Groceries

One of the nice things about the house is that you have a real, fully equipped kitchen at your disposal…so use it! Stock up on breakfast supplies, make sandwiches for the beach, cook dinner for everyone, or pick up some local seafood and make a night of it.

There are several full-size chain grocery stores nearby, so you have options depending on what you’re looking for.

Market Basket

220 Mariner Way, Biddeford, ME 04005

Usually the best bet for keeping the grocery bill reasonable. Market Basket is just over the river in Biddeford and is a good choice for a full grocery run.

Hannaford

532 Main Street, Saco, ME 04072

A convenient full-service grocery store right in Saco, with everything you’d expect for a regular grocery run. Hannaford also offers grocery pickup and delivery if you’d rather have someone else do the shopping.

Shaw’s

4 Scamman Street, Suite 10, Saco, ME 04072

Another full-service option in Saco, with a deli, bakery, meat and seafood departments, and the usual grocery staples.

Looking for something a little more local?

There are also several specialty food shops, farm stands, farmers’ markets, and smaller local markets in the area that are worth checking out, especially if you’re looking for Maine-made products, good seafood, or something a little more interesting than the standard grocery run.

We’ve put some of those recommendations in the Local & Specialty Food section below.

If you want to make the most of that kitchen, there are a few places nearby that are worth knowing about. These are especially good for Maine seafood, local products, specialty foods, and things that are a little more fun than a standard grocery-store run.

On The Vine Marketplace

591 US Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074

A good stop when you’re looking for something a little nicer than the usual grocery run. On The Vine is a local market with a butcher, bakery, deli, seafood, prepared foods, and specialty groceries. It’s a particularly good option if you want to pick up something easy for dinner or find some interesting things to cook at the house.

[Website]

Pine Tree Seafood

655 US Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074

If you’re thinking “we’re in Maine, let’s actually eat some Maine seafood,” this is a great place to start. Pine Tree has fresh seafood, lobster, smoked seafood, prepared foods, and other local products that are great for bringing back to the house. They also have takeout if you decide you’d rather let someone else do the cooking.

[Website]

Reny’s

4 Scamman Street, Saco, ME 04072

Reny’s is a Maine institution. “A Maine Adventure”, they call themselves, and one of those stores where you can go in looking for one thing and come out with six things you didn’t know you needed. It’s a good place for vacation odds and ends, clothing, beach supplies, household items, snacks, gifts, and plenty of other miscellaneous treasures. Reny’s has fantastic prices, so everything from odds and ends to snacks and coffee grounds will be incredibly priced.

[Website]

More Local Favorites

…

…

…

There are plenty of good places to eat around Saco, Camp Ellis, Old Orchard Beach, and Biddeford. These are a few of our local favorites to keep in mind when you don’t feel like cooking, or when everyone has had enough leftovers for one day.

A note about summer hours: Some of these spots are seasonal, and hours can change throughout the year. It’s always worth checking the restaurant’s website or calling before you leave to make sure they’re open and serving what you’re looking for.

Camp Ellis General Store & Lobster Pound

23 Main Avenue, Saco

Right down in Camp Ellis, this is a great option for a very casual Maine meal. They have lobster rolls, cooked or live lobster, breakfast, sandwiches, coffee, pastries, and other beach-day essentials. It’s also an easy place to grab something and take it down to the beach.

Huot’s Seafood Restaurant

29 Eastern Avenue, Saco

A longtime Camp Ellis favorite, Huot’s is the place to go for classic Maine seafood in a very casual setting. Think fried seafood, fried clams, scallops, haddock, lobster rolls, chowder, and generous portions. There’s outdoor seating and a waterfront feel that makes this a particularly good summer dinner.

Sea Salt Lobster

660 Main Street, Saco

A good option when you want seafood but something a little more restaurant-like. Sea Salt has lobster rolls, whole lobster dinners, fried seafood, haddock, clams, and other Maine seafood favorites.

The Garage BBQ

3 East Grand Avenue, Scarborough — Pine Point

For when you’re craving something other than seafood! The Garage BBQ serves smoked meats and classic BBQ fare in Pine Point, and it’s a good takeout or casual-dinner option after a day at the beach. Definitely check before heading over, especially early or late in the season.

Taquería 207

2 Ocean Park Road, Old Orchard Beach

A casual, counter-service Mexican spot with tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and other Mexican favorites. It’s a good choice when the group needs a break from New England seafood. Taquería 207

Thai ME

144 Main Street, Biddeford

A good downtown Biddeford option for Thai food, with curries, noodle dishes, stir-fries, and other Thai favorites. A nice choice for takeout when you want an easy dinner at the house without ordering the usual pizza or seafood.

Portland Pie Company

40 Main Street, Biddeford

Pizza night! The Biddeford Portland Pie is in the Pepperell Mill Campus and offers dine-in, takeout, and a wide range of pizzas and other casual food. A pretty easy option for feeding a group with different tastes. Portland Pie Company

Ocean Park Subs & Grocery

69 Seaside Avenue, Ocean Park

A great little beach-town stop for breakfast, lunch, sandwiches, wraps, lobster rolls, coffee, and their famously popular cinnamon buns. It’s seasonal — generally open May through October — so definitely check their current hours before heading over.

Time & Tide Coffee

35 Main Street, Biddeford

A great stop for coffee, espresso drinks, pastries, and light breakfast fare in downtown Biddeford. Time & Tide is a local coffee roaster with a bright, welcoming café on Main Street — a good place to grab coffee on the way to the beach, or to sit for a bit with a book or laptop. Their café is usually open daily, 7 a.m.–3 p.m., but check before you go for current hours.

Tami Lyn’s Place

126 West Grand Avenue, Old Orchard Beach

A very casual, family-run spot in Old Orchard Beach that’s part convenience store, part diner, and part beach-day lifesaver. They serve breakfast, sandwiches, pizza, seafood, lobster rolls, and other made-to-order favorites. It’s a good option when you want something easy, filling, and decidedly unfussy — especially for breakfast before heading to the beach. It’s seasonal, so definitely check current hours before heading over.

ADD Beach Lobster & Farmstand in OOB

ADD Lobster Claw

ADD Ocean Park Ice Cream
ADD Fielder’s Choice

ADD Rachel Carson, Eastern Rail Trail, Heath Walk, Maine Botanic Garden north of Portland, Portland, Freeport, Cascade Falls

Sherman’s Bookstore

Ocean Park something + OP Home

Ocean Park Books / used books

Tide Charts