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Tara Inn

4.2 (279 reviews)
InexpensivePubs, Burgers, Seafood
Open • 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

Tara Inn Photos

TARA INN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Juke Box
Divey
Loud
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Tara Inn

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Interior
David R.

Such a super cute place. Burger and a Lagunitas pint for $12.50. Absolutely good energy here and good food and good service. Lovely bartender and management. Finally, an establishment that knows ADA law related to service animals and doesn't unlawfully demand papers. Much respect.

The menu was visible over bar. A nice touch of class (humor).
Chester M.

As advertised- excellent local dive bar. Incredible prices, great service, good pub grub and interesting ambiance. I try to visit local pubs when traveling and this is one the best I've found.

Chili Cup
Andrew I.

Delicious corned beef sandwich, highly recommend if you want to go beyond the iconic $1 burger. Always a fan of this cozy pub, great vibes especially with friends. Order at the counter and the food gets run to your table (self-seating). The kitchen forgot two of our meals and took a while to verify what we ordered, since there are no receipts given and it is cash-only, but we did eventually get all of our food. No frill, no fuss, just cheap, tasty eats and drinks with good vibes.

Wings
Rob P.

Great "Dive bar" at the top of the hill. First off the bartenders at the Tara Inn are great. Fast friendly & funny with great personalities. I had the Buffalo wings which were very good but more of a spicy bbq than traditional Buffalo style. All in all it's a safe bet for some good lunch and a couple beers.

Tara is a great place for a birthday get together from old old school friends.
Sarah B.

Tara's is the best. I took a friend her for lunch yesterday and while the prices have increased because they were 1970s prices for decades the burgers are still a $1. A dollar!!! The $5 lobster is now $17 but I imagine that what they pay for it is fairly close to that. The food is good and the fried scallops were the best I have had in ages at three times the price. I love Tara's. It's a hidden gem a favorite local's spot.

Pool table
Sherprina L.

Love this place, no menu, because they are written on paper plates and tapes on the wall! But how do you beat $2 burger, yes $2, every day, all the time! Porter house is only $20! Fresh and perfectly steamed lobster only $23. These are NOT specials, these are regular prices! The french onion soup was great, I believe was only $2! I can eat here everyday and not break the bank! Bartender and server were friendly and amazing! Very nice friendly spot.

Turkey Swiss & bacon on rye with fries
Colette G.

Whether it's your 1st time or hundred time here..warm & welcoming when you come to eat. This community staple has been around for over 40 years, because of its cheap eats & drinks. Cheap doesn't mean poor quality. Meals at Tara's are consistently top notch! Large bar area when you walk in, and dining area around the corner. Can you take the family here? Sure..but it wouldn't be my suggestion. Kids are not turned away, but its more bar than restaurant vibe. Maybe for lunch or early dinner. Its mostly an adult crowd, of all ages. Legendary Tara Burger is STILL $1 Real burger, real good! And there's more legendary choices that are cheaper than anywhere..like whole lobster, crab legs and porterhouse steaks for example. Yes there's regular pub fare as well, burgers, wings, fries, mozzarella sticks, sandwiches and so much more. Order food at the bar, give your table # . Food is delivered to your table. Paper plates have never been so happy to have food like this on them. Feeding generations of locals! Drinks are great here as well. Affordable! Great happy hour with pull tab cards, you can get a round for 50 cents! I've been coming here for over 30 years now. Tara's remains one of my favorite casual neighborhood dining & drinking spots. Find out for yourself!

Mussel soup and spicy Bloody Mary (with 5 olives)

We have been at Taras for lunch for over 10 years and it never disappoints. Superb service, great Bloody Marys and of course Guinness. The pricing is so affordable it makes dining out a pleasure again. So how is the food? Simple and Delicious. What you need to try is the variety of soups they are now offering. Today's was Mussel Bisque Soup. Plenty of mussels, creamy and filling. Would have been perfect if the winter weather was upon us. Once before they offered the Asian Crab soup, again delicious and similar to a Hot and Sour. A must for Lunch and get there early, stay late.

Sita P.

I've been coming to Tara Inn for years, a great pit stop on the way back to the city from out East. The epitome of a dive bar. Cheap drinks and eats, pool table, dark setting. My friends and I come here for the $13 lobster & $1 cheeseburgers. All the food is good and supper cheap. During happy hour you can get drinks for as low as 10¢. Definitely a spot worth checking out if your near or passing thru Port Jefferson

We went today with family members who hadn't been back since the 80s, and wow--what an experience. It felt like stepping into a time capsule in the best possible way. Somehow, you've stayed immune to inflation, and that alone left us stunned. The food was incredible, the service was just as amazing, and we spent the rest of the night in absolute awe of what we had just eaten--and what it cost. It brought back a flood of memories for my older brother, who hadn't been there in years, and you could see how much it meant to him. Thank you for staying true to who you are, for not changing, and for continuing to be such a cherished staple in our community.

Gabriela K.

Still best in town, been visiting for over 20 years and if I am in town, I need to go to Tara's because it's just the best food and drink in Port jefferson. Had my lobster with a pint of Smithwicks, brought me back in time.

Grilled Cheese
Ashley M.

Have been hearing a lot about this place recently and how cheap the food is. Came with my boyfriend for dinner on a Friday night. Cute little bar and interior. It wasn't too crowded either. I got a grilled cheese that came with fries and pickles for $7. Many options on the menu and with it being so affordable, I'll definitely be back soon!

Front of Tara

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Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the food quality and value, affordable drinks, friendly service, and classic dive bar atmosphere.

Read the full review summary in the app

3 months ago

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3 months ago

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1 month ago

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17 days ago

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28 days ago

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8 months ago

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5 months ago

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11 months ago

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6 months ago

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1 year ago

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5 months ago

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1 month ago

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10 days ago

Love this place. Great staff. Great vibe. Great deals. Go-to place for me and friends and family

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1 year ago

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8 months ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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6 months ago

Yes Its a dive bar but its a good one! The food is cheap and the service is commendable.

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Food, service, and atmosphere is outstanding. Prices are amazing. Best value on town.

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3 years ago

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10 months ago

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1 year ago

Mikaila is the best bartender at Tara's. Very personable, attentive and makes great drinks. I recommend her.

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Great,one of a kind, a pure joy serving some great lobster at the best price on the east coast.

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2 years ago

Great hamburger. Fun friendly service. Good place to make new friends playing pool. Fresh beers on tap. Cheap happy hour

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2 years ago

It's an establishment of good, well priced food with crowds of all types. Kitchen opened late too

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1 year ago

Amazing place. Friendly and cheapest food around, great for happy hour, very cozy. Food is delicious!

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6 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

Fun local low key place. Don't expect any fancy ambiance. It is basic, good food, good drinks, cheap prices ... TVs and a pool table.

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2 years ago

This was amazing, cant beat the prices or the food, delish and the owner Tara came over to welcome us. Awesome five

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2 years ago

I love the prices for the food! It was pretty decent food and the service was quick! I loved the variety of the menu

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4 years ago

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Ask the Community - Tara Inn

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Rare but the crowd makes you feel as if they do.

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3.0(72 reviews)
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Visited this establishment for lunch with my family after hopping off the Port Jeff Ferry. We were…read morein search of a place to eat that welcomed dogs as we were traveling with my Pomeranian, and saw a sign outside the patio that said Portside was dog-friendly so in we went. The lady at the counter (Kelly, I think?) was incredibly friendly, very personable, was happy to chat with my very talkative daughter, gave us recommendations for what's popular to eat at Portside & gave us a great recommendation of a place to get some ice cream after lunch, and even offered us a cup of ice water for my pup. We grabbed a table outside on the patio & ordered our food. We only waited about 15-20mins after ordering before all our plates and drinks came out. Everything tasted fantastic. The fries were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and my Chicken Caesar wrap was one of the best I've ever had. My dad had cobb salad that looked amazing, sis ordered the portside burger w/ side of onion rings that was really delicious, and hubby & daughter split a chicken fingers basket. We left nothing on our plates when we were done. The food was that excellent. Next time we visit Port Jefferson, we will be back to Portside Bar!

This should not be classified as American bar and should be classified as a dive bar…read more The bartenders are usually friendly. The place stinks like cigarettes inside and out. The food is acceptable, but there's so many other options. Been there a couple times. Always has a trashy crowd and someone gets in a fight. On the plus side I did once get invited to some drunk ladies Halloween party that she has every year in Port Jeff?!?

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Dining area

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Calamari appetizer.

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Port Bistro and Pub - Chianti for happy hour

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We went looking for prohibition Port Jefferson restaurant. Somehow standing in front we did not see…read morethe place. Around the corner was Port Jefferson Bistro. Smelled good so we went inside. Great service. My Gunnies burger was perfect with crunchy fried. Steve ordered a steak salad... it was outstanding. People ordered pasta which came in big bowels filled to the top. We stayed for live music. I'll try Prohibition next time I am here, but I was craving a burger and Port Jefferson Bistro delivered

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Port Bistro and Pub - Friendly Bar!!!

Friendly Bar!!!

Port Bistro and Pub
Port Bistro and Pub

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Tara Inn - pubs - Updated October 2026

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