jlbrown's Profile
Manchester, NH
We love Cotton, on Arms Street down by the river. Eclectic American in an old mill building, with a fancy-cocktail list and a simple but creative wine list. The last time I was there, I had beef short ribs over pasta. It was amazing, and I don't usually even like meat; my husband had a perfecty prepared stuffed chicken breast. with an apple glaze. The place is not cheap but it'sconsistently great.
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Cotton Restaurant
75 Arms Street, Manchester, NH 03101
What's new in the Lakes Region New Hampshire?
How's the food at Coe House? Can you elaborate? Thanks.
Burlington/Lake Champlain vacation advice and suggestions
Great list! However, we found the service at Inn at Shelburne Farms rude and snotty.
1st trip to Vermont
Sorry, the place in South Londonderry, VT is the Three Clock Inn.
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Three Clock Inn
95 Middletown Rd, South Londonderry, VT 05155
First-rate dinner within 45 minutes of Dover, NH
I have clients and friends in Portsmouth, a *great* restaurant town. My favorites for dinner are:
Black Trumpet (French bistro style)
Jumpin' Jay's (San Francisco-like fish house)
Blue Mermaid (funky, fun - try the Pad Thai)
There are also a few nice places in New Castle, just south of Portsmouth.
But you almost can't go wrong in Portsmouth, due to competition. Good fine dining, ethnic, pizza/beer/wine, etc.
Places tend to come and go.
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Black Trumpet Bistro
29 Ceres Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Jumpin' Jay's Fish Cafe
150 Congress Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Wentworth by the Sea Marriott Hotel and Spa
588 Wentworth Road, New Castle, NH 03854
N. Conway or Jackson Area - Money is no object!
Happy Anniversary. Jackson-North Conway is a vast culinary wasteland in my opinion, but there are a few gems. The Inn at Thorn Hill is fabulous for a fine fining experience.
There is also The Wentworth in Jackson but can't recommend it. We had a bad experience the last time we went there (granted, it was a few years ago) and have never been back . Too bad because they had a great wine list and the food was actually good (although overpriced and a bit unimaginative) but the service was terrible. (I would love to know if this has changed -- Chowhounders?)
Jackson is very low key and relaxed, and I hope you have a wonderful time. Most B&Bs -- some of which are wonderful -- don't feature dining or dining open to the public.
What's new in the Lakes Region New Hampshire?
Not new, but we love Lago in Meredith. Inspired Tuscan food served with warmth and great efficiency. It's right on the water in Meredith Bay, so ask for a seat near the window. Nice wine list, great bar.
My favorites: the butternut squash ravioli, the individual pizzas,any fish dish, spaghetti carbonara. Great salads too. I have never had a bad meal here.
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Lago Trattoria
1 Route 25, Meredith, NH
Apres-ski chow between Waterville Valley, NH and Boston
I know I am terribly late, but a strong recommendation for the Common Man in Ashland, Exit 24 off Route 93 -- about five miles south of the Plymouth exit (Exit 25). It's less than a mile off the exit, with plenty of free parking.
The Common Man serves American comfort food served in an old house in this former mill town. Great fish, chicken, beef, salads,pasta. Also great apps and desserts, but the entrees tend to be large so I can never eat an app + entree + dessert. Complimentary cheese and crackers before dinner, and they send you off with a few pieces of their signature white chocolate. Better-than-it-has-to-be wine list and full bar. The bar -- upstairs -- is lively and funky. The place is not fancy, but very comfortable whether you are apres-ski or dressed up. Service is usually great -- ask for Marilyn. She's been there since they opened in 1972.
My favorite place in the area.
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Common Man Restaurant, NH
60 Main, St, NH
Burlington/Lake Champlain vacation advice and suggestions
You are in for a treat! What a great area.
My favorite restaurants in Burlington (just south of Colchester) are:
Leunig's Bistro - a French bistro right on Church Street
The Daily Planet -- a funky quasi-vegetarian place downtown
The Penny Cluse Cafe - great breakfasts
In Colchester, there is the favorite Blue Line Diner. Don't miss this!
Definitely take the car ferry from Burlington to Port Kent. It's great on a nice day.
If you drive south once you get on the NY side, you can take the Ticonderoga Ferry back to Vermont. This is a small open ferry that can carry about 10 cars and gets pulled along on a cable that runs under the water. It's run by a private organization and it's a hoot.
Here is a link to the Ti Ferry: http://www.middlebury.net/tiferry/
Enjoy!
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Libby's Diner
1 Roosevelt Hwy, Colchester, VT 05446
Leunig's Bistro
115 Church Street, Burlington, VT 05401
Daily Planet
15 Center St, Burlington, VT 05401
Penny Cluse Cafe
169 Cherry Street, Burlington, VT
Lakes Region NH: Looking for better than average food...
I know I am late here, but we love Lago in Meredith. Inspired Tuscan food served with warmth and great efficiency. It's right on the water in Meredith Bay, so ask for a seat near the window. Nice wine list, great bar. They don't take reservations, but you usually don't have to wait long particularly if you get there early. We went last Saturday and had a wonderful meal: my husband had a to-die-for spaghetti carbonara for a first course with pan-seared scallops for his main course and I had an arugula salad with blue cheese and pan-seared salmon with jicama-apple slaw and salsa. Both were served with the house risotto -- great. One of the Common Man chain of restaurants, where you usually can't go wrong (avoid the Italian Farmhouse in Plymouth, however -- snotty service and mediocre food).
Down the road in Center Harbor is Canoe, an unprepossessing place in a log building. Great food, good service, nice wine list. Good for lunch or dinner.
I love both these places.
Manchester, VT
Lucky you! Lots of great places to eat. there.Two of our favorites are:
Up for Breakfast: a tiny little second-floor place with great breakfasts. Worth the wait.
Candalero's Southwestern Grill: inspired Mexican food Good for lunch or dinner.
Both should be good for a child.
1st trip to Vermont
Wow, sounds like a great trip. We love Vermont and have traveled all over the state from our home base in New Hampshire.
Here are a bunch of places that we like:
Vergennes, Vt. Route 7: Black Sheep Bistro -- small so get a reservation
Manchester, Vt.: Up for Breakfast (great breakfast place), Candelero's Southwestern Grill(great for lunch or dinner)
S. Londonderry, Vt. :off the beaten track but fabulous place serving classic country French food. Not cheap but worth it. In an old house right in town.
Woodstock, Vt: charming town, try Bentley's right on the square for lunch, nice bar
Queechee, Vt: Simon Pearce Restaurant, wonderful, hip place with great food overlooking the Queechee Falls; Firestone's is more casual and a good value. Farmer's Diner has great breakfasts but service was so-so last time we were there.
I could go on and on...
Enjoy your trip!
Roadside Food - I-91 in MA/VT
There is a whole long thread of previous comments here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/345554
For quick on and off, you can't beat the P&H Truck Stop in Wells River, VT (intersection of Route 302 and Rt 91). They have great pie and bread.
