Although 111 Maine opened in December of 2005, the majority of Bowdoin students probably have yet to discover this classic restaurant tucked away in the beautiful old building that once upon a time was the home of Bohemian Coffee House.
The menu, which is on the small side, is comprised mostly of classic American fare. The restaurant offers blueberry pancakes and Belgian waffles for weekend brunch, and the 111 Maine Burger, the Flank Steak Philly, Tuna Melt and Turkey Club sandwiches are on the café menu.
As simple as the dishes sound, 111 Maine adds nice touches: the pancakes are served with a delicious scoop of homemade cinnamon butter and the Flank Steak Philly sandwich is topped with roast onion confit, melted provolone, sautéed portabello mushrooms, and horseradish aioli.
Local flavors make up an integral part of the menu as well, especially in the Maine Frittata. The dish features fresh local crabmeat, caramelized onions and gruyere. The inspired Maine Crab Bisque is laced with sherry and manages to be smooth, creamy, and deliciously peppery all in the same mouthful.
The salads are served in generous portions and are complex enough to stand on their own, especially in the case of the salad of mesclun greens with grabs, red onion, gorgonzola and toasted walnuts dressed with blueberry vinaigrette. All sandwiches come with a choice of a demi portion of salad or a heaping of deliciously seasoned house potatoes?the decision is a difficult one.
For those with a more adventurous palate, there is a smattering of internationally inspired options. The Greek chicken gyro comes with sautéed onions, roasted tomatoes, lettuce and tzatziki sauce. There is also the Cuban Sandwich, with mojo marinated pork tenderloin, shaved ham, manchego cheese, Dijon mustard and pickles.
The warm Crispy Eggplant Panini with vine-ripened tomatoes, melted provolone and pesto drizzle is another standout, especially on a chilly fall day. The crunchy fried eggplant and crisp lettuce and tomato slices between slabs of pesto-slathered focaccia bread make for a terrific combination.
111 Maine's weekend brunch menu shares many of the same dishes as its weekly counterpart. On Saturday and Sunday, the soup and salad offerings are reduced in favor of a variety of first-rate breakfast offerings like house-made granola, three varieties of frittata, a plate of eggs, sausage or bacon, house potatoes and seasonal fruit, or the blueberry pancakes (see above) and the Belgian waffles with whipped heavy cream and strawberries.
While the restaurant offers ample varieties of teas, coffees and juices, take advantage of a lazy weekend late morning and order an orange or cranberry mimosa to accompany your brunch.
When the weather permits, sit outside on one of the sidewalk tables and watch the Maine Street hustle and bustle, or spend a quiet afternoon at one of the indoor counters or tables where you can see your food being prepared in the open kitchen. Best of all, the portions of each sandwich are generous enough that it's hard to spend more than $10-12 on a meal that certainly won't leave you hungry.
111 Maine is located on?you guessed it'111 Maine Street. Café hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.