Went in with a group of friends for some Sunday fun. The first bartender I interacted with was wonderful and made my drink the way I asked for it with no hesitation. When it became time to order another drink my friend asked a different guy behind the bar if we could order when he got a chance. With an attitude he told us he was busy and would come back when he could. 15 mins later he returned, after servicing many people that walked up after us. I asked for a drink with fresh squeezed limes because I can't drink sour mix (allergic). He told us it's not his job and that if I wanted lime juice I'd have to do it myself. He then put limes around the edge of the glass and walked away. After squeezing in 7 lime slices on my own I asked him to shake it for me and he was extremely rude about that. Needless to say I won't be returning here because if I'm paying $10+ dollars a drink, I shouldn't have to make it myself
(1)
Kelly Y.
love this place. casual, not trendy at all, dark pub. have never had food here, so can't comment. But I always go for a few drinks when I'm in town. love the vibe, love the beer, any time of day
(4)
Matthew B.
Brian Ború, named after the famous Irish king, is pretty cool. Not my favorite bar in town but definitely a standard and better than most so-called "Irish Bars." Hard to miss, the bar is painted red and is decorated with a huge Guinness beer toucan. Two floors and outdoor areas, but the place still gets busy. My favorite part is that you can find the occasional celtic band jamming out or just casually gather with some friends. The dress code is informal. Full bar. If you're looking for a truly QUICK drink and it's not too busy this spot can accommodate since the bar is steps away from the door. In fact, this summer I've been in a handful of times on my way to the Maine State Pier just to grab that fast pre-concert drink.
(4)
Than P.
This is a great place for a first drink of the night! Live music on the weekends, which makes for a really LOUD bar, but head outside (either ground floor of back deck) for a more relaxed feel. Recommended cocktails: Russian tour bus the grateful dead I'm truthfully not exactly sure what either of these contain, but they're both delicious and highly alcoholic. This is simply a great meeting point for a group of friends. No frills here, this is an Irish pub. Worth a visit in the evening to see and be seen. Smaller bathrooms, not very clean.
(3)
Tony W.
Pretty typical American Irish bar: Guinness on tap, Irish decorations everywhere. Once you walk in you can either head directly upstairs (usually more space to stretch out) or deal with the maddening crowds downstairs. The upstairs bar is usually open, but every once in a while you need to lug a few pints up the stairs, which gets harder and harder the deeper into the night it gets. The seating on either floor are picnic tables. Props for the outside roof bar and the cool red paint job on the outside. Was one of the staple bars I would go on a typical weekend night during college. My 37 year old sensibilities would never tolerate the crush of 22-year olds they get on a Saturday night, however. The highlight for me is the music. They usually have really decent local bands playing upstairs throughout the week. They also have Irish musicians playing on...Sundays?
(4)
Shelley H.
For an authentic Old Port experience, this non-Corporate low frills bar is for you. Decent but not amazing beer selection. Drink specials geared towards the 420 type crowd. All-around laid back, the fries are surprisingly good but don't be tempted to try the awful gravy. The stew was also surprisingly good. I like the place more off-season, summer is hot, musty, dank and sticky in a bad way, and Loud somehow deafening even if there are only like ten people in sight. The music, always bad. The service, indifferent to mediocre usually. Can't beat that location, though, and all this said, I kinda have enough redneck in me to like a never quite clean, working man's bar like Boru.
(4)
Stephen C.
Beer selection was mediocre. There was a party at the time upstairs so I wasn't able to check out the entire joint. Will go back. Definitely worth a second look.
(3)
Ryan C.
Triva nights rock or at least they did...I don't know anymore since I have stopped going About a year or so ago (before the new guy took over) I went in with some friends for the ustairs triva night. On a whim, I tracked down and assembled a top notch team. Everyone brushed up on a subject: geogaphy, history, anatomy. Your's truly had just learned the Greek alphabet. We arrived two hours before trivia was set to start so we could claim a table. Everyone ordered food (5 of us) and ordered lots of drinks. Half an hour before the start of trivia a blonde girl came up to us and said " you are in our seat". Having been here for trivia before, I know that there is no assigned seating and that tables are first come first serve. The thing that most upset us was how bitchy this girl was acting. We explained to the girl that we had been holding the table for trivia and that we had spent over $100 on food and drinks at that point. Restaurant and bar rules are that the table is yours as long as you keep eating and drinking. Five minutes later a waitress came over and told us that we had to give up the table for the other team!?! If there was an event or something that changed the way things normally work, than we should have been told! We were rudly and hastily kicked out. I didn't even get to finish my last beer. By this point the upstairs and downstairs were packed and there was no room for us anywhere. This place burned all of us and we haven't been back since, which sucks since we really did enjoy going. They have good food and drink. The upstairs outside deck allows smoking and is awesome.
(3)
Joelle H.
Bloody Mary's with sliders for brunch!!! DO IT! All the food was great. Walked in and got sat immediately while the "popular" breakfast place down the block had a 2 hour wait.
(4)
Bill S.
This pub is great for entertainment on Sunday with local irish musicians gathering in the back to jam and play traditional irish folk songs! Any other day it's truly a locals bar/pub with sceensters and locals drinking and being load.- The Food menu is bland and they try to put a twist on your standard irish fare pub food- burgers, fries and all that- but it falls short -greasy and tasteless -that is if you can actually get a server to wait on you - then you scored-but in my experience - which i've tryed several time on differnt days of the week -prepared to wait for a while for your food and drinks unless of course your a frequent flyer of the place .... apparently that's the only way you get anyone to pay attention to you??
(3)
Stephen D.
What a great spot for brunch. Unlike more hoity toity spots, this Irish pub is very casual, sit anywhere you want, the menu is small but varied. We started off with the Hangover Destroyer - Strong bloody Mary topped with a cheese slider, for $5...pretty awesome. I had the vegetable breakfast, it was actually quite delicious; fried mushrooms, peppers, over potatoes and topped with 2 perfect eggs, it was extremely filling and tasty. Everyone seemed to like the place, it was great!
(4)
Kelly O.
Tried the food recently and it was pretty delicious... a mid-day locally-made bangers and mash for $12, plus a 'Nutty Irishman' spiked coffee and a lovely waitress, made for a great afternoon. Come for the Irish Sesiun, tasty Irish pub food, and great pints.
(4)
linny f.
Five stars for the awesome waitstaff and the "hangover" was the best bloody mary I've ever had (sorry Dad). The value was great: five dollars for a bloody mary with a slider. We ordered the potato skins since I was pretty certain I would fall over from the booze in the "hangover" if I didn't eat. The skins were yummy and stuffed. The waitress slipped on a step coming up and gave us the survivors that stayed on the plate and a whole new order. Thank you. We enjoyed the upper patio where we could see the harbor and views of Portland. Slightly dirty tables, but who cares when drinks are $5.00 with outdoor seating. My only regret, being a light weight and only able to have one "Hangover."
(5)
Nicole M.
Awesome food, awesome service!! We had the Veggie Burger with side salad!! Yummy!! The blue cheese dressing was so good. If we are ever back in Portland we will definitely hit this place up again.
(5)
Michael D.
Great view on the rooftop bar, that's how we ended up here. Stayed for a few drinks and caught a nice breeze. The upstairs bar had quick service and the prices were reasonable. Local beers on tap as well as the standard domestic and foreign choices. Didn't try the food but the other reviews seem to give it a thumbs up.
(4)
Mike P.
Great local pub, excellent selection of typical Irish libations as well as local beers. Refreshing change from the many Old Port bars that seem to be geared toward the young crowd. Full spectrum of patrons makes it fun and interesting. Food is excellent, staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The fact that local brewers can be seen here when they go out for a pint speaks volumes. Happy hour specials daily.
(4)
Jeremy N.
Good food, location and great staff (some are actually Irish!). Another old favorite that I'm glad is still around.
(4)
Lauren T.
Cool place- hipster vibe. Great location to downtown. Music on the weekends. Upstairs bartender was quick and friendly. The tables are long with bench seating (so you may have to share with other peeps). A group of us ordered appetizers- pulled pork nachos, buffalo wings, and fries. All 3 were yummy!! Prices were reasonable. Will definitely be back. :)
(3)
Asya P.
We came here for the irish music and late brunch on Sunday, not knowing what to expect of any of it. Probably the best burger+fries plate I have ever had, though I honestly recommend sharing, given the portion size. Drinks are cheap, music is FANTASTIC. Our waitress was not friendly, but she was ON TOP of everything. She was serving all 50-100 people in there, and she got everything spot on (yes, without writing anything down). Prepare to share your table! This is not an intimate place, this is a pretty rowdy bar, though tons of people brought their kids.
(5)
Erin M.
We stopped in for a couple of drinks while visiting Portland on Memorial Day weekend. We were able to find parking nearby, and there was a giant picture of the Guinness toucan on the side of the building, so it seemed like a good choice. Overall, it was a somewhat divey and sticky looking, and we were surrounded by some pretty plastered, obnoxious people (it wasn't very late in the evening, either!), but the service was friendly and quick enough, the beer selection was decent, and they have an outdoor courtyard and deck area for enjoying our drinks outside. I can't comment on the food, since we didn't eat there, but it was an overall decent place.
(3)
Ronald S.
Brian Boru is a funky Irish Pub in Portland .. We were here for lunch and the craic, not so much the drinking. Guinness onion rings were great - nice big rings in a dark beer batter, Nachos were great - fresh salsa, just the right amount of cheese and all nice and melted, my "big boy grilled cheese" was kinda crazy - a triple decker with pimento, cheddar and swiss cheeses (i got it without the bacon) .. decent beer selection here of course with a good cross section of local and irish brews. Enough options for vegetarians. Brought my parents with us and my dad had the Bangers & Mash and he said it was damn good, close to what he had in Dublin .. Seemed like a good mix of people, lots of chatting, red sox game on the tube.
(4)
Micky K.
Used to love this place but really only for the deck. Food isn't anything great. I feel compelled to write a review after my unfortunate experience there last night. Visited there after the art walk to see the live band they had. We were there for maybe 3 minutes. Our friend was super happy and apparently the bro behind the bar didn't like his sweet dance moves (honestly i think it was jealousy but that's just my opinion). This dude def had something to prove. Made a huge scene yelling to the bouncer as if my friend was some sort or evil doer that must be stopped. I laughed and made a coment on how we better not dance cause apparently it is friggin Footloose in here and John Lithgow was kicking ass and taking names. He then grabbed me by my hair and chest, spilled my drink on me, and dragged me to the door. Um over kill buddy, I am a small woman and this place sucks i will gladly leave. He is lucky my husband followed me out before he knew what happened. I have also seen the bartender serve people at last call then the bouncer will immediately kick them out and take the freshly poured beverage. Why don't you just demand I open my wallet and you can just steal my money? Every time I have been to this establishment the staff was rude, you have to wait in line while people rail drugs up their noses in the bathrooms, and the food blows. The only thing they have going is a deck. Luckily there are other amazing places close by.
(1)
Derek O.
Went there tonight for trivia night called before I went there and told them I was in a wheelchair they said oh yeah we're total accessible I get there and they informed me that the trivia was upstairs and there was no way of getting me out there so I feel like they need to retrain there employees.
(1)
Karen V.
Stopped in on a Sunday for a man mosa which was good and cheap,however the person serving the drinks was horrible. It was like he was doing us a favor asking us what we wanted. We were never asked if we wanted anything to eat. Service is lousy. Forget it.
(1)
Katelyn C.
This is my boyfriend's favorite bar in Portland. It's very laid back and has more of that locals vibe. It's an Irish bar that's not trying to be an Irish bar. And what I mean by that is they don't overdo everything like in Bull Feeney's and Ri Ra's, which makes those two kind of tacky. The food is decent and the bloody marys at brunch are only $3 or something like that. Love those bloody marys!
(5)
Emily B.
This is generally not somewhere I love to go unless it's summer. Their outside areas are great but a little too cramped for me inside. That being said, it's a popular choice among my friends so maybe I'm missing something. They've had a cider on tap every time I've been, which is a nice option for non-beer drinkers.
(3)
Mike F.
Tough brunch today, my first visit -- waiter didn't write anything down, and as a result dishes came up flat-out wrong, which he blamed on the kitchen, with no apology. With that said, decent enough food and prices. Perhaps just a bad day.
(2)
Justine J.
One of my favorite spots to go for drinks on a night out. It's simple, unassuming, and fun. They have some great beer on tap, great cocktails, and being able to hang out on the roof during the warm months of the year... so nice. Oh, and the fries are freaking AWESOME.
(5)
James S.
Amazing food and great selection of Beer. They have live music and trivia nights every week along with good happy hour specials. The pulled pork sandwich is to die for.
(5)
Chris G.
Can't complain is an understatement. :) This is a bar and restaurant. A bar with staff that doesn't turn over and quality beer and whiskey options. You are forced to be cozy with your neighbors, and at Boru, that's a good thing. However, the food is awesome as well. It's not pubby, Boru seems to do traditional non-chain driven Irish/American classics with a respect to regional bias and food-sourcing. They are able to book better bands, Host a great road race yearly, and apparently have great Irish music on Sundays. Not my jam, but I respect it. The deck, the bevs, the food, the entertainment, the service (always prompt and attentive, but will equally walk away when some yuppie debates whether or not they want a summer ale or a guinness), the location (It's not the Portland public school reunion every night,) are all factors that makes Brian Boru a go to; regardless of the reason.
(5)
Justin S.
I have nothing good and nothing bad to say here I'll give an "eh" If you like beer and have nowhere else to go... Go here. Bands are cool but you can get that anywhere
(3)
William F.
It's like cheers! Everybody knows your name! Great local bands, as well as live Irish music on Sundays. Food is ok, the drinks are the best!!
(5)
Andrea K.
I've been to Boru's a few times for drinks, but never stayed long. Today friends and I went there to enjoy the weather on their patio. Apparently, they do brunch until 3:00 on the weekends. The bloody marys are only $2, and they're delicious. A friend ordered the macaroni and cheese and we discovered that it was awesome. Our server was one of the friendliest I'd had in a while (the bartender who greeted us upon arrival was particularly friendly as well). I can't wait to try other things on the menu (doughnuts!? Yessss.), and I think Brian Boru's is my new go-to brunch spot.
(5)
Kevin M.
I've been a loyal patron since '93. Stopped in yesterday with my wife and children. Burgers, sandwiches potato wedges were great. The beer selection was great as well and the friendly staff and patrons makes this one of my favorite pubs.
(5)
Cody C.
i've gotta say - this does not fall into my usual profile... whatsoever... but it was our first night in portland... and in the distance - we heard fabulous reggae/dub music... and we followed our ears to Brian Boru. grabbed some drinks (old thumper on draft and a decent selection of wines for a pub) and headed upstairs to the patio for a few hours of a really freaking good time with a band called gorilla finger. very chill crowd... and was a lot more enjoyable when it spaced out a bit and wasn't so "OMG crowded". had a great time dancing with the band and enjoyed a beautiful night under the stars. might have had too much of a good time though because we went home with a copy of gorilla finger's cd... and for real... i don't remember the last time i owned a cd.... why didn't i just think to find their sound cloud or youtube channel? oh well! :).
(4)
Sean R.
Yikes. I thought this would be a pleasant pub. From the outside it looks nice but when we went, we couldn't get a drink if we had flashing neon signs on our heads. The bartenders seemed a bit clueless. Dissapointment.
(2)
Jim P.
I am local. I met the owners when thy started the place 20 years ago and its still my favorite pub. One of the owners likes to call it a Grand Social Experiment. Whitney the bar manager and one of the bartenders, is probably the best bartender, outside Jon Meyers, this town has ever seen. Highly recommended to anyone visiting
(5)
Sarah G.
You like strong drinks?? You like typical cover bands that play early 90's hits and that's pretty much it? You like an upstairs outdoor patio? If so, then you should definitely head on over here. Why not 4 stars? Well, it is just like every other bar I feel, minus the fact that they do have a giant Guinness toucan on the side of it, which I'm not gonna lie, my boyfriend and I spent about 15 minutes trying to take pictures of him in front of it because his fraternity nick name was bird, and in our state of mind that night, we just had to get a good photo taken!!! That small fact aside, this bar is two stories, they serve their mixed drinks in pint glasses, and they almost always have a drink special. Not sure how I felt about the clientele there, but the 90's cover band played some songs that will definitely take you back to your golden days, while you suck back that drink that somehow packs a punch for around a couple bucks. And be sure to go out and say hi to that toucan on the side of the building! Where else can you say you hung out with a bird as big as the side of some houses?
(3)
Tricia M.
Great drink specials on Sunday. Food is wonderful and staff super friendly.
(5)
Brian F.
Walked in and couldn't get anyone to acknowledge us. Left after about five minutes of wandering around with employees totally ignoring our presence. Must be a local hangout...felt like we crashed a private party. Two stars because it looked like other people were having fun.
(2)
Kathy K.
Stopped in on Tuesday game night and enjoyed playing a game and drinking. I had the Mac n cheese with bacon- good. My partner had the special sandwich of the night which I thought was better than my MnC. The bar was packed from 5-6:30. Great drink pours. Will be back!
(4)
Eric C.
A great place to unwind with good food and good fun, and not too loud or crazy, either. My wife and I popped in after a schooner tour for some light fare before heading back, and this place worked really well for that. Atmosphere: looks like your typical Irish pub: brick and wood interior with dim lights and wooden benches for seating; Irish bands playing on the stereo. Service was prompt and friendly. The food was better than we were expecting from a pub, and definitely worth coming back for. My wife could not stop raving about the Caldo (sp?) Verde soup, and I enjoyed the chicken strips with the house-made sauces. We may return tomorrow, since Wednesday is trivia night.
(4)
Kate C.
This is an awesome bar - We stumbled on it one night and it was just a blast. The locals were really nice to us out of towners. The place was packed, the music was rockin, and the beers were pretty cheap served quick and very cold:). I recommend the place to everyone:)
(4)
Tim G.
All you have to know about Brian Boru is that even when their power goes out, they continue to serve their customers. I have never eaten here, but I always come here for beverages, once you have had a couple of Guinness, you would think you were in Galway not Portand. We were there in October of 2010, power was out, the irish session continued, the beer tabs were switched to paper and party continued.
(3)
Jay M.
I dropped in to the Brian Boru on a Saturday afternoon after a long bike ride around Cape Elizabeth. I was hungry and definitely ready for a beer. I sat at the bar near the window and a couple of really friendly locals started up a conversation about skiing as soon as they learned I was from Vancouver. The bar tender was super friendly and the service was quick. I ordered the cassoulet and was very pleased with it. If you're looking for decent pub food in Portland this is a definite candidate.
(4)
Donna P.
My husband and I stopped in for Sunday brunch after reading good reviews. We were anxious to try a scotch egg, which we did and it was very good. We also had chicken wings that were overdone and terrible. Nikko, our waiter was the most unpleasant non friendly person ever. We were really excited to try Brian Boru and had been planning this for some time only to be disappointed by a dark cloud (Nikko) ruining our whole experience. Will we go back? Maybe one more time to see if it was a fluke or an everyday occurrence . Will let you know.
(2)
Darla R.
slow service and I ordered mashed potatoes with my meal they came out and told me that they wern't ready so I had to change my order but when my friends meal came it had mashed with it
(2)
Michael L.
Brian Boru is a fun, cute bar in Portland. The drinks are priced reasonably (around $5-7) and there is usually a mixed crowd here as opposed to the clique-bars on Wharf St. They have a deck too! Another advantage is that they often have live music upstairs, which can be obnoxious because of the small space, but is nonetheless fun. The outside of the building is instantly recognizable, even iconic with it's blood red and black paint job. There is also an enormous painting of the Guinness toucan on the side of the building. Why? I do not know. The interior has the feel of an old style pub, wood beams above and below, dark wooden tables and benches for an incredibly authentic feel. It is named after Brian Boru, High King of Ireland. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br…
(4)
Tara L.
This would have been the place we hung out for the vast majority of the evening had a god-awful band not started playing and mangling perfectly good songs. Other people there seemed to really like them but perhaps they were local favorites or people were just much drunker than us. I don't like bar bands/cover bands as a general rule and this was even worse than normal. The beer selection downstairs was great but when I got upstairs, the selection was pretty poor and I didn't feel like pushing my way down the blocked stairs to get the better selection. The Shipyard Export Ale was pretty good though, although it was disappointing that you couldn't get a pitcher. My husband had a huge rum and coke that was VERY generously mixed. The bartender was pretty friendly. I would have hung out here for hours and really enjoyed it but we left as soon as we finished our beers after the band came on. I would definitely come back and sit upstairs on the deck provided there was no band scheduled to play and I could get a beer downstairs.
(3)
Michelle C.
My husband and I stopped by for lunch midweek and the place was almost empty. A few regulars at the bar. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. Not the greatest on-tap selection but we both found things we were happy with. Their macaroni and cheese is THE most delicious mac and cheese I have ever had! YUM! My husband had the pulled pork sandwich and I had the sausage and peppers sandwich. HUGE portions and everything was tasty. Would definitely go back. I bet it's a blast on a weekend night!
(4)
Erica S.
Meat market! My ladies and I were in hot demand here on a Saturday night. Cover bands! I've been here 3 times and every time has had a cover band, so I guess that's their thing. And once you get drunk enough, they start to sound pretty good. Alcohol! And lots of it. Yes, it's a bar. Get a super strong mixed drink for around $6, or be classy and have a PBR tall boy for $3. Though the downstairs seems pretty square, the bar area upstairs is a fun place to hang with friends and dance around. The best, of course, is the outdoor deck. We got a game of flip cup going one night, which was ridiculous, and AWESOME. I mean, what other bar allows you to play frat boy drinking games on their porch? That's pretty special.
(4)
Susie Q.
Great selection of beers on tap and strong cocktails. I've never sat at the bar and always had attentive waitress service. Food is not a strong point. DON'T get the quesadilla- it was just shredded chicken with cheese and a side of "barbeque" sauce which honestly tasted like ketchup with a splash of bbq. DO try the mac and cheese. The nachos are decent. Never had the burgers or sandwiches but they looked pretty good. Atmosphere is good: if you like sitting with friends, enjoying a random selection if music but still able to have a conversation, come here. I'll definitely be returning.
(4)
Rob G.
"The Drinking Consultants". Great venue, beer selection, music, and a fun place to get stuck in the winter sharing laughs and stories with the locals.
(5)
Matt C.
I love this bar. Irish dive without too heavy the Irish or too heavy the dive. Tends to sport a local crowd of rabble rowsers out for a good time of drinking and laughter. Never seen a fight here, just happy people having a great time. Long picnic style tables inside, another bar on the second floor with more seats, and some nights a band. Outside a large smoking patio with old port views. I love that this is in the old port but not directly on the main strip with all the other bars. Kind of an off to the side mellow dive.
(5)
Hannah H.
Great service tonight! Until about 9:30 pm when the tan brunette at the downstairs bar freaked out on my friends and I because of a conversation that she overheard. My friends and I were wondering why we were being ignored which is understandable because its st Patty's day and we figured that said bartender was possibly a barback seeing how she was standing around for 10 minutes. So one of my friends said "maybe she's a barback so whatever, well wait for the next bartender. " then she proceeded to yell at us and say that shell have us kicked out. She then said with an attitude "ummm yeah I'm not a barback thanks though. I'm a bartender. I've been here since 4am" by that time we had gotten drinks from the actual barback Seth. (Seth is awesome) And we never saw her serve any drinks to her customers that she was chatting it up with. Thanks for being a catty B though! I've worked 3 doubles this weekend too.
(2)
Lola N.
I've gotta update my review. I'm still gonna go with - the food is awful. However the drinks are not too bad and the upstairs crowd with the band is rowdy and super fun on a Friday night!! I don't care about all the hipsters in Portland, who are all major haters and way too cool to like a cover band. When you're drinking, cover bands are awesome. And this one covered cee-loo Forget You and everyone was getting down on the dance floor and having a good time. So I'm definitely coming back here, but never, ever for the food. Never the food.
(4)
Nathen S.
Cool people. Great Guinness.
(4)
Jon L.
Great beer selection, Geary's $3 for a pint. Cool roofdeck and interesting mix of people at 5 pm on a Friday, from fishermen to college kids. Overall good setting with many beers on draft. Fries we had where just ok, large cut fries, called hot fries that needed just a couple more jalapenos in them.
(4)
Ryan P.
Stopped in for happy hour to find a nice mix of people. Staff was friendly and attentive , drinks were strong and beer was priced perfect. When I am back in Portland I will be sure to stop in.
(4)
Justin H.
Great beer selection downstairs, pretty pitiful upstairs. Looks like an awesome place, but I couldn't get into it after a cover band came on and mangled some great tunes.
(3)
M J.
I stopped in for lunch because I work in the area, and the bartender had me fed and out the door within a half hour. I just had a burger, but it was excellent. I'll be back for drinks on the deck sometime when I'm not rushing back to work.
(4)
Eric W.
Stopped in here last night for some garlic fries and a Gunniess. The downstairs is tight, with about 6-8 seats at the bar and some public tables in the back, and a patio downstairs. I didn't go upstairs. The garlic fries were pretty good, if maybe just a tad undercooked. They are LOADED with garlic, so beware. The bartender also poured me a very healthy Jameson (10.25 for the beer and Jameson). Definitely a kick back place to stop into if you're going to be in town.
(3)
Kimberley T.
I'm uncertain as to whether they still do it, but they used to serve $2 pints of Guinness on Sundays, and you'd be able to listen to live Irish music - that alone was worth the drive up from Boston.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Loud Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Mon, Thu, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Katie G.
Went in with a group of friends for some Sunday fun. The first bartender I interacted with was wonderful and made my drink the way I asked for it with no hesitation. When it became time to order another drink my friend asked a different guy behind the bar if we could order when he got a chance. With an attitude he told us he was busy and would come back when he could. 15 mins later he returned, after servicing many people that walked up after us. I asked for a drink with fresh squeezed limes because I can't drink sour mix (allergic). He told us it's not his job and that if I wanted lime juice I'd have to do it myself. He then put limes around the edge of the glass and walked away. After squeezing in 7 lime slices on my own I asked him to shake it for me and he was extremely rude about that. Needless to say I won't be returning here because if I'm paying $10+ dollars a drink, I shouldn't have to make it myself
(1)Kelly Y.
love this place. casual, not trendy at all, dark pub. have never had food here, so can't comment. But I always go for a few drinks when I'm in town. love the vibe, love the beer, any time of day
(4)Matthew B.
Brian Ború, named after the famous Irish king, is pretty cool. Not my favorite bar in town but definitely a standard and better than most so-called "Irish Bars." Hard to miss, the bar is painted red and is decorated with a huge Guinness beer toucan. Two floors and outdoor areas, but the place still gets busy. My favorite part is that you can find the occasional celtic band jamming out or just casually gather with some friends. The dress code is informal. Full bar. If you're looking for a truly QUICK drink and it's not too busy this spot can accommodate since the bar is steps away from the door. In fact, this summer I've been in a handful of times on my way to the Maine State Pier just to grab that fast pre-concert drink.
(4)Than P.
This is a great place for a first drink of the night! Live music on the weekends, which makes for a really LOUD bar, but head outside (either ground floor of back deck) for a more relaxed feel. Recommended cocktails: Russian tour bus the grateful dead I'm truthfully not exactly sure what either of these contain, but they're both delicious and highly alcoholic. This is simply a great meeting point for a group of friends. No frills here, this is an Irish pub. Worth a visit in the evening to see and be seen. Smaller bathrooms, not very clean.
(3)Tony W.
Pretty typical American Irish bar: Guinness on tap, Irish decorations everywhere. Once you walk in you can either head directly upstairs (usually more space to stretch out) or deal with the maddening crowds downstairs. The upstairs bar is usually open, but every once in a while you need to lug a few pints up the stairs, which gets harder and harder the deeper into the night it gets. The seating on either floor are picnic tables. Props for the outside roof bar and the cool red paint job on the outside. Was one of the staple bars I would go on a typical weekend night during college. My 37 year old sensibilities would never tolerate the crush of 22-year olds they get on a Saturday night, however. The highlight for me is the music. They usually have really decent local bands playing upstairs throughout the week. They also have Irish musicians playing on...Sundays?
(4)Shelley H.
For an authentic Old Port experience, this non-Corporate low frills bar is for you. Decent but not amazing beer selection. Drink specials geared towards the 420 type crowd. All-around laid back, the fries are surprisingly good but don't be tempted to try the awful gravy. The stew was also surprisingly good. I like the place more off-season, summer is hot, musty, dank and sticky in a bad way, and Loud somehow deafening even if there are only like ten people in sight. The music, always bad. The service, indifferent to mediocre usually. Can't beat that location, though, and all this said, I kinda have enough redneck in me to like a never quite clean, working man's bar like Boru.
(4)Stephen C.
Beer selection was mediocre. There was a party at the time upstairs so I wasn't able to check out the entire joint. Will go back. Definitely worth a second look.
(3)Ryan C.
Triva nights rock or at least they did...I don't know anymore since I have stopped going About a year or so ago (before the new guy took over) I went in with some friends for the ustairs triva night. On a whim, I tracked down and assembled a top notch team. Everyone brushed up on a subject: geogaphy, history, anatomy. Your's truly had just learned the Greek alphabet. We arrived two hours before trivia was set to start so we could claim a table. Everyone ordered food (5 of us) and ordered lots of drinks. Half an hour before the start of trivia a blonde girl came up to us and said " you are in our seat". Having been here for trivia before, I know that there is no assigned seating and that tables are first come first serve. The thing that most upset us was how bitchy this girl was acting. We explained to the girl that we had been holding the table for trivia and that we had spent over $100 on food and drinks at that point. Restaurant and bar rules are that the table is yours as long as you keep eating and drinking. Five minutes later a waitress came over and told us that we had to give up the table for the other team!?! If there was an event or something that changed the way things normally work, than we should have been told! We were rudly and hastily kicked out. I didn't even get to finish my last beer. By this point the upstairs and downstairs were packed and there was no room for us anywhere. This place burned all of us and we haven't been back since, which sucks since we really did enjoy going. They have good food and drink. The upstairs outside deck allows smoking and is awesome.
(3)Joelle H.
Bloody Mary's with sliders for brunch!!! DO IT! All the food was great. Walked in and got sat immediately while the "popular" breakfast place down the block had a 2 hour wait.
(4)Bill S.
This pub is great for entertainment on Sunday with local irish musicians gathering in the back to jam and play traditional irish folk songs! Any other day it's truly a locals bar/pub with sceensters and locals drinking and being load.- The Food menu is bland and they try to put a twist on your standard irish fare pub food- burgers, fries and all that- but it falls short -greasy and tasteless -that is if you can actually get a server to wait on you - then you scored-but in my experience - which i've tryed several time on differnt days of the week -prepared to wait for a while for your food and drinks unless of course your a frequent flyer of the place .... apparently that's the only way you get anyone to pay attention to you??
(3)Stephen D.
What a great spot for brunch. Unlike more hoity toity spots, this Irish pub is very casual, sit anywhere you want, the menu is small but varied. We started off with the Hangover Destroyer - Strong bloody Mary topped with a cheese slider, for $5...pretty awesome. I had the vegetable breakfast, it was actually quite delicious; fried mushrooms, peppers, over potatoes and topped with 2 perfect eggs, it was extremely filling and tasty. Everyone seemed to like the place, it was great!
(4)Kelly O.
Tried the food recently and it was pretty delicious... a mid-day locally-made bangers and mash for $12, plus a 'Nutty Irishman' spiked coffee and a lovely waitress, made for a great afternoon. Come for the Irish Sesiun, tasty Irish pub food, and great pints.
(4)linny f.
Five stars for the awesome waitstaff and the "hangover" was the best bloody mary I've ever had (sorry Dad). The value was great: five dollars for a bloody mary with a slider. We ordered the potato skins since I was pretty certain I would fall over from the booze in the "hangover" if I didn't eat. The skins were yummy and stuffed. The waitress slipped on a step coming up and gave us the survivors that stayed on the plate and a whole new order. Thank you. We enjoyed the upper patio where we could see the harbor and views of Portland. Slightly dirty tables, but who cares when drinks are $5.00 with outdoor seating. My only regret, being a light weight and only able to have one "Hangover."
(5)Nicole M.
Awesome food, awesome service!! We had the Veggie Burger with side salad!! Yummy!! The blue cheese dressing was so good. If we are ever back in Portland we will definitely hit this place up again.
(5)Michael D.
Great view on the rooftop bar, that's how we ended up here. Stayed for a few drinks and caught a nice breeze. The upstairs bar had quick service and the prices were reasonable. Local beers on tap as well as the standard domestic and foreign choices. Didn't try the food but the other reviews seem to give it a thumbs up.
(4)Mike P.
Great local pub, excellent selection of typical Irish libations as well as local beers. Refreshing change from the many Old Port bars that seem to be geared toward the young crowd. Full spectrum of patrons makes it fun and interesting. Food is excellent, staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The fact that local brewers can be seen here when they go out for a pint speaks volumes. Happy hour specials daily.
(4)Jeremy N.
Good food, location and great staff (some are actually Irish!). Another old favorite that I'm glad is still around.
(4)Lauren T.
Cool place- hipster vibe. Great location to downtown. Music on the weekends. Upstairs bartender was quick and friendly. The tables are long with bench seating (so you may have to share with other peeps). A group of us ordered appetizers- pulled pork nachos, buffalo wings, and fries. All 3 were yummy!! Prices were reasonable. Will definitely be back. :)
(3)Asya P.
We came here for the irish music and late brunch on Sunday, not knowing what to expect of any of it. Probably the best burger+fries plate I have ever had, though I honestly recommend sharing, given the portion size. Drinks are cheap, music is FANTASTIC. Our waitress was not friendly, but she was ON TOP of everything. She was serving all 50-100 people in there, and she got everything spot on (yes, without writing anything down). Prepare to share your table! This is not an intimate place, this is a pretty rowdy bar, though tons of people brought their kids.
(5)Erin M.
We stopped in for a couple of drinks while visiting Portland on Memorial Day weekend. We were able to find parking nearby, and there was a giant picture of the Guinness toucan on the side of the building, so it seemed like a good choice. Overall, it was a somewhat divey and sticky looking, and we were surrounded by some pretty plastered, obnoxious people (it wasn't very late in the evening, either!), but the service was friendly and quick enough, the beer selection was decent, and they have an outdoor courtyard and deck area for enjoying our drinks outside. I can't comment on the food, since we didn't eat there, but it was an overall decent place.
(3)Ronald S.
Brian Boru is a funky Irish Pub in Portland .. We were here for lunch and the craic, not so much the drinking. Guinness onion rings were great - nice big rings in a dark beer batter, Nachos were great - fresh salsa, just the right amount of cheese and all nice and melted, my "big boy grilled cheese" was kinda crazy - a triple decker with pimento, cheddar and swiss cheeses (i got it without the bacon) .. decent beer selection here of course with a good cross section of local and irish brews. Enough options for vegetarians. Brought my parents with us and my dad had the Bangers & Mash and he said it was damn good, close to what he had in Dublin .. Seemed like a good mix of people, lots of chatting, red sox game on the tube.
(4)Micky K.
Used to love this place but really only for the deck. Food isn't anything great. I feel compelled to write a review after my unfortunate experience there last night. Visited there after the art walk to see the live band they had. We were there for maybe 3 minutes. Our friend was super happy and apparently the bro behind the bar didn't like his sweet dance moves (honestly i think it was jealousy but that's just my opinion). This dude def had something to prove. Made a huge scene yelling to the bouncer as if my friend was some sort or evil doer that must be stopped. I laughed and made a coment on how we better not dance cause apparently it is friggin Footloose in here and John Lithgow was kicking ass and taking names. He then grabbed me by my hair and chest, spilled my drink on me, and dragged me to the door. Um over kill buddy, I am a small woman and this place sucks i will gladly leave. He is lucky my husband followed me out before he knew what happened. I have also seen the bartender serve people at last call then the bouncer will immediately kick them out and take the freshly poured beverage. Why don't you just demand I open my wallet and you can just steal my money? Every time I have been to this establishment the staff was rude, you have to wait in line while people rail drugs up their noses in the bathrooms, and the food blows. The only thing they have going is a deck. Luckily there are other amazing places close by.
(1)Derek O.
Went there tonight for trivia night called before I went there and told them I was in a wheelchair they said oh yeah we're total accessible I get there and they informed me that the trivia was upstairs and there was no way of getting me out there so I feel like they need to retrain there employees.
(1)Karen V.
Stopped in on a Sunday for a man mosa which was good and cheap,however the person serving the drinks was horrible. It was like he was doing us a favor asking us what we wanted. We were never asked if we wanted anything to eat. Service is lousy. Forget it.
(1)Katelyn C.
This is my boyfriend's favorite bar in Portland. It's very laid back and has more of that locals vibe. It's an Irish bar that's not trying to be an Irish bar. And what I mean by that is they don't overdo everything like in Bull Feeney's and Ri Ra's, which makes those two kind of tacky. The food is decent and the bloody marys at brunch are only $3 or something like that. Love those bloody marys!
(5)Emily B.
This is generally not somewhere I love to go unless it's summer. Their outside areas are great but a little too cramped for me inside. That being said, it's a popular choice among my friends so maybe I'm missing something. They've had a cider on tap every time I've been, which is a nice option for non-beer drinkers.
(3)Mike F.
Tough brunch today, my first visit -- waiter didn't write anything down, and as a result dishes came up flat-out wrong, which he blamed on the kitchen, with no apology. With that said, decent enough food and prices. Perhaps just a bad day.
(2)Justine J.
One of my favorite spots to go for drinks on a night out. It's simple, unassuming, and fun. They have some great beer on tap, great cocktails, and being able to hang out on the roof during the warm months of the year... so nice. Oh, and the fries are freaking AWESOME.
(5)James S.
Amazing food and great selection of Beer. They have live music and trivia nights every week along with good happy hour specials. The pulled pork sandwich is to die for.
(5)Chris G.
Can't complain is an understatement. :) This is a bar and restaurant. A bar with staff that doesn't turn over and quality beer and whiskey options. You are forced to be cozy with your neighbors, and at Boru, that's a good thing. However, the food is awesome as well. It's not pubby, Boru seems to do traditional non-chain driven Irish/American classics with a respect to regional bias and food-sourcing. They are able to book better bands, Host a great road race yearly, and apparently have great Irish music on Sundays. Not my jam, but I respect it. The deck, the bevs, the food, the entertainment, the service (always prompt and attentive, but will equally walk away when some yuppie debates whether or not they want a summer ale or a guinness), the location (It's not the Portland public school reunion every night,) are all factors that makes Brian Boru a go to; regardless of the reason.
(5)Justin S.
I have nothing good and nothing bad to say here I'll give an "eh" If you like beer and have nowhere else to go... Go here. Bands are cool but you can get that anywhere
(3)William F.
It's like cheers! Everybody knows your name! Great local bands, as well as live Irish music on Sundays. Food is ok, the drinks are the best!!
(5)Andrea K.
I've been to Boru's a few times for drinks, but never stayed long. Today friends and I went there to enjoy the weather on their patio. Apparently, they do brunch until 3:00 on the weekends. The bloody marys are only $2, and they're delicious. A friend ordered the macaroni and cheese and we discovered that it was awesome. Our server was one of the friendliest I'd had in a while (the bartender who greeted us upon arrival was particularly friendly as well). I can't wait to try other things on the menu (doughnuts!? Yessss.), and I think Brian Boru's is my new go-to brunch spot.
(5)Kevin M.
I've been a loyal patron since '93. Stopped in yesterday with my wife and children. Burgers, sandwiches potato wedges were great. The beer selection was great as well and the friendly staff and patrons makes this one of my favorite pubs.
(5)Cody C.
i've gotta say - this does not fall into my usual profile... whatsoever... but it was our first night in portland... and in the distance - we heard fabulous reggae/dub music... and we followed our ears to Brian Boru. grabbed some drinks (old thumper on draft and a decent selection of wines for a pub) and headed upstairs to the patio for a few hours of a really freaking good time with a band called gorilla finger. very chill crowd... and was a lot more enjoyable when it spaced out a bit and wasn't so "OMG crowded". had a great time dancing with the band and enjoyed a beautiful night under the stars. might have had too much of a good time though because we went home with a copy of gorilla finger's cd... and for real... i don't remember the last time i owned a cd.... why didn't i just think to find their sound cloud or youtube channel? oh well! :).
(4)Sean R.
Yikes. I thought this would be a pleasant pub. From the outside it looks nice but when we went, we couldn't get a drink if we had flashing neon signs on our heads. The bartenders seemed a bit clueless. Dissapointment.
(2)Jim P.
I am local. I met the owners when thy started the place 20 years ago and its still my favorite pub. One of the owners likes to call it a Grand Social Experiment. Whitney the bar manager and one of the bartenders, is probably the best bartender, outside Jon Meyers, this town has ever seen. Highly recommended to anyone visiting
(5)Sarah G.
You like strong drinks?? You like typical cover bands that play early 90's hits and that's pretty much it? You like an upstairs outdoor patio? If so, then you should definitely head on over here. Why not 4 stars? Well, it is just like every other bar I feel, minus the fact that they do have a giant Guinness toucan on the side of it, which I'm not gonna lie, my boyfriend and I spent about 15 minutes trying to take pictures of him in front of it because his fraternity nick name was bird, and in our state of mind that night, we just had to get a good photo taken!!! That small fact aside, this bar is two stories, they serve their mixed drinks in pint glasses, and they almost always have a drink special. Not sure how I felt about the clientele there, but the 90's cover band played some songs that will definitely take you back to your golden days, while you suck back that drink that somehow packs a punch for around a couple bucks. And be sure to go out and say hi to that toucan on the side of the building! Where else can you say you hung out with a bird as big as the side of some houses?
(3)Tricia M.
Great drink specials on Sunday. Food is wonderful and staff super friendly.
(5)Brian F.
Walked in and couldn't get anyone to acknowledge us. Left after about five minutes of wandering around with employees totally ignoring our presence. Must be a local hangout...felt like we crashed a private party. Two stars because it looked like other people were having fun.
(2)Kathy K.
Stopped in on Tuesday game night and enjoyed playing a game and drinking. I had the Mac n cheese with bacon- good. My partner had the special sandwich of the night which I thought was better than my MnC. The bar was packed from 5-6:30. Great drink pours. Will be back!
(4)Eric C.
A great place to unwind with good food and good fun, and not too loud or crazy, either. My wife and I popped in after a schooner tour for some light fare before heading back, and this place worked really well for that. Atmosphere: looks like your typical Irish pub: brick and wood interior with dim lights and wooden benches for seating; Irish bands playing on the stereo. Service was prompt and friendly. The food was better than we were expecting from a pub, and definitely worth coming back for. My wife could not stop raving about the Caldo (sp?) Verde soup, and I enjoyed the chicken strips with the house-made sauces. We may return tomorrow, since Wednesday is trivia night.
(4)Kate C.
This is an awesome bar - We stumbled on it one night and it was just a blast. The locals were really nice to us out of towners. The place was packed, the music was rockin, and the beers were pretty cheap served quick and very cold:). I recommend the place to everyone:)
(4)Tim G.
All you have to know about Brian Boru is that even when their power goes out, they continue to serve their customers. I have never eaten here, but I always come here for beverages, once you have had a couple of Guinness, you would think you were in Galway not Portand. We were there in October of 2010, power was out, the irish session continued, the beer tabs were switched to paper and party continued.
(3)Jay M.
I dropped in to the Brian Boru on a Saturday afternoon after a long bike ride around Cape Elizabeth. I was hungry and definitely ready for a beer. I sat at the bar near the window and a couple of really friendly locals started up a conversation about skiing as soon as they learned I was from Vancouver. The bar tender was super friendly and the service was quick. I ordered the cassoulet and was very pleased with it. If you're looking for decent pub food in Portland this is a definite candidate.
(4)Donna P.
My husband and I stopped in for Sunday brunch after reading good reviews. We were anxious to try a scotch egg, which we did and it was very good. We also had chicken wings that were overdone and terrible. Nikko, our waiter was the most unpleasant non friendly person ever. We were really excited to try Brian Boru and had been planning this for some time only to be disappointed by a dark cloud (Nikko) ruining our whole experience. Will we go back? Maybe one more time to see if it was a fluke or an everyday occurrence . Will let you know.
(2)Darla R.
slow service and I ordered mashed potatoes with my meal they came out and told me that they wern't ready so I had to change my order but when my friends meal came it had mashed with it
(2)Michael L.
Brian Boru is a fun, cute bar in Portland. The drinks are priced reasonably (around $5-7) and there is usually a mixed crowd here as opposed to the clique-bars on Wharf St. They have a deck too! Another advantage is that they often have live music upstairs, which can be obnoxious because of the small space, but is nonetheless fun. The outside of the building is instantly recognizable, even iconic with it's blood red and black paint job. There is also an enormous painting of the Guinness toucan on the side of the building. Why? I do not know. The interior has the feel of an old style pub, wood beams above and below, dark wooden tables and benches for an incredibly authentic feel. It is named after Brian Boru, High King of Ireland. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br…
(4)Tara L.
This would have been the place we hung out for the vast majority of the evening had a god-awful band not started playing and mangling perfectly good songs. Other people there seemed to really like them but perhaps they were local favorites or people were just much drunker than us. I don't like bar bands/cover bands as a general rule and this was even worse than normal. The beer selection downstairs was great but when I got upstairs, the selection was pretty poor and I didn't feel like pushing my way down the blocked stairs to get the better selection. The Shipyard Export Ale was pretty good though, although it was disappointing that you couldn't get a pitcher. My husband had a huge rum and coke that was VERY generously mixed. The bartender was pretty friendly. I would have hung out here for hours and really enjoyed it but we left as soon as we finished our beers after the band came on. I would definitely come back and sit upstairs on the deck provided there was no band scheduled to play and I could get a beer downstairs.
(3)Michelle C.
My husband and I stopped by for lunch midweek and the place was almost empty. A few regulars at the bar. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. Not the greatest on-tap selection but we both found things we were happy with. Their macaroni and cheese is THE most delicious mac and cheese I have ever had! YUM! My husband had the pulled pork sandwich and I had the sausage and peppers sandwich. HUGE portions and everything was tasty. Would definitely go back. I bet it's a blast on a weekend night!
(4)Erica S.
Meat market! My ladies and I were in hot demand here on a Saturday night. Cover bands! I've been here 3 times and every time has had a cover band, so I guess that's their thing. And once you get drunk enough, they start to sound pretty good. Alcohol! And lots of it. Yes, it's a bar. Get a super strong mixed drink for around $6, or be classy and have a PBR tall boy for $3. Though the downstairs seems pretty square, the bar area upstairs is a fun place to hang with friends and dance around. The best, of course, is the outdoor deck. We got a game of flip cup going one night, which was ridiculous, and AWESOME. I mean, what other bar allows you to play frat boy drinking games on their porch? That's pretty special.
(4)Susie Q.
Great selection of beers on tap and strong cocktails. I've never sat at the bar and always had attentive waitress service. Food is not a strong point. DON'T get the quesadilla- it was just shredded chicken with cheese and a side of "barbeque" sauce which honestly tasted like ketchup with a splash of bbq. DO try the mac and cheese. The nachos are decent. Never had the burgers or sandwiches but they looked pretty good. Atmosphere is good: if you like sitting with friends, enjoying a random selection if music but still able to have a conversation, come here. I'll definitely be returning.
(4)Rob G.
"The Drinking Consultants". Great venue, beer selection, music, and a fun place to get stuck in the winter sharing laughs and stories with the locals.
(5)Matt C.
I love this bar. Irish dive without too heavy the Irish or too heavy the dive. Tends to sport a local crowd of rabble rowsers out for a good time of drinking and laughter. Never seen a fight here, just happy people having a great time. Long picnic style tables inside, another bar on the second floor with more seats, and some nights a band. Outside a large smoking patio with old port views. I love that this is in the old port but not directly on the main strip with all the other bars. Kind of an off to the side mellow dive.
(5)Hannah H.
Great service tonight! Until about 9:30 pm when the tan brunette at the downstairs bar freaked out on my friends and I because of a conversation that she overheard. My friends and I were wondering why we were being ignored which is understandable because its st Patty's day and we figured that said bartender was possibly a barback seeing how she was standing around for 10 minutes. So one of my friends said "maybe she's a barback so whatever, well wait for the next bartender. " then she proceeded to yell at us and say that shell have us kicked out. She then said with an attitude "ummm yeah I'm not a barback thanks though. I'm a bartender. I've been here since 4am" by that time we had gotten drinks from the actual barback Seth. (Seth is awesome) And we never saw her serve any drinks to her customers that she was chatting it up with. Thanks for being a catty B though! I've worked 3 doubles this weekend too.
(2)Lola N.
I've gotta update my review. I'm still gonna go with - the food is awful. However the drinks are not too bad and the upstairs crowd with the band is rowdy and super fun on a Friday night!! I don't care about all the hipsters in Portland, who are all major haters and way too cool to like a cover band. When you're drinking, cover bands are awesome. And this one covered cee-loo Forget You and everyone was getting down on the dance floor and having a good time. So I'm definitely coming back here, but never, ever for the food. Never the food.
(4)Nathen S.
Cool people. Great Guinness.
(4)Jon L.
Great beer selection, Geary's $3 for a pint. Cool roofdeck and interesting mix of people at 5 pm on a Friday, from fishermen to college kids. Overall good setting with many beers on draft. Fries we had where just ok, large cut fries, called hot fries that needed just a couple more jalapenos in them.
(4)Ryan P.
Stopped in for happy hour to find a nice mix of people. Staff was friendly and attentive , drinks were strong and beer was priced perfect. When I am back in Portland I will be sure to stop in.
(4)Justin H.
Great beer selection downstairs, pretty pitiful upstairs. Looks like an awesome place, but I couldn't get into it after a cover band came on and mangled some great tunes.
(3)M J.
I stopped in for lunch because I work in the area, and the bartender had me fed and out the door within a half hour. I just had a burger, but it was excellent. I'll be back for drinks on the deck sometime when I'm not rushing back to work.
(4)Eric W.
Stopped in here last night for some garlic fries and a Gunniess. The downstairs is tight, with about 6-8 seats at the bar and some public tables in the back, and a patio downstairs. I didn't go upstairs. The garlic fries were pretty good, if maybe just a tad undercooked. They are LOADED with garlic, so beware. The bartender also poured me a very healthy Jameson (10.25 for the beer and Jameson). Definitely a kick back place to stop into if you're going to be in town.
(3)Kimberley T.
I'm uncertain as to whether they still do it, but they used to serve $2 pints of Guinness on Sundays, and you'd be able to listen to live Irish music - that alone was worth the drive up from Boston.
(5)