Unforgettable Portsmouth NH Dining Experience
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a charming coastal city, is a gastronomic haven for food lovers. The city's culinary scene is as diverse as its history, offering a wide array of restaurants that cater to every palate. From seafood shacks serving the freshest catch of the day, to upscale dining establishments offering gourmet fare, Portsmouth NH is a foodie's paradise. Whether you're in the mood for a casual brunch, a romantic dinner, or a family-friendly eatery, you'll find it all in Portsmouth. This article will guide you through some of the best restaurants in Portsmouth NH, ensuring your dining experience in this vibrant city is nothing short of memorable.
Cava
4.6
(385)
Rustic-chic bistro & wine bar offering Mediterranean-inspired tapas, a tasting menu & chef's table.
Reviews:
Only have been there twice but each time was amazing! I recommend doing the menu 4 course for $48 PER PERSON (they've updated the price to be $59 Per Person). The plates seem small at first but most of the time you might not be able to make it to dessert. The downstairs bar is amazing if you're going on a date! Everyone is very nice and knowledgeable about the menu and also the drink selections.
Jalisa Jackson
Everything from the food and atmosphere was absolutely amazing! We sat at the cozy downstairs bar and Bridget the bartender was very accommodating and sweet. Danny was a pleasure we didn’t see him for long but I could barely pay attention because the food was so good. The squash marshmallow cacao soup was literally so surprisingly mouth watering. I’m typing this review as I enjoy my cocktails but this place is 10/10
andrew thompson
I had the tuna, empanadas, and gambas off the pre-fix menu. The empanadas was good but the gambas was the best. Overall I think food was good but as a solo diner my experience could have been better from when I made the reservation to where I was sat so I wouldn’t select this spot for solo dining, more of a date spot.
Shinal
Cava is the perfect place for your date night, anniversary or even just a Wednesday night out of the house. The food is inspired, the wine list expansive and the atmosphere is amazing. A must try destination in Portsmouth!
PierceHill Design
Incredibly below average tapas place. Not authentic Spanish cuisine. Music ranged from Heart Barracuda to Alicia keys. Cheesecake much closer to NY style than Basque. Paella dish was not cooked in the paella that it was served in. Would not recommend.
Julian Roos
10 Commercial Alley, Portsmouth, NH 03801, USA
The puddle dock restaurant
4.4
(132)
Reviews:
Having seen this restaurant on social media, I decided to make the trip from the Jersey Shore to see what all the hype was about. It lives up to its reputation! Michaela was a spectacular server (will update spelling if needed). We had chowder, salad. cheeseboard, mussels, beef, and swordfish. Everything was perfectly prepared. We also had the blackberry fizz cocktail: quite tasty! Overall very impressed. Yes, it is expensive, but the high quality and ambiance was definitely worth it. We stayed at the Water St Inn in Kittery, ME and walked 12min to the restaurant from here.
Kevin W
We had an impromptu dinner at the bar. Our bartender was attentive without rushing us. Delicious food and drink. Interesting selection of alcohol and the food was beautifully presented. We managed to make room for dessert. The restaurant was full and we could carry a conversation with a reasonable noise level. We will definitely return.
Sheila Taylor
We were on vacation in Portsmouth New Hampshire and made reservations a couple weeks in advance. The service was absolutely great. The food was cooked to perfection. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. Definitely a great place for a really great experience.
Andrew Kelly
Such a beautiful restaurant with a very attentive staff, lovely location right next to Strawberry Banke and the gardens. The food was divine, mussels were fresh and prepared like nothing I've experiences before. Every morsel of food we consumed was utter perfection. I'd come here week after week if we lived closer!
Bonnie Duke
I was blown away by the AMAZING staff and fantastic service the first time visiting this establishment. Everyone was so polite, accommodating, and just exceptional. Our server, Natalie, was so lovely. Great service!!! The food was great, and so many items on the menu (including salad dressing, sauces, bread) are made from scratch and greens from garden! I definitely will return!
Olga Gonchar
66 Marcy St, Portsmouth, NH 03801, USA
Surf portsmouth
4.6
(1303)
Creative, coastal cuisine with global accents in a comfortable setting with a patio & a lively vibe.
Reviews:
Incredible sushi!! Great location and views! It is located in a prime spot too, and it's great to walk around the shops before or after your meal. Dined here on a Sunday early afternoon, restaurant seemed busy. The server was fine, not particularly kind or special in any standout way. Kitchen was very backed up and our rolls of sushi took about 45 minutes to be prepared. The rolls were definitely worth the wait and they were delicious!! I especially enjoyed the smoked philly roll and the chili garlic rainbow roll. Everything seemed very highly priced, but was also good quality.
Mika
Had a really nice time yesterday for dinner. We arrived a little early and didn't have a reservation. We wanted to have a drink at the bar before being seated. They were pretty empty so they said it wouldn't be a problem. We had a cocktail, which were really nice. We also had some oysters at the bar. When we were ready to be seated is when there was confusion. They couldn't seem to figure out that we were closing our bar bill and wanted to be seated. In any event, we were seated and had the edamame to start. Then had the tacos and 2 sushi rolls to share. The tacos were good as were the sushi rolls. The presentation was also nice. We sat by the window, which was also nice. We definitely recommend.
Sunita Sukhu
Went on a Friday night in the summer with no reservation. We were told it would be about a 45 minute wait so we went to the bar. Sat at the bar for about 15 minutes, just enough time to get a drink order in, and our table was ready for us. The food was delicious. They have so many staff and everyone is so nice and wants to make your time enjoyable. We did get some apps too but to hungry to remember to take a picture. Definitely try it out!
Victoria G
Decided to grab an early dinner and was surprised at how busy it was. We went into the main entrance and was quoted over an hour. We went to go walk around and realized the other side of the restaurant had first come first serve bar seating and we were able to sit right away. My husband ordered the clam chowder and fish sandwich. He absolutely loved the clam chowder and was surprised at how large and hearty it was. I ordered truffle edemame and the umami veggie roll. Everything was fantastic. The service at the bar was excellent. We would definitely recommend!
Kimberly Giang
I had always been a frequent visitor at surf in the past up until a few bad experiences with waitstaff in a row a few years back. Last night's experience was BEYOND absolutely incredible. Our waitress Emily (I really hope that's her name) was easily one of the top 5 waitresses I've had on the seacoast ever. She was unbelievably attentive and so friendly and so professional. Our food was perfect, the haddock was cooked perfectly and the sides were amazing. The sauce on the haddock is a culinary of art. My sushi was so good that I need it again today, I got the Umami Veggie roll. My friend got dessert I didn't try it but she loved it! If I could give 6 stars out of 5 I would. Glad I gave it another try.
Lindsay Mead
99 Bow St Suite 200W, Portsmouth, NH 03801, USA
The oar house
4.3
(519)
A seafood-strong menu & spirits served in a historic harbor setting with a waterfront deck.
Reviews:
Lovely little seafood restaurant right on the water. Appetizers were amazing the oysters, who doesn't like bacon wrapped scallops, and the escargot was scrumptious although could have used a little more garlic. Main course was haddock which was delightful. A great find.
Pete Philomey
On vacation and stayed in our old stopping ground Portsmouth for the week. Ate at the OarHouse and thought the meal and the location were great. Elton, our server was wonderful. I had the Halibut, which I thought was exceptional, and she had the Mac & Lobster, which was just ok. Couldn't find the lobster. All in all, it was a very nice lunch. I always loved the atmosphere here. So if you're looking, this is the place to go for one lunch or dinner.
Stuart Morris
Great food, location and people. Very accommodating. Went two days in a row. Yummy lobster roll. Cool bartender- Elton you rock! Thanks for a great experience.
Emily Ruse
This was a special birthday dinner on 2/18/23 for 4 guests on the street level. We promptly arrived for our 6:45 reservation. Warm ambience w brick walls and massive wood beams. Charming. The Manhattan, White Russian and wines were served promptly, apps after a while, entrees were served at 8:35. Our affable waiter, John, apologized for the delay as there were only 4 working the kitchen. Oysters quite fresh and briny, harvested from Damariscotta, ME. Beet salad good, needed seasoning. Deep-fried Calamari was exo. Needed seasoning. Their signature seafood casserole was very good. Baked stuffed Lobsters were topped w shrimp and a scallop and it was enjoyed. One guest had a side filet that was tender and flavorful. The flatbread prosciutto was lame, the fig consisted of a jam spread and no taste from the bread. Creme Brûlée was made from a powder mix and not worthwhile. Let’s hope they ramp up the kitchen staff, otherwise, avoid the weekends and the summer crush. With tip, $514.00.
Stephen Snow
The Oar House was incredible. The food came quickly and was really hot and good. The salmon was great. Cooked perfect. The staff was attentive and polite. It was a little crowded, but it was worth the wait. It would be a place I would go back to again and again. Cocktails are amazing as well.
C Marsh
55 Ceres St, Portsmouth, NH 03801, USA
Street
4.6
(1463)
International street food, beer & specialty cocktails served in vibrant, bold-hued surroundings.
Reviews:
The Singapore Salad with pork was fantastic. Perfect peanut flavor. Slight touch of spicy but not spicy. Love it. Bibimbap comes in black skillets. Veggies expertly done not over cooked as some time the case. Friendly and perfectly attentive wait staff. Outdoor patio dog friendly but with good rules.
Julian Barnes
Love this place and I think I'll be stopping by as much as I can! This place looks like it's packed all the time. The decor is very hip and fun inside, and there is indoor and outdoor seating. Staff are super friendly and great! I love the variety of flavor this place has. Ended up ordering most of the good bites. Thai ribs were saltier than I imagined but fell off the bone. Empanadas were woefully only two of them, but crispy goodness made up for it along with the flavorful meat filling. The Gobi 65 and dumplings Con Pow were pretty amazing. Only thing I truly didn't care for were the Yucca Fries... they were just like giant, crispy fries. The pho was strangely missing cilantro, but was still pretty good. And funny enough, the bibimbap was lacking flavor AND kim chi... which was pretty strange too. However, still worth it by a long shot!
Ray Boyington
Top notch restaurant. Eclectic mix of food and drinks from all different regions and styles around the world. The Korean Fried Wings, and the cauliflower Gobi app were tatsy! Drinks were excellent, as was all the food was done very well 👌🏻.
rj r
Eclectic restaurant/bar with high tops by the windows or normal seating. Decent amount of parking available in the plaza. By 1-2 hours after opening they were basically packed. The crowds don’t lie—this is where it’s at. I loved the concept of street food for their theme. The menu was a little hard to read but the food, oh my god the food, was absolutely phenomenal. I wanted to try everything. For a dish with meat expect to pay in the $20 range. Pretty good diversity in selections of dishes and a lot of more well-known dishes. You really can’t go wrong with whatever you order. Friendly, timely service with delicious food and a pleasant atmosphere—highly recommend.
H
Love this place. The sticky rice fried at the bottom of the cast iron pan in the bibimbap is amazing! I can't wait to come back. They even had non-alcoholic beer.
Rickey Ellis
801 Islington St Suite 17, Portsmouth, NH 03801, USA
Martingale wharf
4.1
(1086)
New American fare with seafood galore served in a flashy setting with a sprawling waterfront deck.
Reviews:
A great restaurant all around. They quickly accommodated our group of 8 for lunch while another place a few doors over didn't seem to want our business enough which was for the best because we ended up here. The service, the view, and the food were all top-notch. Our server Owen was low-key, but he made sure we were taken care of at all times. No detail was overlooked. The food was reasonably priced, and every detail of the restaurant was impeccable. I personally had the calamari, gazpacho, clam chowder, and shrimp tacos, and all were perfect. I order calamari A LOT, and this was in my top 3 best ever.
PJ
We flew in a couple days earlier and was super excited to get a killer lobster roll... The oysters were out of this world, the nachos were amazing and the homemade sorbet was crazy good. Talking to the locals they suggested the buttered one so that's what I end up getting. It was the most disappointing thing I've ever spent $45 on. The sweet potato fries were very good, but my mind just keeps going back to that lobster roll that was absolutely meh. We flew out early the following afternoon and driving back to Boston Logan I wanted nothing more to stop somewhere and try another while in Northeast but we didn't have time. Fellow coworkers were ranting and raving about the surf and turf special which I was initially going to get but wanted to do the lobster roll, #regrets. I have to add that it had rained just before we arrived and it was a good 80° plus outside and they went ahead and opened up all their patio doors so we got to sit there for hours in our own sweat. Locals may love that but we were dying.
Dean Krapf
It's a beautiful restaurant with awesome views of the wharf/water. The food was good but nothing out of this world. We had oysters, lobster roll and steak tips among other things. The food was definitely overpriced (the lobster roll was $45) and the service was average. I'm sure there are better options in the area, this was just the first place we found.
Adriana Perez
What a beautiful place. Outdoor seating right on the water. We had scallops and a haddock sandwich and it was delicious. After lunch we stepped inside to the bar. It's amazing. The bar is really cool. Kudos to Chace , Angus, and Lena. Great employees and we will be back.
John Holdsworth
Awesome food! I had the Salmon it was some of the best Salmon I have ever eaten. Fun upbeat environment with an outside deck on the water.
Braden ZellaBooks
99 Bow St suite w, Portsmouth, NH 03801, USA
Cure
4.7
(595)
Classic American cuisine in an intimate setting with exposed-brick walls, a small bar & a patio.
Reviews:
We went for dinner right when they opened on a Saturday afternoon. We sat at the bar. Everything was delicious. I was drinking pear martinis all night. My butternut squash soup was absolutely delicious, as was my crispy skin chicken. Atmosphere was great, service was great, and food was great. I will 100% be back.
R. “R” R.
Went for a quick dinner and sat at the bar with Hannah tending bar and as our server. She was friendly and attentive to everyone at the bar while still making drinks for the whole restaurant. I had the lobster bisque which was amazing - large chunks of meat artfully placed on top and well seasoned. My partner had the French Onion soup which she let me try and it was also amazing. We went straight to dessert from there and split the lemon basil creme brulee and New York cheesecake with blueberry compote which were also delicious. I would definitely go back again.
Jen Casey
My fiancé and I started off with the truffle artichoke and spinach dip, which was heavenly! We then had the pork chop and New York strip. Very delicious! My drink was the new fashioned and hers was a grapefruit mule. Both excellent. Server was very kind and attentive. Will be back!
Carina Brunelle
My partner and I stumbled upon this restaurant by pure chance and we are SO happy we did. Honestly one of the best meals I've ever had in my entire life. Everything from the ambiance to the service and presentation of the food has been impeccable. You honestly can't make a wrong choice here. The heirloom tomato bruschetta was delclicious and fresh. My partner had the New York strip and I ordered the braised short ribs. We honestly could have licked our plates. Our hats are off to Chef Julie Cutting and Chef Devay. Also an honorable mention to front of house staff (Kait) who graciously found us a table per chance when a reservation no showed. Truly everything happens for a reason! Ps. Their carefully curated unique cocktails and martinis are nothing to shy away from. Good selection of beers and wines as well.
Kendra
🚨 Taylor Swift fans, listen up 🚨 My husband and I chose this restaurant for the last night of our weeklong vacation and are SO GRATEFUL that we did. Not only was the food phenomenal - best lobster mac and cheese I’ve ever had, and my husband loved the duck - THE COCKTAIL MENU IS FILLED WITH SWIFT-INSPIRED DRINKS. I had so much fun scouting all the cocktails with Swift song titles for names (spoiler alert: there are five 🖐️) Come to find out, the general manager has a popular TS podcast! Even for those non-Swifties, can’t recommend highly enough: food is incredible, drink variety is abundant, and service is fantastic. Do yourself a favor and come have the meal of your wildest dreams 😉
Julia Schmidt
189 State Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801, USA