Super tasty small plate style eating. Had some great brews for a nearby brewery and equally great eats. All outside in a pretty sweet space that they converted from a parking lot, because covid. Really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Fish and chips was very popular at our table! read more

Had a super dinner there last week while visiting Portsmouth. Menu was different than most places offering unique dishes with real imagination. Everything was very good, service was great. When we got there they told us it would be 75-90 minutes for a table. We went down the street to Rudders for a drink to kill time. Then they texted me in 25 minutes that our table was ready. be flexible and ready to run when your table is ready. Restaurant is very crowded and noisy, but a fun time. read more

Phenomenal food, in a cozy, neighborhood eatery. We had the duck confit poutine, stuffed cabbage, and coffee rubbed ribs- each bite was delicious! While seating space is limited due to size, there is a small but well stocked bar area as well as an outdoor patio. Fantastic food and innovative cocktails; definitely recommend! read more

See all

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

This is hands down my favorite restaurant on the Seacoast. The prices are fair, the cocktails are delicious, and the staff is super friendly. read more

Since we had no place to go waiting for our room to be ready and was already exploring Portsmouth, we decided to pop over to Kittery for an early dinner a little after 4. I already had this place planned for our dinner spot so was surprised that the pork chops and gnocchi wasn't on the menu only to find out before leaving that they offer more of a bar menu with light bites before 5. Since we weren't too hungry it worked out fine. We got 2 orders of the deviled eggs 3 ways (Mexican corn, potato salad, and blt). The Dijon overpowered the potato salad and Mex corn ones so it was just okay for me. Next we had chicken liver mousse with strawberry jam which was rich but was quite tasty with the contrasting sweetness of the jam. Finally, the grilled cheese and tomato soup which was my favorite as who doesn't like a grilled cheese with tomato soup. read more

See all

I started with the deviled eggs, they were Mexican street corn, BLT and potato salad. The Mexican street corn and potato salad with the mayo was ideal for me, great flavors and creamy. Stage 2 was chicken liver mousse with strawberry jam had a great contrast of liver vs. sweet. On buttered toast, this was great. This was a filling item, and always a great item to order. Stage 3 was grilled cheese and tomato soup. This comfort food item was a great ending of the meal, Since this was an early dinner, some of the entrees were not available. I was talking with the couple at the nearby table, they were fans of this place. It sounded like they tried almost everything on the menu. read more

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

Love the food and the variety. Wish I could give 4.5 stars - brought our infant to dine outdoors, who slept the whole time, and got some less than welcoming vibes from the staff. Wish they still had the outdoor dining, but alas, its back to being a parking lot. read more

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

The service was a little slow, but it seemed like they might have been understaffed, and the staff we interacted with were all very kind and seemed to be working hard. The food was definitely worth the wait though. The green beans were fresh and tasty. We also split the poutine and it was SO good. Super cheesy and tasty. The ribs melted off the bone, and my partner had the salmon which he really enjoyed as well. We got the so be it and dizzy cat cocktails and they were both super refreshing. Would definitely recommend this place. read more

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.

Yummy food...I'm a vegetarian and so glad I was able to get many options here...very friendly and cooperating hosts great service...definitely recommend this place...it was Tuesday still we had to wait hour an hour...place is fully packed most times read more

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

See all

Food is good, prices expensive but reasonable. My complaint and the reason I don't like going here is it is just too crowded and packed in all the time. They overcrowded the dining area to be able to fit as many people as possible (and rake in as much $$ as possible). Anywhere you sit in this place you will be bumped into non-stop the entire time you are there. The noise level is too loud too. I know I am just an old fart living in Kittery, but I don't like hipsters bashing into me while I am eating my overpriced tiny portion of deviled eggs. read more

I had duck confit spread served with crostini's for an appetizer. It was amazing, the flavor was so rich in fat. For the entre I had the "fried short rib". The short ribs were very tender and had a nice crispy bite on the outside. The meat, slightly under seasoned I would say, but the accompanying sides (mashed potatoes and pickled green beans were great). Wasn't the biggest fan of the horseradish sauce but overall a fairly good meal. Portions were spot on, I left the plate clean. Biggest complaint by far was seating and wait, mind you our "party" had reservations for 8:15. We arrived at around 8:10 and had to wait around 15 minutes to be seated. Seating was extremely small, hardly any space for anything on the table. Serves were nice and helpful. Besides wait and small/cluttered seating, I had a good time! read more

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

Highly, highly recommended. We had a fantastic evening last Friday at the Black Birch. The place has a great vibe, of course it was packed, and the crowd runs younger and a lot more eclectic than the Portsmouth crowd. We loved the vibe. We sat at the bar, great cocktails and a large beer selection. Russ and Zack served us and they were great. Both of them were terrific bartenders and really helpful with the menu. We had five small plates and each was awesome. Usually, when you order five small plates there are one or two misses, but not at the Black Birch. Each plate was outstanding. Duck Rillette, Mac & Cheese, Mussels, deviled eggs and the tart (!!) were all superb. We cannot wait to return and try five other plates, the kitchen has their act together, the menu is not large but it sophisticated, well executed and delicious. Service was exceptional. We left no room for dessert, so maybe we will need to calculate that in for next time. read more

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

As an out of towner, this place came as a recommendation from friends as a must. On my arrival, there was promise, though the restaurant was small and packed. I opted to wait for a space to open at the bar and excited about the menu. The host offered to order drinks from the bar for other waiting guests and I jumped on the opportunity as well. This is where things did not pan out. My wait was estimated to be 5-10 minutes. This was negligible, but 10 minutes in, I was not only still waiting for a seat but also without my cocktail. The slap in the face though came when the host, who blatantly greeted friends with hugs, quickly served drinks for a pair of them before my cocktail after the 10 minutes I had already been waiting and rushed them to a spot somewhere in the restaurant. This didn't go unnoticed, because I did react when he served them which prompted the host to go behind the bar mix up my drink. I rather enjoyed my cocktail but felt slighted by the treatment and opted to just leave. The lack of consideration for me just soured my desire to patron this establishment. Was it my attire, my appearance, or my smile? I do not know, but what was clear was that my business was not important. read more

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

What a terrific gem. Both cocktails we got were delicious, and the brisket sandwich and fish and chips were especially awesome, ditto the kale. The glazed donuts were entirely too much food, but no regrets. Would come here all the time if we could! read more

This has become one of my favorite places in Maine. The menu is funky and creative, the environment is casual and welcoming. some may quickly label it as a hipster vibe, but its soul runs much more deeply than that. The chefs and the bartenders are all devouted to their crafts, and there clientel runs a wide range of ages and trendiness. In other words, don't worry about if it's "your crowd" -- all are welcome and there's zero attitude. On the menu there are no losers. But the liver mousse is delicious. Poached radishes are surprisingly delicious. Lamb empanadas and scallop fettuccini, my favorites. The signature drinks are thoughtful variations of the classics. They've got depth without being pretentious. Here, the bartenders shine, taking pride in each creation. They're not just following a recipe, they understand the history and the craft of their concoctions. The wait here can really vary from none to an hour or more. They don't take reservations. So if you're arriving at 8 on a Friday or Saturday, put in your name and peruse the gallery next door. Other nights there may be no wait at all. I'm actually hesitant to give such a glowing review, because I don't want to make the wait worse for myself. But these people deserve it. It's rare to find a place with such heart and skill, and with so little pretense. So come on in, but but buy me a drink and tip well! read more

Tiny place and you need a reservation but absolutely worth it. They are known for their deviled eggs, which may seem odd until you order them--they are a must! The fish and chips is also a dish I would not typically order but this is better than the seaside in Ireland. If I were on death row, I may consider this for my final meal. read more

I dined at The Black Birch twice. The first time it was a decent meal. Nothing fancy but good enough for me to come back. The second time I went to Black Birch I ordered the pork chop and when it arrived it was absolutely raw. The manager did not seem to care. Can't recommend it. Giving it two stars based on the first visit. The second visit was a one-star experience. read more

Well let me add my voice to this choir, i was a first-timer last week with two customers/old friends. We ate...everything. the presentation on the cauliflower was impressive and towering- we also had the deviled egg trio, the duck dish, the beet soup w/crab (GORGEOUS presentation). Then we had the mixed greens, a bottle of wine, and about six other things. I can't even try to do justice to remembering all of the flavor combinations but suffice to say that this kitchen is trying new pairings with great success. Our server was so attentive and engaged, he added another element of care that felt great. DEFINITELY come back here with hubby, he saw the pic i took of the menu and cried a little bit inside because he wasn't on this trip. next time for SURE we will be a party of four. This is not an inexpensive dinner but the three of us had such a great time that i feel like it was money well spent on an experience that I hope to have again soon - $332 with tip (wine was $70) read more

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

Wow! Amazing food in a great setting. Very small menu, but everything we had was spot on from the Arugula salad, mussels, fish and dessert. Great service. Will be back for sure. Recommended for anyone who loves great food. read more

Absolutely delicious. Make sure to get here early because a line forms every night at 5:00. Super creative takes on your favorites like deviled eggs, pickles and breakfast for dinner. Plenty of options for non-alcoholic drinks including incredible handmade mock tails. Wonderful experience. read more

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

Incredible dinning experience. Amazing service, food and overall vibe. Loved the vinyl as well. Will absolutely be back! read more

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

This is another place to NOT rush. Can you say; orgasmic! Double helpings of poutine. A few cocktails. An entree you meant to share... and ate yourself. Alone. And then another poutine. Plus dessert. What's that trademark saying..? "Just do it" read more

Unusual items on the menu, all cooked superbly. Service is great. The only downside side is the restaurant's popularity makes for a long wait for a table. read more

We were looking to grab dinner in Portsmouth but stumbled upon this place instead. Glad we made a reservation a few days in advance- there wasn't an empty seat at this place when we arrived! Our table was ready and set when we checked in for our reservation. The outdoor area was very cute and well-distanced. To start, we ordered deviled eggs and duck rillette, along with cocktails. The duck rillette was INSANE- so delicious and rich in flavor. Deviled eggs were delicious and had some interesting toppings. We ordered the short rib and fish & chips for our entrees. The short rib was really something special- the horseradish on top was slammin' and the pickled green beans were unexpectedly delicious! My fish & chips were great and the coleslaw that accompanied it was spot on (not too much mayo). We ended up ordering the strawberry shortcake and blueberry cheesecake for dessert... the cheesecake was fantastic, especially the crust. The shortcake itself was a little bit hard (overdone or stale? not sure) but the flavor was excellent despite this. Our only critique for this entire experience was the service- a bit slow and the server was not very friendly. Perks of this is we had plenty of time to talk amongst ourselves and enjoy our food/drinks! This is some of the best food we've had in the area and we were very impressed with the experience. Also of note- the menu is fairly priced which is always nice. Rad dinner! read more

The Black Birch - Deviled Eggs! - New American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

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

Black Birch is doing an extraordinary job of coping with the pandemic. The food is amazing as always. They've expanded to nearly full capacity into their parking lot, all the while keeping social distancing at the forefront of their operations. Their ambiance was wonderful and almost made you forget you were seated in a parking space. Thanks again for a superb experience in the midst of a pandemic. read more

This rustic gastropub is mostly pub. The beer and wine list is longer than the food menu. The small space has a wood-topped bar on one side, a communal table in the middle, and eight smaller tables along the wall. The tables are less than two feet apart, making it difficult to sit or stand without bumping into your neighbor. On a Friday evening in March, the restaurant was crowded and noisy. The food was good but not great. My husband's burger was over-cooked. The date and apple cake was dry. However, service was prompt and friendly, and the fish and chips were the best I've ever eaten! The moist, beer-battered filet was cooked a perfect golden brown and served with crispy fries, a house-made tartar sauce, and a really good coleslaw. I usually don't like coleslaw, but here, I ate every bite. Shredded cabbage, carrots and red onion were tossed in a light poppy seed vinaigrette that went nicely with the fish. I would come back just for the fish and chips, and maybe some of that chocolate pot du creme. But as other reviewers have pointed out, the menu changes frequently, so diners must expect to be surprised. read more

i love the black birch! the service is AMAZING! great food too! their deviled eggs are fantastic! the bartender ED is the goat and makes the best shirley temples with fancy cherries! All the employees are very special and wear cute outfits! Rooney at the front door is the slay queen! all be back soon! you should visit soon! from Scarlett Downs read more

This is a special restaurant. I was lucky enough to be let in on the gem a year or two ago. We have eaten here around 5 times. They do not take reservations so come early or late or be prepared to wait. Instead of Pandora or Spotify or etc- they play records. The beer and wine list is thoughtful. The beer list is ever changing and had a good assortment and selection of interesting choices. The cocktail list is innovative, with the variety of gins and genevers fat outnumbering the vodka. Also the have a fine selection of Amaro's(bitter liquors) that the expertly blend with other fine ingredients. The menu does change over time but they always have the duck confit poutine- get it- if you are sharing you will not want to when you start eating it. Other favorites have been the short ribs, pork snitchzel, lamb bolognese. The only item that I was not crazy about was the fish and chips. But it could just have been an off moment. They also make their own Kimchi you have to ask for it. read more

Good, and varied but limited seafood and non-meat menu . Certainly not deserving the hype and star reviews they have. As an out-of-towner, I use yelp to guide me. Boy, my fellow yelpers from Portsmouth/Kittery must not have the sophistication and expectations for a 4 (or especially a five) star place as I do. What a letdown coming here. Perhaps for the area this is as good as it gets, and all I can say is grow up people. This is an average bar & restaurant!!! Menu reads well. I order the venison stew, special of the day. It was more like a ragu you'd put on pasta. The meat, what little there was of it, was chopped up into small sizes, about the size of a pencil eraser (remember those). It was served on a mound of mashed potato, which was needed, as otherwise you go away hungry. Good thing I ordered a side portion of broccoli, which was severely overcooked. My wife had the hen, and the portion was very good, as was the taste. An order of bread is $2. Service was friendly, and only had to be hailed down a few times. Also, I hope their kitchen is cleaner than the women's restroom. How can the female waitstaff (or for that matter the customers) tolerate it???? read more

I've been here a few times and have fallen in love all over again every time. The vibe is amazing and the family style atmosphere is very nice. You have the choice of sitting at long high tops with other people or a few private tables scattered around. The bar is my recommendation. The drinks are AMAZING and they take their time making them. There's a Manhattan drink that I highly recommend. They have a record player that is super hip. I actually enjoy the moments of silence that come between the records switch. Prices are great too. Worth every penny. read more

Wow. My wife and I split four small plates of food, all delicious, and I had an amazing pint of beer. We left full and happy, and we spent less than $40 including the tip. Everybody behind the bar was friendly and the interior was beautiful. The music all came from a turntable(!) behind the bar and someone faithfully flipped the LPs roughly every 20 minutes. We had the spring rolls, leeks, mussels, and mac and cheese. The beer I had was an Alt that I had never heard of, but I want to try it again. The problem is that the beer list is huge and very esoteric. I don't think I'll ever get through it even if I never have the same one twice, and I'm going to want to drink many of them more than twice. I could easily become a regular here, and if you want to try Black Birch for yourself, you'll probably want go early. There's a waiting line and it's small inside, so the tables don't always turn quickly. But there's a reason for that line and it's worth the wait. read more

See all

I am now one of those people I can't stand. Those who post something negative after having many great experiences. I have been going to the Black Birch for years, and every meal has been pleasurable from deviled eggs to donut desserts. That said, this past Thursday, things seemed off. (Mind you, because the company was so much fun, we didn't really recognize how mediocre the food was that night.) I cannot fault the service at all! As usual, it was on point. We always get the deviled eggs as they're unusual and full of fun flavors, but that night, two of the three flavors, including Banh Mi, were simply eh. They tasted like plain eggs, which is very unusual for the BB. In addition, our Duck poutine, which was very tasty, was more like cheesy fries. There were no cheese curds anywhere in the proximity of the fries, which was a bummer. Finally, two of us ordered the fried Jamaican short ribs, and this was a huge disappointment. In addition to scant Jamaican flavors (were there any?) the size of each our one short rib was about the size of a king-sized Snickers bar. Four of us looked down at the plates with puzzled looks about how this small piece of meat could possibly cost the $18 we were paying for it. (I honestly can't remember the cost, but that number springs to mind.) The desserts were NOT a disappointment: S'mores trifle and the panna cotta. I'm not sure if the typical chefs were off somewhere or if there was new ownership or what was up, but I felt badly recommending the place and then having it not live up to the hype I've been giving it for years. Of course, all of that said, I'll most likely give it another shot or two as I know that past courses surpassed expectations. I'm just hoping it was an off night. read more