Diners' Choice: American restaurants in Portsmouth and Merrimack Valley

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall American cuisine in Portsmouth and Merrimack Valley? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Puddle Dock

4.9

4.9 (750)

$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

trish

Dined 2 days ago

Seven in our party tonight, and everything was delicious and perfectly prepared. From appetizers to dessert, it was amazing! Our server was TOP NOTCH, as were all the staff members we encountered!! The historic charm of the restaurant definitely adds to the whole dining experience. I highly recommend The Puddle Dock and will happily return!

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Popular dish

Portsmouth Chowder

Popular dish

Seared Local Scallops

Cure Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1252)

$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

Cyndy

Dined 4 days ago

We had the lobster bisque. So tasty with big pieces of lobster meat. Salad was peaches and barrata cheese, arugula and prosciutto. Delish! Entree was scallops, risotto and asparagus. This chef knows what she’s doing! Servers pleasant. We sat “outside” which was an enclosed porch type of area. Lovely!

Firefly American Bistro - New Hampshire

4.7

4.7 (2159)

$30 and under

American

Manchester

About the restaurant

Firefly Bistro & Bar is a casually upscale American bistro situated in the heart of Manchester"s downtown district. Firefly embraces the concept of comfort dining by offering inspired classic American fare in a warm, inviting atmosphere. Firefly's extensive wine list, craft beer selections, and creative cocktails compliment the time-honored yet innovative creations of Chef David Becker's seasonal menus, which burst with flavors from around the world. The uptown atmosphere is accentuated by downtown hospitality and friendly, professional service.

Top review

Sharon

Dined 3 days ago

Megan was our server and she was fantastic. Attentive, always smiling and refilled our water without us having to ask. We sat outside and the noise level at lunch was no issue. We both ordered sandwiches which were very good. The homemade chips, though, didn’t have much flavor. Overall a very good lunch with great service.

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4.6

4.6 (661)

$30 and under

American

Hampton

About the restaurant

Established in 1970 by the late Mike and Kay Tinios, the Galley Hatch has been a seacoast favorite restaurant for 50 years. An extensive menu offers traditional American Food highlighting New England seasonality and serves lunch and dinner daily. Collectively, the Three Dining rooms, Tap Room, and four season Lower Deck, provide seating for over 400 guests. With sky-lit dining areas, a fireplace, wooden booths, and large round tables, The Galley Hatch boasts a charming and cozy New England ambiance.

Top review

Sebastian

Dined on Aug 28, 2024

Overall great experience. Staff was top! Loved it.

CR's The Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (2385)

$31 to $50

American

Hampton

About the restaurant

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!

Top review

Johnvip

Dined on Aug 26, 2024

Always enjoyable. Will continue with frequent visits.

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Popular dish

Filet Mignon

The Common Man Roadside – Millyard

4.5

4.5 (117)

$30 and under

American

Manchester

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Common Man Roadside – Millyard!

This new location brings real food, real fast to the TRU by Hilton in Manchester's Millyard. Dine in our full service restaurant or order online and take it to go from our cafe. We will be featuring our Roadside menu with a twist on some dinner favorites.

Top review

Thomas

Dined 3 days ago

We went for Thursday night happy hour and enjoyed some oysters, shrimp cocktail, and a pizza. Everything was perfect and we had a very enjoyable evening. This food was delicious, our server was courteous and efficient, and the ambience was just want we needed. It was truly a lovely experience.

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Experience

Buck-A-Shuck!

Experience

Do Good. Trivia Night!! September 11th

Experience

Saturday Brunch

Hagan's Grill

4.5

4.5 (805)

$30 and under

American

Hampton

About the restaurant

Your local Neighborhood bar is known for its American Cuisine with a touch of French and Italian Flair. Supporting your local produce market and bringing you nothing but the best fresh food in town. Join us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

90% of our menu is Gluten Free
Fresh Daily Fish Specials
*Available for functions, please contact us for more information
*Give a gift that keeps on giving Gift Cards available
* Hagan's apparel now for sale. Call us for more information
603-926-5668
www.hagansgrill.com

Top review

Paulavip

Dined on Aug 24, 2024

Brittany at the bar was excellent very professional lovely personality made you feel welcome. Very very knowledgeable about alcohol and food and had such a positive attitude. Can’t say enough good things about her.

Americus at LaBelle Winery Derry

4.5

4.5 (1310)

$30 and under

American

Derry

About the restaurant

The menu at Americus Restaurant focuses on New England contemporary farm-to-table cuisine with an international flair and a full bar serving LaBelle wines, craft cocktails, craft beers on draft, and non-alcoholic beverages. Enjoy the ambiance of our restaurant, designed with your comfort in mind; soothing colors, oversized seats, and round booths. Our large outdoor seating area provides a beautiful view of our picturesque pond, and you can enjoy our firepit at night. Americus Restaurant is located at LaBelle Winery in Derry, NH - join us to experience the best cuisine in New Hampshire!

Top review

Matt

Dined 4 days ago

This place checked all the boxes. The food, service and ambience was spectacular. My wife and I did the date night experience for our anniversary, and I'm so glad we did. We had a fantastic time. Our server, TJ, was incredibly knowledgable, accommodating, attentive and kind. We had oysters, fried cauliflower (sesame and buffalo), beef tartar, rib eye and surf and turf and all of it was some of the most delicious food we've had as of late. Also part of the date night experience: wine flight/tasting, take home a bottle, roses on the table, and chocolate covered strawberries. My wife was impressed. :) Finally, we felt the interior was beautiful - we love that they have a little bit of everything too: a bar area, a dining area - and an outdoor patio. We're excited about becoming regulars here for the food, location, ambience and service.

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4.5

4.5 (892)

$30 and under

American

Exeter

About the restaurant

Epoch Restaurant & Bar is built on the simple idea that superior, local ingredients will speak for themselves. In that spirit we take a modern approach to classic American dishes, sourcing the freshest sustainable foods in support of the region’s families.

Top review

Lindsey

Dined on Aug 20, 2024

We enjoyed another great evening at the Epoch last night. The chicken sandwich was delicious. The service was great and the atmosphere was very enjoyable. Sean was our server and he was awesome! Had us laughing, was very attentive and made excellent recommendations. Can’t wait to go back again.

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Experience

Thank you Thursdays!

Experience

Toast to the Town Tuesdays!

Experience

Wine Down Wednesdays

Union Public House

4.4

4.4 (53)

$31 to $50

American

Nashua

About the restaurant

Union Public House is a local hot spot, boasting a uniquely stylish atmosphere, featuring a wood fired oven & an elevated take on American cuisine. Offerings such as local oysters, freshly made pizzas, house-butchered steaks, and much more! The hand crafted cocktails feature fresh and distinctive ingredients. Located right across the street from Nashua's Center for the Arts, and just around the corner from Union's flagship restaurant Stella Blu & The Pearl at Stella Blu. Make sure to stop in for a delicious experience!

Top review

Sara

Dined on Aug 18, 2024

Nice menu selection. Server prompt and just right attentive. We had the mushroom bruschetta, mussels, and scallop risotto. All good. Was not busy or too loud. Nice restaurant!

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