Forage Market is a brunch spot in East Bayside, Portland.
Forage Market on Washington Avenue runs Montreal-style wood-fired bagels and sourdough breads with bagel sandwiches, salads and soups in East Bayside.
Must order: Wood-fired bagel sandwich with house cream cheese and lox.
Tip: Closes 13:00; bagels often sell out by noon weekends. Counter ordering, no seating in the small storefront.
Address: 123 Washington Avenue, Portland, ME 04101
Bayside Bowl on Alder Street runs weekend brunch from the kitchen of the downstairs bowling alley, with a rooftop bar that opens at noon through summer.
Order: Breakfast sandwich on Standard Baking biscuit; the bloody mary bar.
Tip: Rooftop bar opens at noon in summer; weekend brunch tables are walk-in only without reservations.
The Holy Donut on Commercial Street pulls a weekend morning queue for Leigh Kellis's Maine potato donuts in rotating seasonal flavours, like wild blueberry.
Order: Wild Maine blueberry potato donut and a flat white.
Tip: Sells out by mid-afternoon. The Park Avenue site has same product, often shorter lines.
Bayside Bowl on Alder Street runs weekend brunch from the kitchen of the downstairs bowling alley, with a rooftop bar that opens at noon through summer.
Order: Breakfast sandwich on Standard Baking biscuit; the bloody mary bar.
Tip: Rooftop bar opens at noon in summer; weekend brunch tables are walk-in only without reservations.
Fork + Spoon on Pleasant Street runs a small West End brunch kitchen with house focaccia, breakfast sandwiches, scratch-baked pastries and pour-over coffee.
Order: Egg sandwich on house focaccia; cinnamon roll.
Tip: Closed Mondays. The cinnamon roll case sells through by mid-morning.
Becky's Diner on Commercial Street has run on the working waterfront since 1991, opening at 05:00 for the fishing crews and the breakfast queue behind them.
Order: Short stack with bacon and a cup of clam chowder.
Tip: Cash and card both fine. Queues longest 09:00 to 11:00 weekends; early arrivals get the counter seats.
Tandem Coffee + Bakery on Congress Street is the West End brunch shop, opened 2014 by Will and Kathleen Pratt, with biscuit sandwiches and house pour-overs.
Order: Buttermilk biscuit sandwich with bacon, fried egg and sharp cheddar.
Tip: Online ordering 07:45 to 10:15 for collection skips the line. Closes 13:00 sharp.
The Front Room at the top of Munjoy Hill, since 2006 from Chef Harding Lee Smith, is the flagship brunch room with a full bar and Congress Street windows.
Order: Eggs benedict with house hollandaise; a side of cinnamon swirl French toast.
Tip: Weekend brunch fills 09:30 onward; OpenTable for the dining room.
