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    The Mad River Tavern

    3.3 (147 reviews)
    ModerateBars, New American
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

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    The Mad River Tavern Photos

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    THE MAD RIVER TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Live music
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - The Mad River Tavern

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    Exterior
    Adina S.

    My friend and I stopped by The Mad River Tavern on our way back to Boston after a hike. I thought it was a great local spot! It's one of those places that probably gets a bunch of regulars. The vibes were fun and casual, so you could really go there for any occasion, and the service was standard. In terms of food, they had all the regular staples. We enjoyed our burgers, especially considering we just randomly chose this place. I wouldn't mind going back!

    Burger bomb
    Michelle H.

    We stop here every year before the Boogie n Blues. Today we got a burger bomb and fish n chips. Best burger (hand made patty) by far... also hand cut fries... friendly bartender... place doesn't disappoint

    Chicken Piccatta
    Jay G.

    So we went to the Waterville Valley Chocolate Festival (oh yeah baby!) but we got there early and went looking for lunch. Decided to check this place out on a recommendation and glad we did. A bit run down and dated but the food was on point! My gf had the clam plate (weird choice to have in the mountains) and thought it was killer! Not overly battered and tasted like the oil was fresh so all you tasted was fresh seafood. I went with the Chicken Piccatta and it was PHENOMENAL! Huge portion loaded with tons of chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, and mushrooms although no capers which is traditional. The sauce was very smooth and while it wasn't as lemony as I like, it had great flavor. The waitress was friendly and quick so we have zero complaints. Both of us were stuffed and had a beer each for a total of just over 50 bucks! Not sure when but will certainly be back!

    You can't beat their $10 burger and beer on Monday nights. Great burger...unbeatable price.

    Bar area
    Suraj P.

    Excellent food with an amazing vibe. We're in town for a wedding and found this spot online to grab a quick lunch.

    Outside

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    5 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Great breakfast sandwich and even better coffee. Nice cozy atmosphere. Attentive service.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    They have great daily specials, and the food is great and made to order. Friendly local staff

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Great place to have dinner! It was shockingly quiet for the weekend of the 4th. Nice service, great food.

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    3 years ago

    Great food and beer! Service was good too! We had burger and chicken tenders and they were delicious!

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    Covered Bridge Farm Table - pasta fattoria and seafood bake

    Covered Bridge Farm Table

    4.1(341 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    Meeting family for lunch on a Wednesday turned out to be a great experience. There were 4 of us…read moreand we were seated immediately. The host was very friendly and personable. The waitress was attentive and friendly. We ordered an appetizer (buffalo chicken fingers) and soup (broccoli and cheese and chowder) and it was all delicious! Our meals were also great, two Lem Parker sandwiches, two side salads, a spinach salad with chicken added and a fish Ruben. There were leftovers! We all had a great time, enjoyed the food and are looking forward to going back in the spring or summer when we expect the views of the Pemi to be beautiful!

    Popular venue overlooking Blair Bridge; consistent quality food; staff is seasoned and efficient.-…read morethis basically describes this farm to table restaurant.(no reservations- first come, first seated) We went with neighbors after getting settled in for the next four months. When we arrived, there was a large bus with tourists that had just arrived so we opted to eat in the bar area versus eating outdoors. Our waitress (Trisha) was one of two bar tenders covering a bar that sat about 12 patrons plus about 6 other tables, She took our orders and then was tied up trying to assist others. We only saw her again when she asked if we desired dessert. My Pasta Fattoria had chicken, spinach, bacon , sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and was very enjoyable. My wife had the steak tips. I could not finish mine so I have lunch for another day. Overall, a nice meal and given the circumstances, Covered Bridge covered most needs.

    Photos
    Covered Bridge Farm Table - Cool ceiling art

    Cool ceiling art

    Covered Bridge Farm Table - Fish & Chips

    Fish & Chips

    Covered Bridge Farm Table - Covered Bridge just beyond parking lot

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    Covered Bridge just beyond parking lot

    The Common Man Restaurant - Mac and cheese burger

    The Common Man Restaurant

    4.2(893 reviews)
    13.4 mi
    $$

    It was excellent for the prices family of seven four adults and one pre-teen and two und three i…read morepaid 130 i was H.A.F. ANY WERE ELSE WHOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSSER TO TWO HONDO'S. WHOO HOO LOL And the food was good to it was elevated it wasn't no b.s. by all means so salute and thank you for the great experience.

    If you're anywhere near Lincoln, NH, do yourself a favor and check out The Common Man. This has…read morebecome one of my family's favorite restaurants, and it's easy to see why. From the moment you walk in, the experience is different. If there's a wait, you can help yourself to a complimentary cheese and dip tray while you wait for your table. Even if you're seated right away, you can still grab a plate for your table. It's such a nice touch that you don't see very often anymore. Their beer and cocktail selection is fantastic and changes with the seasons, so there's always something new to try. Then the famous homemade dinner rolls arrive and they're so good they put Texas Roadhouse rolls to shame! For an appetizer, we ordered the Mexican street corn dip. It had just the right amount of spice and was absolutely delicious. My wife had the blackened fish tacos, I ordered the Asian tuna bowl, and my daughter got the same bowl with salmon. Every dish was cooked perfectly, fresh, and full of flavor. Just when you think the meal is over, they come around after you pay with a heaping scoop of homemade white chocolate. It's another thoughtful touch that makes the experience memorable. The prices were more than fair, the portions were just right, and the service was excellent. Restaurants like this where you truly feel welcomed and can enjoy a genuine family dining experience are becoming harder and harder to find. 5/5 stars. The Common Man is an absolute must-try if you're visiting Lincoln or the White Mountains. We'll definitely be back!

    Photos
    The Common Man Restaurant
    The Common Man Restaurant - White chocolate strawberry cheesecake

    White chocolate strawberry cheesecake

    The Common Man Restaurant

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    Cold Mountain Cafe

    Cold Mountain Cafe

    4.4(148 reviews)
    29.3 mi
    $$

    Cold Mountain Cafe is a perfect stop to turn a long drive into a nice date!…read more We definitely recommend this place, it's a solid 4 that comes off like a 5! We've passed through Bethlehem, NH a few of times as we've traveled between Maine and New Hampshire. A couple weeks ago I noticed a glowing little eatery as we hurried west on Route 2 en route to UMass Amherst. I didn't catch the name of the restaurant I'd noticed, but our return l timing worked to stop for dinner in Bethlehem, so as we headed back, Cary scoured Google and Yelp ...and based upon the menus and ambiance, we settled on Cold Mountain Cafe. Turns out this was the spot. Inside was just as welcoming as I'd anticipated. Nothing against small New England towns, ...but IMO you can't EXPECT a well-rounded professional restaurant package when you're in "two-hours-from-anywhere, New Hampshire". And IMHO, sometimes these fresh-movement country places are presented like funky hippy brightly lit hardscaped cafe's with busy chalkboard menus that look like 60's concert posters. Not Cold Mountain Cafe -the music, lighting and decor was perfectly contemporary ...relaxing ...inviting comfortable conversation. The menu and pricing were well thought out, offering an assortment of cultural fare with asian, french, American, East Indian entrees that ranged from smash-burger, pot pie comfort food, to bistro steak and seared scallops. Unexpected additions like bean cake and Indian lamb stew entrees offered a pleasant, funky twist. Entrees ranged from $19 to $38. The two drinks we tried were really great! I had the Brooklyn and Cary had the Espresso Lovers Martini. I think Cary put it perfectly when she said that the Brooklyn was like desert! The espresso martini was notable because it was made with rum, instead of vodka and it used fresh espresso, giving it a luscious Tia Maria feel. Both drinks had a wonderful silky smooth mouth feel. The waitstaff was not uniformed, but in semi-formal server attire with all black garments and waist aprons. The service was friendly, professional and attentive... our waitress brought us some warm crispy tender dinner rolls with garlicky seasoned oil dipping sauce, took our orders at our pace and checked in on us throughout the meal. The mushroom polenta app was great... smooth, creamy and fresh with balanced earthy woodsy and smoky notes. The pea soup was a bit brighter and fresher than I'm used to (growing up in Boston, my mom made the best pea soup ...a more hearty version with pork meat always made in the days following a smoked shoulder meal), but in the New England small town country, farm-fresh motif, we liked the bright, fresh pea flavors... Cary was concerned about what she would order because she was put off by the steak entree's smoked Gouda sauce. So she had the lamb stew, which was a compromise. Me? I'd spent the previous couple of days at a hotel hanging around UMass, which means a lot more carbs than I want... smash burgers, burritos, eggs Bennies... oof! So I definitely was feeling like something light... and decided to be crazy and try the bean cake. Cary's stew was nice. It didn't hit you over the head, but it had balanced signature Indian flavors, and was nicely presented. We're not volume-conscious but both thought it could have had a couple more pieces of lamb. I enjoyed my bean cake -although I don't really have anything to compare it to. The waitress said it was hearty, so I rolled the dice. I'd probably try it again... it flavorful and satisfying. The chèvre and ginger dressing supplied a good level of moisture and flavor notes to the breaded spiced bean and rice patty. I'd add that the plating on a bed of fresh spinach presented a little bit of a challenge as I had to pierce a few baby fresh spinach leafs at a time, then add the bean cake... but it was manageable... The menu changes seasonally, so we're looking forward to checking in on our next pan New England journey.

    Great service, comfortable local space and excellent home…read moreCooked and creative food. Great night! Loved the crunchy salad! Watermelon soup was special. Lots of chartreuse based drinks. Highly recommend as a local foodie experience.

    Photos
    Cold Mountain Cafe - Great, comfortable cozy dining room

    Great, comfortable cozy dining room

    Cold Mountain Cafe
    Cold Mountain Cafe

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    The Mad River Tavern - bars - Updated July 2026

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