There’s been many a time when we’ve had a hankering for one of Bruno’s steak or haddock sandwiches with hand-cut fries only to be disappointed when we’ve entered the tavern to see every table full and people waiting to make their moves from the bar. The food is that worth it — along with the many TVs posted around the room for Red Sox, Patriots and college football games. There are plenty of regulars at Bruno’s and many of them don’t even need a menu to make their decisions.
I have a tough time not ordering the fried haddock filet sandwich ($7.95), which comes with some of the best fries in town and a special tasty tartar sauce. Another favorite from the sandwich menu is the steak sandwich ($8.75 for a large), which is made of cubes of tender steak, rather than the shaved stuff many restaurants serve. You can get your sub with onions, peppers, mushrooms and cheese.
Other sandwiches Bruno’s offers include a chicken cutlet mozzarella ($7.95), eggplant parm ($8.95 for a large) and several types of burgers. The chicken subs are made with chunks of meat just like the steak and come in four versions.
For apps, you can go fancy with the asparagus ravioli ($7.75), spinach strudel ($8.50) or mussels ($8.50). Or you can opt strictly for pub fare with garlic bread with cheese or chicken fingers. Try the buffalo wings ($8.25), which have few rivals. They’ve got zip but are fried so they’re not a bit messy.
Bruno’s dinner menu is huge and selections are served with garden salad, homemade Italian bread and rice pilaf or garlic mashed potatoes, unless a specific pasta accompanies the dish. You can pick from baked stuffed shrimp ($16.95), mussels linguini ($15.95), New York sirloin ($16.95), chicken, veal or eggplant parmigiana, lasagna ($14.95), pasta with meatball or sausage ($11.50) and chicken stir fry ($14.95). The haddock Bruno is a signature dish matching a fresh Maine haddock filet with mussels, green beans and a hint of garlic and sauteéd in vino bianco sauce for ($16.95).
There are really no wrong choices at Bruno’s, whether you’ve picked pizza or veal saltimboca. And you’re dining experience will be all the better because of the service — Bruno’s was voted Greater Portland’s Best Wait Staff three years in a row by Market Surveys of America.