Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in New Hampshire

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

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 (817)

$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

Elynnvip

Dined 5 days ago

As usual Carriage House never fails to be a perfect choice from service, to the meal, to the wonderful view.

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4.9

4.9 (4648)

$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

Anthony

Dined on Sep 3, 2024

Delicious food seemed under priced, given portions and how great it was. Service was perfect.

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Popular dish

Pan-Seared Scallops

Popular dish

Almond-Crusted Turkey Schnitzel

Popular dish

Buttermilk Herb Fried Chicken

Ember Wood Fired Grill

4.7

4.7 (206)

$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

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Aug 27, 2024

Food was amazing. Server was great! The drinks to die for.

Stella Blu

4.7

4.7 (1097)

$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

Peter

Dined 4 days ago

The small plates are amazing, and the mixology is second to none

Ledges at White Mountain Hotel

4.6

4.6 (814)

$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). Executive Chef, Ali A. Gonzalez leads the team of culinary expertise in creating imaginative dishes with a traditional New England flair. 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

Alfred

Dined 7 days ago

We had a 7:3- reservation. We arrived early, but were astounded by the amount of people who wanted a 7:00 time. That's a popular time. Once we were seated though, we were served very timely and the food was delicious!!! 5 star!!

Three Chimneys Inn

4.5

4.5 (189)

$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

PhilliesFanvip

Dined on Aug 29, 2024

Loved it! We’ve driving by it for years, and finally made a reservation. The Prime Rib dinner was everything we hoped for. The service was perfect. We’ll be back!

74 Main at Millstone

4.5

4.5 (826)

$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

Dined 1 day ago

I asked for a quiet corner to be able to hear conversations and there was a group of women in the opposite corner who were having a great time but made our time together problematic to talk. Oh well …

Not Your Average Joe's Nashua NH

4.5

4.5 (1564)

$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

Christopher

Dined 4 days ago

First of all, our waitress (Ava P #640) was terrific...very attentive and genuinely pleasant. The focaccia bread and oil dip mixture was absolutely delicious. After struggling to pick an appetizer, we settled on the cheesesteak egg rolls...yummy...so much flavor. The clam chowder was solid...on the thick side with good flavor. The crusted chicken with string beans and mashed potatoes reminded me of a delicious and perfectly prepared home cooked meal. My wife had a veggie bowl with rice that she enjoyed very much. It had been awhile since our last visit to Not Your Average Joe's...but I am sure we will be back again soon! 👍👍

Eagle Landing

4.4

4.4 (330)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Jackson

About the restaurant

HOTEL AND RESTAURANT ARE CLOSED FOR HOTEL BUY-OUT SUNDAY 9/8 - SATURDAY 9/14. Normal dinner service resumes Sunday 9/15.
Eagle Landing Tavern & Restaurant is located within the Eagle Mountain House Hotel & Golf Club. Dinner is available nightly starting at 5:00pm, with the Tavern open for drinks at 4:00pm. Enjoy our twist on classic comfort cuisine and craft cocktails with nostalgic views of the White Mountains, and the Wildcat River in our family-friendly restaurant. Reserve a table in our historic Highfields Dining Room, the Tavern, or covered-outdoor Veranda. We cannot wait for you to be our guest!

Top review

Laura

Dined on Sep 1, 2024

Good food in a lovely setting. Host accommodated requests to sit on the porch. Appreciated.

1869 Room at The Wentworth

4.3

4.3 (1016)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Jackson

About the restaurant

Dining is available both on our outdoor patio, 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-10pm daily. Food is offered in the lounge Sunday-Thursday 4pm-9pm and Saturdays & Sundays from 4pm-10pm. 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

Donna

Dined on Sep 3, 2024

We had a wonderful dining experience at the Wentworth this past Tuesday during our vacation in Jackson, NH! The food was outstanding! Our server, Giri, sp? was fabulous! He was very attentive and yet not intrusive. He was also VERY pleasant! I wish I had gotten the name of the hostess since she, too was lovely and very personable. We have been to the Wentworth several times over the years we have been vacationing there. We did have a not so pleasant experience last year and the Wentworth was kind enough to respond to our issues and asked us to give them another chance. Well we did not hesitate at all! I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant for its food, its, staff and its ambience! THANK YOU WENTWORTH!

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