An extraordinary experience by an amazing chef. Chef Evan's 8 seat restaurant servers a tasting menu. That means it's a small portion of many dishes. Each dish is carefully prepared right in front of your eyes. There are usually 8-10 dishes. I have been here three times and never been disappointed. I have enjoyed many dishes with ingredients I usually don't care for, but Chef uses only fresh local ingredients and makes them taste wonderful. Again, this should be treated as an experience and not just dinner. read more

One of the most memorable dining experience. It was a one man show for two of us. Every dish was prepared at the spot in front of us. The chef owner executed everything to perfection. He was kind and friendly too! Highly recommended for this hidden gem! read more

Jared, line cook at that crap restaurant. I was there with a guest. Who made the reservation. I'm happy your sleuth skills are somewhat better than your cooking skills. But it is bad form for an employee to speak up for a review. The food was terrible. An embarrassment to the food world. Do the same thing but correct seven nights a week. And add lunch. And find a clue. The dishwashers at TFL have more talent than you. And "Chef ". Dover. Ha! You guys are so forward thinking. Achatz and Keller would eat you all for breakfast. read more

Nope. We will not be back. There were four of us that sat at the Chef's bar many months ago. I waited to write this review so as to be sure I captured & digested our experience. Let me begin by saying my husband and I are foodies and love to dine at these types of restaurants. EVERY other time we have gone to these seating type restaurants, half of the experience is engaging with a staff member (maybe even the chef?!)...involved, animated conversations about each course, the wine pairing...etc. Stages is awkwardly quiet. I felt like we were sitting there whispering, not wanting to disturb him at work. Chef Hennessey barely glances up from his plates (picture hovered over plates, face inches from each one) and if you ask questions, it's a short answer. Here's my advice: If you don't want to talk about your craft in this scenario then hire someone with charisma that can engage with those that are paying to enjoy this experience. Our wait staff was another story. One example: one of our guests that we brought along was celebrating a birthday. He got up to use the restroom and said "if they come back can you order me another drink please?" (it was only his second, so don't judge). When the wait person took the order from me - asked which type of gin and then actually said "or does it not matter at this point because he has had so many?" And then ROLLED THEIR EYES. Whattttttttt. We were all speechless. The food was ok. Most of it was good except one particular amuse bouche at the beginning, none of us liked at all and imagine that awkward silence where you feel like you have to eat it. So bizarre. We weren't blown away and honestly it was PRICEY for such a lame experience. My other experiences at these types of places, we have left SMILING, feeling full with both food AND a genuine mutual love of food. If you want the real deal - Two Fools and a Bull in Aruba. WORTH the flight and lodging. Amazing. read more

Wow so surprised by the reviews... We (5)of us now know why it is called stages because eating here you go through several stages!!! First excitement because what you read and heard, second you wait for the server to figure out you are there, third you wait 40 mins for the first course, third you get all your food and 5 people agree that it was all under seasoned and lacking actual food.. We did not read the part where it said this was a tasting menu. Last stage angry over price and time wasted wAiting, we had reservations and say at 7:30 did not get out of there till 11:10 Really and we were hungry and angry, not to mention the price. As we were waiting for the check we were all taking about places we should have went while paying for baby sisters. This stage is not ready got the spotlight! Never going again, waste of $$ and time. read more

Most amazing fine dining experience on the Seacoast. Staff is amazing. Food is BRILLIANT!!

I made the mistake of coming to the restaurant hungry. For context, my favorite places around the seacoast to eat are Cure, Black Trumpet, Shio, and Massimo. I knew going in the plates would be small, but I had no idea there would be such a time investment for 4 measly courses. It took over 40 minutes for us to see the first course upon arriving for our reservation and the entire ordeal was over 2 hours. The food itself was delicious and interesting, but not nearly worth the money or time investment. The table next to us sent their duck back because there was a bone left in. Maybe the experience is better when you're at the chef's table, but the regular dining experience is a let down. read more

Definitely a 5 star experience. I like these places where you get personal attention from the chef. I had some food preferences and they were attended to. I didn't know until I came here that both chefs were from some of my favorite local restaurants namely the Black Trumpet. I've been to several other restaurants with similar themes and Stages was without a doubt the best deal. We will certainly return to future events. Plus, if my kids ever get married I'd consider them as our caterers. read more

In 1990, I was cool in school, in 2004, I'd been virtually liked, finally in 2014, I became obscure upon the elusive discovery or STAGES in Dover, NH. Entering an old mill factory building I made my way through oil laden floorboards with wires hanging from the ceiling, until I reached two frosted glass doors, that you would see entering a Manhattan restaurant. Upon opening the door I was duped by my ego thinking the wall art, well appointed furniture and eclectic décor was the dining room, but was only the expression of restaurantism. The entrance to my reservation was at the back of the room behind the veil that revealed the kitchen. Imaginably, I felt part of a secret revolution similar to the French Impressionists sticking it to the Salon de Paris, in which Napoleon was chain restaurants and soon I would be entering the age of enlightenment. I was no longer a patron being herded to my table, I was standing in awe facing a state of the art working kitchen, with six high top seats facing what was to become the stage. I was greeted by Chef Evan Hennessey, as if I was in his home and being gracefully invited to the counter set with fine silver, glass, china and a menu that was not engineered for manipulation. As Evan began to talk about the menu, everyone quickly became aware that to speak or act pretentious in his presence would be embarrassing. He passionately explained that the ingredients on the menu are from local farms and foragers that he creates on a plate, it seemed similar to an artist putting paint to a canvas. I later found out Evan was educated as an art major who became influenced by French cuisine, I became the student ready for the master's appearance. My journey to began with English Peas and Beets with a Ginger Mint Curd, Smoked Salt. After two bites my senses came alive and felt myself pierce the realm of glamour and humbly awaited the next course. Meticulously prepared in front of me was Slow Egg (cooked in a low heat bath for over an hour), Bears Head Mushroom, Artichoke and Green Garlic, Smokey Herbs. When I tasted the egg, for the first time in my taste buds knew what velvet taste like. At this time I looked over at my guest who out of character by tipping his bowl into his mouth Oliver Twist style to get every drop of the broth. I felt I was in a real life version of the movie Waking Life. But this was more like a theater staged with real actors rather than the mutli-media celluloid feel you get in most restaurants. Now fully engaged and immersed into the experience the entrée arrives. The Little Brook Farm Pork Shoulder, Wheat Berries, Pickled Tomatoes, Watermelon Radish and Orange Citrus is food I've never tasted before. As Chef Hennessey explained he request that the farmer feed pigs a diet mostly of apples three months before arriving to his kitchen for sweeter tasting meat. In contrast to some restaurants Evan's proteins are not born in plastic packages with size 2 font labels. STAGES is not the marketing spin of Feud's nephew Bernay trying to fool the public the way mass marketed restaurants tout. It is a real culinary experience. If you're expecting what you have been programmed to believe by marketers then you will not get what is actually happening here (see negative reviews). After the entrée I was still in the continuum of the STAGES experience as dessert arrived. As with every other course my expectations were not worthy of Chef Hennessey's mind-bending creativity and expressions as an artist. I was served Hot Buttered Ice Cream (yes, warm ice cream) with delicate cubes of Heirloom Carrot Cake sprinkled with Fresh Popcorn and on the wide brim of the bowl jellied Parsnip Compote was perched with a translucent wafer of Dry Egg protruding. The ecstatic competition between my eyes and mouth was colossal. I finished my meal with a nostalgic feeling of being in an old movie theater with the wonderment of a child eating ice cream and popcorn. Like the couples in the movie who live happily ever after, Chef Hennessey and his Sous perfectly matched a wine with each course. I know this level of excellence doesn't come cheap, which is why I almost fell off my chair when the bill came. It was a third of what I would expect to pay for everything. As mentioned at the beginning of this review cool and popular restaurants are for the masses. If you want to order from a tablet, with a vending machine bartender making your drink and eat gmo's that taste like plastic then you won't appreciate STAGES. But, if you're ready to be real leave your bull#&@! behind, join me at STAGES, I'm going every chance I can. read more

Diner here for the first time Saturday night with some friends. We sat at the kitchen table where we could eagerly anticipate our courses, prod and joke with the kitchen staff, and be enveloped in the entire experience. This isn't a cheap, gut-busting meal. It is a one of a kind experience. And hey, if you're hungry after, just hit up la festa for a slice for the ride home! The concept is both crazy and mind-blowing. We received a list of items in the kitchen, selected how many courses we wanted (we opted for 4) and wine pairing is optional. Then we sat back and watched the magic happen. If you have any food allergies or specific things you really do not enjoy, the staff will be more than accommodating. Two in our party requested no mushrooms, other than that our meal fates were in the hands of the chef. I consider myself an adventurous eater but tried things I never would have ordered, a slow cooked duck egg over sauerkraut, pork reduction and sliced fennel.. a few things not on my list of go to items.. but it was amazing! I loved hearing how they source some of their ingredients, bring in whole animals, and do prep months in advance for house-made, cured, smoked and pickled items. I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed the experience here. I hope to return soon! read more

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Evan Hennessey is a capable and visionary chef doing the best work he's ever done. If you want to see someone doing some rad, tasty stuff with food, go here. read more

What an delicious dinner we had last night. The experience at Stages At One Washington was incredible. It's an intimate setting and an unforgettable experience to get to sit in the kitchen and watch Chef Evan prepare his wonderful dishes with locally grown food. Feels like you are on the set of a great food network show. Loved it and highly recommend it. read more

A truly unique and delicious meal. Like sitting in on a Food Network show. You and your friends sit at a counter overlooking Chef Evan's beautiful modern kitchen set in an old mill building. The prix fixe menu at $40 is an outstanding value. Each dish was outstanding. You watch the painstaking preparation of each course and Evan explains the ingredients and how each is sourced and prepared. We had a group of four, so we ordered each of the options for each course and shared so we got a taste of everything. My only regret was having to share the short ribs because I really wanted to eat every morsel of that dish. read more

Went to Stages for the first time and it will not be the last! Chef Evan was awesome, the food was superb and we had a thoroughly enjoyable evening. If you want a unique dining experience make a reservation at Stages, you will be happy you did! read more

This is the best kept secret on the Seacoast. A great many thanks to Chef Hennessey and his team for an unforgettable dining experience! The amount of hard work and profound detail that went into our meal, along with the intimate environment and personal attention we received made Stages unparalleled. read more

My wife and I had the distinct pleasure of dining at stages on our anniversary. We were seated at the chef's table and taken on a wonderful culinary journey by chef Evan. Each course was masterfully prepared and paired with the perfect wine. Each dish was a work of art with a depth of flavor that just left us in awe. Chef Even explained what each dish was and took the time to answer questions. Watching Chef and his team coordinate the preparation of the plates in near silence with only the backdrop of funk tunes playing over the speakers was a masterful display of a well oiled machine. We were even permitted to dine along with a special guest that had us repeating "Romanesco" all the way home. It was a truly unforgettable meal. read more

My husband and i went to this restaurant last summer and been meaning to write a review , but got too busy. We're back in town so our first thought was to dine there again. The food was so delicious and unique that we talked about it for days after. The chefs were very pleasant and explained what they were serving us. The local - sourced and natural ingredients were fantastic. read more

At T.L. Impossible that you even walked through the doors of Stages at One Washinton. Sounds like you looked at a website to see how beautiful the plates are, but never tasted a bite. I've had the pleasure of dining there and muddled would never be a word that I could fathom. Exqusite, mind-blowing flavors and techniques of cooking, delicious, amazing, devine.. those would all be top choices. I'd love to know which page of the Alinea cookbook you are referring to. I feel that hobbyist at best is more a reference to yourself as a reviewer. This concept is exciting and new and to bash it like this is shocking and a diservice to people who might take it seriously. DO NOT listen to T.L- he is utterly and totally WRONG!! read more

I'm a patron that ACTUALLY dined at Stages. My name is Lee Pelletier (a real name, not fake initials) and I attended the recent meal with beer pairings. The meal was splendid. I don't know how you make the duck so crispy, but it was GREAT. We even mentioned it to Evan that night, but he was very modest and just said that it was the type of duck and his job was not to mess it up. Well, he also knew what type of duck to get, and that made all the difference. Every course was delightful. Evan, I see that you have acquired some enemies in the restaurant world. These other negative reviews are clearly fake. One is clearly written by someone who is in the restaurant business: (line cook, dishwashers at . . .). No patron uses these words to describe a meal. But someone in food service does, and someone who is quite unprofessional at that. Jealousy, clearly. And the other review? (Foul attempt). Seriously, I've been to a LOT of restaurants in my day, but foul? This food was not foul. Not by a LONG shot. Evan, I wish you luck. I actually had to sign up for Yelp, just because I was upset that people could be so petty as to post negative reviews out of jealousy. But people are that petty. Keep at it. read more

An incredible dining experience, watching chef prepare each serving and explaining how the unique taste sensations are achieved. Wine parings seemed just right too. Sure, it's a bit pricey, but worth every penny and more. Hope to return soon with a bigger group. read more

We, a party of four, sat at the chef's table tonight and had a wonderful time. I am not sure, but dining might now be limited to the chef's table, since people that couldn't get a reservation for this intimate experience didn't make any reservation at all. We were presented with a list of ingredients the chef had on hand, and elected to get a 8 course meal, with wine pairings, all selected by the chef. Watching the artistry he applied to every course, and enjoying the resulting flavors, was thoroughly satisfying and a unique experience. I can't recommended highly enough this restaurant and Evan, the chef. Excellence in everything we ate, and a very personable chef to interact with while eating, made this a great evening!!!!!! read more

Many thanks to Federal Savings Bank for sponsoring a fantastic business dinner for professional women at this restaurant. The event reserved the entire restaurant, approx. 24-30 seats? Each appetizer and course was matched with a lovely wine or cocktail, and Chef Eric put a lot of effort into making each item a unique bit of food. He was accessible throughout the evening, and put personal care into each guests satisfaction. The guest next to me was allergic to shellfish, and when he found out he made her a fabulous beet dish immediately so she would eat a course with the rest of us. As each course and wine was served, the Chef would come out and describe the preparation and his inspiration. I would love to come here again, but only with those who can relax and enjoy the experience. Anyone who gets antsy, and wants to eat and go will not appreciate this venue. Plan on it taking as long as it takes. Like the references to Julia Child, simple décor. Hard to locate the restaurant in the building, and bathrooms are waaaaaaaaaaay down the all. Also it got really hot in the dining area, I went into the hallway where the window was open to cool down. read more

This was a much anticipated trip to a place we had heard so many good things about. Never have I had such a well orchestrated dinner. We chose the 8 course dinner(chefs choice) which allowed us to experience a wide variety of dishes. We loved every course, swearing it was better than the last but in the end finding it hard to choose a favorite among them as they all were so good! Every ingredient on the plate seemed to serve a purpose in each dish which is what was really impressive about the genius behind the food. Combinations you wouldn't think of or foods you thought you didn't like somehow were transformed into perfect bites of brilliance. Thank you again for a truly exceptional experience! We will be back! read more

A delightful place for its drama and techniques. I went to a theme dinner and the actresses reading stories with each course we're great The menu says "nature+ technique" and that's what you get. Extremely unusual ingredients found locally cooked with "cutting edge" (sorry) technique. All good and/ or interesting but nothing that made feel I would want to have that dish again. There is no choice at theme dinners but in usual nights you would watch chef cook and have 2 choices for each course. It is very expensive so definitely a special occasion place. Staff is very friendly and nice as us chef read more

Every dish was a delicious work of art, with unique and uniquely prepared ingredients. The service is attentive and professional, but still welcoming. We had the eight-course "secrets" menu, and were all delighted with the food and preparation. A few negatives: first, our meal took over three hours, and that was even after we told them we were on a timetable. We waited over 20 minutes between courses at times (then had our dessert courses thrown at us to get us out the door in time). So if we came again, we would just allow a lot more time. Also, the courses are all very petite, and it would be easy to still be hungry at the end. Usually in a tasting menu of this length, you get one or two larger courses, but that wasn't the case here. I think they need to adjust the portion sizes a bit to provide a more reasonable total quantity. I had the same problem with the wine pairing - the wines were nice, and nicely paired, but very small pours - it was probably less than three glasses total by the end, including a few "top -offs" (which at least they offered graciously when my glass was empty). I also prefer when they bring the wine bottle to the table, show it to you, and tell you something about the wine, but here it was just a quick pour with no information. Overall, I very much enjoyed our meal at Stages, and would definitely recommend it. I was pleasantly surprised to find a culinary experience of this caliber in small-town New Hampshire. read more

While the food is inventive, it isn't memorable. But there is no excuse for having the smallest portions I have ever seen. We left starving after paying $40 a person to eat. I liked the chef,and want to support talent, but that isn't enough. Give the people something to eat. Also, the venue isn't welcoming as the restaurant is located in an industrial area. read more

My wife and I finally got a chance to go here on Saturday PM. We wanted to be at the kitchen table but were too late for that. Still an extraordinary experience! We each took one of the different choices from the price fix 4 course option and shared bites of each. I had the wine pairings with mine, and that was excellent as well. Fine dinning, creative food, fabulous service in a super cool atmosphere. If you understand food and appreciate it - you have to go here!!! We can't wait to go back and try the "Secret 8" (an 8 course meal at the chef's whim and option) at the "kitchen table" (a bar facing the chefs and the kitchen). read more

What a great evening we had. Sat at the kitchen bar and our interaction with Chef Evan and his staff set the stage for an evening of delectable and unique plates paired with the perfect wines. Both presentation and taste were an absolute treat. Thank you. read more

Excellent food and a wonderful atmosphere! You walk in there and forget you are in Dover NH and not dining in Manhattan

Definitely not a restaurant for everyone. When we first arrived I was very surprised to learn that we were not able to choose from the menu. We were only able to eliminate items which we did not want! The courses are determined by the chefs and may include anything from turkey to oysters to sea urchin. If you sit at the counter in the kitchen you can watch the chefs prepare the courses. Both of the chefs were amiable and explained each presentation as to what and how it was prepared. I am a Philistine! I prefer amount over presentation. If you have similar preferences this is not the restaurant for you. Each course is postage stamp size carefully arranged for visual appeal. To me the food combinations were strange to say the least and as I said I prefer a substantial meal when I dine out. Four courses took two hours and cost $50. Add wine and the bill for 2 is $150 which is a lot when I left hungry. You may expect to have something additional to eat when you get home as we did! read more

Everything about this place is amazing. The food is off the charts and if you sit at the bar by the kitchen you get a really cool show. I would suggest the secret 8 with the wine pairing, the chef really knows what he's doing. If you judge the quality of a meal by portion size this is not your place. If judge on your senses you are in for a real treat. read more

I had the pleasure of enjoying the Springtime in Paris theme night at Stages. It was fantastic. The atmosphere of the restaurant was catered perfectly to the theme, creating a very welcoming and comfortable environment. The food was outstanding, better than any I've had in Boston. This is truly a hidden gem, and one I hope to enjoy as often as possible. read more

I have been to Stages twice now, once for a regular event and on Mother's day for brunch. This is my second review and for some reason my first does not show up here. It would appear that only the negative one is left on the site. Stages is more than going out to dinner...it truly is a dining experience! The staff is excellent and answers all questions. The food was amazing both times. It might seem expensive but it was worth it and included the whole experience....all five courses and wine pairings! Hopefully Yelp will leave my review up! We need all kinds of new businesses in Dover! read more

I have lived in the area for over 30 years and am an avid restaurant-goer. Stages is by far the best restaurant experience in the Seacoast. Fabulous food, friendly chef and sous chef, who are part of the experience as you can watch the food preparation, and a charming waitress all blend as perfectly as the recipe ingredients. I have gone twice and left with embodied contentment . read more

We had heard so much about how great this restaurant was and finally made reservations for a special Valentine's dinner. We were pretty disappointed given the price ($50 per person) and the reviews we had heard and read. The presentation was fabulous, but the food was barely okay. And you definitely won't walk out feeling like you've eaten too much. Meh is the right way to describe it. read more

Intimate and effortless! We had a wonderful meal at Stages at one Washington! We were welcomed by a lovely host in the foyer of the renovated old mill building, she led us through the building up old stairwells that still had the weight of hard work and industry. Once we were in the restaurant she let us choose our table and offered us free rein of the dinning room and kitchen. It was really nice to be able to see the "stage" on which our meals would be prepared. Once the dinning room was settled and it was coming time for the first course, Chef Evan came out to greet us and introduce himself. You could tell that he is one of those lucky individuals who is able to pursue his passion through his work. This simple fact shined through in every dish, the food was truly delicious and in some fantastic way brought feelings of homey comfort food wrapped in a gourmet package. The wine pairings were spot on and really made the meal. It was an incredible evening and really nice to see that in Dover, NH there is a place that you can escape for a few hours and effortlessly enjoy a wonderful meal. Thank you Chef Evan and all the kitchen staff for making it all possible. read more

I recently had the four course meal at Stages and was very disappointed by the entire experience. We waited 45 minutes for the first course of Gruyere stuffed puff pastry(stale) and a room temperature brined scallop that was tasteless and slimy. The soup course was also room temperature---a very undercooked egg plopped into 2 tablespoons of room temp cream of potato soup infused with some sort of dill oil. The main course was laughably small and mushy, and again room temperature. Our request for bread was promptly and politely rebuffed("we don't have any bread tonight"----?whaaaat). As other reviewers have noted, the pace of service is painfully slow---made more so by your growing hunger. We were there 3 hours! Furthermore, the staff showed no interest in explaining what we were eating(that might be a blessing). At least our server kept our water glasses full. If you value your time and money, go elsewhere. I wish I had gone out for pizza. read more