The Local Press

Welcome to yuppieville. I was excited to see they had Maine Root soda, I popped in and picked up a few. They charge $ 2.48 per soda the most I’ve paid anywhere else was $ 1.80. Sandwiches have been great every time I’ve had them but I don’t like feeling ripped off. I’ll go elsewhere for my needs.

Cozy, tiny and friendly sandwich spot. I ordered the «Black Friday» press which was Turkey, Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, Cheddar and Mayo. Very delicious! They had a lot of other good looking sandwiches and soups. I was just passing through Portland, but if I came back this way I would defintely stop in for another lunch here.

Another great meal at the local press. Had the Endless summer sambo w/​local goat cheese, red peppers, and spinach; fantastic.
Owner/​Creator is still making sandwiches and soups worth the trip.
If your in Portland, you need to check this place out.

Everything I could want in a sandwich shop and more! Panini sandwiches made on terrifically fresh bread, fresh sliced cold cuts and local produce fixings.
We were headed home, looking for a non-​chain, health conscious lunch option when Unilocal suggested this shop and we were not disappointed!
I would recommend this shop to anyone looking for a fresh meal with a dash of character and made-​to-​order deliciousness.

Such a great sandwich shop! Everyone working was so friendly to us.
I loved how small and local the shop was. There were about five tables total, and we got there just before the lunch rush started coming in.
I had a veggie sandwich that was fantastic! I wish I would have tried one of the specials of the day, though.
Overall, it was great and quick and a perfect way to start our Maine vacation!

I love this sandwich shop. The owner is warm and friendly and the sandwiches are made fresh in front of you. It’s fast too. I’ve never been in where there has been a line though. There are two or three small tables inside if you want to eat. No outdoor seating. Easy street parking.

Local Press is simply AMAZING!!! My hubby and I have had sandwiches here a bunch of times since moving to Maine a few months ago.
The ingredients are so fresh and the guy behind the sammys and paninis (the owner?) is so nice.
We have tried almost everything on the menu and nothing has disappointed yet. They manage to make a panini gooey and delicious without being a drippy nightmare!
I almost don’t want to tell people how good they are so they don’t get too busy because it is a tiny place!

Came here because of the great Unilocal reviews and was not let down. We had a beech street sandwich and a islander, both of which were extremely delicious and hit the spot. We took turns dipping our sandwich in a Caribbean soup called the run down, which should not be missed. Cookies were killer as well. The owner also gave us great tips on local beer breweries and was an all around pleasant guy.

I picked up take out from here, and while it’s not the best in the area, it’s good. They have a lot of standard options and some twists on the classics. It is perfect if you have a mix of tastes in your dining party. And all the paninis had a healthy portion of meat.
Paninis we ordered:
1) The Good Life: Too sweet for my tastes, but a solid sandwich.
2) Back Shore: Good, but the balance was a bit off. The brie and blue cheese combo overwhelmed the other ingredients a tad. The grape-​balsamic combo was a winner!
3) Old Fashioned: The pepper relish was the highlight. Not for the faint of heart.

This review is based solely on the $ 2 upcharge for the gluten-​free bread on sandwiches. The quality and taste of their sandwiches are pretty delicious. However, some of us in the world cannot tolerate gluten. And, one of the hardest situations to navigate is where to get a great sandwich, on GF bread. Now, while I understand the GF substitution cost, you would think that paying $ 2 the quality of the replacement would be incredible. But, the GF bread did not hold up. I typically LOVE the sandwiches at the local press, but this was a fail. The bread fell apart into a soggy mess. It was not pressed long enough as the cheese was not melted.
Perhaps replace the bread options? OR offer free GF replacement? OR find another brand of GF bread that works better with the great meats, cheese, veg and toppings that the local press has to offer… Either way, unless the upcharge for the GF replacement changes or is eliminated, I will have to cross THP off my list of places to go. It is frustrating when you feel penalized because of a health/​dietary restriction.

I’ve avoided writing this lukewarm review for a while cause I want to love the local press, and I certainly want it to stick around… but I’m always a little underwhelmed while the wallet is a little overwhelmed. I think my problem is of the «it’s not you, it’s me» variety due to my preference for vegetarian food. There are only a couple vegetarian sandwiches and they are not terribly exciting. I’ve had the Endless Summer and Caprese sandwiches. They are as expensive as the meaty sandwiches and come out looking much slimmer… and leave me feeling like I could have made it at home just as well. They are just not that flavorful.
So bottom line, I’ll recommend The Local Press to meat-​eaters, but not enthusiastically to vegetarians. There is a lot to love — the friendly service, the quality ingredients, the atmosphere. And when they put a great vegetarian sandwich on the menu, I’ll add on a star or two!

Goodness Gracious! Thank you, Unilocal!
These guys have earned all 5 stars — friendly, cheerful, talented, reasonable. Got a Big O and a Southshore — both were creative and delicious. Topped off with a couple of Ginger Brews from Maine Root and my taste buds are dancing.

Our flight arrived in Portland around lunch time, so we checked Unilocal for a local place and decided on The Local Press. They did not disappoint! The sandwiches, salad, and soup were all amazing, especially the chowder. The owner was making the sandwiches, and he was so nice. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a delicious lunch or light dinner.

Had one of the best random sandwich experiences of our traveling life here. Thank god for Unilocal; we could have ended up at a crappy strip mall hellhole en route to Acadia.
The owner was all hospitality and excited to tell us the provenance of both the ingredients and the location. Everything here is made with love– we had a Caribbean root vegetable chowder (!), and two veggie sandwiches whose names elude me– We were too busy smacking our chops and anticipating the insane blueberry crumble cheesecake the other guy made. (It was worth the calories).
The owner lives around the corner and has extensive restaurant experience, and it shows. There is nothing extraneous here, yet everything you want for a great lunch, including quality, artisanal beverages.
If you fly into PWM, this amazing spot is a 10 min drive into a COOL neighborhood (Brooklynish) and on your way to the highways if heading down east.

The best sandwich shop in New England. Great vibe! Awesome service! Amazing food! Fresh and Innovative menu!
Only 1 suggestion:
In order to be truly Portland worthy, needs BEER…

Four stars, with a potential for five.
A great little sandwich shop right past Woodford’s Corner. Sandwiches are creative and well-​prepared, ingredients are fresh. Service is prompt and friendly. What more could you want?
The only thing I can think of is a ½ sandwich and a ½ soup combo. It seems like a great deal of their posted menu is customizable, but I didn’t see this as an option. I’d love to try the creative soup options they offer, but I always feel like the soup will be too little, but with the sandwich it’ll be too much. FOMO. And being still hungry or too full.
Otherwise, it’s a great little (emphasis on little: 3 to 4 tables, 2 bar stools) place. Much better place to grab and go than to count on getting a seat. I just need to remember that they aren’t open on Mondays.
Perhaps I’ll give it 5 stars when I try the soup option? I swear I’ll try it next time.

Just came back from lunch.
Great place for doing so. They have a few little tables and a counter with two cozy leather stools.
My friend and I (vegetarians) got a bag of sea-​salt and vinegar chips (my fav) and 2 sandwiches.
Caprese– homemade basil pesto with local tomato, fresh mozzarella and provolone. I didn’t get to try, but she said it was completely flavorless.
Endless Summer– homemade basil pesto, roasted red pepper, organic baby spinach, local goat cheese, and provolone.
It was good, but I was not floored. Definitely packed with spinach, on nice soft bread, and everything tasted very fresh. The pesto could use more garlic– or something– maybe salt. Just needed to amp the flavor a bit.
I’m sure there are much better options for meat eaters.
Two guys behind the counter– one seemed annoyed with our very presence and one overly excited about it! A little odd.

Found the press through Unilocal and how could we turn down a five star recommended establishment? Glad we followed the wise praise from prior Press customers.
Based on prior reviews my two colleagues and I ordered 3 Flips Rubens and 3 run down soups.
First the soup, OMG! Excellent use of curry, coconut milk and root veggies. We loved it, and the soup had just the right of heat (flavor) to complement the broth.
The Rubens were scrumptious. They use boars head meats and the bread, was out of this world delicious.
So, I highly recommend this place and it is worth seeking out. We drove through a neighborhood to find it and are glad we did.
One tip, the place is small. Not great if you plan to camp out with a large group and eat in. There are a few small tables and two seats at the counter. We were lucky to grab three of the six chairs in the place. All the local hipster came and went with smiles on their faces and, I’m sure, satisfied taste buds.

Moved into the Glenwood neighborhood about 6 months ago, and The Local Press has quickly, and with good reason become my favorite lunch spot in town!
Amazing quality ingrediants — Bores Head meats, and the softest breads I’ve sunk my teeth into. The owner Casey, not only being a cool-​welcoming dude, is a true craftsman with his sandwiches & soups.
Being on a diet, I haven’t explored the whole menu yet, but my tried & true recommendations are: The Dude (Turkey, bacon, avocado, etc), and The Good Fella* ** (a must have) sandwich! Get a Rundown– spicy Caribbean chowder on the side, plus a coconut water (my drink of many more choices there), and thank me later!
Enjoy — CK

Was I the only one not completely impressed by this place? It’s good, don’t get me wrong, but I can’t warrant my one visit there to a review over 3.5 stars.
The food was pretty good. Nothing really blew my mind, but they really know how to make a sandwich. I had the Reuben, which was fantastic. The bread was fluffy and they are generous with their meats. Plus, the guy making the sandwiches was very flexible and will truly make this sandwich unique just for you.
I had a chance to try their soup, and it was very unique. I do not remember the name, but it was a spicy broth combined with coconut milk. A small cup was ~$ 5, but its’ definitely unlike anything you’ll have elsewhere in Portland. I also had a chance to try the chocolate milkshake, which was nothing special, but still good nonetheless. I wanted to try a PB, Bacon, and Banana shake they had, but it was in the neighborhood of $ 7-​$ 8, and I could not throw that on top of my ~$ 9 sandwich and ~$ 5 soup.
Maybe I’m just not hipster enough for this place. Or maybe I just like paying less for lunch ($ 15 for lunch isn’t my style). But I have to be the one that breaks the 5-​star streak for this place. I recommend giving this place a try, because maybe it’s simply not for me (I’m more of a Po Boys and Pickles guy). But make sure to check their hours; they close early and aren’t even open on certain other days (Sun and Mon I believe).