The Bob House

The Bob House, on Rte. 25 in Moultonborough, occupies the site that was once the home of Grill 25 and, before that, Copperfield’s. Chef/Owner Bob Bourque and his wife Patricia have created a welcoming casual family dining experience. The décor emphasizes the charms offered by life on Lake Winnipesaukee with everything from antique snowshoes and bob sleds to buoys and lake navigational charts. The Tavern has table as well as bar seating and an equally interesting collection of lake memorabilia. A patio offers outdoor dining. Menus are the same in each room for both lunch and dinner. The menu states on the cover that “fresh food prepared to order takes time, but trust us, it’s worth the wait!” With that disclaimer in mind we ordered “Cappies Calamari,” which were done to perfection, ($7.99) and the Crab Mushroom Bisque ($3.59 for a cup) was thick and delicious. The Bear Island Nachos ($7.99) did not disappoint. The tortilla chips are hand-cut, the chili and salsa homemade, and the cheese was well distributed throughout. The nacho expert with us declared them excellent. Our friendly and attentive server stressed that the salad dressings are all made on the premises — in fact, just about everything is. There is a good, but not overwhelming, selection of seafood, chicken, beef and pork entrées. The “Tackle Box Sampler” of baked haddock topped with scampi style shrimp and scallops ($15.49), was a flavorful combination, and is one of their best sellers, according to our server. The dinners all include a vegetable of the day as well as a choice of blue cheese, herbed mashed potatoes, orzo pilaf or my vote for the catch of the day, the cottage fries. The potatoes are first baked, then hand sliced and fried, and come to the table crunchy and golden — addictive for this potato maven.Desserts rotate daily; there is no set dessert menu. House made apple crisp or blueberry Cobbler are always available and, depending on the day, a variety of cheesecakes or chocolate cakes, too. ($5.25).The Bob House offers good food at a reasonable price. No cloth napkins or tablecloths here, but It’s a great place to take the family if you’re in the Lakes Region. Reservations are not accepted, but if you call ahead and specify the number of your party while en route, they will put your name on a list.Summer hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the Tavern remaining open until 10 p.m. Tuesday thru Sunday. The Bob House is closed on Mondays.— Barbara Lauterbach