My husband and i just moved to Belfast and found Darby's Saturday night. It's difficult to find brewed iced tea and spicy food in Maine. We hit the jackpot with Darby's! We ate dinner there Saturday night and went back on Sunday for lunch(it was that good!). Love the Buddha bowl and Pad Thai...i asked for extra spicy...i mean blow your eyes out of your head spicy and the waitress brought out extra chili-garlic sauce which made it perfect. The Pad Thai was the best i've had...and the iced tea was BREWED...not out of a soda machine. We tried their crab cake sliders..amazing!!! And their Scottish toffee pudding was absolutely delicious! Super-friendly service...Theresa & Victoria took great care of us, filling up our drinks constantly and giving us helpful recommendations on yummy things to try. Made us feel very welcomed and happy to be there. Love Darby's...absolutely our favorite place in Belfast to get delicious food and cheer! A+
(5)
Pat D.
We had a terrific dinner at Darby's last evening. They went out of their way to accommodate as one of our party has difficulty hearing. The food was outstanding for each of us and the signature dessert was heavenly. This was our first time there. We will go back!
(5)
David J.
This restaurant has great atmosphere with tin ceilings and a bar that is ornate and old. I have been to Darby's twice now and both times service was as slow as molasses on a cold day. On our most recent dining experience the restaurant was almost empty with only three tables of four diners occupying the room. Service was curt and it would have taken a miracle to get our waitress to crack a smile. We ordered appetizers from the menu, and they were not bad, but the meatballs tasted like frozen store bought meatballs. I have always cooked homemade meatballs and these were all the same size, spongy, and did not taste like meat. The marinara on the meatballs was watery, almost like salsa. This was not just my opinion, but the tables as well. I wish I could give them a better review, but they need to up their game on service. Like I said, great atmosphere.
(2)
Mary K.
A group of old friends went to Darby's for lunch on Saturday where the waitress was super accommodating. I had the crab melt, which was delicious, but the French fries were unappetizing...cool,dry and tasteless. Even Ketsup couldn't bring them to life. It shouldn't be hard to make fries hot and crispy. The Scottish Toffee Pudding was a wonderful treat.
(3)
Jessica L.
The food was great and very tasty! It would of been nice to see the waitress smile, but she was clearly unhappy that she was waiting on our party of 11. What ever happened to service with a smile?
(3)
Josh Z.
Specials were creative and delicious, but the service was lacking and unfriendly.
(3)
Jan M.
First time I was there and was pleasantly surprised. It's bigger than I realized and great atmosphere, server and host very friendly and the food... We truly enjoyed the BLT on homemade bread and the delicious Mac and Cheese! The dessert was a choc. Flour less cake which really was a slice of heaven! Will certainly go back again and again and recommend Darby's to all my friends!
Darby's is our favorite Belfast restaurant. Love their pad Thai, crab rolls, hand cut fries, clam chowder and Caesar salad with lobster on top. Very old and authentic location, my mother came here as a girl.
(5)
Jennifer L.
We've been coming here for man years and almost always enjoyed our meals. For a while it seemed like the menu had kind of stagnated so I was happy to see some new additions the last few visits. The mac 'n cheese is fantastic! After tasting some of my son's, I was craving it and couldn't wait to go there to get my own! The Pad Thai was disappointing, though. The flavor is different than what I'm used to in the Boston area. Hubby loves the crab cakes! Most recently I came here with my grandmother and it was extremely, and I mean EXTREMELY loud, unfortunately! There was a good-sized bachelorette party and another big group there as well. Can't believe they sat us right near them when there were open tables in the first two rooms. My poor grandmother couldn't hear me all through dinner. Other diners looked really irritated by the noise level, too. And given that my 93yo grandmother walks with a cane and is clearly unsteady, they made us walk all the way to the third room while passing by open tables....closer and much quieter, too! Not very good thinking on the hostess' part. Really kind of ruined our evening. The food was good, though. I really felt badly for my grandmother.
(4)
Jim B.
Wife and I stopped for dinner on a Saturday night. We were seated promptly and immediately served water. They had a decent selection of craft beers on tap, and a better wine list. My Sebago IPA was $4, which is a bargain anywhere. I had the crabcake special and it was quite good. Flavorful, very little bready filler and a decent portion. My only complaint is that the bottom of the cakes were a bit soggy. I get crabcakes whenever I can and these were above average. My baked potato was suitably dry, but was served warm, not hot. My wife's batter fried haddock was a very good sized portion and she said it was very good. We did have a soup appetizer, which was so-so, with too much thyme to flavor it. The menu is large and has a lot of variety, and I would go again.
(4)
Erica L.
Amazing food and love the style.
(5)
Emily C.
Meh. It is definitely bar food - don't expect more than that. Even for their 'specialties' like the Pad Thai. It was bland and basic. Stick with a burger and fries, which weren't bad. Also, was very understaffed for a busy night of the week. It took 15 minutes to get a waitress. Could have been any bar in any small town.
(3)
Kyle A.
Ate here for a rehearsal dinner. The food was absolutely amazing. The chaser salad I order with my meal was absolutely perfect. Fresh lettuce, just enough dressing without over doing in, and a generous amount. The Mac & cheese was to die for. Absolutely delicious! The chocolate cake for dessert didn't fall short either. Only one complaint is they only had one server for our large party. Otherwise absolutely delicious!!!
(4)
Deven L.
This was a pleasant surprise. They do a lot of different types of ethnic dishes. They do one of each and they excell at each of them. The Pad Thai was great! Sebago IPA out of Portland was an awesome pairing. All around great place!
(5)
Katie B.
Great place to eat and hang out. Arrived at 840 on a Saturday night, only a couple minutes to be seated. We all split appetizers and had several draft beers. The food was excellent. Definitely try the baked jarlserg and the goat cheese dip.
(4)
Clayton E.
We chose this spot among several options in downtown Belfast based on other favorable reviews we saw on Yelp. The restaurant is nestled in the downtown area and spans 3 rooms, the central one with a very nicely decorated bar. The rest of the interior is also interestingly appointed with dark wood and various artifacts and large windows onto Washington St. (there are no water views). The staff was attentive and we were also impressed that our table was chosen to donate 10% to a local non profit (this is only on some tables). The menu has traditional pub fare but with some added flair but also has a number of other unexpected options, such as a couple of Thai dishes. I got a daily special which was a Cajun chicken wrap with rice and avocado. It was well prepared and not overly laden with cajun spice so you could taste the other flavors. We came here at lunch on a Saturday and it was clearly a popular place being nearly full (the 2 rooms must have over 50 tables) by 12:30. We will plan on coming back again, perhaps to sample the nice selection of micro brews next time. My only negative was that there seemed to be only one bathroom for the whole facility which would cause problems during happy hour. Still, this was a very nice surprise to find in our travels in the mid coast.
(4)
Cindy O.
I was here in Belfast on business and read some of the reviews and thought maybe not but then a local raved about this place so my last night here I thought I would give it a shot since Belfast really does not have a lot to offer as far as restaurants. Full bar, great martinis, quick and pleasant service. I had the Jarlsberg appetizer which was really good cheesy, wonderfulness served with toasted croutons. I had to stop eating it....calories, calories!! The menu is kinda eclectic. A little bit of this and that of various cuisines. I was somewhat disappointed in the options but read the fried haddock (fish & chips) was good so i went with that and substituted the cole slaw with mashed butternut squash and the fries with sweet potato fries. The haddock was good but I peeled away the breading fooling myself I am saving on calories and fat. RIGHT!! The locals also suggested to try the dessert Scottish Toffee which is vanilla ice cream topped with warm walnut toffee sauce and whipped cream. Oh YUM. As I gorge myself on this awesome dessert and dribble it down my blouse, I kept thinking stop yourself but nay, did not happen. So I probably will have to not eat all weekend as I head back down the coast or maybe if I run I can burn all those extra nutritional values. If ever back in Belfast I will visit this restaurant again. Try it you will like it!
(4)
Leah H.
Good Irish-style pub/restaurant. Mr H got fish and chips - he reports it to be one of the nicest pieces of fish he's ever eaten. Chips (fries) were hand cut and really tasty. Zucchini slider was excellent -highly recommend if you want a change from meat/fish. Basil mayo and sprouts were yummy, the toasted bun was a nice touch. I had a cup of soup that was supposed to be carrot and leek but I think I got carrot and ginger instead (also on the menu) - not a problem as it was yummy either way. Desserts looked amazing but we had no room. Would have rated a 4* but my wine (Sauv Blanc) tasted weird - I thought it was the glass so tried it though my water straw but it was the wine. Super welcoming and helpful wait staff. Would highly recommend for lunch/dinner. Just not sure about the wine.
(3)
Jessica D.
We found this place by chance on a road trip up the east coast from Mississippi. We loved the food! We got the Mac and cheese, crab melt, zucchini sliders and the bean and sweet potato burrito. It was all very delicious and our waitress was super sweet!
(4)
Paul V.
Not bad. Not great. Good in a pinch, but if you want an experience, go somewhere else.
(3)
Jarrett B.
Hot or cold. That could describe the food and the service here. This place used to be on point with both but on my last few visits it's really slid downhill. I have had 1star and 5 star experiences here, so let's just average it out to a 3. Will I go back? Yes. Will I be nervous about what wild card I might be dealt here? Yes again.
(3)
Don B.
We came for lunch. It was great. Then we saw the desert menu! Save room for desert!
(4)
Shaun C.
I went to Darby's but this time I ordered take out (Monday night football was on and they only have one small television at the bar). I got the jack Daniels flank steak and it was honestly some of the best steak I have ever eaten. Homemade bread and fries are hand cut. Darby's has impressed me once again. If your in the area this is a must stop!
(5)
Joyce B.
After the manager messaged me to apologize for the bad time we had there last year and said they had improved, my husband and I went again to Darbys, again on Small Business Saturday. This time they actually offered a gluten-free menu AND the server checked in the kitchen twice for me to see if the soups of the day were GF as well. My meal started with Woodchuck draft cider (they also had Angry Orchard in bottles.) I had the Mexican salad, which was loaded with black beans and a spicy salsa. I ordered a side of fries with it. Hubby ordered fish and chips. The food arrived right away, but without my fries. Before I even realized they were missing, even as she was setting the food on the table, the server apologized that they were not there and said "of course I will bring them out as soon as they are ready and you won't be charged for them." A happy surprise compared to last year's fiasco. Hubby reported the fish and chips were good. A large piece of fish, a big mound of fries, and the slaw and tartar sauce appeared to be made in-house. Our server outdid herself in checking with us and in keeping my water glass full. You can go a LONG way with me if you keep my water glass full! I can happily report that we left quite satisfied and will return again.
(4)
Richard B.
Menu is all over the place. Food is okay but Mexican and Thai food at an Irish pub....likely won't return
(3)
Jennifer P.
I've eaten at Darby's three times, the first two times being several years ago. (2008?) The food was so fantastic back then that we came back two days in a row. So, suffice to say I was excited to eat here again a few weeks ago when visiting the area. Sadly, this is not the same Darby's we ate at 5 years ago. Our meals were nearly inedible and I felt horrible about saying so since the staff was so gracious and seemed honestly concerned about us not enjoying our food. For starters, the calamari was good but the marinara sauce tasted like it was out of a jar. Not bad but not good either...just, eh. I ordered the coconut curry with shrimp. What I say next is not to light up the folks at Darby's but simply to provide constructive feedback: if you are going to have an ethnic dish served with rice, whether it's Indian, Spanish, etc. you better use the right type of rice and cook it to perfection. A dish like this needs a good quality basmati rice; however, the rice on my dish was similar to quick minute rice - thin and hard and not the plump rice that is light and fluffy that one would expect. The dish was also completely over sauced and literally more like soup. And where was the coconut and curry flavor? I didn't taste the coconut milk at all. And the shrimp? Well, I would have expected much better quality being on the coast of Maine. It should have been fresher, larger shrimp and cooked a little less because it was definitely over done. I won't even get in to the problems with my husband's meal but I will say that my son's meal was just sad. Too many restaurants make the children's menu an afterthought and this is not limited to Darby's. Grilled cheese is really simple and hard to screw up but restaurants simply don't put any effort into making kids' meals. The bread looked like some sort of mass produced bread that came out of a government program to feed prisoners. The same with the cheese and to be honest, I'm not even sure it was real cheese. Sorry, Darby's, you can't fool my 4 year old and that's troubling because I once ran out of bread and made him a grilled cheese out of a hot dog bun and he ate it like I was a world class chef. With all this being said, I have to commend the staff for being genuinely concerned about our dining experience and their interest in our honest feedback to make their food better. Although they tried their best to make up for the dishes and offered to bring us something else, you simply can't substitute for poor quality ingredients which I felt was a part of the problem so another option off the menu probably wouldn't have worked. I actually felt badly that our waitress and the manager were so concerned and appreciate that they took 70% off the bill and of course we tipped on the full bill because they were so great about everything so I will offer that the staff is attentive and very accommodating. Whatever Darby's was doing 5 years ago, I hope they revisit that and I will definitely come back.
(1)
Jennifer P.
Limited drink choices and uncomfortable seating.. Food is excellent though. Service always good and friendly. Children's menu is pretty good. Great for us locals and the tourist although some items are pricey. Overall very good!
(4)
Martin P.
Great food and friendly staff. It's as simple as that.
(4)
Thomas M.
WOW! What a great old Irish pub! Seems like a good place for tourists to visit as well as locals looking to grab a brew. I had a Guinness and sat at the bar. It seemed that the restaurant was more popular though. Biggest attraction is the atmosphere and history of this whole place.
(4)
Stephen D.
We have been going here for 8+ years and it's been one of our favorite places in Belfast. But the food is very hit or miss. In a recent visit all four adults in our party did not really like their entrees - that's not a good batting average. The clam chowder is great as are the microbrews. Kids loved their kid food - burgers, wings, etc. Service is great and it feels like a local hangout and not just tourists. Even with the 3 starts we likely will be back.
(3)
Christine T.
Stopped in here with some friends on our way home from a wedding weekend in Belfast. We saw they served breakfast from 7am - 11am so we walked in at 9am on Sunday and sat right down. The waitresses seemed friendly but short-staffed since getting a drink refill was difficult. The atmosphere is cozy&casual, the booths are pretty spacious, the 4 of us sat comfortably. I ordered a cheese omelet with home fries (see picture), the bf got a stack of pancakes and bacon and our friends both got breakfast sandwiches. my omelet was good, a little undercooked but very cheesy. the home fries were less than average, they seemed like they'd been previously frozen and very under-salted. The bf couldn't finish his pancakes, he said they were really heavy & filling (I tried some and agree), plus they were huge. He said the bacon was good. The one bad point of breakfast was one of our friends god a egg&ham breakfast sandwich, thinking it would consist of a deli-meat type ham. Unfortunately she got an english muffin with a little egg and a giant slab of ham that must have been almost 1/4" thick and WAY too big for an english muffin -- kind of disgusting. she took the ham out and just ate the egg with the english muffin. We felt like that should've been clarified on the menu somehow... I'm still kicking myself got not taking a picture of that monstrosity. Not that we'll ever be back in the area - but we would recommend solely because we didn't have to wait, the place was cozy and the food wasn't horrible.
(3)
John R.
Red snapper, Thai noodles salad We were driving up to Bangor from Kentucky to visit our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. We stopped in Belfast at a B&B to have a few days of quiet time before we went on up to Bangor. The owner of the B&B we stayed at suggested the Darby. So off we went... We like to sit at bars in restaurants if we can. The bar at the Darby is adorable but only has about 6 seats (maybe 8? I didn't count). We chatted up the bartender about a local vodka my wife read about. Cold River vodka is made in Maine with 100% Maine potatoes. Very nice. I had a Red Snapper special entree. That was great. Nice flavor. Cooked just right. My wife at the Thai Noodle salad from the menu. She loved it! We chatted with some locals at the bar. They knew the menu by heart so I think they are "regulars". When we subsequently visited a friend who grew up in Maine and traveled around for work, she gave a thumbs up as well.
(4)
Sgt. S.
This is very good, solid dining experience. The food was just above good and just below execeptional. I liked that the menu had a pretty eclectic selection -- burritos, enchiladas, soup 'n' sandwich, fish 'n' chips, burgers, zucchini sliders, pad thai, etc. The apps -- fried calamari and potstickers -- were great: light and flavorful. One caveat: even if you save room for dessert, share it. Each is too big for one person.
(4)
Julie T.
What a great surprise this place was. My husband and I stopped in for lunch during our week's vacation in Midcoast Maine. We liked it so much the first time we made another trip back later in the week. Menu has a great variety for lunch and good beer options on tap as well. On our first visit My husband had the zucchini sliders with tomato, fresh mozzarella and basil pesto and I had the fried haddock sandwich. Both were super fresh and outstanding. 2nd trip I opted fore the fried haddock again in the fish and chips because it was just that good and my husband had the fresh Maine crab roll.....We ate both times at the bar and had friendly, attentive service. We will definitely be coming back on our next visit to the area. We stay in Camden but find the lunch options limited....So happy we found this little gem in pretty little Belfast.
(5)
Steven A.
Stopped by this place for lunch while on a drive to Rockland. What a great little spot. We loved the decor and all the old woodwork. The food was shockingly good. The spicy garlic soup with a half a grilled cheese sandwich was exactly what I needed. I would have loved to have stayed for a couple of pints at the great looking bar but, alas, I had to drive. Bummer!
(5)
Amy G.
Good place for a family since there are so many options. The salad was huge and very good. The chowder was given two-thumbs-up by my 7-yr old who I believe is a connoiseur of clam chowder. Son's egg rolls were underwhelming. It's a little like an Applebee's.
(3)
Kathy C.
Darby's is our go-to place whenever we' re in Belfast at lunch or dinner time. I've never had a bad meal there and almost always get the pad Thai. I have tried other things like the burgers, fried clams, Mac &cheese with good results. I'm sure desserts are good but am always too full to try. They now serve breakfast but have not tried that yet.
(4)
Geoff M.
Our family was just passing through town and gave Darbys a try, after reading other Yelp reviews. We were not disappointed! Good food in a casual and comfortable family atmosphere. Our server was excellent. And the desserts were well worth saving room for. I can still taste that 3 Berry Pie in my mind's eye. Yum!
(4)
Sean P.
Atmospherically, this place was just fine for a family of 5 to stop in for lunch as we meandered down Route 1 on the way back from our Downeast vacation. The food, though, was perfectly bland, and the menu was an odd mix of Mexican, seafood and pub fare. The chef seemed to be trying too hard to be too many things to too many people. If we ever find ourselves in Belfast again, we'll seek other options.
(2)
pete g.
Darby's is a cute little pub in a cute little coastal town, but don't let that put an upper bound on your expectations. Lead off with a pint of something local (I go for Shipyard, more often than not) and peek at the menu. You won't be three swigs deep before you notice some very un-pub meals like the Big Buddha Bowl, chicken curry salad and pad thai sharing space with staples like fish and chips, the char-burger, and macaroni and cheese. Decide on something -- don't worry too much about this, you're not in any danger. Order the second pint. Eat, drink, be merry. Finally, you are ready to get down to business. You might have thought you'd seen the best of the place. You haven't. That's because you haven't eaten the Scottish sticky toffee pudding cake. I didn't tell you up front, but this is the real reason you came here. The ales and the fish and the chips were all fine and good, but once your spoon makes the first dent in the warm, gooey cake a la mode, you are not gonna be thinking about bullshit like fried food and beer. You are going to be wringing the hands of Gail the proprietor, weeping, wailing, begging for another piece, offering your children for services I can't talk about outside Yelp Amsterdam. The next morning you will wake up, toffee-spit encrusted in the corners of your mouth, and you will be embarrassed. You will disown the promises you made the night before. You will pretend that you can just move on, that it's just that simple. But deep inside, you will always see the truth. You are tainted, a pathetic junky. You will do everything in your power to choke and smother your laser-like focus, to deny your anointed purpose, but it is no use. You will always come back to Darby's.
(5)
Amanda L.
Good food, wide variety of choices (pad thai, prime rib, mac n' cheese, fried clam plate, you name it) with plenty of vegetarian-friendly options, and a good selection of local brews as well as the old standbys. There is plenty of parking nearby in cute downtown Belfast, and plenty of places to walk to for more drinks if you want to stay out later after dinner. The service was adequate and the staff basically pretty nice. We were here for a "rehearsal dinner" of sorts, and they seemed a little flummoxed by the planning of an event with 20+ people, but everything turned out OK in the end. The ambiance is also relaxed and easy going, so I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a wide menu selection with good service and simple decor while stopping in Belfast!
(4)
Meaghan S.
Without a doubt the best place to eat in Belfast. I had a fantastic vodka cranberry here. You'd think that this simple drink would be a no brainer anywhere, but really I've hard more bad mixes than I can count. Darby's got it just right. This is a really cute location. Beautiful, old and charming. The food is delicious and creative. I had the chicken curry salad, very good and reminiscent of the Whole Foods version which I think is delicious. The real star, as Pete G. mentioned, is the Scottish sticky toffee pudding cake, which is perhaps the best dessert I have ever had anywhere. EVER. In fact, maybe skip the food altogether order two of these. Savor every bite and feel your blood sugar and dopamine levels rise until you are in a sticky toffee pudding coma. Holy crap. Goddamn delicious. P.S. The staff is really nice and will give you great suggestions of bed and breakfasts and local restaurants if you ask. We found a great place to stay, The White House Inn, through our sever.
(5)
Vivien T.
Darby's has been a mainstay in Belfast. It was the place you bring your friends and relatives when they visit from out of state. It is a comfortable space. The food and the wait folks need help. On my last visit the food took over an hour to emerge for a table of 8. All of the food was cold, barely any warmth, as if it had been left. Because the owner came out to tables to announce trouble with the electronic check to kitchen machine we expected a wait. And stuff happens and you stick with it knowing that the food will eventually come out and make your family glad they waited. Not so this time. When we let them about the cold food, the wait person just glared back and told us it has just been put up .... folks, that was impossible! Then the owner came over to the table and was not happy and told us to pick plates to remove from the bill but we had to tip accordingly .... hey we are ethical human beings here, we were honest with them about the food and they had already added a 20% gratuity charge to the check. All in all we were treated as if we were liars. I was truly shocked. I am almost 60 years old and brought my son and daughter-in-law from Boston and my daughter and her partner from Atlanta, and her partner's parents from Atlanta and my own partner from Belfast. I am an honorable person and being treated as if I was trying to pull a slight and not pay for the food was more than insulting. They had to know the food had been left to the side and not delivered to the table. I wont be going back anytime soon. The competition for guests, and we were guests, among restaurants in Belfast is growing as the options for dining out increase, if Darby's does not respond with a higher expectation of what they offer in the way of food and service they will soon be left behind emerging new businesses.
(1)
Jeff A.
Spent a great Sunday afternoon here with friends and all enjoyed their meals. Had the Pad Thai and it was great, just the perfect combination of spicy and peanut flavors. My wife had the chili and home made french fries, Both were tasty and fresh. Only 4 stars because we didn't get a second cup of coffee and the music started to repeat. (maybe we were there too long)
(4)
Kay S.
Great food and service plus they had Guiness on tap, something we love. We were traveling and loved Darby's so much we went back the second night we were in town. We love the pub atmosphere for casual dining.
(5)
Michelle Q.
Happily surprised with our experience, given the mixed reviews: My husband and I both got specials. He had the pot pie; the crust was super flaky, the beef was tender and the veggies and sauce were flavorful. I had pan seared haddock with citrus sauce. I thought I would take some back to our room, but it was so delicious I kept eating it. The veggie side was fresh and crunchy and the mashed potatoes were smooth and rich The on-tap cider was awesome- way better than bottled Angry orchard or Woodchuck. It tasted like cider I got as a kid in Vermont...well cider that had fermented a bit :).
(5)
Barbara D.
Always great food and faire
(5)
Chad D.
I guess I am missing something in regards to this place. I will start off by giving them a big thumbs up on their breakfast. This is one of the best places in town to get breakfast, always cooked just the way I want it and not a long wait. The prices are also great on the breakfast menu. After breakfast it all goes down hill fast. The lunch and dinner menu is terrible...they have maybe 10 or 12 items, none of which I find good. Typically when forced to eat here I try to choke down the "char burger" which is their attempt at a cheeseburger... Honestly if your looking for a place to do dinner, I would skip this place and opt for something else....if your looking for breakfast then definitely stop here.
(2)
Jason S.
My wife and I were really excited to eat Darby's as it was recommended by almost every single local. It was a very hot day and when we looked at the menu it had something to eat for all of us. When we were greeted by the hostess she informed us that even though there were tables available, she did not want to seat us because she wanted "her waitresses to catch up". We said ok and waited approximately 5 minutes. When she came back she asked if a booth was ok, we said sure as long as we could have a highchair on the end for our 10 month old daughter. She then told us that one of her waitresses doesn't like to have highchairs at the end of booths and began to seat others ahead of us. At this point we were getting a bit agitate as our daughter was very hungry and she kept seating table after table, and even though half of the restaurant was completely empty and the other half did have open tables, the hostess refused to seat us. After waiting 20 minutes the hostess claimed she could seat us on the open half of the restaurant and in her words "I guess I can bring you your food over here". We said fine and told her we just wanted to be seated so out daughter could eat. The hostess said she would right back and disappeared again. We waited for another 10 minutes and she never returned so we finally decided to leave. We are so disappointed that we were treated like second class citizens just because we had a child with us, completely unprofessional establishment.
(1)
John K.
Darby's is always af 2x or 3x for us each summer...for more than 15 years running. The staff has been here for years so the service is great. The menu runs the gamut with excellent fresh seafood selections, great steaks and chops, Asian influences and vegetarian selections. The desserts are homemade and creative. Go to Darby's when you want to relax. It's great for couples or for groups...
(5)
Marianne C.
Finally finished this long-abandoned review of a place we visited on our last day in Maine back in 9/10. I had a grilled cheese on wheat bread with New England clam chowder and washed it down with a black and tan. I know this is a popular place that gets a lot of good reviews. Our waitress was very nice (an older woman...she may have been charmed by the Hoff...who isn't?) and that helped. But I remember an overall feeling of dissatisfaction with the food. Maybe I was expecting more from the New England clam chowder? It was ok, but I didn't feel like I needed to ever go back. Obviously, I wasn't so enthusiastic about the place that I had to post my Yelp review quickly. :)
(3)
Lori S.
Have been there a few times over past year and it never disappoints. Food is good, each day different specials usually about 7 to 9 different option plus reg menu. Sometimes service is slow but friendly.
(4)
Malia O.
Wow! What a menu! Usually when there's this much variety, there's a lot of misses, but this place delivers across the board! Every visit leaves us delighted by how delicious the food is and how friendly the staff is. I can't say enough good things about this place, wish there were more places like it in New England. They sure make it look easy! Any time friends are headed to or through Belfast, we tell them to enjoy a meal at Darby's. And if they don't have time for a full sit down meal, there's no better lobster roll than the one served at the Lunch Wagon, around the corner toward the water.
(5)
Rod G.
Had heard about their burgers...went for a classic burger & fries. Outstanding...burger juicy and flavorful, fries are fresh cut and for any other In-n-out freaks, these fries are very similar. Amazing treat in Belfast
(5)
Diane H.
We stopped in for lunch on a day trip to Searsport/Belfast, and this was definitely worth the stop. What an improvement over another choice we had made earlier. The menu here was extensive with so many choices it was hard to make a choice. Within our foresome, we had a vege-burger, fish-n-chips, haddock sandwich, and a burger. The conversation stopped as we all enjoyed our lunches. Delish! We split the brownie hot fudge sundae and there was more than enough for 4 people to get a nice decadent dessert. Service was ok. The hostess came and took our drink order right away, but our server never followed through and brought them to us until we asked for them. Food was delivered very timely, and they were attentive. Absolutely worth a stop. I hear from the waitress that the dinner menu is even more extensive than lunchl.
(4)
Mary R.
Wonderful find! Great service and very good pub grub!
(4)
Chris R.
I love going here. The "feel" of the whole restaurant is great. Awesome food (especially the lobster ravioli!) and great service. I go here often!
(4)
Jill G.
A good basic pub place like this one would normally only get 3 stars from me if it weren't for two things. 1. The salads are absolutely HUGE! They're like 3 salads put together. And 2. The burger I had was soooooo juicy and perfectly cooked. I would eat here again in a heartbeat.
(4)
Tom E.
One thing I miss from England are gorgeous old pubs with eccentric decor, strange collections of whatnot and eclectic menus written by chefs trying their hand at everything. Darby's in Belfast was the first place I found all four together in America and for that already it has 4 stars. But let me also take it up to 5 now thanks to food and service... Service - we came last thing on a Sunday night expecting to find nowhere open in this quiet neck of the woods. Sure enough Darby's was closing soon but they did nothing to hurry us up and everything felt effortless. Food - come here if you are HOMESICK. There will probably be your region's classic on the menu. I'm English and I had great Fish and Chips. My Thai friend went for the Big Buddha Bowl and loved it. We must've looked so dumb. We should've been given flags to wave as well.
(5)
Dave P.
This is our first night in Maine, and it is raining non-stop. I found Darby's through Yelp, and it was exactly what we were looking for. Very good food (the Buddha Bowl with tofu is outstanding), great local beers, excellent vibe (comfortable, woody, funky), and friendly service. Highly recommended as a comfortable, eclectic local place.
(5)
Derek W.
This place is pretty good. The decor was that of any generic pub and restaurant, but with a nice touch here and there. The wait staff was very friendly (even if the service was a touch slow) and our waitress was able to suggest a nice local brew for me (Andrew's Pale Ale - a nice, hoppy American style pale ale). The cold cucumber soup was pretty good, although it just tasted like a watered down Greek tzatziki sauce. The entree, halibut with a mushroom and white wine sauce, was a little disappointing (too fishy, didn't taste fresh). Other people in my family had complaints about their entrees, as well. The desserts were all very good though, especially the peanut butter pie. Three stars, three and a half if I could give it.
(3)
Jas. K.
A creaky, old -- emphasis on old-- favorite with locals seems the closest thing they have to a steady eddy joint that's not quite a beer scented dive. (See the joint don't Main Street for that type of place). Standard pub grub with a few quirky attempts to mix things up. You need to go at least once if you're staying in town. Any doubts? Best advise would be to adhere to the KISS principle with this menu.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Selkie S.
My husband and i just moved to Belfast and found Darby's Saturday night. It's difficult to find brewed iced tea and spicy food in Maine. We hit the jackpot with Darby's! We ate dinner there Saturday night and went back on Sunday for lunch(it was that good!). Love the Buddha bowl and Pad Thai...i asked for extra spicy...i mean blow your eyes out of your head spicy and the waitress brought out extra chili-garlic sauce which made it perfect. The Pad Thai was the best i've had...and the iced tea was BREWED...not out of a soda machine. We tried their crab cake sliders..amazing!!! And their Scottish toffee pudding was absolutely delicious! Super-friendly service...Theresa & Victoria took great care of us, filling up our drinks constantly and giving us helpful recommendations on yummy things to try. Made us feel very welcomed and happy to be there. Love Darby's...absolutely our favorite place in Belfast to get delicious food and cheer! A+
(5)Pat D.
We had a terrific dinner at Darby's last evening. They went out of their way to accommodate as one of our party has difficulty hearing. The food was outstanding for each of us and the signature dessert was heavenly. This was our first time there. We will go back!
(5)David J.
This restaurant has great atmosphere with tin ceilings and a bar that is ornate and old. I have been to Darby's twice now and both times service was as slow as molasses on a cold day. On our most recent dining experience the restaurant was almost empty with only three tables of four diners occupying the room. Service was curt and it would have taken a miracle to get our waitress to crack a smile. We ordered appetizers from the menu, and they were not bad, but the meatballs tasted like frozen store bought meatballs. I have always cooked homemade meatballs and these were all the same size, spongy, and did not taste like meat. The marinara on the meatballs was watery, almost like salsa. This was not just my opinion, but the tables as well. I wish I could give them a better review, but they need to up their game on service. Like I said, great atmosphere.
(2)Mary K.
A group of old friends went to Darby's for lunch on Saturday where the waitress was super accommodating. I had the crab melt, which was delicious, but the French fries were unappetizing...cool,dry and tasteless. Even Ketsup couldn't bring them to life. It shouldn't be hard to make fries hot and crispy. The Scottish Toffee Pudding was a wonderful treat.
(3)Jessica L.
The food was great and very tasty! It would of been nice to see the waitress smile, but she was clearly unhappy that she was waiting on our party of 11. What ever happened to service with a smile?
(3)Josh Z.
Specials were creative and delicious, but the service was lacking and unfriendly.
(3)Jan M.
First time I was there and was pleasantly surprised. It's bigger than I realized and great atmosphere, server and host very friendly and the food... We truly enjoyed the BLT on homemade bread and the delicious Mac and Cheese! The dessert was a choc. Flour less cake which really was a slice of heaven! Will certainly go back again and again and recommend Darby's to all my friends!
(4)Bruce D.
Like a number of other Yelpers I was passing through and decided to try some of the local flavor for lunch. The restaurant is located in a row of storefronts along a downtown street. Parking is on street, angle in and free. The Yelper that described the atmosphere as 'Applebee's' is dead on. It's not bad at all, just vanilla and nothing to write home about. Don't go here looking for that historic, dark wood, pub feel. Think more 'Mom's home cooking / charming' décor. The crowd was the older retiree / business lunch set when I got there. There is a mix of booths and tables spread across a few rooms. The service is polite but not overly friendly. The hostess passed my table and offered to take a drink order. That was a nice touch. Water glasses are on the small side. The food is what you would expect from a mid-priced chain. I had the Cobb salad. When it arrived I was a little disappointed that I'd paid $14 for it. It looked exactly like every other salad but with a slightly high price. By the time I finished it I was glad I had paid the money for it. The taste exceeded the appearance and I left feeling pleasantly refreshed. The ingredients were all very fresh and the chicken was flavorful and grilled perfectly. With tax, a glass of water and a tip the tab came to $18. Not a cheap lunch date however I felt like I got what I paid for. You won't be pinching any pennies here. I did not order any but the dessert menu looked interesting and extensive. If I were looking for something sweet I'd make a beeline for this place the next time I'm in town. Conclusion; if you've got the time and a $20 bill you don't want this place is a fine choice. If you're looking for low prices lunch specials you may want to look elsewhere. You'll leave full and refreshed but probably won't be crowing about the fantastic new place you found to your friends. Think Applebee's food and décor at slightly elevated prices.
(3)Franklin B.
Darby's is our favorite Belfast restaurant. Love their pad Thai, crab rolls, hand cut fries, clam chowder and Caesar salad with lobster on top. Very old and authentic location, my mother came here as a girl.
(5)Jennifer L.
We've been coming here for man years and almost always enjoyed our meals. For a while it seemed like the menu had kind of stagnated so I was happy to see some new additions the last few visits. The mac 'n cheese is fantastic! After tasting some of my son's, I was craving it and couldn't wait to go there to get my own! The Pad Thai was disappointing, though. The flavor is different than what I'm used to in the Boston area. Hubby loves the crab cakes! Most recently I came here with my grandmother and it was extremely, and I mean EXTREMELY loud, unfortunately! There was a good-sized bachelorette party and another big group there as well. Can't believe they sat us right near them when there were open tables in the first two rooms. My poor grandmother couldn't hear me all through dinner. Other diners looked really irritated by the noise level, too. And given that my 93yo grandmother walks with a cane and is clearly unsteady, they made us walk all the way to the third room while passing by open tables....closer and much quieter, too! Not very good thinking on the hostess' part. Really kind of ruined our evening. The food was good, though. I really felt badly for my grandmother.
(4)Jim B.
Wife and I stopped for dinner on a Saturday night. We were seated promptly and immediately served water. They had a decent selection of craft beers on tap, and a better wine list. My Sebago IPA was $4, which is a bargain anywhere. I had the crabcake special and it was quite good. Flavorful, very little bready filler and a decent portion. My only complaint is that the bottom of the cakes were a bit soggy. I get crabcakes whenever I can and these were above average. My baked potato was suitably dry, but was served warm, not hot. My wife's batter fried haddock was a very good sized portion and she said it was very good. We did have a soup appetizer, which was so-so, with too much thyme to flavor it. The menu is large and has a lot of variety, and I would go again.
(4)Erica L.
Amazing food and love the style.
(5)Emily C.
Meh. It is definitely bar food - don't expect more than that. Even for their 'specialties' like the Pad Thai. It was bland and basic. Stick with a burger and fries, which weren't bad. Also, was very understaffed for a busy night of the week. It took 15 minutes to get a waitress. Could have been any bar in any small town.
(3)Kyle A.
Ate here for a rehearsal dinner. The food was absolutely amazing. The chaser salad I order with my meal was absolutely perfect. Fresh lettuce, just enough dressing without over doing in, and a generous amount. The Mac & cheese was to die for. Absolutely delicious! The chocolate cake for dessert didn't fall short either. Only one complaint is they only had one server for our large party. Otherwise absolutely delicious!!!
(4)Deven L.
This was a pleasant surprise. They do a lot of different types of ethnic dishes. They do one of each and they excell at each of them. The Pad Thai was great! Sebago IPA out of Portland was an awesome pairing. All around great place!
(5)Katie B.
Great place to eat and hang out. Arrived at 840 on a Saturday night, only a couple minutes to be seated. We all split appetizers and had several draft beers. The food was excellent. Definitely try the baked jarlserg and the goat cheese dip.
(4)Clayton E.
We chose this spot among several options in downtown Belfast based on other favorable reviews we saw on Yelp. The restaurant is nestled in the downtown area and spans 3 rooms, the central one with a very nicely decorated bar. The rest of the interior is also interestingly appointed with dark wood and various artifacts and large windows onto Washington St. (there are no water views). The staff was attentive and we were also impressed that our table was chosen to donate 10% to a local non profit (this is only on some tables). The menu has traditional pub fare but with some added flair but also has a number of other unexpected options, such as a couple of Thai dishes. I got a daily special which was a Cajun chicken wrap with rice and avocado. It was well prepared and not overly laden with cajun spice so you could taste the other flavors. We came here at lunch on a Saturday and it was clearly a popular place being nearly full (the 2 rooms must have over 50 tables) by 12:30. We will plan on coming back again, perhaps to sample the nice selection of micro brews next time. My only negative was that there seemed to be only one bathroom for the whole facility which would cause problems during happy hour. Still, this was a very nice surprise to find in our travels in the mid coast.
(4)Cindy O.
I was here in Belfast on business and read some of the reviews and thought maybe not but then a local raved about this place so my last night here I thought I would give it a shot since Belfast really does not have a lot to offer as far as restaurants. Full bar, great martinis, quick and pleasant service. I had the Jarlsberg appetizer which was really good cheesy, wonderfulness served with toasted croutons. I had to stop eating it....calories, calories!! The menu is kinda eclectic. A little bit of this and that of various cuisines. I was somewhat disappointed in the options but read the fried haddock (fish & chips) was good so i went with that and substituted the cole slaw with mashed butternut squash and the fries with sweet potato fries. The haddock was good but I peeled away the breading fooling myself I am saving on calories and fat. RIGHT!! The locals also suggested to try the dessert Scottish Toffee which is vanilla ice cream topped with warm walnut toffee sauce and whipped cream. Oh YUM. As I gorge myself on this awesome dessert and dribble it down my blouse, I kept thinking stop yourself but nay, did not happen. So I probably will have to not eat all weekend as I head back down the coast or maybe if I run I can burn all those extra nutritional values. If ever back in Belfast I will visit this restaurant again. Try it you will like it!
(4)Leah H.
Good Irish-style pub/restaurant. Mr H got fish and chips - he reports it to be one of the nicest pieces of fish he's ever eaten. Chips (fries) were hand cut and really tasty. Zucchini slider was excellent -highly recommend if you want a change from meat/fish. Basil mayo and sprouts were yummy, the toasted bun was a nice touch. I had a cup of soup that was supposed to be carrot and leek but I think I got carrot and ginger instead (also on the menu) - not a problem as it was yummy either way. Desserts looked amazing but we had no room. Would have rated a 4* but my wine (Sauv Blanc) tasted weird - I thought it was the glass so tried it though my water straw but it was the wine. Super welcoming and helpful wait staff. Would highly recommend for lunch/dinner. Just not sure about the wine.
(3)Jessica D.
We found this place by chance on a road trip up the east coast from Mississippi. We loved the food! We got the Mac and cheese, crab melt, zucchini sliders and the bean and sweet potato burrito. It was all very delicious and our waitress was super sweet!
(4)Paul V.
Not bad. Not great. Good in a pinch, but if you want an experience, go somewhere else.
(3)Jarrett B.
Hot or cold. That could describe the food and the service here. This place used to be on point with both but on my last few visits it's really slid downhill. I have had 1star and 5 star experiences here, so let's just average it out to a 3. Will I go back? Yes. Will I be nervous about what wild card I might be dealt here? Yes again.
(3)Don B.
We came for lunch. It was great. Then we saw the desert menu! Save room for desert!
(4)Shaun C.
I went to Darby's but this time I ordered take out (Monday night football was on and they only have one small television at the bar). I got the jack Daniels flank steak and it was honestly some of the best steak I have ever eaten. Homemade bread and fries are hand cut. Darby's has impressed me once again. If your in the area this is a must stop!
(5)Joyce B.
After the manager messaged me to apologize for the bad time we had there last year and said they had improved, my husband and I went again to Darbys, again on Small Business Saturday. This time they actually offered a gluten-free menu AND the server checked in the kitchen twice for me to see if the soups of the day were GF as well. My meal started with Woodchuck draft cider (they also had Angry Orchard in bottles.) I had the Mexican salad, which was loaded with black beans and a spicy salsa. I ordered a side of fries with it. Hubby ordered fish and chips. The food arrived right away, but without my fries. Before I even realized they were missing, even as she was setting the food on the table, the server apologized that they were not there and said "of course I will bring them out as soon as they are ready and you won't be charged for them." A happy surprise compared to last year's fiasco. Hubby reported the fish and chips were good. A large piece of fish, a big mound of fries, and the slaw and tartar sauce appeared to be made in-house. Our server outdid herself in checking with us and in keeping my water glass full. You can go a LONG way with me if you keep my water glass full! I can happily report that we left quite satisfied and will return again.
(4)Richard B.
Menu is all over the place. Food is okay but Mexican and Thai food at an Irish pub....likely won't return
(3)Jennifer P.
I've eaten at Darby's three times, the first two times being several years ago. (2008?) The food was so fantastic back then that we came back two days in a row. So, suffice to say I was excited to eat here again a few weeks ago when visiting the area. Sadly, this is not the same Darby's we ate at 5 years ago. Our meals were nearly inedible and I felt horrible about saying so since the staff was so gracious and seemed honestly concerned about us not enjoying our food. For starters, the calamari was good but the marinara sauce tasted like it was out of a jar. Not bad but not good either...just, eh. I ordered the coconut curry with shrimp. What I say next is not to light up the folks at Darby's but simply to provide constructive feedback: if you are going to have an ethnic dish served with rice, whether it's Indian, Spanish, etc. you better use the right type of rice and cook it to perfection. A dish like this needs a good quality basmati rice; however, the rice on my dish was similar to quick minute rice - thin and hard and not the plump rice that is light and fluffy that one would expect. The dish was also completely over sauced and literally more like soup. And where was the coconut and curry flavor? I didn't taste the coconut milk at all. And the shrimp? Well, I would have expected much better quality being on the coast of Maine. It should have been fresher, larger shrimp and cooked a little less because it was definitely over done. I won't even get in to the problems with my husband's meal but I will say that my son's meal was just sad. Too many restaurants make the children's menu an afterthought and this is not limited to Darby's. Grilled cheese is really simple and hard to screw up but restaurants simply don't put any effort into making kids' meals. The bread looked like some sort of mass produced bread that came out of a government program to feed prisoners. The same with the cheese and to be honest, I'm not even sure it was real cheese. Sorry, Darby's, you can't fool my 4 year old and that's troubling because I once ran out of bread and made him a grilled cheese out of a hot dog bun and he ate it like I was a world class chef. With all this being said, I have to commend the staff for being genuinely concerned about our dining experience and their interest in our honest feedback to make their food better. Although they tried their best to make up for the dishes and offered to bring us something else, you simply can't substitute for poor quality ingredients which I felt was a part of the problem so another option off the menu probably wouldn't have worked. I actually felt badly that our waitress and the manager were so concerned and appreciate that they took 70% off the bill and of course we tipped on the full bill because they were so great about everything so I will offer that the staff is attentive and very accommodating. Whatever Darby's was doing 5 years ago, I hope they revisit that and I will definitely come back.
(1)Jennifer P.
Limited drink choices and uncomfortable seating.. Food is excellent though. Service always good and friendly. Children's menu is pretty good. Great for us locals and the tourist although some items are pricey. Overall very good!
(4)Martin P.
Great food and friendly staff. It's as simple as that.
(4)Thomas M.
WOW! What a great old Irish pub! Seems like a good place for tourists to visit as well as locals looking to grab a brew. I had a Guinness and sat at the bar. It seemed that the restaurant was more popular though. Biggest attraction is the atmosphere and history of this whole place.
(4)Stephen D.
We have been going here for 8+ years and it's been one of our favorite places in Belfast. But the food is very hit or miss. In a recent visit all four adults in our party did not really like their entrees - that's not a good batting average. The clam chowder is great as are the microbrews. Kids loved their kid food - burgers, wings, etc. Service is great and it feels like a local hangout and not just tourists. Even with the 3 starts we likely will be back.
(3)Christine T.
Stopped in here with some friends on our way home from a wedding weekend in Belfast. We saw they served breakfast from 7am - 11am so we walked in at 9am on Sunday and sat right down. The waitresses seemed friendly but short-staffed since getting a drink refill was difficult. The atmosphere is cozy&casual, the booths are pretty spacious, the 4 of us sat comfortably. I ordered a cheese omelet with home fries (see picture), the bf got a stack of pancakes and bacon and our friends both got breakfast sandwiches. my omelet was good, a little undercooked but very cheesy. the home fries were less than average, they seemed like they'd been previously frozen and very under-salted. The bf couldn't finish his pancakes, he said they were really heavy & filling (I tried some and agree), plus they were huge. He said the bacon was good. The one bad point of breakfast was one of our friends god a egg&ham breakfast sandwich, thinking it would consist of a deli-meat type ham. Unfortunately she got an english muffin with a little egg and a giant slab of ham that must have been almost 1/4" thick and WAY too big for an english muffin -- kind of disgusting. she took the ham out and just ate the egg with the english muffin. We felt like that should've been clarified on the menu somehow... I'm still kicking myself got not taking a picture of that monstrosity. Not that we'll ever be back in the area - but we would recommend solely because we didn't have to wait, the place was cozy and the food wasn't horrible.
(3)John R.
Red snapper, Thai noodles salad We were driving up to Bangor from Kentucky to visit our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. We stopped in Belfast at a B&B to have a few days of quiet time before we went on up to Bangor. The owner of the B&B we stayed at suggested the Darby. So off we went... We like to sit at bars in restaurants if we can. The bar at the Darby is adorable but only has about 6 seats (maybe 8? I didn't count). We chatted up the bartender about a local vodka my wife read about. Cold River vodka is made in Maine with 100% Maine potatoes. Very nice. I had a Red Snapper special entree. That was great. Nice flavor. Cooked just right. My wife at the Thai Noodle salad from the menu. She loved it! We chatted with some locals at the bar. They knew the menu by heart so I think they are "regulars". When we subsequently visited a friend who grew up in Maine and traveled around for work, she gave a thumbs up as well.
(4)Sgt. S.
This is very good, solid dining experience. The food was just above good and just below execeptional. I liked that the menu had a pretty eclectic selection -- burritos, enchiladas, soup 'n' sandwich, fish 'n' chips, burgers, zucchini sliders, pad thai, etc. The apps -- fried calamari and potstickers -- were great: light and flavorful. One caveat: even if you save room for dessert, share it. Each is too big for one person.
(4)Julie T.
What a great surprise this place was. My husband and I stopped in for lunch during our week's vacation in Midcoast Maine. We liked it so much the first time we made another trip back later in the week. Menu has a great variety for lunch and good beer options on tap as well. On our first visit My husband had the zucchini sliders with tomato, fresh mozzarella and basil pesto and I had the fried haddock sandwich. Both were super fresh and outstanding. 2nd trip I opted fore the fried haddock again in the fish and chips because it was just that good and my husband had the fresh Maine crab roll.....We ate both times at the bar and had friendly, attentive service. We will definitely be coming back on our next visit to the area. We stay in Camden but find the lunch options limited....So happy we found this little gem in pretty little Belfast.
(5)Steven A.
Stopped by this place for lunch while on a drive to Rockland. What a great little spot. We loved the decor and all the old woodwork. The food was shockingly good. The spicy garlic soup with a half a grilled cheese sandwich was exactly what I needed. I would have loved to have stayed for a couple of pints at the great looking bar but, alas, I had to drive. Bummer!
(5)Amy G.
Good place for a family since there are so many options. The salad was huge and very good. The chowder was given two-thumbs-up by my 7-yr old who I believe is a connoiseur of clam chowder. Son's egg rolls were underwhelming. It's a little like an Applebee's.
(3)Kathy C.
Darby's is our go-to place whenever we' re in Belfast at lunch or dinner time. I've never had a bad meal there and almost always get the pad Thai. I have tried other things like the burgers, fried clams, Mac &cheese with good results. I'm sure desserts are good but am always too full to try. They now serve breakfast but have not tried that yet.
(4)Geoff M.
Our family was just passing through town and gave Darbys a try, after reading other Yelp reviews. We were not disappointed! Good food in a casual and comfortable family atmosphere. Our server was excellent. And the desserts were well worth saving room for. I can still taste that 3 Berry Pie in my mind's eye. Yum!
(4)Sean P.
Atmospherically, this place was just fine for a family of 5 to stop in for lunch as we meandered down Route 1 on the way back from our Downeast vacation. The food, though, was perfectly bland, and the menu was an odd mix of Mexican, seafood and pub fare. The chef seemed to be trying too hard to be too many things to too many people. If we ever find ourselves in Belfast again, we'll seek other options.
(2)pete g.
Darby's is a cute little pub in a cute little coastal town, but don't let that put an upper bound on your expectations. Lead off with a pint of something local (I go for Shipyard, more often than not) and peek at the menu. You won't be three swigs deep before you notice some very un-pub meals like the Big Buddha Bowl, chicken curry salad and pad thai sharing space with staples like fish and chips, the char-burger, and macaroni and cheese. Decide on something -- don't worry too much about this, you're not in any danger. Order the second pint. Eat, drink, be merry. Finally, you are ready to get down to business. You might have thought you'd seen the best of the place. You haven't. That's because you haven't eaten the Scottish sticky toffee pudding cake. I didn't tell you up front, but this is the real reason you came here. The ales and the fish and the chips were all fine and good, but once your spoon makes the first dent in the warm, gooey cake a la mode, you are not gonna be thinking about bullshit like fried food and beer. You are going to be wringing the hands of Gail the proprietor, weeping, wailing, begging for another piece, offering your children for services I can't talk about outside Yelp Amsterdam. The next morning you will wake up, toffee-spit encrusted in the corners of your mouth, and you will be embarrassed. You will disown the promises you made the night before. You will pretend that you can just move on, that it's just that simple. But deep inside, you will always see the truth. You are tainted, a pathetic junky. You will do everything in your power to choke and smother your laser-like focus, to deny your anointed purpose, but it is no use. You will always come back to Darby's.
(5)Amanda L.
Good food, wide variety of choices (pad thai, prime rib, mac n' cheese, fried clam plate, you name it) with plenty of vegetarian-friendly options, and a good selection of local brews as well as the old standbys. There is plenty of parking nearby in cute downtown Belfast, and plenty of places to walk to for more drinks if you want to stay out later after dinner. The service was adequate and the staff basically pretty nice. We were here for a "rehearsal dinner" of sorts, and they seemed a little flummoxed by the planning of an event with 20+ people, but everything turned out OK in the end. The ambiance is also relaxed and easy going, so I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a wide menu selection with good service and simple decor while stopping in Belfast!
(4)Meaghan S.
Without a doubt the best place to eat in Belfast. I had a fantastic vodka cranberry here. You'd think that this simple drink would be a no brainer anywhere, but really I've hard more bad mixes than I can count. Darby's got it just right. This is a really cute location. Beautiful, old and charming. The food is delicious and creative. I had the chicken curry salad, very good and reminiscent of the Whole Foods version which I think is delicious. The real star, as Pete G. mentioned, is the Scottish sticky toffee pudding cake, which is perhaps the best dessert I have ever had anywhere. EVER. In fact, maybe skip the food altogether order two of these. Savor every bite and feel your blood sugar and dopamine levels rise until you are in a sticky toffee pudding coma. Holy crap. Goddamn delicious. P.S. The staff is really nice and will give you great suggestions of bed and breakfasts and local restaurants if you ask. We found a great place to stay, The White House Inn, through our sever.
(5)Vivien T.
Darby's has been a mainstay in Belfast. It was the place you bring your friends and relatives when they visit from out of state. It is a comfortable space. The food and the wait folks need help. On my last visit the food took over an hour to emerge for a table of 8. All of the food was cold, barely any warmth, as if it had been left. Because the owner came out to tables to announce trouble with the electronic check to kitchen machine we expected a wait. And stuff happens and you stick with it knowing that the food will eventually come out and make your family glad they waited. Not so this time. When we let them about the cold food, the wait person just glared back and told us it has just been put up .... folks, that was impossible! Then the owner came over to the table and was not happy and told us to pick plates to remove from the bill but we had to tip accordingly .... hey we are ethical human beings here, we were honest with them about the food and they had already added a 20% gratuity charge to the check. All in all we were treated as if we were liars. I was truly shocked. I am almost 60 years old and brought my son and daughter-in-law from Boston and my daughter and her partner from Atlanta, and her partner's parents from Atlanta and my own partner from Belfast. I am an honorable person and being treated as if I was trying to pull a slight and not pay for the food was more than insulting. They had to know the food had been left to the side and not delivered to the table. I wont be going back anytime soon. The competition for guests, and we were guests, among restaurants in Belfast is growing as the options for dining out increase, if Darby's does not respond with a higher expectation of what they offer in the way of food and service they will soon be left behind emerging new businesses.
(1)Jeff A.
Spent a great Sunday afternoon here with friends and all enjoyed their meals. Had the Pad Thai and it was great, just the perfect combination of spicy and peanut flavors. My wife had the chili and home made french fries, Both were tasty and fresh. Only 4 stars because we didn't get a second cup of coffee and the music started to repeat. (maybe we were there too long)
(4)Kay S.
Great food and service plus they had Guiness on tap, something we love. We were traveling and loved Darby's so much we went back the second night we were in town. We love the pub atmosphere for casual dining.
(5)Michelle Q.
Happily surprised with our experience, given the mixed reviews: My husband and I both got specials. He had the pot pie; the crust was super flaky, the beef was tender and the veggies and sauce were flavorful. I had pan seared haddock with citrus sauce. I thought I would take some back to our room, but it was so delicious I kept eating it. The veggie side was fresh and crunchy and the mashed potatoes were smooth and rich The on-tap cider was awesome- way better than bottled Angry orchard or Woodchuck. It tasted like cider I got as a kid in Vermont...well cider that had fermented a bit :).
(5)Barbara D.
Always great food and faire
(5)Chad D.
I guess I am missing something in regards to this place. I will start off by giving them a big thumbs up on their breakfast. This is one of the best places in town to get breakfast, always cooked just the way I want it and not a long wait. The prices are also great on the breakfast menu. After breakfast it all goes down hill fast. The lunch and dinner menu is terrible...they have maybe 10 or 12 items, none of which I find good. Typically when forced to eat here I try to choke down the "char burger" which is their attempt at a cheeseburger... Honestly if your looking for a place to do dinner, I would skip this place and opt for something else....if your looking for breakfast then definitely stop here.
(2)Jason S.
My wife and I were really excited to eat Darby's as it was recommended by almost every single local. It was a very hot day and when we looked at the menu it had something to eat for all of us. When we were greeted by the hostess she informed us that even though there were tables available, she did not want to seat us because she wanted "her waitresses to catch up". We said ok and waited approximately 5 minutes. When she came back she asked if a booth was ok, we said sure as long as we could have a highchair on the end for our 10 month old daughter. She then told us that one of her waitresses doesn't like to have highchairs at the end of booths and began to seat others ahead of us. At this point we were getting a bit agitate as our daughter was very hungry and she kept seating table after table, and even though half of the restaurant was completely empty and the other half did have open tables, the hostess refused to seat us. After waiting 20 minutes the hostess claimed she could seat us on the open half of the restaurant and in her words "I guess I can bring you your food over here". We said fine and told her we just wanted to be seated so out daughter could eat. The hostess said she would right back and disappeared again. We waited for another 10 minutes and she never returned so we finally decided to leave. We are so disappointed that we were treated like second class citizens just because we had a child with us, completely unprofessional establishment.
(1)John K.
Darby's is always af 2x or 3x for us each summer...for more than 15 years running. The staff has been here for years so the service is great. The menu runs the gamut with excellent fresh seafood selections, great steaks and chops, Asian influences and vegetarian selections. The desserts are homemade and creative. Go to Darby's when you want to relax. It's great for couples or for groups...
(5)Marianne C.
Finally finished this long-abandoned review of a place we visited on our last day in Maine back in 9/10. I had a grilled cheese on wheat bread with New England clam chowder and washed it down with a black and tan. I know this is a popular place that gets a lot of good reviews. Our waitress was very nice (an older woman...she may have been charmed by the Hoff...who isn't?) and that helped. But I remember an overall feeling of dissatisfaction with the food. Maybe I was expecting more from the New England clam chowder? It was ok, but I didn't feel like I needed to ever go back. Obviously, I wasn't so enthusiastic about the place that I had to post my Yelp review quickly. :)
(3)Lori S.
Have been there a few times over past year and it never disappoints. Food is good, each day different specials usually about 7 to 9 different option plus reg menu. Sometimes service is slow but friendly.
(4)Malia O.
Wow! What a menu! Usually when there's this much variety, there's a lot of misses, but this place delivers across the board! Every visit leaves us delighted by how delicious the food is and how friendly the staff is. I can't say enough good things about this place, wish there were more places like it in New England. They sure make it look easy! Any time friends are headed to or through Belfast, we tell them to enjoy a meal at Darby's. And if they don't have time for a full sit down meal, there's no better lobster roll than the one served at the Lunch Wagon, around the corner toward the water.
(5)Rod G.
Had heard about their burgers...went for a classic burger & fries. Outstanding...burger juicy and flavorful, fries are fresh cut and for any other In-n-out freaks, these fries are very similar. Amazing treat in Belfast
(5)Diane H.
We stopped in for lunch on a day trip to Searsport/Belfast, and this was definitely worth the stop. What an improvement over another choice we had made earlier. The menu here was extensive with so many choices it was hard to make a choice. Within our foresome, we had a vege-burger, fish-n-chips, haddock sandwich, and a burger. The conversation stopped as we all enjoyed our lunches. Delish! We split the brownie hot fudge sundae and there was more than enough for 4 people to get a nice decadent dessert. Service was ok. The hostess came and took our drink order right away, but our server never followed through and brought them to us until we asked for them. Food was delivered very timely, and they were attentive. Absolutely worth a stop. I hear from the waitress that the dinner menu is even more extensive than lunchl.
(4)Mary R.
Wonderful find! Great service and very good pub grub!
(4)Chris R.
I love going here. The "feel" of the whole restaurant is great. Awesome food (especially the lobster ravioli!) and great service. I go here often!
(4)Jill G.
A good basic pub place like this one would normally only get 3 stars from me if it weren't for two things. 1. The salads are absolutely HUGE! They're like 3 salads put together. And 2. The burger I had was soooooo juicy and perfectly cooked. I would eat here again in a heartbeat.
(4)Tom E.
One thing I miss from England are gorgeous old pubs with eccentric decor, strange collections of whatnot and eclectic menus written by chefs trying their hand at everything. Darby's in Belfast was the first place I found all four together in America and for that already it has 4 stars. But let me also take it up to 5 now thanks to food and service... Service - we came last thing on a Sunday night expecting to find nowhere open in this quiet neck of the woods. Sure enough Darby's was closing soon but they did nothing to hurry us up and everything felt effortless. Food - come here if you are HOMESICK. There will probably be your region's classic on the menu. I'm English and I had great Fish and Chips. My Thai friend went for the Big Buddha Bowl and loved it. We must've looked so dumb. We should've been given flags to wave as well.
(5)Dave P.
This is our first night in Maine, and it is raining non-stop. I found Darby's through Yelp, and it was exactly what we were looking for. Very good food (the Buddha Bowl with tofu is outstanding), great local beers, excellent vibe (comfortable, woody, funky), and friendly service. Highly recommended as a comfortable, eclectic local place.
(5)Derek W.
This place is pretty good. The decor was that of any generic pub and restaurant, but with a nice touch here and there. The wait staff was very friendly (even if the service was a touch slow) and our waitress was able to suggest a nice local brew for me (Andrew's Pale Ale - a nice, hoppy American style pale ale). The cold cucumber soup was pretty good, although it just tasted like a watered down Greek tzatziki sauce. The entree, halibut with a mushroom and white wine sauce, was a little disappointing (too fishy, didn't taste fresh). Other people in my family had complaints about their entrees, as well. The desserts were all very good though, especially the peanut butter pie. Three stars, three and a half if I could give it.
(3)Jas. K.
A creaky, old -- emphasis on old-- favorite with locals seems the closest thing they have to a steady eddy joint that's not quite a beer scented dive. (See the joint don't Main Street for that type of place). Standard pub grub with a few quirky attempts to mix things up. You need to go at least once if you're staying in town. Any doubts? Best advise would be to adhere to the KISS principle with this menu.
(3)