We joined friends for a quick pre-show dinner, and the staff did a great job accommodating our…read moretight schedule -- we made the show on time without ever feeling rushed. We started with cocktails and their excellent house-made rolls, then split a dozen oysters from a wide selection; the server's recommendations were spot-on. Entrées included shrimp rigatoni, salmon, fish tacos, clam chowder, and fries -- all well prepared, good portions, and enjoyed by everyone. It was fairly busy (and thus a bit noisy), so reservations are probably a good idea.

Modern decor and plenty of fresh seafood options. Our server was great so friendly. Their oysters…read moreare delicious and fresh can't wait to go back and try their seafood tower. The tuna crudo had the perfect balance within savory and sweet. We didn't ordered dessert but had affogato with their in house made ice cream. Would definitely recommend.

Food was acceptable but nothing to write home about. However, the seafood chowder was PHENOMENAL…read moreand I am in fact compelled to write about it. I heard it was award winning (?) Literally just come here for that. Server was nice and place is cute, but THE CHOWDER, wow so good.

The best part of my visit was the seafood chowder, but every other dish was mediocre, and the…read moreservice was terribly slow. The seafood chowder was flavorful and full of chunks of seafood. The salmon bites were over saturated in sauce so much so that the panko was soggy, the pan seared scallops were decent but I found the bacon jam to be too sweet paired with the scallops. We could not flag down our waiter any of the times we needed her and every time we asked someone else for help they'd leave and not come back. When it started raining and we needed to move indoors she was gone for so long she was surprised when she returned and we had already had been helped inside by another staff member. We ended the meal when she said she'd come back with water only to disappear and we ended up asking another waitress for the check, and she redirected it back to our waitress, who finally came back with no water. The restaurant was by no means full so I'm not sure what the large gaps in service was, and at one point my friend noticed the waitresses chatting in the kitchen while we were craning our necks. I'd only come back to order the seafood chowder as the rest of the dishes weren't good enough to make up for this.

The River House is one of many restaurants on Bow Street that sits just above Portsmouth harbor on…read morean elevated deck. Each of these restaurants serves their own deck punch, which is a must try. Each of these restaurants also has unbeatable views of the water from their decks. We ordered happy hour oysters, tuna bites, and shrimp, plus two deck punches. Each food item was $1.50, which is very affordable. They offer one kind of oyster for happy hour, which they told us would be on the sweeter side, but I found them to be briney, which I prefer anyways. They were fresh and delicious. The shrimp cocktail was plump and super fresh. The tuna bites were basically deconstructed tuna and were absolutely incredible for $1.50. The deck punches were slightly weak for my taste but still super nice to sip on the deck on a hot summer day.

Lobster roll and chowder, 'nuff said! Friendly and fast service too…read more Was in town on business and stopped here for my seafood fix

Last experience was 5 stars. This experience was maybe 3. I'll give 4 as my updated rating, to be…read moregenerous. This experience was so disappointing. The server kept running away, no time to give feedback. More attention to our plates and our ordering, than for us and our experience. Note to the wise: ask both people how their food is, and with enough time/follow up than only immediately after getting the dish. The tuna was very bland, it needed salt. I got the beef medallions. Though the beef itself was very good, the entire dish came off like a TV dinner - the sauce was supposed to be peppercorn. It was not. It degraded the entire dish, horribly. So sad for the elements to be buried in that slop. Potatoes were also very odd. For the price we paid, I would rather have had my money back and give my husband a much better birthday experience for somewhere else. Honestly devastating, and definitely cannot guarantee a recommendation from me, if this restaurant is not only inconsistent, but such a waste of so much money. Sad to think we could have enjoyed better food at a "lesser" establishment. Would much prefer to get my money back, at least for the entrees. WAYY overpaid. This was not worth it.

Thanks to Jumpin Jay's for a special evening with NH Public Radio! Salmon was fabulous! Salad was…read morejust right Dessert was tasty coconut pie. Everyone loved theirs! Beverages were interesting and tasty. Service was friendly, fast. I love this place!!

My partner and I rang in New Year's Eve at The Puddle Dock and couldn't have been happier with our…read moreexperience. We chose seats at the comfortable-looking bar, which was a great spot to start the evening and soak in the warm, antique, historical vibe of the space -- lots of character without feeling stuffy. We built our own dinner from a mix of appetizers, and everything we tried was excellent. The local cheese plate featured a soft, brie-like cheese that was rich and delicious. We also ordered the mussels, which were a standout -- especially the mustard component. I wouldn't have expected mustard to pair so well with mussels, but it absolutely worked and added a surprising depth of flavor. There was also a chicken dumpling special that was comforting, well-seasoned, and very satisfying. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared and full of flavor. The service at the bar was fantastic. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful when offering advice on what to order, which made the whole experience feel easy and welcoming. We're already looking forward to our next visit and trying more of the menu.

Ambiance here is quite nice. It definitely has a colonial vibe and offers some early American…read moredishes. Our waiter was quite polite and offered some suggestions. The food however is overpriced and just doesn't fit the bill. I was surprised to sit down and see a simple steak and potato dinner was $72. I ordered duck and my wife ordered pork belly. The food was alright but neither were meals that we'd want again. Two entrees, two apps, and a single glass of wine. ~$180 with tip. I don't mind spending $200 on dinner - but if I'm spending that much dinner should be stellar. This was just mediocre and I'm honestly surprised it has a 4.5 star rating average. To each their own I suppose.

Now this is definitely one of the highlights of this short trip. There is nothing that sings to me…read moremore than a good quick meal that is both fresh and tasty. One prepared so well that you think about it for the rest of the day. From the moment I stepped in until I placed my order, all the staff were so friendly and attentive (not just with me but all the other customers that kept entering the establishment). The lobster rolled was not dressed like what you'd usually find in New England. In fact, it was lightly seasoned and allowed you to taste the sweetness of lobster meat itself and how perfectly cooked it was! You can't hide quality when serving it almost bare like this that it's a purist's dream! Dang, I can't stop thinking about! The shrimp sandwich was another simple culinary delight executed well. Perfectly cooked shrimp, dressed lightly, on a nicely toasted buttered brioche with crisp lettuce and tomatoes. I inhaled this just as quickly with my eyes rolling with every bite. Dang it again. The gluten-free clam chowder was a great way to finish off this quick meal. Perfectly balanced, tasty, salted perfectly, and loaded with chunky clams. What a way to warm up in this NE chilly weather this time of year. Without even trying their other fresh seafood options, they've already made it to my list of must-visits when in the area. Can't wait to be back again!

This is the fish market you need to visit! I ran in this morning to grab some steamers. The team…read moremember was speedy in bagging me up some fresh steamers! He was courteous and took great care of me. He offered me a little ice which I needed to get these clams back home! They had a nice selection of fish, lobster, and everything you need to make tonights dinner DELISH !! Get to Sanders today!

It's been awhile since I've been down but went last night and it was well worth it…read more I was seated, even though the kitchen closed at 8 and I arrived at 7:50 Dawn my server was fantastic; my every hungry whim well taken care of. Kudos to the kitchen; meal was excellent, as were the oysters. Need to remind myself to be in the area more often!

Robert's has amazing food and service…read more Their fried clams imo are the best in the area. Crispy not greasy. Cornbread is to die for. Interesting specialty cocktails.

It was my first time coming here. Ordering was easy and our food came out quickly. We got two…read morelobster rolls, clam chowder, and a pint of the whole belly clams. They loooadded the lobster rolls and it came with plenty of fries. The rolls were nice and toasty. The perfect first lobster roll of the season for me. I usually have clam strips but the whole belly clams are a game changer - not too chewy, perfectly juicy and crisp at the same time. Everything was seasoned well and wasn't too overly salty. Great portions for the price. If you're visiting, there are two parking lots, the further one has more parking and there's a back patio space with more seating. I would come back again if I'm in the area!

If you love fried seafood and clams this is a must stop. Right at the state borderline between NH…read moreand Maine, it's a great first food stop. Scallops which are my fave are big. If you're a whole belly clam fan, you have two dredges to choose from. It's a no frills kind of hut with New England vibes. Seating is all outdoors except for bar stool type seating inside. Counter ordering and no wait staff.