LFK
188A State St, Portland, ME, 04101
LFK Menu
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Address :
188A State St
Portland, ME, 04101 - Phone (207) 899-3277
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:00 pm - 1:00pm
- Mon : 4:00 pm - 1:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Tue, Thu
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Rachel D.
Solely reviewing LFK as a bar at the moment - I went there this past weekend just for drinks, with friends. My friends and I were worried the waiter might get upset that we were only going to be drinking and hoped for a table. It was close to 9, but you never know. He was totally fine with it and actually helped us make some drink choices. My friend had two of their stouts and a couple of us got the Strawberry Mead (12% alcohol). It was a really relaxing vibe and the interiors were very eclectic with type-writers, small wild flower bouquets, and rustic home decor. I will definitely have to go back to try their food. They have a $5 burger and fries after 10pm that I just wasn't drunk enough to be able to justify eating. The cocktails also looked great, and they have one of my favorite: the lavender mead with sparkling lemonade - and also an elderflower cocktail that sounded pretty great. They also have a cute outside patio if the weather is warm and you want to smoke outside. We were slightly miffed because we had to wait awhile to get the bill, but when we walked up to the bar our waiter came back from his break and said to just give him our cash and cards and he would bill us separately. This was really great because I hate when servers know your party is just drinking and bring you all over a lump bill just because you felt like sitting down at a table instead of fighting for a bar seat or standing around the bar awkwardly. Great job, LFK, and great job waiter whose name I do not know. :)
(4)claire j.
I really want to like this place, but too many strange to full-on bad experiences here prevent that from happening. For the love of god, skip the brunch. It had to have been one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. The server was lame and unprofessional, the food had to be sent back (a burger ordered "rare" was cooked through) and the wait was way too long. At one point, my friend grabbed the salt to put on the potatoes and the top came off and spilled a cup of salt on his plate. The server's reaction? *snicker* "that was kinda funny". Really, bitch? LFK gets points for a good tap list, and yes, they can be a bit IPA heavy, but I see that as a good thing. (Sorry, Emily) They often have really bad music playing, which no tap list can make up for, no matter how good. The food is fairly decent for dinner - the mac & cheese is delicious and I had a GREAT burger there once, but if you can stand snarly and sometimes incompetent waitstaff, bad, loud music and a big crowd, then by all means, go.
(2)AJ P.
Great burgers and great Mac and Cheese Small, but good beer selection. Small, but Cocktail selection. The outside seating area is nice, wish there was more of it. It's really a hipster hotspot that can become overcrowded on busy nights. Service can be slow at times, so don't go if you're in a rush.
(3)Meg K.
Overall, I really liked LFK. The beer list wasn't huge, but they had a nice selection. The cocktails were totally decent (El Cubed was the best one I had), but it's not their strongest point. I had the quiche for brunch and my fiancé had the burger. Quiche was really good. Burger was amazing. Arguably one of the best we've had. It's a great space and doesn't feel crowded, even when it's packed. The bartenders and the waiters were all really friendly. They are almost bizarrely casual, but I really liked it. The place felt comfortable and fun. I agree with what a lot of other reviewers are saying: I get what it's trying to do, but it's not quite there yet. It needs to be more cohesive. In an area where eclectic mis-matched furniture and mason jar glasses are the norm, LFK needs to distinguish itself if its going to survive.
(4)Bruce D.
I love the atmosphere and drinks here a lot and that's what I would recommend coming here for. Many of my friends have eaten here and have come back with sub-par reviews so I figured I'd stop in for a drink while reading my book and grab something small to nibble on. As a crazed charcuterie fan, the cheese plate seemed the perfect accompaniment. Luckily it was served with fruits, nuts and crostini because that cheese was far too pretentious for my pallette. Two (not one but TWO) types of blue cheese and the other, a rank and stank soft cheese. I'm not a fan of blue cheese but tried a bit each, the softer and firmer, both of which tasted exactly as the other - seemed rather redundant. As for the other, I'm a big fan of stanky cheese - the smellier, the better - but this was akin to a thick skin found on top of an old jug of milk then left in the sun until terribly rancid and served "fresh" for your "enjoyment". All my friends (literally every friend I have that has eaten here) have all commented on how pretentious and sub-par the food is and they are all absolutely correct. I love this place for the drinks, atmosphere and crowd which is typically late 20s thru mid 30s. It's warm, comfortable and inviting. But for Christ's sake, don't eat the food!
(4)William A.
Dissapointed. This would have easily been 3-4 stars had we not had to wait an hour and a half for our food. We came for brunch, and won't be coming again. There was one server, busting his ass on a full house. I can't blame him for it taking so long, but this place is mismanaged. I'll never go again for brunch.
(1)S S.
For drinks- 5 stars. Quality of food- probably 4 stars. Service- 1star. Great selection of beer and the neatest hangout. The menu has several delish items-- the Reuben/burgers are great with potato salad, just don't expect anything much less than a clusterfuck while waiting for it to be served to you.
(3)Michael D.
LFK offers an amazing selection of very obscure beers that are tasty. I like the experimental flavor of this place. If you like high quality and hard to find micro brews this place is great....and if you like homemade mac and cheese you should try it here!
(4)Alex F.
It's too bad, this bar could be so awesome if the staff weren't such d-bags. Every time i've gone here it takes me a grand total of 15-20 mins between getting an acknowledgement at the bar and actually getting served. I'm pretty sure the bartenders think they are the nectar of the gods because they sure as shit don't care about getting tips. I went in one night with my wife and we sat down at the bar. The bartender had her back to us for what felt like 15 minutes before she realized we were there. She finally took our order and asked for our ID's. As we were taking our ID's out of our wallets, she leaves to go help someone else and pay their tab. This transaction took well over 10 minutes. This was so infuriating my wife and I left and went next door to Miyake for a drink (where we had just left from having dinner). Wont be back there again, ive had enough
(1)D B.
I've been into LFK 3 times over the last few months, and have nothing to complain about. I see a lot of low marks for service, but I have not experienced any issues while visiting. It should be noted that during two out of my 3 visits I sat at the bar. I've had the burger as well as the Reuben twice now. They are served on the same bun with the same sides. I found both to be fantastic offerings. Burger + Bacon was juicy and delicious. Reuben is piled ridiculously high with meat. If I were to change anything I might shovel a little more kraut in there and take a slice or two of meat off. The potato salad is fantastic and I often hate potato salad. Then there are the scrumptious sour mustard pickles. Last time I went I marched myself down to the public market house and bought a large container full. I'm always impressed with the draft list, and there are some tasty cocktail offerings as well. I've got no mustache nor do my pants taper to expose my calves in anyway and I never felt out of place here so I'm not sure where all the negative hipster sentiment comes from. Maybe I'm not there at the right times?
(4)Jacqueline M.
I have been to this bar a few times, mostly for drinks. Its unabashedly hipster. If you can tolerate the beards, mini-backpacks, and hipster-trendiness of it all, then this is a good bar. My latest venture here was Saturday, late, 11ish, with my girlfriends after a movie let out. I had a bit of a headache, and we had already had beers prior to the movie with dinner, so I wasn't drinking. The waitress, a cool tattooed lady with chunky glasses, saw me waffling about ordering alcohol, and instead suggested ginger beer with club soda. It was brilliant and perfect, and hit the spot, and there was no judgment in not ordering alcohol. I was also hungry, so ordered the roasted cauliflower atop romesco sauce, with a side of greens. The cauliflower and romesco sauce were delicious and really hit the spot. So good. The greens were fresh, but were actually under-dressed, so that was my only complaint. I wouldn't go here when it is hoppin' (9-10:30; 11:30-12:30) because it is just too packed with too cool people and it's too loud. But my favorite time to go to any bar is the off-hours. Also, no TV here which I view as a major plus.
(4)James S.
They carry my favorite double chocalte stout beer. I love the friendly staff and owner. I hear the food is quite great too.
(5)Benzo H.
Pretty substandard hipster decor, complete with terrible rap music no doubt being played ironically. The beer selection is somewhat OK and the food isn't bad... if you can get service. Every time I go here and sit at the bar, the bartender makes a point of acknowledging me and then ignoring me for a long time. Last night at an empty bar the bartender decided that he needed to slice a dozen lemons before wearily asking me if I wanted something. Sorry for inconveniencing you dude.
(1)Emi E.
LFK is a great restaurant to go to if you want to get some food and hang out with some drinks. The community style dining may weird some people out but it's really not that big of a deal. The drinks are really reasonably price and are unique and tasty. I have never had a problem with the service while I was there and the waiters and waitresses are friendly and easy going.
(5)Jay H.
The place was nearly full at 7pm on a Sunday in December. Halfway through my juicy burger I noticed that the other patrons were thrift shop chic, and staring at me from behind thick-framed eyeglasses. They sipped beer from tallboy cans... waiting. The rustle of a plaid shirt at my back alerted me just in time to avoid the outstretched arms of a smallish hipster. He was startled by my sudden movement and sullenly pantomimed lighting a cigarette. "No I don't have any cigarettes," I shouted, "COPD is not cool even in an ironic way!" He made a grab for my pocket, so I boxed his ears. Disoriented, he shambled off to his next target. I continued to power through my burger, and by the time I had finished, the other half of my table had been filled by a group of four. Tables at LFK are communal, meaning you cannot hide from friendly strangers even whilst stuffing your gob. One of the newcomers, an attractive female specimen of a hipster, noticed me bobbing my head along with the music blaring from the sound system. She emitted a low growl that sounded something like "NOT BON IVER". The jig was up. Before you could say "arctic monkeys" the entire room was on its feet shuffling towards me, movement restricted by skinny jeans. I threw some bills down, vaulted over the table and made for the door. Our waiter (who was completely competent and friendly) called thanks for a generous tip as I scattered hipsters like bowling pins and fled into the night. I'm pretty sure I was bitten. Ever since that night I have been plagued by a desire to listen to Vampire Weekend, and to return to LFK for another burger. This is ground zero of the hipsterpocalypse. You've been warned.
(3)Elisabeth A.
I came here when it first opened and immediately fell in love with the aesthetic. I mean, throw some vintage typewriters and antiques in a room and I'm there. Even the bar is decorated with typewriter keys. Pretty neat if you ask me. Having come here a handful of times now I really can't complain about the service. In fact, one of the waitresses is especially attentive and amazing. She was patient with our big group as we slowly made our way through drinks and an appetizer here and there, she constantly refilled our water glasses, AND had a wonderful sense of humor through it all. Big fan of the cocktails and beer selection. Especially love that they carry Crabbie's alcoholic ginger beer. SO good and extra refreshing on a sticky day. The reuben is incredible, great burger, decent mac & cheese, and my BF said the steak was deeelish. Will be going back soon!
(4)Amy D.
LFK's location is perfect in Longfellow Square. I have found that it is a lovely place to grab a beer and their macaroni and cheese is delicious (particularly with Sriracha). The charcuterie plate is also good. Their menu isn't particularly inventive, but the selections they have are comforting and delicious. Overall, in repeat trips to LFK, I've been more impressed than my initial reactions.
(3)Nick F.
I knew I should have stayed away from this place right from the start, but I gave it 10 or so visits from summer through a few weeks ago anyway. This is due to the fact that the food is pretty good, I like the beer selection that changes through out the evening and they are conveniently located for my girlfriend and I. LFK also has a pretentious hipster vibe for those who are into that. The table service here can be pretty wonky at times, but it pales in comparison to the terrible service you will find at the bar. I'm not sure what makes the bar worse, waiting for 10 minutes to be acknowledged or the bar tenders general rude demeanor as if you are bothering them taking a seat at the bar. If you find yourself in this section of town, I highly suggest trying Pai Men, Boda or Local 188.
(1)Rajiv A.
Revisited January 2013: Their food may be good, but their service has not improved since opening. After struggling to make eye contact with the waiter one slow Sunday night, then watching a couple who came in after me be served water and have their orders taken, I walked across the street to a friendly and hospitable Boda. ------------- Previous: [~a dozen visits from July to September 2012] Still a new place, so I hope there will be significant improvement as time goes on. Since I live on the West End, I've been here for drinks or dinner nearly a dozen times over the last few months. Here are my impressions: Drinks: Usually only 1-2 beers of any interest on the list. If you are a serious beer drinker, this is no Novare. I can't attest to their mixed drinks, but there are definitely signs of a geeky intellect behind the beer, wine, and spirits selections. I'm hopeful the beverage program will expand into something less generic and more interesting. Food: LFK has an outstanding menu. The burger is one of the best in portland (due in no small part to the pretzel-bun), and the tacos are juicy, fresh, and bright. There is a keen awareness of balance - savory, sweet, and acidic - in each dish I've had here. Moreover they are pushing the boundaries with occasional specials. Most recently I had a pear cake with blue cheese and black pepper ice cream (fantastic concept, maybe a bit too cheese-heavy, but major props for trying it!). Service: This is currently the major shortcoming of LFK. Sometimes service is great. Sometimes it is extremely slow and disorganized. On the other hand all the servers except one have been extremely friendly and attentive, which makes me think it's something wrong with the system, not the people. (One server was extremely rude and inattentive - I hope she isn't their for long.) Again, I have high hopes that LFK will correct this. Overall: I stay away when it's busy, because service is especially unreliable on crowded nights. On off-nights I'll stop in solo for a burger. With friends I tend to gravitate towards Boda because service and chance of seating are much more reliable there.
(2)Katherine L.
The open seating environment makes this is a great venue for groups (small or large). The food is very good. The decor is unique and fun (typewriters and books abound). During the day, it has a funky coffee-house feel (although I don't think they actually serve a lot of coffee - it just has that kind of relaxing, artistic ambiance). During the evening, it comes alive with all types and ages of people. It can get pretty busy, but the wait is generally worth it. All in all, this is a place worth exploring.
(5)Tim G.
Meh. The space is certainly nice, though with a bit too much of the "too cool for school" hipster vibe. Many thick glasses and skinny jeans. The shapely waitress (Server ID: 5) was very friendly, and busty, though my Negroni was sub par. Way too much gin for a drink that is supposed to be equal parts. Very disappointing. It's a damn simple recipe. For $8, I expect that you'd know a common drink, especially one with equal proportions of three ingredients. There's a communal table situation which is just plain awkward for everyone involved. It's not a German beer hall... people want to some modicum of privacy in a cocktail bar. It's New England: not a hippie commune. I might give them another try, but not for awhile. If you're looking for a good cocktail, go across the street to Local 188 where they know what they're doing.
(2)Sara O.
I have been wanting to try this place because it's not far from where we live and every time I drive by, it looks hopping! Although I have been a little hesitant to check it out because it seemed overly hipster.. and possibly "too cool"... and too crowded! But I had a Living Social coupon which was a good excuse to go. I was pleasantly surprised by my first time there tonight. We went in around 6:45/7pm (Thursday) and there were a number of places to seat... and it was definitely not overly hipster or pretentious. It was quite nice. Beautiful large windows and a nice overall vibe. I splurged on a bubbly beverage (the prosecco cocktail) and was not disappointed. And let me just say, the cheeseburger (we had it with pimento cheese) was OUT OF THIS WORLD delicious!!! Wow... I haven't had a burger that good in quite some time. Very juicy and just all the flavors, whatever they were, melded together... oh, and the pretzel bun was a nice touch. The German potato salad that comes as a side was also excellent (and the pickle too), although I would have liked a slighly more generous scoop of the potato salad. All around, it was a very pleasant and delicious evening. I will definitely go back.
(5)Jason P.
OMG OMG OMG!!! This place serves up a mean Baltic Porter (Bull Jagger) and has also nailed cooking. I went in on a cold day, and after reading the description, I had to try the bacon wrapped meatloaf...WOW!!!!!!! It was so good I consumed nearly the whole thing...even though others may have been able to share this entree which came with killer mashed potatoes. I got an order of the bacon (you probably see a theme here) mac-n-cheese. Wholly Mac-a-molly... THIS IS THE BEST MAC I HAVE EVER TRIED. We tried to get it later in our trip but they don't open till 4pm and we had other plans. Do yourself a favor and try this place. I liked the ambiance as well, but it wasn't crowded.
(5)Lindsey L.
I'll start with the negatives: The service is a 2 if you sit at a table, 3 at the bar. The vibe may be too hipster for some. The positives: Though I've only tried one food item on the menu, the veggie burger, it is tasty enough to order over and over again. The pretzel bun makes it. The constantly changing beer list is solid. Walking out after one too many 7.3% Green Flash IPAs happens more often than I'd like to admit. This place is worth a visit.
(3)Jennifer K.
I had been to LFK before in the evening for small plates and drinks and left feeling like it was a good experience. The brunch scene, unfortunately, was not at all as pleasant. Multiple staff couldn't answer basic questions about the menu, service was terrible (had to ask for drinks twice, utensils to be able to eat, and the waiter never asked how we liked our meal once - maybe too busy sitting on the couch). If they had been busy it would have been bad but understandable. With only two other parties in the whole place there was no excuse. To make it worse, the food was way subpar. We left feeling grateful all we lost was the price of the living social coupon. Save your money and go somewhere else. Portland is full of awesome brunch sites - this is not one of them.
(1)Emily L.
I'm seeing all of the reviews and I didn't think this bar was a paramount of bartender dickheadery as everyone is saying. Maybe that's because I live in Portland, OR where all restaurant and bar service is notoriously bad, but still.....I thought this place was kind of a dandy! (Please accompany that last word with a British accent and an enthusiastic knee slap.) After some bar closings, etc. I think Portland, ME needed a new cool hipster bar, and this place answers that call. It was formerly a really cool old bookstore that, in my 24 years of living in Maine, somehow always wanted to, but never visited......but now that it serves booze and has been open for 3 seconds, I was all over it. The decor is amazing- -they really transformed that space, plus it's outside of the immediate downtown bar block, so you don't have 21 year old girls puking on your shoes and belligerant frat guys trying to not-so-surreptitiously fight you and your mom while you're walking back from a nice dinner. The food menu is creative and well-done, and you can see into the kitchen which I like, because then you can make sure that if the cooks are having a bad night or fighting the the waitstaff, your food doesn't wind up in the crossfire and find itself intentionally peppered with DNA. Hepatitis is a fun word to say, but that's where the buck stops. Per usual, since I'll drink anything, I gave the bartenders a really obscurely vague drink order request...."I want something clean and not fizzy" or "I'm feeling stressed out" or "anything but gin." If people can take my interpretive dance of a drink order and manifest something delicious (not drinkable, but actually good), then you've basically been initiated into my own personal non-existent, made up, pseudo schizophrenic group that exists only in my head, the Booze Knights of the Roundtable.....who bravely defend good bartending and mixology. The two bartenders that were working when I paid my visit were familiar faces in the Portland bar scene (for an old booze bag like me who's been at it for a while). The ginger gent used to work at Gritty's and then at the now-defunct White Heart. The giant of a man bartended at the similarly-defunct Havana Club (Havana's?), or whatever the hell it was called. And that concludes your Portland bartender biography of those two. I'm not really sure how to end this review. So I'll end it abruptly. Right. Now.
(5)Susie Q.
Although I don't want to battle people for my favorite seat at the bar, I encourage all to check out LFK. I do not get a certain vibe of "hipsters"; instead, the patrons appear to be the great mix of people that are unique to the West End. I don't know of another place like it in Portland. There are some board games and cards in the back and if you spy a book you'd like to read, they'll let you borrow it (at least that's what I've heard). Based on the other reviews: 1) bathroom door locks 2) burger is devine! Mushroom stew is incredibly hearty Also try Mac and cheese. Cheese plate is surprisingly filling. Skip the bar kibbles. 3) exceptional bartender and waitress service: made a fantastic old fashioned and had spot on beer/wine recommendations. 4) no problem with tab / credit cards Bartender(s) and waitress were friendly and welcoming to all who came in. I like service that lets you enjoy your time without being pushy. Very attentive when more drinks or something else needed. Atmosphere was perfect. Highly recommend to at least go in and check out for a drink.
(5)Nathan K.
I have come here for drinks several times and always had an completely unremarkable but satisfactory experience. The place is centrally located and at the times when I go meet people for drinks (e.g. not weekend nights) it's not busy. The service is always mediocre with the entire staff appearing to think themselves far too cool to be working there. The place gives off such a vibe of hipster smugness that this has never surprised me, but it's never impressed me or made me eager to return. However, the two times I've eaten here were bad. One experience, a while back, was just your standard 'meh.' Given the look and feel of the place, the first time I went in expecting little. The cheese plate I ordered was meager and unimaginative. Brunch today, however, was just a total disaster. We were looking for a place to grab brunch in a bit of a hurry. LFK is one of few places in town I'd not yet tried for brunch, and there were very few people in there, so I thought this was as good a time as any to give it a try. Let's start with the service: slow and unenthusiastic. The bartender was absurdly loud, taking multiple opportunities to scream to the kitchen at full volume when it was completely unnecessary (because he was standing right in front of the kitchen while screaming). Our server was pleasant enough, but not at all attentive. Never once asked how our food was. Took our credit card after we said we were in a rush and then went and did a bunch of other tasks before processing our check. To her credit this may be because she was, apparently, the only person actually serving the tables. There were, however, two other servers there, bustling about with just the most sour looks on their faces. I'm not one normally bothered by such things, but they seriously looked so unhappy to be there that it made ME unhappy to be there. Then there was the food. The burger... it wasn't a burger. It was a slider. It was a tiny hunk of meat that was completely overcooked. Two burgers were ordered medium and arrived with not a hint of pink between them. They amount of cheese that came on them suggested that it was meant to compliment a full-size burger, but because the patty was so small, it just made a mess everywhere. The roasted potatoes were limp, soggy and grey and I don't think whatever was done to them could be in any way defined as roasting. A side of greens was a sad, dull grey/green and tasted like it had simply been boiled in vinegar. The poached eggs were cooked all the way through (yolks were almost totally solid) and served cold, despite arriving five minutes before the rest of the food. This sad spread took a half an hour to arrive at our table with almost no one in the place. The quality and speed of the food may have been affected by the fact that the cook spent half the time we were there checking his phone in full view of the restaurant. Finally the prices... the tiny slider-sized burger was $13. I can think of three different restaurants in walking distance of LFK where I could get a burger at least twice the size, and with far better sides, for less money. The overcooked eggs were $4. I can get a perfectly executed breakfast sandwich at half a dozen place for that price. Can't say I'll ever go back to this place unless I hear of a huge change in management and/or staffing.
(1)lyndsey F.
Listen, I'm a simple girl with simple desires. I like gin in my gimlets and service with a smile. Or not even a smile, but something a little more positive than what I received last night. I was so excited to hear about this place. Cocktails in coupes, which is my preference of stemware, sounded promising. Old books, typewriters, gothic fonts, I dig it all. And the interior is great. It's beautiful albeit with tons of wasted space. The communal tables are fine, but kind of annoying when there is a couple at your communal table groping each other. I would also recommend bathrooms that lock. Just a suggestion, although it may not be hip enough for these guys. There is probably a camera at the bathroom to film awkward altercations that result from no locks. What really bothered me was the service. I will drink a subpar gimlet, especially served in a coupe, but not if you make me feel bad about ordering it. If you are lauding yourself as some kind of nuvo apothicarian prohibition situation, you need to be okay when someone asks for a cocktail and not a bottled beer. The two manchilds behind the bar were rude and obnoxious and it felt like the customers were really ruining their day by being there and ordering drinks. Guess what guys? It's a small town. 8.5 for a cocktail in Portland is on the pricier side. Will I pay it? OF COURSE. But I'd rather drink it somewhere that they are happy to serve it to me. So maybe I'm just getting old and can't appreciate hip for hipness' sake, but I would say go somewhere else. There's nothing to see here. xoxo lcf
(1)Colin R.
Comfy, dark, friendly, good taps, LFK hits my check list for what I look for in a bar, and so it's become a go-to of mine. While their tap list is far from the biggest in town, I'm consistently impressed by it. It balances some solid local beers, with an ever changing selection of out-of-towners. They seem to usually be pouring at least one good german beer, which is unusual around these part, and much appreciated by me. Their burger is a late night stand by, one of the best in town. Portions aren't huge, but it satisfies. Definitely worth checking out if you haven't yet.
(4)J M.
Knights of the roundtable rejoice ye! I will pile on with the 'gorgeous room' trend by saying..I love the space. Open. Vaulted. Inviting. Small/semi open kitchen in back with some old school salamader broilers that caught my eye. I was here for burger, and man.. burger I did receive. We were not greeted by stuck up bartenders, but instead a very friendly, accommodating Melvins fan who made sure to compliment my choice of band shirt. Ordered a few of what I read as being their 'specialties' (pimento cheese burger, wings, mac n cheese and the crab & corn salad). Ordered a few of their house 'LFK' cocktails and settled in for a trendy, comfortable and overall excellent experience. Drinks were great..brown booze goodness. Food arrived in time with the glow of the cocktails..steaming hot crock of bacony mac n cheese and a small delectable pile of wings..I believe they were a hoison marinade with a nice spicy finish. The mac n cheese was LOADED with bacon and the battle of the forks ensued to get at the last bits..the burger and salad arrived as we were finishing licking the shit out of our fingers. Perfectly cooked medium rare..fresh and with a healthy (okay, not so healthy) dollop of pimento cheese. Good lawd..grilled meat heaven atop a pretzel roll. Yes, that's right, a friggin pretzel roll??!I wanted to bring this thing home and make sweet love to it. I opted to devour it. The crab salad was sampled and nice and light and delicious, but by this point 'nice and light' was out the window. Hearty, delicious, trendy take on some of my favorite versions of bar staples.
(5)Nathan T.
After running the Old Port Half Marathon (awesome!) in Portland, I went out with friends in search of a nearby restaurant serving brunch on Sunday around 10:30am. I figured we would be way out of luck - that's primetime brunching hour, no? When we got to Longfellow square, we discovered LFK - that had a big banner outside announcing it was serving brunch. Sweet! We entered and that's where the strangeness ensued. Upon entering, we didn't quite know what to do - there was nobody seated in the restaurant, no sign telling us if we should wait for a host/hostess or just grab a table. After a few awkward moments some guy reading a newspaper at the bar (the bartender? The owner) shouted out "hey, you guys have been here before - you know the drill" - to which I thought, actually no. I've never been here before. I don't know the drill. Man, do you have to make me WORK for my food? After another moment of awkwardness he shouted out "just grab any table." Okay, that we could do. So we did. After some time had passed, along came a hipster waiter/bartender with menus. This being a friendly type of bar/lounge/restaurant (or so I gather) he sat right down with us and proceeded to give us the dish on the menu. Nice tats, pretty enough - we didn't mind a little informality. When he asked us if we wanted anything to drink, we ordered coffee. When I asked if I could have milk instead of cream, the waiter looked like I was from another planet. "Actually, I don't think so" was his reply. I'm to gather they don't have milk in a restaurant that serves brunch? Whatever! I told him black would be fine. When he brought the coffee over in tin camping-style cups, he warned us that the metal would be excruciatingly hot and that we'd best grab the cups by the handles or risk injury. We appreciated the warning and the element of danger added to the novelty. I ordered the granola, fresh fruit and Greek yogurt for brunch - hey, I'd just run over 13 miles, I wasn't exactly hungry or in the mood for a heavy meal. I made a request for no cantaloupe (I despise the stuff) and was told it wouldn't be a problem. My friends ordered the eggs Benedict and some sort of cheesy, meatless quiche. They also ordered a few cocktails, which turned out to be a smart move as the food took a little while to get to the table. When it did arrive, I was less than enthused by my granola. Look, I'm not expecting the most AMAZING granola and yogurt when I go out to eat, but if you're going to have something on your menu, at least TRY to make it special. This was like someone opened a container of yogurt, slapped some in a bowl, tossed a few blueberries, apple bits and tons of melon on it, sprinkled it SO VERY LIGHTLY with granola and called it a day. For nine bucks. Nine bucks for this? Thankfully the egg dishes my friends ordered were reported as tasty. So we ate. And then the waiting really began. I don't know about you, but I can't stand waiting around for a waiter to collect plates/leave a check after eating. After about 10 minutes of us sitting at the table, we finally flagged our waiter as he passed by and asked for the check. Soon we were on our merry way - my friends relatively pleased with the drinks and food, me wanting to stop for some fresh fruit so I could make a better yogurt snack when we got back to the apartment. All in all this place was fine. But it needs some work.
(2)TJ S.
I love reviewing these types of places that are so close, yet so actually far away from being correct. Classic example of those in the scene in Portland getting away with murder. At first glance you think, "ok, maybe an actual cool spot (rare in Portland), good lighting, some money went into this, good layout, standard menu, nice bar..." and then it sets in,,, Oh right, The Details. As with any scene, most of them were actually over a while ago, and you're left wondering, "why is there a decorative leather jacket hung up on the wall? How is this unattentive bartender making atrocious cocktails and yet is extremely popular?" Then you realize my server's entire demeanor exudes, "I'm a 10" (yeah, she thinks like that) but is actually a 6 (yak! to me), and you spot a manager (owner?) that you can tell is micromanaging and doing nothing all at the same time. Barf. Being so close and yet so far makes you a one star instead of a two because you think you're cool and your not. I hope you enjoy serving overpriced crap to people who don't give a damn and a fooled. I'm sorry but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. PS - If you think this place is filled with hipster's you have no idea what a hipster is. Any hey, the kid's are alright.
(1)Jessie L.
The place is new so yes, kinks to work out and I would love to see a cocktail menu (I am told is in development) but this place has become my new favorite and I will most likely be a regular. Oddly enough, it is difficult to make my weird martini request with perfection, but they nailed it. I have tried several dishes and each one is both accessible yet unique and interesting. The LFK burger is amazing. So theres that. Call me shallow but I like my bartenders to be attractive, both the guys and the ladies and this is another bonus. Eye-candy is essential. I may have been drinking that strong martini but, whatever, it's all good. More importantly, everyone is extremely friendly and happy. Yay! On the decor: interesting, dark, typewriters, books! What I'd not to love! The atmosphere is amazing. Overall, the place is classy yet unpretentious.
(5)Alli H.
Whenever I am in Portland, LFK is my go-to spot. Great ambiance, excellent beer selection, and hands down the best veggie burger in the United States.
(5)Wendell L.
When LFK rose up and filled a gaping hole in the Portland bar scene, it was not after taking Viagra and calling a number found in the back pages of the Phoenix. Nor was it after dinner and a movie. It followed a long night of drinking whiskey, discussing the dirty parts of Henry Miller, and a half-pack of cigarettes. There was undoubtedly more in there, but it's all a bit blurry. As far as I remember, though, it was unmistakably hot. I love this bar as much for what it isn't and what you won't find there as I do for what it is and what it offers. You won't find the game on. You won't find french fries or their tawdry cousin ketchup. You are very unlikely to find a lad wearing his baseball cap backwards or worse, at a ten degree angle. And sometimes, as mentioned in various other reviews, you won't find your server when you want to, but it's really not as much of an issue as some would lead you to believe. "So, Wendell," you say, "you have told us what LFK is not. Tell us what it is." Stop being so bossy and go find out for yourself.
(4)Jess S.
Went here for brunch on a Living Social deal. It's not a place I would normally visit, but my husband and I were impressed. I had a breakfast sandwich and he had a burger, both of which were hande made and very tasty. The drink menu was also impressive. Their strength seems to be cocktails more than anything else, though, and they have a pretty creative list. I had a Screaming Phoenix (tequila, OJ, pineapple and strawberry puree) and was very happy.
(5)Jimmy G.
This place was just OK. Seating is weird. Way overpriced.
(2)Taylor P A.
Multiple vegetarian options, great tap list of local and full bar selections. But the space is unhygienic-the windows are always dripping with steam or sweat (???) and the place is always dark and smelly. Good place but not great!
(3)K M.
I've been to LFK a handful of times but only after today did I feel the need to yelp about it. Unfortunately a 4-5 star dinner was brought down to a 2 (that's generous) from a recent brunch experience. The Positives: - the music - the bar - dinner: especially the tempeh tacos, mac n cheese, and beet salad - chill spot if you're planning on being there for a few hours (not recommended if you're in a rush) The Negatives (all from brunch): - The brunch menu is weird and overpriced. A $7 breakfast sandwich is overpriced to begin with (I don't care if it's on a bun from Big Sky), but especially since it doesn't include ANY sides. For an ADDITIONAL 3 DOLLARS you can get a small (and I mean SMALL) side of potatoes. I finished them in 2 small bites, I am not exaggerating. It was laughable how few potatoes you get for $3. LFK should take a hint from any other brunch place on the planet - potatoes should be included. - They had a bunch of "sides" which were ridiculously overpriced. $2 for a piece of toast? $2 for apricot jam? What if you wanted a piece of toast with apricot jam on it - would that cost $4? Apparently. Peanut butter costs $2 too. Seriously? You can get 2 jars for that price. - SLOW service (thankfully we really had no where to be). It literally took 20 minutes to get the check. - The service was SO SLOW that the couple sitting next to us ended up walking out after waiting 30-45 for their breakfast sandwiches that never arrived. They seemed honked off, especially since it seemed like they were being intentionally ignored by the waitress. Sorry, LFK, but you need to work the kinks out and maybe adjust the pricing on some of the brunch menu items. My meal was not worth the $10, especially since I felt like I needed a second brunch after we left (2 hours after arriving). In the meantime, I'll be heading to Pai Men, Local 188, or Hot Suppa.
(2)Christi S.
Best Mac n Cheese! Will definitely come back!
(4)Mary L.
Decided to try LFK because my boyfriends roommate had liked it. We're always down for trying new places. First off they had a tiny menu and no drink menu. They didn't have a great selection of local beer either. We were hungry so we desperately tried to pick something. Ultimately we just ordered two beers. We wanted another but waited for about 45 minutes for the waiter to even look in our direction. As we waited for our second beers a couple sat down, had food and two drinks! We were appalled so we paid and left.
(1)Brooke C.
Good for drinks but lame and bland for dinner.
(3)Corissa P.
This place is about a 5 minute walk from my house, and I could not ask for a better place to have a good, affordable beer and relax. WIth the shelves of books, the scattered typewriters, and the jokes from the long-bearded bartender, this place has become a regular spot for me. I adore the seating and the old feel of the venue. I can't wait for the record machine to work! I love LFK and I'll be supporting it for years to come.
(5)Jay M.
Another Congress Street Hipster Spot. Loved the Ambiance, the decor, the old typewriters and typewriter keys adjourning the bar trim. Drink list and the drinks themselves were not that great. Meat and Cheese plate was small and overpriced, Pulled Pork tacos were tasty and inexpensive. But they were out of my first two choices at 8 pm on a Thursday. In the immortal words of Longfellow "a boys will is the winds will". This place will be around even after the Hipster Fad has passed. Just need to improve their cocktail list and add a few more food choices.
(2)Lindsay L.
I love this place, it's cozy and you wouldn't mind talking to any of the other patrons. Good beer/wine selection, yummy snacks. I haven't *loved* the cocktails I've had, and found them a bit pricey for what they were, but i'm going to keep trying them. Best: veggie burger, beet salad, Cornish meat pasty, bacon potato salad Avoid: crab salad, meat burger (too salty!)
(4)Timothy D.
I dig it, but it isn't the cheapest, that's for sure. Mac and cheese is delicious, as is the Reuben. Beers are 'spensive, at five bucks for the least expensive, usually
(4)Melissa A.
Service was great, but we sat at the bar, so I can't comment on waitstaff. Bartender was very attentive and friendly. Bar stools very comfy. Mac and Cheese and wings were both very good. I will be back for the mac+cheese alone. Nice selection of beer and wine.
(4)Abby D.
Expanded menu & a price increase & worsening service every visit makes this my ex-fave place on Portland.
(2)sarah s.
I've been excited for this place to open since I heard, months ago, that it was going to be a bar with a "bookstore vibe." It kind of lives up to that, but regardless, it is a great space. The huge window in the front and really high ceilings make for a super inviting space to get some work done or hang out with friends. People were randomly typing on old typewriters. I like the community table seating situation, and there are also some couches/lounges back by the bookshelves. They've only been open for two days so definitely still some kinks to work out (e.g., the server needs to learn the menu/beers!), but overall it was a good experience. There are a lot of vegan options on their menu, even though it's rather limited. I had the potato salad and it was super delicious and only $5.
(4)Lizzie P.
The food is pretty good (but heavy), but come for a drink. The service is kind of off, though, depending on who you get. We've had a super sweet jokey dude and a hipster nightmare who made us walk out and go to Boda (not unlike another reviewer here)...
(3)Anne O.
We went to LFK because I had a Living Social coupon. I thought it would be standard pub fare. Boy was I wrong. The food was amazing. in order to taste a variety of food, we split three different dishes The waiter recommended the mac and cheese. This was "the best" macaroni and cheese I have ever eaten. We also had the crab and corn salad, and a Reuben sandwich, all of which were creative and delicious. The seating is communal. I am not a big fan of that, and obviously neither were several couples that I saw come and go. If I were the owners, I would get rid of the big tables, put in lots of smaller ones, and then watch my business improve. This restaurant is a little gem.
(4)Jay F.
My girlfriend went there first with her friend. Her friend was double charged on her credit card. My girlfriend and I went last night. For one the atmosphere is super pretentious, the employees smack of artists that are too cool to be working in a bar. The bartender literally ignored us and when I asked for a slice of lemon he grunted and grudgingly gave me one. I might add that we were 2 among 7 people are the bar and the entire place was about 1/5 full... so it's not like it was busy. I could cut him some slack if it were. Next on to the food. We ordered lamb on a pita and from what I can it was meatballs and marina. When we finished that and my beer was empty I had to pretty much hold it in the air before the bartender even looked at me and asked if I wanted another. He did so in a "I don't have time for this" kind of matter. As if all of this terrible service wasn't enough, my girlfriend and I gave him 2 credit cards and asked that he put mine on one and her's on the other, we gave him specific amounts to put on each... well guess what? We got home and realized he charged her the entire amount. I'm pretty sure you should be able to use a credit card machine if you are working anywhere that accepts credit, not to mention this happened twice, once to her friend and once to us. Luckily we didn't give any tip. Suffce to say, I do not recommend this place. Horrible on all accounts. I will not be going back, let's hope it goes out of business and someone that knows how to run a bar/restaurant buys it.
(1)Abby A.
After coming here only one time before this winter (got the spiked and spiced hot cider... SO good!), I decided to give LFK another try last night to see what the summer vibe was like. Like my first LFK experience, the cocktails were great, and I loved the chill and funky atmosphere. I ordered food here for the first time last night: I ordered the tempeh tacos (yay creative vegetarian options!), and my date got the reuben sandwich and deviled eggs. Every dish was great and very reasonably priced. This place deserves more than just the 3.5 star average on its Yelp page! It was pretty excellent food for bar food. If you're eating at LFK, you are looking for a certain kind of price-point and a certain kind of meal--you're not looking to go to Petite Jacqueline next door. Anyway, the food was delicious, we didn't have to wait very long, and we were very happy patrons of this fine establishment.
(4)Sherene A.
Cute little neighborhood watering hole. VERY nice bar. Bartenders always seem a little swamped at all times---but are incredibly nice. They have a solid alcoholic ginger beer that I recommend: Crabbie's. It's a good hop away from our sushi spot, and they offer vegan specials, desserts and A menu that I wouldn't frown on. You'll see a good mix of age groups---which thank god for that. Spring special: watermelon shaved ice.
(4)Tony W.
Wow, so much hate for such a cozy, well-designed bar. It seems that 'hipster' has morphed into a pejorative term that broadly embodies anything that falls into realm of being excessively obscure or niche, artistic, detailed, egocentric, superficial, 'subversively' trendy, or weirdly socially conscious. We now use this term to describe almost everything that deviates from the prefabricated mainstream, and it's become such a tired trope. If my choices are between that and the '2 for $20' deal at Appleby's or 'unlimited breadsticks' at Olive Garden, then I'll choose hipster any day of the week. Feel free to move from Portland, ME to Bloomington, MN (home of the 'Mall of 'Merica) in your Dodge Stratus if you disagree. I like that LFK honors literature. This is the former home of Cunningham books, and so I imagine that coupled with HW Longfellow himself (portrait on the wall) is how they've arrived at their cryptic name (in some way) and theme. I like that it's a very darkly-lit and intimate place. And I've had great conversations with complete strangers here. I like the recurring typewriter theme. From the typewriter in the back to the wrought iron (?) block type letters that wrap around the bar, it give LFK a very artistic feel; someone has certainly put a little thought into this place. I like their strong a** mulled cider drinks. Wow. I feel like it might be 4 parks whiskey to 1 part cider. Keep 'em coming. And then please call me a cab. I also like their taps - other reviewers mentioned that they were mostly IPAs, but that was not the case when I ordered. I found them to be quite diverse. Two out of the three times I've had great bar service. One of the bartenders (who resembles what I imagine Henry Rollins looked like 25 years ago) was extremely chatty and friendly, and shared a few of his infused cherries with us. Very helpful with the drink menu as well. There is another gentleman who seems very ambivalent to providing customer service, and so it took us about 5+ minutes to get our drink order in. Hence the 4 star review. I find this to be a great place to grab a drink before a reservation at Petit Jacqueline, Pan Men Miyake, or whatever other restaurant happens to be nearby. I haven't tried the food because of the wealth of options nearby, but I plan to one of these days. If you hate this place because they use crates for tables, or because they use typewriters as decorations, or because they have clipboards for menus, then what are you really looking for in a local (read: non-chain) place if not for these distinct, personalized touches? If this place is too 'hipster' for you, don't worry - I believe there's a 7-11 or a McDonald's nearby.
(4)Kylie D.
Hmmm... LFK must not have left a very big impression on me because until a few minutes ago, I'd forgotten I'd been there! I have a terrible memory so maybe this is just par for the course but in thinking about it, I'd say that my visit to LFK was pretty unremarkable - except for the nice company and friendly but disappearing bartender. My friend and I went to LFK during Happy Hour but at LFK, there is no happy hour. How disappointing. Am I mistaken in thinking that most places in Portland have at least a couple of happy hour specials? In any case, my friend and I were having dinner next door so we just stopped in for a drink. I went with a beer (a rarity for me) and my friend had a mulled cider with a very generous shot of whiskey which he seemed to love. All in all not a bad experience, just not a standout for me.
(3)Becky M.
LKF seems to have lost its appeal to me. The last few times I've been, I wasn't impressed. The bar is still inviting, and comfortable. Great drink selection, and they make a perfect hot toddy. The food quality seems to be diminishing, as well as the menu... They had a fantastic beet salad that I loved, but it is gone. The mac and cheese is now very greasy. The black bean hummus I loved is now $14?!? For HUMMUS?? Its chickpeas! There is also an obnoxious waiter, that always puts on a show. He may think it is charming, but I literally dread having him walk over to the table. Its just uncomfortable to "talk" to him. Sill a good place to catch a drink when its not overly crowded, and that server isn't there...
(2)Brian G.
The hipster vibe here is hilariously off-the-charts. Should IFC ever create an east coast version of Portlandia, this would be the main production set. It's the type of vibe where you expect to see the bartenders to spin 7-inch vinyl exclusively - and of course, only from artists that press their own records. I generally dress like a yuppie when i go out but share a lot of the musical and entertainment tastes with the hipster crowd, so I don't feel totally out of place here. Once the bartenders realize you can speak their language, they warm up a bit, even though they clearly disapproved of my wardrobe. And they have a very solid beer list. I discovered a couple of new ones here on my last visit that I was very excited about. Food wise, the menu is light but what they do make is quite good. The burger is easily among the juiciest I've had. not sure how they do it, but they've ruined me for burgers elsewhere in the city. The apps we got were very good as well...I remember some sort of hummus plate, whatever - it was good, just overshadowed by the main event. By mid-way through the meal, I found myself enjoying the company of the bartenders, talking beer and music. The guy even smiled and said thanks when he noticed the tip I left upon signing out. Nice! As for the clientele...are you man/woman enough to handle an overload of ironic black rim glasses and Alf shirts? Can you stomach watching a sea of unkempt beards in mesh trucker hats reading Hardy Boys books as they sip from pounder cans of Hamm's (because PBR is too mainstream now - gotta pick an even crappier beer to be legit.) Then don't be frightened. If you catch them glaring at you, glare right back with greater force, or better yet, say hello - they'll look away so you can go back to enjoying the hilarity of it all, along with some good food and beer.
(4)Rebecca P.
A perfectly fine place to grab a drink, though seats are hard to come by on the weekend even when it's freezing out. I love the cool typewriter bar and old typewriters sitting on the window sills. And, I like the mixed crowd--some hipsters, some hippies, some older run-of-the-mill folks who just want to hang out and don't make assumptions about a place by the "types" there. Like a Universalist Unitarian church, all are welcome. Bottom line: Sure, why not.
(3)Len A.
I went to get a burger on a recommendation by a friend. Small little corner bar ( I don't drink) but the burger was unreal. It was way better than I anticipated and great little side of potatoe salad. A little pricey but well worth it. I didn't try anything else but if in the area need to check it out.
(5)Charles W.
LFK you are so bipolar! At night you are a hipster's wet dream, a place where you can get a great craft beer that that so few people have heard of (and then openly hate the crowd the next week when you see other people drinking that beer). The space is pretty large, it was a former bookstore (cunningham books I believe) and open. Funky tables and chairs that do not match and large tables that encourage communal seating. That have a sweet looking bar. I came to LFK with my living social in hand to try their brunch. First started with their rum and juice drink. A good ratio of rum and juice (which was grapefruit-y). It was a large pint glass and very tasty and I was happy that it was not too sweet as some morning drinks can be. I then had a their house made hash. WARNING! This hash could be better than Hot Suppa's! (Looks over my back to make sure I am not being attacked by an angry mob) I know what I am saying is crazy talk but look at the picture that is attached. Large tender cooked potatoes, trio of onions and colorful peppers, a corn beef hash that has been soaking in a brine. A perfectly poached egg sitting on top so that when you poke it open that bright yellow yolk drips down and covers the hash. And just to make sure you are full two large slices of Rosemont's bread thick cut to wipe up everything that is left over. They offer this in a small or large size. I got the small and it was a perfect portion size. I felt very full afterwards. Girlfriend ordered the french toast. Granted this is a person that never eats french toast because of soggy factor, she thought this was one of the best. Two very large pieces of bread that had been cooked great and went light on the egg wash as bread still had some crunch in it versus the soggy stuff you see so often. The service at first was great. I would assume that it was because we were the only people in there at 11:00 AM. It started to pick up after about and hour and took awhile to get our check but I think they only had one waiter working. LFK has some great food. They have a small menu but that makes it better as they work on making a few things great versus a large out of control menu. Continue to wait in lines for Hot Suppa or Local 188 (great places not hating on them) But if you want to sit down and have breakfast walk around the corner on Congress Street and LFK is there.
(4)Emmie N.
If you're night blind, afraid of communal seating, or have a severe allergy to plaid, this place is not for you. For me, this Longfellow-themed haunt blends just the right amount of close proximity hipster mingling with a creative menu of tasty bites and flavorful drinks. My first few visits to LFK I got the same things, the West End Mule (like a Moscow mule but with whiskey), and the deviled eggs (my favorite food). I liked these things so much that I had a hard time branching out and trying some of the other unique menu options, but I was glad when I did. You'll be constantly surprised by smart splashes of whimsy and culture at LFK, like the cats flying planes painted on the women's bathroom wall, or the typewriter keys spelling out a Longfellow quote along the edge of the bar. Servers are friendly, and you might even be lucky enough to find a drink named after your favorite band's best album; as I did when I discovered the Surfer Rosa on the menu, a strawberry mojito type of cocktail named for a great Pixies album. Choosing from the limited but eclectic menu is as tricky as choosing just one colorful gift to unwrap on your birthday. From curated cheese and charcuterie plates to jerk chicken tacos, to deviled eggs, you're more likely to find something you've been craving than anything traditional or expected. Whether you're with a few friends or just alone and hungry, LFK is a great choice!
(4)Emily N.
One, this was probably the hipster-est decor ever. Like, it made me instantly hate the place. Why are there so many typewriters everywhere? Why is everything single thing brought to you on a clipboard? This table is a crate - for chickens to roost in! I can't sit at this table crate. Two, they mainly had IPAs on tap. Three, like everyone says... worst service ever. Girl took forever, then took longer.
(1)Matthew B.
Maybe I'm too emotionally involved to write this review. I remember living with my ex on Pine St. several years ago and frequenting the little book shop on the corner of State and Pine. Ah, f*ck it, now I'm chomping down on burgers and slurping down beers instead of buying books. Don't expect fine dining, but the food is good. The grass fed burger on a Rosemont Bakery pretzel bun was tasty for sure. It's got very informal seating / structure. As long as you're fine with that I imagine you'll have a good time. I'm hesitant to tell you about the cozy basement style couch in the back because I live so close to LFK and I get sad when it's not free for me to sit on.
(4)Nichole C.
Love this neighborhood resto/pub. Dark relaxing atmosphere...delicious made to order food with a variety of healthy choices AND comfort food. On this -1 degree blustery night I went for both. Hot toddy to warm the soul, black bean hummus with crudités for a light bite and...homemade chocolate pecan ice cream with freshly baked molten chocolate chip cookies for dessert (comfort). Perfection. The service was warm and prompt, and most of all unpretentious! (Which portland needs to work on city wide). Prices great. Food fresh and tasty. I also love the lack of host and the communal seating, it just makes things effortless. Sometimes you need that without sacrificing quality. Try it!
(5)Mike S.
Something just makes me want more. Don't get me wrong, I like LFK a lot. The burgers are always great as are the specials. The beer selection is always unique and tasty and I enjoy the rotating taps. I think it is just that the everything just comes up a hair short. The food is always just a hair smaller than I want, the beer selection is always just a hair smaller than I wish (and three times now I come in and find out the keg of what I want to try is kicked. The space is small and often packed too. I want to give it 3.5 stars.
(3)John R.
Really underwhelming and slightly overpriced food that took forever to arrive to the table. Service was ok. My entree was bland. My lemonade didn't taste very good.
(2)Fella ..
Why is redhead ponytail extremely inattentive bartender guy always bloody? Get rid of this guy!
(1)Chris P.
This place is exceptional, uniquely Portland and consistently surprisingly inviting and delicious. Really surprised that they aren't over four stars but Portland seems to bring out a strange mix of reviewers from hipsters who don't think it's hip enough to food fascists simpletons who can't fathom a burger without French fries. This place is awesome and I almost always make sure to stop by when in town.
(5)Bill M.
Great bar with really good food. Absolutely amazing burger. Brilliant weekend brunch! I just had the most amazing brined hash with perfectly poached eggs. Simply stunning cocktails spanning any mood or palate. Everything both food and drink is made with super fresh ingredients that they receive daily. On top of all that, LFK is the hands down best place to strike up a conversation at the bar. My wife and I have only been twice but have had the most interesting discussions with both patrons and staff. The place has just such a welcoming vibe that it draws the most social interesting people.
(4)Emily C.
Hip, cozy, sexy ambiance. I'll take it. I came here for the first time last night, which happened to be the bar's 1 year anniversary. A handful of nervous local writers read from their poetry and prose while I sipped away on a tantalizing libation combining gin, elderflower, grapefruit and prosecco - all the ingredients for a pretty damn enjoyable cocktail. My next and last drink was less impressive but looked good on paper - a cloyingly sweet combination of ginger beer, strawberry, balsamic and whatever other components I'm forgetting. But back to the bar - service was quick, the layout is great - lots of seating, long bar, bookshelves galore. Menu looked amazing and rumor has it LFK does a damn fine brunch. I'm only in town for two days but wouldn't mind hitting this up again.
(4)Shamus A.
Great food... Comfortable bar... Bartenders Molly and Hutch are friendly, warm and make you feel at home... They have great mixed drinks AND cheap canned beer (Hamm's, Schlitz) so there's truly something for everyone!
(4)Steff D.
Drinking (5 stars): I have never had an unpleasant experience drinking here. From their opening week (when I was part of just a handful of people checking them out, exploring their space, touching the typewriters and books hesitantly before I realized... it's okay!) to their poetry nights (man, those people are brave!), I like the vibe here for the most part. The exception to that is when it's overly slammed on Friday's and Saturday's (good for them; bad for you if you happen to not be a huge fan of people in general). But if I was rating this place on JUST drinking... there's nothing I would change. I like the selection of beers tremendously (despite the fact that Portland's a beer city, LFK still manages to find it's place with unique and distinct offerings that draws people specifically to it), and I appreciate the Portland-themed cocktails. I would very much like to be one of the girls who comes here with a book, hunkers down in the corner somewhere, and enjoys a brew whilst reading. It's like a modern-age Belle, right? Honestly, I would like to make this one of my regular haunts. Eating (2 stars): As far as the food goes... meh. I'm a girl who typically finishes everything on her plate; but I just couldn't do it here. Full disclosure: I've only eaten dinner at LFK once; I got the veggie burger on a pretzel bun with a side of German potato salad. Unfortunately, the whole meal was relatively unsatisfying and lackluster. There seemed to be little to none of the promised condiment, so the entire thing was incredibly, incredibly dry. While the pretzel bun was flavorful and a much appreciated touch to the meal, I couldn't tell you what the veggie burger tasted like because IT. WAS. SO. DRY. And the potato salad? Truth be told, I've had better from Hannaford. I'd like to try dinner again (they have a vegetarian meatloaf that seems lovely; I should have never let my cohort talk me into the burger), and maybe the brunch at some point, too. But the veggie burger? Don't do it. The long and short of it (4 stars): If you like art, the concept of literature, the physical act of actually reading books, low-lighting, people-watching, poetry, hipsters, and really, really (did I mention REALLY?!) fabulous beer: LFK is for you (and for me, too!).
(4)Christina D.
I am a New Yorker that was visiting Portland for the week with some friends, and it was a great experience. Perfect place for a well-balanced combo of laid-back atmosphere, tasty food and good cocktails. Try the deviled eggs, and if it's up on the specials board, get the chicken pot pie. Pretty damn good. I also had the ginger margarita, which was so tasty that I had two.
(4)Jennifer R.
LFK has a great drink menu, but horrible. horrible service. Unfortunately, since there are so many great places to go in portland to get great drinks, I won't be frequenting a place with such horrible service. We went early on a cold saturday night, when the place wasn't packed, and our server was rude and just plain mean. Yes, the decor is cute with the type writer keys under the bar. But, if you don't enjoy your waiter scolding you and treating you like a child, you won't want to stop here.
(1)Kelsey S.
Generous bourbon pour, good beer selection, great atmosphere, delicious Mac 'n cheese.
(5)Benjamin C.
This is our second time visiting LFK. The first time, we just popped in with some friends for drinks! They had a nice selection of inexpensive to consume in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. So when we saw the Living Social deal for brunch, sign us up! We finally used it on Saturday and it was surprisingly good. We shared the LFK burger and the Eggs Benedict. It was great! The bread was really tasty, as well as the potatoes on the side. (Good to mix with the greens.) A little chilly in the place, but that's ok. It didn't detract from our experience.
(4)Mariah L.
I would love it here if that frigging Wednesday bartender would notice me sitting there like an a$$hole for 15 minutes praying he'll notice my existence. Every time. Why. How? go with a strobe light on your body. Otherwise, great little spot with friendly pours and pricey but tasty food and good music.
(3)Adam F.
Worst bar/restaurant in Portland. My experiences (yes experiences, plural) are similar to some of the others on here and yet I gave them another shot. General douchbagery and being treated like your not even there....literally. I went in with my wife and our friend, the female bartender didnt even make eye contact with me, let alone verbally acknowledge me, and served them both repeatedly, even food, at no point even looked at me. The last time I went, about 2 weeks ago, was not quite as bad the previous, but still took an extra long time for a beer and now when I was checking my credit card statement against receipts, I see that they felt their service was great and added another dollar to the tip! I cant even make this shit up. There are so many wonderful places in Portland it doesn't even make sense to consider this place. It will just ruin your evening. Spend your money elsewhere where its appreciated!
(1)Matthew K.
Great beer selection with frequently rotating taps. The food is excellent. This place can get crowded on weekend nights.
(5)Robert M.
Yelp sent me an email/article entitled, "More Mac and Cheese please!".....all about Portland eateries featuring Mac 'n Cheese..... and LFK was not mentioned? Sack the team of writers who missed that. Mac 'n Cheese at LFK is killer! Comes in a screaming hot personal iron skillet (choice of either kale or bacon mixed in); the crumbly topping and carmelized butter-cheese around the bottom of the skillet keep you digging until it's gone. Add a side of deviled eggs and you shall be very, very pleased. Who knew such a proprietor could come from Kansas.
(4)Dana B.
Came here for brunch. Right off the bat: this place is super hipster ... from the staff to the patrons -- I felt like I was in Portland, Oregon. The food took a while to come out, but it tasted very healthy and fresh. The drinks looks great too, even though I didn't have one, I wanted to have one.
(4)