Dining in the Saco, ME area

[Annie H]

I'd love sugestions for some casual dining spots in the Saco area.

[ollypay]

Lily Moon Cafe, 17 Pepperell SQ., Saco! Great breakfasts! Tasty lunches! It's owned by the Cyr family and cooked ditto; they also serve dinner, but I am not sure of days or hours, so call ahead.

[ollypay]

Here's another good breakfast and lunch suggestion (no dinners) in Biddeford: Cole Road Cafe, just off Route 1, a short distance south of the Five Points intersection. There's a conspicuous sign on the right hand side.

For more elegant dining try Joseph's-by-the-Sea on Grand Ave., Old Orchard Beach, with a view of dune grass and the ocean both from the dining room and an outdoor patio. Good food for breakfast and dinner - I'm not aware that they serve lunch.

[al]

Ditto the Lily Moon Cafe. I can also recommend Rosa Linda's (near Hannaford market). Very inexpensive and the food is very decent.

[cookiec]

If it's just casual you're looking for try Traditions, an italian restaurant right on Main St., it's not terribly authentic but pretty good, they also have a little italian market right next door that has some good stuff. There is another restaurant a few doors down called the New England Shrimp Co., they serve seafood, oysters, steamers, lobsters etc., it's not very good in my opinion but give it a try, they have a nice outdoor patio by the river. Across the street is Saco House of Pizza, pretty good by Maine pizza standards. Across the other street from there is the infamous Rapid Ray's, a Saco institution for many years. You stand to eat and it's all very fast food, hot dogs, hamburgers (including the famous "Big One") a loaded burger and good french fries. It is the place to go late night after the bars close so beware if you go late, otherwise it's a very family oriented place.
Then.....across Main St. from Rapid Ray's is the Golden Rooster, another Saco institution mostly for breakfast and grilled cheese sandwich type of food. (don't be surprised if you Steven Tyler from Aerosmith eating there, he's now a Saco resident and has been spotted around town, including the Golden Rooster!)
Well that pretty much covers downtown Saco, if you're heading down York Hill (over the rail road tracks past the mills) there is a nice sandwich deli on the right in the mill complex. She has very good sandwiches and also a nice outdoor patio. A little further down the road on Main St in Biddeford is a great little place called Bebe's Burritos. It is very casual and has fantastic humongous burritos with great fresh ingredients and all kinds of hot sauces to choose from. Around the corner from there on Alfred St across from the police station is an Indian restaurant that has good food. Not much else good in Biddeford although there is a great health food store further up on Main St called New Morning, they have a little cafe out back that used to have really good food (although i think the old chef has since left) and they also make really good sandwiches.
Well, that should get you going. Good Luck.
p.s. I agree that Lily Moon is the best place for a really nice dinner.

[humin32]

I'll second the recommendation on the Jewell of India, Biddeford across from the police station. Excellent Indian food for the US. Haven't found any Indian restaurants in Boston that have better food.

If you go down Rt 9 to Biddeford Pool there is a breakfast/lunch place called Hatties Hat. Beautiful on a warm summer morning sitting outside watching the wild life in the marsh.

At Hill's Beach, take left at Univ of NE off Rt 9, follow the road back towards the mouth of the Saco River is a placed Puffin's or something like that (don't recall exactly). Good->excellent food, casual dining, ocean/beach views moderate prices. Haven't eaten there since I discovered the Jewell of India. I only get to the area about 1/2 dozen times a year.

[ollypay]

We don't thrill to Hattie's food, but the location on the marsh at Biddeford Pool IS pleasant.

The Hill's Beach restaurant is Buffleheads and, yes, Humin32 is right to recommend it - we always take visitors there. It's a very friendly place where good and reasonably-priced meals are served. It, too, is on the marsh, but the dining room and outdoor picnic tables are oriented towards the road (little traffic) with the beach and water beyond a grassy area.

I love this chance to discuss food in my own neighborhood - on one of my favorite websites!

[Lew P.]

I definitely recommmend Bufflehead's. I have eaten there many times over the years (visit Biddeford to see my mother). It always passes the test. In fact, I always look forward to geerting down there. All the regular Maine seafood is well prepared, and the chef (presumably changes from time to time) always does a few creative things. Soups often very good.

[Jay Scott]

Cole Road over Lily Moon any day!

[ironmom]

I've always found the breakfasts at Cole Road Cafe to be beyond bland, even though the menu looks very creative. I much prefer the Lily Moon for breakfast.

As far as dinners go, there's no comparison. Because Cole Road Cafe isn't open for dinner.

Make a reservation at the Lily Moon ahead of time for dinner, it's small, and they always book up in advance. 207-284-2233.

[hugo]

I found this old thread from 4 years ago, but was wondering if anybody has any updates to it as the info may be outdated. Is Lily Moon's still open ? Have any new places you would recommend opened up since the original 2002 post ?

[nixienox]

The past few years we have been vacationing in Southern Maine. We have had many wonderful meals, but I can't recommend Pool Lobster in Biddeford Pool highly enough. It's only carryout, but there are a few picnic tables. They sell fresh seafood also.
Pool Lobster Co.
18 Yates Street
Biddeford Pool, ME
207 284-5000