An amazing surprise find! We stopped in Portsmouth for a few hours of sightseeing a few years ago and stumbled upon Cure for dinner. Lots of people inside, which is always a good sign They were actually full so we were seated outside. The staff is so friendly and kind, and came to check on us a lot even though we were the only ones outside. They were also sold out of their pan roasted duck breast, which sounded amazing, so we ordered French onion soup and ravioli instead. This is actually the only French onion soup I've had so no comparison, but I do think it was quite good. The ravioli though, WOW. Blew me away. I always thought ravioli was one of the more bland pastas, but I was wrong. The ravioli filling combined with the sauce was exquisite. The lightly toasted bread with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar complimented the dish perfectly. The menu seems to change seasonally as the ravioli is no longer on their current menu. I wish I could go back to try something else!! read more

Cure - New American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Portsmouth is underrated as a culinary spot, being overshadowed by Boston to the south and Portland to the north. However, spots like Cure show why you can stop in this little coastal city too. I've been here pre and post-pandemic, and it hasn't really changed. The duck breast is one of the stars at this restaurant, as it was seared nicely and not overcooked. The duck was tender and flavorful. The French onion soup is plentiful with cheese and soup, and can warm you through. The seafood casserole (special) was decent, with a creamy sauce with fresh seafood. The braised short rib is fine, though the last time I had it, the vegetables were over-seasoned and the beef was a little under-seasoned. Service was quite good, especially considering it's always busy. Julie (owner and front-of-house) is seriously hardworking and is attentive. read more

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The Cure was so cozy and yummy, we had delicious chicken quinoa soup and fresh salads. And our waitress Nicole was so friendly and accommodating. We will definitely be going back!! . read more

Service, ambience, menu choices and food quality were excellent, again. In our visits so far our party has had pork chops, lamb and salmon, and everyone was quite pleased with the preparation. The restaurant is cozy and intimate. It is our go to restaurant in Portsmouth for celebrations. read more

Came for my hubby's birthday dinner with friends. Started with the artichoke dip and the steamed mussels. The dip was delicious but the mussels didn't taste fresh and most of them weren't open. Didn't eat much of it honestly. For dinner two of us had the duck breast and one person had the NY strip and the lamb shank. The meals were good. The service was very good. read more

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My wife and I were in Portsmouth for my Birthday weekend. Cure had great service and tasty food. The restaurant is small and we were seated very close to two other couples (within arms length in each side). I could imagine this being a detriment if you want privacy, but we enjoyed the friendly banter with fellow diners. The French onion soup and our creme brulee dessert were the highlights and both were exceptional. The entrees were solid and tasty, but maybe a little too much sides for the entree that was there. read more

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Great food, ambiance, and service! Might have gotten lucky with the seat we had. Service was on point. Solid cocktails too, I ordered Cure. Highly recommend this place. read more

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Went here with my girlfriend for the first time last night, we will definitely be back. Fantastic and quick service. The restaurant had a nice cozy vibe. I got the duck, she got the lobster mac and cheese, both were cooked great and tasted amazing. Totally worth a visit. read more

Cure is such a cozy, cute spot. I brought my boyfriend here for a surprise birthday dinner with his best friend. The food was wonderfully seasoned, with something on the menu for everyone. The staff was friendly and attentive. I love how close it is to Prescott Park for a nice after dinner stroll. There's meter parking along the street, or there's a few metered lots around Portsmouth as well. read more

Quaint restaurant with wonderful service, its welcoming and cozy atmosphere lends itself to making you feel very comfortable, the crab cakes were amazing as well as every other dish that we had. From the management to the server they went the extra step to make your visit memorable. read more

Cure - Menu - New American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

1/10/26 reservation. The server was pleasant and we ordered the house specialties. The onion soup was alright however the beet salad was sad, tasteless and should have been sent back to the kitchen. The short ribs were good but tasted more like yankee pot roast than well executed wine braised short ribs. The polenta served with had the texture and taste of playdoh. The "crispy" potatoes were actually raw, completely uncooked. Also, why would you serve two starches - poor menu planning or engineering? The duck was overcooked and tough while the skin was not crisp and the accompanying sauce was a head scratcher. The overwhelming amount of garlic in the spinach rendered it inedible while the black rice risotto was gummy and just meh. Can't for the life of me understand how they have garnered such high ratings. Won't be back and don't recommend read more

The ambiance is absolutely beautiful and romantic, creating the perfect atmosphere. The food is exceptional--especially the lamb and salads, which are delightful. The staff are incredibly friendly and attentive, offering great recommendations and guiding you to the best choices with care. read more

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One of the best meals I've ever had! The bone-in pork chop was amazing as was my wife's halibut special! The service and staff are special. Highly recommend!! read more

Went here for my birthday and notified them of the special event when I made the reservation. Was seated with my partner at a tiny table with a commercial size heater blasting right on my back. It was intolerable. I asked if we could move and they definitely seemed put out and said the only table was right next to the walkway where all the servers come in and out of the kitchen. The tables are really jammed together. I noticed the owner managed to come out and chat with a table of two out of town online "influencers" but with no one else. Will not return. read more

Wow today was a first..... and I was so shocked that this happened I didn't even say something before I left, but I really think the owners should know... My colleague and I made 5pm reservations at Cure and at 6:50 10 minutes after the bill had arrived and was paid we were asked to leave rudely by one of the servers. He stated that they had another reservation and needed this table. No warning no nudge and quite frankly it was the tackiest thing that I've ever experienced from a place that was supposed to be exceptional. The worst part is my colleague is local and up until this point she was talking about the different people who needed to come here..... highly doubt that now that this incident occurred..... perhaps they only treated me that way bc it was clear I just arrived from the airport with my book bag dressed in my business suit. It is Monday night and while there were people waiting at the front for a table, there were also open tables and the other people who sat down at the same time of us hadn't been asked to leave. What's worse is that we had ordered appetizers, soups and entree. Up until this encounter everything was amazing but sadly the thing I will remember was this loud server in a purple who was taking care of the party of 8 who we were also with walk up and lower his head and say, "you have to leave I have another reservation." I actually thought he was joking at first. But he wasn't.... The people we were with said we could sit with them but I was so embarrassed by the entire encounter I just headed back to the hotel. I wish there was a separate view for the food verse the wait staff. I just know I won't be coming back the rest of this week with our other visitors and will make sure that I let others know what to expect. Maybe they should just put an hour glass on the table instead of doing what they did. It wasn't even 7pm! It's 8:26 and I hope the people who took our table are almost finished bc they are on the timer! What's worse is I had taken picks of my meal ready to write a great review but instead I'm writing about this..... ugh..... I hope the owner is able to use this as a teaching moment and maybe I will hear back? read more

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Adding this restaurant to my list of favorites in Portsmouth. Cosy but not too cramped. The food was interesting, delicious and ample portions. Great service and very friendly staff. Scrumptious appetizers of mushroom toast and cod fish latke are a must try. Had the short ribs as a main dish - delicious. My only issue the wine selections by the glass did not really match up to the standard of food. The chef really can bring it..... read more

Great food and really attentive service. Food was well prepared and tasty. Great assortment of Mocktails too!

Very intimate ambiance with unique drinks and scrumptious food. The service was a little slow but I give them grace as our server got three tables at once and we didn't mind waiting a bit. My only complaint is that everything on the menu sounded delicious so I had a hard time choosing. I would definitely go back! read more

Cure - French onion soup, appetizer crab cake, and chicken with green beans and potatoes. - New American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Visited Portsmouth a few weeks ago and had to check out this spot based on the reviews. My husband and I loved it. Ambiance was intimate and the staff were attentive and knew the menu well. We shared the lobster bisque, goat cheese croquettes, lobster mac and cheese, and duck. We also had a crème brûlée for dessert. The lobster bisque was delicious and not too heavy. The mac and cheese was special and definitely some of the best I've had with an authentic creamy cheese flavor and good sized lobster bites in it. The duck was well cooked with a paired risotto that was delicious. Would definitely come back! Definitely make a reservation on Yelp if you can! The photos definitely speak for themselves! read more

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If you haven't yet made a visit to Cure, I'd highly recommend you put this restaurant on your to do list. I've eaten there three times now and they have yet to disappoint. I'd first like to recommend their mussel appetizer. The broth is unique in that they use a very nice in house sausage to add that special extra flavor making this appetizer a 10. It goes without saying that you just can't go to Cure without ordering the mushroom appetizer...it's incredible getting much of its flavor from the truffle oil, shaved Parmesan and that bread...OMG! Some other awesome appetizers I'd highly recommend include the duck drumsticks confit style, the escargot and the goat cheese croquettes. As for Main courses, their nightly special is usually a very good choice. Usually fish and very fresh. I had an incredible blackened swordfish the other night that was to die for. Service is always excellent and the food is consistently great. Check 'em out! Bon appétit This place isn't very big and you WILL need to make reservations well in advance. read more

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All of the food was cooked wonderfully. I had the scallop special and was very satisfied. My husband tried the duck (duck instead of his thing, but it was exactly as it should be. The waitstaff was friendly and attentive. The decor fits the vibe. I wouldn't rave telling my friends they have to go there, but it's a great spot for those of you lucky to live in downtown Portsmouth. read more

Awesome dinner. We have been before and had high expectations. They were met! My drinks were awesome, I had the duck which was delicious, my friend had the lamb chops which were terrific and for an appetizer we had the home made corn bread which is mind blowing. Go, this place is great. read more

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Ordered their pork chop..very disappointed..over cooked..fatty..a cheap cut of meat Restaurant is very overrated.

My husband and I are moving from Florida to Portsmouth NH. We are trying to find new places to establish our new circle of favorite food places. Glad to say this one will make the list. Everything we tried had amazing flavor. Sorry waited too long to complete this but we will be back and I'll do a better job reviewing this place. read more

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Excellent service and food. Loved the cocktails. Short ribs were really good!! Great atmosphere and location in town.

Amazing food here. Everything was so well seasoned and flavorful. The chorizo mussels were particularly delicious as well as the pork chop.

My husband and I were at Cure for our anniversary dinner in Portsmouth. The food was absolutely delicious and they served the best risotto I've ever had! The cocktails were amazing and the service was spot on! We had the steak tips and potatoes and the scallops and risotto with asparagus. We didn't have a reservation and were pleased that they could get us a table quickly. I don't usually take three photos of a dining experience, but it was so good I had too! read more

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I had an overcooked steak Saturday I was with 3 other people making it disruptive to return it. read more

We had a reservation and had to wait a bit when we arrived. We didn't mind at all but when we did sit, I believe the manager, brought us over the cornbread with hot honey drizzle! Ummmmm absolutely delicious and a must have. Literally didn't know cornbread could be this good- a little spice added to the experience. I enjoyed the escargot and my husband devoured the French onion soup. I tasted it. Wow! For dinner I chose the short rib and my husband the rib eye steak. I basically licked the plate- okay so I'm better than that... but you get the idea! We were sadly too full for dinner. Bummer! But I did get two tasty drinks. 1. Pom-mosa... Prosecco and pomegranate liquor. And 2. The pear mule. My husband had the cure- a whiskey drink. The exposed brick was lovely. We were sat near the open concept kitchen. I didn't love the location but my husband did. The waitress, I wish I could remember her name, was polite and helpful and not over bearing! If we are ever in town again- and I hope we are- we will return to Cure. read more

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Loved the Short Rib dinner here! The curry mussels are a must try! Nice ambience for a date.

We came from Boston based on the stellar reviews. I think if I stumbled on this place after a day of shopping I would have been more pleased, but it wasn't good enough to drive an hour for. I would give it 3.5 stars for the food and 4.5 for the service, settling at 4. The cornbread isn't as good as everyone says. It was fine, but not life changing. It wasn't super moist and it wasn't warm. My French onion soup had less broiled cheese than I'm accustomed to, but it was delicious nonetheless. His simple salad was fresh and simple, as advertised. He loved his pork chop. It came with a really yummy bread pudding and extremely mediocre Brussels Sprouts. My entree was the Mahi Mahi special. My fish was cold and it wasn't helped by the cold tomato that was poured on top. I asked for it to be reheated and it was, but then it was just kinda sad and dry. But I ate it and didn't complain because I already had. Perhaps they should've given me a new piece. The thin piece of fish maybe couldn't handle two cooks. It tasted fine. Asparagus and polenta cake were both perfectly cooked and delicious. We split the chocolate peanut butter cake, which was a bit like an undercooked brownie and tasted good. He drank wine. They have a long list of extremely reasonably priced options. I drank a Sazerac and the rosemary gimlet. Neither of my drinks were great, but they passed. The atmosphere is very relaxed Portsmouth-y. Nothing fancy here. Paper napkins, normal flat wear and low grade, old glassware. Great service and personable staff. In hindsight, I really wish I tried the duck. People raved about it in the reviews. But they also raved about the cornbread, so who knows? read more

Cure - Cornbread - New American Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Such amazing service! I messed up the reservation but the host managed to find us a table anyway (phew!). Very enjoyable meal, our selections guided by our very bubbly waitress. Would recommend for any occasion read more

Amazing! Food, service and ambience were outstanding. We ate at the bar as we did not have a reservation and the bartender Brian provided wonderful entertainment as well as service. We will definitely eat here again when we are in the area. read more

my fillet steak was overcooked and had a salty disgusting sauce. I was with friends and didn't want to send it back but it was disgusting. The potatoes were ok. The Brussels sprouts were crispy but unremarkable. several months earlier, with friends we had a very enjoyable tasty meal. unfortunately this wasn't. it wasn't worth $300 + tip. read more

Went tonight for the first time. Had the lobster bisque which had large fresh chunks of lobster in it. I saw this advertised on Phantom Gourmet, and I was very impressed tonight. For the main I had the Korean Short rib and my date had the lobster Mac and cheese. Very impressed with the vibe and looking forward to going back. Friendly service, certainly need a reservation. read more

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

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Oh My God.... Portsmouth has a lot of things going for it...but this, Cure, is something along the lines of Michelin Star meets American comfort. The restaurant itself is quaint with all the rustic charm deserving a Portsmouth landmark. The service - I don't know that I can adequately describe how tuned in this team was. From the first person you met, to the bartender, to the hostess and kitchen staff (we had a good view) - this place operates as one. In an era of dysfunctional restaurant service marred by overburdened staff, the team at Cure seemed to revel on dinner service - genuinely something to marvel at. The owner should be super proud. No job was too big or too small for anyone. Loved seeing it. The food - 10 out of 5. From the tapenade appetizer to the duck breast, lobster Mac and creme brûlée - amazing quality with portion sizes that were perfect. I wanted more, but knew I had enough. Wine list was more than ample - and prices that were shockingly low. Now, I might be letting the cat out of the bag per-say, but the best part, the stunner, for the meal we enjoyed and the service we received - the prices are at some level cheap. My wife and I get out some and this place is a true treasure. If you're in Portsmouth and can a table, you owe it to yourself. Tip of the hat to the staff - honestly, the best I have seen in action in many years and a couple of continents.... Well Done All read more

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Wow Cure is SO good. Be sure to make a reservation in advance, especially if there is only outdoor dining available. Space is limited! We had lobster bisque a few times during our Northeast road trip, and the bisque at Cure was by the far the best. In fact, this is probably the the best bisque I've ever tried. My hubs wasn't super hungry so only ordered bisque as his main, and when he said 'just the bisque' our server joked that the experience would be so much more than 'just the bisque'. She was SO right !! We also shared some kind of cheesy bacon date creation and it was phenomenal. For my main I went with salmon over couscous. The salmon was crispy and sweet and had the most perfect sear. It was all served over the most delicious sauce. I only ate one meal during a short stay in Portsmouth and I am so happy that meal was at Cure! read more

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Had an amazing meal at Cure with some family; it was all our first time there. No complaints whatsoever and we had... Mushroom Soup, Stuffed Dates, Wedge Salad, Chicken & Waffles, Lamb Chop, Pork Chop, and the Duck. Everything was exceptional and my favorites were the Forbidden Risotto and their take on a Wedge Salad, which was the best of each category I've ever had (and I get a Wedge anytime I see one on a menu). Our Waiter was very good as well, a pro for sure who knows his stuff. Nice work, we will be back! read more

Dinner was delicious. The staff was attentive and had solid recommendations. My wife's cocktail was great and my mock tail was yummy. The buffalo duck was amazing. read more

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Made reservations and were able to have a seat right at our reservation time. I had the Pan Roasted Duck Breast. it came with: Black forbidden rice-mushroom risotto, wilted baby spinach, white wine-balsamic beurre blanc. Lovely lovely lovely. Order the corn bread. Unfortunately did not have room for dessert but was very tempted. The eating area has art which I enjoyed looking at. Bar area is super funky and I would have loved to sit there as well. read more