Delightful absence of heavy red sauces, Festina Lente offers seafoods in the Northern coastal…read morestyle. I ordered Bucatini and clams which came in a white wine sauce, using little neck clams. A fond recollection of the Quohogs I grew up with, this dish featured the smaller, differently flavored version ( Little Necks) with similar texture. The hospitality was great, offering knowledgeable info regarding their wines, cheeses, and their origins. A small, comfy place where everything is custom cooked, this is a perfect place for late lunch early dining with lovely company for good conversation. Extremely popular don't wait too late to get in!

We went here for our anniversary dinner…read more We started off with a wine and a beer. Our server made us aware that they were out of a couple of things. It was a deal breaker for us, so we decided to go somewhere else. They explained to us that they are a scratch kitchen. We just had bad luck on timing and them selling out of some popular items. The service we received was fantastic. 2 people were tag teaming hosting, bar tending, and serving. The guy and gal made a great team.

Went for an anniversary dinner, food was delicious. Service was lackluster. Evening started great…read morebut spiraled from there. My SO went to the restroom and the bartender asked me if we were celebrating anything and I told her it was our 7 year anniversary, she mentioned bringing something out for us, unexpected but appreciated. Meatball appetizer along with an appetizer size portion of a pasta dish, and the smoked duck small plate. All very good. From there it went downhill. Neither bartender checked in for about 30 minutes while we waited for our main course. Espresso rubbed duck was very flavorful and delicious. After the main nothing was brought out, so at that point I was a little frustrated so we went on our way. Food was great, service started good but then disappeared. Definitely would not return for an occasion.

I've dined at Restaurant Massimo many times, and it never disappoints. The food is consistently…read moreexcellent, and this evening's service was truly outstanding. Our waitress was exceptionally knowledgeable--not only about the menu, but also the wine list. Service at Massimo is always strong, but she genuinely stood out and elevated the entire dining experience. We started with the corkscrew pasta with wild mushrooms, finished with a delicate touch of shaved truffles. It was absolutely delicious--the sauce was light, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. It works beautifully as either an appetizer or a main course. For entrées, the pan-seared cod was as impressive as it was visually appealing--perfectly cooked and full of flavor. The veal was also excellent. Their veal saltimbocca offers a slightly different and very enjoyable twist; instead of the traditional sherry, it's prepared with Marsala wine, giving the dish a subtly sweeter and richer flavor profile. I also highly recommend the arancini. You receive two per order, and they're outstanding--crispy on the outside and rich and satisfying inside. The atmosphere at Restaurant Massimo is both relaxing and romantic, making it an ideal spot for a special night out or an intimate dinner. Consistently great food, exceptional service, and a warm, inviting ambiance keep me coming back.

Have TO GO HERE! Have you been? The best shop for premium Italian food and treats! GO GO GO, make…read morethe trip. Try the pasta salads, the pizza slices and the dinners prepared are delicious. Love the cozy space and the easy layout. Delish!

Extremely friendly staff ,wonderful greeting ,great service, and fabulous assortment of food!…read moreI got the Autumn soup. With the toasted Orzo salad! Can't wait to go back!

Great atmosphere, good and great experience. Had the mushroom pizza and calamari. The tiramisu is…read moresome of the best. Samantha was one of the best servers and I look forward to having the chicken parm some Sunday soon! Don't forget to have the gelato and olive oil treat before you leave! Nice touch.

First the pros: the ambiance was pleasant. The wait staff was friendly. The prices weren't…read moreunreasonable. The cons: the food was on par with diner / pub fare. Not really that good. The menu looked quite appealing, but the food upon delivery was meh, at best. My wife's food arrived a full 15 MINUTES before mine was brought out. And then we both waited another 5 minutes before they brought us knives to cut our food. I had the pork Milanese which had obviously been overcooked in old fry oil. It was burnt and barely edible. My wife had the carbonara flatbread, which was cold by the time my food arrived. Their espresso Martini, while taste was acceptable, was barely larger than a shot glass. And the gelato after dinner was, I assure you, NOT gelato. Well, not gelato to anyone who's actually been to Italy, or anywhere in Europe. The dining experience overall was only made pleasant by the company and the friendly wait staff. The food sucked. In a town full of excellent restaurants, this is not one of them.

My wife was visiting a friend near by and my brother in law recommended we go here for pizza…read more Well it was a good recommendation for many reasons. First one was that there is plenty of parking. And plenty of outdoor seating for when the weather allows that. When we first got in the hostess told me it would be about 10 minutes, but we were welcome to sit and look at the menu till they called us for the table. It was only a 5 minute wait and at first I was surprised we couldn't just be served at the large high table at the entrance where we were seated and waiting which looked like it was for several parties or even one large party, but even when we were leaving that table was empty so I guess they either save it for a very large party or just for people to sit at while they wait for their table like we did. Either way we didn't wait long so that didn't bother me as I thought it might at first. When we were seated, service was extremely fast, so fast that at first I thought they just want us out. :p but they are just that good. And our waitress brought me my soda without ice which many servers forget and would get me a refill before I was even done with the soda and even asked if we wanted water as soon as we sat and bright us some. When the food arrived (which as I mentioned was extremely fast even though the place was packed), everything was amazing. We started with shrimp and the Brie which were in the specials. Shrimp was fresh and you could really tell, and the Brie had a nice assortment of apple slices, almond slices, bread and cranberries making it feel like you were also having a healthy meal with your pizza and fried food :p. We had the truffle mushroom pizza and the only complaint my mother had was that it had onions and rocket which she didn't like on the pizza, but that was her fault for not reading it on the menu as we could have easily just asked for it not to have that. She just saw truffle, mushrooms and ricotta cheese and said im having that. Which was what I wanted too but I was ok with everything else too. Well we both enjoyed it and I even took the left over pizza to have for dinner later :). I don't live nearby, but it is a place I would recommend to others who go by there and when we come near here again I know where to go eat if I'm in the mood for pizza. The only complaint is that it was too loud for us, almost felt like a sports bar without the sports tvs playing everywhere, however they do have take out as well, so you do have that option too if you live nearby.

Made a pit stop here on our way to Portland. We'd come here years ago for just the bakery so wanted…read moreto check out the pizzeria after seeing so many great reviews. Plenty of lot parking so that's always a plus. We walked in on Friday for lunch and it was fairly full but we were seated quickly and orders taken. Very rustic ambience and service was quick. Unfortunately, the food was just ok and didn't knock my socks off. We ordered the Brussel sprouts, pork belly steam buns and the margherita pizza. Brussels were fried nicely but the ginger sesame sauce was very strong and I would probably preferred the sauce on the side. Pork belly buns were just ok as well. We were here for the pizza so were excited to try it - pizza unfortunately was just ok as well. Food is subjective and always based on preference so please take this review with a grain of salt - pizza was a bit doughier than I'd like - I prob should've asked for it to be well done if even possible and the sauce tasted heavy on the oregano - not something I'm a big fan of. All in all - not bad but not great. I just had such high expectations - maybe a different pizza might've changed my mind. But def don't skip out on going next door to try some samples and get some bread - the bread is amazingly delicious.

The three of us headed to the Rosa a few Sunday afternoons ago for an early dinner…read more Apparently the Rosa has been in business in Portsmouth NH for almost 100 years, which is pretty nuts. New ownership recently took over and updated the interior and the menu. Here's what we ordered: Meatball appetizer- Excellent, would definitely order again. Also came with a complimentary basket of house focaccia which was exceptionally good! For mains- The house lasagna al la bolongese--solid and of a generous portion, and, two of us shared a special of Cacio e Pepe pasta with steak tips, which was really good. For dessert we all dug into warm brownie with ice cream which was 100% We all hope to return to the Rosa, there are also several wonderful shops along the street walkable from the Rosa.

Good experience - very friendly service, the bread & oil to start was delish! We got the chicken…read moreparm and carbonara and really enjoyed both! Would come back

Great atmosphere, though it can feel a bit chilly if you're seated near the windows. The service…read morewas excellent, and our server was very knowledgeable about both the menu and the wine list. Everything we ordered tasted fantastic. That said, both the pappardelle and the ravioli were a bit heavy on the sauce. While the sauces were delicious, they slightly overwhelmed the pasta and distracted from the delicate flavors of the lobster. The standout entrée was the braised short rib. It was incredibly tender and packed with rich, savory flavor. The drinks were excellent, and dessert was the perfect finish. The pistachio cheesecake was absolutely outstanding. Added note: I ordered the Caesar salad...I was asked if I wanted anchovies. I did, the server said nothing about an additional charge for the anchovies and I didn't look on the bill. If they do charge for anchovies knock one star off this review. One other reviewer claimed they charged extra for anchovies. A traditional Caesar comes with anchovies! If they're charging extra; that's just wrong. Nowhere on the menu does it say extra for anchovies. Bon appétit

As first time customers celebrating a very special anniversary & milestone everything was top notch…read morefrom the glow of the fire when walking in to how we were greeted. The perfect seat, friendly & accommodating waitress & as they say "hostess with the mostest" and we haven't even had the cocktails or food yet. The drinks made to perfection & the food delicious & hot. The extra effort that is shown in this family owned restaurant shines. Our new favorite restaurant in Portsmouth. Coming from NY this is the best of the best.

I honestly am not sure where to start and end with my wife and l anniversary dinner at Cava this…read moreevening. My wife and I have close to or more than 1000 dining experiences in our time together. If Cava wasn't the best overall, it was an extremely close second. Our server Dan was awesome from start to finish. On point, Attentive, professional, and exceeded expectations on every level. Cava is a very intimate dining experience with a warm comfortable indoor and outdoor seating option. It is also very practical as a stop before going to the Music Hall, an important date or like us an anniversary. Cava is unlike many of the places we have visited over the years in the food category. Every course was exceptionally prepared, thoroughly thought out and professionally executed with excellent plating. I won't go into detail on every dish but suffice it to say there was enjoyment with every mouthful of every course. I ordered: Espresso Martini An Italian Pinot Grigio (with dinner) We shared the charcuterie plate First course - Mussels Second Course - Italian Meatball dish Third Course - Braised Flank Steak Fourth Course - Torte My wife ordered: A wonderful Rum with blackberry cocktail An Italian Pinot Grigio(with dinner) First Course- Warm Potato Soup Second Course- Stuffed and wrapped dates Third Course- Shrimp with Polenta Fourth Course- Blueberry Cheesecake

Food and drinks are incredible. Great atmosphere for a date night. The waitress was attentive and…read morethe atmosphere was intimate. Great for dinner.

A very eclectic shop. I was up in York last week for vacation and was looking for a liquor store,…read moreand this came up in my search engine. Friendly owner, very nice selection of wines!

Great store and service. We came in search of bourbons. Owner was very helpful with us and even…read moretook our name and number for when items we were looking for are available. Love to come back!

Roaming the streets of Portsmouth without a care in the world while enjoying the lights and sounds…read moreon a cold winter's eve, the thought of carbs laden with luscious melted cheese beckoned me like a siren's song. First stop, busy. Second stop, twas still busy. Third stop, the word Napoletana caught my attention. One of my favorite styles of pizza, I didn't even think twice to verify the legitimacy of their offerings and walked right through the door and sat by the bar (skipping the long wait for a table). Two bartenders, night and day in their demeanor. One was rather calm and quiet BUT very polite and efficient. The other, rude and inattentive. I'm glad (and thankful) that the former of the two waited on my side of the bar. It was very busy and the atmosphere was filled with celebratory cheer. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. Food came at a reasonable time based on how busy things were. Bartender 1 checked in often to make sure everything was good. Thank you again. Mussels fra diavolo was cooked well and to the right texture. Sauce very buttery, salted well and with just a little heat (not spicy at all like the name implies). Toast was a little too toasted, lol. However, when the pizza arrived, is when I realized that names are just names. This is not Napoletana pizza. While the ingredients were an amazing combination on their Fichi pizza, the soggy center was an absolute letdown. Mushy dough is a tad much to accept. And now enters bartender 2 at the end of my meal after awesome bartender 1 had waited on our side this whole time. From a foot away while talking to another patron at the bar, he literally tossed the guest check presenter toward me without making any effort to actually place it down professionally. I've not had any interaction with him to warrant this behavior and would have rather ended this evening thanking bartender 1 for his kind service. That said, I left wondering WTF I just walked into based on a name that didn't live up to its name at all. Such a shame. Beautiful place, great concept and menu, poor execution overall.

Mouse in the house! Yucky!…read moreFood wasn't terrible, service lacking.... Merry Christmouse