We had some friends in town and visited LFK for the first time in a couple of years, and had an awful experience. What I once considered a great spot for locals has turned into a place I have no desire to go back to, entirely because of the behavior of the bartenders. It looks like others are catching on because we went on a Thursday night in the summer and the place was nearly empty. My martini was fine, which is the only reason this isn't a one-star review, but the bartender was rude for absolutely no reason; borderline belligerent. I was so embarrassed and kept reassuring our friends that people in Maine are NOT like this. In a city that prides itself on incredible hospitality, I was genuinely shocked. By 12:30am the bartender started making shady comments about the patrons, including us. By 12:40 we were told to get out, with the worst attitude, and an unnecessary five-second countdown to chug our drinks. They had the place locked up by 12:50am, even though they were supposed to stay open until 1am. Never have I experienced anything like this in Portland. We will not be going back. read more

Best spot for a night cap, chatting, playing cards, and recapping the day with friends! Make sure to check for drink deals on the menu! If you come with a group there is semi limited seating! read more

LFK - Pickleback white claw - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

We're visiting from the South and have been nothing but friendly and generous during our time here. Almost every experience in Portland has been warm and welcoming -- until this one. At this establishment, we were made to feel unwelcome simply for being Southerners. It was disappointing and honestly a little heartbreaking. Our country feels divided enough already, and this kind of attitude doesn't help bridge that gap. We came to Portland to feel connected and to experience the city's reputation for openness and inclusion -- but that spirit was missing here. We won't be returning, and I truly hope the staff reflects on how small comments or attitudes can make people feel excluded. Hospitality should bring people together, not push them apart. read more

Overpriced to begin with, added an extra 20% to the 20% tip I gave. Staff was not great.

We went around 7pm on a Friday night and the place was full but we still got 2 seats at the bar. Very cool vibe, hip but not trendy. Bartender was very easy to interact with. Not overly attentive, just right. The Says Me cocktail with sesame imbued vodka was really good!! Perfectly sesame-y without being cloying or weird. Lamb gyro delicious (lamb tasty, perfect amount of tzatziki and super soft and fresh pita). Poutine yummy though one point off for not having vinegar available. Chili ok, nothing special. Overall, just love the feel... fun, not crazy loud, mellow but alive. Would definitely go again. read more

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This place has their own vibe for sure. They have a large bar and then tables at random spots all over. Their food is decent, and their cocktails are very interesting. They have many shot and beer combos. If I'm in the area I'll stop by for a drink and to see if it's busy or not. The service is decent but not overly friendly. read more

LFK - Bar area - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Definitely a certain kind of vibe, but when you're walking around late at night with some friends, this is a great place to stop in. They have a jar of prompts/confessions that I HIGHLY recommend browsing through. The prompts change, but the shock value does not. Definitely entertaining. Staff was friendly and the drinks were nice! read more

Wouldn't recommend "Bart E". He Profiled me with a capital P. I rushed in because I had to pee, and he told me "I marched in like I owned the place", proceeded to be rude. He was also grinding marijuana at the bar at like 5pm. Indeed, wouldn't recommend Bart E. Only gave 2 stars because I've been to this location before and it's visually appealing. Every once in a while you might get average service. read more

Good spot. Chill vibe. Good music. Low lighting. Vegetarian options that aren't trash. Open late. Cheap drinks. Or fancy cocktails.

Fun, hip, Chill bar. Great drinks, funky music - nice people, highly recommended. Close to city downtown attractions read more

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LFK was ok. Dark and cramped once the crowd picked up. Not really my vibe but the cocktails were good. Food options are available but I was just stopping in to see what it was all about. May give it another try next time I'm in Portland so hopefully if I'm there at another time of day my results will be better than my first visit. read more

I really enjoyed the interior of this place, though I chose to sit outside. The handsome bar staff encouraged me to seat myself where I wanted. He also guided me to the right tap beer and AMAZING grilled sandwich. Definitely more than the average bar experience. I can tell the place fills up later, yet I was there early on. Enjoy! And tip your staff! read more

LFK - Chicken sandwich - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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I've only been here a couple of times. Neither experience was great. The space is cool, but during visit #1, the bartender rolled his eyes and made an under-his-breath comment about my choice of beer. It would be one thing to make a playful joke, but this guy came off as contemptuous. The second time, I was with a group, had taken a couple of sips of my second beer, and stepped outside to take a phone call outside. I was outside for all of five minutes. When I returned to my seat, my nearly-full beer was gone... one of the servers had whisked it away, even though I'd left my bag by my chair. This does not inspire me to want to come back a third time. read more

This bar has been a staple in my life since moving to Portland. I love the eclectic vibe, from the type writers to the different seating areas to the funky art that you'll find throughout. I relate this bar to my personal style, which is probably part of why i love it here. Every time I'm there I am delighted by finding something new that I'd never noticed before. On top of all that, the drinks are great! I've heard that the food is good as well, and every time I'm there I look at the menu and lament that the kitchen has already closed. It is my new mission to come for a meal here; maybe even try their Sunday brunch! Back to the drinks- there is always a good mix of beer and cocktail options, and some combinations of shots/beer with great names. My go to is the west end mule, which has bourbon, lime, mint and ginger beer! read more

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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. read more

LFK - Breakfast hash at LFK - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Food was good I'll give them that and it is the only reason they have a 3 star from me. Surly would be the word that comes to mind when describing the service. Too many good restaurants in Portland to go back to LFK. read more

This past weekend, with a couple friends, we came to LFK for dinner. Prior to this, I had a couple friends recommend this place and their food. Given the recommendations, I anticipated that this would be your typical dining experience..... NOPE. Walking into LFK, I immediately thought that I was in a coffee shop type place. They have a fairly open concept design with various tables sporadically placed throughout. There was certainly no specific dining agenda here. After a minute or two of standing around we realized that it was a seat yourself type of place. Most of the tables here are rather large and the anticipation is that people will share tables. We ended up finding a table towards the back which we shared with several other people whom were seated at the opposite end. After sitting down, one of the staff members approached us to provide some food menus and drink menus. They had several cocktail options and various beers on their menu. I chose to go with the margarita for my drink which was tasty. The food menu offered a variety of sandwiches, burgers, pizzas and more. I ordered the Arturo Belano's Burger and my husband ordered the Cluck be a Lady pizza. I found my burger to just be okay. It was cooked the way I wanted and it had all of the appropriate ingredients that I expected. However, for some reason I just found it lacking something. It may have also been because I took a slice of my husbands pizza. The Cluck be a Lady pizza was absolutely delicious. The crust was soft and had this nice herb blend which is just the way I like it. The pizza was also generously topped and had mouthwatering flavor. I'm pretty sure that this amazing pizza is why I found my burger underwhelming. The pizza was also really large and only $15 which I thought was very reasonable given the size. The service here was okay. Our server was extremely kind but he seemed a little out of it. However, he was always nearby and able to assist when we needed. Hands down, if you come here, make sure you get a pizza! read more

This review is based solely on the drinks! (Will re-review upon returning)! Ordered the west end mule and the Tommy's margarita. This place is great for drinks on any day of the week. Enjoyed our night here. Drinks are a bit pricey ~$10 for just average drinks read more

LFK - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

It blows my mind that this place doesn't have more stars. Their food is UNBELIEVABLE! It's the best chicken sandwich I've ever had. The Caesar salad is also incredible. I will forever recommend the food here, they don't miss! read more

LFK isn't one of those restaurants with a clear aesthetic...however, it kind of works in their favor. Being in a prime location on the West End of Portland, LFK has large open windows and a fairly large venue to seat and host a decent amount of people. On a recent trip to LFK, a group of friends and I walked in and were not greeted by any staff members. So we went to the bar and asked if we could grab a spot to eat. The bartenders casually stated that we could sit anywhere, which totally reflected the chill, hipster vibe that LFK exudes. We seated ourselves down at the end of a table and we were quickly greeted by our waiter, who has incredibly nice and answered all of our questions. We ordered our drinks, and then placed some orders for food. LKF's menu was also quirky, but fun. They have a wide variety of appetizers, pizza, burgers, and sandwiches. I ended up ordering the "Chick Be a Lady" pizza, which had chicken, scallions, and a spicy sauce on it. The pizza was large and could easily be shared by two people, and my counterpart and I ordered fries to go along with our meals. The fries were crispy and thin! Overall, I appreciate all that LFK has to offer. When I think about dining in the Portland area, will it be the first restaurant that comes to mind? No, however, I would come here on a casual night for some drinks and late-night eats! read more

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A very cozy bar. The vibe is chill, it's usually not too loud, the food is pretty good (the burgers and pizza especially) and everything is pretty reasonably priced. It's a good place to just hang out for a bit, relax, hang with a friend or maybe read a book. Order the pizza early if you want it, though-it's usually a 45 minute wait, but it's big enough for 3 people and good enough that I'd go there just for that plus a beer and a roof over my head. It stands for Lawrence F*cking Kennedy, by the way. No idea what it actually means. read more

This place is great. The people are fun The staff is friendly! Love the curly fries . the spicey Margaritas were fabtastic . I am looking forward to trying a pizza The Ambience was amazing . They Had Bob Ross on The Big screen !!!!!! I must come back with someone soon I loved the couch seat right near the door The music was great too . Thanks blessings Rock on with 20 billion Vegan cheese socks on. Hope to see yall soon . read more

If you choose to go there, while you wait to get your food you can watch the staff standing by the bar chatting. If you attempt to order to pick up, you can make half a dozen calls as we did two nights in a row. The first night we thought they were busy. so we walked there to place the order. Being busy was not the problem, just too lazy to answer the phone was the problem. The second night we chose to order someplace else. There are far too many restaurants in Portland to go to any place that cares that little about their customers. read more

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. read more

LFK - Clipboards and table crates. - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Came here for a quick drink at the bar while waiting for a table at Boda. I don't know why I've never been here before! I loved the vibe, they had crazy art and lights and funk music playing. It felt very casual and laid back. We were able to order the drink and get the check quickly when our wait ended up being shorter than anticipated, even though it was a Saturday night. Actually it was kind of perfect for a Saturday night because it was crowded enough to feel fun, but not so crowded that we couldn't get a seat. I really liked my cocktail and it was delicious and noticeably cheaper than some of the higher end cocktail places ($9 I think?) but I had to slam it so we could get to dinner. I'll have to keep this place in mind the next time I'm looking for a laid back bar to meet with friends. Can't speak for the food, we only had drinks. read more

LFK - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

I can't give this a full five stars yet because the last four times we have been the kitchen hasn't been running at full capacity. It currently has a very limited menu, as an avid meat eater though, the vegan chili is really good and very well priced! The bar is very cool and hip, a great place to grab drinks with friends. We really enjoy the vibe, it comes off as effortlessly cool, hip and welcoming. read more

I must say, LFK is kind of a letdown for being in such a great location and having such a unique décor and ambience. The service I've experienced here is generally slow and by servers who seem irritated when customers arrive. The food is usually served in small portions for the price. (The last time I went, my friend ordered a $7 mac and cheese that was about the size of a half-cup.) The drinks are not too bad, but they tend to be slightly pricier than surrounding bars. Overall, I'd suggest LFK for maybe one drink if you have a few extra dollars to spend. Otherwise, I'd skip it and head over to another local place with better service and a better menu. read more

Are you looking for a place to go in toms, a sweatshirt and rocking a beanie on a Friday night, then this is your place. Got there around 8pm last night snagged the end of the table for a party of four. Waiter was very attentive and we had super quick service. I enjoyed a boomsauce and a smile. Shortly after we ordered dinner I got the Vegan Pot Pie and I wanted so dearly to love it I really did because it's not something I usually see in the menu, but it was so incredibly peppery it was really all I could taste. Two people had burgers which they said were good and they were served with a bag of chips, another person ordered a bowl of Mac and cheese which he said was okay but the price for the portion wasn't worth it. It is an okay spot. I would go back for sure. As a side note...It was really really loud, my ears were happy when we finally walked out. read more

LFK - Vegan Pot Pie - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

LFK is the kind of place that grows on you. The first time I visited, I thought the scene was too funky for me personally. Then, I went back to hang out with friends and over that visit I started to "get" LFK. While there's no denying that this is a "hipster bar," you'll find people from all walks gathering in this spot. Their cheeseburger with pimento on a pretzel bun is my favorite "go to," and their German potato salad is the BEST I've ever had. Their tater tots are delicious but come in small portions. You can find a fancy cocktail if that's what you're looking for, but you also won't have the waiter turn their nose up if you get a $3 Tecate. There's a pretty cool poem on the bar spelled out in Typewriter keys -- a subtle and artsy surprise! Make sure you check out their selection of games too -- it took me a while to realize that they had them. read more

This place is a 10! From the decor to the music to the absinthe on the menu to the funky waitresses. Never disappointed. read more

LFK - The scene - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

This secret casual restaurant have everything for you to choose, I got a deviled egg and it was just a delicious creature.

Oh LFK. I remember when you opened, your delicious cocktails and your ahead of the game burger. Those were the good old days. I was hooked. Then things changed, I didn't return for a while. The vibe had changed and didn't seem as welcoming as the original days. Well, my coworkers and I returned on a Monday evening, before our meal at a nearby restaurant. I figured after a few years, maybe things had changed? They haven't. I came in after two of my friends, then we ordered happy hour cocktails, the margarita is why this place gets two stars. I was impressed by the lack sweet flavor, and the perfect balance of tequila and lime. We sat and waited for our fourth to arrive, then drank our cocktails and opened a few gifts. The place was almost empty and we were only staying for a drink. Our server was a tall man with a beard and hat. He was fairly attentive during the time we ordered drinks. As we were leaving, the door, which is clearly old and warped from moisture, was left open. It was one of those scenarios where you walk out and you think there is one more person behind you, but there isn't. Additionally, there is no auto close, the bottom rubs the ground, and clearly it needs a "quick fix". But instead, when people leave the door open, their "quick fix" is to yell at people as they are walking away. Our server popped his head out the door and yelled "after all that, you still left the door open!" After all what? Giving you a good tip, staying for a mere 45 mins, not leaving the place dirty? After all, we clearly are giant jerks for unintentionally leaving a broken door ajar. Here is what I would like to say to LFK which also mirrors other reviews I have read. STOP BEING RUDE! This is customer service, you are a bar, not perfection university. Your clientele is literally people who have been drinking. After drinking you have bad judgement, you forget things. It's a fact. So if you want your door perfectly closed each time I have a solution: Fix the door! Stop yelling at the customers, one of which (me) will not be returning. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

First time, last time. I came up to Portland for NYE and decided to come in for a quick drink with my group prior to dinner and the tall skinny stick wearing polka dots and a black vest working the bar was incredibly rude. Acted as if we were an annoyance and were beneath him. The rest of the staff was extremely kind and attentive but unfortunately were not enough to rescue this review. read more

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. :) read more

LFK - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Best lamb gyro ever and great craft cocktails! I can't believe this place doesn't have higher ratings. Great experience and late night food.

BEST BAR IN PORTLAND!!!!! Everyone on staff is a babe (especially that tall guy). They give AMAZING service and make SPECTACULAR drinks. The music is always something really cool and eclectic. This is a great place for groups (sweet booths and couches) but it's also a nice place to go alone and take yourself on a date (sit at the bar or in the window). If it's still light out, I recommend checking out the selection of books in the book cases. I picked up Bram Stoker's Dracula and couldn't put it down. I heard the place used to be a bookstore? Finally, I'd be remiss not to mention the food here. You might not expect it, but LFK is a great dinner option, too. They have awesome pizza and burgers, along with light snacks and apps. They even have vegan options! read more

Ignore anyone who said bad things. Great drinks, chill vibe - awesome lamb gyro. If someone complained it's likely because they either don't have patience or don't respect the concept. read more