I've lived in this area for 24 years, and I can honestly say--this little spot has the best seafood around. And that's no small claim. Bun 'N Bowl is right next to Ackerly's Grill & Galley, just five minutes from Alton Bay, where you'll find the newly opened Pub 23 (formerly Dockside Restaurant), Shipley's at the Pier (open year-round), two seasonal spots: Pop's Clam Shack, and Shibley's Drive-In--a takeout-style clam shack. But here's the thing: the fresh fried Icelandic haddock, shrimp, whole belly clams, sea scallops, and more at Bun 'N Bowl blow them all out of the water. For years, my go-to seasonal place was Pop's Clam Shack. The last few years, the quality has gone downhill--overcooked food, very dry haddock, and last summer I was served clam strips that were basically just crunchy batter. I returned them, and while they did make a new batch, the wait was long, as usual. Strangely enough, the haddock at Pub 23 (run by the same folks) is far better. So it's not about the name--it's about who's in the kitchen. At Bun 'N Bowl, the fish is always perfectly cooked: moist, flaky, with a light, golden-brown batter. The jumbo fried shrimp are awesome, and they offer baby shrimp too. They also serve a full menu of subs--my personal favorites are the pepper steak with onions and the roast beef. You'll find rice bowls, delicious clam chowder, and rotating soups, all made fresh. Their daily specials are worth checking out, and every so often they'll surprise you with something like General Tso's Chicken that rivals any Chinese restaurant. You can find them on Facebook under *Karen's Bun 'N Bowl*, where they post their specials. I highly recommend giving them a try--you won't be disappointed. read more

Bun 'N Bowl - Chicken Tenders - Sandwiches Near Me - Alton, New Hampshire

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Tried for the first time because there are some gluten free options. When I approached the cashier, I announced my food allergies. She said "you are responsible for knowing your own allergens". I said that I know what they are and pointed to the sign instructing me to share them. Note to allergy people: they fry everything in the same fryer including wheat and seafood. They are willing to clean the area if you are very sensitive. They seem to think intolerance isn't as severe as allergies so celiac folks may not feel comfortable here. I ordered the Italian gluten free wrap. I was disappointed that it was entirely ham with one slice of salami (see photo). So it just tasted like a ham sandwich. For the price, I did expect more Italian meats. It tasted alright. My boyfriend got the French dip and said it was alright. read more

Bun 'N Bowl - Gluten free "Italian wrap". All ham except for one piece of salami. - Sandwiches Near Me - Alton, New Hampshire

The food and service were excellent. Huge menu! Love the Buffalo tenders. Awesome batter and plenty of sauce! Fries were fresh and crispy! Smash burger was cooked perfectly. My friend said it was the best chicken, bacon , ranch panini she has ever had. My only tip is to bring your own napkins because what they have will slice your face. Little rough.. read more

Drove by on my way to work in Alton today saw the sign that said bowls and I'm really into them for some reason right now So the boss paid for lunch and this is the spot I chose The inside was very clean The staff were pleasant and friendly The service of food was quick My husband and I were both very impressed with our food There was more than plenty that I took half home he's a man and it filled him up Will recommend read more

I went to Bun n Bowl based on reviews for their seafood, and overall it met my expectations. I ordered the Haddock and Clams (small plate; they called it "lunch" size), which came with fries and Cole Slaw. Haddock was perfect, a good size filet with just the right amount of breading. Clams were whole belly, which most people prefer - but not me. They were a bit too clammy and ocean tasting, with about half having shed their breading altogether. I think many would have thought was that a big plus, but it just reminded me why I usually prefer clam strips (which they don't have). Their tartar sauce was good, and plentiful, and the Cole Slaw was excellent. Cold n creamy, I even drank the leftover liquid! I usually don't eat the slaw but here it was one of the highlights. I'll definitely come back but will get Haddock and Shrimp next time. read more

I would never recommend this place in a million years!!! the service was so bad on multiple occasions with different people. The first time we ever went there I had to wait 10 minutes because they were talking about social media, and I was rudely told to wait the store wasn't even busy! The second time again rude service and acting like I was an inconvenience. Don't ever order a sub from there they will be dry and cold, even if you order a hot sub my husband ordered a Italian sub and all that was in it was ham and it was slimy and when he asked for extra pickles, they were cubes and you could count them in your hand! My sub I ordered a chicken bacon ranch with extra ranch and no veggies, I got chicken, bacon, ranch with veggies, and barely any ranch the chicken was soggy!!! I usually don't make reviews, but I cannot stand this place. I actually had to download this app to make this review because it was so bad and I got treated so terribly. read more

Best fries in town. The mt. Major is one of my go to's. One of the best roast beef sandwiches I've had.

Dropped in to grab two takeout meals, specifically fried clams plate. I was greeted promptly and seeing the daily specials I decided to order two whole belly clams and scallop plates. As usual the clams and scallops were very delicious and a good value. This is definitely the place to go for seafood in Alton Bay at reasonable prices. read more

Consistently excellent lunch options (much broader menu than many spots around the lakes region). No descript interior won't throw fun vibes, but that's okay -- it's just there to turn out good food. Wish the hours were longer (though we respect them being closed on the Lord's Day). read more

Not a surprise anything that these people make is good I recommended highly my fave is Bennett barn. It's hard to get away from that cause it's so good. I definitely will try the clams at one point and just about anything else that I like on that menu. read more

Entry #11 on the Let's Get Take-Out on the Way Home from Work on Friday! Wow! This was a surprise! A Boston-style 3-way in New Hampshire? They did one better by serving it on an amazing roll. I have lingered over the Bun n Bowl menu for weeks now, eyeing the purported 3-way. I doubted this advertisement could be true, since an authentic 3-way is pretty elusive in New Hampshire (shout out to Nick's Place in Raymond, who serves a great one!). While many sandwich shops offer a Roast Beef Sandwich, almost no restaurant has a real 3-way, so I can't be blamed for being skeptical. Bun n Bowl is in a weird little shopping plaza in Alton. There's another restaurant, a dance studio, a laundromat, you get the idea. It is highly unlikely that a real 3-way could be found here. At least I would only be out about ten bucks for my efforts at trying their take on it. The restaurant was empty when I placed my order, but it wasn't quite dinner time. Bun n Bowl also offers chips, soda, and soups. The large menu offerings were displayed above the ordering area. I had such doubts about the existence of my 3-way that I didn't even tear into it on the drive home. Instead, I took care of a few things, mail, laundry, scooping the cat's litterbox, etc. before opening the thing that was wrapped tightly in silver foil. And, yes, I washed my hands first. I peeked under the foil... Oh my goodness.... was it... an actual 3-way?... it looked amazing! I felt bad for neglecting it, so I wrapped it back up and tossed it into the oven, along with some Tater Tots.... man, I am addicted to Tater Tots, but I digress. When I opened my sandwich, it was piping hot and loaded with melty cheese and tender roast beef. It was perfect. And the roll! What is with that? Way too elegant for a 3-way, but I am not going to complain one bit. I ate every last bite. I only wish I had a second one to eat because, as I type this up, I am already craving that delicious cheesy perfect mess! Bun n Bowl also has a million other sandwiches on offer, but why would anyone get anything but their 3-way? read more

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Finally Alton has a sandwich shop worth frequenting. I was a bit thrown off by the name thinking pork buns and ramen but I was pleasantly surprised by the classic sandwiches, salads and seafood. Don't be fooled by this quirky little dive . My very picky son got the chicken parm and raved about the flavor and quality. I got the baby shrimp and french fries. The shrimp was very fresh and the fries were crunchy on the outside and fluffy inside. The prices are good and the portions are generous. This is a great lunch choice. read more

Saw this place located near Ackerly's. It used to be a Subway restaurant. I figured I'd stop by and order some lunch to go. They have a pretty expansive menu. The woman that was at the counter didn't seem to particularly care about me when I walked in. She was a little cold & distant. I didn't take it personally. The food was okay. Similar to something I can make at home. My husband did enjoy his steak and cheese sub. I'd return, though, to try some other options. It's nice to have a place like Bun 'N Bowl for some variety in the Alton area. read more

This place pretty good . It's fast food but but with more of a home cooked feel. The Rueben was tasty. The steak bomb was a delightfully greasy mess. We weren't impressed with the French onion soup. It was overly salty and needed a finer cheese on top. read more

My husband and I went to this business this evening for dinner. We walked in and saw people ordering their meal. As we walked to get in line a woman with short salt and pepper hair asks us if we ordered ahead. We said no and she said we are closed. The person ordering at the counter asked if he should go too and the same woman told him "no you were here before seven". This was the first time my husband and I came to this restaurant together and it is the last time too after the way she talked to us. It was like we should feel bad because we walked in to the restaurant through an unlocked door with customers ordering at the counter. If this lady is not the owner, I hope you learn quickly that treating customers politely goes a long way in a small town. If it was the owner, good luck with that attitude. read more

I recently visited the new Bun 'N Bowl in Alton on a whim while running errands. I split a whole belly fried clam po' boy with my boyfriend and his jaw immediately dropped after finishing the first bite. The clams were lightly battered, not coated in heavy greasy breading, and fried to absolute perfection. The house made remoulade was so flavorful and fresh and added the perfect layer of taste, all complimented by fresh, crisp veggies and soft bread. Their chocolate chip cookies were equally amazing. We will be regulars and highly recommend them to anyone in the area! read more

Bun and Bowl is the best kind of locally owned, hole in the wall, family run restaurant. Offering a wide variety of soups, subs, sandwiches, and salads, there is something here for all your tastes. Everything we've had from these folks has been freshly made and fantastic. The owner and her family are friendly and fun. Always ready with a smile and a kind word, they are quickly developing a devoted fan base in the community and surrounding areas. If you haven't stopped in to try their food yet, you're missing out on an excellent meal at a very reasonable price. I can't recommend this place enough. Stop in and give them a try, your taste buds will thank you. read more

I've been hearing amazing reviews from people in town about Bun 'N Bowl, but............... Atmosphere/Cleanliness. Bun and Bowl is very clean. Front of house is well maintained. No dirt or clutter in sight. Very clean. Atmosphere..... well this is an example of idiocracy at its finest. When you enter. There is a small dinning area to the left with the soda fountain alongside the wall where you order. Then a long counter to which you move to the right to wait for your order. Next to the soda refrigerators. So you have to wait in line next to the soda fountain, and if the line is long it goes through the dinning area. Then if your getting a fountain beverage you either have to push back through the line or do a lap through the very small dinning area with people waiting to fill up your soda. Instead of when you come in. You walk straight, you no like a normal place with common sense. Order, move to your left, get your food fill your drink then walk through the small dinning area and out the door. No congestion and it makes sense. Food/Drink. So food is hit or miss. I ordered the roast beef sandwich. Which when I asked if it was the typical "hot roast beef 3-way with James river sauce" (this is a geographically unique sandwich to the north shore and surrounding Boston communities, and given the amount of Mass transplants it was nice to see on the menu). The person behind the counter not only confirmed but also got excited someone was ordering it and new what it was! Well..... It was not hot, beef was dry and it just sucked. I got super excited and it was a let down. Better to not try then to just phone it in. I've been back several times and it's, ok at best. For the area it's probably the best when it comes to tastiness and quality, but in Alton everything is just "eh" so the little effort is noticeable here. I'd say they are fresher and better then subway, which I think was in this location not long ago. Service. SLOW!!!!!!! CALL YOUR ORDER AHEAD!!!! I've waited over 30 minutes for lunch!!!!! Ridiculously slow! Ordered two wraps (one cold one hot) and two soups. Over 30 minutes waiting!!! It's painfully slow when you walk in. No one in Alton is in a rush and here is a good example. Cost. I'd say on the higher end. Food is ok to good. Portions a little small compared to price. It's close to $20 for a wrap and bowl of soup!!!! Will I be back? Eh it's not my go to, and I'll probably come back do to it being the only descent lunch/sub shop type place in the area. There is a little effort here which you can tell. Unlike a lot of places in Alton or this region where there is zero effort put into any of the establishments. Bun and Bowl at least has tried to step it up. I'm giving them 2 stars. Half a star for food cleanliness, half a star for food quality and a full star for at least they are trying and it's not gross soggy food coming from a dirty place. Which says a lot about this area. I think they definitely can step it up a notch. There's no reason they are not 3-4 stars in my opinion. Just need to work out a few kinks, step up the speed and Feng shui of the business and bring cost to portion size a bit better and they'll get better a review from me! read more

This is what every soup and sandwich place should aspire to. Went for the first time yesterday, and can't wait to go back! I had a tiny cup of "sausage, pepper, & onion" soup as a test of their soups and it was so flavorful and hearty that I didn't even need the grilled Italian panini that came next. But, the sandwich was equally amazing. Everything was so fresh and the warm ingredients were complimented with a cool, light tasting blend of chunks of pickles/onions/etc. in a oil/vinegar/oregano base layered into the sandwich after cooking. The cool mixture was original but felt like an homage to the classic toppings I used to get on an Italian sub as a kid (diced cubes of pickles, etc.--not slices of veggies). Staff is friendly and the space is bright and cozy with casual seating or order your food to go. The menu has something for everyone--classics and new twists (including gluten free and vegetarian), with plenty of options to "build your own" sandwich; but this is no "fast food" soup and sandwich chain experience (you know who I mean). This is fresher, better food in a homey, welcoming space! read more

I finally went to the Bun'N Bowl after my daughter and two adult grandchildren gave it rave reviews. My husband and I both ordered the Reuben sandwich on a grilled rye pannini. We are both lovers of that particular sandwich and I have to say, it was outstanding. The bread was crunchy and perfectly grilled and the fillings were abundant with tender corned beef, Swiss cheese, sourcrout and a delicious dressing. The sandwich was very large but I ate every tasty bit of it. The next time we went for take out we were going to try something else, but we both had the Reuben again, that's how good it is. We will go again soon and eat in this time. My husband wants to try the broccoli cheddar soup, which is his favorite. See you soon Bun'NBowl! read more