Bull Feeney's
Type: Bar, Eatery
375 Fore St
Portland, Maine, 04101-5010
United States
(207) 773-7210 | map
Notes:
No notes at this time.
Added by yankeeheel
View: Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 32 | Reviews: 17
4.06/5 rDev +6.3%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
4.16/5 rDev +8.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4 | food: 3.75
Fun vibe, wood, old world charm. Server "in training" but both she and her mentor were great. I can't speak to the food, but the beer selection and quality was great.
170 characters
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4 | food: 3.75
Fun vibe, wood, old world charm. Server "in training" but both she and her mentor were great. I can't speak to the food, but the beer selection and quality was great.
170 characters
3.75/5 rDev -1.8%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75 | food: 3.75
Straight up Irish pub - if you're looking for a wide selection of odd brews, this isn't your place - if you want standard Irish fare - you'll love it.
150 characters
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75 | food: 3.75
Straight up Irish pub - if you're looking for a wide selection of odd brews, this isn't your place - if you want standard Irish fare - you'll love it.
150 characters
3.85/5 rDev +0.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.25 | food: 4.5
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.25 | food: 4.5
2.53/5 rDev -33.8%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3 | service: 1 | selection: 3.75
Can a man get a drink in this place? I sure couldn't. Two bars, four bartenders, and I still could only get one round of beers. If I ever go to this place again, which I doubt, I will ask my wife to go get the drinks and see if she fares any better. I know it became a joke for the increasingly long line of guys waiting to get served as the ladies walked up and immediately walked away with drinks.
399 characters
vibe: 2 | quality: 3 | service: 1 | selection: 3.75
Can a man get a drink in this place? I sure couldn't. Two bars, four bartenders, and I still could only get one round of beers. If I ever go to this place again, which I doubt, I will ask my wife to go get the drinks and see if she fares any better. I know it became a joke for the increasingly long line of guys waiting to get served as the ladies walked up and immediately walked away with drinks.
399 characters
4.18/5 rDev +9.4%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.75
Centrally located in historic Old Port, Bull Feeney’s is as fine an Irish pub as you’ll find this side of Kilkenny – or Biddeford, anyway. Set behind a pair of grand Palladian windows overlooking busy Fore Street, this convivial pub is a grand place to share a pint or craic (not that kind!). There is here a well-worn rustic atmosphere that makes one long for the Auld Sod. This sprawling pub is heavily festooned with every kind of Irish bric-a-brac: medicine jars, signboards, road markers and the mandatory “Guinness Is Good” posters. In addition to the lengthy bar, which is overlooked by an imposing battalion of Irish whiskey bottles, there is a comfortable dining room and an upstairs. Of course, no Irish pub would be worth a shamrock if the comely server did not pour a perfect pint of the Guinness. There is also live music should you wish to shake the sawdust from the floorboards.
Bull Feeney offers plenty of local Maine beer on tap along with a serious supply of single malt scotch; however, it is the aforementioned Guinness that makes the place shine. The food menu contains many Irish favorites, including a pulled pork sandwich braised in Guinness barbecue sauce. Or as Michaleen Flynn from John Ford’s “The Quiet Man” might have said: “When I drink Guinness, I drink Guinness, and when I ….”
Speaking of John Ford, it is he who this pub honors. Born John Martin Feeney, he played football at Portland High School. His habit of lowering his helmet to charge his opponents earned him the name “Bull.” It is his picture that adorns the front sign. This is an excellent pub where no patty fingers are tolerated.
1,656 characters
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.75
Centrally located in historic Old Port, Bull Feeney’s is as fine an Irish pub as you’ll find this side of Kilkenny – or Biddeford, anyway. Set behind a pair of grand Palladian windows overlooking busy Fore Street, this convivial pub is a grand place to share a pint or craic (not that kind!). There is here a well-worn rustic atmosphere that makes one long for the Auld Sod. This sprawling pub is heavily festooned with every kind of Irish bric-a-brac: medicine jars, signboards, road markers and the mandatory “Guinness Is Good” posters. In addition to the lengthy bar, which is overlooked by an imposing battalion of Irish whiskey bottles, there is a comfortable dining room and an upstairs. Of course, no Irish pub would be worth a shamrock if the comely server did not pour a perfect pint of the Guinness. There is also live music should you wish to shake the sawdust from the floorboards.
Bull Feeney offers plenty of local Maine beer on tap along with a serious supply of single malt scotch; however, it is the aforementioned Guinness that makes the place shine. The food menu contains many Irish favorites, including a pulled pork sandwich braised in Guinness barbecue sauce. Or as Michaleen Flynn from John Ford’s “The Quiet Man” might have said: “When I drink Guinness, I drink Guinness, and when I ….”
Speaking of John Ford, it is he who this pub honors. Born John Martin Feeney, he played football at Portland High School. His habit of lowering his helmet to charge his opponents earned him the name “Bull.” It is his picture that adorns the front sign. This is an excellent pub where no patty fingers are tolerated.
1,656 characters
3.68/5 rDev -3.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4
Not actually a very exciting selection of beers, although I was glad to see Murphy's Stout the other day, and I think it's a pretty decent selection for a regular Irish pub. The food is very good for pub style, the service is usually friendly and fast . The atmosphere is fun, good music scene, lively, and it's a great location-- easy to head off onto the next place from Bull Feeney's. This is a good place to grab some hearty grub before you move on to places with more beers to choose from. Novare is a close walk away.
523 characters
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4
Not actually a very exciting selection of beers, although I was glad to see Murphy's Stout the other day, and I think it's a pretty decent selection for a regular Irish pub. The food is very good for pub style, the service is usually friendly and fast . The atmosphere is fun, good music scene, lively, and it's a great location-- easy to head off onto the next place from Bull Feeney's. This is a good place to grab some hearty grub before you move on to places with more beers to choose from. Novare is a close walk away.
523 characters
3.53/5 rDev -7.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 2.5 | food: 4.5
My wife and I hit up Bull Feeny's after spending most of our afternoon at Novare Res. Located right down the street in an old historic building.
I'm not quite sure why this place is considered a beer bar, they had some craft brews but not a huge selection or anything rare. They did have fresh Allagash White on and Guiness 250 on tap. I enjoyed both.
The atmosphere and food make up for any shortcomings in the beer department. There is a small bar area when you walk in with a dining area off to the right and more goings on upstairs.
Like I said the entire place was really old brick and wood tables, really nice authentic Irish pub feel. On a friday night it was jam-packed in there. Mixed crowd of older folks, meatheads, and a ton of younger college aged kids. Live music started in the dining room at 9:30 pm. Had to wait 30 minutes for a table which was not that big a deal, we sat in the bar having a few beers.
Once we were seated we had a great dinner, we split an appetizer; a phyllo dough wrapped cheese, deep fried and drizzled with a raspberry sauce, AWESOME! The menu offers typical Irish pub fare. My wife had a small salad, I had the fish and chips which was claimed to be the best in Portland. It was pretty damn tasty, I got four huge pieces of fried haddock and a potato/sweet potato fry mix.
This place was a lot of fun, great atmosphere, really good food. This is a great place to go to with friends.
Cheers!
1,440 characters
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 2.5 | food: 4.5
My wife and I hit up Bull Feeny's after spending most of our afternoon at Novare Res. Located right down the street in an old historic building.
I'm not quite sure why this place is considered a beer bar, they had some craft brews but not a huge selection or anything rare. They did have fresh Allagash White on and Guiness 250 on tap. I enjoyed both.
The atmosphere and food make up for any shortcomings in the beer department. There is a small bar area when you walk in with a dining area off to the right and more goings on upstairs.
Like I said the entire place was really old brick and wood tables, really nice authentic Irish pub feel. On a friday night it was jam-packed in there. Mixed crowd of older folks, meatheads, and a ton of younger college aged kids. Live music started in the dining room at 9:30 pm. Had to wait 30 minutes for a table which was not that big a deal, we sat in the bar having a few beers.
Once we were seated we had a great dinner, we split an appetizer; a phyllo dough wrapped cheese, deep fried and drizzled with a raspberry sauce, AWESOME! The menu offers typical Irish pub fare. My wife had a small salad, I had the fish and chips which was claimed to be the best in Portland. It was pretty damn tasty, I got four huge pieces of fried haddock and a potato/sweet potato fry mix.
This place was a lot of fun, great atmosphere, really good food. This is a great place to go to with friends.
Cheers!
1,440 characters
3.75/5 rDev -1.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
first off this place is a lot bigger than it looks, with few floors and a few rooms on each floor. the atmosphere is pretty damn good, it pulls of being an old pub even though it's not, and it's got tons of character.
the service was good enough for there to be no complaints. the waiter was a little dinterested, but pretty attentive. the selection was ok in terms of irish pub/maine beer. they had allagash, shipyard, stone coast, and a few others, along with the requisite guinness, swithwicks, etc. the stuff i had was all in good condition. the food wasn't bad, but not as good as it was touted in advertisements i've seen for the place. the fish and chips and shepard's pie were well prepared, but could have benefited from a little jazzing up. it was also a little on the expensive side for what it was as well.
overall not a bad experience. give it a shot for the atomosphere, it's a cool looking pub.
910 characters
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
first off this place is a lot bigger than it looks, with few floors and a few rooms on each floor. the atmosphere is pretty damn good, it pulls of being an old pub even though it's not, and it's got tons of character.
the service was good enough for there to be no complaints. the waiter was a little dinterested, but pretty attentive. the selection was ok in terms of irish pub/maine beer. they had allagash, shipyard, stone coast, and a few others, along with the requisite guinness, swithwicks, etc. the stuff i had was all in good condition. the food wasn't bad, but not as good as it was touted in advertisements i've seen for the place. the fish and chips and shepard's pie were well prepared, but could have benefited from a little jazzing up. it was also a little on the expensive side for what it was as well.
overall not a bad experience. give it a shot for the atomosphere, it's a cool looking pub.
910 characters
3.98/5 rDev +4.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Bull Feeny's- Portland
Walked in here after eating at Gritty's. 2 staircases go upstairs to more dining? Pleny of brick, hardwood, and fireplaces. Along the left side of the bar plenty of loud rowdy locals and plenty of people eating on the right side. Ordered up a Stone Coast IPA. Bartender was friendly and quick. The beer had a slight bleach flavor?! Otherwise comfortable atmosphere and a very good tap and drink selection. On tap I noticed; Guinness, Harp, Bass, Smithwicks, Allagash, Geary's, Shipyard, and Stonecoast.
A good local joint.
548 characters
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Bull Feeny's- Portland
Walked in here after eating at Gritty's. 2 staircases go upstairs to more dining? Pleny of brick, hardwood, and fireplaces. Along the left side of the bar plenty of loud rowdy locals and plenty of people eating on the right side. Ordered up a Stone Coast IPA. Bartender was friendly and quick. The beer had a slight bleach flavor?! Otherwise comfortable atmosphere and a very good tap and drink selection. On tap I noticed; Guinness, Harp, Bass, Smithwicks, Allagash, Geary's, Shipyard, and Stonecoast.
A good local joint.
548 characters
3.93/5 rDev +2.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
Stopped by on a rainy Saturday afternoon of wasting time in the Old Port.
The thing that struck me the most is how much I love the atmosphere of the place. It has the feel of being very old and is very cozy pub-like. I can't speak much for the rest of the place as I was seated on the first floor.
They have a rather large selection of beers on tap and a large menu of drink variations. I got a Poor Man's Black Velvet (although I believe it was wrongly listed as a Snakebite, doesn't matter though, they list each drink combination, this one being half Guinness and half cider). This is one of my favorite drinks and most of the bars in my area of living can't make it because they don't have cider on tap, let alone even stock bottles of it.
The food was typical pub fare and the service was alright, not extremely fast, but if you like to joy your stay in a pub then it works out.
886 characters
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
Stopped by on a rainy Saturday afternoon of wasting time in the Old Port.
The thing that struck me the most is how much I love the atmosphere of the place. It has the feel of being very old and is very cozy pub-like. I can't speak much for the rest of the place as I was seated on the first floor.
They have a rather large selection of beers on tap and a large menu of drink variations. I got a Poor Man's Black Velvet (although I believe it was wrongly listed as a Snakebite, doesn't matter though, they list each drink combination, this one being half Guinness and half cider). This is one of my favorite drinks and most of the bars in my area of living can't make it because they don't have cider on tap, let alone even stock bottles of it.
The food was typical pub fare and the service was alright, not extremely fast, but if you like to joy your stay in a pub then it works out.
886 characters
Bull Feeney's in Portland, ME
Place rating:
65.6% out of
100 with
32 ratings
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.75
Irish Pub, with a traditional food menu & a good selection including many quality local beers. A solid choice that is not as touristy or loud as others in Portland
164 characters