Lunch
1 City Center Cafeteria - A Cornucopia of Mediocre Dining Options
1 City Center (Monument Sq)
Tables adorned with umbrellas are positioned next to an indoor pond. Perhaps an attempt to make you forget you are in the basement of one of Portland's largest office buildings. The sub-par food will bring you back to reality. The caf. offers Mexican food, a deli, an Italian sub and pizza joint. I think there is another counter in the far corner, but I have never ventured down that far. The Italian place (Dante's) is not half-bad.
Big Sky Bread - Sanwiches
Public Market House
28 Monument Square
(207) 228-2040
Firehouse
536 Deering Avenue
(207) 761-5623
www.mainebread.com
A fantastic array of sandwiches, salads and soup. This place is packed during the weekday lunch hour but pretty approachable on the weekends. The Monument Square location shares space with Spartan Grill (see below), K.Horton Specialty Foods and Maine Beer and Beverage Co. Their paninis are great. I know you like paninis.
Black Tie Bistro - French?
1 Union Wharf
(207) 756-6230
www.theblacktieco.com
Known more for their high-end catering, but now they have expanded their hq to include a large lunch spot. I have only experienced this place by watching a 5 minute commercial, but it looked pretty good. I'm a sucker for infomercials.
David's - American
22 Monument Square
(207) 773-4340
www.davidsrestaurant.com
Perhaps the only power-lunch spot in Portland. The food is tasty but pricey. Best left for those lunches where you are not the one picking up the tab.
Duckfat - Belgian Sandwich Shop
43 Middle Street
(207) 774-8080
www.duckfat.com
French fries cooked in vats of duckfat. Pair a basket of these with a pressed sandwich and you have Portland's most delicious and perhaps fattening lunch. A few high-top tables and a bar along the wall can seat maybe 15 or so lucky lunchers. Grab a seat at the bar so you can play with the magnetic words on the wall while you wait for your meal.
Federal Spice - Mexican?
225 Federal Street
(207) 774-6404
When it comes time to depart from the standard tuna melt or turkey sandwich for the middle meal, hit up Federal Spice. Their menu is full of eclectic flavors. Most items are served in wrap form and all come with a handful of tortilla chips. The sweet potato fries are sweet on multiple levels. Pretty sure they are sprinkled with sugar. Only adds to their allure.
Henry VIII's - Sandwich Shop
15 Monument Square
(207) 780-8889
www.hviii.net
Fantastic midieval-themed sandwiches. The menu includs the Duke of Pork, Queen Anne and Boar Hunter. The meat is roasted and carved on-site and the menu is fairly extensive. The sandwiches are not midieval in size and leave you wanting a few more bites. Very fast take-out.
Herb's Gully - Mexican
55 Oak Street
(207) 780-8080
www.herbsgully.com
This burrito shop is hidden b/t Congress and Free Street. Their tasteful and descriptive slogan "hand rolled fatties" sums it up. The burritos are pretty huge. The shop itself is pretty small. A few 2 and 3 seat tables are available for dining in. Some funky art adorns the walls, which are painted a variety of inspiringly bright colors. The food is some of the best Mexican around, but call ahead, hand rolled fatties take a while.
Mousse Cafe & Bake Shop
1 Monument Way map
(207) 882-9955
The best lunch in Portland's miniscule "Financial District." Right next to Longfellow Books. The paninis are a perfect stand-by, the veggie burger is the best I have ever had, and the humus platter is suprisingly awesome. Go there. Go there now.
Old Port Sandwich Shop
89 Market Street
(207) 773-9078
A lunch hour stand-by. A huge menu of hot and cold sandwiches.
O'Naturals
83 Exchange StreetPortland, ME04101
(207) 321-2050
www.onaturals.com
Portland's very own home-grown franchise. Actually quite good and all natural, as the name would indicate. Started by the founders of Stonyfield Farm yogurt.
Spartan Grill - Greek
Public Market House
28 Monument Square
(207) 228.2056
www.publicmarkethouse.com
The cart often found in Monument Square has expanded to counter space in the Public Market. Everything is prepared on site and it there seems to have been a step up in quality. Pretty fast, even during the lunch rush when Big Sky is swarmed.
Walters Cafe - American
15 Exchange Street
(207) 871-9258
www.walterscafe.com
Good for lunch, good for dinner. The fish tacos are a great lunch option as are the various salads and soups. The Kobe burger with brie looks pretty amazing, and I don't even eat red meat. Sit upstairs if you can. A bit more room and a few tables have a nice view of the Exchange Street.