You know when you walk into a place and you know there's a bunch of locals and you don't fit in... And you're always trying to get the waitress's attention.. this isn't one of those places. Yes it is a local place. Complete with cards and games and people knowing each other by the first name. But when we came in we were greeted right away given a nice table and the service was fantastic. To give you an example, I asked for mayonnaise that my wife forgot and it was there before I could get back to the table. We had some pretty simple food here. A couple of cheeseburgers with fries.. really loved how they did the fries. The cheeseburgers were thick and you could tell they weren't pre-made. Really makes the place is the friendly staff.. very attentive and right on the ball. Okay this is five stars but it's a hamburger and pizza place with a lot of locals.. it's five star because the people make it that way. We'll be back to try the pizza! read more

We love a quick stop at Ma's cafe! Such great staff, they make you feel like family! Good food and great people! read more

Ma's Cafe & Tavern - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Northwood, New Hampshire

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I just moved to the area and was optimistic eating at Ma's due to the reviews. The ambiance is nice and matches the advertised vibe. Service was okay. The food was alright, but when I order a Panini, it shouldn't be on toasted white bread. Standard Sysco fries. It was annoying that the surface of our table wasn't flat. I don't think the food was worth what I paid. Overall mediocre experience. read more

If I could give 0 stars I absolutely would. This was one of the worst restaurant experiences I've had in a long time. Every single food item we received had something wrong with it. Ma's wings? - ordered "bang bang" style which we were advised were a slightly spicy dry rub. Came out with the rub ON THE SIDE in a cup. They brought them back out with the rub on them, and it tasted like straight brown sugar. Also asked for blue cheese with it, and that took 5+ minutes after we got our food to receive. Fried pickles? - did not taste homemade at all, batter was super soggy. Small portions. Chicken bacon ranch "panini"? - came out as a grilled cheese with chicken bacon ranch. No press used to get the typical panini ridges. Asked for my fries to be well done, and they were barely cooked. Safe to say, we did not finish our food and will not be returning. Can't believe this place is rated so highly. read more

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Met up with a friend here as its halfway between us. Cozy homey atmosphere! Server was very nice and welcoming. The chicken fingers were excellent with a nice crust. The onion rings were just ok, they were a little greasy and a little undercooked. Salisbury steak was good with a nice gravy. We wanted something sweet at the end and the server brought us 2 cute little cupcakes. It was a real nice experience! read more

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Ma's Cafe & Tavern has relocated again, back in Northwood! They officially reopened at the former Woods Grille, their 4th spot on April 17, 2025. They were formerly located in Deerfield, which was a smaller space than their newest location. Before they were in Deerfield, they were located at 2 other spots in Northwood as Ma's An Mine including their original location to the east, which opened in 2014, but sadly had a fire in 2015. They reopened in late 2015 in the former Chinese restaurant(s)/soon to be a Mexican restaurant building to the west for a short period before relocating to Deerfield in 2019. I've been to those other three incarnations with good dining experiences. Anyways, Ma's Cafe & Tavern in open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a casual setting. They offer a full service dining room and full service bar with a modern rustic country feel. There are flatscreen TVs and a digital jukebox, table seating, seating at the bar and lounge chair seating. The breakfast menu offerings include eggs, omelets, breakfast sandwiches, breakfast burritos, pancakes, waffles, homemade hash, biscuits & gravy, & sides. The lunch menu offers sandwiches, wraps, paninis, subs, salads, and fried foods. The dinner menu offers burgers, pizzas, a variety of chicken dishes (tenders, teriyaki stir fry, smothered chicken, creamy sundried tomato & spinach, grilled chicken & veggies), Salisbury steak, and spaghetti & meatballs. The prices seem fair. I stopped by Ma's Cafe for lunch on my way to the Seacoast. I walked in and was able tp seat myself at an open table. The server arrived with menu and I aaked for ice water. My first choice (pasta dish) was not available until after 4pm, so I took about 3 minutes to decide on a Turkey Sandwich with Fries ($7.99 plus tax) and a Side of Homemade Corned Beef Hash ($5.50 plus tax). My food came out in under 10 minutes. The turkey sandwich was good, very basic with sliced deli turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo on soft wheat bread. The golden fries were very hot. The hash was grilled flat with shredded corned beef & potato, tasted pretty good, modest in size. After I was done, the server cleared my table and brought out the check with Toast QR code, $13.96 with tax and before tip. The food overall tasted pretty good, nothing fancy. I will have to come back later in the day just for the dinner selections. read more

Yelp reviews brought us to Ma's. Not too many choices in the area but Ma's was way better than last resort. She had the grilled chicken Caesar wrap and loved it. The chicken was hot, the dressing plentiful and tasty and the wrap grilled on the outside. I had the corned beef Reuben which was really good - flavorful, tender and nicely grilled. Iced coffees finished our lunches and we left happy. Server was attentive, restaurant and bathrooms clean. What more could we want for lunch? read more

Found this cafe for breakfast on Yelp while passing through the area. Service was prompt and our breakfast choices prepared perfectly. Both the owner and our waitress were pleasant and attentive. Loved the comfy seating options and fun decor. Would definitely recommend and return again. read more

Was excited to see what was replacing the Woods Grill (which was great). Confusion from the start as you are not greeted at the door but expected to find the wait people who will then seat you. The menus were not clear what was included (roast beef sandwich said only lettuce- no cheese?). Four of us ordered and drinks came out fairly quick. Was told they were out of provolone cheese. Took a while before waitress came out and said "Sorry, we're out of tortillas so no quesadilla unless we want to wait 20 minutes to get more" so that order was changed. Waited quite a bit and food came out. My sandwich and my wife's wrap came very lonely on their plates. Waitress explained they were out of chips and said she would bring a bowl of fries out no extra charge. Those took 10 minutes. Meals were okay. One person got a lava cake but the lava was hard to find and none of us could determine what flavor cake it was. Meanwhile, we watched two adults eating while they had to wait for the pizza to come out for their young kids. Finally, when we got the bill the waitress was happy to share that even though she added the next table to our bill(!) she caught it and credited the difference. I don't often check the breakdown of the bill and probably would have paid and wondered how it was so much. All this to say, it was a disappointing experience. Not unpleasant but clear that they need more management like keeping up inventory, training staff, and better organization. I would give them another try in the future to see if they get better but if a repeat happens we definitely won't be back. read more

Great food good service. Atmosphere very welcoming. Keno a plus. Can't wait to come for breakfast read more

Ma's Cafe & Tavern - Mas specialty pizza - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Northwood, New Hampshire

The atmosphere was very nice, rustic and casual. Not too noisy at this time, Sunday at noon. Service was fine until we were seated at our permanent table and served. After that, no one checked in with us or picked up the check after my friend placed it on the table with her card in plain sight. It was not terribly busy. After 10 minutes or so, she took it to the register as she needed to get going. We were very disappointed in the BLTs so I guess if I go there again I'll order something that other people really liked. The sandwiches were very small, like it was Wonder bread, and there wasn't much in there. I wish I had taken a photo of it. A note to Ma: Up your game and spring for artisan bread, get really good bacon, and teach your cook how to make a good BLT. If you're not sure, go to the Roundabout on the Portsmouth traffic circle and order a club or a BLT. They know how to make a great sandwich. I would have gladly paid more, a lot more (than $8), for a good sandwich like that. read more

The hamburger that I got came with carmelized and red onions, mushrooms, avocado, bacon, and lettuce and a brioche bun. It was delicious. I was impressed by the fresh quality of all the ingredients. The bacon is the best I've gotten on a sandwich in years. Very tasty. There was a generous amount of fresh avocado on top and also generous amount of mushrooms and delicious carmelized onions. Even the piece of lettuce on top tasted like it came from a local farm. Service was friendly and attentive. I liked the ambiance of the place. Spacious, seat yourself after ordering at the counter. read more

Ma's Cafe & Tavern - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Northwood, New Hampshire

Some of the best food I have ever had and I have been to multiple Gordon restorers and I can say without a doubt that this food is better than some of that food. The atmosphere is great and all the waitresses are so nice. One of the best dining experiences I have ever had. read more

Great food. Service is good. With a great family ambiance. Trivia open mic and events for the kiddos!!

Sometimes you just want a real burger in a no-frills spot--and Ma's Café hit the mark on a Monday night. The place was buzzing with energy, thanks to a lively game of trivia in full swing as I walked in and grabbed a seat at the bar. The crowd was cheerful, and the draft beer selection looked solid. I ordered the Cowboy Burger--stacked with BBQ sauce, crispy onion rings, bacon, and a thick, high-quality patty all tucked into a brioche bun. It was delicious, generously portioned, and satisfying at $16. I was a little surprised the fries were an extra $1, but they came out hot, golden, and perfectly cooked--worth it. The women behind the counter were friendly and welcoming from the moment I arrived. Their genuine service added to the café's warm, rustic charm. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm craving a great burger in a relaxed, local spot. Thanks, Ma's, for delivering exactly what I needed. read more

I love the cozy relaxing atmosphere they have created. The food is delicious with a wide choices of foods. The waiting staff will always check on you, to ensure you have everything you need. And good prices . read more

Being honest with customers for starters! Saturday evening visit, waiter took drink order, we ordered a pizza and was told they weren't serving pizza this evening. Perhaps he should have declared that before taking a drink order. This place won't be around for much longer based on other reviews! read more

Staff is inattentive, food is subpar with long wait times. Took a while for waitress to come over and take our drink order. We hedged our bets (and had been waiting long enough) that we ordered both food and drink at the same time. Coffee tasted burnt and watery at the same time. We asked for more creamers and never got them. I had to go to a different table that recently left and took their leftovers. Wait for food was unwarranted for breakfast food. Once food arrived we had to ask for silverware because we never got any. Food tasted and looked like it was a freezer meal. No one checked in after we received food our food. Only thing that was prompt was getting the check, go figure. Would not recommend. read more

I ordered the Route 4 with chicken & tots. It was picture perfect BUT I was so hungry & it looked so good, I forgot to take a picture ‍ I ate the entire meal which I never do, it was delicious. I ordered the basil aioli & highly recommend it for tot dipping. Atmosphere was relaxed as we sat on a couch and enjoyed lunch with a glass of wine & beer. If you like supporting locally owned restaurants & delicious burgers...you need to give this spot a try. read more

Love this place. Wait staff is great. Food is fantastic. veggie omelet has fresh veggies in it big enough so you know what veggies they are. Coffee is endless and excellent. also great for lunch and dinner read more

My wife and I headed out to Woods Grill tonight to give them a try and enjoy some live music. The layout is a bit rustic with small tables and several longer counters for customers. Not sure it's ideal but we got lucky and found a small table near the bar. Service was order at the bar and they brought our food to our table (reasonably quick). Very friendly staff that always swung by to see how we were doing. My wife had the pulled pork totchos with Mac&cheese ($22) and I had fish tacos (3 with blackened mahi-mahi-very good!) $14.50. Plus very large cookies for dessert $4.50 Smuttynose draft cost $8 and Blue Moon bottle cost $6. Ample servings on the food. I think only the setup keeps me from 5 stars but we'll be back! read more

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We really enjoyed having dinner here! We were visiting family and my aunt and uncle suggested it as it's nearby. They do the best with burgers, but they have other options too. Any of their sandwiches/burgers you can get vegetarian or vegan. Make sure you get the tots and try one (or more) of their incredibly tasty aiolis. The staff was very friendly from top to bottom and went out of their way to make us feel at home. They have a great selection of beer and wine, including a lot of location brewers. You have to order and pick up from the counter, but servers are always around to help you at your table if you need it. A fun space! read more

Walked in tonight at 7:58pm, they advertised that they are opened until 9. After 5 minutes of staring at the menu in the entryway, a woman approached us and advised that their "grill is closed because they lost their dishwasher". We had a great burger there recently with just okay service, but they clearly need to get their shite together. read more

Everything was really good! Music playing was good, nice little bar, etc. Drinks and food came out in decent timing and customer service was phenomenal! 10/10 recommend read more

Ma's Cafe & Tavern - White Russian L - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Northwood, New Hampshire

Excellent pizza, friendly people and a very attentive waitstaff. Everything that i have ever had there has been very tasty.

Always a great dinner when I'm in the area. Had a dinner of tacos and a wonderful salad. Definitely will be back.

4 of us were seated, music was sway up. Waitress came and we asked for it to be toned down. She took our drink order and did turn it down. We got drinks, asked for water and informed her one of us was allergic to peanuts and legumes. It is a life death allergy. She seemed disconnected, I thin we do use peanut oil. When she came to take our order, we had to ask again and she confirmed. Received our food after a twenty minutes wait and no water which we had asked for when we got our drinks. Meals arrived burger was over cooked, but soggy, no onion rings as the menu stated.. Greek salad limp spinach, 3 pieces of tomatoes, teaspoon of feta and no olives. Way over priced. Wrong dressing, I had to get up and ask for waters and correct dressing. No check in from waitress. We had to get up and order another round. Waitress arrived with bill, I mentioned the olives, she got upset and said she had to redo the bill and get her boss. No boss showed up. We will never return. Awful read more

I would have posted pictures but I ate it to fast. Wood burger was outstanding!! Can't wait to come back. Great food , atmosphere and service!!! Thank you. read more

Forgot to write my review we stopped by one day for lunch I got the special on the board chicken pie it should of been vegetable pie no crust on pie no problem two pieces of chicken the size of my fingernail. I asked the waitress where was the chicken in the pie she said we ran out of chicken the pie was 14.00- 15.00 dollars they charged me the full price if this is the way you treat customers you can have Ma's won't be back read more

Such a cozy, friendly and welcoming place to have one of the best veggie burgers with your choice of toppings, salad, and other delicious sides! It's a gem on Rte 4 in Northwood! read more

This place is great! Tasty food, games for kids, low key atmosphere. Note that you order from the counter so not table service but the staff was super friendly and helpful. read more

What a welcome and pleasant surprise! Fresh yummy wrap, casual warm atmosphere & friendly service! Definitely a great choice over pizza! read more

Ma's Cafe & Tavern - Cobb salad wrap - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Northwood, New Hampshire

Love the food and atmosphere! Staff is helpful and fun! Menu has lots of good options! Great selection of beer and wine! read more

Ma's Cafe & Tavern - The best staff!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Northwood, New Hampshire

The food is good and the service is fantastic. Very friendly people run this place. It is always busy. But they are never too busy to stop and chat a bit. Visit them on Monday for Trivia night. They are a great local eatery. read more

Great little place to stumble across! Good food, good music, great service! We'll be back!

Wonderful, cozy spot to grab delicious food and a nice beverage and they often have fab live music. The staff is so very nice and everything I've had there is delicious. Open mic night is Sunday. read more

The food was great the employees was awesome and Pete and Heather are pretty good to. The atmosphere is nice and cozy as well. Great spoke to eat and hang out. read more

Such a great experience, the food and staff were both absolutely amazing. From the Feel 'N Spicy Grillewich to the Chicken Caesar Salad, everything was made with care and high quality ingredients. I loved how excited the girl at the counter was to make my Oreo Milkshake, highly recommend :) read more

Ma's Cafe & Tavern - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Northwood, New Hampshire

I just went for my first time after a hike and it was the perfect place to go. It was very casual and comfortable. The owner asked us if it was our first time and he gave us great recommendations for food and drink. The service was great and the employees were very friendly. We got two burgers and they were excellent. The price is right, food is great, and the customer service is even better. Would recommend to anyone in the area. read more

Woods Grill has a comfortable and welcoming environment. The staff are friendly and eager. The food is clean and simple. They have the best fish tacos, outside of Cozumel Mexico, that we have ever had -hands down. Their burgers are tasteful, juice and filling. Their brew selection has something to satisfy everyone. My wife and I have been twice now and are looking forward to making Woods Grill a standard. read more