LFK

A cute cozy spot to grab a drink, but the food is terrible. The mac and cheese is somehow tangy in an unpleasant way. The Korean BBQ wings were pasty and the side salad they came with had a lot of slimy rotten spinach. We also got the tater tots which weren’t really tater tots, just balls of undercooked shredded potato that fell apart when touched. I would have been much more excited about frozen tots from a bag. We ordered the food to go and they said it would take 45 minutes (?!) and when we went in after 30 minutes the cook in the window said it had been «waiting at the bar forever» so needless to say everything was also very cold.

this place went from the worst place to one of the best. There’s a blond server who is amazing and my bartender Wednesday night was awesome, and totally on top of it all– something I’ve never experienced here before. There’s a few new menu items that awesome too. Used to hate coming here but now I’m actually pretty dang tootin happy to.

4 stars for drinks, service and ambiance! This is a really cute place. There is a big table in the back that can sit 10 people. There are also so comfy vintage looking sofas that look promising for a cozy night out. Both hard cider and hot cider are good. The waitress was so sweet — she brought me the wrong drink, let me have it while getting me the one that I ordered.
2.5 stars for food. I had a high expectation of food because this is my friend’s favorite place. I ordered a BLT ($ 7) and a side salad ($ 7). I can make better BLT at home, and the salad was too expensive for what it is.
I will come back here for drinks!

Place was decorated well and bartenders were cool and fun to talk to. I was in town for business and the woman gave me ideas of stuff to check out while I was in town.
The food was underwhelming. The only meat based burger had a pretzel bun and in my opinion it was pretty gross. Very unsatisfying. The side I decided to go with was «their version of a tater tot». The side was three round tater tots and that is all. I left hungry.
All in all the place was interesting and they had good beer. I’m thankful for the experience but I wish I spent my $ 30 somewhere else.

So, I’ve done a 180. I’ve wanted to give this place love for a long, long time and finally feel comfortable that they’ve turned the corner. I’ve found the service is much better, they got rid of bloody ponytail, and those were the only thing dragging them down.
Plus, they now serve a great lunch menu with good prices. Check it out.

After coming here only one time before this winter (got the spiked and spiced hot cider… SO good!), I decided to give LFK another try last night to see what the summer vibe was like. Like my first LFK experience, the cocktails were great, and I loved the chill and funky atmosphere.
I ordered food here for the first time last night: I ordered the tempeh tacos (yay creative vegetarian options!), and my date got the reuben sandwich and deviled eggs. Every dish was great and very reasonably priced. This place deserves more than just the 3.5 star average on its Unilocal page! It was pretty excellent food for bar food. If you’re eating at LFK, you are looking for a certain kind of price-​point and a certain kind of meal – you’re not looking to go to Petite Jacqueline next door. Anyway, the food was delicious, we didn’t have to wait very long, and we were very happy patrons of this fine establishment.

I went to get a burger on a recommendation by a friend. Small little corner bar (I don’t drink) but the burger was unreal. It was way better than I anticipated and great little side of potatoe salad. A little pricey but well worth it. I didn’t try anything else but if in the area need to check it out.

Cute little neighborhood watering hole. VERY nice bar. Bartenders always seem a little swamped at all times — but are incredibly nice.
They have a solid alcoholic ginger beer that I recommend: Crabbie’s.
It’s a good hop away from our sushi spot, and they offer vegan specials, desserts and A menu that I wouldn’t frown on. You’ll see a good mix of age groups — which thank god for that.
Spring special: watermelon shaved ice.

Hmmm… LFK must not have left a very big impression on me because until a few minutes ago, I’d forgotten I’d been there! I have a terrible memory so maybe this is just par for the course but in thinking about it, I’d say that my visit to LFK was pretty unremarkable — except for the nice company and friendly but disappearing bartender.
My friend and I went to LFK during Happy Hour but at LFK, there is no happy hour. How disappointing. Am I mistaken in thinking that most places in Portland have at least a couple of happy hour specials?
In any case, my friend and I were having dinner next door so we just stopped in for a drink. I went with a beer (a rarity for me) and my friend had a mulled cider with a very generous shot of whiskey which he seemed to love.
All in all not a bad experience, just not a standout for me.

LKF seems to have lost its appeal to me. The last few times I’ve been, I wasn’t impressed.
The bar is still inviting, and comfortable. Great drink selection, and they make a perfect hot toddy.
The food quality seems to be diminishing, as well as the menu… They had a fantastic beet salad that I loved, but it is gone. The mac and cheese is now very greasy. The black bean hummus I loved is now $ 14?!? For HUMMUS? Its chickpeas!
There is also an obnoxious waiter, that always puts on a show. He may think it is charming, but I literally dread having him walk over to the table. Its just uncomfortable to «talk» to him.
Sill a good place to catch a drink when its not overly crowded, and that server isn’t there…

Wow, so much hate for such a cozy, well-​designed bar. It seems that ‘hipster’ has morphed into a pejorative term that broadly embodies anything that falls into realm of being excessively obscure or niche, artistic, detailed, egocentric, superficial, ‘subversively’ trendy, or weirdly socially conscious. We now use this term to describe almost everything that deviates from the prefabricated mainstream, and it’s become such a tired trope. If my choices are between that and the ‘2 for $ 20′ deal at Appleby’s or ‘unlimited breadsticks’ at Olive Garden, then I’ll choose hipster any day of the week. Feel free to move from Portland, ME to Bloomington, MN (home of the ‘Mall of ‘Merica) in your Dodge Stratus if you disagree.
I like that LFK honors literature. This is the former home of Cunningham books, and so I imagine that coupled with HW Longfellow himself (portrait on the wall) is how they’ve arrived at their cryptic name (in some way) and theme.
I like that it’s a very darkly-​lit and intimate place. And I’ve had great conversations with complete strangers here.
I like the recurring typewriter theme. From the typewriter in the back to the wrought iron (?) block type letters that wrap around the bar, it give LFK a very artistic feel; someone has certainly put a little thought into this place.
I like their strong a** mulled cider drinks. Wow. I feel like it might be 4 parks whiskey to 1 part cider. Keep ‘em coming. And then please call me a cab. I also like their taps — other reviewers mentioned that they were mostly IPAs, but that was not the case when I ordered. I found them to be quite diverse.
Two out of the three times I’ve had great bar service. One of the bartenders (who resembles what I imagine Henry Rollins looked like 25 years ago) was extremely chatty and friendly, and shared a few of his infused cherries with us. Very helpful with the drink menu as well. There is another gentleman who seems very ambivalent to providing customer service, and so it took us about 5+ minutes to get our drink order in. Hence the 4 star review.
I find this to be a great place to grab a drink before a reservation at Petit Jacqueline, Pan Men Miyake, or whatever other restaurant happens to be nearby. I haven’t tried the food because of the wealth of options nearby, but I plan to one of these days.
If you hate this place because they use crates for tables, or because they use typewriters as decorations, or because they have clipboards for menus, then what are you really looking for in a local (read: non-​chain) place if not for these distinct, personalized touches? If this place is too ‘hipster’ for you, don’t worry — I believe there’s a 7 – 11 or a McDonald’s nearby.

A perfectly fine place to grab a drink, though seats are hard to come by on the weekend even when it’s freezing out. I love the cool typewriter bar and old typewriters sitting on the window sills. And, I like the mixed crowd – some hipsters, some hippies, some older run-​of-​the-​mill folks who just want to hang out and don’t make assumptions about a place by the «types» there. Like a Universalist Unitarian church, all are welcome.
Bottom line: Sure, why not.

Love this neighborhood resto/​pub. Dark relaxing atmosphere… delicious made to order food with a variety of healthy choices AND comfort food. On this –1 degree blustery night I went for both. Hot toddy to warm the soul, black bean hummus with crudités for a light bite and… homemade chocolate pecan ice cream with freshly baked molten chocolate chip cookies for dessert (comfort). Perfection. The service was warm and prompt, and most of all unpretentious! (Which portland needs to work on city wide). Prices great. Food fresh and tasty. I also love the lack of host and the communal seating, it just makes things effortless. Sometimes you need that without sacrificing quality. Try it!

Maybe I’m too emotionally involved to write this review. I remember living with my ex on Pine St. several years ago and frequenting the little book shop on the corner of State and Pine. Ah, f*ck it, now I’m chomping down on burgers and slurping down beers instead of buying books.
Don’t expect fine dining, but the food is good. The grass fed burger on a Rosemont Bakery pretzel bun was tasty for sure. It’s got very informal seating /​structure. As long as you’re fine with that I imagine you’ll have a good time.
I’m hesitant to tell you about the cozy basement style couch in the back because I live so close to LFK and I get sad when it’s not free for me to sit on.

If you’re night blind, afraid of communal seating, or have a severe allergy to plaid, this place is not for you. For me, this Longfellow-​themed haunt blends just the right amount of close proximity hipster mingling with a creative menu of tasty bites and flavorful drinks.
My first few visits to LFK I got the same things, the West End Mule (like a Moscow mule but with whiskey), and the deviled eggs (my favorite food). I liked these things so much that I had a hard time branching out and trying some of the other unique menu options, but I was glad when I did.
You’ll be constantly surprised by smart splashes of whimsy and culture at LFK, like the cats flying planes painted on the women’s bathroom wall, or the typewriter keys spelling out a Longfellow quote along the edge of the bar. Servers are friendly, and you might even be lucky enough to find a drink named after your favorite band’s best album; as I did when I discovered the Surfer Rosa on the menu, a strawberry mojito type of cocktail named for a great Pixies album.
Choosing from the limited but eclectic menu is as tricky as choosing just one colorful gift to unwrap on your birthday. From curated cheese and charcuterie plates to jerk chicken tacos, to deviled eggs, you’re more likely to find something you’ve been craving than anything traditional or expected.
Whether you’re with a few friends or just alone and hungry, LFK is a great choice!

The hipster vibe here is hilariously off-​the-​charts. Should IFC ever create an east coast version of Portlandia, this would be the main production set. It’s the type of vibe where you expect to see the bartenders to spin 7-​inch vinyl exclusively — and of course, only from artists that press their own records.
I generally dress like a yuppie when i go out but share a lot of the musical and entertainment tastes with the hipster crowd, so I don’t feel totally out of place here. Once the bartenders realize you can speak their language, they warm up a bit, even though they clearly disapproved of my wardrobe. And they have a very solid beer list. I discovered a couple of new ones here on my last visit that I was very excited about.
Food wise, the menu is light but what they do make is quite good. The burger is easily among the juiciest I’ve had. not sure how they do it, but they’ve ruined me for burgers elsewhere in the city. The apps we got were very good as well… I remember some sort of hummus plate, whatever — it was good, just overshadowed by the main event. By mid-​way through the meal, I found myself enjoying the company of the bartenders, talking beer and music. The guy even smiled and said thanks when he noticed the tip I left upon signing out. Nice!
As for the clientele… are you man/​woman enough to handle an overload of ironic black rim glasses and Alf shirts? Can you stomach watching a sea of unkempt beards in mesh trucker hats reading Hardy Boys books as they sip from pounder cans of Hamm’s (because PBR is too mainstream now — gotta pick an even crappier beer to be legit.) Then don’t be frightened. If you catch them glaring at you, glare right back with greater force, or better yet, say hello — they’ll look away so you can go back to enjoying the hilarity of it all, along with some good food and beer.

One, this was probably the hipster-​est décor ever. Like, it made me instantly hate the place. Why are there so many typewriters everywhere? Why is everything single thing brought to you on a clipboard? This table is a crate — for chickens to roost in! I can’t sit at this table crate.
Two, they mainly had IPAs on tap.
Three, like everyone says… worst service ever. Girl took forever, then took longer.

Something just makes me want more. Don’t get me wrong, I like LFK a lot. The burgers are always great as are the specials. The beer selection is always unique and tasty and I enjoy the rotating taps. I think it is just that the everything just comes up a hair short. The food is always just a hair smaller than I want, the beer selection is always just a hair smaller than I wish (and three times now I come in and find out the keg of what I want to try is kicked. The space is small and often packed too. I want to give it 3.5 stars.

LFK you are so bipolar! At night you are a hipster’s wet dream, a place where you can get a great craft beer that that so few people have heard of (and then openly hate the crowd the next week when you see other people drinking that beer).
The space is pretty large, it was a former bookstore (cunningham books I believe) and open. Funky tables and chairs that do not match and large tables that encourage communal seating. That have a sweet looking bar. I came to LFK with my living social in hand to try their brunch.
First started with their rum and juice drink. A good ratio of rum and juice (which was grapefruit-​y). It was a large pint glass and very tasty and I was happy that it was not too sweet as some morning drinks can be.
I then had a their house made hash. WARNING! This hash could be better than Hot Suppa’s! (Looks over my back to make sure I am not being attacked by an angry mob) I know what I am saying is crazy talk but look at the picture that is attached. Large tender cooked potatoes, trio of onions and colorful peppers, a corn beef hash that has been soaking in a brine. A perfectly poached egg sitting on top so that when you poke it open that bright yellow yolk drips down and covers the hash. And just to make sure you are full two large slices of Rosemont’s bread thick cut to wipe up everything that is left over. They offer this in a small or large size. I got the small and it was a perfect portion size. I felt very full afterwards.
Girlfriend ordered the french toast. Granted this is a person that never eats french toast because of soggy factor, she thought this was one of the best. Two very large pieces of bread that had been cooked great and went light on the egg wash as bread still had some crunch in it versus the soggy stuff you see so often.
The service at first was great. I would assume that it was because we were the only people in there at 11:00 AM. It started to pick up after about and hour and took awhile to get our check but I think they only had one waiter working. LFK has some great food. They have a small menu but that makes it better as they work on making a few things great versus a large out of control menu.
Continue to wait in lines for Hot Suppa or Local 188 (great places not hating on them) But if you want to sit down and have breakfast walk around the corner on Congress Street and LFK is there.

Hip, cozy, sexy ambiance. I’ll take it.
I came here for the first time last night, which happened to be the bar’s 1 year anniversary. A handful of nervous local writers read from their poetry and prose while I sipped away on a tantalizing libation combining gin, elderflower, grapefruit and prosecco — all the ingredients for a pretty damn enjoyable cocktail. My next and last drink was less impressive but looked good on paper — a cloyingly sweet combination of ginger beer, strawberry, balsamic and whatever other components I’m forgetting.
But back to the bar — service was quick, the layout is great — lots of seating, long bar, bookshelves galore. Menu looked amazing and rumor has it LFK does a damn fine brunch.
I’m only in town for two days but wouldn’t mind hitting this up again.