You might just walk by and not know it's there. Located on Monument Square and great local establishment. Drinks specials and a fun menu you can't go wrong. This recent visit I ordered fries and Man O Man. Yummy. Crispy on the outside and just right on the inside. I don't like under cooked fries that are too starchy. I cleaned my plate. The staff is great and because it's small, you might have to wait for a seat. Booth, table and bar seating available. Because it's downtown, parking can be a challenge. But there is a city parking garage next door. Stop by to watch a game and enjoy the atmosphere. So worth it read more

See all

Came here off of a local recommendation and was not disappointed! Sat at the bar and had very attentive service by the woman behind the bar! She was super informative on the menu and helped me come to my decision of haddock corn chowder which was delicious! She also pointed me into the direction of the rest of Portland's best bars!! the music today was 80's and fun and not too loud! Overall I would absolutely come back and do recommend this to anyone looking for a locals type of off the beaten path place! The blueberry marg was also delicious !! read more

Shay's Grill Pub - Corn chowder - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Fun decor! We were there on a day they were short staffed. Friendly staff considering she was running it alone. Awesome corn chowder, veggie burger, and beef burger with sweet potato fries. read more

Shay's Grill Pub - On the wall of the booth where we sat. - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Cheap drinks, good vibes, and friendly service. A win in my book! We came in as a large group of 10 and we sat in one of their large booths with a couple chairs that we pulled over to add at the end of the table. Draft beers were going for $4, and they've got $6 martinis and $5 cans/bottles. Crazytown. We had a great time as a large group here. Shoutout to the jalapeño tini. So so good. We didn't order food other than a boat of fries for the table. I didn't try any myself but they looked great and everyone was enjoying them! read more

Shay's Grill Pub - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

We came in on a very chilly Tuesday night and had excellent service. We ordered the half nacho, cowboy burger and cali burger without a bun. Everything was delicious and after two pints our bill was $68. read more

See all

We stopped for a quick drink to kill some time. We ended coming across a great happy hour. Service was quick and friendly. We found a great outside table to enjoy our martinis. read more

Shay's Grill Pub - 5 dollar pineapple martini - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Was recommended as a good spot for pub food and did not disappoint! Had fried chicken sandwich with onion rings and was all delicious. Caesar salad and garlic fries were also tasty. Very attentive service, good vibes and nice beer selection. Would definitely come again. read more

Shay's Grill Pub - Fried chicken sandwich, onion rings, Caesar salad, garlic fries. - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

In Portland, Maine helping our son move and we wanted an early dinner before heading home. Shays was the perfect spot- cute, friendly staff, good beers and good food. My tuna melt with fries was satisfying as was my Sierra Nevada to wash it down. Definitely now on our radar when we visit; in the heart of downtown Portland. read more

Shay's Grill Pub - Tuna melt - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

Just need to add how much I enjoy the food here - great burgers and chicken sandwiches, specials are always pretty impressive, and the martinis are cheeeeap. Love it. read more

So, whenever I have an event to go to at Aura or the State, this is one of my favorite stop ins to go to for some really good food and a great beer selection. The service is always inviting and the ambiance has a feel of a dive bar but is more upscale than a dive. The pros here are, as stated above, the food. I had a delicious, perfectly cooked, and hearty burger and the person I was with had fish and chips and they loved it our last time there. They have a big screen TV right above the bar for any sports or whatever and the servers/bartenders are top notch .. always friendly and welcoming. The cons here with this one would have to be the size of the place. When there are people in there, it definitely is cramped with like three booths and about 5 tables or so. The bathroom is super tight and barely have the ability to turn around in the bathroom so this is a drawback. Other than those little things, this is a place to go for some decently prices (for Portland anyway) fare before you head out on your endeavors. read more

Places like Shay's make me happy. They're my type of spots. Simply put, you can never go wrong with Shay's. It is quite the local spot with incredible pub-style food and drink specials every day. On Tuesday they have $5 martinis, and they're delicious! The jalapeño martini is one of the best cocktails in town. Throughout our many visits to Shay's over the past few years, we've always enjoyed the food and service. Their burgers are incredible and the fried chicken sandwiches are out of this world. We love going in the summer and fall when you can sit outside and enjoy Monument Square -- it's a great spot to people watch. read more

See all

Food was delicious! We split a Rachael and a salad with goat cheese. Tiny little kitchen. Two people ran the joint. It was delicious and can't beat $6 martinis. Nice little stop in Portland! read more

Dont bother going. Okay food - AWFUL service. If I could give this NO STARS I would. The food is okay but the service is AWFUL! I called an hour and a half ahead and ordered two wraps (one for me & a friend) and our plan was to take it to go. Once we got there, the food wasn't ready and since there were a couple booths opened, we decided to just dine in. The waitress comes over (average blond haired woman - cant remember her name at the moment) and sets down our meals and comes out and says in a NASTY tone that "you really shouldn't do that - order something and then sit down to eat. We are closing" - (mind you it wasn't closing time .. we had an hour and people were still coming in). I asked if I could have a cup of ice (bad habit of me chewing on ice) and she came out her face and said 'your not allowed to bring drinks from outside' and walked away with a face. Mind you, my snapple was in my bag, unopened. I had no intention of opening it (brought it along for a movie I was watching later). I was a regular customer and always ordered the same thing but this time, I felt like I lost my appetite. Once we finished, she came with the check and another waiter came over to collect. I gave him the tip and regretted it afterwards because as i was leaving, I walked up to the woman and told her how rude she was. She AGAIN came out her face and told me ' go take your Snapple somewhere else!' ... & the other waiter just laughed. Never have I ever had such TERRIBLE service! I will NEVER again return to this restarant/pub - no matter how good the fries are. Why would I want to waste my money on a place like that? NO THANKS! read more

We did take out. Little place next to Monument Square. Service was friendly. Order was ready when it was supposed to be. We split the buffalo chicken wrap (added blue cheese crumbles). Got pub fries as the side. Pub fries were excellent, seasoned and crunchy-we ate them on the way home. Buffalo chicken wrap was tangy with a heat that built and lingered. I believe the sauce may have been housemade, but not sure. Bacon was a great compliment to the chicken. It was the perfect amount to split and be satisfied yet not break the bank. If I had a complaint, it might also be a compliment-they put the blue cheese on the side, but it was good in the way you could add the amount you wish-as bc can be overwhelming. I ended up sprinkling it over each bite instead of unwrapping it to add. Wrap was $17 with an extra $1 for the blue cheese crumbles, we did not get a drink. Under $24 with the tax and tip. We will definitely return. read more

We went to this place and the food was amazing fried chicken sandwich was amazing and lot of flavor. Jersey girl was awesome . Will be back soon. It was a nice day so we sat outside and watch the people walk by. read more

I have been here a few times and every time it doesn't disappoint. It has amazing food, and the drinks are great. They are well known for their martinis which are an amazing price. My favorite dish is the sweet and spicy chicken sandwich with fries that are super crunchy. Everything on the menu is decently priced with great portions. The service is always spot on and they even have outdoor seating. Lunch or dinner this is a a spot for traditional, American food! read more

Fun fact: my BF's friend used to live right above Shay's, so this is a nostalgic favorite of his. Plus, Shay's Instagram account showcases each week's specials perfectly so I had pretty high expectations for this place. Thankfully, it did not disappoint. We stopped by on a Saturday afternoon and got seated almost instantly. It's a small but cozy space. They have a good drink menu that's reasonably priced. I got a $5 jalopenotini that was delicious. Of course, I got a second. At that price, how could I not?? We ordered nachos and boneless tenders to start and the portions were so big that we probably could have stopped there and been satisfied. But gluttony took over and we each ordered sandwiches that came with mountains of hot and crispy fries. We rolled out stuffed and happy. read more

Shay's Grill Pub - Probably the best chicken sandwich I've ever had. - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Looking for an honest breakfast dining experience? Shay's is your new spot. Wait staff was wonderful, very attentive and authentically friendly. Great old school Seattle stop. Lots of roosters and fun decor. The food was exactly what you want it to be. read more

We were nearby visiting my brother at his job and wanted some dinner. Found this place in a local search and the reviews were good. Inside the decor is nice. A mixture of booths, tables, and a bar. Very hip vibe (if I'm not too old to say that unironically). We were greeted right away and found a table. Service was attentive and very personable. Made some recommendations and then we dove into the menu. Good selection of American pub style food. Music was good and not too loud. Good came out in good time. The food was better than I expected. My mom had a haddock chowder which she and I both loved (I stole a spoonful). She split a cranberry walnut salad with me. It was tasty but over dressed. Would have been a lot better with less dressing. My Dad got the honey mustard wrap and he really liked it. He also got an espresso martini that he thought was just ok. I had the fish and chips. The fry on the fish was no joke. Thicker and crispier than I am used to but was so tasty and very well seasoned. It was so much I brought half home and ate it straight outta the fridge the next day and it was delicious. The star of the night were the fries. Seemed like a double fry method that again were so crispy and well seasoned. Delicious! Will for sure be back again if I find myself visiting family in Maine and want some great food in a friendly spot! read more

Very good "bar food" made fresh to order: char-grilled burgers, hot crispy fries, white meat buffalo chicken tenders, wraps. A neighborhood staple! read more

This place is a bit hipster, a bit divey, while also catering to local businessmen and women. . Grabbed a table outside on the sidewalk with a pleasant view of Monument Square and the Portland Public Library. The real draw for me were the $5 martinis - a price that is hard to find among the craft cocktails and beers that are abundant in Portland. Enjoyed a few cocktails with my friends and capped the afternoon off with a pear and Gorgonzola quesadilla that was good enough for bar food and hit the spot. read more

Shay's Grill Pub - Interior - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

See all

The competition is over. No one knew or cared it was happening except me, but had a long weekend burger throwdown to test the best of the best and Shay's wins, hands down. Honorable mentions to Coals (definite runner up) and the Great Lost Bear, but the burger at Shay's knows no equal. These are not waygu or sirloin burgers or whatever they're putting in the $30 (!!!!) burger at the Grill Room. These are the grill marks, taste a little of the actual griddle burger with some melty cheese, cooked to a perfect medium. No idea if anything is grassfed or was house-ground and I couldn't care less while eating it. With a cold beer this is last meal material. I went to another not-mentioned restaurant over the weekend and a lady next to me ordered a burger. I bet she'd been dreaming about a juicy burger, mouth watering, and finally was able to pull the trigger. Well, womp, womp, it looked like a hockey puck and like a real bummer. She was dreaming about the Shay's burger but didn't know it. I know a recent review here mentioned their menu never changing, and as someone who's been to Shay's easily 2 dozen times in my life, I get it. But there's something to be said about sticking with what you know and doing better than anyone else. read more

My favorite lunch spot! It's bad the best bar food in Portland. There's nothing crazy on the menu, but it is just incredibly well done. I've never gotten anything I don't love. It's just nice being able to go somewhere and know exactly what to expect! Great staff, obviously great martinis, and a nice and clean hole in the wall bar. read more

Great food, great service and good vibes. Wasn't super busy at 7 pm on a Tuesday. Highly recommend if you like chill bars read more

Shay's Grill Pub - Cold zero gravity cone head. Decided to have a second - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

We are knocking around the Old Port killing some time until we can get into the music venue. Craving a nice drink and maybe a snack. Up pops Shay's grill. Nice find. Little hole in the wall (my speciality), neighborhood kind of place. Warm and comfy. Had a signature Gintini, expresso martini and we split the nachos. Hands down perfect. I love it when the nachos come out and have the not quite burned, but crisp edge to them Tells me the cook is watching and cares. read more

One of those spots where when you walk in you feel immediately comfortable. Service was spot on - they give the welcoming vibe of your friendly neighborhood bar but then the food is notches above everyone else. Really well done. Had the Nashville hot chicken sandwich which was cooked perfectly. The perfect balance of heat and pickles. Definitely a perfect spot for lunch in Portland - will definitely be back to try the burgers which smelled equally amazing. read more

Shay's Grill Pub - Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

This review focuses on going to the establishment and only having drinks. No food was consumed for this review. Shay's is a small establishment with very little seating. They do have outside seating which is nice when it is not raining. If you do not like small spaces where they cram as many people as they can, this is not the place for you. The interior is very narrow, but the decor is inviting for a dive style bar. Not sure if that was their intention, but that is what I see. The drinks are ok, and nothing to brag about as they are a bit overpriced for what they advertise as a drink special. I had the mojito and it was good but you could tell the mint leaves were not as fresh as one would come to expect for that style of drink. They offered discounted martinis, but the table next to us said they were watered down and not worth the cheap price they were offering that day (that is the opinion of another customer and not mine). I only had a few drinks with friends before heading off onto the next adventure. If I return again for the food, I will update this review, but I can justify more than 3 stars based on my drink experience and their pricing. read more

This place has great food, excellent beverages and reasonable prices. It's great Spring through early Fall with the outdoor seating. I went there yesterday and had myself a pineapple cocktail. It was very good. My date loved the spicy martini. I normally get the sweet and spicy chicken and a side of onion rings but their salads a great and their burgers are phenomenal. read more

Dark lit, dive bar with solid food. I got the Buffalo chicken wrap and it was one of the best buff wraps I've ever had, and that's saying a lot because Buffalo chicken flavored dishes is one of my favorite foods! One of my friends got the fish and chips and was very satisfied. The other friend got a quesadilla and wasn't too impressed but don't let that deter you from trying this place out. read more

Best French Onion soup on the planet! Great food overall, great bar, great service. A little hole-in-the wall restaurant in the heart of downtown Portland, ME! A MUST visit! read more

Shay's Grill Pub - a pie on a black plate - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

This place is a gem! The service was friendly and excellent. Ashley and Mel went out of their way to check in on us. We had the classic nachos with chicken and it was great. I'd recommend this place to anyone; especially if you're from out of town and want to feel at home. read more

Portland is such a hipster city and many of it's establishments reflect this hipster vibe. Shay's is one of those casual, hipster establishments, right in the heart of Portland in Monument Square. Shay's is a fairly smaller pub with about three booths and five tables for seating. There is also a decently-sized bar that allows for more seating in the venue. Due to the small capacity of the venue, there is typically a wait during night time hours, but during the day, it remains pretty open. As far as food, Shay's is a pub, and therefore serves pub-like food, however, I do find that they really try to elevate their pub food. For instance, they have a pear and bleu cheese quesadilla and gnocchi with sausage and mozzarella, among other sandwiches, burgers, and salad offerings. I have had their boneless wings with the spicy barbecue sauce and their onion rings, which is always a pub classic. Their spicy sauce is great, but not too spicy, and their onion rings are your typical classic onion rings. Shay's has a variety of drink offerings and depending on the day, they have deals on certain drinks. They have an awesome variety of local craft beers on tap, and they specialize in martinis. However, they have a fully stocked bar, and their sangria is BOMB. Get it in a pitcher. I appreciate all that Shay's has to offer and certainly will continue to come back. If you are looking for some cool, casual eats and drinks, Shay's is your place to go! read more

See all

Shay's!!! You were a highlight of my past weekend. It was an unplanned and unexpected surprise! We were in the Old Port area and we weren't sure where to eat. We knew we wanted a variety, pub style food (but with quality) and didn't want a large environment. A friend who works in this area (for over 10 years) recommended this place. I would categorize him as picky when it comes to food options-quality and cleanliness of the establishment. He has tried many different location. A trustworthy source. We walked in to face all tables filled but all bar seats open. The sign informed us to wait to be seated, which is a good thing, because we probably would have just sat at the bar without understanding a table was about to clear. The staff estimated very quickly and accurately how long the wait would be...it was almost spot on 10 minutes. We waited at the bar and I looked at the local draft list (about 10 or so options) I wasn't sure what I wanted and was intrigued by several options. While they don't do flights, the waiter/bartender guy was so patient and friendly, he offered to pour me a little taste of the 3 I was considering. He also offered his opinion and was honest about it, not trying to "sell" me. i appreciated that no pressure approach. I tried one from Baxter, Bunker and Liquid Riot. I settled on a full pour of Liquid Riot's - A Beer Has No Name - double IPA with a decent, somewhat smooth finish. Not too bitter at all. Very nice. We were able to review the menu at the bar as we waited, which was helpful. There was also a TV that had sports on - Basketball on Saturday early afternoon. When our table was ready, we didn't need to close the bar tab, they were able to carry that to our lunch bill, ,which was nice. It was also nice that we were able to have the same waiter/bartender continue the service with us, after all we had quality bonding time at the bar and I wanted to be sure to tip him well for his patient service at the bar. We ordered the full order of nachos with pulled pork to start. He did try to warn us the portions were large, I just smiled and said, yeah, that's no problem. He was right! Woah! There are very few times where I can't finish a meal, especially at lunch. The Nachos were HUGE, multi-layered and each layer, absolutely loaded, wish cheese, and pulled pork and jalapenos, onions and salsa and sour cream on top. These were some of the best pulled pork nachos I have had in a long time and for me were the best I have had in Portland. Three of us struggled to finish them before our meals were delivered. The meals were huge as well. My husband had the Good Ol' Burger - which is a half pound of ground beef! I had the tuna melt which seemed like it had a half pound of tuna! Their sandwiches and burgers are no joke! The fries that we selected as our sides were perfectly cooked and still very hot (temperature) when we got them. Fresh out of the fryer! Because we all wanted to try the onion rings (because we were sure that we would be back), my friend ordered them for the table. First of all, you get a HUGE full plate piled with onion rings. Amazing! The quality was great. You could bite into them and the stayed together because the onion was cut and cooked perfectly. The onion did not slide out of the batter ring...not one did. They know what they are doing! This place probably goes unnoticed by people not from the area. A lot of locals seemed to be in the place. I will definitely be back, when I want comfort food and a laid back location. Great location if you are seeing a show - stop in before and grab a bite to eat - it's fast and delicious with quality ingredients. Thank you to everyone at Shay's for a fantastic experience! See you again soon! read more

See all

My friend and I were really hungry, but nothing was fitting our needs or desires at the moment. We found an easy spot to park at Monument Square, so we grabbed it. I had not been to Shay's in a long time...maybe 5 years or more? Being strictly gluten free, this trip reminded me why I haven't been. They have virtually no options without cross contamination issues. We are both GF, so we opted for one of their famous martinis and a cup of fish-corn chowder. They were all delicious! We sat out on the sidewalk patio (had dogs with us) and it was lovely! I don't drink much, but I'd definitely go back for a $5 martini another time! read more

Shay's Grill Pub - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Awsome vibe!!!! The food was amazing fresh and homemade. Sweet and spicey chicken sandwich was 10/10 and the beer battered haddock was cooked to perfection. Also our server was laid back and chill but on point. If your looking for a great lunch with a chill atmosphere this is an awesome option. Glad we found this place by accident we will add this to the rotation! The food was so good I forgot to take pictures! read more

Shay's Grill Pub - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

One of my favorite Portland spots! Not at all pretentious and a great after work stop. The staff is super friendly and always treats "regulars" like long time friends. The food is consistently great. It's elevated pub food but not priced that way and the portions are huge. read more

Love this place. All the staff is very friendly. A couple not so attentive, but good nonetheless. I love that you can purchase the art hanging on the walls. I know they're know for their chicken sandwich, but their burgers! Oh. My. Golly! read more

I discovered their $5.50 snack attack burger back in early April on my birthday and have reordered many times since. It's very good and only $5.50 for a restaurant burger?! If you get a standalone order of fries on the side it's definitely enough for two people to split. I'd suggest trying the sweet and spicy sauce since the sandstone fries come with a free sauce pick. If you ever see their hot honey sandwich on special definitely get it! read more

Shay's is super reliable. They've been a great go to for years. There's a nice variety of food items and different drink specials. The beer list never stays stagnant too long. They have great fries and wraps. You can also not go wrong with any of the appetizers, just pick the ones that sound most appealing. Prices are more than reasonable. Portland has a huge variety of places to eat and it's nice that a comfortable bar and grill like this can exist in Monument Square. I've been here several times over the years and it remains consistently good at what it does. They've figured out what works and they stick with it. read more

Great place and excellent service! We went here after waiting a very long time to be seated at another restaurant where no one spoke to us for a very long time and we were never seated. We decided to walk over to Shays where the staff immediately spoke to us and got us water while we waiting for a table. Food and drinks were great too! read more