Portsmouth and Merrimack Valley Restaurants
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Laconia Local Eatery
Price: Moderate•American•4.9(39)Coming Soon!Cotton
Price: Expensive•Contemporary American•4.9(4,870)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.
The Crown Tavern
Price: Moderate•Comfort Food•4.9(952)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.The Carriage House
Price: Expensive•Contemporary American•4.9(987)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!
Ember Wood Fired Grill
Price: Expensive•Contemporary American•4.8(229)Ember Wood Fired Grill features a locally inspired menu with a casual upscale setting. Our Chef, Christopher Gouzie, best describes our menu as "Globally Inspired". It features familiar dishes with a twist. "We use new and interesting ingredients, and different cooking procedures to introduce our guests to a unique way to present food."
We have taken this same concept for our Specialty Cocktail list. Deviating from the classic recipe with housemade syrups, specialty bitters, and high end liquors and liqueurs.
Enjoy our sleek downstairs dining room, outdoor covered terrace, or upstairs bourbon room, where we house over 100 whiskeys on selection, and offer over 20 wines by the glass and bottle.
We regularly host private events, and therefor reservations are recommended.The Puddle Dock
Price: Expensive•American•4.8(980)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.
Local Street Eats
Price: Moderate•American•4.8(49)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!
#GoLocoForLocalCR's The Restaurant
Price: Expensive•American•4.7(2,510)Nothing beats an inviting dinner after a drive up the coast or a day on the shore. Indulge in a selection from our award-winning wine list, try a local beer on tap or a specialty cocktail.
CR's is a favorite stop to 'chill out' with friends!
It's where you want to be!
Outdoor dining in New Hampshire
See what locals rave about in Portsmouth and Merrimack Valley
- GGarvinGreater Boston •1 review5.0Dined 5 days agoSeated quickly, even though we were a tad early. Great menu choices and fabulous desserts.More infoFirefly American Bistro - New HampshirePrice: Moderate• American• Manchester•4.7
- LLindaVIPManchester/Greater Manchester •19 reviews5.0Dined 5 days agoMy husband and I went here for dinner and were very impressed with the quality of our food and the service. The Vagabond was delicious and we plan to return again soon.More infoThe Crown TavernPrice: Moderate• Comfort Food• Manchester•4.9
- SStephenVIPAtlanta •8 reviews5.0Dined on Jun 29, 2025Great food, service, and view. Sufficient parking.More infoThe FoundryPrice: Expensive• Contemporary French / American• Manchester•4.5
- SSharryGreater Boston •13 reviews5.0Dined on Jun 28, 2025The chicken satay is fantastic!! I always get it when it's on the specials menu. Bistro steak is always great and cooked just right.More infoCottonPrice: Expensive• Contemporary American• Manchester•4.9
- DDennisGreater Boston •1 review5.0Dined on Jun 26, 2025We couldn't have asked for a better experience to celebrate our 55th wedding anniversary. From the atmosphere to the food to the service. Everything was perfect. Thank you Chop House for making our wedding anniversary special.More infoHanover Street ChophousePrice: Expensive• Steak• Manchester•4.9
Trending dishes in Portsmouth and Merrimack Valley
Restaurant experiences trending in New Hampshire
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Discover New Hampshire
New Hampshire is home to a delicious selection of cuisine choices, ranging from seafood to wild game. Visit a steakhouse or seafood restaurant for classic dishes of lobster, steamers or oysters. Poutine is popular in the area and can be found at the local American restaurants for a Canadian twist. Another way to get a taste of the area’s cuisine is to try the local sausage dishes at any of the Italian, American or Mediterranean dining establishments. Wild game is also common by way of bison and elk, and it is available in a variety of eateries as a featured local specialty. If you're looking to spend an exciting night on the town, stop and try the local cider beverages.
Dining around Portsmouth and Merrimack Valley Hot Spots
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Convention Center
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Marina
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Ferry
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Frequently asked questions
Celebrate special occasion at the best restaurants in Portsmouth and Merrimack Valley. Our customers recommend Hanover Street Chophouse, Cotton and Ristorante Massimo
As of Jul 7, 2025 there are 64 restaurants in Portsmouth and Merrimack Valley. Filter by “outdoor dining”, “romantic” or “dog friendly”.
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