NOBODY TOLD ME. Nobody told me that Nom Cafe is one of the best spots for brunch in Portland's Arts District, with some of the yummiest and most unique breakfast food? A Balkan-inspired menu? Come on. I finally tried it and I'm already counting down until I go back. I was expecting casual counter service and your typical breakfast food. I was so wrong. We were greeted by the warmest staff, who let us pick our own table. We sat by the windows, which was perfect for the morning sunlight; exactly what we wanted. The menu is eastern European with some Spanish touches (think huevos rotos and patatas bravas). Books featuring Bulgarian photography and other eastern European countries were scattered around the space, it was a lovely touch. The service was just as great as the food. My hot coffee came in the cutest mug and our waitress kept refilling it without being asked. The mekitsi and parzhen were phenomenal, with the parzhen being my favorite. The spreads they came with... I wanted to bottle those and take them home. My husband had the patatas bravas and I had the shakshuka, and we added kyufteh to both, this incredible in-house sausage that was 10/10 (it was a little spicy!). Everything was phenomenal and the portions were generous. If you're not feeling adventurous, they also have traditional eggs and omelettes, all with a little twist and somewhat elevated. Their drinks menu was impressive too if you're into a fancy coffee. Can't recommend this place enough. I shall be back! read more

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HIGHLY recommend for a breakfast/brunch option. Wife wanted to try Bayside cafe for our last breakfast before heading to the airport on a Monday, but at 10:25 they had an hour wait, we said nah & walked 7mins up to Nom where there was no wait & I think it was the far superior choice. The inside is super cute & cozy. They have books about Bulgaria scattered around & on the back of the menus there are a few common questions about some of the menu item names. I love when a restaurant educates diners in addition to feeding us food from their home country so kudos there. I had the shakshuka which TBH is the best one I've ever had anywhere. I even make it at home sometimes using locally grown tomatoes and I can't touch this recipe here. Literally a blessing that they give you some toasted bread to use to clean out the skillet so you don't leave any behind. We ordered the mekitsi to share as a starter and boy was that good. I'm not the biggest sweets eater, and I usually don't eat breakfast except for when I'm traveling, but this was one of my favorite things I've had in recent memory. Perfectly prepared, crumpets stuffed lightly with feta cheese, drizzled in honey with local berries. You HAVE to get these. My wife ordered one of the specials which was local main blueberry waffles. They must have been delicious because she finished the entire thing and I don't think I heard a peep out of her while I was housing my shakshuka. Service was great I feel like Jess checked on us the appropriate number of times & she timed it perfectly to also drop in as I was reacting to how great each dish was. I heard an older couple next to us discussing why they had not came to eat here previously over some of the more heavily traffic places they have been to in town while they were visiting and I share their sentiment. read more

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I liked how different this menu was, both the fried eggplant and crumpets were very good. Waffles were a large portion but not very crispy, though the fruit and cinnamon butter were good. Drinks were good though wish they had more hot options, their lattes seem to be cold option only. Service was friendly. Menus are nice but pretty beat up looking. I think it would be helpful if there are pictures on the menu that it look like the food item being served at the restaurant instead of random stock photos. Also sampled the some of the potatoes but they came out very hard. Cute space with a window looking out to the road, though with the cold Maine weather currently definitely some cold breezes coming through in the front of the house. read more

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We ordered the Eggs Panagura with kyufte and a breakfast Sammie with bacon. Food was flavorful. Though, for $4.50 for a side of fruits, they definitely could've given a bigger serving. There was like 4 pieces of bananas.. overall food was good. I wish the banana pudding matcha was sweeter though! Service was good, and it felt cozy inside. read more

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It was such an amazing experience! The food and drinks were excellently priced and served! Great staff & ambiance! read more

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Came here on a Sunday, we got seated fast (2 people), good service and the foods came out super quick. It was good food and made order because the meals were hot temperature wise and tasted fresh. read more

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Was seated for twenty minutes by the window and no one came over to give water or say hi, the table seated after us was able to get their order in before we had to ask for water at the front counter which the person there went "oh yeah I'll get you that." read more

A cute little breakfast/brunch spot. We saw the great yelp reviews and decided to stop in for breakfast, boy are we glad we did. Service is quick and with a smile, and the food is delicious. We started with the Mekitsi which are little fried crumpets with fresh fruit and honey. Everything we ordered was fantastic, but the Eggs Panagura was next level delicious. It's poached eggs sitting on a cloud of whipped feta. Yum. They have mimosa flights as well as several other house cocktails, beer and wine. read more

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Great spot! Friendly and very attentive. Had the nomolette! It was great and perfectly filling. Also had the best Bloody Mary ever! Definitely recommend! read more

Fantastic food, happy servers, labor of love. Side street delight, Not many 'sit downs' in Portland for breakfast, this one made the grade, air conditioned in summer. Try it. read more

Just a wonderful little hidden gem in Portland. I wanted to try something new for my birthday brunch and a couple of friends recommended Nom Cafe. It's a place that doesn't seem to be high-profile - they don't have a traditional website from what I could tell, and most folks I talk to don't even know they exist. But what they lack in presence they more than make up for in quality and overall vibe. One thing that is very clear as soon as you walk into Nom (once you manage to find it!) is that the decor is super Instagram-worthy. The light comes in just perfectly to bring a brightness to the whole front room. There is a big beautiful "Portland Loves You" mural on the wall. Servers are at ease and super friendly. It's a place that invites you in and says - sit down, have a bite, stay for a while. The thing that intrigued me about this place is the menu. There are items that I've never seen at brunch before - Shakshuka, Crumpets, homemade Bulgarian sausage. It's so unique and all of it is so good. Most entrees are served with warm crispy bread (sourdough, I think?) which is so perfect for cleaning plates and bowls alike. The crumpets are filled with goat cheese, so they have a bit of funk, but I thought they were perfect with the bit of honey drizzled on top. They have some fun mimosas and offer a flight, which is my favorite way of sampling drinks! Everything is so fresh and feels like it was made with love. I plan to return to try more on the menu and bask in the lovely vibe that is Nom Cafe. read more

One of the BEST brunches I've had. Their bloody Mary's were heavenly and the mushroom toast was out of this world - creamy, flavorful, salty, mushroomy. All the right things. Service was great - quick, helpful, kind. The vibe was bustling. Busy but quaint and very homely. The restaurant is beautifully decorated. read more

Nom Cafe - Bloody Mary - Modern European Near Me - Portland, Maine

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My boyfriend was born and raised in Bulgaria. We stopped by Nom Cafe for brunch on NY day and were very impressed by the food. The kifte and lutenitsa hit very close to home for him. Cheers to the owners! read more

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Quick service and the food was delicious. Enjoyed the mushroom scrambler. A hard to spot place but well worth finding it. read more

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It's a different kinda of place but in a good way. Were seated fast a great breakfast staff was super friendly would definitely go back

Great food, Bulgarian is not something I expected to find in Portland but it absolutely hits the spot. I probably need to come back tomorrow and mix it up somewhat, if I lived here I'd consider coming every week. Pretty fantastic! read more

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We were in town for Soccer. We found this place after finding a 1hr wait at our first choice. Happy we did. Cute little place. We were seated quickly, although we just beat the rush. I had the Shakshuka and daughter had waffles. Both were delicious. A little pricey for breakfast but worth it for a passerby looking for a good meal. read more

Nom Cafe - Waffles - Modern European Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Came here after morning run and wanted brunch. This was an accidental visit, but my belly was beyond happy! I had the kyufte and eggs, which is apparently a Bulgarian meatball and eggs. It was amazing along with my coffee. I was so glad and grateful to come here to satiate my hunger. read more

Nom Cafe - Modern European Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Delicioso! Service was good. Wish they refilled the coffee, but again it ain't your local diner. The Sheep cheese poach egg was so yummy and the sourdough bread was perfect. It can get loud and cold so be prepared. A cute little place next to the Portland stage. Limited parking on the streets. read more

We went on busy Saturday but they sat us fast. Quick service and interesting breakfast food. Very yummy but slightly expensive for breakfast. Good vegetarian options read more

Nom Cafe - Shakshuka - Modern European Near Me - Portland, Maine

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A very interesting spot in downtown Portland with a unique menu. My oldest was in town and wanted to take me out! We were able to get a table pretty quickly, Here is what we got: Two excellent cup of coffee-really nice coffee service here Kyufte and eggs-Great-a classic breakfast plate with eggs, sausage, bread, except with a surprising and tasty side salad We also ordered two selections from the "Smalls" Mekitsi-Crumpets with honey-excellent and tasty Parzhen-Really liked this one, crispy eggplant Overall, would definitely return! read more

Great atmosphere and authentic Thai food. Their breakfast sandwich is absolutely fabulous.

Fantastic food and service! Wish we had a brunch place this good in Western Mass! Friendly attentive staff, food served quickly and generous portions. Highly recommend. read more

I went to Nom Cafe located on 23 Forest Ave in Portland Maine this past weekend with my aunt and mom. This cute brunch spot features classic balkan and middle eastern dishes. For starters we had mekitsi which were crumpets filled with cheese and served with Maine honey. These were unlike anything I've ever had (I can only compare it to Brazilian cheese bread expect this had different cheese on the inside!) This was a must get dish 10/10. We also got the shopska which was a bulgarian salad with heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, feta and parsley. This was such a refreshing salad and if you love tomatoes you'd really be in heaven 8/10. For main dishes we got the signature shakshuka this is a tomato and red pepper stew topped with eggs. The eggs were very much combined with the tomato and came with a great array of bread 9/10. We also got the kyufte and eggs this is a classic bulgarian dish with bulgarian sausage, fried eggs and a side salad. The sausage on this plate was so delicious and one of my favorites here 9/10. Finally, we got the eggs panagura which had two poached eggs served over sheep feta spread. The sheep feta spread was insanely tasty and was a true delight to eat. This also came with some tasty bread on the side. I highly recommend this spot if you are not only looking to try something new for breakfast but also if just want something tasty to start your day. Food: 9/10 Affordability: 7/10 Ambiance: 8/10 read more

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The food was phenomenal. The waitress was so nice! We had a huge group and they were so accommodating. Very cute place. We loved it & will definitely be back! read more

Nom Cafe - Avocado toast with eggs - Modern European Near Me - Portland, Maine

Breakfast, the food was excellent and great service, highly recommend it! It was a nice cozy ambiance.

Staff was wonderful. Decor and dining area is quaint. Loved the mural! Food was delicious. Perfect spot for something unique and different for brunch. The drinks were delicious!!! read more

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I specifically came here for the mimosa flight and it didn't disappoint. I have included a picture and it is just as pretty as it is tasty. We came here on a Saturday and we got right in. The food wasn't my favorite type of food but the people I was with really enjoyed it. Great brunch spot! read more

Nom Cafe - Mimosa flight! - Modern European Near Me - Portland, Maine

We stopped in for a quick snack in the middle of a shopping trip. We stated up-front that we were going to want our food to go, and they were very accommodating. I only had the zucchini croquettes ... and am sad I didn't have time to try other menu items. These croquettes were AMAZING! I loved the variety of textures - between the "soft and chewy" interior and the crispy outside - as well of the tasty combination of ingredients. I don't know what spices they used, but they were perfection. read more

This place is so interesting. It has the dishes you expect for brunch, but with the most interesting twists. The sausage is delicious and is home made. They have these cheese stuffed biscuits that are amazing. You MUST get the hot chocolate! And the staff is SO nice. The owner is right there making sure that everyone is having a good time, and shows her pride in the food. It is small, but very comfortable. Give it a try for sure. read more

Perfect cozy brunch spot with stellar food. Waitstaff was warm and kind and eager to share their favorites with us. Ordered the special zucchini dieters, the salad, Shakshuka, and Eggs Panagura. All divine. Gonna be recreating that Panagura at home since we were just visiting and can't get it every weekend. They have some the ring for everyone--sweet, savory, a little adventurous, and not so adventurous. Although their avocado toast skin still sounds delish. Can't wait for our next visit! read more

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Nom was good - cute little spot with some interesting dishes and a cozy feel. The food was pretty good, though I wouldn't say "you HAVE to go here". It was a good option. The french toast was tasty and so was the sammie. They were a little stingy on the syrup, but they were happy to bring more. Drinks were excellent. The thai tea required a second serving since we all swooped in on my daughter's. Staff was pleasant and smiley. There were some unusual items on the menu and on the back it had a little key/dictionary, which was fun for the family. I asked the waiter how to pronounce one of the items and he lit up to help. read more

The food here is AMAZING. Wife had poached eggs over whipped feta. Daughter had breakfast sandwich with homemade sausage and I had waffles with homemade cinnamon butter and syrup. The best I have ever had. Got a side of home fries, hot and crispy. Most amazing service. I would give more than 5 if i could! If you are in Portland come to this restaurant!!!! read more

Delicious! I ordered the mushroom toast with two poached eggs. My husband ordered Loaded Veggies with kyufte. My daughter had the crumpets filled with feta cheese. All was delicious and the service was superb! read more

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Great place to go if vegetarian/vegan since they have a lot of tasty options! Highly recommend if you're in the Portland area.

I'm obsessed with Bulgarian food after taking a visit to this cute cafe. You know how you try to eat everything and then you feel super heavy afterwards? Not this place. I ate everything and left feeling light but full. Everything was packed with flavors and tasted so fresh. Our waiter gave us some great suggestions such as the eggplant appetizer and the shukshuka. Super tasty! I really enjoyed the eggplant with the spread - it was very crispy when you bit into it and then a pillow while you chewed! I can't wait to come back to try the rest of the menu! read more

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We stumbled into this after shopping at a vintage store nearby for brunch on a Saturday. Amazing food, good drinks, fun vibes. The service was really above and beyond, he was so kind and actually recommended where I could find the delicious feta on the salad. We will definitely come back. read more

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Best and most innovative brunch we've had in years. In addition to the entrees, the salads and special small plates looked so great that we got about four of them to share at our party at four. Literally every dish was perfection, including the bloody Mary's. Our kids who are usually less adventurous now can't wait to return. I love the ambiance and service as well. Home run for brunch. read more

Found this little gem while visiting Portland. Never had Bulgarian cuisine before. It did not disappoint. Great food and fast, friendly service. read more

One of the best breakfasts I've had in a long time. I got the eggs panagura with kyufte (traditional Bulgarian sausage) and it was delicious. The owner was so kind and genuine and the cafe is cozy and cute. You're seriously missing out if you don't make time for Nom Cafe while in Portland. Update: I came back again a few days later and got the shakshuka. Also incredible! read more

Nom Cafe - Eggs panagura with kyufte - Modern European Near Me - Portland, Maine

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