Scratch Baking Company

Reviews

• Kate P.

  star star star star star 10 June 2026

  Scratch is a staple in Willard Square. When you walk in, to your right, you're greeted by a 10 foot table full of bagels, loaves of bread, dinner rolls, "snackers"- a carb lovers dream!!
  
  On your left, there's a great selection of wines in various price points. Keep walking past the bagel display and you're greeted by an unbelievable array of treats; cookies, tortes, brownies, blondies, you name it! Make one more turn and you're at the coffee and sandwich bar. This place has everything you need!!
  
  Running late and need a breakfast that will carry through your crazy Monday? A salt bagel and herb cream cheese. Maybe grab an orange juice to balance it out.
  
  Having a bad day? Grab a giant chocolate chip cookie. Can't be sad with a cookie in your hand.
  
  Need a pick me up? Grab a tugboat from the coffee bar and a pop tart scone.
  
  Running late and forgot lunch? Grab a pre-made, fresh and delicious salad from the cooler.
  
  Scratch is AMAZING!

• Crys S.

  star star star star star_border 6 June 2026

  I grew up in Portland. I now live in Cape Elizabeth. In the 10 years I was gone from town a whole universe of new places opened, but that doesn't mean I visited all of the old places before I left.
  
  It took me until I was a mom to make the time to find the best bakeries in town as inspiration for my own efforts at home. Few places are more inspirational when it comes to quality baked goods then scratch. The absolute only reason this does not receive 5 stars is the size of the store front. It is almost the size of a healthy walk in closet which means 90 plus percent of the time the line is majoritaly out the door in the parking lot.
  
  That said, it is completely worth bringing an umbrella for something to read and wait in the line. Whole loaves of bread as well as any number of muffins, cookies, croissants and other specialties. There are typically samples waiting at the register and they also have a coffee bar available. I've never had to order something in bulk or advance from here, but it would be the 1st place I think of if the need arose.

• Nora J.

  star star star star star_border 4 June 2026

  This is a very cute, local bakery. Definitely a place everyone would want for a neighborhood bakery.
  
  They have all the baked goods laid out for a come and take style.
  
  Far as their best sellers: bagels (the Maine sea salt and herb cream cheese is a great combo), chocolate chip cookies, spiced cookies, coconut cake, and ding dongs.
  
  Everything is very good, however, the bagels aren't the best I've had (as others have stated - very different texture yet very good, just not the best). Same goes for cookies...very good and worth the money but not the best.
  
  Right outside they have a few bike racks, along with a leash tie and water bowel for dogs. Very neighborhood friendly.

• Courtney G.

  star star star star star 23 May 2026

  I need this place to open up a store right next to my apartment in New York PLEASE !!!
  I read about this bakery on a blog post while planning my trip to Maine and knew I had to go. I stopped in around 9:30 on a Tuesday and there was no line and definitely enough bagels! I got the sea salt bagel and was going to get cream cheese to go with it but honestly it looked so good plain I just went with it and I was very happy. I also got a giant chocolate chip cookie and my boyfriend got some vegan almond chocolate chip cookie - both were excellent. We also got a coffee and ate it at the picnic tables outside.
  
  We loved this place SO much that we decided to try and stop on our way home from Acadia. We couldn't have driven any faster but unfortunately we got a late start to the day and didn't arrive till 530. They ran out of bagels at like 1 apparently so we were way too late. We decided to grab some food anyway as we were starving so we got the pesto pasta salad, the protein salad, and I got a brownie for the road.
  They also had a piece of coconut cake that was calling my name but I had to control myself *cries*
  
  I am so sad that I don't know when I'll be at this bakery again. It was the best bagel I have ever had .... and I'm from New Jersey! So that says a lot!!!!!
  
  PLEASE OPEN A LOCATION IN NEW YORK ID DIE HAPPY AND KEEP U IN BUSINESS JUST BY MYSELF !!!!

• Henry M.

  star star star star star 16 May 2026

  Just across the bridge into South Portland is Scratch Baking Company.  If you're going to Portland Head Light, Scratch is essentially on the way.
  
  I first tried a blondie and a chocolate chip cookie because they had already run out of bagels (around 11am on a Sunday).  The chocolate chip cookie is huge!  And unlike other cookies that large that can get a bit overbaked, this cookie was perfect.  The edge was crispy while the middle was chewy.  The chocolate chips were plentiful and they had just the right just-about-to-melt texture.  The taste was wonderful.  I love cookies that are chewy instead of the big thick underbaked gooey ones that get so much Instragram love these days.  For me, I'd rather have this perfect cookie from Scratch any day.
  
  The blondie was great as well.  I'm not usually a blondie type person since a brownie always seems more enticing.  But today was my day to try new things and so I got the blondie.  Surprisingly pretty darn good!  I again enjoyed the texture.  It was even more chewy than I was expecting.  The walnuts added a nice flavor and some crunch.
  
  I came back the next day to get bagels and I'm really glad I did.  They're a style that's all their own and I find them equal in greatness to a perfect New York bagel.  I loved that they were nothing like the bagels I was used to.  The sourdough gave the bagel a complexity a New York bagel does not have.  The chew on the bagel was far greater than any New York bagel.  I had the everything bagel as well as the Maine sea salt bagel and they were both delicious.  The herb cream cheese was the perfect accompaniment and tasted more like Boursin cheese than cream cheese.  The sea salt bagel was just gently salty and really enhanced the flavor of the herb cream cheese.
  
  Oh! And the cinnamon roll!  Get the cinnamon roll!  It's gigantic, it's flaky, it's cinnamon-y, and it's not too sweet!