The Best Seafood Restaurants In NH

The dreary cold is almost over and dreams of seafood dance in our heads. Fried, baked or broiled, it doesn’t matter. When the warm weather hits, that is all the more reason to visit a favorite restaurant, shack, or shanty.

NH Reviews has got you covered for all the best that the state has to offer. Let’s take a closer look at some of our recommendations in no particular order.

1. Petey’s, Rye. We love this place just across the street from the beach in Rye. If you have never been just go and enjoy some of the best seafood anywhere. They are crazy busy in the summer but are open all year round so visit during the offseason to avoid crowds. Seafood chowder and fried fantail shrimp are our top picks.
2. The Old Salt, Hampton, A 30-year-old institution on the Seacoast, the fried scallops are our favorite here. With a slightly sweet coating, these are worth a special trip for a taste. NH Reviews is not the only ones who appreciate the scallops. At another restaurant an hour away, we overheard someone else saying the same thing.
3. Markey's, Seabrook. This one I had never been to but my wife’s family has gone many times in the past and they raved about the food. Since then, frequent visits for us have become the norm. Cash only, counter service.
4. Johnson’s Seafood and Steak. Northwood, New Durham, North Berwick, ME. From our hometown of Concord, we drive about 25 minutes East to this popular spot on Route 4. Johnson’s has everything you could hope for including fried haddock, clams, and shrimp along with lobster rolls.
5. The Lobster Boat, Litchfield, Merrimack, Exeter. Perhaps you would prefer an option further inland, then the Lobster Boat is the place. They have baked or fried seafood, steamers, bisque, and chowder.
6. Atlantic Grill, Rye. NH Reviews likes this one for late night but you can go anytime. The seafood chowder, salmon burger, and grilled shrimp are our preferences.
7. Surf, Portsmouth and Nashua. You can not go wrong with either of these Michael Buckley owned restaurants. 
8. Row 34, Portsmouth. If you have never had a hot buttered lobster roll go here and try one, my wife loved it! Whole belly fried clams are also very good. 
9. Jumpin Jay's Fish Cafe, Portsmouth. Another one for the list from Seacoast restauranteur Jay McSharry.
10. Goldenrod, Manchester, And last but certainly not least, Goldenrod. We've split a seafood platter with fried whole belly clams, shrimp, scallops, and haddock. Honestly, this compares well with anything you will find on the coast.

We hope you enjoy eating at our top picks for seafood all summer long and beyond. Give them a chance and NH Reviews believes that the experience will be pleasant.

Petey's

1323 Ocean Boulevard
Rye, NH 03870

(603) 433-1937

www.peteys.com

The Old Salt

490 Lafayette Road #9
Hampton, NH 03842

(603) 926-8322

www.oldsaltnh.com

Markey's

420 NH-286
Seabrook, NH 03874

(603) 474-2851

www.markeyslobsterpool.com

Johnson's Seafood and Steak

334 1st New Hampshire Turnpike
Northwood, NH 03261

(603) 942-7300

69 NH-11
New Durham, NH 03855

(603) 859-7500

18 Elm Street
North Berwick, ME 03906

(207) 676-7900

www.eatatjohnsons.com

The Lobster Boat

453 Daniel Webster Highway
Merrimack, NH 03054

(603) 424-5221

273 Derry Street
Litchfield, NH 03052

(603) 882-4988

75 Portsmouth Avenue
Exeter, NH 03833

(603) 583-5183

www.lobsterboatrestaurant.com

Atlantic Grill

5 Pioneer Road
Rye, NH 03870

(603) 433-3000

www.theatlanticgrill.com

Surf

207 Main Street
Nashua, NH 03060

(603) 595-9293

99 Bow Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801

(603) 334-9855

surfseafood.com

Row 34

5 Portwalk Place
Portsmouth, NH 03801

(603) 319-5011

www.row34nh.com

Jumpin Jay's Fish Cafe

150 Congress Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801

(603) 766-3474

www.jumpinjays.com

Goldenrod

1681 Candia Road
Manchester, NH 03109

(603) 623-9469

www.goldenrodrestaurant.com