Get the duck, lobster mac and French onion. You won't be disappointed. One of our favorite spots in Portsmouth.

We were late calling for a reservation so we were seated on the back patio with several space heaters, comfortable. My wife ordered one of the best pork chops she ever had, cooked to perfection for her taste (med well but still moist and tender). I had the duck breast, I would call it their signature dish. Med rare, excellent flavor! Service was pretty good, attentive but not mind reading like the best. read more

Mainly here to mention our server, Seth! Just the right amount of time at the table, handled all the tables quickly without rushing and gave great recommendations. He was funny and knew his crowd. Food was really good too! Definitely on the pricey side but worth it for a nice date night read more

Everything we ordered was delicious. Start with the cornbread, it was the best we've eve had in New England. The mussels were fresh in a tasty broth; sopped up every last drop with the grilled bread. The short ribs were "falling apart" tender. Wish we had room for dessert. Great service, too. read more

Cure - Everything was delicious! The cornbread is the best you'll ever have! The short ribs were "falling apart" tender. - New American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Wish we could rate it 6-stars!! The food was out of this world! Atmosphere was great. You need reservations as it is hard to get in. We started with a kale Caesar salad with steak along with cornbread and then ordered the lobster mac and cheese and a grilled pork chop. There was no room for dessert. Ben was an excellent server and made great recommendations. read more

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Great stuff and a must try for those in Portsmouth! Small & cozy spot that services great food. The menu enticed me to try things I usually don't go for, but in the end I ordered the ravioli and it did not disappoint. I only wished I had more room in my stomach to eat more. We will be keeping this place on 'the short list' for when we return to town again. read more

My husband and I tried this restaurant last night and it was amazing! It's our new favorite place! My favorite was the goat cheese croquettes and the corn bread! My husband had the duck entree and ate every bite. The drinks were well made and the staff was friendly. It was well worth the 50 minute drive! read more

My fav restaurant in Portsmouth. I've gone there many times since it's opened and it's always been fantastic. The chef pretty much defines pan-searing perfection. The pork chop is sublime. The Risottos, the mushroom dishes, duck breast, everything I've had was wonderful. My fav is sitting at the tiny bar although it's tough to get a seat there, but sometimes you luck out. This restaurant is really what Portsmouth is all about - Upscale Comfort. read more

This place is absolutely fantastic. Showed up at 7:30 on Saturday night without a reservation and Ben the host bent over backwards getting us a table. Kait our server was also wonderful - this has to be some of the best staff in town as they made us feel welcome and like kings the whole time we were there. The food as usual was excellent!! The strip steak and lobster bisque were exactly what I needed. Definitely one of the best restaurants in Portsmouth - highly recommended! read more

What's the busiest day of the year, for the purchase of Gift Cards for Christmas? You're right. It depends on what day of the week Christmas falls on. This year, with Christmas on a Wednesday, the busiest day was probably Monday, Dec. 23rd. I researched restaurants in Portsmouth and opted to drive 80 miles each way, to get a Gift Certificate for a friend. Of course, they were closed when I got there. I guess I should have checked the normal hours for the restaurant, because I wasted a 160 mile drive. Advice for ownership: Gift Cards are one of the most profitable items a restaurant sells. If you consider how many are lost, stolen or not completely used, your profit margin is about double your normal margin. The sale of ONLY my Gift Certificate, would have more than paid for someone to be there, selling Gift Certificates. Imagine if 3 or 4 more people came by to buy one? read more

Went here a couple of weeks ago. Gets booked up fast, so I would definitely recommend reserving far in advance. Cute little atmosphere, nice and cozy - good spot for a date night. Gotta go with the lobster mac and cheese here - creamy, cheesy, deliciousness. This will mean a lot coming from a New Englander who loves his seafood - probably the best lobster mac and cheese I have ever had. The lobster taste was perfectly captured in a creamy sauce. Just so good. We also got the grilled bread basket and butter, which was a delicious appetizer. A delicious buttery toast starter that always goes well as the starter before a creamy pasta dish. Our server's service was good, but the hostess did make things a bit uncomfortable at times. She kept running back from the host stand to look at us as we were eating. Trying to see if we were done so she could seat other people. She even commented on how difficult it was to tell if we were still eating or not. It did make us feel a bit rushed. Aside from that, the food and overall experience was excellent. read more

Cure - Lobster mac and cheese - New American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

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Great food and atmosphere. Service was efficient and this place is well worth the wait, make sure to make a reservation as it's very popular and usually packed. read more

Fantastic little spot in walkable distance from many hotels in the area. We got seats at the small bar. Very cool vibe and the cocktails and charcuterie board were delicious! read more

I'm starting with the positive because the staff alone deserve 4-5 stars. We arrived 10 mins late for a 8:30 reservation (the kitchen closes at 9) so the thought crossed my mind that it may affect service but the lovely hostess and server made us feel welcome. The space is kinda cool too except the artwork is disturbing. While I'm not bothered by looking at giant paintings of animals while I eat them, some people are. In our case it was the cow staring down my husband as he ate his NY Strip-it turned him off his meal. Additionally, the indoor chairs were really rigid and uncomfortable. My husband is a 6'3" guy and he had to stand up at times due to the hard wooden chair jutting into his back. To note, the outdoor space looks awesome. Unfortunately, we were told we couldn't sit there, I presume because they were closing....denied. No biggie, I've waited tables, I get it -you want to shut things down-but as there was already one table of guests still eating just outside the door next to us, I didn't really understand that logic. Why couldn't we sit at the vacant table outside with comfortable chairs especially since staff was already walking in and out of the space? Maybe there's some other reason. The Food: did I go to the right restaurant? I was shocked at the disparity between what I read here on yelp and experienced at Cure. The only thing not needing seasoning was the tapenade cream cheese and crackers which came standard before my soup. This tasty spread reminded me of when Philadelphia cream cheese came out with flavors in 1992...I loved that with ritz crackers in grade school....same vibe...but I digress. We were starving after driving up the coast of Maine and exploring all day. Encouraged by our cream cheese and crackers, we were looking forward to what we thought going to be a tasty meal. We both ordered the French onion soup So disappointed. The soup-It was oily and bland with minimal cheese and lukewarm. There was no salt on the table so I had to muddle through until I requested some. I ordered the BBQ short ribs he ordered the steak. His was better than mine and the steak was decent-not blow your socks off or anything-solid flavor. My short rib left me feeling the same way the soup did. Picture me adding salt, disliking the fattiness of the meat but eating anyway. My meal came with a side of sweet potato au gratin. This sounded like a hearty satisfying side until you taste it. For me....evoking day three reheated leftovers from Thanksgiving but not as good. Mine would have had more flavor. Even my cocktail left me feeling unsatisfied. On the surface a sparking version of a greyhound sounds amazing. Pink fizzy grapefruit vodka? Hell yes please. No. It's a watered down greyhound in a pint glass. I guess if you can't season you may also have issues also carbonating stuff? I'm confused, but it fits completely with the rest of the experience. No word on dessert-the chairs were so uncomfortable we had to go. And no, my significant other was not too big for the chair. It was just a crappy chair. I had high hopes. The last night of our trip, the Cure had all the makings of a good meal-great ratings, nice menu, good press, and then face planted on the pavement. The only reason we finished our meal was because we were exhausted starving travelers craving comfort food. This one was a huge let down. It all sounded and looked good but something was just.....off like the Moo-na Lisa giving my husband the eye during dinner. read more

The food quality was excellent and service friendly and attentive. For a small place they do not rush you along. Very relaxed experience on a busy night. read more

Oh my goodness!! Delicious. Everything was excellent. They had a haddock fish special and it was incredible. It was flavorful and I'd order it again. The drinks were great, the food was on point. I want to go back ASAP! It was a nice atmosphere. We went to celebrate a birthday and I think it's great for date night or a nice meal. The service was great and everyone was super friendly. I'm looking forward to the next time we go read more

This place has 10 stars for me for service, ambiance, food and drinks! If you r looking for a place that is truly authentic, this is your place! We LOVED every minute of our experience! Every time I visit NH, this is on the must do list!! read more

Cure - Short ribs - New American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Loved this place, great atmosphere, great drinks, even better food. Chef/Owner Julie delivers!

My wife's porkchop dish was well presented and excellent. My lobster mac n cheese entree was a big disappointment. Served in a small bowl - more like an appetizer - and sorely lacking in lobster, especially for $30. Should be taken off the entrée menu or served on a dinner plate with noticeable chunks of lobster meat and some crispy bread or croutons on the plate. Passed this info on to the chef he seemed genuinely appreciative of the feedback read more

The Cure was a phenomenal experience from start to finish! I came here last week for my birthday and we were very pleased with the experience. Our waitress was insanely nice (Kate?) and made some amazing suggestions that we took graciously- so glad we SPLIT the French onion soup instead of both getting it so that we had room for our delicious rib eyes! The wine list was spectacular (we split a bottle of Pinot noir that paired perfectly with the steak) and we were unfortunately too stuffed for dessert so we will have to come back! read more

Cure - Black Garlic Crusted Ribeye - New American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Oh my God! Delicious! I was jealous of my boyfriends dinner, (the statler chicken with spaghetti squash carbonara) even though mine (crispy skin salmon) was fantastic. Fantastic drinks, wine menu and atmosphere. It's a small, cozy place so make your reservations early. read more

We came here for dinner on my birthday on a Saturday night. The restaurant has a strict policy about only holding your reservation for 15 minutes before giving your table away. Our babysitter was a half hour late and we still had a 1 hour and 15 minute drive to Portsmouth. When I called the restaurant, they were not accommodating or understanding at all. I begged them to hold our table for a few more minutes, to which they said they hoped we would arrive within the 15 minute requirement. I understand they need to abide by policies, but apparently, they are beyond compassion. To add insult, after we barely made it there on time with 2 minutes to spare, there were at least 5 empty tables, with no one waiting for one. Dinner and service were both below average, which is where they earned 2 stars. Our orders were taken after 20 minutes, and it took over an hour to receive our meals. Naturally, the pittance of a "bread basket" that they give you, Pepperidge Farm crackers with soft cheese spread (like the Common Man but less tasty), which I couldn't eat anyway being pregnant (as well as starving), did very little to hold you over. For our first courses, we ordered lobster bisque and beet and grilled watermelon salad. These were the highlights of the meal. The lobster bisque was filled with fresh lobster meat, which you would expect for a $16 bowl of soup. The salad was decent, though not sure that the watermelon had any grilled flavor. For dinner, the real disappointment was the chicken stuffed with fontina cheese, spinach, and prosciutto. It sounds delicious, but was served so dry that the meat was difficult to swallow. The white bean puree underneath was uninspiring and lacked flavor. The few cherry tomatoes werent roasted, just raw, and didn't make sense with the dish. Then there was sauteed spinach, difficult to screw up, but I bit into a large peppercorn! At least use a decent peppermill. My husband's rack of lamb at least was cooked medium but was unevenly seasoned. One piece was delicious but the other two had no seasoning or flavor at all. Sad to say the polenta underneath was the star of his meal. We were there from 7:30 -9:30 just to get our appetizers and entrees. Our waitress at least removed the chicken that I'd left mostly uneaten off the bill but seemed rather rushed and unconcerned with our experience. I unfortunately would not return, nor would I recommend. read more

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so good. the server was so nice and sweet. the food was phenomenal. the decor inside was so cute i love the massive cow picture. we sat near the kitchen so we got to see all the action. the food is to die for. delicious delicious DELICIOUS can't say enough good things about this restaraunt i've never had a bad meal there or a bad experience. read more

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It was good but options were very limited for those who do not eat meat. Judging from my friends dishes, meat dishes also seemed to have more thought put into them. I would try it again though as overall I had a good experience. read more

Have had several successful and amazing dinners, and am in the process of getting a reservation once again. Love the setting, the French onion soup and on more than one occasion the braised short ribs. Chef and the entire team have done an amazing job. read more

We came here for dinner after I had a miserable arrival in the States, ending up without my luggage - and it totally turned my night around! I'd hope to dress up a bit for the first meal of the holiday in a nice restaurant but luckily this is the kind of place that doesn't seem snooty about someone showing up in a sweater, jeans and converse, although would definitely go smarter if I went again! All the staff were really nice and the food more than matched my already high expectations based on other reviews. The strip steak genuinely was one of the best I've ever had - it had an outstanding level of flavour and the clincher was the accompanying potatoes and broccoli 100% matched it for care of preparation and cooking. Just a warning - the website menu was different from the menu on the night so don't get too excited about any particular option but rest assured you will find something fantastic when you get there. Definitely go here if you are in lovely Portsmouth NH! read more

Even better than we'd expected- great vibe, bit of a wait but kept updating us - friendly helpful, and the food amazing.

The hospitality is spot on, the ambience is charming, and the food is FANTASTIC! The warm corn bread with butter and honey is a great start. The mission fig salad with blue cheese is Devine as is the French onion soup. The NY strip was seasoned perfectly, well marbled, and cooked to perfection. The Duck dish was amazing! The mushroom risotto and micro greens were a great addition to the crispy skin duck. We will be back! read more

I went to Cure based on all the great reviews I saw on here as well as recommendations by some coworkers, and it did not disappoint! I sat at the bar and ordered the BBQ short rib with a Pear Moscow Mule, and both were incredible. Absolutely delicious meal and the ambiance/music, as well as Jeff the bartender made the experience relaxing and enjoyable. I will be coming back the next time I'm in Portsmouth! read more

Cure - Pineapple - Ginger Beer BBQ Short Ribs - New American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Omg great food! Lovely atmosphere & the chef was right there & so nice to us all! My whole family loved everything, but the mushroom risotto was a favorite. Drinks & dessert were all epic! Great spot for a special occasion or date! read more

Yikes! This place is over the moon and a tour de force of cuisine in Portsmouth. While this town is loaded with restaurants Cure is at the the top of the list. Flavors that go off the scale within a large selection of seasonal offerings that change often. If you're lucky Sierra will be your server. I for one fell in love with her effervescent personality and enthusiastic knowledge of what to order off their menu. I'd adopt her if I could. The best food we had in Portsmouth over the 2 days we visited. read more

We finally tried Cure and we loved it. We have been twice now. The food is fantastic. The chef knows what he is doing. We just went this past weekend and showed up early for our reservation. The young man at the front seated us and we asked to sit along the brick wall in the small dining room. He said the table was reserved. We asked to sit outside and he said there was no room. We sat along the back wall (not our favorite as the tables for two or four are side by side and you can hear other conversation) we sat and approximately 8 minutes later a table for two vacated a table along the brick wall. We should have waited for that table and gave the young man seating guests a teaching moment. Also, there were available tables outside. We sat next to two other couples on each side and one lady asked us questions about our meal. I am a people person, but there is a time and a place. Too close for comfort along that wall of tables. I may overhear a conversation, but I certainly don't interrupt and chime in on the couple. She was loud too! Anyway.....food is terrific and service is great except for the young man that needs to be coached on how to seat guests. read more

yummy.. easy to get a reservation and happy to have gotten one. Everything we had was pleasant. The chicken entree and the steak entree were extremely flavorful. read more

This is one of the best restaurants in Portsmouth. The food never disappoints, especially their short rib, French onion soup, and lobster Mac and cheese. The cocktails are excellent as well. The cure signature cocktail is fantastic. read more

One of the top restaurants in Portsmouth. Service was great and the food was outstanding. I will be back here soon :) read more

Cure - New American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Love the duck and the excellent waitstaf. I will be coming here again. Excited to go on St. Patrick's Day

My wife and I decided to try this place for date night the first time out after having our second little one. Overall we would give it 7.5 stars out of 10 but for Yelp, 4 out of 5 it is. *We very, very rarely ever give a restaurant 10 stars. The Atmosphere: Portsmouth seems to have every hole in the wall shop you can imagine. While the square footage of the establishment is on the smaller side, the table spacing is quite nice still allowing a warm and cozy feeling. The wall art is interesting with large pictures of different cows watching you eat pieces of delicious meat, but I digress. The Service: We had no complaints on the service we received. We were acknowledged immediately upon entering and seated shortly after. Our waitress came over within a couple of minutes and gave us the specials for the night and took our drink order. After ordering our food, she stopped by our table numerous times to ensure we were pleased with everything and didn't need anything else. The Food: Our drinks were probably the only lackluster experience of our evening. We both received mixed drinks before dinner but neither of them were to our liking. Probably just personal preference overall as we like our drinks a bit more strong. We ordered the buffalo duck wings which were excellent. They were cooked well and the meat really did fall off of the bone. The only negative to this is that the restaurant doesn't carry ranch dressing, but served it with blue cheese dressing. (Which I know is common for many restaurants.) We ordered the pork and chicken entrees which were also cooked very well. Great flavor overall. Interestingly enough both meals came with a sweet flavor which complimented each dish nicely. Side note: Salt had to be requested. We would most definitely try this restaurant again and can recommend it to anyone else looking as well. read more

First time at Cure and we will definitely be back! Everything was delicious from start to finish. We started with the duck drumettes, and for dinner ordered the duck and lamb entree. We finished off dinner with a chocolate peanut butter cake. I would recommend all 4 things as everything was amazing. The ambiance was perfect for a date night, and the service was great too. read more

Cure - Crispy Skinned Duck Breast - New American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

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We were going to a concert at Portsmouth Music Hall to see Gregory Porter (Awesome!). I wanted to make it a romantic evening and I thought a nice dinner would be a great start. Great food, nice service and atmosphere. Love the mushroom risotto. The beef was very tender with lots of flavor. Shared a salad with my wife which was more than enough for me. read more

Amazing dinner. Kale salad, salmon and lobster Mac and cheese all delivered on point. This place lives up to the hype.