Every time we are in the area we stop and have either lunch or dinner here. It is a very kid friendly place with fun games (board games, junior trivia, chess etc), while-you-wait-self-served cheese and crackers appetizers. amazing food, chocolate treats as thank you with your receipt, great atmosphere and a lot of history! True American traditional place that makes me, an European "transplant" feel like home every time I go. Staff very welcoming and efficient. I must've been there 30 times now and I have no complaints about anything! Really 10 stars if I could have that option please! read more

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Love the atmosphere upstairs. Fireplace, big sofas/chairs, a bar, hightop tables, regular tables. After a cold winter hike, this was just the place I wanted to snuggle up to and order comfort food to refuel. Ordered the pork tacos from the appetizer section and lobster corn chowder, along with a bloody mary with requested celery. All were extremely satisfying. Beware, though. The bloody mary is quite spicy but I loved it. Service, food, and atmosphere were all great. Definitely on my list for a return visit. read more

We went for a weekday lunch and enjoyed our meal. Located in an older building with exposed beams and brick. They offered outside dining on a patio. We also saw tables on a balcony but that area didn't open until 3pm. There were several dining rooms on the ground floor. While waiting for our food, we tried some of the complimentary dips and crackers - the day we were there there were 2 dips, a garlic spread and a cocktail sauce (?) cottage cheese spread. Both had intense flavors. My dining partner and I had a Reuben and a Bacon Burger. Both came with homemade potatoe chips, while the Reuben also had potato salad. Burger was cooked as requested, bacon was nice and crunchy. Patty fit well on bun, lettuce and tomato were offered. Reuben had a nice amount of meat to cheese to sauerkraut. We'll be back to try their dinner menu. read more

I enjoyed this place. It has a great layout, with a number of niches and places for small or large groups to have fairly intimate conversations, a large bar area, and an outdoor patio on the roof. There's also an extensive downstairs. You do have to climb a steep, narrow spiral staircase to get to the second floor, so careful in heels! I did notice that some parts of the upstairs were not kept super clean, and there were crackers and crumbs on some of the seats and couches, and in a few of the chests that serve as tables (I peeked inside, thinking there may be games or such). We sat on the deck, and it was pleasant. The servers were friendly and the drinks are reasonably priced. The ginger mojito I had was pretty good, although it would have been better if the mint was properly crushed. The appetizers of watermelon and red pepper roasted wings and blue cheese chips were good quality bar food. I also think it's pretty neat how there's a giant block of cheese with a knife and crackers for guests to self-serve from at the top of the stairs. The cheese was really mild and not flavorful enough for me, but it's a cool idea. The dinner menu looked good, and I'd come back to try it. read more

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While the menu has become limited the service and quality of food has not changed. I have never had a bad meal here and the atmosphere is very much like home. I highly recommend stopping in if you are in the area. read more

this restaurant smells bad especially near the entrance. they rly need to clean out the dining room too although the ambiance is like "cozy" it looses some coziness from the dirtiness. the ingredients in the food could use serious adjustment for sure. Greg was a good server tho. would not recommend this food. read more

I'm still eating and I had to stop to take a photo and mention Lisa is wonderful the Rubin fritters were great . The short ribs,garlic mashed and vegetables were served quickly and hot and fantastic. This is my only 5 star review . 1st time here . Perfect portion sizes. Great music. Just the right volume. Very comfortable atmosphere.I gotta go,the chocolate Cake just got here and looks too good to wait! read more

The Common Man - Delicious Braised short ribs - American Near Me - Ashland, New Hampshire

My boyfriend and I came here after snow tubing. Came late but bar n grille was still open. 'Bourbon & Maple' their hot cider drink was very good! :) We ordered couple of entrees and they were both really good and in huge portions. We were very happy to find this place in the cold late night :) read more

The Common Man - Nacho and pizza - American Near Me - Ashland, New Hampshire

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Delicious dinner, great drinks, wonderful service. I had a coco martini, then a delicious Cabernet recommended by the server, Martin, who was fantastic by the way. And then a Yankee / New England pot roast - tender meat, yummy potatoes and veggies. Great meal all around. read more

Typical restaurant. Stopped for lunch. Waitress was pleasant and she was also the bartender. Husband had a burger that was huge and he said good. Would recommend read more

Loved the ambience and what they have created. Food was a great too. Recommend the corn and lobster chowder.

Menu no where near as good as it was years ago. No longer for "The common man" at all. Catering towards the uppity, upper class, Boston/Rhode Island/Connecticut snobbish crowd. Menu is no longer appealing to most locals anymore. Too snobbish of an overall company attitude. If you're a snobbish tourist from the aforementioned places, this is your place then. read more

Great food! I recommend the chicken and bacon. If you need to stop off of I93 I strongly recommend.

We picked up a take out dinner here tonight and it exceeded expectations. Food was good quality and well prepared. We would return!

I have never been to a Common Man restaurant, but people rave about them all the time. Since my son and his girlfriend were in NH for the weekend, I took them there for dinner. It was rather disappointing. We were the only diners in the restaurant on a Saturday evening, which should have given me a clue about the food. The kid got the grilled steak k-bobs, which seemed to be the only meal that any of my party enjoyed. The girlfriend, who is an absolutely lovely woman but who possesses the eating habits of a toddler, ordered the macaroni and cheese sans pulled pork and onions. I saw the words "chicken" and "parmesan," so I ordered that, thinking I was getting an Italian dish. My mistake. I got a chicken breast coated in cornmeal and some scant vegetables on the side. Horribly disappointing, considering I was looking forward to a tasty Italian meal. We never saw any cheese and crackers, although I see them mentioned in other reviews. We left the restaurant absolutely starving. Fortunately, we stopped for an ice cream on the way home. I was not very impressed with this place at all. read more

We reached New Hampshire very close to closing time; the staff let us in to the upstairs dining area.. it's a cozy and comfy dining area with sofas for kid friendly families. We ordered the apple walnut chicken with mash and zucchini and smokehouse burger with sweet potato fries. It was fresh and loaded with flavor to the point the next day we wanted to try the place again. Dessert was a creamy creme brûlée with a crispy top. Definitely recommend this place. Our waitress was quite amusing and funny and really took care of us. read more

We have been coming here for years and we almost always get great and friendly service along with consistently well prepared comfort food. Normally we walk in on any weeknight and go upstairs to the lounge where we can eat on sofa's. This year, due to what they refer to as an "uncommon" labor shortage, there are long waits for a table in either the lounge or the main restaurant (there are many open tables, just not enough people to take care of them). I don't blame them nor rate restaurant lower.....as this seems to be a problem almost everywhere. Almost escargot (mushrooms with garlic, cheese and butter) are terrific. The blackened chicken tacos appetizer is great and the three tacos are large enough to be an entree. The cheese/bacon/onion dip with chips is also a big order and is decadently delicious. The lobster corn chowder is very good. In terms of entrees, the lobster pie is wonderful (but they are not offering it at this time due to lobster prices). I can highly recommend the meatloaf, the pot roast and the chicken with apple stuffing. The corn/bacon ravioli are also good, but a bit less so than the other things I mention here. read more

Please go here, you will discover a hidden gem. It wasn't busy. We helped ourselves to the cracker and cheese station YUM, and they brought us warm from the oven assorted bread YUM, and we all order burgers topped with mac and cheese, crispy thick bacon and onion strings. The burgers were awesome, cooked to perfection. We barely could eat the massive amount of food on our plates, so we packed it up to go. Did I mention the fries were the best...so good. Our server and all the help really were extremely attentive. Our server was spot on. He didn't forget about us, our food didn't arrive cold and I didn't have to wait for a refill... and the kicker, the price of the meal was not outragious. So, as I stated, please go here, you will not be disappointed. read more

This is a nice hidden gem of a place to eat and drink. The menu is small with 2 pages of food items and 5 pages of beers, wine and cocktails. Lol. No joke. The place has a rustic, log cabin or hunting lodge type of feel and it was very laid back and comfortable. The food was good but it's mostly burgers, snacks and salads. No complaints on the quality of the food though. The only thing that could have been better was the service but it wasn't the servers issue. I only saw one server and she was being ran ragged. It might have been because we came in after 9pm on a Wednesday night and perhaps they are not usually busy? Either way, it's a nice unique place and I would enjoy another meal here anytime. Enjoy! read more

The establishment is clean the atmosphere is beautiful their services well trained and capable

Every time I'm in new Hampshire I have to come here it's the best and I love vibes I get and the atmosphere is homie and I love how the food is prepared it's like going to grandma's house and getting a perfectly cooked homemade meal every time I definitely love this restaurant read more

if you want the most overpriced pre cooked meal your at the right place, their chowder comes in bags NOT FRESH like most of their product yet they charge out the wazoo. Wait staff seems friendly but you can tell its all by the book over nice fake smile makes me very uncomfortable at dinner, with the prices i have to pay i expect FRESH EVERYTHING read more

it is amazing that they have continued to operate under such restrictions and still be able to provide such great service. Their side dishes and desserts are some of the best in the area and with their line up of Chris White in Sunday's, it's hard not to think of the Common Man as a superior restaurant in the area. Thank you for your service and for your consistent offerings. read more

Came here to celebrate my buddy graduating from the Police Academy. This place had such a homey feeling that we felt welcomed right off the bat. Sat upstairs in the bar area. Grabbed a few rounds and our sever was very nice and cordial. All three of us got burgers with fries. Awesome food with a local bar scene. read more

Thank you so much for squeezing us into a reservation on Mother's Day. We had some unfortunate experiences with two other restaurants that night and you really turned it around for us. The crab cakes were very delicious as well as the salted caramel and waffle dessert. Our waitress Erica was spectacular and very kind. Casual atmosphere and good food with quick service. Can't beat it. They also have a new menu AND A gluten free menu. Definitely recommend. Will return. Thanks again!! read more

Always a favorite when in Ashland. Consistent comfort food with little twists here and there. Great staff.

Can't be the only one who got confused stepping through the doors of The Common Man thinking I was about to ride Thunder Mountain. Crude wooden signs with backwards E's and rounded edges, Old Tyme sports almanacs (go away Biff!) and other Imagineered touches on a rustic shack with mega foot space and... BOARD GAMES! When one's hungry in Holderness at 10p on a Friday, there aren't many options for grubbin. Risk the Hostess pies at the town's only gas station, or mosey over to The Common Man - the first of a resto plague that's the Granite State's claim to chain fame. Upstairs runs the late night show, boasting a full bar and a single CRT TV. Skip the show and cozy up on one of a thousand (ok, six) couches strewn about the faux cabin layout. We hunkered down next to a potbelly stove and a load-bearing post to eat chicken fingers and sweet potato fries. Fries with syrup. AND! To peel off a few Trivial Pursuit cards present at every table* Food was fine. Chicken fries up like every other tender, and the sweet potato fries came in a cone (bonus points), but nothing outrageously delicious. Let's talk dranks - my Makers Old Fashioned was a bit weak, but her Makers cider toddy with a sugared rim YouTube "grape lady"-smashed my mindfruits into oblivion. Here's a tip: when they're featuring a top shelf, expect $7-8 a pop. But a well or call bourbon/whiskey is only $4. Four dollars! Servers were super cool, chit chatting and telling us how there was "absolutely no rush" even when it was apparent they were closed. All good in the hood, and as chains go, it's a pretty damn neat spot. No Cracker Barrel, but then, hey, what is? ------- *Actually, Trivial Pursuit cards are present at every table in every business throughout New Hampshire. What's up with that? read more

Super dinner. Great food, excellent service that was warm and friendly. Great atmosphere and an outside deck too. From the appetizers to the desserts. Soooooo good. read more

I went here for dinner with my daughter and 3 friends this evening after a hiking trip up to Lonesome Lake. We ordered the trout, rib eye and a hamburger. The trout sucked. The rib eye at $22.99, one the the most expensive items on the menu was rock solid hard. My immediate reaction was that some fool in the kitchen realized that they didn't order prime meat and slipped us choice level crap....and overcooked it. The meat was as hard as granite. I'm a bit of a foodie and at the prices that they were charging, you would think that you get something worth the money. The only charm with this place is the environment-it's a bit folksy,there's lilac growing at the entranceway, it's woody and it's near the White Mtns....but this is where the charm ends. The food is as plain as any other "Americana" meat & potato restaurant. I could see the allure that this place has for folks who may have never left the granite state, but for those with a bit more in the way of refinement when it comes to taste, I would avoid this place unless you're really starving and choose a basic meal like the hamburger and a beer - you can't go wrong with a hamburger, no matter who you are. read more

Even before the recession, we had pretty much stopped going to restaurants because the service was so universally bad. The Common Man in Ashland -- the flagship of Alex Ray's Great American Dining series of restaurants -- is the exception. Alex & co. serve great, creative but unfussy food, in a old house in the center of Ashland, an old mill town on NH's Little Squam Lake. Dining is casual, and will please everyone from couples on a date to families looking for a nice casual meal for grownups and kids. While the service has declined a bit over the last few years (secular degradation), it is markedly better than restaurants that charge twice as much: warm, efficient and smiling. (Ask for Marilyn's section if you can get it -- she's been there since the place opened back in the 70s.) You will dine in one of a series of rooms in the house, heated (in winter) by several wood stoves. There is also a bar upstairs, and an outside upstairs deck that is open in the summer. The extensive menu has a wonderful mix of American classics for entrees (fish, poultry, meat, vegetarian) all carefully prepared with fresh ingredients, plus some slightly more exotic fare like pastas (the ravioli is particularly good). Our favorites include the meatloaf and the chicken dishes; they also do fish really well. Great appetizers, although since the entree portions tend to be ample we usually forgo the appetizers -- but one could easily order two appetizers and make a meal of it; try the artichoke dip. Desserts are out of this world, particularly the white chocolate bread pudding. The daily specials are usually great bets across the board (appetizer, entree and dessert). While this sounds like a basic North Country restaurant menu, the dishes are carefully and creatively prepared. A cut above other places. There is a small but carefully selected wine list, with many wines available by the glass; and the menu has suggested wine and food pairings, some of which seem unusual but are inspired. Good selection of beers as well. They have a self-service cheese-and-crackers station, so you can slake your hunger while you are waiting for your meal; and you will end your meal with a small treat of their special white chocolate, delivered with your check. Both are included in the price of your meal. Prices are very reasonable for what you get, and you can sometimes pick up special offers (check the Common Man web site before you go). No reservations, but we have rarely had to wait for a table except on holiday weekends, Motorcycle Week (June), and school vacation weeks. Waits are usually never long. Alex Ray's quirky and whimsical personalty is present throughout, without being cloying. In addition to being a restaurateur, he is a philanthropist and local business leader who gives extensively to local and national causes. Overall, a great restaurant that will delight almost everyone. They really seem to care about their customers. Located right off Route 93N, but you will feel like you are eating at someone's house in the woods. read more

Common Man is an old favorite and food is consistently good and well presented. Only disappointment were the drinks which seemed to be more filler than alcohol.. read more

"Everyone needs a love of the common man." So sang Todd Rundgren in the 70's (yes, I know, I'm the youngest Rundgren fan in existence, but that's neither here nor there), and, while his song was about the altruism that should ideally exist between all human beings, it could just as easily have been about this fantastic restaurant in the heart of New Hampshire. I hadn't been to the C-Man since early adolescence, when I lived in the area; I was running on pure nostalgia when I decided to return there, with my boyfriend, on a trip in the middle of October. I could tell immediately that the place hadn't lost its classic New England ambiance, brimming with warmth both figurative and literal. Right away, the staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming-- the hostess couldn't have been nicer, and the members of the waitstaff were as knowledgeable about the menu as they were about the region. At one point, when we asked for a recommendation for a good day-hiking trail, the waitperson actually went to the back to ask one of the chefs, an avid hiker . . . and that chef came over to our table to personally recommend a particular trail. He even drew us a map of how to get there, on the back of a cocktail napkin! My boyfriend later commented that this was the first time that he encountered friendliness on the East Coast rivaling that of his home state of Wisconsin. Who knew? On top of that . . . the. food. was. amazing. We started out with the "Almost Escargot," mushroom caps done up in butter sauce the way actual escargot would be. It was phenomenal-- exactly what we needed after a grueling six-hour drive from New York City. After that, I ordered a chicken dish, he ordered a beef dish, and we were both thoroughly impressed. We concluded the night with the C-man's amazing apple pie, which comes a la mode with homemade ice cream. (I have always maintained that New Hampshire has THE BEST ice cream anywhere in the world, and, fortunately, the C-man did not prove me wrong!) So, whether you're from the area or trekking in from somewhere else, I highly recommend the Common Man in Ashland, NH. Great food, quintessential New England atmosphere . . . it doesn't get any better than this! read more

After my conference this weekend, we had an after party of sorts at this Common Man location. It was a mixed bag of good and bad, but the most important part to get right, the food, was delicious. First, it was far too warm. There shouldn't be a stove, fireplace or heater in an upstairs area like that - it will heat itself. As it was, the wood stove aggravated my asthma quite a bit, and it was so warm I kept getting dizzy. I'm sure my friends thought I was rude as I kept leaving them to go downstairs to the fresh air. The service was glacier slow, but the waitress was incredibly nice, and got every order right - since we were not her only large party, she gets major points for this, trust me! I was not a fan of the house wine, labeled with the Common Man name, but switched completely to Layer Cake and was perfectly happy. My fellow party goers seemed very happy with their drinks and beer, and everyone seemed to get exactly what they ordered - no mix ups. On to the food, which was the real star of the evening. Everything on the menu was reasonably priced. So much so that even having to pick up the tab for some people who wandered off tired after such a long day without paying didn't break my bank. I had a bite of my friend's Mac n Cheese Pizza first, to try it. A little odd for my taste, but carb overload aside, surprisingly tasty. Not something I'd order on purpose due to my taste in food, but I can see the appeal. The nachos being served my friends were huge piles of cheesy looking goodness, which I refrained from dipping into and another friend who got the Cheeseburger Pizza seemed to enjoy it as well. My appetizer was the Not Quite Escargot, which was tasty. Just enough garlic to taste, but not overpower. Not completely drowned in butter, with an interesting presentation. I then had the Bison burger, cooked medium rare, and a side of extra crispy sweet potato fries. I thought the fries were a tiny bit bland - I love seasoned sweet potato fries - but overall this was a tasty dish, and not overly large. The bread was interesting, and didn't fall apart during eating - a major burger plus! Toss in funky decor, live music, and table games, and I'll definitely come back. A decent, staple place to eat in the area. We're happy they made us welcome! (We found them through Twitter - @thecmannh) read more

I don't know... I kind of feel like "The Common Man" is taking over the Lakes Region. And maybe because they are pretty much it, service is starting to not be a high priority since there aren't many other choices. We first tried to go to the Italian Farmhouse but we were told there was an hour wait (even though we did do call ahead). They hostess called over here to check on availability and they held a table for us (though I don't think there was a need to hold the table as the restaurant was not busy at all). The decor was nice but it was almost too dark to see it. I did enjoy all the writing on the walls in the bathroom though. The blu cheese dressing was not chunky at all and who adds shredded cheese to a salad with blu cheese dressing? I think the waitress mixed up whose salads were whose and it was eventually straightened out by taste testing (who could see what the dressing was, it was so dark). The boys were starving and we had already taken advantage of the crackers. I saw many other tables with bread baskets on them and finally asked our waitress if she could bring us some bread (after all the adults were nearly finished with their salads). My stuffed shrimp wasn't stuffed, more like tiny crab cakes resting on top of each medium sized shrimp. But it did taste very good and my mashed potatoes were excellent. My eldest had pepperoni pizza which he enjoyed and my 6 year old had the cheeseburger. He couldn't even get his mouth around it. I cut off the top of the giant bun and he still couldn't eat it. He did eat a lot of his french fries (which he rarely does) as they were very good. So if you have a small child, don't order the hamburger. :-) Anyway, overall the food was good. Service was tolerable, and if you read my husbands post about the Lake House, all I have to say is they didn't lose my credit card! read more

Erin has been our server several times now. She s great and the food is delicious too! I had the mushroom almost escargot and haddock. Both delicious! read more

Everything I want in life is right here. Great food, beverage, ppl, staff, decor, music, business sense. I was in Lincoln. My friend in Laconia. The Common Man right in the middle. We meet and enter. 30 min for a table. No problem. Wait at the bar? Cool. Free crackers and dip?!? Thank you!!! Now the dining room was quaint. But upstairs blew my mind. Rough wood. Exposed beams. Antique signage on the walls. Roof deck. 2 pool tables. Crazy meandering bar. Whitty tenders. Heart touching musicians. I want to live here. The menu was fun. Food and beverage alike. Crispy wings. Cesar salad fresh. Add BACON WRAPPED SHRIMP?!? Please. Also... Marry me. I love u. I will return. read more

Done with the entire chain. Overpriced la-di-da crap. Too many menu snafus. Staff not friendly. Will never visit any of their places again

This place is pretty solid. I think I made a bad choice on the sandwich for the night, which took a star away, but this will definitely go 4 stars upon another visit and perhaps a different entree. So, decor...amazing. This place is right off 93, about 0.5 mile and is in a nice old barn/house. The place is spilling over in charm, something out of a Nordic ski lodge; it even has real wood fireplaces and wood stoves, not propane...wood! You're treated to free cheese and crackers that you serve yourself, a nice big wheel of mild cheddar sits out for your convenience. It's a very communal experience, even if you're just on a date, everyone is very friendly. Service can be a bit slow upstairs because the seating is very casual, but that doesn't hamper the experience too much. The food: Nothing epic, but good. The wings are a bit boring, but they're very friendly on the wallet. I wouldn't get too excited about the Korean BBQ sauce, it's essentially Sweet Baby Ray's with some fish sauce mixed through. But they're not bad. I got the meatloaf, which was a mistake. Too sweet, the pepper ketchup was nice but also very sweet. French fries were clearly hand cut and double fried perfectly. No soggy fries here. Beer menu is very nice and very local, they even brew their own spuds, and it's a good straight forward beer, nothing too amazing, but good. Next time, I'll order a more proper meal and I'm sure the stars will go up. Stop by here after skiing or if you're just heading North, you won't be disappointed. read more

Was looking for a relaxing atmosphere with decent food. This place fit the bill. Kind of your Mom's home cooking type of menu, but well done. Was happy to find they are a bit of a chain, so ate there when we moved on to another town in our travels. Service was excellent both locations read more

We have been going to this restaurant for almost ten years every time we go on vacation to Lake Winnie. We go because there is an open mic night on Thursday nights, and so it has become a family ritual to go every year. The staff are wonderful, the open mic is a fun neighborhood gathering where everyone is welcoming and warm. The food is good but not great. We've found over the years that is better to stick to burgers and such. Tonight my family ordered burgers and fries, Caesar salad, bacon wrapped shrimp, and lobster corn chowder. The chowder was good. The shrimp was fair. The Caesar salad was good. My husband ordered his burger well done but it came rare. I was surprised he didn't send it back but he was hungry. The French fries were very good. Although they are a little skimpy on the ketchup. Based on this experience I would have given only three stars BUT the extra star goes for the pizza. My son and I are vegan and this restaurant has nothing on the menu that is vegan. But since it's a family ritual we always go. For two years now we have ordered their homemade pizza with no cheese. It comes with diced tomatoes and garlic oil. We added mushrooms spinach and red peppers and it was GREAT. Be warned that the crust is extremely thin so we ended up ordering two pizzas where we originally thought one would suffice. But the price is more than reasonable for the pizza and it was GOOD!!!! Alas we will definitely be back next year because the open mic is fun. And we'll get our vegan pizza again. read more