I guess I reviewed the old location but not the newer one? Most people at this point wouldn't even know there WAS an older one. This is very pretty in the Lyme Inn. And the original chef, Martin, has sadly moved on. But the chef that took over has done him proud I hope. Because the food is just as good as ever. And they still really take care of us gluten free folk. FYI, they have the BEST gluten free rolls (biscuits) that you've ever had. Gluten free or not. This is the place to try things you've never had before, because they do it better than anyone. I recommend everything. And make a reservation. Go ahead. read more

See all

Service and ambiance was great. Lots of friendly, happy staff chatting with locals. Snapper was good. Kale salad was good and spinach salad were fine. Pear gingerbread dessert was pretty good. Strawberry dessert was good. read more

Always great food here! Warm atmosphere and super service. We have been twice in the last two months.

Great, unpretentious, farm fresh. Brought the family here for graduation and they enjoyed it.

The steamed mussels in coconut broth were sweet and plump. The cod with clams and chorizo was light, but filled with flavor. Always great service in a lovely setting. read more

Ariana's Restaurant - Cod with clams and chorizo - New American Near Me - Lyme, New Hampshire

See all

This may be the shortest review I have ever written: GO. Ariana's has it ALL. Warm and elegant ambiance, *phenomenal* food (including for vegans and vegetarians), inventive cocktails, top notch service (Jamie completely charmed us all), and desserts you will not find anywhere else. Incredibly, it's all of this and still low-key. Just go. You have to. read more

Another lovely visit and my crab starter was delicious. I had the local sirloin steak which hit the spot. One suggestion; Could the plates that hot food is served on should be warmer as the food cooled too quickly. A delightful bottle of J Lohr red vino topped off the evening. read more

I believe they're closed for the holidays unfortunately. No return of voicemails requesting reservations and no one answers the phone

We did the tasting menu last evening and it was fantastic. 5 courses each paired with wine and dessert- a nice mixture of seafood and beef and pork. All delicious and allowed you to try many things on the menu. Our waitress was engaging as was the staff. Give it a try!! read more

Amazing food and ambiance! Cozy and warm atmosphere. Top notch menu ... I had the pork dumplings and they were perfect. The penne bolognese was a delightful surprise very light and bright flavor. My companion had the blackened scallops which were delicious and cooked perfectly. The cocktails were creative and delicious! There are only 9-10 tables so make a reservation, it's definitely worth it! read more

Fantastic food, nice atmosphere. The chef is so kind and creates wonderful meals using local and in-season ingredients. I got the halibut atop ramen noodles in a coconut sauce which was wonderful. My dad got the ribeye steak and truffled mashed potatoes which he enjoyed. Service was top notch. An excellent place to enjoy a meal. read more

We dined here twice on a 6 day trip to the NH/VT border. The food was perfectly cooked and well seasoned. The sauces were amazing. The service was wonderful and attentive but not overbearing. We chose from the regular menu on our first visit and had the chef's tasting and wine pairing menu on our second visit. If we lived here we would be regulars for sure. read more

Had one of the best meals (ever) the first time we did the tasting menu. We spoke so highly of it that our guests decided they wanted to do it instead of the normal menu. It was incredible and we left stuffed. This most recent time that we went, the tasting menu we were served was probably half the amount of food as the first tasting menu. The quality of the meals and the service is noteworthy, but it was very disappointed to pay $90/person for the amount of food to be so inconsistent and for our party to leave hungry. read more

I have to agree with a fellow Yelper who says that this is the best restaurant for miles around! The husband and I came here last month and ate out on the covered patio; we had one of the nicest "date nights" we've had in a while! Everyone was completely charming, from the young man who seated us to our wonderful server to the chef who came by to say hello. The food made me do the proverbial double-take. I am a HUGE foodie and have eaten at top restaurants all over the world, so I was delightfully surprised to find myself exclaiming to my husband, "This is real food, like chef-food, not just someone is in a kitchen food"! Honestly, I have no reason not to give five stars except that I am super stingy with those, so I am waiting for a second visit to go as well before I'm willing to go there. Plus, it gives me an excuse to go back! :) A friendly fellow diner recommended the corn chowder, and though that is not normally a dish with which I would be taken, it was quite good. My personal favorite was the "flight of appetizers" which allowed me to try a number of different things-- and they were all fantastic! It sounds simple, but the warm chocolate chip cookies for dessert were so perfect that I can't recommend anything else. I also have to say that receiving a personal phone call in response to our need to change our reservation goes a long way with me as well; and delightful people plus delicious food is a combination that can't be beat! Do yourself a favor, and go to Ariana's! Maybe I'll see you there... read more

Very nice ambiance, service was personable and attentive and the food was very good. The pear dessert was really delicious, recommended by the waiter. read more

You would never guess that there's a restaurant here, but it served some of the best seafood I've had in a long time ... I ordered a seared tuna appetizer and the steamed flounder with stuffed snow crab meat off of the specials menu, and both was delicious. The dishes are so decadent, and all the ingredients taste extremely fresh. The seared tuna was served rare with some pickles veggies. The flounder was sooooo tender, and the crab meat filling was exquisite. Service was great and quick! The chef, Martin, even came out to say hi to us at one point - wonderful experience! read more

Ariana's Restaurant - Steamed flounder with stuff snow crab meat - New American Near Me - Lyme, New Hampshire

See all

We come in at 8:20 on a Monday night. Yelp indicates open til 9, but the staff is clearly cleaning up to leave when we arrive. Fortunately, the accommodating staff agree to seat us, assuring us they still have a hour of work. We luck out because the dinner is fabulous! The pork wrap appetizers and the caprice provide the perfect beginning with just the right flavor to kick off the perfect meal. The scallops are a must-try! Flown in fresh daily, never frozen, the dry scallops, served with polenta and lots of fresh fiddleheads prove to be 5 star material! The chicken, served 3 ways is a hit with my colleague and the pasta, gone in a flash. Not only is the food outstanding, but the beautiful setting - cows grazing outside, gardens in view and the lush green countryside surrounding the restaurant - all contribute to this special evening. Highly recommend a visit! read more

See all

Service was very attentive. Wine and dinner were delicious. I had a lobster and pasta dish that had a divine sauce. The chocolate mousse would have benefited from some whipped cream. The small table with leather seats was very comfortable and cozy on a winter's evening. read more

Stay far away! This place is so over rated!!! Waste of $$$$$!!! Had to send our food back twice! Steak was not cooked and the "special" veal chop was a joke! loaded with fat and grizzle Vegetables weren't cooked and the owner was a buffoon. Came to our table and not even an apology Said the veal chop comes that way - When I showed him the pile of fat I cut off he said "that's the nature of the beast" - didn't even offer to make me something else Are you kidding me The only good thing about this charade of "high end" restaurant was our waitress She really tried and was sincerely sorry about the poor quality of food We didn't stay for desert etc and add any more $$ to an already overpriced check We couldn't get out of there fast enough - especially after meeting the rude and obnoxious owner Save your $$$ and don't go to this dump There are several Really nice places to go in the area read more

Everything we ate was exceptionally delicious. I had the warm spinach salad, the mushroom crepes and the small dish scallops. My husband had the large dish shrimp. We shared the pear gingerbread cake with salt caramel gelato. Everything was excellent. If you get the chance eat there! read more

I would really love to be able to give this place 5 stars because they came recommended and the menu looks great. However, we will never actually experience the menu and this review is based on the simple fact that they refused to accommodate a party of five people. We called to make a reservation and were told they could not accommodate five people at one table. My husband asked if we could then come in and divide our party and have a table for two and then a table for three. We were willing to treat this as completely separate checks and tips even though it certainly wasn't convenient to divide our family this way. It wasn't an issue, though, because they said they would not do that. So I ask you, how does a restaurant manage to have a fancy menu but they can't figure out how to seat five people?? Are they only able to seat even numbers?? We have never been turned away due to our family size and I find it pathetic that a restaurant can't (won't?) welcome a group of five even when the group is willing to split up. read more

First time visiting this restaurant since we're new to the area. Let me start by saying the waiters/waitresses are phenomenal and personable. I absolutely felt like we were sitting in their home instead of a restaurant. For that, I think this place deserves the 4 star rating. We ordered the Onion Soup, small plate of 3 lamb chops w/lentil salad, and we split the larger filet mignon entree. This entree was supposed to be a 4 oz filet mignon with a Maine Lobster Tail but neither of us are lobster fans so we instead opted for two 4 oz filet mignons which the chef was kind enough to put on 2 different plates for us. Husband loved his onion soup. My lamb was good but it had fatty parts. I'm not sure if the fat should have been cut off before serving (I know cooking in fat is flavorful) but I didn't enjoy eating it so my napkin had 2 chunks of fat I'd spit out of my mouth. The lentils were excellent! It's my first time eating lentils so I have nothing to compare them to but I'd say they were delish. The filet mignon was not as flavorful as another restaurant we love dearly in Missouri. It was served atop a biscuit with snap peas and truffle whipped potatoes. The biscuit was flaky yet odd....it seemed out of place but I ate it anyways. The snap peas were bright green and looked very fresh which is always good. The truffle whipped potatoes...if my mama was sitting next to me I'd probably have smacked her cause they were that good! For dessert, my husband ordered the lemon pie and I ordered the chocolate molten cake. Both had raspberry and some other sauce across the plate. We both cleaned our dessert plates so much so that the waitress laughed a little when she said they must have hit a home run. Yep, you did! For the price, the quality of the food prep and presentation is not what we've paid elsewhere but this is Vermont...you don't think culinary fine dining when you live here but we will def return again, try more menu items and support locally grown food. read more

I'm pretty confident that the majority of these reviews are fake. They one hundred percent do not represent our experience. We had a group of ten go to Ariana's for dinner the other night. We quickly realized their customer service was atrocious. We asked if we could move our two tables together (they put us at two tables, we had a reservation) and they said that "literally would not be possible." There was plenty of room to make this happen without getting in anyone's way but they wouldn't budge. From that point on we were treated as two completely separate groups. Our food arrived at different times throughout the night. The food was aggressively mediocre. At our table the only dish we actually thought was good were the pork dumplings. We decided everything else we ordered (dinner and dessert) we could make better in our own home. Food gets a 3/5. It was all just okay. The atmosphere leaves a lot to be desired as well. Farmhouse can be done on a spectrum, there's tacky and cheap to elegant and elevated. Ariana's definitely leans heavily to the former. It would make more sense to receive diner food here than it would a nice dinner (it's a good thing that's not what they're putting out). Overall, I never need to come back. Service was bad, food was just okay. That coupled with the long drive and price tag for what you're getting (not that it's that expensive, just not that good) it's not worth the effort. read more

Wow. This is a wow restaurant, the first one in this area I would say. Nice atmosphere, a bunch of pleasant small rooms. Surprisingly big menu; a good page of regular things AND about 5 each special apps and mains. Very solicitous staff. And the food! What's impressive and delightful about Ariana's food is that it's so interesting, in addition to delicious. There are very few things on the menu that are like I've had elsewhere. A lot of this is their sauces - clearly created there, and great. Scallops with red pepper sauce was just fabulous, and that's just one. But really, everything is so good. The other thing that is special about Ariana's is it's a family business and it shows. They welcome you at the door, talk to you about the food, make sure you're happy. I guess every place at least goes through those motions, but here you know they mean it. It's their place and their offering to you. All in all Ariana's is a gem. read more

We decided to give Ariana's a try after hearing some mixed reviews from friends, neighbors, and fellow Yelpers. If you look at all of the reviews of this restaurant you'll notice that all of the 5 star reviews come from Yelpers with less than 10 reviews, that is very shady. Honestly I was hoping this restaurant was legit but I was sadly disappointed. I had tried the Artic char and the presentation was something you would expect from a freshman culinary student and the dish was pedestrian at best. Gordan Ramsay would tear this place up! read more

TL;DR: awesome spot for delicious farm-to-table cuisine; service is great, small farmhouse feel, but pretty mediocre for vegetarians. I have been as a vegetarian and non vegetarian. Most people seem to really enjoy the meat options - my chicken was great when I came here in 2014 - and it's from local farms so somewhat more humane than factory farmed. This is not meant to be a vegetarian haven, so come if you can enjoy the the meat entrees; you'll be much happier. The service is helpful and attentive. Chef Martin comes out after every meal and takes time to chat with and thank his diners. Super nice + thoughtful touch. Food: Mushroom crepe appetizer very tasty. Curry rice significantly better than risotto, but neither are anything special. Risotto is pretty bland and the portion size is small; my date was still hungry afterward. Curry is very similar to Thai red curries but not spicy and no vegetables - pretty much coconut milk and rice. All desserts are good; warm chocolate cake pretty standard, would highly recommend the gingerbread upside down cake with caramel gelato. Atmosphere: Right next to a farm; come during the day to appreciate the scenery. Tables are cozy, and try sitting chef's counter if you want to watch them make the food and get a few extra goodies. read more

See all

Pleasantly shocked at the quality of this experience at Ariana's. The fish was prepared to perfection, wine menu was very good and priced reasonably. The kitchen was clean (I went back to thank the chef) a d service was excellent but not overbearing. Totally a place I plan to visit again. read more

We happened upon this place on our way back from the ice castles. It was a pleasant surprise. It had all the charm of the small town restaurant with the upscale class of fine city dining. Would definitely recommend this for a romantic date night evening. The chef was extremely friendly and the service was superb. read more

Ariana's Restaurant - Maine lobster tail with scallops, potatoes and creamy lobster sauce. - New American Near Me - Lyme, New Hampshire

What a lovely surprise! I was locked out of my families house on Lake Morey and needed to find a place to eat while i waited for everyone to return when I found this place on Yelp. They squeezed me in at the end of the night. The food was delicious and the service was outstanding. A must when in the area! read more

Sat at the high bar chairs and saw the inner workings of Chef Murphy who was the nicest and friendliest chefs I've ever met. I recommend these seats as they are the best seats in the house--you can enjoy your meal while you watch the open kitchen. The menu was extensive and the daily specials were devine. Compliments of the chef we started with a delicious pork dumpling with a citrus and cilantro sauce. Then I had the warm spinach salad and flounder stuffed with crab. My daughter had shrimp scampi and we shared a cheesecake topped with lemon curd and strawberries. All were hits! Jamie our server was attentive and you will feel right at home at Ariana's. Chef Murphy's family work at the restaurant and you will get that feeling of being in their home. They are located in Orford (feels like in the middle of nowhere) but worth the drive! read more

See all

Having had a positive experience with Ariana's in their previous (Orford,NH) location we were looking forward to a special birthday dinner at their new Lyme location. Their new dining environment in the recently renovated Lyme Inn is very pleasant and the wait staff were excellent. The food however was a major disappointment and that of course is the primary focus of an enjoyable dining experience. We started with a warm spinach salad which was acceptable but not particularly notable - not up to what we would expect of this restaurant. The rolls served with it were among the worst we've encountered. They appeared to be something of a frozen bake-and-serve origin with a strong preservative after-taste. Perhaps it was a healthy benefit: we tend to over-indulge in the bread at most venues, but here we didn't get past the first bite. Next we shared a starter, small pork soft tacos. The sauce was quite flavorful, but the pork strips were more fat than pork. Several of the strips were 100% fat, with no meat at all. One of us ordered a vegetarian tamale. It was indicated to be a mixture of vegetables with herbs and spices in a masa wrap. In actuality, it was a tube shaped lump of flavorless masa with vegetable matter nearly undetectable. In this instance we mentioned it to our wait staff who thanked us for the feedback but offered no apology or offer to remedy. We probably should have been more persistent but at that point in the evening we let it go. Our other entree was the short ribs. The meat was excellent and flavorful. It was served over mixed root vegetables in a sauce and the only complaint with this item was the seriously excessive salt in the sauce which overwhelmed the flavor. We enjoy patronizing our local restaurants and are disappointed to say we likely won't be returning to Ariana's. read more

I ate dinner here while staying at The Lyme Inn and was not disappointed. The restaurant is small and their website warns that reservations can book up days to weeks in advance, at least during the busy summer/fall season. If you can snag one, the food is absolutely worth it. So delicious! The staff - including the bartender, Kate - was friendly and the service was fast. There seemed to be many regulars at the restaurant the night I went, which to me also speaks to how good the food is! read more

So excellent! My partner and I came here for our anniversary dinner in January, and we still talk about the lamb risotto we had that night! We started with a cheese board and wine, and they were all fresh and flavorful. I had a fish dish that was on special and my partner had a lamb risotto that was also a special (and was definitely the real winner). My partner doesn't appreciate quality food quite as much as I do, but he was really blown away by the risotto, and talked about it for weeks afterward. You can tell that each dish is crafted with care, and it is so refreshing to be in a restaurant with an open kitchen. They have a little garden on the side of the restaurant that supplies some of their veggies and herbs. Lovelovelove! read more

We had a wonderful anniversary dinner here last night. The service (thanks to Jamie) was as good as it gets, and we both really enjoyed our dinners (tuna ceviche and PEI mussels for apps, shrimp curry and braised short rib for dinner, followed by the best dessert ever, Chef Martin's Port and Chocolate Torte. We'll be back! read more

Amazing food and amazing staff. We enjoyed a fabulous VEGAN four course meal. The bread, soup, salad (warm spinach), curry and chocolate mousse were all amazing. The bartender KATE was absolutely divine. I look forward to coming again next summer. Thank you. read more

Right outside Orford, NH, known mostly by locals - Ariana's restaurant... Chef Martin Murphy and his family own and operate the ~40 people seating capacity restaurant. More than half of what is served comes from their own farm, and most of everything else comes from a local producers. Every now and than, a closed door event with a specific theme... Wine and dinner tasting highlighting an ethnical cuisine... Tonight was Italy... Most of the wines came from Tuscany and I really loved the 2012 Marchesi Antinori Il Bruciato, as well the finishing touches of the Cavicchioli Spumante 1928. Great pairing with the Duck Confit and the Roasted Peach filled with Mascarpone, Fig and Balsamic Gelato. Loved the Wood-grilled Sirloin Roast, paired with a very bold 2012 Marchesi Le Maestraelle. I highly recommend this amazing place! read more

See all

Wow. This is a hidden gem. We sat looking into the open kitchen watching the chef and staff prepare meals on a busy night. Our spinach salad was the best I have ever had, followed by duck confit to die for. Love love love this place! Thank you for serving food so thoughtfully prepared! read more

Ariana's Restaurant - View into the kitchen from our table - New American Near Me - Lyme, New Hampshire

Wine dinner in September, our 2nd one, and Chef Martin was on top of his game as usual. $65 plus tip & well worth every penny. Each course explained by Chef and wine purveyor explained each wine. All delicious. Wish It was closer. 6 of this time, everyone delighted with their food. One Gluten Free and accommodated, just tell them when making a reservation if there are any allergies or dietary restrictions. Regular nights are excellent too. Not a bad meal on the menu ever. Not a large place, kitchen is open so you can see Martin preparing your meals. Kitchen is as large as the seating. Call for reservations so you wont be disappointed. You will be happy you made the trip. P.S. If they have short ribs try them, delicious. Fish always fresh. Lots of locally sourced ingredients. read more

Outstanding! When they say that they are the best restaurant in the Upper Valley, they are not exaggerating! Memorable meal in a relaxed setting. Great service too. read more

I have lived in the area for 13+ years and hands down this is the best restaurant around. There are a few seating areas and the one to the left is a bit geriatric in its feel and decour. But that is the extent of the negative and a matter of taste. But where it matters, Ariana's delivers! The food is consistently wonderful: fresh, flavorful and masterfully prepared. There is clearly attention to detail and a personal pride in the food. Every time we have come, the chef has briefly topped by to say hello and ask about the food. Nice touch! We eat all over the area and there are several descent choices, but often inconsistent. The seafood stew is exceptional. read more