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    The Black Birch

    4.6 (368 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    The Black Birch Photos

    Business Info

    THE BLACK BIRCH ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Black Birch

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    Blueberry Jalapeno Ice Cream with Pink Himalayan Sea Salt and Thai Basil
    Sarah K.

    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.

    My collection of deviled eggs photos from the Black Birch
    Lindsay M.

    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

    Salmon dish
    Heather D.

    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!

    Seared Scallops
    Dave T.

    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.

    Pea Falafel burger with Syrian potato salad
    Julie R.

    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

    Salmon - really good but I didn't love the wasabi, wish it had been a little more peanut sauce forward
    Ariana L.

    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.

    A bit of a wait for a table. Hmmm, what to do?
    Bill Z.

    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.

    Ribs special was delicious!

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Absolutely lovely. The staff, the cocktails, the atmosphere, the culinary delights; perfection.

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    I've enjoyed Black Birch each time I've dined there. The deviled eggs always leave you wanting more.

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Very cool, hip eclectic grub spot. Bartenders work the room. Very attentive. Kitchen puts out top notch food. Must try if you're in kittery.

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Delicious! Great meal! Wish they took reservations but we went super early on a Saturday (5pm) and got a table.

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    The service and food are outstanding! A uniquely delicious and fresh menu with something for everyone.

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Amazing food, great service, and outstanding atmosphere! By far my favorite place to go in Kittery!

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Small and intimate but in a really great way. Food was delicious. Serving excellent. Fun music.

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Excellent food, great service, awesome drinks! Very small inside so there is usually a wait for a table but definitely worth it.

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    Ask the Community - The Black Birch

    How long do you have to wait for a table on a Saturday night?

    Jen, thanks for the question. After almost six years, I wish I had a definitive answer. Wait time is affected by weather, time of year, size of your party. During summer months and good weather we have an outdoor garden for dining... but, wait times… Read more

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    Liars Bench Beer Co

    Liars Bench Beer Co

    4.7
    (81 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    I felt like messages were being sent to me to visit here. The night before, at dinner at a nearby…read morerestaurant with local friends, one of them was drinking a Liar's Bench beer which he let me sample. It wasn't my preferred type of beer, but I found it tasty and refreshing. The next morning at breakfast at a restaurant in town, there were small signs on the table for their beers. So that afternoon, I went to Liar's Bench for lunch. I appreciate the messages the universe had sent me. Apart from a challenge getting parking at lunchtime, with several spots in the lot reserved for nearby Murray's Plumbing, there's much to like about Liar's Bench (and that's no lie). The beer selection is varied enough that I was able to get a very satisfying flight. My local friend had suggested I order whatever was the chef's special of the day (which today was a specialty burger), but we instead opted for the BBQ platter for 2, with a large amount of pulled pork, slaw, potato salad, and Texas toast. We sat at the bar and had great service and conversation. I can see why this is a popular lunch destination. Another bonus for me is that Liar's Bench is the closest brewery to a hotel at which I often stay when I'm in Portsmouth, making this a new destination for me when I'm in the area.

    Small business tucked off a side street near downtown Portsmouth. Don't come here looking for a…read morebeer from the grocery store. They do offer some wines. ciders and N/A options, but their main fair is there stuff on tap. I ordered an all IPA flight (which comes in 4s) [for $10!!!!! Well worth it!] * Young Upstart: 6.6% ABV - a bIt muted for an IPA * Bernuda Tattoo: 6.9% ABV - slight more hoppy than the Y.U * To Vera: 7.5% ABV - fruitier notes as a Hazy WCIPA * Nielsen Schmielsen: 7.7% ABV - as a double, this is quaint As for food, they have a small selection of snacks, sandwiches and "tube meats" and some shareable. the music is good, not mainstream stuff. and the v8be is very neighborhood spot. Come foe the drinks, maybe a snack, but come during the warmer months, as I'm sure the patio opens up and it's a much better scene. Wait staff could be a bit more engaging. Overall, I'd come back to try the food, it's unique to see "tubed meats" on the menu. I'm getting a lot of German influences when. it comes to the menu.

    Photos
    Bar and dining area
    Bar and dining area
    Tokyo Dog - platonic ideal of bar food
    Tokyo Dog - platonic ideal of bar food
    Oktoberfest

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    Oktoberfest

    The Black Birch - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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