Do You Remember Carburs Restaurant In Portland’s Old Port?

Before Portland had a ZILLION top-notch restaurants and became a world-wide foodie destination, we had to settle for just a few great places. Places like The Village Cafe, Valle's Steak House, F. Parker Reidy's, Alberta’s, Ruby’s Choice, Hu Shang, Walters, Aubergine, Norm’s Una, and Horsefeathers. There was also a classic place on Middle Street called Carburs. This was one of my favorite places in the '80s with a menu 10 miles long!

We found some pictures of the Carburs menu in a fantastic Facebook group called "Portland Maine Encyclopedia of the 1960s, 70's and 80's. The sandwich descriptions are priceless!

Some people do not like big, giant long menus. But I LOVE it. The menu was a BOOK.  In fact, you could buy a copy of the Carburs menu for 75 cents. When they first opened, they sold out of the menus in two weeks!  And this is why Carburs was my spot. Did I always get the same thing? Yup. The "Down East Feast" was my jam. Carburs had over NINETY sandwiches on the menu.

Carburs opened in April of 1977. I loved that their sign outside had "Carburs;  Since 1977" which was kind of weird to see in 1981. They also had two floors of floor to ceiling plants. The place was irreverent, funky, and cool. And very yummy!

Here's what the location looks like today on Middle Street in the Old Port. I still think of Carburs every time I walk by! Thanks again to "Portland Maine Encyclopedia of the 1960s, 70's and 80's for bringing me back to this fantastic place.