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La Caretta’s
With locations in Manchester, Derry and Nashua, this Mexican restaurant is easily
accessible to most Southern New Hampshire residents. La Caretta’s menu comes
complete with an info section describing their authentic Mexican choices. The combinations
are the best option for new visitors offering 3 or 4 of the menu’s items for just $10. Notable
items include the restaurant’s superior salsa, the fantastic refried beans and anything
covered in their delicious Mexican cheese.
For an appetizer, the Espinaca Dip is creamy, spicy, and served with endless chips. If you’re
really hungry, the Grande Burrito is stuffed full with rice, beans, and your choice of grilled rib
eye, chicken or vegetables all covered in nacho cheese. And of course no Mexican meal
would be complete without a margarita. La Caretta’s margaritas are known for being the
best around and even won the category in New Hampshire Magazine’s Best of NH poll in
2009.
Markey’s Lobster Pound
As many seacoast residents know, when it comes to seafood there is an important decision
to be made – Brown’s or Markey’s. These two famous New England lobster pounds sit feets
away from one another, separated only by the small Route 286. Both seat guests at rustic
picnic tables overlooking the same beautiful scenery yet for some unknown reason, it is
clear to New Hampshire residents that a choice must be made and that choice lasts a
lifetime. You’re either a Markey’s person or a Brown’s person. The food is very similar but
Markey’s has a slightly crispier, lighter batter and tends to be host to a more-lively crowd.
Owner, Joyce Markey’s family has owned the famous lobster bar for 38 years. Of their
famous rivalry with their Route 286 neighbors, Markey says “The only difference [between
the two] is that we implemented a raw bar last year and we have a liquor license so we sell
wine and beer.” They are located at 420 State Route 286, Seabrook, NH
MaryAnn’s Diner
This diner’s cool 50s atmosphere truly brings you back in time. From poodle-skirt-clad
waitresses to jukebox music to posters dawning famous 50s stars including Marilyn
Monroe, Elvis and Frank Sinatra, MaryAnn’s Diner doesn’t take its theme lightly. The diner
serves breakfast and lunch including giant three egg omelets, massive doughy pancakes,
and classic lunch choices like the Big Bopper Burger, a half-pound burger with barbeque
sauce, sautéed onions, peppers, mushrooms, and Swiss cheese, and the Thunderbird, a
turkey melt with bacon, American cheese, and Russian dressing on sourdough bread. To
top it all off, the service is incredibly fast, attentive, and friendly and sometimes you can even
catch them singing along to the bee-bop music. 29 East Broadway, Derry, NH www.
maryannsdiner.com
Chen Yang Li
In an area where finding buried treasure might be more likely than finding decent Chinese
food, Chen Yang Li is an amazing hidden gem. Located in an unassuming strip mall, this
quaint restaurant’s extensive menu features Chinese, Thai and Japanese cuisine including
delicious fresh sushi and sashimi. To start, the steamed dumplings are jumbo sized and
perfectly proportioned between filling and dough. Sushi rolls are almost too big and are
made to order with fresh fish and vegetables. The cocktail menu is creative and reasonably
priced and the drinks are strong and larger than expected. Chen Yang Li is the perfect place
to catch up with a group of friends and stay a while. 124 South River Road, Bedford, NH
www.chenyangli.com
Sabatino’s
North Sabatino’s restaurant is the most authentic Italian cuisine
in Southern New Hampshire. The slight menu offers the perfect number of choices from
classic appetizers like Bruschetta, Fried Calamari and Italian Antipasto to specialty pasta
like Gnocchi Marinara, Lasagna and Cheese Raviolis.
The menu also offers steak, chicken, veal, and seafood options like spicy Italian sausages
with peppers and onions, chicken with mushrooms, tomato and basil served over creamy
risotto, and veal Grand Marnier, dipped in egg batter and served en flambé. The wine list is
also small but well paired to the menu and the staff is happy to assist in choosing what will
best compliment your meal. 14 East Broadway, Derry, NH sabatinosnorth.com
Fremont Pizzeria Restaurant
This family-style restaurant dishes up huge portions of delicious Italian-American cuisine.
Their massive menu features pizza, calzones, subs, pasta and seafood all served to share.
The service is helpful and never shy to make a suggestion.
While the restaurant is best known for their creative pizzas including Greek, chicken cordon
bleu and buffalo chicken, their pasta is both tasty and the greatest bang for your buck for just
$7 to $18 a dish. Of the restaurant’s success, manager Jessica Sweeney says, “The
consistency brings people back but it is also very family oriented which people really enjoy. It’
s a good place to work and the people are awesome around here.” Sweeney suggest the
Chicken Parmesan and the Onion Rings as their menu’s hit items. 431 Main Street,
Fremont, NH. ww.fremontpizzeria.com
Blackberry Bakery Derry locals may have been worried when they saw the
Blackberry Bakery had vacated their downtown location. But have no fear this fairly new
favorite has simply relocated to allow more room for their crave-worthy concoctions. While
Italian pastries are an everyday hit, for special occasions, Blackberry’s cakes are a must.
Their homemade butter-cream frosting is creamy, sweet, buttery, and addictive and their
staff members are artists with a frosting bag. 44 Nashua Road, Londonderry, NH
Red Arrow Diner
Open since 1922, the Red Arrow is one of the only Southern New Hampshire destinations
that is open 24 hours a day. While it is often very cramped in the tiny Lowell Street location,
the food is worth the wait, sardined amongst fellow patrons, in the often awkwardly packed
entryway.
Once seated, guests can expect fast and friendly service, and breakfast cooked to
perfection. The shredded pan-fries are crispy and golden brown while the pancakes, in
blueberry, peanut butter, banana, and chocolate varieties, are a hit with customers.
But don’t fill up on your entrée, Red Arrow pies have achieved local fame. Piled 6 or more
inches high, the diner offers so many pie varieties, they can’t even list them all on the menu.
When asked what Manchester’s favorite Red Arrow pie is, owner Carol Sheehan says, “That
would have to be the Brownie Cream Pie.” Sheehan also suggests the Eggs Benedict and
the Meatloaf as some of the diner’s most delicious choices. The Manchester location is not
only the first Red Arrow it is also the only of the five original locations still standing. As a
cherished New Hampshire establishment, the company donates 5 cents of every cup of
coffee to the New Hampshire Food Bank. Find it at 61 Lowell Street, Manchester, NH. www.
redarrowdiner.com
Loaf and Ladle
Nestled in the center of beautiful downtown Exeter, the Loaf and Ladle features homemade
soups and bread made fresh daily. With soup selections from the classic New England
Clam Chowder to the exotic chilled Gazpacho, this tavern-style restaurant’s ever-changing
menu will have you excited to see what’s new each day.
Each cup of soup comes with your choice of bread from French baguette and oatmeal to
anadama and cranberry-carrot. For hot summer days, the menu also offers sandwiches and
a salad bar as well as a selection of draught beers.
Owner Meredith Stolper bought the Loaf and Ladle in 1986, twelve years after it opened.
Stolper loves her Exeter location and says the clientele are steadfastly loyal. “We’re always
astounded. Generations and generations of people will come back. We have our regular
clientele and people who travel from far away. We have customers that come from
Manchester to Newburyport.”
Having won the Best Soup category in New Hampshire Magazine’s Best of NH poll 7 years
running, it is no surprise that people keep coming back again and again. “It’s special
because it’s unique,” says Stolper, “we make everything there which I think people
appreciate.” 9 Water Street, Exeter, NH
KC’s Rib Shack
This Southern-style rib shack serves up truly addictive barbeque with all the fixins. To start,
the deep fried pickles are well worth the calories and the classic hushpuppies drizzled with
maple syrup are authentic and delicious.
Next, classic mouth watering barbeque including pork ribs, pulled pork, chicken and
sausage, get KC’s carnivorous clientele so messy the restaurant leaves full rolls of paper
towels on each table. To finish, KC’s has an eclectic dessert menu including a make-your-
own s’mores platter and maple bacon ice cream.
Owner, Kevin Cornish, founded KC’s after a trip to Curtis Bar-B-Que in Putney, VT sparked a
newfound interest in the Southern delicacy. A former printing company owner, Cornish
opened the rib shack with absolutely no restaurant experience. But he did his research,
including a trip during which he sampled barbeque from 24 North Carolina restaurants in 2
days.
He says, “I really didn’t know any particular style. I think I was fortunate that I didn’t have that
direct influence. I wasn’t locked in to a geographic kind of barbeque.” Curtis blended
together the best of Memphis, Carolina, Kansas City and Texas styles to create a unique
mix, and it seems to have worked. For 8 years, KC’s has been voted best barbeque by New
Hampshire Magazine’s Best of NH poll. To newcomers Curtis suggests the QQ Pladda, “It’s
a dinner for two and comes with your choice of four of our five meats and two ¾ pound sides
as well as cornbread.” To the more adventurous eater he suggests the Cardiac Sam, a
sandwich voted the best sandwich in all of New Hampshire by the Hippo Press. It is stacked
8 inches high with pulled pork, pulled chicken, bacon, roasted red peppers, lettuce, cheese,
and garlic herb mayo. “By the time you’re done eating it there’s an entire meal left on your
plate from what’s fallen out,” boasts the barbeque guru himself. For the truly reckless,
Curtis suggests the 357 Diablo Wings. “To order them we have a two-part waiver that you
have to sign. They keep one of the copies and we have to keep one on file,” he says. With
reasonable prices and huge portions, this delicious destination offers a great dining deal.
Find them at 837 2nd Street, Manchester, NH. www.ribshack.net
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By Paige Herlihy
New Hampshire Herald
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