Luncheonette is Portland's newest poorly kept secret, thanks to Eater featuring it as one of the "Best New Restaurants in America" earlier this week, and then the Portland Press Herald for picking up the story. We weren't sure if we should expect a long line out on the street on our visit Sunday morning, but we were able to get right in and get a table just before 10. The charming "Accidentally Wes Anderson" exterior is a fun and appreciated nod to Portland's past and fits its unpretentious Cumberland Ave location perfectly, without being too showy. I love being greeted by a glass case of bakery and there was an impressive selection. We split a cinnamon roll, and agreed it was best either of us had ever had. The dough was unexpectedly light and chewy, it was just packed with cinnamon flavor, and I understand one of the secrets to the icing is crème fraîche. It's counter service at Luncheonette, with 4-5 tables in the 300 square foot dining area. We both loved the Speckled Axe coffee, I hope to get down there and buy a bag soon. We each ordered the mushroom melt and split an order of the potato salad. The mushroom melts were served hot and the potato salad was really remarkable. We were trying to identify the ingredients--pickles? vinegar? Dijon mustard? Original and delicious. We were made to feel so welcome by both the woman who answered all of our questions and took our orders, as well as Alex, one of the owners, who took time to greet us at our table and talk to us about the food. If I could give Luncheonette six stars, I would. The recent accolades are so well deserved. We are so fortunate to attract restaurants of Luncheonette's caliber to Portland and it's one of the things I love most about living here. read more

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My wife and I stopped in at luncheonette for a brunch run a few weeks ago. The staff was friendly, and the space was much more inviting (and larger) than I had imagined. We ordered a mix of some items (some shareables, a sandwich piece and a bakery item to cap off our brunch experience. The shareables and sandwich came to us quite quickly - and was good! The bakery item took a bit longer (I think they were warming it up and trying to time it out to come to us after we had finished some of our initial food order). Overall, I wasn't impressed by the caesar cabbage salad. The potato salad and sandwich were good! read more

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I came here ~11 AM on a Thursday morning for a quick brunch. Parking: street parking Food: absolutely delectable. I had a scrumptious chicken pot pie and then a savory panna cotta. Not large portion sizes but you can see it's high quality and made-to-order. Did not get to have one of their famous cinnamon rolls because they ran out! Atmosphere: casual. small. very minimal seating inside with two or three smaller than average size tables for groups of 2 or 3 and then a few bar seats. cramped for sure... Service: wonderful, no concerns. Order at the register, they will bring it out to you. Water self-serve. Would I come back here? Yes definitely!!... but only under the right circumstances. This place is absolutely glowing up in popularity with more media coverage, making food lists, and of course even me writing a review, so I do expect this place's already cramped, made-to-order service, limited quantity of food items to become WAY overdrawn - managing the growth and demand will be their biggest challenge. In a larger space with more capacity to not run out of food, this would be a slam dunk 5 out of 5. Right now, especially at this price point, borderline so it gets a 4. I'll be back when it's just me or maximum one other person for a quick stop in, only at the off-hours. Perhaps I will offer an update later! read more

Luncheonette - Menu - Salad Near Me - Portland, Maine

The miso chocolate chip cookie by itself is worth a visit, definitely the highlight (though I'm rarely dissatisfied by a CCC)). I think I might have liked my food better if I'd gotten there even 2 minutes before. I'm not a huge fan of tofu and they had just sold out of the chicken curry salad sandwich which looked stellar. The tofu katsu was still good (for tofu) but I need to get back for that curry chicken. Staff was very friendly but you'll definitely be rubbing elbows with people if you're eating in (it's tight in there). read more

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This is a tiny but fierce restaurant full of energy and tasty food. The tables are very close together but that creates a warm and intimate experience. We grabbed some delicious curry chicken salad sandwiches and apple pie to go, what a treat! The service is very friendly. read more

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I had been dying to try the cinnamon roll from Luncheonette so when the opportunity came about on 11am on a Saturday i headed right there! From other photos i was concerned about how small the space was and was prepared to take it to go. But surprisingly there were more tables then i thought and even a couple bar seats near the back. It was also a beautiful day and they have outdoor seating in the back as well. Not to say it is a lot of seating but more than i originally imagined. I ordered the cinnamon roll and an iced coffee and sat on the bar seats in the back. The cinnamon roll is made fresh and brought up from the kitchen nice and gooey and warm. I love that they don't just have them sitting in the pastry case, i think this makes a world of difference. This was by far the softest dough if any cinnamon roll i have ever had. It is extremely fluffy like a brioche bun and was so light (you can eat the whole thing in a single sitting even with how large it is, it's that light). It has an amazing vanilla frosting glaze over it that rivals any cream cheese traditional frosting. I think my only complaint would be i wish it had more of a swirl since you mostly get a lot of dough and frosting and not enough cinnamon sugar swirl throughout. But it is an outstanding roll and i will come back again for it and to try their savory options. I am knocking off one star merely because the coffee situation was a bit disappointing. I personally drink black coffee and don't need any fancy drinks so it's not about that but i found it strange how long it took to pour the coffee and get it to the costumer. They don't add anything to the coffee and it is only drip or iced they offer. I think they need to redo how they are conducting the coffee part of the service since it didn't execute well for them. They have milk options and they forgot to put any in mine even though i ordered it with some. Hopefully they can get that process sorted out for them. Other than that a great spot with delicious food! read more

Luncheonette - cinnamon roll - Salad Near Me - Portland, Maine

Staff was excited as I went early after the location opened. I had a coffee and a pastry and I preferred the pastry. It was a vegetarian special that I no longer see on the menu. I enjoyed the interior and it is absolutely unique. If you enjoy cafe design and are looking for a place to perhaps impress some friends from out of town this is a very charming choice. No smoking outside on the bench though... lol. read more

Luncheonette - Exterior - Salad Near Me - Portland, Maine

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It honestly pains me to give Luncheonette 3 stars. I was so excited for a casual lunch spot in this part of town. The food is delicious, and the ambiance, especially the outdoor patio, is great. But the portion-to-price ratio is pretty disappointing. We went with a friend and spent over $100 for the three of us: three sandwiches (one vegan), three "salads," three coffees, and one shareable dessert. The pork sandwiches were tasty, but small for the price. And the salads... ouch. The portions were embarrassing. All three came out on one small plate, and each was maybe two bites max. They were $8 each... Maybe they are still figuring things out since they just opened, but it wasn't a great first impression. To be fair, there were some real highlights. Service was excellent, the desserts (especially the cinnamon roll) were divine, and the unlimited coffee was great. Would we go back? Yes, for dessert and coffee. But not for lunch. read more

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What a great new spot! Luncheonette expresses such homey vibes with whole foods that make you feel the best type of full. I sampled a few different menu items: apple cider farro salad, miso butter mushroom salad, the roasted pork sandwich, and the brown rice bowl. All were absolutely phenomenal. They have a great salad deal that allows you to try their large selection. However if you like miso you must at least try their miso butter mushroom salad. It's full of unique mushrooms and fresh seaweed. ALSO make it a priority to try their brown rice bowl; full of pickled veggies, egg and the tastiest tuna fish salad (big chunks of tuna). Bonus if you grab their iced tea it's so refreshing and has a lovely aromatic flavor. The owners, Angela and Alex (as well as other staff members) are so great and helpful when it comes to explaining the menu and offering suggestions. read more

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This tiny place, formerly Union Bagel, serves five-star food! So why did I only give it three stars? The service was five-star if you consider ordering at the counter and having your food delivered from the kitchen in their basement as a five-star experience. The ambiance is what you'd expect from a small, casual eat-in/take-out spot. We went there for lunch, thinking it would keep us full until dinner. We were mistaken. I ordered the steamed dumplings and asked if that would be enough for lunch. She recommended I get a salad from the display case, which had several unique salads, sandwiches, and desserts. They aren't your typical green salads, but everything looked delicious. I chose the celery root remoulade with apples and hazelnuts. My companion ordered the roasted pork with a mustard-and-apple gastrique. She didn't order a side salad, but I shared mine. The roasted pork was absolutely delicious and had a very unique flavor, though I wouldn't call it a full lunch portion. Anything ordered from the luncheonette is probably delicious, but it's not really a place for a filling lunch or dinner unless you order several dishes or just want a light snack. There's been a lot of hype around this new spot, but people should know it's not a typical restaurant with standard food to fill your stomach. I don't mean overeating, but it offers tasty, light fare and is still worth trying for a nice experience. read more

Luncheonette - Celery root remoulade with chopped apples and hazelnuts - Salad Near Me - Portland, Maine

I've come back a handful of times since my last review, and I wholly believe this is one of my new favorites spots! They usually have rotating specials to keep it fresh, and the food is DELICIOUS! Also, I believe their portion sizes have improved since my first visit. I can't attest to the sandwiches since I've been getting entrees the last few visits but it's all been so tasty. I wish they were open just like an hour earlier, but they are a "lunch" spot so I guess I get it. read more

Such tasty unique salads, with each thing better than the last. The combinations of flavors in the salads and sandwich were perfect and original. Place is small but cozy, but may need to take it to go in a busy stretch. read more

Luncheonette - Sweet potato salad and cabbage Caesar - Salad Near Me - Portland, Maine

You won't be disappointed by the cinnamon roll, absolutely worth the stop. The shop is small, charming, and the service was genuinely great. A cozy little gem read more

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I'm so glad I found this new spot before it gets super busy, because it will. The inside is very quaint and the back patio is spacious. The food was excellent...the best cinnamon roll I've ever had and the rice bowl was bursting with flavor. I got a chance to speak with the owners. This is their passion project and it shows. Well done. read more

Luncheonette - Rice bowl - Salad Near Me - Portland, Maine

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I stumbled across The Luncheonette by chance on my way to Bhan Appetite, and what a discovery it turned out to be. The pork sandwich with potato salad was nothing short of exceptional--beautifully balanced, thoughtfully prepared, and bursting with flavor. There's a quiet confidence in the way everything is presented: simple, unfussy, yet elevated in taste and execution. You can feel the pride and intention behind every detail. Though the space is small, it radiates charm and delivers an experience that far exceeds expectations. A true hidden gem--perfect for a memorable lunch or a take-home indulgence. read more

I went here with my wife and daughter for "brunch" and we are glad we did. The cinnamon roll was delicious but not sickeningly sweet, and the red bean bar (which is a delicious sort of breakfast bar / dessert) is possibly the best gluten-free baked treat I have had. The coffee is from local roaster speckled ax and it is delicious. The service was outstanding, the ambience was light and cheery, and the owners were very nice and let us sample something they were looking to perfect before adding to the menu. I would love to come back to sample the lunch menu . read more

What a fabulous new hip restaurant! Interesting and delicious food, fun seating (patio is ADORABLE), super friendly staff, lovely owners/chefs, great prices.....I'll be back!! read more