Maurice

Inspired by Scandinavian cuisine and named after the owner’s beloved pet rabbit, Maurice is a charming café and restaurant in downtown Portland. Despite its understated, unassuming appearance—the hole-in-the-wall café is styled in all white and has just a few seats—the restaurant serves some of the freshest all-day fare in the city. Chef-owner Kristen Murray is responsible for the menu, which changes daily but might feature such light bistro dishes as quiche with simple greens, poulet au pain and lefse (Norwegian flatbread) with gravlax and tarragon. No visit to Maurice is complete without a few of the daily sweets; the black pepper cheesecake and lemon soufflé, which are served on mismatched antique plates, are favorites