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Rí Rá

3.4 (539 reviews)
ModerateIrish Pub
Closed 11:00 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)

Rí Rá Photos

RÍ RÁ ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Live music
Loud
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - Rí Rá

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Reviews With Photos

Pints

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!!

Jonathan T.

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.

Amy C.

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!

Lunch by Maine Beer Co.
Adrienne R.

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).

Old feel and comfortable leather seating
Kimberly B.

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!

Fish and chips
Taals B.

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.

Lobster gnocchi
Angie K.

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!

Beet salad
Chuck K.

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!

IRISH CHICKEN CURRY

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5 months ago

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

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Ask the Community - Rí Rá

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June cork used to be a fav but each visit we felt like the food quality kept dipping…read more We took our son and he had loved the place in the past. We only went because he requested it. We'd had too many disappointing meals and had written this place off. We ordered items that should have been easy. My son who will eat literally anything passed on his meal. He could not take more than two bites. We won't be back but sad about the decline. It used to be a really decent spot!

For a slightly late lunch, a friend and I went to The June Cork Pub, eager to try out their Bri'ish…read morefood. On a President's Day Monday at 1pm, the establishment seemed at just under half occupancy. I thought I needed to wait for seating, but staff said I could pick any table and they'd head over shortly. My friend and I ordered the sausage roll ($12) and scotch egg ($13) appetizers to share, and I ordered the bangers and mash ($19) entree for myself. The sausage roll, cut up into 6 slightly larger than bite-sized pieces, consisted of flaky and buttery pastry with herbal, earthy, and slightly crumbly sausage out of its casing. Imaging homemade breakfast sausage, but less sweet and more sharp. The accompanying brown mustard provided a nice contrast, yet remained relatively mellow. It also came with a bit of field greens so I could pretend to be healthy. The scotch egg arrived as a textbook example of a softboiled egg with a yammy yolk. The outer sausage shell tasted similar to that of the sausage roll. The accompanying chili jam cut down on the savoriness just a touch; it melded tart, spiciness, and sweetness yet also remained mellow, not overpowering the egg. My entree, the bangers and mash, proved exceptional. The peas were some of the brightest, most vibrant, juicy and crisp peas I'd ever had. Each one had just a slight burst at the bite. The caramelized onions adorning the mash had been browned down a long time, like what you'd expect in French onion soup. The mash itself, made from red potatoes, tasted robust and rich without being overly dense or overly reliant on butter (not shaming butter, but these potatoes deserve to shine, not drowned out). The bangers themselves possessed crisp, taunt casings with juicy interiors. I would almost describe it as "fresh" in the same way I would describe high-quality vegetables. Weird, but I don't know how else to express this sentiment. Service was a bit slow, probably from the Monday holiday. Since it was technically a weekday, I was able to order $4.5 bud lite drafts from the happy hour menu (Mon-Fri 1-230pm). Overall, I walked away quite impressed from what was me randomly picking a place to get lunch after being at White Birch Armories at opening to beat the range wait.

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Bar view with flags

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Bangers and Mash

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Cara Irish Pub and Restaurant - Poutine

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3.0(101 reviews)
44.6 mi
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Visiting a sibling and her family mid-December 2025 I booked my flight from D.C. to Boston, took…read moreC&J Bus from Boston to Dover, and headed straight to my favorite bar in Dover, N.H. - Cara Irish Pub and Restaurant, on 4th Street in Dover. It was mid-day on a weekday, and there was a gathering - sounded like an office function - in the main bar area, so I took refuge at a small table near the front. Each visit to Cara reinforces my ties to the bar. The wait and bar staff have consistently been helpful and attentive without being intrusive. The menu offers a great example of Irish pub fare, all reasonably priced. I was in for a boilermaker (Maker's Mark with a side cider), and although it's not listed on the menu, I ordered a side of fries without the curry. Perfect comfort food in a relaxed pub setting.

We have been dozens of times and always enjoy ourselves. We mostly go on live music nights but…read moretonight we went for the trivia. Food is always good and sometime exceptional! Honestly for bar food a solid 4.5. The staff is on it especially when you sit at the bar. They have fun and usually very good specials. The blue cheese smash burger is out of this world. We constantly get the poutine and it's as good as any poutine I've ever had. The gravy has great flavor and the cheese is amazing. I've never had a bad meal and it's our favorite local chill place. Laid back and easy. It's definitely not a frills place but you always feel welcome especially when they get to know you!

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Stage

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Rí Rá - irish_pubs - Updated May 2026

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