Portland Food Heads

Perhaps it's because I feel somewhat nosy bringing a camera into an upscale restaurant during the dinner rush, or maybe it has something to do with the fact that Sunday brunch has become somewhat of an institution for Lynn and I. Either way, I find myself writing a lot of brunch reviews these days. Not that this is a problem, as brunch happens to be one of my favorite meals - especially if the coffee is strong and the drinks are inexpensive. And while inexpensive may not be the absolute best way to describe a brunch at Caiola's, their price point is pretty much on par with just about every other "fancy" brunch spot in the area, and the food is certainly top-tier.

Located on Pine Street in Portland's historic West End, Caiola's is in every possible facet a neighborhood restaurant. Brunch is served only on Sundays, and my sense is that a lot of their Sunday brunch customers are there every week. If I lived in the neighborhood, there's a good chance that I'd be one of those people. The space at Caiola's is inviting to say the least, with a dining area that seems constantly basked in sunlight, even when it begins to cloud up outside. The menu has something for everyone, whether you're a sweet breakfast person or an egg devotee. The staff is friendly and attentive, the coffee is strong, and the drinks are moderately priced. So far, so good.

One of my favorite things about Caiola's is the "Morning Breads, Pastries and Cereals" section of their brunch menu. Consisting of typical breakfast sweets such as toast and jam, pancakes and oatmeal, they also offer more interesting and exotic choices such as "Polenta, Orange and Currant Morning Cookie" and "House Made Cinnamon and Sugar Pop Tart."



We went with the Pop Tart and a bowl of fresh fruit to start off with, and it would be an understatement to say that I have absolutely no regrets. The "Pop Tart" - basically a delicious homemade pastry that vaguely resembles the real (ie: fake) thing, was plump and full of a piping hot mixture of cinnamon and brown sugar. Unbelievable.While fruit bowls often go unmentioned (and for good reason) this one was different, as figs and kumquats among other more exotic fruits accompanied the more traditional bananas, and blueberries served everywhere else. Order the fruit bowl.

For Lynn's "maine course" so to speak, she ordered just one of their pancakes to be eaten with the fruit and a side of sausage links. While I've professed many times that I am not much of a sweet breakfast type of guy, the pancakes at Caiola's are are some of the fluffiest and tastiest I've ever had. Paired with a bowl of fruit and some type of meat, this would make a delicious breakfast for anyone - fan of sweets or not. Lynn actually couldn't stop talking about it the entire time we were there. I suppose that's as good a sign as any that Caiola's has pretty much nailed the "sweet breakfast" category. Aside from Hot Suppa, I can't think of anywhere else that does an equally impressive flapjack.

Of course, there are more important things in life, such as Eggs Tostada, which is described on the menu as "Two Fried Eggs, Crispy Corn Tortilla, Chorizo, Black Beans, Sour Cream & Sofrito." I have many favorites in this town, but this may be my favorite plate of eggs in Portland. I'm an avid lover of anything remotely related to Huevos Rancheros, and this plate is pretty much a play on that concept. The eggs were cooked perfectly over-easy; just as I had asked. The chorizo added a nice amount of spice (even though hot sauce is inevitably necessary for a plate of food like this, no matter how hot it initially may be) and the sofrito, although slightly undercooked, was a welcomed addition to the plate. I'll say it again, just to reinforce the point: The Eggs Tostada at Caiola's may be my favorite plate of eggs in Portland.

Obviously, Caiola's brunch isn't necessarily the cheapest in town, but that's not why people eat there, and that's not what they're going for. As far as a fully satisfying Sunday brunch goes in the area, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better option than Caiola's.

Caiola's is located at 58 Pine St. in Portland, ME.

~E~

Have you eaten at Caiola's? Be sure to leave a comment about your experience!