Steve&#x27;s Diner

We had the Porchetta and Cubano sandwiches, my son and I shared them and both were equally…read moredelicious for various reasons. The Porchetta heavily relied on the pork and the sear, seasoning and proper cooking of the meat. It pulled apart easily, had a nice thin crust on it and was plenty tender while also juicy. The arugula was a good balance and helped keep the cheese in place. The bread was perfectly toasted and crusty but absolutely fresh like a good hoagie should be. The Cubano had seasonings ON the panini pressed bread that were on point with the rest of the flavor profile of the sandwich. The balance between the mustard, pickles, and seasoned bread accentuated the meat instead of covering it up. Everything tasted and felt incredibly fresh and we look forward to our next stop here when we are in town.

First time visit to this location. And will be our last. Food took 50min from when we ordered…read moreto when it came out. And my dish was lukewarm (noodle bowl) and the other dish was warm but not hot as it should be. The service was not great either. After 30+ min the server apologized for the but offered nothing for us while we waited. So the food finally arrived and the kitchen staff "thank you for your patience" in a very aggressive and kinda annoying tone. In the end I had expected some of the meal to be discounted. But no. Instead was overcharged for the Avacado that never arrived on my wife's dish. The server did take it off. Yeah saved the $3. I did give 3 stars since the food did taste good.

Entryway view. Kids colorings on the wall and funky colored tabletops on the right.

Dining room

Bibimbap

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The Inkwell Coffee House

(12 reviews)

0.7 mi

What a fantastic surprise! The Inkwell is located across from the public lot, through a door and at…read morethe end of a short hallway. The best part is that once you get your order, there's a deck! I ordered the hot Golden Milk, and was really pleased. The shop itself is fresh, clean and with plenty of seating (and outlets)! Looking forward to my next visit!

This spot is in the renovated IOKA and is absolutely adorable! I love how they have an outdoor…read moreseating area that overlooks the river. It's genuinely super cute. And they have free wifi which is great for working remotely. I also would love to say the service is fantastic. I don't know the name of the girl who served us but she was so friendly. And the drinks came out super fast! We got one of the energy drinks and a mocha. The energy drink was really good (very similar to a Rush at aroma joes!) and my dad enjoyed the mocha. But here is my only complaint.... The scones are not great. I think it is nice that they have a wide variety of pastries. But the scone (blueberry white chocolate) was both super dry and overly sweet. I couldn't even finish it. It was honestly reminiscent of crumbl cookies. So if you like sickeningly sweet scones (like the cookies at Crumbl!), then this would be great. I've had scones like this where it is balanced, but I fear this was too much and I probably won't get a scone here the next time I come. Otherwise, this spot is really cute and I highly recommend checking it out!

Look at this whip topping with strawberry shortcake crumb & a sweet candy treat

Owner at register

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Iced s'mores latte, deck

Trackside Cafe

Great staff! You never have to ask for more coffee and the food is delicious. It's a family-owned…read morebusiness where they treat you like a friend and not just another customer.

For Sunday breakfast I stopped by Trackside Cafe. At 10am, a decent line had formed waiting for…read moretables. My friend and I opted for counter seating, which had immediate availability. I ordered the loaded sausage omeletee ($14.99). This came with choice of home fries or beans (I opted for the home fries) and toast (I opted for rye). This arrived w/in 5 minutes of ordering. The portion size seemed reasonable, and everything tasted simple, savory, and homely. I would ask for nothing more at a quiet neighborhood diner (and one attached to a convenience store, at that). Service proved pleasant, with coffee proactively topped up. The waitress offered to fill up a to-go cup of coffee at no extra cost as I settled the bill . As an aside, one of the parties waiting for a table came straight from the Sig store & range. I imagine that events or competitions there would lead to a surge of patrons.

Loaded sausage omelette w/hash & rye bread

Bar in the restaurant

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Front entrance

Sunny Cafe

(7 reviews)

Saturday early afternoon late July. I'm very happy that I tried this place. Bright, happy…read moreatmosphere. Lovely staff. High energy and enthusiasm. Menu above the counter. Breakfast and lunch. The special items...dumplings. Beef chicken or potato (pierogi) with creative tasty sauce and toppings. Also crepes with cinnamon or strawberries etc. Prices are good. Outdoor seating is available. Scones, cinnamon rolls, HONEY CAKE. I will return. Gentlemen: bring your lady and score big points . A gem of a place.

Our first attempt was a fail because the young girls refused to serve me through the order window…read more(which was open), even though I was paying with cash and the register was 5 feet away. I couldn't make sense of this. I came back with a group a few weeks later and tried the crepe. It was fine, nothing special. The coffee cake muffin was fresh and moist but nothing spectacular. We had teas and coffees, all very expensive and passable but not as good as other nearby options. They have dumpling bowls.. I was disappointed that they were so Americanized. No Asian options :-( The service was OK but the staff is immature. Lots of joking and giggling and not enough attention on the job at hand. The outdoor seating area is nice but needs to be cleaned. I watched 2 of the employees sit and gab while ignoring the messes on the ground.

Order counter and menu

Outside

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The Big Bean Kitchen And Bar

3.9

(14 reviews)

My favorite breakfast place in the area. We used to go to their place in Newmarket so were happy…read morewhen they opened here. The food is always great. Lots of vegetarian options. I scrolled through the reviews and agree the stairs are tough but you can go around back to the river side. As for the loud music, I agree on that, but when I asked the waiter to turn it down he did. The staff has always been efficient and friendly.

Their caramel iced coffee is to die for! The menu selection is so big - so many choices. Have been…read moreseveral times and will be back!

The Big Bean Cafe

3.6

(52 reviews)

In town to visit my sister, we went for a walk along the water and stopped for lunch at The Big…read moreBean. The atmosohere/decorations are what i would call "artsy/eclectic." Very nicely done. I would have taken some photos but we were in mid-conversation and i didn't want to pause to fish out my ohone. The service was fast and friendly and our food was delivered fairly quickly. We both got different versions of their smash burger and they were delicious! Very flavorful! There was some sort of seasoning added pre-, mid-, or post-grilling that added flavor without being overpowering. The meals were served with nicely-seasoned home fries, that were also outstanding. Props to Ash, who was a knowledgeable and helpful server.

The ambiance was very hipster and unique! Multi color Christmas lights strung all over the place…read more The food was good, everything made fresh. The potato chips and fries were good! The chicken sandwich was good and had an abundance of flavors that exploded in my mouth. The service was basics. No refills on our water was offered. The waitress was friendly but not very attentive. It is a local small business that you should try if ever in the area. Check out my photos too!

Plain Jane plus bacon, minus the cheese and veggies

Restaurant shot

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Thirsty Moose Taphouse - Exeter

These folks are really nice. Great local spot with good food and a chill vibe. Food was tasty and…read morenice draft selections.

Just got back into town and stopped in for something different and a cold drink around 3:20 in the…read moreafternoon. The parking lot was only about a quarter full, so it definitely wasn't busy. We were told to take any table since they were all clean. As the server handed us menus, she noticed the table actually wasn't clean, apologized, and wiped it down. No problem--things happen. Unfortunately, from that point on we were completely ignored. For more than 15 minutes no one came to our table, even though servers walked nearby several times. Meanwhile, people who came in after us were getting drinks and placing orders. Rather than make a scene, we simply left. If the place had been busy or short-staffed we would understand, but that didn't appear to be the case. Being ignored like that is unacceptable. Hopefully this was just a fluke and not the new norm.

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The Old Salt Restaurant at Lamie's Inn

EVERYTHING! Food is great and always consistent! Quick wonderful staff and service!…read moreNever had a bad experience, with dine in or out!! One of the best quality vs quantity restaurants around!!

Ambience. Send credits to nieces and nephews for awesome…read moredates anniversaries! Spend time in fireplace dining room.

Wrap and onion rings with a Blood Mary. Mary was ok they need a better mix. Onion rings are delicious

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Me & Ollie's

Nice little shop within Exeter…read more The moment you walk-in, there's a nice warm and cozy feeling of being at home. The counter is filled with treats. All too tempting to have. I got a 20oz. Chai Latte. Make sure you let them know if you want hot because they default to cold. I love the warm and rich Chai flavor in this breezy November weather. My daughter and I shared the lentil soup and turkey havarti sandwich. It tasted really good. The sandwiches are warm straight from the grill. The soup is rich and full of flavor. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. I like this atmosphere.

I don't understand all the crappy reviews. I had not been here in years and was in dire need of a…read morequick sandwich while in Exeter. Almost skipped it after seeing the general rating. First of all, the place was mobbed and people seemed to be happily eating. The line was quick. I ordered the "veritable veggie" sandwich ($9.95 w/chips) and the peach passionfruit iced tea. Both came fast and were excellent. Bread was fresh and veggies were crisp. Noise wasn't too bad except for a semi-rude couple on their phones who thought we needed to hear their conversations. But all in all a fine experience. Need to go 5 starts to improve upon the poor ratings!

About a third of the interior.

Lentil soup

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Sea Dog Brewing

Visiting my sister, she took me here to help me (celebrate?) (commemorate?) (mourn?) (come to grips…read morewith?) my 65th birthday. Located in an historic storefront and waterfront building, the Sea Dog has a classic seacoast vibe. Part of a New England chain I would love to further explore, this location is considered a "go to" for lunch or drinks. I am told the outside dining area is awesome. It was cold and snow-covered, so I could only look out the windows. Naturally, I got a burger and fries, which was phenomenal. The service was quick and friendly. Since it was my sister's treat, I didn't notice the prices. I MUST return when the weather is nice, so we can dine outside!

We tried Sea Dog with some friends for a lunch and had a good time. Pleasant hostess and waitress…read moreand comfortable dining room, there is a nice option for outdoor seating with a view of the river when weather cooperates. The menu is standard pub fare, and about what we expected. Friends enjoyed their meal, sandwiches and burgers were nice. I tried a french onion soup which was really average, as well as the bar pretzel (which turned out to be pretzel bites). I felt nothing exceeded my expectations. That said, overall a good choice when in Exeter.

Our Sky Room is perfect for any event you have coming up!

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Enjoy our awesome atmosphere!

OTTO

3.7

(114 reviews)

0.7 mi

We get pizza & Greek salads pretty frequently. The typical order is latge cheese old skool. It is…read morevery reliable and always great. I do think it is better in person than take out, that frsh puping to the table is the best. My experiences have all been good whether, picking up, sitting outside or inside.

Really cool spot for a quick bite and drink right in the center of exeter. The pizza was really…read moregood and the drinks were professional. Forgot to mention the staff were awesome.

Basic cheese pizza or soggy piece of dough

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10 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Sharon K.

10 years ago

Been there done that won't do it again ! I'm tired of going there only and watching kids eat the butter, the jelly, drink the little creams, play with the sugar packets . I spoke with the owner and she didn't give a crap! She said their only kids and I would lose customers if I asked their parents to stop them from this nasty behavior. But what about the other customers who can't stand to watch this shit right next to them. Because if this kid can't get another jelly to eat he's going to throw a fit and out the door I go. It's all about keeping that customer happy ! If you happen to stop by this place be sure to check your condiments before you use them because little Sally has probably already played with them with the owner consent !! And if you decide to stay tip the waitress big time because she's the one who has to deal with cleaning up after Sally's play time at Steve's. Shame on the owners for not taken a stand on this matter. read more

Lungo S.

11 months ago

I'm taking my boat out today on a beautiful Labor Day off of work, I decided uhhh how about I take a trip down to good ol fashion Steve'sssss diner for breaky. what's my boat you ask? Well it's a 14ft game fisher with a 1988 35hp mercury outboard engine. This thing goes fast, it goes WAPPP WAPPP WAPPPP. Yeah it's cool, what's also cool is Steve's country Benedict with a large choccy milk. So darn tootin good that my ballz reminded me of what I hope my engine doesn't do. Blown up. My balls were absolutely blown off. They got blown off all the way into the Exeter river. My balls are now big 60" cow striped bass food!!!! I hope Mitchy Donga catches that fish, cause I need my ballz back. But uhhhh yeah Steve's diner, more like this place is so good my ballz are blown off diner, hah, yeah, exactly. 10/10 would recommend to anyone that's not afraid of their ballz being blown off. Great work friends -Lungo read more

Karen G.

13 years ago

I won't go to this restaurant anymore, although my husband breakfasts there once a week with a friend, regular as clockwork. Exeter really really really needs a restaurant like this one, but I can't stand the wait service. It was bad enough last time we went there for dinner, I swore I'd never go back. Slow, borderline rude, totally off-putting, which I don't find amusing at all, believe me. And on top of that, the food is exceedingly ordinary. read more

Steve J.

9 years ago

Stopped for lunch while in town on business. Typical not too fancy Diner but clean. Staff helpful and prompt. Had Greek style salad with gyro meat. Large portion, meat was tender and nicely seasoned. Included stuffed grape leaves which were a bonus and very good. All at a very reasonable price. read more

Lisa C.

3 years ago

Went to breakfast with a friend yesterday, and had Tammi as our server. The food was delicious and the service was awesome. She was fast, efficient and fun! We will be back!! read more

Carole N.

15 years ago

We stopped in for breakfast this past fall. The food was excellant. We will be down this month on the 18th again for breakfast.

derek s.

13 years ago

Great breakfast, especially the homemade corned beef hash. Very inexpensive, and a very nice staff.

Ray W.

7 years ago

Fast, friendly service and hearty, tasty portions. Been here a few times and it never disappoints.

Franky B.

11 years ago

Steves diner is awesome, I love it, Go there every Saturday !!!

Randy H.

14 years ago

Great breakfast, service, and price.

Steve's Diner - diners - Updated August 2026

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Stopped in for a late breakfast today and was pleasantly surprised. My K-bomb omelette with hash…read morebrowns arrived at warp speed (they were winding down but still nice to get food fast and hot near closing time). Quiet dinner with a down home feel. My waitress was very friendly and made sure to check back with me. Two small things that make this visit a 4.5. First while my omelette was well made the kielbasa was so finely chopped it could have been ham. Perhaps better left chunky so we know it's sausage? Second, I like to have a little peanut butter with my toast even with an extra charge. But they were all out. I'm going to go for five stars because of the service and the food arrived hot and fast. A very good breakfast for the cost (about $17 with tax). And about that home made hash? Definitely on my list for my next visit!

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Irish Benny was the highlight of breakfast--really well done. The hash browns were crispy and…read moreflavorful, but the home fries were just okay. The breakfast sandwich was on the dry side and could have used a little more moisture. The dining room was also pretty noisy, our table was sticky when we sat down, and that took away from the experience. Good food in parts, but a few details kept it from being a great breakfast.

The Big Bean Kitchen And Bar

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The Brunch Club

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This was our first visit on the recommendations of my son. We ordered house coffee, a mimosa…read moreflight, side of corn beef hash, the egg Sammie, and a southern scramble. We really enjoyed the flight with peach, pineapple, blood orange and strawberry. Everything was delicious and prepared exactly as one would expect. Our server was both friendly and knowledgeable of everything we inquired about. A great experience through and through. We really appreciated the elevated level of table presence and the clean setup of the dining area.

My husband and I came here for brunch during our vacation in New Hampshire, and we loved it here…read more We ordered breakfast burrito and build your own breakfast, and they were delicious! There was a charming ambience here and we enjoyed a lot. The staff were so attentive, welcoming and professional. I also appreciate that they give healthcare workers and veterans 10% off. It was such a lovely experience here and we highly recommend it!

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Quaint little spot on the main drag with tables on the periphery, glass-covered baked goods in the…read morecenter, and a fireplace warming things. The blueberry muffins would have caught my eye even if I hadn't come for one already. Blueberry Muffin: Dense, wobbly, moist but not saturated, light angel cake flavor, numerous blueberries of good size, but not bulbous. Crunch in the crown from just the right amount of coarse sugar sprinkles, but no crispness in the overhang. Uniform pillowy soft texture throughout. Very good muffin. Coffee: Hot, medium bold flavor, and refills from your server. Service: Exceptionally good. Outstanding first impression. Looking forward to trying the homemade donuts and some traditional non-bakery breakfast items.

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You know when you walk into a place and you know there's a bunch of locals and you don't fit in…read more.. And you're always trying to get the waitress's attention.. this isn't one of those places. Yes it is a local place. Complete with cards and games and people knowing each other by the first name. But when we came in we were greeted right away given a nice table and the service was fantastic. To give you an example, I asked for mayonnaise that my wife forgot and it was there before I could get back to the table. We had some pretty simple food here. A couple of cheeseburgers with fries.. really loved how they did the fries. The cheeseburgers were thick and you could tell they weren't pre-made. Really makes the place is the friendly staff.. very attentive and right on the ball. Okay this is five stars but it's a hamburger and pizza place with a lot of locals.. it's five star because the people make it that way. We'll be back to try the pizza!

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