The Narrows Saloon — Restaurant in Orono

Pretty great bar food usually, occasionally almost foodie food, and sometimes they just miss the mark a little. This place can get really busy and on those days it can be tough because they are often understaffed, the waits are exorbitant, and the food can suffer. That said it is a good place to find live music. This in and of it self is special because live music has become more scarce than it should be. As far as I can tell they seem to have someone or something live most days if not all. They have a good beer selection. The bartenders, well the whole staff is pretty great as long as you don't catch them in the middle or the end of one of the understaffed situations at which point frustrations can run all a little hot. Also, people dance here. This may seem like a well duh kinda thing as they have a lot of bands, but more often than not in the area of this bar if there is live music it usually seems to end up being more for ambiance than anything, but not at the narrows. Somehow, someway, when the band starts regardless of whether its unfamiliar cover band, a solo guy, or the local act to book the music takes center stage and more often than not people end up on the dance floor! Usually the majority of those in attendance. This is a rarity even at the bigger venues downtown. Even more odd is that it seems like a lot of the customers are the younger of the baby boomer set. It's a mix of many age groups but it's sort of funny, to me anyway, all these folks that could be my folks out there dirty dancing with the other newly single or recently married for the second or third time keeping the flame alive at the narrows.

On the end its a good thing. We need more places like this so go, eat, drink, dance,...

My wife and I like to stop in every so often (we live in Mound), and find it to be a pleasant visit every time. We’re not “the rich snobs” mentioned in a few reviews, not even close 😂. We “always” find the food delicious from pleasant servers. Depending of your time of day visit, it can be very busy. Sometimes it takes just a bit longer to be addressed by a waitress/waiter as a result. No big deal for us, we know what we’re in for (food) with a bit of patience. Waitresses are always pleasant and sometimes scrambling around the busy tables doing a pretty dang good job of it IMO. Occasionally we’ll hang out for a session or two of (fun/good) music then head home. If your dinner is interrupted by the volume after the music stars......I’d say you waited a bit too long to dine that evening. The gigs usually start around 9:00. Dinner should be in the belly then, am I right? Or you should expect it when coming to a “music bar”, posted on web site and the name of the establishment.

Always a nice stop for us. Food is good, especially breakfasts (that’s what they are ALWAYS packing them in/ wknds only). Many craft beers on tap & Bloody’s are awesome too.

Don’t be fooled by the poor reviews.... Cudos...

Well let me just say our waiter ( he's new to the establishment) had less the satisfactory customer service. We had to go to the bar to get our own refills a few times. We had a guy from the kitchen come out and tell me what have is honey mustard when it was blue cheese, he blamed it on being color blind. The food was awful, DO NOT get the mango chicken appetizer OR buffalo chicken wrap or the lobster grilled cheese, its like crab salad on bread that they barely toast.. Never had a problem here before. They had wait staff wearing flip flops serving food(healthcode violation). We asked to speak to a manager, our waiter said they did not have manager.. So who is in charge on a holiday. I have been coming to this place for years. My grandfather BIG Walter Smith used to bring me in here after our trip to lake minnetonka fishing and would always have a great meal before he would perform. Needless to say, the wait staff needs better training, maybe a manager on duty at all times would be nice. It sad to see this place fall down hill after all...