Do you want to know the best Portsmouth, New Hampshire restaurants? Portsmouth is a small city that is best known for its maritime heritage. The city has many eateries. Recent research shows that Portsmouth has more restaurant seats (30,000) than the local inhabitants (22,000). So you can understand the love of food in this city.
Secondly, I have lived in the Seacoast area for many years and have visited many food points. But I found Portsmouth is best because it has many dining places that satisfy each type of guest.
Moreover, Portsmouth has a very long history. It is New Hampshire’s oldest city. Fishermen and European colonists lived in this city approximately four hundred years ago. The town’s charming streets and taste attract many visitors.
The coastal area and the ancient architecture are all you can see in Portsmouth. It is considered a famous eating place not only in NH but also all of New England. Portsmouth is regarded as an expensive shopping and eating place.
However, you will uncover many high-end restaurants, self-professed eateries, and affordable diners here. Our primary purpose is to provide detailed and accurate information about the best cafes around the city where you can find high-quality food and ambiance.
The city also has some of the most authentic diners and bakeries. All these dining places have some unique dishes to try on. Every local visitor wants to know about all these eateries.
Here, I will give a list of Portsmouth’s best and different niches of restaurants that are good for foodie individuals.
Best Portsmouth NH Restaurants
There are many places to eat in a city that are good for everyone, whether you are looking for gluten-free or vegan options, casual eateries, and unique occasion restaurants.
Black Trumpet:
| Location | 29 Ceres St., Portsmouth, NH |
| Phone Number | 603-431-0887 |
| Official Website | https://www.blacktrumpetbistro.com/ |
| Specialty | Suitable for date night & locavores |
Black Trumpet is an excellent choice if you are looking for a restaurant for seasonal and locally sourced cuisine. Here, you will experience a Latin and Mediterranean environment.
You need to visit Black Trumpet if you want to impress a foodie friend or love partner. Evan Mallet and Black Trumpet were the James Beard Award semi-finalists.
Chef Evan Mallet and his wife, Denise, established the Black Trumpet restaurant in 2007. Authentic Mediterranean and Latin flavors are used in the restaurant’s seasonal and locally sourced cuisine, making it the ideal choice for a fancy dinner.
Secondly, ancient wooden ceiling beams are used in the building’s inner section, and you will find brick walls on the exterior. The restaurant is situated near the harbor on low-slung Ceres Street. The menu of the restaurant changes according to the weather and seasons.
However, their best dishes are pickle squid, confit duck cake, crispy veal sweetbreads with agrodolce, faro risotto, and day boat fish with fennel salad. It would be best to try brownie pudding, olive oil cake, and tortes in desserts.
In addition, the restaurant features farm-to-table cuisine that is both modern and elegant. Black Trumpet is known for its comforting elegance and hip sophistication. It is an intimate diner where savvy locals and tourists spend quality time together on a date night.
It is a delightful place where good quality food is served, with warm services and a cozy atmosphere. It would be best to read Chef Evan’s book, Black Trumpet, for more information about the local food movement.
Durbar Square:
| Location | 10 Market St., Portsmouth, NH |
| Phone Number | 603-294-0107 |
| Official Website | https://www.durbarsquarenh.com/ |
| Specialty | Suitable for gluten-free & vegans. |
Durbar Square is an authentic Nepali restaurant in Portsmouth that offers many food items. It includes steamed dumplings, chilies, spiced meats, and curries. It is situated in Portsmouth’s Market Square. The Nepali and Himalayan restaurant is known as Kathmandu’s three “royal squares.”
The ambiance is mostly Nepali, suitable for people who love to experience different cultures. The dining area of the second floor is well decorated with Nepal’s illustrations and photos. You will also see the statues of various Hindu figures.
You can buy the rudraksha prayer beads and Nepalese t-shirts. You should order the restaurant’s signature dish, steamed dumplings with chili sauce.
Secondly, it is also known as momos, a perfect combination with chicken chhoila. Chicken chhoila is a spicy meat dish served with dry and puffed rice.
To get more taste, eat the chicken after mixing it with rice. Along with it, there are also many Nepali and Himalayan dishes. For example, in chilies, you will get twelve different protein options.
On the other hand, in Tarkari curries, dozens of vegan-friendly options are available. They also serve gluten-free dishes. Durbar Square is suitable for each type of visitor because everyone has many choices.
Botanica:
| Location | 110 Brewery Ln., Suite 105, Portsmouth, NH |
| Phone Number | 603-373-0979 |
| Official Website | https://botanicarestaurant.com/ |
| Specialty | Suitable for date night & cocktails. |
Botanica is a remarkable dining place in the West End. It is located in the Frank Jones Brew Yard’s former mill building. A high-end French establishment featuring a gin specialist. The atmosphere is fabulous and good for candlelight date dinners.
In addition, they specialize in French food and gin bar. You can order some of their special drinks like G&T, which changes color from purple to pink.
The menu has some of the best dishes like Lamb shank, parmesan risotto, chickpea and spinach pasta, duck confit, roasted cod in Verte sauce, and Toulouse sausages.
The menu is not always the same. It changes in each season. Now it depends on you in which season you visit the restaurant. In desserts, there are buttermilk panna cotta and chocolate torte.
Green Elephant:
| Location | 35 Portwalk Place, Portsmouth, NH |
| Phone Number | 603-427-8344 |
| Official Website | https://www.greenelephantnh.com/ |
| Specialty | Suitable for vegetarians & gluten-free. |
Portsmouth’s Portwalk Place Green Elephant restaurant is a fantastic option for vegetarians. You can get soups, stir-fries, and noodle dishes if you are not a carnivore. There are also many charming things for habitual carnivores.
Secondly, it is known as a vegetarian and vegan haven. Several years ago, the restaurant was opened in sanitized Portwalk Place. I’m a certified meat eater, but I planned to visit the Green Elephant restaurant. I ordered their signature pad Thai, tofu soup, and fragrant coconut here.
After trying all the meals, I realized meat is unnecessary for a good time. Everybody enjoys a lot for their tasty Pan-Asian foods. The interior design of the building is modern and uses many bricks and woodwork. It is the best dating and meet-up place with friends.
They use different countries’ local flavors and ingredients in their meals. Other things for everyone on the meat-free menu impress each type of customer.
The Kitchen:
| Location | 171 Islington St., Portsmouth, NH |
| Phone Number | 603-319-8630 |
| Official Website | https://www.thekitchenportsmouth.com/ |
| Specialty | Suitable for lunch and gluten-free. |
In Portsmouth, the Kitchen specializes in salads and sandwiches. The Kitchen is also well-known for catering because it provides private and corporate events services. It is a short distance from downtown Portsmouth to down Islington Street.
They offer the services during dinner and lunch hours. You will find many options to eliminate hunger if you are a foodie. Different varieties of sandwiches, Reubens, burgers, pasta, salad, and Spudsters are available.
I loved their short-rib grilled cheese sandwich filled with smoked paprika aioli and hot pepper. You have to pay extra money if you want a gluten-free meal. A special menu is available for kids under the age of ten. Compared to the other sandwich places, the Kitchen offers an option to enjoy lunch with a craft cocktail or a local beer.
Lexie’s Joint
| Location | 212 Islington St., Portsmouth, NH |
| Phone Number | 603-815-4181 |
| Official Website | https://www.facebook.com/LexiesJoint/ |
| Specialty | Suitable for lunch and gluten-free. |
Lexie’s Joint is a fantastic option for non-beef-eaters. It is a pleasant spot for fries, milkshakes, and creative burgers. There are many branches of this restaurant in New Hampshire’s Seacoast. But we will discuss the shop from where the burgers first began.
Secondly, the good thing about this restaurant is that the menu differs daily. Each day, they offer different kinds of unique burgers, milkshakes, and creative fries.
Their unique burgers are Leaf Peeper, Mr. Swisster, and Marmaduke, which you must try when visiting the eatery. The Cowboy Like Me and Spicy Bistro in fries, prepared with sriracha aioli, jalapenos, herbs, parmesan, and bacon, is also an acceptable option.
Moreover, they offer Gluten-free buns, but before using sauces, ensure they are also Gluten-free. You can avail yourself of the dine-in or takeout facility. Lexie’s offers free small chocolate chip cookies to dine-in customers, but you cannot get them if you order online or choose a takeout option.
Nikki’s Bánh Mi:
| Location | 697 Islington St. Portsmouth, NH |
| Phone Number | 603-431-5445 |
| Official Website | https://nikkisbanhmi.com/ |
| Specialty | Suitable for takeout. |
Nikki’s Bánh Mi offers fresh Vietnamese sandwiches. It is located within Darleen’s Sub. It is the right place if you are looking for bánh mi, a Vietnamese cuisine, because they specialize in it.
After French colonization, the bánh mi sandwich became popular in Vietnam shortly after the middle of the nineteenth century. They serve the sandwich on French bread and include different things, like pickled carrots, mayonnaise, marinated meat, cilantro, daikon, and cucumber.
The bánh mi is available in different varieties like lemongrass pork, Korean BBQ beef, etc. There are few dine-in facilities, so most people choose the takeout option. You can order them online, and your meal will be ready quickly. They also offer several Asian dishes.
Ristorante Massimo:
| Location | 59 Penhallow Street Portsmouth, NH |
| Phone Number | 603-436-4000 |
| Official Website | https://ristorantemassimo.com/ |
| Specialty | Suitable for date night & wine list. |
In Portsmouth, Ristorante Massimo is a good option for Italian food lovers. They have many choices in their menu that attract everyone. It is well known for its romantic dinners and provides the facility to organize different events. Ristorante Massimo is famous for its award-winning wine list.
Bon Appétit and Phantom Gourmet magazine say it is the “Most Romantic Restaurant.” You can visit it for world-class Italian food. Massimo has offered the services for over thirty years and has become an essential part of Portsmouth’s dining market.
You can enter the restaurant from Custom House Lane and Penhallow’s Corner. A few years ago, Massimo opened Upstairs, but we love the underground entrance experience.
On the other hand, if you use the stairs to go down, you feel that you are entering a private club to hang out. In Ristorante Massimo, you will find old-fashioned chandeliers and brick walls. Fieldstone is covered with white-linen tablecloths.
The restaurant won the Excellence Award eight times from Wine Spectator so that you can understand its excellence. They use different types of seating plans that are suitable for enjoying a multi-course meal.
Book your reservations in advance if you plan to visit Ristorante Massimo because it is much busier on popular days.
The Roundabout Diner:
| Location | 580 US 1 Bypass Portsmouth, NH |
| Phone Number | 603-431-1440 |
| Official Website | https://www.roundaboutdiner.com/ |
| Specialty | Suitable for families & lunch. |
It is an old-school, family-friendly restaurant that has an extensive menu. They served breakfast all day, which motivated guests to visit the dining place repeatedly. It is located near Portsmouth Traffic Circle.
In addition, you can visit Roundabout with grandma, kids, uncle, or partner because they have many food options. The classic diner menu includes sandwiches, turkey meatloaf, burgers, hefty salads, chicken pot pie, and breakfast dishes available day or night.
I’m a big fan of their gigantic club sandwiches. Along with Lexie’s Joint and BRGR BAR, Roundabout is the town’s best milkshake spot.
Ceres Bakery:
| Location | 51 Penhallow St, Portsmouth, NH |
| Phone Number | 603-436-6518 |
| Official Website | https://ceresbakery.com/ |
They offer homemade sandwiches and seasonal pastries that repeatedly motivate you to come in. In Portsmouth, NH, Ceres Bakery has provided mouth-watering pastries for over 30 years.
In the vicinity of the riverfront park, you can visit two famous museums within walking distance of the hotel. They offer various things for breakfast, including crepes, wraps, and sandwiches.
Moreover, cupcakes, muffins, cinnamon rolls, and scones are also included in the breakfast menu. In sweet treats, mocha cake, chunk chocolate cake, and sweet strawberry cream cake are the best.
Cava Tapas and Wine Bar:
| Location | 10 Commercial Alley, Portsmouth, NH |
| Phone Number | 603-319-1575 |
| Official Website | https://www.cavatapasandwinebar.com/ |
One of Portsmouth’s top-rated restaurants offers a memorable dining experience. Since 2008, Cava Tapas and Wine Bar have gained popularity owing to their world-class Mediterranean cuisine.
The restaurant is well known for its lovely location, ambiance, service, and food. They deal with freshly picked ingredients like vegetables and meat. Cava’s inside and outside atmosphere are very charming.
The outdoor seating area trails up to the brick exterior in a beautiful vertical garden, making a beautiful combination.
Their best dishes for appetizers and main courses are fried leeks, chips, leeks soup, mojo picon, harissa, and Brussels sprouts. In the BBQ section, sirloin is always the best option. After food, you must try their chocolate cake.
Cure Restaurant:
| Location | 189 State Street, Portsmouth, NH |
| Phone Number | 603-427-8258 |
| Official Website | https://www.curerestaurantportsmouth.com/ |
Take a moment to relax and experience one of the premier dinner places in Portsmouth, where you can savor fresh meal preparations. It is well known that Cure restaurant is one of the most casual places to eat in Portsmouth, offering a wide selection of bistro food.
A small nook with dim lights adds to this restaurant’s overall ambiance, making it an excellent place for a romantic evening with your beloved. This cafe meat offers a high level of tenderness because it has undergone an intensive cooking process for a long time.
Moreover, in a restaurant that is determined not to be pretentious and snobbish. Their food is very delicious, which convinces the guests to visit repeatedly. Firstly, it was a home, but after that, the historic building was beautifully restored.
Their must-try foods are cider molasses BBQ ribs, duck with white wine balsamic beurre, wilted baby spinach, French onion soup, baked artichoke, and classic wedge salad.
La Maison Navarre:
| Location | 121 Congress Street, Portsmouth, NH |
| Phone Number | 603-373-8401 |
La Maison Navarre is famous for their unique flavors. Along with food, it also provides a chance to explore the City of Love. A diverse menu inspired by European-style fare can be found at La Maison Navarre.
It was established in 2015. They use high-quality ingredients in their foods to make them healthier and tastier. Diners think it is one of the best French bakeries in the area. Most people love their croissants, macaroons, and crepes.
Furthermore, diners can enjoy a lot on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights with house-made baguette or crepe, charcuterie plates, and a wine list. This bakery expertly prepares its food with traditional French ingredients and offers fine French patisseries.
La Maison Navarre is always a sweet option for dining out. You can eat indoors or outside with your specialty gourmet coffee or tea, whichever you prefer.
Blue Mermaid:
The Blue Mermaid Restaurant offers a wide range of Caribbean cuisine featuring some of the freshest ingredients. It is located at 10 Shapleigh Road, Kittery, ME. The restaurant ranks among the most popular places to try global flavors.
They offer different types of unique dishes. It is approximately 9-10 minutes away by car from Portsmouth. Secondly, it is an owner’s regular practice to donate money to local organizations committed to ending hunger in the community.
They have unique dishes for brunch every Sunday morning to evening. The Blue Mermaid Restaurant offers many live performances to entertain its customers. Eventually, it is the right place to mentally satisfy your hunger and frustration with daily life. Their specialty dishes are short rib benedict, Bimini French toast, and fried chicken with biscuits and gravy.
Conclusion
In the end, I hope you’ve enjoyed a lot with Portsmouth’s best dining places. The city also has many cafés, gastropubs, and restaurants, but the dining places mentioned above are well-known and have their worth. You can also explore the other Portsmouth food scene if you have more time.
FAQs
What’s the best restaurant in Portsmouth, NH?
There are many dining places in Portsmouth, but after the complete research and our personal experiences, we think Botanica and Black Trumpet are top.
Which Portsmouth, NH, restaurants are suitable for vegans and vegetarians?
In Portsmouth, Durbar Square and Green Elephant are great choices if someone is looking for a vegan or vegetarian cafe.
What are Portsmouth, NH restaurants good for kids?
If you come to Portsmouth with kids and family members, you can go to the Roundabout Diner restaurant because there are many things for kids of all ages.
What’s an excellent gluten-free restaurant in Portsmouth, NH?
There are several gluten-free dining places in Portsmouth. If you are health conscious and looking for a gluten-free diet, visit the Green Elephant, The Kitchen, and Durbar Square.
More on the Seacoast:
- Where to Get The Best Breakfast in Dover
- 12 Best Restaurants in Dover
- 12 Best Restaurants in Hampton NH
- Portsmouth NH Hotels
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