Discover New Hampshire’s Hottest New Restaurants
Satisfy your taste buds with these hot, new Granite State restaurants
Napkins down — New Hampshire foodies have voted with their forks.
New restaurants are evoking a casual-yet-hip atmosphere, and are embracing the current trends of healthy options, unique items that honor a variety of dietary restrictions, traditional flavors from far-flung regions, and ever-popular pizza and out-of-the-box-style cuisine. Chefs at both pubs, cafés and cautiously upscale eateries are exuding a passion for local sourcing and honest, from-scratch cooking. (Not to mention artistic and comfortable dining environments to match.) Their bars are well stocked with craft beers on draft, while cocktails, and even mocktails, are elevated to an artform. There is truly something for every eater this year. Live free and dine out — often.
The Nest Family Café
photo by MCAG Photography
25 Orchard View Drive, Unit 1, Londonderry
(603) 404-2139
After getting tired of the side-eye they got when they took their kids to coffee shops, Ryan and Jamie Getchell decided to create the joyful café experience they were looking for themselves. The menu at The Nest Family Café is filled with options for everyone in the family. Enjoy a lavender cold brew oat latte and turkey and cheese bagel for yourself, while your kiddos sample from the “Picky Chickies” menu with items ranging from smoothies to snack boxes. The free nest play area, reading lounge and chalk wall are perfect sensory-friendly spaces for your kids to hang out while you do, too.
Public House on Page Hill
photo by Jenn Bakos
388 Page Hill Road, Tamworth
(603) 986-9164
Farm-to-table food served in a 17th-century barn with breath-taking mountain views. That’s all you need to know to set your GPS to Tamworth and check out the Public House on Page Hill, featuring the culinary prowess of Chef Gregg Grant. Start your journey with a built-to-share charcuterie plate or some Korean BBQ Bao served on steamed buns. Or go “pub” with pub fries, pub pretzels or a pub Caesar. The menu includes handhelds, flatbreads (including gluten-free options) and fish ‘n’ chips. Entrees include Page Hill Soba Noodle (buckwheat noodles and vegetables tossed with a scallion, zesty garlic teriyaki sauce), and Caribbean grilled shrimp (with coconut jasmine rice and fried plantains).
Inspire Café
photo by Kimberly
39 Winter St., Mill 3, Ashland
(603) 530-2766
This woman-owned coffee shop offers locally roasted coffee, organic teas, scratch-made pastries, quiche, soup, sandwiches, salads — and positive vibes. The artful harvest salad features roasted butternut squash, chunks of pear, Vermont goat cheese, dried cranberries, toasted sunflower seeds over mixed greens and a house-made maple Dijon vinaigrette. Pair an iced maple oat latte with your tempeh reuben panini. If you’re in need of some good karma, add “a cup of kindness” to your order: “Leave a cup for a friend, a tired parent, a hiker or a firefighter, police officer, someone who has been laid off, a plow driver or anyone else you think would enjoy a cup of coffee or tea.”
1840 Restaurant
photo courtesy 1840 Restaurant
8 Back Lake Road, Pittsburg
(603) 538-7400
Tucked away in northern New Hampshire, and named after the year Pittsburg was established, 1840 Restaurant is the perfect spot to cozy up with a pizza and beer after a day of RVing or snowmobiling. The lively atmosphere pairs well with their menu that includes homemade dishes like wood-fired pizza, poutine, wings, soup, pasta and more. Don’t forget to check out their Facebook page for specialty menus and events that pop up throughout the month.
Muse Tapas Bar & Lounge
photo courtesy Muse Tapas Bar & Lounge
44 Main St., Keene
(603) 903-0037
Located in downtown Keene, Muse Tapas Bar & Lounge cooks up tapas with a twist. Eclectic and exciting, Muse prides itself on its “creativity and genre-defying cuisine.” Cooking out of an entirely gluten-free kitchen, Muse serves up vegetarian, meat and shellfish tapas that always have a deliciously unexpected twist — we’re talking fried goat cheese with chili-mango sauce and honey-chipotle marinated chicken with pickled ginger and fresh pineapple. If you’re in the mood for a night cap, their cocktail menu mixes up a delicious array of drinks as exciting and inspired as their menu.
Hearth Market
photo by Jenn Bakos
60 Penhallow St., Portsmouth
(603) 427-8631
Part café, part elixir bar, part plant shop and more, this community emporium is already making waves across the Seacoast since its opening this summer. Hearth Market offers a diverse selection of food and drink that engages all of your senses, whether you are relaxing and enjoying time with friends by the fireplace, grabbing some items to go or filling your fridge with healthy local goods. This space, built for the local community by the local community, will also be offering art shows twice a year along with local music, making it the all-around one-stop shop for connection and culture, and the food that holds it together.
Alas de Frida
photo courtesy Alas de Frida
931 Elm St., Manchester
(603) 518-7172
Alas de Frida, the new sister restaurant to longtime Lake Avenue stronghold El Rincon Zacatecano, was named in honor of famed Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), celebrated for her attention to indigenous culture. Alas de Frida carries that torch with an authentic Mexican menu that features birria — a recipe for slow-cooked, tender beef seasoned with spices and chili broth — and a style of cuisine that champions subtle flavors and textures. The mini-chimichangas appetizer, available with chipotle chicken, shredded chicken or shredded beef and served with a cheese dip, are lightly fried and tender. The pastor shrimp tacos, featuring fresh shrimp marinated in spicy, sweet and smoky pastor salsa and grilled pineapple, elevate the humble taco to seafood glory.
Maddy’s Food Hub
photo courtesy Maddy’s Food Hub
89 Fort Eddy Road, Unit 2, Concord
(603) 892-4278
Maddy’s Food Hub in Concord is one-of-a-kind. Owner Patty Sabol was born in Africa, and she grew up learning to cook traditional East and West African cuisine. With Maddy’s Food Hub, she’s brought the flavors of home to Concord. The cozy café on Ford Eddy Road is cheerful and welcoming, with fun décor and vibrant foods to match. With a menu full of traditional African foods and flavors, (like jerk chicken, jallof rice and fish banku) and a staff committed to providing excellent customer service, you’ll feel right at home whether you’re trying something new or enjoying a familiar favorite.
Hare of the Dawg Bar & Grill
3 E. Broadway, Derry
(603) 552-3883
What to make of a pub whose cartoon mascots are a giant black dog wearing a red flannel shirt and a tiny bunny whose head is popping out of the froth of a beer mug? A sense of fun, certainly. The Hare of the Dawg Bar & Grill, which opened in downtown Derry in January 2022, makes “more than 95%” of its food in-house. The menu features pizza, burgers, sandwiches and, of course, hot “dawgs,” including the Chicago-style fixings Stevie, the chili and cheese Benny, the bacon, cheddar and jalapeno Carly Sue, and the peanut butter and bacon Vinnie. (We know a few dawgs who would scarf down that last one in a single bite.)
Two Bees Café & Patisserie
photo by Jenn Bakos
100 First St., Dover
(603) 343-2286
Rebekah and Ross Krieger met at culinary school in San Francisco more than a decade ago, and after stopping by Two Bees Café & Patisserie in Dover, you’ll know the rest is history. The couple has put their combined culinary and restaurant industry knowledge together to create a French-inspired café that celebrates a love for travel, food and heartfelt hospitality. Their fresh, seasonally driven menu includes sandwiches and salads with an array of handcrafted pastries and desserts like croissants or delicious quiches. Coffee, tea, wine, beer, snacks and small plates are also available for sampling to unwind with friends after a long day with exceptional service to match.
The Natural Pickle
photo courtesy The Natural Pickle
92 Court St., Laconia
(603) 619-5024
As its name implies, this Laconia breakfast and lunch spot touts its natural ways. “We make fresh, nutritious food, convenient and affordable, not just for the few, but for everyone,” The Natural Pickle folks say on their website. The Laconia restaurant specializes in organic salads, homemade soups and sandwiches that come served as wraps, pita pockets, panini and pretzel rolls. Popular menu items include the classic Greek gyro pita pocket, the California turkey wrap and the caprese chicken wrap. From the pressed selections, choose the everything veggie panini featuring vegan cream cheese, tomato, onions and spinach, or the steak tips ‘n’ cheese panini with marinated steak tips, bell peppers, onions and melted provolone cheese.
DOX on Winnisquam
photo courtesy DOX on Winnisquam
927 Laconia Road, Tilton
(603) 527-8381
Tilton’s newest waterfront bar and restaurant is DOX on Winnisquam. With a modern take on classic American dishes with craft beers and cocktails, you can wrap up a day on the lake with a stunning sunset view, a great meal and a refreshing beverage. Spent your lake day on a boat? Not a problem! DOX on Winnisquam is accessible via boat, so everyone can enjoy what they’re cooking up (no matter how you drove here). With specialty drinks, soups, salads, sandwiches, seafood, mac ‘n’ cheese and more, the whole family can unwind at the DOX and enjoy live music almost every night of the week.
Also New on the Scene
Yankee Magazine Senior Food Editor Amy Traverso’s Picks
Flag Leaf Bakery
46 Main St., Antrim
This small Antrim bakery, open only on Fridays and Saturdays, is so good that you’ll be working around their schedule to get your hands on the sesame semolina sourdough, chocolate-hazelnut tarts, homemade pretzels, cranberry-orange scones and seasonal fruit cruffins (croissant meets muffin). Join with me in keeping them so busy that they open up a full-time shop.
Foundation Kitchen + Bar
32 West Broadway, Derry
(603) 216-5590
Adding to Southern New Hampshire’s virbrant food scene is Derry’s newest farm-to-table eatery where expertly prepared seasonal vegetables share equal billing with smoked lamb ribs with char siu glaze, pasta bolognese, and a New York strip served with crispy potatoes. Don’t overlook the craft cocktails, including a mango mai tai and an espresso martini made with Shaw Farm coffee ice cream.
Cheese Louise
Locations in Portsmouth, Conway and Portland
Phone: (603) 427-8615
A whole restaurant devoted to grilled cheese? Sign me up! Start with the classic Vermonter (Cabot cheddar and muenster on sourdough), then level up to the Clawbster (a Vermonter with lobster meat and lemon aioli), all the way to the Porky-Pine (barbecue pulled pork, cheddar, pineapple, pickled red onions and goat cheese). There’s tomato soup for dipping and cocktails for sipping.
Oakcraft Pizza
Locations in Nashua and Salem
(603) 521-8452
Naples meets Chipotle with this fun new pizza concept in Nashua and Salem. Queue up at the counter and work your way down the line as you choose the sauce, cheese and toppings for an individual 12-inch pie. After three minutes in a wood-fired oven, it’s ready. There are also pre-designed signature pies like the pepperoni with hot honey or the vodka pie with mushrooms, peas, prosciutto and vodka sauce. Beer, wine, salads, sides and whoopie pies round out the menu.
5 Pleasant St., Concord
(603) 856-7427
Specializing in pizzas made with a sourdough starter that is so famous, it gave the restaurant its name.
Mi Corazon Mexican Grill
4 Slip Road, Greenfield
(603) 547-2088
Serving authentic dishes that make customers feel like they’re sitting at their family table while their taste buds take a trip around Mexican cuisine.
Gallivant Global Eatery
442 Central Ave., Dover
(603) 343-4731
Offering beautiful, creative and globally inspired food and beverage in an environment that is welcoming to all.
Lucky’s (The Brook)
319 New Zealand Road, Seabrook
(603) 474-3065
Featuring a menu full of breakfast, lunch and dinner items to enjoy after a day spent casino gaming and race wagering at The Brook.
Marker 21
33 Dock Side, Wolfeboro
(603) 569-8668
A casual eatery serving a mix of American food with global inspiration alongside craft beer and cocktails in a lakeside setting.
Riverside Grille
737 River Road, New Boston
(603) 384-2149
Find a full range of handhelds and entrees along with flatbreads, eclectic drinks and a comfortable environment.
Sevmar Mediterranean Bistro
The Shops Plaza, 401 Main St., Salem
(603) 870-0018
Offering homemade Mediterranean food with a culturally rich culinary spirit and flair, and bar and lounge with specialty cocktails and other drinks.
12 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford
(603) 472-2001
A modern Italian trattoria brought to life through a chef-curated menu of reimagined regional classics from our restaurateur’s roots.
35 Manchester Road, #10, Derry
(603) 247-9012
Featuring gourmet pizzas, greens and submarines worth savoring and staying for another drink or slice.
Healthy Does It
Sunny Café
50 S. Willow St., Unit 2, Manchester
(603) 935-8658
The newest Willow Street café has created a healthy and clean theme for its menu, complete with a variety of sweet and savory treats. It’s open for all-day breakfast and lunch, and crepes, bakery staples and drinks are always available for a grab-and-go snack. Enjoy delicious and delectable items like breakfast and pierogi bowls, overnight oats, parfaits, sandwiches and more, and even stay and relax with your coffee while playing a supplied board game or book.
The Green Beautiful
168 Wilson St., Manchester
(603) 606-1026
With a focus on sustaining and inspiring their customers through the power of plants, this vegan restaurant aims to create food and drink with integrity while nurturing a safe space for you to be able to rest and recharge. Choose from BBQ mushroom hash, Philly cheesesteak sandwich, Cuban rice bowl or any one of their bagels and schmear combinations to satisfy your afternoon hunger pains.
Taste of Legacy Café & Catering
131 Lake St., #10, Gilford
(603) 619-5072
Executive chef and seasoned culinary professional, Isaiah Bullock and his wife, Corinne, co-own the Lakes Region café where “all of your culinary needs are crafted with heart and expertise.” Their menu ranges from frittatas to burritos to comfort bowls like the mac ‘n’ cheese bowl with BBQ pulled pork, and their special catering menu can be completely customized to fit your needs, whether you are a busy mom looking for a few prepped meals a week or corporate company looking to provide lunch to your staff.
Engrain Market
6 Airfield Drive, Rye
Once the former Rye skate park, the new “Airfield Place” features spots like Flight House Gym and New England Pickleball Club, as well as Engrain Market. Stop by the market after a workout for a peanut butter cold brew smoothie and grilled salmon bowl, or grab one of the grab-and-go prepared meals, snacks, coffee, cold pressed juice or other goods from local vendors.
Taverns, Bars & Brews
Tideline Public House
15 Newmarket Road, Durham
New Hampshire’s only year-round food truck court is not only 15 minutes from UNH (central for students and locals alike), but the unique dining experience has something for everyone at up to seven food trucks and their own in-house menu. Three separate taprooms serve up to 16 rotating craft beers, along with wine and soft drinks. Bring your family and your four-legged family members, lounge around the fire pit, play some cornhole and try a new beer. (603) 868-1380; tidelinepublichouse.com
Paugus Bay Pub
644 Weirs Blvd., Laconia
(603) 619-5045
Started by two friends who love good food and a great environment, this pub is on a mission to bring fresh life to Laconia. The menu takes traditional pub fare and layers their own modern techniques to it with items like a lunchable house plate (charcuterie board), Irish nachos and Baltimore-style crab cake sandwich. Grab a seat and a drink in their new pub room at the 30-foot, carved maple bar top and watch the Sunday night football game in style.
BOND Brewing & BBQ
1015 Elm St., Manchester
(603) 218-3605
The lively indoor and outdoor atmosphere and Tex-Mex-style BBQ at BOND gives you a taste of the countryside in the heart of the Queen City. From sizzling BBQ to customizable build-your-own burritos, pizza and more, their menu offers a variety of flavors that pair well with their brews on craft or cold to-go beer options. Don’t forget to check out their Facebook page for information on where their food truck will be popping up next.
The Edge of Town Tavern
38 NH-25, Plymouth
(603) 238-9373
This Plymouth-based tavern has a little bit of everything on its menu from seafood to pizza to burgers and salad and waffle fry sides. Stop by on a live music night and enjoy a show from local bands like Red Daisy Revival, Conniption Fits and Granite 5.0.
