Gritty McDuff's Brew Pub

Walked in and sat at the bar for a late lunch and to grab a beer. My server was fantastic and she was working hard. Offered a suggestion for a beer and it was good. Lots of food sounded good. I tried the fried chicken sandwich and fries. Fries were a little soggy. Chicken sandwich was good. Good was pricey but kind of expected for the area. Seating was ample. Atmosphere was nice.

Very busy for a Thursday late lunch. Samples for helpful trying to decide on beers. Waitress was very good. Fried chick and Rachel were great. Pan fried ravioli were good. Solid lunch!! Great beer!! Came back a few more times and Gritty's really never disappoints, except for the turkey club (not toasted), the french dip (just not worth it) and the tater tot poutine (just a huge disappointment - please cook those tots!!). Everything else - so good.

We were greeted exceptionally well as soon as we entered and directed to choose our own seating. Most of the seating here is community style which is something we don't care for, but that did not affect our rating. Our server was great & friendly when encountering us which is always paramount to a good restaurant experience. We thought the menu had quite a few things that sounded delicious to us so it was somewhat difficult to choose. We were somewhat disappointed by our food and that's not saying it was bad but just didn't seem like anything special that was boasting with flavor. I chose the pub mac that came with cornbread; the mac was nothing to write home about however that cornbread was absolutely delightful. We chose the naked nachos as an appetizer which was pretty good but probably overkill as the portions of our entrees were quite substantial. It was refreshing to visit a restaurant here and get portions that matched their price. We would definitely come back again and possibly choose different entrees to see if our flavor experience improves but honestly we had a pretty positive dine in visit here.

I have been here several times. It is a favorite of mine and many of the couples that I work with. The pub's interior brick work is perfect for photos and the atmosphere sets the scene to look like a movie. The drinks are amazing and the food is always consistent.

Service was EXCELLENT ! Thank you Ariel. Top notch pub food in a friendly environment of locals, & tourist. We had a bacon ch burger & a Rachel,both much better than average and at a fair price. Love this place. Best margaritas in Old Port, Portland, Maine.

Went here for a late lunch and the food was great. Between my lobster grilled cheese and his lobster tacos, their food did not disappoint. The bartender Chelsea was very nice and gave us some local area information. Prices were reasonable for being in the touristy area. They had open air dining and a more closed room for warmth. Highly recommend.

Went for dinner and sat outside. The outdoor seating was picnic tables - it was alright. Got clam chowder and wings, burger, and chicken strips and apple sauce for the kiddo. The food was good overall although I would say the wings had too much sauce on them. We didn’t finish everything so we packed some to go. The service was great. The bathrooms were upstairs so quite a trek from where we were. I would recommend the place. The strip has so many choices for food.

Great service and nice atmosphere. Our loaded nachos with chicken were nowhere near worth $27. We felt totally ripped off. We really thought hey, why not? They’re probably really really good. They weren’t.

Walked in and sat at the bar for a late lunch and to grab a beer. My server was fantastic and she was working hard. Offered a suggestion for a beer and it was good. Lots of food sounded good. I tried the fried chicken sandwich and fries. Fries were a little soggy. Chicken sandwich was good. Good was pricey but kind of expected for the area. Seating was ample. Atmosphere was nice.

Very busy for a Thursday late lunch. Samples for helpful trying to decide on beers. Waitress was very good. Fried chick and Rachel were great. Pan fried ravioli were good. Solid lunch!! Great beer!! Came back a few more times and Gritty's really never disappoints, except for the turkey club (not toasted), the french dip (just not worth it) and the tater tot poutine (just a huge disappointment - please cook those tots!!). Everything else - so good.

We were greeted exceptionally well as soon as we entered and directed to choose our own seating. Most of the seating here is community style which is something we don't care for, but that did not affect our rating. Our server was great & friendly when encountering us which is always paramount to a good restaurant experience. We thought the menu had quite a few things that sounded delicious to us so it was somewhat difficult to choose. We were somewhat disappointed by our food and that's not saying it was bad but just didn't seem like anything special that was boasting with flavor. I chose the pub mac that came with cornbread; the mac was nothing to write home about however that cornbread was absolutely delightful. We chose the naked nachos as an appetizer which was pretty good but probably overkill as the portions of our entrees were quite substantial. It was refreshing to visit a restaurant here and get portions that matched their price. We would definitely come back again and possibly choose different entrees to see if our flavor experience improves but honestly we had a pretty positive dine in visit here.

I have been here several times. It is a favorite of mine and many of the couples that I work with. The pub's interior brick work is perfect for photos and the atmosphere sets the scene to look like a movie. The drinks are amazing and the food is always consistent.

Service was EXCELLENT ! Thank you Ariel. Top notch pub food in a friendly environment of locals, & tourist. We had a bacon ch burger & a Rachel,both much better than average and at a fair price. Love this place. Best margaritas in Old Port, Portland, Maine.

Went here for a late lunch and the food was great. Between my lobster grilled cheese and his lobster tacos, their food did not disappoint. The bartender Chelsea was very nice and gave us some local area information. Prices were reasonable for being in the touristy area. They had open air dining and a more closed room for warmth. Highly recommend.

Went for dinner and sat outside. The outdoor seating was picnic tables - it was alright. Got clam chowder and wings, burger, and chicken strips and apple sauce for the kiddo. The food was good overall although I would say the wings had too much sauce on them. We didn’t finish everything so we packed some to go. The service was great. The bathrooms were upstairs so quite a trek from where we were. I would recommend the place. The strip has so many choices for food.

Great service and nice atmosphere. Our loaded nachos with chicken were nowhere near worth $27. We felt totally ripped off. We really thought hey, why not? They’re probably really really good. They weren’t.

Service 5 our guy was fantastic! Lemon Drop Martini 5 Beers were on point. Had a great time playing trivia (offered Wednesday nights are trivia night

I'm doing some more catch up on breweries that I have tried out but somehow slipped from my memory to get a review up for them. Shame on me! Anyway before you know it Autumn will be right around the corner and with that will be Halloween. In fact this year some people and stores have already joined in celebrating the holiday making it the earliest kick off in stores that I recall. So I will throw in my contribution to that. For Gritty McDuff's the beer I had was their Halloween Ale, an extra Special Bitter style beer which I don't get too often but always glad when I do! Flavor features with this beer are malty, sweet and hoppy. Since it's an Extra Special Bitter it's also very strong also! The body of the beer is nice and smooth. A nice beer to enjoy when the spooky holiday is on the horizon.

5 stars for ambiance, service, food, cleanliness Just walk in and grab a seat either indoors or outdoors. The servers are absolutely wonderful and attentive. Sit back and brace yourself because you are about to experience an explosion of wonderful lobster filled flavors. The star of the show for us was the Lobster poutine-oh my-I still dream of that dish. There is great variety of dishes to choose from-all of which are delicious. This place should be on your list when visiting Portland, ME.

Always the best customer service. I have stopping in, either for a beer or a quick snack. Great service and food quality.

We did not eat at Gritty's in Portland this trip, but we certainly raised a few mugs of their ale. Our server, Emma, was very attentive and we had absolutely nothing to complain about. As always, we had a great time reminiscing and sharing family stories. We sat at our favorite table for 3 hours and had such a wonderful time. There was a small Sunday crowd, and the pub was open and airy. Megan (our bartender) and Manager Troy made sure all was well at the table and I really look forward to my next visit to Maine! Safe Travels

We had a good time at Gritty McDuff's Brew Pub in Portland, Maine. This was one of several restaurants and bars we visited while bar-hopping in downtown Portland. Gritty's has three locations in Maine: this one in Portland (the original that opened in 1988), Freeport, and Auburn. According to a sign inside, this is Portland's original brew pub. A unique feature of Gritty's is the beer steins that decorate the wall and ceiling of the bar. The steins belong to members of Gritty's mug club. Something else that is unique about Gritty's is you can buy beers in advance for others. That's what one of my buddies did during our visit here. These advance purchases are written on a public whiteboard at the bar with the claimant's name and a claim by date. Kind of fun. Our group of eight visited on a Saturday around 4:15pm. Expectedly, Gritty's wasn't too busy yet. We had drinks at/by the bar. We later took over the long table by the bar after a bachelorette party left. We didn't get any food, but the menu looked good with dishes like lobster poutine, clam chowder, fish and chips (haddock), and fried shrimp. Service was good. All of the staff we interacted with were nice. Coincidentally, all of the bartenders and servers were female, at the time of our visit. Gritty's was one of the bigger bar-restaurants we visited during our Portland pub crawl (we went to about 10 places). I liked the extra space, TVs to watch sports, and the general vibe. There were elevated views of the waterfront out the back windows too. Check out Gritty McDuff's on social media for specials, events, holiday hours, and more. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grittymcduffs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grittymcduffs

Gritty's is a fun and lively pub to enjoy good drinks, hearty food, at (mainly) communal-style tables. The servers are friendly and hardworking. The food is basic but good; their strength truly lies in their vibrant atmosphere, which is reminiscent of a local Irish pub filled with spirited locals. Don't fret if you're not a beer-drinker (even though I assume you would have a better time if you were), they have options for us, too! The white russian I enjoyed on St. Paddy's day did the trick.

Great local bar with fantastic beer and mixed drinks! Has a good neighborhood vibe with friendly people. Bartenders were fast and friendly! Highly recommen!

We walked in & the place was just clearing out in the downstairs bar. We grabbed some seats at the bar. Mallory was our bartender & she was super sweet. She took our food & drink order all at once. Food came out quickly & we enjoyed our smash burgers and beers!

Easy place to grab a quick pub bite and a beer. Not amazing food, but has something for everyone. Waitstaff very friendly. Lots of fried options. Has lots of locals passing through at the time we were there.

If you're looking for a cozy Irish brew pub with a vibrant atmosphere and delicious food, I highly recommend checking out Gritty's. The selection of house-brewed beers complements the food wonderfully, with options ranging from rich stouts to crisp lagers. The ambiance is warm and inviting, making it a great spot for a casual night out or a gathering with friends. Service is attentive and friendly, adding to the overall enjoyable experience.

Stopped for lunch before a long drive home. The place was bustling for a Sunday. Even so, We found a table quickly. Definitely has a pub vibe. Food and service were very good. Gotta love when places have tots(and a good portion of them)!

A local brew pub that still brews their beer right at this location. Great atmosphere with a large bar and big tables for a large group of people. They have live music many nights, and it's always a fun vibe. The food is upscale pub food and most is really great but a little over priced. Great drinking spot, with other drinks besides their own beers. Pro tip: check out the downstairs, it's quieter and you can typically get a bar seat even on slower nights. They also have outdoor seating as well!

We stopped by Gritty's waiting for a show in town and decided to check them out for a drink and some bites. I'm not a regular beer drinker but I've found that I really do prefer stouts over other beers. Their Christmas Ale really did hit the spot -- it was warm and spicy and came with a cute ass bar for the tap. The interior is old pub style and they have a wrap around bar with larger tables along the edges. It was pretty packed when we arrived but we were well attended to. Not being particularly hungry, the SO ordered a lamb burger and I had the fries. I think it's probably the state of things and old port prices, but the lamb burger was almost $20 for a cafeteria style burger -- a shadow of the burger you'd find a other places like this awesome place on Commercial [...] I was pretty disappointed in the food and hesitated to judge based on one item, but they decided it was good enough to put on their menu ‍

Stopped in for dinner and we got nachos for the appetizer, good chips salsa was just okay. I ordered the burger and it was bland, I think I should have ordered something else based on the other reviews. It wasn't bad but just lacked any depth or flavor. The atmosphere was nice and our server was very attentive but for the price it didn't hit.

Stopped in for a beer some lunch. Couldn't decide on a beer and the waitress brought a taste of the two I was torn between. (Chose the seasonal Halloween Ale. Burger was delicious. Had a side of tater tots which is a nice change from fries. Wife had Mac and cheese which was delicious. Came with fried jalapeño slices and cornbread. Overall an excellent stop.

It was late and our bartender Bri got us a hummus platter even though the kitchen was closed. She was super nice. This place is great!!!!

Last minute girls trip to Maine!! Stopped here on recommendations from various people. Micah our server was AMAZING. She was so personable & professional guiding us through the menu & discovering this side of Portland!! Definitely the right place for foodies! Something for everyone .

At some point about 15 Minutes being there things took a weird turn- a griddys employee who claimed to be the bouncer rudely demanded we all show our IDs. (mind you- no IDs were requested upon entry, or prior to beer purchases) But of course we oblige and show IDs because we're there to have a good time and relax after a long work week. Not get into it with angry "bouncers" 15 minutes go by, all is well. Then the same overweight white male aggressively approaches my youngest co Worker (22 yo and from Africa) and accuses him of vaping in the bathroom. the griddys employee then physically rips the beer out of his hand and demanded we leave the bar. Mind you... my friend is arguably one of nicest chill guys I've ever met. Wouldn't hurt a fly. Honestly He was being bullied by the griddys employee. As a group we were discriminated against. And the only reason I use that word is because there was no good reason to be aggressive towards peaceful patrons of the bar spending our hard earned money- not causing any trouble. The bar employees called the cops on us, and kicked us out. Which was surprising to me because we were the only people there. I guess they care more about their feelings than their wallets. Also , reporting reviews you don't like to be removed is literally the whole entire point here .... Nice try management. Free speech goes both ways remember ?

grumpy staff, unorganized, the place was a mess and the beer was flat. the bouncer didn't check our IDs upon entry but forced us all to show ids once we had been there for 20 minutes. 1/10 would Not recommend.

Excellent and welcoming bar. Great service, food and drinks! Thank you for welcoming our large group to your community and offering a great atmosphere.

Neat little bar tucked away in old Portland. Very impressive bar top that shines with pride against the brick arches. I did get the Mac and cheese but it was a little too dry and lacked great flavor. The service was on point and the drinks were great. They have cask beer which isn't a common sight for an American pub.

As a small-ish city (80,000 people?), Portland punches WAY above its weight when it comes to food and drink scene offerings. And - in a place with many outstanding restaurants, breweries, and pubs - so does this Portland outpost of Gritty McDuffs (Flagship is in Freeport, I think). As a first time visitor who spent a week in Portland this past March, this place absolutely wowed me! Not only do they offer a great mix of their own quality brews, but they also do at least two versions of them as cask conditioned, quintessentially British ales. To my knowledge, none of the pubs in town that present themselves as "British" provide the cask ale option. Gritty's does. Expertly so. Great staff, solid food, fun trivia night, unpretentious vibe. HUGE fan! HIGHLY recommend.

This is such a nice little bar with great live music! We went to see one of the bands that has a residency there every other Thursday and they're amazing! The drinks were served fast, even though it was an extremely busy night and the food that people were getting looked delicious! I also lost my wallet there and the staff and even patrons were super helpful in helping me find it! They are so sweet and it's such a good spot to go for a little post-dinner drink or some amazing live music!

It was kinda expensive and just ok all around in the flavors. The bread on the grilled cheese was also very dry and rough to bite into.

We stopped in for a round of drinks before dinner. The staff was friendly and attentive. Very cool place!

Always stop here when in Portland. Great beer, food and service. Cask ales, Scottish Ale and fries are the go-tos.

This place was a cute place to come across! The seating is not my favorite since we got a large picnic table but also had to share it with this family with lots of young kids... maybe we will go for the high top tables next time so we don't have to share with screaming kiddos... Menu was a good size and service was pretty fast despite how busy it was in there. I got the salmon with veggies which was cooked at the right temperature - I do think the rice and veggies lacked a bit of seasoning which is weird cuz it looks really seasoned but there were some salt and pepper shakers around. My friend got one of the specials which were chicken tacos and he seemed to like that but also said nothing running back to. It was a good place to stumble upon and I'd eat here again but it probably wouldn't be a place that I'll be craving to come back to.

Sometimes heat and when nature's calling will supersede the most important reason to go to an eating establishment (ya know, for food). I'd say that when my fiancée and I stumbled into Gritty McDuff's Brew Pub in July on our Portland trip, we were entering for all those aforementioned reasons (but don't worry, hunger was mostly why). Truth be told, Gritty McDuff's (or Gritty's as the menu states) wasn't our first option. A nearby tots place was closed and Gritty's looked like a nice little pub to grab grub instead. I had bookmarked it as its boast about being Maine's original brew pub was intriguing enough to try to visit at some point. We entered from the cobble stone alleyway (Wharf Street) which featured a smaller separate section of the larger Gritty's interior (that can be entered off of Fore Street). Though for us, getting out of the heat was enough to grab a high top table right there. Having just downed a beer flight only minutes before at Shipyard, I wasn't necessarily looking to divulge any further, but that aforementioned brew pub aspect of Gritty's made it tough to turn down an ale. The Black Fly Stout was my choice and hit wonderfully as that dry, semi-creamy flavor you look for in a beer like this. They had a few other options along with a couple of non-Gritty brews, but I was one and done at this point of alcohol consumption. Moving on to the menu, it's your typical pub food fare with a slight nod towards Gritty's Old Port location (i.e. some fishy choices). With that in mind and being in Maine, I tagged the lobster grilled cheese as my choice while the fiancée went for a half sandwich (same as me) and soup combo (New England clam chowder). Something called Gritty chips (they sounded like seasoned potato chips) were supposed to accompany both, but they were out of them so coleslaw was the replacement. Starting with the lady's soup, it was creamy with good chunks of potato and no complaints from her about sandy crunches. Though the winner of lunch was by far the lobster grilled cheese. Dill havarti and cheddar jack cheese were melted amidst sautéed chunks of lobster on grilled garlic bread. I know I was starving, but this sandwich was delectably delicious and stood out as a highlight of the trip. Sure, Maine lobster goes a long way in making anything with the crustacean taste great, but it just hit the spot so perfectly for both of us. Overall, Gritty McDuff's is a divey but nice spot to stop in for a bite to eat. It's a regular ol' pub in looks and style so nothing fancy, but with a few of their own brews and some quality eats, it should be thrown on your Portland itinerary. I mean even if you're just escaping the heat and need a bathroom, it does well to fill these two importances...though seriously, you might come for those reasons, but you'll stay for the lobster grilled cheese. Do it.

Met another couple for dinner and drinks before a hockey game in downtown Portland. We were seated quickly, served promptly, and had a very attentive waitress. The food was decent pub fair, with plenty to choose from. We ate at a Hightop table with a view of the water. I'd go back again.

This cute brew pub offers more than just bar foods. Their seafoods are fresh and they offer a variety of great draft beers. Their service is amazing!

Great food and beer the staff there were really friendly. The fish and chips were amazing. Would definitely recommend this place if you are ever in Portland Maine.

Great drinks. Brea is an awesome bartender. The only knock is I think it desperately needs karaoke.

A sort-of regular at Gritty's, We were more than surprised when our bill included a "Service Charge" I asked our waitress (who was great) what this was for. She showed me a list of items the 3% service charge covered. it included a list that should be part of the cost of business - staff retention, restaurant upgrades and others. There are lots of brew pubs in Maine and in Freeport. We will be visiting the others from now on. Food is great. Waitress was terrific. Service charge will make us go someplace else.

I thought this place was great. It was so great we ate here 2x on our vacation. First time we had a chicken sandwich, sweet potato fries and salad. The 2nd day we had sweet potato fries, salad and Sheppards Pie. The shepherds pie was awful but everything else was great! Loved both our servers!

Comfortable atmosphere. Great service. Delicious food. Great selection of their own beer. Good value

Expensive $30 cold lobster roll. Excellent service. Fried clams were the best ever. Yummy coleslaw w a hint of horseradish. The clam chowder was filled w delicious fresh clams- in thin soup, needed to be warmer. Great local beer-

Maine's original brew pub. One of my favorite things to do is sit in the window, drink pub ale, eat wings and chowder and watch the snow fall outside. Very relaxed local crowd, especially in winter, friendly service, good food and good beer.

Good pub and grub in touristy area of portland. ( old port ) not sure off the buildings and bars history but it has a warm , wonderful vibe .

I've always been a fan of Gritty's. Love the beer and food although the food pricing has gotten pretty high. This seems to be the case everywhere now though.

Delicious Shrimp Basket and EXCELLENT Cider! I was impressed with this place! Lots of options on the menu for people who like seafood and those who don't. Their lobster roll was priced at $30 today. The shrimp basket was priced at $22 for today. We sat on the patio with our pup and received great service!

Personally wouldn't go here again. Lobster roll was small and lacking flavor - chips were too salty. Atmosphere is just a pub but nothing special.

Gritty's has great beer, of course. They also have great atmosphere and food. Solid choice!

Writing this review from the bathroom, and I don't need to rush finishing this if you catch my drift... The draft beer was flat, the French onion soup's broth had none of that rich subtle flavor of caramelized onions and the mozzarella cheese was the cheap kind that also had no flavor. But the Shepard pie... do not order this dish! The mashed potato's were not seasoned at all and the minced meat was swimming in oil. It was basically oil soup. It was really really bad. Have been to grittys for drinks in the past and had a good time but today will make me think twice about going back.

Stopped here to watch a bit of the Patriots game and enjoyed a couple beers and nachos. The nachos were great and a nice large portion for a group of guys. The beer was good but there were limited options. If you are an IPA fan this probably isn't the place for you but there is a full bar as well and the bartender, Molly, was awesome! She was friendly and did a great job managing the fairly full bar. We will definitely return next time in the area.

I mean we are locals and been here several times over the years. Shopping in the old port last night. Sure let's just grab a couple beers and food right?! Meh .. sometimes you just need to stick with what you know is good like beer and nachos. Decided on a salad which was super soggy and mushy. My partner had a haddock burrito. He likes haddock tacos so what could go wrong? Ya nope. Not good. He described our good and bill as we got ripped off. Again stick with what's known good.

Talk about going downhill; sadly Gritty's is a textbook example. What once was a cool venue where all the locals went is a lackluster Old Port milieu that's fallen by the wayside. Today, I returned to Gritty's for the first time in many years to meet a friend for lunch. The first thing that blew me away (negatively) were the prices of their grub, which are unequivocally in the stratosphere. But I was there already, as was my friend. I ordered the cheese steak, which was hands down the most tasteless cheese steak I've consumed in my lifetime. For $ 20.00 the sandwich is served on a mushy roll. The contents tasted nothing like steak but more like cut up pieces of "Steak-Um's". My side was Gritty's vegetable medley (allegedly fresh veggies, so said the server) but the veggies were soggy, overcooked and barely edible. Enough said! I won't be back to Gritty's anytime soon. This experience was akin to the classic Joni Mitchell song "Big Yellow Taxi" -- "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot...". The only positive aspect of going to Gritty's was that we had a really nice server for which I am thankful. Gritty's earns two thumbs down from this reviewer.

As someone who has been going to Gritty's for 25 years it pains me to write this review. I can't tell you how many times I've had the nachos over the years. Their salsa was some of the best ever but a few years back Portland (thankfully not Freeport) changed their nachos. Was super happy a few months ago to see the "naked nachos" one the menu and they were the same as ever. Today was a different story. Nacho chips and cheese with a run of the mill salsa on the side. Not to mention, look at how burnt they were. How does this get past the kitchen and the server?!? Really disappointed. Not to mention the scrawny, greasy haddock sandwich. On a positive note the fries are excellent now. Least greasy fries I've ever had.

Fun place with great drink selection and excellent service. Interesting even mid day before the dinner crowd