"I love Brunch Portland, Maine | Breakfast, Happy Hour, Dinner | The Front Room Restaurant & Bar"

2022-10-20 16:42:53

Skip to contentBrunch MenuDinner MenuDessertAboutReservationsContact Main MenuThe front Room restaurant & BarNew American Comfort Food | a neighborhood gathering spotHarding Lee Smith, Chef, RestauranteurCall 207-773-336617+ Years of ServiceThe Front Room is a quintessential neighborhood eatery – loud bustling crowds and simple food with rich flavors complemented by The Rooms signature look of an open kitchen and cozy bar. But unlike the other Rooms, The Front Room vetoed the idea of reservations for brunch, opting to be first come, first served (however we do take reservations for dinner!). Classic, wooden Hancock chairs adorn each table in this quaint iteration of The Rooms restaurant family, now peppered around Portland, Maine. Serving what Chef Harding Lee Smith has coined New American Comfort Food, The Front Room attracts droves of Mainers with its affordable brunch and dinner menu.“I wanted to make it a neighborhood gathering spot, to have the home feel like when you come into someone’s living room.” — Chef HardingMore About Usbrunch menuView Our Menudinner MenuView Our Menu frontroomportland View Oct 16 Open frontroomportland View Oct 15 Open frontroomportland View Oct 13 Open frontroomportland View Oct 10 Open frontroomportland View Oct 8 Open frontroomportland View Oct 6 Open frontroomportland View Oct 2 Open frontroomportland View Oct 1 Open frontroomportland View Oct 1 Open frontroomportland View Sep 30 Open frontroomportland View Sep 26 Open frontroomportland View Sep 24 Open frontroomportland View Sep 23 Open frontroomportland View Sep 19 Open frontroomportland View Sep 18 Open frontroomportland View Sep 17 Open frontroomportland View Sep 12 Open frontroomportland View Sep 11 Open frontroomportland View Sep 5 Open frontroomportland View Sep 4 Open CUSTOMER REVIEWS The Front Room4.5Based on 824 reviewsSee all reviewsWrite a reviewLewis Williams (Lewtiefroops)22:11 16 Oct 22 Really good brunch, extremely friendly staff and good vibes Shawna McCartney01:19 12 Oct 22 Delicious and great menu selection! Nancy Goldstein22:44 03 Oct 22 AMAZING dinner from start to finish. Our waiter Jerry was a fabulous addition to our evening. We lucked out that Chef Harding Lee Smith was in the kitchen preparing the most delicious meals. The cornbread was a definite highlight and all of the entrees were exceptional. Would highly recommend this establishment. Ana Lucia Otarola19:09 01 Oct 22 Yummy breakfast and really good service. Brioche french toast is super good!! Bryan Appel03:43 25 Sep 22 Quiet, neighborhood restaurant. We enjoyed it, so will you Matt Brown15:31 17 Sep 22 This OG of Portland restaurant continues to crank out delicious food! Paul Tilton14:37 12 Sep 22 Phenomenal food. Always a great brunch spot Koh Joo Ooi00:03 07 Sep 22 Busy restaurant busy kitchen but worth waiting. Kristine Harmon11:00 29 Aug 22 We sat at the bar. Our bartender was amazing. Love the Frontroom! Jeffrey Clapp12:01 28 Aug 22 Our favorite restaurant. Consistently tasty food, great staff, excellent menu...what more can I say? Oh, the prices are great, too--just tone down the rock soundtrack. That's bar music, bad for the digestion! Joshua Friedman18:48 13 Aug 22 Best brunch in Portland Sandy Estes18:39 11 Aug 22 Stopped by for lunch today. Delicious brunch, especially the gnocchi dishes! Sandy Bryant03:04 07 Aug 22 Great place for a nice breakfast....friendly staff and delicious breakfast Amir Sagiv22:10 23 Jul 22 One of the loveliest breakfast stops in Maine. Great food and nice location. David Finkelstein23:21 18 Jul 22 Food was great, waiter was wonderful. Wish parking was a bit easier but they don't really have any control over that. This was a great find that was recommended by several other people. Would visit again if I was in the area. The outdoor dining area was a decent space and not too cramped Wesley Dz23:12 18 Jul 22 Would have been much better if I didn't have to watch the host and his girlfriend on the staff flirt throughout my meal. Louis Blankenship17:10 11 Jul 22 I went in with a party of five. We waited 15 minutes. We were seated and Jerry waited on us. The service was great, but the food was ridiculously good. It's hard to believe that's such a small kitchen produces that good of a meal. I highly recommend the eggs benedict special. I did something that I've never done in any restaurant I've ever been in ,I tipped the kitchen staff. I hope it made their day because their food made my day. Kayla Shewmaker20:30 30 Jun 22 Cute little hole in the wall type of place. Fresh ingredients but not very well seasoned. Overall was good, the Spaghetti Carbonara was fabulous 👌 The Meatloaf was very different not traditional at all, wasn't the best but wasn't horrible either. The chicken pot was such a disappointment though, unfortunately. I would go back to try something different though. Janette Cortes-Duewel02:24 26 Jun 22 We were in Portland and looking for some yummy food and boy did we find some! The food here is so tasty and the service was first class. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the meatballs-so good! Their soup of the day, carrot leek was creamy and delicious. We ended with the haddock special-fresh and cooked perfectly. Everything was so good! Shelly Wood00:51 16 Jun 22 We loved the outdoor seating, the food was delicious. Carrot Soup, I would have been happy if the meal had ended there! My husband had the win with Swordfish on Rissotto, the daily special. We topped it off with a Triple Chocolate Cheesecake. And all of this was served by delightful staff. Bridget was exceptional. Erin Nadeau10:13 24 May 22 We had a large group of folks who just graduated, making a last minute request for seating. These folks not only accommodated us, but were just super gracious, when they could have seated any other people to take over their space for a bit. Fantastic food, fantastic service, and a great experience. Cam Peden23:26 21 May 22 What a cool neighborhood joint. The food was absolutely wonderful and the service was first class. We brought our little with us and they were so friendly towards them. If you're looking for great food and an inviting space, this is your spot. 👏 👏 👏 Andrea12:29 08 May 22 Corned beef hash is 👌🏼... Mimosas hit the spot too 🥂 Art Newpher16:27 30 Apr 22 Group of 4, ordered 4 different breakfast meals - All were great! Definitely worth the 30 min wait! Megan our server was fun and good! The Corned beef was the Best! Never had better. The only negative - The breakfast potatoes were "okay". Danielle Fontaine11:15 27 Apr 22 Wish we lived closer so we could be regulars. Great brunch cocktails, AMAZING interesting food. Was not expecting such elevated options. Got the gnocchi benedict and it was the best most cloud like gnocchi I've ever had in my life. Will be back! Darrell Dumont00:57 31 Mar 22 Excellent food as always. The scallops were fresh and well prepared. The roasted brussel sprouts were cooked to perfection. Only regret was we were too full for dessert. Eric Nittolo01:37 24 Mar 22 Great little local spot, start with muffins and order the specials. Super delicious and great service. Mary Benitez23:42 22 Mar 22 This Place Is Now In My Top 3 Food Stops. Clean, Small, Great Staff, Amazing Food & Easy To Find. When Your Done, You Walk Out The Door And The Ocean Is Right In Front Of You Ian Carlsen16:29 16 Mar 22 Typically packed. Serving twists on classic American bistro cuisine that read really well on the menu, but occasionally fall flat when actually plated. Do I still come here for endless coffee and a 50/50 chance at a good eggs benedict? When convenience and nostalgia strikes, yes. Lynda Berry23:21 14 Mar 22 Walked in,was able to sit in the bar. Bartender was doing the job of 4 others. He was amazing. Food was excellent. Highly recommend it. Jessica Leung16:54 13 Mar 22 Went for breakfast/brunch and got the eggs Benedict which were absolutely delicious! The only thing I would say is that the coffee could’ve been better but otherwise great food and service! Rik Berghorn02:32 03 Mar 22 Ordered the spaghetti carbonara and mac and cheese. Spaghetti carbonara was very good you could taste the bacon lardon. The mac and cheese had a lot of flavor. Potatoes had a very simple but tasty flavor. The staff was very nice and accommodating jcoakley18:23 23 Feb 22 Quaint little restaurant on Munjoy Hill in the west end of Portland. Both myself and my date had an amazing meal, we started with the duck appetizer which was delicious. For dinner I had the short rib and she had the scallops both were great but I think the scallops were better. Service and drinks were good as well, definitely would go back. Benjamin Boone21:58 14 Feb 22 Great quiet restaurant, awesome staff. Definitely going to come back whenever I can Joey C Johnson11:37 08 Feb 22 We haven’t been here recently, but decided to stop in. You know when everyone at the table is quiet (not because they are fighting) the food is so good you can’t stop eating it… that was our experience here. When we finished we looked at each other and my husband said ‘nice choice’. Delicious! Ronald Bourget19:06 06 Feb 22 Let's just say that they go the extra biscuit ! Christian Melson17:55 04 Feb 22 Went here for brunch. The eggs Benedict was worth the price but the French onion soup didn't have enough flavor. Drinks were great though! Nicole Rogacz19:04 31 Jan 22 This is a cute place with amazing food. The brioche vanilla custard French toast was to die for. Yummy omelette and the home hash mmmm! Trista Iozzo14:27 24 Jan 22 We went for my birthday brunch and the food and service was amazing. The potato gnocci was incredible. We will defenitly be back when we go to maine again. A must try Andrea Liming03:23 15 Jan 22 Best sandwich I’ve ever had. Crispy chicken sandwich is unbelievable. Brussel sprouts and bread were amazing. I ate half the sandwich and brought the other half home. Surprisingly even better the next day. Love love love. Charles Miranda15:16 04 Jan 22 Breakfast gnocchi is amazing. Great prices and service Duncan Fowler21:34 01 Jan 22 Great food, service, and atmosphere. M L00:45 01 Jan 22 Great food and great service! Hey There22:06 11 Dec 21 Great food....just leave your coat in the car as the open kitchen does smell up your clothes a bit. Tanner Slift18:03 03 Dec 21 One of the best brunches I’ve had in a long time.Flavored mimosas were a huge hit with my girlfriend and I loved my Irish coffee.Corned beef hash was delightful and I consider myself a connoisseur, girlfriend loved the eggs Benedict. If I could recommend one thing to anyone going it would be to sub toast for the blueberry muffin it was to die for.Atmosphere was really cool and they even had the soccer game on in the corner. Andrea Ganino22:05 23 Nov 21 Once we found this place, we went back 2 more times on our short trip to Portland. The food, the staff, the space, all so gosh diddly darn awesome. I begged them to open an annex down the street from me in MA! 😆 Kevin Soucy19:20 15 Nov 21 I've been getting the same thing for about 10 years...maybe more. And its always great. Best corned beef hash in the city! Service is always friendly and prompt. Terri McManemy17:03 09 Nov 21 Small, cozy Cafe with a very upbeat vibe. Fantastic brunch! K E23:59 17 Oct 21 We stopped in on our last day in Maine, it's always been our go to breakfast spot. Not sure what has changed since our last visit, but we weren't thrilled this time around. The waitress was great! I got the Huevos Rancheros and it wasn't good at all. It was a very small portion and the sauce was like a watered down tomato sauce with a small spoonful of black beans and two eggs that were overcooked. I am used to having this dish with salsa and a much better presentation. For $14, I would have expected a better, more filling breakfast. My husband got the Eggs Benedict, the Hollandaise sauce was oddly orange in color and for $15, you don't get any home fries. Just a less than enjoyable visit all around. Kevin Newman21:04 15 Oct 21 Great food and service Kathy Gosselin01:57 14 Oct 21 Hostess quoted a 20 minute wait. Our wait was well over an hour. Once inside and seated we had a fantastic meal and a great server. Would definitely dine at this restaurant again. Rahel Alemayo19:09 11 Oct 21 Love this place and the yummy food Ann Marie Ciampa13:45 11 Oct 21 Visited while on vacation from New York, this place is absolutely amazing and the staff is by far the kindest and most accommodating. You have to ask for Jerry, he was not only nice but gave us some of the best recommendations for places to eat/visit! So glad we came here and we will definitely be back whenever we’re in Portland. Highly recommend the potato gnocchi! Carrie Anderson23:39 10 Oct 21 I wasn’t sure what to expect the first time we ate at the front room. But Man oh man, was I blown away. Their French toast is fantastic, their veggie omelettes are so delicious and they offer a wide variety of veggies, and the French toast is everything to write home about. Also, it’s worth noting that everything on their menu is incredibly reasonably priced. There were two of us, but we ordered for three, and we only spent $35. Kyle Suarez00:19 06 Oct 21 Excellent brunch food. Highly recommend trying the different flavored mimosas! Joel Morse17:08 27 Sep 21 Excellent food. Highly recommend. Guy Rice15:04 18 Sep 21 What a great experience. A little bit of a wait, but oh so worth it. Great service, better food. Definitely call ahead to out your name in. Jonathan Poznansky11:14 18 Sep 21 Great food and service in a sweet Munjoy Hill setting. Alison Rooney01:04 07 Sep 21 We had lunch and dinner at the Front Room. We booked in advance and the outdoor seating wasn’t available. We enjoyed our dinner. The salads are flavorful and we enjoyed the entrees. Definitely get some focaccia! So delicious. The food is well prepared and the staff are welcoming. Robert Fett02:59 05 Sep 21 Great neighborhood restaurant. AL Woods01:29 03 Sep 21 Great breakfast/brunch! Get there early if you don't want to wait. Everything we had was amazing and the service was great. Huevos Rancheros and french toast are highly recommended! Evan G13:44 30 Aug 21 Only gave 4 stars because they were sold out of a lot of things. But besides that is was great. William Quintana21:36 28 Aug 21 Awesome food and service. The last time we we were here, the service was HORRIBLE. This time it was EXCEPTIONAL. Thank you. Vince Curletta13:29 28 Aug 21 Excellent food and service. Would highly recommend. Tony Caponi17:41 26 Aug 21 Such a gem! Great breakfast, fast service delicious food. Wonderful place Serena Reyes16:42 23 Aug 21 Friendly service and good food. My family really enjoyed our meal. Their french toast is the best I’ve ever tasted. It doesn’t even need butter or syrup. Chef’s kiss for the eggs benedict. I deducted a star for the homemade sausage which was meh and for the tomato soup. The tomato soup looked and tasted like marinara sauce. My family enjoyed the tomato soup as a dip for their bread but it wasn’t soup. Laura R00:01 21 Aug 21 Great place! I've missed it since before covid. We weren't hungry, so we got two drinks each and shared deviled eggs and mussels! It hit the spot! Perfect! Danielle Tiralosi16:24 15 Aug 21 Amazing experience all around! Jerry, our server, was amazing, along with the food, and drinks! Highly recommend! Rianna DeFreece17:34 13 Aug 21 We went for brunch on a Friday and it was very busy. There was only one server and bartender on but they did a great job of getting to everyone quickly. I had the mango mimosa and the two egg plate. Both were very good! I especially liked the scallions on the scrambled eggs. I loved that I was able to get focaccia bread as my toast which is very rare. Andy Harrison05:58 08 Aug 21 Great food, great service. Try the mussels! Henry Voros16:38 05 Aug 21 So it’s gonna sound like I’m making this up or exaggerating, but I’m not. I fractured a rib a few days ago and walked way too long (mostly uphill) and in the rain to get here. Along the way I thought I had surely made a mistake by not selecting a closer restaurant. When our food arrived I thought (based upon presentation), “How could this not taste good?” Well, I was wrong. The food wasn’t merely good, it was great! Did I mention that they bake their own bread? 🤯The staff here is super friendly and attentive and the vibe (and music) are ++.If I can make it here, surely you can. No excuses! You will NOT be sorry! Mary Delany-Hudzik17:03 25 Jul 21 Everything my party of 4 ordered was delicious, good service, and I recommend the blueberry sangrias and pie! Skylar Bergeron18:03 24 Jul 21 I almost always order french toast when I go out to breakfast, and The Front Room’s French toast was the best I have EVER had. Cindy Butler22:14 06 Jul 21 Funky little restaurant, inside and outside dining. Food is excellent. dfred16:33 27 Jun 21 SO worth the long wait. Very good and interesting food and drink choices. Lots of new things coming soon! Jerry C was an excellent waiter! Heather Gallup14:58 21 Jun 21 Absolutely amazing food and quick service - server was super friendly as well and made sure we were well taken care of. Would visit again in the future! Tina “Tina Las Vegas” LV07:33 16 Jun 21 Ryan is at the helmbehind the bar and makes Mimosa Sundays a thing of delight. I ordered the special which was the Corned Beef Hash Benedict. My eggs were perfectly cooked which makes or breaks a dish such as this. It will certainly be my Sunday neighborhood spot. See you next week! steven doughty18:00 14 Jun 21 French onion soup is a rich, full flavored with red wine undertones. Recommend.Homemade corned beef is corned well. Homemade thousand island dressing on the reuben is very good.Overall, great neighborhood restaurant. James McDevitt17:22 11 Jun 21 Great food and awesome customer service! If you looking for a high quality breakfast/brunch definitely give this place a try! Jim Henschel14:04 04 Jun 21 One of the best breakfast meals ever! Pancakes, biscuits, and eggs were awesome! Put this one on your list! Great outdoor seating in a real neighborhood. Kristine Donatelli00:03 22 May 21 My favorite eggs Benedict in Portland! So glad they reopened. Dinner is Great too. I've had the meatloaf and short rib. Elizabeth Apple15:22 08 May 21 Delicious food ! Great atmosphere ! Wonderful service ! Jon Bierwirth02:36 22 Mar 21 We were recommended to go here for breakfast from a local resident and were glad we did. Food was amazing and service was too! Nothing but good words about this place Jeff Slaton00:44 07 Jan 21 Only open for pickup right now and worth every penny. Lauren Garrard15:43 10 Nov 20 Came here for a Christmas Eve brunch and was impressed! Our waitress, Kaye (K?) was super sweet, positive, attentive, and even brought me a sharper knife when she noticed me struggling using my regular one. The drinks and food came out so quickly and were delicious! Classic American brunch. Next Reviews Book a TableWhether you’re looking for an inviting place to have a relaxing dinner or celebrating a special occasion, we're the perfect place.Call 207-773-3366 PagesHomeBrunch MenuDinner MenuDessert MenuAbout UsReservationsContactMenuHomeBrunch MenuDinner MenuDessert MenuAbout UsReservationsContactLocation73 Congress Streetat the corner of HowardPortland, Maine 04101Phone: 207-773-3366FacebookInstagramYelpFoursquareOrder a Gift CertificateHoursBrunch and DinnerMonday9:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Closed for DinnerTuesday & Wednesday| ClosedThursday9:00 AM – 2:00 PM |Closed for DinnerFriday – Saturday9:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PMSunday9:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Closed for Dinnervisit us at one of our other roomsCopyright ©  2022 Harding Lee Smith. All Rights Reserved.HomeBrunch MenuDinner MenuDessert MenuAbout UsReservationsContactScroll to TopChef Harding Lee Smith Farm-to-Table Weekly Dinner Pop-UpReservations recommended and walk-ins welcome. 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