The Friendly Toast.....YUM!

This past weekend, my friend S and I took a day trip to Portland, Maine. I had been there a few months ago for the first time, with my friend M. For my Christmas present last year, he had gotten me tickets to a Portland Pirates minor league hockey game.....a very thoughtful gift. He knew my dad and I used to go see Hershey Bears games when I was growing up. Very sweet. Anyway, we didn't have much time to explore Portland before the game, but what I did see, I dug. I've been wanting to go back to check it all out.

We left around 10:30am for the almost hour and a half drive. We didn't really have a set schedule...we were just going to wander around. On the way to Portland, you drive through Portsmouth, New Hampshire, another very cool little town. Two years ago, on a similar road trip, I had done a little research about Portsmouth online beforehand, and found this really interesting sounding restaurant. It's called the Friendly Toast. First of all, LOVE the name. The descriptions online sounded great. It was a must visit for me. When we arrived, I was not at all disappointed! It's kind of a kitschy comfort food diner type place. Lots of old toys, games, tchotchkes, and advertisements hanging on the walls.....very retro. Many of the servers are inked up and sporting various piercings. There's always fun stuff to look at! And the food knocked my socks off. It's usually a good sign when you go to a restaurant and there is always a line out the door.

Well, needless to say there was discussion of taking a detour through Portsmouth either on the way to Portland or on the way home. If we're this close, it's unacceptable to not stop and pay a visit to the FT. So about halfway there, we both decided we would need to stop on the way for a hearty breakfast. We needed something to fuel us for all the walking we would be doing on the cobblestone streets of Portland. I think this visit, I had my most favorite meal there to date. A breakfast sangwich on thickly sliced homemade bread (buttered of course). On it, eggs over medium and cheddar cheese. This was not a sammy to be picked up and eaten (I tried with my first bite and could tell it would be a messy proposition....better to use a knife and fork!). Simple....but very tasty. However, not as tasty as the famous Friendly Toast home fries. Now, my dad makes some extremely good home fries. Always a request when I'm home visiting my family. He uses all the spices and the old, seasoned cast iron skillet....the whole nine. I never thought anyone could top my dad's special recipe. Don't tell him, but FT's home fries blow his out of the water. They are perfect....with lots of crispy bits, which is the best part. I could eat vats of those tators. I'm sure they are about a gazillion calories but I don't care......If you're ever nearby (or even not nearby), you MUST check this place out.