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

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best value 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!

Local Street Eats

4.9

4.9 (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 4 days ago

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

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 2 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

Cotton

4.9

4.9 (4855)

$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

Candace

Dined 2 days ago

The calamari and turkey schnitzel were excellent. Lemon mascarpone cake was delightful. Great wine list and excellent service as usual.

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4.9

4.9 (974)

$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 4 days ago

Great food, wonderful owners and staff. They keep the menu updated so there's usually something new to try in addition to their classics.

The Crown Tavern

4.9

4.9 (946)

$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

Elizabeth

Dined 7 days ago

Very fun atmosphere! Open kitchen concept. Servers were lively and knowledgeable. Food and drinks were delicious!

Mike's Italian Kitchen

4.8

4.8 (212)

$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 3 days ago

Outstanding service as always and the food was delicious

Cure Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1426)

$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

SteveVIP

Dined 5 days ago

As always everything was fabulous! The mousse pate’ was a terrfic appetizer and the Short Rib main couse was outstanding. One of our favorite Portsmouth restaurants.

PastAmore

4.7

4.7 (322)

$30 and under

Italian

Amherst

About the restaurant

PastAmore is a restaurant serving Italian cuisine, deserts and salads. The restaurant takes reservations, offers take-outs and also provides catering services. The normal attire here is casual, with the ambience being classy, and the noise level has been rated as quiet during peak hours. It is a good place to visit with kids or large groups for dinner and there is also a private parking lot with bike parking and wheelchair accessibility here as well. PastAmore has a full alcohol bar and the interior of the restaurant is trendy and spacious.

The menu at PastAmore consists of Italian classic dishes such as the Veal Saltimboca, pasta, pizzas, and spaghetti. The restaurant was established in 2001 and the waiting staff is extremely friendly, and efficient in taking orders.

Top review

Darlene

Dined 7 days ago

This is our favorite Italian restaurant Not only is the food delicious but the staff is fun and amazing!!

Ember Wood Fired Grill

4.8

4.8 (228)

$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

Christopher

Dined 2 days ago

We always have an excellent meal at Ember. The service is friendly and welcoming especially Kira.

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Experience

Live Music

Firefly American Bistro - New Hampshire

4.8

4.8 (2313)

$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

Lynne

Dined 1 day ago

Very busy night so noise level was a bit high and service was just a bit slower than usual. But our server was awesome, food and cocktails were excellent as always.

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