Portland Meal That Feels Like a Vacation
Cafe Rowan’s lobster roll is like a vacation in a sandwich. It’s as if I’ve jetted off to Maine. But there was no packing (or no shooting across the country packed like a human sardine in a rocket).

Cafe Rowan’s lobster roll is like a vacation in a sandwich.
It’s as if I’ve jetted off to Maine. But there was no packing (or no shooting across the country packed like a human sardine in a rocket).
I’ve never had a Maine lobster roll in Maine, but I’ve had some tasty ones along the way. And this one ($25) is delightfully liberal with the truffle aioli without overdoing it.
Get yourself a taste of a trip back east!
- Related: Why Portland, Maine, picked a fight with Portland, Ore. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
What else feels like a summer vacation/staycation in a sandwich or a meal?
And here are some reader picks for best spots around town:
🍜 Best Ramen
“Go to Boxer Ramen and ask for half curry broth and half tonkatsu broth. Rocks my world!” — Michelle Mathews
🥬 Best Vegan Brunch
“The undisputed champion for vegan brunch is Fermenter!” — Thomas Vanderpol
☕ Best Coffeeshop
“Of course, competition is fierce between coffee purveyors over who makes the best this, and who offers the best that. But for me, community is the priority. Enter Café 26 at NE 7th & Knott. Every single day, out front, you will find the klatchiest of klatches. Many are long-time regulars, but new folks mix in all the time. Every kind of discussion circulates through from science to politics to art. If one is looking for a place to meet interesting people — who are actually inclusive to strangers — 26 is the spot.” — Corky Miller
More about Food & Drink
Take a Tour of Franz Bakery in Portland
There are some things you knead to dough (sorry, seasonal allergies are the worst) about Franz Bakery, a fifth-generation, family-owned bakery and the largest in the Pacific Northwest.
Where To Find the Best Deals for Portland Groceries
For the last year, Stumptown Savings’ Bryan M. Vance has been tracking where to find the cheap groceries in Portland. His one-person media operation, founded last April, is designed to help us all save some money at the grocery store and understand our local food systems (outside of restaurants).

Where To Find Portland's Best Dumplings
Dumplings are a comfort food, a Portland favorite, and perfect for the rain. Eater Portland editor Brooke Jackson-Glidden recently shared her three favorite dumpling meals in Portland.

