Experience breeds success at Smokeshow BBQ

After many years of working in restaurants, Matt Gfroerer decided that it was time to venture out on his own so he opened Smokeshow BBQ in Concord. Located in the same plaza as Planet Fitness, it is easy to reach from either I-93 or 393. Finding decent restaurants in this sector are few and far between but we were excited to find out whether this would be a decent option.

Not enough at the table for Silvertone

During a trip to Boston, we decided to take a walk over to Silvertone, near the Common. Known for their comfort foods and dive bar feel, you will certainly find all of that here.

Old Salt 30 years in business and still going strong

We have been aware of The Old Salt Tavern for many years but never thought to stop in for a visit. A fixture in the seacoast for 30 years, they are at the same location as Lamie's Inn on Route 1 in Hampton. As luck would have it our travels recently brought us to the area so we decided to check out lunch at the Old Salt.

Pasquale's expanding to Londonderry

There’s a new Italian restaurant on the way in Londonderry. Pasquale’s is opening in the building that previously housed Avandi’s restaurant on Nashua Road. Although we were not impressed with the food as previously written there is no doubt that they have a following in the greater Candia area. According to their Facebook page the restaurant will open sometime this Summer.

Tucker's attempting to conquer breakfast market

You may not be familiar with the name Tucker's but that may change in the near future. This husband and wife team, Hale and Erica Cole Tucker, first became established in the restaurant world when they opened the successful Maddie's in Salem several years. After selling that restaurant they started with a new concept, Tucker's, and picked their first location in Hooksett a few years back. Then, about a year ago they opened the second Tucker's in New London and most recently in our own backyard, the South End of Concord at the former location of the Cornerview.

Long tenure not enough to save Tapeo

Whether for recreation or work most of us from the Granite State visit Boston. We found ourselves in the city and decided to try Tapeo, a tapas focused establishment on Newbury Street. It’s worth noting that the restaurant has been in business for thirteen years which is impressive given that so many close after a short time.

Will aggressive growth plans be too much for Wahlburgers?

Finally an excuse to talk about Wahlburgers, the fast growing restaurant chain run by the Wahlberg family. The brothers had visited the International Speedway in the Granite State where they had been invited to a race that was shown on a recent episode of their TV show. Having watched the series in the past we haven't seen an episode in some time but their aggressive growth plans are everywhere and according to an article in the Boston Globe adding 110 new restaurants is a real possibility over the next several years. The Wahlburgers think it is time to celebrate but I think the company should take a step back.

Chipotle to open in Concord

There is good news for all of the Chipotle fans in the Concord area. They are opening a new restaurant on Loudon Road.

Funway burger a good fit for Mel's

Running a successful restaurant at Mel's Funway Park in Litchfield is a major challenge. The last attempt, Naticook Fish & Grill didn't work out. Not because it wasn't a good place to eat as we had previously written but it probably wasn't the best fit for Mel's. The prices were high for the area and it did not have the appeal of a younger crowd and families who are more likely to visit Mel's. Now, the same owner, Marco, is giving it another try with Funway Burger.

You will get a kick out of Shira Kiku

Shira Kiku is a small Japanese and Korean restaurant in Nashua that has a fun lively feel that makes you feel welcome as soon as you walk in the door. From the give and take banter with the waitresses to the odd decor and the healthy foods they give their all and it works for them and their customers. The menu is large and everyone can find something that will please their palates.

Try Market Basket Donuts

With the new Market Basket documentary set to be released in mid-April it got me thinking about the company. Long ago my wife mentioned that she was at an event where they served donuts from Market Basket and that they were surprisingly delicious. I thought you might like to hear about their sweet treats. Her take was that there would be of very little interest in this post and that it would turn out to be a yawner. Please help us figure out who was right by liking the post on Facebook or commenting below.

Portofino deserves a chance to earn your business

When the news broke late last year that Florence's in Merrimack was closing, I couldn't help but wonder what would move into the existing space. Thankfully, I didn't have to wait too long as Portofino opened several weeks ago. For those of you familiar with the Italian restaurants in southern New Hampshire, you might be surprised to see that the former owners of Pastamore in Amherst opened Portofino.

Corner View lives on at Veano's ll

After the Cornerview restaurant in Concord closed recently, its customers including us wondered where they would now go for breakfast. There is good news for anyone who liked the restaurant as it lives on in a strange place.

Boxty at Kathleen's Cottage

With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, it seemed like an ideal time to visit an Irish pub and our pick was Kathleen's Cottage in Bristol. They usually rate very high among the best in the state on WMURs viewer’s choice and we wanted to explore what they had to offer. However, the main reason for our interest is that they are one of the only pubs in the Granite State that serves something we love to eat and that is boxty. For those of you who are not familiar with this Irish dish, it’s a potato pancake with various fillings and sauce served on top.