Ottawa to Portland, ME [General]
2011 Jul 26
HHH, are you open to take another route? I usually take the 10 east from Mtl to the 55 in the townships, then the interstates 91/93 to the 302. For an awesome breakfast, in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, a place called l'Oeuf Doré.
Stateside, you can catch the 302 from the 93 after Littleton, NH, but for food, you can try Littleton. There's a House of Pizza that a friend of my family's used to own.
Ice cream at Willey House. This is a National Forest rest stop/souvenir shop, with a lake where you can feed the fish, and a picturesque sheer rock mountainside.
I've only eaten at the Pizza Hut in North Conway, and it's good (the Pizza Huts in the States are better than here). Or if you take the 113 after the 302, try the Fryeburg House of Pizza.
In OOB, if you don't know it too well, I recommend Jimmy the Greek. His wood-fired pizza is excellent, but he makes lots of other stuff, many good Greek dishes too. Plus, he's got over 100 beers I think, 50 of them on tap.
Mia's on Pepperell Square in Saco, is, imo, the best restaurant in the area, in a tie with the Greek resto Emilitsa on Congress in downtown Portland. Huot's at the beach in Saco is my favourite fast food seafood joint.
Stateside, you can catch the 302 from the 93 after Littleton, NH, but for food, you can try Littleton. There's a House of Pizza that a friend of my family's used to own.
Ice cream at Willey House. This is a National Forest rest stop/souvenir shop, with a lake where you can feed the fish, and a picturesque sheer rock mountainside.
I've only eaten at the Pizza Hut in North Conway, and it's good (the Pizza Huts in the States are better than here). Or if you take the 113 after the 302, try the Fryeburg House of Pizza.
In OOB, if you don't know it too well, I recommend Jimmy the Greek. His wood-fired pizza is excellent, but he makes lots of other stuff, many good Greek dishes too. Plus, he's got over 100 beers I think, 50 of them on tap.
Mia's on Pepperell Square in Saco, is, imo, the best restaurant in the area, in a tie with the Greek resto Emilitsa on Congress in downtown Portland. Huot's at the beach in Saco is my favourite fast food seafood joint.
2011 Jul 26
I've done this trip but went via Montreal through Vermont. One thing in Vermont that is fun to check out is the Ben and Jerry Ice Cream factory. I am not sure if you will be near there on the way down given your route, but its an option to consider. Lots of fun and the ice cream is very good. Here's a link: www.benjerry.com
Unfortunately, I have nothing to add for the rest of the voyage but in Portland there is a great restaurant called Fore Street. I was there in 2004 and found it to be fabulous. I believe we spent about $200 that night.... but that was in part due to the fact that it was our big dinner of the trip with wine, cocktails etc. The restaurant was ranked among the 50 best in the USA at the time. Not sure where it sits now, but I would go again in a heartbeat. Their website is here: www.forestreet.biz/en/Home
Have a great trip!
Unfortunately, I have nothing to add for the rest of the voyage but in Portland there is a great restaurant called Fore Street. I was there in 2004 and found it to be fabulous. I believe we spent about $200 that night.... but that was in part due to the fact that it was our big dinner of the trip with wine, cocktails etc. The restaurant was ranked among the 50 best in the USA at the time. Not sure where it sits now, but I would go again in a heartbeat. Their website is here: www.forestreet.biz/en/Home
Have a great trip!
2011 Jul 27
Burlington Vermont has a great farmer's market on the downtown square on Saturdays. Local produce and best of all, local baking and lunch stalls. I remember some great Thai and Indian finger food. The park is also very pretty, dog friendly, and adjacent to a pedestrian mall about 3 blocks long with lots of cafes/shopping. Some of the outdoor cafes are also dog friendly.
2011 Jul 27
Thanks for the tips Bacon, Medicinejar, and Blubarry. Re: my route, I hate the Ottawa-Mtl stretch (from years of weekly commuting) and will do anything to avoid it.. but once I cross Lake Champlain, I pretty much open to any route.
Plus... the sooner I get stateside, the sooner I get those cheese cracker + PB sandwiches (gas station garbage, I know, but I must have some supressed childhood memory that makes me crave them).
I am really hoping for a half decent BBQ joint or really good fried chicken on the way....
Plus... the sooner I get stateside, the sooner I get those cheese cracker + PB sandwiches (gas station garbage, I know, but I must have some supressed childhood memory that makes me crave them).
I am really hoping for a half decent BBQ joint or really good fried chicken on the way....
2011 Jul 27
HHH, agreed, I too am bored with some Canadian routes. For instance, for Buffalo and all parts west, I go through NY state, not the 401. Going east though, for me the routine of the drive to Mtl is outweighed by the joy of being on the 10E and 55S through the Townships. But then upstate NY where you'd be driving is nice too.
If, for whatever reason, your route after North Conway takes you through Sanford, ME, the House of Pizza is a must. Best in Maine. I would take this route if I was staying in Saco-Biddeford or anywhere west/south of that. If in OOB and all parts east/north, the 302/113/etc is your best bet.
If, for whatever reason, your route after North Conway takes you through Sanford, ME, the House of Pizza is a must. Best in Maine. I would take this route if I was staying in Saco-Biddeford or anywhere west/south of that. If in OOB and all parts east/north, the 302/113/etc is your best bet.
2011 Jul 27
There is a decent genuine smokehouse in Madrid NY, not far from Ogdensburg. And if you are looking for American style processed junk food (like PB crackers) stop in at any Stewart's. Lots of interesting packaged regional junk food (I like charleston chews) plus decent ice cream. And I also like their Stewart's Root Beer.
2011 Jul 28
In North Conway I would highly recommend Cafe Noche www.cafenoche.net
I have had an excellent meal there. Been in the town 16yrs.
Enjoy the drive, I would also recommend traveling the 302 if you can. I have hiked those mountains and they are beautiful.
I have had an excellent meal there. Been in the town 16yrs.
Enjoy the drive, I would also recommend traveling the 302 if you can. I have hiked those mountains and they are beautiful.
2011 Aug 2
Thanks for all of the feedback. For those of you interested, here are some notes:
We ended up eating at the following places, nothing fancy, nothing spectacular, but pretty solid. Our route was Ottawa-Ogdensburg-Plattsburg-Burlington-Montpelier-Littleton-North Conway-Old Orchard Beach.
I ran out of time to go to Portland.. and missed out on Nosh, which was a bummer.
- Positive Pie, Montpellier VT. Ho hum and expensive for what it was (mediocre pizza at best). Actually Montpelier was surprisingly lacking for dining options considering it is the state capitol. Will keep driving next time.
- Littleton Diner, Littleton NH. Very good little diner. Really good corned beef hash breakfast. Actually Littleton looked like a great place to hang out for a day or two.
- Tradewinds Cafe, Arundel ME. Awesome burgers with unique toppings. Awesome breakfast tacos. Eat outside, big plates, good staff, wicked chili.
- Lobster Shack, Cape Elizabeth ME. Pretty standard lobster/clam shack, except for the view which is unbeatable. Eat outside right on the rocky point under the light house.
- Hoss and Mary's, Old Orchard Beach ME. Counterservice sandwiches, hotdogs and burgers, etc. Man vs. Food stop. Everything was above-par to excellent, and priced fairly, considering the location. Mary went off-menu to satisfy my whiny 2 year-old which is a big plus. Fried lobster roll was tasty. Wasn't hungry enough to try the Manimal challenge.
- Jimmy The Greeks', Old Orchard Beach ME. Pub food, but done pretty well. Brick oven greek style pizza. Nice smokey dough, just crisp enough on bottom but chewy enough in the middle. One of the few places to get something that is not deep fried "fill in the blank" served with fries.
We ended up eating at the following places, nothing fancy, nothing spectacular, but pretty solid. Our route was Ottawa-Ogdensburg-Plattsburg-Burlington-Montpelier-Littleton-North Conway-Old Orchard Beach.
I ran out of time to go to Portland.. and missed out on Nosh, which was a bummer.
- Positive Pie, Montpellier VT. Ho hum and expensive for what it was (mediocre pizza at best). Actually Montpelier was surprisingly lacking for dining options considering it is the state capitol. Will keep driving next time.
- Littleton Diner, Littleton NH. Very good little diner. Really good corned beef hash breakfast. Actually Littleton looked like a great place to hang out for a day or two.
- Tradewinds Cafe, Arundel ME. Awesome burgers with unique toppings. Awesome breakfast tacos. Eat outside, big plates, good staff, wicked chili.
- Lobster Shack, Cape Elizabeth ME. Pretty standard lobster/clam shack, except for the view which is unbeatable. Eat outside right on the rocky point under the light house.
- Hoss and Mary's, Old Orchard Beach ME. Counterservice sandwiches, hotdogs and burgers, etc. Man vs. Food stop. Everything was above-par to excellent, and priced fairly, considering the location. Mary went off-menu to satisfy my whiny 2 year-old which is a big plus. Fried lobster roll was tasty. Wasn't hungry enough to try the Manimal challenge.
- Jimmy The Greeks', Old Orchard Beach ME. Pub food, but done pretty well. Brick oven greek style pizza. Nice smokey dough, just crisp enough on bottom but chewy enough in the middle. One of the few places to get something that is not deep fried "fill in the blank" served with fries.
hungry hungry hippo
It looks like a bit of a wasteland from Ogdensburg (from Manotick actually) all the way to North Conway. Can anyone tell me different.
I have 2 adventurous young ones, and love diners, junk food, oddities, and locally significant foods/locales. I've already tabled a few DDD and Man vs. Food spots, but they are all in Maine.
Thanks in advance... HHH