The Friendly Toast

While most Roadfood restaurants have a particular dish or two to draw our attention, the Friendly Toast masters the entire meal of breakfast.

Don’t be alarmed if you think you have walked into the wrong establishment – on initial glance, it can seem you have entered a funky vintage store in downtown Portsmouth. Supersized, retro artifacts such as oversize bottle caps and posters cover the walls floor to ceiling, reminding us of the quintessential brands of last century. To top it off, tables, chairs and place settings are mix and match, adding to the homey ambiance. There is much to see, and the casual service of the retro-chic wait staff gives you plenty of time to soak in the ambiance.

Breakfast all-day is the most popular meal, and locals fill the place from the morning through the late evening (open 24 hours during weekends.) The Friendly Toast is one of the rare restaurants where every dish I have tried is one I’d order again. The ingredients are fresh, full of flavor, and remind me of a home-cooked meal my grandmother would spend a day preparing.

Bread is made on the premises and is used for sandwiches and delightfully thick French toast. Be sure to order home fries to accompany any plate. The al-dente potatoes are sliced thin, mixed in with caramelized onions and a little bit of spicy red pepper to awaken any sleepy morning tastebuds. The bacon, egg and cheese sandwich was served with a cooked-to-order runny egg and lean bacon on a piping hot toasted English muffin. Omelets are light and fluffy and filled with a fresh selection of ingredients.

Thank you to Chris & Amy for the recommendation. Located only 5 minutes from I-95 in New Hampshire (and only a 60 minute drive from Boston), the Friendly Toast is now a stop en route of my annual pilgrimage to Maine.