Looking for a local breakfast spot nearby after staying in Portsmouth and this place fit the bill! The first huge plus was its location and being able to have free parking in the huge lot it's located in. It fits the vibe of a local cafe/breakfast spot perfectly and the host and waitress were friendly and welcoming. I would assume this is a spot that has a good amount regular customers who come daily or at least weekly. Besides their regular menu they had a full page print out of specials which is nice and would be a great way to change it up if coming here often. The prices are all very reasonable especially compared to what you may spend elsewhere nowadays. A lot of the specials and regular menu items sounding tempting. I ended up getting their pancetta Benedict special and my wife got their corned beef hash Benedict. We also split an order of their maple blueberry sausage links. The sausage was just okay, texture was somewhat off and maple and blueberry flavor was lacking. Both the Benedict's were tasty yet neither of our eggs were as runny as I would typically expect from an eggs Benedict. The highlight was probably the homefries that came with it. Overall decent food at reasonable prices with welcoming friendly staff. I'd return if we found ourselves back in the area! read more

Cafe Espresso - Irish Bene - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

See all

Service was great! We had Kelsey and she was a pro. The prices are reasonable for Portsmouth. My specialty coffee was watery, they do not excel in this despite their name. The food was ok, just ok. I tried the steak empanada, I don't recommend this dish. They know nothing about empanadas! I dropped my 4 star review to a 3 because the smell of my table was revolting. The rags are dirty! read more

See all

Wow I was not expecting this, this place is like an upgraded diner, with delicious food, hearty portions, and an extensive menu (in a good way!). Definitely a great place for brunch and if you have kids. The booths are comfy and the service is prompt. Also the entire pastry selection in the front looked incredible. My pulled pork panini was top notch, as was my husband's specialty burger with goat cheese and mushrooms. We will definitely be back for the mimosas! read more

Cafe Espresso - Pulled pork panini - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Hands down a hidden gem that surprises every time with great food. The service is great and have no complaints whatsoever with anything. I have been here often and yes it always impresses me. There's a reason this is a local favorite. read more

Amazing breakfast. Our waitress was very attentive. The place had a really good feel to it. I had the biscuits Benny with sausage gravy. It was excellent. My home fries were the best that I have had in a long time. My family had a half order of French toast which turned out to be a large portion. When you plan on coming bring your fat pants because the portions are very large. read more

The ladies at Suds recommended this establishment for a great breakfast, they were spot on. The service was great and the food was equally great. Staff is extremely friendly and they all work well together. Well run restaurant, they will be successful with how they are running, I will be back. read more

Absolutely love this place. After living in Portsmouth for 2 years, this place has became me and my girlfriend's go-to. It may not be flashy/fancy like some of the restaurants around Portsmouth, but it has very authentic setting. The service is excellent and the menu is certainly on par if not better than restaurants in this area. I went back to ask for a mug as a souvenir for my girlfriend and I, and while it was sort of an unusual request, David was very nice and practically gave me a mug (only asked for $4 for the two I bought!). It is one of the places I will miss now that I have moved out of the area for sure read more

Another great experience! Friends and I had completed a hard job of cleaning a basement, and were looking for a rewarding meal. Cafe Espresso was the perfect spot; some wanted breakfast others lunch. We ordered immediately a portion of Avocado Fries! Outstanding! The meals, ranging from the Lobster Bene to the Beastie Panini were innovative and delicious. Nice sized portions also Until next time! read more

Wanted to like it, but didn't. Not impressed. The Turkey panini was hardly a panini, it was just a sandwich. I nearly barfed when I bit into a golf ball wad of mayonnaise... a very very generous (and gross) amount of mayo. Also comes with a very very small amount of fries. Which was unfortunate because it was my favorite item I tried. Chocolate chip cookies are not good. Took one bite and threw it away. Store bought are better. Very bland and dry. Carrot cake cheesecake wasn't bad. Nothing special either but tastes like it looks. Inside is super cute. I'd say prices are fair for their quality and taste (minus the skimp fries). Good place if you're looking for a cheap meal and to simply fill your stomach. Not impressed. read more

Sat morning visit, not super busy. Ordered the Irish Benny. It was terrible. I ate a few home fries which weren't bad, but the hash and the potatoes were severely under seasoned, very bland. The poached egg was solid, almost hard boiled. Coffee was mediocre at best. Save your money, try somewhere else. read more

We stopped by to get a latte to go. Blueberry scone caught our attention and we decided to try 2 pastries. Latte was OK. It was very hot but it had nice design. Almond muffin was hard and blueberry scone was tasteless. read more

See all

Best food and affordable nice walk to place and the servers are nice and good Ambiance

just stopped for a coffee and blueberry scone to go, big mistake!!! Scone is hard as a rock, last weeks maybe.

On a stormy Saturday morning two weeks ago I stumbled to this cute restaurant while shopping in the plaza. Upon entering I was immediately greeted by all staff and that's when I knew this is the restaurant for me. If you love mimosas, please order their $6 generously portioned delicious mimosa! They had a must try lobster Benedict on their special menu that was mouth watering good! read more

Cafe Espresso - Lobster Benedict! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

I used to be a semi-regular at this place. Not any more. People were being seated outside today and we requested to be as well. There was even a free table right by the door. They said there were no servers available for outside which was odd considering that many people were eating (non takeout) food outside. They said they would not serve us outside because they were short staffed. I explained that we have an immuno-compromised person at home going through cancer treatments and others are seated outside and they still would not serve us out there. I'm sorry but I have worked in restaurants before and it is not a lot of effort to bring the food outside the door rather than serve it inside. Particularly if you are doing it for others and there is an extremely compelling reason to do it for one more. You go the distance for your customers and in this case the distance would have been quite small. (This is a very small place.) Even as I was leaving after speaking to the manager, more food was being brought outside to be served which left me feeling very mad. read more

My tea was lukewarm. My baked beans were scorching hot (steam coming off them). Breakfast burrito was ridiculously salty & the tortilla was cold and tasted like someone just took it out of a bag & didn't even bother warming it up. The home fries however were DELICIOUS. Probably the best home fries I've ever had. read more

This is a quaint little spot off the main highway with inside and outside seating. There is also a fresh pastry case just inside the front door, and staff ready to get you a takeout coffee, tea, espresso or food. Every staff person was attentive and ready to please. Our service was quick and efficient.....the way breakfast should be served. Everything was delicious. Highly recommend..... read more

See all

Really nice spot with speedy and super friendly customer service. Lots of different menu options and daily specials. I ordered the avocado toast daily special. Food came out fast, fresh and tasty. Will be back! read more

Cafe Espresso - Avocado Toast with egg whites, potatoes and bacon. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Went there on a Saturday morning for breakfast. Seems to be only one person working. The food was so burnt I could not eat it . Very expensive so something that was terrible. Paid check and left plate full on table read more

Healthy, good sized portions for a great price. I had the best home fries I have ever eaten there. So so good! Good service and very kind staff. read more

Nice young gentlemen, however inexperienced and disorganized at the front end. Ordered take out which took some

Waffle good Lobster slider fishy My husband ate two bites of the turkey club Server was nice read more

We were seated in the restaurant for breakfast when there were hardly any customers. It still took so long to get our food. So very long. But, while we were waiting someone came by to refill our coffee. She asked "regular or decaf?" and filled up my husbands' and friends' cups when they asked for regular. When she got to mine, I noted the orange colored spout and asked "THAT'S regular?" She realized it was indeed decaf and filled mine with regular. Never came back with new cups for the other 2 people at the table. Then when the food finally came, 3 out of 4 of the meals was cold. She served 2 plates of pancakes and one waffle without even checking to see if we had syrup, and then was like "anyone need anything else?" Well, we weren't served 1 juice, and we asked for syrup. After waiting again a long time for syrup (she had to be called back over once again for the syrup), I sent my cold pancakes back and told her to take it off the bill. She promised she'd have new pancakes for me in 3 minutes or less, so I said OK. She brought me 1 pancake, when the order is for 2 pancakes. You know we tried to be understanding, but when we walked out there were like 3-4 cafe workers standing around the desk just chatting with each other. I can't believe how inept, inexperienced, and untrained these servers are. read more

I'm adding a star. Cafe Expresso still seems kind of bland to me. Nothing's wrong but there isn't much personality to the place. Everything is good, nothing is excellent. My wife likes it, and all I can say is that I don't dislike it. But I'm adding a star because of our waitress. I think her name was Emily but I'm not sure. Anyway, she was always there to check up on us without being intrusive. She asked if my special order were okay. She kept the coffee cups filled. She knew exactly how to take care of a customer. If I suddenly developed a food allergy, she probably would have been there with an EpiPen. As always, we showed up on a late Saturday morning. As always, the place was busy but the wait was only a minute or two. Cafe Expresso is a bit far to walk from downtown, but it's not as crowded as Colby's and the servers are way nicer than at Friendly Toast. read more

Very good and comprehensive menu. Not greasy at all and cooked perfectly. Absolutely no complaints. Service was friendly and efficient too. Will be back for sure! read more

See all

Had Brazilian dish at lunch today, called feijoada. It's a stew with meat, rice and black beans. Earthy and delicious. For dessert, I had a rice pudding-type dessert. It was served warm and was not as sweet as typical rice pudding. Very good. The restaurant is offering Brazilian dishes every Thur. Definitely worth trying. The owner's wife and one of the cooks are from Brazil, so authenticity should be spot on. read more

Cafe Espresso - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

I am on a first name basis with one of the servers there, which means two things to me: 1. this place is worth going to enough that I get to know the staff 2. the staff is friendly. The decorations make me feel like I have taken a vacation to Europe. Copper table tops, yellow stucco walls, and art. Right on the Mediterranean (where I have never been but imagine it's just like this lovely cafe). As for the food, I have never been disappointed. Their Yelp! page advertises as "$$", but really, it is "$". An omelette with potatoes and a grilled English muffin is $8.99. Please. That's as inexpensive as it gets in Portsmouth. The corned beef hash, which is a great indicator of quality and care at any breakfast joint (see Colby's, whose is quirky and delightful, as the place and the man both are) is a treat to eat. I often get the Sweet Pea Omelette (3 eggs, bacon, peas, cheese & hollandaise). I probably had it 5 times in a row and thought it was the best thing. Now I branch out and try different menu items, usually specials, and have never been disappointed. I love to order their chorizo anything. This is my local go to breakfast place, as a local who doesn't always want to deal with downtown. Free parking, great service, and they always let me sit in a booth. read more

Found this gem yesterday in a random Portsmouth breakfast search. The restaurant is quaint, yet larger than it looks. The service & food were amazing! You will not go home hungry! It's located in a plaza with plenty of parking. Sweet spot! Just as we received our food however, a party of 6 or 7 came in, and the host seated them right next to us, maybe 2 feet away. Normally not a concern, but during Covid, it should not have happened. So now everyone is seated, masks off, and whatever will be will be. As I mentioned, the restaurant is a good size, and they did have tables w/o chairs in order to spread folks out. I just think that the front area near the door should be reconfigured a bit so everyone can enjoy this great spot safely. read more

We've been here many times over the years, and the food is usually very good and the staff is friendly. We came here with family yesterday. The omelets were great, and the home fries were seasoned and cooked very well. The pancakes, though, were terrible. They were flat, dry, and didn't taste very good. I chose to eat most of them, but I probably should have sent them back. I politely mentioned it to the waitress when she came to clean up the table. She apologized, but that was the end of it. For such a core breakfast item, I'm not sure how these pancakes ever made it out of the kitchen. read more

Came here on recommendation as we love eggs Benedict. Cafe has a little Spanish Mexican flair. Very clean and the staff is friendly and helpful. Service when first seating was quick and the coffee delicious. Wife ordered regular eggs Benedict and I had the Gringo Bene with chipotle hollandaise sauce. Had just enough kick to allow you to enjoy it. The home fries were crisp and very tasty. Following breakfast at 11AM as we paid the baked goods caught our eye. Will definitely recommend to anyone in the are or coming by read more

Update: I stopped eating here. My partner found hair in his meal. I ordered take out, and my eggs smelled like cat food. Today, they were temporarily shut down by the health department. read more

Went in 45 minutes before closing. Waiter refused to refill my coffee because the restaurant was closing for the day. Right at closing time he turned off the lights before my friend and I were done eating. How is that okay?! Food wasn't even good. I will NOT be recommending this place to friends. AVOID! read more

Perfect omelet, homemade toast, fresh squeezed oj, home fries were crispy with well cooked insides, perfect service! Perfect. read more

Have come here a few times in the past couple years on my trips to NH. Love it everytime! LOCATION: in the plaza where hannfords food store is, right off islington street. FOOD: their breakfast dishes are amazing! The portions are so big and the prices are low, definitely my favorite part about cafe espresso. I have gotten the pancakes before which were the size of dinner plates, seriously! Haha they were delicious. I usually just get scrambled eggs and maybe a side of homefries with sausage or bacon. That dish never disappoints either. Everything is always hot and delicious. Also I really like that you can still order breakfast until around 2pm i think? SERVICE: average. Sometimes when their busy they can be a bit slow with bringing your drinks and food, etc. read more

They have a regular menu and they always have daily specials. Today I got one of the specials, Fish n Chips. Very yummy. I haven't had anything bad there. I also love their lobster BLT. read more

Cafe Espresso - Fish n Chips. Super yummy! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

The service was terrific on a Saturday AM. The food was hot, timely and good. The chef needs a little more practice with poached (the better one was placed on top) but this place is solid and I'm coming back. read more

Cafe Espresso - Cheery atmosphere and really pleasant servers. Good coffee and lots of options. Ask for the homemade guacamole with your eggs! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

The great: A delicious, fluffy and tender waffle. I had it plain with butter and syrup and was stunned at how good it was. The good: The coffee, thick bacon, ham, potatoes and service were all very good. The not so good was something that a breakfast restaurant should have down: eggs. I ordered mine scrambled soft. They arrived in dry layers surrounded by skin from overcooking them. Understanding that a high-volume restaurant can't gently scramble eggs in a pan resulting in soft curds which is what scrambled eggs should be, the dry overcooked mess that I was served was a disappointment. Will return because everything else was above average. read more

3.5 stars - A cheerful friendly breakfast depot as an alternative to the in town madness. Eggs Benedict traditional $7.00 & eggs black stone (a nene with bacon & tomato) we're good for the price though the hollandaise was a little over cooked. One egg was perfectly poached the second overlooked. Home made baked goods are delish (cinnamon bun was fab!) and we got a magic bar for the road. Def a locals bfast plAce but not divey whatsoever. I didn't try it but the lobster eggs Benny $11.99 was overflowing with lobstah meat. Did I mention Hilary Clinton stopped here on the campaign trail in 2008..? Got here before 10 am on a summer Sunday with no wait- after 10 a line out the door. read more

It's so cute! This is one of the busy weekend breakfast spots of Portsmouth, and it looked a bit like a bingo convention when I went. Big plus for serving about twelve different variations on eggs benedict, my favorite breakfast indulgence. I went with the classic, but will definitely be back to try the others. The waitresses were friendly and attentive, though the iced cappuccino definitely tasted like it was machine-made. I'll go with regular coffee next time. read more

The service was great but the food was not. The croissant with scrambled eggs I ordered was tasteless and dry. The eggs were over cooked.