Dunstan Tap and Table

The room fills with the kind of energy that happens when a restaurant gets the fundamentals right - good food, faster-than-expected service, and enough bourbon and craft beer to make a Friday night feel like a small-town celebration. Dunstan Tap and Table, tucked into Scarborough just outside Portland, doesn't pretend to be something it isn't. It's a neighborhood joint that takes its burgers seriously, pours a careful cocktail, and moves a table of eight through dinner without making anyone feel rushed.

Walk in on any evening and you'll see why locals and visitors treat this place like their own. The menu sprawls across American comfort - hand-formed burgers with prime beef or housemade pork, wood-fired pizzas, fried chicken sandwiches, and appetizers that taste like someone actually thought about them. Brussels sprouts get crispy pork belly and soy glaze. Mussels arrive in white wine with sausage and pepper. The fries are hand-cut and arrive as they should: golden and thin enough to disappear before your entrée lands.

---

The burgers are worth the trip. Reviewers return for the Dunstan Burger (prime beef, pickles, lettuce, onion, tomato) and praise it as consistently excellent. The Bacon Mac Burger and Pork Bahn Mi Burger - housemade with sriracha aioli and pickled vegetables - get named mentions across reviews. One regular from Boston says she "dines here often, never had a bad meal."

Pizza that doesn't pretend to be rustic. The pies are made with high-quality ingredients and emerge from the wood-fired oven with the kind of crust that justifies ordering another round of drinks. The Kale & Mushroom and Sweet Hot Honey pizzas appear frequently in reviews, alongside simpler versions - Cheese, Pepperoni - that respect the baseline.

Staff who actually remember your name. Sammi, Sam, and other named servers appear across reviews as the kind of server who notices your glass is low before you do. One regular praises a server for being "informed, friendly, and responsive." Another notes that even when the place is slammed and running 30 minutes late on a Friday, management handled the reschedule "with no issues."

The appetizers are theater. Fried Brussels sprouts with crispy pork belly (10 out of 10 from one reviewer). Local mussels so good that one guest laments they never received their order - not because they didn't like them, but because they were "the best we've had in awhile." Sticky pork ribs with jalapeño cherry BBQ. Poutine loaded with bacon, pork belly, sausage.

A serious beer and cocktail program. The bottled beer list spans Miller High Life to Modelo. The can selection features Maine breweries - Nonesuch River, Bissell Brothers. Summer cocktails are inventive without being fussy: Butterfly Peach Tea, Hot Honey Espresso Martini, Raspberry Negroni. Mocktails are thoughtful too; one reviewer specifically praised the Virgin Margarita.

---

The menu reads like someone raided a well-stocked dive bar and had a conversation with an actual chef. You'll find straightforward comfort - fish and chips, steak frites, mac and cheese - sitting next to more ambitious moves like chilled buckwheat soba noodles and Greek hot honey garlic chicken. The kitchen doesn't overreach; it masters the fundamentals and occasionally surprises.

• Local Mussels - White wine, sausage, pepper, onion, and matcha fire butter. Named in multiple reviews as exceptional.
• Fried Brussels Sprouts - Crispy pork belly, rice wine, soy, Mae Ploy chili sauce. Described as "10 out of 10."
• Bacon Mac Burger - Ground bacon and beef blend, American cheese, 1000 Island, pickles. Reviewers call it phenomenal.
• Pork Bahn Mi Burger - Housemade pork patty, sriracha aioli, pickled vegetables, cilantro on a sesame bun.
• Fish and Chips - Praised as "the best fish and chips I've had in Maine" by one visitor.
• Kale & Mushroom Pizza - Wood-fired with high-quality ingredients; appears in multiple reviews.
• Fire BLT - Recommended by staff and described as "fantastic and unique."

Portions are generous without being punishing. Most tables share appetizers and order a main; the poutine could be a starter or a side, depending on your appetite.

---

The room has a sports-bar feel in the best way: clean, bright, modern without being sterile, built for the kind of restaurant that wants you to stay longer than one drink. The space suits groups - families, birthday dinners, casual dates - and doesn't demand silence. The outdoor seating, available in warm months, offers a quieter alternative.

The one honest note: this place gets loud. Multiple reviewers - who otherwise love the restaurant - mention the noise level as a significant drawback. "Way too loud," one says. "The noise level is so bad that we had to yell across the table," another notes. If you want a quieter meal, call ahead and ask about early seatings, or visit on a weeknight rather than Friday or Saturday.

---

Wed–Sat: 11:30 am–9:00 pm
Sun: 11:30 am–8:00 pm
Closed: Mon–Tue

Book ahead, especially on weekends. The "Most Booked" tag on OpenTable isn't ornamental - the place fills up. Call (207) 219-8024 or reserve on OpenTable. Walk-ins are welcome if you arrive early (11:30 am lunch opens the most space), but expect a wait on Friday and Saturday evenings. The restaurant accommodates late arrivals with grace; one regular mentioned they called to say they'd be 30 minutes late and faced "no issues."

---

"Staff was accommodating to fit a large group. Dine here often, never had a bad meal."

• Amanda, Greater Boston · 5★

"Excellent local restaurant with great food and very friendly service at all times. This is our go-to place for date nights."

• Greater Boston · 5★

"The food is consistently good we got a few appetizers - Brussel sprouts and mussels - 10 out of 10!"

• Jennifer, San Francisco · 5★

"My favorite place to dine for a casual setting in ME. I'm a MA resident that comes to the area once or twice each season and this is my favorite spot open year round."

• Matthew, Maine · 5★

"Food was delicious and service was impeccable. Your server Sam is a jewel!!!"

• Barry, Greater Boston · 5★

"One of our favorite spots. Service is always friendly and some of the best pizza around. It's busy and noisy, not a romantic date spot. Laid back atmosphere with a great drink selection."

• Greater Boston · 4★

The overwhelming consensus is consistent: food is reliable, service is attentive, and the vibe is welcoming. A handful of reviewers flag the noise as a dealbreaker for quieter dinners; a few mention occasional inconsistencies in execution (one pizza order felt dry, one burger reuben overshadowed by breading). These are exceptions in a sea of repeat visits.

---

Dunstan Tap and Table sits in Scarborough, a walkable, growing suburb on the Portland metro's south edge, closer to the coastal towns of Cape Elizabeth and the lighthouses beyond. The restaurant is a draw for both locals and visitors making the short drive from the city.

• From downtown Portland: 15 minutes by car south on I-295 or Route 1.
• From Portland International Jetport: 20 minutes south on I-295.
• From Old Orchard Beach: 20 minutes north, a quick detour on your way to or from the beach.
• Nearby walks: The Scarborough Marsh, just north, offers trails and birding. The Coastline is 10 minutes away.
• Day-trip distances: Portland museums and restaurants (15 min), Cape Elizabeth lighthouses (15 min), Freeport outlets and L.L.Bean (20 min).
• Parking: Public lot on site, ample and free.

---

Do I need a reservation?
Yes, especially for Friday and Saturday dinners. Call ahead or book on OpenTable. Weekday lunches and early seatings are easier walk-in windows.

Is it kid-friendly?
Absolutely. The menu has burgers, pizza, and mac and cheese. The casual atmosphere and lively (not pretentious) vibe make it a natural for families. One reviewer brought their daughter's college friends for a birthday dinner with a party of eight and everyone left happy.

What's the noise level really like?
Moderate to energetic, depending on the night. Friday and Saturday evenings are louder; weeknights and lunch are calmer. The bar area amplifies noise; request a table away from it if quiet conversation matters.

Are there vegetarian or vegan options?
Yes. The BBQ Mushroom Veggie Burger, Kale & Mushroom Pizza, fried Brussels sprouts, and salads cover plant-based diets. Check with your server on preparations.

What about outdoor seating?
Available seasonally (warm months). Call to confirm availability and request when you book.

Can I bring a large group?
Yes. The restaurant handles groups well and will work to accommodate party sizes. Mention your group size when reserving.

Is there wheelchair accessibility?
The restaurant is in a newer building; full accessibility details aren't reflected in reviews. Call (207) 219-8024 to confirm.

What's the dress code?
Casual. Jeans, t-shirts, sneakers - no one's dressing up here.

---