Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Portsmouth and Merrimack Valley

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in Portsmouth and Merrimack Valley? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Hanover Street Chophouse

4.9

4.9 (4138)

$31 to $50

Steak

Manchester

About the restaurant

We are committed to serving food that will be creative, yet “classic,” service that will be impeccable but not intimidating, in an ambiance that will be elegant, yet comfortable and inviting, ensuring a dining experience that will be extraordinary and memorable!

Top review

Dined 1 day ago

The service is impeccable, and the food is excellent.

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Popular dish

Filet Mignon

Popular dish

Limoncello Crème Brûlée

Ristorante Massimo

4.9

4.9 (2952)

$31 to $50

Italian

Portsmouth

About the restaurant

Please Note:
Online Reservations are for our Main indoor dining room ONLY. Please call us directly for Wine Bar options at 603.436.4000.

We reserve the right to charge $20.00 per person cancelation fee, please call us by 12:00p.m.. the day of your reservation to avoid possible cancelation fees.

**Nestled like a hidden jewel in historic downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Massimo's warmly lit brick and stone grotto walls, fresh flowers and oil paintings of magnificent Italian landscapes transports guests to Florence, Rome and Venice. Guests relax in a richly appointed atmosphere beneath mahogany-beamed ceilings and private parties unwind in their own intimate dining room. Ristorante Massimo offers authentic dishes from all regions of Italy. From innovative concepts to timeless Italian favorites, our executive chef creates each dish with a distinctive, refined touch as found in some of the world's most celebrated restaurants. **limited dining room availability offered online**

Top review

Bohden

Dined 7 days ago

I went last night with my date and it was amazing! The food is very good, the servers are very accommodating, they explain all of the food, are quick to refill water, and available. The food also came out great and we were very happy to have gone

The Crown Tavern

4.9

4.9 (947)

$30 and under

Comfort Food

Manchester

About the restaurant

The Crown Tavern will be the perfect spot to unwind and savor the end of the day. Located in the heart of Manchester’s central downtown, The Crown is a place where you'll come to relax with friends, grab a drink, share some tasty bites, and enjoy the night as it unfolds.

Top review

KeithVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Everything was excellent as always! Our food was great as was the service.

The Carriage House

4.9

4.9 (976)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Rye

About the restaurant

The Carriage House, an oceanfront, modern New England restaurant and raw bar, is open at 2263 Ocean Boulevard on scenic Rye Beach, New Hampshire. Committed to honoring the restaurant’s rich traditions rooted in hospitality. Join us for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, sip a cocktail by our working fireplace, or take in the ocean views!

Top review

George

Dined 1 day ago

Wide selection of fresh oysters, delicious. The "bachelor" cocktail was refreshing and tasty. Beautiful presentation on the white fish paté. Monkfish entrée was a little disappointing. The shittake mushrooms served with the hanger steaks were especially tasty, as was the steak. Very pleasant atmosphere; even though the place was full, it was not noisy. Seated promptly, and waitress was attentive and knowledgeable. We will come back!

Cotton

4.9

4.9 (4859)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Manchester

About the restaurant

Cotton features the cooking of award-winning chef/author/owner Jeffrey Paige. Located in Manchester's Historic Millyard District, Cotton is known for exceptional farm to table comfort food, friendly yet professional service, and an inviting, casual upscale atmosphere. It's the place the New York Times calls hip, named one of the best neighborhood restaurants in the Northeast by Bon Appetit Magazine and holds the distinct honor of Best Martinis in New Hampshire year after year by NH Magazine and The Union Leader.

RESERVATIONS:
Patio dining is available April through October. To request a patio table please note this when you make your reservation. Weather permitting, we will call early afternoon the day of your reservation to confirm if patio seating is available. We cannot guarantee specific seating at this time but we always do our best.

Top review

KenVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Usual good service. Friendly people. Great food. I had a steak this time, she had a salad and salmon. All delicious. Our favorite affordable spot in the area.

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4.9

4.9 (38)

$30 and under

American

Laconia

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

Peter

Dined on Jun 7, 2025

Great staff and plenty of choices on the menu. We enjoyed the pepperoni flatbread and the filet mignon. G&T with a NH gin too!

Mike's Italian Kitchen

4.8

4.8 (216)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Italian

Nashua

About the restaurant

Welcome to Mike's Italian Kitchen. Mike's is the the most recent creation of the Michael Timothy's Dining Group. Mike's Italian Kitchen is in our flagship location at 212 Main St in downtown Nashua, where it all began. Our chef/owner Michael Buckley has always been inspired by classic Italian food, a food that evokes comfort, family and fun. The menu at Mike's Italian Kitchen is a modern interpretation of classic Italian comfort food. Select regional Italian wines add to the enjoyment of a meal celebrated with friends, family and colleagues.

Top review

Galen B

Dined on Jun 11, 2025

Outstanding service as always and the food was delicious

Cure Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1427)

$31 to $50

American

Portsmouth

About the restaurant

Cure is located at the corner of State and Penhallow Streets in historic downtown Portsmouth, NH. We are within walking distance of Prescott Park, Strawberry Bank, Seacoast Repertory Theatre and Portsmouth Music Hall.
Our restaurant offers American Bistro cuisine, in a fine dining environment, at affordable prices. Cure is a great place for friends to meet, business functions, and romantic dining .

Top review

Ellen

Dined 5 days ago

Excellent food choices; excellent service; excellent food and drinks. We celebrated my husband's 75th birthday with a fabulous dinner at Cure. Looking forward to returning soon.

Local Street Eats

4.8

4.8 (49)

$30 and under

American

Nashua

About the restaurant

LOCAL PROVIDES A TRULY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. SKIP THE TRUCK AND JOIN US AT THE TABLE! OUR MULTICULTURAL APPROACH TO CLASSIC STREET FOOD AIMS TO UNITE PEOPLE THROUGH THE LOVE OF FOOD. WE STRIVE TO CREATE A COMFORTABLE, ENJOYABLE, STYLISH ENVIRONMENT THAT COMPLEMENTS OUR RICH, WARM, AND HISTORICALLY INSPIRED MENU. FROM THE GYOZA TO THE STREET CORN, FROM THE SMASH BURGER TO THE BAO BUNS, EACH DISH IS A TESTAMENT TO THE VIBRANT LATE-NIGHT STREETS AROUND THE WORLD. DISCOVER AN OASIS FOR ALL YOUR FAVORITE
STREET FOOD CLASSICS AT LOCAL!

#GoLocoForLocal

Top review

Kelly

Dined on Jun 10, 2025

Amazing and so cute inside. Great food and drinks plus the staff was fun and attentive. Such a fun vibe!

The Puddle Dock

4.8

4.8 (963)

$31 to $50

American

Portsmouth

About the restaurant

Located on the grounds of Strawbery Banke Museum in historic Portsmouth, New Hampshire, The Puddle Dock Restaurant proudly offers Modern Colonial feel and fare! Led by esteemed Executive Chef Derek Clough, the Puddle Dock Restaurant will take you back to Colonial America featuring English and American favorites, then snap you back to the present with our modern twists.

Chef Derek takes great pride in growing a lot of our vegetables, foraging our mushrooms, and presenting beauty for your palate. His care is evidence in some of our best-loved dishes, Yorkshire Pudding, Portuguese Salted Cod, Pan-Roasted Duck Breast, and our signature Hoe Cake. Be sure to save room for dessert! All our desserts are made in house - Cinnamon Rum Breading, Dark Chocolate Pudding, and Posset are among the favorites!

Enjoy the ambience of our historic exposed beam building, once a general store offering penny candy, or enjoy our front and rear patios for dinner in the open air.

Top review

Teri

Dined 4 days ago

A great menu fantastic service, delicious cocktails, and a beautiful historic building… What more can you ask for?

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Popular dish

Portsmouth Chowder

Popular dish

Seared Local Scallops

Popular dish

Cinnamon-Rum Bread Pudding

Explore Diners' Choice best of Portsmouth and Merrimack Valley