BLUF: This is a gluten free place, not vegan. They have great options for everyone, and a great…read morevibe with lots of parking. I parked behind Roots and realized it's a super cute place as I walked up. It shares the building with Green Tree Ministries. They might be one in the same? But they are definitely related. I walked in and saw all these books on shelves, and upon closer inspection, there was little cards in the shape of business cards that were for the taking. Each with a different Christian saying or a verse from the Bible. There was something for everyone. This wall of books goes between Roots Cafe and Green Tree Ministries... so I suspect. Well, I did grab a book ("Why Business Matters to God" by Jeff Van Duzer) and a iced Sugar Plum Latte (latte with a lovely purple blackberry vanilla foam). And I also got some chicken meatballs that were yummy and warm. The service was super nice. I thought the barista was so well hidden back there, though, I prefer when you can see the barista crafting beverages, I just find it neat. But that's okay, the ambiance of the place is warm. There is a huge meeting table, there is two different bar areas to sit, there's a couch corner, and tables. It's winter so I didn't see the outdoor seating, but I am sure it's neat. Food was good, coffee was great, service was kind, bathroom was super clean, parking was easy. I mean what's not to like? I LOVE that it's Christian. I felt so included and loved. I enjoyed the ambiance and the people around me. Some reading bibles and doing study, others just enjoying the good food. I also had a brownie that was quiet tasty.

I wanted to love this place as it's a Christian based cafe. I was very disappointed to find they…read moredon't have much of anything for vegans. I tried the avocado toast only to discover that it was covered in butter after I specifically told them I had an allergy. My daughter said that the crepe she had was okay. I found the coffee to be very blah. The DF milks don't blend well (don't have this issue anywhere else). The positives - the building is beautiful. Staff is very nice. I love all the books and stuff. There's a lot of potential but I will only be back to visit the book store sadly until they make some major improvements. They should take some notes from other bakeries like Wild Oats in Brunswick!!

For a location of Speckled Ax (one of the three they have) that is more barebones, it's a good…read morespot. Especially great if you want to just grab some of their coffee beans or get a morning coffee/drink. Perfect for your fix without having to go into downtown. Small amount of parking but they do have a few spots. As other reviews have mentioned the inside is very small with space for one worker behind the counter and at most maybe 4 customers to fit. No inside seats but some tables nearby the parking if weather is nice enough. They have a large majority of drinks you'd expect a coffee spot to have along with a special available most likely. The current special was "Hey Bay Latte" which was a bay leaf, orange zest, and brown sugar. I thought it had a great combination of flavor and was well made. My wife got an iced mocha latte and enjoyed it. It did not become her new favorite but thought it was a solid version. If you are looking for a bite to eat, check out another Speckled Ax location Despite the small space it is well utilized and they have enough decorations and wall art to give it some vibes. Some great artwork on the building's walls outside as well. Great coffee roaster worth supporting!

I had a little bit of difficulty actually finding the shop - because it's so small! But I'm really…read moreglad I did. The shop is so small, there's barely enough room to breathe inside. Seems like only one employee can fit behind the counter. So charming! I got the Passamaquoddy blueberry latte which was a special at the time. I was definitely skeptical. I'm not really a fruit + coffee kinda guy. But when in Maine? It was ridiculously good. Like knock your socks off good. In fact my mouth is watering writing about it, & I drank it over a month ago. Ahhhhhh! I wish I could go back right now for this latte. Let those baristas work some magic for you & try whatever creative special they got going on, even if it's out of your comfort zone. You may just fall in coffee luv.

Good place for breakfast, although their beverages can improve. We went for a Blueberry Stuffed…read moreFrench Toast, a Little Bird (focaccia sandwich), a drip coffee and a latte. French Toast and Little Bird were great. Definitely to be tried. For drip coffee, you can pick from one of the four and I went for a dark roast which tasted okay. The Latte was quite milky with hardly any taste of coffee. Service was good. For beverages, they call out your name while food gets served at the table. There is limited seating space inside and we barely were able to find a space for ourselves. There are some parking spots outside but can fill up quickly as there is also a Driving Range behind the cafe. Overall, good food but try something else for beverages.

Looking for a new to us breakfast spot and Honeycomb Cafe has been on my list to check out for some…read moretime. Today was finally the day we decided to check it off. It did not disappoint at all and deserves all the hype/love it gets from the reviews. Tucked away in an area that is mostly industrial/business headquarters area. You will easily spot it though from the beautifully done artwork on the wall. It is a small building so hopefully you can time it well to avoid huge rush/crowds. They had roughly 7-8 tables with some 2-person and some 4-person tables if you are looking to enjoy your food here. All of the staff we interacted with were very friendly and welcoming. They had so many tempting sounding breakfast sandwiches it was difficult to pick. I ended up going with their breakfast burrito and my wife got the Pine Point. Both were phenomenal and would be no brainers to order again, but with so many choices we would likely choose other new ones. My wife loved the bread used and the corned beef were perfectly made! The breakfast burrito was packed full with zero complaints. Drink wise we each got an iced latte, my wife got the mocha and I got the honeycomb latte. Both were very solid with a good amount of flavor to them. Lastly before leaving we each picked out a donut to have when we got home, a blueberry and a Maine maple. Definitely a spot we look forward to returning to in the future. Add this to your places to check out as a local or tourist!

Definitely a standout breakfast sandwich! Tried out Tandem while visiting Portland at the…read morerecommendation of a friend. We tried out the egg and cheese biscuit, the savory loaded biscuit, and two flavored lattes (one brown sugar cinnamon and the other maple). Loved both of the biscuits but had a slight preference for the egg and cheese one. Both biscuits were soft and buttery yet crisp with the best salt on top. We got there right at opening on a weekday and there was already a long line to enter, but the staff moves everyone through quickly. It is worth noting that indoor seating is very limited and there is more outdoor seating. We decided to purchase some of their coffee beans as a gift. Tandem is very popular for good reason and well worth visiting, whether as a tourist or as a local.

Met with a Saturday Morning Line around 9:30 AM - but would I wait again? In a heartbeat!…read more I opted for the savory biscuit with goat cheese and bacon jam - (give me 12 of 'em). I also got a cappuccino that was so dreamy. I dined "in" but sat at the picnic tables outside and it was so lovely. There's limited seating inside (couple bar seats + a solid set of tables). side note: Parking was not fun to find.

What a beautiful spot - I loved the coffees that we have gotten from Shaghf…read more I will add that the parking situation is tricky. I recommend trying for the adjacent street parking, first. If street parking on Forest Avenue is not available and the weather isn't adverse, there is plenty of parking available in the adjacent neighborhoods.

Shaghf Cafe is a really unique addition to Portland and feels very different from most coffee shops…read morearound here. It comes straight from Dubai, and that influence is obvious in both the menu and the overall vibe. This is a great spot for a lot of different moments. Morning coffee, an afternoon pick-me-up, getting a little work done, an after-dinner treat, or even a late-night hang with sober friends sipping tea or coffee. They're usually open around 8-10 most days and stay open until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, but definitely double-check Google for current hours. The space itself is beautiful. I wouldn't call it cozy, it's more high-end and sleek, almost like a really well-lit lounge or nightclub, just without loud music or chaos. The lighting and decor are very intentional and make it a fun place to sit and hang out. They have some really eye-catching desserts and treats. I tried the strawberry Dubai chocolate cup and it was excellent. Honestly the second best one I've had, with Nuts Factory in Boston still holding my number one spot. Also, if you're looking for those viral fruit-shaped ice creams, this is a good place to check out. Service was a little slow when I went. There were two young men working and it seemed like one of them was still learning the equipment and drink-making process. That said, they were both very polite and kind, and I'm happy to give grace when people are learning. I definitely need to go back for a crepe and a latte. Overall, a really cool, stylish spot and one I'm glad Portland has.

This place is tiny, so be prepared. The service is takeout, though there is a limited seating area…read morewith tiny tables and chairs. The food, however is huge! Biscuits as large as my hand, fresh soft bagels, fresh ingredients layered together so nothing falls out, and lots of them. No way they use only one egg. The Bennie's brought me back to Le Monde!

I was honestly disappointed from start to finish…read more The service was poor, to say the least. Seemed extremely unmotivated -- like they were bothered that I stopped by. The coffee I latte that I earned was so ripping hot that the milk was burnt and it was undrinkable. The Spicy Goat "breakfast sandwich" was a HUGE omelet-style egg folded up with no seasoning, a modest amount of goat cheese spread and some chopped pickled jalapeños? It was also hardly edible.

Stopped in to see what this place was about and it was so cute. I didn't realize there was sit in…read morespace and a menu for a meal. But I did grab a fantastic cappuccino. It was made with perfect foam and the coffee was so good. I loved it. I will be back to try the menu. Service was very friendly too. I caught them when they opened and they were so sweet

I've been aware of Rooted Heart since a little before they opened, but had yet to visit. Buxton…read moreisn't an area we typically find ourselves near but after a Maine Maple Sunday adventure we did find ourselves close and knew we needed to swing by. Best choice of the day by far and we have discovered a new favorite spot. By the name you can tell they are a cafe but are also an apothecary will be our definite go to for tea blends now. Plenty of parking available which is great and you will first notice it has rustic vibes from the outside. Inside is a little less rustic but still has the perfect feel/vibes. Cozy and inviting with lots of art on the walls. They have a number of bar stools, a few tables then a couple comfy couches to enjoy your food/drinks. Even with the snowy weather they were busy but we snagged a spot on one of the couches. I got their normal latte and my wife got their Maple Weekend special Spiced Maple Latte. Both were phenomenal and they use Milkweed Coffee Roasters. Which they are a spot that uses and supports local and makes a lot of their own things as well. Food wise we each got one of their sausage egg and cheese sandwiches on an English muffin. Again even the sausage was locally made and you could tell the English muffin was freshly made. We got them with goat cheese and pesto and they were the perfect breakfast sandwich, so much flavor! These would be absolute must try and in combination with their drinks are worth visiting for! I can't wait to return and get another sandwich and/or try even more food! Such a unique and welcoming cafe that also offers all your apothecary needs!

The selection was perfect. Breads for every taste. Pastries that just are none like any other…read more The behind the counter staff was very nice. Answering all my questions. The location is at the front of the bakery. The coffee was a delight, I had a cortado. The treats were all amazing. I would definitely stop in. I will be going again when I'm back I Portland. The bakery you can see from the store and it's big, bright, and lovely. They mill their own flour as well.

The staff were friendlier to people who seemed like regulars. I asked some questions about breads…read moreand lattes and baked goods, and it didn't seem like they had as much patience or good humor with me. Other folks had warm conversations, I received a sense of urgency to be moved along. It's great to see this be such a community loved space! (But I didn't personally feel that.) VEGANS: 1. There are *no* baked goods, pastries, or sweet treats for you here (except for the bagged granola). Segue... 2. The breads ARE vegan-friendly! The grains they use are sustainably and locally grown too. Try the Country (a really solid, big, circular levain with a crusty exterior and soft interior) or the Bird (a smaller loaf with a bunch of seeds: sesame, caraway, sunflower, flax, pumpkin, etc). 3. There's oat milk for an upcharge regardless if that's for a latte or a tiny splash for your cold brew. To be honest, I didn't like the latte I tried: it tasted like I had a mouthful of dry, gritty spices. We're so fortunate in Greater Portland to have so many amazing bakeries. This might be your favorite, so for sure give them a visit.

The newest açaí bowl option to open in Westbrook. Located across from Rock Row in the Kohls plaza…read moreright next door to Chipotle. Oola bowls is a chain brand that originated in Pennsylvania with this being the first location in Maine. Despite that, technically their second is already in works and should be opening soon at Monument Square in Portland as well. My wife and I were excited to give it a try as they had finally opened about a week ago. They offer online ordering so you can have your drinks and bowls ready for pickup when you arrive. That's what we did and had zero complaints and even substitutions or any allergies needed to be mentioned is super simple. Loved how easy it was for customization so you can get exactly what you want. We walked into the store and both workers were extremely friendly and welcoming and along with that service both our bowls and the bag had notes from the workers too. While simple little messages to us they were that added little touch that makes customer service great. They do have some tables inside if you want to enjoy your food or drink inside and even looked like they had some games available to play while waiting or enjoying too. Firstly, drink wise my wife got the strawberry matcha lemonade which was great and had a great balance of matcha and lemonade. I had their blueberry ice tea and it was phenomenal as well, would get it again often! Bowl wise we each got a different açaí based bowl. You can see the size difference of their small and large in my photos. We loved our bowls and even would go as far as saying we prefer this spot over another closely located chain bowl spot. All of the ingredients used tasted fresh and were delicious, the granola used was so good and one of my favorite parts was the peanut butter they used. Both food and drink wise we were very impressed and happy with. Check this spot out!

From the owner: Oola Bowls offers the highest quality Acai bowls in the greater Portland area. We offer bowls for…read moreeveryone's pallet whether it be a an Oola Bowl exclusive or something you build yourself. We have smoothies, protein enriched beverages, fresh fruit cups, Oola Bites (little morsels of goodness) parfaits and much more. If you're looking for something that's fulfilling, good for you and wholesome pop on in and give us a try, we can assure that you won't be disappointed.