Hooligans Steak & Ale in Old Orchard Beach, Maine

Hooligans has been a seaside fixture in Old Orchard Beach for over a century, slinging steaks, burgers, and fried seafood alongside comedy shows and live music most nights. The crowd is a mix of tourists, locals, and date-night couples who come for the energy as much as the food. It's loud, it's busy, and the ocean view from the balcony is worth the scene.

• Crispy calamari and crab rangoons that warrant a second visit
• Steak tips and burgers that land when the kitchen's on
• Balcony views of the Atlantic and Old Orchard Pier
• Live music and karaoke most nights; comedy shows too

Start with the crab rangoons (creamy, crispy) and calamari, which has a distinctive fried batter. The steak tips melt in your mouth when cooked right. Burgers are solid, though ask for medium if you want it pink in the middle. The lobster quesadilla and fish and chips round out the menu, though the latter can run dry, so ask for extra tartar sauce on the side.

Open, water-facing, and packed with noise, especially during live shows and karaoke. The inside can be loud enough that staff can barely be heard, so grab the balcony if you want to actually talk.

It's a bar-first operation that happens to serve food, so set expectations there. Service moves at different speeds depending on the night and staffing, and the vibe shifts from date-night polished to tourist-season madhouse. Come for the entertainment and the view, not for fine dining.

Guests rave about the steak tips and fried appetizers, and the balcony view gets consistent praise. One recent visitor called the calamari batter distinctive and the steak well-cooked. Others come back for karaoke nights and the overall energy, though a few have found service uneven and food quality inconsistent during peak season.