On the other side of the Androscoggin River from Maine’s second-largest city, Lewiston, is the equally-robust Auburn.
Together, the two neighboring cities make up the L-A area, complementing each other in culture and business ventures in Androscoggin County.
Another constant in the L-A area is food. Similar to Lewiston, Auburn has a robust collection of restaurants from which to select.
Map of Auburn Restaurants
This useful map shows off all of the Auburn restaurants mentioned in this post:
Gippers Sports Grill
New England, by nature, is rich with its sports fans. Whether it’s football, basketball, baseball, or hockey, there’s a major – or minor – league team for you.
It isn’t just a place to cheer on your favorite team. Gippers Sports Grill has arguably some of the friendliest staff.
It really doesn’t matter if you’re squeezing in just before the Superbowl kickoff, or just trying to find sustenance with a super-sized, teething baby on an odd Tuesday night.
You’re treated with respect, friendliness, and a darn good meal.
Gippers has all the sports grill food you would imagine, with an easy homerun, every time.
The standard burger is 6 ounces of fresh ground sirloin, and would be fantastic alone, before any add-ons even come into play.
Stay on the green with a more traditional burger with the Philly Burger, made with grilled onions, green peppers, and American cheese, or try something a little different with the Danica burger, which is a 3-oz veggie burger of roasted corn, roasted peppers, and black beans.
Location: 120 Center St, Auburn, ME 04210
Website: Gippers Sports Grill
Gritty McDuff’s
It’s nearly impossible to live or travel in Maine and not have heard of Gritty McDuff’s.
With locations in Freeport, Portland, and Auburn, this brewpub has worked hard to earn a name for itself.
Located just over the Lewiston/Auburn town line, Gritty’s Auburn location opened in 2005 beside the Androscoggin River.
Not only are diners treated to beautiful riverfront views, but the working brewery is also walled off by glass, so a customer can watch the heart of the brewpub beating.
As one can imagine, many of the food selections have beer as one of their ingredients.
For example, one of the toppings available on their wings and chicken tenders is their Black Fly Stout BBQ sauce, their pickle chips are ale-battered, and their breadsticks are created from a herb-seasoned beer dough.
However, Gritty’s fare isn’t limited to their amazing appetizers. If you’re in the mood for a hearty burger or sandwich, you’ve come to the right place.
Their sandwich menu includes turkey clubs, pulled pork sandwiches, and the Mainely Maine Chicken Sandwich, which is seasoned grilled chicken served on a ciabatta roll with greens, smoked bacon, onion, smoked gouda, and BBQ sauce.
And their burgers have toppings galore, including bacon, chili, jalapenos, Cajun or BBQ sauce, banana peppers, and many, many kinds of cheeses.
Location: 68 Main St, Auburn, ME 04210
Website: Gritty McDuff’s
Rolly’s Diner
In the mood for breakfast? It really doesn’t matter what time of day the breakfast craving strikes—Rolly’s Diner is ready to serve.
Their breakfast menu is comprehensive, from traditional egg sandwiches to heartier meals, such as the Big Steak Breakfast, with eggs and a 6 oz ribeye steak with the choice of baked beans, cottage fries, home fries or potato pulls, as well as the choice of a crepe, French toast, two pancakes or toast—and coffee.
Speaking of crepes, one of Rolly’s most popular dishes is Memere Blais Crepes, made from scratch. Choose plain, with butter and syrup, or filled with pie filling and topped with whipped cream.
Following her great grandmother Memere Blais’ recipe, Sadie developed the popular Sadie’s Crepes, which is a chocolate crepe filled with Bavarian cream and served with a taste of raspberry and chocolate sauce.
For those who aren’t in the breakfast mood later in the day, Rolly’s Diner has the traditional lunch fare consisting of hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, and a lobster roll.
Again, for bigger appetites, they also have several dinner style ‘melt’ platters, including a tuna melt, a chicken cordon bleu melt, and the patty melt, which is a 4-oz hamburger on Texas-style toast and topped with crumbled bacon, cheese, and an egg cooked over easy and put on top.
Location: 87 Mill St, Auburn, ME 04210
Website: Rolly’s Diner
The Firehouse Grill Restaurant
Some of the best, most creative meals have been born in the kitchens of firehouses across the country.
If they didn’t cook for themselves while on shift, firefighters would never have the strength and energy to protect their community.
In 2011, two members of the Auburn Fire Department opened a neighborhood pub, decorating it with donated firefighter memorabilia.
It has since been purchased by Gerry Gagne and Mike Peters, but the Firehouse Grill still serves the community with amazing pub fare.
The Firehouse Grill has a handful of different sauces, from traditional sauces such as Sweet Chili and Teriyaki, but for a smoking hot option, try the two-alarm House Buffalo Sauce, the three-alarm Spicy Hot Sauce, or the four-alarm Face Melter Sauce.
Any of those sauces are the perfect complement to their chicken wings or chicken tenders.
Or if you’d rather have a different appetizer, try their pretzels with cheese sauce, nachos, or spinach and artichoke dip.
They also have a variety of sandwiches and burgers, but for a heartier appetite, their Firehouse Steak Tips, Homemade Mac and Cheese, or Chicken Teriyaki Stir-Fry are sure to please.
Or, try one of their Firehouse Flats—these dishes consist of thin-crust flatbread topped with one of several options, such as BBQ chicken and bacon, buffalo chicken, or Philly steak and cheese.
Location:47 Broad St, Auburn, ME 04210
Website: The Firehouse Grill
Pinky D’s Poutine Factory
One of the best culinary delights that trickled down from Canada is poutine: French fries topped with brown gravy and cheese curds. And while it sounds simple, it takes real talent to honor the traditional Canadian specialty.
Pinky D’s knows how to make a good batch of poutine.
They’ve had plenty of practice, though. Once solely offered from their traveling food truck, Pinky D’s finally put down stakes in Auburn and opened a permanent, indoor food truck called The Poutine Factory, located in the same building as Side by Each Brewing Company.
Of course, the Poutine Factory doesn’t just end with that three-ingredient classic. Their standard menu has almost 30 different poutine flavor combinations.
How about the Vampire Slayer: fries, curds, and gravy, with garlic butter sauce and scallions. Or the Caprese, which consists of fries, fresh mozzarella, tomato bruschetta, and balsamic. Want more variety?
Their poutine combinations can also be topped with more cheese curds, fried curds, pork belly, grilled chicken, and more.
In the rare instance that one might not be (gasp) in the mood for poutine, they have a selection of grilled sandwiches, wings, and bacon-wrapped pretzels.
Location: 1110 Minot Ave, Auburn, ME 04210
Website: Pinky D’s Poutine Factory
84 Court Pizza & Restaurant
Located in the heart of Auburn and conveniently named for its address, 84 Court is a family-owned and operated restaurant, with the goal of making everyone feel like family.
The restaurant is run by the Suli family, who emigrated to Maine from Albania.
They have had extensive experience in the food and beverage industry, and for the last ten years, they have been firmly committed to making sure all guests feel welcome and at home at 84 Court.
You can dine in the comfort of the cozy stone hearth in their upstairs dining room, outdoors on their expansive deck, or you can simply order carryout to share with friends and family at home.
They also offer catering options for your family gatherings and special occasions.
Their menu boasts several traditional Greek and Italian options, from gyros and souvlaki all the way to lasagna and ziti.
If you’re not in the mood for pasta or Greek fare, try any of their specialty pizzas, which can all be made gluten-free if you so desire.
If you’d rather stick with American food, be sure and check out their burgers, grinders, and sandwiches. Don’t forget to bring the kids, as their kid’s menu is sure to please even the pickiest of eaters!
Location: 84 Court St, Auburn, ME 04210
Website: 84 Court Pizza & Restaurant
Family Time Dine and Play
Looking for a place for the kids to have some fun while you relax and grab a quick meal? Family Time Dine and Play is the answer.
Located within the Auburn Mall, this is a place that’s fun for the whole family.
Their menu consists of American food that will be sure to refuel you after hours of fun. Grab a burger or a sandwich, or order a pizza or two for the family to enjoy together between playtime.
Reasonably priced activity passes will get you access to the bounce house and slide for the kids. If you’re looking to play some arcade games that are fun for folks of all ages, you can snag some prepaid game cards so you can start winning some tickets.
Location: 550 Center St, Auburn, ME 04210
Website: Family Time Dine and Play
Pat’s Pizza
Pat’s Pizza has been a staple in Maine for many years, and in Auburn since 1985. The original location in Orono, which opened in 1931, is still a favorite among the students at the University of Maine to this day.
Those who frequent the Auburn location can enjoy the ambiance of the wood-paneled dining room and bar, or the expansive outdoor patio overlooking the Androscoggin River.
Start off with a few appetizers from the “Munchies” section of the menu. The Pizza’Chos are a fun combination of pizza and nachos, including white corn chips, pepperoni, and of course, loads of cheese.
Enjoy a salad or a wrap if you’re in the mood for something light.
Try a sandwich or a pasta dinner if you want something more substantial. But don’t forget the reason why Pat’s Pizza is so beloved: their famous pizza.
Create your own pizza by choosing the size and the crust, and the toppings from their “traditional” or “gourmet” sections. Not feeling creative? No worries! They’ve got you covered.
You can also choose from their specialty or gourmet pizza sections, and all their pizzas make great leftovers.
Come see what “The Original of Orono” is all about!
Location: 85 Center St, Auburn, ME 04210
Website: Pat’s Pizza
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