Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in New Hampshire

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in New Hampshire? 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 Carriage House

4.9

4.9 (950)

$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

Bard

Dined 6 days ago

The food is wonderful and the staff are great, highly recommend

Cotton

4.9

4.9 (4843)

$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

Steve

Dined 4 days ago

Always a PERFECT experience in every way at Cotton!!

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1869 Room at The Wentworth

4.7

4.7 (1055)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Jackson

About the restaurant

Dining in our casual lounge and in our elegant dining room.
Chef Brian Gazda has been leading the team at The Wentworth for almost a decade and he and his team are loyal and dedicated to their cause. Sourcing from local producers is of utmost importance to Brian and freshness is a requirement. If you have any allergies or dietary requirements, please do not hesitate to ask as we are always willing to accommodate.
At this time, we offer both our dinner menu and a more casual lounge menu and of course our fabulous breakfast every morning. The Alpine Lounge is open from 4pm-9pm daily. Food is offered in the lounge Sunday-Thursday 4pm-9pm and Saturdays & Sundays from 4pm-9pm. Please be aware that these menus can change at the last minute due to availability of certain foods during this time and we look at this as a good thing - there could always be something new on the menu!

Top review

John

Dined on Apr 19, 2025

First time having dinner here - food was delicious, service was fabulous and location can’t be beat when you stay at The Wentworth.

Ember Wood Fired Grill

4.9

4.9 (226)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Dover

About the restaurant

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.

Top review

Tammy

Dined 6 days ago

Great food!!! Lots of GF options including a GF chocolate cake. I had the scallops with risotto. The scallops were cooked perfectly. Most meals have a spicy zip to them. I asked for my chili vinaigrette on the side and I am glad I did. Our server was excellent, attentive and engaging.

Stella Blu

4.7

4.7 (1145)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Nashua

About the restaurant

Stella Blu provides an upscale casual approach to dining. Offering a combination of both large and small plates. Known for our award winning cocktails, friendly staff, and upbeat dining experience.

Top review

Joseph

Dined on Apr 18, 2025

Very nice intimate restaurant, Great service & food.

Ledges at White Mountain Hotel

4.6

4.6 (912)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

North Conway

About the restaurant

Please Note: Outdoor seating is weather dependent. Should you book an outdoor table, we cannot guarantee indoor seating in case of inclement weather. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Offering both indoor seating and outdoor deck dining (seasonal availability and dog-friendly). Featuring locally grown produce and the freshest ingredients available, Ledges Restaurant offers creative nightly specials to compliment the full menu of contemporary New England cuisine. The freshest New England seafood and the best cuts of prime meats are the signature of Ledges Restaurant. The dinner menu offers many gluten-free items and a daily vegetarian/vegan entree is offered nightly. Proud recipients of Wine Spectator's "Award of Excellence" since 1995.

Top review

Katie

Dined 1 day ago

It was a great evening. The food was really good, the drinks were great and the service was incredible. I will definitely make this a usual stop when we’re in town.

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Popular dish

Grilled Salmon

Not Your Average Joe's Nashua NH

4.7

4.7 (1615)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Nashua

About the restaurant

Not Your Average Joe's Kitchen & Bar offers a menu inspired by American cuisine. Its menu is stylish, contemporary and includes fresh seafood, gourmet pizzas, rice bowls, burgers and creative salad options. For the Gluten Sensitive crowd they offer plenty of options.

Along with an array of beers, its menu includes wines and a wide selection of specialty cocktails. You'll further enjoy a casual and pub-like experience at Not Your Average Joe's Kitchen & Bar. Its décor includes an open kitchen, bench seating and a separate bar area with mounted flat screen televisions all around for watching sporting events.

Located just off Daniel Webster Highway, our Nashua location is conveniently located middle of excellent shopping and entertainment, and outdoor destinations like Sky Meadow Golf Club and the scenic Mines River Falls.

Top review

David

Dined on Apr 7, 2025

Very good cheese sandwich and tomato basil soup for lunch. Noise level was average as I could hear other diners on both sides of me. Service was very good also

Evolution Bistro & Bar

4.4

4.4 (89)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Manchester

About the restaurant

Introducing Evolution Bistro & Bar, where modern American cuisine meets a European flair. This exciting new destination promises a dynamic menu, blending bold, contemporary flavors with timeless European influences. Whether you're seeking a sophisticated dining experience or a vibrant spot for cocktails, Evolution Bistro & Bar will elevate your nights out in downtown Manchester! Stay tuned for more details and sign up to be among the first to experience this culinary evolution!

Top review

Kevin

Dined on Apr 17, 2025

So great. The food is next level. All fresh and super wine list.

74 Main at Millstone

4.4

4.4 (858)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

New London

About the restaurant

The Millstone has been serving extraordinary food and drink to the Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region for thirty years. The menu focus is on natural, heart-healthy fare including grass-fed meats from local farms.

Top review

Jason

Dined on Apr 19, 2025

Went here for a date night. The menu on OpenTable did not match the one in the store, but I was happy to see some new variety’s. Specials were delicious. Probably one of the top 5 restaurants in the Lebanon/Sunapee region based on our dining experiences. Had a small mishap with one of our entree’s, but the server was phenomenal (Connor) and helped correct our plate. Left feeling full and having the strong desire to return some other time. Was not very busy but it was the day before Easter!

Three Chimneys Inn

4.4

4.4 (231)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Durham

About the restaurant

The ffrost Sawyer Tavern is located in the beautiful and historic Three Chimneys Inn. The Tavern, with its open hearth Summer Kitchen fireplace, granite walls, and hand-hewn beams, provides a cozy spot for hearty traditional New England fare. The Tavern is a popular dining spot for local guests and travelers. The Maples Dining Room features millwork dating to 1699 and retains the original Indian shutters that protected settlers from Colonial-era attacks. Coppers, the original winter kitchen of the 1649 homestead, provides an elegant and romantic setting. Wide plank floors, the open hearth and original millwork create an authentic old New England dining experience.

Our culinary team prepares savory dishes from scratch with exceptional, homegrown flavor. The kitchen works closely with local farms and growers to pick fresh ingredients for creative entrees and innovative cocktails, resulting in exceptional farm-to-table cuisine that showcases the essence of New Hampshire.

Top review

AnthonyVIP

Dined on Apr 19, 2025

Awesome experience! People are wonderful! The food is great and great ambience.

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