Duckfat

Eatery

43 Middle St
Portland, Maine, 04101-4213
United States

(207) 774-8080 | map
duckfat.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.3
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
52
pDev:
8.84%
View: Place Reviews
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Photo of brewme
Reviewed by brewme from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Visited last weekend on a trip to Portland. Does not live up to the hype for me. The food is amazing, but very small, extremely crowded, & limited beer selections.
Nov 20, 2023
 
Rated: 4.38 by StoutSnob40 from California

Jul 17, 2019
Photo of PhillyStyle
Reviewed by PhillyStyle from Georgia

4.08/5  rDev -5.1%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Limited selection of beers, maybe 6 on tap, but all local. But you go here for the food and the beer is just an added bonus. For lunch it is a tough seat...I went solo and still had to wait 10-15 minuets for a seat. Also the establishment closes at 9 pm most nights.
May 02, 2018
 
Rated: 4.39 by Abe_Froman from Massachusetts

Jan 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4.46 by NHPest from New Hampshire

May 08, 2017
Photo of John_M
Reviewed by John_M from Washington

3.65/5  rDev -15.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.25
I guess I'm a bit puzzled why this place is even listed in the data base. The food is very good here (in a fried duck fat kind of way), and the wife and I completely loved our Poutine fries with duck confit. Otherwise, this place is pretty tiny, and it's easy to feel pretty crowded. Also, at least on the day we were here, there was just one waiter working the room, and as the place was pretty crowded/packed, waits for service were a bit protracted. Still, when he did come by, he was friendly and witty, and managed to keep his sense of humor, despite the crowd. In terms of beer... shrug. I think they had 7 or 8 offerings, made up entirely of local stuff (Bissell Brothers, Allagash, etc.). Good quality stuff for sure, but I would hardly call this any sort of beer destination. One thing I thought a bit weird, is the BB Substance IPA I ordered here was nowhere near as good as the version I had at the brewery, and it was considerably more hazy (nearly opaque). I'm assuming I was brought the correct beer (the waiter stated when he brought it "here's your Bissell Brothers."), but for whatever reason, the beer I had at Duckfat was drier and seemed to have less tropical fruit. Not sure what to think about that. In any event...

I would come back here for the food. Not for the beer.
Apr 06, 2017
 
Rated: 4.19 by madelf66 from Pennsylvania

Nov 30, 2016
 
Rated: 4.28 by Matthowland from New Hampshire

Jul 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.39 by CayseyW from Connecticut

Jun 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4.23 by zimm421 from Ohio

Jun 22, 2016
 
Rated: 4.09 by HeartofMiami from Florida

May 22, 2016
Photo of Gavage
Reviewed by Gavage from Nevada

4.15/5  rDev -3.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4.75
Tiny little restaurant with some tables in an extended front under a canopy. Inside is really small and tight, and I got stuck on the wall table rail. Plenty of bricks here. Only a handful of beers on draft, but they are all great local selections. Very small menu, but the fries in duck fat with cheese curds and a over easy egg was tremendous. Service was slow but the place was packed with several waiting outside. Stop here for some great food and local beer.
May 14, 2016
 
Photo of NYR-Zuuuuc
Reviewed by NYR-Zuuuuc from Connecticut

4.56/5  rDev +6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4 | food: 5
Todd is some of the best I ever had. Get the poutain it's a thing at beauty. Tap selection was fabulous, had Swish and The Substance. Can't say enough about it, just go there...
May 02, 2016
 
Rated: 4.5 by dee4maine from Maine

Apr 21, 2016
Photo of SpoiledInVT
Reviewed by SpoiledInVT from Vermont

4.18/5  rDev -2.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.75
You may have to wait if you go on a weekend, but it's well worth it. Draft selections are mostly (but not limited to) local beers (Oxbow FPA is delightful). The food, though. Wow. Awesome sandwich selections, and some very creative dishes all around. Definitely would return.
Mar 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4.53 by SveNss0N from Massachusetts

Feb 19, 2016
 
Rated: 4.44 by costanzo_mike from Massachusetts

Jan 05, 2016
 
Rated: 4.18 by DrStiffington from New Jersey

Nov 08, 2015
Photo of nickfl
Reviewed by nickfl from Florida

4.26/5  rDev -0.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
So, this place isn't for everybody... as the reviews show. Its tiny, very hipster, and the menu, both of beer and food, is small. If you like places like this, then it is very good, if you don't, well the wait (and there is going to be a wait) probably isn't worth it. As I said, the place is tiny and I think we were lucky to be seated at the bar as we seemed to have more space than most of the people with tables. The service was friendly and quick, even though they were busy, our waitress/bartender took the time to answer some quick questions about the menu. And about the menu, its small. Sandwiches (but pretty fancy ones) and various sides, maybe some salads and about six beers on tap. What they lack in size, however, they make up for in quality. The beer selection was good (though nothing to set geek beards fluttering, but good), local, and it was matched quite well to the sort of food they serve. The sandwiches were interesting and very good, and the poutine was easily the best I've had outside of Montreal. Overall a very worthwhile stop, I would go out of my was to go there again if I were to find myself in Portland.
Sep 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4.49 by Sweeneydawg from Massachusetts

Sep 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by HopsnMalts_NJ from New Jersey

Sep 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4.55 by bostonbeans from Massachusetts

Aug 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.01 by rjp217 from Massachusetts

Jul 01, 2015
Photo of rodmanfor3
Rated by rodmanfor3 from Vermont

3/5  rDev -30.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 3
Overrated for what it is. Okay food, passive service, long wait time.
Jun 29, 2015
Photo of cherche
Reviewed by cherche from Washington

3.15/5  rDev -26.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 3 | food: 3
very poor service...forgot to put in the order for 1 of the 2 sandwiches we ordered...didnt have it out until after we were done eating everything...didnt apologize or comp anything to make up for it...food was just average. cool setting, small taplist but solid beers.
Jun 24, 2015
 
Rated: 5 by MRVermont from New Hampshire

Jun 07, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by RKing44 from Massachusetts

May 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.19 by mklisz from New Hampshire

May 20, 2015
Photo of smcolw
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

4.11/5  rDev -4.4%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.75
This is a very small place with a long line already formed at 11:20 a.m. The food is superb--a knock off of traditional bar food.

There's about six beer on tap, all of them local and hard to find outside of Maine. All different styles including a Saison.
May 16, 2015
 
Rated: 3.86 by ChrisinRI from Rhode Island

May 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4.36 by chippo33 from Vermont

May 11, 2015
Photo of Faxmesomehalibut
Reviewed by Faxmesomehalibut from New Hampshire

4.43/5  rDev +3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 5
AMAZING food! Draft list is comparable with most Portland spots as they offer tons of local options. Usually a decent wait around lunch or dinner (especially on the weekends) but it is worth any wait!
Apr 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4.51 by CTFalcon from Connecticut

Apr 20, 2015
 
Rated: 4.54 by kjkinsey from Texas

Apr 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.18 by Texasfan549 from Texas

Mar 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4.3 by NateF90 from Connecticut

Feb 26, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by Patches826 from Massachusetts

Jan 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4.43 by slasich from Pennsylvania

Jan 11, 2015
 
Rated: 4.75 by meb3476 from Massachusetts

Nov 04, 2014
Duckfat in Portland, ME
Place rating: 4.3 out of 5 with 52 ratings