The seacoast town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is a must-see destination in New England. Historic buildings, quaint shops, and charming galleries are around every corner. With over 100 locally owned businesses, it is the perfect town to enjoy a stroll during any season. Portsmouth is only an hour north of Boston and just over the bridge from Maine. Every night of the week you can find live music and there are several theaters in town.
However, many people come to Portsmouth for one main reason…the food! This port town has become a culinary destination for people searching for trendy dishes and creative cocktails. With so many places to choose from, your only dilemma will be deciding which to try first. Restaurant Week has become an experience every foodie awaits, and 2016 will not disappoint.
WHAT IS RESTAURANT WEEK?
The Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce and over 40 restaurants and breweries are celebrating Restaurant Week Portsmouth & the Seacoast 2016 from
November 10-19, 2016.
This is the perfect time to sample the amazing cuisine Portsmouth has to offer. Restaurant Week menus feature three course dinners for $29.95, and some offer three course lunch menus for $16.95. It is a wonderful way to experience restaurants that are showcasing their most creative plates.
Many local hotels also offer special packages during this week.
For a list of participating restaurants, as well as their Restaurant Week menu, please go to:
www.restaurantWeekPortsmouth.com
Portsmouth Restaurant week is just starting so there’s plenty of time to head over!
FRANKLIN OYSTER HOUSE
Fleet Street has been a go-to spot for oysters since 1867 when the Franklin House of Fleet shucked them for Portsmouth locals. Today, the Franklin Oyster House keeps this tradition by serving fresh oysters that keep people coming back for more. We were lucky to be guests of Chef Matt Louis as they kicked off their first night of Portsmouth Restaurant week.
A large selection of oysters greeted us as we walked into the restaurant and the faint salty smell surrounded us with memories of the ocean.
Our server, Eric, was attentive and professional throughout the entire meal. He made my girls feel so welcome and even gave suggestions of what his kids like to eat off the menu. I trusted him with the selection of oysters, appetizer, and wine and everything he chose was amazing. The entire staff worked together to make sure everyone had a memorable dining experience.
I decided to order off the Restaurant Week menu, but I could not resist sampling some fresh oysters first. They had a large selection to choose from and they were the perfect start to the meal.
For my first course, I had a caramelized heirloom onion tart with whipped sugar pumpkin and baby arugula.
My next course was a triple bone in roasted lamb chop with leek soubise & zatar scented Maine carrots, accompanied by beets and greens. The lamb was cooked perfectly and the carrots and greens paired perfectly with their sweet and tart taste combinations.
Finally, we finished with three small pumpkin whoopie pies. I was so full by this time but I couldn’t resist trying one. My daughter loves anything made with pumpkin so she enjoyed the other two and claimed it was the best whoopie pie she’s ever had.
Franklin Oyster House has several selections for kids and my girls devoured everything they tried. My younger daughter had fried calamari and french fries and my older daughter had the barbeque brisket sliders. She claims the BBQ sauce was, “on point” which is a huge compliment from a 10-year-old! We cannot wait to return.
ADDRESS: 148 Fleet Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801
WEBSITE: www.franklinoysterhouse.com
PHONE NUMBER: (603) 373-8500
HOURS: Sunday-Thursday 4:00 pm- 9:00 pm
Friday & Saturday 4:00 pm- 10:00 pm