By Dining Dierdree

72 Commercial St #5, Portland, ME 04101   (207) 772-8777

On a rainy dark and cold night all you can think about when you are out in the cold is getting back to the warmth. No better way than to pay a visit to the warmest place in Portland, Flatbreads! A wood-fired clay oven that not only heats your finger tips as you walk into the lobby but also doubles as the heat that sizzles the cheese to your pizza.

Coming into the warmth of the lobby and being greeted by the enigmatic smile of the hostess immediately put us at ease, and helped to keep us patient during the 25 minute wait for a seat. If you are interested in catching a meal on a rainy Saturday night, I suggest planning ahead and preparing for the wait, because everyone knows that Flatbreads is the place to fill their belly and their hearts.

With a completely open kitchen and nothing to hide, the chefs at Flatbreads take pride in both their presentation and the flavors that they put out in every meal. This seems to be a great combination that draws in crowds of all ages. From an older couple that looked like they had been together since the dawn of time, to a group of college friends going out for the night, to a mother with her two small children, Flatbreads was able to hold the attention of all.

Being a very large establishment with a back patio that looks over the pier you would think that there are not too many places to have a nice and cozy first date, if you are thinking that, you would be mistaken! Although the area is large and on a Saturday night very packed, there are plenty of comfortable booths and secret corners with low lighting that offers a sense of privacy and plenty of room for talk. Large tables here and there offer a great place to bring family for a night out or a lunch.

Since it’s a pizza place usually you would go there with the idea of sharing a large pie with friends, family, or your special someone. I brought my special someone out with me to help keep me warm and give me company, and we were very pleased with the meal we shared and the time we spent together. We decided to order a salad to share, and although I ended up with most of it on my plate, he enjoyed the fresh organic greens as well. With their homemade tangy ginger-tamari vinaigrette and sweet leafy greens, this all-organic salad added the freshness that my palette was craving and helped tame the growling of my stomach until our shared flatbread made it to the table.

We decided to stick to our standard pizza that we go with at any place we visit, and we got a half pepperoni half cheese.

Although you don’t just get a plain old half pep half cheese at Flatbreads, we went with the Jays Heart. The Jays Heart consists of a delicious base of their homemade wood-fired cauldron organic tomato sauce, which plays beautifully off of the mix of parmesan and mozzarella cheeses and the organic dough with garlic oil and organic herbs topped it off nicely. The pepperoni is homemade, nitrate free, adding some spice to our bite and was a nice easy addition for very little extra cost.

Leaving was not an easy thing to do that night, our stomachs were pleasantly stuffed and it was so cozy and warm, the whole place feeling as though it had been hugged by the embers of the wood-fired clay oven that heats the place up and makes it feel like home.

If you are keeping on a budget and want a nice night out with the family, or need a new place to call your new favorite, Flatbreads is an affordable and comfortable way to go. They welcome all sorts of crowds, but just remember to tip your waiter/waitress at least 15 – 20% and budget for that before you head out for the night. They work hard and most of their take home pay comes from whether or not they get tips. Be a good tipper and you will always be welcome back for another visit, in any foodie central in town.

Till our next bite…