The food was good but the service was HORRIBLE. Our waitress gave us our food and NEVER came back - not even once to check on us. After sitting & staring at empty plates and water glasses for 30 minutes (not an exaggeration) we had to ask a different waitress for our check & to go boxes. read more

The oysters on the half shell are very good. They always have a new shipment and various kinds. The lobster roll is very fresh and one of my favorites. read more

Excellent meal and service. Great wine list veal and short ribs were delicious. Ferrow could have had a bit more flavor. Desserts were decadent. Always love a restaurant that has espresso and cappuccino. read more

We were staying at the Exeter Inn and had two breakfasts and one dinner here. Only reason for one dinner is because his beef come out well done instead of medium rare and I ate my meal before his was done....that was awkward. They did comp the meal so that was nice. Thankfully everything tasted fantastic and nothing else was wrong. We would go back! read more

this was not an enjoyable experience. i expected it to be. we ate in the bar. first, my martini was tiny, i think from now on i will ask not to get the shaker when i order a martini. it was metal so i couldn't see through it but there was like 1/2 of what i think there should have been. their glasses aren't shallow like classic martini glasses so i thought maybe it just looked that way but i don't think so. the staff was obviously troubled. i could tell as they were having a loud conversation about it. it was saturday night but not busy. the waitress was wearing so much perfume it was sickening. it interferes with the smell of the food & is unpleasant in general. also, the staff in general seemed to have a stick up their ass. really nice places make you feel welcome no matter what you look like & whatever. they were unaccommodating & became too flustered when something went wrong. in addition, i don't think i saw our order being written down, that would've helped. my hamburger didn't come the way i ordered it. there was tomato on it & one of the pieces had the hard thing in the center. no one leaves that there. i had to cut it out with my butter knife. this is one of those places that charges extra for fries so your burger or whatever comes with these burned gross homemade "chips". my hamburger would have been okay except for all the salt. there was so much salt on everything that it ruined it. last but not least the stupid ketchup. i don't use it but you get a tiny ketchup all to yourself with the plastic band on there which is difficult to get off. i had to write this at 5am because i woke up and thought to myself-i will not get back to sleep unless i get this off my chest. read more

A bit expensive, but I don't mind paying because the food is delicious. Service is adequate, it could be more prompt, the waitress was not the most attentive. Great place for a nice date or if you are looking for yummy food that won't disappoint. read more

Went here for dinner with my parents - I'm not sure if it was an off night since there was a wedding reception tonight or what but this place was a huge disappointment. Service was very slow, the food was bland and when there was a mix up with one of our orders it took 20minutes. We started off with a cheese plate and a bottle of wine. We finished the cheese plate, which for the price had a small amount of cheese on it, before we got the wine we ordered. Our main courses came around a half hour after that. The fish dish was mostly potatoes and empty mussel shells, the butternut squash ravioli was dry, chewy and had no seasoning, the vegitable rissotto was bland with a thick layer of part cheese on top. My mother asked for a side of rissotto with her beef dinner. It did not come out and after she finished. I was really looking forward to going here after hearing good things about this place but for the price and the experience I would not suggest this place over the great places in the area. read more

We went for breakfast after spending the night at the Exeter Inn. I have a few food allergies and know that this can be complicated. I was careful to tell the waitress the specifics of my allergies before placing my order. I told her what I would like, but asked if it was free of allergens for me. She said, "I think so." This usually means double-checking with the kitchen staff. Apparently, she did not because I was sick within 30 minutes of eating breakfast. I will say that the food tasted great, but the waitress really needs more education on food allergies and sensitivities. Fortunately, my allergies are not life threatening. read more

As restauranteurs ourselves, with an excellent reputation, I was prepared for a nice meal but honestly, not for a GREAT meal. The beef Tournado was amazing. I could literally cut it with a fork. My husband had the Ahi which had the most amazing sides. So creative. To top it off, our host JP is the only Master Sommelier in New Hampshire. Wow. What a lovely evening. read more

Epoch Gastropub - A half order of the beef Tournado - Bars Near Me - Exeter, New Hampshire

Really enjoyed our dinner last night. We were there for about 3 hours, service was a bit slow. Fried pickles and onion strings were very crisp and hot when served. I had the seasonal salad. The greens were very fresh and it was a great portion. A bit heavy on the vinegar. For dinner Short Rib Pappardelle. It was very good. The meat was very tender and not a bit of fat. The only critisim with the main dish is that the top layer was a bit cold, but was warmer underneath, although still not hot enough. Waiter was great. Overall, a great night. read more

The restaurant was terribly understaffed. We finally left because they were too busy to take our order. Fire the manager!

First time at Epoch. My husband is in a wheelchair, so I called to get entry info. Perfect! Arianna waited our table. Not only do I have a specific martini choice, but love blue cheese stuffed olives. She pulled the pimento and stuffed them! So sweet and accommodating - she is a great person to have on board. So pleasant. Thank you for a nice experience! The meal was great! read more

I've eaten at Epoch many times...always a very good meal. I like the fact that the menu changes with the seasons. Many main dishes are available in half portions for those who don't have great appetites. The wine list is unusual and interesting. Highly recommended. read more

I want to preface this post by saying that I am a diner. We eat out alot at alot of different places. We went here for Easter Brunch 2013 and it was really bad. The food was cold and the sides lacked creativity and flavor. Even the meats from the carving station were cold, and over cooked. The service was fine. At $37 per head for a brunch, I expect a better overall experience. Frankly I probably would not have even written this review and chocked it up to an off day but for the fact that the manager never even called back when we called to express our concerns. That's just plain unprofessional. I've eaten dinner here too and it was hit or miss. There are better options for your money in the area, even in Exeter for that matter. Don't bother with Epoch. read more

Epoch was not so epic. When paying $30 an entree, there is an certain level of service that is expected. The server was unprofessional. It appeared as if she had never worked as a server. We came for dinner, but due to the quality of the appetizers (poutine that had unmelted, cold cheese and shishito peppers that were underwhelming) we decided to pay the bill and move on. The server seemed relieved that we were leaving. The restaurant space has great potential and it is sad their food and service where so disappointing. read more

This place is excellent! Totally under-rated! Went there some time ago with my family and we couldn't believe the high quality and beautiful atmosphere. Highly recommend! read more

I have to apologize that it did not occur to me to write this review sooner, because every meal we have ever had here has been absolutely superlative, from buffet brunches, to off the menu breakfasts, to casual meals in the lounge, to lunches in the dining room, to dinners in the dining room, and to special holiday dinners in the dining room. The food and drinks are absolutely perfect, from quality of ingredients and preparation, to taste, presentation,and portion size. The service is consistently lovely, as is the setting and ambiance. I commented to my friend that "I don't know why we even bother going anywhere else." It is rare to find a place where you can always count on excellence to perfection. read more

Came here with my mother for brunch and had a fantastic experience. The food was great (eggs cooked perfectly, stellar biscuit). Service matched or surpassed the food. Our server was warm, efficient and accommodating. Also an amazing value--only about $10 per entree. Highly recommend. read more

Myself and seven others went to this restaurant last night. From the beginning everything was fine until we got our food. My burger and my sisters burgers were very good. But they messed up two chicken Caesar salads , two of the what were supposed to be pastas, were not very excellent. Once we were ready to pay we waited 20 minutes to get our bills, and then when they were finally brought back they decided to ask if we wanted change, we waited another 15 or so minutes waiting for our change, we finally decided to ask the host to go see what's going on, almost 5 minutes later we got our change. 30 Minutes waiting for the whole bill transaction was outrageous, especially considering there were not a lot of people there, and I've been to plenty of places that were packed to the point of no more seating and the most I've waited for a bill transaction was 10minutes at the most. It's safe to say I nor the rest of my party will be visiting this restaurant again. read more

Service among the worst ever seen anywhere. I had a reservation and showed up on time, then stood at the host stand 10 minutes being ignored by 3 or 4 waiters. The restaurant was very empty. Finally seated, another 20 minutes went by before we were asked for a drink order. 10 minutes later, we had to ask again. My drink was wrong and it took more time to be replaced. Somewhere in there we did order and I will give the food a good review. I enjoyed everything - it was well prepared, to order, and hot. Whatever the service problem was, it seriously needs to get fixed. read more

Went to Epoch for lunch today. Food was delicious. Had a great waiter named Tyler who made the lunch most pleasant. Also tried their beignets & they were so delicious. I highly recommend. read more

My boyfriend and I stayed at the Exeter Inn for a mini weekend trip and we had dinner at Epoch, which was fantastic. The food was delicious and the wait staff could not have been more pleasant. The restaurant's ambiance was comfortable and sophisticated, if I make a trip back up to NH, I would definately go back there. It gets 4 stars because although the food was great, we were basically the only people in the restaurant, must have just been a slow night. read more

This was the place to have a great birthday dinner after the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy art show and auction in Exeter! The bar was really vibrant, and most of the people there on this Friday night were in the bar or lounge. We had the three course resturant week meal. My wifes Lamb was perfect, and my Hake was some of the best I have had. read more

We went for Easter brunch today. Absolutely awful. The only eggs available were in the form of a frittata which was burnt to the bottom of the pan. Limp asparagus. Cheese plate...not exciting. Salad drowned in dressing. Bacon and under cooked sausage. The rest of the options looked disgusting. Went to the coffee station. No cream. When I finally flagged down our server, she told me that she asked her manager to refill the cream. I asked her if she could bring me 3 of them when they were available and she rolled her eyes. Then she vanished. I was completely finished with my lousy meal by the time cream was available. She did not bring any to me. At that point my coffee was cold. When the server finally came to our table after being gone for almost a half hour, my brother in law politely asked for a refill on his water. Another eye roll and a huge sigh. Sorry we inconvenienced you, considering that you only served us juice, plus the attitude, you totally didn't earn the 10% my mother in law left. I'm so glad I didn't pay. The bill, including the 10% tip was $250. Break that 4 ways... $62.50 each...for lousy food and a server with an attitude problem. Will NEVER go back. That whole experience was ridiculous. read more

We are lucky to have such a fantastic restaurant in Exeter. The food is outstanding, and the wine selection is one of the best on the Seacoast, if not the best. I am always happy with my experience at Epoch, whether it be Sunday Brunch, evening drinks at the bar, or a dinner out with my husband. The waitstaff is attentive and helpful with wine selection and other recommendations. If you haven't tried it, do! You will return. read more

Service was exceptional. We had heard great things about waiter Jamison, but were wowed by Greg. He was wonderful! As were the appetizers, and the setting. The entrees were a bit of a disappointment. We will go back again, but maybe stick to the smaller plates. read more

My husband and I went for our anniversary. Very few people were there on a Monday evening. Or was it because the food is mediocre, the portions small, no little basket of rolls or olives and ANYTHING was presented, and the service people seemed disinterested? We are not complainers at all and both reacted the same way. At our home we serve pieces of salmon twice that size and they taste exactly the same. read more

If you want slow service, bad dishes and loud music it might be the place for you. The restaurant is attached to the wedding reception hall. If you go here during a wedding expect to hear very loud and annoying music in the dinning room. When the food finally came out the order was wrong. The portions are small and the food very bland. It took the server 20 minutes to clear out plates after we had finished eating. Overall a very bad experience, if you are in the area just head to Portsmouth. There are much better dinning options. read more

Just had lunch and the menu is limited at that time of day but what a great burger! It was large and perfectly cooked. The hand-cut fries were a bit on the done side but still good. The beef in the burger was better than anything ever sold to me as "Kobi beef" and this beef wasn't advertised to be anything special. It was. The beer selection was strange. Everything on tap was spiced or fruity. A good, local IPA would have sure been great with that burger. The style of this restaurant is rather modern for a place as classic as the Exeter Inn. Switching to a name like "Epoch" I expected they'd degenerated into food silliness but I was pleasantly surprised. It was actually quite good. read more

We went to Epoch last night for Portsmouth, NH Restaurant Week. We have been to Epoch 3 or 4 times in the past and have always been unimpressed by the food and the slow service. We decided to try it again, as we had not been back since they changed chefs and the menu for restaurant week looked interesting. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed. In a word, the meals from the Restaurant Week menu were awful! The hostess started the evening by announcing that the bread was made at the restaurant. The bread provided to the table was dry and tasteless. For the first course, my wife had the "spring salad" which was a few pieces each of carrots, beats, pea pods, onions, as well as a few pieces of baby greens on a bed of cocoa nibs (to simulate dirt.) It was tiny and everything was covered in the "dirt." I had the mussels in tomato broth. The tomato broth had the consistency and flavor of canned tomato soup. Multiple mussels did not open, and it was warm at best. The piece of garlic bread that came with it was tiny and not very garlicky. For the second course, my wife had the miso black cod. The piece of fish we received did not resemble any other black cod that we have had. It was likely just run of the mill cod. It was mushy and tasteless, and served over starchy, mushy peas. The dish was inedible and was sent back. The restaurant did offer to take it off the check, which was the appropriate thing to do. My second course was the prosciutto wrapped monkfish. The prosciutto was pale and tasteless. If it wasn't labeled as such on the menu, I wouldn't have know it was prosciutto. The fish itself was pretty flavorless, but at least it wasn't mushy. It sat on a bed of butter beans and spring onions in a bacon emulsion. That was flavorless as well, with no hint of bacon. For the dessert course, my wife had the chocolate peanut butter tart with pretzels and whipped Guinness beer. It was not a tart by any stretch of the imagination. It was a thin layered log of a fudge like chocolate and peanut butter with pretzels sticking out making it look like a caterpillar. The whipped Guinness was no where to be found. It was too sweet and again, not a tart. I had the brioche pain perdu. The two french toast slices sat in a nutella based syrup/sauce with some firm, with a few banana slices and whole hazel nuts. The dish was ok at best. The service was also very slow, despite the restaurant being far from full. We have experienced this here before. The only reason why I gave two stars is because my 11 year old son did not order off of the restaurant week menu and got the tuna tartar to start which was good. We both tried it as well. He then had the steak frites. The frites were ok. The steak was a grilled sirloin with blue cheese on top and a red wine glaze. He ordered it medium-well, because like most kids he is a bit iffy about seeing anything more than a little pink hue to meat, but it came rare. Fortunately he didn't complain and actually liked it. We both tasted his steak and it was very good. So, all in all, it was a very poorly executed meal on multiple levels. We will not be returning. read more