Disappointing meal and terrible service. I've been to the Cup many, many times and the food is usually excellent. Last night they were quite busy and my friend and I both had to send our food back. After the second time we gave up. We both work in the restaurant industry and understand that things happen, but how the mistakes are handled is what really counts. Our waitress was incredibly rude. Not once did she apologize, she wouldn't even make eye contact with us. Instead she would snatch the food off the table or slam it down and walk away. Suffice it to say it was a disappointing experience and I'll think twice before going back. read more

Absolutely love this place. The food is amazing and so is the beer. I look forward to treating myself to a Bug Lite soon.

The restaurant opened at 5pm, I called at 530pm to place a take out order and I was told they were to busy to take a take order at that time and was told to call back after 7pm, so I waited and called back and was told they weren't taking anymore take out orders for the rest of the night. I explained to the person that they told me to wait until 7pm, but they still didn't take my order and then they hung up on me. Worst customer service. I won't ever go there and don't recommend anyone else going there either. If this is how they run a restaurant over the phone I can just imagine how they will treat you when you eat at the restaurant. read more

Our dinner was awesome! Hubby had turkey dinner, every side with it was good. The stuffing,potatoes and squash. I LOVE the butternut squash here, it's so good! I had the Eggplant Parm special , it was delish! The eggplant was breaded just right, the pasta was cooked perfect and the sauce was very tasty. Our server was super nice. We love coming here. read more

The Liberal Cup - American Near Me - Hallowell, Maine

Our third time here but first time writing a review. Previous two visits were perfect but this one all of our burgers were over cooked. Manager promptly and professionally addressed it for us. This type of customer service, along with the great food, will keep us coming back every time we are in the area. read more

Please remember that the beer menu only features 6 beers on tap! On the menu there's about 12 beers and it says at the top: only 6 beers are featured (they switch this up every other week or so). I made that mistake! I tried the "For richer or Poorter" and it was awesome! I love dark brown ales, porters and stouts. I had their signature burger which was great and my sister-in-law had the meat loaf. I have to say the bacon wrapped meatloaf, butternut squash and garlic mashed potatoes were out of this world! 4 porters and two dinner meals came out to $38...not bad! Would I go back: F*@%k yeah! read more

Very good service here and servers seemed happy and enjoyed being around. I enjoyed the vegetarian special - pattypan squash and beet greens. Also had yummy shrimpcargo and the blackened fish tacos. Everyone was pleased with the variety of options to choose from. Only downside is parking is on the street and could have been difficult but we got lucky. read more

A year and a half later, I am back updating my review. I've gotten over Trivia-gate (see previous review) and am back to being a regular at the Cup. When friends from out of town come to visit, the sure bet for lunch or dinner is The Liberal Cup. I can even bribe my brother-in-law to drive more than an hour just by casually mentioning the Cup. The beer cheese soup continues to be a winner and something I order every time I visit. The combos of beer and cheese change regularly, so be sure to ask your server what you're getting. Those who are sensitive to salt might want to take a pass, but I'd be more than happy to have your share. I don't know if something has changed in the kitchen definitively, but the quality and flavor of the food has seemed to improve since the last time I reviewed. The specials are always unique and flavorful, and I am now expanding my horizons by trying something different on the menu every time I visit. With the amount of times I visit the Cup, I don't have much menu to go. If you're reading this review, do yourself a favor and head down to Hallowell and become the newest regular of The Liberal Cup! read more

Home-brewed beer from Bug Light to cask conditioned booze, the Liberal Cup is my favorite local hangout (even though I'm from a few towns over) when I'm home for a visit. You're guaranteed to recognize a face or two the minute you step through the front door. You will always ask for more beer as every production is as delicious as the first, stuff yourself with nostalgic meals, play trivia (win money unless the Vellani's are in the house), move to the beat of live music on weathered wood flooring, toss some darts, and squeeze your way to the bathroom. And then, you will stumble over to the Wharf. Hallowell is a MUST SEE small, historic downtown whether you're in Augusta, Gardiner, or need a break from the interstate. It's home to many locally-owned shops: antiques, art, jewelery, coffee, and other Maine classics, and will hopefully never change! Plus, you have access to the newly constructed, paved rail trail which contours the Kennebec River all the way into Gardiner. Oh, and the food offerings are some of the best in the area. read more

The Liberal Cup is a local gem with their awesome beer flights, delicious pub food, cozy atmosphere, and top notch customer service! I stumbled upon this place after a hike in Vaughan Woods. It was quite busy around 3 o'clock on a Saturday. Ryan Y. and I shared two entrees: fish & chips and a burger. The full order of fish and chips alone would've satiated two average appetites. The burger was a perfect medium rare and all the fries were hand cut and crisp! The flight paddle we added to our bill was a fun way to try all the offerings. read more

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Delicious and affordable food abounds at the Cup. The chefs are always adding new and interesting things to the menu. There's enough variety in the types of available beers to meet anyone's zymurgical desires, from the light and tasty bug lager to the cask-conditioned Backhouse Bitter. We live locally and we regularly choose the Liberal Cup for a lunch or dinner outing. It can get very busy and the music pumps loudly on some nights so this restaurant is not for the faint of heart. If you arrive on a weekend between six and eight, expect to be bumping elbows with many other hungry customers. Enjoy! read more

I went to the liberal cup because of the reviews. It was a very disappointing experience. The service was something to be desired. The server was to busy talking about himself and was not paying attention to our order. This was apparent when we got our food and things were not as we ordered. The chicken was not cooked- pink inside and cold. When we sent it back it came back a little less pink and a little warmer.....not edible. DO NOT order the chicken dish. The Greek salad was okay although I asked for the dressing on the side and it came with dressing and a little salad--I hate a soggy salad. To top it all off the server lost our check and debt card and it took him about 10 minutes to find them---ugh!!! Overall the experience was not to my standard and I would not recommend eating here. read more

I'm in the area for work and my clients treated me to the cup. Parking wasn't too difficult to find on the street, but I could see how it could be a problem at busier times, especially since its right off the highway. Even at 5:30pm on a Wed, it was packed and I'm glad we called ahead to reserve a table for our large party. The Liberal Cup brews their own beer and will have different kinds on tap. I tried the Bug Lager and found it very light. It was a little bit on the flat side, but maybe that's how its supposed to be... As for the food, I tried their Beer Cheese Soup. I found that the soup was extremely unique and I've never tasted anything like it before. The soup is more on the lighter side and goes really well with the mini pretzels (this is coming from a person that never eats pretzels). I also had the Fish and Chips per fellow Yelper's reviews. I got greedy and went for the full size... Since I had the soup, I think I would have been fine with the half size. BUT the fish was extremely fresh and full of taste that I finished the entire thing X_x I would definitely recommend this place if you're an out of town visitor. It seems like a good local place to hit up. read more

I love The Liberal Cup!!! Everything I've tried is fantastic you really can't go wrong. I'm not a drinker but they do have quite the selection of beer. The Cuban sandwich is delicious as is the fish and chips which is available in a half or whole size. The whole overlaps the plate. The kids menu is limited but go for the chicken fingers. I always steal a bite of two from the kiddos. It's always busy which is great for them but sucks when you are waiting, you smell and see all the deliciousness that about to be in your belly. It's worth the wait. read more

Super staff, excellent bar food and a descent selection from the pub...

We needed a place north of Portland to eat dinner on our way even further north for a rafting trip the following day. Enter the Liberal Cup (props to Eunice E. for scouting out this gem on Yelp!) There weren't a lot of places open on a Sunday night in Augusta or neighboring Hallowell. The Liberal Cup was rockin' with live music (right next to our table!) and their very own beer in several varieties (IPA, lager, Porter, to name a few) on tap. They have your standard pub food (fish & chips, burgers) plus slight twists (Cuban and other sandwiches; beer battered haddock served with spinach, bacon, and potatoes) and lighter fare (salads, wraps, quesadillas). Truly something for everyone. This might be a three-star review, were it not for the location -- AND for the life-changing beer cheese soup. I repeat: DO NOT LEAVE without ordering the beer cheese soup! read more

This was my 3rd time here and each time I go I leave here having had an excellent meal. All 3 times I've been here I've had the beer soup the next time I go, I'll have the beer soup. They served the soup with mini pretzels and that just added so much more flavor. This time I had the pork chops with squash and mashed potatoes. My wife had the yankee pot roast with the same sides. My daughter had the roast turkey dinner with broccoli and mashed potatoes. My pork chops were cooked perfectly with some sort of chutney on top that just added a flavor I can't explain but I think it was made with a granny smith apple. It was so good. The pot roast was so tender you didn't need a knife to cut it. The flavours were so good with the beer I was drinking I almost wish I had chosen the pot roast. But wait. The turkey dinner with stuffing and gravy was also fantastic. I had a beer paddle with 7 beers and I lucked out and I had a beer to go with the turkey dinner. I pass through Augusta to drop off and pick up a daughter from University so when I go through in April I will be stopping by again for a great meal. read more

Situated in the antique district in Hallowell, right alongside the Kennebec is the Liberal Cup. Inside you are welcomed to a very warm pub. The building seems to hark back to an older time, there is lots of exposed wood. Ceramic tankards hang above the bar for the regular patrons. Wooden benches, oblong tables, and warm corners abound. The focus here is on simple but better than average pub food, and of course, beer. It delivers on all fronts. Lots of the food items are beer centric, from Chicken in Ale, a break apart pot roast that was devine, to beer cheese soup which is real velvety, and plenty of beer battered and fried items (shrimp, clams, chips, you name it). Sandwiches here were a big hit with my group, and the chowder was fish based and fairly tasty. The beers are also real solid and inviting, and can take you away to a different place. They really picked the right beers to make here for the atmosphere, it suits everything perfectly. They only offer their own, with perhaps one guest tap, and maybe one cask, but who's complaining? A great place to check out, keep in mind it is VERY popular. I tried in the summer with no luck, and even on a sleepy Saturday in November after Thanksgiving, the place was still quite busy, but managed to get in. The lunch rush seemed to die off at around 3 PM. Give it a shot, but get there early. read more

Went in for a late lunch with my hubby. Cute, cozy spot. We sat at the bar. The bartender was friendly, and very knowledgeable about the beer list. We ordered -- Downeast Reuben for him, Veggie Quesadilla for me. The Reuben was REALLY good -- battered haddock w/ coleslaw on marble rye, served with fries. The haddock was light and flaky, with a crispy crust -- not greasy in the least. Fries were very tasty! My quesadilla was -meh. The tortillas were slightly burnt, and the Sundried Tomato flavor didn't match the other flavors (Pepperjack cheese, onions, peppers and cilantro-lime sour cream). It also came with remoulade on the side, which seemed an odd choice. In fact, the whole combination was just plain WEIRD. I ended up with a bad case of lunch envy. I'll go back and try the Rueben. read more

This is one of the rare occasion where I found food more interesting at brewery. Found this little town and place while visiting central Maine for work - Courtney yelp. Drove down based on reviews for beer. Tried their most popular Bug Lager. Very light yet interesting hoppy flavor. Best part is their beer cheese soup , which was the first ever I tried. Not too thick or too watery , perfect texture and sharp cheddar hint. I understand why people come again for this soup over and over. Another noteworthy dish was their veggie burger with hand cut fries. ( again last place where you would expect good quality of both of these ) fries and veggie patty both were hand prepared and definitely not frozen. Generous portions. Would love to visit this place again ( only if I happen to joke these far north ). read more

The Liberal Cup - Veggie burger , hand cut fries to complement Bug Lager. - American Near Me - Hallowell, Maine

Consistent great service, time after time. We're greeted by name and treated wonderfully. AMAZING specials (I almost exclusively order off the daily specials now). The beer and cheese soup is a different recipe every day and is always delicious. Their house-made beers are amazing, and there's something for everyone. read more

Lively! We arrived here on a lively Saturday night around 8 or 9 pm. We came on the strong recommendation of some patrons of Baxter Brewery. The atmosphere was alive with scores of conversations garrulously chattering over the live band. The band was enjoyable, they covered recognizable tunes of from the late 50s through early 80s. Things you could identify and tap along to if you weren't talking to anyone, and if you are carrying on a conversation you didn't have to shout to hear yourself. I had a summer wheat and my wife got the porter. The vastly dissimilar styles were both well-executed, kudos to the brewers. I can only assume the other selections were equally good, and hope to experience them next time I'm in the area. I wish there were a brewpub like this within walking distance from me. Perhaps I need to move to Maine? read more

This is the second time I find myself in the Capitol area of Maine on business. I chose this place for two reasons. 1. It's a brewery. 2. It received high marks on Yelp. If you are a fan of a rustic atmosphere and handcrafted beer, this is the place for you. There's always 6 fresh brewed beers on tap. They have a beer sampler on the menu that lets you try all 6. I highly reccomend this. I ordered a pint of Hallow Ale IPA and a cup of beer cheese soup to start. The soup was made from the same IPA I was drinking and a fine cheddar. Served with a handful of pretzels with one floating in the center of the bowl. Delicious. Nice consistency. For my entree, I selected The Haddock Napoleon. Beer battered haddock served over garlic smashed potatoes and strips of smoked apple wood bacon. The batter was light and had a pleasant crispiness to it. The haddock was juicy and tender. The garlic smashed potatoes were fantastic. The wait staff is cordial and prompt. Can't wait to go back the next time I'm in town for business. I love this place. read more

I live in Augusta, and this is my go-to place to take visitors from out of town. It's the best place to go in the Augusta area, in my opinion! It is a very popular place and I have been there when there is a 45min-1 hour wait before and it can get very loud when it's full or when there is a live band - but those are it's only drawbacks. But Hallowell has some very talented musicians - so even if it's hard to hold a conversation when there is a band, you're sure to hear some great music! I have never had a bad meal here, and I've been to "the Cup" more times than I can count! It is somewhat typical pub fare, but often with some a bit of a twist or flare. And if you are a beer drinker - you will love their own brew! My favorite is the Tarbox Cream Stout - the true milkshake of beer! Step aside Guinness! I love the Liberal Cup and never tire of going there. read more

This is definitely my favorite restaurant in the area. Get the shrimpcargot - absolutely delicious. And the chocolate cream pie. Yum.

This is a very nice place, it's definitely a place where you feel welcome. The food was decent and the cups were....well Liberal. There was a great selection of In house brews and i would suggest getting the sampler. Don't believe they had any To GO products. The only downfall to this place was the facilities. They are not the most flattering. read more

A friend of mine, upon hearing that I was travelling to Augusta, ME for business, told me there was nowhere to eat up there. Thank God a friend of mine is the fire chief in Hallowell. He steered me to this incredibly cozy brew-pub. It's a brick interior, with this great gnarled wood bar. They brew their own beer, and it was quite good. The Stout was the only thing I had. They have a Mug Club that allows you entry after 150 beers in a year. You get to keep your mug behind the bar. I tried the quesadillas with some sort of remoulade and pepperjack cheese and the fish and chips. Both were terrific. This is the kind of place where everyone knows your name. Probably has to do with the fact that the City of Hallowell only has 2300 people. Good food, good beer, and great company. It's the only thing that makes me wish I lived outside of Augusta. read more

What a treat - awesome beer and excellent food. Their Summer Bitter Summer Not cask beer is excellent as well as many of their other options. They have great appetizers perfect for sharing - including the spinach dip and the garlic Parmesan tenders. The beer cheese soup is a treat every night and it is always fun to see which beer and cheese they combine on a given night. For the entrees, you cannot go wrong from sandwiches to full meals as well as a wide variety of specials. If you are up for a fun time on a Tuesday night, the trivia is great to join in on with some friends. read more

I love love love this place. My friends and I have started calling it "our haunt". I know it's going to be a good weekend when we agree to get together at the Cup. The food is unique and always good. I love their specials. They use local ingredients in generous portions. Their regular menu is also good. I've had it all. My absolute fav is a very simple thing... beer battered clams and dill aioli. I DON"T EVEN LIKE AIOLI but I like theirs. Now for the beer. I like beer so that makes this place extra special for me. They brew their own. They have a good selection, though typically many are IPAs (I'm not a fan, but apparently the only IPA hater). What you don't like IPA either?? then go for the Alewife. I like mine with a generous wedge of lemon. It's my signature so that they know I'm there. read more

Traditional American pub and brewery in downtown Hallowell, Maine. Tuesday nights (trivia night) is the best time to go, but get there early. If you arrive before 6:30, you can compete while eating dinner. The food is filling and tasty. The beer selection is pretty good. I recommend: a local brew. read more

The food...(especially the Haddock Napoleon) is just... SO GOOD!!! I want to be buried with a gallon of the cheese sauce they put on the fish... just in case. I'm not a beer lover but my partner always makes me taste and smell it. Smells good! read more

Charming pub with charming folks. Nothing fancy here. But the beers are good, the mixed drinks are legit, and to say the food menu is moderately priced is an understatement. I give this place 4 stars based on these factors. This is my third visit as I've traveled here on business. I always sit at the bar and have been here once for lunch and once for dinner. My rating is consistent with my previous visits. Tonight I had the Chops and Hops entree: pork chops brined in ale and molasses for $13. Very filling and tasty meal served with garlic smashed potatoes and squash. Is this 5-star cuisine? No. Is it above average with generous portions? Hell yes. Mix in a lively atmosphere and attentive bartender/waitstaff and you've got a go-to place every time you're back in town. read more

While the beer is ok, the food is good and reasonably priced, and the ambiance is great. This just has good, eclectic vibes and is always welcoming...a favorite pub of mine. read more

This is the best place I have ever eaten! The food is absolutely amazing, delicious and they have a great variety of choices. Myles was our waiter for the night and we couldn't have asked for better service, he was very attentive and took the time to even recommend us lots of cool places to visit around the area! The Mills mussels are a must! Wish this place was closer to NYC. Thank you for the amazing time! read more

I love The Liberal Cup! It's absolutely one of my favorite places to go. The French Onion Soup is fabulous, the Beer Cheese soup is ALWAYS great, the Haddock Napoleon is to DIE for, and the mussels are divine. The beer is also GREAT. Even though it's a bit of a drive for me, I frequent this place. The atmosphere coupled with the great food and beer, and frequent live music is all around excellent read more

This is the best restaurant north of Portland. The regular menu is good. The turkey dinner can't be beat if you're looking for comfort food. It is the nightly specials that are fabulous. The beer battered clams are the best anywhere. Yes, you might have to wait a while but that's because its worth the wait, and I'g go for the Porter myself. read more

Alewife Ale:9 AWESOME home brews, excellent fish and chips, black and blue wrap is excellent. Any of the special dishes they offer are excellent. Prime rib special was good, Nice home cut fries. It gets crowded on the weekend but its one of the best places to eat in kennebec county! read more

Driving down from northern Maine, needed to stop and grab a bite. Found this place by chance and happy we did! On a rainy day, hot soup (French Onion) for starters hit the spot, followed by Grilled Ruben for me & Fishwich for the Mrs. - both were done right. Try a paddle for starters & pick your pint from there. Overall: Good service & above average pub grub. read more

Loved this place. Been there few times and everytime it was exciting. Food - perfect for a pub. Drinks - love the variety of beers and that in Liberal cup they brew them by themselves and every week you can find something new there. Ambiance - homy (one thing - you should get used to locals' stares if you are a tourist). read more

The Liberal Cup is our new favorite restaurant in Hallowell Maine. The menu is always varied and with so many of the choices you want to try. The Cup is great for the tourist and the local. A fun bar to hang out in whether there is music or not. The staff is always friendly and helpful. Our favorite server Angela is worth the wait when trying for a table. Along with the craft and local beers the food is exceptional. The prices are moderate and there are terrific value items. Even if a little pricier item is on special I have found it worth it. A different Cheese and beer soup every day served with crunchy pretzels is a must have. I would have it every time I go but then I wouldn't have the room for all the other choices. The standard menu items: the quesadia, wings and fried shrimp are very good. However there was a special menu item recently that won my heart: Poutine - A French Canadian specialty usually French Fries topped with cheese curds and brown gravy. At The Cup they added shredded Duck Confit. They called it an appetizer. I call it a meal. Lunch or dinner give it a try. read more