What’s Cooking: Great Food Destinations

With great eateries popping up across the state, there’s always a new place to experience. Even the well-established food and drink spots like to offer something new, making a return visit feel like it’s the first time.

To help you discover what’s new around our great state, we’ve recruited three of our favorite food writers on the cuisine beat to recommend some new restaurants (or new offerings from old favorites) designed to both satisfy your appetite for dinner and inspire your appetite for adventure on the road to fine (and fun) dining.

We asked our reviewers to look high and low (and east and west) in New Hampshire for their subjects, and each of these “destinations” can be a new starting point for your own quest — so let us know what you find.

(You can plan to find new articles in the November 2022, December 2022 and January/February 2023 issues of New Hampshire Magazine.)

Great Food Destination / Seacoast: Stages: The Kitchen & The Living Room

When award-winning chef Evan Hennessey opened Stages: The Kitchen at 1 Washington Street in Dover in 2012, it was considered a radical concept.

Crystal Ward Kent, Kendal J. Bush, Photographer,

Great Food Destination / North of Concord: The Little Grille at The Depot

A building that once led travelers to and from Littleton via railway has since been repurposed to transport taste buds (and eyes) to exotic lands of flavor and color. The previous Grafton County railroad station now blends Brazilian barbecue and local American fare with a modern art exhibit lining its walls.

Rony Camille, Kendal J. Bush, Photographer,

Great Food Destination / Greater Nashua: Rambling House Food & Gathering

Rambling House Food & Gathering started from just a nugget of an idea about 10 years ago. The Gleeson girls, Erin and Kerry, had just graduated from college and, after spending much time abroad, just wanted to live anywhere but Nashua. Dad Denis said, “If you don’t like it here, make it the place you want it to be.”

Susan Laughlin, Kendal J. Bush, Photographer,

Great Food Destination / North of Concord: PAVILION

Five years ago, the Avery Building in Wolfeboro could have been torn down and replaced by a big box retail store. Today, it’s home to PAVILION, a restaurant dedicated to elevating the farm-to-table dining experience in the Lakes Region.

Rony Camille, Kendal J. Bush, Photographer,

Great Food Destination / Seacoast: Sol Southern Kitchen & Lounge

Sol, located on State Street in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, introduces guests to a broad range of Southern cuisine, including the spicy palate of Creole, the exotic blends of Floribbean, the French influences of Cajun, the hearty flavors of Appalachia and more.

Crystal Ward Kent, Kendal J. Bush, Photographer,