Arrived right on time for a 6 o'clock reservation on a Saturday evening. We were seated promptly and had our cocktail order taken immediately. I had some version of a Manhattan that was very well-made and my wife had the Amethyst Amor'e, also very well done. We started with a cheeseboard, which was very generous, lots of cheese, bread, honey, and candied walnuts. We also tried their deviled egg, very tasty... My wife had the beets and the mussels, which she enjoyed thoroughly. I had their version of the chicken pie, which had some unusual flavors. I'm not quite sure what it was, but it was very good as well. our server, I wish I could remember her name, was very attentive, timing of her visits to our table or perfect. The pacing of when food was delivered, was just as one would hope. Altogether our bill was about $180 not including tip. All in all a really nice experience, given the somewhat limited menu options I'm not sure how soon we'll be back, but I would certainly recommend this restaurant.
Grace K.
The restaurant is very pretty and has free parking which is a plus in Portsmouth. We were greeted promptly by Quinn who was very accommodating. The fireplace was glowing, but beware--only two tables feel the heat of the fireplace and can see it because it is in a corner of the restaurant which cannot be seen by other diners once seated. While the waitress was very pleasant, she gave us wrong information about the menu. She said the fish was a whole fish, but it was a one filet. At least they could have given two filets, not just one for the price they charged. The bread was tasty but nothing special. I liked the Caesar salad that came with delicious anchovies. My partner said he had better elsewhere. I ordered the duck medium rare. It came out well done. I didn't say anything because I was hungry and didn't want my partner to sit there eating while the chef redid the duck. Portions were on the small side. I had to eat eight pieces of bread to be slight filled, and I am a thin person. I don't know where the good reviews come from. At these prices, we expected more than a well-written menu. We expected good portions and fabulous food which we didn't get.
Richard W.
A very lovely place for a special night out. Take your better half here for dinner and you will score major points. Understated elegant atmosphere, you walk in and they have a fire going in the dining room fireplace. A real fire in a real fireplace! Loved it. If you can, get seated at the kitchen table, you'll get front-row seats to the action. Despite being swamped on a busy Friday night, our server took very good care of us. Pre-dinner cocktails arrived promptly and they were well-done. Nice wine list. Mimsy got the Shepard's pie, I got the sirloin, Lily got the fish and chips. All very good. Steak was medium rare as ordered, and that fingerling potato done in duck fat mmmm. A very well-run restaurant.
Susan V.
The building is majestic. From the beautiful warming fireplace to the antique gas lamps the restaurant is absolutely stunning. The drinks were made with such attention and care, they were wonderful and the service was perfect. We had the seafood chowder and it was like velvet. One of the best chowders in my life. The lamb shepherds pie was just as great! We stopped at many places here in Portsmouth and this made the top of the list!
Mike B.
Couldn't be in a better location or a nicer venue inside. The waitstaff was friendly and attentive. The food was innovative and tasted good. The first negative was that the food service was awkwardly timed and extremely slow. I'm talking like almost an hour between apps coming out and our food coming out. And while we're talking about food, if you order a cheese tray app, I kind of expected more than one small piece of store bought Brie on the plate with some walnuts and apple slices. The portions were exceedingly small, which I would have expected in a fine dining establishment. But if they are small, they should at least be extraordinary. They weren't. They were just good. I've come here many times before. They've always been just okay, not a standout in town.
Lindsay B.
This restaurant is one of the best in New England. We started with the mussels which were substantial in size and the sauce was great. It wasn't drowning in broth like most restaurants preparations which was appreciated and very appealing. It came out on a hot I believe cast iron plate. I got the curried hoe cakes which were delicious myself husband got the duck and my son got the kids burger. We all loved our dishes. For dessert we had the bread pudding which was phenomenal. Service and atmosphere was perfect. We had a lovely night.
J B D
The Puddle Dock was pretty much exactly as I expected, considering how much I had looked into it ahead of time. The entire reason for going was for the rarebit my boss had informed me of during a discussion about foods I had grown up with.The food was all incredible and was interesting to see the inside of the building since I had grown up going to Strawberry Bank as a child and getting pickles from a pickle barrel when it was a store. The post and beam structure still looks incredible and the layout of the bar is extremely well done. The atmosphere that is given was extremely laid back. The one thing that took away, for me, was a few of the wait staff that had come by have an arrogance when speaking to you that is a bit off putting. It is clear that it is not all of them but enough to discourage.I had an old fashioned, the rarebit which came with bits of duck, brussel sprouts and a fried egg on top as an appetizer and the Shepard's pie as a meal. The Shepard's pie came out with a crust making it look more like pot pie but added a wonderful texture to it. The flavor was incredible though be warned of how hot that dish is and how long it will need to cool. Definitely worth the visit and experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Karen C.
We were coming down to Portsmouth to go to Jimmy's jazz brunch. And we wanted to make a reservation for the night before. We found puddle dock on yelp, and made a reservation. Boy am I glad we did. The place is absolutely beautiful, from the welcoming fireplace, to the fairy lights, to the beautiful wide pine walls. The food is spectacular, the service is spot on, the wine list is exceptional, and the food is next level. We started with the Rarebit and beet salad. I'm not sure which one we enjoyed more. The rarebit was unctuous and rich and wonderful. The beet salad was fresh and sweet and tangy. Hubby had the shepherds pie, which was delicious and I had the steak and potatoes. Perfectly cooked with a beautiful red wine demi glase. For dessert I had the lemon tart and hubby had a beautiful 10 year Whistle Pig. I highly recommend this place and we will definitely be back.
Veronica M.
Such a cozy place and great food. We had the chowder and lamb chop to start (delicious), shepherd's pie (could not recommend more!) and duck. 10/10!
DarP
They accommodated our party of 7 at a lovely table. The place is lovely, the food was delicious and the service was perfect. I would definitely dine there again. I highly recommend!
The most delicious meal! Going to the Puddle Dock is a MUST as are the mussels! Quinn and Maddie made our experience phenomenal!! And did I mention the cocktails? Incredible! Can't wait to go back
selectogusto
We had a wonderful meal celebrating my wife's birthday. We were seated quickly despite arriving a bit early for our reservation. and were treated to terrific service throughout the evening. Our appetizers were excellent and the entrees superbly prepared and delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and look forward to our next meal at Puddle Dock!
BruceK
This restaurant never disappoints, the food , setting, service is extraordinary every time. We come up from Connecticut twice a year, and make a beeline for the place every time. Highly recommend!
Brian Hunter
Food was phenomenal and service was impeccable. Staff were kind, fun and answered any question fully. Drinks were amazing as well. My girlfriend is a vegetarian and had no issues and also loved every dish she got. The chowder was some of the best I’ve had. The hoecake was unique and delicious, and the same can be said for the skate fish, which I hadn’t heard of or seen anywhere before. Will be going back and recommending this place to anyone looking for a truly great Portsmouth dining experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rebecca
The food, service and ambience were great! It's definitely a higher-end place but well worth it. We had the steak and potatoes, scallops, mushroom soup and the cheeseboard — all were fantastic! Also highly recommend the “Chai me a River” cocktail. So good!
Arrived right on time for a 6 o'clock reservation on a Saturday evening. We were seated promptly and had our cocktail order taken immediately. I had some version of a Manhattan that was very well-made and my wife had the Amethyst Amor'e, also very well done. We started with a cheeseboard, which was very generous, lots of cheese, bread, honey, and candied walnuts. We also tried their deviled egg, very tasty... My wife had the beets and the mussels, which she enjoyed thoroughly. I had their version of the chicken pie, which had some unusual flavors. I'm not quite sure what it was, but it was very good as well. our server, I wish I could remember her name, was very attentive, timing of her visits to our table or perfect. The pacing of when food was delivered, was just as one would hope. Altogether our bill was about $180 not including tip. All in all a really nice experience, given the somewhat limited menu options I'm not sure how soon we'll be back, but I would certainly recommend this restaurant.
The restaurant is very pretty and has free parking which is a plus in Portsmouth. We were greeted promptly by Quinn who was very accommodating. The fireplace was glowing, but beware--only two tables feel the heat of the fireplace and can see it because it is in a corner of the restaurant which cannot be seen by other diners once seated. While the waitress was very pleasant, she gave us wrong information about the menu. She said the fish was a whole fish, but it was a one filet. At least they could have given two filets, not just one for the price they charged. The bread was tasty but nothing special. I liked the Caesar salad that came with delicious anchovies. My partner said he had better elsewhere. I ordered the duck medium rare. It came out well done. I didn't say anything because I was hungry and didn't want my partner to sit there eating while the chef redid the duck. Portions were on the small side. I had to eat eight pieces of bread to be slight filled, and I am a thin person. I don't know where the good reviews come from. At these prices, we expected more than a well-written menu. We expected good portions and fabulous food which we didn't get.
A very lovely place for a special night out. Take your better half here for dinner and you will score major points. Understated elegant atmosphere, you walk in and they have a fire going in the dining room fireplace. A real fire in a real fireplace! Loved it. If you can, get seated at the kitchen table, you'll get front-row seats to the action. Despite being swamped on a busy Friday night, our server took very good care of us. Pre-dinner cocktails arrived promptly and they were well-done. Nice wine list. Mimsy got the Shepard's pie, I got the sirloin, Lily got the fish and chips. All very good. Steak was medium rare as ordered, and that fingerling potato done in duck fat mmmm. A very well-run restaurant.
The building is majestic. From the beautiful warming fireplace to the antique gas lamps the restaurant is absolutely stunning. The drinks were made with such attention and care, they were wonderful and the service was perfect. We had the seafood chowder and it was like velvet. One of the best chowders in my life. The lamb shepherds pie was just as great! We stopped at many places here in Portsmouth and this made the top of the list!
Couldn't be in a better location or a nicer venue inside. The waitstaff was friendly and attentive. The food was innovative and tasted good. The first negative was that the food service was awkwardly timed and extremely slow. I'm talking like almost an hour between apps coming out and our food coming out. And while we're talking about food, if you order a cheese tray app, I kind of expected more than one small piece of store bought Brie on the plate with some walnuts and apple slices. The portions were exceedingly small, which I would have expected in a fine dining establishment. But if they are small, they should at least be extraordinary. They weren't. They were just good. I've come here many times before. They've always been just okay, not a standout in town.
This restaurant is one of the best in New England. We started with the mussels which were substantial in size and the sauce was great. It wasn't drowning in broth like most restaurants preparations which was appreciated and very appealing. It came out on a hot I believe cast iron plate. I got the curried hoe cakes which were delicious myself husband got the duck and my son got the kids burger. We all loved our dishes. For dessert we had the bread pudding which was phenomenal. Service and atmosphere was perfect. We had a lovely night.
The Puddle Dock was pretty much exactly as I expected, considering how much I had looked into it ahead of time. The entire reason for going was for the rarebit my boss had informed me of during a discussion about foods I had grown up with.The food was all incredible and was interesting to see the inside of the building since I had grown up going to Strawberry Bank as a child and getting pickles from a pickle barrel when it was a store. The post and beam structure still looks incredible and the layout of the bar is extremely well done. The atmosphere that is given was extremely laid back. The one thing that took away, for me, was a few of the wait staff that had come by have an arrogance when speaking to you that is a bit off putting. It is clear that it is not all of them but enough to discourage.I had an old fashioned, the rarebit which came with bits of duck, brussel sprouts and a fried egg on top as an appetizer and the Shepard's pie as a meal. The Shepard's pie came out with a crust making it look more like pot pie but added a wonderful texture to it. The flavor was incredible though be warned of how hot that dish is and how long it will need to cool. Definitely worth the visit and experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
We were coming down to Portsmouth to go to Jimmy's jazz brunch. And we wanted to make a reservation for the night before. We found puddle dock on yelp, and made a reservation. Boy am I glad we did. The place is absolutely beautiful, from the welcoming fireplace, to the fairy lights, to the beautiful wide pine walls. The food is spectacular, the service is spot on, the wine list is exceptional, and the food is next level. We started with the Rarebit and beet salad. I'm not sure which one we enjoyed more. The rarebit was unctuous and rich and wonderful. The beet salad was fresh and sweet and tangy. Hubby had the shepherds pie, which was delicious and I had the steak and potatoes. Perfectly cooked with a beautiful red wine demi glase. For dessert I had the lemon tart and hubby had a beautiful 10 year Whistle Pig. I highly recommend this place and we will definitely be back.
Such a cozy place and great food. We had the chowder and lamb chop to start (delicious), shepherd's pie (could not recommend more!) and duck. 10/10!
They accommodated our party of 7 at a lovely table. The place is lovely, the food was delicious and the service was perfect. I would definitely dine there again. I highly recommend!
Restaurantji Recommends
The most delicious meal! Going to the Puddle Dock is a MUST as are the mussels! Quinn and Maddie made our experience phenomenal!! And did I mention the cocktails? Incredible! Can't wait to go back
We had a wonderful meal celebrating my wife's birthday. We were seated quickly despite arriving a bit early for our reservation. and were treated to terrific service throughout the evening. Our appetizers were excellent and the entrees superbly prepared and delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and look forward to our next meal at Puddle Dock!
This restaurant never disappoints, the food , setting, service is extraordinary every time. We come up from Connecticut twice a year, and make a beeline for the place every time. Highly recommend!
Food was phenomenal and service was impeccable. Staff were kind, fun and answered any question fully. Drinks were amazing as well. My girlfriend is a vegetarian and had no issues and also loved every dish she got. The chowder was some of the best I’ve had. The hoecake was unique and delicious, and the same can be said for the skate fish, which I hadn’t heard of or seen anywhere before. Will be going back and recommending this place to anyone looking for a truly great Portsmouth dining experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food, service and ambience were great! It's definitely a higher-end place but well worth it. We had the steak and potatoes, scallops, mushroom soup and the cheeseboard — all were fantastic! Also highly recommend the “Chai me a River” cocktail. So good!