Food was acceptable but nothing to write home about. However, the seafood chowder was PHENOMENAL and 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. read more

The best part of my visit was the seafood chowder, but every other dish was mediocre, and the service 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. read more

See all

My daughter and I stopped by Water View Grill in Portsmouth for lunch and shared the haddock and fries platter. The portion was generous, with plenty of seasoned fries and two fried haddock fillets--easily enough for two people. Unfortunately, the fish didn't taste very fresh and seemed more like it had been previously frozen. The outdoor seating offered nice views of the tugboats, and we also ordered the lobster rangoons, which were quite tasty. The mocktails were refreshing, especially the Watermelon Lemonade and Blueberry Spritz, although the presentation was disappointing. My Blueberry Spritz had only two blueberries and no garnish, which felt underwhelming for the price. Service was average. Our server took our order and brought our drinks but wasn't particularly engaging or attentive. Considering the level of service, a 20% tip felt a bit steep, though I hope the host, food runner, and busser shared in it. Overall, the waterfront setting was enjoyable, but the food quality, presentation, service, and pricing left room for improvement. read more

See all

Food and service were average. Did not appreciate the CC surcharge on a $150 tab. Choose accordingly. read more

Water View Grill - 3% Surcharge - Seafood Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

When we were ready to pay, we were told that the computers were down & that meant the credit card reader wasn't working. It would have been good to know that in advance, as we didn't have a lot of cash on-hand, leaving us scrambling to scrape the payment and tip together between the 3 of us. Our food was great. The server was attentive & kind. We loved the heated, covered outdoor seating area by the water. read more

See all

A rainy day stop in Oct 2025, as party of 3, around 2pm, for a late lunch. We were greeted quickly and advised of the option of covered heated patio seating or indoor seating. We went with the outdoor. Each of us ordered a drink & water. We also each picked 1 dish for a family-style meal/ tasting. The service was great, as was the food. The prices may have been a tad high, but not too crazy. The only issue was that the machines were down when it came time to pay. I do wish they'd advised of that earlier, as it left us scrambling for cash. Had we known up front, we'd have skipped the drinks and made sure we had enough to leave a decent tip. I dare say we shorted the gal in that area. read more

See all

SALMON BITES!!! I have an addiction! Every time I go there. I promise to try other things. Don't get me started. I have eaten quite a bit of different entrees and they are all so delicious! Kudos! To chef Sam! The atmosphere is chillaxed and fun. Wait staff marvelous!!! Omg. Lobster bake! Yummmm! Blueberry, lemon, bread pudding heated with whipped cream and fresh blueberries. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!! read more

See all

Stopped in for a quick bite and was blown away by the great service--friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable staff who made the whole experience even better. The views were also really beautiful especially since it was during the sunset. The seafood chowder was rich, flavorful, and packed with fresh seafood--comforting without being too heavy. The bacon-wrapped scallops were a standout: perfectly seared, with crispy bacon and tender scallops. I only tried one oyster on the half shell, but it was fresh, briny, and expertly shucked. I tried the featured wine of the week which was the Vermentino Di Sadegna Aragosta Sardina from Italy. It was light, crisp and super flavorful. We also ordered a strawberry lime sunset mocktail which was delicious. Small order, big impression. Can't wait to come back for more! I definitely recommend both the seafood chowder and the scallops. read more

See all

We walked in as a table of 4 mid afternoon and were attended to very quickly. Food wait didn't take long and everything was tasty. Really enjoyed the crab cake app as it was extra crispy! 3/4 ordered hot lobster rolls which I found was tasty but smaller compared to other ones I've had in Maine. 4th person ordered a steak and was thrown off by how small it was in person! Overall still good service and food. Would recommend if you're looking for water front views! read more

Water View Grill - Seafood Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

See all

Doesn't get any bedda' than this. Seafood Chowda', and a Lobsta' Roll sparked a dopamine response in my brain that I thought it might shoot out my ears! The WVG is permanently on our itinerary whenever we're driving nearby. Sorry no photos. I was too busy eating! read more

Hi, my husband and I just came out of a meal at Waterview Grill... please don't bother because they don't bother! we were sat on the back deck at 3:30 for a beer and some late lunch- we had a slight umbrella, which did not cover anybody because it was against the building structure. anyway, the beer was good. The food was good weight staff good.. But we continued to cook as the sun baked us. Our beer quickly became warm and we cooked.!! The water did not have any ice cubes-at the end we decided to broach the subject with our waitress... She gave us off to her manager (what a mistake)!!!!! The manager proceeds to tell us why she did not need an awning. She said their restaurant owned other restaurants and we had the ability to go inside or downstairs to get out of the sun if we wanted to!!! She didn't give us the time of day nor did she bother listening to us. What she needs to know is that no one will put up with this! Please do not patronize this restaurant!!!! read more

We stopped here for drinks before dinner at a place nearby. The drinks were okay, not great. The place gave me a touristy vibe. The view of the water and tug boats from the downstairs patio area was pretty. read more

Water View Grill - Seafood Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

See all

This was an unplanned pleasant surprise! We were walking and casually looking at menus posted outside of different restaurants and what appeared to be a local stopped to tell us that we MUST try it. She said emphatically the food and staff were the best in the area. She seemed very sincere so we trusted this stranger....and we were glad we did! We were brought to the back of the restaurant were we had view to the dock area, it was an OK view, however, you really only end up seeing tourists taking pictures. We walked on the deck after we ate and it was a nice dock. However, it's like any dock on the water. Staff was very efficient and friendly. They moved quickly filling drinks, taking orders and delivering food and answer questions for customers. Really nice interactions from what I was observing around us. Our server was awesome as well. Very patient as we were a little indecisive when ordering drinks. The mocktail list is nice and they are very willing to make non-alcohol drinks. The appetizer of Bacon Wrapped Diver Scallop was delicious with a great sauce. I just wish we had more of them LOL. Our entrees were delicious and very filling. Haddock fish and Chips delicious and perfectly cooked. i loved the net the lemon was placed in. I posted a picture as well. The Waterview Burger was delicious. Perfectly cooked with delicious fries. We were so full from our meals but could not say not to the blueberry bread pudding. We were glad we tried it. Filling, rich and bright fresh flavors with the blueberry. If we are in the area - we will definitely return, unless it's too busy (which by the way is a great sign). Thank you to the staff and chefs that made this experience wonderful! read more

See all

We went there shortly after arriving to Portsmouth. We enjoyed live music outside while having a drink. Their bacon wrapped scallops were delish. read more

I like the ambience here on the outside patio. It overlooks the river and a few surrounding businesses. Lots of activity during busy times. As with a lot of restaurants now it's hard to feel like you're getting any kind of a deal. Food is spendy for what you get and this place is no exception. I'm not paying $12-15 for a glass of wine. I ordered the seared Ahi tuna tacos. Grilled corn tortillas, spicy aïoli, dressed cabbage, sea salt, and it comes with fries. The flavors were very good and the tuna sushi grade. I thought the tacos were incredibly small and it felt like there was hardly anything on them. Service was friendly enough, but the server did not check on me after I got my food. It was unacceptable because there was virtually no one in the place. I don't know, maybe when places are near empty people just get lazy. Would I come back? Yes, to give them another chance. Redemption is sweet. read more

Water View Grill - Outside patio - Seafood Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Worthy of a 6th Star. On a dead solid perfect late March Friday, we popped in for lunch. Prompt service and cold beverages. Lobster rolls for us, one cold, one hot. Pic will show STUFFED with meat. Apple Crumb for dessert was sublime. Great server made the day perfect. Parking across the street was required, not owned my the Grill. Worth your time. read more

Water View Grill - Hot Lobstah roll - Seafood Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

A great place to stop for happy hour. Service is excellent and the view is lovely. My shrimp cocktail had a generous serving for an amazing price and the wine was good quality. read more

Menu was full of twists on traditional meals such as burgers, fish, salad and sandwiches. They take their food presentation seriously. Great if you like to try new things. It is a nice spot overlooking the water and ships. read more

Water View Grill - Salmon with vegetables and potatoes - Seafood Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Great restaurant on the banks of the great Piscataqua river. The views are terrific, very New England seaport as you would hope. Food was very good. The mussels were very delicious. I went on a busy Saturday night and the service was spot on. Very good place with some surprises amongst the two floors. read more

Complete mess up on a salad and nothing taken off the check? Bad customer service. The salad was ordered with dressing on the side and it was drenched in dressing. Utter mess. So instead of clearing the plate they brought a new salad for us to move the shrimp over. Again, bad service decision. Grilled cheese with lobster which was cold and the cheese not even melted. It was gross and soggy. read more

It was the first ever time to visit the Water View Grill. It was cozy restaurant with nice vie. Food was delicious as well the beer from NH. Server was friendly and attentive. Great birthday celebration. I am pretty sure we will be back. Maria Luisa & David from m Worcester, M.A read more

See all

Bisque for an app. Fettuccine w seafood, And two fish grilled dishes. All excellent. Service top notch. Waitress who was yoga instructor was wonderful! A great lunch/supper! Others all so friendly. read more

Any place run by the Labrie's is great. Water View is leap years beyond the former business in location. I've been three times and haven't been let down. I suggest that you call ahead and reserve a table with a water view, there's a reason they have this new name. Enjoy gazing at the Moran tow boats and the beautiful salt pile. read more

We visited the restaurant at 7:30pm and it was very quiet for a Saturday night. They must have not had enough food on hand, because it appeared they split a piece of haddock in half and added a pile of vegetables on our plates along with ice cold mashed potatoes. I wish I took a picture to show you! I asked to speak with the manager and her response was that is how this dish is prepared. Wait service was slow for an empty restaurant. read more

Amazing seafood chowder! Packed with five different types of seafood! Service was excellent, waitress named Sara and as friendly and attentive! Great view of the harbor! Highly recommend! Fish and chips were also delicious! read more

Came to this spot based on recommendations in Yelp. It's a cool spot right on the water, great view. We started with the seafood chowder, which was delicious! For the entree I ordered the sirloin which comes with green beans and mashed potatoes. She orders the seafood fettuccini. My steak was cooked to order but the cut was very fatty and filled with gristle. Her pasta has an odd taste, much like it had too much vinegar in it. The hostess was good and the servers also did well. The meal was just okay aside from the chowder. read more

Water View Grill - Seafood Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

See all

My wife and I were there for a late lunch on October 18, 2025 at 2:30 PM. She got a cup of the seafood chowder, which was pretty good. I got the lobster bisque which was very lacking. There was a very little bit of lobster meat on top as more of a garnish, but the bisque just tasted like a sweet cream sherry - there was no lobster flavor let alone any lobster meat in the rest of the cup. I should've saved the $2 and got the seafood chowder. She got the farmers salad with shrimp, which was OK. I got the Caprese sandwich with fries. The chicken was so salty, but no matter how hungry I was, I couldn't eat more than half. It was also a very thick chicken breast on a tough ciabatta roll. So, it was very difficult to eat physically as well. Maybe if the roll wasn't cold, it wouldn't have been so bad. I then went for the fries but despite their visual seasoning, they were very plain tasting. Maybe my palette was blown out from the salty chicken, but my wife tried one and agreed it looked much better than it tasted. So the 2 cups of soup, the salad and the sandwich came out to $67 with tax. I don't think we'll be back unless it's jfor a cup of the seafood chowder. read more

Water View Grill - Receipt - Seafood Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Such a great spot!! We stopped here just for a drink and app. It was a 10/10 experience. Food, drinks, service with a view. Would absolutely recommend. Try the seafood chowder. It was the absolute best in town. read more

Amazing view Great service from Kevin Great drinks Great Food Awesome dessert Definitely a diamond in the ruff read more

Water View Grill - Great view - Seafood Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Just a quick stop in the bar for drinks. The service was excellent and super friendly. I really like the vibe of the downstairs lounge. Reminds me of an Irish pub with the low ceiling. read more

Water View Grill - A few pints in the downstairs lounge. - Seafood Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

We took the family visiting from Pennsylvania to Portsmouth to see the amazing history in New England. After an entire morning full of activities, we were ravenously hungry and as we were downtown, looked for a suitable place with ambiance and we went in to the Waterview Grill. We weren't disappointed The Water View Grill commands a beautiful view of the harbor on two levels. You can enter from Bow Street level or go down to the waterfront and enter the lower level. We are right by the water and they sat our group of 9 with a few hours notice. Service was outstanding, considering a group of nine takes its toll on waitstaff. The waitress could recite their beer menu from memory, superb.... And our food orders were equally diverse.... Chowdah for two, amazing lobster rolls, fresh haddock, fish & Chips, Glazed Salmon, Heirloom Tomato Grilled Cheese and a sumptuous Water View Burger. Everything came at the same time, water was never lacking, and the beers were local and cold. A wonderful time with family enjoying a beautiful view in a historic setting, read more

Nice server, Zack from Meredith. Food excellent taste, quality. Scallops. Brussels sprouts. Wine choices. Loved the patio with the tugs and visiting horse. Glad we called ahead to snag an edge table. read more

Water View Grill - Strolling horse. - Seafood Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

See all

Service was excellent from the start to finish. Started with the Farmer's Salad, awesome, shaved fennel was a big plus, dressed perfectly. Really enjoyed. Salmon Bites for appetizer were cooked perfectly juicy and really worked to get us hungry. For entrees the Seared Ahi Tuna Tacos unfortunately left a lot on the table, the tuna was really lacking in pizazz, the corn tortillas were just plain...not heated or grilled, or nothin'....and the crema just didn't pull its weight. The brussells sprouts were over fried for us. The Heirloom Tomato Grilled Cheese was everything I thought it would be...and more! The additional protein of crab cake was a perfect match, cheesy, tomatoey, crabby goodness between some deliciously grilled bread along side some herbed up fries.....heavenly. We really loved the harbor atmosphere....sat by the back windows and enjoyed bridges, tug boats and loading docks, it made for some lunchtime scenery. read more

See all

Their seafood chowder is off the charts delicious!!! The bruschetta was also very good. Highly recommend. Staff were very friendly. . read more

Well for starts, we were searching for a happy hour at about 430 pm on a Friday on the water - the first placed we tried had no happy hour but we turned around and saw a happy hour sign at water view grill. Started with my wife and had full apps at 1/2 price. Plus $5 special drinks and large frozen drinks for 10 bucks. All apps were stellar! Did I mention the stellar view !!! From dock side. I left for an hour of napping and the ladies (daughter and wife) woke me up for dinner. Guess what, we came back! Even more stellar, back we go to the second floor deck over looking the tug boats. Mild cool breeze was wonderful after a hot day. Dinner was just insane. The Best seafood pasta (fettuccine) dish I have ever had. Scallops, lobster shrimp and clams under $30! Our server Sara was fantastic. The dish I ordered was her favorite and it was a great recommendation. She also made sure the espresso martini came out perfect. We will be back! read more

See all

They have a great variety of different lunch options. I am not a seafood person so I got the grilled tomato and cheese on sourdough - it was great along with the seasalt fries. A very good motion of food. The outside deck was nice and our waiter Zack was very attentive and nice. read more

Water View Grill - Grilled tomatoes and cheese - Seafood Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

See all

Ate here today entirely by chance, because I had some friends in town visiting from New York. They really wanted lobster rolls, and this was the first place we came to that had them on the menu. It was my luckiest accident in a while! My mom said the fish and chips were some of the best she's ever had, my friends loved their hot lobster rolls, and while I am not a seafood person by any stretch of the imagination, I did have one of the best burgers I've ever eaten. The fries were crispy and delicious too, and the mocktail I tried was fantastic. Our server was friendly and helpful and went out of his way to take a group photo for us, and the ambience was fun and comfortable. I look forward to visiting again in the future! read more

The seafood chowder was delicious. We loved the food, location, atmosphere and service.

Good food. Really nice ambience, especially if you can dine outside. Salads were a bit small. Service was efficient.

Excellent food in a great space. It has several floors and has both a formal restaurant along with a sports bar on the lower level. The street level dining room is quieter and has alcoves for larger tables. Service was friendly and quick. They genuinely looked like they wanted to be there and they refilled water glasses. In fact, they are able to change the seating arrangements quickly from a high top to a regular table. Bathrooms are available both on the dining room level along with some in the lower level. (They are all unisex). Meal portions are ample and simply delicious. The boiled lobster dinner is not for the faint of heart. It is a pretty sizable lobster (roughly 1.5lbs) and comes with clams, potatoes, and corn on the cob. It was tasty and messy. The lobster roll was great as well and comes with a side of fries. The burger and fried haddock sandwiches are also a good bet. The whoopie pie dessert is large enough to be shared as it is three halves of 3 different flavor whoopie pies. read more