Abilene

It seems lately that every new Portland restaurant arrives with a surge of hype. Somehow Abilene quietly opened this past summer with barely a whimper. Hopefully word of mouth is strong, because I’ll take Abilene over it’s more boisterous neighbor (I’m looking at you, Woodford F&B) every time.
Abilene serves brunch starting at 9 am on Saturday and Sundays, and we arrived at the opening on a winter Saturday. The restaurant is comfy and casual, with an almost southern charm. It doesn’t have a hip, cool vibe, but that’s ok. The menu and food is awesome.
The brunch choices are basically a grab bag of every possible great brunch option I could imagine. Pulled pork hash, brisket benedict, scrambles, french toast, etc. The brunch drinks (which I didn’t try) also looked amazing. Melon Bourbon Shrub? Bourbon Orange Hot Choco? I’m dying to return, and the $ 6 prices are a steal.
The brisket benedict was delicious, and came with the freshest fruit I’ve had in months. A side of home fries were perfectly crispy and the best in recent memory. The coffee was strong and service was quick with refills.
The dinner menu looks to be solid as well, and the $ 15 price points are far below the Portland norms. This also isn’t a small plate restaurant. Portions are not huge, but you’ll leave full and very satisfied. Abilene is a winner, so spread the word!

I often think for a little while before writing a review. This time though, I am writing in real time as I leave the restaurant, to tell you how fantastic Abilene is for brunch.
I arrived at 10:00 and found a table right away. A beautiful cup of steaming dark roast coffee was in front of me within 2 minutes. I perused the menu and was struck by the interesting brunch cocktails they offered. While I have NO issue with mimosas, I was intrigued to see so many unique options. I ordered the Melon Bourbon Shrub cocktail ($ 6) and WOW! Not only was it the best brunch cocktail I have ever had, it was the best cocktail i’ve ever had, EVER! There is a clear and distinct artistry and craft in their cocktails. My companion had the Ginger Shrub mule and could not stop talking about it!
We both ordered the pulled pork hash ($ 11) with 2 (perfectly) poached eggs. The pulled pork was very good, well seasoned with red and yellow peppers. The poached eggs on top were exactly right, a solid white with a slightly runny yolk. For me though, the extra win in this dish, were the «crispy potatoes».
Just as I believe an ice cream or gelato establishment can be best evaluated by their plain vanilla, a breakfast dish is often made or broken by it’s potatoes. How breakfast potatoes are made is so specific to the vision of each chef. They can be fried, sauteed, boiled and then baked. They can come greasy with onions and paprika, or have small bits of char from the grill. They can be shredded or chunked or made into a cake. Sometimes I think that it is when the particular palate of the customer exactly matches the potato vision of the chef, breakfast magic is born!
So…why this long diatribe? Because at Abilene, the potatoes are exactly the way I like them. The way I always hope for and almost never get. A way, to be honest might not appeal to everyone. They are par-​boiled and then deep fried until they are dark dark brown. They are super crispy and hold salt and ketchup perfectly. They are not the healthiest, but they are everything I ever dream about potatoes.
The atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed, the waitstaff was relaxed and seemed to be there every time we needed something. Abilene is open for dinner every night except Sunday and open for brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

Went here for the first time today for brunch and was underwhelmed. There were only a couple of other parties dining when we arrived, which made the slow, inattentive service puzzling. When we requested a coffee refill, our cups were barely filled halfway, which seemed odd.
I ordered the roasted veggie eggs Benedict. Overall, I enjoyed this dish. The egg was perfectly poached and the hollandaise was delicious, as was the English muffin and crispy potatoes. Vegetables did not really have much flavor, though. My friend’s French toast was ok but nothing special.
Given all the other rave reviews I may give this place another try, recognizing that today may just have been an off day.

A new place for us to try, we were quite pleased to find this restaurant in our neighborhood. Between the four of us we had the Eggs Benedict, French Toast, chorizo and eggs and all were DELICIOUS. Our server was very friendly, the prices reasonable and the atmosphere inviting. My only reason for not rating it 5 stars is because, in looking at the dinner menu, the vegetarian options are limited. Even one more vegetarian item on the menu would draw us back more often. We will definitely return for brunch and it’s nice that we can choose between Abilene and the Bayou Kitchen, both of which are now our favorite breakfast places.

Fantastic! I have been three times for breakfast and each time has been delicious. The server is so nice and welcoming. They have a bar so you can have Bloody Mary’s and mimosas. You must come and try!

This was an unexpected visit to a newer restaurant outside the hustle and bustle of downtown Portland. I ended up here because one of my favorite breakfast/​brunch spots next door, the Bayou Kitchen, was PACKED, and I was on a schedule. The sign out side said «handmade cocktails». I thought «okay, if this place stinks at least I get a cocktail».
Upon entering, there were many empty tables, a cute little bar area, nothing fancy, and very quaint.
The server immediately came over and greeted us. She quickly brought us coffee and took our drink order. We decided to try the pork belly LT and biscuits and gravy. For cocktails we got a Bloody Mary and an infusion with burbon and cilantro. Both we delicious, but there were no prices on the drink menu. It’s Portland, so naturally I thought, these are 10 $ each.
Our food arrived and looked yummy.
The pork LT came with delicious homemade chips. The sandwich itself was amazing. It came on bread from Big Sky, across the street (it doesn’t get much more local than that).
The biscuits and gravy were a bit too salty and not warm enough for my taste, but was still ok. I wouldn’t order it again.
We finished our food, super satisfied and full and then received our check… oh my gosh… Only 30 $!!! For two people. We had food, cocktails, and coffee, for brunch, in Portland, and didn’t walk away with a huge dent in my wallet! Cocktails for 6 $… I repeat, cocktails for 6 $. Sold.
I will be back again.

I’ve been to Abilene for both brunch and dinner and both times were great! We live in the neighborhood and like walking over. It’s very relaxed and casual (brought our 2.5 year old each time — there is a small toy corner that she loves) with yummy food. Even our daughter loved her scrambled eggs for breakfast and grilled cheese sandwich for dinner. Food is fresh, and we left feeling full and satisfied. I’m vegetarian and there were plenty of things for me to choose from. No wait either time. We’ll be back soon!

The food here… is worth coming back for… EVERY DAY.
Super friendly people.
(mom and pop shop)
LOVE this meal.
(chicken Marsala)
Literally, the best I’ve EVER had… and I get the Marsala… everywhere.
Price is more than fair!
(expected the bill to be higher… and would have gladly paid)
I ended up here… because my Über driver was absolutely convinced that he had the best meal of his life, here.
And now… I am also convinced… that he was right.
«It’s an A+ grade!»
You must eat here.
This chef… is very talented.
Off the beaten path… and WORTH IT!
Hope you enjoy,
Steve

Great little spot in Woodfords area, food home made and delicious! Prices are very reasonable, and the variety and creativity of the food is impressive. Ranged from slow cooked pork shoulder, brisket and raviolis and chicken Marsala. Small plates are delicious! At this time, they are BYOB so there’s an additional savings there!

We tried this new place for dinner the other night — and we’ll definitely be back! They are just about at full scale operation, having just hired their first employee and a liquor license starting next week (I think that’s what they said). I am beyond impressed that Anna (out front) and her husband (cooking) have got so much good stuff going on here since they just had a baby a month ago!
The neighborhood is a very much in need of a good quality, but laid back family friendly restaurant. This definitely fits the bill. It’s a small operation, only a dozen tables or so, so the menu is not huge. I cannot recommend enough the Crispy Kale appetizer. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Somehow they turn a leafy vegetable into these crispy savory umami bombs.
My husband really liked the haddock.
And they have a nice kids menu — better than your average chicken fingers, along with kid games and crayons to play with.
Overall it is good food for a good price in a great location for us Deering Center folks. Check it out!

While having a few quality quality «sister-​visiting» days, we opted for dinner at this restaurant which is so close to the art store that I visit whenever I am in town. The food was amazing. We shared the Crispy Kale as an appetizer, and I couldn’t believe that kale could taste that way! Maybe I CAN get my kids to eat veggies! I had the Pecan Crusted Haddock with Citrus Herb Rice, and I couldn’t have been more pleased. Perfect portion, fully developed flavors working in perfect harmony with the shaved vegetable salad. My sister is gluten free/​dairy free, and she opted for the Chicory Rubbed Brisket (minus the butter on the veggies). They were very flexible in accommodating her dietary restrictions. The brisket was rich with flavor (it’s so nice when sisters share). Friendly staff; great reasonably-​priced food: I look forward to returning when the bar portion of the restaurant opens, to pair some wines with the delicious entrees and appetizers (and of course, more quality sister-​time).

They have breakfast, brunch, lunch, and a dinner menu. They seemed to be still getting settled but the atmosphere is definitely there. Great soft simple lighting end environment. It was very quaint. In the back there was a shelf of kids toys, stickers and books. Behind the counter was an employee discussing local news with the customers. The food seemed to be decently priced breakfast food. I got the pork belly sandwich, and it seemed a tad overcooked. My friend got the biscuit and gravy and that also seemed a bit hard. This might still be something they’re working on, since I saw two different prices for my pork belly sandwich. Nonetheless, the food choices were adequate choices for the environment. It almost screams «hipster» but without all the overwhelming visuals. Although, the food could’ve been improved on, I would advise people try it out. There is one aspect of this place that I really enjoyed and that was the atmosphere. If you like artists like The Beatles, Jeff Buckley, jack Johnson, then this may be the local favorite you’ve been looking for.

This wonderful restaurant is also opened for dinner. Artisan food with great prices. Great service, pleasant atmosphere and kid friendly. Anna and Travis trained with amazing chefs and it shows in their delicious entrees. Check it out before the lines start going around the corner!

Great Neighborhood restaurant with very good food. Very reasonably priced for made from scratch food. Also kid-​friendly. This place is a winner, so go check it out!

Great new family run restaurant across from the Big Sky Bread Company and next to the Bayou Kitchen. I had tacos for lunch, with black beans and rice, simple and well prepared. A great addition to the local restaurant scene in otherwise pretty desolate Woodfords. A liquor license is on the way, making the prospect of dinner an extremely pleasant one. Give it a try.

What a great new neighborhood restaurant this is! I’ve been telling everyone about it. Dinner of pecan crusted haddock, seafood carpaccio, mushroom Manchego bruschetta, and a garlic Caesar salad were consistently delicious. There is no liquor license yet, not sure if you can BYOB? The prices are very reasonable, unusual for new restaurants in Portland these days!

Do yourself a favor and find this new hidden gem! The owner/​server/​chef Travis has a good thing going here. The food was excellent, (seafood Cioppino, and pecan crusted haddock), and the prices were ridiculously reasonable. The Cioppino was served over homemade pasta that was light and perfectly cooked. It’s simple and casual inside.

Just had a great Sunday brunch at Abilene! I had the pulled pork and hash special and my friend had the French toast. The portions were perfect and the prices were right. They have only been open about three weeks and haven’t been discovered yet so it wasn’t packed. The menu has just enough to choose from that it’s not overwhelming but the choices all sound amazing. We will definitely be back to work our way through the menu. Check this place out while you can before it gets popular — makes for a nice Sunday morning meal. They are also open for lunch and dinner.

Went there for brunch this weekend. I went with the creamy herb scramble, faithful companion had the french toast with caramelized banana. Both were very good. Did I mention mine came with candied bacon? Did I have to mention anything else in this review? Candied… bacon…

I just tried a new restaurant on Deering across from the big sky bakery. The vegetable benedict at brunch was amazing. The holladaise was so tasty. Looking forward to more meals as this new restaurant evolves. Totally worth checking out.