Stage Restaurant

We had a wonderful lunch at The Stage Restaurant in Keene! The atmosphere was classy but comfortable — upscale without feeling stuffy. The food was absolutely top-notch. We started with the fried Brussels sprouts, which were so good! The maple aioli that came with them was a match made in heaven — I even asked for extra so I could dip my sweet potato fries in it later. My husband ordered the Nouveau Burger, cooked to perfection, and I had the fish sandwich with those amazing fries. Everything was delicious, fresh, and beautifully presented. The service and overall vibe made it such a great experience. We left full and happy, and we’re already looking forward to going back!

Absolutely amazing food. I had the shrimp scampi app which was so flavorful in the perfect way and it came with really good garlic bread that was great to dip in the scampi sauce. Then the fish sandwich was so flaky and also flavorful. Only tip would be to ask for tartar sauce on it/in the side. Side note, I went on a weekend and they only serve apps, salads, and sandwiches for lunch. After 3pm, they add more entrees to the menu so plan accordingly for what you are looking for. They also have outdoor and indoor seating which is really nice!

Last week was the first time visiting the The Stage. I planned a bachelorette party for 12. The dinner was excellent, the service beyond reproach and the drinks were tasty. Every member of our group was impressed with the food quality which rivaled 5 star restaurants in larger cities like NY, San Diego and Chicago. Keene has a treasure in The Stage.

First time here [couldn't get in last time it was packed] and it was a great lunch. Eclectic menu with something for all. The menu is full of their own twists on some classic dishes like Poké Bowl and Gyro.

Five stars for the amazing Braised Short Rib! This dish was the definition of comfort food excellence. The meat was unbelievably tender, falling apart with the touch of a fork. The star, though, was the deep, dark, and perfectly reduced braising sauce—it was a complex, savory reduction that coated the meat beautifully. Paired with the creamy and well-seasoned mashed potatoes, this was a truly memorable plate. Highly recommend!

Dog friendly place with excellent service and delicious food. Server brought a dish of water for our pet malti-poo without asking. Ga ve a nice tip!

Everything about Stage is wonderful, the staff, the drinks, the food. The bloody mary was amazing, try it with Absolute Pepper! Lime in the coconut was also so good I had to have a second. We all had burgers, delicious! The location is great too, really nice area.

The Stage is a nice little teasure. Wedged in one of the nicest and most heavily trafficked areas of Keene, it's a great "quick stop" for lunch. Menu seems to change regularly but it's always greats. I recommend the Rueben. I'm told the burgers are awesome, but haven't had them personally. Service is professional and timely. Always ask to hear the specials. You'll need reservations in the evening. And dress light in the winter, they keep the place cozy and warm.

Our 1st time in Keene, NH & this restaurant was highly recommended- also close to Marriott. The server Kat was very gracious & knowledgeable. We had Crab Fritters to start- fabulous! I had a hearty Beet Salad & my husband enjoyed his Fish sandwich very much Beautiful & quaint venue right on the square- don't miss this great place if you are visiting Keene

5 stars impressed. Fresh and exciting food. My Ruben made with fresh cooked corn beef. Friendly and I recommend this restaurant if you're in or around Keene NH.

My wife, son and I had a nice dinner this evening. We wanted to eat outside, and there was a diner ahead of us on line; she said, you probably want to eat outside, and there is only one table p-- you can have it. We suggested that she just eat with us, and she accepted. So a nice conversation. I began with a spicy cocktail with passion fruit juice (do not recall the name), which was delicious to sip throughout the meal. Korean popcorn chicken with gochujang sauce was nicely spicy, accompanied by a very nice slaw of pickled carrot ribbons. My main course was the "Hell on noodles" -- pasta with chicken, sausage, vegetables and a spicy tomato sauce. Joe had a grilled tuna special, served atop a rice cake and topped with pickled onions and bok choy. Nancy enjoyed the beet salad with endive while our fourth had the Burrata Panzanella salad. We were much too full to try any of the desserts; indeed, we had a small box of leftovers to take home Pleasant, unobtrusive service. And nice to watch the traffic on the town square

Just the best Korean Chicken ever.... And Vietnamese Pho!! And we often are able to get seated on stage!

Sitting outside was really nice! We had the calamari, Ahi tuna poke bowl, and the Hells noodles. The calamari had really nice tomato sauce and tasted fresh (with good portions). The poke bowl was quite fresh. The noodles were a bit underwhelming as it didn't feel like the sauce had the right taste for this kind of dish. It almost felt like Tabasco sauce flavored pasta with sausage. But, nonetheless we had a pleasant experience and this is one of the more solid places in Keene.

Good food and cocktails . Saturday night bartenders provided good service amd suggestions . Enjoyed the poke bowl and swordfish treamendously .

I used to come here almost weekly, and then got food poisoning, how they handled the experience was not what I considered great, I sent my food back because it didn't taste right, they offered to make me a new dish, which they did, but then charged me for the higher priced item that I originally ordered even though it was bad. Offered no sympathy whatsoever, I ended up having to contact them after the fact to try and resolve the issue. Several months later I went back to give them a second chance, just ordered a salad and the chicken was severely overcooked and dry and tough. I haven't been back since.

Visited Keene today with wife and father in law. Stopped in for lunch under the recommendation of a local candy store owner. The food was great and the service was too. We chose to sit outside for the meal. It was a little cold outside being fall. But it was still enjoyable. I had the Rueben sandwich. Which I recommend. And my wife and father in law had the fish sandwich with sweet potato fries. Also an excellent meal. The French onion soup is great too.

Had a lovely dinner to celebrate our anniversary. We had a special bottle of wine we wanted to enjoy with our meal and the corkage fee was a reasonable $15. Our server, Heather, was professional and friendly and added to our experience. I enjoyed the duck confit (special of the day) and my husband had the flat iron steak- both delicious! They were very accommodating to my attempt to keep carbs low and substituted asparagus for the potatoes. We'll definitely be back when in the area. Thank you for a nice memory

We were visiting the area and decided to stop here for lunch. What a great choice. We were seated immediately and the waitress was very helpful. I ordered the spare rib and my girlfriend had the chicken and kielbasa appetizer. Both of our meals were excellent and full of flavor. We definitely recommend this place for lunch.

Cute spot with some semi-unique ingredients (as a southerner returning to New England after two decades, anyway) on the menu, as well as creative cocktails and gluten-free options! Server was very helpful and friendly, and the atmosphere was comfortable.

This was our 2nd time eating here, and another wonderful meal! Then waitress was amazing & attentive to our needs. The only thing wrong was that the restaurant was not warm, and we had to put our jackets on. Overall, an excellent meal & terrific service!

Food was great, service was a little slow at lunch but it was a beautiful day and we ate outside so we didn't mind the wait.

Delicious food, beautiful ambience, and lovely cocktails! Good service. Nice variety in the menu with seasonal specials. I would definitely go back if in the Keene area again!

Martini heaven!!! We did a walk in right when they opened and got sat with a table of 8 people. The food was good but the martinis were better!

Food was AMAZING. My husband, a Chicken Parm snob, says this was one of the best he's ever had. The portion was HUGE. I had a dinner special, pork Milanese with a bourbon maple cream sauce... phenomenal! The hostess was very accommodating considering we were very early and the phone was ringing. We had a lovely server, very smiley and overall great service. Not noisy so a great date spot!

Everything on the menu is the best possible version. David was our server. He was so much fun. Knowledgeable and prompt. The drinks are wonderful. The atmosphere so nice. The slow roasted pot roast was the real test. Like mom makes. The gravy on the chicken fried steak was something you will never forget. Fresh thyme wow.

This place was great! It was a bit pricy, but I don't regret getting the Brussels sprouts appetizer (good lord, the maple dipping sauce!!) and the short rib entree. The short rib was cooked well, and the cheesy potatoes were a great touch. I'd say my biggest complaint is the roasted veggies on the side weren't fully cooked and I had to ask for a steak knife to cut through them. I'd have swapped them for something different, or skipped them entirely for the Brussels instead if I'd known.

What worked: - huge meat portion in both sandwiches - hot, crispy fries - quick service - menu has lots of variety in both food and cocktails What didn't work: - bread for Reuben sandwich was soggy on the bottom - no portion control for the sauerkraut and thousand island (some bites had a ton of one and none of the other) - server never came back to ask how our meal was so while I would've gotten something in place of the Ruben, I didn't have the opportunity to do so This place wasn't even half full when we came in around 1:45pm on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, but sounded like we walked into a Friday evening happy hour situation. They have made some attempt to dampen the noise with panels on the ceilings, but those are no way effective against the townies who excitedly greeted each other and shouted despite standing adjacent to their friends' tables. Super clean unisex bathroom - despite people in and out, it was clean and smelled fresh.

Stopped in for lunch on a Thursday afternoon and was seated right away. They were doing good business that day, but service was still very good. We had the Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich and the Reuben with french fries. Sandwiches were good; fairly standard, but the Reuben was so stuffed with meat, sauerkraut and thousand island dressing that the bread couldn't hold it all. I ate the sandwich with a knife and fork! . The restaurant is dark and cozy. I'd go back.

Highly recommend the shrimp scampi and Ceasar's salad! Fantastic wine list and artisan cocktail. The pricing is comparable to similar restaurants. Handicapped accessibly is appreciated by our community. Dining al fresco style is available during the season and in the fall. Located in downtown Keene, NH. GREAT SHOPS ALL AROUND THE AREA!

Such a delicious meal here!!! We had a reservation for 12 adults. We were promptly seated. Our server was friendly and attentive to our table. There was a good drink menu and a great dinner menu. The swordfish piccata was outstanding. The other diners enjoyed the braised short ribs, chicken parmigiana and sandwiches. It was a good vibe for a fun Saturday night.

My wife and I I had lunch. I had the special chicken wrap and she had the poke bowl. Both were very good. Server was a little slow...but did not detract from our experience

A really great meal. The waitress handled our large group with ease . The clam chowder was excellent

Great craft beer selection. Had the flank steak gyro hands down best I've ever had. Sat outside on a nice fall day great atmosphere. Food came out really fast. Great service

The indoor space is so welcoming & well decorated. We opted to sit outside along the sidewalk. The little alleyway with seating looked super cozy. The drink list was impressive, and the 2 we got were perfect. Our mussels appetizer was yummy, and the dinner salad and hell on noddles were both great. Service was kind & prompt. We'd love to return

The drinks and Brussel sprouts are delicious! Amazing Bread too!! Definitely an incredible spot!

The wait staff is non professional. It seemed as if everyone from the hostess were upset and stressed. They were slow, rude and very confused.

Have been a few times now, always something interesting on the daily menus and never disappointed

Spontaneously stopped here for lunch. We got seated pretty quickly in a cute little outside grotto (which was fun til the sun came out and then we were being fried but we like to sit outside so it was our fault). I had the burger and sweet potato fries, which were tasty. My 3 companions all enjoyed their food as well, including a nonalcoholic cocktail called the Blackberry Bramble.

I had the braised short rib and the boss had the pecan encrusted salmon abed risotto. My braised beef was good, but the sauce was way too thick - it was pasty and offsetting for me to eat. The meat itself was pretty tender. The roasted vegetables were done properly. My wife's salmon was a standard fare. The risotto was mixed with cheddar cheese. That too was offsetting to me - it just made it too heavy. Good atmosphere, decent service but a couple key misses for me.

Hubby and I wanted to explore a bit of NH and find a place for dinner. We found The Stage on Yelp and decided to give it a try. It was a Friday night and they were fairly busy. We didn't have a reservation but luckily we didn't have to wait for a table. We ordered 2 glasses of Aviary Cabernet Sauvignon and a French onion soup to share. The soup was fantastic! Great temperature and flavor. The cheese was perfectly melty and toasted on top. It had a true homemade taste. For our entrees, I ordered the braised short ribs and hubby ordered the hell on noodles. Both dishes were unique and delicious. The braised short ribs were tender. It paired very well with the Gouda mashed potatoes. They served the short ribs with plenty of flavorful braising sauce which was amazing! I liked the broccoli and carrots in the dish, too. Hubby loved the hell on noodles. This was a flavor packed dish! The sliced kielbasa was crispy, the grilled chicken was seasoned well, the pasta was tender and the roasted peppers were a nice addition. All this in a succulent spicy tomato sauce - yummy! The service was great as well! The hostess was very friendly, our server was kind and attentive. There was a cheerful vibe throughout the restaurant that night which really added to the experience.

Keene, NH has become our new favorite college town replacing Northampton. During Covid (2020-2021) we found a lot of small towns in MA and VT had limited dining options and started venturing into NH having more choices available. We will ride the Harley up and stay at the Fairfield Inn so we can park and walk to the many bars and restaurants. The Stage has become one of our favorites. Known for its Martinis, my wife will order off the menu, and I generally will order a gin and juice (dry gin, grapefruit juice, splash of St. Germain, up). We usually get a good poor and since we walk, no worries about the alcohol. We usually don't get appetizers in attempt to save room for desert. Our choices for main meals include the pork chop milanese, braised short ribs, and the swordfish. Meals are cooked well and the portions are generous. Wife is a coconut fan, so the coconut cream pie is her fave. I go for the chocolate mouse torte. We stopped one Sunday for brunch on our way back from Laconia. Many choices if you are an eggs Benedict fan. Wait staff is usually very competent.

The Stage was immaculate, the appetizers didn't fill me up which is great because it allowed me to eat my main meal. Steak Tips with some either blue or fetta cheese, doesn't matter though cause I ate that. I ate it all, I give you 5/5. if I could give it a 6/5 I would.

I visited the area last year with the love of my life. We parked outside and struggled to find parking at first because we weren't used to the free parking times, but a hostess came out and helped us out. When we got inside, the atmosphere was AMAZING. I loved the vibe of the place overall. My girlfriend and I got seated and we were served some of the BEST food that I've eaten. I got the hell on noodles and oh my goodness, I was in heaven. I wish I made this review last year, but I forgot the name of the restaurant haha. Overall, Probably my FAVORITE dining experience. My girlfriend agrees with me that The Stage is THE place to go. I wanna visit New Hampshire JUST to eat there again, honestly. (we also chatted with passing servers and they were so nice, your hosts and servers were absolutely phenomenal at customer interactions. The chefs did amazing since I can still taste the hell on noodles to this very day!)

I've been here twice for lunch and brunch, and both times the food was delicious - artfully prepared and presented. Service from Kat was excellent. Even though the decor is not my usual preferred style, it is very tasteful, and the dining room feels clean and cozy in every part of it that I've seen. Definitely recommended!

I've driven by this place for years and had never stopped in. Recently, while in town with my wife, we decided to have dinner there. Wow! Shame on us for waiting so long. The food is absolutely fabulous. We shared the fried calamari which was cooked to perfection. Tender and tasty. My wife had the Poke Mahi tuna salad bowl and I had the swordfish with a cheesy risotto also cooked to perfection. Our waitress was awesome and actually helped me decide between the swordfish or the pasta bolognese. She was wonderful and attentive. I'd like to say that the Stage restaurant is a hidden gem for downtown Keene, but I think the word is already out.

Stopped in here for dinner with the family after having appetizers at another restaurant in town. I ordered the chicken pho and we had two servings of calamari as appetizers. The calamari was excellent, and I could've made a meal out of that entire plate. It was cooked so well and flavors added were complimentary and very tasty. The pho was super good as well, but there was just so much of it that I couldn't finish everything. We were travelling too, so I couldn't take the rest to go. I ate as much as I could, but I apologize that I didn't empty my bowl. I'd definitely be back for more in the future and would recommend it to others. Service was very friendly and courteous to all.

It was a short walk from Keene State. We mostly had burgers and they were excellent. They didn't even flinch when we ordered rare. French onion soup was also good but a bit sweet. The service was excellent and cheerful. The place was happily busy and noisy. It was a great choice for lunch and we'd go back.

Food and martinis were great. Had the PEI mussels , Brussels sprouts appetizers. NY Truman and chicken cordon bleu sandwich. Service was good too. We were very happy with this choice!

Absolutely wonderful food, wines, and dining experience! Most of all, our service was incredible! Our waitress Sky, renewed my faith in young people! She was so attentive, hard working, and yes, tended to our every need. Expertly paired wines and suggested meals. It is so uncommon for someone so young to be so well read and so sociable these days. She is such a breath of fresh air! I highly recommend this place. It is a whole experience. Very well Done!

We have been going to The Stage regularly since the early 90's, by far one of our favorite restaurants. This past weekend we were hosting some guests from out of town and we were excited to bring them to The Stage. Early in the day we called in a reservation for a party of 16, letting them know they could break us into multiple tables...which they said was fine. Upon showing up we were abruptly turned away, telling us they could not accommodate a large party. They acknowledge that we did call ahead and confirmed our discussion, but still refused to seat us without any apology or excuse. We felt like we were in a Seinfeld episode..."You know how to take a reservation, you just don't know how to keep a reservation". We will weigh our options with many of the other fine restaurants in town before going back, after being treated so poorly and rudely. A very disappointing event.

Stumbled on this during our drive back to Boston, from Vermont. What a gem! Great food, cozy and cool atmosphere and awesome service (sat at the bar). Would absolutely recommend!

the brussels sprouts are epic and the short ribs divine ! always enjoy eating there!

This place is absolutely delicious!!!! We had French onion soup, chicken and kielbasa from hell, shrimp scampi, side of vegetables, and pork chop. Every bite of everything was YUM!! We sat at the bar, and Sue is amazing!!!!!!! On top of everything, best service!! Every cocktail that came out of that bar was vibrant and looked delicious. I highly highly recommend this place!! We already made reservations for tomorrow for before we leave back to Boston!!

Amazing food. Everything was delicious! We had fried calamari, a salad with nuts and cranberries, gyros and the sticky toffee. Service was also great. Our second time here and will definitely be back.

Went with my brother for the first time, lived the decor. Staff friendly. Nicole our server was perfect. My brother had the Stage burger. He said it was perfect I had the Vegan Pho with short ribs. The ribs were very tender. In my opinion you should not call this PHO. I have been to 10 Vietnamese restaurants in the last two years to have PHO. The one thing they had in common was the broth was very much the same. The broth in the soup was nowhere near the same flavor as what you would have in the Vietnamese restaurant. Plus, it was not hot enough. But it was tasty and was very different. I just was disappointed. I was looking forward to what I think is real. PHO.

Stopped in for lunch and so glad we did. Serving inside and out. Great service. All food items with great presentation. Started w tomato cheddar soup. Creamy and cheesy. Gold fish crackers an added bonus. French onion soup. Perfect serving. Flavorful broth chock full of onions and delectable melted cheese. I had the buttermilk chicken sandwhich served w a basket full of fries. Chicken seasoning was flavorful. Hubby had chicken parmesan and loved it. Definitely worth a second visit. Stop on in. They won't dissapoint.

The drinks and food from this place are amazing. After two martinis I was feeling very good, I had gotten the nouveau burger and it was cooked to a perfect medium just like I had asked. The service was a bit slow at first and felt like they were still rallying for the dinner shift but they were kind enough to have us seated outside pretty promptly. The restaurant itself is pretty dark and intimate, i just wish their was better signage for the bathrooms. Other than that the food was really well done and drinks too. I recommend trying this place if you find yourself in Keene.