My wife was planning a Sunday brunch with a friend and this was not our expected spot but ended up working perfectly! The restaurant we intended on going to had an absurd wait and Tomaso's happened to just open up so we decided to check it out. We made the right call and were happier than we would have been at the original choice. Stepping foot inside you can tell this is a spot that doesn't try to stand out or be trendy and just serves tasty food and well made drinks! Which in reality what can you really ask for besides that? Based on this first experience I look forward to returning and if lived in Portland would be a regular spot! The seating is mostly bar stools with like 5 tables fitting 4 people at most. Due to showing up around open only one other table and one person were at the bar. By the time we left it was getting crowded though. I can definitely understand why now! Despite being the only server the bartender was extremely friendly and made tasty drinks! Their mango-mosa was a nice twist on a typical brunch classic. Next time will try their $5 screwdriver, how can you pass up on a deal that good. My wife enjoyed two of their sausage breakfast tacos and loved how packed full of deliciousness they were. I enjoyed their sausage burrito and it hit the spot! Prices were extremely reasonable as well with the large burrito only being $12 and each taco $4. My wife and I look forward to return for brunch but also to come back and try their normal menu too. Don't let the hole in the wall/dive bar vibes make you question anything it is well worth checking out! A new favorite for sure! read more

Tomaso's Canteen - Brunch Menu - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

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The way dive bars should be... I lived in Portland when Tomaso's first opened, and while I loved it then, I love it even more now as someone who has since moved out of state and pilgrimages back every year. I can't even pinpoint why, but I always come here every time I'm back in town. Usually for a reliable late night eat and beverage that's easy. Small, intimate and usually the right amount of rowdy for me. Always crowded and with bartenders who are as busy as can be. Bonus points: try the Mac if you're hungry! read more

I was craving a burger and fries and Duckfat was an hour+ wait, so we headed over to Tomaso's for lunch! We grabbed our own table in the back. The bartender was a little more helpful to the other tables but service was fast. The burger was really tasty and satisfied my craving! I always love a seasoned fry too. This place definitely has big hole in the wall vibes but seems like a hidden gem in Old Port! read more

Tomaso's Canteen - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

Astoundingly good food, and priced very well! My friends got burgers and I got fish and chips. All of which were works of art. The fish was fall-apart tender, the beer batter was crispy, the fries were excellently seasoned, and it was delivered to the table super quick. This is where I'll take folks from out of town for some good eats. Tomasso's hasn't succumbed to the trendy ridiculous high prices of the rest of the city's dining spots. Props to them. read more

I'm not a fan of dive bars, but this place was pretty good. My friends and I came here looking for a cheap date and were all satisfied. They served good wings, decent drinks, and the Mac and cheese wasn't half bad either. Our waiter was also pretty polite and accommodating, no issues. Probably won't go back, just because it's not my vibe, but won't steer anyone away from it either. Definitely a good dive bar! read more

Tomaso's Canteen - Mac and Cheese with Brussel Sprouts - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

Best dive bar in Portland for its crammed yet homey feel. The mystery beer selection is pretty sweet and makes for a fun start to the night. Food is simple and so are the beers! read more

Great bar great food and service first time will definitely be back we're new to Portland we're so glad we found Tomaso's

Saundra Todd Super excellent service. The family had an ok Thanksgiving buffet, early dinner. Came to this beautiful dive bar by recommendation of the AC hotel. Glad we did. Definitely corrected our mediocre dinner and ended the night properly. Jello shots, a hot dog challenge, great staff, wonderful bar food, friendly patrons buying drinks for each other. First time in Portland and we're loving the hospitality. Just left San Francisco for Phoenix, might be a next move in the future to the east coast for the kids when they settle down. Maine will be on the list! read more

Tomaso's Canteen - Thanksgiving fun! - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

Tomaso's is a dive bar gem. With a tiny space inside and frequent regulars, this place has a lot of character. Perfect for some quick fried food and watching a sports game on the TV. I came here for some late lunch one day craving wings. The "dirt" wings caught my attention which our server described as a buffalo sauce that has been double fried so it comes out as sort of a dry rub. Normally, I don't really go for buffalo flavor. I couldn't taste that much of the original buffalo, which is probably why I liked it so much. Very savory and crisped well. My friend and I shared mozzarella sticks, and I think these are the best mozz sticks I've had in my life. Fried to perfection and a good amount of cheese. My friend got the Mac and cheese, but was a bit disappointed. Not really what was expected -- it seemed there were pieces of red pepper and orange cheddar for cheese. Not the biggest Mac and cheese fan myself, but I don't think it was like a typical one. Our server was busy running around serving the whole place, but she was still attentive to our table. read more

Tomaso's Canteen - Dirt wings, mozzarella sticks, and Mac & cheese - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

I've been to this place multiple times with my girlfriend. I absolutely love this place! It's a tiny pub location off the corner of downtown Portland. I like that it's low key almost like a speakeasy. The best part of the atmosphere is surprisingly the small space inside, it feels comforting. Great place for a drink and watch some sports with a friend or significant other! In terms of the food they hit it out the ballpark! The menu has changed slightly with some items increased in price, but it's still a great bang for your buck. Mozzarella sticks were very cheesy and delicious. The marinara sauce for me was a little too runny and watery, I would have preferred if the consistency was thicker. 8/10 The steak bomb was huge and lots of meat. I added grilled jalapeños for more of a kick. Bread was toasted nicely as well! I wish there was just a little more cheese, but I loved the steak bomb overall. 9/10 read more

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Needing a place to spend time waiting, we saw Tomaso's and decided to grab a drink while we waited. Small and cozy to say the least, we waited to be seated at the bar. Bartender was attentive and served us immediately. We decided after 20 minutes to order something to share and was told that the Dumpster truck fried were delicious, so we took a chance. Yum! At first it was hard to distinguish between the steak and the roasted Brussels but after that all gone! Super delicious and hit the spot. I will definitely be back as we enjoyed everything about it! read more

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I've been on the search for the best fries in Portland. I've also been trying to get into Tomaso's for months -- every time I've gone it's always been full to the brim and a 40 minute wait. We got so lucky to get a spot and I've been wanting to try their fries for so long. They aptly name their shared fry plate the dump truck but why not just get that as my meal -- it has veggies, proteins, and carbs. A part of me was subconsciously comparing these to poutine, specifically poutine from a nearby place. This basket of fries with stuff on them was really damn good. The poutine tends to be so salty that you can't feel your tastebuds anymore. The beef on this dump truck was really tender. There were not a ton of brussel sprouts but they were equally tender. I ate every single damn fry. I definitely have my idea of the perfect fry -- it's hard to beat McDonald's but I really enjoyed this and it will probably make my list of fries to crave. I also love that this place opens til 1:00 -- not something that happens often in Portland! The service was great -- the wait staff is super attentive and checked in frequently. Really I have nothing else to say. It's like a dive bar but it's not super divey in the traditional sense. It's hip but not pretentious. It seems like the bar is the hoppin spot. I like it. read more

Tomaso's Canteen - Dump truck - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

Been putting it off cuz everyone said best dive bar in Portland, and I didn't want to have my heart broken. It absolutely is. Like a perfectly adorned three-speed bicycle. Being ridden by a jovial viking. They treated my buddy and I to an amazing time at the bar. Bartender corrected my language too. He said "neighborhood bar not dive. The foods too good." He's right. Thank goodness this place this exists. Will definitely be back to keep some bar stools warm. read more

Saved us during yet another power outage this season. Delicious fried pickles...best we ever had. And the chicken tenders were so juicy on the inside and so crispy on the outside. Perfect comfort food! Super friendly and fast service. Such a great neighborhood place. read more

"We don't do wing orders after 12" yeah, since when? Since it was a night, you didn't wanna be bothered to serve food till one like your fucking banner says? Got it: I couldn't even describe how fucking downhill this place has gone. read more

The dirt tendies here are the best chicken tenders I've ever had in my life, and probably also the most voluminous. You get an obscene amount of tendies - the minimum order is a whole pound, which you will eat all of (even if you're not hungry) because they are delicious. They are even better on their macaroni and cheese, which is equally sinful. The people are cool here, too - it's a nice vibe. Needless to say, this is easily one of my favorite places in Maine, full stop. read more

The things I love the most about Tomaso's Canteen is there late open hours and the vibe in the restaurant. There's not many places open at midnight in Portland so if you're looking for a cozy restaurant with good bar food and drinks, Tomaso's Canteen is the place for you! I got the Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings and it was a 5 out of 5! They came out hot and the portion is perfect! It was $12 during their Happy Hour special. I would definitely get this again and maybe try the mac n cheese when I go back. read more

Tomaso's Canteen - Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Continue to love this dive bar. My sister & I each had a beer from their stellar draft list. We also shared fried pickles & hot dogs, the perfect accompaniment to our brews. Fun clients & staff. Out server was dressed in cowboy attire that day! read more

I was in portland for a visit and randomly saw good reviews on the dirt wings so I had to try it. It was really good. Only thing that bothered me was they charge extra service fee for take out. read more

Tomaso's Canteen - Dirt wings - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

I wish we would've known about this spot before our last day in Portland because we would've came multiple times. We stopped in while waiting for a reservation at Duck Fat. The menu and food looked so phenomenal that we actually cancelled our reservation and ate here. It was a great choice. The chicken ban mi, wings, Cesar salad and fries were all unreal. Tons of drinks to choose from as well. The place is small and full of locals but staff was awesome and friendly. Prices were way better than most places in the area. Overall they knock it out of the park! read more

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What an amazing dive bar!! Very small and totally a vibe but great spot! The drinks are cheap and strong. The food is bar food but some of the best I have ever had and so reasonably priced. My favorite part is that they serve late night food till 1am every night. It's hard to find cheap, fast and great food late and this place always delivers. The wings, Mac and cheese or steak and cheese you can't go wrong. You can't go wrong at this place! read more

Tomaso's Canteen - Inside - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Sometimes you just need to go to a local dive bar and enjoy comforting bar food. Tomaso's Canteen is a top fuck for us. Our go to consists of their dump truck fries, chicken bomb sandwich and mac & cheese with chicken tenders. They have a lot of combo drink options, which is really great to see for incredible prices. This is a cozy bar good for small groups. You will walk out of there with smile on your face, feeling well fed and knowing you didn't break the bank. Highly recommend if you're ever in Portland, Maine. read more

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First timer from South Carolina. Start with the fried pickles and get your fries with cheese sauce + bacon. You won't regret it! Amazing food! Super small inside but friendly, welcoming, and enjoyable environment. read more

I have failed the yelp community by not having a photo of the best fish and chips I have had in my life at Tomasos!! We came here after a failed attempt to get into Eventide ( the wait is longer than you think) and ended up giving up our spot in line because we liked tomasos so much! Service was quick and friendly and the food came out hot and fast! Dive bar ambiance, we were certainly overdressed and still felt welcome! Fish and chips, chicken sando, mozz sticks- I'd order all of these again and again! read more

Cool place, get a grab bag beer and get yourself a cheap drink and a surprise. The food is good, dump truck fries are incredible.

cheap beer and pizza, not a bad place to hang out if you're killing time on a night out. bar service is typically pretty good but it's what you'd expect. read more

Shockingly good French fries and Mac & cheese. Not just for after bar bites! Came here after suggestion from some locals thought it would be typical fried fare but someone in the back has mastered the fry-rest-fry on the fries. read more

Beer and a shot in the perfect dive bar vibe. Magnificent- a hidden gem. Highly recommend the steak and cheese. read more

Small little dive bar in the Waterfront area of Portland. It seemed like it might be a fun little dive bar, but I only stopped in to get a bite to eat. I ordered the Brussel Sprouts, which were cooked all right. However, they seemed to have used an excessive amount of butter/grease as the bottom of the container was a pool of butter/grease making them Brussels sprouts to greasy. read more

Tomaso's Canteen - Menu - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

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We had a GREAT time at Tomaso's during a trip to Portland last week! We work nights and, therefore, spend a lot of our waking hours as vampires. There aren't many places open late, during the week no less, so Tomaso's was a treasured find. This place was just a few blocks from our hotel and their outdoor patio with heat lamps was inviting in a cold night. The inside is small but they erected clear dividers between seats at the bar and the bartender. There are also a few tables along the wall. They have a cocktail menu, draught beer menu, and a fun part of the menu "beer and a shot". We ordered two of their cocktails, can't remember specific details but they were similar to a margarita, large, and tasty. We subsequently took it to the "beer and a shot" neighborhood of the menu, I ordered the guinness and jameson/baileys shot which was DELICIOUS. Tina reminds me that she ordered a tecate and tequila and followed that up with a green/vomit emoji which I speculate is more reflective of her decision-making than anything else. We finished off with another one of their cocktails and I wish I could say that we shared it but I don't think that we did. This, like the first, was enjoyable. I wish that we could justify ordering something off of their bar food menu but we had a fridge full of leftovers in our hotel. The party next to us ordered a ton of stuff and I overheard them tell the bartender how good everything was. The staff was awesome, dranks flowing, prices reasonable, and they're open until 1AM. There's really nothing not to like about this place. read more

Tomaso's Canteen - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Great local spot, plenty of drink options and amazing food. Highly recommend and will go back again.

As we informed the employees, we appreciate their great service and superb food which is consistent month after month and year after year. THANKS GUYS! read more

Open till 1am, serving up late night cravings! Thursdays $5 cans...any canned beverage is $5, even large craft cans. The wings were excellent, cooked perfectly as they fry them twice. We got the firecracker wings, Wichita is their spiciest wing and the dirt wings. Both very good. The loaded fries were unbelievably tasty and we even got a few surprisingly hot fresh jalapeños in the mix of deliciousness. The fried pickles were great as well, especially the siracha ranch that came as the dipping sauce. I used some for the wings as well. The old Cadillac cocktail was amazing. It was a Great twist on a margarita, very refreshing and flavorful. Definitely a great spot to go for pub food and drinks! Breakfast menu looks great too. read more

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Good service, good atmosphere, just the food is quite greasy. There is about 6 tables and the rest are bar sitting. read more

Tomaso's Canteen - Burry pic of their breakfast hash - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

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So glad we skipped out waiting over an hour to eat at Duckfat. Hands down top 3 wings I have ever had. I got them "dirty" per the awesome bartender's recommendation. Also split the chicken bah mahi which was also excellent. Fries cooked perfectly. Small little place with an awesome ambiance. At least stop and have a beer here if you are waiting to get into somewhere else. read more

I want to preface this review by saying I have never been here sober...but I think that's the sign of a good bar and even better late night food spot. This is the perfect spot to end the night because the vibe is very divey, there is always an interesting cast of characters, and the location is central to a fair amount of bars and restaurants, although it is a bit of a hike from the center of the Old Port. Thus far I have tried the buffalo wings, chicken tenders (both buffalo and plain), and the cheese fries and I would recommend them ALL! Next on my list to try is the mac and cheese because it always looks AH-mazing! read more

Great drinks! Better service! Met a friend there as I visited from out of town. It's her favorite small bar and it was great.

Fun neighborhood dive bar! We stopped in during a cruise visit, and we're happy to have found it. The buffalo chicken tenders were tremendous, and my husband had the dirty chicken sandwich "which was hot AF." We picked up a t-shirt and will remember our visit fondly for years to come. read more

TLDR: no nonesense bar with food! Im not from Portland, but if I was I feel like I'd make this my local spot. read more

On vacation in Portland and my wife and I stumbled upon this place. Holy ()$& this place rocks. It's the ultimate dive bar with great service and awesome food. read more