Portland: Old Port Seafood Lovers Tour
Savor a Maine seafood luncheon and learn about Portland’s iconic working waterfront with a knowledgeable local guide.
Soft white roll filled with ham, salami, American cheese, sliced onions, tomato, green olives, sour pickles, sweet peppers, oil, salt and pepper.
Giovanni Amato, a Sicilian immigrant baker, sold the first Italian sandwich at his Italian Sandwich Shop on India Street in 1902 to Portland dock workers who needed lunch they could carry. Amato sold them for a nickel. The soft white roll was based on Sicilian-style rolls; the seven fillings stayed standard. The Maine Italian became the regional sandwich of Portland and southern Maine, distinct from any other US Italian-American sandwich. Amato's still operates the original 1902 storefront on India Street; the Maine Italian routinely appears as Maine's signature lunch on national lists.
2 editor picks for Maine Italian sandwich in Portland, ranked by editorial score. All Portland signature dishes · Maine Italian sandwich across every city.
Rosemont Market Munjoy Hill ★ 4.6
munjoy-hill · 88 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
Rosemont Market on Congress Street Munjoy Hill, founded 2005 by John Naylor and Scott Anderson, is the Portland farm-and-cheese grocery cluster.
Amato's Original Italian Sandwich ★ 4.0
india-street · 71 India Street, Portland, ME 04101
Amato's on India Street, since 1902 from Giovanni Amato, is the original Maine Italian sandwich shop: ham, cheese, olives, onions and tomatoes on a soft roll.
Learn to cook it, or eat it with a guide
Maine Italian sandwich makes more sense with someone from Portland explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
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Portland, Maine: Coastal Windjammer Sailing Cruise
Glide through the pristine waters of Casco Bay on Bagheera, Wendameen, or Timberwind sailing ships, and experience Maine's historic craftsmanship on this sailing boat ...
Portland: Fish Auction Tour & Cultural Seafood Tasting
Discover Maine’s working waterfront on a guided seafood tour. Learn about aquaculture, sustainability, and the local seafood economy, and enjoy a culturally-inspired s...