Happy St Paddy's day to us! My family and I go to the parade every and have our first pint at Ri-Ra's. Place of course was PACKED for the occasion. Stood in line for approximately 20 minutes and decided to order two drinks to avoid the line. One line ended up creating a second line further down the secondary bar here. Felt a little up set for the mother with two kids trying to get something for her family while others cut the line. To each their own. The decor is rustic, closed captions were on the TV with some game on. Lots of product promotional signage, I also enjoy their Guinness signs. We enjoyed our pint while watching the Irish Step dancers from Stillsons Irish dance organization. Such talented young people and to be able to do their dances in such a crowded atmosphere is remarkable. Love watching them. Sadly no tables available so we did not get any food. We have come here several times for whiskey drinks and Irish music on Sundays and to meet up with friends. I love the dark wood and fireplace. Shout out to the bartenders keeping their cool, smiling at each person they served, and serving Guinness as it is meant to be and not rushed! Side note: they went through a lot of Guinness on that day and when the keg needed to be kicked, they have buttons on the wall and perhaps the leprechauns are down below changing them out for us read more

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We stopped into RiRa this summer and enjoyed a lovely lunch outside. I ordered the braised short rib, which comes with puréed cauliflower, and it was honestly some of the best "mashed cauliflower" I've ever had. The short rib was incredibly tender and just melted in my mouth. Service was quick, friendly, and attentive, making the whole experience even better. Highly recommend stopping in if you're in the area! read more

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Jamie was incredible. It was packed for a Sunday and she looked to be alone behind the bar. She kept a smile and made sure the whole bar was well cared for read more

Best nice cold Guinness in town! Customer service is outstanding! Food is always on point! Nice to sit next to the fire eating dinner.. read more

Great bar, if you want to drink and get some fries, great place. this review is only about 1 item on the menu. Never get the cottage pie. when i was a kid, i would get dinty moore beef stew quite a bit. the cottage pie, i swear to god, was half a can of dinty moore beef stew with mashed potatoe on top. it tasted the same, looked the same. i would bet $50 that is how they make it. definitely not worth the $24. read more

What an absolutely awesome place!!!! The food was fantastic! The reubon was spot on perfect! The smash burger was excellent! The views were superb! The live Celtic music was incredible! The service was spectacular! If we lived in Portland, we would be regulars and we would tell all our friends!!! What a gem of a spot! Loved everything about Ri Ra! Just wow! read more

It was quite obvious they were short staffed so I am trying not to judge too harshly. The space is beautiful and the location is great, parking can be a bit of a nightmare and the rate for the lot directly next to Rí Rá is insanely expensive. The vibe felt off from the start. There was no one at the host stand when we arrived and for quite a bit of time after. We had a reservation to be safe since it was a weekend night, even though it's the off season. Both bars had bartenders that were so busy, they couldn't even look up to make eye contact to ask about the table. We ended up hunting down someone to get seated. Our server Anya was absolutely wonderful and made the whole experience much better. The staffing issues seemed to carry over to the food quality--it wasn't awful but sadly wasn't awesome either. We came away thinking maybe this is just a place to get drinks and bites but not a meal. We will try again. I hope they are able to get the staffing they need because I am sure it is not fun for the staff that is there to be so overwhelmed. And again, Anya is a gem!! read more

Rí Rá - Pints - Irish Pub Near Me - Portland, Maine

Well.... I'm giving for stars as this is a place for the " regulars/locals" year around and we love it! Tonight, I felt like a one star (or less, if it were possible) was warranted. Never, in the 10+ years we've popped in before catching it ferry , has a hostess accosted my friend in such a cruel way. We had a paper bag (desserts to take home from our dinner) and Cassie was trying to block my friend from entry stating food could NOT be brought. My buddy stated we're here for a drink or two as we waited on the ferry . After a few more words of attack, she told my friend to go ahead but don't let the bartender see. Subsequently, a white cpl day next to us with, clearly, to go packages. We asked them if Cassie had confronted them as she did us and they stated 'No'. I was very upset and spoke with the bartender, who was also the manager, to let him know of the situation and he appeared very concerned, sympathetic, and shocked. My friend had already left when I shared my concerns with the mgr as it felt like my buddy was singled out as being gay, Mexican, or both! The bartender, again, was super apologetic as he recognized we've been there over the years and promised to address this issue post-haste. I hope this to be true and we'll continue to stop at one of our favorite spots as, one bad apple won't ruin the batch. Lovingly..... and appreciatively. read more

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Space is beautiful; a perfect ambiance to have a Guinness, but do not have the Fish & Chips. Back in 2023 they had a great Fish & Chips, but a few years later, it is terrible. For thirty dollars you get mostly breaded crust and the fish inside is so dried up that you must use a knife to cut into it. Just a huge bummer. read more

We stopped by for drinks around 1am. It was one of the only bars still open in Portland on a Sunday night. Got a seat at the bar. I do not remember what I got to drink. My friend got a Guinness. Wish I could've tried some food on the menu cause I do like Irish pub food. But I was pretty much glad the place was open late for drinks! read more

Rí Rá - Irish Pub Near Me - Portland, Maine

Ah RiRa, an Old Port classic. A lot of bars come and go, this one has been around for a while. We sat downstairs - to the right side when you come in the door. Looks like a little hole in the wall. Full bar, lots of taps, super cozy. In the winter there is a pot belly stove in the corner that cranks out the heat. I had a Lunch on draft and he had a kolch - also on draft. This was just a quick stop. 1 and done. The bartender was great, made a couple good jokes/comments and was attentive. Certain we will be back soon (probably tomorrow). read more

Rí Rá - Lunch by Maine Beer Co. - Irish Pub Near Me - Portland, Maine

We searched for a restaurant with Gluten Friendly options, specifically fish and chips. We remembered the location in Atlantic City, so we stopped in to have dinner. The view overlooking the harbor was unbeatable. The staff, even though it was the offseason, was amazing. They fully understood allergies and made some good recommendations. We tried the Magner's Cider and down east cider. Both were gluten free and incredible. When you visit Portland, make sure to dine at Ri Ra! read more

Very distinguished Irish pub in old port. Live music most days especially Sundays with amazing Celtic music. The space is nice very cozy for groups or couples. Irish beer poured authentically. They have an area to the right and to the left and an area upstairs. Be sure to check them all out! Guinness stew and chowder are a must! Worth a visit when not eating lobster in Maine! read more

Rí Rá - Old feel and comfortable leather seating - Irish Pub Near Me - Portland, Maine

Great pub vibe. We went in the late afternoon, and it was busy but not packed. The staff was fabulous, fun,and friendly. A good selection of beers and ciders to choose from. We didn't eat, so we will need to come back to try the traditional Irish dishes. read more

Love this place. Service is always fast and the food is good. They even have vegan options! We love getting their burgers and fries.

Ambiance: The inside of the restaurant is lovely. A great older building and it is fun to just sit in there and enjoy looking around at its construction. Service: average at best. Were forgotten by the staff several times. To be fair to them, they did seem understaffed. They had one server, one bartender and one host which is generally a reflection on management, but to be fair they were by no means swamped while we were there. I understand the small number of scheduled staff. It did, however, seem like the kitchen were struggling because I noticed it took ages for everyone to get their food, not just us. Service just seemed disorganized and unstructured. Food: I got the fish sandwich with chips/fries. About half of the chips were soggy and the fish was overcooked. My wife got the cottage pie with brown bread. She really enjoyed the bread, but the cottage pie was careless. It looked like they had ladled the meat into a bowl and then dropped a scoop of mashed potatoes on top. The dish was made with entirely too much salt and didn't have any depth of flavor. Reminded me of a school cafeteria Salisbury steak from when I was a kid. The brown bread was from a can. You could see the ridges around the edge. Overall, I'd give this spot a 3.5, but since I have to choose between a 3 or a 4 I would say they are a 3. It was nothing to write home about and definitely not a place I'd tell a friend they "have to try" while visiting Portland. It was fine... read more

Pleasant, relaxing seafood and pub. Courteous staff sensitive to our need to meet a ferry schedule. The heartiest clam chowder I've had so far. As a drop in pub it is worth the stop! read more

Such a mad disappointment! We were regulars here until they worked w a limited menu while reno'g the restaurant. Last time we went was in March, menu was really limited so we gave it a break for a while, but have been craving their food. Finally made it back in to find so many changes to the menu, the quality of the food , and none for the better. We always got chicken bites- so good, tossed in buff sauce. They've been replaced with plain chicken tenders cut up into toddler sized bites. Terrible! And the kitchen will o longer toss in sauce. Seriously. These are like frozen plain chx tenders sliced up and dry. Fries, no longer shoe-string and have been replaced with steak-fry type fries and undercooked, mushy terribleness. One of us would always sub fries for onion rings. They no longer permit sub'g and their once fabulous onion rings are now offered only as pickled rings, WTHIT?? Fish/ chips. YUCK. Nothing like what you'd find in Ireland, not close! Price increase of $9 and once great batter replaced with a panko type breading. Just bad, all of it. It used to be SO good. Unfortunately, as they say, all good things must come to an end. A once fave will not be visited by us again- shame!! read more

Loved the bar, the food, the bartender (Josh) and the trivia night madness on Tuesday. Will go back soon. Tip- Tuesdays are trivia night so if you don't make reservations, make sure you arrive by 6-6:30. Tip2- if you want Irish dinner , try calling them first, they were not ready with the meat last night Reminded me of a lot of good Irish bars in Minneapolis. Can't wait to go back. read more

Rí Rá - Fish and chips - Irish Pub Near Me - Portland, Maine

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We made a reservation because various reviews suggested that the dining area tended to fill up - though I have to say both the dining and bar areas were huge! The dining area is upstairs so a bit away from the noise of the bar, though there are still tvs so you can watch whatever game you'd like, it's just not quite as noisy. We arrived early for our reservation and ran into a family that was in front of us that had been waiting a while to get seated. It took a good 10-15 minutes for us to get seated, but there was also an event in one of the rooms in the upstairs area, and it seemed the person seating people was also running around up there, so they may have bee understaffed. The dining area wasn't super crowded and really everyone was very friendly and attentive. I got the lobster gnocchi which doesn't seem to be part of the typical menu, but I have to say I'm glad I caught it because it was scrumptious. Lots of lobster and the gnocchi itself was well done too. I was a bit disappointed that they had run out of the lobster egg rolls, but I suppose that's my excuse to come back and visit! read more

Rí Rá - Lobster gnocchi - Irish Pub Near Me - Portland, Maine

A great start to my Portland vacation was a stop at Rì Rá! Choose the Magner's Apple Cider to go along with my Lobster Roll and Seafood Chowder. Tasty, fresh tasting lobster and a delicious chowder that hit the spot! read more

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I'd give this 1 or 0 for the food but the service was good and the view was nice too. I felt bad for the poor wait staff. She kept apologizing for the delay and refilled my iced tea but when the food finally came it was largely inedible. My husband enjoyed his beer so maybe only worth a stop for a pint. read more

Really lovely vibe inside and lovely food as well. The entrance has a bar with live music downstairs and a nice cozy spot on the inside overlooking the pier. Really Aesthetic and I would not have expected it just looking at it from the outside. IRISH BREAKFAST was delicious. Perfectly cooked sausages, baked beans had so much flavor even on their own, Sunnyside eggs well cooked to perfection, the black pudding had a very distinct flavor that went quite well with the sausages. Favorite part was the rashers. Really nice hint of saltiness which was super good. IRISH CHICKEN CURRY - supe flavorful curry, chicken was well cooked (Even had some grill marks), large pieces of carrots which actually had the curry flavor absorbed. Asked for Irish soda bread on the side instead of rice, and it was a really good combination with the curry! BAILEY'S CHEESECAKE for dessert - pretty good smooth cheesecake, And that coffee flavor really came through. Especially in the crust. Good amount of coffee and cheesecake combination. It was also very light and we could totally have gone for a second one! read more

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The lobster roll was fine, not the best one I have tasted but still hit the spot. However, their seafood chowder was amazing! It was a very cold day in Portland and the warm soup was exactly what I needed!! The server was also quite fast despite the busy day ( there was a Euro soccer game so the bar area was very crowded) . Highly recommend stopping by for their delicious seafood chowder! read more

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I love Ri Ra. I have never had a bad experience here and this time also did not disappoint. Found a parking spot with zero trouble which is unheard of in downtown Portland, especially around the holidays. There is plenty of parking and paid parking spots nearby. Ri Ra is situated right on the water and connected to Flatbread. It was beautifully decorated for the holiday season and I got to sit right by the roaring fireplace. Our waitress was super friendly, made recommendations, and was attentive. They have seasonal items that rotate throughout the year. They had a cranberry white sangria special for a drink which my mom tried. I got a sip and it was fruity and delicious. I tried their drink called cozy fireplace which was a smoky whiskey drink. Cocktails were decently priced. We split the spinach and artichoke dip and my goodness was it creamy and delicious. It comes with bread and veggies for dipping. It was the perfect portion size for the price. My mom got the seafood chowder for dinner which was also creamy and delicious. The portion size on this one for the price was not as great. I got the beef stew which came with short rib, potatoes, carrots, onions etc. It was warm and delicious - perfect for a cold night in Portland. We sat downstairs in more of the bar area. They also have a ton of seating and another bar upstairs which is beautiful and spacious. They have full bar service and tons of food options - mostly pub food but all delicious. I will continue to keep coming back to Ri Ra and definitely recommend it for others! read more

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The guy who works there and sings on open mic night on Sunday is a terrible musician and rude. He tried to get a mob of patrons/friend to jump us. We had an 11 yo on vacation who just needed a bathroom. He said we needed a babysitter. Horrible. I am ashamed for him. Only rude encounter on our entire trip to Maine. read more

The service and some of the food was okay But I was devastated at how awful the lanb burger had become. I couldn't believe it! It was a thin dry strip of meat with no taste whatsoever. Years ago I eagerly looked forward to what then was a thick, juicy, succulent flavorful delicacy. So I was truly shocked and saddened when this thin, dessicated piece of shoe leather in a bun was delivered to my plate. I said nothing about it at the time as I had guests from out of town and didn't want to impact their experience. But I'm truly saddened. RI Ras was always a sure thing for me if I could afford it. Apparently the prices have not gone up, but the quality has shockingly gone down. And I'm not exaggerating. I wouldn't have fed that lamb burger to my dog. And if I did, he likely wouldn't have eaten it. read more

Me & my colleague went for a light dinner & drinks. Seated on the restaurant side. Great waitress who just moved from Cork, Ireland. I had the wings with Guinness BBQ sauce. Very good! My colleague had the clam chowder & side salad. Great Irish pub! read more

I honestly don't know how to begin, RíRá has always been a favorite place to dine and a favorite watering hole for St. Patty's day. Most recently, the food has been lacking. Staff is always attentive and wonderful. Specialty cocktails are always fun and inviting but the food, not so much. I am hoping that they will get back on track as they are such a wonderful local establishment. read more

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Does not deserve 3.4, this is a 4.0. Upstairs great view of the harbor. Waitress was very friendly and attentive. Food came quickly. Had the fish and chips which was good, large fish good portion, moderate breading. Fries very good. Beef and Guinness stew was tasty, presentation was in a can like a sea ration, a little startling but enough for my spouse but probably needs a bowl with a little more for me who is a larger mammal. Had the Irish beer flight-great. No entertainment tonight, enjoyed a nice evening, would recommend. Insist on upstairs for the view, downstairs for a bar experience. read more

Rí Rá - Irish Pub Near Me - Portland, Maine

First-they were "out" of a number of things on the menu, which was understandable (kind of) in January 1... Second-the upstairs, although with a lovely view, was cold. Not cool, but cold. Again, we all can appreciate conservation but we had a baby in our party (and reservations to boot). Third-the food. Gross. I had a Reuben that I literally had to trim chunks of gelatinous fat off of what sparse meat was served. The corned beef was tough and not cut on the bias. They left the Thousand Island dressing off so I had to ask for it (ironically the other Reuben at the table was far better and had all components). French fries were limp and cool to the touch. At $20+ for the sandwich it was a total bust. The server was ok, not particularly attentive. Never refilled water or my soda. Simply a disappointment. The price point is ridiculous for the quality of food and service. I could name three other places where it would have been far better and less expensive. Come for a pint. Eat elsewhere. read more

Loud place if you go on Trivia night. Drinks were so horrible we didn't bother to order any food. If you make a vodka and soda with flat soda water you can only assume the food will stink. So many better places in Portland. I don't know how Ri Ra survives. Total dive. read more

Service wasn't good. Food was blah, was really wanting to like it but was disappointed. Our food came out missing items and when asked about it was told, we ran out of that. read more

Visited Ri Ra about a week ago. Amazing as always. Short rib poutine and potato cakes were delicious and comforting. Irish Shepherds Pie, Chicken Cordon Bleu both stellar. Cannot wait to go back to try the hot onion dip. Also cannot beat the view upstairs by the window! read more

Rí Rá - View from RI RA dining room. - Irish Pub Near Me - Portland, Maine

Great experience. Came here on a Thursday afternoon. Waiter was aware of celiacs and I just asked to make sure they still had a gluten free fryer and he assured me they did. Fish and chips were well portioned and very tasty. Buttermilk crispy chicken sandwich on an Udis bun was phenomenal! The bun didn't fall apart like usual bc they toasted it! Bathrooms were very clean and easy to find. Mayo packets very difficult open!! That's my only complaint and if that's the case, the place is a okay in my book! read more

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I was super excited to see so many gluten free options here, but had to go for the fish and chips. They were delightful but the portion size was absolutely massive. I probably could have split it in half and been fine. We had a reservation but arrived early; we waited a while in the front while the host sorted out the family that had arrived in front of us. The place seemed pretty big so I think he was running all over, but we were up there a long while, maybe 15 minutes. I just kind of stepped into the bar area near the front to watch football as we waited. It wasn't super busy in the dining room upstairs one we were seated so I'm not sure if maybe they were just a bit short staffed that evening. At any rate, everyone was very kind, it was just all a bit slower than I would have expected. Nothing too crazy and it was absolutely pouring outside anyway so we weren't in a rush to go back out in it! read more

Rí Rá - Gluten free fish and chips - Irish Pub Near Me - Portland, Maine

Today, when I arrived, only a couple of other people were at the bar, and no one was seated at the tables. Yet, after 45 minutes of waiting, asking for assistance multiple times, I left without even being able to put in an order. The bartender, instead of doing her job, spent the entire time talking to the people at the other end of the bar. Just a moment after making a request for service and being ignored, a person who had just walked in came up behind me, and ordered. When she was done, I said, yet again, I would like to order, the bartender just walked away. After having multiple experiences with rude staff and poor customer service years ago, I had not been in yers. I had decided to try it again, hoping it had changed. It hasn't. Never going back. read more

So good if you are looking for a low sodium menu! Nothing was salted! Bonus if you are looking for a raw menu! The squash in our salad was raw! Yay. So much healthier than the old menu which was well-cooked and seasoned. Blech. Bonus + a great opportunity to practice patience as you wait in the door in full view of the staff and they ignore you. All the best things that most restaurants are so bad at providing. read more

Beautiful view, we had the shepherds pie and the potato pancake. Both were so good. It took a minute to get seated but service was friendly one we were seated. We went during non-rush hour about 5pm we were leaving and the rush started to show up. read more

Rí Rá - View from upstairs - Irish Pub Near Me - Portland, Maine

We were seated (a party of 4) but never had our orders taken. Waiters and other staff were in a huddle, talking, and preoccupied. The only person who attended to customers was the bartender who multi tasking ( trying to keep her current customers happy/ while serving her own customers) The bartender saw visible frustration, and tried to reassure our group, but after our party waited at least 35 minutes without receiving any water or orders we made the decision to leave. read more