Your Favorite Special Occasion Restaurants in the Lakes Region

WinniWen · 09-01-2026, 04:31 AM

We're new to the area and have yet to learn the local restaurant lay of the land. Where do you go for milestone birthdays, anniversaries and such? Pretend that your rich Uncle is picking up the tab.

ishoot308 · 09-01-2026, 06:10 AM

The Lake Estate on Winnisquam.

Dan

fatlazyless · 09-01-2026, 06:38 AM

The Italian Farmhouse on Rt 3 on the south side of Plymouth above Exit 24, or for a really big event like a wedding,The Barn on the Pemi. Both venues are unusually excellent and out of the ordinary!

thinkxingu · 09-01-2026, 08:13 AM

I've not been to any of these places myself (above my teacher pay grade!), but these are often discussed favorably on the forum for nicer/better experiences: The Lake Estate, which is the newest "special" place in the area; The Woodshed, which may be the longest-standing "celebration" place in the area, but with mixed history and reviews; and O, which consistently gets high ratings for quality.

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Little Bear · 09-01-2026, 08:34 AM

Not often mentioned here, but this place is one of the most unique in the area:

https://www.vanhornestate.com/dining

BroadHopper · 09-01-2026, 08:37 AM

Newfound Inn, Van Horne at Squam, O's comes to mind. Other places are too busy to be a favorite. Lake Estate if you have money to burn.

For our anniversary we prefer the Hotel Grand View in Whitefield. Stonehurst Manor in N. Conway is another.

We did like the new Junction restaurant in Lakeport. Just need more experience.

Biggd · 09-01-2026, 09:06 AM

O's steak and seafood is my favorite restaurant, never had a bad experience there. I've been to most of them but haven't been to the Lakehouse yet.
Looking forward to the new restaurant in Meredith at the old Phu Gee site.

barefootbay · 09-01-2026, 01:53 PM

Lemon Grass

WinniWen · 09-01-2026, 05:15 PM

Thank you for all the recommendations. It's a milestone birthday for my husband and since we're going to be new there, we won't have anyone to celebrate with so I want to go somewhere nice. I'll read all the menus and pick a place that he will like.

09-01-2026, 04:31 AM	#1
WinniWen Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2026 Location: Moving Soon to Robert's Cove Posts: 7 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Your Favorite Special Occasion Restaurants in the Lakes Region We're new to the area and have yet to learn the local restaurant lay of the land. Where do you go for milestone birthdays, anniversaries and such? Pretend that your rich Uncle is picking up the tab.

09-01-2026, 06:10 AM	#2
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,604 Thanks: 2,477 Thanked 5,501 Times in 2,159 Posts	Lake Estate The Lake Estate on Winnisquam. Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

09-01-2026, 06:38 AM	#3
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 9,251 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 314 Thanked 1,120 Times in 827 Posts	The Italian Farmhouse on Rt 3 on the south side of Plymouth above Exit 24, or for a really big event like a wedding,The Barn on the Pemi. Both venues are unusually excellent and out of the ordinary! __________________ .... Banned for life from local thrift store!

09-01-2026, 08:37 AM	#6
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,716 Thanks: 3,337 Thanked 1,145 Times in 823 Posts	Newfound Inn, Van Horne at Squam, O's comes to mind. Other places are too busy to be a favorite. Lake Estate if you have money to burn. For our anniversary we prefer the Hotel Grand View in Whitefield. Stonehurst Manor in N. Conway is another. We did like the new Junction restaurant in Lakeport. Just need more experience. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day. Last edited by BroadHopper; 09-01-2026 at 08:38 AM. Reason: grammar

09-01-2026, 05:15 PM	#9
WinniWen Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2026 Location: Moving Soon to Robert's Cove Posts: 7 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Thank You! Thank you for all the recommendations. It's a milestone birthday for my husband and since we're going to be new there, we won't have anyone to celebrate with so I want to go somewhere nice. I'll read all the menus and pick a place that he will like.

09-01-2026, 08:13 AM	#4
thinkxingu Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 6,694 Thanks: 1,187 Thanked 2,222 Times in 1,381 Posts	I've not been to any of these places myself (above my teacher pay grade!), but these are often discussed favorably on the forum for nicer/better experiences: The Lake Estate, which is the newest "special" place in the area; The Woodshed, which may be the longest-standing "celebration" place in the area, but with mixed history and reviews; and O, which consistently gets high ratings for quality. Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

09-01-2026, 08:34 AM	#5
Little Bear Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 616 Thanks: 143 Thanked 278 Times in 149 Posts	Not often mentioned here, but this place is one of the most unique in the area: https://www.vanhornestate.com/dining

09-01-2026, 09:06 AM	#7
Biggd Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Waltham Ma./Meredith NH Posts: 4,537 Thanks: 2,506 Thanked 1,296 Times in 833 Posts	O's steak and seafood is my favorite restaurant, never had a bad experience there. I've been to most of them but haven't been to the Lakehouse yet. Looking forward to the new restaurant in Meredith at the old Phu Gee site.

09-01-2026, 01:53 PM	#8
barefootbay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 398 Thanks: 85 Thanked 109 Times in 77 Posts	Lemon Grass

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to WinniWen For This Useful Post:
BroadHopper (09-02-2026), Slickcraft (09-01-2026)