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

This is a bad wannabe of a Brooklyn dive bar. Food is good- hence the 2nd star but the menu is small and nothing special. The waitresses are snarky, again, for no reason. Wannabe BK. read more

Listen, I'm a simple girl with simple desires. I like gin in my gimlets and service with a smile. Or not even a smile, but something a little more positive than what I received last night. I was so excited to hear about this place. Cocktails in coupes, which is my preference of stemware, sounded promising. Old books, typewriters, gothic fonts, I dig it all. And the interior is great. It's beautiful albeit with tons of wasted space. The communal tables are fine, but kind of annoying when there is a couple at your communal table groping each other. I would also recommend bathrooms that lock. Just a suggestion, although it may not be hip enough for these guys. There is probably a camera at the bathroom to film awkward altercations that result from no locks. What really bothered me was the service. I will drink a subpar gimlet, especially served in a coupe, but not if you make me feel bad about ordering it. If you are lauding yourself as some kind of nuvo apothicarian prohibition situation, you need to be okay when someone asks for a cocktail and not a bottled beer. The two manchilds behind the bar were rude and obnoxious and it felt like the customers were really ruining their day by being there and ordering drinks. Guess what guys? It's a small town. 8.5 for a cocktail in Portland is on the pricier side. Will I pay it? OF COURSE. But I'd rather drink it somewhere that they are happy to serve it to me. So maybe I'm just getting old and can't appreciate hip for hipness' sake, but I would say go somewhere else. There's nothing to see here. xoxo lcf read more

I'm seeing all of the reviews and I didn't think this bar was a paramount of bartender dickheadery as everyone is saying. Maybe that's because I live in Portland, OR where all restaurant and bar service is notoriously bad, but still.....I thought this place was kind of a dandy! (Please accompany that last word with a British accent and an enthusiastic knee slap.) After some bar closings, etc. I think Portland, ME needed a new cool hipster bar, and this place answers that call. It was formerly a really cool old bookstore that, in my 24 years of living in Maine, somehow always wanted to, but never visited......but now that it serves booze and has been open for 3 seconds, I was all over it. The decor is amazing- -they really transformed that space, plus it's outside of the immediate downtown bar block, so you don't have 21 year old girls puking on your shoes and belligerant frat guys trying to not-so-surreptitiously fight you and your mom while you're walking back from a nice dinner. The food menu is creative and well-done, and you can see into the kitchen which I like, because then you can make sure that if the cooks are having a bad night or fighting the the waitstaff, your food doesn't wind up in the crossfire and find itself intentionally peppered with DNA. Hepatitis is a fun word to say, but that's where the buck stops. Per usual, since I'll drink anything, I gave the bartenders a really obscurely vague drink order request...."I want something clean and not fizzy" or "I'm feeling stressed out" or "anything but gin." If people can take my interpretive dance of a drink order and manifest something delicious (not drinkable, but actually good), then you've basically been initiated into my own personal non-existent, made up, pseudo schizophrenic group that exists only in my head, the Booze Knights of the Roundtable.....who bravely defend good bartending and mixology. The two bartenders that were working when I paid my visit were familiar faces in the Portland bar scene (for an old booze bag like me who's been at it for a while). The ginger gent used to work at Gritty's and then at the now-defunct White Heart. The giant of a man bartended at the similarly-defunct Havana Club (Havana's?), or whatever the hell it was called. And that concludes your Portland bartender biography of those two. I'm not really sure how to end this review. So I'll end it abruptly. Right. Now. read more

The place was nearly full at 7pm on a Sunday in December. Halfway through my juicy burger I noticed that the other patrons were thrift shop chic, and staring at me from behind thick-framed eyeglasses. They sipped beer from tallboy cans... waiting. The rustle of a plaid shirt at my back alerted me just in time to avoid the outstretched arms of a smallish hipster. He was startled by my sudden movement and sullenly pantomimed lighting a cigarette. "No I don't have any cigarettes," I shouted, "COPD is not cool even in an ironic way!" He made a grab for my pocket, so I boxed his ears. Disoriented, he shambled off to his next target. I continued to power through my burger, and by the time I had finished, the other half of my table had been filled by a group of four. Tables at LFK are communal, meaning you cannot hide from friendly strangers even whilst stuffing your gob. One of the newcomers, an attractive female specimen of a hipster, noticed me bobbing my head along with the music blaring from the sound system. She emitted a low growl that sounded something like "NOT BON IVER". The jig was up. Before you could say "arctic monkeys" the entire room was on its feet shuffling towards me, movement restricted by skinny jeans. I threw some bills down, vaulted over the table and made for the door. Our waiter (who was completely competent and friendly) called thanks for a generous tip as I scattered hipsters like bowling pins and fled into the night. I'm pretty sure I was bitten. Ever since that night I have been plagued by a desire to listen to Vampire Weekend, and to return to LFK for another burger. This is ground zero of the hipsterpocalypse. You've been warned. read more

the drinks and atmosphere are great. however, a bartender with a beard and earrings yelled at me and made me instantly uncomfortable. He ruined my night out with friends by being rude, angry, and clearly drunk. The other employees are super nice though! read more

Wow, so much hate for such a cozy, well-designed bar. It seems that 'hipster' has morphed into a pejorative term that broadly embodies anything that falls into realm of being excessively obscure or niche, artistic, detailed, egocentric, superficial, 'subversively' trendy, or weirdly socially conscious. We now use this term to describe almost everything that deviates from the prefabricated mainstream, and it's become such a tired trope. If my choices are between that and the '2 for $20' deal at Appleby's or 'unlimited breadsticks' at Olive Garden, then I'll choose hipster any day of the week. Feel free to move from Portland, ME to Bloomington, MN (home of the 'Mall of 'Merica) in your Dodge Stratus if you disagree. I like that LFK honors literature. This is the former home of Cunningham books, and so I imagine that coupled with HW Longfellow himself (portrait on the wall) is how they've arrived at their cryptic name (in some way) and theme. I like that it's a very darkly-lit and intimate place. And I've had great conversations with complete strangers here. I like the recurring typewriter theme. From the typewriter in the back to the wrought iron (?) block type letters that wrap around the bar, it give LFK a very artistic feel; someone has certainly put a little thought into this place. I like their strong a** mulled cider drinks. Wow. I feel like it might be 4 parks whiskey to 1 part cider. Keep 'em coming. And then please call me a cab. I also like their taps - other reviewers mentioned that they were mostly IPAs, but that was not the case when I ordered. I found them to be quite diverse. Two out of the three times I've had great bar service. One of the bartenders (who resembles what I imagine Henry Rollins looked like 25 years ago) was extremely chatty and friendly, and shared a few of his infused cherries with us. Very helpful with the drink menu as well. There is another gentleman who seems very ambivalent to providing customer service, and so it took us about 5+ minutes to get our drink order in. Hence the 4 star review. I find this to be a great place to grab a drink before a reservation at Petit Jacqueline, Pan Men Miyake, or whatever other restaurant happens to be nearby. I haven't tried the food because of the wealth of options nearby, but I plan to one of these days. If you hate this place because they use crates for tables, or because they use typewriters as decorations, or because they have clipboards for menus, then what are you really looking for in a local (read: non-chain) place if not for these distinct, personalized touches? If this place is too 'hipster' for you, don't worry - I believe there's a 7-11 or a McDonald's nearby. read more

LKF seems to have lost its appeal to me. The last few times I've been, I wasn't impressed. The bar is still inviting, and comfortable. Great drink selection, and they make a perfect hot toddy. The food quality seems to be diminishing, as well as the menu... They had a fantastic beet salad that I loved, but it is gone. The mac and cheese is now very greasy. The black bean hummus I loved is now $14?!? For HUMMUS?? Its chickpeas! There is also an obnoxious waiter, that always puts on a show. He may think it is charming, but I literally dread having him walk over to the table. Its just uncomfortable to "talk" to him. Sill a good place to catch a drink when its not overly crowded, and that server isn't there... read more

Meh. The space is certainly nice, though with a bit too much of the "too cool for school" hipster vibe. Many thick glasses and skinny jeans. The shapely waitress (Server ID: 5) was very friendly, and busty, though my Negroni was sub par. Way too much gin for a drink that is supposed to be equal parts. Very disappointing. It's a damn simple recipe. For $8, I expect that you'd know a common drink, especially one with equal proportions of three ingredients. There's a communal table situation which is just plain awkward for everyone involved. It's not a German beer hall... people want to some modicum of privacy in a cocktail bar. It's New England: not a hippie commune. I might give them another try, but not for awhile. If you're looking for a good cocktail, go across the street to Local 188 where they know what they're doing. read more

I always used to say that if the food was decent then I could forgive a lot of failings. Well, this is the first time I have to say that the service, and many of the hipsterpocalypse crowd, made any palatable food insignificant. And the food was just palatable. I agree with recent review, the food was cold, tastes were bland and uninspiring. Bartenders are such posers it is laughable. And they sure ignore you with finess. Nice decor, but that is it. There are so many other welcoming choices in the area. This one is not one of them. They have had plenty of time to improve or sell out to better, smarter owners. read more

The place is new so yes, kinks to work out and I would love to see a cocktail menu (I am told is in development) but this place has become my new favorite and I will most likely be a regular. Oddly enough, it is difficult to make my weird martini request with perfection, but they nailed it. I have tried several dishes and each one is both accessible yet unique and interesting. The LFK burger is amazing. So theres that. Call me shallow but I like my bartenders to be attractive, both the guys and the ladies and this is another bonus. Eye-candy is essential. I may have been drinking that strong martini but, whatever, it's all good. More importantly, everyone is extremely friendly and happy. Yay! On the decor: interesting, dark, typewriters, books! What I'd not to love! The atmosphere is amazing. Overall, the place is classy yet unpretentious. read more

Cute little neighborhood watering hole. VERY nice bar. Bartenders always seem a little swamped at all times---but are incredibly nice. They have a solid alcoholic ginger beer that I recommend: Crabbie's. It's a good hop away from our sushi spot, and they offer vegan specials, desserts and A menu that I wouldn't frown on. You'll see a good mix of age groups---which thank god for that. Spring special: watermelon shaved ice. read more

Overrated. The beer is good, but the selection not as extensive as advertised and on par with any other bar in Portland. The food is poor. I ordered chicken wings on the recommendation of multiple friends and the waitress. Food came out lukewarm to cool. The outside was mushy and definitely not crisp. The sauce had some super duper adjectives but was just plain BBQ. The staff is so/so. The bartenders are super trendy, tatted up, bearded, but nice enough. The waitresses are kind, but inexperienced and overworked and couldn't keep up with pace. Place is cramped and decorations random with typewriters, old cushioned chairs, fake bookshelves etc. Meh. I've experienced better. read more

Hip, cozy, sexy ambiance. I'll take it. I came here for the first time last night, which happened to be the bar's 1 year anniversary. A handful of nervous local writers read from their poetry and prose while I sipped away on a tantalizing libation combining gin, elderflower, grapefruit and prosecco - all the ingredients for a pretty damn enjoyable cocktail. My next and last drink was less impressive but looked good on paper - a cloyingly sweet combination of ginger beer, strawberry, balsamic and whatever other components I'm forgetting. But back to the bar - service was quick, the layout is great - lots of seating, long bar, bookshelves galore. Menu looked amazing and rumor has it LFK does a damn fine brunch. I'm only in town for two days but wouldn't mind hitting this up again. read more

The hipster vibe here is hilariously off-the-charts. Should IFC ever create an east coast version of Portlandia, this would be the main production set. It's the type of vibe where you expect to see the bartenders to spin 7-inch vinyl exclusively - and of course, only from artists that press their own records. I generally dress like a yuppie when i go out but share a lot of the musical and entertainment tastes with the hipster crowd, so I don't feel totally out of place here. Once the bartenders realize you can speak their language, they warm up a bit, even though they clearly disapproved of my wardrobe. And they have a very solid beer list. I discovered a couple of new ones here on my last visit that I was very excited about. Food wise, the menu is light but what they do make is quite good. The burger is easily among the juiciest I've had. not sure how they do it, but they've ruined me for burgers elsewhere in the city. The apps we got were very good as well...I remember some sort of hummus plate, whatever - it was good, just overshadowed by the main event. By mid-way through the meal, I found myself enjoying the company of the bartenders, talking beer and music. The guy even smiled and said thanks when he noticed the tip I left upon signing out. Nice! As for the clientele...are you man/woman enough to handle an overload of ironic black rim glasses and Alf shirts? Can you stomach watching a sea of unkempt beards in mesh trucker hats reading Hardy Boys books as they sip from pounder cans of Hamm's (because PBR is too mainstream now - gotta pick an even crappier beer to be legit.) Then don't be frightened. If you catch them glaring at you, glare right back with greater force, or better yet, say hello - they'll look away so you can go back to enjoying the hilarity of it all, along with some good food and beer. read more

I came here when it first opened and immediately fell in love with the aesthetic. I mean, throw some vintage typewriters and antiques in a room and I'm there. Even the bar is decorated with typewriter keys. Pretty neat if you ask me. Having come here a handful of times now I really can't complain about the service. In fact, one of the waitresses is especially attentive and amazing. She was patient with our big group as we slowly made our way through drinks and an appetizer here and there, she constantly refilled our water glasses, AND had a wonderful sense of humor through it all. Big fan of the cocktails and beer selection. Especially love that they carry Crabbie's alcoholic ginger beer. SO good and extra refreshing on a sticky day. The reuben is incredible, great burger, decent mac & cheese, and my BF said the steak was deeelish. Will be going back soon! read more

After running the Old Port Half Marathon (awesome!) in Portland, I went out with friends in search of a nearby restaurant serving brunch on Sunday around 10:30am. I figured we would be way out of luck - that's primetime brunching hour, no? When we got to Longfellow square, we discovered LFK - that had a big banner outside announcing it was serving brunch. Sweet! We entered and that's where the strangeness ensued. Upon entering, we didn't quite know what to do - there was nobody seated in the restaurant, no sign telling us if we should wait for a host/hostess or just grab a table. After a few awkward moments some guy reading a newspaper at the bar (the bartender? The owner) shouted out "hey, you guys have been here before - you know the drill" - to which I thought, actually no. I've never been here before. I don't know the drill. Man, do you have to make me WORK for my food? After another moment of awkwardness he shouted out "just grab any table." Okay, that we could do. So we did. After some time had passed, along came a hipster waiter/bartender with menus. This being a friendly type of bar/lounge/restaurant (or so I gather) he sat right down with us and proceeded to give us the dish on the menu. Nice tats, pretty enough - we didn't mind a little informality. When he asked us if we wanted anything to drink, we ordered coffee. When I asked if I could have milk instead of cream, the waiter looked like I was from another planet. "Actually, I don't think so" was his reply. I'm to gather they don't have milk in a restaurant that serves brunch? Whatever! I told him black would be fine. When he brought the coffee over in tin camping-style cups, he warned us that the metal would be excruciatingly hot and that we'd best grab the cups by the handles or risk injury. We appreciated the warning and the element of danger added to the novelty. I ordered the granola, fresh fruit and Greek yogurt for brunch - hey, I'd just run over 13 miles, I wasn't exactly hungry or in the mood for a heavy meal. I made a request for no cantaloupe (I despise the stuff) and was told it wouldn't be a problem. My friends ordered the eggs Benedict and some sort of cheesy, meatless quiche. They also ordered a few cocktails, which turned out to be a smart move as the food took a little while to get to the table. When it did arrive, I was less than enthused by my granola. Look, I'm not expecting the most AMAZING granola and yogurt when I go out to eat, but if you're going to have something on your menu, at least TRY to make it special. This was like someone opened a container of yogurt, slapped some in a bowl, tossed a few blueberries, apple bits and tons of melon on it, sprinkled it SO VERY LIGHTLY with granola and called it a day. For nine bucks. Nine bucks for this? Thankfully the egg dishes my friends ordered were reported as tasty. So we ate. And then the waiting really began. I don't know about you, but I can't stand waiting around for a waiter to collect plates/leave a check after eating. After about 10 minutes of us sitting at the table, we finally flagged our waiter as he passed by and asked for the check. Soon we were on our merry way - my friends relatively pleased with the drinks and food, me wanting to stop for some fresh fruit so I could make a better yogurt snack when we got back to the apartment. All in all this place was fine. But it needs some work. read more

I have been wanting to try this place because it's not far from where we live and every time I drive by, it looks hopping! Although I have been a little hesitant to check it out because it seemed overly hipster.. and possibly "too cool"... and too crowded! But I had a Living Social coupon which was a good excuse to go. I was pleasantly surprised by my first time there tonight. We went in around 6:45/7pm (Thursday) and there were a number of places to seat... and it was definitely not overly hipster or pretentious. It was quite nice. Beautiful large windows and a nice overall vibe. I splurged on a bubbly beverage (the prosecco cocktail) and was not disappointed. And let me just say, the cheeseburger (we had it with pimento cheese) was OUT OF THIS WORLD delicious!!! Wow... I haven't had a burger that good in quite some time. Very juicy and just all the flavors, whatever they were, melded together... oh, and the pretzel bun was a nice touch. The German potato salad that comes as a side was also excellent (and the pickle too), although I would have liked a slighly more generous scoop of the potato salad. All around, it was a very pleasant and delicious evening. I will definitely go back. read more

Love it here, great vibes! Affordable drinks, quick service and tasty food. Have yet to find a better spot on the west end. Just wish they'd turn down the music dial a half turn read more

I went to this spot on a slower Thursday night with a friend of mine to grab a quick drink like we usually do during the week. After sitting at the we waiting to get a drink and after a bit of a wait we ordered two beer and a shot combos. After drinking those in the span of a few minutes we expected to be asked if we wanted anything else as the bar was pretty slow. We were not checked on, spoken to or waited on by either one of the two employees tending bar. After 20 minutes of trying to get some service we had given up and wanted our check. After finally getting the attention of the bartender, he took my card and ran it so I could pay and he for some reason felt the need to throw the note pad in front of me without saying a word. All of that being said, none of this would have bothered me if the bar wasn't so slow. My friend is also African American and I couldn't help but feel the extremely negative racial undertones of our experience at lfk. From the moment we walked in, neither one of us felt welcomed to be there. I took to this platform in the hopes to help those employees understand that making someone feel comfortable and not less another customer is very important. Most of my friends are African American, I'm mixed myself and the experience was so poor that I can't say I'll be returning to or recommending lfk any time soon. read more

Great burgers and great Mac and Cheese Small, but good beer selection. Small, but Cocktail selection. The outside seating area is nice, wish there was more of it. It's really a hipster hotspot that can become overcrowded on busy nights. Service can be slow at times, so don't go if you're in a rush. read more

I've been into LFK 3 times over the last few months, and have nothing to complain about. I see a lot of low marks for service, but I have not experienced any issues while visiting. It should be noted that during two out of my 3 visits I sat at the bar. I've had the burger as well as the Reuben twice now. They are served on the same bun with the same sides. I found both to be fantastic offerings. Burger + Bacon was juicy and delicious. Reuben is piled ridiculously high with meat. If I were to change anything I might shovel a little more kraut in there and take a slice or two of meat off. The potato salad is fantastic and I often hate potato salad. Then there are the scrumptious sour mustard pickles. Last time I went I marched myself down to the public market house and bought a large container full. I'm always impressed with the draft list, and there are some tasty cocktail offerings as well. I've got no mustache nor do my pants taper to expose my calves in anyway and I never felt out of place here so I'm not sure where all the negative hipster sentiment comes from. Maybe I'm not there at the right times? read more

I knew I should have stayed away from this place right from the start, but I gave it 10 or so visits from summer through a few weeks ago anyway. This is due to the fact that the food is pretty good, I like the beer selection that changes through out the evening and they are conveniently located for my girlfriend and I. LFK also has a pretentious hipster vibe for those who are into that. The table service here can be pretty wonky at times, but it pales in comparison to the terrible service you will find at the bar. I'm not sure what makes the bar worse, waiting for 10 minutes to be acknowledged or the bar tenders general rude demeanor as if you are bothering them taking a seat at the bar. If you find yourself in this section of town, I highly suggest trying Pai Men, Boda or Local 188. read more

I love the atmosphere and drinks here a lot and that's what I would recommend coming here for. Many of my friends have eaten here and have come back with sub-par reviews so I figured I'd stop in for a drink while reading my book and grab something small to nibble on. As a crazed charcuterie fan, the cheese plate seemed the perfect accompaniment. Luckily it was served with fruits, nuts and crostini because that cheese was far too pretentious for my pallette. Two (not one but TWO) types of blue cheese and the other, a rank and stank soft cheese. I'm not a fan of blue cheese but tried a bit each, the softer and firmer, both of which tasted exactly as the other - seemed rather redundant. As for the other, I'm a big fan of stanky cheese - the smellier, the better - but this was akin to a thick skin found on top of an old jug of milk then left in the sun until terribly rancid and served "fresh" for your "enjoyment". All my friends (literally every friend I have that has eaten here) have all commented on how pretentious and sub-par the food is and they are all absolutely correct. I love this place for the drinks, atmosphere and crowd which is typically late 20s thru mid 30s. It's warm, comfortable and inviting. But for Christ's sake, don't eat the food! read more

I'll never write a review about the second time I went to a place unless my initial perspective has been violently altered and as such, this was my first trip to LFK. Situated in the old Longfellow Books storefront, I found it to have a rustic feel. Drinks weren't expensive for the area, and I had a Stone Chocolate Stout, which was delicious (with a boozy kick!). The bartender was friendly and only as attentive as she needed to be, ie. perfect. Most importantly for the beer selection was the availability on tap! Although "extensive" isn't an appropriate description, "original" is. I've not seen that list in a bar ever, and as someone who enjoys originality over all else: this is a massive compliment. Thank you for your hospitality! read more

OMG OMG OMG!!! This place serves up a mean Baltic Porter (Bull Jagger) and has also nailed cooking. I went in on a cold day, and after reading the description, I had to try the bacon wrapped meatloaf...WOW!!!!!!! It was so good I consumed nearly the whole thing...even though others may have been able to share this entree which came with killer mashed potatoes. I got an order of the bacon (you probably see a theme here) mac-n-cheese. Wholly Mac-a-molly... THIS IS THE BEST MAC I HAVE EVER TRIED. We tried to get it later in our trip but they don't open till 4pm and we had other plans. Do yourself a favor and try this place. I liked the ambiance as well, but it wasn't crowded. read more

Place was decorated well and bartenders were cool and fun to talk to. I was in town for business and the woman gave me ideas of stuff to check out while I was in town. The food was underwhelming. The only meat based burger had a pretzel bun and in my opinion it was pretty gross. Very unsatisfying. The side I decided to go with was "their version of a tater tot". The side was three round tater tots and that is all. I left hungry. All in all the place was interesting and they had good beer. I'm thankful for the experience but I wish I spent my $30 somewhere else. read more

Hmmm... LFK must not have left a very big impression on me because until a few minutes ago, I'd forgotten I'd been there! I have a terrible memory so maybe this is just par for the course but in thinking about it, I'd say that my visit to LFK was pretty unremarkable - except for the nice company and friendly but disappearing bartender. My friend and I went to LFK during Happy Hour but at LFK, there is no happy hour. How disappointing. Am I mistaken in thinking that most places in Portland have at least a couple of happy hour specials? In any case, my friend and I were having dinner next door so we just stopped in for a drink. I went with a beer (a rarity for me) and my friend had a mulled cider with a very generous shot of whiskey which he seemed to love. All in all not a bad experience, just not a standout for me. read more

There are a number of wonderful things about LFK. Easily the best cheeseburger I have ever had. They put magic into those things. The pretzel bun is made by local Rosemont Bakery - also awesome. The beer selection is ever-changing, and ever-interesting. I like that they have Crabbies, too. They host a lot of neat little community events like Drink and Draw with Coast City Comics, and were a sponsor of the Dance Walk Portland to raise money for the Animal Refuge League. The staff is friendly and there is an interesting cross-section of Portland who frequents. Not just hipsters in this library bar. read more

4 stars for drinks, service and ambiance! This is a really cute place. There is a big table in the back that can sit 10 people. There are also so comfy vintage looking sofas that look promising for a cozy night out. Both hard cider and hot cider are good. The waitress was so sweet - she brought me the wrong drink, let me have it while getting me the one that I ordered. 2.5 stars for food. I had a high expectation of food because this is my friend's favorite place. I ordered a BLT ($7) and a side salad ($7). I can make better BLT at home, and the salad was too expensive for what it is. I will come back here for drinks! read more

Love the bar, all the books and unique atmosphere. The staff is always friendly and the drinks taste great! Highly recommend

Although I don't want to battle people for my favorite seat at the bar, I encourage all to check out LFK. I do not get a certain vibe of "hipsters"; instead, the patrons appear to be the great mix of people that are unique to the West End. I don't know of another place like it in Portland. There are some board games and cards in the back and if you spy a book you'd like to read, they'll let you borrow it (at least that's what I've heard). Based on the other reviews: 1) bathroom door locks 2) burger is devine! Mushroom stew is incredibly hearty Also try Mac and cheese. Cheese plate is surprisingly filling. Skip the bar kibbles. 3) exceptional bartender and waitress service: made a fantastic old fashioned and had spot on beer/wine recommendations. 4) no problem with tab / credit cards Bartender(s) and waitress were friendly and welcoming to all who came in. I like service that lets you enjoy your time without being pushy. Very attentive when more drinks or something else needed. Atmosphere was perfect. Highly recommend to at least go in and check out for a drink. read more

Something just makes me want more. Don't get me wrong, I like LFK a lot. The burgers are always great as are the specials. The beer selection is always unique and tasty and I enjoy the rotating taps. I think it is just that the everything just comes up a hair short. The food is always just a hair smaller than I want, the beer selection is always just a hair smaller than I wish (and three times now I come in and find out the keg of what I want to try is kicked. The space is small and often packed too. I want to give it 3.5 stars. read more

LFK - Coffee with bacon and molasses! See my tip to learn more! - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

Incredibly rude, obnoxious staff who either are directly rude and confrontational to your face for no reason whatsoever, or completely ignore you. Overpriced drinks, small beer list and incredibly obnoxious bourgeoisie decor. Seems like this bar was created by another hipster with a trust fund from daddy. Absolutely annoying atmosphere in every sense of the word. Went as a group and were treated terribly and rudely for no reason by staff. The only positive element of this place is the food. But all in all, I'd recommend that people avoid this bar like the plague. read more

Maybe I'm too emotionally involved to write this review. I remember living with my ex on Pine St. several years ago and frequenting the little book shop on the corner of State and Pine. Ah, f*ck it, now I'm chomping down on burgers and slurping down beers instead of buying books. Don't expect fine dining, but the food is good. The grass fed burger on a Rosemont Bakery pretzel bun was tasty for sure. It's got very informal seating / structure. As long as you're fine with that I imagine you'll have a good time. I'm hesitant to tell you about the cozy basement style couch in the back because I live so close to LFK and I get sad when it's not free for me to sit on. read more

Revisited January 2013: Their food may be good, but their service has not improved since opening. After struggling to make eye contact with the waiter one slow Sunday night, then watching a couple who came in after me be served water and have their orders taken, I walked across the street to a friendly and hospitable Boda. ------------- Previous: [~a dozen visits from July to September 2012] Still a new place, so I hope there will be significant improvement as time goes on. Since I live on the West End, I've been here for drinks or dinner nearly a dozen times over the last few months. Here are my impressions: Drinks: Usually only 1-2 beers of any interest on the list. If you are a serious beer drinker, this is no Novare. I can't attest to their mixed drinks, but there are definitely signs of a geeky intellect behind the beer, wine, and spirits selections. I'm hopeful the beverage program will expand into something less generic and more interesting. Food: LFK has an outstanding menu. The burger is one of the best in portland (due in no small part to the pretzel-bun), and the tacos are juicy, fresh, and bright. There is a keen awareness of balance - savory, sweet, and acidic - in each dish I've had here. Moreover they are pushing the boundaries with occasional specials. Most recently I had a pear cake with blue cheese and black pepper ice cream (fantastic concept, maybe a bit too cheese-heavy, but major props for trying it!). Service: This is currently the major shortcoming of LFK. Sometimes service is great. Sometimes it is extremely slow and disorganized. On the other hand all the servers except one have been extremely friendly and attentive, which makes me think it's something wrong with the system, not the people. (One server was extremely rude and inattentive - I hope she isn't their for long.) Again, I have high hopes that LFK will correct this. Overall: I stay away when it's busy, because service is especially unreliable on crowded nights. On off-nights I'll stop in solo for a burger. With friends I tend to gravitate towards Boda because service and chance of seating are much more reliable there. read more

I'll start with the negatives: The service is a 2 if you sit at a table, 3 at the bar. The vibe may be too hipster for some. The positives: Though I've only tried one food item on the menu, the veggie burger, it is tasty enough to order over and over again. The pretzel bun makes it. The constantly changing beer list is solid. Walking out after one too many 7.3% Green Flash IPAs happens more often than I'd like to admit. This place is worth a visit. read more

Love this neighborhood resto/pub. Dark relaxing atmosphere...delicious made to order food with a variety of healthy choices AND comfort food. On this -1 degree blustery night I went for both. Hot toddy to warm the soul, black bean hummus with crudités for a light bite and...homemade chocolate pecan ice cream with freshly baked molten chocolate chip cookies for dessert (comfort). Perfection. The service was warm and prompt, and most of all unpretentious! (Which portland needs to work on city wide). Prices great. Food fresh and tasty. I also love the lack of host and the communal seating, it just makes things effortless. Sometimes you need that without sacrificing quality. Try it! read more

LFK - Hot toddy's on a -1 degree night-EXACTLY what we needed. Thanks LFK! - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

This review is specifically for the rude server, bar-back, whatever you are, wearing the polka dot shirt on New Years Eve. There is a reason why you are not behind the bar. Get it together. The bartenders were great... maybe take a tip from them because you're not getting any. read more

Rude staff. The server abandoned our table, so a few people went up to the bar to get another round. When the server delivered the drinks to our table she had the nerve to tell us if we order at the bar we must stay at the bar to carry our drinks over ourselves. The only reason we went up to the bar in the first place is because she never came back to our table. Just very unprofessional. read more