The last time I ate here was 43 years ago. In a world with constant change it's miraculous that The Great Lost Bear has remained about the same. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Small, quiet tables with partitions between rooms make it a quaint/romantic place to eat.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The menu contains lots of comfort food and pub fare. The waitress was friendly and efficient. The burger is thick and juicy enough that you need extra napkins. The French fries are fried, sliced potatoes and are excellent. Parking during peak times I would imagine would be a challenge, especially with huge snow piles in the neighboring parking lot. read more

The Great Lost Bear - Inside dining area - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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I will start by saying best wings ever, but for a manager escalate a simple "dissatisfied with the service" to accusing us of embarrassing our server in front of other customers" to "well if you would like I will fire her for you" back to how we embarrassed her!" I have never been so humiliated in my life! I nicely asked if someone could check on our order, and was told, sorry i am not going to step on your servers toes, I will ask her to stop over. 12 minutes later our servers brought us our food. And, As I said, as always the food was amazing! All I wanted was a sorry you were disappointed with service and I would have walked away happy! Instead I walked away feeling like a criminal. read more

I've been going here on and off for years and I always have a good experience. All employees are friendly and they have a great selection of both food and beer! read more

This had to be one of my favorite spots during my trip to Maine. The burger was honestly one of the best burgers I've ever had paired with fries and the cheese sauce. The wings were huge! And super flavorful and filling. I could not recommend this place enough! read more

The Great Lost Bear - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

I once was lost, but now I've found The Great Lost Bear...oh, wait, that was back around 1984! And it's still there, right where I found it, and every bit as good. Has the menu changed at all? I'm not really sure, I think there's a couple of things different, but mostly that's in the beer listings. What I do know is I can still get the same favorite sandwiches I craved back then, and know they'll be just as good. The GLB is also a kind of portal back into the distant past, while still feeling thoroughly NOW. It's the first place I ever tasted Thai chili sauce. It also still has the same kind of urinals as Grand Central Station (yes, that's in a different city :-), and the parking is just as bad as it ever was. All things considered, The Great Lost Bear remains one of the brightest lights in the Portland, Maine pantheon of great eateries - may you also find it one day. read more

The food and beer were great! We had wings and burgers. However, coming in on a Saturday evening we expected the staff to be a bit more engaged in their jobs. We waited to be seated because no one could find the hostess, and our waitress just didn't seem to want to be there. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were happy the food was good, because the vibe was a HUGE "meh".[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

The Pulled Chicken Quesadilla was great! The shell was light and crispy and the pulled chicken had lots of flavor. It's big, I couldn't finish it or the fries I chose as my side. Fries aren't traditional fries. I added a side of cheese for them. They were just okay. [[HIGHLIGHT]]A little dark inside, but comfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Staff was friendly and attentive. read more

The Great Lost Bear - Pulled Chicken Quesadilla - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Their food is outstanding. Service has always been great too. Cool atmosphere. Try the cheese sauce!

Staff was amazing. Wait for a table of 7 was 10 minutes. And food was outstanding. Their homemade sauces were just finger licking. Everyone at my table loved their food. I'm so glad we ate there. By far my fav on this vacation! read more

The Great Lost Bear - PB & J Wings - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Menu is huge, place is huge, and the food is huge.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Love the interior, it's very dark.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The wings are by far the best wings I've ever had in Portland. Would definitely recommend read more

The Great Lost Bear - Wings - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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The Great Lost Bear served one of the best chili dishes we've ever had! So rich, hearty, flavorful, and perfectly spiced -- pure comfort food done right. If you're in Portland, Maine, this chili is definitely something you need to try! read more

The Great Lost Bear - Chili - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Looking for a place to eat and enjoy some adult beverages we saw an advertisement for this taproom at the hotel. We figured what the hell, let's give it a shot! One of the best decisions we made after a long flight! Walking in we were greeted quickly and escorted to our table outside (as requested). [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place was super cute and very quaint.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] There was a group of what looked like regulars at the bar looking like they were having a great time. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. The food was oh so amazing! The haddock in my sandwich tasted so fresh I almost thought I caught it myself!!! The fries were great and the beer selection was abundant! Since we are staying in Portland again before our flight out, there is a good chance we will visit the lost bear again before going home! read more

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The mac n cheese & pulled pork nachos tasted awesome!!! Our waitress Liv was very nice. read more

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We hadn't been to GLB in a while because the last time we came it was a pretty bad experience regarding the service... and that's exactly what happened again recently. It wasn't busy, and they seemed fully staffed, but the bartender still ignored us (they spent most of the time we were there chatting with a couple of regulars). Any interaction we had was a) curt and b) only after we repeatedly tried to get their attention. We don't need to be entertained; just acknowledged so we can order, y'know? And then: the food. Yikes. We ordered fries, forgetting that they're actually thick slices of a whole potato. The problem for us was that after putting in our order, they showed up *less than thirty seconds* later (which feels like a real red flag to both of us having worked in restaurants). How is that even possible? Were they just sitting out waiting to be given to someone? The bowl of "fries" were soggy, greasy, and flavorless. Inedible in the end. Yes, they're a family-friendly pub. Yes, they've got a genuinely incredible selection of local craft brews. Yes, I think they are an important staple in the local community... they're just not for us. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]This is such a unique spot and probably my favorite restaurant/bar in Portland.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The vibe's impeccable -- very rustic and relaxed.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered a lot of food and my favorite was their award winning chilli! They also have lots of great beers on tap that you can try. I discovered my favorite pumpkin beer here (the southern tier pumking ale!) I never developed a taste for pumpkin beer but this one is it! The service was also very quick and friendly. We had a great time here. read more

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I just love Great Lost Bear! It has been around forever. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It has a great vibe and atmosphere![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Staff is always warm and friendly and always patient when you are looking over their gigantic menu!! The food, depending on what you want you really can't go wrong!! I LOVE their wings! Their PB &J wings are my absolute favorite!!! Burgers are delicious!! Open faced sandwiches!! Nachos!! read more

The Great Lost Bear - PB &J Wings Salt and Vinegar Wings are under! I split the sauces in half - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]The food and atmosphere were good.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I had the macaroni and cheese with broccoli. My group had quesadilla, porta bella burger, thai chili chicken sandwich and patty melt. The group recommends the Atlantic blueberry beer. read more

The bear is the best restaurant around hands down. Food, beer and atmosphere is unmatched!

I came to Portland to run the Maine Marathon in October. Once I signed up for the race, the first thing I did was look up The Great Lost Bear. My husband and I are both huge fans of the Charlie Parker book series by John Connolly. The main character, Charlie, lives in Portland and often frequents The Great Lost Bear, so we both knew we had to try it. First, it's bigger inside than on first thought! Lots of seating, it has a warm country kitchen vibe with lots of fun decor around. It's fun and unique and I was happy to see a John Connolly poster on the wall. The hostess was very, very nice but our waitress was fantastic. Super friendly, gave great advice and was super attentive. I just am mad I don't remember her name, but she was amazing! As a vegetarian , I was so happy to see so many options available for me. All of the food we had was fantastic. They had a good beer list and I was happy to try a local brew. We both tried the chili and it was so so good! Definitely worth the try! We loved everything so much we wanted to make a second trip back on our (short) trip but didn't get to due to not having time. However, we plan on coming back soon! read more

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I can't believe I've stayed in Portland so many times and never discovered this restaurant. The servers are down to earth, knowledgeable and entertaining. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior looks like a rustic Maine cabin and is exactly what I would expect from such a place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food is extremely reasonably priced and good sized portions. I went twice before reviewing and didn't have a bad experience either visit. read more

In town for vacation and wanted to get some wings. The Great Lost Bear kept popping up so we decided to give them a chance. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Place has the best hole in the wall vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Staff beyond chill, friendly, and attentive. Then we get to the food. Easily the best wings I have had in a restaurant. Juicy, crispy, and the best sauce. Fries were solid. Wife loved her chicken sandwich. Grabbed the toll house pie and it was also amazing. Will definitely come again next time we are in the area. read more

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Came in on Saturday 10/20/24 around 2:30 after flying in from Michigan. I have loved the Great Lost Bear for 20+ years. I am so happy to know the only things that have changed are the beer taps and the staff. This place is a classic. It was pretty quiet, GREAT music was playing and it was the perfect amount of dark inside. We sat at the bar and Ryan took excellent care of us. He was attentive and friendly. We ordered a starter of chips, salsa and guac. The salsa was mild and the guac had a nice spice to it but not too much. It came out almost immediately and we were thrilled. To eat he had the Dixie chicken sandwich with fries for a side. He said it was all really good. We both agreed that the fries are the perfect ratio of fluffy middle and crisp exterior. I had the falafel wrap with fries. It was super tasty. Next time I will asked for more cucumber sauce because it was a wee bit dry and the sauce is REAL tasty. I'm thrilled my friend liked lunch as much as I did. Next time I'm in town I will come back for sure. read more

The Great Lost Bear - Falafel wrap with fries - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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The grate lost bear was 9-10. The food came out quick and hot. There were large amount of food. From the moment you sat down to the time you got your food the service was pretty quick. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There is a lot of stuff to look at on the wall that are every cool.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

It's been a hot minute since I've been to the Bear, and I can't remember why I've not been here for so long! Fun and eclectic atmosphere with wonderful service and delicious food. Husband and I were greeted by a young person who allowed us to choose our seats at the bar. With in minutes the bartender was in front of us for our drink order as well as to ask us if we wanted any food; yes please! We both had Allen's and milk, a Maine staple, perfect chocolate milk brown. Yum! Husband chose the hamburger and the Chicken Cordon blu sandwich. Food took a bit but looked great when it arrived. Fries are different, very good. Chicken was super crispy, Swiss melted and Canadian ham. Really good but on the dry side. Asked if they a side of gravy, sadly they don't have gravy. Ketchup was available, that didn't seem appealing. If they had gravy, that would have sent this sandwich to the moon! Very good as was the hamburger. Excellent place for drinks and classic American food with a southwest flare. read more

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Dive-y restaurant with eclectic decorations, tons of beers on tap, and a comprehensive menu of American classics Portions are very large, but aren't anything special. I got a burger when I came, and the only thing that was noteworthy other than the fries were the potato wedge fries I came with a large party (my family + my GF's family) so we got to try a bunch of things, but nothing blew us away (not even their "award winning chili"). We also got their 2 lb wings, but we were dissapointed that this included the literal whole chicken wing (and parts that were therefore inedible) read more

The place is funky, the kind of place you go for a beer after work and get wings. Much more than that, it's boring and just not great. I had microwaved quesadillas there more than once, and found it to not be good. About the only good thing are the wings, full sized and hot as Hades. Those I would go back for. read more

Saturday night we went to GLB have not been in a while ! Patty chose it and we were immediately seated , Our server was Courtney she was very nice. I started w Vegan Chili, with onions and cheese it was amazing and then I got Buffalo Cauliflower and it was Great also. Patty got a Baxter Limoncello Sour and she loved it and she followed up with a Veggie Patty melt and she said it was GREAT Thanks Courtney Ambiance is the GLB hasn't changed it 25 years!! read more

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I thought the buffalo wings were delicious. They hit the spot for me. My mom said they were good. We got two pounds which was 8 wings, you can also get one pound. Super messy, but so tasty. We each ordered a burger. I thought the burgers would be thicker and juicier. They didn't seem fresh made per se. They were in a round perfectly molded shape, so I think they're premade or frozen. The taste was okay. They tasted charbroiled. The drinks were good and fairly strong. We got the Malibu Barbie and an El Jefe which was a pineapple margarita. read more

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I'm happy to report that the Great Lost Bear lives up to the hype! When I moved to the area, my fellow beer lovers suggested I check it out, and even old classmates started coming out of the woodwork to recommend it. I'm now paying it forward. I can only speak to the bar experience because my date grabbed us seats there, but here's my take: - Plentiful taps: seemingly endless beer list, which means you'll find something you love whether you're an adventurous beer enthusiast or prefer to stick to what you know. - Noteworthy flights: I highly recommend ordering a flight to sample multiple beers, though a few IPAs were 86'd on Saturday, 10/12. My date and I enjoyed comparing notes and ranking our favorites. - Friendly atmosphere: despite the hype, The Great Lost Bear space and staff were unpretentious and warm. We received the right balance of attentiveness and uninterrupted time, which I know is an art and a science. If a high school acquaintance randomly reaches out 18 years later, you know they aren't blowing smoke (unless it's a pyramid scheme). Now go grab yourself a pint... cheers! read more

The Great Lost Bear - Flights are the way to go! - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

I enjoy veggie burgers and this restaurant has the BEST one I've ever tried. The burger comes from a local farm with fresh clean ingredients. The service is always exceptional. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambience is casual and welcoming.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I highly recommend this restaurant. Love the assortment offered on the menu for everyone in your party! read more

Food was good. I had the bacon burger with bbq sauce and fries. I really liked the fries - they are hand cut and look like chips. My husband had the Philly cheesesteak with Cajun spice. He said it was ok. I had a cider to drink but was bummed that they were out of the downeast on tap. However they had three other ciders on tap which was good. My husband had the Saco APA and said it was good. Service was very good - our waitress was very friendly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Atmosphere is unique and it seems to be a popular place on a Saturday evening as the wait for a table for parties of 4 or more was 35-45 min.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We were a party of two and had only a 5-10 min wait. read more

I stopped here recently while in the Portland area for business. I would give the food in A- and the service a C. I was a table of one, after being sat I waited 10 minutes for the waitress to come over. I started with a small green salad, which was excellent. The lettuce was not the normal Romain and there was plenty of it. I then ordered a PB&J chicken wrap which took way too long to come. The waitress barely came over. She seemed overwhelmed with tables, but that should not be an excuse as it didn't look that busy in there. I probably will not come back there again, even though the food was very good. read more

I love the vibe of this place, so many fun posters and really great music. The food is always pretty decent and the staff is friendly! I wish they'd bring back the yippee Thai yi yi though. That was always my fave! They have great vegetarian options for those who don''t partake in meat and the dessert menu in the bomb! Check em out! read more

The Great Lost Bear is so fun! Although I can't speak to their beers or their chili, both of which I've heard great things about, I can attest that it's a chill spot to grab drinks and apps with friends. We got a few appetizers - guac, fries,and jalapeno poppers - all of which were good, but not great, but were stellar portion-wise and affordable in spite of the huge servings. What I really loved was GLB's Western/Cracker-Barrel-but-better ambience and friendly servers. I had an Orange Creamsicle with vodka, which was akin to a Shirley Temple, but orange. So dang good. I also had a massive ice cream sundae, and felt like the true Goofy Goober I am (iykyk). If you're looking for a casual and affordable spot with American comfort food, hidden away from hordes of tourists or the bustling streets of Old Port, The Great Lost Bear is for you! read more

11/10/25- The bartender, 10/10 for commitment to silence. Didn't say hi, didn't say welcome, didn't even blink in our direction. I've met friendlier statues. Not a smile, not a nod--just pure, unfiltered stone-cold energy. We figured, "Okay, they're known for their beer list," so we asked for a recommendation. The response? A confident, deadpan "I don't drink beer." Period. No follow-up. No "But people seem to like..." Nothing. Just us and the echo of our poor decision-making reverberating off the taps. Then came the wings saga. We're clearly out here debating half vs. full order, thinking "wingdings" -- cute little bar wings, right? We commit to the full order, and BAM -- these things come out like Jurassic Park extras. Full wings. Like, flap + drumstick + potential flight clearance. With all the back and forth we were having, a little heads-up would've been... nice. Or even just a "Hey, those are full birds you're ordering" would've saved us a few laughs and a fridge full of leftovers. And finally, the buffalo fries. Except -- plot twist -- they're not fries. They're large slices of potato pretending to be fries. Imagine buffalo potato chips, but in 3D. Delicious in concept, confusing in execution. All in all, the food was okay, but the service had the warmth of a tax audit [[HIGHLIGHT]]Of note- they have a very smooth paper towel dispenser in the ladies room! I did appreciate that![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

A Portland institution. Very relaxed atmosphere with good beer selection and what I think are THE BEST wings in the area. Full wings with flats and leg attached. Great sauces and seasoning. Full menu with plenty of pub fair. Bartender was friendly, prompt and professional. read more

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Would give it more than 5 stars if I could. Nice beer selection, nicer staff, even better food. Everything is made in house from salad dressings to tortilla chips. The attention to detail really shines through and I can't recommend more highly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Quirky but fun decor and ecclectic ambiance.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

A wonderful atmosphere and great service. Came into The Great Lost Beat after a week of vacation and seafood, what a lovely dinner, so fast and food was so tasty. We had buffalo cauliflower for an appetizer and a pulled pork quesadilla, and amazing cheesus burger both with baked bean as sides! We are so stuffed and greatly for the great meal and service! read more

The Great Lost Bear - The Almighty Cheesus Burger - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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The Great Lost Beat was highly recommended by multiple people on a visit to Portland, and it certainly did not disappoint! At around 5pm on a Saturday we were seated quickly by a friendly host, greeted by a fantastic waitress, and served great food within minutes! The music was the perfect volume and the restaurant meets the needs of many folks with an expansive menu, large bar and a separate seating area from the bar for family friendly dining. They have a great beer selection and you can get 5oz tasters of anything on the menu for $2 ($2.50 if it's "premium," like the sours). The pulled pork sandwich was messy but delicious. The fries were unique and a little dry, but nothing that couldn't be fixed with your choice of dipping sauce. =) So glad we listened to our peers recommending a visit here and we plan to return if we are ever back in town! read more

The Great Lost Bear - Pulled Pork Sandwich - American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Great bar with lots of beer on tap. You can build your own flight which is cool. Big bar with lots of seats and huge restaurant area as well. Only one tv way in the back that you can't see from the bar, so not a place to watch sports. Food is amazing and unique. My favorite is mother meets child reunion which is a chicken sandwich, bacon and egg. Their wings are also really good. Service is always nice and quick. A must spot for good beer and good food. read more

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