Black Trumpet

My wife and I were on a quick weekend getaway to Portsmouth and read so many great things about Black Trumpet. The food, atmosphere and service were top notch. We didn’t have a reservation so we sat at the bar and we were served by John. He is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the drinks and cocktails he makes. He chatted us up and other patrons at the bar and made us feel like regulars. My wife and I split the lamb which was perfectly cooked served with zucchini, couscous, and a tomato spread. A great blend of flavors. The restaurant is small and intimate in a very old building with ton of history. We will certainly be back the next time we’re in the area

First time in Portsmouth and could not have picked a better first night dinner. Made reservations ahead so no wait. We shared two appetizers, a medium plate and the seafood paella for our final course. Everything was delicious and filling. Dana was our server and was exceptionally helpful, including wine choice. Monica the hostess kicked off our dinner with “best seat in the house”!

My recent dinner at Black Trumpet in Portsmouth was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment I stepped into the charming, historic building overlooking the Piscataqua River, I was captivated by its warm, intimate ambiance. The exposed brick walls, wooden beams, and candlelit tables created a cozy and romantic atmosphere perfect for a special night out. The service was impeccable, attentive without being intrusive. Our server was not only knowledgeable about the menu but also enthusiastic about sharing recommendations and wine pairings, which elevated the experience. The food was simply outstanding. The wine selection was carefully curated, offering a variety of biodynamic and sustainable options. Black Trumpet is more than a restaurant, it’s a celebration of flavors, creativity, and hospitality. Whether you’re seeking a romantic date night or a memorable dinner with friends, this gem in Portsmouth is an absolute must-visit. Highly recommended!

The best dining experience we had this winter (and into spring) was at Black Trumpet. The food was exceptional. The scallops were cooked to perfection, and the combination of crisp endives and bacon was unbeatable! We also tried the chef's special, duck breast with wild rice, which was equally delicious.The drinks were delightful, and the service was commendable. Our server offered recommendations in a friendly manner.A highlight of our visit was the stunning view, which was particularly breathtaking on a perfect day.We will definitely return here.

A lovely place for a data night- the food is certainly great! The chef's meze plate was excellent - really fun assortment of things that changes daily. I also enjoyed the lamb empanadas, now that's not something you see every day! The vibe was okay, our waiter didn't seem too into it, and it was strangely dark and humid inside (kind of like being inside an old boat), but we still had a good time.

I love the paella! But the soup is really small. Service and vibes are good.

We have been to the Trumpet a number of times. When we used to live in the area we would come at least six times a year. We had to come back to Portsmouth as we came here for our wedding dinner. A few years later we are back for our anniversary dinner. Although we travel and have been to some fabulous places, we always say that there is no where that even comes close to the experience and food we receive at the Black Trumpet.

Have really enjoyed Black Trumpet on two prior visits. This time was a disappointment. On the plus side, it’s still a cozy, pretty, space with views of the harbor from upstairs. Service was also very professional, efficient and courteous. Still, many of our dishes were a letdown, despite a nice presentation. Smoked salmon app was quite good. Softshell crab first course was tasty, though $25 for a single small crab is a bit much. My pork tenderloin was way overcooked. Sent it back and another one came out quickly at the right temp, but they just gave me a new piece of meat and didn’t bother re-plating the dish with the sides and sauce. Meat was fine but not much taste. My pork tenderloin grilled at home has more flavor. My wife’s zucchini cake was a bit soggy and okay, but didn’t impress. Our best dish was the warm olives and almonds. And that shouldn’t be the case at a place like this. Maybe bad timing? Hope they’re not losing their mojo.

Food was seasonal, local, creative, and most importantly, delicious! Our waiter was fantastic and helped us decide. He clearly knew the menu items as he actually described the dishes in even more detail than the menu itself. We'll definitely be back!

We made reservations for our one year anniversary. We wanted a sophisticated meal to celebrate. The service was slow, the drinks were bland, and the food was extremely disappointing. The house bread was dense and oddly sweet - it ate like dessert. The rice was watery and flavorless. The braised beef cheek was overcooked, like jerky. The tomato soup was fine, but forgettable. We will not be back.

Had an early dinner here after being intrigued by the menu - lots of local and seasonal items with a creative twist, many of which have game or seafood. We were able to get seated at 5pm on a Sunday as a walk in, but the space did fill up quickly. FOOD I got the house bread and spread, brown butter roasted carrot soup and beef cheek mushroom pithivier. While the bread was decent and the pear butter spread was lovely, I didn't think it was worth the price point. The roasted carrot soup was nice for a fall evening - sweet and creamy with tasty shallots, but the ginger flavor was a bit overpowering. The beef cheeks were tender and the pastry shell was delicious, but it was a bit dry and I wish there had been more madeira demi glace on the plate to dip. I had a cider for my drink and while I really enjoyed the flavor, it was not very cold, which was a bit of a bummer. My friend had crabmeat on a fried green tomato app, and the bison ribeye and razor clams over bacon braised greens special. The crabmeat app was okay - he didn't love the kimchi and uni topping, but his main was great. The bison, while a bit chewy, had great flavor along with the clams in the bacony tomato base with greens. SERVICE Our server was attentive and personable, just had a bit of a lull towards the end. All the staff from the host to the busser were nice and polite. AMBIANCE I like that the restaurant is sort of tucked away right off the main drag by the water. The space felt intimate, dark and cozy with exposed brick and stone walls, and thick wood ceiling beams. You can tell this is an older building with strong bones, which adds to the charm. Furnishings and decor leaned into its rustic bistro style and there's a nice window view of the harbor. We generally enjoyed our meal and most items were a hit, but there were a couple misses that were noted, especially for the price (our bill was about $180 after tip). Overall we'd return to try more things.

I've had few bad dining experiences quite like this. The "warm" welcome from the gentleman at the door consisted of barely looking at us while asking, "Reservation?" No "Welcome", no "Good evening", no smile. He seemed surprised we had a reservation which leads me to believe he likes turning people away who are popping in to see if they space. Then this man walked us upstairs, stopped at the door way, pointed toward a table by the window and said, "You're seated there." And walked back downstairs. Wow! You can really feel when someone loves their job! Our waitress was lovely and seemed to have lights on. We ordered a bunch of things off the menu and she said she'd try to space them even noting the table was too small for all the food. Unfortunately, the kitchen didn't get the memo. They bombed our table with all our food. (Whatever happened to courses? Is that too much to ask post pandemic?) We were still eating our salads when our raviolo, charcuterie and meatballs were brought. The back waiter stood there looking to see where food could fit. (That should be your first clue the table isn't ready and bring the food back to the kitchen!!) we had to put plates on the windowsill. Classy. The food was as lackluster as the service and welcome. Maybe it would have been better if we ate it hot? I will never know. There are better restaurants in Portsmouth with significantly better service. The price they charge for this "experience" was obscene considering. Try Moxi or Nichian for a better night out.

A lovely place for a data night- the food is certainly great! The chef's meze plate was excellent - really fun assortment of things that changes daily. I also enjoyed the lamb empanadas, now that's not something you see every day! The vibe was okay, our waiter didn't seem too into it, and it was strangely dark and humid inside (kind of like being inside of an old boat), but we still had a good time.

I started with the tuna tartar, humus and Oyster. Have never been an Oyster fan and believe this was my first fried oyster - still just tasted like saltwater to me, so guess I'm not sold pn oysters yet. For main course I had the mushroom paella - it was good but a lot spicier than expected. I love spicy food but felt there wasn't much else to the dish than spice. So not bad but not great either. My friends had the scallops and 5 out of 6 were over cooked - not what I expect from a place like this! All in all good with good vibe but not as good as I was expecting (has quite the local reputation).

Let me preface this by saying none of the meals I tried are on the Black Trumpet menu. I attended a benefit dinner for Seacoast Eat Local and was blown away by the chef, the meals, and the wine pairings. The atmosphere is both charming and sophisticated. The servers were attentive and personable, despite juggling all of the guests. I'd love to come back for a meal and am looking forward to it!

Very experimental.Not sure risks merit the rewards.e.g. The pasta underneath the chorizo flavored pollock was nice but the dollop of mushroom pate was gratuitous.the meze was interesting but the bites were so small as to leave no effect on the palette .The blueberry pie with balsamic vinaigrette depended on the right proportions and unfortunately was too vinegary.at least they are taking risks but at our expense

Loved this spot. I've been to Portsmouth a thousand times and never wandered over here, but very glad we finally did. The atmosphere is quiet and cozy. There is a lovely view of the water from the second floor. The staff was friendly, always there when you needed them and helpful with suggestions and information about the dishes. The food. I haven't been so pleasantly surprised in a long time. That isn't to say I didn't expect good food. I just honestly had not eaten half the things on the menu, or at least not in the combination they were presented. What a cool, fun and innovative menu. Everything was awesome. Rabbit, venison, lobster salad. A+ across the board. And snag a Black Trumpet cocktail. Strong, but delicious.

My husband and I are very large on going out for a good meal, and we came across Black Trumpet by accident. We saw the menu, the entire set up was beautiful and the dishes sounded amazing. We were gonna come back some other time as we had our hearts set on some other place, but came back immediately when we couldn't get a table elsewhere as our favorite restaurant was swarmed with a line outside after they opened their doors. The Hostess was nice and the ambience was cozy. We ordered what sounded good and it was pricey for what it was, especially the charcuterie we had split. The wild boar dish with the ragu and the chorizo-spiced local fish were hearty and picture-perfect, but a little on the salty side. Overall, the food was wonderful. The real problem was how we were treated by the waitress. Picture this with me: My husband and I sit down, excited for a good meal and are given menues. The waitress greets us with a genuine smile, and starts to tell us about the cocktail special. I made my preference known that I'm more into red wines than cocktails and proceeds to shuffle the menues on the menu to point the red section out to me like I was ready to order it before even looking it over. It was then that we should've left. I wanted a Malbec and my husband ordered the appetizers. As he wanted to make it known what cheeses he would like for us, I realized I didn't have my ID so I couldn't order it. When I told her that, she looked happy about it, so I told her it was fine and I'll just have water. We ordered our meals and asked all our questions. All throughout our appetizers and main courses, she laughed and joked with every table that was coming in upstairs. She would spend a little more time with the other tables, asking them how their drinks were and was far more pleasant with them. When it came to checking in with us, which I love about every restaurant, how stiff her responses were, how forced her smile was, and how she barely stopped by unlike the way she would for other tables was all uncomfortable. My husband is more of the food guy and I like both the food and service aspects of dining, but even he recognized that something was off-putting. Everyone there was almost three times our age and well-dressed. We wore something casual and comfortable because we didn't expect to be dining somewhere quite this fine. Uncomfortable with the situation, I ordered my dessert to-go and asked for the check. I gave her a pretty decent tip for our meals in the hope that she could put it towards some acting lessons. If she can pretend like she enjoys her job around the people who smell like they wipe their asses with money, she'll need to put on a show for those that can but may not always look the part. The only reason we endured all of this was for the food. If you've made it this far, thank you for your time. I hope your experience here is nicer than mine. Dress up nicely, age a good twenty years, and cross your fingers you don't get the waitress we had because that is the only way you'll be getting a warm, welcoming experience.

LOVED the ambience here. Drinks and food were both so good. I got the mushroom paella and my friend got the goat birria. I know it's tougher with small menus to carry to dietary restrictions, but not many vegetarian options.

Black Trumpet is consistently very good. Food, service and setting are all top notch. Our most recent visit was a hit. Keep in mind that the menu here rotates every month or so. It was a quiet evening for Friday, perhaps because of the holiday weekend, and we scored the window table on the second floor which offers a nice view of the harbor and tugboats. Cocktails are always outstanding here, and I recommend that you jump in and try one of their creations, the "Black Trumpet" is outstanding and is almost always on the list. We ate family style and enjoyed every dish, including the Tostada special that evening. The crabcake stuffed delicata squash appetizer was outstanding. The paella was a great surprise, loaded with a variety of fish and had just the right amount of kick to it. The duck confit, while nice, was the weakest dish of the evening, as we found the duck to be too fatty. Duck and Lamb I find can be risky choices and are often too fatty for my taste. All in all a very good meal and a wonderful waitress. Service was great and food came from the kitchen exactly as expected. Be sure to give Black Trumpet a try when in Portsmouth

This is truly a dining experience. Make sure you have plenty of time and not in any rush when dining here. The service truly goes above and beyond explaining all elements of the menu, and wine recommendations for pairing with your order. I enjoyed the downstairs environment, however I would love to have the opportunity to check out the upstairs. Excited to visit again.

The food was amazing. Quality over quantity. The Black Trumpet and the Pina Doblana (I think) where amazing. Came back the next day just for those. Try it you won't be disappointed!

Wonderful ambiance and truly delicious food, but slow service. We were sat 30 minutes past our reservation, and it took another 30 minutes to receive our cocktails. We didn't mind it considering we weren't in a rush (and the food more than made up for it), but better timing would improve the experience. The food itself was DIVINE, and we loved every bite Highly recommend a visit! Just don't expect to be in-and-out at a normal pace.

Had high hopes but was thoroughly disappointed. Service was good, but food lacked flavor. It took over 2 and a half hours for all of our food to come out. The timing in between our courses was very staggered and left us wondering where our food was or if the server forgot to fire the courses. Ideas were there, execution needed a lot of work. The sauce for the tempura soft shell crabs was salty, all three items on mezze platter were too small and bland, pork roulade special was super dry, wild boar ragu was over reduced/salty; the pappardelle was severely undercooked, and the paella was extremely bland and had a fraction of seafood compared to the table adjacent to me. Also found a small bug crawling on my paper menu. Overall, I was expecting a nice upper casual dinner, but was left highly dissatisfied.

A really delightful spot in the harbor area of Portsmouth! Fabulous food. Attentive service and original dishes. The paella was spicy and fresh. The house made bread and crispy shallot compound butter were a very welcome touch.

Had my very first Expresso Martini. Waitress was excellent and bartender mixed an excellent martini. Great ambiance. Will take kids there when they come up from SC!

Service excellent, ambiance excellent. Make a reservation so you don't get turned away. I was so engrossed with my food I forgot to take pictures of my food but let me just say everything was extraordinary. We had the beef stroganoff, venison, pork belly and finfish for our main courses. For appetizers we had the tuna tartare and octopus and finally for dessert we had the bloody orange crème brûlée. We ate EVERYTHING!! I strongly recommend you try this restaurant. You will not be disappointed.

Love Black Trumpet! Always try to come in when I'm in town. I prefer being @bar upstairs. Plus it's my hideaway from my coworkers they tend to go to certain spots in town, and this is a nice hidden gem! I tend to always try different cocktails and wine with the different apps on the menu or special. Ambiance is great!

This is overall a very decent restaurant--good, but not great. Ambiance: One of the best aspects of the restaurant, with a cozy, New England vibe. It was perfect for our December anniversary dinner. Service: Just okay. Our waitress was friendly enough, but as other reviewers already mentioned, it was very slow. While we did order several courses, we were there for 2+ hours. It took a very long time to receive my cocktail, and there was a great deal of time between each course. Food: clearly very well-sourced food. Everything tasted very good, especially the bison special that my husband ordered. The one exception would be the sweet potato and carrot potage, which was described on the menu as "spiced" but which actually was overwhelmingly spicy. My husband couldn't eat any of it, and while I am a person who can tolerate heat, and in the right place at the right time (e.g. on nachos) I enjoy it--this level of spice completely overpowered the soup and it took a while for it to die down in my mouth, preventing me from being able to savor some of the other things we'd ordered. It just wasn't what I was expecting and I didn't think it was appropriate for a dish that wasn't advertised that way. Other than that I think the rest of what we ordered was very enjoyable and appropriately priced as well.

Charcuterie had to choose one two or three items for $35. Pathetic. Paella served in small cast iron style fry pan . Over fried sticky rice. $35. Pathetic.

First time here and I really wanted this to be good but was not impressed. It's very cozy and gives you a nice New England feel, but it appeared very disorganized. Heard several people complaining about service while we were there. Our waitress was nice and we had no issues with service. Started with the octopus which was one small tootsie roll piece and a few tiny tentacles drenched in a red sauce. The sauce was nice but completely overwhelmed the subtle octopus if you could find it. I had the shortrib which was good and fell apart but it was your standard shortrib with gravy and nothing special. Wife had the scallops and almost licked her plate because the sauce was so good. Then the finale I was waiting for, the blood orange cheesecake. I have NEVER left a desert unfinished in my life, but this thing was borderline inedible. Not even sure how to explain it, but if you are looking for a creamy, sweet, flavorful cheesecake, this ain't it. I chose this place over others because the menu appeared well thought out and elevated above others. They are over thinking it and need to go back to the basics on a few things.

We enjoyed a lovely evening here in this deeply atmospheric restaurant on a cool November evening. Our server was top notch--attentive to our table and knowledgeable about the variety of menu offerings and their sometimes unfamiliar ingredients. If you're not adventurous with food, don't let that keep you from eating here. The flavors meld to create palate pleasing bites that seem familiar but add interest to satisfy your taste buds. Yes I'm a foodie but, seriously, try this restaurant! We'll be back!

Best food I've had in Portsmouth! Chefs mezze was incredible, daily special was incredible, lamb and goat burger was incredible (even the fries and sauce that come with it!). Our server Evelyn was so friendly and attentive and really made dining at Black Trumpet a great experience. Cocktails were just okay, but the wine they have available was perfect with the meal. Overall wonderful date night spot!

Read the reviews and was looking forward to a nice evening, unfortunately the food and service were very disappointing. Arrived for a reservation at 8:15, didn't receive our entrees until 9:45. Server was absent throughout the night and we had to flag him down to order in a small dining area. We had 2 starters, a very bland salad and over fried plantains. The goat and lamb burger was served rare even though we order medium rare and the bun was too tough to cut. But at nearly 10pm we were starved and ate it anyway.

Amazing! The best gourmet experience in Portsmouth. Small tables, great ambiance, exquisite plates.

Yes, please - oh, yes, I'll take a table facing the water; on the second floor - oh, I'll order drinks and delicious food - laugh and reminisce with old friends over coffee/Baileys and dessert. And we'll return again and again - outstanding!

One of the best meals I've had in Portsmouth! It's small and intimate (and pretty romantic) the staff and chef know what is good so i go with what they recommend.

This place is clearly resting on its laurels. Or standards must be really low in these parts. Was seated promptly for a 7:45pm reservation. Had a reservation for main floor but table wasn't ready so we obliged to sit upstairs. Ordered drinks and appetizers. Timing on appetizers was awkward but wasn't a big deal. Time between apps and main was excruciating long - finally got main course at 9:00pm. Wish I took a pic of the sad short rib stroganoff that had to be returned because the one sheet of noodle was cold. Came back in two minutes lukewarm. Shockingly amateur. Giving one star since they comped the stroganoff but really ruined what could've and should've been a nice evening.

Great food and drinks. Cozy atmosphere. On the more expensive side. Service was great

This is the place to go. Situated on the water, this restaurant is very well decorated inside, with great calm music that sets a great mood but does not distract you. The service here is great. The waiters check on you, are very kind, and unlike most skimpy restaurants these days actually change your silverware after you finish your appetizers. They actually box your food for you, while most restaurants are too lazy to do it these days. The menu here is very creative, and everything I've tried over my few times coming to this restaurant has been excellent. Unlike most restaurants, the prices are, while high, actually reflect the experience you receive, that being a great one. Will definetely keep coming here.

Superb, all around. Had the restaurant week menu. Totally satisfied with the food and drinks

We had a great experience at the Black Trumpet! The food and drinks were great and the service - more than excellent! Special thanks to our server for the great drink recommendations! The best part for us was that the place is pet friendly so our pup was able to join us for outdoor dining! Teddy (the doggie) highly recommends this spot!

This bistro has been a favorite for years. Creative and delicious food, great atmosphere and friendly service.

Let me explain this place to you: imagine having a garden and harvesting food from said garden and cooking a tasteful, hearty meal using the fruits of your labor: that's this restaurant. Very rarely do you go to places where the food tastes like it was just picked from the garden. The halibut (with vegetables) was the best I have ever had. My husband also loved his seafood paella. Service (Marissa?) was also exceptional. Ambience was nice but it got a little loud at times.

This is, hands down, our favorite place in Portsmouth. We went here in August 25 and enjoyed a fabulous dinner and flawless service. The menu is really creative, fresh and inventive -- so if you are an adventurous foodie, this is the place for you! We loved the halibut and lamb dishes as well as a cornmeal calamari appetizer.

This was my second visit. The service is outstanding and our server was very smooth in his entire service. The food was by far the best. You could feel and taste the care put into the meal. Nothing was bad....only A for the eight dishes and 2 desserts Next time in town we will be back Great work

Great dinner. Had an enthusiastic waiter and a fantastic Zarzuela stew. The tequila and beat cured salmon small plate was really small, but delicious. The Garen's Greens with pickled peaches and almonds was delicious but also smallish, but the Zarzuela and Gulf Of Maine Fish more than made up for it. I recommend reservations on the second floor by the window. The view of the harbor through a six pane window has a colonial vibe and it's cozy, and admittedly a bit magical. Our waiter forgot to put the ticket in after our small and medium plates came out, we waited a little longer, but he offered us another glass of wine gratis. He didn't lie and blame the chef or the kitchen like amateurs waiters do. He owned it. I highly recommend Portsmouth as a vacation spot and this is a fabulous restaurant that is definitely not a tourist trap.

B Great service from Tim M. Quality food and lovely, relaxing atmosphere. Sunshine Protection cocktail was very good. Braised escargots and roasted Brussels sprouts in chorizo cream sauce was excellent. Duck confit and pork cassoulet w Baer's flageolets and winter spinach was good but I found the pork too salty. Rice pudding w squash purée and pistachio-pepita granola was a great ending to my meal.

This is a staple for us. Menu is always changing, and always so creative. We enjoy sitting at the bar upstairs, and whomever is tending does not disappoint in drinks, knowledge, or social accompaniment to make the night a great experience.

Wow - what a great experience! We started with appetizers and sides and they were so good, and unique, that we never ordered a main course. The beet (yes, beet and not beef) carpaccio was excellent, and who would think to embed a delicious crab cake with a thick piece of grilled butternut squash... Atmosphere is quaint and near the harbor and tugboats, the service was excellent, and we loved our meal at the Black Trumpet in beautiful Portsmouth, NH.

A flavor blast in your mouth. A couple of the courses I just scarfed down cause I was hungry - but it all was fantastic. Especially the mussels and the paella. Also the zucchini bread in the bread basket with so fire with the mustard butter!

Came here for dinner on a recommendation from a friend. We had to wait because we didn't have a reservation, but it was worth it. Great cocktails. We did small plates. The scallops were masterful. Service was a touch slow, but with a smile and didn't really impact the overall experience. Would return.

Amazing food! The best meal I've had in Portsmouth. The restaurant has a good vibe indoors and friendly staff, but the food is what really shines. For an app, I got the charcuterie board with a NH cheese. For main course, I got chicken apple sausage with red potato purée, fried kale, and a pear compote - unbelievably tasty. I tried all three of the desserts on menu, including an olive oil cake with buttermilk drizzle and blueberry corn purée, lager torte with apple compote, and brownie pudding with brown sugar whipped cream, candied nuts and macerated cherries. The olive oil cake was interesting but wasn't for my palette. I liked the torte and pudding best. 100% would come back here.

We had a great meal and wonderful experience at the Black Trumpet. The ambience was wonderful and the jazz playlist great. So often restaurants can be noisy. That's not the case at the Black Trumpet. Our charcuterie, pork chop, and seafood medley were unique and flavorful. The service was excellent even though our waitress appeared new and inexperienced.

The craft cocktails were perfect. The Chef's Meze Plate was creative and fun and didn't disappoint with well-balanced pops of flavor. The Head Lettuces salad sounded delicious, but fell short; it was bland. The Vietnamese Spring Roll was almost inedible due to being VERY spicy. My husband and I love a kick, but this was over-the-top hot. There was no mention of this on the menu. The service was lovely!

My husband and I come here at least 6 times a year. We cannot get enough of it! So far we have always sat upstairs. We always get the 5 course meal with a few drinks. Genuinely the best food I have ever eaten in my life including private chef tables. Last time we had the Almond Brownie Pudding and ordered 2 to go. Praying that recipe comes out in the next cookbook.

bad service. Next course came before our plates were cleared. Food was good but not great. Wouldn't recommend or come back. Go to a local seafood place instead