In a city full of long waits, overly priced small plates, and one too many fusion restaurants, The Other Side offers classic yet elevated diner food. While everything was good, the absolute stand out was the pancake and griddled raspberry muffle (rotating special). The secret ingredient...citrus butter. Oh my god, that citrus butter! What a game changer. The hashbrowns are an interesting ball of shredded potatoes with a crispy exterior. Will definitely be coming back to try the Greek donuts and the pork belly Benedict! read more

Got take out for lunch this week. I got the Lamb gyro and it was pretty lackluster and blah. The fries were okay. The lettuce on everybody's lunch seemed past its prime. Maybe the breakfast is good but for a lunch time sandwich I'd give this a pass read more

We stopped at the Other Side Diner after a fantastic float at Float Harder next door because we were famished. We got in about an hour before closing, but they were still pretty busy. The server got us seated quickly and helped us with our orders, but the food took quite a while to come out. It was worth the wait, however. The special pork belly pastrami reuben was a great take on a classic. The fries were piping hot from the fryer. My GF ordered a turkey club on an everything bagel that comes from Union and their famous hash brown. We both really enjoyed our meals. The diner is classical decorated with old photos of the area and neat advertisements from stuff that was canned at the B&M plant years ago. We were really glad to be able to walk into this nice diner! read more

See all

After reading a few reviews, I knew my friend and I needed to get there right at opening. I'm glad we did. There weren't people lining up outside, however within 20 minutes of sitting down (opening of the doors), the place filled, including the counter seats. Only party of 1s would have been able to sit right away after 9am. Staff was quick and friendly...from welcome to service at the table to the goodbye and well wishes as we were leaving. The menu had plenty of options for me and my friend. I don't recall seeing many specialty items, such as vegan or gluten free, however, I'm sure if you called ahead, they would be able to answer that for you. Again, they are very customer service oriented. The food we had was delicious and filing- hot and fresh. I loved everything that was part of my Hercules Breakfast: Pancake with Citrus Butter and real maple syrup, english muffin, two eggs, bacon and hash brown ball. YUMMMMM!! I highly recommend breakfast here if you find the menu appealing. Love the parking lot as well :) read more

See all

Service is exceptional. Breakfast has high flavor, cooked to perfection. Lamb sausage reminds me of England. Nice and quiet and relaxing while eating. Didn't feel rushed like in most places. read more

We swung by for some Sunday breakfast after our first choice was closed and I'm glad I got to try this diner! We put our names on the list and had a quick 20 minute wait before being seated at the bar. We decided to try the greek donuts which were solid - lots of powdered sugar, honey, and pistachios for a little baklava vibe! We split the cuban sandwich special and the gyro. The cuban was awesome but I was a little disappointed in the gyro for a place that markets itself as a Greek diner. The meat patties were slightly off putting and I would have preferred regular lamb strips. Good fries though and all of the breakfast items we watched get cooked looked delicious! read more

See all

Great diner! Had a wonderful bacon, spinach, tomato omelette. Perfectly cooked! I have celiacs, and they asked appropriate questions which was very reassuring! Have gluten freed bread too. The counter top is a snazzy touch too. Reminded me of the Greek diners went to in NYC. I was there mid-week quiet, but can see why packed on weekends. read more

Overall another great breakfast spot in Portland. Service was great, but the food was just okay and a little pricey. I got the classic breakfast and everything was good but not great. They do have their own crispy hash brown thing which is neat but mine wasn't cooked all the way through. I liked it but with so many other options in Portland/ Portland area I probably will not be back. read more

See all

I have to say that the pork belly is good and so are the hash browns--big balls of shredded potatoes. So good. Other than that, I can't think of much great things to say. They are understaffed, and it shows. Food is average and service is hit and miss. Tables are small and cramped. Clean, but cramped. At the price you pay for breakfast, you could have three at McDonalds. read more

My mouth is watering for the hash brown just writing this review! I had heard great things about the Other Side Diner on my quest to find a casual breakfast spot. I recruited a fellow breakfast fan to join me and we both agreed it's earned the recognition. I may be overly enthusiastic because this is a neighborhood spot 3 minutes from my house, and I'm new to the Portland breakfast scene, but here I go: A few highlights: + Casual and unpretentious ambiance + Accommodating and attentive service + Perfect medium-well doneness on my eggs + Fresh fruit variety that I was actually enticed to eat (lol) + Cravings-inducing thick-cut bacon and crispy hash brown ball + Several bread options for toast, I treated myself to nostalgic raisin bread + Generous yet affordable portions (compared to what I was used to in Austin, TX) Tips for first-timers: ~ Mid-week mornings seem ideal: you can be in and out or take your time as it's not crowded. We were not rushed in the slightest, allowing us to catch up fully. ~ If you're a chai tea lover like me, they only have it in a cold brew format, but it turns out canned chai is surprisingly good. That said, I wouldn't want it on a winter morning. ~ They close after lunchtime, so keep their hours in mind when planning It's my new neighborhood go-to, and I think you'll be glad you tried it. read more

Other Side Diner - Casual spot for a top-notch breakfast - Diners Near Me - Portland, Maine

Had a wonderful time at this diner. Met up with my cousins I haven't seen in a long time and it was just great catching up with them. Our server was fantastic. Super nice and happy. Plenty of places to sit inside. They have a big bar counter area you can sit at, and tables to sit at. It was 9:30am on a Monday. Not busy at all. After we all placed our order, we got coffee and it didn't take long before our food came. Food was outstanding. I got their special omelette with chopped zucchini and feta cheese with a hash brown ball, and rye bread. I couldn't even finish it. The omelette is huge and the eggs are delicious. Cubed chunks of zucchini and feta. The hard browns are starchy and in a ball shape. I e never seen a ball of hash browns. They were great. The rye toast was so good. Seems the only time I ever have rye is when I eat breakfast out. It's just toast, but I'm always thrilled to have rye toast. There are small Smuckers packets on the table, orange, strawberry, and grape. Great meal, and outstanding service. read more

See all

Showed up craving an old-school diner like Steve and Renee's--hearty food, fair prices, zero pretense. What I got was an Instagram-friendly sandwich shop cosplaying as a diner. First clue? The rainbow flag out front. Because nothing says "killer biscuits and gravy" like corporate-grade virtue signaling. Inside's shiny and new, which is fine. The menu? Not so much. No comfort food in sight--just overpriced, overthought takes on "elevated" sandwiches. $15 pancakes. $20 Greek salad. It's giving Whole Foods café energy. Service was... present. Not rude, not friendly. Just going through the motions. Food? Tasty. Beer? $8-$10. And then the twist ending: a surprise 3% "kitchen service fee" sneakily tacked on. Ask about it, and you're directed to the footnotes like it's a phone contract. Spoiler: you're now co-funding kitchen wages. But hey, don't deduct that from your server's tip--we wouldn't want to mess with their margins. Bottom line: solid food, eye-roll prices, indifferent service, and a bonus guilt-fee for daring to eat out. RIP to the diner that used to be here. Steve and Renee wouldn't have pulled this nonsense. read more

While I have no true complaints about my first visit to the other side, there are a few things that made me feel less inclined to give it more than three starts. For starters, when we first arrived, no one greeted us. I'm not talking about walking through the door and waiting a minute for the host... I'm talking, walking though the door with a separate party who ordered takeout and standing at the door with my two kids without being acknowledged even just to tell us they'd be with us in a moment. A server even walked by and didn't say anything. A couple more parties came in and sat at the counter while we continued to wait. (We were waiting for a table so understand why people went straight to the counter.) After finally being greeted, we were told we could not wait at the counter and could go wait in the vestibule or wait outside. I'd asked if we could have a coffee while we waited but were told it was against their policy... I've worked in restaurants before, I understand having policies in place so cannot really complain about that. I do however know how important it is to make contact with customers when they walk in and feel this review may have been better had we just been acknowledged. The staff was friendly and the space felt very clean, but it didn't have that traditional diner feel like some other more established diners in the area. The food was good and they had some very unique food specials. I feel like the menu was a bit small but sometimes, less is more. Like many other places in Portland though, I feel the prices are a bit steep. When I think of a diner, I think traditional breakfast plates you can get for $10 or less. Bacon, eggs, toast, etc. Maybe just the word "diner" in the name is what this throwing me off? Everything I had was tasty and since it's Mediterranean based, I had to try the Greek doughnuts. They were good but I was not prepared for the savory flavor they also provided. My meal of choice was the prosciutto breakfast sandwich and I have no complaints. The way they do their hashbrowns is interesting but also I really enjoyed the crunchiness of them. There is no kid-menu so we just ordered a bunch of sides for my children and they were happy! One of the biggest reasons we chose coming here was because they have a parking lot which in Portland is a game changer! I'd be happy to try OSD another time when in the area. read more

See all

Staff was kind and super welcoming the moment we stepped through the door. Awesome daily specials and rotating omelettes that follow the seasons. Casual and clean diner feel with some elevated menu items including the hashed browns. read more

Back again after several years and the food is still terrific, with great service. I wanted the citrus pancakes, but was worried after reading another review saying they weren't fully cooked. Mine were delicious (especially with the citrus butter!) and it's possible that what another diner might think was underdone was actually that these pancakes were fairly "eggy" compared to some. To me, they almost seemed like crepes, but six times as thick. They were very, very good, and the coffee was amazing. (I'm still dreaming about those phyllo rolled-up omelets from years ago!) read more

Other Side Diner - Phyllo Breakfast Burrito (spanakopita) - Diners Near Me - Portland, Maine

Love this place it's a favorite of my father's and I when we meet up.. Usually once a week or so... Two thumbs up.. Service with a smile and don't even get ME started on those hash browns! read more

I want to like this place a lot more than I do. There's nothing inherently wrong with it; the staff is wonderful and the interior is nice but lacks a real "diner" feel. It seems as though it's wavering between being a really basic diner, and a "fancy" diner. The food is good, but not particularly mind blowing. Compared to its bigger brother, the Other Side Deli, it just lacks in wow factor. The corned beef hash with eggs was good, though my 'over easy' eggs were a little closer to done; I gobbled it up, but kind of pricey for otherwise run of the mill greasy-spoon fare. The basic egg dish seems really expensive for what you ultimately get. Prices listed on various internet platforms are all different, and was different still in the restaurant. Might come once in a while because it's a nice place to sit and not crowded (depending on when you arrive), but will not be a normal stop for me. read more

Not your ordinary diner! We have lived in Deering for 3 years and this was our first time to Other Side Diner. It was great! The staff were very attentive and friendly. We went in for breakfast and were very happy we did! We started with coffee, tea and Greek donuts. What is a Greek donut? It is a lightly seasoned donut hole that is fried and then tossed in cinnamon seasoned honey and chopped pistachios. Each order comes with 4-5 donut holes. My husband ate a few before I could snag a pic! They were very nice with the coffee. Not too heavy or sweet. We each got the Hercules breakfast. Eggs over medium cooked as requested. Toast - wheat for me, marble rye for hubs, bacon for me and pork belly (crisp) for hubs, hash browns and a pancake. The hash browns were a surprise for us - they are shredded potatoes rolled into a ball and then deep fried. Good - the outside was very crispy, but the inside was mushy. Not greasy at all. I prefer crispy hash browns, so I just ate the outside. Also they needed to be seasoned. We added salt & pepper and enjoyed them. The pancake was also a really nice surprise! They had lemon zest and Greek yogurt in them. Tangy and light served with an orange zest compound butter, fresh fruit and real maple syrup. Unfortunately, because of the Greek yogurt it seemed as though the pancake was not cooked all the way through. However what we ate was very good! The menu offers lots of Greek seasoned options as well as unique breakfast sandwiches and eggs Benedict. The restaurant is clean and the tables are well spaced apart. The decor is simple and the music was nice and not too loud. Give the Other Side a try! I think you will be pleasantly surprised. read more

See all

I used to love the Other Side Diner and came often with my granddaughter when visiting Portland. It was a favorite spot with great memories. I stopped by today for the first time in about seven years and was so disappointed. I ordered the steak sub, which cost $18. I've absolutely paid that price before and received a hearty 12-inch sub packed with steak, mushrooms, and cheese. This was not that. What I got was a 6-inch sub, mostly bread, barely any meat. It took me six bites to finish the whole thing. Completely underwhelming. The wait staff was friendly, but service was slow--even though the place wasn't busy. Sadly, I won't be back. There are just too many amazing lunch spots in Portland to settle for this. What happened to you? read more

Came here on a whim and at 10 am was met with a 30 minute wait. It sucked a little because there was nowhere to wait except the car and by the time 30 minutes came and went, my toes were frozen, and after we were seated and ordered, we probably waited another 30 minutes for food. I think it just overall felt like a very long time; however... The food was great. The small menu was perfect and the fact that I saw the menu and knew exactly what I wanted was even better. Our table ordered: Chickpea Fries Benny: this was your standard Benny but over these "fries" made of chickpeas. I think the fries were great and it was all over a bed of squash "hummus" with brussel sprouts. Thinking back, it was overall a good, filling dish, though I did feel like the brussel sprouts were a just a little too burnt. Hercules Breakfast: they don't have your standard meats so the SO ordered pork belly (which I was excited about!) it came with some fruit and a giant pancake. I think for him, the pancake sold him on this place. They are like palace diner pancakes but larger and fluffier. The waitstaff was also fantastic. I think for the sake of the SO's pure joy with the pancakes, we will definitely be back. Breakfast in Portland overall is actually pretty low quality compared to Biddo so if we can find a place we like nearby, all the better! read more

Other Side Diner - Pork belly - Diners Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

Another great find! Right on Washington Ave in Portland. Have tried this spot a couple times but it is always busy and there can be a wait. Today was a great day to go! They have a specials menu changing daily. I ordered a special pulled pork served on Johnny cakes, drizzled with hot honey and served with eggs. I chose scrambled. Delicious and filling. My friend ordered a Benedict with beef bacon, fried green tomatoes, poached eggs and hollandaise! read more

Other Side Diner - Scrambled eggs with Pulled pork on Johnny cakes - Diners Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

Such a clean and impressive little diner. Plenty of great choices on the menu too. I had the Hercules breakfast which was good. My wife had the breakfast sandwich with feta cream cheese. The sandwich was a mess so ask for extra napkins. My only complaint was that they love citrus here. I wasn't a fan of the lemon butter on my pancakes or the citrus in the feta cream cheese. To each their own. read more

Always great food and great service. One of our go-to breakfast spots. Only thing I don't care for is the tea. The breakfast tea is really weak and tasteless. read more

Those donuts!!!! Also the service, coupled with a love of breakfast and Greek cuisine is in every bite. Most definitely a "hidden" breakfast gem for sure. Tourists you're missing out if u skip this one..but honestly I'm okay with that. read more

Excellent food, unique and flavorful menu offerings. Friendly staff. Clean and welcoming.

I still like this diner, mostly for the convenient location in this neck of the woods. But food is just not the same. For this price I would venture to the better competition. The scrapple seems to have gone full on polenta grain, not even close to the real thing. And there are no more tables outdoors at all, including sidewalk. read more

My husband and I had breakfast here today after a race. We each got the basic breakfast--eggs, toast, hash browns, bacon. I had an English muffin instead of toast--it appeared to be house or non-commercial bakery made. The bacon was thick and tasty. I loved the ball of hash browns, too. Our bill came to $36 with tip. I would definitely go back. read more

This is a really good place! Clean, courteous staff, and awesome food. We had the fresh, warm Greek donuts followed by the sausage biscuits and gravy for me and my wife had the pork belly eggs Benedict. We cleaned our plates and will be back for more. The food was promptly served and was flavorful and well presented. Off the beaten path in Portland, this spot is just over Tukey's bridge (I-295) on Washington Avenue. They also have a drive thru (!) window and ample parking. My only question is why the Other Side Diner is not famous- it deserves it. We'll be back! read more

I know people who absolutely love this place; that being said, it's just not for me. + There is an abundance of parking! +/- They sometimes have an outdoor patio. - The menu is *very* limited. The staff? FIVE STARS. They are hustling and doing such a good job at juggling all the many, many hats they all wear to keep this place so clean and welcoming. Really, really exceptional. But the food? Compared to other brunch places, the quantity, quality, price point, and even wait time to get a table just isn't worth it. To begin with, our $7 mimosas were only half full (maybe this is normal, but - again - just compared to other places, it seemed pretty underwhelming). The Greek Donuts were fine, but very dry; was there supposed to be something more than powdered sugar on them? Finally, the falafel benedict. Yikes. I received two smaller eggs on two silver dollar-sized falafels (no English muffin with this benedict?). They were very soggy, and didn't have much flavor. One of the eggs was poached, the other one was more soft to hard boiled. And, unfortunately, my ball of hash browns wasn't cooked through; the inside was cold making the whole thing just taste like starchy raw potato. On the flipside, my partner's hashbrown ball was cooked perfectly, and while he loved the fluffiness of his omelet... there wasn't a lot of cheese or spinach in it, it mostly just egg. Overall, I'm glad we checked them out, but there are other brunch places I'd prefer to wait for. read more

See all

We love this place! We've been many times and it's great every time. Friendly staff, good food, clean. We try to go early (by 9am) so we don't have to wait. My kids love the classic breakfast (and sometimes even get the Hercules breakfast), and I love the egg/mushroom/spinach/goat cheese bagel sandwich. So good! Free parking in the lot is a nice bonus too. Will continue to come here! read more

Wonderful place to eat. Lots of fresh made items. Great flavor in the pancakes! The donuts are delicious. Everything bagels seamed to have a homemade blend. Highly recommend the restaurant. Our servers Mark and Hannah were delightful. read more

Nice neighborhood diner. My first time coming here for breakfast. Friendly, comfortable atmosphere. We showed up at 930 on a Saturday morning and while the place was full, a table opened up very quickly. I had the omelet special that was absolutely delicious. We came here because my grandson wanted pancakes and he gave those 5 stars. Plenty of parking,super nice staff. The only reason I did not go to 5 stars is the menu was kind of small. But I will say that what they do serve is amazing! read more

Really excellent breakfast and brunch food + a wonderful and friendly staff! The phyllo breakfast burrito takes everything I LOVE about spanakopita and runs with it; adding eggs and more veggies to create a colossal and delicious breakfast scramble enrobed in a buttery, brown phyllo wrap! The Benedicts are also spectacular! I've tried the Florentine, the Classic and the Felafel, and they are ALL ++++++ *Also, they have a baseball sized hash brown ball which is NOT to be missed! One additional extra cool BONUS about The Other Side Diner is that they have an actual drive-through window!! Way long ago, this space used to be a donut shop and the drive through window remains... SO...yes you most definitely should order some takeout brunch this weekend and pick it up at the drive through window. It will most definitely be worth the trip!! read more

Found this by accident. Lucky day for me. Delicious feta and cheese omelet. Best I've had in Portland. Hash browns come in a crispy ball that was quite unique and tasty. The English muffins were grilled and absolutely perfect. The staff were so friendly and efficient and the ambience reminiscent of the 50's. My friend had a lamb gyro sandwich. The lamb was not shaved- it looked substantial and he said it was fantastic. He also had a simple green salad which he said was delicious with each bite. Highly re read more

Other Side Diner - Omelette, hash browns, English muffins - Diners Near Me - Portland, Maine

Food was incredible! Service was super, which is hard to find in Texas. Stop in for breakfast if you're in Portland. You won't be disappointed! read more

I guess I need to stop living in the past as this place is just not the same as it was, and certainly not nearly as good as Steve and Renee's diner which used to be in this location. Hopefully I will find someplace else to go and not give another review but here goes: no matter what name is on the sign in front this location has always had incredible service, but it just doesn't anymore. The last handful of times I've been here it's been average at best, I would say mostly indifferent and distracted employees, not understaffed. The orange zest pancake, the photo on the right, is still the best pancake I think I've eaten anywhere. Shockingly the picture of food on the left came out of the same kitchen. This hardened crusty hockey puck was actually supposed to be a sausage patty. Gave it the old college try with a couple of bites but could not go further, inedible. It seems the last few times I've been here there's always at least one food item below standard. A breakfast meal, cup of coffee, and tip was just under $30... Just not worth it anymore. read more

Other Side Diner - Any guess what this is? - Diners Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

This place is the perfect balance of old time diner vibes and modern menu items. I just love the Greek flavor flair and unique entree options. Can't recommend this spot enough. You won't be disappointed!! read more

Other Side Diner - Single pancake. Had a hint of lemon zest, delicious! - Diners Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

Food was good . Good option for a quick breakfast. Service was good . Huge portions. Nothing fancy but good basic breakfast. Hash bro na were good read more

Fun modern diner with great service. The wait staff are super friendly. The food is good and fast. The hashbrown balls are a cool new take on a traditional breakfast food. The only downside were the sausage patties, which were a little heavy on the garlic, and were kind of bitter. Otherwise, an utterly charming place. read more

Very cute! Delicious! Wonderful service. Food was beautifully plated. Pancake was wonderful and hashbrowns unique