Bull Feeney's
Type: Bar, Eatery
375 Fore St
Portland, Maine, 04101-5010
United States
(207) 773-7210 | map
Notes:
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Added by yankeeheel
View: Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 16 | Ratings: 31
3.75/5 rDev -0.5%
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
2.53/5 rDev -32.9%
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 +10.9%
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 -2.4%
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 -6.4%
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 -0.5%
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 +5.6%
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 +4.2%
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
3.88/5 rDev +2.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5
We stopped in here walking around Portland Saturday night,very old interior is what stuck out to me when we walked in like many places in Portland the interior of the building looks over 100 years old,pretty large with a upstairs and downstairs with a rather large bar that was packed we had to wait 20 minutes for are table so we started at the bar,about 10-12 taps with Stone Coast 420,and Geary's Autumn ale as the highlights my wife ordered the Allagash White all the beers came in proper glassware wich was cool.After we sat the service was prompt and efficient my mom and wife ordered the haddock sandwich was very fresh tasting and good (not like here in B-lo)I had the lobster ravioli wich was also very good.Like everywhere in Portland just about its pricey but hey the food was good and they had decent beer.
★ 818 characters
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5
We stopped in here walking around Portland Saturday night,very old interior is what stuck out to me when we walked in like many places in Portland the interior of the building looks over 100 years old,pretty large with a upstairs and downstairs with a rather large bar that was packed we had to wait 20 minutes for are table so we started at the bar,about 10-12 taps with Stone Coast 420,and Geary's Autumn ale as the highlights my wife ordered the Allagash White all the beers came in proper glassware wich was cool.After we sat the service was prompt and efficient my mom and wife ordered the haddock sandwich was very fresh tasting and good (not like here in B-lo)I had the lobster ravioli wich was also very good.Like everywhere in Portland just about its pricey but hey the food was good and they had decent beer.
★ 818 characters
3.63/5 rDev -3.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3
At first I was a bit skeptical about heading to Bull Feeny's as I've heard it's a hit or miss place. Very large floor plan, but an excellent space. First floor has a long bar and is a bit skinny, but after you walk upstairs, which sort of reminded me of a ship staircase, the place opens up into what is about 4 or 5 rooms and spans the over half the building block. It almost seemed as though you had to define the atmosphere you were looking for. Be that in the room where the band was playing, at the crowded bar, in the room with leather chairs and couches or out in the quieter, "restaurant" area. High ceiling and arching windows made the rooms look bigger then they really were, but added a nice character to the place.
Bartenders were prompt and accommodating, but I'm not sure they knew a whole lot about the beer. The one bartender remembered us the second night, which allowed us to have privileged service of sorts. Bull Feeny's has about 10-12 taps with local stuff and the usual macros. 420 IPA, Allagash White, Casco bay, and Geary's were the really only things that I would have drank. Everything else didn't even deserve a peak. Did not try the food unfortunately.
Not necessarily the best beer bar in Portland, but one that seems like it's got a nice niche with the live music. With so many brewpubs in walking distance, I'm not sure this would be my local hangout, but a good place for a long night of drinking.
★ 1,436 characters
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3
At first I was a bit skeptical about heading to Bull Feeny's as I've heard it's a hit or miss place. Very large floor plan, but an excellent space. First floor has a long bar and is a bit skinny, but after you walk upstairs, which sort of reminded me of a ship staircase, the place opens up into what is about 4 or 5 rooms and spans the over half the building block. It almost seemed as though you had to define the atmosphere you were looking for. Be that in the room where the band was playing, at the crowded bar, in the room with leather chairs and couches or out in the quieter, "restaurant" area. High ceiling and arching windows made the rooms look bigger then they really were, but added a nice character to the place.
Bartenders were prompt and accommodating, but I'm not sure they knew a whole lot about the beer. The one bartender remembered us the second night, which allowed us to have privileged service of sorts. Bull Feeny's has about 10-12 taps with local stuff and the usual macros. 420 IPA, Allagash White, Casco bay, and Geary's were the really only things that I would have drank. Everything else didn't even deserve a peak. Did not try the food unfortunately.
Not necessarily the best beer bar in Portland, but one that seems like it's got a nice niche with the live music. With so many brewpubs in walking distance, I'm not sure this would be my local hangout, but a good place for a long night of drinking.
★ 1,436 characters
3.5/5 rDev -7.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5
On my last trip to Portland I visited Bull Feeny's both early in the afternoon and later in the evening, this makes a huge difference.
Early in the day it's a nice little place with a lot of charm. There's a selection of about 4 local micros including Allagash, and Stone Coast beer. The beers were poured well in to the proper glassware although they did serve my Allagash white with an orange slice. The bartender was perky and quick to initiate conversation which I enjoy in a bar, makes you feel like you're at your local dive. The locals were rowdy and quick to burst in to song, no joke, they were wasted at noon singing "Puff the Magic Dragon." The bar is STOCKED though. I wasn't looking to get plowed that early in the day but it was certainly an option. They had a great selection of scotch and whiskey and a pretty standard high end bar. Overall it looked like, and sounded like an Irish pub.
At night Bull Feeny's blows hard. The place is massive, two floors and several bars, and I had to go all the way to the top floor and back bar at 10pm in order to get some room. I obviously can't get in to some discussion with a bartender at this hour but I'll be damned if it didn't take 20 minutes and a minor scuffle to get a beer at this point in time. I picked up a 420 IPA from Stone Coast and they either had dirty lines or I got the dregs of the keg because the pour was awful and tasted very off, vastly different from the brewery and the downstairs bar. The regulars are long gone at this point. The place is now packed with meat head 20 somethings getting plowed and rowdy. I'm only 22 but even I found this to be annoying and excessive. It was as if being in an "Irish" pub warranted extra drunken stupidity. I've spent a good portion of my life in Maine and know that Mainers now how to throw them back but the bar goes from charming to douchebag head butting party palace in about 4 hours.
If you're looking for a quick and enjoyable beer I suggest getting it well before 7pm and passing on the bar entirely after that point.
★ 2,052 characters
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5
On my last trip to Portland I visited Bull Feeny's both early in the afternoon and later in the evening, this makes a huge difference.
Early in the day it's a nice little place with a lot of charm. There's a selection of about 4 local micros including Allagash, and Stone Coast beer. The beers were poured well in to the proper glassware although they did serve my Allagash white with an orange slice. The bartender was perky and quick to initiate conversation which I enjoy in a bar, makes you feel like you're at your local dive. The locals were rowdy and quick to burst in to song, no joke, they were wasted at noon singing "Puff the Magic Dragon." The bar is STOCKED though. I wasn't looking to get plowed that early in the day but it was certainly an option. They had a great selection of scotch and whiskey and a pretty standard high end bar. Overall it looked like, and sounded like an Irish pub.
At night Bull Feeny's blows hard. The place is massive, two floors and several bars, and I had to go all the way to the top floor and back bar at 10pm in order to get some room. I obviously can't get in to some discussion with a bartender at this hour but I'll be damned if it didn't take 20 minutes and a minor scuffle to get a beer at this point in time. I picked up a 420 IPA from Stone Coast and they either had dirty lines or I got the dregs of the keg because the pour was awful and tasted very off, vastly different from the brewery and the downstairs bar. The regulars are long gone at this point. The place is now packed with meat head 20 somethings getting plowed and rowdy. I'm only 22 but even I found this to be annoying and excessive. It was as if being in an "Irish" pub warranted extra drunken stupidity. I've spent a good portion of my life in Maine and know that Mainers now how to throw them back but the bar goes from charming to douchebag head butting party palace in about 4 hours.
If you're looking for a quick and enjoyable beer I suggest getting it well before 7pm and passing on the bar entirely after that point.
★ 2,052 characters
3.53/5 rDev -6.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5
Located around the corner from the Portland Regency hotel I was staying at. Typical Irish bar with appropriate music playing at a reasonable level. The bar wraps between two room and has about 15 stools available. Stairs lead to a dining area on the second floor which I did not examine. Small booths and some tables surround the bar area. The word Guiness is painted on the brick wall by the bar.
The beer selection was decent as Guinness, Harp, Bass, Boddingtons, Newcastle, Stella Artois, Paulaner Hefe, Allagash White, Geary's Summer, Shipyard Export and Fuggles IPA. I had an Allagash served in appropriate logo'd glassware.
Bartender was quite and non-conversational. My glass was empty for a few minutes before he asked if I wanted another. The girls greeting customers at the door were good looking and sporting bubbly personalities.
Not a bad place to stop to grab a pint if you are looking for Guinness or Harp, but I felt a little out of place drinking the Allagash here.
★ 993 characters
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5
Located around the corner from the Portland Regency hotel I was staying at. Typical Irish bar with appropriate music playing at a reasonable level. The bar wraps between two room and has about 15 stools available. Stairs lead to a dining area on the second floor which I did not examine. Small booths and some tables surround the bar area. The word Guiness is painted on the brick wall by the bar.
The beer selection was decent as Guinness, Harp, Bass, Boddingtons, Newcastle, Stella Artois, Paulaner Hefe, Allagash White, Geary's Summer, Shipyard Export and Fuggles IPA. I had an Allagash served in appropriate logo'd glassware.
Bartender was quite and non-conversational. My glass was empty for a few minutes before he asked if I wanted another. The girls greeting customers at the door were good looking and sporting bubbly personalities.
Not a bad place to stop to grab a pint if you are looking for Guinness or Harp, but I felt a little out of place drinking the Allagash here.
★ 993 characters
3.73/5 rDev -1.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5
As a frequent visitor to Portland's Old Port and it's myriad bars, I find myself at this lovely Irish pub often. Located on frequently busy Fore Street, Bull Feeney's provides a welcome respite from the work world. Dark wood and comfortable seating provide an inviting atmosphere. The pub provides customers with an upstairs and downstairs bar. The upstairs, while my preferred destination, is usually closed unless it is Friday or Saturday. An open upstairs is certainly necessary as Feeney's becomes quite crowded Friday and Saturday evenings.
The beer selection provides nearly everyone with a choice or two. During the winter months Geary's HSA is poured liberally in 22oz. pint glasses. (I realize this is now a year-round brew, but the bar manager told me they take it off tap in the summer due to a decline in sales). In the summer months the HSA is replaced with Geary's Summer. Allagash White, Shipyard Export, Boddington's, Stella Artois, and Guinness have found permanent homes on tap. Paulaner is currently on tap as the weather inches its way towards summer. Seasonals from Shipyard and Casco Bay round out the selection. Bull Feeney's also takes great care to serve each brew in proper glassware. The bottle selection, where you will find the macros, is unimpressive.
I have not had the food at Feeney's as it appears quite expensive for pub fare. The beer prices, on the other hand, are on par with area bars.
★ 1,430 characters
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5
As a frequent visitor to Portland's Old Port and it's myriad bars, I find myself at this lovely Irish pub often. Located on frequently busy Fore Street, Bull Feeney's provides a welcome respite from the work world. Dark wood and comfortable seating provide an inviting atmosphere. The pub provides customers with an upstairs and downstairs bar. The upstairs, while my preferred destination, is usually closed unless it is Friday or Saturday. An open upstairs is certainly necessary as Feeney's becomes quite crowded Friday and Saturday evenings.
The beer selection provides nearly everyone with a choice or two. During the winter months Geary's HSA is poured liberally in 22oz. pint glasses. (I realize this is now a year-round brew, but the bar manager told me they take it off tap in the summer due to a decline in sales). In the summer months the HSA is replaced with Geary's Summer. Allagash White, Shipyard Export, Boddington's, Stella Artois, and Guinness have found permanent homes on tap. Paulaner is currently on tap as the weather inches its way towards summer. Seasonals from Shipyard and Casco Bay round out the selection. Bull Feeney's also takes great care to serve each brew in proper glassware. The bottle selection, where you will find the macros, is unimpressive.
I have not had the food at Feeney's as it appears quite expensive for pub fare. The beer prices, on the other hand, are on par with area bars.
★ 1,430 characters
3.63/5 rDev -3.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Bull Feeny's is a centrally located restaurant and bar on Fore Street in Portland. The Guinness signs in front should be welcoming.
This is a good sized Irish pub. Clean and very comfortable with two levels of dining and bars. The gas fireplace added a great vibe to the atmosphere.
The draught beer selection was solid and every beer I had was fresh. Most beers are poured in nice glassware. This is one place that recognizes the beauty of a 20 oz pint.
Draught selection highlights included Allagash White, Shipyard Winter Ale & Export, Geary's & Geary's Hampshire Ale, and Casco Bay Riptide. I had the Geary's HSA and it was fresh and tasty. Credit must be given to the 20 oz Geary's HSA glass...very nice. There are also many of the typical English and Irish options (Guinness, Bass, Boddingtons, etc.)
Service was a bit shaky and slow. The bartender and some of the waitresses appeared disinterested. Prices are a little on the high side, but the atmosphere makes up for it. Soup and food was served luke warm and waits were way too lengthy.
On the other side, there were some very creative tasty food options. Nice dinner and lunch dishes from seafood, pasta, sandwiches, salads...slightly better than average pub food.
Overall, this place is worth checking out if you are in the area. I would certainly go back and hope the service can be a better experience.
★ 1,387 characters
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Bull Feeny's is a centrally located restaurant and bar on Fore Street in Portland. The Guinness signs in front should be welcoming.
This is a good sized Irish pub. Clean and very comfortable with two levels of dining and bars. The gas fireplace added a great vibe to the atmosphere.
The draught beer selection was solid and every beer I had was fresh. Most beers are poured in nice glassware. This is one place that recognizes the beauty of a 20 oz pint.
Draught selection highlights included Allagash White, Shipyard Winter Ale & Export, Geary's & Geary's Hampshire Ale, and Casco Bay Riptide. I had the Geary's HSA and it was fresh and tasty. Credit must be given to the 20 oz Geary's HSA glass...very nice. There are also many of the typical English and Irish options (Guinness, Bass, Boddingtons, etc.)
Service was a bit shaky and slow. The bartender and some of the waitresses appeared disinterested. Prices are a little on the high side, but the atmosphere makes up for it. Soup and food was served luke warm and waits were way too lengthy.
On the other side, there were some very creative tasty food options. Nice dinner and lunch dishes from seafood, pasta, sandwiches, salads...slightly better than average pub food.
Overall, this place is worth checking out if you are in the area. I would certainly go back and hope the service can be a better experience.
★ 1,387 characters
3.45/5 rDev -8.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5
Since I added it I may as well be the first to review it.
I like this place a lot. There is a big history of John Feeny, the man whose nickname adorns the sign, and how he started several Portland pubs, but I'll let you read it if you go here. This a a slightly upscale version of the Americanized Irish pub. Lots of wood, nice fabric, and fireplaces, which I really dig. The usual assortment of antiqued pics adorn the walls and of course, Guinness signs.
The pub is split in to four distinct areas, the downstairs pub, an upstairs dining room, an upstairs bar, and an upstairs music/drinking room. Off the upstiars bar there is a smaller sitting room with some very nice furniture and a fireplace. There is a rotating schedule of live performers.
Beer wise they have a decent selection. I saw about 12 taps with a lot of the usual Irish/English suspects and a few locals such as Allagash white, HSA, and Shipyard export. They also mix in a couple of macros and Heineken too. The pours are fairly generous in my experience. Pints are $4.50. You can even get half yards if you're feeling it for $9.50.
The food is quite good, albeit slightly overpriced. This night I had the half chicken, which was good, and the rest of my party had fish and chips. They have entrees in the $13-$19 range with a fair amount of sandwich choices for less. Like I said, typical pub fare. Service is a bit slow even when empty.
Overall, a nice place to sit and relax with friends if you aren't in a hurry.
★ 1,500 characters
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5
Since I added it I may as well be the first to review it.
I like this place a lot. There is a big history of John Feeny, the man whose nickname adorns the sign, and how he started several Portland pubs, but I'll let you read it if you go here. This a a slightly upscale version of the Americanized Irish pub. Lots of wood, nice fabric, and fireplaces, which I really dig. The usual assortment of antiqued pics adorn the walls and of course, Guinness signs.
The pub is split in to four distinct areas, the downstairs pub, an upstairs dining room, an upstairs bar, and an upstairs music/drinking room. Off the upstiars bar there is a smaller sitting room with some very nice furniture and a fireplace. There is a rotating schedule of live performers.
Beer wise they have a decent selection. I saw about 12 taps with a lot of the usual Irish/English suspects and a few locals such as Allagash white, HSA, and Shipyard export. They also mix in a couple of macros and Heineken too. The pours are fairly generous in my experience. Pints are $4.50. You can even get half yards if you're feeling it for $9.50.
The food is quite good, albeit slightly overpriced. This night I had the half chicken, which was good, and the rest of my party had fish and chips. They have entrees in the $13-$19 range with a fair amount of sandwich choices for less. Like I said, typical pub fare. Service is a bit slow even when empty.
Overall, a nice place to sit and relax with friends if you aren't in a hurry.
★ 1,500 characters
Bull Feeney's in Portland, ME
3.77
out of 5
based on 31 ratings.
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