We frequently pass through Kittery, often stopping at Kittery Trading Post and Bob's Clam Hut, but on this trip we ventured off of Rt. 1 and discovered a little hidden gem...The Black Birch. This quaint gastropub doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside, this seems like a place where locals are regulars and tourists are happy to get a table at this "no reservations" joint. It's dark inside (no photos) and a little cramped. The bartenders are serving double duty mixing and pouring drinks while also playing DJ and spinning vinyl records. And it felt like everyone inside was exactly where they wanted to be at the moment...enjoying each other's company and sharing drinks and food. The menu is about the size you would expect from a small kitchen - a fair number of appetizer dishes meant for sharing, and a handful of entrees, ranging from casual to a bit more refined. The grilled cheese and tomato soup ($19) was made with a hearty artisan bread that hit the spot on a chilly evening. Similarly, the coq au vin ($26) was classic comfort food, with perfectly cooked smashed fingerling potatoes surrounded by a rich, decadent reduction sauce smothering meaty mushrooms and soft pearl onions. Note, the coq au vin did take a long time to prepare, so not the dish to order if you're in a hurry. A couple of not-too-sweet lemon ricotta donuts (with chocolate sauce) was a great way to end the meal. read more

We celebrated our 12 year wedding anniversary while touring New England. We actually just happened upon this place because the first restaurant that we went to, across the street, was out of a couple of dishes that my husband wanted. Well, I'm happy that they were because dinner here was SOOOO good! The bartender helped us choose a bottle of champagne to start. We shared everything. One of each of the deviled eggs each. The maple cranberry was interesting. The sour cream chive one was to die for! The ricotta gnocchi was elegant and fluffy. The sauce made it over the top. The ribs were good, but I'm a Midwest girl. They just don't compare to back home. The clam linguine was seasoned perfectly. It was quite filling. We ended with the Apple Olive Oil cake with maple ice cream. The cake itself was quite dense and dry. The ice cream helped. I would not order this dessert again. Service was quite SLOWWWW, and for no reason as they weren't very busy while we were there. There were long gaps between courses and then once we were finished we kind of just sat there for a while. The food was worth it but something is not running efficiently and could be improved. Still giving 5 starts because it was so good and everyone was welcoming. read more

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Definitely a hidden gem as many others may say. This place had a vibe like no other. We started with the deviled eggs, recommendation from a local guy we met on the street. Trying to find the place was difficult, however it confirmed it was the right place to go to based on locals we asked about it. Service was wonderful and the record player is a classic to its ambiance. We had the smash burger and fish and chips. Yum! Definitely will come back the next time we are here. read more

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My favorite place on the sea coast. Amazing food and delicious cocktails. Always order the devil eggs. We added the fettuccini with sausage and broccoli rave and the fish and chips. Lovely little place hidden so you will need to look hard but we'll worth it You won't go wrong here...we loved it. read more

This place is next level and truly beyond words. The menu is inventive and delicious, staff outstanding, and the space exudes happiness. This is truly a hidden gem. I will drive 4 hours and stay overnight for the experience of dining at Black Birch. That's what it is, an experience unlike any other. read more

The Black Birch - Blueberry Jalapeno Ice Cream with Pink Himalayan Sea Salt and Thai Basil - New American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

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Updating this review after ~5 visits. The Black Birch is consistently fantastic. Even with its ever-changing menu, the food here is phenomenal, probably the best of any restaurant in the Kittery / Portsmouth area. Bar staff (Al and a young woman) are friendly, give helpful recommendations, and have excellent music selections on the record player. If you're in Kittery, make time for the Black Birch! You will not regret it. read more

My absolute favorite restaurant in the entire seacoast. The staff is friendly and efficient, the atmosphere is cozy and laid back, yet the food is the best I've ever had. Time and time again they deliver exceptional, quality meals with local produce. The cocktails are fantastic. Get the deviled eggs every. Single. Time. You won't regret it read more

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We visited on a Thursday evening and arrived around 5:00 p.m. This was great timing because it was less busy. There is al fresco seating, but we chose inside. It's a cute interior though a little tight. Service was prompt and attentive. There were so many yummy choices on the menu, our party of four had trouble deciding. We started with two mixed drinks and a beer. For apps, we went with deviled eggs and pickled vegetables. Great start! The server recommended fish and chips, and that was a great choice. The fish was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. One person chose lamb and was super happy with everything. Another chose the steak. He felt the mint was a bit odd, but he didn't not like it. I went with salmon, and I was very happy with the preparation. Save room for desserts! We ordered one of each of the three choices and shared. All were very good, but oh that rhubarb ice cream! read more

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Highly rated restaurant. Local hot spot in Kittery Foreside. Fun, casual, and affordable Food is excellent and atmosphere is great. Usually a wait, roughly 20 minutes, but great bar across parking to wait called the Dram with really good drinks read more

Everything is creative and delicious. Probably my new favorite [nice] restaurant in the Portsmouth/Kittery area.

Been here twice for food, and another time just for cocktails. Everything is sooo good. Delicious food, with really unique and inventive small plates. Highly recommend the duck rillette! They feature different cocktails all the time and they are always a hit. Waitstaff and bartender are the best I've seen, anywhere and really make you feel welcome. Will be making Black Birch a "must stop", when I'm in the area. read more

Food was Fabulous!! Service was awesome- Anthony our server was attentive and helpful with the menu choices. Many gluten free options.Vibe is modern energetic with a casual ambiance. read more

We were looking for a place to eat halfway between Boston and Portland and stumbled upon the black Birch. It was a great experience. It was full on a Tuesday night, so we sat at the bar and had a great conversation with the bartenders. The food was excellent. We had the fish and chips and the mushroom pie. Both were unique in their own ways and the coleslaw was fantastic. read more

It was a fine dinner, fish and chips, but nothing particular to write home about. The ambience inside is nice. The outside lacks charm which would be easy to add. read more

A true gem! We went at opening time when nobody was there yet. Such a lovely, friendly waitress. Each dish that came out was a bit too small portion for my liking but each -- absolutely bursting with flavor delicious! The problem is this was in August and I have trouble remembering exactly what we ordered. Only got 3 dishes, but it was enough to make us all say we are definitely returning! The cobbler for dessert was excellent! read more

Incredible food and staff with few seats = grab a drink down the road as you wait to be seated. We arrived at 5:05 to grab a table for four, waited about 10 minutes, and made it in. The couple after us had a 45-minute wait. I will definitely be back, as the small crew absolutely killed it without feeling fussy. Tight tables, but we lucked out and had a friend group seated next to my family that was also happy to chatter about what everyone ordered, and laughed with my dad while I worried whether he was being a nosy old man LOL. read more

Great atmosphere with amazing craft cocktails and culinary masterpieces on the menu. The Black Birch is a gem. Small space but great vibes, vinyl records spinning and friendly, accommodating staff. Had a really nice meal and good conversation at the bar tonight. read more

The Black Birch - Seared Scallops - New American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

Tucked away in what looks like a commercial building on Government Street is this delightful restaurant was a treasure of a find! It is small so if you are clostrophobic here's your warning. The Black Birch is AMAZING!! From the perfectly crafted cocktails to the freshly prepared food, to the friendly and helpful staff, you will not be disappointed! I got the pea falafel burger without a bun as I have a wheat allergy. if you order this tastebud tingler it will come on a bun with the delicious Syrian potato salad on the side. My daughter got the spice rubbed ribs. They were so tender and moist they fell off the bone! My granddaughter reluctantly got the tomato soup as she only wanted soup and didn't want the other choice. She almost fell off her chair! It was fabulous! Fresh and full of flavor, we all had a taste and decided it was one of the best tomato soups we had ever had. I didn't take pictures of the desserts, but the coconut lime ice cream, the peach blueberry galette, and the donuts were equally fresh and delicious! If you like fresh and creatively prepared food, I highly recommend The Black Birch read more

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My husband and I were walking around Kittery and looking for a place to eat, we found this place and we are so glad that we did. What an interesting concept. This is an old school converted into a restaurant. It had such character. Also, the service was top-notch. Our waitress was very conscientious, and she checked on us so many times, we felt very well taken care of. But the best thing of all, of course, is what we came for, the food, oh my God. This food was out of this world. You have to try the grilled cheese, it will completely change your entire life. it was a Parmesan crusted thick grilled cheese. We dipped it in a vegetable purée tomato soup. Let me tell you how delicious the soup was. It had the essence of celery was perfectly seasoned, and extremely thick and hearty. The duck rillette appetizer was . There was a perfect layer of duck fat on the top of it, and it spread so beautifully on the perfectly toasted crostini bread. We also asked for water and some plain pork for our dog and they were able to accommodate. The salmon was beautifully cooked too. Lovely meal. Love the vibes. Dope spot 10/10. read more

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This has been a challenging review to compose, which is ironic because I had way too much time to think about writing it while waiting for my dinner. I liked my meal, I loved my drinks, the service at our end of the restaurant was nice, but something was clearly wrong. That became much more obvious when we noticed people around us, seated after us, got their meals before us (we didn't order appetizers). Things can happen. I get that, I had to deal with that when waiting on tables in college. A waiter might put an order in a bit late while multitasking. A piece of meat may be overcooked and another has to be started. An entree might have to be back-ordered because it got delivered to someone else. They might be short-staffed. I'm fine with hearing something like, "Our kitchen is backed up tonight, we're working to get your meal out as quickly as possible," or "We made a mistake, we're taking care of it." What I don't expect to hear is that my meal is taking a long time because I opted to order my cut of meat cooked beyond medium. First, my entree was roughly the size of a clenched fist, and second, the amount of time to cook a piece of meat that size beyond medium towards well would only be a few of the 75 or so minutes we waited. We also waited for a while at the bench in the back for our table, which wasn't an issue because we waited less time than quoted and our drink orders were taken. However, I saw something I didn't like: churn. To their credit, the restaurant recognized our situation and compensated, which I appreciate. It's too bad it was in hindsight. My thought is that if you ever have to wait more than 15 minutes for a table, it's going to be a lengthy experience, and you may want to consider other local options. Would I eat here again? Perhaps, but only if it's not super-busy, and definitely not on a weekend. read more

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They don't take reservations and are super busy but we were told 20 to. 30 minutes and we're seated on the window. Just enough time for a great cocktail at the Wallingford Dram The menu is a bunch of small, medium, and large plates. We ordered a bunch of each and nothing disappointed. We got seconds on the deviled eggs. I would return in a heartbeat. read more

Eclectic and delicious food with a very creative twist. Space design is modern and still very repurposed-looking. Love the pendant lights over the bar. Staff is very familiar with the menu and helpful when deciding on which dish to try. They all work as a team, which is so important and helpful in such a small space. The dining room can get crowded quickly on evenings and weekends so plan ahead. read more

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The team here is amazing. The food was executed to perfection (amazing sear on scallops, flavors were perfectly balanced). I could not ask for a better meal. It's situated in an unassuming building, but cozy inside with a nifty attached art gallery next door. read more

- place came recommended by literally everybody in town - be sure to make that resey - awesome suggestions - great for datenight - deviled eggs gotalright reviews from the table - fried oysters were good - poutine was good, very filling - fish and chips were grand no need to order the potutine because thats double fries - clams were good noodles were good with hot sauce - drinks were really delicious read more

I was able to go back home to the east coast for a few weeks and Black Birch was on my list of restaurants that I definitely had to dine at. This restaurant does a variety of small plates and larger plates that are easily shareable or not depending on your style of eating. Currently, they are doing only outdoor dining due to the pandemic, but may be transitioning to some indoor seating soon. We started with their deviled eggs which is a must get if you are dining here. The flavors change about weekly so every time I have dined here I have had a different set of flavors. This week there was a caesar salad egg, roasted vegetable, and baked ham deviled eggs. All were fantastic and really taste like what they are supposed to. We also got the duck rillette and the herb and cheese fritters for small plates. The duck rillette is super rich and has a concentrated duck flavor. The herb fritters were also amazing. They were nice and crispy and topped with a sweet pepper relish that really complimented the dish. We then moved onto the having some larger plates. We ordered the roasted cauliflower and the strichetti. Both were excellent, but the standout among them was the strachetti. It was perfectly al dente and was paired nicely with shrimp and asparagus. Lastly, we got the haitian pork griot which was a dish I have never personally tried before, so I was very excited to order it. The pork was cooked beautifully and had a nice crispy exterior after it was fried. It was served over a bed of rice and topped with a nice salad and plantain chips. There are some small scotch bonnets hidden in the salad so if you are not a fan of heat watch out for that. But the dish itself overall was amazing and I wish I ordered a second plate. The Black Birch is a really cool restaurant that has a constantly changing menu and drink list. So you will have to come back multiple times to see what new creations they have to offer. As we get back to more of a normal, make sure to get there early, as they do not take reservations and the restaurant overall does not have a lot of seating. But definitely put this restaurant on your list if you are around the Portsmouth/Kittery area! read more

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Food is delicious and beautifully presented. Ambience is so nice, Cozy and quiet. Service was excellent and making plans to return

From the cool records playing in the background, the friendly service, creative delicious drink offerings, and an incredible food menu, The Black Birch is a local gem. We live here and appreciate the value this restaurant adds to the happiness of my belly. I get to eat here often folks. read more

This restaurant is a magical little find with exquisite food, excellent service and an incredible selection of draft beer (great local selections!). The atmosphere is warm, sophisticated and unique. Their double burger is a meal that you'll dream about forever! Oh--yum, yum. My friends and I stumbled upon this place while driving through Kittery - but I hope to be back very soon! Bar service was super friendly and full of great recommendations. read more

The Black Birch - Fun bar area. - New American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

Lived in Portsmouth for 3 years now. This is, hands down, the best restaurant in downtown or foreside. Yes, I've eaten at almost all of them. This is a gem. Full actual LPs ranging from soul to punk to classic rock, front to back? Appreciate the variety. Al hemming the bar, bantering, giving recommendations? Spot on. Cocktails here? Maybe the Dram is a hair better but no one else is close. And don't skip the whiskey as the eagle-eyed will find a teat every visit. The food? Every dish has always been good to great. Rotating deviled eggs? Always fun. Weirdest pickles ever as they change and can sometimes be... fruit? Inventive. Again, fun. Main courses and sandwiches? Always top-notch. This is the best the seacoast has to offer read more

Went this evening for an outdoor meal. Their outdoor set up is amazing. Tons of heat lamps and string lights. Still eating with real glassware and great retro table and chairs. The food was also excellent. We had the duck rilletes to start, which might have been my favorite, as well as the stuffed poblano. I had the fish and chips which was great and lightly fried with a tasty batter! Served with malt vinegar, a delicious and unique slaw, and of course tartar. Will be back for more!!! read more

The Black Birch - Fish n chips - New American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

Consistently inventive cuisine that never tries too hard. Real food on the plate, real care in the service, and real vinyl on the turntable. A favorite for years that never disappoints. read more

Fresh real foods expertly prepared. We loved our meal at The Black Birch. Deviled eggs, marinated watermelon salad, heirloom tomatoes. And a salmon entree. The cheeses were exquisite, the greens fantastic. The sauce for the salmon delicious. Also enjoyed the tres leches cake for dessert. Highly recommend. read more

Spectacular food, amazing service and delicious cocktails. Have been over a dozen times and it is all consistently top tier.

Super chill local vibe with hand selected music on vinyl. The mussels were so delicious I ordered another instead of an entree. Drove from Portsmouth just to check this place out and was not disappointed! read more

The Black Birch - Mussels - New American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

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We have been looking forward to trying Black Birch. The menu is small but interesting and the prices seamed fair. We were seated along the back wall. The tables were a bit too tight and everyone would have been a bit more comfortable if 1 table was removed or at least consolidated because when another couple were seated, the woman had to jostle our table and about sat in my wife's lap to get into her seat on the bench. The music was garish and too loud. People had to shout to be heard. The waitress was the right mix of snarky and professional. The drinks list was small but varied. The deviled eggs are a feature and they were good. We had the beef braciola and ribs. They were almost great. The beef was dry (strange for a braised dish). The rest of that plate was good. The Rib plate was well made but the sauce was "wangy". Like I said, almost great. The pumpkin donuts were warm and as described. Whipped cream or a creme anglaise would have taken it over the top. The apple tarte was a highlight - especially the anise ice cream... that was truly enlightened. We will most likely try again because it was clear that they have potential to be amazing. read more

Been going here for years, an I know it's been a challenge for all restaurants, but sometimes it seems to go too far.... Price increases are inevitable, but adjusting the price for each Devils Egg to what they are now, along with now using smaller eggs to boot..... Really. Then my favorite Fish & Chips is now a Fish sandwich with 75% less fish, an about the same price it was. Raise the price, but not this way. Your still our favorite go to. Place. Your quality is very good, just disappointed, an had to give you my opinion. read more

I had been wanting to try the Black Birch for quite some time, but every time that I had gone, there was an extremely long wait, so disclaimer: this place gets super, super busy all the time. And for good reason! The place is genuinely cool and modern with records consistently playing for background noise, dark, dim lighting, and an eclectic menu that has something for anyone that you wouldn't find anywhere else. The venue is small, but it adds to the rustic charm that sets Black Birch apart from other venues. On one lucky night recently, a friend and I were able to come in and steal two spots at the bar, and I was eager to finally be able to experience everything that Black Birch has to offer. First off, they have a great draft beer and cocktail menu. Their draft beers feature and highlight a lot of local breweries, particularly ones out of the Portland beer scene. My friend and I decided to order a few small plates including the lamb tagine and the roasted turnips. The food came out promptly, and the flavor profiles were out-of-this-world good. The portions were also pretty expansive and fit the price tag of each dish. My friend and I couldn't stop talking about the amount of flavor in each dish and how amazing they were. My only disappointment stemmed from the service. The staff were all friendly and incredibly nice, and everyone clearly loves their job here. However, my friend and I sat with empty beer glasses for 45 minutes before we were even approached or acknowledged, and we were sitting at the bar. We had planned on getting another beer, but at that point, we had just decided to get our check and go somewhere else for another drink, which was disappointing. I definitely plan on coming back to try more dishes, and our food was phenomenal. This place could easily get five stars if they up their service game. read more

The Black Birch - New American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

Great food and desserts. A bit dark inside but we'll conceives creative dishes and always crowded.

One of our favorites for family gatherings and guest visitors. Service is always wonderful and food is perfectly prepared and comforting, Creative cocktails, top beers, excellent vynal and speakers. Place is for real. read more

We throughly enjoyed our dinner at Black Birch. For starters we got the duck rillette, the poutine and duck confit, and the red roasted pork belly. All were amazing but the pork belly was the stand out. Such a beautiful balance of flavors with the scallion pancake and kimchi to brighten up the richness of the pork belly. I'm not even sure how I had room for dinner but I went with the skirt steak and I'm so glad that I did. Perfectly tender and I loved the blistered shishito peppers. One of my favorite peppers. We had zero room for desert because we had quite the rich array of starters but honestly I would have just wanted more pork belly for dessert anyway! read more

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