The Puddle Dock Restaurant

Ellen Braley

3 months ago

We went to Puddle Dock as a belated birthday celebration for my best friend. I had never been there before and she had told me that the mussels were beyond delicious and was very excited about visiting your restaurant. Not only were the mussels the best I have ever had (we eat out a lot so I've had many different recipes!)-flavorful, juicy, hot and super delicious, but the service and attention to detail all around was outstanding. Beautiful cozy atmosphere with a blazing fire in the fireplace, Natalie was such a friendly and professional server. Everything we ordered was hot and fresh. The duck entree was fabulous and perfectly cooked and the desserts (bread pudding and pavlova) were both unique and delightful! A few weeks ago, we had been planning to go, then there was a big snowstorm. The manager, Quinn, called to let me know you were going to have to be closed (totally understandable). I really appreciated the call and thoughtful customer service. Recognizing my name on the reservation last night, Quinn came over and introduced himself to us after we had been seated. He really went out of his way to make us feel welcome. We just wanted to let you know that our recent experience at Puddle Dock was absolutely perfect. Thank you so much to all of you wonderful people who made this possible. Highly recommend!

Dalena Matthews

year ago

The puddle dock is off the beaten path of Tourism. If you were on purposefully looking for another place to bar hop and enjoy a new atmosphere like we did you may not find it on the main stretch of town. The atmosphere feels like Robert Frost depiction of classic New England. You can tell the place has a lot of history. We went there twice, two days in a row. The drinks were original and great as depicted here. We ate the food too fast there was no time for pictures. It feels cozy, casual, and romantic. You we'll have a great time and the food is excellent. I was first attracted to it by the atmosphere that was posted online. I was greeted with friendly, competent staff and it's really cool to see the head chef working in real time as you eat. Let's put this place on the map that it deserve.

ObieNH

4 months ago

Friday dinner reservations at 9. They were running behind so we sat at the bar and had a drink. I had a French 75- perfect mix of gin, champagne, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup. I have this when looking for something light and this was the best one I’ve ever had. Perfect balance of everything. BF ordered Pinot Noir-Decoy. Always a good choice. Starter- Grilled Lamb Chops. Perfectly cooked and delicious. A little more mint than we prefer but I think most people like a little more mint. Easy to take off. The sauce they plated them on was delicious! Entrees- I got the chicken breast with cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and gravy. Perfectly balanced. Chicken was moist and seasoned well, cauliflower wasn’t overpowering and gravy was light. Bf- pan roasted Duck breast was also cooked to perfection. Root vegetables and glaze were a great compliment. If the food and drinks weren’t amazing enough the staff here was. They made every Patron feel like they were royalty walking in. They sincerely apologized for the wait, which we understood given that it’s valentines weekend. Dessert- I was too full to eat, but bf definitely wanted to look. Unfortunately egg allergies surprisingly leaves out many desserts as does nut allergies. To our surprise Maddie (our waitress) must have explained the few allergies that my BF has to the GM, Quinn, and he came over with an easy fix. The dessert was amazing! TBH, this has been one of the best meals with the best service that I have had in years. We normally go to Buckleys, Evolution, Cotton, etc and this far surpasses the meals I’ve had there. I still think they are all great BUT the entire team (executive chef down to servers) at the The Puddle Dock Restaurant have the forThe Puddle Dock Restaurantier, money worth spent, fine dining experience all while not being pretentious.

Ellen Ridgway

5 months ago

We returned again to our favorite spot-such a welcoming and charming restaurant. The friendly and very attentive staff are all so professional and cater to you to ensure you have a wonderful experience. Quinn, the general manager, is a true gentleman and our waitress Maddie is also always fabulous. The atmosphere is so cozy, the drinks divine and the food very well prepared and presented. Looking forward to returning soon.

Becky Neal

6 months ago

A Holiday Hug in Restaurant Form – The Puddle Dock, Portsmouth NH This visit to The Puddle Dock was a holiday treat for my daughter and me, and from the moment we walked in, it felt like stepping into a snow globe. A fire was roaring, the lights were twinkling for the holidays, and outside the snow gently fell. It was pure New England magic. First things first: our server, Eleanor, was absolutely amazing. Warm, attentive, and genuinely lovely—exactly the kind of service that elevates an already wonderful experience. I started with a Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon. Although they had a nice selection of European wines, Sonoma Valley was calling my name, and who was I to ignore it? Since it was our first time at The Puddle Dock (and the menu and Eleanor's suggestions made choosing nearly impossible), we decided to share two appetizers and split a meal. Excellent decision. The Colonial Pork Pie was so good it could’ve stood on its own with the delicious pork filling and lard (yes, lard!) crust. But then… that grain mustard gravy entered the picture. Incredible. Dreamy. Life-changing. I’m not even doing it justice. I could have happily swum in it. Next up were the potato croquettes, drizzled with garlic and cheddar soup, and topped with an extra layer of crunchy goodness. Absolute comfort food perfection. Calories be damned. For dinner, we shared the crispy skin chicken with puréed cauliflower, plus a side of roasted broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and maitake gravy. While I wished the skin had a bit more crunch, the chicken itself was hands-down the most moist chicken I’ve ever had in my life. Truly unforgettable. We would’ve loved to stay for dessert, but we had to dash across the street for a performance at The Players’ Ring. It was a perfect ending to a perfect winter evening. Warm, cozy, delicious, and memorable—The Puddle Dock is a must, especially during the holidays. ❄️🔥🍷

Gerald Rosario

7 months ago

Delicious food. Inviting, dark, and warmly lit dining atmosphere. Excellent service. The team delivers an exquisite dining experience. I especially enjoyed the red wine braised short ribs...the "stiction" of the meat and "mouth feel" of the dish was on point. Highly recommended.

Kevin Warren

3 months ago

Great dinner spot. We (4) shared the Yorkshire pudding (popover) and the Frye bread salad. I had the go cakes delish, wife and friends got the beef pie. The pie was very large size and very good. Our server Jess was fantastic and we all just really loved the place. We will definitely go back. Make a reservation and be sure to wear a sweater because if you sit next to a window you will sure need it.❄️🥶❄️

Mark Otte

month ago

Had a reservation for a busy Mother's Day. Parking is available in the area.They offer a full range of beer, wine and adult spirits. Seating is at tables or a few seats at the bar. We had starters of the deviled eggs and lamb chop.... both were delicious. Entrees were the pork belly, chicken pot pie and duck breast. We enjoyed each and the portions are substantial. Finally, we polished off 2 desserts, the GF chocolate pudding and the key lime custard. A delightful meal. Prices are elevated due to the location and quality of experience. We all agreed we will be back.

Julie's bites

3 months ago

I really enjoyed the dinner here. For appetizer I had Yorkshire pudding with braised beef. The meat was amazing, the Yorkshire pudding was not made right before serving so I had better ones, but together the flavor was very good. I had duck breast as my main and it was very good, perfect medium rare. The burnt cheesecake with strawberries was very delicious, a perfect ending to a nice dinner. Note that the entrance had many stairs, but to the left, somewhat hidden out of the view, there is a ramp for those who need easier access.