Popovers On the Square

American restaurant · Portsmouth

Popovers On the Square

American restaurant · Portsmouth

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8 Congress Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801

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Highlights

Signature popovers with maple butter, pastries, sandwiches, & coffee  

Featured in Conde Nast Traveler
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8 Congress Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801 Get directions

popoversonthesquare.com
@popoverseppingnh

$10–20 · Menu

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8 Congress Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801 Get directions

+1 603 431 1119
popoversonthesquare.com
@popoverseppingnh

$10–20 · Menu

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Aug 20, 2025

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The Best Things to Do in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, From Black Heritage Landmarks to a Turkish Cafe

"Popovers on the Square crafts breakfast sandwiches and dozens of pastries, including the signature popover; get one with maple butter, or stuffed with scrambled eggs."

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/where-to-eat-stay-and-play-in-portsmouth-new-hampshire
View Postcard for Popovers On the Square

Hanah Roberts

Google
This is the kind of place where you just KNOW everything on the menu is delicious! Best fruit tart I ever tasted with a nice touch of fruity jelly on the bottom. I picked the “pick two” option for lunch and was also blown away by the BLT and the Greek salad. The tiny popover (I think that’s what it was) was also surprisingly delicious especially with the sweet butter. My husband also enjoyed his burger. Would definitely recommend!

Deb Clif

Google
Came in for a popover and dessert later in the day. The popover was amazing! The kids picked a few desserts. The brownie was a little hard and cupcakes didn’t seem fresh. Maybe because we came late in the day? Maybe a discount for later in the day desserts then? We did not have any other food, but looked amazing!

Caleb Bogaczyk

Google
Latte was watery. Loaded Popover was ok, popover was not the freshest. Service was ok, but you order at the counter and they brinf you your order and thats about the extent of the service... outdoor seating was nice.

Erica C

Google
Popovers is a cute little bakery/sandwich spot in downtown. I absolutely love their selection of sweet treats and coffees. The prices are reasonable, and you can easily spend under $10 on a to-go order. Some of my favorite desserts include the key lime pie and fruit tarts. During my most recent visit, I also discovered my newfound love for Chai Tea Lattes. I always look forward to future visits.

Kaitlyn Baldwin

Google
Very cute place! We enjoyed our lunch! The popover are massive and so yummy and the desserts were very delicious! The staff was so attentive and helpful (we asked for hot water to warm a bottle).

Samuel Dauphinais

Google
Amazing staff and service. Excellent food. Great atmosphere. Very dog friendly Staff brought out water for our dog without us even asking. Very kind

Nazim Erol

Google
Busy place with nice ambiance. The seasonal drink fall flannel was very good along with french dip sandwich. The place was lively and filled up as we were ordering. Even though the crowd and demand, food came out really good. Looking over the NH old structures thru window front seating was a plus. I recommend!

Ang Schuckle

Google
OH.MY.GOODNESS! our cousins told us this place was a MUST as we traveled thru Portsmouth. They weren't kidding! The simple, warm popover with maple butter was scrumptious!! I decided to have one with tuna salad and my husband had the breakfast biscuit. Everything was better than we could have hoped. We will go back! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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Paige P.

Yelp
Visited while on vacation and loved the cute atmosphere and friendly staff. We ordered mini popovers and two drinks. * Popovers: Delicious, and the butter they come with is fantastic. * Hot caramel apple cider: Very good, though quite sweet. We didn't mind, but it's worth noting if you're not a fan of sweet drinks. * Hot spiced apple cider: Perfectly spiced and not overly sweet. If we lived nearby, we'd definitely come back!
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Ted R.

Yelp
Popovers on the Square is conveniently located in Portsmouth and is a very pleasant place with good people-watching from their patio. We were there in September, after the crush of tourists, but it was still pretty busy. I am a popover lover, but I realize that popovers must be served hot to be at their peak. The sandwiches were at a disadvantage because the popovers were at room temperature. The two extra popovers we got and ate for breakfast the next day were not ideal (we had no way of reheating them.) I mention this because although not the fault of the restaurant, you will do yourself a favor just to get hot popovers and eat them immediately with their excellent maple butter. I had the salmon plate (aka lox, cream cheese on a popover). This was a good portion of lox, with nice accompaniments including chopped egg and pickled onions. I was wary of pickled onions, but they were a fantastic addition because the acidity countered the fattiness of the cream cheese and of the salmon. Honestly, I'd rather have this on a bagel, but when the name of the restaurant is "Popovers," that seemed foolish. My wife had the egg salad sandwich, which normally comes on a toasted sourdough roll, but she opted for a popover. Again, although the popover was good, it didn't really provide the optimal holder for the egg salad. My rating was a quandary because we really liked the ambiance and the food, but because of what we ordered, the popover wasn't the best choice to show-off the popovers. I think this would be a better place for breakfast than lunch and by ordering in a way that best shows off the popover. Based on what we ordered, three stars is fair, but based on the potential of ordering differently, I'm sure they would be four stars.
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Shawn K.

Yelp
Popovers feels like a twist on a small town diner. The popovers are great for breakfast and remind me of the ones my mom would make at Christmas time growing up. They have good coffee and decent prices.
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Joel C.

Yelp
The popovers are very good. Had a sandwich that was excellent and very tasty although the portion was a little small. Service was very quick and friendly. It was very loud and super busy in the dining area and a few rude people made that experience not the greatest. Not holding that against the business though.
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Rox R.

Yelp
This place was amazing. Lucky for us we got there in time for a popover. Love the cute atmosphere. Busy place, parking. Isn't easy ?but worth it. Eggs and bacon popover. It's a must - hopefully I can pop back in on my next visit.
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Melanie B.

Yelp
Two yrs ago I was in town and I really wanted to eat here, but it was closed. So this time in Portsmouth, I made sure to stop in. Maybe it's just that I overhyped it in my brain, but they were just okay. The popovers were cold and had little flavor. I got the loaded one that came with scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage, bacon, and cheese. I ate the filling out of it, but was otherwise a bit apathetic. They bring your food to you, but you need to clean up after yourself, which I don't mind at all. An employee told me he'd take care of my dishes which was really kind of him. It's busy and loud even on a Monday afternoon. A good sign that people seem to really like this place. We didn't have a long wait for a table for 2, but the wait for our food was about 25 min.
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Leslie C.

Yelp
Nice warm respite from the cold weather. My daughter ordered the quiche and i got the tomato soup and a popover. The soup was just creamy tomato deliciousness. The popover was perfect for dipping in the soup. Quiche was tasty. Service was quick and the restroom was clean. The baked goods looked tasty as well! i'll definitely return!

DeAnna G.

Yelp
Such a cute place for brunch! You order and sit. Drinks you pick up yourself and the food comes to you (they call your name). Plenty of seating. Friendly workers! I ordered the ham and cheese quiche with a side of fruit and it came with a mini popover. The crust on the quiche was so sweet and delicious, the egg had a nice texture. i absolutely loved it! My son ordered the avacado toast which came with a hard boiled egg, red onion and marinated tomatoes. He loved his!
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Rachael W.

Yelp
Overall, a positive experience. Felt like a local equivalent to a Panera where you could get decent food for a reasonable price. We went for lunch and they had pastries as well if you needed to grab something for your sweet tooth. Staff were friendly and efficient. Food overall was OK, my husband enjoyed his sandwich and I found the mac & cheese underwhelming and lacking flavor. The atmosphere is casual with plenty of seating as well as a nice patio space available where you can bring your dog. If you are looking for quick and cheap place to eat while shopping, I would give it a try.

Emily M.

Yelp
Loved it! I'm from NH but now live in the Midwest and you can't get food like this there at all anywhere. Great clam chowder in a great town. Very well done
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Jake D.

Yelp
Food was amazing! Got an apple turnover thing with a coffee and it was unbelievably delectable. Yum, yum, and yum again. Will be returning.
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Morgan D.

Yelp
My boyfriend and I here yesterday on our way to Maine. Our experience was 10/10 - the popovers with the maple butter were delicious, the outside shaded seating was perfect and the personable customer service was outstanding. The cashier even remembered my boyfriends name when he went back inside to bring in our dishes. I wish I lived closer to make this a go-to spot.
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Jonathan A.

Yelp
Dropped in for an afternoon snack. They were all out of scones, so I got the last Blueberry Muffin. It was quite delicious, with a sugary crunchy top and plenty of blueberries inside. Service was fast and I would come back again.
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Misty P.

Yelp
I haven't had a popover in a very long time, because I require gluten free. Gluten free popovers are a rare find! The popover itself was light, flakey inside with a bit of a crunch on the outside. I would definitely order it again, if I were in the direct proximity! I had it with the chicken salad, and this is where it didn't necessarily go south, but it didn't do the popover any favors. The chicken salad was too chunky for such a light bread, and there was no flavor. The staff was friendly and courteous. The popovers are good! If I had it to do over, I would choose a couple of plain popovers - no filling - and some coffee. The coffee was fantastic!
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Stanley L.

Yelp
Popovers very good, whether you get the large or small version; popover sandwich a good change over a wrap, the chicken salad had large chicken with a hint of curry. The clam chowder was excellent.
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Joseph C.

Yelp
As expected, this restaurant gets a lot of business on a Sunday morning. We were fortunate to be a little ahead of the curve as we ordered and sat ourselves before 9:30. After that, we saw long lines at the register and people looking for seats. The menu was plentiful. The sausage and cheese omelet was excellent, but the fries were a bit overcooked. The avocado toast was delicious. Service was very pleasant and there is a fair amount of seating available. Nice, community type vibe to the restaurant. We would certainly come back to try some of the other menu items.
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VietCitron T.

Yelp
Delicious hot popover and red velvet cupcakes. Cute vibe and friendly staff. Has outdoor seatings for doggo.
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Nancy P.

Yelp
Go for the atmosphere if nothing else. It is phenomenal. We had to wait about 30 minutes for an outside table but it was worth it and I was able to walk down by the lake while we waited. Located on Jordan's Pond with mountain tops over the lake is just breathtaking. Food was pretty good. You have to try the Popovers but they were just OK in my opinion for $5 or $6 each. We also had a lobster stuffed popover that was pretty good, filled with lobster, lettuce and sauce. Service was also just OK but the real treat here is the surrounding scenery. If we had eaten inside not sure I would have giving it a 4 star rating. The outside dining was what took this to a 4 star. But if you are in the area at least hang out and walk around the lake. Absolutely gorgeous with ample parking on the day we went.
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John B.

Yelp
This place is busy! We were traveling through and needed some late breakfast. The line to order moved quickly. We were able to grab a table inside. It is nice that you can order then a server brings out your order. Everything is efficient. The baked goods are very nice. The popovers and maple butter are very fun. The scrambled egg and popover was tasty. The regular egg sandwich was a little disappointing. One dried egg, three pieces of soggy bacon with two pieces of unmelted cheese but the sourdough roll was very tasty. The food took a while to come out. If you went in for coffee and a baked item, you would be out quick.
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Yutin Z.

Yelp
One of the best tomato soup and grilled cheese I've ever had! Came here with a friend last weekend, we ordered the tomato soup and grilled cheese and a popover to share! The tomato soup was very flavorful and creamy. The cheese was nicely melted and went perfectly with the grilled sourdough bread. The popovers were great especially with the maple butter it came with! I also ordered an iced chai which was average. Overall, would recommend checking this place out!!
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Taylor P.

Yelp
Fantastic lattes and even better popovers. I am shocked at how delicious the gluten free popover was! This place is a must try.
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Liz E.

Yelp
A friend bought popovers from Popovers on the Square. We warmed them up the next morning for breakfast and they were delicious. They remained popped and reheated beautifully.
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Whitey F.

Yelp
If your name is "Popovers", the popovers should always be hot. They are often cold and bland. Big disappointment.
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Hannah S.

Yelp
Location couldn't be better - and the pastries we had were excellent! Might've been the absolute BEST fruit tart I've ever had! As well as their eclair - fantastic!! Coffee was good and the popover was interesting. Found this place as we were exploring Portsmouth and were needing some coffee to warm us up. So glad we did! I ordered the El Diablo which was half hot chocolate and half coffee. They give you the cup with only the hot chocolate in it so that you can fill the rest up with as much of their delicious coffee as you want from the self serve bar. It was great! And the Chai Latte was good too - nice and spicy! The popover was fresh and hot - soft and creamy - not overly sweet! They give you some maple butter to go with it and it was the perfect compliment- not too sweet at all. Thoroughly enjoyed it! The eclair was one of the best ones I've had - flaky and crisp on the bottom, excellent amount of chocolate on top and the cream in the middle was light and fluffy! But the fruit tart really stole the show...it was the BEST I've ever had!! The crust was crumbly and it just melted in your mouth. The filling was light and creamy with a subtle vanilla flavor and the fruit on top was supple and fresh! I'm just mad I didn't get more while I was there LOL!! The cafe was cozy with great window seating for people watching while you have your treats. The staff were very welcoming and helpful. They even readily gave me as much whip cream on top of my El Diablo as I wanted. We had a great experience- will happily visit again if I'm in the area!
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Phil P.

Yelp
It was a great experience. People were so kind and helpful. Food was great. Popovers, soup and mongolian beef were all excellent. This place is a must-visit in Portsmouth.

Patty P.

Yelp
The consistency of feeling well cared for by your devoted employee, Kate, is what makes me a loyal costumer at Popovers. Kate is gracious, knowledgeable and deeply committed to going above & beyond to provide exceptional service.
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Me L.

Yelp
Gluten-free popovers. Mic. Drop. Popovers don't really rely on developed gluten for their texture, so the gf version was excellent, and very welcome! I thoroughly enjoyed my loaded breakfast popover, but next time, I might just revel in the gluten-free delights of a plain one! (Possibly in addition to the loaded popover...)

Kurt G.

Yelp
The popovers are delicious, the real deal. An old New England favorite, but not always easy to find these days. Perfect iced chai latte. Wonderful outside tables to sit and enjoy the city
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Samantha M.

Yelp
Absolutely loved both the gluten free and regular popovers. This place is 2.5 hours from our house and I dream of going back there. We planned a winter trip and will definitely be getting some popovers for the way home. We stopped by mid morning, they were fresh when we purchased and they tasted equally delicious after being warmed up the next two days.
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Michelle L.

Yelp
I met friends for lunch in downtown Portsmouth on a Friday and we chose Popovers on the Square. I ordered the bowl of Clam Chowder and it came with a popover that I upgraded to a large popover. I'm sorry to say I did not enjoy either the chowder or the popover. The clams in the chowder had grit in them which was unpleasant. The popover was kind of dry and lacked flavor. My friends who ordered sandwiches enjoyed their food much more than I did. Later in the day we stopped back in to pick up a pastry and that we did enjoy.
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Mark C.

Yelp
This is the first time I've ever had popovers so I showed up to this restaurant/bakery cause I was curious how they tasted. Since popover was in the name, I assumed that the popovers here would be worth getting. An individual popover costs around $3 but you can buy them in bulk for a cheaper cost. They make them ahead of time and when you order one, they heat it up. The process of heating up the popover is quick so I quickly got my food and sat down. They give you some butter on the side but it turns out that the butter is very important to the entire meal. The popover itself is like a bread roll but much bigger, fluffier, crispier (on the outside), and buttery. The inside is hollow and the taste of egg is very present. Besides that, it mostly tastes like bread which is why the butter was so important. The butter is cold and hard which confused me at first but it seems to be infused with sugar and cinnamon or something else that makes it very sweet. Only a little bit goes a long way but the butter made the popover much more flavorful. I didn't get a chance to try anything else on the menu but nothing seemed too bad. I liked the interior cause there was a lot of room and they have self-service water. It's a seat yourself establishment. The ambience was very busy on a rainy Saturday noon. Not sure if I'll be back since the popover didn't blow me away or anything, but it was an enjoyable bite in downtown Portsmouth.
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Cindy S.

Yelp
OMG so good! A must have when in the area. Oh, and the butter.......outstanding! Will pick up more on the way home!
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Jennifer O.

Yelp
Their baked goods looked delectable and whimsical. The buttercream frosting of the cakes are stuff dreams are made of. Their namesake popovers were less custardy than I had hoped for but solid. While I know pots of homemade jam are out of the question during the pandemic, I wish they'd offered sealed disposable cups of compote, preferably house made; Smuckers didn't hit the mark. Still, customer service was friendly, they observe all COVID rules and strict contact tracing (California needs to tear a page from New Hampshire's businesses). Right on Market Square, this is a good spot to stop for coffee and something sweet to enjoy here - or take home.

S A.

Yelp
Amazing food, great service and a must anytime I'm in town. I've never been to a restaurant before that served popovers and I absolutely love them!
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Hilary M.

Yelp
I have always loved popovers and walking inside the restaurant, you immediately smell that baked goodness. We sat in the back with a toddler and they couldn't have been nicer. I had the amazing Tomato soup with a popover so did my companion. When we were done we decided to have a Popover salad. The popover that came out was really small so I asked a waiter if that was normal and she asked, "do you want one of the big daddys?" ha ha, so I said yes and she brought it over and wrapped up the rest of the super fresh salad for us -- so nice and helpful and kind. I loved this place.
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Bill S.

Yelp
Checking out my Boston hotel, I told the front desk I'm heading to Portsmouth NH. Oooh, try Popovers. It's Deelish! Popovers? Like Poppin' Fresh rolls? I check into my hotel in NH. I ask, is Popovers close by? Yes sir, I'm told. It's right around the corner. Well poke my belly, I'm going for breakfast! Walking inside, there are a plethora of Popover choices. I want the simple and classic Popover, Scrambled eggs on a Popover. I also grab a hot coffee and a cookie and sit outside on this nice October morning. The Popover? Its good but it's not a freshly made out of the oven baked item. They sliced the Popover and added the breakfast scrambled eggs. Sitting outside and enjoying my breakfast in downtown Portsmouth is priceless. The popover has a nice taste, it's not something I would think would work but it does. The bread is soft, almost cake like. I normally associate Popovers with a steakhouse bread basket but when you add the scrambled eggs? It's one tasty treat!
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Jenny G.

Yelp
This is a very easy resturant to get to as Portmouth is a small town. It is located in the heart. Popovers is bread that is somewhat crispy shell and a soft in the inside. It is a must try when you are in Portmouth and it is very easy to get. Just walk in and head straight to the counter and order. We like it warmed and comes with a side of maple butter!!!!! It is divine! Creamy and just enough sweetness. Let it melt on the popover and enjoy. This is very memorable and if you are in Portmouth, get some.

Lori V.

Yelp
Have always wanted to try this place. Got my chance yesterday. Have to say, very impressed! Enjoyed a wonderful toasted roast beef sandwich with delicious horseradish aioli. My husband enjoyed his BLT and clam chowder. The service was great! Cute café. Will definitely go back to try the rest of the menu.
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Allison C.

Yelp
Stopped in for breakfast around 10AM on a Sunday morning. The treats behind the counter looked really good, but for our first visit we were looking to just grab something quick for breakfast. We were going to order two eggs benedict, and were told they only had enough to make one...which was kind of surprising, and disappointing. We ordered the one and ordered an egg and cheese sandwich with bacon instead. For the price we paid, the egg sandwich was so small. It tasted good, but I was definitely still hungry. We went to another business across the street for a better second breakfast.
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Susan D.

Yelp
Friendly and relaxed staff behind the counter. Coffee was self serve out of pump carafes so not as piping hot as you might want while waiting for your food. Dining room was somewhat crowded but that's because their popovers are good good good. Plan to wait 10 minutes or so for your popovers if it's busy or go earlier
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Nancy T.

Yelp
Been to the one in Portsmouth and it was fabulous popper popovers were over-the-top fresh delicious with a scrambled egg inside and wonderful fresh coffee so enjoyed it will go back. Haven't tried the one here in Epping where I now live have to give it a try.
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Denise M.

Yelp
A great breakfast or lunch spot with a lot of gluten-free options was pleasantly surprised even gluten-free popovers, and cupcakes, along with the sandwiches were gluten-free. The staff are very friendly. It's clean, the coffee is good highly recommend going to popovers in Portsmouth. I'll return on my next trip home to see family. I appreciate the gluten-free options.
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Beth S.

Yelp
Popovers always great - but the guy behind the counter decided they would deliver everyone's food except for ours today. Had to run back and forth three times. Come on- don't be lazy!
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Kate F.

Yelp
Fun! I like a restaurant based all around airy popovers. I got a coffee and popover to go. I wasn't a huge fan of the coffee, but I could have had several of their popovers with the cinnamon butter. Neat spot.. I'd go back again.

Phil S.

Yelp
Just ok. Nothing special. If you can't get into Elephantine, this might be a distant second choice. Friendly people.
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renje g.

Yelp
- nice service - good suggestions - white chocolate mocha is good - pumpkin latte was kind of sweet - this is my first popover and I wasn't the biggest fan admittedly, I was also full but if I did like popovers, I would enjoy this place
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Becky F.

Yelp
If you're looking for raw dough and a lukewarm drink, this is the place. I make brioche all the time, so I know it can be tricky to cook it perfectly. But I'm not a professional, so I'd expect them to have a better grasp on making things like popovers. When I split open the popover, the inside was squishy and the crust felt stale. If you pinched off some of the inside, you could roll it between your fingers and have raw dough. I mean, these are baking fundamentals! Very disappointed, will not be coming back.

Susan N.

Yelp
I'm sorry to give this place a low review. Used to love it, prices have soared and quality has taken a huge dive. Tried it again after a disappointing experience a few months ago. Nope, same. Both my husband and I had soup, literally like warm, although the tomato bisque had good flavor. My husbands clam chowder was bland, too full of potatoes and gritty clams. His tuna was dry and tasteless. I had veggie quiche which had seen better days a week ago. Don't expect sides, it wasn't even offered!
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David J.

Yelp
Another return to this Portsmouth staple. Love the popovers. Had a mint lychee refresher. Delish