Love this spot! Although it is easy to miss and walk by, especially on a crowded night as it's centrally located right on the boardwalk, it's hard to forget that it's located right in front of the amphitheater! Because of its location, you know that they are always busy although the wait time is never long and often enough you can enjoy a nice walk around the souvenir shops before the waitstaff notifies you directly on your phone with an alert that your table is ready. We chose to stop a little after regular dinner hours, hoping to miss the crowd and it was perfect! We only waited 10min or so before getting seated, mind you this during the busy summer weekend so it was peak tourist season still and the night festivities were still ongoing at 7-8pm! We were seated right away and began with some drinks and appetizers! Although it was a busy night, the food was served quickly within 20min and I highly recommend the seafood risotto if you are in the mood for something warm to fill you up (due to the cream, it does run a little heavy so it might put you in a good coma if you do not properly digest it lol). The risotto was perfectly balanced - often I am afraid that it might be too cheesy/heavy on the cream but it was just right and paired with the seafood (scallops, shrimp and fish) it was delicious! The portion size was huge and unfortunately I could not bring myself to finish it all - the one downside is that it is difficult to take risotto leftovers back to your hotel! The seared scallops were good and burgers delicious as well! We got to try some wings with their purple urchin sauce and a sweet/sour sauce, both of which we found delicious and highly recommend as well! I think I'll make sure to mark this spot as I hope to return here again next time I stop by Hampton beach. Plus you get such a wonderful view of the ocean as the patio seating allows you to face the boardwalk directly and you get to enjoy the music offered right in front (amphitheater is located right ahead of the boardwalk, across the street). A few things to keep in mind if you hope to treat yourselves here, because the restaurant is located on the second floor - the stairs leading up to the shop might not be the best for those with disabilities/difficulty - I found them quite steep as well. Additionally, despite the restaurant having ample space for dining, I found this lacking in regards to their bathroom - they are tinier than a coat closet (imagine trying to use the restroom and the door is literally right in front of your nose) - not claustrophobic-friendly but I imagine you can get a feel of what Harry Potter must have felt living at his aunt's house under the stairs. Besides those points, I'd stop by here again just for that seafood risotto alone! read more

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Ambiance is great, especially from deck over looking ocean and live music. Service was very good - friendly and attentive waitress. I know this is a classic tourist trap spot but baked haddock that is floating in butter with flat syrupy soda. I will say the scallops over orzo is decent. Also, maybe refresh the menu- throw a crab cake on there or some more baked options that are drowning in butter. read more

$38 for this severely lacking lobster roll. And the worst part is I literally watched the food runner take it out, look clueless as to where it's supposed to go, bring it back to sit under the heat lamp for 15 minutes before finally bringing it out. This lobster roll is barely a pound of lobster despite the advertised 1 lb 1/4. No tail pieces. If you're the manager reading this, I'm here writing this live if you wanna come fix this read more

Purple Urchin - Sad lobster roll - American Near Me - Hampton, New Hampshire

The service was incredibly slow, I had ordered a chicken Caesar wrap which took over 30 minutes to come out. The food runner had taken my order to the incorrect table then placed it under the food warmer lamp for an additional 10 minutes before come out and asking from across the bar if it was my food. Resulting in food sitting for unnecessary time. The tables beside myself that sat before me received their food significantly after mine after complaining to the server about the wait, reasonably so. Food was okay, but the service and experience is enough to not have a need to ever come back. The runner was incapable of delivering the correct orders to the correct tables causing food to sit and wait which is agreeably unacceptable. Better management is needed or some kind of guidance in operations in a major tourist destination. read more

Had an order of muscles where 6 of them .. Did not open told the waitress, she took them back and brought 6 muscles that were cold.Probably force them open..never again read more

Right off the beach, good little place for a drink. Bar food in my opinion but we were there at lunch time. We tried a lemon drop martini then switched to the bucket. The lobster rangoons didn't taste like lobster, but a good Rangoon. Would I go back? If I was on the beach and needed a drink. If I wanted a good dinner? Probably not. read more

Purple Urchin - American Near Me - Hampton, New Hampshire

This restaurant is right on the boardwalk, super easy and convenient. The stairs up to the restaurant are pretty steep so maybe challenging for some. We were a group of 7, had a late lunch and were seated immediately. Our server was attentive and made sure our food and drink orders were correct!! It's basic beach bar vibes, causal dress while sitting across from the ocean. The oysters I had were fresh and not too salty. The salads were delicious and pretzel bites were worth it!! read more

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Nice spot for a drink or lunch; view of the ocean. Quick service, lots of tables. Looks popular for family and groups. Drinks are good but some are pricey. read more

Purple Urchin - Miami vice and pina colada - American Near Me - Hampton, New Hampshire

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We ordered calamari and coconut shrimp as an appetizer. The waiter dropped our food and disappeared for 40 min. The food black, Burned . We tried to eat the calamari and it was hard and chewy . We were going to order dinner but the waiter never returned to the table as he was busy talking to the bar tender the whole time. When I finally got his attention he just said check? At which point the food and service were awful . read more

I admit that my visit was a tad interesting deeming my mood for food was maybe off however I sat at the bar, requesting a water then opted for coffee & wings. Service was surprisingly fast, efficient & they adjusted the things I needed for my coffee & water including ice for my coffee & tap water & just wings being simple they got it right as well. Atmosphere has livery music especially being in a beach area which you can get anyway. Overall got their game right. read more

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In short, over priced and under seasoned. Save your money and go to JB's across the street. Only 3 gluten free options Small portions, bland flavors Took almost 30 minutes for this 1 item and half of this is premade... read more

Purple Urchin - Scallops (28$) - American Near Me - Hampton, New Hampshire

I had the Haddock Tacos. Unfortunately you could not pick them up without the shell falling apart. I mentioned this to the waitress but I fear she didn't tell the manager or the kitchen staff. Made for a negative impression read more

Stopped for late lunch and were able to get happy hour deals. The chicken basket was great, the Cesar chicken wrap was also great. Service was ok because our waitress was brand new but a more experienced woman came over to help so that was good. View is great because you are right on the beach. Would go here again read more

This Purple Urchin offers unbeatable views of the beach, Ocean Boulevard, and the bandstand, perfect for a relaxing meal after a day at the beach. The wait staff were both friendly and efficient, contributing to a pleasant overall dining experience. The food was a highlight. We had the swordfish, which was perfectly cooked and paired beautifully with coconut rice and a flavorful mango sauce. The baked haddock was also excellent, tender and flaky with just the right amount of crispy breadcrumbs. A fantastic dining experience from start to finish; we'll definitely be back next time we visit Hampton Beach! read more

Purple Urchin - Swordfish - American Near Me - Hampton, New Hampshire

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Stopped in for lunch on the 4th of July. Our server Michelle was a delight. The food was good both my wife and I were satisfied. I had a drink that came in bucket (hahaha), it was very good. The oysters were on the smaller side or I'd have given them 5 stars. read more

Purple Urchin - American Near Me - Hampton, New Hampshire

Last night we had dinner at the Purple Urchin and had a great experience. We were seated by a very nice young lady in a window seat, which was awesome. Then we were greeted by Noah, who was very pleasant. He took our order, smiled, and so friendly. THANK YOU!! We ordered a beer, Coconut shrimp, lobster Rangoon's, and pretzel bites. Everything was PERFECT!! We cleaned the plates for sure. Overall environment and experience was outstanding and would highly recommend it to friends!! read more

Great location but poor service and overpriced average food. Unfortunately has gone down hill these last few years. read more

The food here was amazing and the view was incredible! Also I met Brenna who was extremely professional had the best service ever! The staff here are incredible and friendly. The overall experience was fantastic and I would give this establishment 10 stars!!!! Thank you so much for such an incredible dining experience. Will be back next time I visit Hampton Beach! read more

Was in Hampton Beach for a short period of time. We wanted to grab a quick bite to eat & came across this place. They had a happy hour sign right at the bottom of the stairway and although it was literally 5 minutes before Happy Hour pricing ended, they were kind enough to quickly seat us and allow us to quickly order something from the Happy Hour menu. We ordered the Bang Bang Shrimp and Wings. The shrimp were so good and the wings were friend to perfection. We also had an almaretto sour which was really good considering the bartender had never made it before looked up the receipe to follow. This place also has a great view of the beach which was a plus. read more

Purple Urchin - American Near Me - Hampton, New Hampshire

Great for when you just want to throw back a few drinks in a cool low key atmosphere. Food is not the best value in the world. Better places to eat for price on strip...but to hang with friends having drinks...decent place. read more

The absolute BEST fra diavolo I have EVER had (Mussels fra diavolo). Jake D. - really, really great customer service asset to this restaurant in his role as mixologist/server. read more

Purple Urchin - Mussels Fra Diavolo - American Near Me - Hampton, New Hampshire

The food was terrible, the seafood was not fresh, it tasted like it had been previously frozen and reheated in the microwave. The waitress barely came to our table. The sodas were even bad. Would not recommend. read more

This place is all about the location. Our seat on the deck was incredible as it overlooked the beach and the amphitheater. Service was "okay". The waitress forgot a few rhinos we asked for but overall she was very nice. The food was a 1-2 star for me. I ordered a Summer Salad for $13.95. It has about a tablespoon of feta, 4 small pieces of watermelon, barely and any dressing on mixed greens, which was supposed to be arugula. The salad was large but lacking in taste and it didn't come with the pecans listed on the menu. It wasn't very busy so the kitchen pushed the food out pretty quick, I just wish they spent a little more time with my meal. My wife had a chicken Caesar wrap and it was better than my salad. Drinks were rather weak compared to the other places we visited. For the price we just expected a little more. Again, great view and if you want a glass of wine or maybe a beer, this is the place to go. read more

The service was not great, the food was mediocre pre fab and room temperature . I think the draw may be the cocktails? I wouldn't know because I didn't get a chance to order one. One member of our party got sick about 2 hours after eating there. read more

I ordered the watermelon feta salad with no red onions. The watermelon was pure moosh. There was about 1/8 an ounce of feta on top, two cut up grape tomatoes, three flavorless pecans and seven drops of dressing. And red onions. The salad tasted absolutely awful, I couldn't even eat it. Our waitress brought it back to the kitchen and they claimed the watermelon was mooshy because of the vinaigrette on top. We were verbally told the amount of our bill and when I questioned the salad she said it wasn't taken off. She told me she needed to check with her manager, Cali. Came back and the manager only took off 50% of the salad. I didn't bother escalating because I had two tired kids with me but I was absolutely floored. I regret not getting a photo. I did get a photo of my kids Mac and cheese. It was disgusting, flavorless and there was a huge puddle of butter forming on the bottom. Even if I would have let them eat it, they chose not to touch it. So gross and terrible management. Especially for the price read more

Purple Urchin - Overcooked Mac and cheese moosh swimming in a puddle of butter - American Near Me - Hampton, New Hampshire

The view is nice, but the food and service are terrible. The only reason this place is in business is because of the location.

Not one to write a negative review too often, but dinner last night was rough... it's still early in the season, so they are figuring things out... music is awful- a droning beat about 20db too loud. I thought I was hallucinating. Burger was fine, drinks were strong, fried fish was overcooked mush. Slow service... much to be desired. But such an awesome location looking out over the band stand. read more

The food came out fast, the service was welcoming and wonderful, and the vibe was just amazing! The appetizers were not as good as the service though. The nachos were hard, cold, and were very bland. Don't even talk about the guac. But the steamed lobster was fun to eat, and very delicious! read more

Purple Urchin - American Near Me - Hampton, New Hampshire

If you want to watch a show at the shell good spit. Does have obstructioned views in spots but you can hear the music perfectly. Waitstaff is very nice. The seared scallops with risotto was great. The clam chowder was warm milk with tiny bits of something. read more

Purple Urchin - The seared scallops with risotto was great. The edible garnish was yellow carrots & Radishes. - American Near Me - Hampton, New Hampshire

Food was not good at all and over priced, very disappointing. We tried the nachos with guac and the gluten free pizza... the pizza was frozen pizza and hardly cut. The nachos you could make better at home they were NOTHING special and pretty boring. The cheese on the nachos was not good at all. We met another customer who had a pasta that she said wasn't good it was basic pasta with jar sauce thrown on it. However, the drinks were good. It was loud in the bar due to music across the way but it was a nice hangout spot for drinks and music. read more

View is great if you're sitting near the railing, otherwise you can't really see anything. The food is lacking and the servers need to be flagged down to place any kind of order. Will not be back. read more

Pretty nice meal we had--25 minute wait for our party of 9 on a Saturday night. Great, attentive service & decent food. Shrimp tacos were tasty, risotto was as well. The only food not great was lobster Mac and cheese which definitely shouldn't be called Mac & cheese--more like pasta in general. Plentiful portions, strong drinks, and great 'outdoor' seating. read more

Under new ownership -- two brothers that clearly are on a mission to revamp a historical landmark!! New chef --- yesterday was PACKED. Had to wait for a table but clearly people are enjoying the new spot. Will be a regular here !! read more

My group sits directly at the bar. Alexis was an unprofessional bartender. Jayden was her bar back. In my opinion I've never seen a bar back make drinks, handle cash, and deal with customers as much as he did. He was very friendly, but clearly overworked for his position as he was bossed around the whole time. The "if you want your rim salted come salt it yourself," doesn't look so great to your bar guests. Your servers should not be doing the work ESPECIALLY coming behind the bar to make their own drinks! The couple next to us was extremely displeased. Their food came out cold and completely different from what they ordered. As a bartender in New Hampshire I anticipate the best service and this is not it. read more

View of the stage if you are sitting on the edge overlooking the board walk. This place is on the second floor of the shopping area/arcade casino. We had a gift card collecting dust for over 2 years and finally made the trip to visit. We did not have a reservation around 6PM and they found us booth seats near the back. Our server (along with the majority of others) seemed to be a high school or college student. It's a family friendly restaurant aside from the bathrooms. Seriously those soap dispensers are way up near the ceiling. I had to fully extend my arm to pump out some soap so there's no way a child could do that on their own. WHY did they design it this way? The food itself was reasonably priced for a touristy beach town area. They even have a separate section for kids' meals. I had the crab stuffed cod and my SO had the filet minion. I really wish he would stop getting those at non-upscale steak restaurants since it just seems like a waste. My seafood was largely unmemorable with a bed of veggies. The crab stuffing tasted better than the cod. I had a bite of my SO's meal and it was exactly what I expected. Underwhelming. We finished all of our food in one sitting so the portion sizes weren't gigantic. read more

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Delicious food and hearty portions! We got takeout to eat on the beach, but I would love to come back in person, it looked really nice from the outside. A bit pricey, but worth it. The lobster roll tasted super fresh, and was made from the good parts, not just minced lobster chunks like some places offer. The watermelon with salmon salad was HUGE and the salmon tasted incredible- not dry at all! The sweet potato fries were also great, would definitely get those as a side again. read more

Great food and awesome view from the patio. Very reasonably priced for the location as well, our waitress was amazing and immediately corrected the very small problems with our order. Will be returning! read more

Every time I've come here I've had top notch service and top notch food! DEFINITELY recommend to anyone and everyone! -Nick read more

Pretty good. Nothing special but nothing offensive except the $4.00 coffee which doesn't come with a refill. Give me a break. Four dollars? Really folks? York is a very beautiful spot and there are plenty of excellent breakfast nooks around town. Some of them will even refill your coffee! read more

The service is incredible! Michelle handled our party of 9 perfectly. Amazing view of the Hampton beach stage.