The moment I stepped into the Shovel Handle pub, I knew it was perfect for our reception. My husband and I both wanted something different. We didn't want to have our reception in a function room that could have been anywhere. The other places all looked the same, a wide open room with sketchy carpet and round banquet tables. They were wedding reception factories. The Shovel Handle was perfect. The old barn is quintessential Jackson with gorgeous post and beam, high ceilings and unique charm. For food we chose the Brandy Apple Chicken and Prime Rib. Both were delicious. The chicken bruchetta was also a huge hit. We got loads of compliments from our guests about the food. The Shovel Handle Pub is part of the Whitney Inn. We filled the inn with our guests and had the run of the place for the entire weekend. Everyone felt comfortable and had great things to say about the rooms. The best thing about the experience at the Whitney/Shovel Handle was the staff. When I arrived at the inn two days before the wedding I was in the thick of a killer flu. Susan, the on site wedding coordinator, made sure I had tea right away and was very attentive. My flu continued to the next day and the inn keepers, Joyce and Don, helped me locate the closest pharmacy. On my wedding day I was no better. I was a sick bride but the wedding was so great no one even noticed. The staff made the night spectacular for the guests. read more

Shovel Handle Pub - Me dancing at my wedding - with the flu. - Pubs Near Me - Jackson, New Hampshire

I really wish the food and service was better. The atmosphere was AMAZING. We arrived right when they opened and the host was overwhelmed and for some reason kept checking her phone. A waitress came and helped her (the restaurant was empty with only two parties waiting to be seated) Our waitress seemed to be annoyed with every aspect of her job. The food was was uneventful. On a side note we tried going here on two other occasions. One time we called to see when they opened was told 4, arrived at 4:30 and was then told 5. On another occasion we stopped in to see if we could get a takeout and was told they didn't have a takeout license (which doesn't exist in NH) We live locally and hope this review will encourage the owners to make some changes, as we would love to come back. read more

Fun upbeat bar and restaurant. Music was great and the prices were reasonable. I would return and maybe stay here on my next visit.

I found this place by searching nearby restaurants on yelp and so glad I stopped by. I was greeted by friendly staff and the service continued to be delightful through out the meal. The pulled pork nachos were spectacular. The chips were unlike any other. They are flour tortilla chips made in house. The chicken cordon blue and fried fish sandwhich were prepared perfectly. Even the tartar sauce had something extra mixed in. I was too full to even think about enjoying one of their tempting desserts. If only this was closer to home read more

Shovel Handle Pub - Pubs Near Me - Jackson, New Hampshire

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My sisters wedding was there this past weekend and what a good time. The reception dinner and party was here at the Shovel Handle Pub. The food was great and the service was right on point. The bar staff was equally as good, handled a packed house with no wait for a drink, A+. read more

Best restaurant!! Great food and service. Anyone who says it isn't good, they don't know good food or atmosphere. So kind and have been going for more than 15 years. Amazing!! We know the people who work here and they are so kind! read more

Our first time here. My in laws have been there a few times and suggested we try. We went on the music night and sat upstairs. The barn feel is very traditional New England feel with the white lights strung adding a really nice feel. We ordered the small house salad appetizer with balsamic cream dressing. The only complaint was the dressing was way too acidic, was hard to finish but getting the dressing on the side meant we could moderate. For the main course I ordered their steak special with parmesan frites and my wife ordered the boiled dinner. My wife said it was the best she had ever had. My steak special was salty from the rub that was used but tender. For desert we split the brownie Sunday. A must go. We will go back and is now on a must do list when we come every year to Jackson. read more

Saw this on Yelp and decided to give it a try. So very glad we did!! Service was outstanding, food was amazing!!! I had our server Sara choose for me and she did great, bringing the Panko crusted haddock sandwich. Best I have ever had!!! My daughter who is 10 was very comfortable there, watching the horses graze! Great atmosphere with very nice gentleman playing the guitar as some of us sang along now and then (to the best of our ability, good thing we weren't singing for tips). I will continue to go back to this place, it was the best dining experience u have ever had in the Conway area!!! Great job to everyone there, chef, servers, bartender!! You guys are AMAZING!!!! read more

I love the look of this place but they need to up their game on serving good, hot food and providing a friendly atmosphere. Last night's hostess was less than friendly and apparently neglected to tell a waitress that we were at a table. We watched as other tables were seated and their drink orders taken while we sat for 15 minutes with no contact. Hostess was made aware of her error by the kind folks sitting next to us who were watching in disbelief. When our waitress appeared, she was apologetic and gave us a free round of drinks - much appreciated! As for the food, it was okay but not great. Mashed potatoes were lukewarm and kinda stiff. Kids loved the adult Mac and cheese. Ribs were tasty. Hope they fix the problem with the front end. A smiling hostess would be a good start..... read more

Great dinner. Live musician was amazing. Beautiful romantic decor. Three story post and beam barn. Extra tips for staff running up and down those stairs! read more

Shovel Handle Pub - Pubs Near Me - Jackson, New Hampshire

We had an awful experience at Shovel Handle and it was due to the hostess and manager on duty. The hostess made a mistake and,instead,of,doing the right thing she was rude, inconsiderate and disrespectful. She actually called one of,our group members a name to her face. The restaurant is absolutely,beautiful and we had heard nothing but raves about the food. So sad that we had this experience. After waiting more than an hour for a table, when several were open, we went to another restaurant. Another group that had also been waiting actually showed up at the other restaurant after they were not seated either. I know your a popular restaurant but you should really look closely at your hostess and manager. Not good. read more

The best chicken pot pie I have ever had! Love the cozy atmosphere, service, music and food! Excellent!

Great dinner...The service good and pleasant hostess very nice. Live entertainment as this is a pub where after skiers go .Because attached to hotel there are families as well and the atmosphere is ok for children.. read more

Got there at 4:45, seated swiftly, hour wait for food. Place smells like sulfur, odd. Would look past it but food was overdone and not good. Go to Moat, Tuckermans, Mollys, or Dairy Queen. One and done here. read more

I was introduced to this restaurant a few years ago by friends that are locals and when the locals recommend something, you know it has to be good! I can't even count how many times I have eaten here but it is A LOT and I have never been disappointed. It is consistently awesome. I usually stick to what I know once I fall in love with a meal so I pretty much toggle between the fish sandwich and the steak tips. The fish sandwich is breaded in panko breadcrumbs and is fabulous. The steak tips are marinated in something yummy and always come out cooked the way I ask for them to be. The caesar salad is a good addition to any meal too. Everyone that works there is really nice and you can tell that they are happy to be there and make sure that you enjoy yourself and your meal. Aside from the food and the staff, the ambiance is amazing too. The barn is just beautiful and the view of Black Mountain and the horses grazing is just spectacular. Whether you go in the winter or the summer, it is beautiful. If you are lucky enough to go on a night when they have entertainment, you are in for another treat as well. I have seen some really talented musicians play there. Also, if you are looking for a wedding venue in that area you should definitely check this place out. I was lucky enough to be a guest at a wedding and I can't think of a more beautiful spot. Everyone had a great time! read more

Sorry Mary Rose maybe it was just the night! We got to the pub around 7:30 on Friday night and there were more staff than customers which really surprised me. Our waitress just seemed uninterested in us and to be honest if it was not for one of the other waitress stopping by to say hello I don't think our waitress would have even take our order. We ordered the seafood chowder that came in a coffee mug and was bland with no taste. The chicken wings were tasty but we decided to skip dinner especially with the poor service. The atmosphere itself seemed pretty cool we were just put off by the waitress. read more

Went to the shovel handle the other day for the first time and had a great time. The beer selection was all local brews (weird that the menu only called out the brewery name and not the actual beer being served). We got wings for the appetizer and they were actually excellent and just 25 cents each. For dinner we got the veggie Mac and cheese as well as the shrimp scampi pizza. Both we liked a lot. We wish the place was open on Saturdays but when they are open we will be glad to stop by again for dinner and drinks. read more

Attempted to go here for dinner on a Friday night. The staff at the front desk were not at all friendly and there was a really rank smell right around that area of the room. Not sure if it was the food or the room itself. The music was also incredibly loud, to the point of not being able to have a normal conversation. Combined that with a wait that was over an hour and we left. Not worth the waiting, especially since there wasn't anyplace to stand or sit while waiting. read more

Perfect spot to apres. Live music, good selection of local brews, and a killer nachos and the post and beam barn is a nice touch too. The atmosphere is as relaxed as the skiing over at Black Mountain. The Staff is accomodating and pleasant. Even if we're not going to ski Black Mountain, we'll go back to Apres there later. read more

We wandered in to the Shovel Handle after looking around for a place to watch the big AFC championship meltdown of 2013. Any place with seats near a television was packed. We put our name in and headed downstairs to the hangout area, comfy couches, tables, and a big tv with the pre-game on. As we waited for a table the waitress came around and got us, and the 10 or so other people downstairs, drinks and apps. With the game about to begin the hostess and our waitress offered to let us all stay downstairs and watch and have our meals delivered down to us. AWESOME. They could read the situation and adjusted accordingly, great flexibility on the staff's part. The service was fast, efficient, and friendly. I had the Shepard's Pie which was incredibly tasty, my husband had the Ribs which were also good. They have a good beverage selection, as a cider fan, it would have been nice to have a cider on tap but they carried Woodchuck 802, which was great. I would recommend this place to anyone and will go there again and again when I'm in the White Mountains. You won't be blown out of the water with the food but it is better than most pubs and the atmosphere is great. read more

We found this off the beaten path pub and wanted to try something new. Our party of six really enjoyed the spinach artichoke dip. Entrees were excellent including my blackberry ribs. Tiramisu is to die for! We'll definitely be back. read more

ive tried to dine at this establishment on 3 separate occasions, all of which hours were clearly posted online that the restaurant was open. All 3 times, the restaurant was pitch black and closed. absolute bottom of the barrel, poor customer service on their behalf. Severely disappointed and will never try to dine at this establishment again. read more

Went here over the weekend. It was busty. But thankfully we arrived at a good time and only waited a few mins. Our waitress was nice,. They had Moat Mtn porter on draft- delish! The atmosphere was great. It was a little chilly however. It was loud and fun, with a band/musician playing throughout the evening. Our food did not take too long, considering the full room of diners. I had the burger, which was good and the way I ordered it. Overall it was a pleasant experience and I'd go again, if in the area read more

Service was poor to non-existent. Food, once it came out, was warm at best and not all that good. The only bright spot was listening to the good music by Tom Dean. Would suggest the pub only for music, beer and maybe nachos. read more

We had a rehearsal dinner here for the wedding of good friends of ours, and walked away quite full and quite pleased. The food was good, the service impeccable, and the live music for the evening was solid. The setting, however, is the best bit - multilevel, entirely made of wood, open, cozy and smelling of hay and wood and sunshine. Perfect place for a good dinner date, a hoedown or a wedding rehearsal dinner. I bet the apres-ski is solid, too. Recommended. read more

Rustic but very charming little pub located right next to Black Mountain which of course is the perfect place for the post skiing scotch. These guys concoct an awesome plate of nachos large enough to feed a small nation. The bar area is tiny but cozy while the larger dining area with the view of the mountain had a roaring fire. Prices are fair, the staff welcoming and the atmosphere just perfect after a hard day on the slopes. read more

Was the photographer at a wedding here recently and I really enjoyed the venue. The food was very good, I had the Steak Tips. The steak was perfectly cooked and very flavorful. The staff were very friendly and the manager also was very helpful and made the experience very good. Located next to the Whitney Inn, the Shovel Handle Pub is a great place to celebrate an event. read more

Delicious food! We enjoy it every time we go. Ribs and salmon cooked just right. Waitress very cheerful!

Jonathan Sarty's live performance was great! The music added a great dynamic to a filling weekend family dinner.

This place is one of my favorites spots for dinner in the Jackson area. The food is always constantly Good and the atmosphere is Awesome!!

Cold fish and the homemade pasta Bolognese with shaved parmesan was unexceptional at best, and came with no parmesan. When I asked for some I was given a jar of congealed Kraft.....when I gave the jar to the passing hostess and asked for something more closely resembling "cheese", she conferred with the wait staff, there was a lot of murmuring and shrugs, and then brought it back saying that's what they had. A minute or two later the (apparently) youngest waitress came by and asked if it was shaved parmesan I wanted -- "ummm, yeah....call me crazy but I'd prefer that to the rancid green can stuff....not to mention it's what the menu said I would get!" But hey, what makes a really great dinner is much less the food then the company and conversation, right? At the Shovel Handle, not so much. The self-indulgent crooner playing a guitar was so loud that even placing our order was a struggle, let alone enjoying each other's company. And a break between sets for some welcome respite? No such luck. On a positive note, the old post and beam construction is really great, so if you can neither hear nor taste, you should definitely check it out!..... read more

They say you cant eat atmosphere but you sure can enjoy it! Outstanding Apres Ski and Very Good food.

Went with friends here over Moat Mountain brewery. Good choice. Had the pork nachos and they were a treat. Homemade chips (not ur everyday tortilla nacho) dry pulled pork and excellent mix of tomatoes, onions and jalapeños. Also ordered a pulled pork sandwich with yam fries. Sandwich had too much sauce, and disguised the pork flavor, which was disappointing bc the pork on the nachos were flavorful. We showed up around 5 and the place was empty but quickly filled up as story land closed at 6. read more

The food, music and atmosphere are the reason this place gets 5 stars. The only small negative comment I could make would be with our timid waitress. read more

Really 5 star for scenery, solid 4 for food. Gorgeous place with decent menu choices. Can't find a nicer location and this is a great old barn with charm and style. Off the beaten path but go once and you'll be coming back for more..... read more

Lovely Pub set in an old barn. The food was pretty good.. I ordered the broccoli mac n cheese and my boyfriend ordered the duck. He was over joyed with his meal. My only complaint was the area where we were sitting was very cold... We actually put our winter hats on! Had we been sitting in the upstairs bar area, we would have been much warmer. read more

A great find nestled in the mountains near the Black Mountain ski area. The restaurant is in a converted barn with cozy lighting and of course a moose head on the wall. We had read about the pulled pork nachos and they were absolutely right - fabulous! I ordered the chicken risotto special it was good, but a bit dry. My husband's stuffed shells with mushrooms was great. They also have. Kids menu for those with less adventurous tastes. To top it off, we had the apple crisp and chocolate cake for dessert. Excellent! read more

Have eaten here many times and never reviewed. The pulled pork nachos are the best! They aren't offered on the menu anymore (beef nachos now), but the staff and kitchen is accommodating and still made them when I requested it. Delicious bourbon street steak tips too! Definitely a go to place if you want yummy food and live entertainment. read more

Ate there over the past weekend. Ambiance is really cool - It's an old barn convert with white Christmas lights adding to the decor. There is sometimes live music, which was the case when we were there. Food was great. The spinach and artichoke dip appetizer was good, it had a bit of a different flavor than others i've had but it was good. The steak tips were awesome - great cuts of meat with a savory marinade char-grilled. I'm accustomed to some great tips in the greater boston area - Newbridge Cafe, Sonny Noto's, etc. These tips were right up there, if not better. The burger was made from good quality beef and tasty - not the Sysco/Foodservice frozen burgers most places serve. It is a little pricy for the area and the portions on the steak tips could have been larger. Other than that, great food and atmosphere. I'm not sure what's up with the other negative reviews here. I was a little scared off by them before going, but I would have no problem recommending! read more

I have been coming up to Jackson for 30 years and I have been going to the Shovel Handle a couple of times every winter, so I was worried that the place had changed because of such bad reviews recently. It hasn't, it's a beautiful old barn with good food. We were there on a Thursday night at 7 and got one of the last tables, so there is a good crowd. We started with the half order of the Nachos, they were the best nachos I have ever had! I had the Rachael Panini and it was really good, my husband had the New England pot roast and there wasn't a speck left on his plate. My girlfriend had the Haddock and veggies and said she loved it. Our Waitress Elizabeth was great, she helped us when we couldn't decide between dinners, she was very attentive and our food came out fast and hot. I think the bad reviews were during school vacations and the restaurant was slammed as was every place in the valley. I would give bit of advice, don't go to a restaurant up here at 5:30 -7:30 (8ish) during vacation because everyone tries to get there early. The restaurants clear out by 8-8:30. read more