For years I’ve been searching for Maine’s sandwich. Sorry, but a “Real Italian” just don’t cut it for me. So far, O’Naturals has the best sandwich in Portland — The Wrangler — which will make your eyes water, but that’s for another review. Typically, when I crave a good sandwich I don’t venture out of Portland. After being tipped off to TreeHouse Cafe, a trip to Gorham was necessary.
The cafe and deli is just around the corner from the intersection of Rtes. 25 and 114. You’ll see the umbrellas outside and a sign that reads “The Sports Pill, Fine Food and Spirits coming soon.” The outside patio seats 12, and inside is additional seating for 16. There’s a deli case with meats, cheeses, desserts, salads and giant pickles and a drink refrigerator with a selection of Maine soda pops, Gatorades and American beers (Budweiser, PBR, Sam Adams, Mike’s Hard Lemonade).
The menu is huge — I counted 32 sandwiches. You might want to download it from www.themainemenu.com/content/view/85/35 if you’re at all indecisive.
Divided into four sections the menu features Herds, Birds, Hot Stuff and Herbs. The Herds section is where you’ll find the Italian ($6.59), which Chef Boyfriend ordered, ham & Swiss and other meaty sandwiches. Under Birds you’ll find turkey, chicken and tuna sandwiches including the California Turkey I ordered ($6.99). Hot Stuff is where you’ll find Anna’s Eggplant Parmesan, meatball & provolone, Red Pepper Reuben and other grilled sandwiches. Herbs is the spot for the vegetarians — The Earthy Crunchy (cucumbers, tomatoes, apple slices, sprouts, green peppers and sharp cheddar with homemade poppy-seed dressing for $4.39-5.29) is one of the five veggie sandwiches.
In addition to the sandwiches, of which I’m sure you’ll find a few to try, there are coffees, soups, chowders and salads. I ordered none of them as I was on a sandwich mission.
Chef boyfriend was pleasantly surprised with the inclusion of mortadella and capicola in his Italian, saying “you don’t usually find those in Italians.” We both loved the focaccia bread, which you pay a little extra for if you don’t want your sandwich made as a sub or on wheat or marble bread.
The California Turkey was filled with oven-roasted turkey, yellow cheddar, avocado, tomatoes and sprouts. It could have used a little zip, though — a pickle or some sort of vinegar-type dressing. While the sandwich was pretty damn good and I’d order it again, it doesn’t meet my strict criteria for necessary elements of a great sandwich.
I’m not complaining. I’d eat just about every sandwich on the menu — twice. Don’t let my egregiously high sandwich standards prevent you from hitting up this gem of a cafe. There’s truly something for everyone and the place has plenty of customers to prove it.