Walter's Basin has a great location at the edge of Squam Lake. We were lucky to have a table for four looking over the lake. A lovely spot for dinner. Our party enjoyed sharing the roasted brussel sprouts and the kale burrata salad. One order if each was plenty to share among four. Two of us had the scallops, one the veggie paella and one the coconut green curry shrimp. Everything was piping hot and tasty. The paella was a very large serving and that guest took about half home in a readily provided container. Our server, Carol, did a great job. There was a but of a wait between starters and the main course, but that is preferable to having entrees right on top of appetizers. Like most places in this post covid time, Walter's Basin is probably short staffed. The lake offered plenty of entertainment while we waited. We enjoyed the meal and the location. We will be back. read more

They take reservations for 6+. We were two. The hostess said the kitchen was backed up and it might be 45 minutes before we received our food, but we were fine with that and were seated outside on very low seats with a view of the marina, lake, and mountains on the far shore. While having drinks (mine Bailey's and "Da Rum In Da Coconut" my wife's) the round bar table in the corner with stools opened up behind us and the waitress promptly moved us there. Great atmosphere. My wife ordered salmon with a spicy red sauce, yellow rice, and an orange squash. It was a generous portion, all delicious. Same with mine, which was a burger on a bun with cheese, onions, mushrooms, bacon, lettuce and tomato. It came within 15 minutes and service was courteous and much faster than what the hostess had told us. read more

Great place! Really busy but service was great! Nice location, nice bar with full menu. We got a lot of food. The sprouts were out of this world. Kale salad was very tasty and tasted nothing like kale! Lol. The pot stickers and dipping sauce also yummy. The lamb chop was huge and well prepared. Crab lettuce cups very fresh and plentiful. We loved it! read more

We were looking for a family-friendly lunch spot near the water, and were delighted to find Walter's Basin. The entrees we chose included fish tacos, balsamic steak tip salad, fish and chips, and kids servings of pasta and fish and chips. I don't think we left anything on the plates, and the sweet potato fries were a nice touch, too. The atmosphere was bright and delightful. We did not have a window view, but found the decor to be pleasant and aligned with the theme of Walter the fish. We had to regale the younger folks of the significance of Walter, and found "On Golden Pond' available on their Amazon prime account for a future movie night. On-street parking is available (as long as you know how to parallel park) and we were able to seat a party of 7 with no wait on an October Saturday. it was a delightful stop for our group. read more

First time trying take out from here, delicious and reasonably priced lobster rolls to take out on your boat! read more

Walter's Basin - Lobster roll to go - American Near Me - Holderness, New Hampshire

First - we are local, live here year round. Tonight (Monday) we went to have dinner with 5 people. Arrived at 6pm and told the wait for a table is between 15 minutes and an hour. Ok, no worries, we understand, it's summer. Asked if we can wait in the lobby with a drink from the bar (which was full) - answer is "no", no drinks from the bar allowed in the lobby. What a clown show. Figure out how to accommodate your guests while they wait for a table (because you won't accept reservations). We won't be returning. read more

Good service and very good food. Lots of options and there is a great view of the lake.

Great food, great service and beautiful view! Casual, comfortable atmosphere. We sat in the bar and service was super fast. Dining area was gorgeous! read more

Great views, friendly staff and good food. I had the Nashville hot chicken which satisfied my craving since getting back from Nashville. Not like true Nashville hot but good enough for the NE. Beer selection was good. read more

Excellent food, often very busy so make a reservation. one of the best locations to have dinner in NH as it overlooks the channel and lake. read more

This was the best meal and service I've had in a long time, the view is unbelievable Would highly recommend going read more

Stopped in and had a nice lunch. Food was very good, cocktail was great and the service was good.

My wife and I stopped in with friends while we were on vacation. The host was very friendly sat us with a window view of Squam Lake. The food was absolutely delicious!! I had the lobster mac and cheese the portion was very generous I couldn't finish it my wife and friend had curry shrimp again the portion very generous her husband had the duck and had said it was absolutely delicious! From our host to our server Devvin were amazing! If you happen to be in NH in the Holderness area i highly recommend stopping in! read more

I went there with a group of 5 on Tuesday evening 6/28 ! the service was great! My sister and I both ordered the Trout off the menu ! It was disgusting ! It was cooked like shoe leather! It was a very small piece of fish only about 1/4 inch thick and very dry ! Very disapointing for the 2 of us !!! read more

Great food fast!Fried Scallops were fabulous! Highly recommended! Yum! Reasonably priced as well!

The restaurant is stunning location. I was order appetizers tuna wonton, mussels. clams soups. The entree are road beefs and fish taco. Wonderful lunch for me. Great location and friendly staff. read more

See all

We stopped in for a Saturday lunch during peak season on a georgeous day. We arrived 5 minutes early in case there was a crowd but surprisingly we were the first people there so we got our pick of a perfect table overlooking Squam Lake. The dining area is large and comfortable. Most of the tables will give you a fantastic wide view of the lake. You can see boats docking right outside the restaurant. Unfortunately, there were a few flies buzzing around which put a slight hamper on the tranquility. The format is table service via wait staff. Our server came over and took our drink order and asked if we saw the specials posted at the door (blackened haddock sandwich and some type of salad entree). I ordered a soda and my wife a water. The server poured my wife some water from a pitcher sitting out on a table but we noticed other groups were served iced water in glasses from the kitchen. I quickly finished my soda and it was never refilled despite the server visiting the table several times. Food: I ordered the blackened haddock sandwich. I asked to leave off the coleslaw and add onions but the server declined the request "because it's a daily special". I was able to not take the coleslaw but they were unwilling to place sliced onions on top of my sandwich or onto my plate. Ok... The sandwich was good and the fish was cooked nicely. The bun was very light and toasted. Unfortunately, the fish portion was very small and covered only half the bun so I basically had half a fish sandwich with a side of an extra half bun. My wife ordered the pulled pork sandwich which was very good. We both took sauteed veggies as our side instead of the various forms of fried potatoes. Overall, the experience was nice for the view and it was relaxing. The food was good too but I left feeling a bit underwhelmed at my meal. I would recommend it for a try-it-once experience but I will probably not return . read more

See all

Nothing short of amazing. When you are the only place in a small town it can be hit or miss as you are in a position where there would be no consequences as there are not any competitors. Walter's food and service is simply fantastic. Our large party had the fish and chips, lobster mac, chicken wings, french onion soup, blueberry trout, schnitzel, baked cod, deviled eggs, bang bang shrimp and numerous desserts. No one had a bad meal and everyone raved about their food. It was so good a bunch of us came back for lunch the next day. Our service was also amazing. Props to Mackenzie who was our waitress. She did a fantastic job. Every food order came out correct. Every drink order was on point. The only downside is the lack parking. read more

Very nice restaurant on the lake, with beautiful water views. we've had lunch here twice both times food and service were very good

Great service, food is awesome, views are incredible. Creative entrees, good beer selection and food comes out on time.

This place feels like a country club on a lake, but so welcoming and inviting. The service is wonderful! Their food delicious and hearty. Loved their beer selection too. read more

Walter's Basin - Turkey bourbon maple glaze - American Near Me - Holderness, New Hampshire

We have been frequenting Walter's for over 20 years and they continue to provide quality food and service with a hometown feel. They recently made very nice renovations which show that they value their customers and product. read more

Walter's Basin is conveniently located 2 min from Squam Lake science center. There are beautiful views as it's right on the lake. At first glance the restaurant seemed like it was too nice for young children. However, they are very family friendly. There are high chairs available, changing tables in both bathrooms and a kids menu. Our food came out quickly and was very good. The portion sizes were also very generous, especially for the kids. The kids had grilled cheese and pasta with butter sauce and Parmesan cheese. I had the steak salad and my husband had the pastrami sandwich special with fries. My only complaint is that some of the pieces of the steak on my salad were cooked more than I had requested. read more

Walter's Basin - Steak salad - American Near Me - Holderness, New Hampshire

We were looking forward to our dinner in Walters while on our NH vacation. Rainy day and dinner here was a highlight of the day. Our meals and drinks were served promptly, our server was very polite and caring. We had a great time here and will definitely will be back! read more

Walter's Basin - View from the table - American Near Me - Holderness, New Hampshire

The food is good, but service deserves 0 stars. We experienced a rude server & even ruder manager. Be sure to look closely at your bill! They charge a fee for kitchen pay. It was explained to us by an employee & the manager that the employees in the kitchen "don't make enough money" & they tack on a service charge they expect customers to pay. Here's a novel idea: pay your employees well & perhaps charge a bit more for the meal instead of making your customers feel ripped off. We are locals - the folks who help keep you in business year round, but after experiencing the attitude of the server & the manager when we asked for an explanation regarding the surcharge, we will not be returning read more

Have you watched the movie 'On Golden Pond'? If you haven't watch it and if you have watched it watch it again. The reason that this restaurant has this name is because of the name of the fish 'Walter' that was caught in the movie 'On Golden Pond'. The other great thing about this movie is that it was filmed on Squam Lake. Now back to the restaurant. This restaurant was recommended to us from our waitress, Amanda, from Common Man. Her husband is a chef at Walter's Basin. It is on Squam Lake. If you can, ask for a table near the water. The food is delicious. They have something for everyone. The minute you walk in you feel very welcomed. Our waiter, Troy, was great!!! This is a must restaurant!!! read more

See all

Came here with a part of nine last night, the service and food were good the only problem is every single one of us got sick afterwards. Not one person did not have an extremely upset stomach and multiple trips to the bathroom for the next 16 hours.. like I said, food wasn't even bad but i have a strong suspicion something is going on in the kitchen rn so I do not recommend. read more

The food and service was great! I had the grilled chicken Cobb Salad - the vinaigrette was delicious. Will def be back!

Last evening we ate at Walter's Basin. The restaurant was not full, no waiting. We were greeted and sat promptly. Our waitress came and took our drink orders quickly. So far so good. 30 minutes later our food came out. Still no beer or wine arrived at our table. Our waitress never came back during the 30 minutes, however, she delivered drinks to her other tables in her section. We asked the food runner where our drinks were and she said "I will check and have a manager come over." No manager ever came over. Our waitress seeing that our food arrived came and asked, "Can I get you anything?" To this I said our drinks. She brought the wine and the wrong brand of beer. But the restaurant did comp the drinks. Which is positive. Now for the food. We were never asked how it was. Rice=dry/tasteless Prices=way too high for food quality for what you get. Never offered bread, salad, etc. Of note, we have eaten here several times in the past few years since we are "locals". Not impressed. The manager and front of house staff didn't even have the courtesy to say, "Thank you or Come again" as we walked right past them to depart. This place had turned into a SUMMER TOURIST TRAP. Not recommended read more

Dinner with a view in casual setting. We went last night and were pleasantly surprised. The view of Squam is spectacular and the food is very good and varied. The pot stickers appetizer was tasty as was my turkey tips in maple syrup. My wife's seafood paella was a generous portion with mussels, shrimp and scallops. Full bar as well. Overall, a great dining experience with a fantastic view of the lake. We will return. read more

Incredible fish tacos!!! The flavor is fantastic with a little kick to it. The fries are also fantastic. One member of our party even said they were the best fries she's ever had. the Buffalo chicken egg rolls were fantastic. We also got the pork dumplings which were good but not as spectacular as the rest of the meal. Greta restaurant! read more

Walter's Basin - Fish Tacos - American Near Me - Holderness, New Hampshire

Very nice little restaurant. We went on a Monday evening - it was so quiet. We sat outside down by the water and had the whole space to ourselves. My daughter got the mac n cheese - it was delicious. I had the ahi tuna salad - also amazing. I also got the Rattlesnake margarita - not my favorite, a little too herby. There were lots of beers on tap - I tried my husbands and it was great. Everyone was happy with their meals. If you have a boat, you can dock here but it was crowded all weekend so plan ahead. read more

Unless you're pawing salmon with local Kodiaks, there isn't much to do in Holderness mid-winter. Kara G and I MacGyvered a Pringles antennae to catch a smidge of a cell signal, and found what promised to be the townie spot for drankin: Basshole Pub. See, it looks like Asshole. But it's got a B in front of it. And it's on a lake, where fish live. And a bass is a fish. Get it? GET IT? Expecting what could easily have been a rundown House o' Stares, we found parking roadside and walked in to... the lobby of a Comfort Inn? Neg, Ghost Rider. 'Twas a hotelish dining room, closed for the night but still spitting sounds of raucous revelry and televised sports. We followed the cacophony, only to discover... An equally unadorned bar! Packed to the gills (BASSHOLE!) with Holdernessians drinking and talking and NFLing. Eh, whatever; let's grab one. Our server Dustin was quick as lightning, taking our order within moments of glutes hitting cushion. Bar food menu still in effect, we ordered the KG Special (just fries, a big ol' plate of fries) and a couple cocktails. Maybe three minutes passed, and we found ourselves face-deep in a massive pile of double-fried potatoes, heavy pours and at-home comfort. Another round, a Broncos loss (yes, it was THAT Pats game) and we asked for our bill. Two vodkas, two Jacks and a bucket of hot, crispy fries: $25.00. o_O And that's when I fell in love: hook, line and sinker. Get the net. read more

We love the atmosphere at Walters. His service has always been really good, while not all of the food is always excellent, it is really good. Be sure to try to get one of the outdoor seats in the lower patio. No reservations down there though. Upstairs is nice to say thanks for the great service! read more

Wonderful setting and delightful service. Our party of 4 ordered an appetizer, 4 different dinners, a dessert, cocktails & wine. All of it was delicious and perfectly prepared. Highly recommend this restaurant! read more

I went to the bathroom for 2 minutes, when I returned my entire area was cleared. I had more than half of my meal left and was going to order another drink. The server didn't even comp my meal. Unbelievable! In addition, the place is filthy. I mean, really dirty. I understand COVID has resulted in short-staffed business, but in this case, Walter's Basin needs to close. They are doing a disservice to Holderness and Squam Lake. Sometimes you just have to stop, regroup and fix the problems before subjecting the public. Filthy, Dirty, etc. Unprofessional Service Customers are treated inappropriately read more

Great environment to watch the Patriots game and to drink a Shipyard Pumpkin. I enjoyed the kale salad and my husband liked the wings. Great views of Squam Lake. read more

See all

We went for a hike up West Rattlesnake and enjoyed the beautiful view of Squam Lake from up there. After we got back to the car, I had our car's navigation system tell us where were the closest places to eat, and Walter's Basin was right near the top of the list. I seemed to recall someone told me it was good, so we decided to give it a try. We had an AWESOME lunch here. Very nice atmosphere in a clean restaurant with a nice view of the lake. It was moderately busy for a Friday around 1 p.m., but there was no wait for a table with a great view of the lake and the service was prompt and professional. They have a single page kids menu with a fish to color on the back, and they provide crayons for the kids to color. My boys each had a cheeseburger off the kids menu, and they were huge. I tried a bite and they were delicious. The french fries were awesome, too. I was really tempted to try one of their lobster creations, but at $12 for lobster bisque, or $19 for a lobster roll or a lobster salad BLT, I opted for the less expensive fish tacos. Now, if you're from southern California or Mexico, don't get all excited or expect Baja fish tacos - they're not. But still, they were quite tasty. There's a really nice map of Squam Lake painted like a mural across the wall of the men's restroom, too. I'm very glad we stopped here for lunch. Top notch food and service in a nice lakeside atmosphere. read more

See all

The food & drink were amazing. Not to mention the view of Squam Lake is breathtaking. Strongly recommend.

We stopped in here for a brew after playing at the science center. It had beautiful views of the lake. The service was friendly and they had nice selection of drafts. We played pool for a bit. Food looked good from what I could see at some of the tables, but we didn't try anything. Good place to chill out for a bit. read more