Portside Tavern

Portside is across the road from the water, with lovely views of boats. There's ample outdoor dining. The renovated mill interior has a separate sports bar and and two large dining rooms. Menu has a good variety, with some interesting apps, unique sandwiches, and upscale entrées. I was happily surprised that they had iced coffee, which was excellent. Their signature dessert is a creme brule donut- get it. Our server was quite gracious.

Went here for dinner and it was such a nice vibe. Waitress was so friendly and drink was good. Be warned, you only will need the one drink because they are very strong. Food was really good. I recommend the calamri app, and the pork chops with the mashed. I would come here for a quiet/ date settings. They have paid street parking across the street

I took my mom to the area for a day trip to the coast and we stumbled upon this fantastic restaurant. I was impressed with the General Als chicken over jasmine rice paired with a mango cart beer, and my Mum loved her portside burger very much. The fries were the best, and the home made pickles were delicious. Heck, even the glass of water they give you was good. (Not like how most other restaurants' free water tastes like bad tap water..) We will definitely come back to Portside Tavern next time we're in the area! Thanks so much. And please praise your cooks- they not only cook the food perfectly, but the plating was beautiful as well. My poor quality phone camera does not do it justice!

I went to restaurant at 3:45 with my dad. It wasn't busy. Our waiter took our order .We waited over 35 minutes to get our FishReuben sandwiches while several people at nearby tables place their orders,ate, and left. The sandwiches were so greasy my father only ate a couple of bites. The batter on the fish was very greasy and the fries were burnt. I am really disappointed by the poor service and food. I will never visit that establishment again

High energy, efficient , handsome server was on point with everything. I believe Will was his name. Great job!👍 We ordered Onion soup, Black bean soup , French dip, vegetarian wrap and brownie for dessert! A cozy New England atmosphere.💁🌹

I had dinner here as a party of two last weekend and we came in with a reservation and were seated right away, which was great! That was however the only great experience. Once we were seated and ordered drinks it took 10 min to get two diet cokes and only one was brought to the table. Then we ordered our food and we had to wait another 30 minutes for our appetizers. We had the broccoli soup and pita bread and hummus which were both good. But before we were even finished the mains were brought out. Those were already cold. I had the mani mani tacos and I do not recommend getting those. The fish was cold and dry, the tortilla was hard and the fries were also dry and tasted reheated. It tasted like it was premade and had been sitting there for a while. The worst part was that the seasoning tasted like they forgot to put it on and then added it last minute without even frying it or anything. I do not recommend. The food also arrive without any cutlery and no server ever thought to bring it. The restaurants servers were unorganized and every time a server came it was a different one.

I cannot eat black pepper and since they put it in most dishes my choices were limited. I decided on the Asian salad (with a different dressing) and received nothing but veggies in a bowl. An expensive bowl of uncooked veggies. Beyond that, they had music playing so everyone was yelling. It was difficult to hear anyone at the table. Not a pleasant experience. Thanks for your reply. This has happened before at other restaurants. The owner says they can accommodate a blank pepper allergy but when I request help at the restaurant and the server checks with the cook, I'm narrowed down to one or two items on the menu. Best to leave it to the patron at the table to make the decision since there's usually black pepper there anyway.

Lot of gluten free options! Fire place. Nice waitstaff. Right along the water. Someone else said a lot of things seemed watered down and I think I agree with them but I like soup-y kind of stuff so I enjoyed it. My friends didn’t like it at much as I did though. We arrived at 3pm with no wait. A lot of people at the bar watching the game. When we left at 5pm, it was full! So you probably need a reservation during peak times.

Stopped by on a sunny Saturday afternoon. We sat outside enjoying the view and sunshine. Our waiter was fantastic, perfect pace of not being rushed or slow. We had the pesto chicken sandwich which was outstanding. We will definitely come back again.

Came to lunch for the RI Food Fight Best Sandwich Showdown. The bar looked comfortable, so we settled there. There is a nice outside seating area that looks across the street to the harbor in warmer weather. The friendly bartender greeted us promptly & was knowledgeable about the extensive drink lists & food menu. A Portside Sour, made for the restaurant by Westerly based Grey Sail, was fruity & tart. The cocktail list features several fun Iced Coffee drinks, featuring Nitro Cold Brew on tap. While the Biscotti Iced was less boozy & sweet than expected, it still made a tasty accompaniment to the meal. Food began with a Rhode Island standard - Clam Cakes & Chowder. The large bowl of creamy chowder was excellent. The cakes have a different twist here as Mini Chorizo Clams Cake. Much more moist than typical cakes, these were loaded with clams & ground sausage. Very good if a bit heavy. This combination would make a good, filling meal in themselves. The restaurant's entry in the sandwich competition was their Fried Chicken Banh Mi featurung well seasoned, juicy chicken cutlets with pickled carrots & jalapeños. The chiles were super spicy but easily removed by those sensitive. Served with a choice of fries or greens, it was a tasty lunch. Those dressed greens were an excellent addition to the sandwich itself, too. While a bit pricey for everyday lunch, we will certainly return to enjoy drinks at the bar or a meal outside in warm weather.

After walking the Audubon trail and some shops, we needed a late lunch and thought we would check out the Portside. The menu was diverse from seafood to American fare. The service was exceptional, and the food came out out piping hot. The waterfront is right across the street for you to walk after your meal or drink!

This is a tough one torn between 3-4 stars. Not sure about parking. Off street parking available but my sense is the summer months would be a nightmare. Food was good and menu has something for everyone. BUT I ordered the normal martini and asked for blue cheese stuffed olives. A very quick No! Ugh. However, the Charcuterie board comes with blue cheese!!!!! So your telling me for a $16 martini you can stuff some of the blue cheese in my olives. No worries I will do it myself. Not fancy--- service average, but food was good and great portion sizes. I suppose they lost me at the olives. But worth a try.

Enjoyed brunch here with a friend, and was impressed with the egg sandwich and mimosa! Service was fast and friendly. Overall an enjoyable and busy spot so reservations are suggested!

This place is definitely a must. The wait staff is friendly the bartenders are great and the food is fantastic.! Outdoor seating is a plus.

The food was outstanding. Korean BBQ Wanton Nachos and Calamari appetizers were superb. Restaurant was very dark. Could definitely use better lighting, but the food makes up for that.

Visited my daughter who is a grad student at RWU and lives on Hope street and stopped here on a walk back from the Hope street Christmas festival. We'd never tried Portside before. Hostess & greeting was pleasant, restaurant was clean service was decent though we needed to seek out napkins and silverware (as did the table next to us) which was a little odd given there were empty tables with silverware and enough wait staff. Food: A decent burger. About average for a tavern. Pretzel stick appetizer was good with the dipping sauce. Perhaps a little pricey. Decent beer list. I'd return, but will try other local options too.

We walked in the door and were greeted to friendly faces, our server was also really kind and checked up on us a great amount of times in addition to being patient with us. We came here in the evening, it seemed quite busy on a Tuesday night. I appreciate that they're open late. I enjoyed the ambiance, the lighting is dim and you also have the option to sit outside! This is my first time in RI and this is the first place we stopped at! We had the crab cakes (2) for an appetizer and they didn't disappoint. The first bite was punching with flavor, it balanced out with the pickled red onions, arugula, and carrots it comes with. Fresh and delicious, flavors are dancing on your tongue (not pictured here cause I accidentally took a blurry photo as someone was bringing out our soup and was embarrassed that I was taking the pic haha). Clam chowder was nice too! Can't really go wrong with clam chowder- seemed pretty average, pretty good. The scallop dish- scallops, you can TELL that it tasted super fresh. Cooked perfectly, seared really well and it melts in your mouth. My only feedback was that I was disappointed in how much sauce there was on the plate and dish. It tasted similarly to Asian flavors- which is great, reminded me of teriyaki / oyster / hoisin / soy sauce- but a little goes a long way. The dish was pretty drenched with it, I felt like it took away from the scallops. My boyfriend had the Crabby Patty- love what they did there with the SpongeBob reference haha. It wasn't until it was about to arrive when he realized that the patty was essentially the same thing as the crab cakes - so if you're looking for variety, maybe get one or the other! I still really enjoyed it.

Girls night out and we wanted to try something new to us, so we ventured out to Portside Tavern. My friend made a reservation and we were seated upon arrival. Some interesting things: wine isn't sold by the bottle (sad face) only 6 or 9oz pours, water comes in these jenky plastic cups that you could easily cut your mouth on if you're not careful (what's up with this?), there is a whole other section of seating in the back (I bet it's great especially in the summer time). Our server was a young guy real nice, but became less attentive toward the end of our meal. Maybe I'm just high maintenance, but I value my dollar so these things often make a difference if I do or don't want to come back. The food: the Thai lettuce wraps were good- more on the healthy side thank goodness and a bomb peanut sauce! I ordered the steak tip special and the sauce was great, they were tender, but it was NOT medium rare as I asked for. My friend also had the same dish and hers wasn't the right temp either. I did not bring it to anyone's attention as I was hungry and it was still good. Our server didn't offer dessert- by the time he came back to us, we were ready to go. The live music gave a coffeehouse vibe. Love that there was entertainment. I'd come back with the family, maybe the temp of the steak was a fluke or maybe there was a miscommunication between the server and kitchen- either way I'm willing to give it a second shot!

Good food and great atmosphere. Would go there again and recommended highly to everyone

Good food. Usually easy to get into. Nice outdoor area for warmer months. We go here often.

Although Portside didn't shine during a dinner visit a few months ago, we came here for brunch and were thoroughly impressed. The place was packed crowded and could tell it is a really popular brunch spot. They even had live music on the weekend morning day we came here. Prices are a bit elevated but it is what it is, especially considering this is Bristol and Portside is a restaurant rather than a diner. My breakfast (2 eggs, toast, home fries, and a side of Canadian bacon) was $13.95, which is not bad for a treat but also not the cheapest around. The food was pretty good. Not greasy, had good flavor, fresh, arrived hot. Overall really no complaints on the food. The portion sizes were just right, and I was (barely) able to finish my plate yet left feeling full. Our food took a really long time to come out (a good 30 minutes) but the place was insanely busy and it seemed like a lot of tables were seated at roughly the same time, so it makes sense that they got a bit backed up. Service is a bit different as we were helped by 3 or 4 different servers during our relatively short visit. I think in such a busy environment this can be a big help because everyone was picking up slack and working as a team. Overall service was good. Would totally come back here for brunch again another time!

One of my favorites in Bristol! I've been there a few times, and it's always a positive experience. Personable and attentive service. Absolutely delicious food. Well decorated interior with good lighting and spacious seating. In my most recent visit, we ordered the Thai lettuce wraps as an appetizer and two Portside tavern salads as our mains. One was with steak tips and the other with shrimp. After some delay to our salads, the manager came out to apologize and offer us a round of wine on the house. I will be back!

The hamburgers here are better than most places. Interesting appetizers are also available. Service is great and the ambiance is nice.

A perfect fall day was our treat for dinner outside at Portside. Recommended by students at Roger Williams University down the street, after a campus tour, and we are glad we took their suggestion! Apps were buffalo wings which were good, the pretzel and then the app highlight was definitely the crab cakes. I had a French dip with fries, very good. I split that with the turkey club. (Not technically a club because it has two slices of bread!) The grilled cheese was delicious too. I always like those in a restaurant. Service was excellent. Very attentive especially for dining outside and it not being that easy, or so it seemed! I wanted to keep this gem a secret, but couldn't! I will return here, hopefully soon, as this falls in my sales territory!

Food was hit or miss, but service was very good. The Korean bbq nachos were very soggy and pretty terrible, the pork chop was pathetic for a real restaurant, but the tuna bowl wasn't bad and the chorizo clam cakes were very good. I also enjoyed the egg rolls we ordered and the espresso martini I got was amazing. Would come back for drinks and maybe an app, but definitely east to find better food close by especially at this price

Dropped in here close to closing time, and the staff was attentive and professional... ie: the made a good cocktail, and were polite and welcoming. I have not been here when they have a trio or quartet playing, but I have heard good things .. ( weekends only perhaps ...) A worthy stop.

FOOD: Tried the Argentinean red wine, not too bitter or sweet. Just right. Ordered the prime flat iron steak frites, medium rare. The steak paired well with both the wine and bearnaise sauce. I never usually finish fries at restaurants but the parmesan fries were pretty good, and a good portion. SERVICE: The server was patient with me since I was indecisive about what to order, really appreciated that. Food actually came out pretty quickly during peak lunch hours. I love how there were kid lunch boxes when you first come into the restaurant, or maybe it was just left there randomly ATMOSPHERE: Sat by the fireplace, very cozy. Casual dining, would be good for small groups. I'd definitely visit again if I was in the area for outdoor dining as well. Overall: 4.5/5

Great food. They move. Bartenders are awesome. Drinks great. Street parking. Outside seating. Big bar. 5 bar TVs. We will be back

Great service, cool atmosphere, the food was really good. We'll come back here in the summer for sure since the location is so pretty right across the street from the water.

I'm not a huge fan of 'creative pub food' ... normally I find its sort of stuck in the early-mid 2000s. There are only so many ways you can make nachos fancy and unique and I don't need things like duck confit on my burger. When the gf told me we were eating here, I wasn't thrilled as she tends to favour any place like this and I do not. I can tell you that judging a book by its cover was unfounded here as the food was great. I was nursing a hangover which gave me a queasy tummy. I was not craving anything heavy and the table next to me had a giant plate of nachos which looked as though someone tossed a box of cheese and a pound of shredded pork on. I ordered pretzel sticks, we split a grilled cheese and lettuce wraps. Don't judge ... bread carbs are usually what gets me through a hangover. The pretzel sticks were the best I've ever had. Light and fluffy, a bit of oil on the outside, not too much salt and a beautiful little bowl of fresh-tasting cheese sauce for dipping. I dream of these at night now ... 3 per order and I wish I skipped the grilled cheese and doubled up. The grilled cheese was unremarkable. The bread was too thick, the cheese was average and it was very buttery. Here is where I would have liked to see some creativity ... this was something I could make at home. The little bowl of orange tomato dip was the only bad part of the lunch. It tasted oddly nasty. The lettuce wraps were also awesome according to the gf. She said some of the best she's ever had. Everything tasted and looked fresh and it was made well. We did not have room for dessert but everything looked great on the menu. Good beer selection as well, though I was not partaking due to my hangover. My gf is a stout drinker and there were a few good choices for her ... normally menus are heavy on the IPAs these days, so she loved having a choice. Lots of local selections. Overall, this was a great experience. The decor and vibe won't blow you away ... its across the street from the water but there are no water views. We sat outside for what may be one of the last outdoor dining days before winter.

Fantastic food, amazing service and fantastic ambiance on the water in Bristol. Menu is a bit limited, but there is something for everyone. Great spot for an early dinner and enjoy the sunset.

I was in the area for business and it was a beautiful day, so my co-workers and I went for some drinks at Portside. The drinks were good, and the waitress was attentive, but I was charged twice for the drink. I figured an honest mistake, and I called to have it corrected. I spoke to one manager who told me to give it through the weekend for the refund to post and if it doesn't, to call back. I called back because it didn't post and spoke to a different manager who again went through the whole thing and again told me I was all set for my refund. I haven't gotten my refund, and I am sick of having to chase them to correct their error. Thankfully it wasn't a huge amount, so I am not wasting any additional time trying to get my money back. Just be careful and check your statements. I would hate to think of how long it would take me and how many phone calls I would have to make if it was an entire meal. I won't be back because I can't count on the establishment to ensure they correct their errors. It has been well over 4 days and this transaction is NOT showing as pending. I am aware of how credit cards and banks work and would not post a review saying I did not get the refund if I had.

Careful with this establishment... each dish is better than the last. My husband and I disagreed as to which dish was the best... the only way for us to properly resolve the conflict is to go back again and often... oh darn!

The waitress was excellent, really liked all the food (mussels, pretzels, crab cakes). Just sad they don't have French onion soup on the menu anymore.

Went here with my god sister on Tuesday and the in Thursday with my god sister and brought my husband and his friend with us this time. Was very good!! First time I had the portside burger, and then I tried the Oktoberfest menu and had a watermelon margaritas both times. Was definitely not disappointed either time. Would definitely recommend this place if your in the area! Priced fair and good atmosphere. 10/10

A small bar but service was really good. The location is right down near Independence Park; so it offer's proximity to other venues and especially the 4th of July concerts.

Wonderful Ahi rice bowl, great strong drinks and very easy and nice staff. I had a great lunch there and thought the menu looked excellent for future visits.

I retract my previous review of Portside. Yes, the Steak and Frites weren't exceptional, but given that I've been to this place more times than I have fingers, it's only fair that they get what they deserve. I've had pretty much all of their appetizers and I really can't find a reason to say I don't like any of them. The Wanton Nachos have everything going for them... sweet, salty, savory, crunchy. The Cheese Plate with the Brie has this pesto that pops. When I don't feel much like anything, the Pretzels are just warm and inviting... Love that cheese sauce! The Littlenecks... man that sauce... I've had two sandwiches... the Chicken Pesto and the Fish Reuben, and both are full of flavor and cooked very well. They have a great selection of beers, wines and cocktails... My go-to is usually Proclamation, J. Lohr Cab, or a G&T. What is really important at this place is how great the service is. There's only been one spotty time where the waitress was meh... but there are two that I get very often... not entirely sure of their names unfortunately, and they are always on their game. Super friendly, too! The live music is spectacular and probably the main reason I keep going. It's just great how interactive the talents are and keep me there all night. I love this place!

Usually love dining here in the summer months outdoors. Very disappointed the restaurant was ice cold and the menu was limited. Asked for server to close the second set of doors so that when the entry door was open, the restaurant would not be flooded with ice cold air. Server said he doesn't want to do that. whoever he is should know that everyone sitting around in the dining room was uncomfortable even with the fireplace roaring. I won't return back till after the spring. Really ruined dinner.

This place is amazing!!! We walked off the bike path and saw that everything people ordered looked AWESOME! Everything!!! Service was amazing. We had an incredible waitress & even back up people. We ate inside and it's so cute!!! Every plate was delicious! I want to come back and order just drinks and apps because they all look so yummy. We ordered the cheese plate. Came with meats, cheeses, fresh fruit, chutney and warm, perfectly toasted baguette. Combined with drinks, a pretty damn near perfect cosmo and an even better mojito. We nailed the cheese plate and didn't have room to eat our lunches... but we boxed them up and look forward to yummy leftovers. We will be back with more people to share all the apps!

Friends from the area introduced us to Portside. Absolutely fantastic! Had the Asian Lettuce wraps appetizer with tuna and the Fish Ruben. Superb!! Not to mention the great on tap local brews. So good we went back again the next day! They are sure fire!

First time trying Portside and it did not disappoint. They offer indoor and outdoor seating which is great. The service was excellent and our food was served to us very quickly. They have a good menu for small and large plates. It gave me a very Modern American vibe. I ordered one of the burgers off the specials that had bacon, onion, cheese, pickles, a special sauce and even a slice of green apple. It was delicious. I also ordered the vanilla cheesecake. It was quite rich but not as flavorful as I would hoped. The only downside is this place is a little overpriced for what you are getting

arrived around 430pm and for a seat outside. There were about four other tables outside but it was fairly quiet. Service was horrendous. Server kept disappearing, never checking to see how the food was, never asked about refills on drinks Food was very good!

Not only is this dish beautiful, but it is also delicious The Ahi Tuna was nice and fresh and the aioli sauce gave the dish a little spice! The crispy wonton with the light tuna and aioli made this dish a little party in your mouth I love this restaurant! They have delicious food, drinks, a great atmosphere and on Sundays love music!

This is an A+ place I go at least a few times a month food never feels to be great! Staff has always been top notch. Good sized menu choices but always unique and tasty. Lots of Gluten w options too. Prices are very reasonable. Definite must try. Weekend usually has entertainment in the Summer. Right across from the waterfront.

Shrinkflation! I have been here several times, but something has changed. I am not the type of person that thinks more food makes it better. This was different. We started with the crab cakes. There were two very small, very flat crabcakes. on the plus side, being so flat made them crispy. I had the shrimp Po'boy for an entree. There were exactly 4 small shrimp on the entire sandwich. If you have to raise the prices, then do so. That's at least more honest.

I met a friend for lunch . I love what they have done on renovations. The waitstaff was very pleasant. She was very helpful with the menu and her recommendations on lunch was on point. My friend and I enjoyed thr crabby patty which is new on the menu! It was loaded with crab hardly any filling . Exceptional if your a true seafood lover. I brought my lil 14 month old and he was treated like a prince. He's a bread and butter fan and they accommodated his needs! lol He was flirty with the cute hostess which she played along! It was a fun lunch date on all ends. There's not many restaurants open on Mondays so if your looking for a good meal and relaxing environment I highly recommend The Portside Tavern! I have been for apps around July 4th last year. At that time of year it's not so chill but lots of locals and a great place to meet with outside seating as well. Enjoy!!

Love going to The Portside on a beautiful Summer afternoon to hang on the deck and listen to some relaxing acoustic tunes. The food is top notch, fresh and delicious. Good sandwiches and seafood and they make a good gin and tonic. They get busy so it pays to get there early.

Great food and service. I ordered the mussels and frites with a hot baguette. It's actually an appetizer but it's so big that I order it as an entree. The famous pulled pork nachos are the best. It's not really nachos more of a fried wonton. But it's so addictive. I have had the veggie wraps and those didn't have flavor so I never reordered. Overall, great food and experience.

Great place to have an appetizer or dinner, and a couple of cocktails any day of the week! The Oktoberfest menu they have right now was delicious! We enjoyed the pierogis and knockwurst cakes ,pretzel rods selection. The sesame crusted Aji tuna was delicious also!

One of my go-to spots in downtown Bristol! Great drinks, great food! Fireplace by the bar which is nice on winter night!

Just okay. If you get lucky to sit outdoors, it's a nice stop, but I would t go out of my way to eat here. Staff was friendly, view was nice, restaurant was clean, but the food wasn't worth talking about. The fries were good if you like fresh cut fries. We ordered the Korean wontons, tilapia fish tacos and crabby cakes. The wontons were the best of all three meals, the fish tacos had no flavor and were over done and the crabby cakes were more cake than crab. It was pointed out the tacos were mahi-mahi, not tilapia. Either way they were rubbery, overdone and had no flavor. That was really my point.

Nice location convenient to the bike trail. We only had the wings. General Al's and Cajun dry rub. Both were definitely dry! Could have used a bit more sauce. View is nice

Nice spot across from the park. We ate outside while a concert was going on. Dinner and a show. Coconut shrimp were great. Wife enjoyed her mahi mahi tacos and I had the crabby patty.

On a busy spring Sunday we walked in for lunch. hoping to be outside but the block was hot and we were starving so we settled for a table top near the bar. Staff was very friendly and we were happy to sit quickly. The bar was filled which made me happy that things seamed to be normal again. But could be alarming to some. Food came quickly and was good. I had a fried chicken sandwich with carrots and jalapeños, it was an interesting sandwich but I was pleasantly surprised. My husband had a fish Reuben and it was tasty, my mom had lettuce wraps. Nice and refreshing.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Bristol. Great selection of food spanning the gamut. Great kids menu which is very rare these days. The crab cakes are a favorite. Free music a lot of the time with outside seating across from the harbor. Great staff.

Great little joint by the water. Food was excellent! It's not too large but it has a good size separated bar area and apparently, area tucked in the back as well. My husband and I both were impressed with the taste of our meals. I had the pineapple shrimp skewers and he had the new steak tips dish. I finished my whole plate and I am usually the queen of take home boxes. We will definitely be back.

We went for appetizers and drinks. Sat outside, really can't beat the location. Waitress was in her game. Recommended the Asian nachos, very good. Buffalo wings were great on heat and was well cooked.