Puritan Backroom Restaurant

I usually love the food here. Chicken tenders are the best and that's needless to say. However, in my recent visit, I got salmon. It was overcooked and dry for some reason. I am guessing seafood isn't the specialty? But everything else was great. The service is always amazing and atmosphere is always welcoming.

Wowowow this place is AWESOME! Prices are high, but with that, you get a plate piled high with chicken and your side, plus a soup or salad, and good bread. The atmosphere is wonderful too. Industrial colonial style interior that is beautiful to look around at and speaks to this place’s history. The absolute star of the show was the corn chowder (one of the appetizer options). It was perfectly sweet, had the perfect texture, was fresh, and filling. I would buy it in a heartbeat if it was sold in stores. SO GOOD!! Overall, this place is a MUST-VISIT on your trip to New Hampshire or Boston. It blew my expectations out of the water! Well done, Puritan!

I’ve had plenty of meals here during my undergrad years in the late 1980’s; it was just as great now as it was then. The place is brighter and still busy on a Friday lunch. Keep being awesome! Thanks.

This is a wonderful and charming restaurant. Our service sitting at the bar after seeing a show at the Rex theater was phenomenal. The bartender gave myself, my wife and my son three different martinis that she recommended and they were absolutely amazing! We also got a sample platter of food since we were hungry after the show. Very nice quaint atmosphere and the food was delicious! Very reasonably priced and good quality food along with excellent service from our bartender. She really did a wonderful job and will definitely be coming back.

We stopped by on our way home from skiing. Pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere is very calming. There were a bunch of people in there but it was still very quiet. The server was amazing and attentive. And they aren't kidding about their chicken tenders and duck sauce being absolutely delicious. Best I've ever had. My kiddo didn't even want to share it with me! The ice cream is great also! They have the ice cream parlor in the front and restaurant separate in the back (very obvious due to name but I still asked 💀 I didn't know about the ice cream when we got there) you can also order ice cream at your table in the restaurant.

Highly recommended! Get food at a reasonable price. You can dine-in or call ahead and place an order for a pick-up. Their burgers and fries are great, but their fried coconut chicken is the best!

I heard Purtian Backroom offered fantastic chicken finger dinners. Just happened to be in Manchester, NH so it was an ideal time to try the restaurant for dinner. We had over a twenty-five minute wait with a very crowded waiting area and very limited seats. Once seated, we waited just under 10 minutes to for our server to come to the table to ask about our drink order. The server was very pleasant and engaging but somehow struggled to bring orders in a reasonable time to the tables she was attending too. From the time we placed our main course selections to getting the salad almost thirty-five minutes elapsed. About ten minutes later, the main course arrived. The chicken fingers were generous in portion size and not over cooked. They were just okay as they lacked flavor and juiciness. I also found them very heavily salted too. I've had much better chicken fingers at many restaurants that don't "specialize" in these as one of their "signature dishes". They were again, okay and fairly priced. The restaurant was very clean, renovated in the '80's and offered space between the tables so guests could comfortably relax and dine. The noise level was low considering the size of the restaurant and the number of customers. If you're in Manchester and happen to be close to the restaurant, it may be worth trying. I would say the dining experience and food would be best described as "typical and ordinary".

Best chicken tenders you’ll ever have. Please give it a try if you haven’t, totally worth it. Take out is an easy process and dining is also a great experience

I've been hearing the legends of this restaurant every time I've visited New Hampshire, and on my recent trip I finally tried it. The inside is cute and cozy, with an old style feeling and friendly service who you can tell have worked there awhile. We started with the potato skins as an app, and they were your standard potato skin - good, nothing to write home about. The star of the show for me was the mud slide - I chose the raspberry chocolate flavor, and they weren't kidding when they say these things pack a punch! I've heard you're cut off after 2 of these, and it makes sense. They don't taste like alcohol at all, but are packed with it! The raspberry was a nice flavor, and a friend got the seasonal creme brûlée flavor, which was also excellent. I had to get the legendary chicken tenders, and while they were definitely tasty and fresh (I dipped in their honey mustard sauce), I will say they didn't blow me out of the water the way I was expecting. I'm a fan of a more seasoned tender, and these really depended on the sauce. The meal was overall tasty and HUGE - I could easily have split the tender order, so the value is there. Pleased to have tried this local gem!

This place is legendary! I lived in and near New Hampshire for my whole life I can't believe I just now found out about this. What's not to love? The inside has an old charm, the place is packed and lively. My server Judy was prompt and friendly, chatting with us as we ordered and made us at home. The food is of course where they excel, claiming to be the inventors of the chicken tender, their chicken tenders are delicious. I tried the tender sampler and was very happy I did. The texture is perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The flavor is super unique, unlike any other chicken tender. They marinate the chicken in some kind of brine that has. Slight sweet flavor. Their dipping sauces are all good too. The secret star of the show was their home made baklava ice cream, it easily jumped to the top of my favorite ice cream flavors. Slightly sweet honey with spices and tons of fresh nuts, it was fantastic. They've been open for over 100 years and I hope they stay open for 100 more, I will definitely be making this a place I go to with family and friends over the years. Highly recommended !

Long time resident but seldom visit the Backroom. Day before Thanksgiving I needed a place for the now 21' s the younger kids and adults for a quick drink and snack. The Backroom was perfect! Phenomenal Mud slides for the 21+ and the sampler tender appetizer and fries were an unbeatable deal! Old place and new found home for us!

Our server was so kind, the food was great! I really liked the mashed potatoes! My boyfriend loved his chicken tender plate as well!

After a family recommendation, we made it on a busy Saturday! Luckily, our timing was perfect. We arrived without a long wait, but on the way out (about 4pm) there was a long list of folks waiting for a seat. We were seated quickly and addressed with requests for drinks. The waiter was very nice and reviewed a few things on the menu. We ordered an app of mozzarella sticks (see pic) and they came hot and plenty of them. They were great! Perfect size and fresh! We then ordered our main dish. Between us we had 2 small salads, a veggie pizza, chicken tenders with regular fries and spicy tenders with sweet potato fries. The amount of time between the mozzarella, our salads and our main dish was perfect. We all got refills on our drinks, in between, as our waitress was around the area and paying attention! Our 2 salads were great....basic tossed salad with italian dressing.....fresh and tasty! Our food was just "ok". The food didn't seem to have a great taste. I had the chicken tenders, which were plentiful but not very tasty. The fries were great but, again, I did not love the tenders....they were just "ok". The spicy tenders were a notch better than the regular tenders. The flavor was great with just the right amount of heat. I am not a fan of sweet potato fries but I was told they were excellent. I gave 4 stars. The service was excellent. The time it took to be seated- fine. Parking- plentiful (although it might not be that way when they are packed at dinner time). Price- fair and expected. We did not eat the ice cream on the way out! Maybe next time.....it certainly was busy in there!

Took a break from holiday shopping for a little lunch. Well worth the. Visit. In a world of employee complaining I witnessed this man as a bar back not only dominate his job but said thank you to all and had a smile on his face. I watched the manager pour drinks and serve food helping all around her. She knew her regulars and what they drank and or ate. Impressive ! Food was great. ! As usual.

I can't believe I've lived in Southern NH for more than 30 years and have never been here before. It's an institution, lauded for their chicken tenders but they have so much more to offer. First, the restaurant was already full by 430 on Friday. 5 min wait but when we left an hour later, it was packed with people waiting. Despite being full, it's not too loud to talk to your table and server. Speaking of servers, ours was terrific. Not that we were a tough group, just me, hubby and 2 grandchildren. As for the food, everything we tried was as good as you could hope, and reasonable ($66 without drinks or tip) We had: Hot dog, fries and milk off the very reasonable kids menu. Bacon cheeseburger and fries, cooked as ordered Fried Clams and homemade onion rings with Cole slaw - very good! And of course we tried the chicken tenders as an app. Real chicken, very tender, slightly sweet (light breading). Came with duck sauce (odd!). The kids weren't wowed but had we ordered a different sauce, the grownups would eat them again. The prime rib at the next table looked AH-MAZING. And huge. It was a special but probably a regular Friday offering. There are a bunch of other menu items I want to try (there's a Greek selection) so will definitely be back.

Tried it again. Got what we ordered this time so that's a plus. It was mediocre at best. I've decided I'm just not a fan so I won't go back. Nothing seriously wrong with it, just nothing really outstanding either.

Wow great chicken fingers. Ordered just the chicken finger sampler. Just finished my third meal with the amount they give you..... plus they tasted great

The food was excellent. We had to try the chicken tenders of course so we had the sampler for an appetizer. My husband go the blue cheese burger and I got the BLT. Both with generous helpings of fries. We will return - hopefully when it's less busy!

This is an institution. They have an ice-cream place in the front. Also has deli food for take out. The ice creams flavors are varied. The ice cream was great. Must have

Service was fast and the manager was very helpful when asked about allergy information. The dining room was very eclectic and fun. The cob salad was delicious I added the chicken tenders. The portions were massive and freshly made to order. Well worth the wait, especially when you are waiting with soft warm very fresh rolls. Sadly the line was too long for the desert side of the building. Will visit again to try the deserts in the future.

After seeing a YouTuber post about this place, I was pretty excited to try it out, but while it ended up being not bad, it didn't impress as much as I had hoped. We ended up driving through NH on a day trip and remembered the video, so we stopped by to give it a try. The food doesn't look like much, but they do above-average chicken tenders. I believe they use the actual cut of chicken called the "chicken tender" rather than chopping up chicken breast, so the chicken is very juicy and tender, but when I had them fresh they didn't have a whole lot of flavor. The duck sauce was a must-have to give the chicken a better taste. HOWEVER, the platter was so big that I couldn't finish it, and when I had it the next day, the chicken somehow tasted better than the fresh version. It had a sweeter taste and I could taste the marinade. On day 2, I didn't need the sauce to eat it - was a bit strange but not complaining. I think if I were in the area again, I'd stop by for some chicken, but I wouldn't make a trip specifically up to NH for this.

This place is a zoo on the weekends, only get take-out. Coconut & original tenders are the best (with the duck sauce, of course). Wasn't a huge fan of the parmesan and the buffalo was as-expected (zippy and messy).

I am an avid lover of Puritan's ice cream, no doubt about that I think it is the best ice cream I have ever had, I will even drive it 3 hrs back to ct to share with family. But I did not come here for ice cream today, I came to try the infamous mudslides that I have heard so much about over the years but surprisingly have never tried. They were out of their pumpkin mudslide which was what I originally tried to order so instead went with my second choice of the churro mudslide. One other and I both ordered the churro mudslide, the rim of the glass came with a cinnamon sugar rim and that was the best part of the mudslide. It was very disappointing the mudslide, it lacked flavor and alcohol. I was told that one mudslide would be enough but it tasted like watered down chocolate milk. It was nothing to excitement and nothing like word of mouth has shared. Maybe we got a bad batch? I'm not sure, but I am willing to try one more time for a $15 mudslide I am hopeful it would live up to expectations. For the meals, the serving sizes are massive, enough for two people or for left overs. I find the chicken tastes even better the second day! I had the sampler plate and enjoyed the spicy chicken a lot!

The food is always consistent and good. The service was above average; actually excellent as we had May Beth and she is fantastic. Deserving of at minimum a 20% tip. She is fast and super efficient and I wish we had her caliber in Hawaii. The ambiance is family friendly and a place that's worth frequenting often.

First time visit! Ordered the chicken tenders because I had heard they're great! I was not disappointed! They were perfectly fried and there were a ton of them. The Duck Sauce was delicious and not syrupy sweet! Can't wait to visit again!!

Honestly this place is just hugely disappointing. The chicken strips are mediocre at best. The sauces are mid tier. The staff is ok, but nothing to write home about. I don't understand the hype around this place. It's always crowded and for absolutely no reason.

James and Molly ordered chicken tenders and wings for take out here. The 'spicy' option was excellent! We also had a really nice greek salad and some fries. Highly recommend for great chicken!

across the board. Food , services and Ambiance is super. Gone here when I was here as a child with my parents , now my daughter loves it and we come here now

Great drinks and restaurant. The chicken tenders are oddly sweet and I don't prefer them but everything else was good.

Everyone talks about the great chicken fingers. They are too sweet.. and are dried out beyond over cooked. I understand that people find this place nostalgic. But the food is just not good. Ice cream is the only thing I will come back here for

Always a great place for special occasions! Food is great. Mudslides are great. Love! Brought my son here for his 21st bday with the family and everything was delicious!

This place was full of patrons and has a great vibe. It felt very family-oriented and inclusive. Service was top-notch. The standout were the mozzarella sticks which were the best I ever had. Also excellent was the clam chowder. Their chocolate bread pudding was okay until I spooned out paper bits. The shrimp scampi I ordered was quite bland and lacking sufficient garlic sauce. This place would not be a go-to for me, but if I did happen to return, I would order a different entree.

The chicken was sweet, it was was different than what I'm used to but it was good. The sauce one the chicken parm was a little over seasoned, we would probably get something different the best time. The service was wonderful. The servers were very nice and seemed to be checking in on tables. It was like Wright's Chicken farm but with a menu, lol, be prepared for a wait for a table but it was a nice experience.

Let me first begrudgingly admit that we've lived in NH for almost a decade and have never been here. Until today! Took the kids out for chicky tendies and ice cream and the backroom helped us win serious parenting points! Also we got mudslides, so win-win in my opinion. The food was good - not blow my mind good, but tasty nonetheless. The portion sizes were as large as the lovely waitstaff's personalities! We had a great time and came home with what felt like more food than we ate!

Huge quantities of food. Our table of three came for the recommended chicken tenders and they did not disappoint. We only wish we'd chosen some other things off the menu because honestly one dinner was enough for three people. I'd have liked to try the chicken pot pie, for example. We were in town on business and will definitely be back if we get to visit again.

Good food,great server! Definitely a family favorite! We go often and the wait has been short.

Best Mudslide's ever ... Still number one with their chickens tenders and signature dips . Best Greek salads with warm breads with your meals ., Service is great Lots of great deserts Still one of the best restaurants in NH

Sat at the bar, service was friendly and fast, drinks were cold, chicken tenders was plentiful with nice dipping sauce. Casual and nice atmosphere.

Ahhh The Puritan....if anyone is ever asking for an old school local legend, this is the place I send them. Sure the inside really hasn't changed or been updated in forever and the menu almost never changes, the food still satisfies. This is the place for chicken tenders fried to perfection. I actually had the broiled this time around and yes, I asked for the "special sauce" which is way better than any other dipping sauce (trust me on this) . They came with Greek salad, mashed potatoes, and the ever present basket of warm dinner rolls. We finished with the Mud Pie made with their house made coffee ice cream. Normally we have one of their famous Frozen Mudslides but we opted for a couple of beers with dinner instead. The staff is always friendly and ready to help with to-go boxes since the portions tend to be on the large size so plan on leftovers the next day. If you are looking for great food at a decent price in an atmosphere that hasn't changed in decades, you can't go wrong with The Puritan Backroom.

This is one of the worst experiences I have ever had. My family has been going here for over 60 years! My grandfather was friends with the original owner. They are known for the chicken tenders. I ordered the chicken tender parmigiana. Served to me burnt ends and dry. Sent it back which I never do. They brought me another plate exactly the same as the first. Even the manageracknowledged it was not right. No dressing on my salad and the waitress blew me off when all I wanted was some salad dressing. Also was told 29 minutes to be seated when it turned into over an hour because they somehow forgot ? Wow...so bummed. Will never go back because this was the second bad experience.

Went here for lunch recently as it was recommended. My first reaction upon entering was that the restaurant is dark and dreary with a lot of dark woods throughout and little if any natural light coming in. I honestly don't remember there being any windows. I had their Texas Burger with lettuce, tomato, onion, and cheese with a side of fries. I ordered the burger medium well and I'd say it came slightly medium. The patty lacked seasoning. The fries were mostly limp, not at all crisp. My wife had their Reuben on rye. The corned beef was on the tough side. Service was quick and efficient. That is the lone highlight. I don't think we'll go back.

Always loved this establishment. Wait staff was great, but, food was terrible. Has gone way downhill. Rolls are cheap and taste awful. Syrian bread taste like that packaged stuff from Market Basket. We ordered French Onion Soup.....was so spicy we could not eat it. Chicken fingers were overcooked and tough. Coating is tasteless and the quantity is less than half of what it used to be. $22 for the dinner. Not cheap. Not mamy customers. Guess we won't be returning either. Very disappointing.

If I could, I'd make this 6 stars or maybe even 7. This is by far the best chicken place out of any other chicken place ever. With them being the inventor of chicken tenders, it definitely shows!! They're really nice people and the portion sizes are insane! For the price, you'll be getting meals for a few days to a week. Also the loaded cheese fries are really good you should give them a try. The spicy chicken tenders aren't really that spicy but still it's insanely good with a nice sweet taste to it. The chicken parm tenders with penne is the best meal I've had from there. I've only been to this place twice but so far nothing has disappointed me about it. It's a very nice ambiance as well, very chill and fits a good restaurant. Please try!!!

The best of the best! If you like great food & service this is the place. Have been going here for many years. You won't leave there hungry

They have very good food. They get very busy. But my husband & , I always sit at the bar so I think that's why I service probably is a little bit quicker.

I ordered the Greek salad with chicken and it was quite tasty. The wait staff were attentive but let my friend and I sit and talk for a long while. Busy enough for a weekday afternoon but not too noisy. It's a Manchester landmark and a good restaurant for get togethers.

We went on a Sunday at 4pm and the place was packed. I'd never been there, but figured it was a good sign. I was very wrong. The food left much to be desired. We got a burger, which was bland and overcooked; hardly memorable. Nothing to write home about at all. Totally disappointing. Our other meal was baked haddock with bread crumbs. The haddock was the smallest fillet I'd ever seen and had about a half-inch of breadcrumbs on it. The flavor and texture were sub-par; hardly worth more than a $5 fish fillet from McDonald's. There's probably more fish in the McDonald's one. This place used to have a stellar reputation for fried chicken, but it was like rubber with a little batter on it. One of our guests ordered the lamb kabobs, which were dry and overcooked. The other got the famous chicken tenders. I'll never go there again. It was $140 for the four of us and we didn't have any alcohol. What a waste of money.

this place never misses! obviously you have to get a mudslide but even takeout is great. my favorite is half spicy half coconut tenders with spicy fries

This place is great. It's where the chicken tender was born in 1974 (admittedly, a disputed claim) and, 50 years later, the chicken tenders are still going strong. A friend of mine had her phone auto-correct "We're going for chicken tenders" to "We're going for assh*le tempers" so... that's how they are now affectionately referred to in my household. "Road trip for assh*le tempers; who's in?" But it's not only the chicken tenders. It's the mudslides which are out of this world. (I personally like the caramel encumbered slide [The Milky Way slide].) The entire dish of fried chicken tenders parmigiana cannot be eaten, in one sitting, by even the heartiest appetites. Prepare to take home enough leftovers for 3 days. Through a series of interesting circumstances and group events, I ended up at the Puritan 5 times within 4 weeks. I did not suffer Puritan fatigue. Each visit was awesome and I would go back again next week. (Well... y'know, everybody ~does~ like variety; but I wouldn't complain if I ended up at the Puritan again next week). My Dad has proclaimed this his favorite restaurant in the world. I'll give it to him; the Puritan rocks.

Ok, just had the chicken tinders, onions rings, and soup. The chicken tinder's were tender and tasty. Did the buffalo sauce. The soup corn chowder I have had better. .

Great place for the family! Def would go back. Service was excellent also. Food was delicious.

First time here. Service was good and we enjoyed the spicy tenders the best (more peppery than spicy).

Food was outstanding portions were great. Very busy establishment. A little slow from the door to the table. But overall a great atmosphere. And service from the waitresses is better than good but less than great. food came out very fast and hot.

The chicken tenders with duck sauce are so amazing! I think all of the food is good, and the service is also excellent. All in all, a reliable place to have a great meal! Very warm and expansive interior.

Delicious food. Always packed on Friday's but it's worth the wait. The chicken tender sampler is my favorite. Spanakopita and filled mushrooms are my to go order.

Highly overrated. Expensive and quite frankly not worth it. The two times I have been here they have been absolutely mobbed. Aside from their chicken finger recipe and mudslides this place is really, not that great. Paying close to $25 for some avg. Lamb, which portion wise is laughable and a mountain of rice isn't my cup of tea. Disappointed is an understament. Id go to the place across from gil stadium for my Mediterranean lamb fix and will spend a fraction of the cost next time and perhaps far better quality too.

The corn chowder was very good I have not been to this place in over 20 years does not disappoint. The frys are good hot and seasoned for the chicken tenders and frys and definitely is enough to split !!!!!!!! I should of took a picture of it so if u want to split it u can and u will still be full the server was good the time it took to get the food thank you