Portsmouth Roadtrip - Restaurants?
 

Doing a Portsmouth roadtrip, actually Rye, to take a day-trip at an ocean beach (Wallis Sands, Rye), during my vacation next week.

At the end of the day, wife and I would like to eat in Portsmouth, any suggestions ?

FYI, we like seafood, especially lobsta' in the rough,but are open to some fine diniing or Brewpub with varied menu.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Bigdog

Newicks is in dover less than 10 miles away from Portsmouth

Long List
 

BigDog

It would be a long list of restaurants because Portsmouth has over 100. Since you plan to be in Rye, heading north, you can check out B & G Boathouse 191 Wentworth Avenue (Rt 1-B to New Castle)for lobsta in the rough.

For seafood in Portsmouth, the new Surf Restaurant on Bow Street has a great bar/dining room overlooking the river.

In Hampton, Ron's Landing is the best seafood on the coast, IMHO.

There is a brewpub, Portsmouth Brewery on Market Street in downtown Portsmouth or the restaurant at the Red Hook brewery on the Spaulding Turnpike/Rt 16.

New steakhouse getting lot's of buzz is Dementers on Lafayette Road (Rt.1) Portsmouth.

I could go on and on, but this may give you some direction

Good Luck

The Library is also a nicer place to eat in Portsmouth.

The seafood place behind the tugboats (forget what it's called) is also popular.

Three Portsmouth Suggestions...
 

The Wellington Room and Green Monkey are two places we've really liked, the former being smaller, quieter, and more intimate than the Monkey, which has kind of a bar/grill atmosphere (but great food). "Yelp" them for details (yelp.com).

There's also a lobster place on Wentworth Rd in Portsmouth called BG's Boathouse, that's really rough and right on the water, and that some guests we entertained once from out of state really loved. I personally thought you could get the same quality, maybe for just a tad more $, with a lot nicer atmosphere at plenty of other places.

If I was in Rye, which I am a lot, and wanted typical fried seafood fare I would go to Peteys right on Ocean Blvd. Always a packed house there. When I"m in Portsmouth I love going to any of the "decks" off Bow St to be outside. They overlook the tugboats and are all connected and you walk by each and decide which one you like. But don't expect fancy food there. It's mostly about the atmosphere and setting.

http://www.peteys.com/

Yet another option is Jumpin Jay's Fish Cafe in Portsmouth. I was there a few weeks ago and had a great meal and there's also a good raw bar selection.

Kind of the opposite of lobster in the rough but I've always loved Ron's Landing which is a bit south of Rye with a beautiful ride along the coast on Route 1A.

Restaurants in the seacoast...
 

Plenty to think about, but I think Spider 22 makes a good suggestion about Newick's. This is today's catch eaten today. Plus, an added benefit to Newick's is that when you are finished eating you are already part of the way home.

Some of the other restaurants south of Portsmouth, and even in Portsmouth itself, you have to get out of Town before you can get on the way home. Newick's is lobster in the rough at it's best, and, you are part of the way home.

Wherever you go, ENJOY.

The green Monkey
 

The Green Monkey is one of our favorites also.

Favorites
 

B&G Boathouse and Jumpin Jay's are favorite for seafood. Dolphin Striker for domestic food.

Portsmouth Brewery is trendy or head to Red Hook Brewery.

There is a pastry/ice cream shop on Market Square that is the place to stop for desert.

A Little Further Up The Road...
 

…but you can't go wrong with Chauncey's.

It's all outside, BYOB (and everything else you can think of other than lobster, chowder, corn, and fries).

Situated on a river, you pick your lobster, and they cook it for you.

One of my favs as far as location and freshness is concerned.


http://www.chaunceycreek.com/

Petey's is a fantastic restaurant and is right near Wallis Sands. Other folks have listed some great restaurants and I'll add the Ice House in Rye and Rudi's in Portsmouth. We recently moved to Rye from Wolfeboro.

Portsmouth Brewery, downtown right on the main drag....

After a day at Wallis Sands (sticky, sandy and sunburned), I'd choose to do BG's, Newick's, Petey's ... in that order - for the valid reasons noted above. After BG's, get an ice cream just down the road at Ice House.

If you go into downtown Portsmouth in summer, do a deck vs. indoor seating. Poco Diablo's (or maybe it's called el Diablo now - I'm showing my age) has a nice spot, casual bar, on the river, and right across from Anabelle's ice cream. Classic Portsmouth.

I would also choose Portsmouth Brewery (downtown) over Red Hook at the Tradeport. There's absolutely nothing wrong with Red Hook, but you can park at the front door of a restaurant any time. Part of the fun of downtown is the walk through town and stroll through Prescott Park.

Or Warren's Lobster House in Kittery. A mix of every restaurant already mentioned. Has a deck, the bar pours a solid drink, fresh seafood, famed for the salad bar... Just not as easy to get to now that the Memorial Bridge is, well, in need of a memorial of its own.

Ri Ra's is an irish pub next to the church in market square. Food is good and their pints are even better. Its to the left looking at the front of the church in an old bank. For dessert go a block in the other direction to Popovers. Its owned by the same folks who own the Galley Hatch in Hampton. Great cake!

Petey's on rt. 1 in Rye.Awesome Seafood.

Another vote for Warrens.

Brown's Lobster Pound
 

We don't get out that way too much. We ate at Brown's Lobster Pound in Seabrook, NH. It was recently mentioned in Yankee Magazine as one of the best places for lobster.
Brown’s Lobster Pound
407 NH Highway 286
Seabrook, NH 03874
(603) 474-3331
http://brownslobsterpound.com

Have fun!

Blue Mermaid is a nice little Caribbean place with lots of seafood. Right across the street from the Hilton Garden Inn.

Rudi's
 

This is a great place http://rudisportsmouth.com/

Rusty Hammer - order a Patriotic Wimpy with Waffle Fries FTW!