Breakfast Menu "Friendly's" South Portland
Informal chain serving signature ice cream treats alongside American classics like burgers & melts.
Friendly's, 210 Maine Mall Rd, South Portland, ME 04106
Photos
All
Videos
Menu
Vibe
French fries
By owner
Street View & 360°
Services
Service options
Highlights
Popular for
Accessibility
Offerings
Dining options
Amenities
Atmosphere
Crowd
Planning
Payments
Children
User Reviews
I love Friendly's, the food is always killer and the dessert is even better! I had the mac n cheese burger with a side of the honey bbq sauce. It's honestly always the best burger I've ever had. Our waitress was on top of everything and super fast with taking and bringing our order, which was a huge lifesaver cause we were actually just passing by through a cruise port, and it's very limited time (and we were pushing it 😅) The only thing I do have to vent about was the disturbingly odd family behind us which is the only reason I knocked down the atmosphere. They were having borderline inappropriate interactions and conversations with each other, very loudly, I might add.
Seriously great food! We are from Illinois and only moved to Maine last year and we've been struggling to find restaurants we like here for some reason. Two of our favourite restaurants were Steak n Shake and Freddy's which made thin burgers and melts and had thin cut fries and shakes and we were sad to see there aren't any around. This place kind of helped us miss it less! It doesn't have the really thin cut fries or the meat and cheese patty melt but they have amazing food! The fries are great and fresh and actually contain salt. We were so skeptical because we've had trouble liking places but literally everything we ate there was amazing and we got a lot! The mozzarella sticks were perfect. They were hot, fresh, crispy and the cheese was so stringy and goey and I feel its hard to find good mozzarella sticks! I was wanting that burger and cheese melt I was used to and it wasn't on the menu but they were able to accommodate me and make it anyways which was awesome! My husband had the doritos cool ranch burger and he loved his too. Both cooked perfectly and we can tell the meat is good and fresh and doesn't take like frozen patties. The burgers were well seasoned as well. He also had onion rings and says the batter was amazing and they were crispy and perfect. My 3 year old son had mac and cheese with hot dogs. We don't have much to say about this because it was just a hot dog, nothing special and it was kraft mac and cheese but he enjoyed his meal. Lastly we had Sundays! They had a qr code on the table for new people to join their rewards which I did and that got me a free medium Sunday. Since my husband ordered that burger which was a special he got a free small Sunday and I think the kids meal came with a free small Sunday as well so we all got free ice cream which was really unexpected but great. The ice cream was also perfect. We liked each version we got and really can't wait to come back again. Overall we had a great experience and we are really looking forward to coming back and hoping the next visit is just as good as the first!
Our first time to a Friendly's. They were short staffed, but you'd never know it. Our server was able to make everyone feel welcome without showing any stress she might be feeling. Such a positive and friendly person. I had a BLT with great fries, and spouse had a burger and fries. Most were delicious. Got little sundae cups to go. What a deal that was. Three little cups of ice cream cake for $4.99. Wish we had one near my home.
The food was really good. The soda was carbonated and tasted great. Service, once I got it, was friendly and fast. What rained on my parade was the drive thru was closed. I had just spent the past 10 hours in and out of airports, on and off planes. I didn't really want to go in. I just wanted to fill my stomach and go back to my room. (end whining) I saw the hiring sign and figured it would make sense to close either the dining room or drive thru if they don't have staff. It was confusing when I walked in. There's a vestibule type room with a counter. It said "fountain". I'm not from here. I have never been to a Friendlies. So I didn't know if you wanted a to go order, you go there. That's okay. Now, what I had an issue with was when I went to the "wait to be seated" podium. I stood there for about 5 minutes. At least 4 different staff walked by one of the many doors. They practiced what I call "can't see you". That's when they look anywhere but at you. Or they keep their eyes averted to make sure you can't get their attention. A simple "welcome. Someone will be with you shortly" would have pretty much fixed having to stand for a bit. But I did not get any form of acknowledgment. Normally, I'd leave. But I just wanted food and to go to sleep. Its late. I don't know my way around. It's this or whatever the hotel pantry has. Finally sometime came out of the back. I asked to place a to go order. She told me where to go. Nothing exciting. She wasn't unpleasant. So I went back to the "fountain". The girl running the register was friendly. It took a while, not super long, for my order to come. Which is fine. I'd prefer it be fresh. What irritated me further was I watched 3 staff in the back right hand side check phones and not move. Like just standing. The people on the left were bustling about. The register girl is restocking as well as taking orders as well as packing and delivering orders. The other young person was cleaning and helping make ice cream orders. The 3 still haven't moved. The 2 cooks, yes 2, we're slinging out food, cleaning and restocking. 1 of the 3 moved enough to look at orders. The other 2 still just standing. At this point, it's not that they need more help, they need better management so everyone pulls the weight of a busy restaurant and can help where it's needed when it's needed.
The waiter who finally came over to take out drink orders after 20 minutes was super nice, we patiently waited and the restaurant wasn't even half full. The hostess forgot to tell him that she had seated us. The food was VERY overcooked and none of us are much, I paid and we left because I didn't want to cause a scene.
Friendlies have become too few and far between locations. Absolutely great being able to visit today.
It over all was a terrible experience. We were sat down we got drinks and then it took the waitress a long freaking time to come take our order even though we were one of the only tables in there and once she did it took a little bit to get our meal and then when we were finished we wanted our dessert and she kept walking by our table as the dirty dishes stacked up in front of our mom and she didn't even bother to take them and she only took our order because we were being loud in that very moment and then she still left the dirty dishes pilled up in front of my mom and when we gave her our cards with our checks when they came back come to find out every one payed for different orders. Such a terrible experience. Friendlys used to be my favorite restaurant.
They were super busy but still got my to-go order out within 20 mins! That was a win in my book on a Saturday afternoon! The girl at the counter was super sweet! Food was great!