Terry Grant smiles as he watches a five-year-old girl tucking into the Polpette, a sandwich stuffed with provolone cheese and meatballs made from his 86-year-old mother’s straight-from-the-Old-Country recipe. “Nonna would be so happy to see you eating that,” Grant says to the little girl, who later declares Nonna’s meatballs the best in the world.
There’s a reason that 5 Thai Bistro in downtown Portsmouth, with its simple but bright dining space, is so loved by locals and visitors alike. The restaurant, consistently ranked in the top 10 on TripAdvisor, boasts a winning formula: creative dishes with balanced and fresh ingredients, generous portions, fair prices, and an attentive wait staff. No wonder the place is always buzzing.
The Library Restaurant, a popular steakhouse located on State Street in downtown Portsmouth, is easy to spot: just look for the massive Federal-style Rockingham House with a pair of gilded lions guarding the entrance.
Best of TASTE Top 30 RESTAURANTS, as voted by you!
The Seacoast is the place to be for fabulous food and superb sips. As you well know—we asked you to name your favorite destinations in over 80 wining and dining categories. We’ve tallied thousands of votes to determine the absolute best tastes out there, from casual to upscale, burgers, lobster, delectable desserts. And every single establishment listed here is worth a visit.
Traveling north on Route 1 in Kittery, just past rows of outlet malls dotted with fried seafood shacks, sits Misto!, a bright and lively Italian-inspired cafe and bistro. Open since July 2014, Misto! has quickly gained traction, garnering recognition as a 2015 Best of Taste top 30 restaurant. In Italian, misto means mixed, and Chef-Owner Suzanne Schepis-Gray’s menu mixes Sicilian, Californian, and New England cuisines, using indigenous ingredients, many grown in the bistro’s backyard organic heirloom seed gardens.
