Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in New Hampshire

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in New Hampshire? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Carriage House

4.9

4.9 (875)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Rye

About the restaurant

The Carriage House, an oceanfront, modern New England restaurant and raw bar, is open at 2263 Ocean Boulevard on scenic Rye Beach, New Hampshire. Committed to honoring the restaurant’s rich traditions rooted in hospitality. Join us for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, sip a cocktail by our working fireplace, or take in the ocean views!

Top review

tiffany

Dined 4 days ago

It’s always a great time at The Carriage House! The food is amazing and the staff is excellent

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NYE 2024 at The Carriage House

Cotton

4.9

4.9 (4750)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Manchester

About the restaurant

Cotton features the cooking of award-winning chef/author/owner Jeffrey Paige. Located in Manchester's Historic Millyard District, Cotton is known for exceptional farm to table comfort food, friendly yet professional service, and an inviting, casual upscale atmosphere. It's the place the New York Times calls hip, named one of the best neighborhood restaurants in the Northeast by Bon Appetit Magazine and holds the distinct honor of Best Martinis in New Hampshire year after year by NH Magazine and The Union Leader.

RESERVATIONS:
Patio dining is available April through October. To request a patio table please note this when you make your reservation. Weather permitting, we will call early afternoon the day of your reservation to confirm if patio seating is available. We cannot guarantee specific seating at this time but we always do our best.

Top review

Nancy

Dined 1 day ago

Exceptional customer service, best I’ve experienced in quite some time. Good was excellent. Delmonico steak was the hit of the night.

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Popular dish

Pan-Seared Scallops

Popular dish

Almond-Crusted Turkey Schnitzel

Popular dish

Buttermilk Herb Fried Chicken

Ledges at White Mountain Hotel

4.6

4.6 (857)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

North Conway

About the restaurant

Please Note: Outdoor seating is weather dependent. Should you book an outdoor table, we cannot guarantee indoor seating in case of inclement weather. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Offering both indoor seating and outdoor deck dining (seasonal availability and dog-friendly). Featuring locally grown produce and the freshest ingredients available, Ledges Restaurant offers creative nightly specials to compliment the full menu of contemporary New England cuisine. The freshest New England seafood and the best cuts of prime meats are the signature of Ledges Restaurant. The dinner menu offers many gluten-free items and a daily vegetarian/vegan entree is offered nightly. Proud recipients of Wine Spectator's "Award of Excellence" since 1995.

Top review

Frank

Dined on Dec 13, 2024

Great food. Lovely setting. Will definitely return. Nice touch with the Happy Anniversary complimentary dessert on an Anniversary plate.

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Popular dish

Grilled Salmon

Ember Wood Fired Grill

4.5

4.5 (211)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Dover

About the restaurant

Ember Wood Fired Grill features a locally inspired menu with a casual upscale setting. Our Chef, Christopher Gouzie, best describes our menu as "Globally Inspired". It features familiar dishes with a twist. "We use new and interesting ingredients, and different cooking procedures to introduce our guests to a unique way to present food."

We have taken this same concept for our Specialty Cocktail list. Deviating from the classic recipe with housemade syrups, specialty bitters, and high end liquors and liqueurs.

Enjoy our sleek downstairs dining room, outdoor covered terrace, or upstairs bourbon room, where we house over 100 whiskeys on selection, and offer over 20 wines by the glass and bottle.

We regularly host private events, and therefor reservations are recommended.

Top review

Chris

Dined on Nov 16, 2024

Everything was just stellar. The music was an odd choice though. The ambiance says piano, but it was playing 90s alt rock and pop hits, rather loudly. But the food and service was amazing. The steaks were done to perfectly, and the cocktails were both inspiring and divine.

74 Main at Millstone

4.5

4.5 (843)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

New London

About the restaurant

The Millstone has been serving extraordinary food and drink to the Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region for thirty years. The menu focus is on natural, heart-healthy fare including grass-fed meats from local farms.

Top review

David

Dined 2 days ago

Food was ok. The rest of the experience was good.

1869 Room at The Wentworth

4.4

4.4 (1032)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Jackson

About the restaurant

Dining is available both on our outdoor patio, in our casual lounge and in our elegant dining room.
Chef Brian Gazda has been leading the team at The Wentworth for almost a decade and he and his team are loyal and dedicated to their cause. Sourcing from local producers is of utmost importance to Brian and freshness is a requirement. If you have any allergies or dietary requirements please do not hesitate to ask as we are always willing to accommodate.
At this time we offer both our dinner menu and a more casual lounge menu and of course our fabulous breakfast every morning. The Alpine Lounge is open from 4pm-10pm daily. Food is offered in the lounge Sunday-Thursday 4pm-9pm and Saturdays & Sundays from 4pm-10pm. Please be aware that these menus can change at the last minute due to availability of certain foods during this time and we look at this as a good thing - there could always be something new on the menu!

Top review

Linda

Dined on Nov 27, 2024

This was the best Thanksgiving we ever had. It was a 'snow globe' holiday with beautiful blanket of snow the entire day. All tucked in by the fire meeting new people and enjoying the best gourmet meals imagined. The staff were over and above helpful genuinely happy to meet you. Can't say enough for The Wentworth. Will see you all soon. Joe & Linda

Eagle Landing

4.0

4 (339)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Jackson

About the restaurant

|||| We are currently serving dinner in our newly renovated Carriage House while the main dining room undergoes a revamp. The hotel bar will be open on Friday and Saturday nights only through the month of December. Full dinner service Thursday - Monday nights in the Carriage House. |||| Eagle Landing Tavern & Restaurant is located within the Eagle Mountain House Hotel & Golf Club. Dinner is available Thursday thru Monday nights starting at 5:00pm, with the Tavern open for drinks at 4:00pm. Enjoy our twist on classic comfort cuisine and craft cocktails with nostalgic views of the White Mountains, and the Wildcat River in our family-friendly restaurant. Reserve a table in our historic Highfields Dining Room, or the Tavern. We cannot wait for you to be our guest!

Top review

joyce

Dined on Nov 17, 2024

Our night started off not so great. We were seated in the bar area, waited for over 10 minutes with the bar tender passing by us with no acknowledgement. Another couple was seated behind us, which the bartender promptly addressed. She then told us we would have to wait. When I politely let her know we had been there 10 minutes prior to the other couple, she informed me that they had a reservation which we did also. Instead of ruining our evening we opted to go into the dining room. Our serve Chris was fantastic. He gave suggestions that were perfect. The food was excellent, steak cooked perfectly. We were both very happy to have such a great server as it turned the whole night around. We will go to the eagle again but avoid the bar. It is unfortuneate the same level of professionalism was not exhibited in the bar staff.

Not Your Average Joe's Nashua NH

4.4

4.4 (1584)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Nashua

About the restaurant

Not Your Average Joe's Kitchen & Bar offers a menu inspired by American cuisine. Its menu is stylish, contemporary and includes fresh seafood, gourmet pizzas, rice bowls, burgers and creative salad options. For the Gluten Sensitive crowd they offer plenty of options.

Along with an array of beers, its menu includes wines and a wide selection of specialty cocktails. You'll further enjoy a casual and pub-like experience at Not Your Average Joe's Kitchen & Bar. Its décor includes an open kitchen, bench seating and a separate bar area with mounted flat screen televisions all around for watching sporting events.

Located just off Daniel Webster Highway, our Nashua location is conveniently located middle of excellent shopping and entertainment, and outdoor destinations like Sky Meadow Golf Club and the scenic Mines River Falls.

Top review

Valerie

Dined on Dec 14, 2024

Our server was very attentive. Our dinners were delivered timely, presented well and tasted delicious. It is a bit loud but the food made up for it.

Stella Blu

4.4

4.4 (1117)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Nashua

About the restaurant

Stella Blu provides an upscale casual approach to dining. Offering a combination of both large and small plates. Known for our award winning cocktails, friendly staff, and upbeat dining experience.

Top review

GeoffreyVIP

Dined 2 days ago

First time visiting and definitely not my last time. Fantastic small plates (the beef sliders were a highlight), and the cocktails were generous in every way. The entire staff seems so happy and engaged! A+++ experience!

Three Chimneys Inn

4.4

4.4 (206)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Durham

About the restaurant

The ffrost Sawyer Tavern is located in the beautiful and historic Three Chimneys Inn. The Tavern, with its open hearth Summer Kitchen fireplace, granite walls, and hand-hewn beams, provides a cozy spot for hearty traditional New England fare. The Tavern is a popular dining spot for local guests and travelers. The Maples Dining Room features millwork dating to 1699 and retains the original Indian shutters that protected settlers from Colonial-era attacks. Coppers, the original winter kitchen of the 1649 homestead, provides an elegant and romantic setting. Wide plank floors, the open hearth and original millwork create an authentic old New England dining experience.

Our culinary team prepares savory dishes from scratch with exceptional, homegrown flavor. The kitchen works closely with local farms and growers to pick fresh ingredients for creative entrees and innovative cocktails, resulting in exceptional farm-to-table cuisine that showcases the essence of New Hampshire.

Top review

DanielVIP

Dined 4 days ago

We scheduled a small family gathering for the holidays. The Three Chimneys Inn turned out to be a great location. The food was great. The staff allows us plenty of time to visit. An added benefit is the Inn as one couple stayed after dinner. Highly recommended!

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