I get here 1 or 2 times a year; usually heading west from Maine. They pour the BEST Guinness ... This evening I had Bangers Colcannon : 3 very good sausages with FANTASTIC mashed potatoes. They are mashed up with onion/cabbage and topped with a slightly sweet gravy - the plate is great !!! Just to be truly decadent I also ordered, on a recommendation, a shot of Bushmill's Black Bush (I am not really a whiskey drinker). It was smooth and tasty. Perfect meal as I depart Portland once again
(4)
Kathleen L.
Just had apps & beverages... I had cup of lobster stew that was full of tender lobster meat & a tasty broth. My husband had the surf & turf slider & said that both were very good. Companions had sweet & sour wing and claimed that they were VERY good. Would stop in again next time in Portland.
(4)
Rick M.
Ouch. We arrived at 8pm tonight, had our food order placed at 8:20pm. We're a group of six, but the restaurant is about half full. It's a Sunday night. About 45 minutes in we ask our waitress about our food. She says that they're working on it. 70 minutes in she comes by our table, explaining to my wife that they're out of pulled pork. She had ordered the pulled pork sandwich. She's offered the chance to have pulled chicken instead. That's when I knew that this would become only the second one-star review that I would write on Yelp. After all, if it took more than an hour and a half after we were seated and 70 minutes after we ordered that an ordered entree wasn't available it means that they hadn't started on it until then. We ask to speak to the manager. He comes by, asking if there's anything that he can do. We say we just want our food. I explain how something's wrong if it takes more than an hour after ordering our food that we're told that they can't complete it. He says that he will discount our bill. Another 10 minutes later -- 80 minutes after our food order -- our food arrives, including a side salad (that goes uneaten). The food is okay, but it would've had to be something amazing to bump this review up a star. It wasn't. We ask for the bill, and the manager's discount amounts to just 20% off. This is pretty wild all around. We pay. We tip 17% because we don't know if our server had lied to us or if the kitchen had lied to her. The odd thing is that folks that came in after us had no problem getting their order before us at a reasonable time. If anyone else has had to wait more than an hour for food or been denied an ordered item more than an hour in -- and you're a minority -- there may be a bigger issue here. Either way, it's the worst dining experience I've had in years.
(1)
Yelena S.
In reality, Bull Feeney's is a weekend bar hop stop. You'll always see people pouring in and out on a Saturday night before they make their way to the rest of Fore Street. I'm sure they also have a number of loyal followers who hang out there for the majority of the night though. They have a good beer selection as well as live entertainment on the second floor, during the day it also serves as a restaurant. I used to get their lamb nachos often, not sure if they still have it on the menu but they were really good! It can get super crowded though (just like anything downtown) and you can actually feel the second floor bounce from all the people (which is terrifying and exciting at the same time). It's a good place to stop in to get that old school bar feel with it's historical Irish pub touches, it's definitely casual but by no means divey.
(3)
Andrew J.
We arrived with a 3 month old infant around 8:30pm tonight who soundly slept and were told the wait was 20-25 minutes and that the restaurant was "kind of filling up". My wife and I asked about all the open seats next to the window and were told it would be occupied by the band. But the band was setting up on the other side. We debated waiting but were reminded how noisy and how busy it would become. It's 8:30 and the place is half empty - how many are showing up? Why am I waiting for a table when tables are available? It was clear to us and should be clear to Yelp users that this is place discriminates against visitors. My child is not sensitive and is able to sleep through any loud restaurant and band noise, as we experienced the night before. We would have been perfect guests. Shame on you and your anti-child policy.
(1)
Karen P.
After a day of wandering around, my friend and I just picked this place at random. I think the cute sign won us over, which was great because this place is a great. It's soooo big. Or maybe it's very small for Maine standards, which us New Yorkers are not use to? Two floors with a great view of the area. The food was great and the service was too. We got there before the rush and had a great time! :D I will definitely go again.
(5)
Danie R.
Eh. French onion soup bowl and a capt morgan with a bit of hot cider set me back $20. That's pretty ridiculous. The service also took quite awhile. We sat at a table and the bartender brought us menus immediately, but our server was slow. He would always say he would be right with us when we asked for something, but it would be at least 5 minutes every time, whether it be a check or to order a drink. The soup was pretty good, skimpy on the cheese though. More bread than anything. Good flavor. Cider cocktails were good, but very light on the rum.
(2)
Sarah C.
Decent place to grab a beer and some wings. Large selection of whiskey. We enjoyed the Guinness-BBQ sauce wings at our table. I stupidly ordered an old fashioned and it came in a large glass mixed with orange juice.
(3)
Christa H.
This isn't my favorite bar in Portland. I don't even really go there for the bar, I go on Monday nights for a good dose of trivia. The scotch/whisky selection is extensive but is overpriced in my opinion. Sometimes you can get good happy hour deals on beer and the taps are always changing. If the bar and restaurant area are packed, be prepared to wait awhile for service. I feel like Bull Feeney's is never prepared to handle a rush. They are habitually understaffed on St Patrick's Day which makes no sense at all. I went recently and there was a big dinner rush at 7pm (I have no idea why) and it took us an hour to get our food. I inhaled mine because by the time it arrived, I was starved. The food is hit or miss for me. Sometimes you don't get what you ordered or when it arrives, it isn't really warm anymore. The saving grace in the food is the fries. They are always crispy and you have your choice of dipping sauces. I tend to stick to the curry mayo because it's just that good. I think it appeals to tourists for the Irish flair, but for native Mainers there are much better bar and food options in the Old Port.
(3)
Jameson B.
From the street, Bull Feeney's is one of the most impressive looking spots in Portland with beautiful windows and lighting. Once inside it is a pretty spacious irish pub style place. Multiple floors and bars for plenty of space to move around even on a crowded night. We had come here for drinks and it's a great atmosphere with music playing on both floors. Can't comment on the food, but if you're looking for a great spot to grab beers with friends and sing to an irish song, then look no further.
(4)
Joan H.
Just stopped here for a little pick-me-up... Had Magners pear cider and some sweet and sour chicken wings which were good... I like this place... Will check it out again!
(3)
Shannon B.
I have to admit I was skeptical about trying this place out. I read a lot of poor reviews but my husband really wanted to go so we went. I must say I'm glad we went. It was one of the best lobster meals I've ever had. I got the grilled lobster and substituted the mussels for clams (I don't like mussels) and both the lobster & clams were done to perfection. The lobster was so big and had so much meat I wasn't even sure I could eat it all. My dinner was $31. We had gone to Boone's the night before and for the same size lobster with scallops they wanted $77!! I couldn't believe the meal you got for the price. My husband had the baked haddock and said it was fantastic as well. Also our service was fabulous and we tipped accordingly. I highly recommend if you want a terrific lobster dinner at a fabulous price that you go here. It didn't disappoint!
(5)
Charles W.
Things I love about Bull Feeney's: It is a larger bar in the heart of downtown Portland. It has two floors with the bottom being more of the hang out and grab a drink with a friend. The upstairs turns into dance/ live music spot on the weekend. The food is good but it is starting to be hard in Portland to be "just good". I am not trying to be pretentious when I make that statement just the fact that downtown Portland is going to harder and harder to carve out a spot on average. The beer prices are average for some beers and then above average for others. 4 dollars for a PBR is "Too Damn High!" 6 dollars for a beer from Foundation is correct. They have a lot of tap's and there should be plenty of choices. They also have a large collections of whiskey. I can only imagine the mark up on those but.... Bull Feeney's happy hour is spot on! 20% off of the whiskey, the beer prices dropped dramatically and they have free food. That should sell you on where to be for a Friday happy hour! They also have a killer trivia night on Mondays that is a lot of fun.
(3)
Stella P.
Great Irish pub in Portland. The food is tasty and they've got a good beer list. The soda bread and butter they serve before your meal is really yummy. I really enjoyed the fish and chips, I ordered the smaller size and it was plenty! The best part was that didn't feel gross after eating fried fish and fries for dinner, they did a nice job of toning down the grease. There is an option for the fries: sweet potato, regular or mixed. I did the half and half and thought both were good. There is a nice event/concert space upstairs. I recommend checking out the live music after dinner if they have someone playing.
(4)
Tim P.
Amazing people and scotch list! They have people with beards and a tall man. If you enjoy alcohol and good times, you'll love this place. Lots of wood too.
(5)
Eric T.
What can be said about a place that is one short block off the tourist main street that has no wait for tables or bar on a Saturday night at 8PM? I did not want to jump to conclusions, but one failure after another convinced me that was not going to work out. The waitress never approached us, until we called her over about 10 minutes after sitting down. She struggled to get our app order, and then the wait began. We looked at the menu, but none of the items looked interesting or appetizing, even as they were being brought out to other diners around us. After waiting for about 15-20 minutes for our appetizer, we simply decided to leave. Sorry Bull Feeney, but that was BULL. No wonder you're empty at 8pm on a Saturday in August.
(1)
Sarah H.
Had drinks at the bar while listening to some great music. Nice assortment of craft beers. We started with Irish Coffee....just okay, but the bartender made up for it with his personality & knowledge of Maine beers.
(4)
Bob D.
We stopped here for lunch. Both my wife and I had the lobster roll. Although good, it was small and not worth the $18/each. I'd suggest looking elsewhere if your appetite is calling for a Lobster roll. The service provided by Sarah was great.
(3)
Greg A.
Can't go wrong with Feeny's, this a great place for live entertainment, open mic nights, amateur comedy night, and lots of Irish live music. The food is delicious and the beer selection is fantastic. They have my favorite beer Smithwicks on tap as well. All of which are reasonably priced. Definitely a place to check out!
(5)
Ray D.
This location does not deserve 3 stars. Food was typical service was extremely slow. We had to wait over an hour for our food to then be told some of the options were not available. Plenty of better places to try in the area.
(2)
Paulie L.
This was my third time coming to Bull Feeney's. Terrible experience. We waited ten minutes to get seated. Then the four of us got seated in the far corner past the bar. None of the waitresses came to check on us for twenty minutes, and when she did she said some waiter would get us but he's busy. Then a guy from behind the bar said that when we were ready to walk up to the bar to order. I went to get up and he said not now, in a few minutes. Thirty minutes with no service later, the four of us left. I gave two stars instead of one because the previous two times was ok.
(2)
Karen L.
Went here this past Saturday for a quick lunch with my parents. One people seated upstairs and our waiter was a trainee which was no problem. My brother finishes half his sandwich and goes in to bite the second and pulls out a long black curly hair :( Another waitress stopped by to grab his plate and he let he know very quietly as so not alert any other patrons as the upstairs had begun to fill up. She said she would take care of it. The hairy food was not taken off of the bill and our table was soon forgotten about as soon second floor section got busy. I would say overall the food was quite mediocre which was too bad.
(2)
Melissa S.
Yummy lobster BLT, great service from a very friendly staff. Live sea shanty music on period instruments. Perfect afternoon
(5)
Charles J.
Sat down at bar and had a beer while waiting for hostess to take my name down for a table. I was told 20 minutes for a table. 20 minutes later we noticed no one in the pub was eating. We overheard the hostess tell a customer that there was only one person in the kitchen. We paid our tab and left.
(1)
Jeremy N.
I'm glad Bull Feeney's is still around. This is my go to bar when I want to get my Irish on! The food is always good and pretty authentic. The staff has always been great. I love the atmosphere because it reminds me of the type of places you'd find on the Emerald Isle.
(4)
Bill S.
This is a great place to kick back with a few friends - enjoy strong drinks and great beers! The menu is diverse and appealing- tasty and filling foods and a great atmosphere make this a staple of downtown portland!!- just be prepared to wait between drinks as the service gets slow when busy!
(4)
Heather J.
Come up to Portland at least every 3 months and always stop by this excellent establishment. Great whiskey selection- Irish, Scotch, American and beyond. Well informed bartenders can always recommend a new treat you've prob not tried before along with all the classics.. and always a good selection of beers if you are not a whiskey fan. Apps good, ambience warm and pleasant, service great. Thanks Bull Feeneys!
(4)
Ralph B.
Great food in a great atmosphere! You can go upstairs and sit right by the window looking down the street toward the old port. Very nice (especially when it is snowing outside and the festive lights are up all around town). I ordered the Bangers and Colcannon and my wife ordered the special chicken with Basmati rice and shrimp. We also had some great wine called Lamberti Procsecco. Bull Feeney's also has a nice little Whisky list as well but we didn't partake. The dessert was a scrumptious breaded pudding with liqueur sauce and a dollop of clotted cream like that I had enjoyed at the Healy's Cyder Farm in the U.K.
(4)
Brent T.
This is one place I almost always stop at when I am in Portland. They have great food and a nice selection of local beers. Also, this is the best Scotch/whiskey bar in the area. The bartenders really know their stuff. So, if you like expensive Scotch and don't want to pay for a whole bottle - this is the place. Also, if you want to learn about Irish Whiskey etc this is a great place for a novice to begin building their palet. On this last trip our waitress, Rachel, was excellent. She was bright and knowledgeable. Most important, she was very patient with the g/f's 20 questions before ordering. The only downer was they were out of friend lobster. I *LOVE* their lobster and chips with curry mayo. Sofa king GOOD! (How can you be out of lobster in Portland?)
(4)
Amelia C.
My fave! My friends and I go here all the time for dinner before we have a night of old port fun and I have yet to be disappointed! Their Irish soda bread is out of this world good and addicting. They have great fries as well. The Downeaster Reuben is excellent, and the haddock sandwich is great as well! One downfall is that they run out of things a lot. We went on the Sunday night of Labor Day weekend and they had run out of almost half the menu, I just wanted some lobster Mac n cheese :(
(4)
Nat S.
Such a cool old building. Talking to the bartender the space has quite a history, a rooming house, grocery store, and brothel. Have a drink and take a look around, don't miss the upstairs. We have never eaten here, great spot for a drink. Claims to have the most extensive scotch/ whisky selection in Maine, it is impressive.
(4)
Linz E.
On our last night in Portland we decided to check out Bull Feeney's, and we're glad we did since it allowed us to end our vacation on a high note. We went on a Thursday around 6pm. It was raining so all of old port was deserted, which meant we found street parking very easily. It also meant we were seated right away once inside the restaurant. Once we were seated our waiter immediately gave us water, and took our drink order. We managed to get the happy hour prices so the beers that were otherwise $5+ each ended up costing us $3. I had the lobster Caesar salad and my boyfriend had the surf and turf. Both entrees were delicious, well prepared, and promptly served. The meals and beers all cost under $60, and the quality was great. If we return to Portland we'll definitely be back to Bull Feeney's for one of our dinners.
(4)
Dani C.
The only thing that was disappointing about this experience is that we waited til the last day of our trip to discover it! Spent 4 days in May 2014 in Portland and decided to grab lunch before our drive back to Cape Cod, and picked this place for no other reason except it looked cool and the menu looked good. We entered convinced that we were "lobstered out" after 3 days of eating lobster at almost every meal, BUT boy we were wrong. One look at the menu and we both could not resist. I got the lobster BLT and my husband got the lobster reuben... OMG, so delicious! I got a beer to go with it, a local belgian white, since they had a nice big selection and hubs was doing the driving. And our table was just great, second floor, directly in front of the big windows overlooking the street and down the hill to the waterfront. Waitress was a sweetheart too.
(5)
Angel R.
Rude rude rude rude rude rude Rude rude rude rude rude rude rude. Oh yeah did I mention RUDE.
(1)
Ryan F.
Awesome interior with several rooms/vibes, friendly staff, cheap drinks, and cover-free live music...what's not to like here?! Seeking some drinks and entertainment for our last night out in Portland, my friend and I wandered into Bull Feeney's, lured in by the blaring music blasting out onto the Exchange Street intersection. Upon entering, you'll be right smack at the end of a large bar room, with a more private/quiet dining room adjacent to the bar. We headed right up the stairs to see the band (Zealous Bellus - zealousbellus.com ) rocking out with covers ranging from Led Zeppelin to Nirvana and everything in between. Even though we were lucky to snag a table and make some friends, it would have been nice if they had some more places to sit. There were only a few tables and they were set up along the back walls, leaving a huge and largely unoccupied standing/dance floor in the middle. The band was awesome, and a few $8 Long Island Iced Teas sweetened the evening even more :)
(4)
Eric M.
different name now but still good food!!! MUST try the haddock tacos as an app..
(4)
Jeffrey S.
Owner is a dick. I am from michigan sat next to him for the WI duke b ball game. Maybe the/his place is awesome but would never go there after sitting next to him. Your call it is called capitalism for a reason. Maybe he was having a bad night but after taking to the locals I doubt that is the case.
(1)
Jacky O.
This is a nice place to hang out and have some beers. I wish I had known that before we went in today. They have 20 draft beers to chose from. Today was our first time there so we didn't know what to expect. We went in around 6pm looking to have an early dinner and good beer. Once inside we sat by the window and waited for 15 min to be acknowledge by the bar tender who told a couple of servers who were chit chatting on the back of the restaurant that we were there. Another 5 min went by and someone finally decided to come say hello, she was polite but didn't make much eye contact. To make the story short, service was bad our server was a horrible at listening, I had to repeat myself several times. Once our food arrived I realized my Lamb stew looked nothing like lamb or stew it was a tiny bowl of soup with lots of melted cheese on top. I called the server and asked if that was the stew she said that no it wasn't even though minutes earlier she had said lamb stew as she put it down. She took it away and in 10 min another server came back with my lamb stew only this time it was cold, I wasn't going to say anything but my boyfriend tasted and he realized how cold it was as well. So I call the waitress again and told her it was cold praying that no one would spit on my food for returning it twice. I was more embarrass to tell them than they were of their incompetence. Finally my stew arrived and the blond server who brought it said " this one is steaming" with a tone By then my appetite was gone and I had drank most of my beer and my boyfriends sweet potato fries which were the only tasty food on our table. My stew was bland and my boyfriend's burger over cook.
(1)
Aaron P.
I'll skip to the meat of this review, literally. Besides my burger being cooked medium-well instead of medium, this was a perfect meal. I took a solo lunch here and was one of two patron in the place. Irish fiddle music blared. I ordered a Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin beer, which I'd never heard of, hoping for a full-bodied pumpkin beer that wasn't too sweet, and it was exactly what I wanted. This instantly became my favorite fall beer. I'll also throw in that even their higher-end beer were only $5-6, but which isn't too bad for Old Port! I ordered a lamb burger with goat cheese, with a side of mixed regular and sweet potato fries. Before it arrived, my totally-wonderful server brought me some Irish soda bread with sweet butter. I'd never had this, and it was outstanding. As I mentioned, the burger was more well done than medium, but honestly, I couldn't be bothered to care. The flavors of lamb meat tangled with those of the soft goat cheese, hot sauce (of course I added hot sauce), and beer to create ecstasy in my mouth. I felt like an Irish king during my lunch at Bull Feeney's, and I'm already planning my next pilgrimage. Truly a meal to remember.
(5)
Mark B.
While I enjoyed the bar and scotch selection downstairs, the staff was heavy handed with patrons about last call. As a matter of fact,they were downright rude,yelling at patrons to leave. Some were shouting get out,we are closing in 3 minutes. The band and dance floor upstairs bar was fun and the crowd pretty well minded considering the hour. Based on the actions of the staff at closing, I would not return.
(2)
Andrew S.
My family and I eat at Bull Feeney's whenever we go to Portland. The food is very good, and the service has always been great.
(5)
Todd D.
Very good place Irish pub food is very good real old building great atmosphere wait staff very good I think one of the best pubs in Portland almost gave 5 stars but I have yet to grant one a five star yet
(4)
Brianna E.
Nice place, good location, decent food. I really enjoyed my glass of mead. We tried the crab dip with crostinis and split a fish sandwich special with fries & thank god we did, the sandwich was enormous. Very nice atmosphere, beautiful venue, and a really nice staff. It's a little pricey but we liked it and would recommend.
(4)
Carrie L.
Very cozy place with good staff. Looks like an old English pub. Food is good and reasonable.
(5)
Steve A.
Both nights I was in Portland, Bull Feeney's had unquestionably the best music of downtown. I'm glad I got to go upstairs, around the corner, and into the big dance room on the second night. This place is notable for serving beer in the Imperial pint - make that 20 ounces instead of your typical 16. Let's also note that I was there on a Saturday night during Labor Day weekend, and the beers were all $3. Best happy hour ever? I had myself three glasses of Geary's, which I figured out are equivalent to almost 8 beers in the typical "drinking meter", so for less than $10 I was dancing around the room and getting myself in trouble. Considering the prices at Gritty's (otherwise a very nice place), this was phenomenal. Now, I haven't tried the food here, so I have a star or so leeway on this review pending a return. Oh, and if you're upstairs, the guy with glasses who can't serve drinks? He's lame. May wanna let him know. ;)
(4)
s m.
No children's menu, so I deducted one star. Appetizer chicken tenders (almost burnt) and a side of fries for my littlest kid set me back $13, so that wasn't a good start. Salmon was excellent, fish and chips just okay, and burgers seemed homemade, not frozen. They allow the option of half regular and half sweet potato fries, which was nice. But at $4 a basket instead of a tin can full would have been appreciated. Service pretty good,. The band started playing Irish music in the bar below. I think it would be a fun pub for a night out drinking. Otherwise a little expensive for value received.
(3)
S And E H.
Great beer and scotch selection. The food used to be great now it has gone way downhill. Just stop in for a pint and eat elsewhere else.
(2)
Corey A.
This place is, simply put, cool. The location is great- a block away from the waterfront- and the building itself is a wonderful maze of different quirky rooms. The drink selection looked great, though I stuck with a lager. We had great seats- second floor at the window, overlooking the street and the rest of the bar. But the best part of the experience? The seafood chowder was amazing. I live in Rhode Island and eat a lot of seafood, and I can honestly say this was some of the best I have come across. Service was also friendly, prompt and unobtrusive. I highly recommend this gem.
(4)
Zachary C.
Came in for a cup of chowder and a couple beers with friends. Service was great and the chowder was one of my favorites so far in Maine (visiting from Baltimore). We stay for an hour or so before heading out to play pool across the street. But, before we left I noticed one of the most extensive whiskey selections that I've seen, outside stated "whiskey" bars. The Irish Whiskey and Scotch selections were most impressive with ages from 10 to 25 years for a bunch of the names.
(5)
Janice S.
Loved their Irish nachos with lamb chili. The Caesar salad was huge! Couldn't eat it all. Drinks were superb and the Guinness was poured correctly and so delicious with the lamb shepherds pie. Free cheesecake for Valentine's Day....A perfect night with good friends and excellent service.
(5)
Kelly O.
Just what I want in an Irish pub; the atmosphere and decor is spot on, and they actually have a solid drink list and helpful bartenders.
(3)
Steak c.
While on a family vacation we were looking for a place to eat while walking around portland. I got the fish and chips, which were pretty good. My wife and son both thought their meals were average. I would go back, but would also try other places before going back here.
(3)
Susie C.
We went there for dinner and drinks and it was awful service! We sat down at a table for at least 15 minutes before we grabbed a server to ask if we could get menus and her response was "I've been done for 2 hours" we are closed for food! Ok then why didn't you come over and tell us instead of letting us sit there! She was rude! Definitely will not go back just because of the rudeness of one person!
(1)
Asya P.
Drinks: great. good selection, 3 dollar drafts during happy hour. Service: friendly, if not super efficient. Fine. It did take a long time to get our food, but it was friday night. Food: I don't know.... the ingredients - haddock, lamb, and scallops, were all superb. The fries were great. BUT the breading on my fish and chips wasn't crispy enough or flavorful enough and it was a $16 plate of food! and the coleslaw was about the worst I have ever had- bland, soggy, and totally flavorless. Like, I've had plain mayo that tasted better than whatever they did to this. So I can't say that I will ever go again for dinner, but I will go for the live music, a good beer or cider, and maybe an appetizer. The crab dip was delicious. Sadly, it was also bitterly cold in there, I had to put my coat back on (the door wasn't open, few people going in and out, no idea what the problem was). five stars for seating and layout, very pleasant.
(3)
Jared R.
Terrible service, fish sandwich was awful, never going back. Instead of enjoying my weekend, I had an upset stomach. Surprised they get any regular business.
(1)
Vanessa A.
Service: Chris was outstanding. He was prompt and courteous. Location: Right by Exchange St in the Old Port. Price: $120 + tip. 2 appetizers, 4 entrees and 4 alcoholic beverages. Favorite dishes: Lamb burger and the fish and chips.
(5)
Y H.
The bartenders are awesome. We didn't eat but just the drinks and conversation part was great!!!
(5)
Barry S.
Sour wine. Sour staff. Vegetarian? Don't even think about it. The one option on the dinner menu that might accommodate (mushroom risotto?) is literally a plate of brown gruel. Worst experience ever. Avoid avoid avoid.
(1)
Hollie M.
Went on a Saturday at lunch, it was busy but we were seated right away. We ordered several apps to share our favorite was the crab dip. Danielle our server was excellent, very attentive and helpful. Highly recommend!
(5)
Deb H.
Went for a late night dinner. 8 pm was the time, thinking we beat the dinner crowd. What I thought would be a quick bite I was wrong. Even though the food was good the service was horrible. The hostess told us it would be a 30 min wait. Yet I saw at least 8 tables free. We questioned the young hostess why so many tables open she couldn't give us a straight answer. And we thought just eat at the bar. 45 mins later still no food. And the story continues. Long story short do not go here if you plan on eating.
(2)
Gub H.
Friendly service, good craigh at the bar. Had a great time. Bottled beer ice cold, big selection of craft beers on tap. I think there's live music several nights a week.
(4)
Justine J.
Good drinks, and a cool place to pop into on a Friday or Saturday night (if you love being in a bar that's so crowded you can barely breathe). They often have live music, which can be cool (if you're into bands like Mumford & Sons or Irish music). I was turned off of their food the time I visited with a friend and she ordered a veggie burger and out came a bunch of literal veggies on a bun (with no sauce, totally dry). Ehh.
(3)
Amelia M.
Like other PORTLAND LOCALS have said; this place is not the 1st choice for people who actually live here. My friends and I randomly decided to go in (craving Guinness and live music) after dinner. It was raining so an "Irish bar" seemed fitting. It was the after dinner crowd so it was only about 10pm. We were served promptly and found a seat. I opted to open a tab...big mistake. The second round about an hour later took TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES. There was a bar back who completely ignored me and didn't have the capability to close a tab. I think there was only one bar tender on the side of the bar we were on and he was completely frazzled and impersonal. I checked my online banking two days later. There appeared to be two charges from Bull Feeneys. Mind you, I had TWO Guinness (@ $5.50 a piece) and I'm seeing a pending card of $11 and a pending charge for $13. I called to question it. Whoever answered was very dismissive and rude about the whole thing. Apparently the "credit card company" puts a minimum of $20 authorization for using cards/opening tabs. "It'll be released in 3 days...did you leave a $2 tip? Yeah. We hold the money to make sure your charge goes through." I'm in my late twenties and I work in the financial department of a huge company. I'm not a young kid trying to avoid paying a tab. As a professional; I deserve to be treated with respect when calling about a financial policy that was not displayed or mentioned in the bar prior to charging my debit card. If you must go here; prepare yourself to listen to horrible acoustic covers of 90s one hit wonders, wait nearly half an hour for an on tap beer then be charged double for said beer two days later. It's your call.
(1)
Brian C.
Bacon happy hour on Fridays is not to be missed. Great Irish pub. Jeff is one of the best bartenders around.
(5)
Tim G.
I was a little wary, given the other reviews on here, so I went in expecting the worst. It was a Wednesday night in March, which I'm sure helped the service, compared to a summer Saturday. So the place was busy, but not SLAMMED. My lady friend and I sat at the bar and got our drinks quickly. I ordered food, and took note of the time to see how long it took, since that was another frequent issue mentioned. Strangely, my food arrived within two or three minutes, which is oddly quick for any place. Maybe I got someone else's order. My chicken fingers and fries were tasty, but nothing mind-blowing. A bit pricey for mediocre pub fare, but not outrageous. Yes, they put a shamrock on the top of the Guinness. I'm on a mission to find the best pint of Guinness in Portland, and this one was good. Bonus style points for the shamrock. Seeing the issues with credit card charges in other reviews, I got cash beforehand to avoid the whole situation. Went expecting the worst, and was pleasantly surprised.
(4)
Gabrielle M.
Very homey atmosphere, nice mixed crowd. Great beer selection! We shared the Irish Nachos made with the freshly made chips! We devoured it and left no room for dinner! Great way to kick off a Saturday night out!
(4)
Ryan C.
Stellar whiskey selection. Live music. What's not to like?
(4)
Vanessa C.
We had a lot if fun here and the food was good! Here for our first night in Portland and saw this place. Being ready for a break from the typical seafood we decided to give it a try. We sat at the bar and the bartender was friendly and informative and the owner came in and chatted with us and he was also very nice. My husband had the shepherd's pie. It was really good, with big pieces of lamb. I had the fish and chips, which was also very good, but not as crispy as I like. I had the mix of pub fries and sweet potato fries with the chipotle dipping sauce and horseradish dipping sauce. I'm a sauce girl, and yum! The Squid Jiggers play on Wednesdays and we were lucky to happen to show up on a Wednesday. They were really good and entertaining. I would recommend this place for a fun night out!
(4)
Jeremy S.
A great irish bar with good locals. Upstairs is more live music and dancey, downstairs is more relaxed.
(5)
Sebastian V.
Great service, nice environment. Loved my guinness, and tha Allagash blonde was the beginning of a long night!... Cheers
(4)
Lee L.
Bull Feeney's is a really cool location with history actually painted on the walls, so you learn something while you're waiting on your food. I'm not a drinker, so I can't speak on their alcohol selection, but I was happy to see that each table gets a very delicious and moist Irish soda bread. My wife and I went for lunch, so we had lighter fare than they offer for dinner. I had the lamb chili and she had a lamb burger. They were both very good and hit the spot. Service was friendly and we'd definitely eat there again to try some of their other offerings.
(4)
Eliza C.
Bull Feeneys has, somehow, bottled up what it means to love to drink beer, be from Maine and enjoy irish pubs all in one bar. Bull Feeneys has been a long time staple of Maine's summer folk for years. The restaurant/bar is two floors, dimly lit with warped wood and an impressive beer selection. It feels a bit more unique than its Gritty's counterpart across the street, and draws an equally fun crowd. The food, even in the summer, is hardy and delicious boasting items like lamb burgers, shepherds pies, et cetera. Upstairs has live jazz music on a regular basis. The crowd at Bull Feeneys in the winter/spring months is typically young professional to seasoned Mainers, while the summer crowd infests (in the best term of the word) with camp counselors--it's not uncommon to hear an authentic irish/british accent among the crowd. Having been a camp counselor myself, I can attest to counting the days until we made the trek to Portland to crash Bull Feeneys, and European peers have even given it their own seal of authentic approval.
(4)
Enrique C.
I was invited here by a Downeaster and enjoyed the seafood chowder (or chow'dah) that it changed my chowder standards. Everything tasted like it had been thrown from the fishing net into the pot. I stole some fries and fried fish from my friends plate. Good but not mind blowing. We dined in the upstairs dining room but the downstairs bar area was popping with plenty of young locals and a decent Irish themed band. They were no Dropkick Murphys but they could carry a whiskey soaked tune.
(4)
clare f.
After three years in Portland, I visited Bull Feeney's for the second (and last) time to celebrate a friends birthday. It was a Wednesday evening, and the place wasn't that crowded, which was puzzling due to the slow service and harried attitude of the bartender. Overall, I had a nice time there, but more due to the birthday party, then the staff, the ridiculously weak drinks, or the trying to hard atmosphere. When I checked my bank account two days later, I no longer had any nice feelings about Bull Feeney's left. They charge a "pre authorization fee" for opening a tab, and then charge you for your tab. When I called and spoke with a manager, he said there was nothing he could do, and it should work itself out on its own in a few days....... So, what about the fact it sent my account into overdraft and earned me overdraft fees? What about the fact I can't access my money now? Thanks Bull Feeney's, but I'm kinda hungry and had thought I was going to the grocery store today. The manager had a very defensive attitude about the situation. I would assume this is a phone call he gets a lot. But considering part of his job is customer service, a simple "I'm sorry" (which he never said) would have gone a long way. I brought up that they don't have to swipe your card initially (what causes a pre-authorization fee) and could enter tab names in manually, keeping the card to swipe when closing out (citing over a decade bartending/managing experience) and he dismissed it as "we have to process a lot of credit cards". That's cool. They are set in their ways of being dismissive of the fact that they are disrupting their customers lives. I'm set on never going back.
(1)
Kim D.
What was I thinking ordering lobster in an Irish Pub. It was just OK and the edible tail meat was miniscule. Coming here for the Irish music and the beers. Then you're on track.
(3)
Ryan M.
Good beer, cool atmosphere. Best fish & chips I ever hands hands down.
(5)
Sarah G.
Any place where they have a lobster drinking Guinness as their mascot on their sign deserves three stars in my book! We even got some postcards with this rarely seen Guinness poster to take back with us we were so excited!! In Portland we were on a mission to find lobster in anything possible. This place drew us in because they had a market fresh lobster quesadilla on their menu outside on their door!! And how much fun does a lobster quesadilla sound?? Pretty darn fun, I know. ;-) We got our drinks, were able to sit in the bar area to order and the service was pretty good, but that quesadilla barely had any lobster in it...i thought maybe I got a bad piece but kelly b, matt j, and jeff all felt the same way. We were robbed of our amazing lobster quesadilla experience!! Well now I know what to make on my own at home, but man was it disappointing, especially after walking around for quite some time trying to find places that had lobster in new and exciting ways...we were craving some lobster and Bull Feeney, you didn't exactly fulfill that craving....And you even had a lobster drinking guinness on your sign!! That would make you think they would put lots of lobster, but maybe all of the lobsters were busy drinking instead ha ha
(3)
Jenni H.
"Great little pub for our family! Food and service was great. Best sweet potato fries I've had! Great view of the boats from the seating upstairs."
(4)
Kristin S.
I went here on my first night in town. I thought it was ok. Good beer selection and they actually match the beer with its correct glass (something i fell in love with in Ireland that I don't find many bars do). Guinness, some micro brews and PBR pounders, a little something for everyone. Now, the food...perhaps I didn't take enough time with the menu, but I would have liked a few more sandwich options for being a pub. Most "Irish pubs" usually have a Reuben on the menu (not sure if it's authentic Irish fare or not) but there was no such item on their menu. I had the lamb burger with goat cheese and it was tasty. I got the sweet potato and regular fry mix, they were ok. I was recommended the lobster stew but didn't see it on the menu ( I didn't ask either) my husband got a small plate of chicken tenders but they have no BBQ sauce for dipping. Just buffalo or honey mustard. Over all it was ok, wouldn't mind trying it again, but I'm not raving about it yet. Trying to keep an open mind and definitely want to check out this happy hour with bacon and cheese:)
(3)
Oliver D.
We've enjoyed Bull Feeney's twice now. It's a fairly typical Irish pub in appearance but the food is exceptionally good. The fish and chips are especially delicious. My only complaints are that the menu is not updated to reflect the beers currently available on tap, and they wouldn't accept our passports as valid ID, which is something I've never run into before.
(4)
Lola S.
DO NOT go here. There are too many nice places in Portland with helpful, acommodating people! This is not one of them. I made a reservation at Bull Feeney's after reading the great reviews here. Upon arrival, the waitress seemed like we were bothering her. She did not smile. In a friendly town like Portland this behavior really sticks out. The food was okay. The fries were very salty and the steak was chewy and had too much fat on it. When it was time to pay, the waitress broke the bill up per person- which we did not request and made the transaction confusing. She also added a 22% gratuity to herself when the menu said 18% for parties of 8 or more. The manager was helpful and really seemed as though he wanted to rectify the situation. A few days later, we noticed that those of us that paid by card were mischarged. Duplicate transactions went through and for incorrect amounts. When the manager was called, he stated, "Well, someone in your party that night smuggled in alchohol..." Which DID NOT happen (drinks are cheap enough in Portland (and no covers at many bars) to be stingy like that) and this certainly isn't a reason or excuse for the misappropriation of funds. To sum up, the food is ordinary, the people are unprofessional.
(1)
Sharon M.
Camping in Maine, we took a ride to Portland and wandered into Bull Feeney's. It was a quiet Tuesday night, and they sat us upstairs by the large windows, so that we could enjoy the view. They had trouble finding crayons for the kids, so the waiter went in back and grabbed some markers from the kitchen - very cool! My husband had the bacon wrapped steak, which he said was one of the best steaks he's ever had. I took him to Smith & Wollensky in NYC for his birthday and December and this steak was a million times better. The sauce that came with this steak was beyond words. I asked the waiter how it was made, and he went back to ask the chef. I was told that it contained Guiness. I would love to get the recipe, as it was simply wonderful. I got the stew, which was hearty but I honestly needed to add salt, as the flavor was lacking a bit. The fries that came with the kids' meals were great, and I liked that the chicken tenders didn't seem to be the same frozen drivel that you find everywhere. These were made and breaded there, and were fresh and juicy. I'd recommend this place to anyone and everyone. The music, atmosphere, and service was great. I just went to Galway in June, and I couldn't stop saying how much this town was reminding me of there.
(4)
Sarah H.
Bull Feeney's is just one of those places that, for me at least, has been consistently good in service and quality of food. They have some seasonal items, and try to introduce new creations every few months, which keeps the menu from getting stale. Mostly their menu choices are Irish in nature, with some Maine influence. As another poster reviewed, their lobster stew is excellent and I appreciate it's not available all year long because that suggests they don't use frozen meat during the off-season. As my profile noted, my last meal on earth would be lobster stew and Guiness, and I can fully envision that being at Bull Feeney's. Recommended for your next trip to Portland.
(4)
Katie G.
Bull Feeney's was the first stop on my mid-afternoon pub crawl through Portland. This place is very cool and very reasonable in terms of prices. Portland is an Irish city for sure and this pub does not disappoint anyone searching for that fun, Irish flair. Try to grab a seat on the second floor, overlooking the street for a gorgeous view of the Old Port. The rich wood tones, Irish music, and friendly wait staff make this place a great way to start an afternoon or end a day. I highly suggest the crab dip that comes with delicious crispy pita chips as an appetizer. It's delicious! It also washes down well with some Smithwicks beer. I happened to come here on a very chilly winter day and was very satisfied with my lamb chili. It's a yummy, Irish twist on a classic favorite. Price summary: Well, for 2 people eating, drinking and sharing an appetizer, we were only set back $37.50. Not too shabby! Bull Feeney's is waiting, so get driving!
(4)
Joe B.
Nice vibe! Great beer selection, good food!
(4)
L K.
been here many times, always stop when in Portland. food is good quality and fair value. ambience is what I value most and this place has it. would recommend without hesitation. BTW, it's in the center of "Old Port" a nice neighborhood for a stroll.
(4)
Doug B.
I like everything about Bull Feeney's, the high quality pub food, the friendly wait staff, even the dark paneling--but I can't stand the jazz they play. It's loud and obnoxious and has one more than one occasion driven me out the door. Take ear plugs.
(3)
Scott M.
Cold drizzly afternoon and looking for the comfort of some good old pub food. Not many people inside at lunch time especially with a cruise ship in town. Fish and chips is the order for the group. WHAT, your out of fish? The waitress apologetically explains that a delivery of fish is expected at any time...I can see the truck down the road. We decided to wait, nothing like freshly caught fish! Nice recovery...we received our food in quick order. Server was friendly and seated quickly with our order of beer. Food was actually good...fish lightly battered and fresh, french fries a bit soggy, good tasty slaw. Price was fair for both the food and beer. Might try somewhere else next time I'm in town.
(3)
Karl H.
At Amigo's Restaurant last call ... yelp.com/biz/amigos-mexi… dude, it's last call! but, I'm not done with my drink here. DUDE!! eff'ing hurry up then! I think we have time for one more place. but, I don't think I can drink anymore. dude, what are you some kind of eff'ing Mary? Let's go, suck it down! alright, I'm eff'ing hurrying furfucksake. dude, let's go!!! I want to hit Bull Feeney's for one last drink and we got like 15 minutes!!! Oh crap!!! why didn't you say so!! (slams double tall gin and tonic)... let's roll!!! At Bull Feeney's gentlemen it's last call... make it quick. dude, what do you want? I don't care man let's do a shot or something. hey man, I'll take a gin and tonic, a guiness and two shots of jameson dude, we're gonna die... I just know it. ***Note: this is a true account of what happened even though it went nothing like this.***
(4)
Andy G.
We arrived at Bull Feeney's at around 1:30 on a rainy Sunday to find the place virtually empty. There was about 3 employees for everyone person so service was excellent and we were seated in about 5 seconds. I loved the decor of Bull Feeneys. It has the old tavern vibe. Brick walls and oak wood surround the dining room. There are actually two levels of seating but I never got upstairs to look at that. The men's room is the only strange thing about this place. It is smaller then a closet and you need to be careful before whipping out Mr Willy or you are likely to get knocked out by the next person entering as you are standing doing your business right beside the door... onto the food which gets some mixed reviews. Simone opted to get a Lamb Burger with Goat Cheese and sauteed mushrooms ( as suggested by our waitress) with a side of Pub and sweet potato fries. I opted for the Irish BLT with a side of fries also. The fries on both our plates were excellent..fresh and cooked perfectly crispy which is hard to do with a fresh fry.The fries also come with different dipping sauces for a small extra charge. I choose spicy whole grain Honey mustard and Simone choose a herb mayo for hers. Both were very good. Unfortunately I was a bit let down by my sandwich. Instead of Bacon it had smoked pork loin which sounded good on paper but some of the meat was burnt to a crisp while other slices were perfectly smokey and moist. Had all the slices been moist the sandwich would have been very good, but even some creamy chipotle mayo and swiss cheese could not save the overwhelming burnt taste. Also the bread was just okay and could have been fresher. Simone's burger however was very good. Moist and cooked to a medium well, it was not gamey as lamb can sometimes be and had a nice flavor from the grill. The creamy garlicky goat cheese and meaty mushrooms were a great accompaniment to the burger, and her roll was pillowy and soft. I enjoyed a sample of Simone's meal much more then my own. To finish off the meal we choose creme brulle. It was very light with a nice caramelized sugary crust and very tasty. Overall Bull Feeneys is probably lots of fun on a busy Friday night with a few beers in your system. However, being sober on a rainy Sunday with only average food was a bit of a letdown. Good..but not great. 3 stars for Bull Feeneys.
(3)
Raz G.
Luv this place. I dnt miss my Irish connections when I am dwn here. Luv the variety of scotch n draft beers. Enjoyed fire grilled classic sirloin with glenfiditch. Amazing thing is u can strike an interesting conversation by the bar.
(4)
Dawn H.
When we went the place was packed with mostly college kids. Not that his is a bad thing, hey, its a pub - but it seems to attrach the younger crowd - so be ready for a lot of noise, loud music and being bashed now and then while you're trying to eat. There are tables upstairs and downstairs but always crowded so you could get jostled. The food was ok, I've had better in Maine. The fiance got the Shepard's Pie and he almost barfed - it had lamb and was gamey as heck.
(2)
Sarah W.
Atmosphere is nice. Upstairs and downstairs...many rooms. One of the best bars in downtown Portland, besides Ri-Ra. Quite a selection with beer....and the food actually is good!
(4)
Kelly R.
Okay, so this is something that I like to accentuate with every review falling into a pub/bar category. I get disheartened to see bad reviews of places like this based on outlandish criteria. Bull Feeney's is a pub/bar and as such they do a few things particularly well, which is pour a proper pint of Guiness. Trust me, that is an important skill for a pub to possess! They have a nice assortment of irish/english imports and regular domestic favorites on tap as well a micro brew or two. Their food, and this is important to keep in mind, is great...if you're ordering bar staples: chowder, stew, burgers, ie; simple meat and potatoes comfort food. Stick to what they are going to knock out of the park the best. If you order something wild and fruity to drink or something exotic on the food menu then you're setting yourself up for disappointment from the get go and then giving this place a bad name because you chose to step outside the lines. The bar is cozy and there are plenty of spots to perch yourself for intimate conversation or quiet people watching. They have an extensive collection of top shelf single malt scotch as well as a wide assortment of Irish whiskey and bar booze. Bull Feeney's is and always has been a favorite place of mine in Portland and they always will be so long as they keep the comfort food and a properly poured Guiness coming!
(4)
Lyndsay C.
Not my favorite spot for dinner but the beer was nice and cold. We were looking for a place to get some good beer and some good lobster. My boyfriend had seen the sign someplace before so we thought we'd give it a shot. We sat downstairs, which might have been our downfall. The server yelled to us from behind the bar to take our order before we'd even been given menus or a beer list. I ended up just walking up to the bar to see what they had on tap. We ended up ordering Sam Adams which is like water to us since we have it all the time but we really didn't see anything else that seemed that interesting. I've been to plenty of Irish pubs before that were similar in style but for some reason, it wasn't working for me at Bull Feeney's. The menu wasn't bad, but there just wasn't anything on it that moved us. We ended up having our beers and a fondue app and then going else where (J's Oyster) for dinner. The fondue was good and reasonably priced. Maybe we'll go back again for lunch or a snack but not a great spot if its a local Maine, seafoody scene you crave.
(2)
Andrew F.
I love the atmosphere at Bull Feeney's, as well as the food and beer. Their shepherd's pie is probably the best I've ever had. Finishing the entire thing is a feat worthy of Hercules. The services is prompt and friendly. The music is rustic and, along with the brick and wood interior, makes you feel like you've been transported back in time. Have a few pints of what ever is on cask, and you may just develop a brogue.
(4)
Christina F.
Cute atmosphere, but sticky floors. Tasty food, though!
(4)
Chris C.
Where's my food? Where's our waitress? I've spent more time writing this review than the staff has paid attention to our table. The bar area's not bad, but I wouldn't suggest eating here because there are cheaper and better options in the area.
(2)
Melanie T.
Again, should be 3.5. Why the extra half star? Simple... cheese and bacon happy hour. $3 beers and a trough of 3 different bacons and a tray of 3 different cheeses with fruit and honey. 'Nuff said.
(3)
Steve P.
This was one of the best bars I've ever been to. Awesome bartender, ridiculous beers and a great feeling instantly. I don't know if you ever walk into a place that you just knew was gonna be great and once you enter its even better than you thought. My man, if you around this place during the day, you need to roll immediately. Dammit I miss this place.
(5)
Shawn S.
Went here with the family for my brother's vacation/birthday meal. We chose this Irish Pub as a nice sit down casual place. Place is set up to be exactly that; a pub, with plenty of space (2 floors if you so desire) to sit and eat. I got the "Irish Cheesburger" which is a cheeseburger with I forget the cheese, and "rasher" which is kind of like a thick Canadian bacon. I also got the typical fries and a Guiness. The burger was okay, kinda bland. The "rasher" and the cheese had no strong taste to it. I should've gotten steak fries, as the fries were all too typical restaurant fare with 60% edible and 40% burnt beyond repair. This was a nice friendly afternoon get together kind of place, but not a place I'd seek out for their food.
(3)
Ally P.
after looking at other options for a Saturday night I ended up at Bull Feeney's with 3 friends after asking a local where to get good food and good drinks - we requested to go upstairs and we were glad we did! It was pretty quiet up there and we had a great view of outside from our windowside seat but we were later even more entertained when on the other side of upstairs was someone singing classic Irish drinking songs! My dirty martini was perfect and the battered fried lobster with sweet potato fries were out of this world. I guess we got lucky since our server was pretty attentive and extremely accommodating when a few of us had special requests or questions. I will say at one point the music did get a little too loud for conversations so we didn't stay for dessert!
(4)
Emily A.
This place can be really fun or really boring. Depends entirely on the crowd which can really vary. But they have great fries and good, strong drinks, but they could stand to be a little bit larger for the price. We are in Portland, ME, here, not NYC. They also have live music on the weekends which can be nice (depending on the band). They've had some real winners and some that shouldn't be allowed to play instruments at all. It's all the luck of the draw who's playing when you show up!
(4)
Sam F.
Good Irish bar, that's traditionally decorated. They had a good beer and tasty mussels. Happy to come back and have some more beers.
(4)
Sarah T.
This place is such a fantastic space! We loved the antiques and the cozy atmosphere. My fiance and I went up to Portland this past weekend for a couple of nights. Of all the places we visited, this was his favorite by far! I need to note that we didn't eat here, we only came for drinks. The bartenders were friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable. The great thing about this establishment was the drink specials on Friday nights on draught beer! And it was some of the better beer that was on special for $3 a pint. Last Friday, the special was good for either Geary's Autumn Ale or Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale. Plus, they currently have Guinness 250 for $2.50 a pint. My fiance loved that deal! We were there around the dinnertime rush and still were able to find two seats at the downstairs bar. We also came back later in the evening after going out for sushi. There was live music and no cover. Plus, the bartenders were still just as awesome all those hours later. This is a great spot worth checking out!
(4)
S F.
Good: $3 pint, Decor is okay. Bad: Basically ignored by the bartenders in a fairly empty bar. We put our money down (with the check, after we'd asked to cash out) and the bartender kept walking by it and not taking it.
(2)
Nicole V.
My fiance and I stopped here on the way home from a wedding in western Maine. We put enough money in our parking meter for an hour and fifteen minutes (5 quarters). We parked on Exchange Street, no more than a 5 minute walk from Bull Feeney's. We sat at the bar and ordered our drinks and food. The food took 50 minutes to come out. they are damn lucky the food was hot and so good, or I would have raised a huge stink. We got back to our meter just in time. I had a chicken sandwich and my love had a burger. They were above average and delicious.
(3)
Shar C.
Had lobster bisque that was awesome and some beer. Fun place, would go back.
(4)
Chris M.
Mediocre everything, but the upstairs is pretty and has live music that pours out onto the Old Port and is a great place to dance.
(4)
Ashley D.
Amazing whiskey and single malt selection, great music playing, and really knowledgeable barkeep (thanks Andy for introducing us to Red Breast Irish Whiskey!). We didn't eat here, but the Shepard's pie that kept going by looked wonderful and smelled delicious. The decor was really cool with lots of old pub signs and antiques.
(5)
Peter R.
I had a burger at BF's, never having eaten the food before. I ordered medium and it came MEDIUM!!. How many times have you gotten a burger that is gray inside despite the temperature you specified? It was one of the better burgers I've had in the Old Port. Plus an excellent selection of local craft and European beers.
(4)
Paul M.
People have rated this five stars because of the beer on tap and the shamrock on top of the guinness. It's a pub for petes sake they don't make the beer! I'm rating the food. The service was good. The food was just ok at best. Lots of places to eat in Portland. If you're visiting for just a couple of days don't waste them here.
(2)
L T.
I liked the food here and the service was ordinary. It's your typical Irish pub. However, I am really taken back by such negative reviews, and I am afraid to even go back based on some of the horror stories with how they charge. Thanks for the advice.
(3)
Michele D.
I was hoping to have some fried clams, but instead we settled for an Irish pub (seriously, I didn't pick this place). I ordered the lobster stew and a side of the mixed Irish fries with the curry mayo and a horseradish type dip. The lobster stew had a creamy sherry base and OMG was it good! It was chock full of lobster meat and just had the most wonderful flavor to it. The mixed fries were a combination of regular fries and sweet potato fries. Not bad. The curry mayo was pretty tasty and I could take or leave the horseradish dip. I didn't really peruse the rest of the menu, but at a quick and cursory glance, I saw the standard Irish fare (of course). I probably wouldn't return if I were in town again, but that has nothing to do with the restaurant; I'd just be on the hunt for a seafood place.
(3)
Steve S.
Sunday night, early evening, slow everywhere. Pop into Bull Feeney's for a cold Guinness, yum! I was incredibly hungry, so I ordered the horseradish encrusted salmon, only problem is that I don't care for horseradish! They told me they could prepare it without it, so only with dill sauce. When it arrived, it looked amazing and tasted even better! Seriously some of the best salmon I have had. Will definitely be back next time I'm in town.
(4)
Casey J.
Good upscale pub food (without upscale prices), raucous fun in the bar, and a beautiful building. I always enjoyed my time here.
(4)
Rose G.
Great pub grub; cozy fireplace and the Guinness is poured just right. Centrally located in the middle of the Old Port so you can't miss it.
(4)
Christine K.
I don't have much to say about this place as a pub, since I came here for lunch. But I can say that, as a restaurant, this place has got a lot of work to do. We ordered an Irish stew and an open face crab melt for 2 people. The stew came out lukewarm (I like my food piping hot, especially when it's 32* outside!), chunky with lots of meat and various root vegetables, but tasted kind of bland. The open face crab melt was...tiny, and came out on a huge plate with nothing else on the side (except for a quarter slice of a pickle), which made it look even tinier. You wonder why they serve it open faced; at least if it was close-faced, that would give you an extra slice of bread to fill you up. They don't even serve you fries on the side; that costs extra! Needless to say, I was still hungry and unsatisfied after we paid our $23 bill. Bleh. And to think, that this place was recommended by one of the locals for lunch! At least the decor was nice.
(2)
Colin A.
Bull Feeney's is an excellent Irish pub with a pretty damn authentic food menu. One of the busiest places in town on St. Patrick's Day, this place is a staple in the Old Port with a steady traffic on any given night. The food is good, with decent servers and prices on both food and beverages. Where this place REALLY shines is on the Th/Fr/Sat nights when excellent local/regional music acts come to entertain and all of the Old Porters come out for a night of drinking. Can take awhile to get your drinks, with limited bar space and the large number of people. But you come to expect that with the ambiance (it's a nice place). Perfect to impress your friends with a great Irish pub experience.
(4)
Nick G.
got forced into going back and once again terrible service. i brought cash this time so there would be no issue with charging my card 4x again. the bartender forgot about my beer twice and i waited almost 30 mins for it.
(1)
Chris K.
a great spot for lunch in my opinion. solid beer options, good sandwiches, great fish and chips.
(4)
Jay F.
Another good stop for a pub crawl, the selection of booze is good. The food is decent and respectable, and while it can be crowded at times I guess that just shows this place can't be that bad. A good place to eat or drink should you find your self in Portland.
(3)
Brian A.
I've never waited longer in my life for a drink, even in prison. My saying is that if you want a drink here, stop in and order it when you first go out and once the night is winding down and last call approaches stop back by and it SHOULD be ready for you. Seriously 2 bartenders and 4 bar-backs? The bar-backs just stand there and look at you like a deer in headlights. I think they need 4 bartenders and 2 bar-backs to ease the service issues. I have never eaten here so I can't comment on the food but god damn it takes forever to get a drink. Anytime this place comes up as a suggestion when I'm with a group I cringe and think about how I can get rearrested instead of patronizing this establishment. If I wanna hang with Bull Feeney I think I'll head to Gorham Square.
(2)
M L.
Have been here many times for late night drinking, but surprisingly I have never eaten here. Comfortable bar areas on the both the 1st and 2nd floor's and good knowledgeable bartenders. Beer selection is good with your usual local and Irish Beers, but the Whiskey selection is why I frequent this place often. I have sampled many single barely whiskey on the rocks here, and with most single barrel some are really good and some are not so good, but luckily they are all strong. Whiskey pour is good, selection is equaled by none in the area. Gets very crowded and loud on Weekends with a mixed crowd, you can usually here the bands playing from blocks away during the summer.
(4)
S U.
We went to have lunch the weekend after Thanksgiving. Our waitress was not friendly and competent at all. The soda bread was a complimentary appetizer that we wouldn't have gotten if I hadn't asked her about it since I saw it on every other table. She didn't even apologize. The soda bread was delicious (even though we only got one for two people - size of a muffin). We were looking forward to our entrees which were really disappointing. The bread was dry and my boyfriend's fish was small (I know that portion sizes are typically overrated but this one was really tiny, compared to what other tables had). Unfortunately, a disappointing experience.
(2)
Rachel E.
Came here for a few drinks after seeing show at the Civic Center. It wasn't very large, but I was a fan of the atmosphere. We sat at the bar and had a few drinks while a guy with a guitar pumped out some OK covers of popular songs. The bartender was nice and fast, prices were good, clientele wasn't obnoxious, the stools were sturdy and comfortable. Overall, if I lived in Portland I would definitely be a regular. Standard (but still quite good) pub. Worth a visit.
(4)
Ryan P.
Typical mediocre Irish Pub maybe they should paint it red as well.
(2)
Maine R.
WARNING: I am from Maine and eat steamers all the time and I have never been sick from them. Never in my life. I ordered the steamers at Bull Feeney's. They arrived cold and hard, as though they had been cooked hours ago but only reheated in a microwave. I had never seen steamers in this condition. I stupidly ate them in spite of my doubts. Within 5 minutes of finishing the modest bowl, I was overcome and became violently ill, rushed to the men's room and vomited several times. I informed the wait staff who called up the Maitre d' to talk with me. I explained the situation very politely. They took the cost of the steamers off the bill, but we had to pay for the rest of the stuff. (Note: the bowl of clam chowder I had as an appetizer tasted better going down than it did coming back up). They may be trying to save money in the kitchen, but they put the health of their customers at risk. I will never return to Bull Feeney's in Portland and I suggest no one eat there. I also recommend that the head chef to some serious re-thinking about cooking operations to ensure the well being of customers lest someone have a more serious incident than I did. NEVER EAT FROM THIS KITCHEN.
(1)
T.H. J.
Embarrassingly mediocre.
(2)
Chris H.
A great restored building in the Old Port, above average pub food and Snake Bites! I've only been here for dinner a few times on my trips to Portland on week nights, so I haven't experienced it on a typical going out night, but I am a fan.
(5)
Brandon C.
Bartender was unnecessarily surly and dinner prices were staggering. We had one drink and decided not to stay.
(1)
Brad S.
Overall average dining experience. Service was very slow, even though the restaurant was pretty empty. The food itself was good and there were several good beers on tap. I'd recommend it once, but will probably go elsewhere next time I am in town.
(3)
C H.
The crab sliders and crab dip are so crabby you might wet yourself with happy crab joy. Can be crowded though and not my kind of atmosphere (it's busy and rowdy).
(3)
C S.
I am getting sick of you morons giving 5 star ratings on restaurants that plain and simple, DON'T DESERVE IT. I've gone to Bull Feeney's two times now. The first time was during my first visit to Portland and I went for lunch. The place was basically empty which turned out to be a good thing because otherwise we would have been waiting for a lot longer for our food. This time, the food was decent other than the corn chowder my bf ordered which was recommended by the waitress and "had pieces of farm fresh bacon in it, but it was RUBBERY" The second time my parents came to visit with my brother and his gf for my birthday - they were paying, with a total of 6 people the day before St Patrick's Day I called the restaurant to find out what the wait would be like, the man who answered said 30 minutes so we left right away and it's right around the corner from my apartment. As soon as we walk in there is a hostess stand with...no hostess....finally the bartender notices us and says "you can look upstairs for a table, you might have to push a few together" Are you kidding me??? so we walk upstairs to find no room and no waitresses looking to help us so we walk down the stairs back to the bar area and sit at two empty booths which are FILTHY, at this point a waitress walks up to us and my bf asks for a cloth to wipe the table down, she replies "your waitress will be right with you".....well our waitress comes over about 10 minutes later, we still haven't been asked what we want to drink.... we put in our drink order and about 15 minutes later we get them (after overhearing our waitress and the bartender arguing in front of everyone over what the actual order was in the first place). When the drinks are served I'm told I have to wait a few minutes for my corona light, about 20 minutes later I am told that there is in fact no corona light and only corona, i take the corona) We are all fed up and the waitress walks by, my mother proceeds to ask why the two people behind us have their meals when they came in about 20 minutes after we did...the waitress apologizes and asks what she can do, my mother replies....well it would be nice if we could have our food..... In total it took one hour for ANY food to appear, at this point ALL of the food is served at the same time, half of it is cold, my mothers burger was rock hard and she had asked specifically for no bun and of course it comes out with a HUGE roll. that being said i won't be going back any time soon...i blame this on the management as they had two waitress working the day before st Patty's at an IRISH pub & restaurant!!! not only were our appetizers comped but at least 3 tables around us had items off their orders comped as well due to the wait for the food and lack of service.
(2)
Ivy C.
great pub. reminded me when i was back in england or scotland. the wooden bar, tables, and stools gave it an extra new england feel. i gotta say i was thoroughly impressed by their scotch whiskey collection. my coworker and i had a macallan 15 (i think, or it might have been 18) and it was decently priced as well. their wall lined with glenfiddich, glenother things, and other whiskeys that i have never heard of. we liked it so much we came back another day to hang out. i had a guiness and black and tan, and they also had different mixtures (though i don't quite remember anymore). i ate there one time and had the stew and it was definitely amazing. usually people go to portland for their lobster rolls, but i would definitely wander into this bar if i were ever to go back again.
(5)
Jessica L.
this is an update on my 11/10/10 post about my experience at this restaurant. as mentioned previously, after extremely poor service and an overall poor experience, my credit card was charged twice. after reporting this to the manager he took another two weeks to process the refund. when the refund was processed it was for the incorrect amount (less than what it should have been). i immediately contacted him to point out this error. it took another 14 days and literally 7 phone calls to have the issue rectified. in the end he threw in a few extra dollars for my troubles. this barely covers the amount i was inconvenienced by this establishment.
(1)
Joe R.
Great little pub right in the heart of Portland, ME. Warm atmosphere, tons of interesting beer & whiskey to choose from , and helpful staff make this a five star in my book. Don't go to Portland for it, but if you find yourself there, it's probably one of the best places to be.
(5)
Rico M.
Great upscale pub (not that upscale, just don't expect a tiny little pub when you go here). Great food. Really good. I was impressed by the fact that they did the shamrock design in the head of a Guinness.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Live Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Don M.
I get here 1 or 2 times a year; usually heading west from Maine. They pour the BEST Guinness ... This evening I had Bangers Colcannon : 3 very good sausages with FANTASTIC mashed potatoes. They are mashed up with onion/cabbage and topped with a slightly sweet gravy - the plate is great !!! Just to be truly decadent I also ordered, on a recommendation, a shot of Bushmill's Black Bush (I am not really a whiskey drinker). It was smooth and tasty. Perfect meal as I depart Portland once again
(4)Kathleen L.
Just had apps & beverages... I had cup of lobster stew that was full of tender lobster meat & a tasty broth. My husband had the surf & turf slider & said that both were very good. Companions had sweet & sour wing and claimed that they were VERY good. Would stop in again next time in Portland.
(4)Rick M.
Ouch. We arrived at 8pm tonight, had our food order placed at 8:20pm. We're a group of six, but the restaurant is about half full. It's a Sunday night. About 45 minutes in we ask our waitress about our food. She says that they're working on it. 70 minutes in she comes by our table, explaining to my wife that they're out of pulled pork. She had ordered the pulled pork sandwich. She's offered the chance to have pulled chicken instead. That's when I knew that this would become only the second one-star review that I would write on Yelp. After all, if it took more than an hour and a half after we were seated and 70 minutes after we ordered that an ordered entree wasn't available it means that they hadn't started on it until then. We ask to speak to the manager. He comes by, asking if there's anything that he can do. We say we just want our food. I explain how something's wrong if it takes more than an hour after ordering our food that we're told that they can't complete it. He says that he will discount our bill. Another 10 minutes later -- 80 minutes after our food order -- our food arrives, including a side salad (that goes uneaten). The food is okay, but it would've had to be something amazing to bump this review up a star. It wasn't. We ask for the bill, and the manager's discount amounts to just 20% off. This is pretty wild all around. We pay. We tip 17% because we don't know if our server had lied to us or if the kitchen had lied to her. The odd thing is that folks that came in after us had no problem getting their order before us at a reasonable time. If anyone else has had to wait more than an hour for food or been denied an ordered item more than an hour in -- and you're a minority -- there may be a bigger issue here. Either way, it's the worst dining experience I've had in years.
(1)Yelena S.
In reality, Bull Feeney's is a weekend bar hop stop. You'll always see people pouring in and out on a Saturday night before they make their way to the rest of Fore Street. I'm sure they also have a number of loyal followers who hang out there for the majority of the night though. They have a good beer selection as well as live entertainment on the second floor, during the day it also serves as a restaurant. I used to get their lamb nachos often, not sure if they still have it on the menu but they were really good! It can get super crowded though (just like anything downtown) and you can actually feel the second floor bounce from all the people (which is terrifying and exciting at the same time). It's a good place to stop in to get that old school bar feel with it's historical Irish pub touches, it's definitely casual but by no means divey.
(3)Andrew J.
We arrived with a 3 month old infant around 8:30pm tonight who soundly slept and were told the wait was 20-25 minutes and that the restaurant was "kind of filling up". My wife and I asked about all the open seats next to the window and were told it would be occupied by the band. But the band was setting up on the other side. We debated waiting but were reminded how noisy and how busy it would become. It's 8:30 and the place is half empty - how many are showing up? Why am I waiting for a table when tables are available? It was clear to us and should be clear to Yelp users that this is place discriminates against visitors. My child is not sensitive and is able to sleep through any loud restaurant and band noise, as we experienced the night before. We would have been perfect guests. Shame on you and your anti-child policy.
(1)Karen P.
After a day of wandering around, my friend and I just picked this place at random. I think the cute sign won us over, which was great because this place is a great. It's soooo big. Or maybe it's very small for Maine standards, which us New Yorkers are not use to? Two floors with a great view of the area. The food was great and the service was too. We got there before the rush and had a great time! :D I will definitely go again.
(5)Danie R.
Eh. French onion soup bowl and a capt morgan with a bit of hot cider set me back $20. That's pretty ridiculous. The service also took quite awhile. We sat at a table and the bartender brought us menus immediately, but our server was slow. He would always say he would be right with us when we asked for something, but it would be at least 5 minutes every time, whether it be a check or to order a drink. The soup was pretty good, skimpy on the cheese though. More bread than anything. Good flavor. Cider cocktails were good, but very light on the rum.
(2)Sarah C.
Decent place to grab a beer and some wings. Large selection of whiskey. We enjoyed the Guinness-BBQ sauce wings at our table. I stupidly ordered an old fashioned and it came in a large glass mixed with orange juice.
(3)Christa H.
This isn't my favorite bar in Portland. I don't even really go there for the bar, I go on Monday nights for a good dose of trivia. The scotch/whisky selection is extensive but is overpriced in my opinion. Sometimes you can get good happy hour deals on beer and the taps are always changing. If the bar and restaurant area are packed, be prepared to wait awhile for service. I feel like Bull Feeney's is never prepared to handle a rush. They are habitually understaffed on St Patrick's Day which makes no sense at all. I went recently and there was a big dinner rush at 7pm (I have no idea why) and it took us an hour to get our food. I inhaled mine because by the time it arrived, I was starved. The food is hit or miss for me. Sometimes you don't get what you ordered or when it arrives, it isn't really warm anymore. The saving grace in the food is the fries. They are always crispy and you have your choice of dipping sauces. I tend to stick to the curry mayo because it's just that good. I think it appeals to tourists for the Irish flair, but for native Mainers there are much better bar and food options in the Old Port.
(3)Jameson B.
From the street, Bull Feeney's is one of the most impressive looking spots in Portland with beautiful windows and lighting. Once inside it is a pretty spacious irish pub style place. Multiple floors and bars for plenty of space to move around even on a crowded night. We had come here for drinks and it's a great atmosphere with music playing on both floors. Can't comment on the food, but if you're looking for a great spot to grab beers with friends and sing to an irish song, then look no further.
(4)Joan H.
Just stopped here for a little pick-me-up... Had Magners pear cider and some sweet and sour chicken wings which were good... I like this place... Will check it out again!
(3)Shannon B.
I have to admit I was skeptical about trying this place out. I read a lot of poor reviews but my husband really wanted to go so we went. I must say I'm glad we went. It was one of the best lobster meals I've ever had. I got the grilled lobster and substituted the mussels for clams (I don't like mussels) and both the lobster & clams were done to perfection. The lobster was so big and had so much meat I wasn't even sure I could eat it all. My dinner was $31. We had gone to Boone's the night before and for the same size lobster with scallops they wanted $77!! I couldn't believe the meal you got for the price. My husband had the baked haddock and said it was fantastic as well. Also our service was fabulous and we tipped accordingly. I highly recommend if you want a terrific lobster dinner at a fabulous price that you go here. It didn't disappoint!
(5)Charles W.
Things I love about Bull Feeney's: It is a larger bar in the heart of downtown Portland. It has two floors with the bottom being more of the hang out and grab a drink with a friend. The upstairs turns into dance/ live music spot on the weekend. The food is good but it is starting to be hard in Portland to be "just good". I am not trying to be pretentious when I make that statement just the fact that downtown Portland is going to harder and harder to carve out a spot on average. The beer prices are average for some beers and then above average for others. 4 dollars for a PBR is "Too Damn High!" 6 dollars for a beer from Foundation is correct. They have a lot of tap's and there should be plenty of choices. They also have a large collections of whiskey. I can only imagine the mark up on those but.... Bull Feeney's happy hour is spot on! 20% off of the whiskey, the beer prices dropped dramatically and they have free food. That should sell you on where to be for a Friday happy hour! They also have a killer trivia night on Mondays that is a lot of fun.
(3)Stella P.
Great Irish pub in Portland. The food is tasty and they've got a good beer list. The soda bread and butter they serve before your meal is really yummy. I really enjoyed the fish and chips, I ordered the smaller size and it was plenty! The best part was that didn't feel gross after eating fried fish and fries for dinner, they did a nice job of toning down the grease. There is an option for the fries: sweet potato, regular or mixed. I did the half and half and thought both were good. There is a nice event/concert space upstairs. I recommend checking out the live music after dinner if they have someone playing.
(4)Tim P.
Amazing people and scotch list! They have people with beards and a tall man. If you enjoy alcohol and good times, you'll love this place. Lots of wood too.
(5)Eric T.
What can be said about a place that is one short block off the tourist main street that has no wait for tables or bar on a Saturday night at 8PM? I did not want to jump to conclusions, but one failure after another convinced me that was not going to work out. The waitress never approached us, until we called her over about 10 minutes after sitting down. She struggled to get our app order, and then the wait began. We looked at the menu, but none of the items looked interesting or appetizing, even as they were being brought out to other diners around us. After waiting for about 15-20 minutes for our appetizer, we simply decided to leave. Sorry Bull Feeney, but that was BULL. No wonder you're empty at 8pm on a Saturday in August.
(1)Sarah H.
Had drinks at the bar while listening to some great music. Nice assortment of craft beers. We started with Irish Coffee....just okay, but the bartender made up for it with his personality & knowledge of Maine beers.
(4)Bob D.
We stopped here for lunch. Both my wife and I had the lobster roll. Although good, it was small and not worth the $18/each. I'd suggest looking elsewhere if your appetite is calling for a Lobster roll. The service provided by Sarah was great.
(3)Greg A.
Can't go wrong with Feeny's, this a great place for live entertainment, open mic nights, amateur comedy night, and lots of Irish live music. The food is delicious and the beer selection is fantastic. They have my favorite beer Smithwicks on tap as well. All of which are reasonably priced. Definitely a place to check out!
(5)Ray D.
This location does not deserve 3 stars. Food was typical service was extremely slow. We had to wait over an hour for our food to then be told some of the options were not available. Plenty of better places to try in the area.
(2)Paulie L.
This was my third time coming to Bull Feeney's. Terrible experience. We waited ten minutes to get seated. Then the four of us got seated in the far corner past the bar. None of the waitresses came to check on us for twenty minutes, and when she did she said some waiter would get us but he's busy. Then a guy from behind the bar said that when we were ready to walk up to the bar to order. I went to get up and he said not now, in a few minutes. Thirty minutes with no service later, the four of us left. I gave two stars instead of one because the previous two times was ok.
(2)Karen L.
Went here this past Saturday for a quick lunch with my parents. One people seated upstairs and our waiter was a trainee which was no problem. My brother finishes half his sandwich and goes in to bite the second and pulls out a long black curly hair :( Another waitress stopped by to grab his plate and he let he know very quietly as so not alert any other patrons as the upstairs had begun to fill up. She said she would take care of it. The hairy food was not taken off of the bill and our table was soon forgotten about as soon second floor section got busy. I would say overall the food was quite mediocre which was too bad.
(2)Melissa S.
Yummy lobster BLT, great service from a very friendly staff. Live sea shanty music on period instruments. Perfect afternoon
(5)Charles J.
Sat down at bar and had a beer while waiting for hostess to take my name down for a table. I was told 20 minutes for a table. 20 minutes later we noticed no one in the pub was eating. We overheard the hostess tell a customer that there was only one person in the kitchen. We paid our tab and left.
(1)Jeremy N.
I'm glad Bull Feeney's is still around. This is my go to bar when I want to get my Irish on! The food is always good and pretty authentic. The staff has always been great. I love the atmosphere because it reminds me of the type of places you'd find on the Emerald Isle.
(4)Bill S.
This is a great place to kick back with a few friends - enjoy strong drinks and great beers! The menu is diverse and appealing- tasty and filling foods and a great atmosphere make this a staple of downtown portland!!- just be prepared to wait between drinks as the service gets slow when busy!
(4)Heather J.
Come up to Portland at least every 3 months and always stop by this excellent establishment. Great whiskey selection- Irish, Scotch, American and beyond. Well informed bartenders can always recommend a new treat you've prob not tried before along with all the classics.. and always a good selection of beers if you are not a whiskey fan. Apps good, ambience warm and pleasant, service great. Thanks Bull Feeneys!
(4)Ralph B.
Great food in a great atmosphere! You can go upstairs and sit right by the window looking down the street toward the old port. Very nice (especially when it is snowing outside and the festive lights are up all around town). I ordered the Bangers and Colcannon and my wife ordered the special chicken with Basmati rice and shrimp. We also had some great wine called Lamberti Procsecco. Bull Feeney's also has a nice little Whisky list as well but we didn't partake. The dessert was a scrumptious breaded pudding with liqueur sauce and a dollop of clotted cream like that I had enjoyed at the Healy's Cyder Farm in the U.K.
(4)Brent T.
This is one place I almost always stop at when I am in Portland. They have great food and a nice selection of local beers. Also, this is the best Scotch/whiskey bar in the area. The bartenders really know their stuff. So, if you like expensive Scotch and don't want to pay for a whole bottle - this is the place. Also, if you want to learn about Irish Whiskey etc this is a great place for a novice to begin building their palet. On this last trip our waitress, Rachel, was excellent. She was bright and knowledgeable. Most important, she was very patient with the g/f's 20 questions before ordering. The only downer was they were out of friend lobster. I *LOVE* their lobster and chips with curry mayo. Sofa king GOOD! (How can you be out of lobster in Portland?)
(4)Amelia C.
My fave! My friends and I go here all the time for dinner before we have a night of old port fun and I have yet to be disappointed! Their Irish soda bread is out of this world good and addicting. They have great fries as well. The Downeaster Reuben is excellent, and the haddock sandwich is great as well! One downfall is that they run out of things a lot. We went on the Sunday night of Labor Day weekend and they had run out of almost half the menu, I just wanted some lobster Mac n cheese :(
(4)Nat S.
Such a cool old building. Talking to the bartender the space has quite a history, a rooming house, grocery store, and brothel. Have a drink and take a look around, don't miss the upstairs. We have never eaten here, great spot for a drink. Claims to have the most extensive scotch/ whisky selection in Maine, it is impressive.
(4)Linz E.
On our last night in Portland we decided to check out Bull Feeney's, and we're glad we did since it allowed us to end our vacation on a high note. We went on a Thursday around 6pm. It was raining so all of old port was deserted, which meant we found street parking very easily. It also meant we were seated right away once inside the restaurant. Once we were seated our waiter immediately gave us water, and took our drink order. We managed to get the happy hour prices so the beers that were otherwise $5+ each ended up costing us $3. I had the lobster Caesar salad and my boyfriend had the surf and turf. Both entrees were delicious, well prepared, and promptly served. The meals and beers all cost under $60, and the quality was great. If we return to Portland we'll definitely be back to Bull Feeney's for one of our dinners.
(4)Dani C.
The only thing that was disappointing about this experience is that we waited til the last day of our trip to discover it! Spent 4 days in May 2014 in Portland and decided to grab lunch before our drive back to Cape Cod, and picked this place for no other reason except it looked cool and the menu looked good. We entered convinced that we were "lobstered out" after 3 days of eating lobster at almost every meal, BUT boy we were wrong. One look at the menu and we both could not resist. I got the lobster BLT and my husband got the lobster reuben... OMG, so delicious! I got a beer to go with it, a local belgian white, since they had a nice big selection and hubs was doing the driving. And our table was just great, second floor, directly in front of the big windows overlooking the street and down the hill to the waterfront. Waitress was a sweetheart too.
(5)Angel R.
Rude rude rude rude rude rude Rude rude rude rude rude rude rude. Oh yeah did I mention RUDE.
(1)Ryan F.
Awesome interior with several rooms/vibes, friendly staff, cheap drinks, and cover-free live music...what's not to like here?! Seeking some drinks and entertainment for our last night out in Portland, my friend and I wandered into Bull Feeney's, lured in by the blaring music blasting out onto the Exchange Street intersection. Upon entering, you'll be right smack at the end of a large bar room, with a more private/quiet dining room adjacent to the bar. We headed right up the stairs to see the band (Zealous Bellus - zealousbellus.com ) rocking out with covers ranging from Led Zeppelin to Nirvana and everything in between. Even though we were lucky to snag a table and make some friends, it would have been nice if they had some more places to sit. There were only a few tables and they were set up along the back walls, leaving a huge and largely unoccupied standing/dance floor in the middle. The band was awesome, and a few $8 Long Island Iced Teas sweetened the evening even more :)
(4)Eric M.
different name now but still good food!!! MUST try the haddock tacos as an app..
(4)Jeffrey S.
Owner is a dick. I am from michigan sat next to him for the WI duke b ball game. Maybe the/his place is awesome but would never go there after sitting next to him. Your call it is called capitalism for a reason. Maybe he was having a bad night but after taking to the locals I doubt that is the case.
(1)Jacky O.
This is a nice place to hang out and have some beers. I wish I had known that before we went in today. They have 20 draft beers to chose from. Today was our first time there so we didn't know what to expect. We went in around 6pm looking to have an early dinner and good beer. Once inside we sat by the window and waited for 15 min to be acknowledge by the bar tender who told a couple of servers who were chit chatting on the back of the restaurant that we were there. Another 5 min went by and someone finally decided to come say hello, she was polite but didn't make much eye contact. To make the story short, service was bad our server was a horrible at listening, I had to repeat myself several times. Once our food arrived I realized my Lamb stew looked nothing like lamb or stew it was a tiny bowl of soup with lots of melted cheese on top. I called the server and asked if that was the stew she said that no it wasn't even though minutes earlier she had said lamb stew as she put it down. She took it away and in 10 min another server came back with my lamb stew only this time it was cold, I wasn't going to say anything but my boyfriend tasted and he realized how cold it was as well. So I call the waitress again and told her it was cold praying that no one would spit on my food for returning it twice. I was more embarrass to tell them than they were of their incompetence. Finally my stew arrived and the blond server who brought it said " this one is steaming" with a tone By then my appetite was gone and I had drank most of my beer and my boyfriends sweet potato fries which were the only tasty food on our table. My stew was bland and my boyfriend's burger over cook.
(1)Aaron P.
I'll skip to the meat of this review, literally. Besides my burger being cooked medium-well instead of medium, this was a perfect meal. I took a solo lunch here and was one of two patron in the place. Irish fiddle music blared. I ordered a Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin beer, which I'd never heard of, hoping for a full-bodied pumpkin beer that wasn't too sweet, and it was exactly what I wanted. This instantly became my favorite fall beer. I'll also throw in that even their higher-end beer were only $5-6, but which isn't too bad for Old Port! I ordered a lamb burger with goat cheese, with a side of mixed regular and sweet potato fries. Before it arrived, my totally-wonderful server brought me some Irish soda bread with sweet butter. I'd never had this, and it was outstanding. As I mentioned, the burger was more well done than medium, but honestly, I couldn't be bothered to care. The flavors of lamb meat tangled with those of the soft goat cheese, hot sauce (of course I added hot sauce), and beer to create ecstasy in my mouth. I felt like an Irish king during my lunch at Bull Feeney's, and I'm already planning my next pilgrimage. Truly a meal to remember.
(5)Mark B.
While I enjoyed the bar and scotch selection downstairs, the staff was heavy handed with patrons about last call. As a matter of fact,they were downright rude,yelling at patrons to leave. Some were shouting get out,we are closing in 3 minutes. The band and dance floor upstairs bar was fun and the crowd pretty well minded considering the hour. Based on the actions of the staff at closing, I would not return.
(2)Andrew S.
My family and I eat at Bull Feeney's whenever we go to Portland. The food is very good, and the service has always been great.
(5)Todd D.
Very good place Irish pub food is very good real old building great atmosphere wait staff very good I think one of the best pubs in Portland almost gave 5 stars but I have yet to grant one a five star yet
(4)Brianna E.
Nice place, good location, decent food. I really enjoyed my glass of mead. We tried the crab dip with crostinis and split a fish sandwich special with fries & thank god we did, the sandwich was enormous. Very nice atmosphere, beautiful venue, and a really nice staff. It's a little pricey but we liked it and would recommend.
(4)Carrie L.
Very cozy place with good staff. Looks like an old English pub. Food is good and reasonable.
(5)Steve A.
Both nights I was in Portland, Bull Feeney's had unquestionably the best music of downtown. I'm glad I got to go upstairs, around the corner, and into the big dance room on the second night. This place is notable for serving beer in the Imperial pint - make that 20 ounces instead of your typical 16. Let's also note that I was there on a Saturday night during Labor Day weekend, and the beers were all $3. Best happy hour ever? I had myself three glasses of Geary's, which I figured out are equivalent to almost 8 beers in the typical "drinking meter", so for less than $10 I was dancing around the room and getting myself in trouble. Considering the prices at Gritty's (otherwise a very nice place), this was phenomenal. Now, I haven't tried the food here, so I have a star or so leeway on this review pending a return. Oh, and if you're upstairs, the guy with glasses who can't serve drinks? He's lame. May wanna let him know. ;)
(4)s m.
No children's menu, so I deducted one star. Appetizer chicken tenders (almost burnt) and a side of fries for my littlest kid set me back $13, so that wasn't a good start. Salmon was excellent, fish and chips just okay, and burgers seemed homemade, not frozen. They allow the option of half regular and half sweet potato fries, which was nice. But at $4 a basket instead of a tin can full would have been appreciated. Service pretty good,. The band started playing Irish music in the bar below. I think it would be a fun pub for a night out drinking. Otherwise a little expensive for value received.
(3)S And E H.
Great beer and scotch selection. The food used to be great now it has gone way downhill. Just stop in for a pint and eat elsewhere else.
(2)Corey A.
This place is, simply put, cool. The location is great- a block away from the waterfront- and the building itself is a wonderful maze of different quirky rooms. The drink selection looked great, though I stuck with a lager. We had great seats- second floor at the window, overlooking the street and the rest of the bar. But the best part of the experience? The seafood chowder was amazing. I live in Rhode Island and eat a lot of seafood, and I can honestly say this was some of the best I have come across. Service was also friendly, prompt and unobtrusive. I highly recommend this gem.
(4)Zachary C.
Came in for a cup of chowder and a couple beers with friends. Service was great and the chowder was one of my favorites so far in Maine (visiting from Baltimore). We stay for an hour or so before heading out to play pool across the street. But, before we left I noticed one of the most extensive whiskey selections that I've seen, outside stated "whiskey" bars. The Irish Whiskey and Scotch selections were most impressive with ages from 10 to 25 years for a bunch of the names.
(5)Janice S.
Loved their Irish nachos with lamb chili. The Caesar salad was huge! Couldn't eat it all. Drinks were superb and the Guinness was poured correctly and so delicious with the lamb shepherds pie. Free cheesecake for Valentine's Day....A perfect night with good friends and excellent service.
(5)Kelly O.
Just what I want in an Irish pub; the atmosphere and decor is spot on, and they actually have a solid drink list and helpful bartenders.
(3)Steak c.
While on a family vacation we were looking for a place to eat while walking around portland. I got the fish and chips, which were pretty good. My wife and son both thought their meals were average. I would go back, but would also try other places before going back here.
(3)Susie C.
We went there for dinner and drinks and it was awful service! We sat down at a table for at least 15 minutes before we grabbed a server to ask if we could get menus and her response was "I've been done for 2 hours" we are closed for food! Ok then why didn't you come over and tell us instead of letting us sit there! She was rude! Definitely will not go back just because of the rudeness of one person!
(1)Asya P.
Drinks: great. good selection, 3 dollar drafts during happy hour. Service: friendly, if not super efficient. Fine. It did take a long time to get our food, but it was friday night. Food: I don't know.... the ingredients - haddock, lamb, and scallops, were all superb. The fries were great. BUT the breading on my fish and chips wasn't crispy enough or flavorful enough and it was a $16 plate of food! and the coleslaw was about the worst I have ever had- bland, soggy, and totally flavorless. Like, I've had plain mayo that tasted better than whatever they did to this. So I can't say that I will ever go again for dinner, but I will go for the live music, a good beer or cider, and maybe an appetizer. The crab dip was delicious. Sadly, it was also bitterly cold in there, I had to put my coat back on (the door wasn't open, few people going in and out, no idea what the problem was). five stars for seating and layout, very pleasant.
(3)Jared R.
Terrible service, fish sandwich was awful, never going back. Instead of enjoying my weekend, I had an upset stomach. Surprised they get any regular business.
(1)Vanessa A.
Service: Chris was outstanding. He was prompt and courteous. Location: Right by Exchange St in the Old Port. Price: $120 + tip. 2 appetizers, 4 entrees and 4 alcoholic beverages. Favorite dishes: Lamb burger and the fish and chips.
(5)Y H.
The bartenders are awesome. We didn't eat but just the drinks and conversation part was great!!!
(5)Barry S.
Sour wine. Sour staff. Vegetarian? Don't even think about it. The one option on the dinner menu that might accommodate (mushroom risotto?) is literally a plate of brown gruel. Worst experience ever. Avoid avoid avoid.
(1)Hollie M.
Went on a Saturday at lunch, it was busy but we were seated right away. We ordered several apps to share our favorite was the crab dip. Danielle our server was excellent, very attentive and helpful. Highly recommend!
(5)Deb H.
Went for a late night dinner. 8 pm was the time, thinking we beat the dinner crowd. What I thought would be a quick bite I was wrong. Even though the food was good the service was horrible. The hostess told us it would be a 30 min wait. Yet I saw at least 8 tables free. We questioned the young hostess why so many tables open she couldn't give us a straight answer. And we thought just eat at the bar. 45 mins later still no food. And the story continues. Long story short do not go here if you plan on eating.
(2)Gub H.
Friendly service, good craigh at the bar. Had a great time. Bottled beer ice cold, big selection of craft beers on tap. I think there's live music several nights a week.
(4)Justine J.
Good drinks, and a cool place to pop into on a Friday or Saturday night (if you love being in a bar that's so crowded you can barely breathe). They often have live music, which can be cool (if you're into bands like Mumford & Sons or Irish music). I was turned off of their food the time I visited with a friend and she ordered a veggie burger and out came a bunch of literal veggies on a bun (with no sauce, totally dry). Ehh.
(3)Amelia M.
Like other PORTLAND LOCALS have said; this place is not the 1st choice for people who actually live here. My friends and I randomly decided to go in (craving Guinness and live music) after dinner. It was raining so an "Irish bar" seemed fitting. It was the after dinner crowd so it was only about 10pm. We were served promptly and found a seat. I opted to open a tab...big mistake. The second round about an hour later took TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES. There was a bar back who completely ignored me and didn't have the capability to close a tab. I think there was only one bar tender on the side of the bar we were on and he was completely frazzled and impersonal. I checked my online banking two days later. There appeared to be two charges from Bull Feeneys. Mind you, I had TWO Guinness (@ $5.50 a piece) and I'm seeing a pending card of $11 and a pending charge for $13. I called to question it. Whoever answered was very dismissive and rude about the whole thing. Apparently the "credit card company" puts a minimum of $20 authorization for using cards/opening tabs. "It'll be released in 3 days...did you leave a $2 tip? Yeah. We hold the money to make sure your charge goes through." I'm in my late twenties and I work in the financial department of a huge company. I'm not a young kid trying to avoid paying a tab. As a professional; I deserve to be treated with respect when calling about a financial policy that was not displayed or mentioned in the bar prior to charging my debit card. If you must go here; prepare yourself to listen to horrible acoustic covers of 90s one hit wonders, wait nearly half an hour for an on tap beer then be charged double for said beer two days later. It's your call.
(1)Brian C.
Bacon happy hour on Fridays is not to be missed. Great Irish pub. Jeff is one of the best bartenders around.
(5)Tim G.
I was a little wary, given the other reviews on here, so I went in expecting the worst. It was a Wednesday night in March, which I'm sure helped the service, compared to a summer Saturday. So the place was busy, but not SLAMMED. My lady friend and I sat at the bar and got our drinks quickly. I ordered food, and took note of the time to see how long it took, since that was another frequent issue mentioned. Strangely, my food arrived within two or three minutes, which is oddly quick for any place. Maybe I got someone else's order. My chicken fingers and fries were tasty, but nothing mind-blowing. A bit pricey for mediocre pub fare, but not outrageous. Yes, they put a shamrock on the top of the Guinness. I'm on a mission to find the best pint of Guinness in Portland, and this one was good. Bonus style points for the shamrock. Seeing the issues with credit card charges in other reviews, I got cash beforehand to avoid the whole situation. Went expecting the worst, and was pleasantly surprised.
(4)Gabrielle M.
Very homey atmosphere, nice mixed crowd. Great beer selection! We shared the Irish Nachos made with the freshly made chips! We devoured it and left no room for dinner! Great way to kick off a Saturday night out!
(4)Ryan C.
Stellar whiskey selection. Live music. What's not to like?
(4)Vanessa C.
We had a lot if fun here and the food was good! Here for our first night in Portland and saw this place. Being ready for a break from the typical seafood we decided to give it a try. We sat at the bar and the bartender was friendly and informative and the owner came in and chatted with us and he was also very nice. My husband had the shepherd's pie. It was really good, with big pieces of lamb. I had the fish and chips, which was also very good, but not as crispy as I like. I had the mix of pub fries and sweet potato fries with the chipotle dipping sauce and horseradish dipping sauce. I'm a sauce girl, and yum! The Squid Jiggers play on Wednesdays and we were lucky to happen to show up on a Wednesday. They were really good and entertaining. I would recommend this place for a fun night out!
(4)Jeremy S.
A great irish bar with good locals. Upstairs is more live music and dancey, downstairs is more relaxed.
(5)Sebastian V.
Great service, nice environment. Loved my guinness, and tha Allagash blonde was the beginning of a long night!... Cheers
(4)Lee L.
Bull Feeney's is a really cool location with history actually painted on the walls, so you learn something while you're waiting on your food. I'm not a drinker, so I can't speak on their alcohol selection, but I was happy to see that each table gets a very delicious and moist Irish soda bread. My wife and I went for lunch, so we had lighter fare than they offer for dinner. I had the lamb chili and she had a lamb burger. They were both very good and hit the spot. Service was friendly and we'd definitely eat there again to try some of their other offerings.
(4)Eliza C.
Bull Feeneys has, somehow, bottled up what it means to love to drink beer, be from Maine and enjoy irish pubs all in one bar. Bull Feeneys has been a long time staple of Maine's summer folk for years. The restaurant/bar is two floors, dimly lit with warped wood and an impressive beer selection. It feels a bit more unique than its Gritty's counterpart across the street, and draws an equally fun crowd. The food, even in the summer, is hardy and delicious boasting items like lamb burgers, shepherds pies, et cetera. Upstairs has live jazz music on a regular basis. The crowd at Bull Feeneys in the winter/spring months is typically young professional to seasoned Mainers, while the summer crowd infests (in the best term of the word) with camp counselors--it's not uncommon to hear an authentic irish/british accent among the crowd. Having been a camp counselor myself, I can attest to counting the days until we made the trek to Portland to crash Bull Feeneys, and European peers have even given it their own seal of authentic approval.
(4)Enrique C.
I was invited here by a Downeaster and enjoyed the seafood chowder (or chow'dah) that it changed my chowder standards. Everything tasted like it had been thrown from the fishing net into the pot. I stole some fries and fried fish from my friends plate. Good but not mind blowing. We dined in the upstairs dining room but the downstairs bar area was popping with plenty of young locals and a decent Irish themed band. They were no Dropkick Murphys but they could carry a whiskey soaked tune.
(4)clare f.
After three years in Portland, I visited Bull Feeney's for the second (and last) time to celebrate a friends birthday. It was a Wednesday evening, and the place wasn't that crowded, which was puzzling due to the slow service and harried attitude of the bartender. Overall, I had a nice time there, but more due to the birthday party, then the staff, the ridiculously weak drinks, or the trying to hard atmosphere. When I checked my bank account two days later, I no longer had any nice feelings about Bull Feeney's left. They charge a "pre authorization fee" for opening a tab, and then charge you for your tab. When I called and spoke with a manager, he said there was nothing he could do, and it should work itself out on its own in a few days....... So, what about the fact it sent my account into overdraft and earned me overdraft fees? What about the fact I can't access my money now? Thanks Bull Feeney's, but I'm kinda hungry and had thought I was going to the grocery store today. The manager had a very defensive attitude about the situation. I would assume this is a phone call he gets a lot. But considering part of his job is customer service, a simple "I'm sorry" (which he never said) would have gone a long way. I brought up that they don't have to swipe your card initially (what causes a pre-authorization fee) and could enter tab names in manually, keeping the card to swipe when closing out (citing over a decade bartending/managing experience) and he dismissed it as "we have to process a lot of credit cards". That's cool. They are set in their ways of being dismissive of the fact that they are disrupting their customers lives. I'm set on never going back.
(1)Kim D.
What was I thinking ordering lobster in an Irish Pub. It was just OK and the edible tail meat was miniscule. Coming here for the Irish music and the beers. Then you're on track.
(3)Ryan M.
Good beer, cool atmosphere. Best fish & chips I ever hands hands down.
(5)Sarah G.
Any place where they have a lobster drinking Guinness as their mascot on their sign deserves three stars in my book! We even got some postcards with this rarely seen Guinness poster to take back with us we were so excited!! In Portland we were on a mission to find lobster in anything possible. This place drew us in because they had a market fresh lobster quesadilla on their menu outside on their door!! And how much fun does a lobster quesadilla sound?? Pretty darn fun, I know. ;-) We got our drinks, were able to sit in the bar area to order and the service was pretty good, but that quesadilla barely had any lobster in it...i thought maybe I got a bad piece but kelly b, matt j, and jeff all felt the same way. We were robbed of our amazing lobster quesadilla experience!! Well now I know what to make on my own at home, but man was it disappointing, especially after walking around for quite some time trying to find places that had lobster in new and exciting ways...we were craving some lobster and Bull Feeney, you didn't exactly fulfill that craving....And you even had a lobster drinking guinness on your sign!! That would make you think they would put lots of lobster, but maybe all of the lobsters were busy drinking instead ha ha
(3)Jenni H.
"Great little pub for our family! Food and service was great. Best sweet potato fries I've had! Great view of the boats from the seating upstairs."
(4)Kristin S.
I went here on my first night in town. I thought it was ok. Good beer selection and they actually match the beer with its correct glass (something i fell in love with in Ireland that I don't find many bars do). Guinness, some micro brews and PBR pounders, a little something for everyone. Now, the food...perhaps I didn't take enough time with the menu, but I would have liked a few more sandwich options for being a pub. Most "Irish pubs" usually have a Reuben on the menu (not sure if it's authentic Irish fare or not) but there was no such item on their menu. I had the lamb burger with goat cheese and it was tasty. I got the sweet potato and regular fry mix, they were ok. I was recommended the lobster stew but didn't see it on the menu ( I didn't ask either) my husband got a small plate of chicken tenders but they have no BBQ sauce for dipping. Just buffalo or honey mustard. Over all it was ok, wouldn't mind trying it again, but I'm not raving about it yet. Trying to keep an open mind and definitely want to check out this happy hour with bacon and cheese:)
(3)Oliver D.
We've enjoyed Bull Feeney's twice now. It's a fairly typical Irish pub in appearance but the food is exceptionally good. The fish and chips are especially delicious. My only complaints are that the menu is not updated to reflect the beers currently available on tap, and they wouldn't accept our passports as valid ID, which is something I've never run into before.
(4)Lola S.
DO NOT go here. There are too many nice places in Portland with helpful, acommodating people! This is not one of them. I made a reservation at Bull Feeney's after reading the great reviews here. Upon arrival, the waitress seemed like we were bothering her. She did not smile. In a friendly town like Portland this behavior really sticks out. The food was okay. The fries were very salty and the steak was chewy and had too much fat on it. When it was time to pay, the waitress broke the bill up per person- which we did not request and made the transaction confusing. She also added a 22% gratuity to herself when the menu said 18% for parties of 8 or more. The manager was helpful and really seemed as though he wanted to rectify the situation. A few days later, we noticed that those of us that paid by card were mischarged. Duplicate transactions went through and for incorrect amounts. When the manager was called, he stated, "Well, someone in your party that night smuggled in alchohol..." Which DID NOT happen (drinks are cheap enough in Portland (and no covers at many bars) to be stingy like that) and this certainly isn't a reason or excuse for the misappropriation of funds. To sum up, the food is ordinary, the people are unprofessional.
(1)Sharon M.
Camping in Maine, we took a ride to Portland and wandered into Bull Feeney's. It was a quiet Tuesday night, and they sat us upstairs by the large windows, so that we could enjoy the view. They had trouble finding crayons for the kids, so the waiter went in back and grabbed some markers from the kitchen - very cool! My husband had the bacon wrapped steak, which he said was one of the best steaks he's ever had. I took him to Smith & Wollensky in NYC for his birthday and December and this steak was a million times better. The sauce that came with this steak was beyond words. I asked the waiter how it was made, and he went back to ask the chef. I was told that it contained Guiness. I would love to get the recipe, as it was simply wonderful. I got the stew, which was hearty but I honestly needed to add salt, as the flavor was lacking a bit. The fries that came with the kids' meals were great, and I liked that the chicken tenders didn't seem to be the same frozen drivel that you find everywhere. These were made and breaded there, and were fresh and juicy. I'd recommend this place to anyone and everyone. The music, atmosphere, and service was great. I just went to Galway in June, and I couldn't stop saying how much this town was reminding me of there.
(4)Sarah H.
Bull Feeney's is just one of those places that, for me at least, has been consistently good in service and quality of food. They have some seasonal items, and try to introduce new creations every few months, which keeps the menu from getting stale. Mostly their menu choices are Irish in nature, with some Maine influence. As another poster reviewed, their lobster stew is excellent and I appreciate it's not available all year long because that suggests they don't use frozen meat during the off-season. As my profile noted, my last meal on earth would be lobster stew and Guiness, and I can fully envision that being at Bull Feeney's. Recommended for your next trip to Portland.
(4)Katie G.
Bull Feeney's was the first stop on my mid-afternoon pub crawl through Portland. This place is very cool and very reasonable in terms of prices. Portland is an Irish city for sure and this pub does not disappoint anyone searching for that fun, Irish flair. Try to grab a seat on the second floor, overlooking the street for a gorgeous view of the Old Port. The rich wood tones, Irish music, and friendly wait staff make this place a great way to start an afternoon or end a day. I highly suggest the crab dip that comes with delicious crispy pita chips as an appetizer. It's delicious! It also washes down well with some Smithwicks beer. I happened to come here on a very chilly winter day and was very satisfied with my lamb chili. It's a yummy, Irish twist on a classic favorite. Price summary: Well, for 2 people eating, drinking and sharing an appetizer, we were only set back $37.50. Not too shabby! Bull Feeney's is waiting, so get driving!
(4)Joe B.
Nice vibe! Great beer selection, good food!
(4)L K.
been here many times, always stop when in Portland. food is good quality and fair value. ambience is what I value most and this place has it. would recommend without hesitation. BTW, it's in the center of "Old Port" a nice neighborhood for a stroll.
(4)Doug B.
I like everything about Bull Feeney's, the high quality pub food, the friendly wait staff, even the dark paneling--but I can't stand the jazz they play. It's loud and obnoxious and has one more than one occasion driven me out the door. Take ear plugs.
(3)Scott M.
Cold drizzly afternoon and looking for the comfort of some good old pub food. Not many people inside at lunch time especially with a cruise ship in town. Fish and chips is the order for the group. WHAT, your out of fish? The waitress apologetically explains that a delivery of fish is expected at any time...I can see the truck down the road. We decided to wait, nothing like freshly caught fish! Nice recovery...we received our food in quick order. Server was friendly and seated quickly with our order of beer. Food was actually good...fish lightly battered and fresh, french fries a bit soggy, good tasty slaw. Price was fair for both the food and beer. Might try somewhere else next time I'm in town.
(3)Karl H.
At Amigo's Restaurant last call ... yelp.com/biz/amigos-mexi… dude, it's last call! but, I'm not done with my drink here. DUDE!! eff'ing hurry up then! I think we have time for one more place. but, I don't think I can drink anymore. dude, what are you some kind of eff'ing Mary? Let's go, suck it down! alright, I'm eff'ing hurrying furfucksake. dude, let's go!!! I want to hit Bull Feeney's for one last drink and we got like 15 minutes!!! Oh crap!!! why didn't you say so!! (slams double tall gin and tonic)... let's roll!!! At Bull Feeney's gentlemen it's last call... make it quick. dude, what do you want? I don't care man let's do a shot or something. hey man, I'll take a gin and tonic, a guiness and two shots of jameson dude, we're gonna die... I just know it. ***Note: this is a true account of what happened even though it went nothing like this.***
(4)Andy G.
We arrived at Bull Feeney's at around 1:30 on a rainy Sunday to find the place virtually empty. There was about 3 employees for everyone person so service was excellent and we were seated in about 5 seconds. I loved the decor of Bull Feeneys. It has the old tavern vibe. Brick walls and oak wood surround the dining room. There are actually two levels of seating but I never got upstairs to look at that. The men's room is the only strange thing about this place. It is smaller then a closet and you need to be careful before whipping out Mr Willy or you are likely to get knocked out by the next person entering as you are standing doing your business right beside the door... onto the food which gets some mixed reviews. Simone opted to get a Lamb Burger with Goat Cheese and sauteed mushrooms ( as suggested by our waitress) with a side of Pub and sweet potato fries. I opted for the Irish BLT with a side of fries also. The fries on both our plates were excellent..fresh and cooked perfectly crispy which is hard to do with a fresh fry.The fries also come with different dipping sauces for a small extra charge. I choose spicy whole grain Honey mustard and Simone choose a herb mayo for hers. Both were very good. Unfortunately I was a bit let down by my sandwich. Instead of Bacon it had smoked pork loin which sounded good on paper but some of the meat was burnt to a crisp while other slices were perfectly smokey and moist. Had all the slices been moist the sandwich would have been very good, but even some creamy chipotle mayo and swiss cheese could not save the overwhelming burnt taste. Also the bread was just okay and could have been fresher. Simone's burger however was very good. Moist and cooked to a medium well, it was not gamey as lamb can sometimes be and had a nice flavor from the grill. The creamy garlicky goat cheese and meaty mushrooms were a great accompaniment to the burger, and her roll was pillowy and soft. I enjoyed a sample of Simone's meal much more then my own. To finish off the meal we choose creme brulle. It was very light with a nice caramelized sugary crust and very tasty. Overall Bull Feeneys is probably lots of fun on a busy Friday night with a few beers in your system. However, being sober on a rainy Sunday with only average food was a bit of a letdown. Good..but not great. 3 stars for Bull Feeneys.
(3)Raz G.
Luv this place. I dnt miss my Irish connections when I am dwn here. Luv the variety of scotch n draft beers. Enjoyed fire grilled classic sirloin with glenfiditch. Amazing thing is u can strike an interesting conversation by the bar.
(4)Dawn H.
When we went the place was packed with mostly college kids. Not that his is a bad thing, hey, its a pub - but it seems to attrach the younger crowd - so be ready for a lot of noise, loud music and being bashed now and then while you're trying to eat. There are tables upstairs and downstairs but always crowded so you could get jostled. The food was ok, I've had better in Maine. The fiance got the Shepard's Pie and he almost barfed - it had lamb and was gamey as heck.
(2)Sarah W.
Atmosphere is nice. Upstairs and downstairs...many rooms. One of the best bars in downtown Portland, besides Ri-Ra. Quite a selection with beer....and the food actually is good!
(4)Kelly R.
Okay, so this is something that I like to accentuate with every review falling into a pub/bar category. I get disheartened to see bad reviews of places like this based on outlandish criteria. Bull Feeney's is a pub/bar and as such they do a few things particularly well, which is pour a proper pint of Guiness. Trust me, that is an important skill for a pub to possess! They have a nice assortment of irish/english imports and regular domestic favorites on tap as well a micro brew or two. Their food, and this is important to keep in mind, is great...if you're ordering bar staples: chowder, stew, burgers, ie; simple meat and potatoes comfort food. Stick to what they are going to knock out of the park the best. If you order something wild and fruity to drink or something exotic on the food menu then you're setting yourself up for disappointment from the get go and then giving this place a bad name because you chose to step outside the lines. The bar is cozy and there are plenty of spots to perch yourself for intimate conversation or quiet people watching. They have an extensive collection of top shelf single malt scotch as well as a wide assortment of Irish whiskey and bar booze. Bull Feeney's is and always has been a favorite place of mine in Portland and they always will be so long as they keep the comfort food and a properly poured Guiness coming!
(4)Lyndsay C.
Not my favorite spot for dinner but the beer was nice and cold. We were looking for a place to get some good beer and some good lobster. My boyfriend had seen the sign someplace before so we thought we'd give it a shot. We sat downstairs, which might have been our downfall. The server yelled to us from behind the bar to take our order before we'd even been given menus or a beer list. I ended up just walking up to the bar to see what they had on tap. We ended up ordering Sam Adams which is like water to us since we have it all the time but we really didn't see anything else that seemed that interesting. I've been to plenty of Irish pubs before that were similar in style but for some reason, it wasn't working for me at Bull Feeney's. The menu wasn't bad, but there just wasn't anything on it that moved us. We ended up having our beers and a fondue app and then going else where (J's Oyster) for dinner. The fondue was good and reasonably priced. Maybe we'll go back again for lunch or a snack but not a great spot if its a local Maine, seafoody scene you crave.
(2)Andrew F.
I love the atmosphere at Bull Feeney's, as well as the food and beer. Their shepherd's pie is probably the best I've ever had. Finishing the entire thing is a feat worthy of Hercules. The services is prompt and friendly. The music is rustic and, along with the brick and wood interior, makes you feel like you've been transported back in time. Have a few pints of what ever is on cask, and you may just develop a brogue.
(4)Christina F.
Cute atmosphere, but sticky floors. Tasty food, though!
(4)Chris C.
Where's my food? Where's our waitress? I've spent more time writing this review than the staff has paid attention to our table. The bar area's not bad, but I wouldn't suggest eating here because there are cheaper and better options in the area.
(2)Melanie T.
Again, should be 3.5. Why the extra half star? Simple... cheese and bacon happy hour. $3 beers and a trough of 3 different bacons and a tray of 3 different cheeses with fruit and honey. 'Nuff said.
(3)Steve P.
This was one of the best bars I've ever been to. Awesome bartender, ridiculous beers and a great feeling instantly. I don't know if you ever walk into a place that you just knew was gonna be great and once you enter its even better than you thought. My man, if you around this place during the day, you need to roll immediately. Dammit I miss this place.
(5)Shawn S.
Went here with the family for my brother's vacation/birthday meal. We chose this Irish Pub as a nice sit down casual place. Place is set up to be exactly that; a pub, with plenty of space (2 floors if you so desire) to sit and eat. I got the "Irish Cheesburger" which is a cheeseburger with I forget the cheese, and "rasher" which is kind of like a thick Canadian bacon. I also got the typical fries and a Guiness. The burger was okay, kinda bland. The "rasher" and the cheese had no strong taste to it. I should've gotten steak fries, as the fries were all too typical restaurant fare with 60% edible and 40% burnt beyond repair. This was a nice friendly afternoon get together kind of place, but not a place I'd seek out for their food.
(3)Ally P.
after looking at other options for a Saturday night I ended up at Bull Feeney's with 3 friends after asking a local where to get good food and good drinks - we requested to go upstairs and we were glad we did! It was pretty quiet up there and we had a great view of outside from our windowside seat but we were later even more entertained when on the other side of upstairs was someone singing classic Irish drinking songs! My dirty martini was perfect and the battered fried lobster with sweet potato fries were out of this world. I guess we got lucky since our server was pretty attentive and extremely accommodating when a few of us had special requests or questions. I will say at one point the music did get a little too loud for conversations so we didn't stay for dessert!
(4)Emily A.
This place can be really fun or really boring. Depends entirely on the crowd which can really vary. But they have great fries and good, strong drinks, but they could stand to be a little bit larger for the price. We are in Portland, ME, here, not NYC. They also have live music on the weekends which can be nice (depending on the band). They've had some real winners and some that shouldn't be allowed to play instruments at all. It's all the luck of the draw who's playing when you show up!
(4)Sam F.
Good Irish bar, that's traditionally decorated. They had a good beer and tasty mussels. Happy to come back and have some more beers.
(4)Sarah T.
This place is such a fantastic space! We loved the antiques and the cozy atmosphere. My fiance and I went up to Portland this past weekend for a couple of nights. Of all the places we visited, this was his favorite by far! I need to note that we didn't eat here, we only came for drinks. The bartenders were friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable. The great thing about this establishment was the drink specials on Friday nights on draught beer! And it was some of the better beer that was on special for $3 a pint. Last Friday, the special was good for either Geary's Autumn Ale or Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale. Plus, they currently have Guinness 250 for $2.50 a pint. My fiance loved that deal! We were there around the dinnertime rush and still were able to find two seats at the downstairs bar. We also came back later in the evening after going out for sushi. There was live music and no cover. Plus, the bartenders were still just as awesome all those hours later. This is a great spot worth checking out!
(4)S F.
Good: $3 pint, Decor is okay. Bad: Basically ignored by the bartenders in a fairly empty bar. We put our money down (with the check, after we'd asked to cash out) and the bartender kept walking by it and not taking it.
(2)Nicole V.
My fiance and I stopped here on the way home from a wedding in western Maine. We put enough money in our parking meter for an hour and fifteen minutes (5 quarters). We parked on Exchange Street, no more than a 5 minute walk from Bull Feeney's. We sat at the bar and ordered our drinks and food. The food took 50 minutes to come out. they are damn lucky the food was hot and so good, or I would have raised a huge stink. We got back to our meter just in time. I had a chicken sandwich and my love had a burger. They were above average and delicious.
(3)Shar C.
Had lobster bisque that was awesome and some beer. Fun place, would go back.
(4)Chris M.
Mediocre everything, but the upstairs is pretty and has live music that pours out onto the Old Port and is a great place to dance.
(4)Ashley D.
Amazing whiskey and single malt selection, great music playing, and really knowledgeable barkeep (thanks Andy for introducing us to Red Breast Irish Whiskey!). We didn't eat here, but the Shepard's pie that kept going by looked wonderful and smelled delicious. The decor was really cool with lots of old pub signs and antiques.
(5)Peter R.
I had a burger at BF's, never having eaten the food before. I ordered medium and it came MEDIUM!!. How many times have you gotten a burger that is gray inside despite the temperature you specified? It was one of the better burgers I've had in the Old Port. Plus an excellent selection of local craft and European beers.
(4)Paul M.
People have rated this five stars because of the beer on tap and the shamrock on top of the guinness. It's a pub for petes sake they don't make the beer! I'm rating the food. The service was good. The food was just ok at best. Lots of places to eat in Portland. If you're visiting for just a couple of days don't waste them here.
(2)L T.
I liked the food here and the service was ordinary. It's your typical Irish pub. However, I am really taken back by such negative reviews, and I am afraid to even go back based on some of the horror stories with how they charge. Thanks for the advice.
(3)Michele D.
I was hoping to have some fried clams, but instead we settled for an Irish pub (seriously, I didn't pick this place). I ordered the lobster stew and a side of the mixed Irish fries with the curry mayo and a horseradish type dip. The lobster stew had a creamy sherry base and OMG was it good! It was chock full of lobster meat and just had the most wonderful flavor to it. The mixed fries were a combination of regular fries and sweet potato fries. Not bad. The curry mayo was pretty tasty and I could take or leave the horseradish dip. I didn't really peruse the rest of the menu, but at a quick and cursory glance, I saw the standard Irish fare (of course). I probably wouldn't return if I were in town again, but that has nothing to do with the restaurant; I'd just be on the hunt for a seafood place.
(3)Steve S.
Sunday night, early evening, slow everywhere. Pop into Bull Feeney's for a cold Guinness, yum! I was incredibly hungry, so I ordered the horseradish encrusted salmon, only problem is that I don't care for horseradish! They told me they could prepare it without it, so only with dill sauce. When it arrived, it looked amazing and tasted even better! Seriously some of the best salmon I have had. Will definitely be back next time I'm in town.
(4)Casey J.
Good upscale pub food (without upscale prices), raucous fun in the bar, and a beautiful building. I always enjoyed my time here.
(4)Rose G.
Great pub grub; cozy fireplace and the Guinness is poured just right. Centrally located in the middle of the Old Port so you can't miss it.
(4)Christine K.
I don't have much to say about this place as a pub, since I came here for lunch. But I can say that, as a restaurant, this place has got a lot of work to do. We ordered an Irish stew and an open face crab melt for 2 people. The stew came out lukewarm (I like my food piping hot, especially when it's 32* outside!), chunky with lots of meat and various root vegetables, but tasted kind of bland. The open face crab melt was...tiny, and came out on a huge plate with nothing else on the side (except for a quarter slice of a pickle), which made it look even tinier. You wonder why they serve it open faced; at least if it was close-faced, that would give you an extra slice of bread to fill you up. They don't even serve you fries on the side; that costs extra! Needless to say, I was still hungry and unsatisfied after we paid our $23 bill. Bleh. And to think, that this place was recommended by one of the locals for lunch! At least the decor was nice.
(2)Colin A.
Bull Feeney's is an excellent Irish pub with a pretty damn authentic food menu. One of the busiest places in town on St. Patrick's Day, this place is a staple in the Old Port with a steady traffic on any given night. The food is good, with decent servers and prices on both food and beverages. Where this place REALLY shines is on the Th/Fr/Sat nights when excellent local/regional music acts come to entertain and all of the Old Porters come out for a night of drinking. Can take awhile to get your drinks, with limited bar space and the large number of people. But you come to expect that with the ambiance (it's a nice place). Perfect to impress your friends with a great Irish pub experience.
(4)Nick G.
got forced into going back and once again terrible service. i brought cash this time so there would be no issue with charging my card 4x again. the bartender forgot about my beer twice and i waited almost 30 mins for it.
(1)Chris K.
a great spot for lunch in my opinion. solid beer options, good sandwiches, great fish and chips.
(4)Jay F.
Another good stop for a pub crawl, the selection of booze is good. The food is decent and respectable, and while it can be crowded at times I guess that just shows this place can't be that bad. A good place to eat or drink should you find your self in Portland.
(3)Brian A.
I've never waited longer in my life for a drink, even in prison. My saying is that if you want a drink here, stop in and order it when you first go out and once the night is winding down and last call approaches stop back by and it SHOULD be ready for you. Seriously 2 bartenders and 4 bar-backs? The bar-backs just stand there and look at you like a deer in headlights. I think they need 4 bartenders and 2 bar-backs to ease the service issues. I have never eaten here so I can't comment on the food but god damn it takes forever to get a drink. Anytime this place comes up as a suggestion when I'm with a group I cringe and think about how I can get rearrested instead of patronizing this establishment. If I wanna hang with Bull Feeney I think I'll head to Gorham Square.
(2)M L.
Have been here many times for late night drinking, but surprisingly I have never eaten here. Comfortable bar areas on the both the 1st and 2nd floor's and good knowledgeable bartenders. Beer selection is good with your usual local and Irish Beers, but the Whiskey selection is why I frequent this place often. I have sampled many single barely whiskey on the rocks here, and with most single barrel some are really good and some are not so good, but luckily they are all strong. Whiskey pour is good, selection is equaled by none in the area. Gets very crowded and loud on Weekends with a mixed crowd, you can usually here the bands playing from blocks away during the summer.
(4)S U.
We went to have lunch the weekend after Thanksgiving. Our waitress was not friendly and competent at all. The soda bread was a complimentary appetizer that we wouldn't have gotten if I hadn't asked her about it since I saw it on every other table. She didn't even apologize. The soda bread was delicious (even though we only got one for two people - size of a muffin). We were looking forward to our entrees which were really disappointing. The bread was dry and my boyfriend's fish was small (I know that portion sizes are typically overrated but this one was really tiny, compared to what other tables had). Unfortunately, a disappointing experience.
(2)Rachel E.
Came here for a few drinks after seeing show at the Civic Center. It wasn't very large, but I was a fan of the atmosphere. We sat at the bar and had a few drinks while a guy with a guitar pumped out some OK covers of popular songs. The bartender was nice and fast, prices were good, clientele wasn't obnoxious, the stools were sturdy and comfortable. Overall, if I lived in Portland I would definitely be a regular. Standard (but still quite good) pub. Worth a visit.
(4)Ryan P.
Typical mediocre Irish Pub maybe they should paint it red as well.
(2)Maine R.
WARNING: I am from Maine and eat steamers all the time and I have never been sick from them. Never in my life. I ordered the steamers at Bull Feeney's. They arrived cold and hard, as though they had been cooked hours ago but only reheated in a microwave. I had never seen steamers in this condition. I stupidly ate them in spite of my doubts. Within 5 minutes of finishing the modest bowl, I was overcome and became violently ill, rushed to the men's room and vomited several times. I informed the wait staff who called up the Maitre d' to talk with me. I explained the situation very politely. They took the cost of the steamers off the bill, but we had to pay for the rest of the stuff. (Note: the bowl of clam chowder I had as an appetizer tasted better going down than it did coming back up). They may be trying to save money in the kitchen, but they put the health of their customers at risk. I will never return to Bull Feeney's in Portland and I suggest no one eat there. I also recommend that the head chef to some serious re-thinking about cooking operations to ensure the well being of customers lest someone have a more serious incident than I did. NEVER EAT FROM THIS KITCHEN.
(1)T.H. J.
Embarrassingly mediocre.
(2)Chris H.
A great restored building in the Old Port, above average pub food and Snake Bites! I've only been here for dinner a few times on my trips to Portland on week nights, so I haven't experienced it on a typical going out night, but I am a fan.
(5)Brandon C.
Bartender was unnecessarily surly and dinner prices were staggering. We had one drink and decided not to stay.
(1)Brad S.
Overall average dining experience. Service was very slow, even though the restaurant was pretty empty. The food itself was good and there were several good beers on tap. I'd recommend it once, but will probably go elsewhere next time I am in town.
(3)C H.
The crab sliders and crab dip are so crabby you might wet yourself with happy crab joy. Can be crowded though and not my kind of atmosphere (it's busy and rowdy).
(3)C S.
I am getting sick of you morons giving 5 star ratings on restaurants that plain and simple, DON'T DESERVE IT. I've gone to Bull Feeney's two times now. The first time was during my first visit to Portland and I went for lunch. The place was basically empty which turned out to be a good thing because otherwise we would have been waiting for a lot longer for our food. This time, the food was decent other than the corn chowder my bf ordered which was recommended by the waitress and "had pieces of farm fresh bacon in it, but it was RUBBERY" The second time my parents came to visit with my brother and his gf for my birthday - they were paying, with a total of 6 people the day before St Patrick's Day I called the restaurant to find out what the wait would be like, the man who answered said 30 minutes so we left right away and it's right around the corner from my apartment. As soon as we walk in there is a hostess stand with...no hostess....finally the bartender notices us and says "you can look upstairs for a table, you might have to push a few together" Are you kidding me??? so we walk upstairs to find no room and no waitresses looking to help us so we walk down the stairs back to the bar area and sit at two empty booths which are FILTHY, at this point a waitress walks up to us and my bf asks for a cloth to wipe the table down, she replies "your waitress will be right with you".....well our waitress comes over about 10 minutes later, we still haven't been asked what we want to drink.... we put in our drink order and about 15 minutes later we get them (after overhearing our waitress and the bartender arguing in front of everyone over what the actual order was in the first place). When the drinks are served I'm told I have to wait a few minutes for my corona light, about 20 minutes later I am told that there is in fact no corona light and only corona, i take the corona) We are all fed up and the waitress walks by, my mother proceeds to ask why the two people behind us have their meals when they came in about 20 minutes after we did...the waitress apologizes and asks what she can do, my mother replies....well it would be nice if we could have our food..... In total it took one hour for ANY food to appear, at this point ALL of the food is served at the same time, half of it is cold, my mothers burger was rock hard and she had asked specifically for no bun and of course it comes out with a HUGE roll. that being said i won't be going back any time soon...i blame this on the management as they had two waitress working the day before st Patty's at an IRISH pub & restaurant!!! not only were our appetizers comped but at least 3 tables around us had items off their orders comped as well due to the wait for the food and lack of service.
(2)Ivy C.
great pub. reminded me when i was back in england or scotland. the wooden bar, tables, and stools gave it an extra new england feel. i gotta say i was thoroughly impressed by their scotch whiskey collection. my coworker and i had a macallan 15 (i think, or it might have been 18) and it was decently priced as well. their wall lined with glenfiddich, glenother things, and other whiskeys that i have never heard of. we liked it so much we came back another day to hang out. i had a guiness and black and tan, and they also had different mixtures (though i don't quite remember anymore). i ate there one time and had the stew and it was definitely amazing. usually people go to portland for their lobster rolls, but i would definitely wander into this bar if i were ever to go back again.
(5)Jessica L.
this is an update on my 11/10/10 post about my experience at this restaurant. as mentioned previously, after extremely poor service and an overall poor experience, my credit card was charged twice. after reporting this to the manager he took another two weeks to process the refund. when the refund was processed it was for the incorrect amount (less than what it should have been). i immediately contacted him to point out this error. it took another 14 days and literally 7 phone calls to have the issue rectified. in the end he threw in a few extra dollars for my troubles. this barely covers the amount i was inconvenienced by this establishment.
(1)Joe R.
Great little pub right in the heart of Portland, ME. Warm atmosphere, tons of interesting beer & whiskey to choose from , and helpful staff make this a five star in my book. Don't go to Portland for it, but if you find yourself there, it's probably one of the best places to be.
(5)Rico M.
Great upscale pub (not that upscale, just don't expect a tiny little pub when you go here). Great food. Really good. I was impressed by the fact that they did the shamrock design in the head of a Guinness.
(4)