The Bayou Kitchen
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Stopped in for breakfast on a whim. Parking was wacky, going up some random residential street. But hey... sat down, friendly staff, no AC (Why a point was docked). I got spicy eggs with grits, sausage, and biscuit. My wife got eggs with potatoes (OMG the potatoes). Coffee was great. Everything was great. Local hot sauce is A+
We haven't been here in awhile - since not working in Portland we find some of our old regular faves are now more occasionally faves. Bayou continues to amaze with friendly service, and innovative dishes. Wayne had a caterpillar - which is his favorite homemade hash, eggs, cheese in an omelette; served with cornbread and the best home fries! I opted for a special - french toast stuffed with homemade lemon curd & wild blueberry compote. I almost licked the plate! We really like watching the team in action - that makes it extra awesome.
Warning: show up hungry! The portions are generous at Bayou Kitchen, and there's a LOT to choose from. My friends and I went for brunch and of course started with spicy Bloody Marys and coffee--not sure what coffee they're serving but it's really good and rich and strong. There are breakfast and brunch standbys like omelettes and pancakes and huevos rancheros, all of which looked great and often feature Cajun twists, and given that I spent several years living in New Orleans and the Deep South, there was no way I was going to pass up the bayou-oriented options. I'm so glad I got the gumbo: it has allllll the good stuff in it, including okra (a must!) and chicken and andouille sausage; you can add crawfish for an extra $5 and I highly recommend doing that. What's great is that there are two size options: a bowl and a cup, and believe me, the cup was good-sized! It comes with cornbread, and I recommend the "upgrade" to the cheddar-jalapeno version: sooooo good. Because I got the small (LOL) size I added sides of bacon (crispy and good) and grits (solid but nothing amazing; very good once dolloped with butter and hot sauce). You can order other sides and fixins' as well (e.g., more sausage). The spice level of the gumbo was perfect (it should be savory but not really spicy), and this means you can explore the various hot sauces they have on hand--an entire wall shelf! Inside I quite honestly felt like I was back in the South: everything a little bit jumbled together, happily chaotic, and good humored. What's not to love about that? Bayou doesn't take reservations and I imagine there can be a wait; we were lucky and snagged a window table right away. For parking there's no lot and not much on the street right outside, but you should be able to find something on one of the side streets (just don't park in the lots of the other businesses in the neighborhood).
The bayou kitchen is something of an enigma in Portland. In the same way that The Great Lost Bear offers something you aren't going to find anywhere else in New England... The Bayou Kitchen offers something you definitely won't find many places outside of an actual bayou. The dining area doesn't offer too much space, it's loud and the wait area is outside... I'd say that's where the negatives about this place end and where the positives start. It's a beautifully simple dining experience -- refillable coffee, cold water in a plastic cup (think cafeteria style), condiments waiting for you on the table, and GOOD food.
I love corned beef hash ... I get it whenever I can ... and 95% of the time it's from a can like I have at home ... so when a place I can walk to while on vacation makes there own, I'm gonna go get me some! Ordered it with 2 eggs cooked over medium ... with grits and blueberry cornbread. I wasn't thrilled ... it was dry and had little flavor and no sign of potatoes or onions. The grits were instant, which is fine ... but cold and flavorless ... I had to add 2 pads of butter and salt and pepper. The cornbread tasted great, but again ... dry and I had to add 2 pads of butter. My coffee was great though! My wife got 2 pancakes - coffee and chocolate chip. She added some fresh strawberry to each ... total was $8.95 each. They were tasty, very large and very dense. Neither of us had room or were inspired enough to finish our meal. The servers were nice enough and the cooks (chefs?) constant chatter about the orders, and singing along to the music was very entertaining. However it was an out 85 degrees in there ... a good 20 degrees warmer than the cool breeze outside ... never wanted patio seating more in my life
Unique and quirky in the best ways. They have a hot sauce wall :) I was looking for a nourishing breakfast and got just that. Scramble with andouille sausage, tomatoes, onions, and roasted red peppers with beans and rice on the side. Phenomenal service. A small space but cozy and you're right up there with the chef who is such a sweet gentleman. I'd definitely come back here and am wanting to try their Cajun lunch items.
I was here once years ago and tried crawfish and loved it. Yesterday I went out for my birthday and came back here - got the cajun scramble (crawfish, jalapeno, andouille) with the beans and rice - and loved it all over again. The service was wonderful and the food was delicious. Parking is a little scarce, though. Very happy about my breakfast choice - and it was so filling I skipped lunch.
Amazing food! Fun atmosphere! Open kitchen. Staff is fun and efficient. My partner and I had breakfast yesterday. We recommend everyone to visit this place!
I have been coming here for years and this is definitely my go to place for breakfast in Portland. They have doubled the size of the dining room since they opened but, other than that, not much has changed. It was outstanding back then and it's still outstanding today. Always friendly staff, the kitchen is in full view of the dining area and if you have to wait for a seat, (common on a weekend morning) do it. You won't be disappointed. I have never had a bad meal here. Today I ordered off the specials board, an omelet with polish sausage, provolone cheese, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions with a side of home fries and toast. I am stuffed and it was delicious
Great staff - welcoming with warm smiles and a sincere hello. They seemed very appreciative of every customer walking through their door. Breakfast was good. Creative names and nice combinations. I was expecting a bit more heat with the reference to cajun. it was fine and probably good for the masses that want something different but not overpowering. Luckily they had locally made Lost Wood Sauce to add to my "smokin caterpillar" omelette. Everything tasted fresh and homemade. Neatly plated, which is very pleasing. The omelette, had a nice balance of cheese and corned beef hash and was evenly distributed in the egg. The flavors were fine- very mild seasonings, not salty at all, which is always my worry with corned beef hash. The home fries were supposed to have a kick with the cajun seasoning, but again, very mild, more of a hint of seasoning. The biscuit was fine, very crumbly. Parking can be a challenge on a busy day. It's parallel street parking within the neighborhood. If I was in the area and looking for breakfast I would try it again.
Nah... if I don't have anything excellent to say, well then, I probably shouldn't say it, so I will say this as excellently as I can. Small businesses are the lifeblood of some people's homes, and I feel that a business like this has the potential to be the lifeblood of someone's community, however I just don't quite see the Bayou Kitchen delivering on that promise just yet (or maybe I missed it). Louisiana cooking is one of the highest commitments to southern hospitality cooking standards that there is. that there is. Dare I say, that it is the standard of Southern Hospitality cooking. It can't just be stylized without following through on authenticity. I feel like this place may have a genuine love for Louisiana or Louisiana-styled cooking, but it lacks the understanding of quality care and authenticity in the cooking that one would normally find in a Louisiana kitchen. It's wanting. I think that this establishment could do better...much better, and I would like to see it do much better upon my next visit to it. Sorry, Bayou Kitchen. It just doesn't hit the mark for me... But hey, what do I know? Bright spot: the server was excellent and maintained a positive attitude throughout my entire dining experience, thank you.
Sometimes you want a diner breakfast and sometimes you want great Cajun food...this place has both. Always hits
One of the most delicious breakfast in Portland Maine and great portions! The jalapeño cornbread is to die for and the service is cheerful. If you are looking for nice meal and chill environment this is rhe please.
2 months ago
Delicious, no frills breakfast/lunch spot. Great atmosphere, super relaxed and friendly energy. I went on a Friday morning and was seated immediately (party of two). Service was fast and prices are great. The pancakes are amazing and you can customize from a list of available mix-ins. They give you the choice of real maple syrup or the sticky fake stuff--no judgement here though. read more
I feel like this is a spot you always know you'll have a good meal and great for either breakfast or lunch. Lots of options and great if people in your party want mix of breakfast and lunch type offerings. They have yummy sides including potatoes or my fave the grits and add cheese. Red beans and rice may be an option as well. For your bread option you can also choose cornbread. Obviously not a lot of Cajun/New Orleans type food in Maine so this is always a nice chsnge. The jambalaya and gumbo are great. There are crawfish options as well. I dont think they have po boys, beignets or oysters though. Blackboard specials are usually great as well. I almost always get one. Usually there's an egg type dish, sweet pancake type option snd sandwich/burger option. No Crystal hot sauce but lots of yummy Maine hot sauces, which are great on the cornbread. Street parking is all around and there is a pay lot behind the restaurant. Big Sky Bread is across the street. We like to walk over after to pick up a yummy treat or breakfast goodies for the next day. read more
New Orleans-style food in Portland?! You bet. The Bayou Kitchen is a slice of the South, right here in Maine. I won't lie, I was a bit skeptical at first, but after a handful of visits, I can confidently say I'm a fan. This no-frills, diner-style restaurant fills my soul -- and my belly -- in all the best ways. The portions are huge (we actually had to take some home once, and we're not usually those people), the Bloody Marys are strong, and the coffee seems to be endless. The service is always great too, in a way that genuinely reminds me of the South -- and I mean that as a compliment. I've had their (humongous) omelets, homemade cornbread (so good), andouille sausage, grits, jambalaya... basically half the menu by now. The portions, as mentioned, are generous, but I think the prices reflect that (most dishes range from $16-$20 before any add-ons; ie replacing sides). The flavors are usually on point, and everything is pretty delicious, though I've had a few semi-misses -- the grits and jambalaya were a little bland on one occasion. Nothing a little hot sauce couldn't fix, and thankfully, they've got plenty of that! As others have mentioned, they don't take reservations and it can get packed on weekends, but it's worth the wait. From the moment you walk in, you're transported to a place like no other in Maine -- and that, plus the food, will keep us coming back. read more
Stopped in for breakfast on a whim. Parking was wacky, going up some random residential street. But hey... sat down, friendly staff, no AC (Why a point was docked). I got spicy eggs with grits, sausage, and biscuit. My wife got eggs with potatoes (OMG the potatoes). Coffee was great. Everything was great. Local hot sauce is A+ read more
We haven't been here in awhile - since not working in Portland we find some of our old regular faves are now more occasionally faves. Bayou continues to amaze with friendly service, and innovative dishes. Wayne had a caterpillar - which is his favorite homemade hash, eggs, cheese in an omelette; served with cornbread and the best home fries! I opted for a special - french toast stuffed with homemade lemon curd & wild blueberry compote. I almost licked the plate! We really like watching the team in action - that makes it extra awesome. read more
Warning: show up hungry! The portions are generous at Bayou Kitchen, and there's a LOT to choose from. My friends and I went for brunch and of course started with spicy Bloody Marys and coffee--not sure what coffee they're serving but it's really good and rich and strong. There are breakfast and brunch standbys like omelettes and pancakes and huevos rancheros, all of which looked great and often feature Cajun twists, and given that I spent several years living in New Orleans and the Deep South, there was no way I was going to pass up the bayou-oriented options. I'm so glad I got the gumbo: it has allllll the good stuff in it, including okra (a must!) and chicken and andouille sausage; you can add crawfish for an extra $5 and I highly recommend doing that. What's great is that there are two size options: a bowl and a cup, and believe me, the cup was good-sized! It comes with cornbread, and I recommend the "upgrade" to the cheddar-jalapeno version: sooooo good. Because I got the small (LOL) size I added sides of bacon (crispy and good) and grits (solid but nothing amazing; very good once dolloped with butter and hot sauce). You can order other sides and fixins' as well (e.g., more sausage). The spice level of the gumbo was perfect (it should be savory but not really spicy), and this means you can explore the various hot sauces they have on hand--an entire wall shelf! Inside I quite honestly felt like I was back in the South: everything a little bit jumbled together, happily chaotic, and good humored. What's not to love about that? Bayou doesn't take reservations and I imagine there can be a wait; we were lucky and snagged a window table right away. For parking there's no lot and not much on the street right outside, but you should be able to find something on one of the side streets (just don't park in the lots of the other businesses in the neighborhood). read more
The bayou kitchen is something of an enigma in Portland. In the same way that The Great Lost Bear offers something you aren't going to find anywhere else in New England... The Bayou Kitchen offers something you definitely won't find many places outside of an actual bayou. The dining area doesn't offer too much space, it's loud and the wait area is outside... I'd say that's where the negatives about this place end and where the positives start. It's a beautifully simple dining experience -- refillable coffee, cold water in a plastic cup (think cafeteria style), condiments waiting for you on the table, and GOOD food. read more
5 months ago
6 months ago
I love corned beef hash ... I get it whenever I can ... and 95% of the time it's from a can like I have at home ... so when a place I can walk to while on vacation makes there own, I'm gonna go get me some! Ordered it with 2 eggs cooked over medium ... with grits and blueberry cornbread. I wasn't thrilled ... it was dry and had little flavor and no sign of potatoes or onions. The grits were instant, which is fine ... but cold and flavorless ... I had to add 2 pads of butter and salt and pepper. The cornbread tasted great, but again ... dry and I had to add 2 pads of butter. My coffee was great though! My wife got 2 pancakes - coffee and chocolate chip. She added some fresh strawberry to each ... total was $8.95 each. They were tasty, very large and very dense. Neither of us had room or were inspired enough to finish our meal. The servers were nice enough and the cooks (chefs?) constant chatter about the orders, and singing along to the music was very entertaining. However it was an out 85 degrees in there ... a good 20 degrees warmer than the cool breeze outside ... never wanted patio seating more in my life read more
Unique and quirky in the best ways. They have a hot sauce wall :) I was looking for a nourishing breakfast and got just that. Scramble with andouille sausage, tomatoes, onions, and roasted red peppers with beans and rice on the side. Phenomenal service. A small space but cozy and you're right up there with the chef who is such a sweet gentleman. I'd definitely come back here and am wanting to try their Cajun lunch items. read more
I was here once years ago and tried crawfish and loved it. Yesterday I went out for my birthday and came back here - got the cajun scramble (crawfish, jalapeno, andouille) with the beans and rice - and loved it all over again. The service was wonderful and the food was delicious. Parking is a little scarce, though. Very happy about my breakfast choice - and it was so filling I skipped lunch. read more
2 years ago
Amazing food! Fun atmosphere! Open kitchen. Staff is fun and efficient. My partner and I had breakfast yesterday. We recommend everyone to visit this place! read more
I have been coming here for years and this is definitely my go to place for breakfast in Portland. They have doubled the size of the dining room since they opened but, other than that, not much has changed. It was outstanding back then and it's still outstanding today. Always friendly staff, the kitchen is in full view of the dining area and if you have to wait for a seat, (common on a weekend morning) do it. You won't be disappointed. I have never had a bad meal here. Today I ordered off the specials board, an omelet with polish sausage, provolone cheese, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions with a side of home fries and toast. I am stuffed and it was delicious read more
Great staff - welcoming with warm smiles and a sincere hello. They seemed very appreciative of every customer walking through their door. Breakfast was good. Creative names and nice combinations. I was expecting a bit more heat with the reference to cajun. it was fine and probably good for the masses that want something different but not overpowering. Luckily they had locally made Lost Wood Sauce to add to my "smokin caterpillar" omelette. Everything tasted fresh and homemade. Neatly plated, which is very pleasing. The omelette, had a nice balance of cheese and corned beef hash and was evenly distributed in the egg. The flavors were fine- very mild seasonings, not salty at all, which is always my worry with corned beef hash. The home fries were supposed to have a kick with the cajun seasoning, but again, very mild, more of a hint of seasoning. The biscuit was fine, very crumbly. Parking can be a challenge on a busy day. It's parallel street parking within the neighborhood. If I was in the area and looking for breakfast I would try it again. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Nah... if I don't have anything excellent to say, well then, I probably shouldn't say it, so I will say this as excellently as I can. Small businesses are the lifeblood of some people's homes, and I feel that a business like this has the potential to be the lifeblood of someone's community, however I just don't quite see the Bayou Kitchen delivering on that promise just yet (or maybe I missed it). Louisiana cooking is one of the highest commitments to southern hospitality cooking standards that there is. that there is. Dare I say, that it is the standard of Southern Hospitality cooking. It can't just be stylized without following through on authenticity. I feel like this place may have a genuine love for Louisiana or Louisiana-styled cooking, but it lacks the understanding of quality care and authenticity in the cooking that one would normally find in a Louisiana kitchen. It's wanting. I think that this establishment could do better...much better, and I would like to see it do much better upon my next visit to it. Sorry, Bayou Kitchen. It just doesn't hit the mark for me... But hey, what do I know? Bright spot: the server was excellent and maintained a positive attitude throughout my entire dining experience, thank you. read more
2 years ago
Sometimes you want a diner breakfast and sometimes you want great Cajun food...this place has both. Always hits read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
One of the most delicious breakfast in Portland Maine and great portions! The jalapeño cornbread is to die for and the service is cheerful. If you are looking for nice meal and chill environment this is rhe please. read more
1 year ago
10 stars! Had a Cajun sausage gravy biscuit egg special that is honestly one of the best things I've ever eaten in the us for breakfast. It was fantastic. Cornbread is good too. Wish I could've tried more things. I also wish they'd open up a beach in Los Angeles! read more
5 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
Popped in on our last day of vacay in New England. Gumbo with grilled jalapeño cornbread was bomb! We made our own meaty omelette with grits 'n biscuit. Wish BK was in our neighborhood ~ Loved every bite! Service was friendly & good vibe overall! read more
My husband and I had breakfast here after church on Sunday! Patrick was our waiter he was so kind, funny, and so personable! I almost felt like I was back home with my family in the South. And also, my dining experience really reminded me of my travels in New Orleans! The staff is so kind and really energetic! The food was delightful and filled with flavor! The grits reminded me of the grits my Grandpa and Grandma would cook for me with cheese! The potatoes and the bacon are out of this world good! Red beans and rice? Savory! All the different hot sauces they have is really neat! The two we tried have a sweet and spicy taste to them. Really good stuff! Go try this place out! Oh yeah and great work on following covid rules! I even heard them tell someone "put your mask on"! Great service, great food, friendly people, and overall just such a great place! read more
6 years ago
Was visiting Portland for a day and came to Bayou Kitchen for breakfast with my friend and we both loved it! The service went above and beyond. We were greeted and seated immediately and I was recommended the jasmine green tea by the waitress, which I ordered and absolutely loved. They have a surprisingly long tea list which I recommend asking for! My friend and I both ordered the huevos rancheros which was delicious, and we shared banana chocolate chip pancakes. The pancakes were phenomenal! So big and so fluffy. Overall this place was a 10/10, very bright and cozy interior and the staff were so inviting. read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
I'm not gonna lie.. I was hangry when I walked in. Everything felt like to took forever. I told the waitress we were ready to order.. she mumbled something about a line and left. After she got done with another customer she came back over and explained that there is a line to order (everyone was sitting at tables) I looked at the line cooks and there were only 2 tickets up however way more tables that need to order. It took me a bit to realize the cooks allow a certain number of tickets to maintain order. Everyone's order gets their FULL attention and made with ALL of the love. Besides the attention to detail with the Cooking... let's talk flavor!! YES YES YES!! It's spicy, flavorful and Authentic. This. Is. The. Place. If you want your snacks done right and drenched in love, flavor and sass come eat here. You won't be disappointed. read more
5 years ago
7 years ago
Unique menu with daily specials and something for every breakfast/lunch lover. The restaurant is SMALL, with the front door opening directly into the bar/seating area/kitchen (you can see them frying up pancakes from the front door). Still, they're efficient with the service and even when told there would be a 30min wait, we were in our seats in less than 20mins. We had the blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup and the #2 special of the day: sausage and cheese scramble with beans and rice and biscuit. The pancakes were delicious thick, cakey perfection. The scramble, which I topped with some of the pleasantly spicy hot sauce that was on the table (a zillion more hot sauce bottle choices all over the restaurant), went perfectly with the buttery biscuit that literally crumbled at the slightest touch. Low key place with big flavor. Staff was perky, attentive and helpful. We'll definitely be back! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
6 years ago
My best friends and I took a road trip to Maine and stopped into the Bayou kitchen on our last day headed home. This was one of the best decisions we have made this week. Not only was the place filled with Louisiana culture which is very cool, alligators on the walls, and breathtaking artwork by an employee Dan. Pat greeted us like family and everyone was just hands down nice and welcoming. On top of that, amazing food. I suggest the corn bread. Thank you for letting us be a part of the Bayou family for even an hour The Boys read more
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More info about The Bayou Kitchen
543 Deering Ave
Portland, ME 04103
Back Cove
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(207) 774-4935
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http://www.thebayoukitchenmaine.com
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Ask the Community - The Bayou Kitchen
Do they have any safe-prep Gluten Free options?
It is my understanding of Gluten-free that the items must be prepared in a "Gluten Free Kitchen" The food here is great but I don't see how it can be considered Gluten-Free
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