Lakes Region Restaurants

We’ve compiled the best of the best in Lakes Region - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.

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  • 1. Benton's Sugar Shack

    $

    A legit contender in New Hampshire's fierce battle for the best pancake house, this rustic timber-frame roadhouse is run by a family who've been producing maple syrup for five generations. Open only on weekends, Benton's serves stacks of pancakes in several flavors, including strawberry shortcake, Mounds Bar, and Grandma's apple cinnamon. There's stuffed French toast, omelets, and breakfast sandwiches, too, but who are we kidding? This place is all about those fluffy pancakes.

    2010 Rte. 175, Thornton, New Hampshire, 03285, USA
    603-726–3867

    Known For

    • Sides of maple kielbasa and baked beans
    • "design your own" pancakes with custom fillings
    • Raspberry-stuffed French toast

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed. No dinner
  • 2. Cold Mountain Cafe

    $$

    Adjacent to the Marketplace at WREN, this homey art-filled storefront eatery and wine bar is one of the area's social focal points, with a welcoming staff and a thoughtful, international menu. Pork tacos, Indian lamb stew, and heirloom tomato caprese salads are a few of the best dishes, but save room for the flourless chocolate torte with strawberry-balsamic coulis.

    2015 Main St., New Hampshire, 03574, USA
    603-869–2500

    Known For

    • Friendly, upbeat crowd and staff
    • Bounteous salads
    • Intriguing cocktail list

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 3. Little Red Schoolhouse

    $$

    Lobster-roll aficionados flock to this funky converted schoolhouse with screened-in and outdoor seating high on a bluff above the Pemigewasset River. Start with a cup of lobster bisque or clam chowder before digging into a traditional (lightly dressed, with mayo) or hot-buttered lobster roll—both come on a warm, buttered brioche roll, best enjoyed with a side of garlic fries. Burgers, fried, clams, and fish-and-chips are also available.

    1994 Daniel Webster Hwy., Campton, New Hampshire, 03223, USA
    603-726–6142

    Known For

    • Pretty river and forest views
    • Good craft beer selection
    • Homemade ice-cream sandwiches

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed mid-Oct.–mid-May
  • 4. Pavilion

    $$$

    Guests of the Pickering House hotel had become so enamored of the inn's occasional dinners and other food events that the owners opened this full-time restaurant in the Victorian house next door. Showcasing creative American fare sourced locally and seasonally as much as possible, the kitchen serves an oft-changing menu that might feature pan-roasted duck breast with garlic-roasted radicchio and roasted figs, and mussels in a green curry–coconut broth with lime and cilantro.

    126 S. Main St., Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, 03894, USA
    603-393–0851

    Known For

    • Elegant early-19th-century building
    • Exceptional wine list
    • Creative seasonal fruit desserts and house-made ice creams

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch
  • 5. Super Secret Ice Cream

    $

    It may have the word "secret" in its name, but this artisan ice-cream shop with a walk-up window and deck as well as a spacious indoor seating area has a devoted following—let's just say the cat's out of the bag. This is some of the richest and delicious ice cream in the state, and there's always a great lineup of unusual flavors, such as Thai tea, roasted cherry chip, honeycomb, and strawberry buttermilk.

    2213 Main St., New Hampshire, 03574, USA
    no phone

    Known For

    • Unusual flavors
    • The milk and many ingredients are sourced locally
    • Sunny patio seating

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Tues.
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. Canoe

    $$

    Just up the road in Center Harbor, this boathouse-inspired bistro sits high above Lake Winnipesaukee and has seating in both a quieter dining room and a convivial bar with an open kitchen. It's known for seafood, including wood-fired, bacon-wrapped scallops and a creamy, entrée-size haddock chowder topped with herbs and crushed Ritz Crackers. Canoe is also serves several varieties of gooey mac and cheese as well as burgers, steaks, and wood-fired flatbreads.

    232 Whittier Hwy., Center Harbor, New Hampshire, 03226, USA
    603-253–4762

    Known For

    • Fun people-watching at the bar
    • Great wine and beer selection
    • Salted-caramel brownie sundaes

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Wed. No lunch weekdays
  • 7. Corner House Inn

    $$

    In a converted barn adorned with paintings by local artists, this rustic tavern in an 1840s building in charming Center Sandwich village dishes up classic American fare. Salads made with local greens and a maple vinaigrette are a house specialty, but don't overlook the mac and cheese with house-made sauce and steak tips–and–lobster surf and turf.

    22 Main St., Center Sandwich, New Hampshire, 03227, USA
    603-476–3060

    Known For

    • Inviting art-filled dining room
    • Tender steaks and prime rib
    • Good list of reasonably priced wines

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues. No lunch
  • 8. Covered Bridge Farm Table

    $$

    With tall windows as well as a large deck overlooking the historic Blair Covered Bridge and the Pemigewasset River, this rustic restaurant serves an eclectic mix of Asian, Mediterranean, and American dishes and is a favorite place to refuel after hiking in the White Mountains or boating on Squam Lake. Good bets include wild-caught salmon with a ginger-scallion vinaigrette and butter chicken with garam masala, ginger, and jasmine rice. 

    57 Blair Rd., Campton, New Hampshire, 03223, USA
    603-238–9115

    Known For

    • Expansive riverfront deck
    • Diverse, international menu
    • Apple-cider-donut ice cream sandwiches

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Tues.
  • 9. East of Suez

    $$

    In a countrified lodge on the south side of town, this friendly restaurant serves creative Asian cuisine, with an emphasis on Philippine fare, such as lumpia (pork-and-shrimp spring rolls with a sweet-and-sour fruit sauce) and pancit canton (panfried egg noodles with sautéed shrimp and pork and Asian vegetables with a sweet oyster sauce). You can also sample Thai red curries, Japanese tempura, and Korean-style flank steak.

    775 S. Main St., Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, 03894, USA
    603-569–1648

    Known For

    • BYOB policy
    • Banana tempura with coconut ice cream
    • Plenty of vegan options

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and early Sept.–late May. No lunch
  • 10. Jake's Seafood and Grill

    $$

    Oars and other nautical trappings adorn the wood-panel walls at this classic New England seafood restaurant about 8 miles southeast of Tamworth. The kitchen serves fresh fish and shellfish, notably lobster pie, fried clams, and seafood casserole, but you'll also find steak, ribs, and chicken dishes.

    2055 White Mountain Hwy., West Ossipee, New Hampshire, 03890, USA
    603-539–2805

    Known For

    • Family-friendly atmosphere
    • Nostalgic, old-school decor
    • Lobster rolls and lobster pie

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed.
  • 11. Lakehouse Grille

    $$$

    With big windows overlooking the lake and timber posts and ceiling beams, this popular restaurant inside the Church Landing at Mill Falls hotel captures the rustic ambience of an old-fashioned camp dining room. Feast on classic American favorites with interesting twists, such as eggs Benedict topped with Maine lobster in the morning, and char-grilled steaks, chops, and seafood in the evening.

    281 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, New Hampshire, 03217, USA
    603-279–5221

    Known For

    • Blueberry pie with lemon ice cream
    • Water views
    • Sunday jazz brunch
  • 12. Local Eatery

    $$$

    Proof that impressive dining in the Lakes Region isn't always near the water, this elegant restaurant is set beneath the soaring ceiling of downtown Laconia's historic train depot. Favoring local ingredients, the kitchen turns out inventive renditions of classic American dishes, like scallops and grits with a sweet corn butter sauce, and coffee-rubbed pork tenderloin.

    21 Veterans Sq., Laconia, New Hampshire, 03246, USA
    603-527–8007

    Known For

    • Artisan butter boards with roasted garlic and focaccia
    • Inviting patio
    • Apple tart tatin with caramel sauce

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
  • 13. Maia Papaya

    $ | Coffee

    Pause during your stroll through inviting Bethlehem for breakfast, lunch, smoothies, lattes, or homemade chai tea at this quirky organic café that specializes in vegetarian fare and made-from-scratch baked goods (try not to pass up one of the justly renowned scones). On cool mornings, warm up with a hearty breakfast burrito; terrific lunchtime options include the artichoke melt panini or the bountiful green salad.

    2161 Main St., New Hampshire, 03574, USA
    603-869–9900

    Known For

    • Plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian options
    • Fruit-filled oat bars
    • Organic oatmeal with local maple syrup

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No dinner.
  • 14. Sandwich Creamery

    $

    This artisan dairy is located inside a converted general store that now carries gifts and foods from a few other local vendors, which you pick out from shelves and refrigerator cases and pay for yourself with cash or Venmo (the shop is unstaffed). The creamery sells delicious farmstead-made cheddar cheese as well as ice cream and ice cream sandwiches in about two-dozen flavors, including cinnamon, blueberry, and ginger.

    22 Main St., Center Sandwich, New Hampshire, 03227, USA
    603-284–6675

    Known For

    • PB&J ice cream sandwiches
    • Artisan cheddar cheeses
    • Fresh-baked breads and other foods from local purveyors

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
  • 15. Six Burner Bistro

    $$$

    In this charming red Victorian house on Plymouth's bustling Main Street, with some seats on the front veranda and others set in a warren of cozy rooms with art on the walls, this casually elegant spot offers tasty American and international fare. Consider Szechuan-style salmon ramen, and blackened grilled chicken with honeydew-melon salsa and tzatziki sauce.

    13 S. Main St., Plymouth, New Hampshire, 03264, USA
    603-536–9099

    Known For

    • Sourcing from local farms
    • Well-selected wine and beer list
    • Creative salad options with myriad protein add-ons

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues.
  • 16. Walter's Basin

    $$$

    A former bowling alley in the heart of Holderness makes an unlikely but charming setting for meals overlooking Little Squam Lake—local boaters dock right beneath the dining room. Among the specialties on the seafood-intensive menu are shellfish paella, and sea scallops with a creamy bacon-corn-poblano succotash, while sandwiches and salads are among the lighter options.

    859 U.S. 3, Holderness, New Hampshire, 03245, USA
    603-968–4412

    Known For

    • Dockside setting
    • Live music some summer evenings
    • Fried whole-belly clams
  • 17. The Crystal Quail

    $$$$
    Closed Permanently

    With just four tables tucked inside an 18th-century farmhouse, this restaurant is worth the drive for its sumptuous meals. Longtime proprietors Harold and Cynthia Huckaby use free-range meats and mostly organic produce and herbs to prepare a daily-changing prix-fixe menu that could feature pheasant pâté, sautéed quail with wild mushrooms, or oat-crusted trout in a beurre blanc sauce.

    202 Pitman Rd., Center Barnstead, New Hampshire, 03225, USA
    603-269–4151

    Known For

    • Highly personalized service
    • BYOB wine policy
    • Intimate setting
    • Cash only

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch, No credit cards, Reservations essential
  • 18. Lavinia's Relaxed Dining

    $$$
    Closed Permanently

    Talk about relaxing: that's exactly what you'll want to do in this splendidly restored mansion, built in 1820 by John Coe for his bride, Lavinia. Enjoy a glass of wine on the veranda, then sink into a plush chair in the dining room, where the original French wallpaper depicts the Seven Wonders of the World. The chef offers new twists on New England comfort foods with such dishes as pumpkin-and-mascarpone ravioli and Gorgonzola-stuffed artichoke hearts. Two good entrées are the lobster potpie and the grilled red snapper with pineapple pico de gallo. Lighter fare can be ordered in the upstairs lounge. For an unforgettable romantic evening, reserve the cupola—it seats only two.

    18 Main St., Center Harbor, New Hampshire, 03226, USA
    603-253–8617

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch, Credit cards accepted
  • 19. Mame's

    $$$
    Closed Permanently

    This 1820s tavern, once the home of the village doctor, now contains a warren of dining rooms with exposed-brick walls, wooden beams, and wide-plank floors. Expect a wide variety of beef, seafood, and chicken plates, but don't be afraid to order the "Luncheon Nightmare," which is pumpernickel topped with turkey, ham, broccoli, and bacon and baked in a cheese sauce. You can also find vegetarian dishes, burgers, sandwiches, and wonderful soups and salads on the menu. Save room for the bread pudding with apples and rum sauce. A cozy tavern upstairs features pub food.

    8 Plymouth St., Meredith, New Hampshire, 03253, USA
    603-279–4631

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
  • 20. The Woodshed

    $$$
    Closed Permanently

    Farm implements and antiques hang on the walls of this enchanting 1860 barn. The fare is mostly traditional New England—prime rib, rack of lamb, marinated chicken—but with some surprises, such as Cajun-blackened pork tenderloin. Either way, the exceptionally fresh ingredients are sure to please.

    128 Lee Rd., Moultonborough, New Hampshire, 03254, USA
    603-476–2311

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Closed Mon.–Wed. mid-Oct.–June

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