If you’re looking for something that’s not necessarily in the center of all the action, the Grill House Local Tavern is a great spot.

Just off the Casco Bay Bridge on Broadway in South Portland, the tavern has ample parking and is a great, casual spot to gather for drinks and some good food.

Additional Photos

Bartender Sarah O’Neil makes a Blue Melon Martini, one of the Tuesday half-price specials at the Grill House Local Tavern in South Portland. Photos by Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

A plate of sesame-crusted tuna, seared rare.

I stopped in on a recent Wednesday and was wishing I had some friends with me to share the half-priced bottles of wine that the tavern had on special for the night. It’s not that I can’t drink a bottle of wine by myself (maybe I shouldn’t admit that), but I certainly can’t drive afterward. So I ordered just a glass of Cable Car Cellars Pinot Noir for $7.50.

The tavern has a decent wine selection, about a dozen beers on tap and even more offered by the bottle. Beers will set you back about $3 to $4 depending what you order, so they’ve got reasonable prices too.

There’s an ample seating area in the dining room and in the bar, with stools, pub tables and a lounge-style couch with a table. Large white globe lights hang from the ceiling, which give off good light and are cool for decorations, but they did obscure my view from the bar of a chalkboard that listed the weekly specials. Fortunately, the servers are extra-friendly and willing to let you know what it says up there.

There is a pool table and a couple of arcade games if you need something to do while having a drink. I did find it interesting that these amenities were sequestered in a room just as you entered the tavern.

I’ve typically seen these kinds of things integrated into the bar space, but I can also understand how people playing pool may get a little rowdy, so keeping the table in a separate room allows customers to enjoy their drinks without worry of being smacked in the head by a cue stick.

The servers seemed to recognize a few customers who were at the bar having a drink. But even for this girl sitting alone and new to the place, they took time to make small talk with me. It’s a simple gesture, but something I appreciate from a bartender.

While I was there on a night that was quiet, I imagine the tavern can get pretty busy on a Friday or Saturday night between diners, bar patrons and the live music it features. It seems like a great place to enjoy some live music and a beer.

Emma Bouthillette is a freelance writer who lives in Biddeford.

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