappointed. Bintliff's old skool local joint is your spot.
(3)
rob d.
breakfast was fantastic, corned beef hash was delish and enough for 2!! had to wait 15 minutes, but at least they poured us some coffee for the wait. great service too!
(4)
Susan M.
I hear Portland has lots of great brunch places, but honestly I haven't tried many because I keep wanting to go back to Bintliff's! I've been three or four times, and each time I have such a hard time deciding what to order because the menu is overflowing with delicious-sounding food. Some of my selections have included steak & eggs, huevos rancheros and the house-smoked salmon plate. My husband usually orders the corned beef hash and lets me eat off his plate. It comes with plenty of perfectly seasoned beef and three types of potatoes (yellow, white and sweet). Like most of the entrees, it can easily be stretched to two or three meals, which ends up being a good deal at $13 or whatever it is. I don't like waffles, but all the preparations they have at Bintliff's (with chocolate, with pecans and peaches, with raspberries) almost make me want to order some! Bintliff's is also not bad for vegans and vegetarians. I think they have a vegan special everyday, and when we went with my vegan sister-in-law they were also willing to change lots of other things to accommodate her. She ended up ordering some tofu rancheros. The only drawback to Bintliff's is the wait, especially because the area by the entrance is very small, so you'll probably have to wait outside. They do provide free coffee while you wait, though.
(5)
Vez K.
I love this place, and my best friend said that it's one of the best (if not the best) brunch food she's ever had. We always get the corned beef hash (as a side item so we can order something else as our main dish) whenever we go. It's the only place I know that gives you big, quality, good angus beef pieces and calls it hash. It's so good! I've gone with a big group before, and honestly, everyone loved their food there. You can pretty much order anything and will love it. The wait does suck (probably an hour), but is well worth it. You can have all the coffee you can drink while you wait. :)
(5)
Kevin T.
This is by far Portland's best kept secret! I came here for breakfast one day after asking around as to where the best place for Corned Beef Hash could be found. The locals were unanimous in their ruling and as such, I had no choice but to give this place a try. From the outside, the blue block-lettered sign indicating where the diner is located does very little to hint at the amazing flavors awaiting within. However, as soon as you enter you immediately feel as if you stepped into a 60's diner and almost immediately after are assaulted by a variety of tantalizing smells wafting from the open air kitchen a mere ten feet from you. The restaurant is cozy, but seeing as how the weather was gorgeous, we opted for the outdoor seating. There was absolutely no wait and in no time we were seated with drinks impatiently awaiting for our orders to arrive. Seeing the Corned Beef Hash plated on a bed of breakfast potatoes, topped with two fresh eggs served with a side of fresh baked bread almost brought a tear to my eye. This is no ordinary Hash. The meat comes in these HUGE chunks that literally fall apart with little to no coaxing from your fork. The seasoning was spot on for the meat and went perfectly with the savory breakfast potatoes. I instantly became ravenous after the first bite, and although this dish could have probably fed two people I soon found myself sopping up the residual juices with the fresh bread and basking in complete food nirvana. I vaguely remember the waiter telling me about a customer that drove six hours from Connecticut just to have the Hash at Bintliff's. Now I understand perfectly why
(5)
Lauren M.
We waited for close to an hour to get in on a Thursday morning. They do have self serve coffee for while you are waiting, but the carafe was empty when I went for a cup. When we were finally seated I ordered a bloody mary that was quite delicious. For our meal I ordered the huevos rancheros and was really not impressed. The tortilla was dry and wrapped up on the side. The eggs were served on top of a bean and rice mixture. Rice, in huevos rancheros??? Also, the guacamole did not taste fresh at all. My boyfriend ordered a omelette and the mixture was just wrapped up in the middle of the omelette, not diced up and cooked in the egg mixture. The amount of onions was really disgusting. We did order a slice of the french toast and the hash to sample, and they were rather good...but in my opinion none of this was worth an hour wait.
(3)
Nick M.
The food is diner fare. Not fine dining. Complimentary coffee from Coffee by Design was a custom dark roast for Bintliff's. There weren't any cups washed until later and the carafe was almost empty. When I finally did get a cup (after waiting for 30 min to get a table) it wasn't really worth it IMHO, just made me hungry and wanting to go elsewhere for GOOD coffee. I had a Bloody Mary and the Lobster Benedict for a Birthday Breakfast in style. Best Bloody Mary I've had in awhile, with horseradish that will kick your ass. The 2 eggs and lobster were incredibly rich. I was expecting more lobster for $13. Way too many potato home fries that weren't seasoned and barely cooked. 3/5 Ambiance would be OK. However, they had really uncomfortable booths. I sat on the 2nd floor and the springs were all clearly shot. I also felt strong pulsations from the seats, saw the water at the table shaking and my feet vibrating. Apparently I was above the kitchen fans or something? Either way, it wasn't a comfortable seat. 1/5
(3)
Geno K.
2nd visit... just kind of eh. Gingerbread pancakes were dry. Lemon syrup that came with them was ehh... weird tasting. Coffee and bacon were awesome.
(3)
Tiffany T.
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.
(4)
s w.
Most of us felt that the food was average - you can definitely find better breakfast places in Portland, and for cheaper prices. Pancakes were flat, dry, and not very flavorful. But I must say the Lobster Bisque was out of this world (it gets 5 stars!) I'd go back just for that. Beware, though - it's spicy! Friendly service.
(3)
Brian Q.
After several fantastic dining experiences about town, we were looking forward to trying yet another restaurant during our recent trip to Portland. After a nice walk from the waterfront, we entered Bintliffs for breakfast. The wait for a table was a bit long for a Monday. When the waitress went to seat us, she took us up the stairs to the second level and then out back. We passed several empty tables on the beautiful 2nd story outdoor porch, and were escorted down another set of stairs to a dank, dark outdoor area between the kitchen windows and the trash cans. We were seated in some seriously busted chairs that were absolutely filthy. The area we were seated in looked like a storage area for broken chairs, and I was astounded they would seat patrons there. Then the waiting began. After we were seated, we could see the party that was behind us in line getting a great table up-top. Then we saw them placing their orders. Then we saw them getting their food. And no one ever came to wait on us! We were ditched in the alley-like space out back and forgotten! After a good 1/2 hour or so of watching the flies buzz against the kitchen windows, we headed up and out. Passing our server on the way out, she said "have a great day!" When we informed her that no one ever came to take our order, she started ringing us up for some tea we got on the way in. Fortunately, it dawned on her that perhaps she shouldn't charge us, since they forgot we were there, and we never got any food. The owner(s) of this establishment need to a) fix their chairs b) actually clean their chairs and c) decide whether the back/bottom area is truly for patrons, or just a garbage run. They need to d) pay attention/open their eyes. As for us, we'll never be back and would advise others to steer clear.
(1)
Heather B.
Yum, that sums up this place. While looking for places to have a nice hearty breakfast on yelp this place came up and it has 4.5 stars for a reason. The food was AMAZING! I got the orange french toast, two eggs and the maple sausage. I have absolutely nothing to complain about with this one. The foods was great and reasonably priced. The husband got the lobster Benedict I am not a huge fan of Benedict but I had some major food envy. Went on a weekday morning around 9am so the wait wasn't too bad but I would imagine on the weekend the wait would be out the door and around the corner. I love breakfast and this place hit every craving perfectly. It is a shame I don't live close enough to enjoy it more often.
(4)
Miss M.
Service at this place is superb! Very friendly and attentive staff who even gave me a take away coffee for my walk. I had the Mediterranean eggs with potatoes. Flavours were good, toast to die for. Perfect crunchiness. Loved the potato combo, eggs were good but maybe slightly overdone for my liking. Will be back!
(4)
S. K.
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).
(4)
David B.
As in life, it is very hard for any business to provide a service that is close to perfection. I do not give five starts often, but Bintliff's deserves all five for their breakfast. The meal was close to perfection! We wandered down from our hotel and got their in the nick of time. The folks that arrives after us were waiting 15 minutes or more fora table....on a cold day...with a building that has no lobby. We were seated quickly and served wonderful coffee. I like my coffee dark and strong while my partner does not. We both liked what they served....delicious! We both had omelets that were perfectly cooked! All to often, omelets are served browned, promoting tough and chewy egg. The eggs ere were perfectly cooked! The ingredients were nicely balanced and dispersed throughout the omelet. The potatoes were hot, cooked and delectable. It looks like they mix a variety of potatoes together...seasoned just right. Finally, there toast was to die for...home made wheat or white bread that was firm and yeasty. WOW! Additionally, our server Andrew was very cute...a nice smile and looking good in a black shirt...the perfect way to start the day!
(5)
sonia t.
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?
(5)
Nick D.
I had the lobster eggs benedict...what a great combination. I want it again now!
(5)
Gary B.
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 !!
(5)
Charley Z.
Now, I know this place looks like a hole-in-the-wall. I never even noticed it for a while - but my girl and I stumbled across it one morning looking for a good brunch, and boy, were we satisfied. Disclaimer - this place is usually packed, so if you're planning on brunch, get there early. No reservations, either. We had to wait about twenty minutes, but I assure you - in the end, it's worth it. My date got the Louisiana Bayou Benedict - delicious Andouille sausage, home made corncakes, poached eggs and a wonderfully spicy Cajun hollandaise. I got the Eggs Florentine, and they were hands-down the best I've ever had. Despite the HUGE portions, we nearly licked our plates clean. Looking for a good late-morning drink to go with it? I can't even tell you. Go see for yourself! One warning: beware. This is a hipster-infested joint. Just beware.
(4)
Andie B.
The brunch was simply amazing. One of the best ever, and definitely the best Benedicts ever! Service was upbeat, fast and not fake. Food was fresh, plentiful, and flavorful. Wish there was one at home!
(5)
Chris P.
Just plain delicious. Creative entries on the menu contribute, but overall it's just good food that is prepared well. I absolutely agree with the others that there's a home-y feeling here, in fact they have a couple of antique oak pieces that I wanted to try and figure out how I was going to smuggle out - and take home on a motorcycle. Anyway, we were seated on the back deck after a wait of about 15 minutes - free coffee while you wait is a nice touch. I ordered crab meat benedict and my girl had her first lobster roll - ever. Both were exquisite, the waitstaff definitely gave us good advice in addition to the excellent service. In the end, after a good table, great food, great service - the bill was very very reasonable. This place is a gem.
(5)
Wen L.
At first, we were drawn to Local 188 for brunch at the recommendation of a local. Upon arriving, the restaurant was semi-empty and there weren't any available parking spaces. I believe the Yelp spirits guided us to Bintliff's American Cafe. I was casually searching for brunch places and Bintliff's was at the top of the list. We hopped on over, parked at their doorstep and waded through a throng of people to put our names down for the next 4-top. After the hostess' completely accurate estimate of a 30 minute wait, we sat down at our tables inside Bintliff's adorable second floor. The tables were cozy and we admired the lamps, the framed pictures, etc. But enough about non-foods, here's what we ordered: Lobster Benedict, Corned Beef Hash, Classic French Toast, Orange French Toast and another Eggs Benedict with Andouille Sausage. They were all incredible. In fact, the two Benedicts and Beef Hash overshadowed the French Toasts, which would've been incredible if we hadn't already spent so much time devouring the other three dishes. Also, the non-French Toast dishes came with an incredible herbed sweet potato and potato home fries. I would definitely recommend Bintliff's to friends going to Portland. The vibe was cozy and friendly. Our hostess and waitress was awesome. The food was great. There was a mandatory wait for food ... which slowed things down and helped relax us. One tip my friend suggested - there were several empty tables when we sat down and a ton of people still waiting. It might be a good idea to sit these people, they can order drinks, wait for their food, drink some more and spend more money. But then, it's hard to determine how the restaurant is best run from an outsider's point of view. Happy Lobstering!
(4)
Justin H.
Truly outstanding. The meal was exceptional. The staff was super friendly and professional, which made for a great experience, despite the fact that the place was packed. The building was really cool - we ate upstairs, which reminded me of an old ship. Yar! Blintiffs! I had the corned beef hash, which was the best I've ever had - and I've tried a lot of it. She had the Cajun Benedict, which was out of this world. My only regret was that the portions of the Hash were rather obscene. I think I barely put a dent in it, probably not even a third, and had to get the rest packaged up. I would go so far as to say that the meal might be better split between two people than to be tackled by a single gastronomical linebacker. The Bloody Maria was spectacular - I hadn't had a Bloody Mary with tequila before, and was suprised at how much better it is than with vodka. It really adds a savory flavor to the drink, and cuts some of the acidity that can make a Mary so overpowering.
(4)
Rachel E.
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!
(5)
Henry C.
Delicious food, bad service. Was told wait would be between 30-45 minutes and waited over an hour and fifteen minutes while groups that arrived after us, were seated before us. The clearly over tasked waitress was rude and annoyed that she had to serve a 2 person party. Larger parties were clearly made a higher priority by the manager and waitstaff. Once the food arrived it was delicious, but the whole experience left s bitter taste in our mouths. Since eating out is about the experience I would not recommend Bintliff's American Cafe.
(3)
Erik L.
Top notch ambience, the food was very good
(3)
Anthony M.
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.
(3)
Sean B.
Hash is dyno-mite. Fun place to grab a Blood Mary and brunch.
(4)
Yella W.
On a weekday for brunch, wait was just a few minutes. But you are ignored when you enter, so be patient. Food makes up for it. We would return.
(4)
Roger S.
Savory flavors combine harmoniously to give you a unique experience that is all Maine. Three potato home fries, corned beef hash, and a three egg omelet with house smoked salmon, spinach, roast garlic and cheddar. Service is friendly and attentive. Worth the 40 minute wait on the sidewalk.
(4)
Ann G.
My Son had a LAX game nearby and I remember hearing about this Place on TV... Soooo worth the wait !!! We had seven in our Party and the wait was very reasonable for the time we arrived on a Sunday am... We Kinda felt like family before we left !!! Everyone was Very Happy when we were done !!!! I was very happy to have leftovers to bring home.. We ALL would make the Road trip just to eat here again !!! They serve something for everyone !!!
(5)
Brian C.
The breakfast I ate here may very well have been one of the best I've ever had in my life. We walked in on Sunday morning at around 11 and the place was bustling. Given how many people were waiting for a table, I almost felt for a second as if I hadn't left New York. However, that feeling dissipated almost as soon as it came and continued to be reaffirmed throughout the next hour or so. The host came to take our names and told us it'd be about 30 minutes, but we could feel free to help ourselves to some coffee while we waited. Huh?? "Yeah, please help yourself--mugs, coffee and everything you need is right in the corner." WTF?!? I'm definitely not in NY anymore. A few minutes later, the host reappeared on the steps near where everyone was waiting to "go over" the waiting list to make sure he wasn't missing anyone. What the...?? I'm thinking, why would he even care? I'm DEFINITELY not in NY anymore. A waitress appeared with a big smile and gladly gave up a pen so we can do a crossword puzzle from a newspaper laying near the complimentary coffee. I'm definitely not in NY anymore. When we gave up on finishing our meals and decided to just nurse the rest of our drinks, our server insisted that we take our time and stay as long as we wanted. Where the hell are we?!? It's like Xanadu in here! Now the food--crabcakes eggs benedict. The crabcakes were probably the best I've had outside of MD. They weren't broiled (I don't know why everywhere outside of MD insists on deep frying their crabcakes, but that's irrelevant here...); but, because they were only lightly fried, the flavor and texture of the crabmeat wasn't drowned out and it made for a great meal. However, their flapjacks (i.e., pancakes) with fresh ME blueberries and local ME syrup were absolutely amazing. I got two and it is probably the first time I couldn't finish an order of pancakes. Two enormous, super fluffy pancakes come out filled with fresh blueberries. Throw in a side of thick-cut applesmoked bacon and I'm in heaven. No, wait... I thought I was in heaven and then I opted to supplement those with one of their signature Bloody Mary's made from scratch. NOW I'm in heaven. The only drawback was that the portion was too big. Seriously. Otherwise, it was a perfect meal. Pure bliss. And everyone -- patrons and employees alike -- knew it. All in all: perhaps the best breakfast anywhere on the east coast.
(5)
Kate P.
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!
(4)
Tammy S.
I really enjoy breakfast @ Bintliff's. I get their veggie hash sans egg and cheese... mixture of reg and sweet potatoes - yum! It is my choice for a monthly breakfast meeting - they are always very accomodating and have great non-veg choices!
(5)
Hagan B.
I looked at some reviews and was really looking forward to Bintliff's Brunch. The picture of the hash on Yelp.com brought me to the brink of orgasm. My friend liked what he saw, and wanted to split the hash and something sweet to balance it. We split the hash and the Orange Graham French Toast. The french toast was interesting idea in theory, but I wasn't excited by it, and unfortunately, the anticipation of the hash was better than the hash itself. It is true that it was made with corned beef, but as I suspected while eating the Lobster "hash" at the Robinhood Free Meetinghouse, the ingredients are supposed to be finely chopped (thanks, Wikipedia). This was more like corned beef and potatoes. I don't know why I thought it was going to be any different, since I saw the picture and they delivered precisely the dish I'd ordered. If the orange graham french toast was the only thing I had eaten on the menu, and I didn't factor decor into my review, I would give Bintliff's two stars. There's so much more that can be done with the orange/graham cracker concept, but I got three pieces of bread with an orange slice for garnish. No whipped cream, no fruit on the side, no nothing. Just three pieces of bread. On the hash; my first bite was far too peppery than I corned beef hash is supposed to be, and I put more pepper on everything. The corned beef itself was juicy and not overly salty after that initial unpleasant reaction. I am more of a fan of crispy home fries, and although it looked like that was what they were trying to do by the golden brown but moist sides of the potato, these just didn't get me happy. The one thing you won't get any guff from me about is the size of the portions. They were sizable. There was enough french toast for two in that one order and the hash was ample and served with another huge slice of toast. You won't leave hungry, which is a good thing because I think that's the niche these types of establishments are supposed to fill. As for sweet breakfasts that I do fancy, it looks to me like Bread and Chocolate in DC has gone downhill since I last went in 2003, because the French Toast I had there was over-the-top awesome. Chocolate, bananas, and fluffy baguette made for a great combination that I'd go back for more than once before I left DC. I would write a review of the place, but my review would be skewed by time. The saving grace of Bintliff's American Cafe was the bite of Lobster Benedict my brother let me try. The only reason that I didn't order it was because of the picture of the hash mentioned earlier (How could I possibly order two things called hash in a week and not get anything resembling hash? It boggles the mind). The Lobster Benedict - I tried to remake it this morning and I over-lemoned my Hollandaise and I needed another lobster to really set it off. Of course, it was not as good as Bintliff's. Had I bothered to read the reviews instead of leaving my eyes to do the ordering, I would have had the Lobster Benedict. They have outdoor seating in the back, booths in a well-lit upstairs area make for a great brunch ambiance, and it looks like it'd be a decent place to bring a date (and not too expensive, either). I would try Bintliff's again just to see if anything on their menu could match the Benedict. As an aside, Bintliff's is in a bit of a salty area of Portland, and the local flavor made an appearance and regaled my companions and I with a poem called "Mellon Street Wonder." The poet wanted to recite for a fee, but we declined and offered to be an attentive audience; the story of the prostitute with "black AIDS in her ass" garnered smiles and applause from us all, which are priceless (if you believe the ads). I think our sincere appreciation meant more than a dollar twenty-five to him. Of course, I'm not homeless. Plus one star.
(4)
Cyanne D.
In an attempt to slowly break my city born and bred boyfriend to my home state of Maine, we started our trip in Portland. After a wonderful evening in the Old Port, we were pointed in the direction of Bintliff's for breakfast, and were blown away. We've eaten amazing meals from San Francisco, to New York, but we're still talking about this brunch a month later. The staff was extremely helpful, especially when asked questions about what I could actually eat, since I can't eat cow dairy. She even pointed out that they had goat cheese, which made my Chorizo, Asparagus, and Sun-dried tomato omelet into the most perfect, delicious omelet ever. The home fries were a mix of different kinds of potatoes, and were so well seasoned we didn't even need ketchup (which was Heinz, bonus points). The corned beef hash were big, thick cuts of corned beef that begged to be devoured, even if we were getting really full. It's really small, but absolutely adorable. We got this perfect little corner table near the windows, and were able to savor our food and the Wall Street Journal, like we should on any fantastic Saturday morning. I will be back. Possibly this weekend. And every other time I make the trek home.
(4)
Katherine L.
A very cool, Parisian-esque interior with giant french toast, delicious sausage, and fantastic sweet potatoes in place of the usual regular ones. My only problem; their head guy needs to learn Greeting 101. When customers enter your establishment, don't stay upstairs the whole time and never acknowledge their presence. Say hi, welcome, etc., and let them know approx. how many minutes it will be until they are seated. Don't force them to wait downstairs without ever explaining yourself. Hire more people if you need; our waiter was great but he seemed saddled with too much. The brunette guy who seemed to be "in charge" didn't work (or rush) half as much. One more thing: NEVER bring fake syrup to a table that has requested the real thing! That put a damper on my otherwise delicious french toast.
(4)
Lisa M.
Best Breakfast menu I've ever seen bar far. Creative, appealing, and so much to choose from. We had a group of seven, service was quick and efficient. Everyone had something different ranging from lemon ginger pancakes to corn beef. All the dishes were Delicious. Fun, hip, satisfying place to get your first meal of the day. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Mike S.
Great brunch establishment but expect to wait! The portion sizes are extremely generous and the ambiance is warm and cozy. Well decorated, good service, but if you're going for brunch on a weekend, expect to wait. Our two-year old did well there, but the close quarters on the second floor meant that the high chair that they gave us ended up in the main walkway which made us a little nervous.
(4)
Natalie B.
Where do I begin? This place is out-of-this-world. We went here the morning after a friends' wedding, looking to satiate a pancake craving and we were MORE than successful. We both had peanut butter chip/chocolate chip pancakes and they were delicious - and BIG. There are 3 levels of pancakes that you can order and you definitely don't need more than two cakes, unless your goal is to have some sort of gastrointestinal unrest. We ordered them with 100% Maine-made syrup, rather than the typical restaurant which is the way to go. Unprepared for the sheer mass of the pancakes, we ordered a side of bacon and a side of corned beef hash. Bacon was thick and tasty with little fat and the corned beef hash was actual hash - not some canned junk out of a can and fried. Literally pieces of corned beef atop whole pieces of potatoes and other hash veggies. It was outrageously good. The drinks - both morning cocktails and the coffee was excellent. We had a bellini (yum) and the Absolution, which was light and a perfect morning drink. We both had the Rocketfuel coffee and...damn. It was strong and iced and (if you're familiar with Rhode Island coffee milk) tastes like coffee milk, in my opinion. The Rocketfuel kept me wide awake after a long night of wedding celebrations and alert for a long, slow, rainy drive back to Boston. The service was great - our waiter was attentive and honest and gave recommendations, if asked. The surroundings upstairs were charming and old and warm. The only complaint I have is the way they manage the sheer volume of people trying to eat and the wait list. I"m not sure if they take reservations but when we arrived, we left our name on the list to wait for a table. I expected that. We waited close to an hour for a table, which I was also willing to do. But people REALLY cram into the ground floor to wait for their name to be called and it gets really uncomfortable and aggravating. And it's distracting to the people actually seated and eating downstairs. Very sardine-ish feeling. It gets so bad that the employees can barely make it through the room to get upstairs with shouting Excuse Me! and hoisting full trays of plates over their heads. That's the only complaint. The food is worth the wait and it's like Christmas once you're name gets called and you get brought to your table - and away from the 50 people you're standing near who are also waiting. Highly recommended - but please resolve where people wait!
(5)
Lauren S.
SO GOOD. I went here with my buddy and her mom, and it was 1) adorable and 2) delicious. They give you so much food and have so many delicious looking options.
(5)
Justin S.
If you're looking for a breakfast spot, especially near the bus terminal, this is the place to go. Best thing here is their freshly baked bread, which comes with most meals. I had the lobster frittata - it was rich, decadent, and I'd highly recommend it for a brunch meal. They also have a fair amount of eggs benedicts, from the classic to cajon to vegetarian. Atmosphere was very interesting - it's an old house turned into a restaurant. Only downside was that it took over 40 mins to get our food from when we ordered it. That being said, still a strong breakfast option in Portland.
(4)
Liz H.
As long as I've lived in Portland, I've only been to Bintliff's a handful of times, mostly due to a poorly-planned graduation brunch there that had us waiting for hours. The poor planning was on the part of my party, not Bintliff's, but still made me apprehensive about returning. Anyway, my boyfriend had never been, and I suggested we try it out as a more upscale alternative to our regular places. We arrived at around 11 on a Saturday morning. Of course, it being prime brunch time, the bottom floor was crowded with people waiting to be seated. During the wait, I helped myself to Coffee by Design coffee (you can get drinks before you sit down- a very nice touch). We were seated in about 15 minutes. I started with Bloody Mary, my boyfriend with a Mimosa. Bloody Mary was great- Spicy, probably made from scratch. Mimosa was also good- they added triple sec. I ordered some sort of veggie hash, which came with homefries and toast, and my boyfriend ordered the Eggs Benedict. My meal was fine, would order something else next time; I was eying the waffles as they went by. The homefries were definitely the highlight- three type of potatoes, including sweet potatoes. Boyfriend raved about his Benedict. All in all, I'd still recommend this place for a classy breakfast. I loved my drink, my coffee, and I'm willing to write my lackluster meal off as a fluke.
(4)
Erik S.
I'd give the food 4.5 stars but everything else here plays up to 5 stars. The wait staff was awesome. The waiter showed up at our table sipping a cup of coffee and asked us what we were doing that day. To be honest, I was a bit startled for about half a second but I realized he was seriously asking the question. We chatted for a few minutes and then he asked us if we wanted anything to drink. The place really cares about your experience here. Awesome service. The menu here is really big and pretty diverse. I had the Eggs Florentine which were really quite good. I actually had a hard time deciding between 5 or 6 things on the menu. It's the kind of place I could go back to time and time again. I think they are the 8 time consecutive best brunch in Portland so it's a pretty safe bet for those who want brunch. I highly recommend it.
(5)
TJ S.
A Portland Brunch icon. Corned beef hash that will make you rethink what corned beef hash actually is. But beware they do run out sometimes. Good service and they do well with seating for the wait. Nice that they give out free coffee during the long waits. Be ready for an hour wait on weekends. Put your name in and go do something else and come back. Other than that, after the first great impressions of the food wear off and you start thinking about it, its not that great. Just larger than life portions.
(3)
Sonia D.
Great place for breakfast/brunch! After reading reviews on this place, I had to check it out. They had a lot of interesting dishes. I tried the cajun eggs benedict, which were a little on the salty- I think it was the corn cake they were on that was pretty salty. But they were still good. Plus I just had to get a large mimosa to washit down with. Since the place is so small, there was a bit of a wait (like 20 minutes at 9am) but it was worth it. You also have the option of sitting at the bar if you don't want to wait for a table. Good portions and friendly, efficient staff. And for brunch, you can't beat the price.
(4)
Lily H.
Just following in the footsteps of all the other patrons here...it is just so good!!! No really, it's SO good. Slap yo momma good. The only disappointment I had was that they ran out of the lobster Benedict. So I had to settle on the crab version. Poor me. The hollandaise is creamy buttery yumminess. It'll make you wanna strip down and jump on in. And Jesus the portions! What's even more ridiculous is that I'm coveting my neighbor's corned beef hash while eating my crabcakes! Wtf?!?!? I'm sure the wait is ferocious during the weekend, but a Monday brunch was easy breezy. Enjoy!
(5)
C J.
Breakfast is by far my favorite meal of the day, and having gone to high school in Portland I thought I had been to all of the worthwhile locations during those four years. Well, I was wrong. I didn't discover Bintliff's until a friend stumbled upon it in July...I have been over 10 times since then, which considering I live 45 minutes away and go to college in Boston, should show just how good this place is. I have never had a bad experience. The waiters have always been amazing, whenever I have had to wait (which even on summer weekends has never been more than maybe 20 minutes) they bring you coffee, and made sure we were seated and taken care of as soon as they could. The building is charming and its quaint size makes it worth waiting those few extra minutes. And then there's the food...where to start? I have had all of the varieties of pancakes, the granola french toast, the dark chocolate waffle, and the veggie homefries. After having tried everything, the three things I consistently order are the chocolate chip macadamia nut pancakes, the banana walnut pancakes, and the veggie homefries. They are to die for. I have taken three friends and my entire family, and everyone has loved what they have gotten. The prices may seem a little steep, but the portions are HUGE and one order of pancakes and a side of homefries usually results in left overs for me and a friend. I really can't say enough good things about this place. If you're in Portland and want the best breakfast in town, this is hands down your place.
(5)
Matt T.
this was the most amazing brunch i've ever had. it was fantastic! great drinks, great lobster benedict, wonderful crab benedict, and amazing french toast!!! great location and awesome service.
(5)
Bob B.
Loved this place. As we drove over there the family thought the neighborhood was a little dicey (I agreed), but once onside it was a pleasant oasis with a 1920's decor. Food and service were excellent. I had an omelet, my wife had the eggs benedict, my daughter had the French toast. Everything was right on.
(4)
Mark H.
Wow! We came here on a recommendation from a waitress at another restaurant we ate at while visiting Portland. While we had to wait 30 minutes for a table - that's how popular this place is - it was a pleasant one with a very friendly atmosphere: fellow diners in waiting, the wait staff, etc. We had eggs benedict with home fries, crab cake benedict with home fries, mamosas, and bloody marys. Our waiter was very attentive to our needs even as busy as the restaurant was. This meal could have lasted us for the day!
(5)
Jaime S.
So good for breakfast. They have such superb egg benedict and the omelets are perfect and not too greasy at all, phew. My only qualm is that you can only go there during the week because it is so insanely crowded all the time!
(4)
Davis W.
Definitely a fan of Bintliff's. We ate on the outside upper deck which has a "tree house" feel. Our waitress, Jocelyn, is now our best friend who we loved. We both had eggs with potatoes and bacon and toast and shared Maine Blueberry pancakes with maine maple syrup. Outstanding! Except the potatoes. Thumbs down on the potatoes. They were undercooked and over done with the seasoning...way over seasoned. And nobody wants to bite into a raw-ish potato. dissapointing but they still won us over in every other way.
(4)
Paul O.
Great friendly service, fresh baked bread and pancakes that are both unbelievable delicious and also more than you can eat in one sitting. Try the vegetable or corn beef hash. The line on the weekends and parking may distract you, but it is well worth your trouble.
This was a recommendation of some of my classmates for when my sister came to visit Portland. We had brunch here on a weekday and still had a wait a few minutes for a seat - not that I minded, obviously it's a popular place. I had the steak and eggs benedict which was delicious and I normally don't eat eggs benedict. My sister had the lobster benedict and liked it but couldnt finish it as it was really rich (duh). My classmate had a salad (I think it was a cobb or a club or something) and it was humongous. I also had a peach blini which was good. I was a little annoyed at the price when I saw it on the menu but it was a huge glass - not a little champagne flute. The server was a nice young guy and the food came out cooked perfectly and in a timely manner. I'll go back.
(4)
JC W.
I was on vacation in Portland and came here for breakfast on a Friday. We were told the wait would be 20-25 minutes which I thought was okay, so we waited. 50 minutes later I went to check with the hostess who was MIA for about 10 minutes while several other patrons were coming in to try and get their name on the wait list. Everyone was looking for the hostess. A couple people who put their names on the list AFTER us got sat before us, which I wasn't with a big party - it was only two of us. So finally after 50 minutes we got to sit. It was another 45 minutes before we got our shrimp cocktail appetizer which at that point I was so hungry after waiting 1 1/2 hours to eat that I asked them to bring our food out asap. 3 different couples that showed up in the wait line about 25-30 minutes after us got their food before us. Then...as soon as we finally got our food we hadn't even had our first bite and the waiter dropped off the check. He didn't even check to see how the food was or if we wanted anything else, organe juice, etc. Both our dishes were so-so. The florentine benedict had way too much parmesan on it and I didn't care for the homefries. The service and the wait were disappointing and when I am in Portland again I'll probably go somewhere else for breakfast.
(1)
Kamron H.
Always worth the wait!
(5)
Abi K.
Visiting Portland for one night. Friends recommended Bintliffs, saying it would be best quality breakfast food we could find. They were right. We arrived a little before noon and waited about 40 minutes for a table. Coffee is available while you wait. The staff were friendly and made sure all parties were on the list. We were seated at a booth upstairs. Our server Jonny was friendly and made great recommendations. We had the veggie home fries and eggs florentine Benedict. This is the best breakfast we've had possibly ever but definitely in recent memory. Worth the price and wait time. The atmosphere and staff make the place better. I wish I lived closer so I could come back regularly. I will make this a must stop on my next trip to Portland.
(5)
Mary R.
I reccommend Bintliff to anyone and everyone passing through Portland. As soon as you step in the door you'll feel like you're in a trendy SoHo cafe. A lot of the food is locally grown/harvested/raised, and the portions are very generous. The staff is super friendly, and I love checking out all the antiques the adorn the place. If you want a good breakfast, brunch, or lunch, be sure to hit them up!
(5)
Annie R.
So Bintliffs is great for sure. It is this sort of eclectic little building, with what appears to be random antiques thrown about, it makes for a quirky ambiance which I got into for sure. The plus's the orange french toast was amazing....literally amazing. It does lose a point from me because I had the hueovos rancheros and the guacamole was clearly of the packed variety, it was kind of a downer with the other awesomeness that was on my plate. We did have a 30 minute wait on Friday midday which surprised me, but the place is really small. Our server was a bit inattentive as well, which was lame, but I find artsy places, have artsy sort of aloof servers, so that sort of comes with the territory. Worth checking out for the food/ambiance alone, they have some amazing pairings on their very inventive menu......
(4)
BeverlyHills X.
I will keep this short: I was in Portland doing some rotations while in Medical School, and after having lived in Boston and LA, I can say hands down this is the best brunch I have ever had in my life. Chocolate Chip-Macademia walnut pancakes and the Lobster Eggs Benedict. Amazing. DO NOT be discouraged by the long line. That just tells you somthing. Don't leave Portland without coming here. You will not regret it.
(5)
Dejia B.
Mmmmm, happy happy happy tummy. I had very delicious crabcakes benedict. Hollandaise was perfect, crabcakes were awesome, their homefries are delightful. Boyfriend had corned beef hash which he said was amazing and was big enough for two meals. I will be back and damn soon.
(4)
Jeramia O.
Great personality, good coffee, the 3 potato home fries are solid. Wife and I both had a scramble, probably should have gotten one of the awesome looking Benedicts. Definitely skip the scrambled if you are not a fan of diner-style (some would say overcooked) eggs.
(4)
Gray K.
Wow. This place was amazing. First, the space: it's a really interesting layout, but also small and pretty horrible for an actual restaurant. There's not really anywhere to wait, and there seems to be a wait pretty much all of the time. But once you get in, it's definitely a different sort of place to eat in. The food? Phenomenal, and tons of it. I love that they let you add fresh fruit or strawberries to any of the french toasts, waffles, etc. We had the granola french toast with strawberries and the real syrup (definitely splurge for that!), with a "side" portion of the veggie homefries. Should have gone with the double portion of the french toast, since the full is three enormous (seriously: ENORMOUS) texas toast-sized slices of deliciousness. We tried hard, but despite having not eaten all morning, two of us couldn't finish the last slice of french toast. The only problem I had was trying to decide which delicious item(s) to order.
(5)
Robby T.
Don't give many 5-star ratings. Context is key, right? So, in this quaint lil' town (a.k.a. biggest city in Maine), Bintliff's retains everything a cute town brunch spot should: character (slanted wooden stairs w/ windows that could've been at your grandma's house), tasty and original food (orange graham cracker french toast anyone?), and good service (our waitress was friendly AND knowledgable, go figure?). Prices reasonable, solid homemade corned beef hash, and spectacular crab benedict. Coffee was average, but passable. Go here if you find yourself in Portland....just do it!
(5)
Paul M.
I won't bother echoing all the other reviews. To quote our server "we don't do anything small here". I had a three egg omelet with ham, roasted garlic, roasted peppers, and brie. Awesome!
(5)
Sarah N.
You have to go early if you want to get a table without a wait - this place is always packed. My boyfriend and I go to Portland Power Yoga at 7am then sneak over to beat the crowd and devour some veggie benedict. He loves the lobster - its truly decadent.
(4)
Jackie A.
There was so much food it was obnoxious. Food was GOOD (not great) but I'm guessing their reputation has something to do with quantity, not quality. Service was lacking - we could NOT get a coffee refill and finally got up and filled our cups ourselves. OK if you want the experience but there's better breakfast elsewhere.
(3)
Katie H.
seeing the family is hard. real hard. that's why i only do it once a year. and we try to make it real jam packed with activities because without the activities would all kill each other. so we decided on a day trip to maine to pass the day. it was sunday morning and bintliff's doesn't do reservations on sunday so we made the 2 hour drive up north hoping the wait wouldn't be too long. the night before i showed mr and mrs pelosi the online menu and they were freakin out that it would be too fancy for us derelicts. we are not a fancy restaurant family. i repeat...we are not a fancy restaurant family. we get kicked out of fancy places. a large group walked in right before us and they told us it would be 30 minutes. but after talking to the host about how we found them on yelp and came all the way from san francisco (well, at one point we came from there) we were seated in about 10 minutes. julia p and i got permission from mom and dad to get a breakfast cocktail and we got a pomegranate vodka oj thing. it was big and tasty. their coffee was from a local portland called coffee by design and it wasn't spectacular, but it was good. based on yelp reviews, i ordered the corned beef hash with 3 types of potatoes and 2 poached eggs with homemade toast. it was the most amazing corned beef hash i have ever had...hands down. i ate all i could without bursting, and samantha p. ate all she wanted and i had enough leftovers to make me and the old man breakfast this morning. i also had a bite of the fresh raspberry and almond pancakes and the georgian pecan carmel waffle and both were amazing. if you find yourself in maine...this is the place to go for brunch. heck, if you find yourself within a 3 hour drive of portland...this place is worth the drive.
(5)
Mary H.
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!
(4)
Ashley M.
This gets my vote for BEST brunch I've ever had in the United States. I was there with 4 people and we shared - amazing pancakes - gingerbread with lemon syrup were great, as were the blueberry. Raspberry almond pancakes were very tasty but the almonds seem a little oddly crunchy of a texture for pancakes. I also loved the huevos rancheros and the veggie hash brown - toasted sweet potatoes and other veggies soooo good.
(5)
Pito S.
Love this place. Second time there. Whenever I am in Portland ME. (How often is that?)
(5)
Toni D.
I went up to Portland a few months ago just for the weekend. Before my trip up there I did a little research on restaurants. This place had excellent reviews so this was one of the places I had to try out. My boyfriend and I went here on a Sunday afternoon. The place was packed. We had to wait outside until our name was called. We waited 30 minutes or so...not too bad and they did offer us coffee while we were waiting. We sat upstairs towards the front in the corner. This place has a very cozy feeling. Our waiter was super nice and very friendly. I wish all waiters could be like the one I had here. As the waiter walk by with plates of food everything looked yummy. I couldn't decide what to order. But I ended up getting the Huevos Rancheros. It was very tasty and very filling. I also ordered a single pancake that was soft and fluffy. If your in Portland you have to try this place you wont regret it.
(5)
Eric O.
We were pretty psyched to try Bintliff's after foraging a little bit at the Deering Farmer's Market (which needs a pastry and coffee stand, BTW). We were disappointed for sure. Our timing as good in that we sat right away, despite other reviewers' issues with the wait. But the food itself (blueberry pancakes and a ham-and-cheese omelette) was just not good. Pancakes were dense, and omelette made with oil, not butter, leaving that lingering taste in your mouth, Not recommended.
(1)
Alex G.
We arrived and only had to wait five minutes, which was a nice bit of luck; the people behind us had to wait a while, and there isn't much room to wait inside on a rainy day. Once we sat, service was quick and friendly. The menu is chock full of choices, and it takes a while to peruse it fully. My wife order a single blueberry pancake with maple syrup, the Mediterranean scramble, and a side of maple sausage; I had an egg frittata with veggies and cheese. Be warned that the kitchen cooks to order and is slow... However, once out, it's darn good. And the portions are large. The plates were not oily, the eggs cooked perfectly, and the bread lightly grilled- a nice touch. Everything tasted fresh and well above the norm. I only wish he had checked on us more often, as we never got refills and a couple others items we never got to ask for. Still, this is a solid, 4 star breakfast joint.
(4)
Monique G.
Overrated. Don't torture yourself with the wait.
(3)
N J.
We asked the waitress what she recommended. She said that people usually get lobster eggs benedict and corned beef hash. I also wanted to get the blueberry pancakes but looked around and saw that the portions were huge. At first we got OJ but decided to go with their mimosas and bloody marys as well. It turned out to be one of the best breakfasts I've had. Friendly service, great for families, couples, etc... Free coffee while you wait.
(5)
Alexa B.
Really good breakfast, but for the love of GOD, please expand... the wait for a table is excruciating. I used to go here a lot when I lived on Forest Ave, but it was always such a huge bummer to see the hour plus-long lines.
(4)
Dallas T.
Corned beef hash!!! Simply amazing. Other food was on par for a good breakfast place. Good service. Will be back next time I'm in town.
(4)
Shayda W.
We were in Portland for a day and looked on yelp to get an idea of where to go for breakfast. Turns out fellow yelpers were spot on with Bintliff's - this was probably the best breakfast I've ever had!! First of all, the place is totally cute/ quaint with an antique - east coast feel to it. I had the Lobster benedict for breakfast (amazing!!) and shared the raspberry almond pancakes and gingerbread pancakes with my sister and her boyfriend - the best pancakes ever! This place gets 5 stars!!
(5)
Joe A.
Loved it!
(4)
Little B.
I like this place but it is a bit dirty. The food is terrific but I've only had brunch. It could use a polish.
(4)
jason b.
The gf and i came here on a Saturday morning for the first time. We were on vacation and also very sick so my review probably is a little non-bias. We arrive and realize to our surprise that there's no wait for a table. The host sat us right near the door where there we a few small tables for two. One thing i hate is sitting at a table on top of other people. The tables are so close here that you can barely walk between them to exit the booth side. And forget having a conversation that nobody else will hear without trying. Its so bad that the servers have to awkwardly lean over your back to leave food on your table. Ok no big deal i've heard the food is great and thats all that matters. Gf had the veggie scramble and i had the crab cake benedict. The food wasn't as "great" as i had read on Yelp but very good. The highlight of my breakfast was the idiot who was seated next to us who dumped coffee all over my sweatshirt and ruined it. Even though he said he was "sorry" i guess he wasn't sorry enough to buy me a new sweatshirt. Douche! I think that the tables and area are just so awkward it probably didn't help as he was trying to sit down with coffee in hand. Regardless, i felt like crap and was pretty miserable to begin with. :( I would come again but would definately not sit downstairs next to the front door. Unless of course its north of 50 degrees.
(3)
Sarah G.
Food was colorful, interesting, but a bit on the bland side. Still, we'll definitely be back. Servers were either all on ecstasy or just the friendliest, happiest people in the world. Outside deck is lovely on a nice day and interior is neat as well. Good coffee, good bread, and good location if you feel like getting out of the Old Port area.
(4)
Kyle P.
Staff was very polite and attenative. Excellent music and atmosphere. A little of the beaten path, but worth it! Ordered the Bloody Mary and Cornbeef Hash. Bloody Mary was excellent...had strong taste of horseradish, which was not overbearing. Also had significant bite of Tabasco sauce. Corbeef has was incredible, however a little on the cold side for my liking. Had very unique seasoning, large chunks of Black Angus cornbeef, and nice chunks of potato. Very good meal at a reasonable price. Will go again soon!
(4)
L. O.
Sooooo good! I am so not a steak & eggs kind of girl, but after trying the bf's, I might just be a convert! First things first -my breakfast.....I got the Bintliff scramble-great flavors with light fluffly eggs seasoned with tons of basil and their delicious cheese garnish -combine that with a plate full of three potato hash and a toast slice as big as my head -yum, done & done. But back to the scene stealer -the steak benedict was so good and rich-I'm guessing the steak was infused with a garlic butter or truffle oil --it was ridiculously decadent and tender. One of the best breakfasts we've ever had, hands down.
(5)
Tamar O.
My husband and I checked this place out after reading all the other reviews here on yelp. The inside seemed on the stuffy side, so we were glad there was one outside table left. We ordered the lobster roll and poached eggs on a muffin with lobster and hollandaise sauce. Both were absolutely amazing. I didn't think a lobster roll could possibly taste so good. This was a tasty tasty experience and we recommend that anyone visiting give it a try over the many other great places to eat in Portland.
(5)
Andrew W.
Best breakfast i've had in Portland. I had the blueberry pancakes and they were very good. The portions are huge- too much for me to finish. The only downside is that the place is really small so it gets really cramped when you're waiting for a table. Thankfully, they offer coffee while you wait.
(4)
Julia W.
I echo the sentiments of others. I love this place, best brunch I've ever had. One key element to the good brunch: great coffee. Bintliff's serves Coffee By Design coffee, a local brewer. Always fresh. I've never had a bad meal here, from an omelet to pancakes (yes the gingerbread are FANTASTIC) to granola, yogurt, and fruit. My omnivorous friends are always satisfied as well. Worth the trip, worth the (possibly long) wait in line.
(5)
Donna A.
I'll start by saying that the service was great and the coffee was good. The food however was not so great. Two eggs over medium turned out to be over more like easy than med. The bacon was overly smoked and chewy. The three potatoes (home fries) were not edible as they loaded them with rosemary and other herbs. When there's a table of 5 and all of us leave the homfries on the plate....there's a problem. We won't return
(2)
brad p.
Unbelievably good for breakfast. Stopped in on the recommendation of Yelp users and was not disappointed. There were 7 of us and we all left happy and full. The place is very cool. It's like a Victorian house and everything is angular inside. We shared a chocolate chip waffle for the table and we all ordered egg or pancake dishes. The corned beef hash was amazing and the coffee was very good. We didn't have to wait long, even though it was Saturday morning. The perfect start to the weekend!
(4)
Whit B.
I had french toast that was rolled in granola, with real maple syrup. My fiance had a delicious fluffy omelet with spinich, andoule sausage, jack cheese and grilled onions. It came with three potato, home fries and a thick slice of honey wheat toast. It was really good! We had friendly service! We would return any day!
(5)
Lynette M.
Lobster eggs benedict and hot-smoked salmon- yummy
(3)
Danielle M.
Bintliff's could be my favorite breakfast place on the East Coast! The coffee is Coffee by Design, so that's a great way to start the day. The real reasons to go though are the Corned Beef Hash, which is homemade and is big chunks of beef rather than the usual chopped up little hash and the Bayou Benedict, with andouille and corn bread. The line is usually pretty long on the weekends and the outdoor deck is worth the wait.
(5)
Simon L.
Although it lost a bit of it's lustre when Roger Bintliff sold his famous cafe to concentrate on other ventures, this place is still stellar. From the coffee they offer for you to drink during the inevitable wait, to the ingenious waffles and pancakes, the scrumptious REAL corned beef hash, and--my favorite--the make-your-own omelette with the most decadent filling options (think goat cheese and chorizo and artichoke hearts and heirloom tomatoes), this place is a step above anything else in town, really. There are a few new places that offer quality in the same vein, but nothing is as established as Bintliff's. Make sure to ask for a seat on the back porch, in the summer, the canopy of leaves makes you feel like you're someplace else besides Bayside.
(4)
John F.
NOT worth the wait. Poached eggs are steamed, not actually poached, so the yolks are not cooked evenly and the texture of the egg whites is not pleasant. Bintliff's reminds you that the old adage is true - "bigger doesn't make it better." Everything here is over-sized, but not necessarily flavorful. The home-baked bread is served in massive slices, but it is dense and lacking flavor. The homefries are the equivalent of eating stew without the beef - huge chunks of potatoes and carrots. Speaking of beef, the corned beef hash is ridiculous. Although flavorful, the hash is like a corned beef stew - with massive squares of corned beef along with large cuts of potatoes and onions. The sausage that you can get with your eggs is disgusting, with an off-putting spice. Worse still is the North Country bacon, which lacks a pork belly flavor, but has a chemical aftertaste. I'm giving it two stars - one for ambience and one for good service. Save your time and money and go to a diner or another breakfast/brunch place in Portland.
(2)
Meg V.
Wow!! Amazing breafast. My boyfriend and I took a last minute trip to Portland for Labor Day. I had heard this was a good place and the menu is available online so we decided to go. Lets just say, we complimented the waitress so much she suggested we make the trip back up from Boston next weekend. It's a tempting thought. We had to wait about a half an hour, but they give you free coffee which was such a nice touch and I really think made the wait just fly by. The host was very kind and got us a table so fast. The menu had so many things to chose from and after reading a lot of reviews we ordered so much food to try as much as possible. I ordered an omelet with broccoli, maple smoked sausage, tomato, and vermont cheddar. It came with a good portion of potatos (regular and I think I tasted a sweet potato piece in their also!) and then I got a side of bacon and one pancake. My boyfriend also ordered an omelet with smoked gouda, asparagas, onion, ham, and I can't even remeber what else. They have interesting things to chose from that I wouldn't even think for an omelet . He also got a side of the cornbeer because we had heard so many great things. Between us we had enough food for an army, but we couldn't resist. Everything was amazing. The waitress was extrememly helpful! The restuarant itself is so cute and they do have outdoor seating! The prices can seem high, but you get what you pay for. We paid $5 for our side of cornbeef but it was a HUGE amount of food. Same with the single pancake. I think we paid $3 for 1 pancake but the thing was huge and both of us couldn't even finish it. I would recommend this place to everyone looking for a great meal with resonable prices
(5)
jennifer l.
Great brunch menu. The lobster rolls and wraps were good. The seafood bisque was delicious. A little small, but cozy. Excellent coffee.
(4)
Travis M.
Very delicious, very filling breakfast. We went early and only waited for 10 minutes or so. Would go there again in a heartbeat next time I'm in Portland.
(5)
James H.
Came for brunch and ordered the Vegetable Benedict and Granola Crusted French Toast. Overall, the food was fresh and tasty (novelty factor on the french toast a solid plus), but not necessarily memorable nor exceptional. Service was average but noticing the amount of dust on the table lamp led my eye to the other fixtures/furniture/window panes/etc. and made it difficult for me to ignore the amount of surface dust everywhere. This made me start to question (not in a good way) the state and upkeep of the kitchen and food storage areas. For any eatery, food should be paramount with surroundings, pricing, and environment close behind. I guess the food didn't wow me enough to overlook the somewhat unclean interior.
(3)
Soaring E.
4.5 stars! Awesome (and unique) breakfast! Get there early.
(5)
at S.
Great upstairs dining room, quality has zigged and zagged over the years but it is quite good at the moment. Service always seems good. And waffles... very good waffles.
(4)
Lindsay L.
delicious. best bloody mary i've ever had.
(4)
geo j.
Best breakfast i"ve ever had . Sit under the shade tree on the upstairs deck . Might have to wait as very popular . Hollandaise sauce superb .
(5)
Jimmy J.
Every item on the menu looked delicious from previous posters so I ended up ordering the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict. Simply amazing... They were cooked to perfection. This place is located a few minutes from Old Port but definitely worth it. Just be able to wait about 30-45 minutes to be seated.
(5)
Vincent H.
As expected this place is super busy on weekends so get here early! Or before they close. Service was quick & nice inside this cozy brunch spot. Food wise it has all the basic brunch items with a few specials... Classic eggs Benedict wasn't bad along with the Eggs Florentine. Their potatoes really see it off compared to other places. House smoked salmon platter was good too! I actually wished I got something like that instead of my Benedict since I haven't had that before. Knocking off a star cause the wait was definitely ALOT longer than anticipated.
(4)
Vivian C.
According to a card sitting our our table by the lamp, Bayside American Cafe was named Bintliff's American Cafe only till recently. The exterior of the restaurant seemed slightly Grecian due to their choice of color and motifs. Inside, however, was dark and cozy, warm and quirky. There are a few tables on the ground floor, where the bathroom is, but the larger seating area is up the flight of stairs. We were a bit conflicted on what to order till we realized that we could order their pancakes by the piece. That made the decision much easier! So we ended up with their Veggie Homefries (Sauteed baby spinach, tomato, summer squash, mushroom, onion, red bell pepper, broccoli, zucchini, Italian cheese blend and two eggs, served over three potato homefries) $12 for a full order, the Apple Cinnamon Raisin Stuffed French Toast (Homemade Tuscan white or honey wheat French toast stuffed with apple cinnamon raisin compote and drizzled with cinnamon creme anglaise) $9, one piece of their Bacon Cheddar Scallion Pancakes with Bourbon Maple Syrup (contains alcohol) $4.50, and one piece of the Cinnamon Bun Pancakes (swirl of cinnamon, cream cheese icing) $3.50. Surprisingly, my preference ended up leaning towards the pancakes. The Cinnamon Bun Pancake was so cute - it actually looked like a flat cinnamon roll! And it was so tasty! The cream cheese frosting made this pancake rather sinful. The savory pancake had good sized pieces of crisp bacon reminded me pleasantly of scallion and ham buns from the Chinese bakery. The French toast was tasty, but not literally stuffed, which I found a bit disappointing. It was good to have a healthy option beside all the sweet and high carb selections in the Veggie Homefries. The vegetables retained a nice bite and were a tasty mix - this was the only plate we decimated (well, minus the thick piece of toast that accompanied it). My DCs liked the blueberry soda $2.75, even after having been blueberried out by our weekend road trip. Service was relaxed but pleasant. When parking, be sure to read the signs. We found ourselves a spot with a 2 hour parking limit from 9am - 5pm April 1 - Nov 30.
(4)
Wayne T.
You know the saying, the best restaurants are the ones with that most people waiting in line. It is certainly true with this restaurant! Every time I come it is very busy. The staff is very friendly and the food is amazing. While I only have been here for breakfast, they have a good brunch and sandwich menu as well. The Louisiana Bayou Benedict is my favorite. It served with a spicy Cajun hollandaise sauce and wonderful and andouille sausage. The best part is the homemade corncakes that they use instead of the traditional English muffin. Enjoy!
(4)
Lindsay M.
MIND. BLOWN. Haha no but really. This place is amazing. Yes, there's a line and a bit of wait but the food is so worth it. Settled in a quaint, Victorian style transformed house to restaurant, it's a great spot for breakfast/brunch. Service was great; the hostess and waitress were super nice and welcoming. We ordered Bloody Mary's first (one of the best I've ever had) and then got the corned beef hash, a scramble, and a lobster benny. Almost died and went to heaven. The lobster benny was amazing; the lobster was so fresh and the home fries with it just made it perfect. Next time I'm in Portland, I will be coming back!!
(5)
Mai H.
Came here on Monday based on the yelp reviews! We arrived here about 11:15AM after walking in the wrong direction for a bit..oops. Was told the wait would be 20-25 minutes, but that's just the estimate. No problem! The wait ended up being closer to 30-35 minutes but it was ok because we helped ourself to the free coffee and we looked over the menu..we didn't know what the dining situation looked like upstairs but downstairs there was an empty table for 4..and we are a table of 4. I am not entirely sure if the downstairs is just a waiting area or not but there was a table of 8 down there eating but it would have been great to be seated! When we got seated upstairs there was actually plenty of seating upstairs still, maybe they were pacing the dining area so the kitchen wouldn't get backed up? I don't know..but we all basically knew what we were going to order since we had half an hour to decide downstairs, but as soon as we sat down our waitress said, 'Oh, we are out of lobster, crab and salmon'...wait..WHAT? 'It was a busy weekend.'. Oh ok..well..considering the fact that 50% the menu is comprised of those 3 things it would be nice to know before we waited 1/2 an hour. I mean, there was no sign that said they were out of anything and the host never even mentioned it..this is something that should be noted or stated before a wait, especially when pretty much everything on the menu is comprised of those 3 main ingredients.. Already disappointed we looked over the menu again and got basic benedict, the hash, bayou benedict and bacon, cheddar cheese scallion pancake. It took another 25-30 minutes or so to get the food and at this point the place didn't look busy anymore. The hash was pretty good. Lots of meat and burnt potatoes and stuff. My friends said the bayou benedict was very good and the other benedict was nothing to really write home about. I had the pancake, it was a good texture but really lacked any kind of flavor. I could barely taste any of the ingredients that were previously mentioned. Was it worth the 1 hr from start to finish? No...not this time.
(2)
Meli L.
Never have had a bad meal here - you can expect to wait whatever time you go. It's kind of confusing / super small area when you walk in and where you should put your name. Several times we've wondered do they come out and call your name? because it will be very long periods of time with no hostess surfacing. The bloody marys are great, as are the huevos rancheros, and my boyfriend is a fan of the bayou Benedict. The pancakes are huge, like as big as the plate, huge!
(4)
Roger W.
Awesome place and even more awesomer staff! Great coffee and a wonderful vegan wrap. We came in around noon looking for a place to work but it seemed like they weren't necessarily that type of coffee shop. Once we asked if it was ok to work they said no problem and happily served us coffee and gave us the wifi password. They non aggressively left a menu for us to look over and we noticed the vegan wrap right away. After a couple cups of coffee we ordered food and were pleasantly surprised. Delicious tempeh wrapped with hummus kalamatas and sun dried tomatoes made it one of the best wraps we have had in a while. Check em out!
(5)
Tony W.
If any one place can make me a morning person, it's Bayside (formerly Bintliff's). I say this because if you arrive after 8am on a weekend, prepare for a looooong wait. It's that popular in Portland, but it's also that good. As the host said several times as we were waiting, 'a long wait is the curse of a place as famous as ours.' Truer words have never been spoken. Honestly, if I was a restauranteur I would open up a breakfast place RIGHT NEXT DOOR to capture all the overflow diners who are too impatient for the long wait. I unfortunately chose to take my family here on a Sunday. We drove by when it was raining and there was no line, so I thought today was the day everyone decided to stay in. Nope. Turns out, everyone who probably would have waited outside for a table were crammed inside like a can of sardines crammed inside a can of sardines. Everyone was wet and miserable, but at least we all had breakfast to look forward to. The do let you grab a coffee to drink while you wait, which is a nice classy touch. I like the way this place is decorated. The brick walls are adorned with the 'Best of Portland' awards they've won over the years, so you can contemplate how good your breakfast is actually going to be when you eventually get a table. As many have mentioned, the service is great. The wait staff all kept their cool and were calm, polite, and smiley despite the overwhelming crush of people taking up the foyer. The host kept double checking to see if there were any new arrivals and updating everyone on the newest wait times. When we eventually sat down, I ordered a coffee, the Louisiana benedict, and the notorious cinnamon bun pancake for our table to share. My dad is a no-nonsense breakfast kinda guy, and he ordered the classic breakfast, eggs over easy; he ain't got no time for any of those fancy dishes. My brother ordered the homemade corned beef hash. All I can say is...wow. It was all excellent, and plated beautifully. Thank god I only ordered one pancake - they're HUGE! The coffee was great too. My dad and brother really seemed to enjoy their breakfast. So I can safely say that - unless the early stages of a zombie apocalypse breaks out on a weekend, leaving brunchers who would otherwise visit Bayside scrambling instead for hardware, weapons and supplies (and what a bummer THAT would be if it fell on a weekend!) - I'm not coming here again on a weekend. An hour wait is not worth it. A 20-30 minute wait is more like it!
(5)
Sara P.
Bintlliffs has always been a favorite spot of ours and even though the name changed the meal and service was just as we remembered. The cornbeef hash is a must try, as it is not your typical preparation. Compiled of large pieces of potatoes, beef, and onions, it is a dish that will delight your senses. Other favorites include the bajou benedict and the BACON! The bacon is think cut, juicy, and crispy. It will not disappoint. Every time I come, I order something new, and each time the dish is delicious. I never leave unsatisfied! Huevos rancheros 3.5 stars Bacon 5 stars Bloody mary 4 stars (could be a tad spicier) Bajou benedict 4 stars
(4)
Curtis L.
Amazing breakfasts!! Friendly staff, free coffee while you're waiting, and scrumdidlyumptious pancakes : )
(5)
Alex R.
Had real high hopes for this, had great Yelp reviews and we are foodies so it was on our too do breakfast/brunch spots. Food was ok, but the service was awful. We had to wait ages to get seated, but the dude was nice so we didn't mind. After being seated the waitress was a complete bitch to me and my girlfriend, she took 20+ mins to take our order whilst seeing to all of her locals that were eating there at the time. She was being un-attentive, rude, and even when we wanted to pay she would just keep going off and talking to one of the male servers that she blatantly fancied.. the food was ok, very whatever.. don't be fooled by the pictures, this just seems to be a local spot.
Food was great as usual. They have the best corned beef hash. Tender and flavorful. I tried the outdoor seating for the first time. A nice little oasis in the city. But we were seated on the lower level and definitely had service issues. It's a hard area for the wait staff to remember to keep up with (in spite of the gracious host (maybe owner) trying to fill in). We still had no refills on water or coffee. Will return because the food is great.
(3)
Terzah D.
This place used to be called Bintliffs so don't be confused if you see the name in other reviews. We came for breakfast and it was fabulous! Good coffee. I had crab cakes Benedict and added bacon at the recommendation of the waiter. Good crab cakes, eggs were poached perfectly and the thick cut bacon on the side really did add a nice flavor. My husband had the Benedict made with corn cakes and sausages. It had nice spice and he said all the flavors went together really well. Potatoes on the side were a mix of sweet and regular potatoes, tasty blend with nice fresh herb flavor. Staff was friendly and attentive. If you go when it is busy be prepared to wait for a while. We came just after they opened and luckily got a seat pretty fast but it was packed by the time we left. However they were trying to accommodate guests by giving out coffee.
(5)
Courty C.
Honestly, meh. Not impressed. Overall expect to wait a long time for extremely large amounts of overcooked, dry food covered in sugar. Portions are insanely large and unnecessary. The cinnamon roll pancake while impressive looking, is the driest pancake I've ever eaten. The french toast special was only worth the apple raisin filling. French toast should have a crispy outside and an almost custardy inside, but this bread was dense and tasted like toasted stale bread covered and stuffed with sugar. Lastly, they upcharge for real maple syrup, which seems like a red flag right there for a supposed top notch brunch place.
(2)
Tiffany K.
Stopped in on a weekend due to the high rating. Unfortunately it was packed and we were too hungry to wait so we came back on a Monday morning. Got seated almost right away downstairs. There are only a couple of tables downstairs and the rest of the dining is upstairs. The place has an odd setup, maybe an old house? The kitchen is downstairs and the dining room is upstairs so we watched the host/servers go up and down and up and down. I split the lobster Benedict with a friend and was glad I did. It was so good I probably would have eaten it all despite being full after half! The side potatoes are a mix of regular and sweet. The Benedict was delicious and I can vouch that the Lobster Frittata was equally as good. YUM! Worth the high rating, but the weekend wait sure is a bummer.
(4)
Gary F.
It's a holiday weekend so we got there earlier and beat the rush, and there was a wait as we were leaving. Staff was very friendly, restaurant was clean and the service was great. We both had a Bloody Mary with a grilled shrimp and we both had the lobster Benedict Wow! The lobster tasted sweet and fresh. Not stringy or chewy. The sauce was fresh not from a package. The home fries had a mix or regular and sweet potatoes and seasoned well. The prices were reasonable. We were both very happy.
(4)
Ryan Y.
What a great breakfast place! I came here right before they changed their name from Bintliff's, but I have since come back after the name change and the food tastes the same. The first time I came here, I ordered the bacon scallion pancakes, and while they are good, I wouldn't recommend them again. The second time I came, I had the bayou benedict and this thing was amazing. The corn fritters are sweet, crispy and full of flavor. The bayou hollandaise has a nice spicy, creamy texture that really pulls the whole plate together. I was swiping up the remainder of the sauce with my fried potatoes and yams. I want to say I'll try other things here for breakfast, but I may just order this every time. One other thing, their bloody mary's are really good. Probably a contributing factor for the enjoyment of my breakfast, but who cares.
(5)
Sarah Y.
Amazing place from breakfast. Portions are huge! I highly recommend the crab cake Benedict with Cajun sauce instead of the regular.
(5)
Jonathan C.
This was our first meal in Portland and it definitely set the tone. I loved everything I ate. Definitely get the smoked salmon. It was awesome. Excellent service and good food...what more can you ask for? I mean...a $0 tab but let's not get greedy.
(5)
Josh M.
I hate breakfast food, typically. This place makes me love it. They're doing everything right in the food department. They should totally change the name back to Bintliffs, though! It has way more character!
(5)
Carla H.
Came here on a recommendation of a local. It was about 11:15am on a Sunday & the wait was about 40 minutes. Not a problem; you can help yourself to coffee while you wait or even order a breakfast cocktail. The mimosa was a generous size; not in a champagne flute and tasted good. My lobster roll was delicious with just a touch of mayo, buttery, well seasoned, and the ciabatta roll was perfectly toasted. By noon I had gotten the last order of lobster. I liked the 3 potato home fries, a little unevenly cooked, but I love Cholula hot sauce so that made my day. My husband had the Bayou Benedict and he said he liked the corn pancake it was served on instead of an english muffin and it was the perfect amount of spiciness. Our server was really nice, the ambiance was neat, and even though we dropped over $70 on brunch it was totally worth that and the wait. And the host was super nice, too. There's no clear place to put your name in, but in between running up & down the stairs on a busy day he greeted us with a smile & said he'd be with us in a minute. We would definitely go back.
(4)
Linda Y.
Bayside Cafe serves up tasty brunch fare. My husband and I parked our car a block away and walked in around 8:20am. There was a 20-minute wait for a table because the place is tiny. We shared the corned beef hash and the bayou benedict. I opted for the whole wheat honey toast as my carb choice. The hash was tasty but the bayou benedict was better! It was slightly spicy, creamy, and tangy. The portions were very generous and we brought half the hash home.
(4)
Maura Q.
All you need to know: cinnamon roll pancakes with cream cheese icing. Bintliff's, here's why I love ya: -did I mention the cinnamon roll pancakes? I did, okay perfect. I tried ordering two thinking they'd be small. Side note: they're NOT small at all and I could barely finish one. - the atmosphere is old school, cozy, and cute. I'll be back in the cold winter months for sure. -mimosa's anyone? -my friend and I were lucky and hit no wait on Saturday around 12:30 pm -your staff carries about ten plates up and down those stairs to the second floor repeatedly and they do WORK. Bintliff's, here's what was just meh for me: -the service. It was a Saturday brunch and I'm sure the morning was just crazy, but would it have killed the waitress to smile? Maybe. That's fine, if you don't want to be happy, be attentive. She could do neither and took at least 10 minutes to come over and introduce herself to my friend and I. -the location, and I know you can't really do anything about it now, but it's in an interesting area. The bar next door is frightening (sorry). Will I be back? Our paths will probably cross again whether it be because of a hankering for cinnamon roll pancakes or unintentional, it may just happen.
(4)
Sarah S.
Delicious-- great bloody marys (the right amount of spicy + garnish) and incredibly fresh ingredients in their scrambles! looking forward to my next visit!
(4)
Roger L.
Based on the other reviews, we got what we were expecting; a delicious breakfast to fill our bellies before a day of brewery tours. This resturant is accommodating, good coffee, great selection of breakfast dishes. We really enjoyed ourselves!
(4)
Kristie B.
Awesome waitress and yummy food! But it can be a long wait. MAy not be good for kids.
(5)
Heather G.
Usually a long wait but it's worth it--if it's a nice summer day opt for upstairs outside. They have amazing corned beef hash -you will eat the heck out of it. Trust me. Go hungry leave with a food baby!
(4)
Grant L.
Very cool Brunch Spot in a 100 year old storefront. They had the most amazing blueberry pancakes and omelettes
(5)
Cory S.
Tried to get in on Sunday. :( No chance. Circled back on Monday. Well worth the wait. Sorry Dad, but this ain't your Corned Beef Hash (mess). This piece of corned beef art is in a class by itself. Breakfast at 1pm is my kina place. Real maple syrup too (often a deal breaker if not avail). Great service and a fabulous view if u get a table upstairs by the window. Go here!
(5)
Soliz P.
The boyfriend was visiting during spring break and I decided this was prime time to return to Bintliffs for an amazing breakfast date. We were steeled for a long wait but lo and behold there was no wait at all. The secret? It was a Thursday and not prime time weekend dining. Service was very good. Our waiter was friendly and gave the brilliant suggestion of when I was deciding betwee pancakes or french toast to get one of each. Why didn't I think of that?! We did feel a little forgotten about when it got busy but we weren't in any rush so no big deal. On to the best part the food and drinks! I ordered a chai tea latte that came in the biggest coffee mug I've ever seen in a restaurant. It was one of the best I've had and a perfect way to warm up as it was a cold, windy morning. For food I haven't gone wrong yet. I ordered a single cinnamon bun pancake and a single banana cream pie french toast which did not taste like its namesake but had these glazed roasted pecans on top that I would order again by themselves. All in all I was left perfectly content in a food coma. From previous visits I can also vouch for the florentine eggs benedict and the home fries. This is my favorite breakfast spot in town so far and if you haven't tried it I highly recommend you give it a shot and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
(5)
Celeste M.
This is one of the best breakfast joints in Potland! I'm a sucker for corned beef hash and this place does not disappoint. You can either get a half order or a full order and I usually opt for the full so I have some to take home and enjoy later. With the full order you get a huge portion of delicious hash, egss anyway you take them and made in house toast. The 3 potato hash is phenomenal! Don't forget to ask for some of their amazing jam to beef up your toast. All in all, it's a great spot for warm breakfast eats!
(4)
Anna H.
I'm glad I yelped this place. We plan on going back tomorrow! Everything was out of this world. Must have the cinnamon bun pancakes and lobster eggs Benedict!! Friendly stAff!
(5)
Heather L.
Formerly known as Bintliff's, this place is a Portland STAPLE. Sure, the wait on a busy Sunday is a bit long, but they give you coffee while you're waiting and it actually goes by much faster than you'd think. Two levels of dining (I recommend the upstairs). They have a plethora of food options, it's totally overwhelming, but in a good way. I got the Louisiana Bayou Benedict and holy moly was it tasty. I want to try the Steak Bistro Benedict next time. I got a mango mimosa as well and that completely hit the spot. Super refreshing and a nice take on the traditional mimosa. Can't wait to come back and try out more things!
(5)
Jerinda W.
AMAAAAAZING!!!!!!!! Everything. Even the coffee. I would recommend anybody here!!!! Owner was super nice!!!!
(5)
Nandanie S.
Upon entry, I was given a warm welcome into Bintliff's amidst the crazy hussle bussle of a Sunday morning. I added my name onto the list, and then helped myself to a complimentary cuppa java. Tasty stuff, btw. There was a 30 minute wait, but after reading all the Yelp reviews and hearing my sister and her boyfriend rave about it, there was no turning back. Our name was called, and we were asked if we wanted to sit at the bar. We said sure!! The bar's always a good time anyway. We sit at the bar, and were immediately tended to. Nikko, our waiter, took our drink orders and they were promptly served. I asked for a lot of cream, and Nikko did not hesitate to give me more cream when my first serving disappeared. That's what I call service. He didn't even bat an eyelash. I loved that. The food: I ordered a customized omelet with spinach, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and broccoli. Nikko then asked if I wanted egg whites. I beamed and said yes!!! Most places glare at me when I ask for egg whites...or sigh and look over their shoulder at their coworker as if to say, "Another one who wants egg whites....". Again, I loved that I was asked if I wanted egg whites. I also ordered maple sausage links on the side. My sister got an omelet and her boyfriend got a salmon scramble. The home fries in our dishes were superb. Tasty, rustic, and spiced well. The honey wheat toast was very addicting. One bite of that thick slice and I couldn't stop munching. The photo attached will tell you more I'm sure. Sitting at the bar was fun because you get to hear all the banter and join in whenever. The bartenders were really cool, and I learned some cool bar tricks while munching on my tasty omelet. I was also hypnotized by the goblet sized mimosas that were being made in front of me. As I mentioned above, the service was impeccable. Staff was very accommodating, the energy was warm even if it was crazy busy, and most importantly, I felt right at home. Thanks for a great Sunday brunch!!!
(5)
Ed W.
Service here was good! The food here was also very good! Had the steak Benedict with hash. Lots of food per serving. Also had the corn beef hash. The Cinnabon pancakes were tasty! Enjoy!
(4)
Kaitlyn M.
The atmosphere was cozy and 90's-esque. We waited a good half an hour for our food, but my turkey, herbed goat cheese, and blueberry compote flatbread was delicious. The crab cakes were some of the best I've ever had. Great cuisine, okay service.
(3)
K G.
Cute little breakfast spot. Has a B&B homestyle look- slightly victorian era. Theres usually a wait but it goes by pretty quick and they give you tea and coffee to keep you busy (you pay for it on the check). I got the homemade corned beef hash (comes with two eggs and sweet/regular potato hash browns). It was absolutely amazing. And a bloody mary which was delish as well (2nd best ive ever had). All around a pretty nice hidden gem with a unique atmosphere. A lil on the expensive side but definitely worth the money in flavor.
(5)
Someone F.
Great brunch spot. Waited a while but got a primo table on the deck. Had the lobster Benedict which was fantastic. Good Bloody Marys and the staff was friendly. Would definitely come back. Only gripe was way too much thyme in the potatoes.
(4)
Cynthia C.
I was visiting Portland for the weekend and came here on a Saturday morning for brunch. There was already a line out the door by the time we got there. The food is good here though to justify the wait. I had the Lousiana Bayou Omelet which was delicious and was generous in portion size. The menu isn't pretty big but you can't go wrong ordering just about anything. If you're a coffee drinker, i HIGHLY recommend their Rocket Fuel. It's extremely addicting that I came back the next day just to get it. Service was good and the staff were incredibly nice. The server was really helpful in giving us suggestions on what to order. I would come back for the food if I'm ever in Portland again. If not, DEFINITELY for the Rocket Fuel.
(4)
Carolanne C.
Outstanding breakfast! Had a difficult time deciding so the waitress recommended sides of my two choices. No mistake there, I enjoyed the creme broule French toast AND 1 gingerbread pancake with lemon butter sauce! My husband "forced " a side of bacon on my to balance out the sweet/savory! We will certainly return.
(4)
Jessica D.
Great service, great food (unique items) & super yummy mimosas! Will be going here again for sure :)
(5)
Karen R.
This is my new favorite breakfast spot in the greater Portland area. How could I have never been here before? This place is so amazingly charming and is a must visit for both tourists and residents. We went rather early...around 8:30 and had a short wait, but by the time we were finished there was a rather long line outside. The staff was great and offered us to help ourselves to some coffee. It is a rather tight and cozy little place, which I think adds to the charm...It is really hard for me to describe...I feel like I am in a cottage, stepping into another world from Busy Park Ave. I had a hard time selecting...I am a sucker for benedict anything and I decided to order the crab cake eggs benedict. It was so amazing. It does not get any more perfect than this. Our server was very conversational and attentive...and had many tables to handle. Honestly the entire experience was excellent. I really look forward to becoming a regular here. They also serve lunch, and the selections on the menu were equally enticing. I truly just want one of each :D
(5)
Joe R.
Do a half order of the corned beef hash with a "side" (served on top) of poached eggs and the Cajun hollandaise sauce on the side.
(5)
Tanya B.
Eh...it was just okay. The crab cake saved the experience! Service: Was not up to par. The host is actually never at the front of the house so people are just hanging around waiting to be put on a list. The owner or manager sat up front counting money for the entire 30 mins I was waiting for a table never greeting a single customer. Mind you he was standing at the host station. Food: rocket fuel: this is pretty much the cheap powdered cappuccino crap that is sold for a few bucks in a tin can at the grocery store. Crab cake Benedict: fantastic and cooked to perfection. Potatoes served with all meals: yuck! Paprika overload and undercooked. Raw potatoes suck! French toast: inedible! It was like eating raw dough covered in granola.
(3)
Steff D.
Ugh, Yelp, why don't you have half stars?!?! I would absolutely give this place 3.5 stars if I could, but since I can't... and I'm feeling generous (mostly because I'm happy full on Bintliff's food)... it gets four. When I told friends I was finally checking out Bintliff's, I heard the same four things over and over (and over and over, AND OVER AND OVER) again: 1. Get the cinnamon roll pancakes. 2. Get the bloody mary. 3. The service is fabulous. 4. Doesn't matter what time you go, prepare to wait. I was not led astray with any of these tidbits: 1a. I got one cinnamon roll pancake. And it was life-alteringly good. It was the size of a small country, perfectly cooked, the swirls of cinnamon had just a little crunch, and the gooey cream cheese drizzle was the perfect amount of sweet to bring the whole thing together. I don't think anyone in the state of Maine is mastering the "cinnamon roll" pancake quite the way Bintliff's is. I take that back... from the looks of it, very few places in New England are mastering speciality pancakes of any kind they way Bintliff's is. 2a. We'll get back to this. 3a. The service was very good. A host fella was great at explaining to everyone there was a wait and that we could help ourselves to coffee (which was on the honor system). Our waiter, Nick, made us feel welcomed and un-rushed (considering there was a line out the door, that was very impressive). He was patient with my million questions and for the most part very on top of things. 4a. There was a 30 minute wait at 10am on a Wednesday morning. Where did all these people come from? IT'S A WORK DAY. Side note: I also ordered the Huevos Rancheros (homemade red beans and rice with two fried eggs, house salsa, chipotle sour cream, guacamole, cheddar and flour tortilla ). The tortilla was one of the most delightful surprises I've had at a restaurant in a spell as it was actually baked to a nice crispiness and folded in triangles. I really dug that. I also found myself wishing I had a bath tub-sized bowl of the chipotle sour cream in front of me so that I could just eat it with a spoon. It was THAT good. On the opposite hand, the guacamole was straight-up terrible (sorry, Bintliff's). It tasted like the stuff you squeeze out of the 90-calorie packets from the grocery store. Blech. Segue... Obviously if I'm hemming and hawing about giving it a three or a four star rating there were things that I didn't like all that much, including: a. The location (possibly one of the sketchiest parts of town) b. The parking situation (again, I think part of that has to do with the sketchy location) c. The confusing entrance (where do we go to our name on the wait list?) 3. The heat (please, please, I'm begging you - turn the AC on or open a window; I was a hot, sweaty mess within just minutes of being in the place) 4. The bloody mary (it's not vegetarian friendly; according to our waiter [who checked with the kitchen staff] they make it in the morning in a large batch using Worcestershire sauce [read: fish goo] and can't make any special alterations to it - huge let down, if we're being honest).
(4)
Heather O.
Came here for breakfast on a Wednesday at 10am thinking we could be in and out in an hour or so. Wrong. The service here, though everyone was nice, was not what I was expecting. Put it this way- do not park in 2 hour parking. Do not come here if you have anything to do in the next 3 hours. You walk in and there isn't a hostess at the hostess station and all the workers are running up and down the stairs. Eventually we were greeted and put our names down and were told "it won't be long at all". Well, it was long. From the time we checked in until the time we ordered was an hour. Not to mention there were 4 empty tables upstairs when we finally were seated and they remained empty. Yet there was still a line out the door. Crab cake Benedict was great but I wasn't a fan of the potatoes. It wasn't worth the hour wait to order, then half hour wait to get the check after we had our plates cleared. I won't be back.
(3)
Rachel M.
Food is AMAZING!! Do yourself a favor and get the honey wheat bread. We stayed in Portland 3 nights and had breakfast here twice! Everything our group tried was fantastic, and the wait staff do a phenomenal job making you comfortable.
(5)
Laura S.
Be wary of long waits. Coffee at your disposal. Food was better and better after every bite. Our waitress (originally from Middlebury) was SO helpful with suggestions of places to see/things to do. Paying the bill was quick and easy. She deserved her tip! Overall experience, I highly recommended the joint.
(4)
Izabela R.
I just love it here! Although small, and there's usually a wait, it's totally worth it every time. The breakfast here is always on point. I've tried several Benedict's, which is my breakfast if choice, as well as stolen a bite here and there from my dining partner's plate. Literally the best breakfast potatoes ever! I tried one of the 'adult' coffee drinks, so delicious and generous in the booze! Gotta love that! On top of the awesome, expansive menu, they'll throw in a special menu which usually runs seasonal too!!! Don't leave Portland Maine without trying breakfast here first!!
(5)
N A.
BEST BRUNCH I HAVE EVER HAD! The food here is incredible but you are going to have to wait for it! We arrived around 10:15 on a Saturday and waited almost an hour to be seated at the bar (very comfortable seating). After ordering, we got our drinks pretty quickly but then waited at least another 40 minutes for our food. It was torture cause I knew it was going to be really good. I got the Lobster Benedict and WOW. Best I have ever had. Warning, by the time we left, the lunch line looked longer than the breakfast line. You get to order drinks and get coffee while you wait in line but there is always a wait and they don't take reservations on the weekend. It also took way too long to grab our check. Be prepared to wait but you HAVE TO GO HERE.
(4)
Numnums P.
Bintliffs is great! We went here as the first step on our SUPERDATE. It's an excellent way to start the day. The only downfall is that it is so great that errybody wants to get some of it. So there might be a bit of a wait for one of their rustic tables. And they don't have a waiting area. Try the frittata. Customize it! It's frittacious. Pancakes are always good too.
(5)
Amelia C.
I had the most life changing breakfast at Bintlifts!! I split the CARROT CAKE PANCAKE with my friend...thats right a carrot cake pancake. Then I had the Bistro Steak Benedict...holy crap. It is making my mouth water just thinking of it! It was seriously the greatest breakfast I have ever had. I can't wait to go back again and again!
(5)
Amanda R.
I had the best tasting benedict here and I am going back for more soon! I decided to try the Vegetable Benedict because I've never had veggies on a benedict. The veggies tasted fresh and crunchy which was a nice touch with poached hard eggs and an english muffin. Now onto the potatoes..............OMG! I kid you not when I say they were so delicious and a bit spicy, but that was the kicker. I couldn't even finish my breakfast because the taters fill you up and the benedict was so rich. It's definitely going to be for tomorrow's breakfast. The staff are very nice and attentive. We waited for about 25 minutes, but I knew it was worth the wait because of the aromatic smells and boxes of food people took home for leftovers! Go there for breakfast and you'll be in a food coma (good thing), I guarantee it.
(5)
Sarah H.
Bintliff's is a Portland brunch staple that I almost never go to because I have such a hard time with the parking and the wait. However, the service is always good, and the food is good enough to weigh against the parking/waiting concern. We went on a Sunday morning, parked semi-legally in the 5-minute parking spots in front of the main Post Office (we actually live close enough to walk, but it was bitterly cold that morning), and waited almost an hour for a table for 4. We had breakfast cocktails - 2 Mimosas, a Bloody Mary, and a Bellini - and they were excellent. I usually have the pancakes at Bintliff's, but went for the Corned Beef Hash with poached eggs. The hash was very good, but I do wish I had ordered a side of hollandaise. The potatoes were ok, a little too much onion in them for my taste. One of my friends had the dark chocolate waffle, and it looked great - she said it was definitely like having dessert for breakfast! I'll be back, but probably on a weekday!
(4)
Sarah M.
My husband and I loved this place so much that we went back a second time while on vacation in Portland! They have by far one of the friendliest staffs I've ever encountered. The food was excellent and worth more than the price! The manager (or maybe owner) is always running around helping out his staff. It's a great place for breakfast, brunch, or lunch!
(5)
Ryan M.
Holy smokes!! We had to walk about 40 min to get here so I was skeptical, but it was TOTALLY WORTH IT! I had the Acadian omelette, solid. But the thing that really impressed me was the portions. The honey wheat toast was massive and delicious without any butter or jam. The potatoes were delicious with some cholula and the cinnamon bun pancake was so tasty, but somehow not so overly sweet that I couldn't finish it. Also the Meadmosa is definitely worth trying!! 10/10 would eat again!!
(5)
Josh J.
Food was garbage. Do not go. Ordered granola French toast and apple raisin stuffed french toast. In addition to the complete lack of presentation (for $9 french toast), I'm confused how french toast tastes be so bland and not tasty. I felt like I was eating a box of burnt cereal. Took twenty min to order (on a slow Friday morning), another twenty to get food, fifteen to get a coffee refill, thirty to get more water. If service had been disappointing so far, our waitress took the credit card, had someone else run it, and left it sitting at the register for ten minutes. This place is like a junky Perkins, and the quality is worse than IHOP. I'd be ok with what we what we got if it was $5 bucks a dish but it's a dump and overpriced with horrific service. Yelp said something about pet friendly. They're not -the patio is on the second floor. The screaming children crammed into the attic dining hall, paired with the sign saying to wait to be seated that prompted us to stand around for ten minutes before walking upstairs only helped the experience.
(1)
Ashley T.
Food was great but expensive. Service was lacking. I'm glad they have CBD...... But other than that I won't be coming back for a while. I rather go to hot suppa.
(3)
Bill S.
Great brunch here today!! The food is not only plated to perfection but is also cooked to perfection as well! Don't be discouraged by the wait- it's worth every minute! After all if there is a line - people are waiting to eat I'm - it's got to be worth it-right??!! The staff and service is prompt- and kitchen is quick after beeing sat you will be treated like family!
(5)
Jerilyn H.
We had to wait about 35 mins but it was totally worth it.. My bf and I ordered the crab cake Benedict and split a waffle with strawberries/ blueberries/whip!! Best breakfast in portland! My only issue is I wish it made a little more space for waiting customers instead of suggesting a walk through the park.. That's it
(5)
Becky M.
Breakfast/brunch is my favorite meal to go out for so I'm always excited when a restaurant does it right. Hard to find a healthy breakfast option that is also vegetarian and very filling but Bintliffs has it: The veggie home fries, which were perfectly cooked with TONS of filling veggies, 2 poached eggs and honey wheat toast. $11. My friend had a banana pecan pancake with real Maine maple syrup which was good but a bit on the dry side, I've had better pancakes. Also, her traditional Benedict looked awesome. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful and we were seated right away. I have heard though that there can be quite a wait on weekend mornings. I had iced coffee and he made me a nice little pitcher of it. Friend had the peach Bellini with lime juice in it which was so delicious! Also heard their bloody Marys are great but had too much to do today to risk starting to drink at 9am. Overall impressed!
(4)
Stephanie B.
The wait was a little long to be seated so make sure you're not starving when you are going to breakfast and that you aren't on a tight schedule. Our food was excellent, but a little slow to come out. The Mimosas were great and you definitely got your money's worth! We were served by Nikko and he was awesome and attentive. I got an omelette with a side of bacon and it was great! Some of my friends got the hash and were a little disappointed. Another friend got the pancakes and was happy with them and the portions were huge! You will leave with a full happy belly and leftovers. I will definitely keep this place on my list for future visits to Portland :).
(4)
Katie B.
I came to breakfast Tuesday morning with coworkers after a long night shift, we have been here many times prior with GREAT service however today we felt very unwelcome. Our waiter/waitress were both annoyed with our presence, slamming drinks on our table, they were very sarcastic and impersonal, walking away from the table without responding at times. It also seemed to be a huge inconvenience that we were unsure if our fifth guest would be joining us or not despite us being one of the only tables in the restaurant. I have no complaints about the food or drinks, however as a local nurse ending a long shift it's pretty likely we will go elsewhere next time, if it's anything that can ruin a great meal it's bad attitudes and disgruntled staff. Very off- putting.
(3)
Mike U.
We went to Bayside two days in a row and had totally different experiences. Day 1 we had a great server, great food, and an overall great time (despite the 30 minute wait). Day 2 we waited for about an hour, had a horrid server (charged us $12 for an add on to a $12 meal without mentioning that the tiny flakes of lobster being added would double the price) and were charged for the coffee we were told was "complimentary" while we waited. Can't say anything bad about the food so if you don't mind sub-par service I would highly recommend this - if you've worked in food service and expect more, steer clear.
(3)
Happy C.
This is one of my favorite places on earth. I came here for breakfast with a charming young man, and although my love for the man didn't last, my love for Bintliff's did. I love their Irish eggs benedict. I love their Bloody Mary's. I have now been here over 10 times and have never, ever had a bad experience or bad meal. Long live Bintliff's!!
(5)
Nicole M.
The wait for our party (2) was about 20 minutes on a busy Saturday morning, but we were prepared to wait for what we heard was the best breakfast in Portland. I had the Louisiana Bayou Benedict, which is "grilled andouille sausage, homemade corncakes, two poached eggs and spicy Cajun hollandaise sauce". I thought my love for eggs benedict could not be stronger, but this really put me over the top. Absolutely delightful, and the corncakes were fantastic, the highlight of the dish. I'm craving another trip now, two weeks later. Our server was attentive and yet still very busy. Many props to those guys who work there. Highly recommend.
(5)
Bonnie W.
Their eggs benedicts are to die for! Plan to wait a while... we went on a Saturday around 11am and easily waited an hour for a table. But we killed some time down the street at Bubba's and had a drink so it wasn't too bad. Very good and worth the wait! They make an A+ Bloody Mary, too :)
(5)
Victoria C.
You can't go wrong with this place and the wait is worth it! I was in town with some friends and this place had good reviews on yelp. The wait was 30min but our server was great and quick! I ordered the crab cakes Benedict with a cinnamon bun pancake and they were both amazing! So flavorful and yummy! The coffee was also good, we also got refills. I also tried the corned beef hash, I wasn't too crazy about it (the meat needed something, too tough? maybe salt?). Brunch food was good. Coffee was good. Even the atmosphere was great Just wasn't too crazy about looking for parking
(4)
Jerome T.
I come here every time im in portland during brunch hours. Lobster eggs benedict and the delicious coffee they serve called Rocket Fuel every time. Great food. Usually a short wait if any before 10 when ut gets busy. Friendly staff, most recently Jennesa who found time to make sure this bar stool patron was not neglected. Thank You.
(5)
Samantha B.
I really love to come to this place for breakfast when I come to Maine to see my best friend. The wait is always long. Wish there was some way to resolve that but it's popular, people have heard the word, and now the wait is like 45 minutes at least. Sucks, but the food is well worth it. Plus there is a pour and make your own coffee while you wait, so at least they have that. I usually make my own breakfast wrap, with very unusual addition items such as brie, and local maple apple sausage, along with the usuals spinach and mushrooms. I always order the bread on the side (although the menu does not specifically say this when you make your own wrap versus an omelet, they discard the toast. ORDER IT ANYWAYS. It's the best). The wait for the food is always a little long, which kind of stinks, since you've already waited so long to begin with. But overall it's a wonderful restaurant with great flavors and fresh ingredients.
(5)
mike y.
I'm not a morning person..but this place would convert me. OMG. Had the lobster Benny. YUM!! My new favorite way to eat lobster!! Hash was awesome too!! Great place.. very New England colonial port feel.
(5)
J C.
This is my second time around to Bintliff's since I don't even live remotely close. The first time I went I was in love. Lobster Eggs Benedict? You mean, I can find a way to consume lobster in a socially acceptable way for breakfast? Yes, please! That was I think about 3 years ago. I made my homage to the East coast for lobster and I have to say I was a little bit disappointed. The food was just average, the service was average - but the weather was nice so we got to sit outside. It's not bad if you're lookin' for a bite, but I wasn't hit over the head with it this time.
(3)
Christa R.
Such a classic go-to in Portland. I always leave here so full, happy with my meal and the awesome service!
(5)
Nathan K.
The food at Bintliff's is really good, and the restaurant itself has got this kind of warm, cozy atmosphere that is tough to describe, but a joy to experience. The food is good. They do all the standards really well: corned beef hash, pancakes, omlets, all are very good. But nothing here is 'must try' so I'm completely bewildered by why there is always an hour wait to get in. And it's not like other brunch spots, where they have a somewhat-comfortable waiting area, or they're willing to call/text you when your table is ready (not that there's a lot to walk around and see in that neighborhood). If you want to eat there, you show up, wade through the sea of waiting patrons in an attempt to find the permanently-frazzled host (who never seems to be there), get your name on the list, stand around either outside which is probably cold because it's Maine or inside trying not to get in someone's way, and hope that sometime before noon you get your table. Bintliff's has been around for over 10 years and they're still going with this same system. It seems nonsensical, and it really is unpleasant. That's one star gone. There are some places that are so good it's worth that kind of wait. Bintliff's is good, it's just not THAT good. The other missing start is for the service. I always get mediocre service here. People who can't be bothered. Swing by the table, mumble a bunch, try to take the order without writing it down, get it wrong then get huffy when I politely ask for my actual order. One experience that always sitcks in my mind and deters my from going there: Swung by after grabbing iced coffee from somewhere else in town to put my name on the list. I bought the coffee because I knew I'd be waiting a while and I was, but not so long that I'd finished my coffee by the time they sat us. From that moment on, our server behaved like we'd committed a felony by bringing outside drinks into the restaurant. Doing so is against the Maine Food Code and he told us that when he was seating us, to which we immediately replied that we would put our coffees back in the car. He told us it would be okay this one time, but I really wish I'd just ran the coffees back to the car because for the rest of the meal he kept bringing it up ("I'd offer to get you guys coffee but it looks like you already have some."). He doted over the table next to us, and barely spoke to us except to admonish us for bringing in coffee. Bintliff's is totally fine, and if you like to eat super early (definitely before 8am, but the earlier the better), and live within walking distance, you might just be able to walk in and get a table and have some good food. But outside that set of circumstances, it's tough to recommend standing around for a half hour, for good food with bad service.
(3)
Saejin K.
The food is five stars for sure. I got the lobster frittata which was incredible. Home fries were some of the best I've had in my life. However, the Bloody Mary was nothing special and I would've liked more horseradish/Tabasco/Worcestershire sauce. Service was good but we came on a Thursday.
(4)
Eve H.
This was our first stop on our family Memorial Day weekend (2013) trip to Portland. At first look the exterior of the place had me thinking the restaurant would be empty upon entering - I was very wrong. On Saturday morning (5/1/2013) there was nowhere to stand and wait. We found a little nook by the kitchen to stand while we waited for a table. This made the wait more torturous because everything coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled amazing. I ordered the Bistro Steak Benedict - petite beef filets on an English muffin topped with two poached eggs and sun-dried tomato and roasted garlic cream sauce ($12, seriously large serving only $12). It was the most delicious Benedict I have ever experienced. I also ordered a Bloody Mary which was made with very fresh ingredients and was made to perfection. Eugene O had the Rocket Fuel - I seriously thought his eyes were going to pop out of their sockets at any second, but he made it through the day just fine. Periodically keeps wondering where he can get Rocket Fuel in NYC. LOL Service was attentive and quick. Every dish on their menu looked like something I would like to try. I'm kind of happy we don't have places like this by me, otherwise I would have to be hauled off on a tow truck!
(5)
Ashley L.
We come here at least once a month because the food is so amazing. If you come on a weekend, be prepared for a wait though - because perfection takes time and this is a well-known brunch spot. They do not take reservations, you just have to put your name on the wait list, grab a coffee and hang around for a bit. The food is worth every minute you have to wait for it... The pancakes take up almost the entire plate (a good 8-9 inches straight across), the french toast is made with thick texas toast and my boyfriend swears by their scrambles. The irish coffee and mimosas are both amazing - so just treat yourself and get one. If you get a server named Andrew, consider yourself lucky because he memorizes your order, gets it right, is friendly and doesn't take forever to get you your check.
(5)
Jon K.
It was my first trip to Portland, Maine, and I was telling Christine L. that I wanted to try a place that I would want to go to every time I visited her here- and somehow we found Bintliff's! The restaurant has a rustic early American feeling with a great and friendly vibe from the staff. After a moment of taking in all the delicious sounding items on the menu I ordered the Lobster Eggs Benedict. It was my first time in Maine and I was going to get a proper first timer's breakfast meal! What an amazing dish! It came with a hefty portion of lobster, pair of poached eggs, over a bed of farmers greens, and a side of hash. The hollandaise sauce went really well with both the eggs and the lobster- my only qualm was that there wasn't enough sauce for the lobster! The lobster was cooked really well, not rubbery or firm at all and spiced with enough kick to really blow my palette into submission.. yes it was really good! The dish was cost effective for the amount of food and for the amazing taste- a must have when on the hunt for a hearty New England breakfast!
(5)
Scott W.
First time in a long time that I waited an hour to be seated. Once we were seated everything was excellent. We started with blood marys with a shrimp and a strip of bacon. So tasty. For the main course I had the veggies, potatoes and 2 poached eggs. My wife had a gluten-free eggs Benedict.
(5)
Anne D.
The food here is great, but the wait and the service almost ruins the experience. We arrived at about 12:15 on a Sunday, we were seated at about 1:15 and we received our food at 2:10. The food was great, but after 2 hours of waiting I could have eaten anything and thought it was delicious. I still want to emphasize that the food here is excellent, just know that it'll probably be a longer than average dining experience. Hopefully, they will start taking reservations on weekends to help alleviate some of the wait.
(3)
Nicole M.
Definitely my pick for brunch places in town, even if you have to get in your car to get here. You're going to wait. You can enjoy coffee while you wait. You can drool as the oodles of plates go by. And I think you'll enjoy anything you get, but the specials may be the way to go. Take some of the reviews to heart - the portions are HUGE. This is my reminder that next time I go there, to only get 1 piece of french toast. It's good, but it's dense. And the chocolate belgian looks to die for.
(4)
Hum W.
A little ways out of downtown Portland, but very friendly staff. A Breakfast-Lunch place with the best Crab Lobster Bisque I've ever had (and I don't even like lobster). I think they close at 2 pm, but once, they stayed opened late just to seat me, and I finished my tea in a cozy private porch area. I had no idea the place was closed, nobody even bothered me, but once I realized, I hurried out. :) They insisted for me not to rush even though I was the only person. Very thoughtful people, warm food (probably because it was cooked with love) and this was one of my main eat-in places in this city.
(5)
Jesse M.
This place looked like it had potential and is obviously very popular however, there was too much that was a disappointment to make this a must stop. We were quoted 45 minutes on a busy Wednesday in July at 11:00am. I know its hard to predict as an owner/employee but we waited an hour and 15 minutes. Way too long for a breakfast/brunch place. Looked like they were understaffed so it probably slowed everything down. Oh well, that happens. Forgivable. The server was kind but somewhat dazed out, wasn't attentive, and totally messed up what my wife ordered. She got the special peach, goat cheese, balsamic/peach dressing salad. Sounded good except that he brought a house salad. We asked about where the peaches were and a few minutes later he came back and was honest and admitted he messed up when wringing it up. Sadly the kitchen 10 minutes later corrects things with a lame plate of 5 tiny slivers of peach and no goat cheese or dressing correction. Quite disappointing. My dish was really good but the poor service and somewhat dirty restaurant just made this place So So. I'm sure you could have a great experience here as well since the breakfast/brunch menu had a lot of unique choices. Overall, it's too unreliable and too dirty to be a 4-5 star place. Skip this one and try another...especially if there's a wait.
(3)
Heather B.
This place is great! Any of the Benedict's are 100% worth every bite. So are the three potato home fries! Beware - you will most always have a wait!
(4)
Anna E.
I'm kind of in love with this place. I was up visiting my sister before Thanksgiving and the two of came here for breakfast this Tuesday morning. She had heard great things about this restaurant before as her friends have raved about their brunch. After parking on on a side street we walked into a casual yet refined restaurant that has a very New England feel, especially the upstairs. Very cozy. There were so many things on the breakfast/brunch menu that looked great but we opted for the corned beef hash and gingerbread pancakes. The order of corned beef hash was huge and absolutely delicious. Homemade corned beef hash is one of my favorite breakfast items and the the blend of seasonings and tenderness of the meat of the corned beef hash here makes it one of the best I have ever had. Chunks of perfectly cooked potatoes were found in the bottom of the meat pile and achieved the pleasant crispy on the outside and tender on the inside texture. It comes with two eggs any style (we got over medium) placed over the meat and choice of housemade white or wheat bread or storebought english muffin. I highly recommend the wheat bread grilled with butter. Holy deliciousness - warm and crunchy exterior, soft and pillowy interior. Thank you bread gods! The gingerbread pancake was also gigantic and thick, with a warm lemon syrup, and was quite tasty. I appreciated that our waiter was honest in informing us that one pancake would be plenty for the two of us to share considering the mountain of meat that we'd be getting from the order of corned beef hash. Coffee, one of the most important parts of breakfast/brunch/life in general here is really excellent. If you like coffee, you will like this coffee as it is bold, full bodied, and well balanced. I made a point to tell our waiter how much I loved the coffee and he informed me that it is from Coffee By Design. If you are accustomed to weak, watery, coffee (something that I find a lot of people are plagued with) you might not like this coffee as much as I loved it. Also, the service could not have been better. Undoubtably the most memorable experience with a waiter I have had in Portland probably ever. There were two waiters working the upstairs on Tuesday morning and both appeared to be doing a great job but we were extremely fond of our waiter, a young man easy on the eyes, informative, honest, and very warm and likable. Even if he was doing it for the tip, he did it well! If you're reading this, Waiter, you rocked! Lastly, we couldn't finish it all so we brought home the leftovers which our dad ate for breakfast the following day. He enjoyed the leftovers so much that he has requested a trip here in the near future. You know a place a good when even the leftovers leave a positive impression. What a great find!
(5)
Chris W.
The service here seemed to be moving at more of a tortoise-like pace, but their home made corn beef hash was definitely worth the wait! Taking a hint from a friend back home in Massachusetts I stopped by here on my last day of rest and relaxation for a hearty breakfast, and I'm so glad I did. One little thing I enjoyed about the place was the pictures on the wall upstairs. They were full of old photos or newspaper clippings from all over the place. And the one above my table was about some old hotel in Seattle. Very cool!
(4)
Ivan J.
So I don't usually go out to breakfast but I thought that I would go out this morning and try something new. After reviewing the top breakfast spots I decided to give this place a try. It's got an older theme going on with the decor and a friendly staff; we were seated immediately and waited upon. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros and my girlfriend got the Two Eggs Breakfast special. The food took longer to come out then most places I've been too. The seats were a little hard to sit on since they weren't comfortable so that's the only negative piece that I could say. Food came out and looked great and I must add the portions that you get for what you pay are on par! The home fries were slightly burnt but in a good way; you didn't get the burnt taste so they were cooked just right; my meal overall I had no complaints! The waiter was attentive to us on our needs. Overall nice small little spot in Portland, easy to find parking near the post office, and prices are good. Would recommend for brunch with friends.
(4)
Andy L.
Wow. Definitely worth the wait- and be prepared to wait. Ended up with a sweet table upstairs right beside the window. Once we were seated, service was efficient, and our server was friendly. So many delicious looking things on the menu it took a while to choose. Went with the huevos rancheros and did not go wrong. Also had an awesome Bloody Mary with a couple of shrimp. Just the attitude adjustment I needed after waiting for the table. Glad we waited- it was definitely worth it.
(4)
Andi K.
What a great spot! Went for breakfast, expecting the good and usual lobster feature found in so many places in Portland - but the food exceeded our expectations! Lobster frittata and lobster eggs benedict were incredible. The hash browns have sweet potato in them (amazing!) and the cornbread was delicious. Perfect way to kick off our day. Highly recommend for a great meal and not too terribly far from all the shopping and sites of Old Port.
(5)
Jill Z.
WHY THE WAIT??? We came here because it was listed so high on Yelp, and figured because of the reviews there going to be a wait.... so we took YOUR advice, had 2 GIANT Bellinis and waited. (the bellinis were fantastic, but as we stood at the host stand inside, the entire 30 minutes there were 2 empty tables downstairs,,,, weird....) We were finally told a "table was ready" and we went upstairs and outside....I noticed there were 3 empty tables upstairs, and when we got outside, we were the ONLY people on the patio!! (ARE YOU KIDDING???? We just waited 30 mins to eat at an EMPTY restaurant AND there was still a line out the door!!!!). The food was fabulous- lobster Benedict and the corned beef has was gigantic, even my boyfriend who eats triple couldnt finish his plate. If it was just for the food, I would give it 5 stars, but the wait for an empty restaurant REALLY annoyed me....
(3)
Skye G.
Bloody Mary was the best! I do like them but this time it hit the spot just right I had to stick around for another. The Crab Benedict was really filling a delic. I was a bit disappointed by the corn beef hash. I was really looking forward to this. I don't understand the hash part at all as it was pure corn beef, like a slab of meat. The upstairs is bigger and there is an outside patio that everyone tries to sit out at. We sat on the 1st floor by the door and was flexible so we could get in and out. Go early! The lines are long later and I can see why. It is worth the wait. If you do wait they serve you coffee in line which is a nice touch. It was one of the best places we went to in Portland. Thank you reviewers and YELP!
(4)
Hillary w.
pros: the staff was friendly, my boyfriend enjoyed his meal cons: long wait to get seated, i didnt enjoy my meal and food service was very slow just wasnt worth it for me
(2)
Aafaque A.
I don't believe I carried one experience throughout the visit. Waiting almost 30 minutes and getting raw pancake is not dependent on initial impression. "Someone sold the lobster" is not initial impression. I never said food was not good. Food was good but I do believe popularity has made the office bearers of this joint arrogant and they do believe they will have customers no matter what. If attitude and time does not matter to you, you just want good food that is the place for you. If you want good service pleasant and timely service find another place.
(1)
Stephanie C.
Food was delicious with large portions! Service was very friendly. We sat in the "secret garden" as our server called it, which was very private and intimate. Only complaint is that we ate way too much!
(5)
Laurie M.
I know that whomever is reading this, knows that (generally) when they see a 1-star rating, it can sometimes be attributed to jerky, quick to anger people - just the way it is. So, let's ignore those people, you can tell who they are by "how" they write. So, we arrived on a busy Sunday a.m. and were told we would have a 40 or so minute wait. These usually turn into 25-30, so we waited. No big deal; we got a Bloody Mary, and what a BLOODY MARY it was! It was delicious, studded with shrimp (my hubby's choice) and just the right proportions of everything! Next, eggs, corned beef hash, a side of pancakes if you please. My husband's corned beef was liked getting a corned side of corned beef. Utterly mouthwatering and hunks of gorgeous meat galore! My omelette was great (I am fairly boring). Pancakes delish. As a cappuccino lover, we totally appreciated the busboy's (a former Starbuck's barista) expert hot drinks, and in fact, gave our waiter extra $, to make sure he got a little extra something - because he deserved it! CANNOT WAIT TO GO AGAIN!!!
(5)
Caroline P.
A little bit of a wait, but definitely worth it. I've been there twice now and enjoyed it each time. I highly recommend for breakfast!
(5)
Karen C.
3.5 stars Came for breakfast Saturday morning around 9:30/10 our first day in Portland and had about a 20 minute wait. It is a very charming restaurant; we ended up sitting upstairs in a booth across from the bar. Iced coffee was delicious and a nice touch being served in a Sam Adams pint glass :) I got the corned beef hash with 2 sunny side up eggs which was very good, however, there was way too much corned beef and it needed some sort of sauce or another egg yolk to crack over it because once the eggs were gone it was a bit on the dry side. I also was not a fan of the home fries but that is more personal preference I think. A little on the pricey side as well; but service was good. I think I preferred our other big breakfast at Marcy's to Bintliff's.
(3)
Joel L.
Four star food with three star service. Believe the other reviews that say seating it's unclear how to put your name on the seating list (bus boy is also the host?). After fifty minutes of waiting, we find that the upstairs has over four empty tables. Drinks came in three waves, for four people. Make sure you park in the 2 hr parking. Anything with lobster is great. Service was quick after seating though.
(3)
Mark D.
Hands down the best breakfast joint in Portland. Crab Cake Benny Yum!!! Bayou Benny even more yum. Real corned beef Hash!! A staff that knows what they're doing. I think most of the reviews of people complaining about the service were probably there on the week-end. and yes it can take a while because its the week-end and they are busy. If your going on the week-end be prepared for that, but there is a reason they are busy. It's because the food is top notch and lets face it, that is the most important thing. They also just recently repainted the outside of the building and must have done a big cleaning inside cause it looked great in there. What a Gem!!!!
(5)
Mel H.
Yes, they have a SECTION on the menu for both Benedicts and Waffles. Total win in my book. Cute old building with mostly upstairs seating at tables and some bar seats. Great staff, super nice folks! Food was delicious and large portions. I got crab cake Benedict, which also came with some tasty taters. Big old super crabby patties, good helping and lots of meat. My fellow brunchers were overly happy and stuffed off pecan waffles and some cinnamon raisin stuffed french toast. It gets Busy! We arrived at 9am on a Saturday and had to wait about 10 minutes. By the time we left the people waiting hardly fit downstairs. Get in early and hungry! I will return!
(5)
Anna W.
So many benedict options!! Seriously, so many! The food here is amazing, and so is the service. They do get busy, but the servers are incredibly friendly. I recommend going on a weekday morning. Definitely have some bacon, it's unique and so salty and just YUM. It's a small place and can get loud but, like I said, if you go on a weekday it's perfect. Kind of a British bed & breakfast feel to it...but instead of jam and biscuits you get a scrumptious feast!
(5)
Tori R.
My go-to breakfast place in Portland!! This is the best of the best. The lines are always long, but totally worth the wait. I've never had a bad meal!
(5)
Daniella L.
I am at a loss for why people like this place so much. It's always crowded and you have to wait in a long line outside "Rockin' Ricky's" Tavern to get in. When you are finally seated, the booths, tables and chairs are FILTHY. We are not fussy people, but when we glanced around our area, all we could see was literally dirt, dust and food all over the floor, on the seats, between the seats, and large cobwebs floating around the lighting fixtures and on the walls. I do not trust restaurants that don't follow basic sanitation and cleanliness. Honestly, I just can't imagine what the conditions are out back, where patron's can't see...Scary. The food portions are huge; and I mean disgustingly huge. Has anyone heard of the obesity and cholesterol problem in the this country?? Everything on our plates was shiny from grease and oil and either deep fried or smeared with butter. To see the plates overflowing like this may be "a great value" to some, but we found it to be offensive, gluttonous and nauseating. Breakfast not only looked like it was plated for a Giant, but sat in our stomachs like a brick of greasy fat. There are far too many good breakfast places in town that offer great healthy food in a clean environment. This is NOT one of them.
(1)
Linda S.
Oh so fancy! Service is superb. Eggs Benny are my fave here. With some French toast and real Maine maple syrup = Total love! The only downfall - the location. Why there? But that's alright, cause the food is totally amazeballs.
(5)
Kathy C.
What a gem! We were looking for a good brunch during our short Portland trip and glad we found Bintliff. The little building reminded me of the Crooked House in Windsor lol. We got there bright and early on a Sunday morning and to our delight, there was not a wait, yay. The host asked if we would prefer to sit downstairs or upstairs. I wanted to see the 2nd floor, so up we went. We got to sit at a two top near the window in the super cute (and crooked) room upstairs. The building certainly has personality! Anyways, we reviewed the menu and I had my heart set on their lobster bene, which unfortunately, they had already ran out :( So instead, I picked the "make your own" frittata, which I picked smoked salmon, bacon, and capers. The eggs were cooked perfectly, nice a fluffy with plenty of salmon and bacon chunks and capers, delicious! My husband ordered corned beef hash, which was also delicious. We also shared an order of dark chocolate waffle and that was really really yummy. Great service, great food, in an interesting building.... wish I could've tried their lobster bene, but oh well, maybe next time.
(4)
Dana O.
My friends brought me here when I was home from school for Christmas break. At first I was mad at them for taking me to a place with a 30 minute wait, but the wait was in fact only about 15 minutes and it was well worth it! No idea how I grew up in Maine and had never even heard of this place. We sat at the bar. I don't think I would come here and sit anywhere else - the bar is the place to be. All of the waiters and waitresses making drinks were funny and made for great conversation. There was also almost always someone behind the bar, which made it a lot easier to ask for little things that we needed; they were crazy busy, and I'm sure this wouldn't have been as easy if we were sitting at a table waiting for a waiter to run back and forth. My scramble was amazing, and the drinks were just as good. I will be back for sure.
(5)
Cindi W.
Stopped here the day before Thanksgiving on a horribly rainy day. I thought the service was pretty good considering how PACKED it was. I just wanted to go to the store and leave. Hubby had to have a pancake. OK, I gave it. He had his pancake and I had salmon, roll, cream cheese, fried capers.... FRIED CAPERS??? Ok, a nice touch to my salmon and GLUTEN FREE roll and herbed cream cheese. Love those fried capers, except the meal was served on a fancy black dinner plate. I had to really search for the capers. They should have been sprinkled on the top of the salmon instead of buried under the greens. I wonder if I could get fried capers to go. Kind of like the Polenta Croutons I still think of from my other fave lunch spot....hmmm. They could make money on this.
(4)
Eric F.
Bintliff's embodies the quintessential, cozy New England brunch spot almost to a fault. The pictures of their dishes had me sold in moments and our party of five even managed to luck out on a snowy Saturday morning around 10 am with just a 20 or so minute wait. Having that never-ending desire to try as many things as possible at new restaurants, we shared a mix of the Corned Beef Hash (...x4), Lobster Eggs Benedict, French Toast and Gingerbread Pancakes. My huge pile of meat was quite good, easily the best corned beef hash I've had yet. Thing is, I remembered why I was never much of a fan about halfway through the dish - it's indeed tender, but quickly becomes excessively salty and one-note. Interestingly enough, this actually matched with the homefries particularly well since the sweet potatoes' sweetness provided nice balance. On the other hand, one bite of my friend's benedict convinced me it was the best dish on the table with delightfully creamy, buttery hollandaise and fresh lobster. On the sweeter side, I'd actually pass on the French toast and pancakes. Both were too "doughy" and dense, boring me after a couple bites. Though the food had its share of hits and misses, Bintliff's gets the nod for great service and some darn good coffee care of local roaster, Coffee by Design. These combined with generous portions and very reasonable prices would definitely warrant a return visit.
(4)
Keri L.
A local recommended this place and we are big fans. We put our names on the list on a busy Sat. and were told it would be 30-40 minutes so we went for a walk in the nearby park and checked out the awesome farmer's market. When we got back, we were the 2nd on the list and were offered a table or seats at the upstairs bar. We went for the bar, and enjoyed talking to the servers and watching them dance past each other in the small area behind the bar in this old building that we were told had been a home and a number of businesses over the years. We had mimosas, which we mixed with splashes of blueberry or cranberry juice, and a Bloody Mary with cucumber vodka. All tasty and well poured. I ordered lobster eggs benedict: delicious. The Hollandaise is so light and tasty, like no other Hollandaise I've had before. The house potatoes are a mix of 3 potatoes and well-seasoned and well-cooked (browned and a bit crunchy). My husband had the home-made hash and cinnamon bun pancake. The hash had thick pieces of corned beef - and was a big upgrade over your every day hash. The cinnamon bun pancake tasted like a cinnamon roll with a nice drizzle of crème anglaise on top. Delicious and friendly - nice mix of tourists and locals. Great way to kick off a weekend in Portland!
(5)
Liz B.
My husband and I came in on Saturday for brunch on our second trip to Portland. We found 2 hour parking almost right in front of the restaurant. We were told the wait was 45mins, but in reality, I think we got seated sooner. Coffee is out and free for the taking while you wait, which is an appreciated touch. Husband had eggs Benedict with perfectly cooked and tender steak. Not typically a fan of potatoes, even he liked the home fries. I had a special - pumpkin cinnamon pancake with cream cheese icing! It was gooey and delicious. I also got a side of thick, crispy bacon. Bill was under $30, including tip (neither of us got cocktails, which helped). Service was pleasant, and the building itself is very cool. Will likely be back the next time we're in town!!
(4)
Michaela M.
The only negative thing to say about Bintliffs is the wait is too long. But really, you can't blame them for always being packed. This place is perfect for a hangover breakfast or lunch with your grandparents. Super cheap and always delicious. Definitely home-style cooking with a diner-style service. And they are on PDA!
(5)
Julie N.
It had been exactly 1358 days since I had eaten the Lobster Eggs Benedict at Bintliff's Cafe and when the waitress put the plate full of goodness down in front of me, I knew I was about to return home. Holy mother of god, it was even better than I remembered it. The chunks of lobster were enormous and the poached eggs were done so perfectly... the hollandaise was the ideal consistency with just the right balance of sweet and savory... the potatoes were perfectly seasoned with the right amount of crisp... and I inhaled it, dying a little bit more with every bite. Still is and still will always be, the best breakfast I've ever had.
(5)
Andrew R.
Writing this review a month later, I recall Bintliff's being perfectly good. Traditional menu done well, good coffee, interesting ambiance (an old house), excellent service.
(4)
Ellie P.
We had a lovely family brunch here a couple of weeks ago, the food was good, the locale was quaint (we sat upstairs), the staff was friendly, and patient! but the coffee...OMG! The coffee was beyond great!! Their "rocket fuel" iced coffee is out of this world, seriously, if you're a coffee addict, as I am, do yourself and your tastebuds a favor, and try this rocket fuel coffee, you won't regret it!
(5)
Tom S.
Unfortunately I couldn't give this DUMP a no star rating. If you are considering going here please read the one-star reviews. They tell it like it is. My girlfriend had the French toast which was the worst she has ever had. I had the rancho huevers. It was ok except the tortillas were folded pieces of cardboard. I cannot believe anyone rates this place above a one. It was dirty, poor service, crummy food, and in a not great neighborhood. BTW the windows look like they haven't been washed in years.
(1)
Aesop V.
Pros: delicious breakfast items, friendly staff, alcoholic breakfast beverages Cons: Wait times can be long if you don't go early Summary: Bintliffs is one of the best breakfast/lunch places to go to in Portland and you would be remiss to not come here. They don't take reservations so show up early or else you could be waiting upwards of an hour on a Sunday morning. They have items that satisfy every palate from savory/salty breakfast to your sweet tooth like french toast and waffles. I don't have much of a sweet tooth so what I suggest is that when you go, at least one person get a sweet item so you can split and share. Don't get me wrong those waffles and french toast are awesome, I just can't finish it so I'd rather split it. When I went this past time my girlfriend and I both got egg Benedict's because they prepare it really well it. The yolk is still runny when you poke into it and as you eat it mixes with toasted english muffin and sits inside all the crevices. I'm salivating now as I think of it. You can't go wrong eating here, I haven't have a bad experience with the food yet.
(4)
S And E H.
Get here EARLY, the wait is RIDICULOUS if not. My favorite is the Louisiana Bayou Benedict (grilled andouille sausage, homemade corncakes, two poached eggs and spicy Cajun hollandaise sauce) it's absolutely Mouth-watering. So tasty. The crab-cake benedict was just alright. The waffles were not memorable.
(4)
James F.
Believe the hype - yes, the food is that good. I had a frittata, girlfriend had apple/raisin stuffed french toast. She was nice enough to share, and i really can't decide which one was better. The bread that they use for the french toast (and also for the toast i got on the side) is dense, but soft and "naturally" buttery - just a great texture/flavor combination. The frittata was huge, and the veggies in it tasted really fresh - local broccoli in Maine in January - can't be, right? Visually, the setting is quaint and cozy - the building is ancient, you can feel the quirks, character and history, and it has been decorated to play this up (but not feel stuffy in the least) The only slightly uneven part of the experience was our waiter. Really nice, endearing guy, he was clearly a bit absentminded, as he forgot about an order of hot chocolate (and acknowledged it when he finally brought it) and couldn't read his own writing on the frittata order and came back to confirm. But these were only minor disappointments in an afternoon of deliciousness, and our waiter made amends by advising the best way to reheat the leftovers we took home.
(5)
Bill M.
This place is AMAZING!!!! We went for brunch. During our travels, we seek brunch locations based on their Bloody Mary reviews. The menu is excellent!!! We each ordered a "Benedict" dish: Bistro Steak and Lobster Benedict. Both dishes were impeccable! Excellent portions, great service, cool atmosphere (although a little tight) but this place should NOT be missed. The best food that we had on our trip.
(5)
Bartholomew K.
We must have looked pretty or something, they told us there was no wait. Sat upstairs, had great coffee, dealt with the very loud guy bragging about everything at the table next to ours. Whatever. The decor is quirky, a bit dusty almost. Made me think of that show Northern Exposure. Not really sure why as they were supposed to be in Alaska on that show, right? No-nonsense waitress, answered all my questions, refilled my coffee mug. My boyfriend had the salmon platter, which was incredible but I still wonder if the egg scramble should have been on it. Slightly random - definitely too much food. I ordered their huevos rancheros. They were delicious. Asked for eggs poached and they were perfect. Toasted tortilla, guac, salsa, rice, beans - the plate was so full of flavor! The portions are rather large. I wouldn't run back the next day but I'd come back if we visited Portland again. I do recommend you check it out and hope to skip the wait. We went a few minutes before 8am on a Saturday. No, we're not crazy. At all. I just couldn't sleep. We slept more after breakfast. You might, too.
(4)
Susan L.
After my first bite, I died and went to heaven and came back to finish the rest of my meal. Man, oh man, Blintiff's is well worth the wait. We waited 15 mins for a table and another 20 mins for our food to arrive, but boy was it to die for. THE FOOD: Bayou Benedict - This is what I ordered. Poached eggs on top of corn cakes drizzled with CAJUN HOLLANDAISE. OMG cajon hollandaise is amazing! Definitely give this a try if you want a twist on the normal eggs benny. Comes with a side of potato hash to boot! Corned Beef Hash - Mmm had a few bites of teh corned beef. So darn tender and perfect. Will definitely have to come here again next time I'm in Portland.
(5)
Steve W.
243 reviews!! Best brunch in Maine. Not too much seating so be prepared to wait 20-30 minutes during peak breakfast/brunch periods - but if you can hold out the wait - well worth it. House coffee is A+ and with their fresh squeezed OJ - you'll be perfectly set-up for the BEST Eggs Benedict in New England. (My sole hesitation in writing this review is creating more of a line for my next visit.)
(5)
Faizal K.
Delicious. Grab a seat on the back patio and order a half order... it's plenty of food and the coffee is great. A treat to be away from the tourist traps by the water.
(4)
David H.
Probably the best breakfast/brunch you can find in Portland. The dark chocolate waffles with whipped cream and strawberries are incredible. Last time I was there I had the apple cinnamon raisin french toast. It was massive, tasty, and an incredible experience for my taste buds. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to a friend visiting from out of town, and I don't hesitate to give it a five star review. Expect a longer wait in the early afternoon than you would in the early morning, but it's worth it.
(5)
Francisco S.
Nice location and ambience. Great breakfast place for locals. The Maine Blueberry pancakes were excellent and the Homemade Corned Beef Hash (medley of 3 potatoes: red, gold, and sweet). Big portions, too. Friendly staff; coffee just kept on pouring.
(4)
Danielle R.
Came here during the week with just my one year old and myself. Seating is upstairs and I had a stroller and am almost 9 mos pregnant so the idea of taking him up the stairs was NOT appealing. The hostess was extremely accommodating and allowed me to sit downstairs in the area normally used for waiting patrons. Definitely a well trafficked area and not normally a place you'd want to sit and eat but I was very appreciative for the spot. It was busier than I realized, which definitely had an impact on the time it took to get our food (approx 45 mins from ordering). I ordered the half plate of corned beef hash and got the yogurt and fruit for my son. 4/5 rating for my plate - it was good but not mind blowing; my corned beef was warm, not hot like the eggs and potatoes. 3/5 rating for my sons plate - asked for the honey on the side, it wasn't. The fruit was definitely not day fresh which I would have expected at this time of the year. Overall, a good experience. Friendly wait staff and very accommodating. I would definitely recommend to others.
(4)
Bruce R.
Excellent breakfast. Some cool specials, huge portions and friendly staff. Parking in the area sucks, and you should expect a wait to be seated. Well worth a visit despite those small inconveniences.
(4)
Liam S.
I just went here for the first time and it was good! This is the type of place that someone has too tell you to go to, or you would never know. Good classic American breakfast done very well, Service was good, Atmosphere is kind of neat even though the decor is a bit warn. The service was good too. If you are looking for a breakfast place, it is worth a visit.
(4)
Steve K.
First off, weekend brunch hours are too crowded. It literally took more than an hour before we recieved our food. That being said, food was good with healthy portions and the price was also pretty fair. Dark chocolate waffles were especially delicious. Eggs benedict was also pretty good but the french toast wasn't exactly what I was normally used to. A bit too dry and too 'healthy' tasting, for the lack of better terms. It was a good experience overall but the wait could've been a bit shorter. I think it also made me work up too much of an appetite and expectation to which, to be fair, the food didn't necessarily disappoint but neither did it make me forget the wait. I would definitely come back. Just gotta figure out when it isn't so crowded.
(3)
Katie L.
A beautiful restaurant and peaceful retreat, overall a very enjoyable and relaxing place to enjoy an Eggs Florentine! The wait was a little lengthy, but in the end was totally worth it. There outdoor patio space is a treat. Everything on the menu looked delicious, so it was hard to pick. I'll have to return some time to try one of their inventive pancake specials or the pecan encrusted French toast. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Julio S.
I was visiting a family member in Portland on short vacation time last March. I took a red-eye into Trenton, NJ, then a verrrry early regional jet to Portland, followed by a bus into town. Exhausted and crabby from having spent all night in cramped seats, I strolled into Bintliff's for my first meal since the previous day's lunch. I. Was. Stunned. I was stunned by the combination of quality cuisine, excellent service, and amiable environment. They were a bit busy, but my water glass was never more than 2/3rds empty. Our waiter was friendly and engaging. In fact, heard me mention that it was my first time in Maine and casually dropped off a "Welcome to Maine" blueberry pancake! That was just the icing on the cake, for me. In addition, I ordered the lobster benedict. It was my first time trying and enjoying lobster (I had disliked lobster as a child and hadn't decided to brave the crustacean again as an adult), and it was simply delicious. I was back two days later, when I tried the corned beef hash (also very yummy). Suffice it to say, I will likely try to squeeze in a trip every time I'm in Portland (as well as proselytize about the place to friends and family who should happen to visit the area). In short, the food's good, the staff's friendly, and you should go. Maybe during off-peak hours, since it can be packed. :)
(5)
Ned B.
My girlfriend and I love to eat brunch at Bintliff on the weekends. The atmosphere is extremely cozy and inviting. The wait staff is has been consistently helpful, nice, warm and friendly. Usually the wait is between 30-45 minutes for a 2 top, which isn't bad considering how busy it is. The complimentary coffee brewed by local Coffee by Design is delicious. The food is consistently delicious and looks amazing. I usually eat the eggs florentine benedict but have also eaten the bintliff scramble, the bistro steak bendict and the classic bendict, all of which were amazing. haven't tried the waffles though they look delicious (I'm an eggs kind of guy) Menu is easy to navigate with delicious sides. Highly recommend the bloody mary or mimosa (we get them every time) Hands down BEST breakfast/ brunch eatery in Portland.
(5)
Nat S.
This place is a sight for sore eyes, especially when one has enjoyed Portland's bounty a bit too much the night before. Word of warning the food is fabulous- however the portions tend on the trucker size. Pancakes are light and fluffy the pecan banana are my favorite. The home made beef hash is on steroids, tender 1'' bites of falling apart beef with the potato's, home made bread and eggs. The eggs benny is also a hit. Service is always professional and helpful. Like many of my favorite establishments in Portland the business is housed in a lovely old building with interesting artifacts on the wall like a menu from the 1920's?
(5)
Eva G.
Saturday around 10-11am, the wait was about 15 minutes. The complimentary coffee for those waiting is simple genius. This place is nostalgically decorated inside, with walls covered with positive reviews and celeb appraisals. Service is excellent; they give me a vibe of southern hospitality. Food is really good, and portion sizes will put your stomach to the test. As in... you can split the pancake order four-ways. My friends inhaled the orange juice; apparently stuff here is very homestyle and fresh/organic.
(4)
Elizabeth D.
We don't go to Bintliff's as often as we should but every time we do we have an outstanding breakfast. We have never had to wait long, perhaps it's because we're getting on in years and maybe the wait staff thinks we're ready to topple over :-) My husband always orders an omelette loaded with mushrooms and I always order the Bintliff's famous Eggs Benedict and corned beef hash, of course I always pay for it later in the day, so thank God for Zantac (you'll find out someday when your stomach is no longer cast iron). We love the friendly atmosphere, the quirky decorating and the staff always takes a moment to say hello and have a couple of words. Nice place, just wish they had their own parking.
(5)
Ryan H.
A very popular brunch spot, hence the line wrapped around the block... Food was good, not out of this world, but a cool place nonetheless. The down-home feel of the place added to the experience. I had the huevos rancheros, which were nothing to write home about, my girlfriend had the Cajun benedict, which seems to have been the better choice.
(3)
tara m.
I love this breakfast spot! The service is great, the food is fantastic and the drinks are stiff. It's one of my favorite spots in Portland for brunch.
(5)
Justine J.
I visited Bintliff's with a friend recently, and had an awesome experience. The atmosphere is very interesting, there was NO wait for a table (around 10:00am on a week day), our waiter was extremely attentive and friendly, and the food was DELICIOUS. Oh, and the bloody marys are pretty awesome, too!
(5)
Sonam R.
After reading remarkable things about Bintliff's, I thought it was okay. We waited about 15 minutes before we got seated. Service was phemenonal, however the food was moderate, nothing to write home about. I had the iced coffee (Coffee by Design), bacon, and one piece of french toast. The french toast was fine and the bacon was awesome (crispy, not overdone at all). My family had mimosas, the scrambles (quite popular from what I hear) and french toast. We spent just under $80 with tip for brunch. Best part of brunch was eating outside. Be sure to get a table outside on the deck in summer, it's quite relaxing.
(3)
Cassandra B.
I stopped in for breakfast on a rainy Tuesday morning because there were virtually no other breakfast places open in the area. The service was friendly and the restaurant is beautifully decorated and comfortable. I was disappointed that they didn't have any "seasonal vegan brunch" items, as the menu indicated, aside from a hummus and vegetable wrap, which is not a brunch item, and is listed elsewhere on the menu so it's not really a special. Anyhow, I went with the veggie potatoes side for $6, which was a large, tasty plate of pan-fried potatoes, peppers, zucchini, and other veggies. Very tasty and a large portion for the price.
(3)
Ashika B.
I hate that this place was so disappointing for me, but it was. First the wait time was irritating given that there really is no place to stand and wait. You are pretty much standing in front of the main door and people have to squeeze past you as they enter and exit. The fact that you look around and there are empty tables makes the wait all the more annoying. I was determined to not let this ruin my experience though. I started with a Bloody Mary and got a very generous glass that was excellent. I was chomping at the bit to order the Maine Lobster Benedict that everyone raved about, so imagine my dismay when the waitress informed me that they were all out of lobster. Say what now? You're out of lobster, in Maine, at 11am on a random Tuesday? Unacceptable. I reluctantly ordered the Bistro Steak Benedict. I wanted my steak medium but it arrived close to well done. Aside from that it was delicious! I am torn when a place has 4-5 star food but other shortcomings like poor service, poor layout and a shortage of a signature item. I am pretty sure that I will return to Bintliff's on my next visit to give them another shot, but this visit was disappointing.
(2)
Sean R.
Alrighty, so.... Wait times: Welcome to the world of restruants fellow reviewers. Instead of quick judgment maybe you should consider that you are unaware of what is happening behind the scenes. Plus if there is a wait, especially at this establishment it means your in for a treat! Be patient, slow the heck down, and relax. Plus here, they allow you to fill up on some hot coffee while you wait. Building/establishment: Beautiful on the inside, reminds me of a pub in Dublin Ireland. Unique and open. Small town feel! Food: Large portions, fresh food. The eggs Benedict are to die for as well as there corned beef hash. Yummy food! Employees: Very friendly staff! Our waitress was personal and funny. Took the time to talk and get to know us. Even while I waited for a table an employee and I shared a few conversations. Also it is nice to see the owner of the establishment working right along side his employees. Overall this place is a must for Portland Maine. Its certainly worth the wait.
(4)
Francesca S.
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!
(5)
Cody S.
If you dont love this place, you probably hate all things good in this world !! I try and eat here as many sundays as possible. Bayou Benedict is my personal favorite, and their Bloody Mary's/Turbo Coffee are just the pick-me up needed to get your sunday going, You also cant go wrong with the Hash, or the Crab Bennies either. Everything is always cooked fresh and delivered in a timely manner. They do have some pretty cool "typical" breakfast items, like a granola french toast and gigantic lots of delicious things pancakes. Staff is friendly and humorous and despite ALWAYS being busy, they make time to catch up with us. As its a pretty popular place, dont go here expecting to get a table right off the bat, there is usually a 40 min wait every time we go, but dont let that discourage you, as the food and service is well worth it, PLUS, they are always kind enough to make you a delicious Bloody Mary (or grab a cup of coffee) to help satiate you while you wait. LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE !!
(5)
Michael C.
Great food. The neighborhood is a little shady and took a long time to get food but it was good overall
(4)
Eliza M.
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.
(5)
Laura M.
Amazing service! Super locally owned neighborhood brunch/breakfast place. Greeted by the owner, coffee for the short wait and great bustling vibe. Huge portions! We will be back!
(4)
Nichole D.
I hate to attract more people to this place since it's already busy enough, but I feel it's only fair to let other know that this is the BEST Breakfast place EVER! THE CORN BEEF IS TO DIE FOR! let me just preface this with a few things before I get into their amazing food..people get turned off by a few things like the wait, the dirty appearance of the restaurant and sometimes the service, so let me just say... 1. This place if for early birds or those who don't mind a slightly awkward/chilly wait..get there before 9 AM for sure, 7 or 8 is best.. 2.It's down right dirty (mostly just dusty as hell) inside, but it has a lot of character 3. Service is sometimes less then amazing However the food makes up for any of these other downfalls...This little hole in the wall restaurant is the best breakfast joint around... THE CORN BEEF is SENSATIONAL! STUPENDOUS! UNBELIEVABLE! Makes my life complete! I live for this stuff! Even better with perfectly cooked eggs on top. yeah not such a fan of the hash personally, but the corn beef is amazing! Also LOVE the chocolate Belgian waffles! Plus they also have a variety of interesting pancakes, like the ginger with the lemon sauce on top mmmm And the french toast is great. I love everything but the hash really and everyone else I know loves it. Its always fun to have mimosas as well!
(5)
Jennifer T.
I went with my family to eat here and each one of us got a different dish. My mother loved her omelette, but her toast was completely burnt! My dish (scrambled eggs with mushroom and home fries) was way too salty. I had to stop eating after a while because I couldn't take it anymore. In addition, my sister's meal and my father's meal had smoked salmon, which was quite dry. They also had bagels, which were also burnt. The service was to be desired, as well. Sitting on the first floor was definitely detrimental to our experience there because we hardly ever saw our waiter, who was upstairs taking care of other customers. The hostess served/helped us more than our actual waiter. Never coming back. Sorry.
(2)
Justin D.
Pumpkin pancakes were very very tasty! Lobster Benedict was also very tasty. Place is cute with grandmothers kitchen / old house type of way. Coffee was so-so. Would be a good idea to swing by Speckled Ax Coffee up the road and grab a coffe and then get breakfast here.
(3)
Thuy N.
My goto place for breakfast. The omelettes and crab cakes are great. I love the food presentation too. The corn beef hash is good, though I would go to Hot Suppa for that. I had one okay entree and that was the pulled pork. That's from the seasonal menu, so I'll let that slide. Other than that, I don't think you can go wrong with this place. The wait can be long. Wish they open one in San Diego.. it'll be a hit!
(5)
Tammy B.
Very cute establishment. The menu had a really good selection. The food was really tasty and portions were generous. I would definitely go back.
(5)
Frances S.
Bintliff's breakfast and brunch were so great we ate there twice on a two-day stay -- quite a tribute from three foodies! The Eggs Benedict were perfectly cooked, the scallion pancake was flavorful and the texture was perfect, and the home baked bread was the best we had on a 9 day trip in Maine. Even the tea was properly made, to the delight of our English friend. We first went on a very busy Sunday, but the service remained friendly and professional, and our waiter (Andrew) remembered us and our drink orders when we returned the next day. Definitely worth a stop when you are in Portland.
(5)
L H.
OMG-I am mistrustful of yelp reviews after coming to this establishment. First,We practically had to wait on ourselves. Clean is not on in their vocabulary and the food is expensive and horrible. Not a good example of Portland cuisine for sure.
(1)
Kendra E.
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 :)
(5)
Aislinn F.
One word: Amazing. My husband's family is from Maine and we come to visit about 2-3 times a year. I'm always looking to try new restaurants whenever we are in town - and my husband's brother had recommended this place, so I knew we had to eat here before we left. This place has that New England charm with the decor inside and Portland history all over the walls. When we got there, the wait was very, very long (about an hour) and the waiting area is very small - but that was kind of expected. Just make sure to give your name to the hostess, which may be hard to spot since it's tucked away to the side. But this place is definitely worth the wait! Plus, there's delicious coffee to keep you occupied. You do have the option to sit downstairs or upstairs, so we chose upstairs. We were luckily seated in a cozy booth by the big window which was perfect. Sitting downstairs may be able to get you seated quickly, but the setup can be awkward if it's during peak time at the restaurant. It definitely could get a little crowded - but if time is not on your side, that may be the best option. Our waiter was great. I don't remember his name, but he was very friendly and accommodating. He gave us his favorite recommendations (we were a table of many indecisive people), answered any questions about the menu (mostly from me), and was right on point with the service. I was on vacation, so I was definitely boozing up on the mimosas. As for my meal, I got the eggs florentine benedict and it was seriously one of the best meals that I've had for brunch. My favorite though? Their three-potato homefries. Worth getting if it doesn't come with your meal! My mother-in-law got the corned beef hash, which was also good - but the serving size was huuuge, so definitely something I'd consider sharing with someone else. I'll most likely be back again later this summer - so hopefully I'll be able try some other items on their menu. Definitely worth checking out if you're making a trip to the Portland area!
(4)
Jessica M.
The veggies in my scramble were fresh, the bread was thick and soft, and the bacon was crisped to perfection. However, the cinnamon bun pancake with cream cheese drizzle was the best part.. Melt in your mouth, heavenly manna. Our bellies were full and happy when we left. I will definitely be back!
(4)
BL R.
An adorable, small place with a consistently big wait list, but well worth it. I had the Lobster Eggs Benedict. A couple of good size chunks of lobster, perfect poached eggs and baby spinach on English muffin. The three potato (sweet, red and Yukon Golds) home fries were well done, but just a bit too much Rosemary for me...but that's just me. Everything was very good, including the Bintliff custom coffee and the service. A must try!
(5)
Alana T.
Great waffles and hash.
(4)
Simon L.
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!
(5)
Patty L.
Great place for breakfast!!!! Best homemade bread I have ever had. Nice thick slices with lots of flavor. Nice presentation of the food. Our waiter was great. On top of his game and very funny. Will defiantly go back there if we visit again.
(5)
Lena L.
Wish we lived a little closer to this place! My boyfriend and I recently visited Portland, and were told by a friend to make breakfast happen at Bintliff's. We didn't make a reservation, getting there on a Friday morning at 10am, and were seated immediately. The waitstaff appropriated laughed at our order (cinnamon bun pancakes, orange graham french toast, seafood bisque, and a white chocolate iced coffee), and it was a bit much for two people... but everything was TO DIE FOR delicious. If you want to try a bit of everything, like we so eagerly did, make sure to take advantage of their single servings of pancakes and french toast (which we eagerly did not). Can't wait to get here again one day so I can try an egg breakfast!
(5)
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.
(4)
Byron D.
I like sitting in the upstairs. The decor reminds me of a place you might see in older parts of Boston or New York. I was surprised to see the place as packed as it was. Our waitress was helpful and fun, the food was delicious, and abundant. If you are traveling through Portland this is only like 1 minute off the highway. Treat yourself!!
(3)
Lui N.
Of all the places I've travelled in the country, this place is at the top of my best list for breakfast.
(5)
Amy M.
Bintliff's makes one spectacular breakfast. My favorite is the Belgian waffle - but ask them to cook it as the very last item in your table's order and butter the iron extra. I actually got that by accident one day and *best* waffle I have ever ever had. My original came out cold and wouldn't melt the butter so I sent it back -- the server said she would have them make a completely new one and put the butter *in* the waffle iron, then bring it out ASAP when it was done. Well this was like waffle heaven, it was crispy and hot and omg so good. (Good enough to make me give this five stars for an entree I originally sent back) Other great items: pancakes, french toast corned beef hash, mimosas & bellinis. This is our 'go to' when family is in town and we want to take them out to a nice breakfast.
After a disappointed disastrous dinner in Eventide, finally found a decent place to eat here. It has the best brunch! I had the omelet with sausages, corned beef hash, bacon and roasted peppers, with home fries and toast, with real Maine maple syrup. Monstrous portion. And service was very good, without any attitude like the Eventide. Owner and waiter was very friendly too. Strongly recommend this place.
(5)
Luisa S.
Always worth the wait. A gem of a place due to its eclectic menu and atmosphere, friendly staff, even under stress - I never have had a bad meal or experience here - just be patient - relax - have some excellent coffee while you wait.
(5)
Garrett Q.
Great portions
(4)
Emma L.
After much yelp due diligence on the hunt for to-die for brunch fare, we found ourselves waiting in a line outside of Blintliff's Saturday morning. The service was "not as fast as I am use to in NYC" but I'm on vacation over Memorial day, I don't mind enjoying my minutes. I ordered the crab cake benedict and S tried to order the lobster frittata but THEY RAN OUT OF LOBSTER AT 12noon. I was (not a little) a lot confused. How does Maine run out of Lobster? Is the state ok? So the server apologized and talked S into ordering some smoked lox dish that was nothing amazing than a NJ diner would serve. Same description for my crab cake benedict. The restaurant was really nothing to write home about. Trust me, I wanted to love this place and foodgasm myself all over. It felt like a pub that served lobster with eggs.
(2)
Allison W.
Honestly, this place does not live up to the hype. M got the classic breakfast, and probably would have enjoyed the Denny's version over Bintliff's. The homefries weren't good. The bread was bad. The eggs were mediocre. My orange French toast was good but not great. Overall this place would have scored three stars, but we had to wait 30 mins to be seated. That's disappointing.
(2)
Tamarleigh G.
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.
(4)
Boo H.
Omg! This place is one of the worst place I've ever eaten in Portland! The wait for ridiculously long and food was sooo disappointing!!!!!
(1)
Cindy S.
Great place. Only 15 minute wait and well worth it. Staff is VERY friendly and energetic. Started off with a Bloody Mary! Amazing. Food was delicious too!
(5)
Tim S.
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.
(5)
Isaiah G.
fantastic food. and i have to say the building is super cool.
(5)
Marcin M.
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.
(4)
Cecilia T.
3 or 3.5 stars. I'm a big brunch snobbie from Chicago and San Fran area, so i have high expectations. I came here twice in one weekend to try different dishes and I'd say the food is decent but nothing memorable in my opinion. But probably the best choice to eat if you're vacationing in Portland. Food: Lobster Benedict - it was just so so. There's only like one or two lobster pieces per english muffin and the hollandaise sauce wasn't memorable. They could probably cooked the poached egg a bit more so it was a little less runny. Crabcake Benedict - after Big Jone's version in chicago, i haven't found anything comparable since. They offer plenty of meat on this dish, but the flavor wasn't entirely memorable and actually just a little bit fishy. Chocolate french toast. Rather disappointed that this was just ordinary. The honeywheat was fluffy but the texture and flavor and sauces just weren't memorable. Side of fruit - came out rather warm, just some small pieces of cantaloupe and pineapple, didn't look all that fresh . Good coffee and orange juice here. Atmosphere: Sweating over brunch in a non-airconditioned venue probably partly influenced my appetite for my meal. And also the slow service to refill my coffee. Had to ask someone to refill my coffee both times I came. I do like the casual and historical atmosphere. We barely had to wait both times we came, although this was a Saturday at 9a.m. and a sunday at noon.
(3)
Katie P.
Delicious Bellini's and coffee! Excellent servers who explained the menu well and gave suggestions. The homemade bread was excellent! I had the Cajun Eggs Benedict. Now, I have to say, I have never had eggs benedict for fear of my eggs being really runny, but when I told the waiter he told me I can have my eggs any way I wanted! Sweet! Over medium eggs over corn cakes smothered in a spicy creamy hollandaise type sauce. The homefries were 3 different kinds of potatoes including sweet! Loved them! My husband just got some eggs with hash l, but he raved about the hash. Not your ordinary hash either, nope, it is made with big chunks of angus corned beef!! We shared a bluberry pancake, that we didn't finish, and that was OK. Not fluffy and no real flavor, which was surprising because of rave reviews they get. Oh well, maybe it was an off day. Either way, if we are ever in the area again we will go back!
(5)
Stacey R.
I wish we had a breakfast place this good in Maryland.
(5)
Laci B.
I haven't been in awhile and I always loved this place. All I can say is what happened? After waiting the usual 30 minutes to get in we waited for our server, and waited. Ok you are busy I get that. We order and we wait, we wait, we wait, and we notice people who had to wait for a table after us (45 minutes) later. Are getting their food (5 tables to be exact); by this time we are starving. Finally after hour and a half I ask the guy carrying a note pad to check on our order. Wouldn't you know it once he checked it, it came out five minutes later. Boy did the food suck!! The corned beef hash was gross, the potatoes tasted like mold, and the mocha pancakes blah ( pretty sure I chipped a tooth). After waiting over 2 hours for moldy gross food I don't think we will be back. I don't know if the management, kitchen staff or wait staff has changed; but it's sad when one of your favorite places crashes and burns! Portland peeps reconsider before waiting in that long ass line. I think this is the start of the way down for this place. I will also note since we had a lot of time to look around at the place it is dirty! Cobwebs, dust, and dirt everywhere. Note to owners and workers maybe close for a day for a deep cleaning as this place needs it! Look at your ceiling fan for Gods sake you didn't need it this winter, it could have been cleaned. Maybe this is where the moldy potatoes came from?
(2)
Cassandra B.
My bf and I are on the search for the best breakfast place in Portland. Heard some great reviews so tried it out this morning. First impression was not the best, had to wait 10 minutes just to put our name on the waiting list.. Huh? Waited another 30 outside, which was not a problem. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros which is my favorite breakfast ever. For me, it was a little too plain. No interesting spices to it at all. Not spicy or special. My bf got the eggs and crab cakes. We were very excited about the crab cakes, but they were mostly made up of bread. Neither of us could taste even a hint of crab, which is weird, considering every bite we were pulling crab tissue out of our mouths. Our waitress was very unattentive, we had some guy helping us out pretty much the whole time, lucky for the waitress my boyfriend would never leave less than 20% because I would have left no more than 5%. Definitley not the best breakfast dive in Portland.
(2)
Kristen C.
Unbelievably amazing! We waited around 30 minutes to get in, but there was a reason!! The lobster Benedict was fantastic...highly recommended. The corned beef hash came with more corned beef then I've ever seen for breakfast...and it was so good! I don't have one bad thing to say about this place.
(5)
Jim B.
We had a terrible experience there today. We waited over a half hour for a table. This was expected, but when we finally got one there were at least half a dozen tables empty, and there were still people waiting outside in line. Our waitress was awful, another had to bring us a glass of water. This after another 15 minute wait after being seated. Our waitress was far more interested in sitting at a nearby table talking to her friends than in serving us. When we finally got the food it was cold. I assume because the waitress could not be bothered to stop socializing and do her job. We complained and asked to see the manager. The manager could not find time to see us. We were given a business card and told we could email her. Utter bullshit! I'LL NEVER GO TO BLINTLIFF'S AGAIN.
(1)
John A.
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.
(4)
Joanna F.
Ok... I don't think I really need to update my review, but I'm going to anyway. I have now been to Bintliff's 7 times and every single time has been spectacular. Not good, not great, but SPECTACULAR. I honestly don't think I can say that about another restaurant I've been to. The second to last time I was there, they didn't have my favorite (the smoked salmon plate) because the HUGE salmon was being brought in for them to "house smoke" while I was waiting for a table! I made a last minute decision to get the huevos rancheros and the dish was amazing. Literally every dish I've had there has been absolutely mouth watering. I would seriously consider driving the 2 hours to Portland every weekend to go to brunch here, but I would probably gain 20 pounds.
(5)
Sara M.
Husby and I came to Portland for a quick weekend vacation for our one-year anniversary. We came here for breakfast before we left. We knew there was going to be a wait due to Yelp reviews but we were told 25 minutes and it was more like an hour. However, the staff were cheerful and pleasant, though quite busy. We were seated upstairs and the whole decor was cute and quaint. I had a spicy Bloody Mary, which was just alright. But the corned beef hash! I was expecting that mushed up mash that I love so much but this was so much better. It had real chunks of striated corned beef. The home fries had three different types of potatoes, one being sweet potato that I just didn't think went with the spices. The portion was big and hot - perfect comforting breakfast food. It seems to be the best place in this small city and I would eat here for breakfast again if we ever came back.
(4)
Marcel V.
Amazing food and a LOT of it.
(4)
Nick S.
Absolute best corned beef hash i've ever had! Fresh corned beef, big chunks, over seasoned homefries made with white AND sweet potatoes. Like nothing you've ever eaten. Fantastic! Wife's omlette was amazing as well. Cool atmosphere, you wouldn't think so by looking at the place from the outside. A must try in Portland.
(5)
Carleigh B.
There were two of us that went to Bintliff's on a Saturday morning for brunch after reading rave reviews on yelp. There was about a 15 minute wait but the "waiting area" or lack there of was very uncomfortable and quickly crowded by a small amount of people. While waiting for a table one of the servers was throwing silverware from one side of the restaurant to the other in attempt to make it into the dishwashing tub. A turn off right away. He was also tossing glasses in the air over and over again before filling them with water for customers. There should have been a hostess behind the hostess stand rather than the guy standing on the stairs taking names and shouting at everyone each time a new party walked in about coffee and other drinks being available while they waited. Once we sat, we were greeted quickly and placed our orders almost immediately. I ordered the veggie benedict and a single raspberry almond pancake with the whole wheat batter. My boyfriend ordered the lobster benedict. We both enjoyed our benedicts....the hollandaise was nice and light and tasted great. The pancake was so hard! The batter was SO dense that we couldn't cut it without using a knife. The pancake was a failure. Overall, it was an average experience. I wouldn't recommend it.
(3)
Sarah G.
SURF AND TURF EGGS BENEDICT WITH LOBSTER AND STEAK That is really all that anyone should need to write about anywhere in order to get you to go somewhere, so I really should stop writing now, but again, let me remind you what they have here...surf and turf eggs benedict special or just lobster benedict and a seafood lobster bisque style soup!! And coffee while you wait to get your table, since you know a place that has lobster, steak and eggs will make you wait a little while until you are seated. But they say there is joy in anticipation, and trust me when I say that it is so so so so worth it to wait and try their delicious seafood brunch options here. The one thing to avoid, which we were actually somewhat disappointed in was their granola encrusted french toast, which sounds awesome I know, especially when paired with fresh maple syrup which yes you have to market price for, just like the lobster ha ha but the french toast was a tad bit dry and just not too flavorful overall. It was not the best choice. I mean how could one even choose to order bread over lobster anyway?? This is a great brunch spot, but definitely come early because the wait can get VERY long here on Sundays especially. It is in an old style house with a couple tables on the first floor, but the rest upstairs in an overall very quaint, very brunch appropriate atmosphere. And I mean really, in case I haven't said this enough yet, any place that serves lobster eggs benedict naturally makes that venue way way better in my book!!! Lobster all day long would be my motto if I could afford it!!
(4)
Tien D.
The place is super cute! The food was good for brunch but it gets packed in here.
(4)
Gary H.
My family decided to eat at Bintliff's for breakfast. My wife and I ordered the Corned Beef Hash. My daughter ordered the Dark Chocolate Waffle. The wait was a little long, but the food was great.
(4)
Susan A.
I have to give it up for Bayside American Cafe for their fantastic brunch. This was my first stop in Portland. I had just gotten off the Amtrak from Boston, and I was hungry. My friend took me here. This place gets busy. We waited 40 minutes to get a table for 2 people on a Saturday afternoon. They have a waiting list. What I got I ordered the veggie home fries that come with two eggs your way and your choice of bread. I recommend getting their homemade bread. I shared a cinnamon pancake, which is basically a flat Cinnabun, with my friend. The pancake comes with the familiar white icing on the side. My friend ordered a bloody mary and the corned beef hash. She said both were delicious. It is her favorite brunch spot in town! What I thought The veggie home fries were so delicious and earthy. The parmesan cheese is bold and flavorful and the potatoes were hot and generously coated in good spices. Perfectly poached eggs. The cinnamon pancake is good, but a bit too sweet for breakfast. I recommend coming here in small groups, since the waiting list can get long.
(5)
Samuel F.
Bacon cheddar scallion pancake with bourbon maple syrup plus bacon and eggs, yum! There was also significant praise for the eggs benedict and the corned beef hash. It's a darn good brunch!
(4)
Khay H.
Best brunch I've had ever! Come here and try their cinnamon bun pancake. It's huge ! Their breakfast sausage and eggs are great too. Others at the table had smoked salmon, and lobster frittata which were equally delicious. Will definitely revisit when back in portland.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No Good for Working : No
Terry C.
Eight starving young adults came here on a beautiful Sunday morning and the wait was long...about an hour long...but it was well worth it. Since we had a large group, we were seated on the first floor next to the open kitchen. I ordered a cappuccino and the crabmeat benedict and it was really good. My entree was served with a side of potato and sweet potato home fries. We also ordered a community dark chocolate waffles to share and it was amazing. It was served with strawberries and whipped cream. The waffles had the perfect amount of chocolate taste and it was not too sweet. I highly recommend it for sharing, as a dessert - You will not be disappointed. Our group also had the seafood bisque, corned beef hash, crab cake benedict, french toast, smoked salmon plate, blueberry pancakes and everyone loved their dish. The pancakes were soft and delicious! The one dish I did not think was good was their french toast. It is very thick and dry - maybe I needed to soak it in syrup...idk.
(4)Rob K.
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.
(5)Melita B.
Very cute ambiance, decent breakfast, but we waited over an hour for our table, after being told the wait would be 30 minutes. Our waiter was very nice but overall service was quite slow. The huevos rancheros were quite good, but the French toast was dry. My brother thought his eggs Benedict bayou was 5-star material.
(3)Paula W.
Came here for breakfast. The staff was really friendly and the food was delicious. Had the veggie scramble which had a great selection of veggies and mushrooms, not just the standards. The coffee was good and they let you have some while you wait which makes the waiting not so bad. They don't take reservations on the weekend so be prepared to wait if you come during prime brunch time. Parking is on the street but we didn't have any trouble.
(5)Sarah S.
I had high hopes about bintliffs when I went in January- after all, I love brunch, but I was disappointed, primarily on the service factor, so I will give it another chance in the future. 1. We were seated at the bar, which is fine, because there is a wait, but then it appeared that no one was actually assigned to us so we kept having to flag down any passing waiter/waitress to ask for anything. This is pretty much what ruined it for me. 2. We were on the second floor, which was cool, but perhaps this was the reason my food was lukewarm when it came? 3. The seasonal vegan item was underwhelming. I am not vegan, but my boyfriend is allergic to dairy so he always checks vegan options first. I can't remember what it was, but it was not interesting or appealing. Pros- The eggs were cooked correctly. They give you coffee while you wait, which is great because the wait could have been long. It is in an interesting location and everyone was nice. I will probably go back and just ask to not be at the bar.
(3)Greg B.
Good flavorful fresh breakfast food is what we ate here. The andouille sausage was very spicy. My GF had a specialized fruit plate that was enhanced by the waiter's suggestions. Very good service.
(3)Brian M.
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.
(5)Michael S.
Had the dark chocolate belgium waffle. Looks better than it tastes, standard waffle colored brown. I would say more if there was more to say.
(2)Clarida M.
Blintiff's was pretty good! We waited about an hour to sit, which is totally normal for a hopping breakfast joint. The really nice thing is that they serve coffee while people wait. This is such a no-brainer (cheap and makes people feel good), that I wonder why more places don't do this. Blintiff's is only the second I've seen that serves coffee to waiting guests. The atmosphere was very nice and the staff was really nice, too! We sat and ordered the Florentine Eggs Benedict and the Apple Cinnamon French toast. Our waitress, knowing we were in a rush, was honest about how long the food might take - we totally appreciated this, as we had duck tour plans. We were able to re-schedule our tour and enjoyed our breakfast (and a bellini). The Florentine Eggs Benny was SOOOO GOOD. The potatoes served on the side were delish. My honey liked his french toast, but I think he expected the order to be out of this world, so he was let down a little. All in all, a nice experience. Yum.
(4)Keshar N.
Bob is a good man. He knows that when we go on vacation, one of the biggest things I am concerned about, is where we are going to eat for breakfast. Of course, being my fiance, he knows the only place to look is on Yelp. We found Bintliff's and of course went there for breakfast. The place is actually an old house. So it's really interesting when you walk in. It's like you're walking into an old Victorian home with the dark wood and interesting artifacts placed around the room... quirky is the right word. We were seated relatively quickly (about 15-20 minutes) and perused the HUGE menu. Our service was great, and the coffee was delicious! They also serve complimentary coffee while you're waiting. They still had the lobster Benedict when I went, so of course, that's what I got. Bob ordered the huevos rancheros with spicy chicken and then split the "pancake of the day" - pumpkin spice (I am a sucker for anything pumpkin so this was a no-brainer). The Benedict was delicious, the hollandaise not super creamy with a nice hint of acid, the eggs perfectly poached and the lobster was wonderful! Bob definitely had some food envy. His rancheros were good... not great. The pancake on the other hand was also phenomenal. Also, eating that delicious, spicy pumpkin goodness with real maple syrup - could breakfast get any better? All in all, the meal and service were great! The only negative i have is that since it is a converted home, the air flow is not optimal, so it gets pretty steamy while you're waiting. If you find yourself in the Portland area, make sure you check this place out. It's worth sweating it out in the lobby for a little lobster.
(4)Fred V.
Outstanding Reuben!!
(4)Lindsay P.
Would be 5 stars if we didn't have to wait so long every single time! Over all - great spot. A favorite of ours.
(4)Erin M.
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?
(5)Leah O.
This restaurant is cozy, warm, and a local gem. Tiny little booths with individual lights are packed into two narrow floors, tucked up against windows that look out over a park. There was a booth right next to the front window that my recluse alter-ego looked at with longing- the perfect place to tuck in with a book and a pot of coffee and not speak to anyone for an afternoon- a perfectly private place in the middle of a public space. Very rare. The service was impeccable. Truly likable and funny waiter, who walked around taking orders with a mug of coffee in one hand and a ready sarcastic comment in the other. I had the dream breakfast: a) one granola-crusted piece of french toast b) crab cake benedict with potatoes c) coffee I don't think I have ever eaten such a perfect breakfast. There was not a weak note in the meal. And listen- I DO NOT MESS AROUND WITH BREAKFAST. Please, go here on a regular basis and keep them in business until I can move to Portland to sit in that front booth, reading my blissful little heart out for the rest of my days.
(5)Cecilia J.
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.
(3)Juiana L.
Bintliff's is the perfect Portland ME local restaurant for people who love to eat gourmet breakfasts at brunch time. Loved my crab cakes benedict with a perfectly light hollondaise sauce. Coffee was delicious! Nice service, too. Liquer license is a plus, although we didn't partake on our first visit.
(4)cassie r.
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.
(4)Matt E.
4.5 stars....Bintliff's is awesome! If you have a chance to go, go. The second floor seating area is a great little space with interesting historic pieces and the wait staff here are extremely cool and friendly without being fake or douchey. The prices might be a tad on the higher side but everything they do, they do well. The only 2 things I wasn't a big fan of was the home fries weren't that crispy and they tasted a little different each time I went and I could hardly taste the bacon over the smokey flavor in the applewood smoked bacon. I didn't love that they charge about $1.80 or so per mini container if you want real maple syrup instead of the fake stuff; I understand them charging though, real maple syrup is like gold, even in Maine. The breakfast menu is full of creative things like graham cracker crusted orange french toast with lemon honey syrup and ginger bread pancakes (which were fantastic though very heavy). You can tell they put a lot of thought into the construction and execution of their menu and that's why this place is so good.
(4)Lisa D.
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!
(5)Danielle F.
Thank you Yelpers! Found this listing while looking for a breakfast spot on a weekend visit to Portland. We were not disappointed!!! The reviews paint an accurate picture - be prepared for a wait (we waited 30 minutes on Saturday morning), be prepared for an awesome menu with some difficult decisions, be prepared for large portions, and be prepared to love their homefries! I ordered the Louisiana Eggs Benedict as it was a unique spin on a classic dish. Really glad that I did. My friend ordered the Lobster Frittata which had a lot of lobster in it and was quite tasty as well. The stuffed french toast sounded fantastic and I was tempted to try that, but the eggs benedict did not disappoint. Add an iced coffee and I was in heaven! Definitely check this place out!
(5)Lindsey D.
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!!!
(5)Sheila S.
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!
(5)Anne K.
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!
(5)Lacey P.
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!
(5)josh b.
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.
(4)Jing Y.
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!
(4)Jordan K.
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.
(5)Michael D.
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.
(5)Jeff P.
Always a wait. But it's worth it. Sometimes the staff are hit or miss...but it is always crazy busy. The food is excellent Maine brunch faire. Cocktails are tasty too...what's brunch without cocktails?
(4)Nicole F.
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.
(5)Jacki H.
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.
(5)J M.
Only had the pleasure of eating here once for a special occasion, out of state Sunday brunch and it was the endall of brunches, as far as i am concerned. After a night of drinking and eating at Fore Street, our party (4) arrived around 930 am (after a blind iphone app recommendation) to a line out the door and to the corner. We parked and said..'must be good' is there's a line of locals like this. Nothing to look at from the outside, but once you get inside, the character and the smells eminating from the first floor/open concept-ish kitchen shined through..An old 'victorian' feel with dark wood and eclectic furnishings. The hostess led us up a flight of stairs, across a dining room and along a bar to sit us outside on a perfect summer morning. Bonus!. Beautiful touch and if the weather is cooperating, ask to be seated there. Fantastic brunch fare and our party decided to sample a bit of everything, as well as remove the haze from the night before with some well made cocktails and good conversation amongst a 70 degree sunny morning. Doesnt get much better than this. crabcakes..omelettes..pesto cream tips..thick sliced smoked bacon..you name it, the 4 of us ventured deep into their menu and came out full, nice buzz and highly impressed and satisfied. I will be returning, and i am out of state. Best breakfast/brunch Ive had. Period
(5)Mdsgu A.
So frigging good!!! Ahh!!! I have withdrawals thinking about this place. Awesome food. Got the crab cakes Benedict and fiancé got the lobster frittatas . Both perfectly cooked and presented. Rate those dishes 4-4.5. The three potato side though was only ok, and would rate that 2.5-3. Go to this place... Awesome coffee!!! Gigantic mimosas too! Rate the food 4.5 Coffee 4.5 Service 4 Overall 4.5
(4)Amanda S.
When I walked in the hostess was nowhere in sight and one of the servers was ignoring me, looking in the mirror and complaining about how her makeup looked. Once I was finally seated, I sat there for 15 minutes, servers walking past me, and no one acknowledged my presence. I finally got good and angry and should have just walked out and gone somewhere else, but I walked around until I found someone to ask if my table even had a server today. IN FRONT of me, two servers disagreed on who had my table until one looked at some chart they had outlining who had what tables. The food was decent, not the best, not the worst. They gave me my coffee for free since I waited so long. I've read the other reviews and people seem pleased. Maybe they were having an off day? I'm from Portland, Oregon - where they aren't known for their service but at least the food is amazing... This place might have gotten more stars had the service been better.
(2)Victoria F.
Portland is a city with plentiful brunch options - and I'm sad to say I had never experienced Bintliff's until today! We arrived a bit after 8 and it was great timing. The restaurant was bustling but not too crowded. By the time we left at 9:30, people were lined up out the door, so go early if you don't want to wait. The atmosphere is lovely - intimate but not claustrophobic, enough light to give you time to wake up without blinding you. Our server was great - attentive, efficient and friendly! My friend and I both chose the Eggs Benedict. I had the classic version, which came with plenty of thick hollandaise sauce and a generous serving of homefries. The spice in the three potato homefries was sweet, maybe with cinnamon. The only quibble I had was the hollandaise wasn't hot when the meal arrived at the table. I will definitely be a returning customer!
(4)Jeffrey L.
The food was ok. But it was difficult to get past the fact that this place is dirty. Every surface is dirty - the tables, the walls near the tables, the menus and the bathrooms.
(3)Burgwell H.
Wow! If you want standard issue breakfast fare, go to Denny's. If you are looking for a special way to start the day, don't miss Bintliff's. Free coffee while you wait for your table sets the right tone, and the menu is creative and tasty. This place will see me every time I'm in town, just to work my way through the menu! Note: the cornbeef hash is awesome, but it is like getting a huge bowl of meat! Share this dish, or simply ask for a ' to go' container at the start, and save half for later.
(4)Cherie C.
Excellent breakfast. Deciding what to order was a big stressful only because there was so much on the menu. I'd heard about the benedicts, so I went with that. Everything was fresh and carefully prepared. Service was good. My benedict, made with spinach, was good. They even ask you how you want your eggs poached, which was a nice touch. The building itself is a cozy, crooked, converted-barn-looking building. The food was delicious. When I'm back in Portland, I'll definitely eat here. Go early. We'd heard about the wait, so we arrived early and were seated right away. But by the time we left, the line was out the door.
(4)Heather G.
Came at around noon on Saturday, and the wait was about 35-45 minutes for 4 people. As we expected this, we grabbed a cup of coffee while waiting (nice touch, Bintliff's), and squeezed into a small space in the very tiny downstairs waiting area for our turn to be seated. Once seated (yes, it was about 45 minutes), we settled into an upstairs booth, where the space was a bit less frantic and more like a restaurant than the downstairs area, which is basically a glorified pathway to and from the kitchen, with a couple tables squeezed awkwardly by the door. If you have the option, wait for the upstairs tables to free up, because when it gets busy, the poor downstairs diners have the pleasure of eating while people queued up to be seated have no choice but to hover above them. Our server was helpful with suggestions and making meal decisions, and even let me try both the bloody mary and the mimosa before ordering because I was on the fence. Great touch. However, the service fell off a cliff after our food was delivered, when we couldn't find the waiter to get any water refills throughout the meal, butter for our toast, or a small portion of jam. He simply disappeared after we settled in to eat. Disappointing, but understood, as it was very busy. A tip for you: the thick, grilled homemade bread does not come with butter, so be sure to ask for some before your waiter disappears! What we had: Corned beef hash - yes this is homemade and yes it is delicious. It's not artificially salty or minced beyond recognition. It's really mostly corned beef, with some red onion and home fries. No filler of celery, bell pepper, etc. This is the best corned beef hash I have had to date, but it was painful to finish because it's about 3 peoples' worth of food. veggie home fries - nicely seasoned roasted veggies (zukes, summers, tomato, asparagus, broccoli, onion) over a base of home fries, with two eggs (as you like them) on top with cheese. The veggies were so well-cooked and fresh (no frozen veggies used here), and the portion was very substantial. Turkey wrap with Havarti cheese and roasted red pepper mayo - yes, this is only just a wrap, but they use herbed tortilla, stuff the thing full with meat, and apply a delicious red pepper mayo. For a "boring wrap", this was very flavorful and hearty. Blueberry pancakes were chock-full of fresh blueberries, and even a side of one-pancake was the size of a dinner plate. Overall, the portions are giant, the prices are low (even if the portions were smaller, this place is CHEAP), the food is offered up hot, delicious, and inventive. If you're willing to wait a bit on the weekend for a table, and are patient enough to deal with sometimes-sporadic service when the dining room gets busy, then you absolutely have to come here and try Bintliff's for brunch. It will very quickly become a favorite, as it did with my family.
(5)Aaron P.
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.
(5)Jessica B.
Is it a basement? Is it an attic? Is it an old antique shop? No folks, it's a restaurant with a lot of charm and the food is divine. From the free coffee when you walk in the door, to the desserts on your way out, you will not be disappointed. I recommend anything on the breakfast menu (truly), their eggs with capers are great. Tip: If you order a Bloody Mary, tell them to go light on the horseradish... unless you want to EAT your Bloody Mary. Just sayin'. Great place to take visitors to Portland!
(4)Dorothy B.
We went to Bintliff's for breakfast and really liked it. We arrived at about 10 on Saturday and waited a little bit for a table. We drank some great coffee while we waited, so the wait didn't seem very long at all. The building was really interesting and old fashioned. We ate upstairs and all of the tables were full but it wasn't super loud and didn't feel crowded. It was nice. Our waitress was really nice, prompt, and friendly. The waffles with local syrup were great. Recommend!
(4)Reid F.
One of the best breakfasts I've ever had, in very pleasant place. Try the lobster benedict (you can get it with scrambled eggs too) and/or any of the pancakes.
(5)Michael J.
Since brevity is the soul of wit, Bintliff's is made of win. I don't throw down the five star lightly, but this place had it all. Totally unpretentious, cozy and out of the way, this place served up a Tolkienian brunch the likes of which I may never see again. Lobster eggs benedict. Need I say more? Alas, I must - my date had crab eggs benedict, which was even better. Great waitstaff, lovely building, and absolutely wonderful food that is not vexed with pretentious prices. I shall go here for breakfast every time I am in Portland.
(5)anthony L.
This place was awesome. LOVE the atmosphere and the servers. The food was also definitely worth the 30 min wait. My fiancée had the plain old two egg etc breakfast. One of her eggs was almost completely raw, but that was the only draw back for the entire breakfast (though a pretty big faux pas). After seeing a couple yelp reviews raving about the corned beef hash, I decided to give it a try. I have to say it wasn't what I was expecting at all! instead of the crispy mush I was used too, I got huge chunks of different potatoes (sweet, red, regular, etc), with huge chunks of moist delicious corned beef. Totally Mush-less! My palate approved.
(4)Kyle S.
What a cool little breakfast place! Bintliff's looks tiny from the outside, and it certainly is pretty small. The atmosphere is very cool though, very unique. We were there on a weekday, so it was pretty empty, and we were seated right away upstairs. I ordered an omelette with maple sausage, which I really liked--the sweetness in the sausage was really nice. It seems like the dish to get, however, is the corned beef hash, which my dad ordered. It was amazing. I definitely know what I'll be ordering next time I'm there!
(4)Amy S.
Great breakfast! There's something for everyone, from scrambled eggs to banana pecan pancakes. From coffee to mimosas... This morning I had the Tuscany scramble, my breakfast mates had the pancakes and the french toast. What's better than french toast? French toast made with home made, thickly cut bread! What's better than pancakes? Pancakes with banana, pecans and maple syrup! What' better than coffe? Iced Rocket Fuel, which is probably the best coffee in Portand. nay New England (if you like sweet coffee). I had the Tuscany scramble, complete with tomatoes, cheese and croutons... yes CROUTONS in my SCRAMBLE!!! why didn't I think of that? A great balance fo salt, garlic, and tomatoes served with a slice of wheat toast and potatos. It was so yummy I will dream of it until the next time I can go back to Bintliffs for breakfast and have some more ! I wish I had noted the waiter's name because he was kind, friendly and efficient. The drinks were served immediately, the food just in time. The price was reasonalbe.
(4)Thomas C.
Brunch at Bintliff's was overall an enjoyable experience. The food was very good. I had the Lobster Benedict with a side of red beans and rice. The lobster was very buttery, the hollandaise sauce was fantastic, and the potatoes w ere tasty. The red beans and rice had nice bite to it, and the beans were cooked al dente. We sat on the outdoor patio underneath a big tree, and the ambiance was very relaxing. The only downside was the wait, a little over an hour. Though we just went for a walk at the park and fed some ducks and came back. The wait for the food was slightly long as well, but we had a nice time just sitting and chatting. Our waiter was also very pleasant. Overall a enjoyable meal, would recommend.
(4)Jason J.
When I was last home in Maine, I brought the lady with me and my dad and his girlfriend recommended Bintliffs. I had never been there before, but after hearing my dad rave about it, we knew we had to go. The inside is so incredibly cool and cozy looking. I mean, it's sort of standard fare for a lot of New England buildings, but having lived out of the state since I was 18, it's refreshing to once again feel new england style buildings. The food was absolutely delicious, and despite the fact that there was no lobster on tap (it was March, I know how it goes) the lady had crab benedict and still says it was one of the best breakfasts she has ever had in her life. I had some granola crusted french toast that was excellent, and it was a wonderful place. Prices were reasonable, service was great, and the food was awesome. Just a really fun breakfast, and it makes me excited to get back to Maine so I can go again!
(5)J D.
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.
(5)Andy C.
I went to Bintliff's American Cafe for brunch and found it to be typical diner fare slightly upscaled. It's not so terrible place I got sick from. I just didn't see what the hubbub was about especially after the long double wait. Upon arriving, the line was not long relative to weekend dim sum standards (about 4 groups in front of us), but we still had to wait over 45min for a table of two! I had my fill of their coffee at least. Eventually, we were upstairs by the window and instantly I had a bad feeling. The table next to us complained they hadn't received their food in over an hour. A manager had to come by their table and then comped half their meal. My gf and I looked at each other knowing full well our food may be late as well. I ordered the corned beef hash and my gf, the lobster benedict. The wait for our food was not long enough to get a comp for but we were already hungry and impatient. I think it was about half an hour before we got our hands on our forks ready to dig in to see why everything was worth the wait. My corned beef cubes were huge. I came in so hungry and I literally could not finish the plate! Too bad it's because there was a pool of oil on the bottom of my plate and the meat was rather flavorless. The eggs and toast were nice. I hoped the lobster benedict was better. My hopes were dashed when I thought they subbed in rubber for lobster. We left thinking how we could have better spent the past three hours. Maybe Sunday brunch was expecting too much to ask for a 7 day a week brunch place. Bintliff's seemed to be overloaded and unconcerned with bringing good food out in a timely manner. Perhaps on a less busy day, the food would be better.
(2)Arthur M.
Tofu scramble was out of this world. Comfortable booths and tree top outdoor seating. My girlfriend loved the crab cakes with hollandaise. The server was on point.
(5)Caesar R.
This place is as local as local can get. The staff is friendly and welcoming. The chefs were signing a duet from Dirty Dancing this morning as we walked in. They were actually pretty good. The fiance and I got uninspired dishes of lobster eggs benedict and corned beef hash with two sunny side up eggs. The dishes were overwhelmed by their 3 potato mixture hash browns. So I am giving the food a 2.5 star rating. The bright spot and saving grace was really the friendly service. The portion of lobster on the benedict was dismal and shameful. This is Maine, load up any dish you serve with your beloved crustacean. The corned beef hash on the other hand was decent and that portion was gigantic. The dish comes with the choice of toast and mixture of potatoes. It was all a bit potato focused for breakfast. The large piece of buttered wheat toast was a compliment to the dish, but not completely necessary since there were so many potatoes for the dish. So for you hearty breakfast eaters, fellas or you ladys out there, you won't be disappointed. Bintliff's old skool local joint is your spot.
(3)rob d.
breakfast was fantastic, corned beef hash was delish and enough for 2!! had to wait 15 minutes, but at least they poured us some coffee for the wait. great service too!
(4)Susan M.
I hear Portland has lots of great brunch places, but honestly I haven't tried many because I keep wanting to go back to Bintliff's! I've been three or four times, and each time I have such a hard time deciding what to order because the menu is overflowing with delicious-sounding food. Some of my selections have included steak & eggs, huevos rancheros and the house-smoked salmon plate. My husband usually orders the corned beef hash and lets me eat off his plate. It comes with plenty of perfectly seasoned beef and three types of potatoes (yellow, white and sweet). Like most of the entrees, it can easily be stretched to two or three meals, which ends up being a good deal at $13 or whatever it is. I don't like waffles, but all the preparations they have at Bintliff's (with chocolate, with pecans and peaches, with raspberries) almost make me want to order some! Bintliff's is also not bad for vegans and vegetarians. I think they have a vegan special everyday, and when we went with my vegan sister-in-law they were also willing to change lots of other things to accommodate her. She ended up ordering some tofu rancheros. The only drawback to Bintliff's is the wait, especially because the area by the entrance is very small, so you'll probably have to wait outside. They do provide free coffee while you wait, though.
(5)Vez K.
I love this place, and my best friend said that it's one of the best (if not the best) brunch food she's ever had. We always get the corned beef hash (as a side item so we can order something else as our main dish) whenever we go. It's the only place I know that gives you big, quality, good angus beef pieces and calls it hash. It's so good! I've gone with a big group before, and honestly, everyone loved their food there. You can pretty much order anything and will love it. The wait does suck (probably an hour), but is well worth it. You can have all the coffee you can drink while you wait. :)
(5)Kevin T.
This is by far Portland's best kept secret! I came here for breakfast one day after asking around as to where the best place for Corned Beef Hash could be found. The locals were unanimous in their ruling and as such, I had no choice but to give this place a try. From the outside, the blue block-lettered sign indicating where the diner is located does very little to hint at the amazing flavors awaiting within. However, as soon as you enter you immediately feel as if you stepped into a 60's diner and almost immediately after are assaulted by a variety of tantalizing smells wafting from the open air kitchen a mere ten feet from you. The restaurant is cozy, but seeing as how the weather was gorgeous, we opted for the outdoor seating. There was absolutely no wait and in no time we were seated with drinks impatiently awaiting for our orders to arrive. Seeing the Corned Beef Hash plated on a bed of breakfast potatoes, topped with two fresh eggs served with a side of fresh baked bread almost brought a tear to my eye. This is no ordinary Hash. The meat comes in these HUGE chunks that literally fall apart with little to no coaxing from your fork. The seasoning was spot on for the meat and went perfectly with the savory breakfast potatoes. I instantly became ravenous after the first bite, and although this dish could have probably fed two people I soon found myself sopping up the residual juices with the fresh bread and basking in complete food nirvana. I vaguely remember the waiter telling me about a customer that drove six hours from Connecticut just to have the Hash at Bintliff's. Now I understand perfectly why
(5)Lauren M.
We waited for close to an hour to get in on a Thursday morning. They do have self serve coffee for while you are waiting, but the carafe was empty when I went for a cup. When we were finally seated I ordered a bloody mary that was quite delicious. For our meal I ordered the huevos rancheros and was really not impressed. The tortilla was dry and wrapped up on the side. The eggs were served on top of a bean and rice mixture. Rice, in huevos rancheros??? Also, the guacamole did not taste fresh at all. My boyfriend ordered a omelette and the mixture was just wrapped up in the middle of the omelette, not diced up and cooked in the egg mixture. The amount of onions was really disgusting. We did order a slice of the french toast and the hash to sample, and they were rather good...but in my opinion none of this was worth an hour wait.
(3)Nick M.
The food is diner fare. Not fine dining. Complimentary coffee from Coffee by Design was a custom dark roast for Bintliff's. There weren't any cups washed until later and the carafe was almost empty. When I finally did get a cup (after waiting for 30 min to get a table) it wasn't really worth it IMHO, just made me hungry and wanting to go elsewhere for GOOD coffee. I had a Bloody Mary and the Lobster Benedict for a Birthday Breakfast in style. Best Bloody Mary I've had in awhile, with horseradish that will kick your ass. The 2 eggs and lobster were incredibly rich. I was expecting more lobster for $13. Way too many potato home fries that weren't seasoned and barely cooked. 3/5 Ambiance would be OK. However, they had really uncomfortable booths. I sat on the 2nd floor and the springs were all clearly shot. I also felt strong pulsations from the seats, saw the water at the table shaking and my feet vibrating. Apparently I was above the kitchen fans or something? Either way, it wasn't a comfortable seat. 1/5
(3)Geno K.
2nd visit... just kind of eh. Gingerbread pancakes were dry. Lemon syrup that came with them was ehh... weird tasting. Coffee and bacon were awesome.
(3)Tiffany T.
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.
(4)s w.
Most of us felt that the food was average - you can definitely find better breakfast places in Portland, and for cheaper prices. Pancakes were flat, dry, and not very flavorful. But I must say the Lobster Bisque was out of this world (it gets 5 stars!) I'd go back just for that. Beware, though - it's spicy! Friendly service.
(3)Brian Q.
After several fantastic dining experiences about town, we were looking forward to trying yet another restaurant during our recent trip to Portland. After a nice walk from the waterfront, we entered Bintliffs for breakfast. The wait for a table was a bit long for a Monday. When the waitress went to seat us, she took us up the stairs to the second level and then out back. We passed several empty tables on the beautiful 2nd story outdoor porch, and were escorted down another set of stairs to a dank, dark outdoor area between the kitchen windows and the trash cans. We were seated in some seriously busted chairs that were absolutely filthy. The area we were seated in looked like a storage area for broken chairs, and I was astounded they would seat patrons there. Then the waiting began. After we were seated, we could see the party that was behind us in line getting a great table up-top. Then we saw them placing their orders. Then we saw them getting their food. And no one ever came to wait on us! We were ditched in the alley-like space out back and forgotten! After a good 1/2 hour or so of watching the flies buzz against the kitchen windows, we headed up and out. Passing our server on the way out, she said "have a great day!" When we informed her that no one ever came to take our order, she started ringing us up for some tea we got on the way in. Fortunately, it dawned on her that perhaps she shouldn't charge us, since they forgot we were there, and we never got any food. The owner(s) of this establishment need to a) fix their chairs b) actually clean their chairs and c) decide whether the back/bottom area is truly for patrons, or just a garbage run. They need to d) pay attention/open their eyes. As for us, we'll never be back and would advise others to steer clear.
(1)Heather B.
Yum, that sums up this place. While looking for places to have a nice hearty breakfast on yelp this place came up and it has 4.5 stars for a reason. The food was AMAZING! I got the orange french toast, two eggs and the maple sausage. I have absolutely nothing to complain about with this one. The foods was great and reasonably priced. The husband got the lobster Benedict I am not a huge fan of Benedict but I had some major food envy. Went on a weekday morning around 9am so the wait wasn't too bad but I would imagine on the weekend the wait would be out the door and around the corner. I love breakfast and this place hit every craving perfectly. It is a shame I don't live close enough to enjoy it more often.
(4)Miss M.
Service at this place is superb! Very friendly and attentive staff who even gave me a take away coffee for my walk. I had the Mediterranean eggs with potatoes. Flavours were good, toast to die for. Perfect crunchiness. Loved the potato combo, eggs were good but maybe slightly overdone for my liking. Will be back!
(4)S. K.
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).
(4)David B.
As in life, it is very hard for any business to provide a service that is close to perfection. I do not give five starts often, but Bintliff's deserves all five for their breakfast. The meal was close to perfection! We wandered down from our hotel and got their in the nick of time. The folks that arrives after us were waiting 15 minutes or more fora table....on a cold day...with a building that has no lobby. We were seated quickly and served wonderful coffee. I like my coffee dark and strong while my partner does not. We both liked what they served....delicious! We both had omelets that were perfectly cooked! All to often, omelets are served browned, promoting tough and chewy egg. The eggs ere were perfectly cooked! The ingredients were nicely balanced and dispersed throughout the omelet. The potatoes were hot, cooked and delectable. It looks like they mix a variety of potatoes together...seasoned just right. Finally, there toast was to die for...home made wheat or white bread that was firm and yeasty. WOW! Additionally, our server Andrew was very cute...a nice smile and looking good in a black shirt...the perfect way to start the day!
(5)sonia t.
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?
(5)Nick D.
I had the lobster eggs benedict...what a great combination. I want it again now!
(5)Gary B.
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 !!
(5)Charley Z.
Now, I know this place looks like a hole-in-the-wall. I never even noticed it for a while - but my girl and I stumbled across it one morning looking for a good brunch, and boy, were we satisfied. Disclaimer - this place is usually packed, so if you're planning on brunch, get there early. No reservations, either. We had to wait about twenty minutes, but I assure you - in the end, it's worth it. My date got the Louisiana Bayou Benedict - delicious Andouille sausage, home made corncakes, poached eggs and a wonderfully spicy Cajun hollandaise. I got the Eggs Florentine, and they were hands-down the best I've ever had. Despite the HUGE portions, we nearly licked our plates clean. Looking for a good late-morning drink to go with it? I can't even tell you. Go see for yourself! One warning: beware. This is a hipster-infested joint. Just beware.
(4)Andie B.
The brunch was simply amazing. One of the best ever, and definitely the best Benedicts ever! Service was upbeat, fast and not fake. Food was fresh, plentiful, and flavorful. Wish there was one at home!
(5)Chris P.
Just plain delicious. Creative entries on the menu contribute, but overall it's just good food that is prepared well. I absolutely agree with the others that there's a home-y feeling here, in fact they have a couple of antique oak pieces that I wanted to try and figure out how I was going to smuggle out - and take home on a motorcycle. Anyway, we were seated on the back deck after a wait of about 15 minutes - free coffee while you wait is a nice touch. I ordered crab meat benedict and my girl had her first lobster roll - ever. Both were exquisite, the waitstaff definitely gave us good advice in addition to the excellent service. In the end, after a good table, great food, great service - the bill was very very reasonable. This place is a gem.
(5)Wen L.
At first, we were drawn to Local 188 for brunch at the recommendation of a local. Upon arriving, the restaurant was semi-empty and there weren't any available parking spaces. I believe the Yelp spirits guided us to Bintliff's American Cafe. I was casually searching for brunch places and Bintliff's was at the top of the list. We hopped on over, parked at their doorstep and waded through a throng of people to put our names down for the next 4-top. After the hostess' completely accurate estimate of a 30 minute wait, we sat down at our tables inside Bintliff's adorable second floor. The tables were cozy and we admired the lamps, the framed pictures, etc. But enough about non-foods, here's what we ordered: Lobster Benedict, Corned Beef Hash, Classic French Toast, Orange French Toast and another Eggs Benedict with Andouille Sausage. They were all incredible. In fact, the two Benedicts and Beef Hash overshadowed the French Toasts, which would've been incredible if we hadn't already spent so much time devouring the other three dishes. Also, the non-French Toast dishes came with an incredible herbed sweet potato and potato home fries. I would definitely recommend Bintliff's to friends going to Portland. The vibe was cozy and friendly. Our hostess and waitress was awesome. The food was great. There was a mandatory wait for food ... which slowed things down and helped relax us. One tip my friend suggested - there were several empty tables when we sat down and a ton of people still waiting. It might be a good idea to sit these people, they can order drinks, wait for their food, drink some more and spend more money. But then, it's hard to determine how the restaurant is best run from an outsider's point of view. Happy Lobstering!
(4)Justin H.
Truly outstanding. The meal was exceptional. The staff was super friendly and professional, which made for a great experience, despite the fact that the place was packed. The building was really cool - we ate upstairs, which reminded me of an old ship. Yar! Blintiffs! I had the corned beef hash, which was the best I've ever had - and I've tried a lot of it. She had the Cajun Benedict, which was out of this world. My only regret was that the portions of the Hash were rather obscene. I think I barely put a dent in it, probably not even a third, and had to get the rest packaged up. I would go so far as to say that the meal might be better split between two people than to be tackled by a single gastronomical linebacker. The Bloody Maria was spectacular - I hadn't had a Bloody Mary with tequila before, and was suprised at how much better it is than with vodka. It really adds a savory flavor to the drink, and cuts some of the acidity that can make a Mary so overpowering.
(4)Rachel E.
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!
(5)Henry C.
Delicious food, bad service. Was told wait would be between 30-45 minutes and waited over an hour and fifteen minutes while groups that arrived after us, were seated before us. The clearly over tasked waitress was rude and annoyed that she had to serve a 2 person party. Larger parties were clearly made a higher priority by the manager and waitstaff. Once the food arrived it was delicious, but the whole experience left s bitter taste in our mouths. Since eating out is about the experience I would not recommend Bintliff's American Cafe.
(3)Erik L.
Top notch ambience, the food was very good
(3)Anthony M.
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.
(3)Sean B.
Hash is dyno-mite. Fun place to grab a Blood Mary and brunch.
(4)Yella W.
On a weekday for brunch, wait was just a few minutes. But you are ignored when you enter, so be patient. Food makes up for it. We would return.
(4)Roger S.
Savory flavors combine harmoniously to give you a unique experience that is all Maine. Three potato home fries, corned beef hash, and a three egg omelet with house smoked salmon, spinach, roast garlic and cheddar. Service is friendly and attentive. Worth the 40 minute wait on the sidewalk.
(4)Ann G.
My Son had a LAX game nearby and I remember hearing about this Place on TV... Soooo worth the wait !!! We had seven in our Party and the wait was very reasonable for the time we arrived on a Sunday am... We Kinda felt like family before we left !!! Everyone was Very Happy when we were done !!!! I was very happy to have leftovers to bring home.. We ALL would make the Road trip just to eat here again !!! They serve something for everyone !!!
(5)Brian C.
The breakfast I ate here may very well have been one of the best I've ever had in my life. We walked in on Sunday morning at around 11 and the place was bustling. Given how many people were waiting for a table, I almost felt for a second as if I hadn't left New York. However, that feeling dissipated almost as soon as it came and continued to be reaffirmed throughout the next hour or so. The host came to take our names and told us it'd be about 30 minutes, but we could feel free to help ourselves to some coffee while we waited. Huh?? "Yeah, please help yourself--mugs, coffee and everything you need is right in the corner." WTF?!? I'm definitely not in NY anymore. A few minutes later, the host reappeared on the steps near where everyone was waiting to "go over" the waiting list to make sure he wasn't missing anyone. What the...?? I'm thinking, why would he even care? I'm DEFINITELY not in NY anymore. A waitress appeared with a big smile and gladly gave up a pen so we can do a crossword puzzle from a newspaper laying near the complimentary coffee. I'm definitely not in NY anymore. When we gave up on finishing our meals and decided to just nurse the rest of our drinks, our server insisted that we take our time and stay as long as we wanted. Where the hell are we?!? It's like Xanadu in here! Now the food--crabcakes eggs benedict. The crabcakes were probably the best I've had outside of MD. They weren't broiled (I don't know why everywhere outside of MD insists on deep frying their crabcakes, but that's irrelevant here...); but, because they were only lightly fried, the flavor and texture of the crabmeat wasn't drowned out and it made for a great meal. However, their flapjacks (i.e., pancakes) with fresh ME blueberries and local ME syrup were absolutely amazing. I got two and it is probably the first time I couldn't finish an order of pancakes. Two enormous, super fluffy pancakes come out filled with fresh blueberries. Throw in a side of thick-cut applesmoked bacon and I'm in heaven. No, wait... I thought I was in heaven and then I opted to supplement those with one of their signature Bloody Mary's made from scratch. NOW I'm in heaven. The only drawback was that the portion was too big. Seriously. Otherwise, it was a perfect meal. Pure bliss. And everyone -- patrons and employees alike -- knew it. All in all: perhaps the best breakfast anywhere on the east coast.
(5)Kate P.
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!
(4)Tammy S.
I really enjoy breakfast @ Bintliff's. I get their veggie hash sans egg and cheese... mixture of reg and sweet potatoes - yum! It is my choice for a monthly breakfast meeting - they are always very accomodating and have great non-veg choices!
(5)Hagan B.
I looked at some reviews and was really looking forward to Bintliff's Brunch. The picture of the hash on Yelp.com brought me to the brink of orgasm. My friend liked what he saw, and wanted to split the hash and something sweet to balance it. We split the hash and the Orange Graham French Toast. The french toast was interesting idea in theory, but I wasn't excited by it, and unfortunately, the anticipation of the hash was better than the hash itself. It is true that it was made with corned beef, but as I suspected while eating the Lobster "hash" at the Robinhood Free Meetinghouse, the ingredients are supposed to be finely chopped (thanks, Wikipedia). This was more like corned beef and potatoes. I don't know why I thought it was going to be any different, since I saw the picture and they delivered precisely the dish I'd ordered. If the orange graham french toast was the only thing I had eaten on the menu, and I didn't factor decor into my review, I would give Bintliff's two stars. There's so much more that can be done with the orange/graham cracker concept, but I got three pieces of bread with an orange slice for garnish. No whipped cream, no fruit on the side, no nothing. Just three pieces of bread. On the hash; my first bite was far too peppery than I corned beef hash is supposed to be, and I put more pepper on everything. The corned beef itself was juicy and not overly salty after that initial unpleasant reaction. I am more of a fan of crispy home fries, and although it looked like that was what they were trying to do by the golden brown but moist sides of the potato, these just didn't get me happy. The one thing you won't get any guff from me about is the size of the portions. They were sizable. There was enough french toast for two in that one order and the hash was ample and served with another huge slice of toast. You won't leave hungry, which is a good thing because I think that's the niche these types of establishments are supposed to fill. As for sweet breakfasts that I do fancy, it looks to me like Bread and Chocolate in DC has gone downhill since I last went in 2003, because the French Toast I had there was over-the-top awesome. Chocolate, bananas, and fluffy baguette made for a great combination that I'd go back for more than once before I left DC. I would write a review of the place, but my review would be skewed by time. The saving grace of Bintliff's American Cafe was the bite of Lobster Benedict my brother let me try. The only reason that I didn't order it was because of the picture of the hash mentioned earlier (How could I possibly order two things called hash in a week and not get anything resembling hash? It boggles the mind). The Lobster Benedict - I tried to remake it this morning and I over-lemoned my Hollandaise and I needed another lobster to really set it off. Of course, it was not as good as Bintliff's. Had I bothered to read the reviews instead of leaving my eyes to do the ordering, I would have had the Lobster Benedict. They have outdoor seating in the back, booths in a well-lit upstairs area make for a great brunch ambiance, and it looks like it'd be a decent place to bring a date (and not too expensive, either). I would try Bintliff's again just to see if anything on their menu could match the Benedict. As an aside, Bintliff's is in a bit of a salty area of Portland, and the local flavor made an appearance and regaled my companions and I with a poem called "Mellon Street Wonder." The poet wanted to recite for a fee, but we declined and offered to be an attentive audience; the story of the prostitute with "black AIDS in her ass" garnered smiles and applause from us all, which are priceless (if you believe the ads). I think our sincere appreciation meant more than a dollar twenty-five to him. Of course, I'm not homeless. Plus one star.
(4)Cyanne D.
In an attempt to slowly break my city born and bred boyfriend to my home state of Maine, we started our trip in Portland. After a wonderful evening in the Old Port, we were pointed in the direction of Bintliff's for breakfast, and were blown away. We've eaten amazing meals from San Francisco, to New York, but we're still talking about this brunch a month later. The staff was extremely helpful, especially when asked questions about what I could actually eat, since I can't eat cow dairy. She even pointed out that they had goat cheese, which made my Chorizo, Asparagus, and Sun-dried tomato omelet into the most perfect, delicious omelet ever. The home fries were a mix of different kinds of potatoes, and were so well seasoned we didn't even need ketchup (which was Heinz, bonus points). The corned beef hash were big, thick cuts of corned beef that begged to be devoured, even if we were getting really full. It's really small, but absolutely adorable. We got this perfect little corner table near the windows, and were able to savor our food and the Wall Street Journal, like we should on any fantastic Saturday morning. I will be back. Possibly this weekend. And every other time I make the trek home.
(4)Katherine L.
A very cool, Parisian-esque interior with giant french toast, delicious sausage, and fantastic sweet potatoes in place of the usual regular ones. My only problem; their head guy needs to learn Greeting 101. When customers enter your establishment, don't stay upstairs the whole time and never acknowledge their presence. Say hi, welcome, etc., and let them know approx. how many minutes it will be until they are seated. Don't force them to wait downstairs without ever explaining yourself. Hire more people if you need; our waiter was great but he seemed saddled with too much. The brunette guy who seemed to be "in charge" didn't work (or rush) half as much. One more thing: NEVER bring fake syrup to a table that has requested the real thing! That put a damper on my otherwise delicious french toast.
(4)Lisa M.
Best Breakfast menu I've ever seen bar far. Creative, appealing, and so much to choose from. We had a group of seven, service was quick and efficient. Everyone had something different ranging from lemon ginger pancakes to corn beef. All the dishes were Delicious. Fun, hip, satisfying place to get your first meal of the day. I highly recommend it!
(5)Mike S.
Great brunch establishment but expect to wait! The portion sizes are extremely generous and the ambiance is warm and cozy. Well decorated, good service, but if you're going for brunch on a weekend, expect to wait. Our two-year old did well there, but the close quarters on the second floor meant that the high chair that they gave us ended up in the main walkway which made us a little nervous.
(4)Natalie B.
Where do I begin? This place is out-of-this-world. We went here the morning after a friends' wedding, looking to satiate a pancake craving and we were MORE than successful. We both had peanut butter chip/chocolate chip pancakes and they were delicious - and BIG. There are 3 levels of pancakes that you can order and you definitely don't need more than two cakes, unless your goal is to have some sort of gastrointestinal unrest. We ordered them with 100% Maine-made syrup, rather than the typical restaurant which is the way to go. Unprepared for the sheer mass of the pancakes, we ordered a side of bacon and a side of corned beef hash. Bacon was thick and tasty with little fat and the corned beef hash was actual hash - not some canned junk out of a can and fried. Literally pieces of corned beef atop whole pieces of potatoes and other hash veggies. It was outrageously good. The drinks - both morning cocktails and the coffee was excellent. We had a bellini (yum) and the Absolution, which was light and a perfect morning drink. We both had the Rocketfuel coffee and...damn. It was strong and iced and (if you're familiar with Rhode Island coffee milk) tastes like coffee milk, in my opinion. The Rocketfuel kept me wide awake after a long night of wedding celebrations and alert for a long, slow, rainy drive back to Boston. The service was great - our waiter was attentive and honest and gave recommendations, if asked. The surroundings upstairs were charming and old and warm. The only complaint I have is the way they manage the sheer volume of people trying to eat and the wait list. I"m not sure if they take reservations but when we arrived, we left our name on the list to wait for a table. I expected that. We waited close to an hour for a table, which I was also willing to do. But people REALLY cram into the ground floor to wait for their name to be called and it gets really uncomfortable and aggravating. And it's distracting to the people actually seated and eating downstairs. Very sardine-ish feeling. It gets so bad that the employees can barely make it through the room to get upstairs with shouting Excuse Me! and hoisting full trays of plates over their heads. That's the only complaint. The food is worth the wait and it's like Christmas once you're name gets called and you get brought to your table - and away from the 50 people you're standing near who are also waiting. Highly recommended - but please resolve where people wait!
(5)Lauren S.
SO GOOD. I went here with my buddy and her mom, and it was 1) adorable and 2) delicious. They give you so much food and have so many delicious looking options.
(5)Justin S.
If you're looking for a breakfast spot, especially near the bus terminal, this is the place to go. Best thing here is their freshly baked bread, which comes with most meals. I had the lobster frittata - it was rich, decadent, and I'd highly recommend it for a brunch meal. They also have a fair amount of eggs benedicts, from the classic to cajon to vegetarian. Atmosphere was very interesting - it's an old house turned into a restaurant. Only downside was that it took over 40 mins to get our food from when we ordered it. That being said, still a strong breakfast option in Portland.
(4)Liz H.
As long as I've lived in Portland, I've only been to Bintliff's a handful of times, mostly due to a poorly-planned graduation brunch there that had us waiting for hours. The poor planning was on the part of my party, not Bintliff's, but still made me apprehensive about returning. Anyway, my boyfriend had never been, and I suggested we try it out as a more upscale alternative to our regular places. We arrived at around 11 on a Saturday morning. Of course, it being prime brunch time, the bottom floor was crowded with people waiting to be seated. During the wait, I helped myself to Coffee by Design coffee (you can get drinks before you sit down- a very nice touch). We were seated in about 15 minutes. I started with Bloody Mary, my boyfriend with a Mimosa. Bloody Mary was great- Spicy, probably made from scratch. Mimosa was also good- they added triple sec. I ordered some sort of veggie hash, which came with homefries and toast, and my boyfriend ordered the Eggs Benedict. My meal was fine, would order something else next time; I was eying the waffles as they went by. The homefries were definitely the highlight- three type of potatoes, including sweet potatoes. Boyfriend raved about his Benedict. All in all, I'd still recommend this place for a classy breakfast. I loved my drink, my coffee, and I'm willing to write my lackluster meal off as a fluke.
(4)Erik S.
I'd give the food 4.5 stars but everything else here plays up to 5 stars. The wait staff was awesome. The waiter showed up at our table sipping a cup of coffee and asked us what we were doing that day. To be honest, I was a bit startled for about half a second but I realized he was seriously asking the question. We chatted for a few minutes and then he asked us if we wanted anything to drink. The place really cares about your experience here. Awesome service. The menu here is really big and pretty diverse. I had the Eggs Florentine which were really quite good. I actually had a hard time deciding between 5 or 6 things on the menu. It's the kind of place I could go back to time and time again. I think they are the 8 time consecutive best brunch in Portland so it's a pretty safe bet for those who want brunch. I highly recommend it.
(5)TJ S.
A Portland Brunch icon. Corned beef hash that will make you rethink what corned beef hash actually is. But beware they do run out sometimes. Good service and they do well with seating for the wait. Nice that they give out free coffee during the long waits. Be ready for an hour wait on weekends. Put your name in and go do something else and come back. Other than that, after the first great impressions of the food wear off and you start thinking about it, its not that great. Just larger than life portions.
(3)Sonia D.
Great place for breakfast/brunch! After reading reviews on this place, I had to check it out. They had a lot of interesting dishes. I tried the cajun eggs benedict, which were a little on the salty- I think it was the corn cake they were on that was pretty salty. But they were still good. Plus I just had to get a large mimosa to washit down with. Since the place is so small, there was a bit of a wait (like 20 minutes at 9am) but it was worth it. You also have the option of sitting at the bar if you don't want to wait for a table. Good portions and friendly, efficient staff. And for brunch, you can't beat the price.
(4)Lily H.
Just following in the footsteps of all the other patrons here...it is just so good!!! No really, it's SO good. Slap yo momma good. The only disappointment I had was that they ran out of the lobster Benedict. So I had to settle on the crab version. Poor me. The hollandaise is creamy buttery yumminess. It'll make you wanna strip down and jump on in. And Jesus the portions! What's even more ridiculous is that I'm coveting my neighbor's corned beef hash while eating my crabcakes! Wtf?!?!? I'm sure the wait is ferocious during the weekend, but a Monday brunch was easy breezy. Enjoy!
(5)C J.
Breakfast is by far my favorite meal of the day, and having gone to high school in Portland I thought I had been to all of the worthwhile locations during those four years. Well, I was wrong. I didn't discover Bintliff's until a friend stumbled upon it in July...I have been over 10 times since then, which considering I live 45 minutes away and go to college in Boston, should show just how good this place is. I have never had a bad experience. The waiters have always been amazing, whenever I have had to wait (which even on summer weekends has never been more than maybe 20 minutes) they bring you coffee, and made sure we were seated and taken care of as soon as they could. The building is charming and its quaint size makes it worth waiting those few extra minutes. And then there's the food...where to start? I have had all of the varieties of pancakes, the granola french toast, the dark chocolate waffle, and the veggie homefries. After having tried everything, the three things I consistently order are the chocolate chip macadamia nut pancakes, the banana walnut pancakes, and the veggie homefries. They are to die for. I have taken three friends and my entire family, and everyone has loved what they have gotten. The prices may seem a little steep, but the portions are HUGE and one order of pancakes and a side of homefries usually results in left overs for me and a friend. I really can't say enough good things about this place. If you're in Portland and want the best breakfast in town, this is hands down your place.
(5)Matt T.
this was the most amazing brunch i've ever had. it was fantastic! great drinks, great lobster benedict, wonderful crab benedict, and amazing french toast!!! great location and awesome service.
(5)Bob B.
Loved this place. As we drove over there the family thought the neighborhood was a little dicey (I agreed), but once onside it was a pleasant oasis with a 1920's decor. Food and service were excellent. I had an omelet, my wife had the eggs benedict, my daughter had the French toast. Everything was right on.
(4)Mark H.
Wow! We came here on a recommendation from a waitress at another restaurant we ate at while visiting Portland. While we had to wait 30 minutes for a table - that's how popular this place is - it was a pleasant one with a very friendly atmosphere: fellow diners in waiting, the wait staff, etc. We had eggs benedict with home fries, crab cake benedict with home fries, mamosas, and bloody marys. Our waiter was very attentive to our needs even as busy as the restaurant was. This meal could have lasted us for the day!
(5)Jaime S.
So good for breakfast. They have such superb egg benedict and the omelets are perfect and not too greasy at all, phew. My only qualm is that you can only go there during the week because it is so insanely crowded all the time!
(4)Davis W.
Definitely a fan of Bintliff's. We ate on the outside upper deck which has a "tree house" feel. Our waitress, Jocelyn, is now our best friend who we loved. We both had eggs with potatoes and bacon and toast and shared Maine Blueberry pancakes with maine maple syrup. Outstanding! Except the potatoes. Thumbs down on the potatoes. They were undercooked and over done with the seasoning...way over seasoned. And nobody wants to bite into a raw-ish potato. dissapointing but they still won us over in every other way.
(4)Paul O.
Great friendly service, fresh baked bread and pancakes that are both unbelievable delicious and also more than you can eat in one sitting. Try the vegetable or corn beef hash. The line on the weekends and parking may distract you, but it is well worth your trouble.
(5)Greg S.
Good service at first which got lax as business picked up. No refill or offer of refill of my coffee. I had to flag the waiter down when I wanted preserves for my toast. I sat outside on a balcony deck under the shade of a large maple. Inside décor was snug but charming. A house just behind the deck with several somewhat loud tenants/workers? on a continual smoke break and lots of traffic noise detracted somewhat from the outdoor dining which wouldn't be a problem indoors. Coffee OK, not as bold as I prefer. OJ not fresh squeezed. I had the corn beef hash which is huge and very generous on the corn beef. I thought it was overcooked as the potatoes were mush and burnt on bottom. Strawberry preserves were good. I must say I was disappointed based on the ratings. I would try it again as the ambiance had a possibility of a nice experience.
(2)R S.
This was a recommendation of some of my classmates for when my sister came to visit Portland. We had brunch here on a weekday and still had a wait a few minutes for a seat - not that I minded, obviously it's a popular place. I had the steak and eggs benedict which was delicious and I normally don't eat eggs benedict. My sister had the lobster benedict and liked it but couldnt finish it as it was really rich (duh). My classmate had a salad (I think it was a cobb or a club or something) and it was humongous. I also had a peach blini which was good. I was a little annoyed at the price when I saw it on the menu but it was a huge glass - not a little champagne flute. The server was a nice young guy and the food came out cooked perfectly and in a timely manner. I'll go back.
(4)JC W.
I was on vacation in Portland and came here for breakfast on a Friday. We were told the wait would be 20-25 minutes which I thought was okay, so we waited. 50 minutes later I went to check with the hostess who was MIA for about 10 minutes while several other patrons were coming in to try and get their name on the wait list. Everyone was looking for the hostess. A couple people who put their names on the list AFTER us got sat before us, which I wasn't with a big party - it was only two of us. So finally after 50 minutes we got to sit. It was another 45 minutes before we got our shrimp cocktail appetizer which at that point I was so hungry after waiting 1 1/2 hours to eat that I asked them to bring our food out asap. 3 different couples that showed up in the wait line about 25-30 minutes after us got their food before us. Then...as soon as we finally got our food we hadn't even had our first bite and the waiter dropped off the check. He didn't even check to see how the food was or if we wanted anything else, organe juice, etc. Both our dishes were so-so. The florentine benedict had way too much parmesan on it and I didn't care for the homefries. The service and the wait were disappointing and when I am in Portland again I'll probably go somewhere else for breakfast.
(1)Kamron H.
Always worth the wait!
(5)Abi K.
Visiting Portland for one night. Friends recommended Bintliffs, saying it would be best quality breakfast food we could find. They were right. We arrived a little before noon and waited about 40 minutes for a table. Coffee is available while you wait. The staff were friendly and made sure all parties were on the list. We were seated at a booth upstairs. Our server Jonny was friendly and made great recommendations. We had the veggie home fries and eggs florentine Benedict. This is the best breakfast we've had possibly ever but definitely in recent memory. Worth the price and wait time. The atmosphere and staff make the place better. I wish I lived closer so I could come back regularly. I will make this a must stop on my next trip to Portland.
(5)Mary R.
I reccommend Bintliff to anyone and everyone passing through Portland. As soon as you step in the door you'll feel like you're in a trendy SoHo cafe. A lot of the food is locally grown/harvested/raised, and the portions are very generous. The staff is super friendly, and I love checking out all the antiques the adorn the place. If you want a good breakfast, brunch, or lunch, be sure to hit them up!
(5)Annie R.
So Bintliffs is great for sure. It is this sort of eclectic little building, with what appears to be random antiques thrown about, it makes for a quirky ambiance which I got into for sure. The plus's the orange french toast was amazing....literally amazing. It does lose a point from me because I had the hueovos rancheros and the guacamole was clearly of the packed variety, it was kind of a downer with the other awesomeness that was on my plate. We did have a 30 minute wait on Friday midday which surprised me, but the place is really small. Our server was a bit inattentive as well, which was lame, but I find artsy places, have artsy sort of aloof servers, so that sort of comes with the territory. Worth checking out for the food/ambiance alone, they have some amazing pairings on their very inventive menu......
(4)BeverlyHills X.
I will keep this short: I was in Portland doing some rotations while in Medical School, and after having lived in Boston and LA, I can say hands down this is the best brunch I have ever had in my life. Chocolate Chip-Macademia walnut pancakes and the Lobster Eggs Benedict. Amazing. DO NOT be discouraged by the long line. That just tells you somthing. Don't leave Portland without coming here. You will not regret it.
(5)Dejia B.
Mmmmm, happy happy happy tummy. I had very delicious crabcakes benedict. Hollandaise was perfect, crabcakes were awesome, their homefries are delightful. Boyfriend had corned beef hash which he said was amazing and was big enough for two meals. I will be back and damn soon.
(4)Jeramia O.
Great personality, good coffee, the 3 potato home fries are solid. Wife and I both had a scramble, probably should have gotten one of the awesome looking Benedicts. Definitely skip the scrambled if you are not a fan of diner-style (some would say overcooked) eggs.
(4)Gray K.
Wow. This place was amazing. First, the space: it's a really interesting layout, but also small and pretty horrible for an actual restaurant. There's not really anywhere to wait, and there seems to be a wait pretty much all of the time. But once you get in, it's definitely a different sort of place to eat in. The food? Phenomenal, and tons of it. I love that they let you add fresh fruit or strawberries to any of the french toasts, waffles, etc. We had the granola french toast with strawberries and the real syrup (definitely splurge for that!), with a "side" portion of the veggie homefries. Should have gone with the double portion of the french toast, since the full is three enormous (seriously: ENORMOUS) texas toast-sized slices of deliciousness. We tried hard, but despite having not eaten all morning, two of us couldn't finish the last slice of french toast. The only problem I had was trying to decide which delicious item(s) to order.
(5)Robby T.
Don't give many 5-star ratings. Context is key, right? So, in this quaint lil' town (a.k.a. biggest city in Maine), Bintliff's retains everything a cute town brunch spot should: character (slanted wooden stairs w/ windows that could've been at your grandma's house), tasty and original food (orange graham cracker french toast anyone?), and good service (our waitress was friendly AND knowledgable, go figure?). Prices reasonable, solid homemade corned beef hash, and spectacular crab benedict. Coffee was average, but passable. Go here if you find yourself in Portland....just do it!
(5)Paul M.
I won't bother echoing all the other reviews. To quote our server "we don't do anything small here". I had a three egg omelet with ham, roasted garlic, roasted peppers, and brie. Awesome!
(5)Sarah N.
You have to go early if you want to get a table without a wait - this place is always packed. My boyfriend and I go to Portland Power Yoga at 7am then sneak over to beat the crowd and devour some veggie benedict. He loves the lobster - its truly decadent.
(4)Jackie A.
There was so much food it was obnoxious. Food was GOOD (not great) but I'm guessing their reputation has something to do with quantity, not quality. Service was lacking - we could NOT get a coffee refill and finally got up and filled our cups ourselves. OK if you want the experience but there's better breakfast elsewhere.
(3)Katie H.
seeing the family is hard. real hard. that's why i only do it once a year. and we try to make it real jam packed with activities because without the activities would all kill each other. so we decided on a day trip to maine to pass the day. it was sunday morning and bintliff's doesn't do reservations on sunday so we made the 2 hour drive up north hoping the wait wouldn't be too long. the night before i showed mr and mrs pelosi the online menu and they were freakin out that it would be too fancy for us derelicts. we are not a fancy restaurant family. i repeat...we are not a fancy restaurant family. we get kicked out of fancy places. a large group walked in right before us and they told us it would be 30 minutes. but after talking to the host about how we found them on yelp and came all the way from san francisco (well, at one point we came from there) we were seated in about 10 minutes. julia p and i got permission from mom and dad to get a breakfast cocktail and we got a pomegranate vodka oj thing. it was big and tasty. their coffee was from a local portland called coffee by design and it wasn't spectacular, but it was good. based on yelp reviews, i ordered the corned beef hash with 3 types of potatoes and 2 poached eggs with homemade toast. it was the most amazing corned beef hash i have ever had...hands down. i ate all i could without bursting, and samantha p. ate all she wanted and i had enough leftovers to make me and the old man breakfast this morning. i also had a bite of the fresh raspberry and almond pancakes and the georgian pecan carmel waffle and both were amazing. if you find yourself in maine...this is the place to go for brunch. heck, if you find yourself within a 3 hour drive of portland...this place is worth the drive.
(5)Mary H.
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!
(4)Ashley M.
This gets my vote for BEST brunch I've ever had in the United States. I was there with 4 people and we shared - amazing pancakes - gingerbread with lemon syrup were great, as were the blueberry. Raspberry almond pancakes were very tasty but the almonds seem a little oddly crunchy of a texture for pancakes. I also loved the huevos rancheros and the veggie hash brown - toasted sweet potatoes and other veggies soooo good.
(5)Pito S.
Love this place. Second time there. Whenever I am in Portland ME. (How often is that?)
(5)Toni D.
I went up to Portland a few months ago just for the weekend. Before my trip up there I did a little research on restaurants. This place had excellent reviews so this was one of the places I had to try out. My boyfriend and I went here on a Sunday afternoon. The place was packed. We had to wait outside until our name was called. We waited 30 minutes or so...not too bad and they did offer us coffee while we were waiting. We sat upstairs towards the front in the corner. This place has a very cozy feeling. Our waiter was super nice and very friendly. I wish all waiters could be like the one I had here. As the waiter walk by with plates of food everything looked yummy. I couldn't decide what to order. But I ended up getting the Huevos Rancheros. It was very tasty and very filling. I also ordered a single pancake that was soft and fluffy. If your in Portland you have to try this place you wont regret it.
(5)Eric O.
We were pretty psyched to try Bintliff's after foraging a little bit at the Deering Farmer's Market (which needs a pastry and coffee stand, BTW). We were disappointed for sure. Our timing as good in that we sat right away, despite other reviewers' issues with the wait. But the food itself (blueberry pancakes and a ham-and-cheese omelette) was just not good. Pancakes were dense, and omelette made with oil, not butter, leaving that lingering taste in your mouth, Not recommended.
(1)Alex G.
We arrived and only had to wait five minutes, which was a nice bit of luck; the people behind us had to wait a while, and there isn't much room to wait inside on a rainy day. Once we sat, service was quick and friendly. The menu is chock full of choices, and it takes a while to peruse it fully. My wife order a single blueberry pancake with maple syrup, the Mediterranean scramble, and a side of maple sausage; I had an egg frittata with veggies and cheese. Be warned that the kitchen cooks to order and is slow... However, once out, it's darn good. And the portions are large. The plates were not oily, the eggs cooked perfectly, and the bread lightly grilled- a nice touch. Everything tasted fresh and well above the norm. I only wish he had checked on us more often, as we never got refills and a couple others items we never got to ask for. Still, this is a solid, 4 star breakfast joint.
(4)Monique G.
Overrated. Don't torture yourself with the wait.
(3)N J.
We asked the waitress what she recommended. She said that people usually get lobster eggs benedict and corned beef hash. I also wanted to get the blueberry pancakes but looked around and saw that the portions were huge. At first we got OJ but decided to go with their mimosas and bloody marys as well. It turned out to be one of the best breakfasts I've had. Friendly service, great for families, couples, etc... Free coffee while you wait.
(5)Alexa B.
Really good breakfast, but for the love of GOD, please expand... the wait for a table is excruciating. I used to go here a lot when I lived on Forest Ave, but it was always such a huge bummer to see the hour plus-long lines.
(4)Dallas T.
Corned beef hash!!! Simply amazing. Other food was on par for a good breakfast place. Good service. Will be back next time I'm in town.
(4)Shayda W.
We were in Portland for a day and looked on yelp to get an idea of where to go for breakfast. Turns out fellow yelpers were spot on with Bintliff's - this was probably the best breakfast I've ever had!! First of all, the place is totally cute/ quaint with an antique - east coast feel to it. I had the Lobster benedict for breakfast (amazing!!) and shared the raspberry almond pancakes and gingerbread pancakes with my sister and her boyfriend - the best pancakes ever! This place gets 5 stars!!
(5)Joe A.
Loved it!
(4)Little B.
I like this place but it is a bit dirty. The food is terrific but I've only had brunch. It could use a polish.
(4)jason b.
The gf and i came here on a Saturday morning for the first time. We were on vacation and also very sick so my review probably is a little non-bias. We arrive and realize to our surprise that there's no wait for a table. The host sat us right near the door where there we a few small tables for two. One thing i hate is sitting at a table on top of other people. The tables are so close here that you can barely walk between them to exit the booth side. And forget having a conversation that nobody else will hear without trying. Its so bad that the servers have to awkwardly lean over your back to leave food on your table. Ok no big deal i've heard the food is great and thats all that matters. Gf had the veggie scramble and i had the crab cake benedict. The food wasn't as "great" as i had read on Yelp but very good. The highlight of my breakfast was the idiot who was seated next to us who dumped coffee all over my sweatshirt and ruined it. Even though he said he was "sorry" i guess he wasn't sorry enough to buy me a new sweatshirt. Douche! I think that the tables and area are just so awkward it probably didn't help as he was trying to sit down with coffee in hand. Regardless, i felt like crap and was pretty miserable to begin with. :( I would come again but would definately not sit downstairs next to the front door. Unless of course its north of 50 degrees.
(3)Sarah G.
Food was colorful, interesting, but a bit on the bland side. Still, we'll definitely be back. Servers were either all on ecstasy or just the friendliest, happiest people in the world. Outside deck is lovely on a nice day and interior is neat as well. Good coffee, good bread, and good location if you feel like getting out of the Old Port area.
(4)Kyle P.
Staff was very polite and attenative. Excellent music and atmosphere. A little of the beaten path, but worth it! Ordered the Bloody Mary and Cornbeef Hash. Bloody Mary was excellent...had strong taste of horseradish, which was not overbearing. Also had significant bite of Tabasco sauce. Corbeef has was incredible, however a little on the cold side for my liking. Had very unique seasoning, large chunks of Black Angus cornbeef, and nice chunks of potato. Very good meal at a reasonable price. Will go again soon!
(4)L. O.
Sooooo good! I am so not a steak & eggs kind of girl, but after trying the bf's, I might just be a convert! First things first -my breakfast.....I got the Bintliff scramble-great flavors with light fluffly eggs seasoned with tons of basil and their delicious cheese garnish -combine that with a plate full of three potato hash and a toast slice as big as my head -yum, done & done. But back to the scene stealer -the steak benedict was so good and rich-I'm guessing the steak was infused with a garlic butter or truffle oil --it was ridiculously decadent and tender. One of the best breakfasts we've ever had, hands down.
(5)Tamar O.
My husband and I checked this place out after reading all the other reviews here on yelp. The inside seemed on the stuffy side, so we were glad there was one outside table left. We ordered the lobster roll and poached eggs on a muffin with lobster and hollandaise sauce. Both were absolutely amazing. I didn't think a lobster roll could possibly taste so good. This was a tasty tasty experience and we recommend that anyone visiting give it a try over the many other great places to eat in Portland.
(5)Andrew W.
Best breakfast i've had in Portland. I had the blueberry pancakes and they were very good. The portions are huge- too much for me to finish. The only downside is that the place is really small so it gets really cramped when you're waiting for a table. Thankfully, they offer coffee while you wait.
(4)Julia W.
I echo the sentiments of others. I love this place, best brunch I've ever had. One key element to the good brunch: great coffee. Bintliff's serves Coffee By Design coffee, a local brewer. Always fresh. I've never had a bad meal here, from an omelet to pancakes (yes the gingerbread are FANTASTIC) to granola, yogurt, and fruit. My omnivorous friends are always satisfied as well. Worth the trip, worth the (possibly long) wait in line.
(5)Donna A.
I'll start by saying that the service was great and the coffee was good. The food however was not so great. Two eggs over medium turned out to be over more like easy than med. The bacon was overly smoked and chewy. The three potatoes (home fries) were not edible as they loaded them with rosemary and other herbs. When there's a table of 5 and all of us leave the homfries on the plate....there's a problem. We won't return
(2)brad p.
Unbelievably good for breakfast. Stopped in on the recommendation of Yelp users and was not disappointed. There were 7 of us and we all left happy and full. The place is very cool. It's like a Victorian house and everything is angular inside. We shared a chocolate chip waffle for the table and we all ordered egg or pancake dishes. The corned beef hash was amazing and the coffee was very good. We didn't have to wait long, even though it was Saturday morning. The perfect start to the weekend!
(4)Whit B.
I had french toast that was rolled in granola, with real maple syrup. My fiance had a delicious fluffy omelet with spinich, andoule sausage, jack cheese and grilled onions. It came with three potato, home fries and a thick slice of honey wheat toast. It was really good! We had friendly service! We would return any day!
(5)Lynette M.
Lobster eggs benedict and hot-smoked salmon- yummy
(3)Danielle M.
Bintliff's could be my favorite breakfast place on the East Coast! The coffee is Coffee by Design, so that's a great way to start the day. The real reasons to go though are the Corned Beef Hash, which is homemade and is big chunks of beef rather than the usual chopped up little hash and the Bayou Benedict, with andouille and corn bread. The line is usually pretty long on the weekends and the outdoor deck is worth the wait.
(5)Simon L.
Although it lost a bit of it's lustre when Roger Bintliff sold his famous cafe to concentrate on other ventures, this place is still stellar. From the coffee they offer for you to drink during the inevitable wait, to the ingenious waffles and pancakes, the scrumptious REAL corned beef hash, and--my favorite--the make-your-own omelette with the most decadent filling options (think goat cheese and chorizo and artichoke hearts and heirloom tomatoes), this place is a step above anything else in town, really. There are a few new places that offer quality in the same vein, but nothing is as established as Bintliff's. Make sure to ask for a seat on the back porch, in the summer, the canopy of leaves makes you feel like you're someplace else besides Bayside.
(4)John F.
NOT worth the wait. Poached eggs are steamed, not actually poached, so the yolks are not cooked evenly and the texture of the egg whites is not pleasant. Bintliff's reminds you that the old adage is true - "bigger doesn't make it better." Everything here is over-sized, but not necessarily flavorful. The home-baked bread is served in massive slices, but it is dense and lacking flavor. The homefries are the equivalent of eating stew without the beef - huge chunks of potatoes and carrots. Speaking of beef, the corned beef hash is ridiculous. Although flavorful, the hash is like a corned beef stew - with massive squares of corned beef along with large cuts of potatoes and onions. The sausage that you can get with your eggs is disgusting, with an off-putting spice. Worse still is the North Country bacon, which lacks a pork belly flavor, but has a chemical aftertaste. I'm giving it two stars - one for ambience and one for good service. Save your time and money and go to a diner or another breakfast/brunch place in Portland.
(2)Meg V.
Wow!! Amazing breafast. My boyfriend and I took a last minute trip to Portland for Labor Day. I had heard this was a good place and the menu is available online so we decided to go. Lets just say, we complimented the waitress so much she suggested we make the trip back up from Boston next weekend. It's a tempting thought. We had to wait about a half an hour, but they give you free coffee which was such a nice touch and I really think made the wait just fly by. The host was very kind and got us a table so fast. The menu had so many things to chose from and after reading a lot of reviews we ordered so much food to try as much as possible. I ordered an omelet with broccoli, maple smoked sausage, tomato, and vermont cheddar. It came with a good portion of potatos (regular and I think I tasted a sweet potato piece in their also!) and then I got a side of bacon and one pancake. My boyfriend also ordered an omelet with smoked gouda, asparagas, onion, ham, and I can't even remeber what else. They have interesting things to chose from that I wouldn't even think for an omelet . He also got a side of the cornbeer because we had heard so many great things. Between us we had enough food for an army, but we couldn't resist. Everything was amazing. The waitress was extrememly helpful! The restuarant itself is so cute and they do have outdoor seating! The prices can seem high, but you get what you pay for. We paid $5 for our side of cornbeef but it was a HUGE amount of food. Same with the single pancake. I think we paid $3 for 1 pancake but the thing was huge and both of us couldn't even finish it. I would recommend this place to everyone looking for a great meal with resonable prices
(5)jennifer l.
Great brunch menu. The lobster rolls and wraps were good. The seafood bisque was delicious. A little small, but cozy. Excellent coffee.
(4)Travis M.
Very delicious, very filling breakfast. We went early and only waited for 10 minutes or so. Would go there again in a heartbeat next time I'm in Portland.
(5)James H.
Came for brunch and ordered the Vegetable Benedict and Granola Crusted French Toast. Overall, the food was fresh and tasty (novelty factor on the french toast a solid plus), but not necessarily memorable nor exceptional. Service was average but noticing the amount of dust on the table lamp led my eye to the other fixtures/furniture/window panes/etc. and made it difficult for me to ignore the amount of surface dust everywhere. This made me start to question (not in a good way) the state and upkeep of the kitchen and food storage areas. For any eatery, food should be paramount with surroundings, pricing, and environment close behind. I guess the food didn't wow me enough to overlook the somewhat unclean interior.
(3)Soaring E.
4.5 stars! Awesome (and unique) breakfast! Get there early.
(5)at S.
Great upstairs dining room, quality has zigged and zagged over the years but it is quite good at the moment. Service always seems good. And waffles... very good waffles.
(4)Lindsay L.
delicious. best bloody mary i've ever had.
(4)geo j.
Best breakfast i"ve ever had . Sit under the shade tree on the upstairs deck . Might have to wait as very popular . Hollandaise sauce superb .
(5)Jimmy J.
Every item on the menu looked delicious from previous posters so I ended up ordering the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict. Simply amazing... They were cooked to perfection. This place is located a few minutes from Old Port but definitely worth it. Just be able to wait about 30-45 minutes to be seated.
(5)Vincent H.
As expected this place is super busy on weekends so get here early! Or before they close. Service was quick & nice inside this cozy brunch spot. Food wise it has all the basic brunch items with a few specials... Classic eggs Benedict wasn't bad along with the Eggs Florentine. Their potatoes really see it off compared to other places. House smoked salmon platter was good too! I actually wished I got something like that instead of my Benedict since I haven't had that before. Knocking off a star cause the wait was definitely ALOT longer than anticipated.
(4)Vivian C.
According to a card sitting our our table by the lamp, Bayside American Cafe was named Bintliff's American Cafe only till recently. The exterior of the restaurant seemed slightly Grecian due to their choice of color and motifs. Inside, however, was dark and cozy, warm and quirky. There are a few tables on the ground floor, where the bathroom is, but the larger seating area is up the flight of stairs. We were a bit conflicted on what to order till we realized that we could order their pancakes by the piece. That made the decision much easier! So we ended up with their Veggie Homefries (Sauteed baby spinach, tomato, summer squash, mushroom, onion, red bell pepper, broccoli, zucchini, Italian cheese blend and two eggs, served over three potato homefries) $12 for a full order, the Apple Cinnamon Raisin Stuffed French Toast (Homemade Tuscan white or honey wheat French toast stuffed with apple cinnamon raisin compote and drizzled with cinnamon creme anglaise) $9, one piece of their Bacon Cheddar Scallion Pancakes with Bourbon Maple Syrup (contains alcohol) $4.50, and one piece of the Cinnamon Bun Pancakes (swirl of cinnamon, cream cheese icing) $3.50. Surprisingly, my preference ended up leaning towards the pancakes. The Cinnamon Bun Pancake was so cute - it actually looked like a flat cinnamon roll! And it was so tasty! The cream cheese frosting made this pancake rather sinful. The savory pancake had good sized pieces of crisp bacon reminded me pleasantly of scallion and ham buns from the Chinese bakery. The French toast was tasty, but not literally stuffed, which I found a bit disappointing. It was good to have a healthy option beside all the sweet and high carb selections in the Veggie Homefries. The vegetables retained a nice bite and were a tasty mix - this was the only plate we decimated (well, minus the thick piece of toast that accompanied it). My DCs liked the blueberry soda $2.75, even after having been blueberried out by our weekend road trip. Service was relaxed but pleasant. When parking, be sure to read the signs. We found ourselves a spot with a 2 hour parking limit from 9am - 5pm April 1 - Nov 30.
(4)Wayne T.
You know the saying, the best restaurants are the ones with that most people waiting in line. It is certainly true with this restaurant! Every time I come it is very busy. The staff is very friendly and the food is amazing. While I only have been here for breakfast, they have a good brunch and sandwich menu as well. The Louisiana Bayou Benedict is my favorite. It served with a spicy Cajun hollandaise sauce and wonderful and andouille sausage. The best part is the homemade corncakes that they use instead of the traditional English muffin. Enjoy!
(4)Lindsay M.
MIND. BLOWN. Haha no but really. This place is amazing. Yes, there's a line and a bit of wait but the food is so worth it. Settled in a quaint, Victorian style transformed house to restaurant, it's a great spot for breakfast/brunch. Service was great; the hostess and waitress were super nice and welcoming. We ordered Bloody Mary's first (one of the best I've ever had) and then got the corned beef hash, a scramble, and a lobster benny. Almost died and went to heaven. The lobster benny was amazing; the lobster was so fresh and the home fries with it just made it perfect. Next time I'm in Portland, I will be coming back!!
(5)Mai H.
Came here on Monday based on the yelp reviews! We arrived here about 11:15AM after walking in the wrong direction for a bit..oops. Was told the wait would be 20-25 minutes, but that's just the estimate. No problem! The wait ended up being closer to 30-35 minutes but it was ok because we helped ourself to the free coffee and we looked over the menu..we didn't know what the dining situation looked like upstairs but downstairs there was an empty table for 4..and we are a table of 4. I am not entirely sure if the downstairs is just a waiting area or not but there was a table of 8 down there eating but it would have been great to be seated! When we got seated upstairs there was actually plenty of seating upstairs still, maybe they were pacing the dining area so the kitchen wouldn't get backed up? I don't know..but we all basically knew what we were going to order since we had half an hour to decide downstairs, but as soon as we sat down our waitress said, 'Oh, we are out of lobster, crab and salmon'...wait..WHAT? 'It was a busy weekend.'. Oh ok..well..considering the fact that 50% the menu is comprised of those 3 things it would be nice to know before we waited 1/2 an hour. I mean, there was no sign that said they were out of anything and the host never even mentioned it..this is something that should be noted or stated before a wait, especially when pretty much everything on the menu is comprised of those 3 main ingredients.. Already disappointed we looked over the menu again and got basic benedict, the hash, bayou benedict and bacon, cheddar cheese scallion pancake. It took another 25-30 minutes or so to get the food and at this point the place didn't look busy anymore. The hash was pretty good. Lots of meat and burnt potatoes and stuff. My friends said the bayou benedict was very good and the other benedict was nothing to really write home about. I had the pancake, it was a good texture but really lacked any kind of flavor. I could barely taste any of the ingredients that were previously mentioned. Was it worth the 1 hr from start to finish? No...not this time.
(2)Meli L.
Never have had a bad meal here - you can expect to wait whatever time you go. It's kind of confusing / super small area when you walk in and where you should put your name. Several times we've wondered do they come out and call your name? because it will be very long periods of time with no hostess surfacing. The bloody marys are great, as are the huevos rancheros, and my boyfriend is a fan of the bayou Benedict. The pancakes are huge, like as big as the plate, huge!
(4)Roger W.
Awesome place and even more awesomer staff! Great coffee and a wonderful vegan wrap. We came in around noon looking for a place to work but it seemed like they weren't necessarily that type of coffee shop. Once we asked if it was ok to work they said no problem and happily served us coffee and gave us the wifi password. They non aggressively left a menu for us to look over and we noticed the vegan wrap right away. After a couple cups of coffee we ordered food and were pleasantly surprised. Delicious tempeh wrapped with hummus kalamatas and sun dried tomatoes made it one of the best wraps we have had in a while. Check em out!
(5)Tony W.
If any one place can make me a morning person, it's Bayside (formerly Bintliff's). I say this because if you arrive after 8am on a weekend, prepare for a looooong wait. It's that popular in Portland, but it's also that good. As the host said several times as we were waiting, 'a long wait is the curse of a place as famous as ours.' Truer words have never been spoken. Honestly, if I was a restauranteur I would open up a breakfast place RIGHT NEXT DOOR to capture all the overflow diners who are too impatient for the long wait. I unfortunately chose to take my family here on a Sunday. We drove by when it was raining and there was no line, so I thought today was the day everyone decided to stay in. Nope. Turns out, everyone who probably would have waited outside for a table were crammed inside like a can of sardines crammed inside a can of sardines. Everyone was wet and miserable, but at least we all had breakfast to look forward to. The do let you grab a coffee to drink while you wait, which is a nice classy touch. I like the way this place is decorated. The brick walls are adorned with the 'Best of Portland' awards they've won over the years, so you can contemplate how good your breakfast is actually going to be when you eventually get a table. As many have mentioned, the service is great. The wait staff all kept their cool and were calm, polite, and smiley despite the overwhelming crush of people taking up the foyer. The host kept double checking to see if there were any new arrivals and updating everyone on the newest wait times. When we eventually sat down, I ordered a coffee, the Louisiana benedict, and the notorious cinnamon bun pancake for our table to share. My dad is a no-nonsense breakfast kinda guy, and he ordered the classic breakfast, eggs over easy; he ain't got no time for any of those fancy dishes. My brother ordered the homemade corned beef hash. All I can say is...wow. It was all excellent, and plated beautifully. Thank god I only ordered one pancake - they're HUGE! The coffee was great too. My dad and brother really seemed to enjoy their breakfast. So I can safely say that - unless the early stages of a zombie apocalypse breaks out on a weekend, leaving brunchers who would otherwise visit Bayside scrambling instead for hardware, weapons and supplies (and what a bummer THAT would be if it fell on a weekend!) - I'm not coming here again on a weekend. An hour wait is not worth it. A 20-30 minute wait is more like it!
(5)Sara P.
Bintlliffs has always been a favorite spot of ours and even though the name changed the meal and service was just as we remembered. The cornbeef hash is a must try, as it is not your typical preparation. Compiled of large pieces of potatoes, beef, and onions, it is a dish that will delight your senses. Other favorites include the bajou benedict and the BACON! The bacon is think cut, juicy, and crispy. It will not disappoint. Every time I come, I order something new, and each time the dish is delicious. I never leave unsatisfied! Huevos rancheros 3.5 stars Bacon 5 stars Bloody mary 4 stars (could be a tad spicier) Bajou benedict 4 stars
(4)Curtis L.
Amazing breakfasts!! Friendly staff, free coffee while you're waiting, and scrumdidlyumptious pancakes : )
(5)Alex R.
Had real high hopes for this, had great Yelp reviews and we are foodies so it was on our too do breakfast/brunch spots. Food was ok, but the service was awful. We had to wait ages to get seated, but the dude was nice so we didn't mind. After being seated the waitress was a complete bitch to me and my girlfriend, she took 20+ mins to take our order whilst seeing to all of her locals that were eating there at the time. She was being un-attentive, rude, and even when we wanted to pay she would just keep going off and talking to one of the male servers that she blatantly fancied.. the food was ok, very whatever.. don't be fooled by the pictures, this just seems to be a local spot.
(1)Joe H.
Yikes! Other reviews on Yelp were singing the praises of Bintliff's American Café, so we tried it out for a Friday morning breakfast in downtown Portland, Maine. Place was a "dive" in my humble opinion. Not a great neighborhood - homeless people begging for money in close proximity and fresh doggie poo right outside the restaurant on the sidewalk (at least I hope that was from a canine). First impressions, right? The place is definitely old (charming?) and somewhat tired. Very noisy inside - acoustics upstairs are terrible. Several local business people (without inside voices) were chatting it up (shop talk and ranting) without regard for the noise situation - same with the staff. The door to the outside seating area opened a million times right by the upstairs bar, so our food was instantly cold as were my legs. At any rate, my chief complaint would a general lack of seasoning - our food looked appetizing for sure, but lacked salt and herbs or pepper. Bland omelet for $11 - truly disappointing. The Maine crab cakes looked great, but again, no flavor. Corned beef hash...meh! Three-potato home fries (red, Yukon gold, and sweet potato - me thinks) would have benefited greatly from a little rosemary and sea salt. A truly bland breakfast! Our server recommended the house made Tuscan bread as a toast selection over an English muffin - SPOT ON! Don't miss the bread...definitely the best bites of my entire meal. Unfortunately, had to ask for butter and it arrived ice cold (a bit tough to spread on toast which cooled quickly with the door opening and closing). No jelly, no fresh preserves, or jam...just plain toast. Kind of sad. Notice on the table indicating an imminent name change to "Bayside American Café" -- pictures covering the interior walls with kudos from long-forgotten celebs (Billie Jean King) and local travel writers and magazines...my guess is that the Bintliff's American Café of the past was probably quite the brunch spot. Given the lack of parking, crappy atmosphere, and mediocre food...looks like this establishment has quite a ways to go to achieve food service "glory" again. Kudos to our server (Andrew?) - He was friendly and helpful with menu questions. I'd suggest ordering from the full bar when you visit - a couple of mimosas in and the place is probably awesome (or you will not care either way). Sorry, I cannot recommend this one to my fellow Yelpers.
(2)Ruth B.
Food was great as usual. They have the best corned beef hash. Tender and flavorful. I tried the outdoor seating for the first time. A nice little oasis in the city. But we were seated on the lower level and definitely had service issues. It's a hard area for the wait staff to remember to keep up with (in spite of the gracious host (maybe owner) trying to fill in). We still had no refills on water or coffee. Will return because the food is great.
(3)Terzah D.
This place used to be called Bintliffs so don't be confused if you see the name in other reviews. We came for breakfast and it was fabulous! Good coffee. I had crab cakes Benedict and added bacon at the recommendation of the waiter. Good crab cakes, eggs were poached perfectly and the thick cut bacon on the side really did add a nice flavor. My husband had the Benedict made with corn cakes and sausages. It had nice spice and he said all the flavors went together really well. Potatoes on the side were a mix of sweet and regular potatoes, tasty blend with nice fresh herb flavor. Staff was friendly and attentive. If you go when it is busy be prepared to wait for a while. We came just after they opened and luckily got a seat pretty fast but it was packed by the time we left. However they were trying to accommodate guests by giving out coffee.
(5)Courty C.
Honestly, meh. Not impressed. Overall expect to wait a long time for extremely large amounts of overcooked, dry food covered in sugar. Portions are insanely large and unnecessary. The cinnamon roll pancake while impressive looking, is the driest pancake I've ever eaten. The french toast special was only worth the apple raisin filling. French toast should have a crispy outside and an almost custardy inside, but this bread was dense and tasted like toasted stale bread covered and stuffed with sugar. Lastly, they upcharge for real maple syrup, which seems like a red flag right there for a supposed top notch brunch place.
(2)Tiffany K.
Stopped in on a weekend due to the high rating. Unfortunately it was packed and we were too hungry to wait so we came back on a Monday morning. Got seated almost right away downstairs. There are only a couple of tables downstairs and the rest of the dining is upstairs. The place has an odd setup, maybe an old house? The kitchen is downstairs and the dining room is upstairs so we watched the host/servers go up and down and up and down. I split the lobster Benedict with a friend and was glad I did. It was so good I probably would have eaten it all despite being full after half! The side potatoes are a mix of regular and sweet. The Benedict was delicious and I can vouch that the Lobster Frittata was equally as good. YUM! Worth the high rating, but the weekend wait sure is a bummer.
(4)Gary F.
It's a holiday weekend so we got there earlier and beat the rush, and there was a wait as we were leaving. Staff was very friendly, restaurant was clean and the service was great. We both had a Bloody Mary with a grilled shrimp and we both had the lobster Benedict Wow! The lobster tasted sweet and fresh. Not stringy or chewy. The sauce was fresh not from a package. The home fries had a mix or regular and sweet potatoes and seasoned well. The prices were reasonable. We were both very happy.
(4)Ryan Y.
What a great breakfast place! I came here right before they changed their name from Bintliff's, but I have since come back after the name change and the food tastes the same. The first time I came here, I ordered the bacon scallion pancakes, and while they are good, I wouldn't recommend them again. The second time I came, I had the bayou benedict and this thing was amazing. The corn fritters are sweet, crispy and full of flavor. The bayou hollandaise has a nice spicy, creamy texture that really pulls the whole plate together. I was swiping up the remainder of the sauce with my fried potatoes and yams. I want to say I'll try other things here for breakfast, but I may just order this every time. One other thing, their bloody mary's are really good. Probably a contributing factor for the enjoyment of my breakfast, but who cares.
(5)Sarah Y.
Amazing place from breakfast. Portions are huge! I highly recommend the crab cake Benedict with Cajun sauce instead of the regular.
(5)Jonathan C.
This was our first meal in Portland and it definitely set the tone. I loved everything I ate. Definitely get the smoked salmon. It was awesome. Excellent service and good food...what more can you ask for? I mean...a $0 tab but let's not get greedy.
(5)Josh M.
I hate breakfast food, typically. This place makes me love it. They're doing everything right in the food department. They should totally change the name back to Bintliffs, though! It has way more character!
(5)Carla H.
Came here on a recommendation of a local. It was about 11:15am on a Sunday & the wait was about 40 minutes. Not a problem; you can help yourself to coffee while you wait or even order a breakfast cocktail. The mimosa was a generous size; not in a champagne flute and tasted good. My lobster roll was delicious with just a touch of mayo, buttery, well seasoned, and the ciabatta roll was perfectly toasted. By noon I had gotten the last order of lobster. I liked the 3 potato home fries, a little unevenly cooked, but I love Cholula hot sauce so that made my day. My husband had the Bayou Benedict and he said he liked the corn pancake it was served on instead of an english muffin and it was the perfect amount of spiciness. Our server was really nice, the ambiance was neat, and even though we dropped over $70 on brunch it was totally worth that and the wait. And the host was super nice, too. There's no clear place to put your name in, but in between running up & down the stairs on a busy day he greeted us with a smile & said he'd be with us in a minute. We would definitely go back.
(4)Linda Y.
Bayside Cafe serves up tasty brunch fare. My husband and I parked our car a block away and walked in around 8:20am. There was a 20-minute wait for a table because the place is tiny. We shared the corned beef hash and the bayou benedict. I opted for the whole wheat honey toast as my carb choice. The hash was tasty but the bayou benedict was better! It was slightly spicy, creamy, and tangy. The portions were very generous and we brought half the hash home.
(4)Maura Q.
All you need to know: cinnamon roll pancakes with cream cheese icing. Bintliff's, here's why I love ya: -did I mention the cinnamon roll pancakes? I did, okay perfect. I tried ordering two thinking they'd be small. Side note: they're NOT small at all and I could barely finish one. - the atmosphere is old school, cozy, and cute. I'll be back in the cold winter months for sure. -mimosa's anyone? -my friend and I were lucky and hit no wait on Saturday around 12:30 pm -your staff carries about ten plates up and down those stairs to the second floor repeatedly and they do WORK. Bintliff's, here's what was just meh for me: -the service. It was a Saturday brunch and I'm sure the morning was just crazy, but would it have killed the waitress to smile? Maybe. That's fine, if you don't want to be happy, be attentive. She could do neither and took at least 10 minutes to come over and introduce herself to my friend and I. -the location, and I know you can't really do anything about it now, but it's in an interesting area. The bar next door is frightening (sorry). Will I be back? Our paths will probably cross again whether it be because of a hankering for cinnamon roll pancakes or unintentional, it may just happen.
(4)Sarah S.
Delicious-- great bloody marys (the right amount of spicy + garnish) and incredibly fresh ingredients in their scrambles! looking forward to my next visit!
(4)Roger L.
Based on the other reviews, we got what we were expecting; a delicious breakfast to fill our bellies before a day of brewery tours. This resturant is accommodating, good coffee, great selection of breakfast dishes. We really enjoyed ourselves!
(4)Kristie B.
Awesome waitress and yummy food! But it can be a long wait. MAy not be good for kids.
(5)Heather G.
Usually a long wait but it's worth it--if it's a nice summer day opt for upstairs outside. They have amazing corned beef hash -you will eat the heck out of it. Trust me. Go hungry leave with a food baby!
(4)Grant L.
Very cool Brunch Spot in a 100 year old storefront. They had the most amazing blueberry pancakes and omelettes
(5)Cory S.
Tried to get in on Sunday. :( No chance. Circled back on Monday. Well worth the wait. Sorry Dad, but this ain't your Corned Beef Hash (mess). This piece of corned beef art is in a class by itself. Breakfast at 1pm is my kina place. Real maple syrup too (often a deal breaker if not avail). Great service and a fabulous view if u get a table upstairs by the window. Go here!
(5)Soliz P.
The boyfriend was visiting during spring break and I decided this was prime time to return to Bintliffs for an amazing breakfast date. We were steeled for a long wait but lo and behold there was no wait at all. The secret? It was a Thursday and not prime time weekend dining. Service was very good. Our waiter was friendly and gave the brilliant suggestion of when I was deciding betwee pancakes or french toast to get one of each. Why didn't I think of that?! We did feel a little forgotten about when it got busy but we weren't in any rush so no big deal. On to the best part the food and drinks! I ordered a chai tea latte that came in the biggest coffee mug I've ever seen in a restaurant. It was one of the best I've had and a perfect way to warm up as it was a cold, windy morning. For food I haven't gone wrong yet. I ordered a single cinnamon bun pancake and a single banana cream pie french toast which did not taste like its namesake but had these glazed roasted pecans on top that I would order again by themselves. All in all I was left perfectly content in a food coma. From previous visits I can also vouch for the florentine eggs benedict and the home fries. This is my favorite breakfast spot in town so far and if you haven't tried it I highly recommend you give it a shot and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
(5)Celeste M.
This is one of the best breakfast joints in Potland! I'm a sucker for corned beef hash and this place does not disappoint. You can either get a half order or a full order and I usually opt for the full so I have some to take home and enjoy later. With the full order you get a huge portion of delicious hash, egss anyway you take them and made in house toast. The 3 potato hash is phenomenal! Don't forget to ask for some of their amazing jam to beef up your toast. All in all, it's a great spot for warm breakfast eats!
(4)Anna H.
I'm glad I yelped this place. We plan on going back tomorrow! Everything was out of this world. Must have the cinnamon bun pancakes and lobster eggs Benedict!! Friendly stAff!
(5)Heather L.
Formerly known as Bintliff's, this place is a Portland STAPLE. Sure, the wait on a busy Sunday is a bit long, but they give you coffee while you're waiting and it actually goes by much faster than you'd think. Two levels of dining (I recommend the upstairs). They have a plethora of food options, it's totally overwhelming, but in a good way. I got the Louisiana Bayou Benedict and holy moly was it tasty. I want to try the Steak Bistro Benedict next time. I got a mango mimosa as well and that completely hit the spot. Super refreshing and a nice take on the traditional mimosa. Can't wait to come back and try out more things!
(5)Jerinda W.
AMAAAAAZING!!!!!!!! Everything. Even the coffee. I would recommend anybody here!!!! Owner was super nice!!!!
(5)Nandanie S.
Upon entry, I was given a warm welcome into Bintliff's amidst the crazy hussle bussle of a Sunday morning. I added my name onto the list, and then helped myself to a complimentary cuppa java. Tasty stuff, btw. There was a 30 minute wait, but after reading all the Yelp reviews and hearing my sister and her boyfriend rave about it, there was no turning back. Our name was called, and we were asked if we wanted to sit at the bar. We said sure!! The bar's always a good time anyway. We sit at the bar, and were immediately tended to. Nikko, our waiter, took our drink orders and they were promptly served. I asked for a lot of cream, and Nikko did not hesitate to give me more cream when my first serving disappeared. That's what I call service. He didn't even bat an eyelash. I loved that. The food: I ordered a customized omelet with spinach, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and broccoli. Nikko then asked if I wanted egg whites. I beamed and said yes!!! Most places glare at me when I ask for egg whites...or sigh and look over their shoulder at their coworker as if to say, "Another one who wants egg whites....". Again, I loved that I was asked if I wanted egg whites. I also ordered maple sausage links on the side. My sister got an omelet and her boyfriend got a salmon scramble. The home fries in our dishes were superb. Tasty, rustic, and spiced well. The honey wheat toast was very addicting. One bite of that thick slice and I couldn't stop munching. The photo attached will tell you more I'm sure. Sitting at the bar was fun because you get to hear all the banter and join in whenever. The bartenders were really cool, and I learned some cool bar tricks while munching on my tasty omelet. I was also hypnotized by the goblet sized mimosas that were being made in front of me. As I mentioned above, the service was impeccable. Staff was very accommodating, the energy was warm even if it was crazy busy, and most importantly, I felt right at home. Thanks for a great Sunday brunch!!!
(5)Ed W.
Service here was good! The food here was also very good! Had the steak Benedict with hash. Lots of food per serving. Also had the corn beef hash. The Cinnabon pancakes were tasty! Enjoy!
(4)Kaitlyn M.
The atmosphere was cozy and 90's-esque. We waited a good half an hour for our food, but my turkey, herbed goat cheese, and blueberry compote flatbread was delicious. The crab cakes were some of the best I've ever had. Great cuisine, okay service.
(3)K G.
Cute little breakfast spot. Has a B&B homestyle look- slightly victorian era. Theres usually a wait but it goes by pretty quick and they give you tea and coffee to keep you busy (you pay for it on the check). I got the homemade corned beef hash (comes with two eggs and sweet/regular potato hash browns). It was absolutely amazing. And a bloody mary which was delish as well (2nd best ive ever had). All around a pretty nice hidden gem with a unique atmosphere. A lil on the expensive side but definitely worth the money in flavor.
(5)Someone F.
Great brunch spot. Waited a while but got a primo table on the deck. Had the lobster Benedict which was fantastic. Good Bloody Marys and the staff was friendly. Would definitely come back. Only gripe was way too much thyme in the potatoes.
(4)Cynthia C.
I was visiting Portland for the weekend and came here on a Saturday morning for brunch. There was already a line out the door by the time we got there. The food is good here though to justify the wait. I had the Lousiana Bayou Omelet which was delicious and was generous in portion size. The menu isn't pretty big but you can't go wrong ordering just about anything. If you're a coffee drinker, i HIGHLY recommend their Rocket Fuel. It's extremely addicting that I came back the next day just to get it. Service was good and the staff were incredibly nice. The server was really helpful in giving us suggestions on what to order. I would come back for the food if I'm ever in Portland again. If not, DEFINITELY for the Rocket Fuel.
(4)Carolanne C.
Outstanding breakfast! Had a difficult time deciding so the waitress recommended sides of my two choices. No mistake there, I enjoyed the creme broule French toast AND 1 gingerbread pancake with lemon butter sauce! My husband "forced " a side of bacon on my to balance out the sweet/savory! We will certainly return.
(4)Jessica D.
Great service, great food (unique items) & super yummy mimosas! Will be going here again for sure :)
(5)Karen R.
This is my new favorite breakfast spot in the greater Portland area. How could I have never been here before? This place is so amazingly charming and is a must visit for both tourists and residents. We went rather early...around 8:30 and had a short wait, but by the time we were finished there was a rather long line outside. The staff was great and offered us to help ourselves to some coffee. It is a rather tight and cozy little place, which I think adds to the charm...It is really hard for me to describe...I feel like I am in a cottage, stepping into another world from Busy Park Ave. I had a hard time selecting...I am a sucker for benedict anything and I decided to order the crab cake eggs benedict. It was so amazing. It does not get any more perfect than this. Our server was very conversational and attentive...and had many tables to handle. Honestly the entire experience was excellent. I really look forward to becoming a regular here. They also serve lunch, and the selections on the menu were equally enticing. I truly just want one of each :D
(5)Joe R.
Do a half order of the corned beef hash with a "side" (served on top) of poached eggs and the Cajun hollandaise sauce on the side.
(5)Tanya B.
Eh...it was just okay. The crab cake saved the experience! Service: Was not up to par. The host is actually never at the front of the house so people are just hanging around waiting to be put on a list. The owner or manager sat up front counting money for the entire 30 mins I was waiting for a table never greeting a single customer. Mind you he was standing at the host station. Food: rocket fuel: this is pretty much the cheap powdered cappuccino crap that is sold for a few bucks in a tin can at the grocery store. Crab cake Benedict: fantastic and cooked to perfection. Potatoes served with all meals: yuck! Paprika overload and undercooked. Raw potatoes suck! French toast: inedible! It was like eating raw dough covered in granola.
(3)Steff D.
Ugh, Yelp, why don't you have half stars?!?! I would absolutely give this place 3.5 stars if I could, but since I can't... and I'm feeling generous (mostly because I'm happy full on Bintliff's food)... it gets four. When I told friends I was finally checking out Bintliff's, I heard the same four things over and over (and over and over, AND OVER AND OVER) again: 1. Get the cinnamon roll pancakes. 2. Get the bloody mary. 3. The service is fabulous. 4. Doesn't matter what time you go, prepare to wait. I was not led astray with any of these tidbits: 1a. I got one cinnamon roll pancake. And it was life-alteringly good. It was the size of a small country, perfectly cooked, the swirls of cinnamon had just a little crunch, and the gooey cream cheese drizzle was the perfect amount of sweet to bring the whole thing together. I don't think anyone in the state of Maine is mastering the "cinnamon roll" pancake quite the way Bintliff's is. I take that back... from the looks of it, very few places in New England are mastering speciality pancakes of any kind they way Bintliff's is. 2a. We'll get back to this. 3a. The service was very good. A host fella was great at explaining to everyone there was a wait and that we could help ourselves to coffee (which was on the honor system). Our waiter, Nick, made us feel welcomed and un-rushed (considering there was a line out the door, that was very impressive). He was patient with my million questions and for the most part very on top of things. 4a. There was a 30 minute wait at 10am on a Wednesday morning. Where did all these people come from? IT'S A WORK DAY. Side note: I also ordered the Huevos Rancheros (homemade red beans and rice with two fried eggs, house salsa, chipotle sour cream, guacamole, cheddar and flour tortilla ). The tortilla was one of the most delightful surprises I've had at a restaurant in a spell as it was actually baked to a nice crispiness and folded in triangles. I really dug that. I also found myself wishing I had a bath tub-sized bowl of the chipotle sour cream in front of me so that I could just eat it with a spoon. It was THAT good. On the opposite hand, the guacamole was straight-up terrible (sorry, Bintliff's). It tasted like the stuff you squeeze out of the 90-calorie packets from the grocery store. Blech. Segue... Obviously if I'm hemming and hawing about giving it a three or a four star rating there were things that I didn't like all that much, including: a. The location (possibly one of the sketchiest parts of town) b. The parking situation (again, I think part of that has to do with the sketchy location) c. The confusing entrance (where do we go to our name on the wait list?) 3. The heat (please, please, I'm begging you - turn the AC on or open a window; I was a hot, sweaty mess within just minutes of being in the place) 4. The bloody mary (it's not vegetarian friendly; according to our waiter [who checked with the kitchen staff] they make it in the morning in a large batch using Worcestershire sauce [read: fish goo] and can't make any special alterations to it - huge let down, if we're being honest).
(4)Heather O.
Came here for breakfast on a Wednesday at 10am thinking we could be in and out in an hour or so. Wrong. The service here, though everyone was nice, was not what I was expecting. Put it this way- do not park in 2 hour parking. Do not come here if you have anything to do in the next 3 hours. You walk in and there isn't a hostess at the hostess station and all the workers are running up and down the stairs. Eventually we were greeted and put our names down and were told "it won't be long at all". Well, it was long. From the time we checked in until the time we ordered was an hour. Not to mention there were 4 empty tables upstairs when we finally were seated and they remained empty. Yet there was still a line out the door. Crab cake Benedict was great but I wasn't a fan of the potatoes. It wasn't worth the hour wait to order, then half hour wait to get the check after we had our plates cleared. I won't be back.
(3)Rachel M.
Food is AMAZING!! Do yourself a favor and get the honey wheat bread. We stayed in Portland 3 nights and had breakfast here twice! Everything our group tried was fantastic, and the wait staff do a phenomenal job making you comfortable.
(5)Laura S.
Be wary of long waits. Coffee at your disposal. Food was better and better after every bite. Our waitress (originally from Middlebury) was SO helpful with suggestions of places to see/things to do. Paying the bill was quick and easy. She deserved her tip! Overall experience, I highly recommended the joint.
(4)Izabela R.
I just love it here! Although small, and there's usually a wait, it's totally worth it every time. The breakfast here is always on point. I've tried several Benedict's, which is my breakfast if choice, as well as stolen a bite here and there from my dining partner's plate. Literally the best breakfast potatoes ever! I tried one of the 'adult' coffee drinks, so delicious and generous in the booze! Gotta love that! On top of the awesome, expansive menu, they'll throw in a special menu which usually runs seasonal too!!! Don't leave Portland Maine without trying breakfast here first!!
(5)N A.
BEST BRUNCH I HAVE EVER HAD! The food here is incredible but you are going to have to wait for it! We arrived around 10:15 on a Saturday and waited almost an hour to be seated at the bar (very comfortable seating). After ordering, we got our drinks pretty quickly but then waited at least another 40 minutes for our food. It was torture cause I knew it was going to be really good. I got the Lobster Benedict and WOW. Best I have ever had. Warning, by the time we left, the lunch line looked longer than the breakfast line. You get to order drinks and get coffee while you wait in line but there is always a wait and they don't take reservations on the weekend. It also took way too long to grab our check. Be prepared to wait but you HAVE TO GO HERE.
(4)Numnums P.
Bintliffs is great! We went here as the first step on our SUPERDATE. It's an excellent way to start the day. The only downfall is that it is so great that errybody wants to get some of it. So there might be a bit of a wait for one of their rustic tables. And they don't have a waiting area. Try the frittata. Customize it! It's frittacious. Pancakes are always good too.
(5)Amelia C.
I had the most life changing breakfast at Bintlifts!! I split the CARROT CAKE PANCAKE with my friend...thats right a carrot cake pancake. Then I had the Bistro Steak Benedict...holy crap. It is making my mouth water just thinking of it! It was seriously the greatest breakfast I have ever had. I can't wait to go back again and again!
(5)Amanda R.
I had the best tasting benedict here and I am going back for more soon! I decided to try the Vegetable Benedict because I've never had veggies on a benedict. The veggies tasted fresh and crunchy which was a nice touch with poached hard eggs and an english muffin. Now onto the potatoes..............OMG! I kid you not when I say they were so delicious and a bit spicy, but that was the kicker. I couldn't even finish my breakfast because the taters fill you up and the benedict was so rich. It's definitely going to be for tomorrow's breakfast. The staff are very nice and attentive. We waited for about 25 minutes, but I knew it was worth the wait because of the aromatic smells and boxes of food people took home for leftovers! Go there for breakfast and you'll be in a food coma (good thing), I guarantee it.
(5)Sarah H.
Bintliff's is a Portland brunch staple that I almost never go to because I have such a hard time with the parking and the wait. However, the service is always good, and the food is good enough to weigh against the parking/waiting concern. We went on a Sunday morning, parked semi-legally in the 5-minute parking spots in front of the main Post Office (we actually live close enough to walk, but it was bitterly cold that morning), and waited almost an hour for a table for 4. We had breakfast cocktails - 2 Mimosas, a Bloody Mary, and a Bellini - and they were excellent. I usually have the pancakes at Bintliff's, but went for the Corned Beef Hash with poached eggs. The hash was very good, but I do wish I had ordered a side of hollandaise. The potatoes were ok, a little too much onion in them for my taste. One of my friends had the dark chocolate waffle, and it looked great - she said it was definitely like having dessert for breakfast! I'll be back, but probably on a weekday!
(4)Sarah M.
My husband and I loved this place so much that we went back a second time while on vacation in Portland! They have by far one of the friendliest staffs I've ever encountered. The food was excellent and worth more than the price! The manager (or maybe owner) is always running around helping out his staff. It's a great place for breakfast, brunch, or lunch!
(5)Ryan M.
Holy smokes!! We had to walk about 40 min to get here so I was skeptical, but it was TOTALLY WORTH IT! I had the Acadian omelette, solid. But the thing that really impressed me was the portions. The honey wheat toast was massive and delicious without any butter or jam. The potatoes were delicious with some cholula and the cinnamon bun pancake was so tasty, but somehow not so overly sweet that I couldn't finish it. Also the Meadmosa is definitely worth trying!! 10/10 would eat again!!
(5)Josh J.
Food was garbage. Do not go. Ordered granola French toast and apple raisin stuffed french toast. In addition to the complete lack of presentation (for $9 french toast), I'm confused how french toast tastes be so bland and not tasty. I felt like I was eating a box of burnt cereal. Took twenty min to order (on a slow Friday morning), another twenty to get food, fifteen to get a coffee refill, thirty to get more water. If service had been disappointing so far, our waitress took the credit card, had someone else run it, and left it sitting at the register for ten minutes. This place is like a junky Perkins, and the quality is worse than IHOP. I'd be ok with what we what we got if it was $5 bucks a dish but it's a dump and overpriced with horrific service. Yelp said something about pet friendly. They're not -the patio is on the second floor. The screaming children crammed into the attic dining hall, paired with the sign saying to wait to be seated that prompted us to stand around for ten minutes before walking upstairs only helped the experience.
(1)Ashley T.
Food was great but expensive. Service was lacking. I'm glad they have CBD...... But other than that I won't be coming back for a while. I rather go to hot suppa.
(3)Bill S.
Great brunch here today!! The food is not only plated to perfection but is also cooked to perfection as well! Don't be discouraged by the wait- it's worth every minute! After all if there is a line - people are waiting to eat I'm - it's got to be worth it-right??!! The staff and service is prompt- and kitchen is quick after beeing sat you will be treated like family!
(5)Jerilyn H.
We had to wait about 35 mins but it was totally worth it.. My bf and I ordered the crab cake Benedict and split a waffle with strawberries/ blueberries/whip!! Best breakfast in portland! My only issue is I wish it made a little more space for waiting customers instead of suggesting a walk through the park.. That's it
(5)Becky M.
Breakfast/brunch is my favorite meal to go out for so I'm always excited when a restaurant does it right. Hard to find a healthy breakfast option that is also vegetarian and very filling but Bintliffs has it: The veggie home fries, which were perfectly cooked with TONS of filling veggies, 2 poached eggs and honey wheat toast. $11. My friend had a banana pecan pancake with real Maine maple syrup which was good but a bit on the dry side, I've had better pancakes. Also, her traditional Benedict looked awesome. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful and we were seated right away. I have heard though that there can be quite a wait on weekend mornings. I had iced coffee and he made me a nice little pitcher of it. Friend had the peach Bellini with lime juice in it which was so delicious! Also heard their bloody Marys are great but had too much to do today to risk starting to drink at 9am. Overall impressed!
(4)Stephanie B.
The wait was a little long to be seated so make sure you're not starving when you are going to breakfast and that you aren't on a tight schedule. Our food was excellent, but a little slow to come out. The Mimosas were great and you definitely got your money's worth! We were served by Nikko and he was awesome and attentive. I got an omelette with a side of bacon and it was great! Some of my friends got the hash and were a little disappointed. Another friend got the pancakes and was happy with them and the portions were huge! You will leave with a full happy belly and leftovers. I will definitely keep this place on my list for future visits to Portland :).
(4)Katie B.
I came to breakfast Tuesday morning with coworkers after a long night shift, we have been here many times prior with GREAT service however today we felt very unwelcome. Our waiter/waitress were both annoyed with our presence, slamming drinks on our table, they were very sarcastic and impersonal, walking away from the table without responding at times. It also seemed to be a huge inconvenience that we were unsure if our fifth guest would be joining us or not despite us being one of the only tables in the restaurant. I have no complaints about the food or drinks, however as a local nurse ending a long shift it's pretty likely we will go elsewhere next time, if it's anything that can ruin a great meal it's bad attitudes and disgruntled staff. Very off- putting.
(3)Mike U.
We went to Bayside two days in a row and had totally different experiences. Day 1 we had a great server, great food, and an overall great time (despite the 30 minute wait). Day 2 we waited for about an hour, had a horrid server (charged us $12 for an add on to a $12 meal without mentioning that the tiny flakes of lobster being added would double the price) and were charged for the coffee we were told was "complimentary" while we waited. Can't say anything bad about the food so if you don't mind sub-par service I would highly recommend this - if you've worked in food service and expect more, steer clear.
(3)Happy C.
This is one of my favorite places on earth. I came here for breakfast with a charming young man, and although my love for the man didn't last, my love for Bintliff's did. I love their Irish eggs benedict. I love their Bloody Mary's. I have now been here over 10 times and have never, ever had a bad experience or bad meal. Long live Bintliff's!!
(5)Nicole M.
The wait for our party (2) was about 20 minutes on a busy Saturday morning, but we were prepared to wait for what we heard was the best breakfast in Portland. I had the Louisiana Bayou Benedict, which is "grilled andouille sausage, homemade corncakes, two poached eggs and spicy Cajun hollandaise sauce". I thought my love for eggs benedict could not be stronger, but this really put me over the top. Absolutely delightful, and the corncakes were fantastic, the highlight of the dish. I'm craving another trip now, two weeks later. Our server was attentive and yet still very busy. Many props to those guys who work there. Highly recommend.
(5)Bonnie W.
Their eggs benedicts are to die for! Plan to wait a while... we went on a Saturday around 11am and easily waited an hour for a table. But we killed some time down the street at Bubba's and had a drink so it wasn't too bad. Very good and worth the wait! They make an A+ Bloody Mary, too :)
(5)Victoria C.
You can't go wrong with this place and the wait is worth it! I was in town with some friends and this place had good reviews on yelp. The wait was 30min but our server was great and quick! I ordered the crab cakes Benedict with a cinnamon bun pancake and they were both amazing! So flavorful and yummy! The coffee was also good, we also got refills. I also tried the corned beef hash, I wasn't too crazy about it (the meat needed something, too tough? maybe salt?). Brunch food was good. Coffee was good. Even the atmosphere was great Just wasn't too crazy about looking for parking
(4)Jerome T.
I come here every time im in portland during brunch hours. Lobster eggs benedict and the delicious coffee they serve called Rocket Fuel every time. Great food. Usually a short wait if any before 10 when ut gets busy. Friendly staff, most recently Jennesa who found time to make sure this bar stool patron was not neglected. Thank You.
(5)Samantha B.
I really love to come to this place for breakfast when I come to Maine to see my best friend. The wait is always long. Wish there was some way to resolve that but it's popular, people have heard the word, and now the wait is like 45 minutes at least. Sucks, but the food is well worth it. Plus there is a pour and make your own coffee while you wait, so at least they have that. I usually make my own breakfast wrap, with very unusual addition items such as brie, and local maple apple sausage, along with the usuals spinach and mushrooms. I always order the bread on the side (although the menu does not specifically say this when you make your own wrap versus an omelet, they discard the toast. ORDER IT ANYWAYS. It's the best). The wait for the food is always a little long, which kind of stinks, since you've already waited so long to begin with. But overall it's a wonderful restaurant with great flavors and fresh ingredients.
(5)mike y.
I'm not a morning person..but this place would convert me. OMG. Had the lobster Benny. YUM!! My new favorite way to eat lobster!! Hash was awesome too!! Great place.. very New England colonial port feel.
(5)J C.
This is my second time around to Bintliff's since I don't even live remotely close. The first time I went I was in love. Lobster Eggs Benedict? You mean, I can find a way to consume lobster in a socially acceptable way for breakfast? Yes, please! That was I think about 3 years ago. I made my homage to the East coast for lobster and I have to say I was a little bit disappointed. The food was just average, the service was average - but the weather was nice so we got to sit outside. It's not bad if you're lookin' for a bite, but I wasn't hit over the head with it this time.
(3)Christa R.
Such a classic go-to in Portland. I always leave here so full, happy with my meal and the awesome service!
(5)Nathan K.
The food at Bintliff's is really good, and the restaurant itself has got this kind of warm, cozy atmosphere that is tough to describe, but a joy to experience. The food is good. They do all the standards really well: corned beef hash, pancakes, omlets, all are very good. But nothing here is 'must try' so I'm completely bewildered by why there is always an hour wait to get in. And it's not like other brunch spots, where they have a somewhat-comfortable waiting area, or they're willing to call/text you when your table is ready (not that there's a lot to walk around and see in that neighborhood). If you want to eat there, you show up, wade through the sea of waiting patrons in an attempt to find the permanently-frazzled host (who never seems to be there), get your name on the list, stand around either outside which is probably cold because it's Maine or inside trying not to get in someone's way, and hope that sometime before noon you get your table. Bintliff's has been around for over 10 years and they're still going with this same system. It seems nonsensical, and it really is unpleasant. That's one star gone. There are some places that are so good it's worth that kind of wait. Bintliff's is good, it's just not THAT good. The other missing start is for the service. I always get mediocre service here. People who can't be bothered. Swing by the table, mumble a bunch, try to take the order without writing it down, get it wrong then get huffy when I politely ask for my actual order. One experience that always sitcks in my mind and deters my from going there: Swung by after grabbing iced coffee from somewhere else in town to put my name on the list. I bought the coffee because I knew I'd be waiting a while and I was, but not so long that I'd finished my coffee by the time they sat us. From that moment on, our server behaved like we'd committed a felony by bringing outside drinks into the restaurant. Doing so is against the Maine Food Code and he told us that when he was seating us, to which we immediately replied that we would put our coffees back in the car. He told us it would be okay this one time, but I really wish I'd just ran the coffees back to the car because for the rest of the meal he kept bringing it up ("I'd offer to get you guys coffee but it looks like you already have some."). He doted over the table next to us, and barely spoke to us except to admonish us for bringing in coffee. Bintliff's is totally fine, and if you like to eat super early (definitely before 8am, but the earlier the better), and live within walking distance, you might just be able to walk in and get a table and have some good food. But outside that set of circumstances, it's tough to recommend standing around for a half hour, for good food with bad service.
(3)Saejin K.
The food is five stars for sure. I got the lobster frittata which was incredible. Home fries were some of the best I've had in my life. However, the Bloody Mary was nothing special and I would've liked more horseradish/Tabasco/Worcestershire sauce. Service was good but we came on a Thursday.
(4)Eve H.
This was our first stop on our family Memorial Day weekend (2013) trip to Portland. At first look the exterior of the place had me thinking the restaurant would be empty upon entering - I was very wrong. On Saturday morning (5/1/2013) there was nowhere to stand and wait. We found a little nook by the kitchen to stand while we waited for a table. This made the wait more torturous because everything coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled amazing. I ordered the Bistro Steak Benedict - petite beef filets on an English muffin topped with two poached eggs and sun-dried tomato and roasted garlic cream sauce ($12, seriously large serving only $12). It was the most delicious Benedict I have ever experienced. I also ordered a Bloody Mary which was made with very fresh ingredients and was made to perfection. Eugene O had the Rocket Fuel - I seriously thought his eyes were going to pop out of their sockets at any second, but he made it through the day just fine. Periodically keeps wondering where he can get Rocket Fuel in NYC. LOL Service was attentive and quick. Every dish on their menu looked like something I would like to try. I'm kind of happy we don't have places like this by me, otherwise I would have to be hauled off on a tow truck!
(5)Ashley L.
We come here at least once a month because the food is so amazing. If you come on a weekend, be prepared for a wait though - because perfection takes time and this is a well-known brunch spot. They do not take reservations, you just have to put your name on the wait list, grab a coffee and hang around for a bit. The food is worth every minute you have to wait for it... The pancakes take up almost the entire plate (a good 8-9 inches straight across), the french toast is made with thick texas toast and my boyfriend swears by their scrambles. The irish coffee and mimosas are both amazing - so just treat yourself and get one. If you get a server named Andrew, consider yourself lucky because he memorizes your order, gets it right, is friendly and doesn't take forever to get you your check.
(5)Jon K.
It was my first trip to Portland, Maine, and I was telling Christine L. that I wanted to try a place that I would want to go to every time I visited her here- and somehow we found Bintliff's! The restaurant has a rustic early American feeling with a great and friendly vibe from the staff. After a moment of taking in all the delicious sounding items on the menu I ordered the Lobster Eggs Benedict. It was my first time in Maine and I was going to get a proper first timer's breakfast meal! What an amazing dish! It came with a hefty portion of lobster, pair of poached eggs, over a bed of farmers greens, and a side of hash. The hollandaise sauce went really well with both the eggs and the lobster- my only qualm was that there wasn't enough sauce for the lobster! The lobster was cooked really well, not rubbery or firm at all and spiced with enough kick to really blow my palette into submission.. yes it was really good! The dish was cost effective for the amount of food and for the amazing taste- a must have when on the hunt for a hearty New England breakfast!
(5)Scott W.
First time in a long time that I waited an hour to be seated. Once we were seated everything was excellent. We started with blood marys with a shrimp and a strip of bacon. So tasty. For the main course I had the veggies, potatoes and 2 poached eggs. My wife had a gluten-free eggs Benedict.
(5)Anne D.
The food here is great, but the wait and the service almost ruins the experience. We arrived at about 12:15 on a Sunday, we were seated at about 1:15 and we received our food at 2:10. The food was great, but after 2 hours of waiting I could have eaten anything and thought it was delicious. I still want to emphasize that the food here is excellent, just know that it'll probably be a longer than average dining experience. Hopefully, they will start taking reservations on weekends to help alleviate some of the wait.
(3)Nicole M.
Definitely my pick for brunch places in town, even if you have to get in your car to get here. You're going to wait. You can enjoy coffee while you wait. You can drool as the oodles of plates go by. And I think you'll enjoy anything you get, but the specials may be the way to go. Take some of the reviews to heart - the portions are HUGE. This is my reminder that next time I go there, to only get 1 piece of french toast. It's good, but it's dense. And the chocolate belgian looks to die for.
(4)Hum W.
A little ways out of downtown Portland, but very friendly staff. A Breakfast-Lunch place with the best Crab Lobster Bisque I've ever had (and I don't even like lobster). I think they close at 2 pm, but once, they stayed opened late just to seat me, and I finished my tea in a cozy private porch area. I had no idea the place was closed, nobody even bothered me, but once I realized, I hurried out. :) They insisted for me not to rush even though I was the only person. Very thoughtful people, warm food (probably because it was cooked with love) and this was one of my main eat-in places in this city.
(5)Jesse M.
This place looked like it had potential and is obviously very popular however, there was too much that was a disappointment to make this a must stop. We were quoted 45 minutes on a busy Wednesday in July at 11:00am. I know its hard to predict as an owner/employee but we waited an hour and 15 minutes. Way too long for a breakfast/brunch place. Looked like they were understaffed so it probably slowed everything down. Oh well, that happens. Forgivable. The server was kind but somewhat dazed out, wasn't attentive, and totally messed up what my wife ordered. She got the special peach, goat cheese, balsamic/peach dressing salad. Sounded good except that he brought a house salad. We asked about where the peaches were and a few minutes later he came back and was honest and admitted he messed up when wringing it up. Sadly the kitchen 10 minutes later corrects things with a lame plate of 5 tiny slivers of peach and no goat cheese or dressing correction. Quite disappointing. My dish was really good but the poor service and somewhat dirty restaurant just made this place So So. I'm sure you could have a great experience here as well since the breakfast/brunch menu had a lot of unique choices. Overall, it's too unreliable and too dirty to be a 4-5 star place. Skip this one and try another...especially if there's a wait.
(3)Heather B.
This place is great! Any of the Benedict's are 100% worth every bite. So are the three potato home fries! Beware - you will most always have a wait!
(4)Anna E.
I'm kind of in love with this place. I was up visiting my sister before Thanksgiving and the two of came here for breakfast this Tuesday morning. She had heard great things about this restaurant before as her friends have raved about their brunch. After parking on on a side street we walked into a casual yet refined restaurant that has a very New England feel, especially the upstairs. Very cozy. There were so many things on the breakfast/brunch menu that looked great but we opted for the corned beef hash and gingerbread pancakes. The order of corned beef hash was huge and absolutely delicious. Homemade corned beef hash is one of my favorite breakfast items and the the blend of seasonings and tenderness of the meat of the corned beef hash here makes it one of the best I have ever had. Chunks of perfectly cooked potatoes were found in the bottom of the meat pile and achieved the pleasant crispy on the outside and tender on the inside texture. It comes with two eggs any style (we got over medium) placed over the meat and choice of housemade white or wheat bread or storebought english muffin. I highly recommend the wheat bread grilled with butter. Holy deliciousness - warm and crunchy exterior, soft and pillowy interior. Thank you bread gods! The gingerbread pancake was also gigantic and thick, with a warm lemon syrup, and was quite tasty. I appreciated that our waiter was honest in informing us that one pancake would be plenty for the two of us to share considering the mountain of meat that we'd be getting from the order of corned beef hash. Coffee, one of the most important parts of breakfast/brunch/life in general here is really excellent. If you like coffee, you will like this coffee as it is bold, full bodied, and well balanced. I made a point to tell our waiter how much I loved the coffee and he informed me that it is from Coffee By Design. If you are accustomed to weak, watery, coffee (something that I find a lot of people are plagued with) you might not like this coffee as much as I loved it. Also, the service could not have been better. Undoubtably the most memorable experience with a waiter I have had in Portland probably ever. There were two waiters working the upstairs on Tuesday morning and both appeared to be doing a great job but we were extremely fond of our waiter, a young man easy on the eyes, informative, honest, and very warm and likable. Even if he was doing it for the tip, he did it well! If you're reading this, Waiter, you rocked! Lastly, we couldn't finish it all so we brought home the leftovers which our dad ate for breakfast the following day. He enjoyed the leftovers so much that he has requested a trip here in the near future. You know a place a good when even the leftovers leave a positive impression. What a great find!
(5)Chris W.
The service here seemed to be moving at more of a tortoise-like pace, but their home made corn beef hash was definitely worth the wait! Taking a hint from a friend back home in Massachusetts I stopped by here on my last day of rest and relaxation for a hearty breakfast, and I'm so glad I did. One little thing I enjoyed about the place was the pictures on the wall upstairs. They were full of old photos or newspaper clippings from all over the place. And the one above my table was about some old hotel in Seattle. Very cool!
(4)Ivan J.
So I don't usually go out to breakfast but I thought that I would go out this morning and try something new. After reviewing the top breakfast spots I decided to give this place a try. It's got an older theme going on with the decor and a friendly staff; we were seated immediately and waited upon. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros and my girlfriend got the Two Eggs Breakfast special. The food took longer to come out then most places I've been too. The seats were a little hard to sit on since they weren't comfortable so that's the only negative piece that I could say. Food came out and looked great and I must add the portions that you get for what you pay are on par! The home fries were slightly burnt but in a good way; you didn't get the burnt taste so they were cooked just right; my meal overall I had no complaints! The waiter was attentive to us on our needs. Overall nice small little spot in Portland, easy to find parking near the post office, and prices are good. Would recommend for brunch with friends.
(4)Andy L.
Wow. Definitely worth the wait- and be prepared to wait. Ended up with a sweet table upstairs right beside the window. Once we were seated, service was efficient, and our server was friendly. So many delicious looking things on the menu it took a while to choose. Went with the huevos rancheros and did not go wrong. Also had an awesome Bloody Mary with a couple of shrimp. Just the attitude adjustment I needed after waiting for the table. Glad we waited- it was definitely worth it.
(4)Andi K.
What a great spot! Went for breakfast, expecting the good and usual lobster feature found in so many places in Portland - but the food exceeded our expectations! Lobster frittata and lobster eggs benedict were incredible. The hash browns have sweet potato in them (amazing!) and the cornbread was delicious. Perfect way to kick off our day. Highly recommend for a great meal and not too terribly far from all the shopping and sites of Old Port.
(5)Jill Z.
WHY THE WAIT??? We came here because it was listed so high on Yelp, and figured because of the reviews there going to be a wait.... so we took YOUR advice, had 2 GIANT Bellinis and waited. (the bellinis were fantastic, but as we stood at the host stand inside, the entire 30 minutes there were 2 empty tables downstairs,,,, weird....) We were finally told a "table was ready" and we went upstairs and outside....I noticed there were 3 empty tables upstairs, and when we got outside, we were the ONLY people on the patio!! (ARE YOU KIDDING???? We just waited 30 mins to eat at an EMPTY restaurant AND there was still a line out the door!!!!). The food was fabulous- lobster Benedict and the corned beef has was gigantic, even my boyfriend who eats triple couldnt finish his plate. If it was just for the food, I would give it 5 stars, but the wait for an empty restaurant REALLY annoyed me....
(3)Skye G.
Bloody Mary was the best! I do like them but this time it hit the spot just right I had to stick around for another. The Crab Benedict was really filling a delic. I was a bit disappointed by the corn beef hash. I was really looking forward to this. I don't understand the hash part at all as it was pure corn beef, like a slab of meat. The upstairs is bigger and there is an outside patio that everyone tries to sit out at. We sat on the 1st floor by the door and was flexible so we could get in and out. Go early! The lines are long later and I can see why. It is worth the wait. If you do wait they serve you coffee in line which is a nice touch. It was one of the best places we went to in Portland. Thank you reviewers and YELP!
(4)Hillary w.
pros: the staff was friendly, my boyfriend enjoyed his meal cons: long wait to get seated, i didnt enjoy my meal and food service was very slow just wasnt worth it for me
(2)Aafaque A.
I don't believe I carried one experience throughout the visit. Waiting almost 30 minutes and getting raw pancake is not dependent on initial impression. "Someone sold the lobster" is not initial impression. I never said food was not good. Food was good but I do believe popularity has made the office bearers of this joint arrogant and they do believe they will have customers no matter what. If attitude and time does not matter to you, you just want good food that is the place for you. If you want good service pleasant and timely service find another place.
(1)Stephanie C.
Food was delicious with large portions! Service was very friendly. We sat in the "secret garden" as our server called it, which was very private and intimate. Only complaint is that we ate way too much!
(5)Laurie M.
I know that whomever is reading this, knows that (generally) when they see a 1-star rating, it can sometimes be attributed to jerky, quick to anger people - just the way it is. So, let's ignore those people, you can tell who they are by "how" they write. So, we arrived on a busy Sunday a.m. and were told we would have a 40 or so minute wait. These usually turn into 25-30, so we waited. No big deal; we got a Bloody Mary, and what a BLOODY MARY it was! It was delicious, studded with shrimp (my hubby's choice) and just the right proportions of everything! Next, eggs, corned beef hash, a side of pancakes if you please. My husband's corned beef was liked getting a corned side of corned beef. Utterly mouthwatering and hunks of gorgeous meat galore! My omelette was great (I am fairly boring). Pancakes delish. As a cappuccino lover, we totally appreciated the busboy's (a former Starbuck's barista) expert hot drinks, and in fact, gave our waiter extra $, to make sure he got a little extra something - because he deserved it! CANNOT WAIT TO GO AGAIN!!!
(5)Caroline P.
A little bit of a wait, but definitely worth it. I've been there twice now and enjoyed it each time. I highly recommend for breakfast!
(5)Karen C.
3.5 stars Came for breakfast Saturday morning around 9:30/10 our first day in Portland and had about a 20 minute wait. It is a very charming restaurant; we ended up sitting upstairs in a booth across from the bar. Iced coffee was delicious and a nice touch being served in a Sam Adams pint glass :) I got the corned beef hash with 2 sunny side up eggs which was very good, however, there was way too much corned beef and it needed some sort of sauce or another egg yolk to crack over it because once the eggs were gone it was a bit on the dry side. I also was not a fan of the home fries but that is more personal preference I think. A little on the pricey side as well; but service was good. I think I preferred our other big breakfast at Marcy's to Bintliff's.
(3)Joel L.
Four star food with three star service. Believe the other reviews that say seating it's unclear how to put your name on the seating list (bus boy is also the host?). After fifty minutes of waiting, we find that the upstairs has over four empty tables. Drinks came in three waves, for four people. Make sure you park in the 2 hr parking. Anything with lobster is great. Service was quick after seating though.
(3)Mark D.
Hands down the best breakfast joint in Portland. Crab Cake Benny Yum!!! Bayou Benny even more yum. Real corned beef Hash!! A staff that knows what they're doing. I think most of the reviews of people complaining about the service were probably there on the week-end. and yes it can take a while because its the week-end and they are busy. If your going on the week-end be prepared for that, but there is a reason they are busy. It's because the food is top notch and lets face it, that is the most important thing. They also just recently repainted the outside of the building and must have done a big cleaning inside cause it looked great in there. What a Gem!!!!
(5)Mel H.
Yes, they have a SECTION on the menu for both Benedicts and Waffles. Total win in my book. Cute old building with mostly upstairs seating at tables and some bar seats. Great staff, super nice folks! Food was delicious and large portions. I got crab cake Benedict, which also came with some tasty taters. Big old super crabby patties, good helping and lots of meat. My fellow brunchers were overly happy and stuffed off pecan waffles and some cinnamon raisin stuffed french toast. It gets Busy! We arrived at 9am on a Saturday and had to wait about 10 minutes. By the time we left the people waiting hardly fit downstairs. Get in early and hungry! I will return!
(5)Anna W.
So many benedict options!! Seriously, so many! The food here is amazing, and so is the service. They do get busy, but the servers are incredibly friendly. I recommend going on a weekday morning. Definitely have some bacon, it's unique and so salty and just YUM. It's a small place and can get loud but, like I said, if you go on a weekday it's perfect. Kind of a British bed & breakfast feel to it...but instead of jam and biscuits you get a scrumptious feast!
(5)Tori R.
My go-to breakfast place in Portland!! This is the best of the best. The lines are always long, but totally worth the wait. I've never had a bad meal!
(5)Daniella L.
I am at a loss for why people like this place so much. It's always crowded and you have to wait in a long line outside "Rockin' Ricky's" Tavern to get in. When you are finally seated, the booths, tables and chairs are FILTHY. We are not fussy people, but when we glanced around our area, all we could see was literally dirt, dust and food all over the floor, on the seats, between the seats, and large cobwebs floating around the lighting fixtures and on the walls. I do not trust restaurants that don't follow basic sanitation and cleanliness. Honestly, I just can't imagine what the conditions are out back, where patron's can't see...Scary. The food portions are huge; and I mean disgustingly huge. Has anyone heard of the obesity and cholesterol problem in the this country?? Everything on our plates was shiny from grease and oil and either deep fried or smeared with butter. To see the plates overflowing like this may be "a great value" to some, but we found it to be offensive, gluttonous and nauseating. Breakfast not only looked like it was plated for a Giant, but sat in our stomachs like a brick of greasy fat. There are far too many good breakfast places in town that offer great healthy food in a clean environment. This is NOT one of them.
(1)Linda S.
Oh so fancy! Service is superb. Eggs Benny are my fave here. With some French toast and real Maine maple syrup = Total love! The only downfall - the location. Why there? But that's alright, cause the food is totally amazeballs.
(5)Kathy C.
What a gem! We were looking for a good brunch during our short Portland trip and glad we found Bintliff. The little building reminded me of the Crooked House in Windsor lol. We got there bright and early on a Sunday morning and to our delight, there was not a wait, yay. The host asked if we would prefer to sit downstairs or upstairs. I wanted to see the 2nd floor, so up we went. We got to sit at a two top near the window in the super cute (and crooked) room upstairs. The building certainly has personality! Anyways, we reviewed the menu and I had my heart set on their lobster bene, which unfortunately, they had already ran out :( So instead, I picked the "make your own" frittata, which I picked smoked salmon, bacon, and capers. The eggs were cooked perfectly, nice a fluffy with plenty of salmon and bacon chunks and capers, delicious! My husband ordered corned beef hash, which was also delicious. We also shared an order of dark chocolate waffle and that was really really yummy. Great service, great food, in an interesting building.... wish I could've tried their lobster bene, but oh well, maybe next time.
(4)Dana O.
My friends brought me here when I was home from school for Christmas break. At first I was mad at them for taking me to a place with a 30 minute wait, but the wait was in fact only about 15 minutes and it was well worth it! No idea how I grew up in Maine and had never even heard of this place. We sat at the bar. I don't think I would come here and sit anywhere else - the bar is the place to be. All of the waiters and waitresses making drinks were funny and made for great conversation. There was also almost always someone behind the bar, which made it a lot easier to ask for little things that we needed; they were crazy busy, and I'm sure this wouldn't have been as easy if we were sitting at a table waiting for a waiter to run back and forth. My scramble was amazing, and the drinks were just as good. I will be back for sure.
(5)Cindi W.
Stopped here the day before Thanksgiving on a horribly rainy day. I thought the service was pretty good considering how PACKED it was. I just wanted to go to the store and leave. Hubby had to have a pancake. OK, I gave it. He had his pancake and I had salmon, roll, cream cheese, fried capers.... FRIED CAPERS??? Ok, a nice touch to my salmon and GLUTEN FREE roll and herbed cream cheese. Love those fried capers, except the meal was served on a fancy black dinner plate. I had to really search for the capers. They should have been sprinkled on the top of the salmon instead of buried under the greens. I wonder if I could get fried capers to go. Kind of like the Polenta Croutons I still think of from my other fave lunch spot....hmmm. They could make money on this.
(4)Eric F.
Bintliff's embodies the quintessential, cozy New England brunch spot almost to a fault. The pictures of their dishes had me sold in moments and our party of five even managed to luck out on a snowy Saturday morning around 10 am with just a 20 or so minute wait. Having that never-ending desire to try as many things as possible at new restaurants, we shared a mix of the Corned Beef Hash (...x4), Lobster Eggs Benedict, French Toast and Gingerbread Pancakes. My huge pile of meat was quite good, easily the best corned beef hash I've had yet. Thing is, I remembered why I was never much of a fan about halfway through the dish - it's indeed tender, but quickly becomes excessively salty and one-note. Interestingly enough, this actually matched with the homefries particularly well since the sweet potatoes' sweetness provided nice balance. On the other hand, one bite of my friend's benedict convinced me it was the best dish on the table with delightfully creamy, buttery hollandaise and fresh lobster. On the sweeter side, I'd actually pass on the French toast and pancakes. Both were too "doughy" and dense, boring me after a couple bites. Though the food had its share of hits and misses, Bintliff's gets the nod for great service and some darn good coffee care of local roaster, Coffee by Design. These combined with generous portions and very reasonable prices would definitely warrant a return visit.
(4)Keri L.
A local recommended this place and we are big fans. We put our names on the list on a busy Sat. and were told it would be 30-40 minutes so we went for a walk in the nearby park and checked out the awesome farmer's market. When we got back, we were the 2nd on the list and were offered a table or seats at the upstairs bar. We went for the bar, and enjoyed talking to the servers and watching them dance past each other in the small area behind the bar in this old building that we were told had been a home and a number of businesses over the years. We had mimosas, which we mixed with splashes of blueberry or cranberry juice, and a Bloody Mary with cucumber vodka. All tasty and well poured. I ordered lobster eggs benedict: delicious. The Hollandaise is so light and tasty, like no other Hollandaise I've had before. The house potatoes are a mix of 3 potatoes and well-seasoned and well-cooked (browned and a bit crunchy). My husband had the home-made hash and cinnamon bun pancake. The hash had thick pieces of corned beef - and was a big upgrade over your every day hash. The cinnamon bun pancake tasted like a cinnamon roll with a nice drizzle of crème anglaise on top. Delicious and friendly - nice mix of tourists and locals. Great way to kick off a weekend in Portland!
(5)Liz B.
My husband and I came in on Saturday for brunch on our second trip to Portland. We found 2 hour parking almost right in front of the restaurant. We were told the wait was 45mins, but in reality, I think we got seated sooner. Coffee is out and free for the taking while you wait, which is an appreciated touch. Husband had eggs Benedict with perfectly cooked and tender steak. Not typically a fan of potatoes, even he liked the home fries. I had a special - pumpkin cinnamon pancake with cream cheese icing! It was gooey and delicious. I also got a side of thick, crispy bacon. Bill was under $30, including tip (neither of us got cocktails, which helped). Service was pleasant, and the building itself is very cool. Will likely be back the next time we're in town!!
(4)Michaela M.
The only negative thing to say about Bintliffs is the wait is too long. But really, you can't blame them for always being packed. This place is perfect for a hangover breakfast or lunch with your grandparents. Super cheap and always delicious. Definitely home-style cooking with a diner-style service. And they are on PDA!
(5)Julie N.
It had been exactly 1358 days since I had eaten the Lobster Eggs Benedict at Bintliff's Cafe and when the waitress put the plate full of goodness down in front of me, I knew I was about to return home. Holy mother of god, it was even better than I remembered it. The chunks of lobster were enormous and the poached eggs were done so perfectly... the hollandaise was the ideal consistency with just the right balance of sweet and savory... the potatoes were perfectly seasoned with the right amount of crisp... and I inhaled it, dying a little bit more with every bite. Still is and still will always be, the best breakfast I've ever had.
(5)Andrew R.
Writing this review a month later, I recall Bintliff's being perfectly good. Traditional menu done well, good coffee, interesting ambiance (an old house), excellent service.
(4)Ellie P.
We had a lovely family brunch here a couple of weeks ago, the food was good, the locale was quaint (we sat upstairs), the staff was friendly, and patient! but the coffee...OMG! The coffee was beyond great!! Their "rocket fuel" iced coffee is out of this world, seriously, if you're a coffee addict, as I am, do yourself and your tastebuds a favor, and try this rocket fuel coffee, you won't regret it!
(5)Tom S.
Unfortunately I couldn't give this DUMP a no star rating. If you are considering going here please read the one-star reviews. They tell it like it is. My girlfriend had the French toast which was the worst she has ever had. I had the rancho huevers. It was ok except the tortillas were folded pieces of cardboard. I cannot believe anyone rates this place above a one. It was dirty, poor service, crummy food, and in a not great neighborhood. BTW the windows look like they haven't been washed in years.
(1)Aesop V.
Pros: delicious breakfast items, friendly staff, alcoholic breakfast beverages Cons: Wait times can be long if you don't go early Summary: Bintliffs is one of the best breakfast/lunch places to go to in Portland and you would be remiss to not come here. They don't take reservations so show up early or else you could be waiting upwards of an hour on a Sunday morning. They have items that satisfy every palate from savory/salty breakfast to your sweet tooth like french toast and waffles. I don't have much of a sweet tooth so what I suggest is that when you go, at least one person get a sweet item so you can split and share. Don't get me wrong those waffles and french toast are awesome, I just can't finish it so I'd rather split it. When I went this past time my girlfriend and I both got egg Benedict's because they prepare it really well it. The yolk is still runny when you poke into it and as you eat it mixes with toasted english muffin and sits inside all the crevices. I'm salivating now as I think of it. You can't go wrong eating here, I haven't have a bad experience with the food yet.
(4)S And E H.
Get here EARLY, the wait is RIDICULOUS if not. My favorite is the Louisiana Bayou Benedict (grilled andouille sausage, homemade corncakes, two poached eggs and spicy Cajun hollandaise sauce) it's absolutely Mouth-watering. So tasty. The crab-cake benedict was just alright. The waffles were not memorable.
(4)James F.
Believe the hype - yes, the food is that good. I had a frittata, girlfriend had apple/raisin stuffed french toast. She was nice enough to share, and i really can't decide which one was better. The bread that they use for the french toast (and also for the toast i got on the side) is dense, but soft and "naturally" buttery - just a great texture/flavor combination. The frittata was huge, and the veggies in it tasted really fresh - local broccoli in Maine in January - can't be, right? Visually, the setting is quaint and cozy - the building is ancient, you can feel the quirks, character and history, and it has been decorated to play this up (but not feel stuffy in the least) The only slightly uneven part of the experience was our waiter. Really nice, endearing guy, he was clearly a bit absentminded, as he forgot about an order of hot chocolate (and acknowledged it when he finally brought it) and couldn't read his own writing on the frittata order and came back to confirm. But these were only minor disappointments in an afternoon of deliciousness, and our waiter made amends by advising the best way to reheat the leftovers we took home.
(5)Bill M.
This place is AMAZING!!!! We went for brunch. During our travels, we seek brunch locations based on their Bloody Mary reviews. The menu is excellent!!! We each ordered a "Benedict" dish: Bistro Steak and Lobster Benedict. Both dishes were impeccable! Excellent portions, great service, cool atmosphere (although a little tight) but this place should NOT be missed. The best food that we had on our trip.
(5)Bartholomew K.
We must have looked pretty or something, they told us there was no wait. Sat upstairs, had great coffee, dealt with the very loud guy bragging about everything at the table next to ours. Whatever. The decor is quirky, a bit dusty almost. Made me think of that show Northern Exposure. Not really sure why as they were supposed to be in Alaska on that show, right? No-nonsense waitress, answered all my questions, refilled my coffee mug. My boyfriend had the salmon platter, which was incredible but I still wonder if the egg scramble should have been on it. Slightly random - definitely too much food. I ordered their huevos rancheros. They were delicious. Asked for eggs poached and they were perfect. Toasted tortilla, guac, salsa, rice, beans - the plate was so full of flavor! The portions are rather large. I wouldn't run back the next day but I'd come back if we visited Portland again. I do recommend you check it out and hope to skip the wait. We went a few minutes before 8am on a Saturday. No, we're not crazy. At all. I just couldn't sleep. We slept more after breakfast. You might, too.
(4)Susan L.
After my first bite, I died and went to heaven and came back to finish the rest of my meal. Man, oh man, Blintiff's is well worth the wait. We waited 15 mins for a table and another 20 mins for our food to arrive, but boy was it to die for. THE FOOD: Bayou Benedict - This is what I ordered. Poached eggs on top of corn cakes drizzled with CAJUN HOLLANDAISE. OMG cajon hollandaise is amazing! Definitely give this a try if you want a twist on the normal eggs benny. Comes with a side of potato hash to boot! Corned Beef Hash - Mmm had a few bites of teh corned beef. So darn tender and perfect. Will definitely have to come here again next time I'm in Portland.
(5)Steve W.
243 reviews!! Best brunch in Maine. Not too much seating so be prepared to wait 20-30 minutes during peak breakfast/brunch periods - but if you can hold out the wait - well worth it. House coffee is A+ and with their fresh squeezed OJ - you'll be perfectly set-up for the BEST Eggs Benedict in New England. (My sole hesitation in writing this review is creating more of a line for my next visit.)
(5)Faizal K.
Delicious. Grab a seat on the back patio and order a half order... it's plenty of food and the coffee is great. A treat to be away from the tourist traps by the water.
(4)David H.
Probably the best breakfast/brunch you can find in Portland. The dark chocolate waffles with whipped cream and strawberries are incredible. Last time I was there I had the apple cinnamon raisin french toast. It was massive, tasty, and an incredible experience for my taste buds. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to a friend visiting from out of town, and I don't hesitate to give it a five star review. Expect a longer wait in the early afternoon than you would in the early morning, but it's worth it.
(5)Francisco S.
Nice location and ambience. Great breakfast place for locals. The Maine Blueberry pancakes were excellent and the Homemade Corned Beef Hash (medley of 3 potatoes: red, gold, and sweet). Big portions, too. Friendly staff; coffee just kept on pouring.
(4)Danielle R.
Came here during the week with just my one year old and myself. Seating is upstairs and I had a stroller and am almost 9 mos pregnant so the idea of taking him up the stairs was NOT appealing. The hostess was extremely accommodating and allowed me to sit downstairs in the area normally used for waiting patrons. Definitely a well trafficked area and not normally a place you'd want to sit and eat but I was very appreciative for the spot. It was busier than I realized, which definitely had an impact on the time it took to get our food (approx 45 mins from ordering). I ordered the half plate of corned beef hash and got the yogurt and fruit for my son. 4/5 rating for my plate - it was good but not mind blowing; my corned beef was warm, not hot like the eggs and potatoes. 3/5 rating for my sons plate - asked for the honey on the side, it wasn't. The fruit was definitely not day fresh which I would have expected at this time of the year. Overall, a good experience. Friendly wait staff and very accommodating. I would definitely recommend to others.
(4)Bruce R.
Excellent breakfast. Some cool specials, huge portions and friendly staff. Parking in the area sucks, and you should expect a wait to be seated. Well worth a visit despite those small inconveniences.
(4)Liam S.
I just went here for the first time and it was good! This is the type of place that someone has too tell you to go to, or you would never know. Good classic American breakfast done very well, Service was good, Atmosphere is kind of neat even though the decor is a bit warn. The service was good too. If you are looking for a breakfast place, it is worth a visit.
(4)Steve K.
First off, weekend brunch hours are too crowded. It literally took more than an hour before we recieved our food. That being said, food was good with healthy portions and the price was also pretty fair. Dark chocolate waffles were especially delicious. Eggs benedict was also pretty good but the french toast wasn't exactly what I was normally used to. A bit too dry and too 'healthy' tasting, for the lack of better terms. It was a good experience overall but the wait could've been a bit shorter. I think it also made me work up too much of an appetite and expectation to which, to be fair, the food didn't necessarily disappoint but neither did it make me forget the wait. I would definitely come back. Just gotta figure out when it isn't so crowded.
(3)Katie L.
A beautiful restaurant and peaceful retreat, overall a very enjoyable and relaxing place to enjoy an Eggs Florentine! The wait was a little lengthy, but in the end was totally worth it. There outdoor patio space is a treat. Everything on the menu looked delicious, so it was hard to pick. I'll have to return some time to try one of their inventive pancake specials or the pecan encrusted French toast. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Julio S.
I was visiting a family member in Portland on short vacation time last March. I took a red-eye into Trenton, NJ, then a verrrry early regional jet to Portland, followed by a bus into town. Exhausted and crabby from having spent all night in cramped seats, I strolled into Bintliff's for my first meal since the previous day's lunch. I. Was. Stunned. I was stunned by the combination of quality cuisine, excellent service, and amiable environment. They were a bit busy, but my water glass was never more than 2/3rds empty. Our waiter was friendly and engaging. In fact, heard me mention that it was my first time in Maine and casually dropped off a "Welcome to Maine" blueberry pancake! That was just the icing on the cake, for me. In addition, I ordered the lobster benedict. It was my first time trying and enjoying lobster (I had disliked lobster as a child and hadn't decided to brave the crustacean again as an adult), and it was simply delicious. I was back two days later, when I tried the corned beef hash (also very yummy). Suffice it to say, I will likely try to squeeze in a trip every time I'm in Portland (as well as proselytize about the place to friends and family who should happen to visit the area). In short, the food's good, the staff's friendly, and you should go. Maybe during off-peak hours, since it can be packed. :)
(5)Ned B.
My girlfriend and I love to eat brunch at Bintliff on the weekends. The atmosphere is extremely cozy and inviting. The wait staff is has been consistently helpful, nice, warm and friendly. Usually the wait is between 30-45 minutes for a 2 top, which isn't bad considering how busy it is. The complimentary coffee brewed by local Coffee by Design is delicious. The food is consistently delicious and looks amazing. I usually eat the eggs florentine benedict but have also eaten the bintliff scramble, the bistro steak bendict and the classic bendict, all of which were amazing. haven't tried the waffles though they look delicious (I'm an eggs kind of guy) Menu is easy to navigate with delicious sides. Highly recommend the bloody mary or mimosa (we get them every time) Hands down BEST breakfast/ brunch eatery in Portland.
(5)Nat S.
This place is a sight for sore eyes, especially when one has enjoyed Portland's bounty a bit too much the night before. Word of warning the food is fabulous- however the portions tend on the trucker size. Pancakes are light and fluffy the pecan banana are my favorite. The home made beef hash is on steroids, tender 1'' bites of falling apart beef with the potato's, home made bread and eggs. The eggs benny is also a hit. Service is always professional and helpful. Like many of my favorite establishments in Portland the business is housed in a lovely old building with interesting artifacts on the wall like a menu from the 1920's?
(5)Eva G.
Saturday around 10-11am, the wait was about 15 minutes. The complimentary coffee for those waiting is simple genius. This place is nostalgically decorated inside, with walls covered with positive reviews and celeb appraisals. Service is excellent; they give me a vibe of southern hospitality. Food is really good, and portion sizes will put your stomach to the test. As in... you can split the pancake order four-ways. My friends inhaled the orange juice; apparently stuff here is very homestyle and fresh/organic.
(4)Elizabeth D.
We don't go to Bintliff's as often as we should but every time we do we have an outstanding breakfast. We have never had to wait long, perhaps it's because we're getting on in years and maybe the wait staff thinks we're ready to topple over :-) My husband always orders an omelette loaded with mushrooms and I always order the Bintliff's famous Eggs Benedict and corned beef hash, of course I always pay for it later in the day, so thank God for Zantac (you'll find out someday when your stomach is no longer cast iron). We love the friendly atmosphere, the quirky decorating and the staff always takes a moment to say hello and have a couple of words. Nice place, just wish they had their own parking.
(5)Ryan H.
A very popular brunch spot, hence the line wrapped around the block... Food was good, not out of this world, but a cool place nonetheless. The down-home feel of the place added to the experience. I had the huevos rancheros, which were nothing to write home about, my girlfriend had the Cajun benedict, which seems to have been the better choice.
(3)tara m.
I love this breakfast spot! The service is great, the food is fantastic and the drinks are stiff. It's one of my favorite spots in Portland for brunch.
(5)Justine J.
I visited Bintliff's with a friend recently, and had an awesome experience. The atmosphere is very interesting, there was NO wait for a table (around 10:00am on a week day), our waiter was extremely attentive and friendly, and the food was DELICIOUS. Oh, and the bloody marys are pretty awesome, too!
(5)Sonam R.
After reading remarkable things about Bintliff's, I thought it was okay. We waited about 15 minutes before we got seated. Service was phemenonal, however the food was moderate, nothing to write home about. I had the iced coffee (Coffee by Design), bacon, and one piece of french toast. The french toast was fine and the bacon was awesome (crispy, not overdone at all). My family had mimosas, the scrambles (quite popular from what I hear) and french toast. We spent just under $80 with tip for brunch. Best part of brunch was eating outside. Be sure to get a table outside on the deck in summer, it's quite relaxing.
(3)Cassandra B.
I stopped in for breakfast on a rainy Tuesday morning because there were virtually no other breakfast places open in the area. The service was friendly and the restaurant is beautifully decorated and comfortable. I was disappointed that they didn't have any "seasonal vegan brunch" items, as the menu indicated, aside from a hummus and vegetable wrap, which is not a brunch item, and is listed elsewhere on the menu so it's not really a special. Anyhow, I went with the veggie potatoes side for $6, which was a large, tasty plate of pan-fried potatoes, peppers, zucchini, and other veggies. Very tasty and a large portion for the price.
(3)Ashika B.
I hate that this place was so disappointing for me, but it was. First the wait time was irritating given that there really is no place to stand and wait. You are pretty much standing in front of the main door and people have to squeeze past you as they enter and exit. The fact that you look around and there are empty tables makes the wait all the more annoying. I was determined to not let this ruin my experience though. I started with a Bloody Mary and got a very generous glass that was excellent. I was chomping at the bit to order the Maine Lobster Benedict that everyone raved about, so imagine my dismay when the waitress informed me that they were all out of lobster. Say what now? You're out of lobster, in Maine, at 11am on a random Tuesday? Unacceptable. I reluctantly ordered the Bistro Steak Benedict. I wanted my steak medium but it arrived close to well done. Aside from that it was delicious! I am torn when a place has 4-5 star food but other shortcomings like poor service, poor layout and a shortage of a signature item. I am pretty sure that I will return to Bintliff's on my next visit to give them another shot, but this visit was disappointing.
(2)Sean R.
Alrighty, so.... Wait times: Welcome to the world of restruants fellow reviewers. Instead of quick judgment maybe you should consider that you are unaware of what is happening behind the scenes. Plus if there is a wait, especially at this establishment it means your in for a treat! Be patient, slow the heck down, and relax. Plus here, they allow you to fill up on some hot coffee while you wait. Building/establishment: Beautiful on the inside, reminds me of a pub in Dublin Ireland. Unique and open. Small town feel! Food: Large portions, fresh food. The eggs Benedict are to die for as well as there corned beef hash. Yummy food! Employees: Very friendly staff! Our waitress was personal and funny. Took the time to talk and get to know us. Even while I waited for a table an employee and I shared a few conversations. Also it is nice to see the owner of the establishment working right along side his employees. Overall this place is a must for Portland Maine. Its certainly worth the wait.
(4)Francesca S.
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!
(5)Cody S.
If you dont love this place, you probably hate all things good in this world !! I try and eat here as many sundays as possible. Bayou Benedict is my personal favorite, and their Bloody Mary's/Turbo Coffee are just the pick-me up needed to get your sunday going, You also cant go wrong with the Hash, or the Crab Bennies either. Everything is always cooked fresh and delivered in a timely manner. They do have some pretty cool "typical" breakfast items, like a granola french toast and gigantic lots of delicious things pancakes. Staff is friendly and humorous and despite ALWAYS being busy, they make time to catch up with us. As its a pretty popular place, dont go here expecting to get a table right off the bat, there is usually a 40 min wait every time we go, but dont let that discourage you, as the food and service is well worth it, PLUS, they are always kind enough to make you a delicious Bloody Mary (or grab a cup of coffee) to help satiate you while you wait. LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE !!
(5)Michael C.
Great food. The neighborhood is a little shady and took a long time to get food but it was good overall
(4)Eliza M.
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.
(5)Laura M.
Amazing service! Super locally owned neighborhood brunch/breakfast place. Greeted by the owner, coffee for the short wait and great bustling vibe. Huge portions! We will be back!
(4)Nichole D.
I hate to attract more people to this place since it's already busy enough, but I feel it's only fair to let other know that this is the BEST Breakfast place EVER! THE CORN BEEF IS TO DIE FOR! let me just preface this with a few things before I get into their amazing food..people get turned off by a few things like the wait, the dirty appearance of the restaurant and sometimes the service, so let me just say... 1. This place if for early birds or those who don't mind a slightly awkward/chilly wait..get there before 9 AM for sure, 7 or 8 is best.. 2.It's down right dirty (mostly just dusty as hell) inside, but it has a lot of character 3. Service is sometimes less then amazing However the food makes up for any of these other downfalls...This little hole in the wall restaurant is the best breakfast joint around... THE CORN BEEF is SENSATIONAL! STUPENDOUS! UNBELIEVABLE! Makes my life complete! I live for this stuff! Even better with perfectly cooked eggs on top. yeah not such a fan of the hash personally, but the corn beef is amazing! Also LOVE the chocolate Belgian waffles! Plus they also have a variety of interesting pancakes, like the ginger with the lemon sauce on top mmmm And the french toast is great. I love everything but the hash really and everyone else I know loves it. Its always fun to have mimosas as well!
(5)Jennifer T.
I went with my family to eat here and each one of us got a different dish. My mother loved her omelette, but her toast was completely burnt! My dish (scrambled eggs with mushroom and home fries) was way too salty. I had to stop eating after a while because I couldn't take it anymore. In addition, my sister's meal and my father's meal had smoked salmon, which was quite dry. They also had bagels, which were also burnt. The service was to be desired, as well. Sitting on the first floor was definitely detrimental to our experience there because we hardly ever saw our waiter, who was upstairs taking care of other customers. The hostess served/helped us more than our actual waiter. Never coming back. Sorry.
(2)Justin D.
Pumpkin pancakes were very very tasty! Lobster Benedict was also very tasty. Place is cute with grandmothers kitchen / old house type of way. Coffee was so-so. Would be a good idea to swing by Speckled Ax Coffee up the road and grab a coffe and then get breakfast here.
(3)Thuy N.
My goto place for breakfast. The omelettes and crab cakes are great. I love the food presentation too. The corn beef hash is good, though I would go to Hot Suppa for that. I had one okay entree and that was the pulled pork. That's from the seasonal menu, so I'll let that slide. Other than that, I don't think you can go wrong with this place. The wait can be long. Wish they open one in San Diego.. it'll be a hit!
(5)Tammy B.
Very cute establishment. The menu had a really good selection. The food was really tasty and portions were generous. I would definitely go back.
(5)Frances S.
Bintliff's breakfast and brunch were so great we ate there twice on a two-day stay -- quite a tribute from three foodies! The Eggs Benedict were perfectly cooked, the scallion pancake was flavorful and the texture was perfect, and the home baked bread was the best we had on a 9 day trip in Maine. Even the tea was properly made, to the delight of our English friend. We first went on a very busy Sunday, but the service remained friendly and professional, and our waiter (Andrew) remembered us and our drink orders when we returned the next day. Definitely worth a stop when you are in Portland.
(5)L H.
OMG-I am mistrustful of yelp reviews after coming to this establishment. First,We practically had to wait on ourselves. Clean is not on in their vocabulary and the food is expensive and horrible. Not a good example of Portland cuisine for sure.
(1)Kendra E.
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 :)
(5)Aislinn F.
One word: Amazing. My husband's family is from Maine and we come to visit about 2-3 times a year. I'm always looking to try new restaurants whenever we are in town - and my husband's brother had recommended this place, so I knew we had to eat here before we left. This place has that New England charm with the decor inside and Portland history all over the walls. When we got there, the wait was very, very long (about an hour) and the waiting area is very small - but that was kind of expected. Just make sure to give your name to the hostess, which may be hard to spot since it's tucked away to the side. But this place is definitely worth the wait! Plus, there's delicious coffee to keep you occupied. You do have the option to sit downstairs or upstairs, so we chose upstairs. We were luckily seated in a cozy booth by the big window which was perfect. Sitting downstairs may be able to get you seated quickly, but the setup can be awkward if it's during peak time at the restaurant. It definitely could get a little crowded - but if time is not on your side, that may be the best option. Our waiter was great. I don't remember his name, but he was very friendly and accommodating. He gave us his favorite recommendations (we were a table of many indecisive people), answered any questions about the menu (mostly from me), and was right on point with the service. I was on vacation, so I was definitely boozing up on the mimosas. As for my meal, I got the eggs florentine benedict and it was seriously one of the best meals that I've had for brunch. My favorite though? Their three-potato homefries. Worth getting if it doesn't come with your meal! My mother-in-law got the corned beef hash, which was also good - but the serving size was huuuge, so definitely something I'd consider sharing with someone else. I'll most likely be back again later this summer - so hopefully I'll be able try some other items on their menu. Definitely worth checking out if you're making a trip to the Portland area!
(4)Jessica M.
The veggies in my scramble were fresh, the bread was thick and soft, and the bacon was crisped to perfection. However, the cinnamon bun pancake with cream cheese drizzle was the best part.. Melt in your mouth, heavenly manna. Our bellies were full and happy when we left. I will definitely be back!
(4)BL R.
An adorable, small place with a consistently big wait list, but well worth it. I had the Lobster Eggs Benedict. A couple of good size chunks of lobster, perfect poached eggs and baby spinach on English muffin. The three potato (sweet, red and Yukon Golds) home fries were well done, but just a bit too much Rosemary for me...but that's just me. Everything was very good, including the Bintliff custom coffee and the service. A must try!
(5)Alana T.
Great waffles and hash.
(4)Simon L.
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!
(5)Patty L.
Great place for breakfast!!!! Best homemade bread I have ever had. Nice thick slices with lots of flavor. Nice presentation of the food. Our waiter was great. On top of his game and very funny. Will defiantly go back there if we visit again.
(5)Lena L.
Wish we lived a little closer to this place! My boyfriend and I recently visited Portland, and were told by a friend to make breakfast happen at Bintliff's. We didn't make a reservation, getting there on a Friday morning at 10am, and were seated immediately. The waitstaff appropriated laughed at our order (cinnamon bun pancakes, orange graham french toast, seafood bisque, and a white chocolate iced coffee), and it was a bit much for two people... but everything was TO DIE FOR delicious. If you want to try a bit of everything, like we so eagerly did, make sure to take advantage of their single servings of pancakes and french toast (which we eagerly did not). Can't wait to get here again one day so I can try an egg breakfast!
(5)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.
(4)Byron D.
I like sitting in the upstairs. The decor reminds me of a place you might see in older parts of Boston or New York. I was surprised to see the place as packed as it was. Our waitress was helpful and fun, the food was delicious, and abundant. If you are traveling through Portland this is only like 1 minute off the highway. Treat yourself!!
(3)Lui N.
Of all the places I've travelled in the country, this place is at the top of my best list for breakfast.
(5)Amy M.
Bintliff's makes one spectacular breakfast. My favorite is the Belgian waffle - but ask them to cook it as the very last item in your table's order and butter the iron extra. I actually got that by accident one day and *best* waffle I have ever ever had. My original came out cold and wouldn't melt the butter so I sent it back -- the server said she would have them make a completely new one and put the butter *in* the waffle iron, then bring it out ASAP when it was done. Well this was like waffle heaven, it was crispy and hot and omg so good. (Good enough to make me give this five stars for an entree I originally sent back) Other great items: pancakes, french toast corned beef hash, mimosas & bellinis. This is our 'go to' when family is in town and we want to take them out to a nice breakfast.
(5)Lisa W.
This is a nice brunch spot. What is it about Maine though where everything seems super sized? I was a little disappointed that they were out of lobster for brunch (they just got a new supply and had to remove the meat which apparently would take at least an hour) so no lobster benedict for me. Instead I got a crab cake benedict which was good but fairly standard. We wanted to order the homemade corned beef hash to split but were advised by the waiter that this was way too much food for 4 of us (we were each ordering entrees and in some cases some people also ordered supplemental pancakes although just 1). At first, we thought this was merely sexism at play as if 4 girls can't finish some hash BUT then our orders came out and some of them were huge. The toast that comes alongside most of the entrées looks like it came from the Fintstones and the pancakes would barely fit in a typical cake pan. So yeah, good call on not getting the meal sized corned beef hash. I do like that they use sweet and regular potatoes in their hash and they have a nice seasoning blend. They make their own corned beef and it comes out in large pieces that you can kind of shred over the potatoes (vs cubes) and it's angus beef. Their bloody marys have a great amount of spice which I like. And the blueberry pancake bites I tried were solidly tasty as well. So if you have a big appetite, go to Bintliff's with your elastic waist pants and feel free to order that big corned beef hash.
(4)Xi Y.
After a disappointed disastrous dinner in Eventide, finally found a decent place to eat here. It has the best brunch! I had the omelet with sausages, corned beef hash, bacon and roasted peppers, with home fries and toast, with real Maine maple syrup. Monstrous portion. And service was very good, without any attitude like the Eventide. Owner and waiter was very friendly too. Strongly recommend this place.
(5)Luisa S.
Always worth the wait. A gem of a place due to its eclectic menu and atmosphere, friendly staff, even under stress - I never have had a bad meal or experience here - just be patient - relax - have some excellent coffee while you wait.
(5)Garrett Q.
Great portions
(4)Emma L.
After much yelp due diligence on the hunt for to-die for brunch fare, we found ourselves waiting in a line outside of Blintliff's Saturday morning. The service was "not as fast as I am use to in NYC" but I'm on vacation over Memorial day, I don't mind enjoying my minutes. I ordered the crab cake benedict and S tried to order the lobster frittata but THEY RAN OUT OF LOBSTER AT 12noon. I was (not a little) a lot confused. How does Maine run out of Lobster? Is the state ok? So the server apologized and talked S into ordering some smoked lox dish that was nothing amazing than a NJ diner would serve. Same description for my crab cake benedict. The restaurant was really nothing to write home about. Trust me, I wanted to love this place and foodgasm myself all over. It felt like a pub that served lobster with eggs.
(2)Allison W.
Honestly, this place does not live up to the hype. M got the classic breakfast, and probably would have enjoyed the Denny's version over Bintliff's. The homefries weren't good. The bread was bad. The eggs were mediocre. My orange French toast was good but not great. Overall this place would have scored three stars, but we had to wait 30 mins to be seated. That's disappointing.
(2)Tamarleigh G.
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.
(4)Boo H.
Omg! This place is one of the worst place I've ever eaten in Portland! The wait for ridiculously long and food was sooo disappointing!!!!!
(1)Cindy S.
Great place. Only 15 minute wait and well worth it. Staff is VERY friendly and energetic. Started off with a Bloody Mary! Amazing. Food was delicious too!
(5)Tim S.
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.
(5)Isaiah G.
fantastic food. and i have to say the building is super cool.
(5)Marcin M.
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.
(4)Cecilia T.
3 or 3.5 stars. I'm a big brunch snobbie from Chicago and San Fran area, so i have high expectations. I came here twice in one weekend to try different dishes and I'd say the food is decent but nothing memorable in my opinion. But probably the best choice to eat if you're vacationing in Portland. Food: Lobster Benedict - it was just so so. There's only like one or two lobster pieces per english muffin and the hollandaise sauce wasn't memorable. They could probably cooked the poached egg a bit more so it was a little less runny. Crabcake Benedict - after Big Jone's version in chicago, i haven't found anything comparable since. They offer plenty of meat on this dish, but the flavor wasn't entirely memorable and actually just a little bit fishy. Chocolate french toast. Rather disappointed that this was just ordinary. The honeywheat was fluffy but the texture and flavor and sauces just weren't memorable. Side of fruit - came out rather warm, just some small pieces of cantaloupe and pineapple, didn't look all that fresh . Good coffee and orange juice here. Atmosphere: Sweating over brunch in a non-airconditioned venue probably partly influenced my appetite for my meal. And also the slow service to refill my coffee. Had to ask someone to refill my coffee both times I came. I do like the casual and historical atmosphere. We barely had to wait both times we came, although this was a Saturday at 9a.m. and a sunday at noon.
(3)Katie P.
Delicious Bellini's and coffee! Excellent servers who explained the menu well and gave suggestions. The homemade bread was excellent! I had the Cajun Eggs Benedict. Now, I have to say, I have never had eggs benedict for fear of my eggs being really runny, but when I told the waiter he told me I can have my eggs any way I wanted! Sweet! Over medium eggs over corn cakes smothered in a spicy creamy hollandaise type sauce. The homefries were 3 different kinds of potatoes including sweet! Loved them! My husband just got some eggs with hash l, but he raved about the hash. Not your ordinary hash either, nope, it is made with big chunks of angus corned beef!! We shared a bluberry pancake, that we didn't finish, and that was OK. Not fluffy and no real flavor, which was surprising because of rave reviews they get. Oh well, maybe it was an off day. Either way, if we are ever in the area again we will go back!
(5)Stacey R.
I wish we had a breakfast place this good in Maryland.
(5)Laci B.
I haven't been in awhile and I always loved this place. All I can say is what happened? After waiting the usual 30 minutes to get in we waited for our server, and waited. Ok you are busy I get that. We order and we wait, we wait, we wait, and we notice people who had to wait for a table after us (45 minutes) later. Are getting their food (5 tables to be exact); by this time we are starving. Finally after hour and a half I ask the guy carrying a note pad to check on our order. Wouldn't you know it once he checked it, it came out five minutes later. Boy did the food suck!! The corned beef hash was gross, the potatoes tasted like mold, and the mocha pancakes blah ( pretty sure I chipped a tooth). After waiting over 2 hours for moldy gross food I don't think we will be back. I don't know if the management, kitchen staff or wait staff has changed; but it's sad when one of your favorite places crashes and burns! Portland peeps reconsider before waiting in that long ass line. I think this is the start of the way down for this place. I will also note since we had a lot of time to look around at the place it is dirty! Cobwebs, dust, and dirt everywhere. Note to owners and workers maybe close for a day for a deep cleaning as this place needs it! Look at your ceiling fan for Gods sake you didn't need it this winter, it could have been cleaned. Maybe this is where the moldy potatoes came from?
(2)Cassandra B.
My bf and I are on the search for the best breakfast place in Portland. Heard some great reviews so tried it out this morning. First impression was not the best, had to wait 10 minutes just to put our name on the waiting list.. Huh? Waited another 30 outside, which was not a problem. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros which is my favorite breakfast ever. For me, it was a little too plain. No interesting spices to it at all. Not spicy or special. My bf got the eggs and crab cakes. We were very excited about the crab cakes, but they were mostly made up of bread. Neither of us could taste even a hint of crab, which is weird, considering every bite we were pulling crab tissue out of our mouths. Our waitress was very unattentive, we had some guy helping us out pretty much the whole time, lucky for the waitress my boyfriend would never leave less than 20% because I would have left no more than 5%. Definitley not the best breakfast dive in Portland.
(2)Kristen C.
Unbelievably amazing! We waited around 30 minutes to get in, but there was a reason!! The lobster Benedict was fantastic...highly recommended. The corned beef hash came with more corned beef then I've ever seen for breakfast...and it was so good! I don't have one bad thing to say about this place.
(5)Jim B.
We had a terrible experience there today. We waited over a half hour for a table. This was expected, but when we finally got one there were at least half a dozen tables empty, and there were still people waiting outside in line. Our waitress was awful, another had to bring us a glass of water. This after another 15 minute wait after being seated. Our waitress was far more interested in sitting at a nearby table talking to her friends than in serving us. When we finally got the food it was cold. I assume because the waitress could not be bothered to stop socializing and do her job. We complained and asked to see the manager. The manager could not find time to see us. We were given a business card and told we could email her. Utter bullshit! I'LL NEVER GO TO BLINTLIFF'S AGAIN.
(1)John A.
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.
(4)Joanna F.
Ok... I don't think I really need to update my review, but I'm going to anyway. I have now been to Bintliff's 7 times and every single time has been spectacular. Not good, not great, but SPECTACULAR. I honestly don't think I can say that about another restaurant I've been to. The second to last time I was there, they didn't have my favorite (the smoked salmon plate) because the HUGE salmon was being brought in for them to "house smoke" while I was waiting for a table! I made a last minute decision to get the huevos rancheros and the dish was amazing. Literally every dish I've had there has been absolutely mouth watering. I would seriously consider driving the 2 hours to Portland every weekend to go to brunch here, but I would probably gain 20 pounds.
(5)Sara M.
Husby and I came to Portland for a quick weekend vacation for our one-year anniversary. We came here for breakfast before we left. We knew there was going to be a wait due to Yelp reviews but we were told 25 minutes and it was more like an hour. However, the staff were cheerful and pleasant, though quite busy. We were seated upstairs and the whole decor was cute and quaint. I had a spicy Bloody Mary, which was just alright. But the corned beef hash! I was expecting that mushed up mash that I love so much but this was so much better. It had real chunks of striated corned beef. The home fries had three different types of potatoes, one being sweet potato that I just didn't think went with the spices. The portion was big and hot - perfect comforting breakfast food. It seems to be the best place in this small city and I would eat here for breakfast again if we ever came back.
(4)Marcel V.
Amazing food and a LOT of it.
(4)Nick S.
Absolute best corned beef hash i've ever had! Fresh corned beef, big chunks, over seasoned homefries made with white AND sweet potatoes. Like nothing you've ever eaten. Fantastic! Wife's omlette was amazing as well. Cool atmosphere, you wouldn't think so by looking at the place from the outside. A must try in Portland.
(5)Carleigh B.
There were two of us that went to Bintliff's on a Saturday morning for brunch after reading rave reviews on yelp. There was about a 15 minute wait but the "waiting area" or lack there of was very uncomfortable and quickly crowded by a small amount of people. While waiting for a table one of the servers was throwing silverware from one side of the restaurant to the other in attempt to make it into the dishwashing tub. A turn off right away. He was also tossing glasses in the air over and over again before filling them with water for customers. There should have been a hostess behind the hostess stand rather than the guy standing on the stairs taking names and shouting at everyone each time a new party walked in about coffee and other drinks being available while they waited. Once we sat, we were greeted quickly and placed our orders almost immediately. I ordered the veggie benedict and a single raspberry almond pancake with the whole wheat batter. My boyfriend ordered the lobster benedict. We both enjoyed our benedicts....the hollandaise was nice and light and tasted great. The pancake was so hard! The batter was SO dense that we couldn't cut it without using a knife. The pancake was a failure. Overall, it was an average experience. I wouldn't recommend it.
(3)Sarah G.
SURF AND TURF EGGS BENEDICT WITH LOBSTER AND STEAK That is really all that anyone should need to write about anywhere in order to get you to go somewhere, so I really should stop writing now, but again, let me remind you what they have here...surf and turf eggs benedict special or just lobster benedict and a seafood lobster bisque style soup!! And coffee while you wait to get your table, since you know a place that has lobster, steak and eggs will make you wait a little while until you are seated. But they say there is joy in anticipation, and trust me when I say that it is so so so so worth it to wait and try their delicious seafood brunch options here. The one thing to avoid, which we were actually somewhat disappointed in was their granola encrusted french toast, which sounds awesome I know, especially when paired with fresh maple syrup which yes you have to market price for, just like the lobster ha ha but the french toast was a tad bit dry and just not too flavorful overall. It was not the best choice. I mean how could one even choose to order bread over lobster anyway?? This is a great brunch spot, but definitely come early because the wait can get VERY long here on Sundays especially. It is in an old style house with a couple tables on the first floor, but the rest upstairs in an overall very quaint, very brunch appropriate atmosphere. And I mean really, in case I haven't said this enough yet, any place that serves lobster eggs benedict naturally makes that venue way way better in my book!!! Lobster all day long would be my motto if I could afford it!!
(4)Tien D.
The place is super cute! The food was good for brunch but it gets packed in here.
(4)Gary H.
My family decided to eat at Bintliff's for breakfast. My wife and I ordered the Corned Beef Hash. My daughter ordered the Dark Chocolate Waffle. The wait was a little long, but the food was great.
(4)Susan A.
I have to give it up for Bayside American Cafe for their fantastic brunch. This was my first stop in Portland. I had just gotten off the Amtrak from Boston, and I was hungry. My friend took me here. This place gets busy. We waited 40 minutes to get a table for 2 people on a Saturday afternoon. They have a waiting list. What I got I ordered the veggie home fries that come with two eggs your way and your choice of bread. I recommend getting their homemade bread. I shared a cinnamon pancake, which is basically a flat Cinnabun, with my friend. The pancake comes with the familiar white icing on the side. My friend ordered a bloody mary and the corned beef hash. She said both were delicious. It is her favorite brunch spot in town! What I thought The veggie home fries were so delicious and earthy. The parmesan cheese is bold and flavorful and the potatoes were hot and generously coated in good spices. Perfectly poached eggs. The cinnamon pancake is good, but a bit too sweet for breakfast. I recommend coming here in small groups, since the waiting list can get long.
(5)Samuel F.
Bacon cheddar scallion pancake with bourbon maple syrup plus bacon and eggs, yum! There was also significant praise for the eggs benedict and the corned beef hash. It's a darn good brunch!
(4)Khay H.
Best brunch I've had ever! Come here and try their cinnamon bun pancake. It's huge ! Their breakfast sausage and eggs are great too. Others at the table had smoked salmon, and lobster frittata which were equally delicious. Will definitely revisit when back in portland.
(5)Erica S.
My favorite breakfast in Portland, no doubt. I've been coming here for years and have never once been disappointed or let down by anything I've ordered. There's almost always a wait here. I feel like normally I wait between 20 and 45 minutes, sometimes more. Always worth it. Superrrrr scrum food, good bloodys, and always great, friendly, cool service. Can't come here without including a cinnamon bun pancake in the meal. It is so big and so perfect. Sweet, delicious, no need for syrup, incredible. It is really big and rich so I always split one with someone as an addition to my meal. I could probably definitely get through a full one, but I don't like just sweets for breakfast. I need some eggs and potatoes in my life too. That's where the veggie homefries, veggie benedict, crab cake benedict, and huevos rancheros. Obsessed with all of these dishes. I've had other things on the menu, but these are my absolute go to. The veggie homefries are flippin awesome- made with 3 potato homefries, loads of fresh veggies, and 2 eggs however you want them cooked. It comes with a piece of huge beautiful thick toast. I think this thing literally comes with 1800 vegetables. Sautéed spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, zucchini, summer squash, tomatoes, and broccoli. That's what I'm talking about. The potatoes are always cooked great, eggs come out how I want them, life is good. The veggie benedict is served with the same veggies and delicious hollandaise. Both of these are $12, huge portions, super fair prices. The crab cake benedict is also SO SO SO good. I've only had it a few times because sometimes I just don't want to splurge on it (it's usually $17). But when I have had it- oh man, those crab cakes are phenomenal. Huevos are the other thing I always go for. I am obsessed with huevos and these ones rock my world. Beans and rice, guac, chipotle sour cream, homemade salsa, cheddar and delicious tortilla. Only 10$, so good. Love every bite here. Go here now! And order all of those things! And more if you want.
(5)