The Palace Diner Biddeford Maine

Last time we were "down Maine" we pulled up to the Palace in Biddeford right as they were turning the sign in the window from Open to Closed (note: 2pm every day) so this time we were prepared and arrived early!

Even though we and others had to wait outside to eat in this tiny 15-seater counter-only diner, it was worth it.

Built in 1927 in Lowell MA by the Pollard diner company, this cheery red and black diner with minty interior has spent her entire life in Biddeford (pronounced - in my fam at least - Bidd-eh-fid :-))

She has been given a new lease on life in the past few years by owners Greg Mitchell and Chad Conley. The menu is small, but well done diner classics with a slight twist, with an emphasis on quality ingredients. Oh, and they have beer, too!

My fave were the Palace potatoes - lil' red guys, cooked whole, smashed flat and grilled skin-on. Salty little tubers, perfect with some over easy egg yolk atop.

Retro Roadhusband dug into his celebratory birthday Lumberjack breakfast (and he's OK) pictured above, and the not-too-daring-in-the-food-department Retro Roadnephew was quite proud that he drank all of his freshly squeezed orange juice without ONCE complaining about the pulp-!

One neat touchstone moment was in chatting diner history with the friendly gal at the counter, she pulled out a well worn copy of Good Old Maine by Will Anderson, a book that has been in Mod Betty's own library since it was published in 1993.

Will Anderson is known to many in the diner/roadside world as the author of many books including New England Roadside Delights and Mid Atlantic Roadside Delights (which I often in shorthand refer to as NERD and MARD)

Sadly, Mr. Anderson passed away just last year, but in taking out my copy of "GOM" for research, I see that the back cover shows Will at this very same diner, with the caption proclaiming it his favorite State of Maine Diner. Nice when the worlds connect, over the decades.

Thought to be the oldest operating diner in Maine!

Open for breakfast and lunch, cash only.