My family and I have been here a number of times and always had a really solid experience. The…read morestaff is always super friendly and the vibe inside and out (weather dependent) is always great. Today, we indulged in blueberry muffins and fruit parfaits (both of which the kids devoured and I personally enjoyed as well), a ham and cheddar breakfast crepe (absolutely amazing!!!), and avocado toast (my wife, who has celiac, was quite disappointed in aside from the onions) for food. To drink, my kids were able to get juice boxes (apple and fruit punch). I got the iced dulce de leche latte, which was pretty good though had a little bit of a different flavor that took some getting used to. My wife got the Maine maple latte, which she said was really good. Being dedicated gluten free, they definitely have some challenges, especially with baked goods, that most places don't have to deal with, so I'm willing to cut some slack here. All in all, there's definitely some gems here but other things could use a little work. We'll definitely go back but maybe not our first choice to go out of the way for.

I've never been to Roots before and was excited because I've heard good things about it. I just got…read morea Cold Brew with sugar free vanilla flavor. I didn't enjoy the coffee at all. Maybe it was the coffee, maybe it was the addition of sugar free vanilla, but I didn't drink it. The ceilings are extremely high. They most definitely should have some noise-dampening panels or something to make it a bit quieter in there. There was a family there when I went that was treating this small coffee shop as a daycare, which made my experience even more disappointing. The screams were echoing throughout the cafe, and I ended up sitting outside for peace and fresh air. The outside seating area is nice. Overall, not a great first experience for me, but maybe their food is better than the coffee?

For a location of Speckled Ax (one of the three they have) that is more barebones, it's a good…read morespot. Especially great if you want to just grab some of their coffee beans or get a morning coffee/drink. Perfect for your fix without having to go into downtown. Small amount of parking but they do have a few spots. As other reviews have mentioned the inside is very small with space for one worker behind the counter and at most maybe 4 customers to fit. No inside seats but some tables nearby the parking if weather is nice enough. They have a large majority of drinks you'd expect a coffee spot to have along with a special available most likely. The current special was "Hey Bay Latte" which was a bay leaf, orange zest, and brown sugar. I thought it had a great combination of flavor and was well made. My wife got an iced mocha latte and enjoyed it. It did not become her new favorite but thought it was a solid version. If you are looking for a bite to eat, check out another Speckled Ax location Despite the small space it is well utilized and they have enough decorations and wall art to give it some vibes. Some great artwork on the building's walls outside as well. Great coffee roaster worth supporting!

If you're looking for that high quality Specklex Ax coffee you know and love in an intimate setting…read morewith plenty of parking and an engaging/knowledgeable staff... get off the peninsula and visit this location! It's not a cafe; there's no seating inside (it's barely big enough for three or four people to stand). With loads of parking both in their lot and in the neighborhood, it's a perfect place for you to grab and go for beans, different brewed coffees, or even a specialty latte. Speckled Ax isn't my preferred coffee, but I appreciate this location and love that it serves the Greater Portland population. If you were coming into/leaving town via 302, this could easily become your go-to local independent coffee shop!

Loved this little cafe! Lovely staff, great menu, homemade goodies! They make their own English…read moremuffins!! WOW! They were tasty. I ordered inside and got my food and sat outside in the back patio. It was super cute and quiet. I loved the atmosphere. My sandwich was delightful (eggs, homemade sausage, cheese, on a homemade english muffins). My coffee was good too - espresso beverages are my favorite. And the donut I tried was good too.

Such a cute coffee/breakfast stop!…read more Drinks: They have lots of creative drinks. I got the blueberry matcha, which was a little too milky for me and didn't have a strong matcha taste. It was alright, but I probably wouldn't get it again. I do appreciate that they have simple syrup and honey syrup out so you can adjust the sweetness to your liking. Food: Plenty of vegan options, and they even have vegan eggs available for a small upcharge. I got the habanero ham biscuit sandwich. The biscuit was flaky, with ham and cheese, and the habanero ham had a pretty good kick that really hit by the end! Good portion size and tasty. They also have donuts, smoothies, and plenty of other options, so there's something for everyone. Highly recommend!

This place was great! We ate everything so quickly that I forgot to take photos of the food. We…read moreenjoyed delicious coffee drinks plus a breakfast sandwich with sausage, a sticky bun, raspberry scone, and a chocolate chip cookie. Get there early. We were in line about 15 minutes before they opened on a Friday morning in August and there were already a dozen or so people ahead of us. The line grew and continued for the next hour or so. They do a very smart thing by having a separate line and entrance for orders placed online.

Nowhere near worth the line on the weekends…read more Jalapeño cheddar biscuit was the best thing I had. Sausage egg and cheese sandwich I didn't finish - the egg was not good at all and the sandwich fell apart. Plus it was one of the saltiest things I've eaten in a long time (negative). Iced black coffee was to be expected.

Amazing! Great vibes at this spot. Well decorated inside. Service was great. My daughters have been…read moredying to try the trompe-l'oeil and they did not disappoint. We ended up staying longer and ordering more than we had expected. Will certainly be back. The inside decor was so welcoming I plan to come back and work remote from here sometime.

We were looking for a coffee spot in the neighborhood and found this place. Hoping to pick up a…read moretreat to go with coffee, but their stock was bare. No one in the place but the employee and one other person (Who may have also been an employee?). Nice music playing - good vibe. Maybe it would be hopping later in the day. Anyway, we shared an iced pistachio latte, which seems like their go-to drink. I hear they make their own pistachio butter? It was delicious, of course. A little on the pricey side, but always happy to try/support a new (to me) business!

St. Joe's Café in Scarborough totally delivers on the cozy neighborhood café vibe, and both the…read moreTurkey A.B.L.T. and The Chuck are worth coming back for. The coffee is strong and flavorful, a big step up from chain spots, and fits perfectly with their hearty breakfast-and-lunch menu. The Turkey A.B.L.T. eats like an upgraded turkey club, with avocado, bacon, and a little smoky heat that makes it feel like a "real" café sandwich, not deli counter fare. The Chuck is a classic, hefty breakfast sandwich--simple, filling, and exactly what you want with a morning coffee. Service is friendly, portions are generous, and it's an ideal stop for locals or a pre‑beach bite. Best turkey sandwich ever!!!!!!! fresh cut off the bird fresh. wicked

What a find! We were staying down the road at a motel whose breakfast left a lot to be desired…read more Found this local gem on Yelp. Both of our egg sandwiches were huge and delicious (Southwestern and Maple Bacon on croissant). Had to try the Bennies, which lived up to NOLA stds. Espresso coffees were good. From what I could tell we were the only out-of-towners in the joint, which was packed on Sunday at 10:15. Bill was $39 for everything, which seemed more than fair to us two Brooklynites.

Stopped in to see what this place was about and it was so cute. I didn't realize there was sit in…read morespace and a menu for a meal. But I did grab a fantastic cappuccino. It was made with perfect foam and the coffee was so good. I loved it. I will be back to try the menu. Service was very friendly too. I caught them when they opened and they were so sweet

I've been aware of Rooted Heart since a little before they opened, but had yet to visit. Buxton…read moreisn't an area we typically find ourselves near but after a Maine Maple Sunday adventure we did find ourselves close and knew we needed to swing by. Best choice of the day by far and we have discovered a new favorite spot. By the name you can tell they are a cafe but are also an apothecary will be our definite go to for tea blends now. Plenty of parking available which is great and you will first notice it has rustic vibes from the outside. Inside is a little less rustic but still has the perfect feel/vibes. Cozy and inviting with lots of art on the walls. They have a number of bar stools, a few tables then a couple comfy couches to enjoy your food/drinks. Even with the snowy weather they were busy but we snagged a spot on one of the couches. I got their normal latte and my wife got their Maple Weekend special Spiced Maple Latte. Both were phenomenal and they use Milkweed Coffee Roasters. Which they are a spot that uses and supports local and makes a lot of their own things as well. Food wise we each got one of their sausage egg and cheese sandwiches on an English muffin. Again even the sausage was locally made and you could tell the English muffin was freshly made. We got them with goat cheese and pesto and they were the perfect breakfast sandwich, so much flavor! These would be absolute must try and in combination with their drinks are worth visiting for! I can't wait to return and get another sandwich and/or try even more food! Such a unique and welcoming cafe that also offers all your apothecary needs!

The selection was perfect. Breads for every taste. Pastries that just are none like any other…read more The behind the counter staff was very nice. Answering all my questions. The location is at the front of the bakery. The coffee was a delight, I had a cortado. The treats were all amazing. I would definitely stop in. I will be going again when I'm back I Portland. The bakery you can see from the store and it's big, bright, and lovely. They mill their own flour as well.

Night moves is super close to my apartment so I love walking the green belt trail and grabbing some…read morecoffee! I also love their sourdough bread and the range of different ones they have. Also pictured is a fun hot dog party they had in collaboration with Lambs next door! My only complaint is that it is a little expensive for sopo, but you know the ingredients are clean so it does make sense.

The newest açaí bowl option to open in Westbrook. Located across from Rock Row in the Kohls plaza…read moreright next door to Chipotle. Oola bowls is a chain brand that originated in Pennsylvania with this being the first location in Maine. Despite that, technically their second is already in works and should be opening soon at Monument Square in Portland as well. My wife and I were excited to give it a try as they had finally opened about a week ago. They offer online ordering so you can have your drinks and bowls ready for pickup when you arrive. That's what we did and had zero complaints and even substitutions or any allergies needed to be mentioned is super simple. Loved how easy it was for customization so you can get exactly what you want. We walked into the store and both workers were extremely friendly and welcoming and along with that service both our bowls and the bag had notes from the workers too. While simple little messages to us they were that added little touch that makes customer service great. They do have some tables inside if you want to enjoy your food or drink inside and even looked like they had some games available to play while waiting or enjoying too. Firstly, drink wise my wife got the strawberry matcha lemonade which was great and had a great balance of matcha and lemonade. I had their blueberry ice tea and it was phenomenal as well, would get it again often! Bowl wise we each got a different açaí based bowl. You can see the size difference of their small and large in my photos. We loved our bowls and even would go as far as saying we prefer this spot over another closely located chain bowl spot. All of the ingredients used tasted fresh and were delicious, the granola used was so good and one of my favorite parts was the peanut butter they used. Both food and drink wise we were very impressed and happy with. Check this spot out!

From the owner: Oola Bowls offers the highest quality Acai bowls in the greater Portland area. We offer bowls for…read moreeveryone's pallet whether it be a an Oola Bowl exclusive or something you build yourself. We have smoothies, protein enriched beverages, fresh fruit cups, Oola Bites (little morsels of goodness) parfaits and much more. If you're looking for something that's fulfilling, good for you and wholesome pop on in and give us a try, we can assure that you won't be disappointed.