After running a hot and humid Bristol marathon came by for a bite to eat. Hostess got us sat right away with the bartender attending us. Place was busy but the he was able to take care of us. Some of the girls had bottomless mimosas (only oj as a juice option). Everyone really liked their breakfast, the tostadas and the egg benny were the faves. The salsa for the tostadas was delicious not too spicy, eggs cooked perfectly, the southern benny between the gravy and the potatoes were great. Great option for your weekend brunch or a bite to eat. Updated a bit on the restaurant side but the bar side being older with that wooden charm. read more

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Sorry, but I just don't get the hype. I was recommended this place by a few people, but my boyfriend and I were not impressed. It was packed and service was kind of slow. The drink menu was not very extensive. Our Asian salad cups appetizer tasted exactly like an Asian salad mix I've bought at the grocery store and looked like it too - I'm convinced that's exactly how they prepared this. My veggie burger had burnt edges and wasn't too enjoyable flavor-wise. It didn't help my overall impression that when I got takeout here another time, they totally butchered my boyfriend's name when we ordered over the phone, and we had a hard time picking up our order because of this (how you get "Stephanie" from "Anthony," I just really don't know). I think this place just gets lucky having a good location across from Independence Park and being close to but just out of the way from downtown. Can't say I was impressed by the food - there are too many other good options in Bristol, I just can't say I'd recommend this to others. Perhaps it's improved since I visited, but it's a pass for me based on experiences I've had. read more

Food, service and ambiance always good! Special thanks to Ella for being a great server!

This was a family-friendly place to meet for brunch. The restaurant was busy but the service was pretty quick. I had a grilled chicken sandwich that was really great! The fries were fine, maybe not quite hot enough. We had a really good time. This is a solid brunch spot. read more

Portside Tavern - Chicken sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Bristol, Rhode Island

Great service! We loved our waitress Liberty! I got the burger and it was delicious. The fries were pretty standard (aka good but not great). My friend loved the chicken pesto sandwich and felt similarly about the fries. Portion sizes are good too! They've got plentiful indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a bar inside. read more

Portside Tavern - Seafood Near Me - Bristol, Rhode Island

We sat at the bar and had the clam cakes, which were fantastic! My boyfriend had the Portside burger, and I had the spicy shrimp sandwich. Both were fantastic! However, the fries are not so great. The service was excellent. All the young people handling the bar were attentive polite and spot on. We will be coming back! read more

Portside Tavern - Spicy Shrimp sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Bristol, Rhode Island

Portside has always been one of my favorite spots in Bristol. The location is perfect, and I love that they offer everything, breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. I recently went for dinner with friends on a Friday night. We had a reservation, so there was no wait, and we were seated promptly in the back room. It was a bit loud back there, but service was quick, which we appreciated. I ordered one of my go-to dishes: the Ahi Tuna over the Asian Bowl. It never disappoints. The tuna is perfectly cooked, the crispy wonton chips add the right crunch, and the mountain of fresh chopped slaw pulls it all together. It's flavorful, fresh, and satisfying every time. Our waitress was good, maybe not the best I've had at Portside, but she was attentive enough, and everything came out as ordered. Overall, another great experience at a local favorite. I'll definitely keep coming back. read more

Portside Tavern - Asian Ahi Tuna Bowl - Seafood Near Me - Bristol, Rhode Island

Comfortable warm and friendly dinning experience. Parking is limited. Food is very good. Drinks great. Nice fireplace. read more

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Stopped in here the other night on my way through town for work. I picked it because the kitchen was open late didn't realize it was a partial bar menu at that hour, but honestly, it didn't matter. Everything I ordered hit the spot. I went with the ahi tuna platter, which was set up almost like a charcuterie board, and it was excellent. Also grabbed a clam chowder, because... New England, and it did not disappoint. Caught the fourth quarter of the game, and the place had a great vibe. Crowd was lively, staff was friendly, and everything was clean and comfortable. If I end up back in that area again, I'll make sure to swing by a little earlier so I can check out the full menu. Solid spot all around. read more

This has become my new favorite place by the water. This location is very close to Cole State Park, and has shopping in the area as well as walking path. The service is quick and friendly, and the food is great. Sunday brunch is always nice with the bottomless mimosas until 1 PM. read more

Portside Tavern - Avocado toast with a black bean burger. Made to order, and the chef even said it looked good. - Seafood Near Me - Bristol, Rhode Island

I tried the nachos and calamari. The nachos were interesting but the calamari was old and chewy. Ordered the crabby patty and fish and chips. They were not bad but they just weren't good. The krabby patty lacked crab. Bun was soaked. Fish and chips was ok. Not as good as commercial restaurants like chellos. Fries ok both entrees were bad. Price for this was on the higher scale but the quality and taste was sub par. Would not recommend or try again. Given a 3 star based on ok food. If you're hungry and don't have any other options, stop by. Pricey for the quality tho read more

Another great experience at Portside today! Great food and drinks! Service was on point! Thanks Richie and Caroline!

Good food, wonderful location, easy parking across the street.we were a party of three. We shared a Thai veggie wrap, then we ordered a clam chowder, black bean burger, and the crunchy sesame Asian salad with salmon. We all enjoyed the food. read more

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Always a good time and good food. Summer time you can enjoy music outside. Winter time cozy up by the fire. Welcoming bar and great service top off the experience. Food is always excellent! read more

I always enjoy my meals & dining here. It has a good vibe, great food, great drinks and rotate specials. They also change their menu frequently, and it's always a hit I've been coming here for years. read more

Service first and well made mix drinks, a lot of familiar faces. Staff polite and respectful. Will definitely be back.

"One of the best Long Island iced teas I've had in years." "French onion was the most flavorful I've ever had." "Lobster tostada was light and refreshing, very flavorful with a hint of lime." "Excellent combo of flavors on the cheese board between the fruits, crackers, cheeses, and jam." We'd recommend the calamari, the burrata salad, lobster tostada, and the cheese plate. Beef tips and fish and chips were both great but nothing special compared to the rest of the menu. We'd love to go back and try the more unique items! Our waitress was pleasant, prompt, and friendly. Our only complaint was that it was little warm in the restaurant despite the air conditioning but it's been unusually hot and humid lately. read more

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View and the strawberry mojito were excellent. Didn't expect the fries in the Shrimp Mozambique bowl, thought it was odd for a bowl but it was listed on the menu and I didn't read it thoroughly. Worst bread pudding I have ever had. It was dry and more of a dense muffin than anything else. Don't think I will be returning. read more

Came to lunch for the RI Food Fight Best Sandwich Showdown. The bar looked comfortable, so we settled there. There is a nice outside seating area that looks across the street to the harbor in warmer weather. The friendly bartender greeted us promptly & was knowledgeable about the extensive drink lists & food menu. A Portside Sour, made for the restaurant by Westerly based Grey Sail, was fruity & tart. The cocktail list features several fun Iced Coffee drinks, featuring Nitro Cold Brew on tap. While the Biscotti Iced was less boozy & sweet than expected, it still made a tasty accompaniment to the meal. Food began with a Rhode Island standard - Clam Cakes & Chowder. The large bowl of creamy chowder was excellent. The cakes have a different twist here as Mini Chorizo Clams Cake. Much more moist than typical cakes, these were loaded with clams & ground sausage. Very good if a bit heavy. This combination would make a good, filling meal in themselves. The restaurant's entry in the sandwich competition was their Fried Chicken Banh Mi featurung well seasoned, juicy chicken cutlets with pickled carrots & jalapeños. The chiles were super spicy but easily removed by those sensitive. Served with a choice of fries or greens, it was a tasty lunch. Those dressed greens were an excellent addition to the sandwich itself, too. While a bit pricey for everyday lunch, we will certainly return to enjoy drinks at the bar or a meal outside in warm weather. read more

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What a really nice place. Tried the Portside Tavern for lunch today with my dad and friend. The food was outstanding and the service was impeccable. I had the West Coast Chicken Bowl, my dad had the Fish Ruben and our friend had the Cajun Mahi Mahi Tacos. Mine was so flavorful and the portion was generous. I took more than half home for tomorrow. My dad said lunch was the best sandwich he had in a long time and also took half home. It came with the option of a side salad or fries. He was happy to have the fresh salad. My friend raved about the tacos and was surprised that restaurant had extensive gluten free options that she needs. It was definitely a great choice and we all said we will definitely be going again. I highly recommended this restaurant. read more

Portside Tavern - Park across the street with the water view from the restaurant. - Seafood Near Me - Bristol, Rhode Island

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Tuesday, week of Halloween for lunch. Sat at a high-top table in the bar. Bartender/server was very quick to bring a menu and welcome me. The coziness was nice after the drive. I quickly ordered the Spiced Pear Margarita and it was absolutely amazing! Packed full of balanced flavor. For lunch, I had the crab cakes appetizer and the creamy clam chowder. OMG! The clam chowder was delicious but those crab cakes were to die for. The only change I would make to them is putting the aioli on the side instead of on top because they didn't need much. They could have been eaten without any sauce. I'm still thinking about those crab cakes! read more

Portside Tavern - Seafood Near Me - Bristol, Rhode Island

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Not bad for a lunch stop. My group has the fried chicken bahn mi, pork chop, grilled cheese, crab cakes, chowder and the French onion soup. Everything was good except the French onion soup had too much cheese in it (and this is coming from a cheese lover). The crab cakes were good but a bit small. The service was also a bit slow but overall a good experience. read more

We were able to get a shady spot on the deck since we had elderly and a child with us. Such friendly and relaxing service too. They greet you at the host stand outside which is facing the parking lot. Pretty good parking even when it's a busy weekend day. We ordered a kids burger, and regular burgers which were tasty! read more

First time here, scoping out this place for a post wedding breakfast there in Bristol. Upon Departure, we reserved this place. As you can see from the pictures, outstanding. Service was very good in a server very friendly. I don't recall her name, but she migrated here from Russia years ago! We sat outside in the ambience on the sidewalk was so nice this Sunday morning read more

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We walked in the door and were greeted to friendly faces, our server was also really kind and checked up on us a great amount of times in addition to being patient with us. We came here in the evening, it seemed quite busy on a Tuesday night. I appreciate that they're open late. I enjoyed the ambiance, the lighting is dim and you also have the option to sit outside! This is my first time in RI and this is the first place we stopped at! We had the crab cakes (2) for an appetizer and they didn't disappoint. The first bite was punching with flavor, it balanced out with the pickled red onions, arugula, and carrots it comes with. Fresh and delicious, flavors are dancing on your tongue (not pictured here cause I accidentally took a blurry photo as someone was bringing out our soup and was embarrassed that I was taking the pic haha). Clam chowder was nice too! Can't really go wrong with clam chowder- seemed pretty average, pretty good. The scallop dish- scallops, you can TELL that it tasted super fresh. Cooked perfectly, seared really well and it melts in your mouth. My only feedback was that I was disappointed in how much sauce there was on the plate and dish. It tasted similarly to Asian flavors- which is great, reminded me of teriyaki / oyster / hoisin / soy sauce- but a little goes a long way. The dish was pretty drenched with it, I felt like it took away from the scallops. My boyfriend had the Crabby Patty- love what they did there with the SpongeBob reference haha. It wasn't until it was about to arrive when he realized that the patty was essentially the same thing as the crab cakes - so if you're looking for variety, maybe get one or the other! I still really enjoyed it. read more

Portside Tavern - Scallops - Seafood Near Me - Bristol, Rhode Island

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After walking the Audubon trail and some shops, we needed a late lunch and thought we would check out the Portside. The menu was diverse from seafood to American fare. The service was exceptional, and the food came out out piping hot. The waterfront is right across the street for you to walk after your meal or drink! read more

Portside Tavern - Excited to check out this famous institution - Seafood Near Me - Bristol, Rhode Island

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Enjoyed brunch here with a friend, and was impressed with the egg sandwich and mimosa! Service was fast and friendly. Overall an enjoyable and busy spot so reservations are suggested! read more

Portside Tavern - Egg Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Bristol, Rhode Island

Horrible experience. First we ordered chicken wings and they tasted like the chicken was spoiled so we sent them back. I ordered the steak bowl and asked for extra sauce on the side. My bowl game out with the ingredients floating in sauce, no exaggeration, like I ordered soup...the jasmine rice was swimming in the bowl. The waitress said she made a mistake and asked for extra sauce on the steak but there's no way the chef made a mistake by putting this much sauce in this average size steak bowl. Were they mad we returned the wings? I can't think of another reason they would've served this dish to me like this. The bowl went back and the waitress returns with the "new" bowl and said they used the same steak which was ok but the steak had no sauce on it, no bourbon glaze or spicy mayo, it was previously drenched in. Completely dry steak no sign of marinade or anything. Did they rinse it off? So strange! The bowl was also missing half the ingredients...no sesame, green onion, no bourbon sauce, no spicy mayo, etc. BUT WHY!? It's becoming pretty obvious the chef was being a jerk. I sent the bowl back and said I was all set with receiving another because clearly they couldn't get it right twice and I was kinda concerned with how the "fixed" bowl came out. I asked to talk to the manager and a women who was clearly under the influence came to our table barely being able to stand or talk and was making inappropriate jokes about my messed up order and saying "was it too soon?" to make the joke. Like what!? Turns out it was the owners wife according to our waitress. We'll never be back. The pork chop dinner my partner got was delicious, but after this experience I'd highly advise you find somewhere else to eat in the area. I also noticed their health rating is only a 90 out of 100 which makes a lot of sense! Thanks for the update on what's going on behind the scenes Yelp/board of health. Nasty! read more

Girls night out and we wanted to try something new to us, so we ventured out to Portside Tavern. My friend made a reservation and we were seated upon arrival. Some interesting things: wine isn't sold by the bottle (sad face) only 6 or 9oz pours, water comes in these jenky plastic cups that you could easily cut your mouth on if you're not careful (what's up with this?), there is a whole other section of seating in the back (I bet it's great especially in the summer time). Our server was a young guy real nice, but became less attentive toward the end of our meal. Maybe I'm just high maintenance, but I value my dollar so these things often make a difference if I do or don't want to come back. The food: the Thai lettuce wraps were good- more on the healthy side thank goodness and a bomb peanut sauce! I ordered the steak tip special and the sauce was great, they were tender, but it was NOT medium rare as I asked for. My friend also had the same dish and hers wasn't the right temp either. I did not bring it to anyone's attention as I was hungry and it was still good. Our server didn't offer dessert- by the time he came back to us, we were ready to go. The live music gave a coffeehouse vibe. Love that there was entertainment. I'd come back with the family, maybe the temp of the steak was a fluke or maybe there was a miscommunication between the server and kitchen- either way I'm willing to give it a second shot! read more

Portside Tavern - Seafood Near Me - Bristol, Rhode Island

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The FishReuben sandwiches we ordered were so greasy my dad only had a couple of bites and he couldn't eat anymore of his sandwich.About a 3rd of my French fries were burnt. I was really disappointed by this read more

This is a tough one torn between 3-4 stars. Not sure about parking. Off street parking available but my sense is the summer months would be a nightmare. Food was good and menu has something for everyone. BUT I ordered the normal martini and asked for blue cheese stuffed olives. A very quick No! Ugh. However, the Charcuterie board comes with blue cheese!!!!! So your telling me for a $16 martini you can stuff some of the blue cheese in my olives. No worries I will do it myself. Not fancy--- service average, but food was good and great portion sizes. I suppose they lost me at the olives. But worth a try. read more

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We have been here several times now and the food and bar service is so on point that if we lived closer this would be our "Cheers." The prices are surprising for the area in the best way. The bartenders are so friendly and the place has a true neighborhood vibe. read more

Casual Sunday brunch at the Portside Tavern for the win! First time here - food and service was great. We ordered the chicken and waffles and the corned beef hash. Food was plentiful and the drinks were hot! I even needed a to go box! Can't beat the view all year round. Music playing in the background by the live guitarist... definitely a nice vibe and good eats! read more

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I've been here a few times and the food was always good but not worth writing about. My husband didn't want to drive so it was a nice easy walk. Today was different than past visits. I do have to apologize first though. I got caught up in drinks and when the food arrived it looked so good I forgot to take pics... However! We started with southwest egg rolls which were delicious! These were way better than your well known chili's offering. We had the fish reuben which was good but the portside burger... freaking awesome. So juicy, flavourful and cooked to perfection. We finished with the Oktoberfest special German chocolate cake which again, I highly recommend. Lastly, service was quick but not rushed and very friendly. We will absolutely be making more visits here! read more

The restaurant is always clean, the service is awesome. The food is very good, especially the Korean nachos

FOOD: Tried the Argentinean red wine, not too bitter or sweet. Just right. Ordered the prime flat iron steak frites, medium rare. The steak paired well with both the wine and bearnaise sauce. I never usually finish fries at restaurants but the parmesan fries were pretty good, and a good portion. SERVICE: The server was patient with me since I was indecisive about what to order, really appreciated that. Food actually came out pretty quickly during peak lunch hours. I love how there were kid lunch boxes when you first come into the restaurant, or maybe it was just left there randomly ATMOSPHERE: Sat by the fireplace, very cozy. Casual dining, would be good for small groups. I'd definitely visit again if I was in the area for outdoor dining as well. Overall: 4.5/5 read more

Portside Tavern - prime flat iron steak frites -- béarnaise sauce - Seafood Near Me - Bristol, Rhode Island

Although Portside didn't shine during a dinner visit a few months ago, we came here for brunch and were thoroughly impressed. The place was packed crowded and could tell it is a really popular brunch spot. They even had live music on the weekend morning day we came here. Prices are a bit elevated but it is what it is, especially considering this is Bristol and Portside is a restaurant rather than a diner. My breakfast (2 eggs, toast, home fries, and a side of Canadian bacon) was $13.95, which is not bad for a treat but also not the cheapest around. The food was pretty good. Not greasy, had good flavor, fresh, arrived hot. Overall really no complaints on the food. The portion sizes were just right, and I was (barely) able to finish my plate yet left feeling full. Our food took a really long time to come out (a good 30 minutes) but the place was insanely busy and it seemed like a lot of tables were seated at roughly the same time, so it makes sense that they got a bit backed up. Service is a bit different as we were helped by 3 or 4 different servers during our relatively short visit. I think in such a busy environment this can be a big help because everyone was picking up slack and working as a team. Overall service was good. Would totally come back here for brunch again another time! read more

Love the food. I have never had a bad meal. The outside is great to sit at on a warm day. But the fireplace in the cold months makes it so cozy. read more

I'm not a huge fan of 'creative pub food' ... normally I find its sort of stuck in the early-mid 2000s. There are only so many ways you can make nachos fancy and unique and I don't need things like duck confit on my burger. When the gf told me we were eating here, I wasn't thrilled as she tends to favour any place like this and I do not. I can tell you that judging a book by its cover was unfounded here as the food was great. I was nursing a hangover which gave me a queasy tummy. I was not craving anything heavy and the table next to me had a giant plate of nachos which looked as though someone tossed a box of cheese and a pound of shredded pork on. I ordered pretzel sticks, we split a grilled cheese and lettuce wraps. Don't judge ... bread carbs are usually what gets me through a hangover. The pretzel sticks were the best I've ever had. Light and fluffy, a bit of oil on the outside, not too much salt and a beautiful little bowl of fresh-tasting cheese sauce for dipping. I dream of these at night now ... 3 per order and I wish I skipped the grilled cheese and doubled up. The grilled cheese was unremarkable. The bread was too thick, the cheese was average and it was very buttery. Here is where I would have liked to see some creativity ... this was something I could make at home. The little bowl of orange tomato dip was the only bad part of the lunch. It tasted oddly nasty. The lettuce wraps were also awesome according to the gf. She said some of the best she's ever had. Everything tasted and looked fresh and it was made well. We did not have room for dessert but everything looked great on the menu. Good beer selection as well, though I was not partaking due to my hangover. My gf is a stout drinker and there were a few good choices for her ... normally menus are heavy on the IPAs these days, so she loved having a choice. Lots of local selections. Overall, this was a great experience. The decor and vibe won't blow you away ... its across the street from the water but there are no water views. We sat outside for what may be one of the last outdoor dining days before winter. read more

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Despite what Lynne B says, the food at Portside is excellent. Always check the profile of the 1 star reviews...gonna see a patterned lack of gratitude. And I disagree with the owner...your wife made the right call making a joke to lighten the mood. This is a restaurant experience, Lynne, not WW2. Laugh. Live a little. Now, on to my experience...we ate here twice over our two week visit over the holidays and both times were great. The fireplace made the place feel especially cozy. I had the muscles my first time and the seared tuna the second. Both times the food was fresh and delicious. Thank you for the wonderful experience! Glad you'll never have to deal with Lynne again...we'll be back! (Also, please stop serving water in plastic cups...truly my only complaint!) read more