Black Cow Burgers & Fries

Located in busy/trendy downtown Portland a few short blocks in from Commercial Street. Opened late until 10pm-12am daily. Great environment with lots of seating. We had a few burgers ($12-15) to go. All were really good…seemingly smash-burger style with fresh toppings. We also had some fries but they were pretty soggy…could have definitely stayed in the fryer for a bit longer. Great staff…very helpful and friendly.

We dropped by Black Cow Burgers & Fries in Portland for lunch, and it was a pretty pleasant experience. If you're in Portland and want a laid-back place for a burger and fries with a bit of flair, Black Cow is a solid pick — especially at lunch with their combo deals. Black Cow sits in the Old Port / downtown Portland area on Exchange Street, which is a lively spot with foot traffic, shops, cafés, and nearby waterfront charm. The lunch menu was offers good value, with combo deals (burger + fries + craft soda). The burgers were tasty and the fries were decent. Because of that, it’s easy to combine a lunch here with a stroll around the neighborhood. Service was friendly and relaxed. The staff made you feel welcome. The place has a fun, casual ambiance, with a bit of hipster / urban flair.

The onion rings!!!! DO NOT SLEEP ON THE ONION RINGS. Hamburger was delicious. maybe a tad bit on the salty side but the meat was so tender. Grilled cheese was so crunch and delicious. I added tomatoes. Perfection. Service is super friendly. I loved it. Wish they had more Italian white wine selections. But my own problem!

Wow just wow, we got the mushroom burger with the dirty sauce on the side and boy was it dirty but in the best and most delicious way! The fries were so tender and the meat tasted beautifully. Absolutely loved this spot!

There wasn't a long wait to get a seat and the staff were really kind. The food took a little longer than you'd expect. Waiter said "everything here is made from scratch" but I can't prove that is accurate as I'm not in the kitchen. The burgers and frys were amazing but they burnt the grilled cheese. The tables were clean. And the burgers don't come with frys, they are separate. Decent place. 4☆!

Yum! We stopped by here after walking around the city for a while and it was exactly what we needed. If you craving a good more upscale diner burger then this is where to come. We got the cheeseburgers and fries and red ale. The fries were fine. The burgers were delicious. They had lots of flavor and were fresh. Overall, the Black Cow is worth coming to if you want burger.

Came here for a late night dinner, was craving burgers and they did not disappoint. Just walking in, the atmosphere is very pleasant, welcoming and relaxed which we enjoyed. Our server was nice and professional. The drinks very good, not watered down and full of flavor. The summerita was my absolute favorite. The hamburger was as delicious as well as the fries though a little salty. Overall, we enjoyed our dinner here and would come back soon for the delicious burgers.

Burger was delicious. Service was good and fast. Only thing I didn’t care about was the throw all your food in a pile and make you figure it out at the table thing. Felt sloppy and lazy.

We had a great experience at Black Cow. Our server was patient and helpful with our questions. We ended up ordering a few burgers, brussels sprouts, and the table fries. Everything was delicious - but the veggie burger and Brussels sprouts got the best reviews amongst our table. The table fries are a fun way to share a nearly endless pile of fries, and comes with an array of sauces. Between the great service, nice environment, and delicious food, I would definitely visit again!

We wanted a casual dinner and thought the Black Cow would be good. We were seated right away. I found it a little unusual that it was so easy to get a table at 7:00 on a Friday night, but it clearly worked in our favor! We waited longer than what I feel is normal for a server to come over. By then, we had decided what we wanted to order. A few minutes later, our server comes back and tells me they were no longer making the cocktail I ordered. They had given me an outdated menu - which also explained why I didn't have the same drinks menu as my husband. We each ordered a cheeseburger, a shake, and an order of fries to share. The burgers were okay. They were a little greasy, but other than that they were fine. The fries were so salty we couldn't really eat them. The cheese sauce we ordered to go with the fries was so runny it didn't stick to the fries. Our shakes tasted okay, but they were kind of thin - I prefer a thicker shake. Nobody came over while we were eating to see if we needed anything or if anything was wrong. When we finally sit our server to bring our check, he asked how everything was and we told him. His response was "awesome". He clearly didn't listen to us! The physical space is cool and we liked the vibe. I don't think we would ever go back. And I think I now know why we got a table so easily at 7:00 on a Friday night!

It was a cute ambiance and the drinks were good (wish they would have had the ingredients for the drink I had originally ordered). The sandwiches were good but the fries just tasted like straight oil. What really got us is everything got delivered on plastic trays, kinda felt like we were at McDonald's 2.0 after that.

We decided to make a quick dinner stop at Black Cow before a concert in town, which was a great choice! We were running late, but were really happy to quickly get a table on a Friday evening. The staff was super friendly and gave us some great ideas about the menu and the specials. The burgers and fries came out of the kitchen really quickly and were nice and hot. They were really delicious. The restaurant is built into a cool old space which includes mosaic tiles and stained glass windows with really nice woodwork. This is a great spot!

Updated review for takeout only: I tried their Peanut Butter shake, Sour Cream & Onion Fries, and Mushroom Swiss (Veggie) Burger. I loved everything I tried-- the shake was perfectly creamy, and the veggie burger may be one of the best I've ever had. It's not trying to imitate a true beef patty, as it's a bean burger, and is incredibly flavorful and savory! Although I could've used a little more swiss cheese, the mushrooms were a great add. The sour cream and onion fries were 100% the standout of my meal. Tasted just like the classic potato chips, hefty (but not ridiculous) portion, great seasoning, thin but not crispy, and came with a delicious side sauce (gravy? poutine? unsure). The Black Cow is not your average burger joint! It's the perfect combination of casual and classy. Will be back!

Black cow is a lot larger space than I thought. Came in on a Saturday for some late lunch, where we were greeted by a few very young employees. Host sat us down but then our server very thoughtfully offered us a table by the window. Very cool space with old console systems and juke boxes around. I had a classic cheeseburger, and my friend and I shared the sour cream and onion fries. The fries weren't bad, and apparently are a popular choice, but I wouldn't get them again. The taste is there but the texture resembled a measly, wanna-be fry. Burger was pretty good, nothing crazy nor disappointing. I also had their Bard coffee shake which was nothing over the top. It satisfied my sweet tooth ;)

I ended up stopping by for a late dinner around 10pm shortly after landing from a flight. Wow best choice we could have made. The bread on the hamburger is so soft and flavorful. The meat was cooked to perfection, melts in your mouth. The fries could have been better. I personally love thicker fries and the flavor wasn't anything special. My friend really loved the skinny fries though so that could be personal preference. The waitress approached us quickly after being seated and the food came out quickly. This is a cool restaurant located in a nice area. There's even a bar section where you could sit as well.

This place is like Portland's version of California's In and Out. I love how they serve the food. Milkshakes are so good! And they have other types of cream soda's that look super interesting. Great vibe and great service!

this was the absolute best burger I have ever had! also so reasonably priced! Also such good fries! service was quick and personable. Fun ambiance!! Best restaurant in Portland!

Came back for more of the sausage egg and cheese goodness! Ordered: TWO sausage, egg and cheeses: unfortunately they didn't taste as unctuous as the last time, the egg appeared smaller or less fluffy than last time and left something to be desired pickles: not as sour as a typical deli style quarter, would have preferred more of their pickled onions as they are more flavorful chicken dip: the chicken is finely incorporated into the cheese so I didn't enjoy the texture as much but the chips were a perfect crunch and loved the fresh onions/chive/celery orange cream soda: not pictured but came out clear, even without the food coloring this tasted like orange cream and blew our minds

The location is great for the downtowners who need an easy bite or drink after work. It's a bit out of the way for me, so I normally would have to come here with purpose and intention. The burgers are great. They remind me of my greasy-spoon days in Chicago where burgers were no-nonsense, done right, and inexpensive. No need for poncy crap like foie gras or truffles or three additional exotic animals stacked on top. Nice interior space. Walk-in seating still possible on weekends, with a fairly decent turn-around.

The burgers and fries are incredible. Don't let anyone else tell you differently. I go often and take out of town friends. They all rave about it.

Nice atmosphere., nice and fast. Had the Swiss burger with bacon and fries. Burger was good and bun was nice (I think brioche buns are boring as $&%-). Fries were maybe not quite fresh as they were a bit cool. Burger has to be cooked through -unfortunately- but at least they are up front about it and don't do the usual thing of overcooking your order. Portions were a good size - not too big but not small.

Veggie burger is amazing. Tomato soup is great too. Fries (well done) are fantastic. Service is very good.

Stopped by for a quick lunch and beer and was really impressed. The prices and the food were great. The beer and cocktail options were also great. It's super casual so we felt comfortable taking our kids. The service was good, nothing amazing to note or negative to add. The burgers were very tasty and the fries were awesome - shoe string just how I like it.

Black Cow is consistent. The burgers/sandwiches are on the smaller size, but they are good. Shakes are over priced. Service is hit and miss. The atmosphere has a cool vibe.

We went for late lunch around 2:45ish. It was not busy at all but lots of visible dirty tables upon entry. They cleaned up a table for us and sat us almost immediately. The waitress came over and was friendly but key mentioning going on break. It was really odd. She didn't know what was available on tap or what type of fish was in the fish sandwich and blamed it on going on break. She brought our drinks and my beer had a very large chip at the rim of the glass. I asked for a new one which she replaced but didn't seem to be overly concerned about it. We ordered our meals and everything came within a reasonable time. My burger was delicious but my boyfriend's sloppy Joe barely had any meat on it. It was all bread. We asked and she just laughed and said oh sorry. Again really odd. She disappeared for a while.. likely going on break and another girl took over. The experience was just not great and was expensive for what we received. I wouldn't go back or recommend.

Outstanding food - so worth your bite and money, great location full of spunk and charm (old bank safe visible which is cool and the tall windows make for a great meal even on rainy days. Great service too. but really the food was amazing flavor. I'm a vegetarian and I got what could be the best veggies burger that I've ever had - homemade lentil and veggie patty. And the Brussels sprouts were absolutely off the wall. must have item. came with my teens but I can see this as a great spot for a date.

Ahh, first of all I miss Sonnys. This place gets three stars because if you sit at the bar you get a nice view of the park, where people often do odd things. Other than that super basic. Very underwhelming fries, average burger and 10 dollars beers.

One of the best smashburgers I've had! Great service and excellent local/regional beer on tap. Wonderful outdoor patio seating.

This is for take-out only. When visiting Portland, Maine, my friend and I wanted a quick meal. When looking through Yelp, Black Cow looked like a good option. The pictures made it appear as a brightly lit restaurant and we were tired from the day, so opted for take-out.. On arrival to pick up the order, I was surprised how dimly lit it was. I really liked the atmosphere. I would have loved to eat there! The food was ready by the time I arrived. We both got cheeseburgers, which I added bacon, sub cheddar, and no onions. I really liked the sauce on the burger. My only was it was super salty. I didn't know if it was the patty or the sauce. I saw they had cocktails on the menu and I definitely would have ordered one with it. Overall, really enjoyed it. Only hoping it's not always so salty.

In comparison to all of the other options around Portland, this place is the epitome of meh. The chicken sandwich was okay... might be better from Wendy's (you'd get more chicken) , the burger was small,, etc. The sour cream and onion fries were OVERLOADED with seasoning making it borderline awful. The waitress acted like she wanted to be anywhere but there. Irritated when you asked for more water, slowly sauntering around, etc.

My friends and I stopped here on our way to Maine from Boston and we were not disappointed! The place has a decently upscale ambiance, but the food is served on trays with paper plates. In other words, it's a nice spot but nothing too fancy. Perfect for burgers, fries, and a drink. To start, the egg creams were delicious - the perfect mix of a drink and dessert in one. Apparently the Manhattan is vanilla flavored and the Brooklyn is chocolate. We split the foie gras fries, which were really rich but very tasty. The real star of the show was the burgers. They were flavorful and juicy, but didn't taste too fatty. Even better with some bacon on top! I wish this place existed in Boston. Overall, a big fan - I would highly recommend! Need to come back next time I'm in Portland.

The burgers are excellent! I prefer a thin bun for my burger and this place nailed it. Also had a blue berry cocktail (gin, lavender) that was just . The interior is exposed brick and beams. Above the bar, where the 2nd floor probably was, is an old wall safe. The service just enhance the experience!

Cheeseburger was pretty good. My husband also enjoyed the mushroom burger. The shoestring fries were amazing! The dirty fries were not good! They were pretty soggy and the sloppy joe meat wasn't what we expected. The floor was sticky. All in all, it was ok. But I would've preferred to eat elsewhere.

I came here for a quick drink with my friends while waiting for another restaurant. Mary took care of us and knew we were on a time crunch. She was so friendly, attentive and made sure to get our drinks out quick with the check so we could run when we got the txt our table was ready. Definitely ask for her if you come here! The outdoor patio was so awesome. Loved the view of the courtyard.

I left a review for Black Cow maybe 3 years ago and it was mediocre. I'm happy to say I can update the review, the restaurant has improved vastly and I can say better things. Thr burger is fantastic and was even better than the first time I got it. The toppings are fairly simple but they're done well, which is really what matters. Flavorful meat, compact and small but certainly filling, and fairly inexpensive. The fries are still pretty thin, but they're far more flavorful and crispy than they were in the past. Definitely a step up from whenever I made my last review. Pricing here is pretty great too. I've never spent over 20 bucks on a meal here, which is fantastic especially by Portland Maine standards. Black Cow really impressed me.

Good burgers, the dirty fries were excellent. Would definitely go again to try more items. Service was good and decent atmosphere in a lovely neighborhood.

The burgers were freshly made but a bit smaller than your typical restaurant burger. The fries were delicious and very flavorful and crisp. Service was very friendly, however a bit slow and it sometimes took a few tries to get someone's attention.

We stop in here today and Wow what a great burger the best we have had in a long time. I got the mushroom and Swiss my wife got the bacon cheese

Delicious - I had the sausage, egg and cheese sandwich. The sour cream fries were a bit like eating potato chips. The Egg cream - which we wanted to try - was interesting but we aren't fans (trying that out for the first time-lots of sugar). Great service. We sat on the patio and it was lovely.

This is a great place to go if you are trying to cut down on your alcohol consumption because you will not get a 6 ounce pour of wine. I got a glass of rosé which was $12 and got about 3 ounces at best. See the included photo. Ridiculous. I didn't complain because I was afraid the sketchy bartender would do something to our food. With so many places to dine and drink in Portland it was a sad disappointment to waste my time and money here. Will never come back.

The one entree they offer that could be suitable for a vegan is their "veggie burger". Unfortunately, it's made with egg (but online menu does not state this). Had to settle on a meal of french fries and brussel sprouts. Even their salads are not vegetarian/vegan friendly.

GREAT CHEESEBURGER. Great Caesar salad! Really delicious. Bartender very kind and helpful.

Absolutely loved dining on the patio here! Shake was great. Burgers were fresh, juicy and delicious. Dessert was great. We wanted to go back our second night here, it was so good. We had the nicest, fastest waiter ever. Definitely would return!

It is what it is a burger place. I'm not understanding more negative reviews as this is in the heart of tourist area but it's a cute location (inside old bank) with a simple menu. They bring the food out on trays you eat on plastic plates and it gives me upscale McDonald's vibes. It's cute and I liked the good. The cheeseburger is a cheeseburger simple classic bun is deli soups. The chicken sandwich not what I expected it looked like a square shape with more panko crunch but it was still really good. It was sweet crunchy and loved the pickles on it. I loved the fries. A woman on the street said if we liked McDonald's fries we'd love there's. I'd come to black cow again for a quick lunch in this town.

I stopped in-for first time... great vibe, interior with wall safe from the former Portland savings bank was cool. Great bar and views of street. Now the food... I had an excellent sautéed fresh mushroom burger with sauces that was a blend of Mayo and truffle aioli I think... whatever ... it was great. The fried Brussels sprouts were some of best I've had... the beers all excellent selection . I had to force myself to leave... I'll be back as my new Portland burger, beer spot... cool vibe, staff, bar tenders

One of those little bar/ restaurants in portland. This one specialized and fries and burgers. I really wasn't that impressed and I definitely wasn't impressed with the prices. The burger I ordered was actually reasonably priced but then I ordered the poutine which definitely was not worth the price. It wasn't good at all. The burger was ok. Had better and had worse... I definitely would be trying other restaurants when I come back to Portland

Thursday night. Place was a third full at most. Sat us right by the kitchen and bar and register where everyone was. Sat there for 15 minutes watching wait staff and kitchen staff laugh and goof around like summer camp. No one came over. We left. (Also saw in the open kitchen: someone eat a fry off a plate while preparing an order.)

Came to this location for drinks and small bite. Great atmosphere and great service! Tried some wines and Allagash light beer , very smooth and light ; loved it! Thanks to our server Sylvia , gave us great recommendations for places of interest !

Went in for the drinks and a little football. Enjoyed the game and the drinks were fantastic.

I loved the hip ambiance of this burger spot. Simple yet classic. Situated in the busy street of the town. We ordered on the counter and was delivered to our table. Truly to what the reviewers said, their burger is worth to try. The reasonable pricing is inviting. The staff is nice. A good place to swing by when in the area. Visiting Portland with a dining experience here was not a disappointment.

My husband and I stopped for lunch here. He had a burger which was delicious but I had the chicken sandwich. It was a square patty and tasted like it was a processed patty that was fried. From a place that has a small menu I would expect a piece of fresh chicken breaded and fried. The bun and toppings were great but the chicken itself was very disappointing!

Service is so slow!!!!!! People next to us arrived after and we still have seen our food. It better be good as I am not happy sitting here so damn long!!!!!! Update, the food was great and they heard my plea of time and accommodated.

We only had a few appetizers, but that was enough to know that Black Cow isn't for us. My wife had the tomato soup which was about what you would expect, nothing made in house. I tried the Foie Gras Poutine, which was really bad. The gravy tasted like it was dumped from a Heinz jar, the fries were bland and underwhelming. Picture McDonald's quality. The cutlery was paper products with plastic silverware. Completely disappointing

Awesome dirty fries!! Sloppy Joe and cheese over thin fries was heavenly.... We were too fast to get a picture! Burger and fish were cooked perfectly. Sat at bar because it was raining or else we would have sat on the cute bricked patio on the side of the building. Bartender James was on top of everything with a full bar and doing service also! Definitely coming back here!!

It gets 3 because the server has a good hospitality perspective and attitude. Otherwise the experience busted up on the rocks. The egg cream was fine though that's not launching rockets. The wedge salad. Served in a oval paper boat? Pickeled or macerated red onions? Grated bacon? No blue cheese crumbles? The dressing is the winner in this dish but everything else is a problem, it's simply a loss. If it's on a menu do it well or pull it. I know it's a burger shop, but again don't sell it if it's done well. Yes I have an opinion, I have chops to back it up too.

So I have been to this restaurant for a while, and it has always been great! Back in 2017, they would even ask how you wanted your burger! Since Covid started though, their food has gotten a bit worse, with takeout/delivery being quite soggy. If you do go to the restaurant however, they have it set up very nicely, with a bar and multiple seating areas. Food there is good, but sometimes there can be quite a wait. Staff is always friendly and makes sure to suit your needs. It has always been a good restaurant if you want to go get a good burger. They also have really good vegetarian options if that's what you prefer. Meals are a little pricey and can add up fast if there's a large amount ordered, but it's usually worth it. Would definitely recommend!

First off, Service was great. We were seated in the back room and felt kind of isolated so they moved us up front near the window easily upon request. Apps of sour cream fries and Buffalo dip were just room temperature not hot or heated and just ok. Would not order again. Mushroom/Swiss burgers were good but fell apart instantly while eating. Cheeseburgers were good too, eventually fell apart too. Best part of the burgers are definitely the buns and fillings with the burger. Drinks were ok, not great and I love a good cocktail. Overall pretty good, maybe would come back but with so many better burger spots in Portland with great fries will prob not be back.