Blueberries’ Bubba Biscuit. photos/Dan Zarin
Blueberries
4 Bowdoin Mill Island, Topsham
725-5100
blueberriesfood.com
Sometimes you have to get creative, even if it means driving to Topsham. Dining out has always been something my wife and I love to do together. Sharing a meal (without having to prepare it or clean up afterward) is our favorite way to connect after a busy day or a long week. But like many people, health concerns have kept us away from indoor dining since the start of the pandemic. And with winter weather approaching, decent outdoor dining options are hard to come by.
Enter the mini-roadtrip. We pick a location outside our typical bubble, grab some takeout from the place, and park somewhere with a nice view to enjoy our meal together. Our most recent destination was Blueberries, on Bowdoin Mill Island, where a Sea Dog brewpub also stands. It’s only about a half hour north of Portland, so calling it “worth the drive” hardly does it justice. But it totally was.
We placed our order online along the way, and just 15 minutes later we collected our food from the pickup window. Then we drove a few hundred yards, parked in a sunny spot overlooking the scenic Androscoggin River, and unwrapped our breakfast.
After a few sips of good, strong coffee ($2.39 small/$2.79 large), I started in on Blueberries’ signature sandwich, the Blueberry Sunrise ($7.99). If you’ve never had sausage, egg and cheese between two blueberry muffin-tops, you’re missing out. I devoured the salty-sweet flavor bomb in minutes.
My wife’s Bubba Biscuit ($7.99) was also outstanding. All the elements of this egg, bacon, cheddar and tomato sandwich were excellent, but the real star was the perfectly crisp, impossibly fluffy biscuit that held it all together.
On the side, we shared an order of homemade Corned Beef Hash ($6.99). The finely shredded meat, carrots and onions were well seasoned, with enough crispy bits to keep the texture interesting. Rather than mix in diced or shredded potatoes, Blueberries serves their hash over a bed of tater tots. While I appreciate the idea, the tots were soft by the time we ate them; I might order them on the side next time.
We finished our meal with an Apple Turnover ($5.99). Sweet, flaky, and more than big enough for two, it was a fitting ending to a tasty breakfast.
Blueberries’ breakfast menu offers an expansive selection of sandwiches, smoothies, tater-tot bowls, and baked goods. With so many tempting options — and a nice, quiet spot to sit and eat at our own private “table” — this place will be high on our list of mini-roadtrip destinations the next time we “dine out” together.
Blueberries is open Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
