This is strictly a food review. Thanks to Groupon I checked it out for an afterwork bite and well, thanks to Groupon I have another place to avoid... One of us order steak tips, med-well and it came with gravy, mashed potatoes and "fresh vegetables." The steak tips came out RARE, like dark red/purple cold in the middle, rare. The gravy and mashed potatoes were fine, nothing memorable and the fresh vegetables were.... undercooked, unseasoned carrots? The other ordered a veggie burger, topped with mushrooms, onions and cheese. It came with fries and when we asked the waitress if we could get something else, she said.. well.. no. Okayyyyy, so the veggie burger came out and it seemed like it was an attempt at a homemade burger. That being said, it was full of whole (what I think was) edamame, and it kept falling apart. The mushrooms and onions on top of the burger were burnt to a crisp and the cheese wasnt melted. The fries were alright. Avoid the food here and stick to the beers on tap. read more

Food and drinks were good. Staff is friendly and attentive. Entrees are a little pricier but that's normal for the area and the portions are quite large. read more

I was at Porter Belly's to support a friend whose band was playing last night. We arrived early at the suggestion of my friend, as we knew it would get busy, fast, and got a lovely table in a cozy alcove. The service left something to be desired, but the waitress had a cute Irish accent, which made everything okay somehow. We ordered the nachos, which were good despite a cheese shortage, and beer (they still had Pumpkinhead, which I thought was fantastic, but which my boyfriend thinks is questionable), and didn't wait long before our meals came. My friend ordered a special - porkchops and homemade sausage with mashed potatoes. Everything in her meal tasted great, particularly the sausage, and it was an enormous amount of food for my petite friend. The rest of us ordered burgers, and though they tasted good, the kitchen needs some extra training on what the various levels of cookedness should look like. Now, I like a medium rare burger, and I expect that the professional cooks behind closed doors know what that means. The person cooking it should have a system to decide when the burger has been cooked appropriately. The short version is that I ordered mine medium rare, and it was rare - like RAW and MOOING - so I sent it back. The replacement burger was well done. Hmm... A friend ordered hers medium, and it was medium rare, and another friend ordered hers well done and it was medium. After our meal was over, we ordered drinks from the bar, and the bartenders were attentive and made good, strong drinks. The place got really really crowded and was definitely a d-bag sort of crowd, but my friend's band rocked and we had a good time, all in all. I'd give it another chance. read more

Favorite place in the neighborhood to grab a drink. Has a great atmosphere and the beers aren't crazy expensive. They always have specials (Rolling Rock, 5 for $10 and 'Ganset buckets are cheap too) and a good selection of craft beers for around $5 each. Open Mic night on Wednesday's can be cool but it's also a small place, so it sometimes gets loud. Haven't had their food other than the free apps they handed out during the NBA finals in the spring. Not bad, especially since they were free. Also, their kitchen closes a bit early, but they allow you to go and get food and bring it back in. We ordered a pizza from Imperial across the street and enjoyed our pizza while having some beers. read more

Came last week at 6 pm because they had a private party that was to be over at 6. Nope. Called at 630. Still.not open. Came at 730 and was told by the bartender, the kitchen was closed. So, fast-forward a week and came in at 915 Sunday evening and again was told at the door the kitchen was closed. This time I brought 6 ppl. The website says kitchen open.till 10pm..... Doubtful any of us will be back... Apparently food isn't their thing .....go one block any direction for great food. I guess only come here if your into sausage party drinking..... read more

This review is just for food, not nightlife which may be great. Just came in for brunch/lunch at noon on a Saturday with 4 friends. Yelp listed a brunch menu but when we arrived we were told that they don't do breakfast or brunch. Maybe just Sundays? We ordered Bloody Mary's, two vodka one bourbon. I don't drink them but my friends said they were bland and the olives were bad. We were told they were also out of coffee. One person ordered the Irish hot chocolate and did say it was good. We chose to leave and go somewhere else for food. read more

I've never felt so compelled to write a Yelp review. Went here for "Traditional Irish Breakfast" on 3/17. First off, if you're going to make a habit of selling breakfast, consider having coffee. No coffee, tea only. Now, the breakfast... Let me start by saying I've enjoyed an Irish breakfast at several other locations around Boston and this was quite disappointing. Let's start with the brown bread... There is no brown bread. You get toast. Ok, here are your options of toast: white. Here are your options of jam for your toast: butter. The home fries are your basic run-of-the-mill, probably frozen, uninspired and unseasoned steak French fries. The bangers seemed like your basic breakfast links. The rashers were ok. Nothing spectacular. A little dry and bland The fried tomato was ... Absent. The baked beans were poured out amorphously upon the plate and mediocre. The black and white pudding looked sad... One small piece of black and one disturbing-looking piece of white. They tasted so-so, perhaps a little over-burdened with sodium. The eggs were cooked well, over easy. Though for two eggs, I only had one yoke (?). I was able to have a bloody PBR. I was presented a glass of PBR and a glass of Mary mix to mix myself. Which is ok since they'd never heard of one before. Their Mary mix was ok, a little light on the spice and horseradish. The Guinness was a good pour and creamy. The service was ... Present. The four top got their full compliment of food before the two of us did, after arriving a good 10-15 minutes after us. The waitress did apologize for that though. Overall, I wouldn't return. The Irish Breakfast was pretty much just breakfast, and not even a very good one. There are much better Irish breakfasts to be had in and around Boston. read more

First, It is hard to rank the several points that appeal to me of Porter Bellys, so in no particular order... The variation depending on the evening you head out there, especially with regard to music options. Open mic nights on wednesdays, emerging solo and acoustic band evenings on thursdays, and even Karaoke on Sunday nights. The staff are superb. Always attentive and hospitable. Not to mention the wonderfully wide variety of beverages and food (particularly sandwiches) that they serve you. Typically a modest crowd shows, but that does seem to change with the weekends. Weekday nights are key, but weekend evenings are also a treat. AND- televesions galore. Let's go Sox! Second, just get out there and check it out. Right in the middle of convenient Brighton Center, it beats just about any pub that Allston has to offer! read more

I've been here a couple times... i've never eaten here, so this is just based on beers and ambiance: Pros - open mic night is cool, beers are super cheap if you get a bucket (5 rolling rocks for $10), hasn't been too packed, think the music playing was OK, location is very convenient, good for a quiet drink with friends Cons - i drank rolling rock and narragansett here. why do i degrade myself like this to save a buck....? read more

Everytime I walk into this bar, I turn around and walk out. It's always very popular, but it is either too crowded or too noisy for my taste. read more

Porter Belly's Pub - Bars Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

I have never eaten here (although I have drunk-drooled over others' sandwiches, which in my defense, look VERY yummy). However, I have done the drink-dance duo here, and I must say, I loved every second of it. If you stop by in the late afternoon/early evening for a few drinks, this small bar is appropriately busy so you don't feel like a drunk, but slow enough that you can get a speedy pint and pleasant service. At night they have different bands so that you can recreate your Pearl Jam angst in public (since doing it in private is creepy). Plus there are trees inside. Which is cool. All in all, this bar is similar to the Burren (or at least what the Burren could be), but it's not crowded. And it's not annoying. And I like it. read more

Craving a HUGE burger, and some AWESOME fries, for cheap? Come here. Oh - you want a pint of Guiness with that too? Solid. This amazing meal even comes with an authentic, traditional Irish brogue, which I always enjoy. Ahh, sounds as warm and cuddly as a Gremlin (pre-"Gizmo Caca"), right? Well, just as a Gremlin comes with rules, so does this place. Here they are: - Don't enter Porter Belly's after 9pm. Unless you want to make out with a drunk BC student... or 5. - Don't go on Open Mic Night (which is Wednesday). Unless you enjoy post Ani DiFranco, shreiking angry woman twang, on untuned guitars. - Don't sit in the back on Dart night (various nights). Unless you don't mind getting pierced by darts. - Don't sing karaoke (Sunday) in an Irish bar. That's just wrong. Follow these rules, and you can't go wrong. :) read more

Let me start by saying i want to go back. and the rating may go up. (it was my first time there) The service was outstanding. The abidance was cool too, very rustic, cozy Irish pub feeling. and they had a great dinner deal. ($30 = a bottle of wine and two entrees) That being said, i was a little disappointed in my food. its wasn;t bad, just nothing to write home about. i go the Penne pasta with read sauce, sausage and meat balls with garlic bread. it was decent. the gf got some sort of grilled veggie thing, that she enjoyed, but wasn;t astounded by. The wine wasn't bad. as we where leaving a band was setting up, i think it was a johnny cash cover band. if we didn't have plans to go to the movies after, i would have loved to hang at the bar and soak up the music. i'll def be back at some point. read more

Three words. Get. A. Burger. Seriously, their burgers are killer, but, then again, all of their food is great. This is one of my favorite places to go in Brighton Center. It's convenient, it is inviting, and it has great food and drink. It has a very authentic air to it as well and is popular among the Irish in the area. I just really enjoy the atmosphere. What I like best about it, is Porter Belly's is a great place to go for a fun night out or a quiet dinner. I love stopping in there after a long day at work for a pint and to get some reading done. Right after work it's quiet and I never get harassed, which is huge when you're a woman in a bar alone. It's small and the seating is limited, but it's cozy and I've never not been able to get a seat. The service is a little bit slow, especially when it comes to food, but that's because they have such a small kitchen and, in my opinion, it's well worth the wait. read more

My new local watering hole. Went in last Wednesday to get some food. Grill cheese with ham was like 3 inches thick. Talked to the freindly bartends and some of the other patrons. Great open mic night. i went back on saturday to watch the BU game. The bartender knew what my name and what i drink, as soon as i sat down. Full when i went in around 8 and got steadily fuller as the night went on. They had a band this night and they played great. I plan on going back often. I just might go tonight. read more

This place is pretty fun. Although a small venue (narrow but very deep) it doesn't cost an arm and a leg for your drinks and the fun factor is hard to beat. I hang out with a group of girls that schedule their weeks around Karaoke at Porter Belly's on Sunday Night. It is possibly one of the most hilariously fun events I partake in on a regular basis. If you want pure gold for entertainment, you have to try this out. Just watch it if anything. I'll be the dude chilling out at the bar laughing his ass off in between cheers of affectionate support. A side of smiles with your Guinness? Can't think of why not! read more

Pro: burgers, fries, draft beer poured correctly, cheap beer buckets, fantastic deal Con: kitchen can be seen from bar and after watching that show "Bar Rescue" i feel that if they pull that equiptment up we may see some crazy stuff because it was slighly dirty around the edges read more

I love this place!! Here's why: - Amazing staff (friendly, helpful, fun) - Live music, good variety and it's always fantastic - Fun crowd, always end up having a great night when I stop in - One time I got a Guinness glass with my name engraved in it (yay promos!) - Laid back atmosphere And lots more... Really you should just go! It's going to be a good time. read more

I really enjoy this cozy Irish pub. I've never been to Ireland but Porter Belly's has an authentic & comfortable feel. They have one of the best burgers in the area and a nice selection of beers. The clientele is super friendly & cool. The only issue I have is that one of the bartenders, Jess, is inattentive, unfriendly, and seems to completely ignore me while she talks to regulars and texts on her phone. I have waited for almost 10 minutes for a beer several times when the bar is not busy at all. It's incredibly frustrating. Everyone else is great though, especially Sean and the brunette Irish female bartender...sorry I forgot your name! Maybe I can find out her schedule so I can avoid getting bad service? All I want is a bartender who serves me a beer when mine is empty! read more

This has got to be the BEST Irish pub in boston! We absolutely love the food here! I know they aren't a craft beer establishment, but adding a couple more crafty selections would push this place to five stars. It's adorable. Quaint. IRISH! Local. read more

Good atmosphere, creative design, but too small hall, pretty friendly staff, but cuisine 50/50.

Best spot in Brighton! Great food and service! Casey is a great bartender. If you are looking for a great Irish bar. Look no further...

Adorable, quaint, and cozy interior, I was so excited to get a quiet Monday night dinner with a friend here! Quiet, it was not.. A group of people were screaming for no reason and faced no repercussions. There was EDM music blasting in the background that matched neither my mood nor the mood of the bar. Our waitress was a little snippy but was attentive and our food was good but my salad was overdressed. They could stand to get a few more beers on tap! Overall, it was a decent dining experience but I would definitely go back on another night to give it another chance. read more

This place would of been great if it weren't for the fact that it was too small. There really isn't much seating here. It's just a typical bar nothing special. I didn't eat the food but I saw it and it looked really good. read more

Food decent, drinks fine. Had a bartender who I believe was named Sean. Came in for the evening shift and started verbally attacking some girls who had been there for a bit. They were joking around with each other and minding their own business, and he started yelling "f you" and calling them "idiots" and being completely degrading because apparently one made a joke about about the cash tips sitting on the bar that he didn't like. One was trying to explain her well intentions for about 20 mins and after degrading her for the whole time, she was bawling. Don't think the food and drinks are good enough for anyone to deserve that. If you're in a client service profession, you can't let a bad day of your own impact the treatment of your customers. read more

Come for the music, the beer, and the people. The food is mediocre. Not great, not terrible HOWEVER, they let you bring in outside food after their kitchen closes which is really cool cause not a lot of places let you do that, there is a pizza shop and a burrito shop within walking distance. They really try to support local music (with the local music 101 podcast) and play local bands on their PA instead of rihanna. They usually have pretty good live music on fridays and saturdays. It's a good place to just hang out with some friends, though it gets crowded on the weekend. They need to promote more though, maybe a sign outside saying what musicians are there that day and what food/beer specials they have. It's a little dark on the outside but it has a warm heart. Not a place to bring a first date, but a great place to hang out with some friends and get good and tipsy. The staff will really take care of you if you become a regular. Again, don't come expecting gourmet food. Great beer and liquor selection though, and the open mic guy will usually let you get up there and embarrass yourself if you choose to do so. read more

Quality food and cheap beer in a cozy, friendly bar. I wouldn't go when it's busy as it's small and liable to be cramped, but I've been there a few weekend afternoons and it's always enjoyable. They even brought out free appetizers one very rainy Saturday afternoon when many patrons stayed for a long time just to stay out of the thunderstorms. read more

My favorite pub in Brighton. The Thanksgiving sandwich is perfect. The black bean quesadillas are addicting. The Buffalo chicken Mac n cheese is creamy and delicious. Definitely get the Buffalo chicken Mac n cheese. The drinks are cheap and strong. One of the best places to go before a Red Sox game. Nice long bar. Great dining room. Casual and comfortable. The bartenders are great and the cook clearly knows what he's doing. Enjoy! Will be back many more times. read more

Very good bar food and Irish breakfast. Good for live music and no cover charge. Can get a bit rough on the weekends, it is a favorite with the local Brighton Irish and college students. If you are brave, and wear a low cut shirt expect a lot of attention in this place! read more

Really good burgers and fries and a chill place to hang out for an afternoon. Very cool woodwork inside. Looks/sounds really loud and annoying on weekend nights, so if that's your thing, it may be worth checking out then too. read more

One of my favorite local places. They have a variety of tasty burgers and beers. They also have live bands and djs as well, shows are typically thurs-sun. Some of the staff is fresh off the plane from Ireland. (who uses boats for long distance travels these days) I've never been disappointed with my food, and there are some nice coves you can sit in for smallish groups. read more

Porter Belly's would have earned a three-star rating from me, because it does get really crowded and there are very few places to sit. However, the live bands that play there are usually good and this is one of the few places in Boston where you can have a Carlsberg on tap! They also have Smithwick's on tap, another hard-to-find beer in Boston. read more

I've been here once, and it was pretty good for some burgers and beers! The Green Briar was too busy for us to get table service (apparently, because we sat around for 20 mins unnoticed before leaving), so we headed down the street. They have an extensive burger list and friendly servers. Great prices, too. read more

The food is below par. Burgers are overcooked, the fries are undercooked. Service is slow. Beers are about average in price. Crappy draft selection. It's old and sort of dirty. The bartender is from Ireland, so if that's your thing, go nuts. read more

I just think Porter Belly's is fun and cozy. Maybe it's because it's a stone's throw from my apartment, but coming here on a cold winter night for a pint of Murphy's is heavenly. The place is warm, the staff is friendly (and overwhelmingly FOB Irish), and the beer is moderately priced. If you're lucky, you can snag intimate seating areas around the bar for you and friends. I wouldn't make a special trip to Brighton to come here, but if you're a local and you want a fun night out with friends, I'd highly recommend this place. read more

Great bar with awesome live music!!! Fun spot to hang out!! Had a surprise party there for my husband and the staff was all extremely helpful and friendly!! They set up decorations for me, blocked off an area for people to hang out and it worked out perfectly!!! They had no charge to reserve the area for the party--I just bought some appetizers from them and people ordered drinks--very reasonably priced and everyone had a fun night!! Cant wait to go back!! read more

This review is for the nightlife only, I did not try the food. This bar is extremely small, if there are 5 people in it it seems over crowded. The music is mediocre at best and way too loud for the space. You have to scream to talk over not only the music but also the noisy old men (who, by the way, do not help the bar's atmosphere at all). The bartenders are rude and customer service clearly is not among this bar's priorities. I had the displeasure of meeting the owner and he was overbearing, offensively impolite, and for lack of a better word, tyrannical. read more

An amazing pub in Brighton. Great owner and staff. We go here every year for Christmas Eve and always have a blast. I wish we lived a little closer so we could be here more often. read more

Maybe the bar is no fun, but on Sundays they have the best Irish Breakfast around.

I went here the first time for Sunday night karaoke, and it was a good time. Draws a good crowd ranging from 20-somethings to 40's, all looking to have a good time. They have $2.50 Miller High Life, but it's so rowdy there that if you don't drink a lot, you feel sober by comparison heh Karaoke is good too. I think they have a song catalog, but you can also just write the artist and title on a slip, and the DJ most likely has it. And it didn't take a ridiculous amount of time to have a turn. I definitely recommend going some time. read more