We are spoiled for good food here in Portland, and if you work here, like I do, you have most likely tried almost all the lunch options available (and there are a LOT of lunch options). I have a few favorites, but at the top of that list is Cera. Cera is NOT your average sandwich and salad shop. Their food is inspired, fresh, and will absolutely get you through the day. My favorite item on the menu is the Indonesian Seoul Food wrap - Korean steak, veggies, and peanut sauce all wrapped in grilled naan. I love their meat options, prepared by people who understand how to cook meat properly. The Great Cow Caper salad fed me for two lunches, and the tender, well-seasoned grilled steak was the highlight of the dish. Cera embraces its meat offerings, and also has some outstanding vegan options. The restaurant is super clean and the staff working the kitchen are usually hopping. Cera delivers, but they don't list their specials online. If I hadn't stopped in to get a seasonal lemonade (blood orange) I would not have seen the Tuna Poke special, and that would have been a shame. Cera also has a rewards program! read more

Very clean and cute coffee shop across from Monument Square. I got an order of pita bread with tzatziki. We sat outside while the pita was being warmed up. Staff brought our order to the table. One of the best snacks I've had. Garlicky flavor with extra thick yogurt and small pieces of cucumber. It was yum. Limited street parking and lot parking available. read more

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This is my first review ever. I had the Reubenesque Sandwich and it was the best tasting Reuben I have ever had. I had it with the spicy mustard. It was a little juicier than the classic version, but it was hands-down the tastiest Reuben I have ever had and I am a 79-year-old Jewish guy from Brooklyn. What a wonderful surprise. read more

After a haircut, I stopped in for a gyro sandwich at CERA. I'd been to an event a week prior and at the event, I tried a summer special flavor that CERA had been offering -- the Middle East Mash Up. At the time, I was so indulged with the flavors of the sandwich, I knew I had to go back and enjoy it again before the summer was over. It was AS GOOD as I remembered it. I couldn't even think to snap a photo before I dug in for my first few bites. Love this place and the staff is top notch :) read more

CERA - Middle East Mash Up - Salad Near Me - Portland, Maine

Fantastic sandwich shop with very innovative menu options and lots of variety. Pleasant and fairly fast service. Maybe on the pricey side. The Bada Bing is probably my favorite sandwich from here so far, but I've yet to have something I didn't like. read more

CERA saved me. I had forgotten to order lunch through the corporate catering for a meeting I was hosting over the lunch hour. Using door dash, I ordered a variety of sandwiches and salads, with chips and drinks. Everyone was so blown away by the quality of the food. The sandwiches and salads were amazing. My favorite...The Silk Road salad...just the right proportion of each ingredient. The flavorful mushrooms, the from scratch dressing. So good! Also the fried chicken sandwich...incredible! So glad CERA is located so centrally in Portland....so easy to get it delivered in a pinch. read more

I had an Italian sandwich with all the customers favorite meats & cheeses. I asked for the sandwich dry so it doesn't get messy. A great sandwich read more

What a unique sandwich place in downtown old port. They have so many different cool sandwiches and even make their own drinks! I got the chicken sandwich and it was really good. The people I went with enjoyed their meals too. I'll be back to try some other interesting sandwiches. read more

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Love the mission of this business (save the bees !) and the care and creativity that goes into their sandwiches. They cure and roast most of their meats, they ferment and pickle veg, make some kick-a$$ sauces, and cook on a wood-fired grill, combing ingredients in unique ways to serve sandwiches you won't find anywhere else. And the names! Got such a chuckle reading through the menu and appreciated the play on words. Some this lit major understood, some will remain a mystery for now until I work my way through the menu :) read more

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We popped in for lunch after walking around town. I ordered a Ruebenesque that was tasty and reasonably priced. We found a table to sit. read more

CERA - Orange soda - Salad Near Me - Portland, Maine

I was in the mood for a really good plant based pita and I found it at Cera! In total we ordered 2 pitas and 4 salads for lunch and everyone was happy. And full! The portions are generous and delicious. read more

CERA - Marrakesh Express - Salad Near Me - Portland, Maine

CERA offers elevated sandwiches, and salads. It has limited seating. They have plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options. We need more small businesses like this one which consider our community, the ethics of food, and our health. It was really inspiring to see it in action. I ordered a very simple sandwich and was impressed by their seeded bread and the freshness of all the locally sourced ingredients including the sliced turkey. If I lived closer I would be here daily. read more

We ordered lunch from here for a work function today. Everything was delicious and presented beautifully. Many people commented on the quality of the food. I will definitely patronize this place again. read more

Best salad I've had in a while. Huge and delicious and fresh. Will absolutely come back here. Outdoor seating had good people watching read more

CERA - Salad Near Me - Portland, Maine

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It's harder and harder to find a really good sammy these days. These guys make really good sammys. My pastrami and swiss was one of the better I've had in years, my girlfriends chupacabra blew her minds. Thumbs up and all that read more

Was excited to see interesting vegetarian options! The mushroom sandwich had a generous amount of crispy fried mushrooms. The flavor combination of the fried mushrooms, mayo, and pickled beets was very tasty though the sandwich was a bit too bready for my liking - more of the mayo + beets would have been nice. read more

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Almost 2 years ago, my company opened a new office in the Old Port. Getting to grab lunch at Cera is one of my favorite things about this! Usually, with lunch spots, I tend to have a go-to order - getting the same thing every time. That is SO NOT the case here. I am slowly working my way through their entire menu. I have tried a few of the paninis - Hamboni and Dia de Jalepeno. Both amazing - but boy that Dia had some kick. Then there are their salads. I had a favorite salad place when I lived in Florida. I have never found anything close to it until Cera. The salads here are unique and loaded with veggies. There is nothing more disappointing than ordering a salad and not feeling full afterwards - but that is never the case here. I am particularly fond of the Kaldera, The Great Cow Caper, and the Mercado. Also - they make all of their dressings in house and recently have bottled them for purchase, which I'm so excited about. (Just bought a bottle of the sherry vinaigrette today!). I look forward to continuing to peck away at their entire menu! read more

I 100% recommend Cera to anyone looking for a fantastic lunch downtown OR looking to cater a party or a business event. I recently ordered a large sandwich platter and salad off their catering menu and everything was so beautifully prepared. When people came into the meeting, they marveled at the beautiful salad covered with watermelon radish! There was a great variety of sandwiches, all cut in half and wrapped with labels. Everything from Cera was such a hit at the meeting, people kept exclaiming about how great everything was and the few sandwiches left at the end got picked right up and taken home! read more

I work in an office we're pizza was the go to for lunch meeting food. With some research I found Cera and began to read about them. They align with our companies sustainability goals which made our decision to try them easier. We called almost exactly 24 hours prior to our news for catering and they were happy to help, but would have to call back. The OWNER called us back! Love that they are hands on! Steve answered our questions and took our order for pick up the following day. Sweltering hot day for June by Portland standards, I walked from East Fore St up to Cera. They have outside seating as well as indoor seating. There is plenty of window seating as well. Decor was simple, neat, and clean. I was greeted immediately upon entering and our order was being packed up, on time! Paid easily and thankfully the food was stackable for my journey back to the office. Steve one of the owners helped me stack them and offered to help carry to my vehicle. Great service! Everything made it back with no issues. Everything was delicious and very tasty. The sandwiches were wrapped twice, one layer was paper with a description sticker of the name and of what each sandwich was made of and a deli wrap to hold the sandwich as you eat. Comments like "awesome vegetables for lunch", " this hummus is out of this world", and "these sandwiches are amazing" were just a few that were over heard during service. We have some left overs but not as much as we thought we would. Highly recommend for lunch or catering for your business meeting. Thank you Steve and company for the great service and amazing food! read more

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Fantastic sandwiches with great combinations of veg, meat, cheese. Not a ton of seating here, but the food is great for a quick bite or takeout. read more

We ordered Cera for a work luncheon, and everyone was excited to try it. It was really hard to decide on a meal, as everything looked so good! First off, the salads and sandwiches are huge! The bread is fresh and the sandwiches stuffed with meat, cheese, and fresh veggies. Everything is homemade here with a lot of thought and care and it shows. I personally had the Mercado salad with grilled chicken. The vegetables were very fresh and the flavor profile went together so well. It had black beans, jicama, avocado, pepitas, cojita cheese, and a fantastic tomatillo vinaigrette that is made in house. My coworkers, who had gotten the sandwiches, had nothing but praise for each one. I can't wait to go back and try the Dr. Pimento one with house cooked ham, homemade pimento cheese, and green tomatoes. Tip: they sell their house made chaos, hot sauce, as well as their tomatillo vinaigrette bottled in the front. Do not pass up on this hot sauce, as it is probably one of the most flavorful ones I have tried! Perfect amount of heat that is not going to be overwhelming, but just enough kick. While parking to run in and get food can be a pain, you will be thanking yourself for going through it. The staff is great and clearly care about the food they are putting out. We will all definitely will be back! read more

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Glad to have had a chance to stop back in here on a *gorgeous* sunny day. Dare I jinx it, summer is here, Portland? The outside seating was perfect. I was invited to a super-special-secret Yelp event where I got to meet the chief, Steve, and get overly generous samples of many of the items on the menu. I was completely sold after attending and vowed to be back when opportunity arose. And it was a paid-for business lunch, even better, right? I regrettably had a large breakfast, so I couldn't scarf down something gluttonous, but maybe that's a good thing? Instead I opted for the chicken sandwich, and it was so good. Even my dining partner took a look and blurted out flattering adjectives. Nice to see that Steve remembered who I am, and when the lunch crowd died down, he was walking outside to talk to some regulars. Their staff is super friendly as well. Great lunch spot! read more

Cera makes a majority of their product in house. That is already the major draw. They're about sustainability and accountability not just profit. What? So I have had the lucky chance to have a nice tasting of the menu at a private event. I came back because everything I had was FANTASTIC. Their edamame hummus, house salad dressings and unique sandwiches is the major draw. Responsibility sourced, passion in the product being served. I'm a fan. Pricing is appropriate knowing how they only use high quality products, smoke their meats in house. Do yourself a favor and stop by, be a fan and bring friends. You can order their edamame hummus as a large side and their salad dressings for purchase! Bring some Cera goodness home like I did read more

PSA: Get the edamame hummus! Whether it's as a side or in the Marakesh Express, do not miss out! After attending a great Yelp event at CERA last week, I was sure to go back for an authentic experience asap! And it was definitely the right call! We got the Indonesian Seoul Food wrap and the Mushroom of Course sandwich, as well as a large side of edamame hummus with pita bread. The pita bread (both the side and in the Indonesian Seoul Food) is so fresh and delicious! The gado gado peanut sauce on this sandwich is also phenomenal. It truly is the secret star of the sandwich, although the beef and vegetables are both flavorful and fresh. The mushroom of course sandwich is my favorite sandwich here! I'm not vegetarian or vegan, but this vegan sandwich can stand on its own next any other option, meat or otherwise. The portobello schnitzel is crispy and tender and the vegan mayo, greens, and scali roll balance it perfectly! The different take on the hummus, using edamame instead of chickpeas, is truly groundbreaking for me. I like regular hummus, but this hummus is SO MUCH BETTER! Also, Steve and his team are so nice, the food comes out quickly, and the restaurant was nice and quiet, yet had a steady flow of customers, when I went in on a Sunday! read more

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They serve up fabulous and filling sandwiches!! Service was friendly and food was ready in a reasonable amount t of time. There are a couple tables that can accommodate 6-8 people plus bar seating along the window and a few booths. read more

Fantastic sandwich shop, I had the opportunity to listen to the cook and owner talk about food prep and it's quite clear that the devil is in the details. I had a pulled pork sandwich and salad and it was delicious. From what I could tell everything is made from scratch. Interesting sidenote, other restaurant owners to come here if that tells you anything. Inside the restaurant/sandwich shop is nice. read more

CERA is latin for honeycomb. Why does this matter, you ask? Well, CERA Sandwiches is working towards a B-Corp certification, which holds businesses to a high level of ethicality in regards to social and environmental aspects of business operations. CERA not only crafts delicious artisanal sandwiches, but they also donate a portion of their proceeds to saving the BEES! From sandwiches to salads to delicious fountain drinks (blood orange lemonade--are you kidding me!?), CERA has it all. They are committed to not only delicious ingredients, but incredibly inventive sandwiches. Did you know: for their most popular sandwich, the Nashville Samurai (a Japanese take on a fried chicken 'wich), they couldn't find a kewpie mayo on the market that had clean enough ingredients, so they made their own!! Their dedication to their craft is evident. As a non-meat-eater, I loved their Mushroom Of Course sandwich. Portobello schnitzel is a dream for my long-gone German ancestors and my modern-day, pescatarian self. Pickled beets, greens, and a miso mayo on a buttery-soft roll? YUM. The owner and staff are gems, and the space has the most perfect wooden booths you've ever seen. Have you ever been sitting at a booth and make direct eye contact with a stranger as you're shoveling salad into your mouth? Yeah... me, neither. Plus, the cutesy bee decor is everywhere to remind diners of what an amazing cause they're supporting. read more

CERA - Indoor seating - Salad Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Sandwiches and salads were very good. Salads were very big, sandwiches pretty small for the price. Service was prompt and friendly, and the ambiance was good for a sandwich shop. It was too cold to eat outside, but the outdoor dining area looked good. We liked this place and would definitely come back. read more

Stopped in with my family after visiting Portland on a cold, snowy day. The menu selections were well thought out. The service was great and the food was excellent. Ingredients were all fresh and delicious. The portion sizes were generous and the cafe was very clean with a relaxed vibe. We will definitely be going back when we are in Portland again! read more

Oh my god the food here is insane. I get now why everyone has raved about this place and why it won that best sandwich place in Maine list. I've done the online ordering now for lunch twice, first went with the Spartan. So good, I loved their tzatziki sauce, so tasty and not too heavy. Also the fresh naan bread it was so soft and warm. Also tried the Haas to be Turkey wrap, again the wrap is warm and soft, and the shaved cucumber was a nice touch. Both times I picked up the parking took a couple extra minutes to find but the food was ready and waiting for me so I managed to snag street parking in the 15 minute loading zone space. The staff is super friendly. I really recommend CERA, great spot. read more

Amazing place. Best salads around, everything is super fresh. (Way better than the salad place in Public Market) Online ordering is great and they can handle large catering orders easily. Just ordered food for 9 and they had everything boxed up and didn't miss a beat. Great addition to downtown Portland for lunch. read more

CERA - Mercados Salad with steak - Salad Near Me - Portland, Maine

For a while now I've been casually looking up the menu to CERA. Why? Because they've got some seriously interesting vegan sandwich options. (Side note: can we just give a standing ovation to all the businesses that are normalizing plant based and gluten-free options? Thank you for not isolating us or treating us like we're some high maintenance nuisance you'd rather ignore!) Like "The Mushroom Of Course". I don't know that I've ever seen a vegan schnitzel on any menu in Maine (listen, it's kind of my job to know menus, so this isn't weird). And finally I had the chance to try it... and it was one of the best bites I've had in sandwich form in a very, very long time. They filled a seeded scali roll with housemade vegan miso mayo, greens, housemade pickled beets, and fried mushroom cutlets. It was MEATY, it had that fried crunchy coating, and the flavors of the salty sweet miso and tart earthy beets (both of which I would ask for twice as much of) just bring it all home. The Marrakesh Express can be made vegan by swapping out the naan bread for the seeded scali roll, and it's absolutely worth trying as well (I can't think of anything else like it in Portland). Roasted logs of rainbow carrots, housemade edamame hummus (which you can also get a side container of, AND YOU SHOULD), grilled red onions, greens, North African fresh herb sauce, and a flourish of crunchy seed mix made from sesame, sunflower, fennel, cumin, and caraway make it really rich and still refreshing. You don't eat either of these sandwiches and feel logy afterwards; you feel like you genuinely ate good for you, good for the planet food. Segue... Their story is complicated, but essentially when you order a sandwich or a salad from here you're saving the bees. CERA is Latin for honeycomb, and their business model focuses heavily on sustainability (they're currently working towards their B. Corps® certification, which verifies a company is balancing purpose and profit, and considering their impact on workers, customers, suppliers, communities, and the environment)! read more

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I got the opportunity to visit CERA while on a day trip to Portland, and could not have been more impressed. The venue was fairly unassuming, but had a great location (at 1 Monument Square, right in the middle of the city.) Inside, there are a handful of lovely wooden booths - ample seating for what appears to be more of a takeout place - and plenty of natural light. The staff were unbelievably kind, and took the time to walk me through CERA's origin, mission and essentially every ingredient that goes into their dishes. A percent of the restaurant's profits goest toward saving the bees; their focus on sustainability runs deep and is evident down to the dishes in which they serve their food (which are all compostable or recyclable.) And the food is made with an unbelievable amount of love. I've rarely been to a restaurant where every single ingredient - down to the base of the mayo, or the tomatoes in the salad - can be traced to its origin in seconds. You can taste the freshness when you eat at CERA. Some of my favorite things at CERA: CERA sauce - modeled after a thousand island dressing, this sauce is absolutely delicious but fresh, and goes perfectly on the sandwiches. Pastrami - this is the only place in Portland that's licensed to smoke their own pastrami. It is, literally, to die for - completely melts in your mouth, and has the perfect texture and spice combo. Perfect alone and perfect in a sandwich. Naan - all of CERA's wraps are made with naan bread, which provides such a great base - more hearty than a traditional white or wheat wrap, but not overpowering to the ingredients inside the wrap. And they reheat them directly on the grill - perfectly crispy, charred, and chewy on the inside. I had the Reubenesque sandwich, which was essentially a combination of my favorite ingredients - but with rye bread from Boston's North End, Morse's sauerkraut and the house-smoked pastrami, it was so far from the average reuben. I could have this every day. I will definitely be visiting next time I'm in Portland, and can't wait to try another one of CERA's "elevated" sandwiches. Their menu options are traditionally based, but their flavors are truly one of a kind! read more

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The "Hass to be Turkey" is delicious! A win for relatively cheap, healthy, well-crafted food.

This was my worst meal in Maine. I was desperately craving something healthy, so came here for my lunch break. I got the MARAKESH EXPRESS and could not believe how salty the carrots were. The naan was fluffy and yummy, but I could barely eat the inside. The staff was nice and the wait wasn't too long, but I did not enjoy the wrap at all. The portion size was also pretty light, so I wasn't full after eating it all. I would not recommend. read more

So good amazing sandwich!! Bada Bing!! Def worth the cold walk over!! Always enjoy finding a good sandwich shop. read more

CERA - Bada Bing - Salad Near Me - Portland, Maine

Tasty sandwiches. CERA is a fast casual restaurant with minimal decor. I ordered the Marrakesh express, and it offered a delicious combination of flavors. I would recommend CERA for a quick tasty lunch. read more

I hit the "Mushroom of Course" sandwich and added fontina cheese. Omg, this sandwich was amazing. The mushroom cutlets were MEATY! The miso dressing and beets were a great complement as well. Softest bread I've ever had. Scrumptious. Super quick service, sandwich was well made as well. Can't wait to try more items here! read more

I helped Steve wire this restaurant. Immediately after starting the job, I realized how much class and character he has about his restaurant and his food. THE SANDWICHES ARE AMAZING. Cannot wait to go back. read more

Wow...looking for great for and service? Cera was awesome. Sean the owner was extremely helpful and very knowledgeable. We loved everything we ordered. I will go back and so will my family. It was delicious! Thank you. Finally a fantastic option! read more

CERA - You can do take out too! Highly recommend! - Salad Near Me - Portland, Maine