Little Tap House

A Perfect Spot for Drinks and Snacks Before or After Entertainment Nearby

It was a busy Friday evening and the Little Tap House Bar was filled with Portland Maine of Art visitors clutching their PMA “Art in Bloom” brochures, not unlike my friend and I. We had just spent a delightful afternoon at the museum taking in the heady aroma of the flowers and admiring the composition of the showcased floral arrangements for the Art in Bloom event. Located across from the art museum campus, the bar makes a convenient destination for après-art drinks. Even though we had no reservation on an especially busy Friday night, we were extremely fortunate to get a table. We attributed our good luck to my friend’s birthday being the next day and we were celebrating that over dinner and drinks. I had heard so much about this place over the years. The Little Tap House, voted one of the 19 Best Bars in Portland, Maine, has won numerous awards for drinks and food and is a favorite of the local Portland Bar scene. 

Somewhat of a showcase for Maine brewers, the space is rustic and casual, with high-top tables fashioned from Allagash beer barrels, time-scarred wooden floors, and painted brick walls. Local beer lovers and beer tourists alike can get a taste of what’s available from a variety of brewers without leaving the comfort of their barstool. LTH offers a variety of beverages to choose from with 15 draft beers, a decent selection of wines, and ½ dozen specialty cocktails. LTH’s tap menu is always diverse and mostly local. Their food is gastro-pub style showcasing farm to table infused menu items like the Brussels Sprouts with cranberry mostarda and lardons; the delicata squash with ricotta, pomegranates, and candied pepita seeds; and the beet salad with mesclun, goat cheese, candied walnuts, and lemon vinaigrette, the latter of which was our choice to begin the meal. We were a little disappointed that the mussels, served in shallot, garlic, lemon, white wine and butter had just been 86’d, restaurant slang for an item no longer available, AKA sold out. That is one of our personal favorite dishes. To make up for it, we decided to turn to another seafood dish and ordered the salmon with pomegranate glaze, pepitas, cous cous, carrot, cranberry, and citrus-herb vinaigrette as our entree. It was delicious and  certainly not your typical pub food. While their dessert menu was tempting, we opted out because there was already a freshly made fruit tart waiting at home to continue the birthday celebration. 

Little Tap House's location is ideal. On the edge of the West End, the bar and restaurant is not far from the Cross Insurance Civic Center, Old Port, State Theatre, and the Portland Museum of Art. For people headed to an art opening, sporting event, or concert, I'd say this establishment is a perfect go-to spot for a drink or snack beforehand or afterwards, with the added bonus of being within walking distance.