The Oar House

I chose this restaurant for a meet up with friends from out of state. I got the Oar house special that had an amazing taste to it, but was the smallest portion in the world. It maybe had 4 pieces of overcooked shrimp, 3 overcooked scallops and a tiny piece of haddock that was already broken apart. For the price things should definitely fill you a tiny bit. When the scallops were put down we all laughed. I know things have gone up in price, but come on. The service was great and the views you can't beat! Portions are ridiculous and seafood overcooked unfortunately. Probably won't be back. Only giving a 3 star because of the service and views on the deck.

Best Lobster Roll in Portsmouth – Hands Down! I’m still dreaming about this lobster roll. Absolutely phenomenal. The tail meat was front and center — fresh, tender, and bursting with that sweet ocean flavor that’s so hard to find, even in a seacoast town like Portsmouth. You could tell it was top-quality lobster, not the usual chopped bits you find in tourist traps. This was the real deal — buttery toasted roll, perfectly dressed lobster (not drowning in mayo!), and that succulent tail meat just melted in your mouth. What made it even better was the whole experience — sitting outside on a sunny day with great vibes all around. The staff was friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming, which made it feel more like a hidden gem than a busy restaurant. The fries were hot and crisp, the slaw was fresh and zesty, and even the ketchup felt fancy. If you’re in Portsmouth and craving a lobster roll, this is the place to go. Trust me — it’s rare to find lobster this fresh and prepared this well. I’ll absolutely be back.

Last Sunday, I had a fantastic time performing as a vocalist and musician for a wonderful family birthday party on the deck of the Oar House. As always, I arrived early and was immediately greeted by Holly, who helped me set up in an ideal spot for the guests to enjoy the music. Shortly after, I met Casey, the owner. The entire staff was incredibly helpful and accommodating throughout the event. The buffet was excellent, and midway through the party, they brought out some truly amazing scallops and bacon, along with delicious coconut shrimp. Every dish was perfectly prepared and incredibly tasty. If you're looking for great food and a chance to experience a bit of history, the Oar House is definitely a place you should visit. Tony

We came here so that one of us could get the stuffed lobster and enjoy a nice meal. For the price our meals were pretty disappointing. The stuffing used for the lobster is a cornbread stuffing which is okay in itself but was very soggy and almost resembled as if they had used a stove top or jiffy mix. The steak was okay but very average. Two of three of us were disappointed. I think that this would be a good place for someone to go if they were specifically looking for an expensive seafood place where you could get some selections that you couldn't get at one of the typical fried seafood places around, or for someone who doesn't care about the money and is looking to impress someone. They have a bar and much of the seating is divided into smaller sub areas so it does feel a bit more private compared to a completely open concept restaurant. The decor and general atmosphere are very old Portsmouth New England vintage. While the service and drinks were great, I think I would only go back if I were to sit at the bar and try a burger or if someone I didn't like was paying.

First time visiting Portsmouth and found this restaurant to dine at. The food was excellent and looking out over the water was beyond peaceful. The perfect place to relax and unwind. PS the bacon wrapped scallops were OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!! Yum!

My fiance had a fun work dinner here and has been wanting to bring me, so we stopped by on Christmas Eve Eve around 3:30pm. It was quiet and we were seated in the perfect corner booth. I love how cozy the space was decorated, and the bar is beautiful. I ordered the mussels and he got the lobster Mac. The mussels were so flavorful, and he was in love with the mac - lobster was well cooked and the pasta is so fun. I would have preferred a thicker cheese sauce but he was happy so I'm happy.

Had a very nice time. Restaurant is very cute inside and out. Parking is whatever works for you, plan ahead if you can - no matter when you're going during the year, Portsmouth is just like that with parking. The bar is nice, too.

I have been traveling for work and eating on the road for many years. I have had great meals and some that weren't all that good, but this place is amazing! From the food to the service! Amy the bartender was amazing. She served the bar as well as all the tables and never missed a beat! I would recommend if your in the area stop by for great food and a great bartending experience! Sooo... went back because the night before was so great! Same bartender who was amazing, the food still great but an employee/ management sat at the bar munching on his gum staring at us as in disbelief we were having fun. They should leave this guy in the kitchen or the office, because he is not good for business! He should also probably lose the tough look before someone proves he's not.

Came back to the Oar House after being away for 50 years and was delighted to find my favorite item on the menu still there! It was just as tasty as I remembered! The server, John was a professional waiter, engaging and knowledgable and just the right attitude, made our evening extra special. The salmon dish was outstanding and the scallops wrapped in bacon, an old standard was perfection! Will not wait another 50 years to return to this lovely establishment!

My fiance had a fun work dinner here and has been wanting to bring me, so we stopped by on Christmas Eve Eve around 3:30pm. It was quiet and we were seated in the perfect corner booth. I love how cozy the space was decorated, and the bar is beautiful. I ordered the mussels and he got the lobster Mac. The mussels were so flavorful, and he was in love with the mac - lobster was well cooked and the pasta is so fun. I would have preferred a thicker cheese sauce but he was happy so I'm happy.

Absolutely the best restaurant in Portsmouth! 10/10 dining experiences! The food was delicious and incredible. Also the view on the deck, right on the Pascataqua river was pretty and amazing! Enjoyed spending time with the family there. The staff are also very professional and top Notch. The food was so impressive too, apps and main course, just overall an absolutely incredible dining experience. They also have plenty of parking for the guests.

I asked everyone where I should get my first lobster roll in Portsmouth and they all said to go to The Oar House. Some couldn't make up their minds between The Oar House and RH (I'll just put the initials here), but everyone attested to the quality of The Oar House, so this is where I went. It was very good. I wouldn't say mind blowing, but it's very good. The presentation of my meal was very nice. The fries were in a little fryer basket and I got a little cup of cole slaw (not a fan of their cole slaw, but I'm not counting that in this review). The lobster meat was first rate... really good. If I didn't go to RH, I'd be blissfully ignorant of this lobster roll as being the best in town. However, I did go to RH and I was more impressed with RH than here. Comparing the two, I'd saw RH is the better lobster roll. Sorry Oar House fans. It's just my opinion!

Delicious lunch spot with history. Located right on the water. We sat inside the tavern and had one of the best dressed lobster rolls I've ever tasted. Paired with a local beer...perfection! Service was spot on!

Our server was a beautiful girl with a pink bow accenting her black ensemble, but what stood out was her amazing composure and presence! Wonderful service on Valentine's Day!! Prime rib and fish and chips were ordered after a dozen oysters and drinks. Great food and wonderful atmosphere- what a romantic special space!! Lovely!! Will return!!

The lobster roll was $45 for a small! And it had a lot of chewy lobster tail. Service was good. Deck is lovely. But wat too expendive for the quality.

I was strolling around the waterfront and came across this hole in the wall. The hostess wasn't that friendly, but my server, Rachel, was great!!! After I asked what the favorites were here, she suggested different drinks and food and none of them disappointed! I had the Watermelon Smash and the 1974 Punch which were refreshing. Then I had the Lobster Wontons which were stinkin delicious! And then I ate the Lobster Mac N Cheese and couldn't finish it but it was thee best mac n cheese I've had!!!

Overall my group had a fantastic time at the oar house while sitting outside! The view is fantastic and the food is great. In particular the clam chowder and the French fries were some of the best any in our party have ever had. The lobster roll is average but I still enjoyed it and would get it again if I was craving one. My only reason for giving it 4 stars is because while they advertise it as dog friendly we had a bit of difficulty getting seated with our dog. We were told that since there was another dog already seated they might not be able to accommodate our dog due to not wanting too many dogs on the patio. We ended up being seated and the rest of the experience was fine but we would definitely reconsider coming here if we had our dogs with us again. Pro: free parking right in front of the restaurant for customers

We stopped by for dinner on Halloween since all the other restaurant options we had in mind were packed. There were plenty of tables open and it wasn't too loud. The restaurant was cozy and our waitress was nice and attentive. I was in the mood for scallops and The Oar House didn't disappoint. The scallops were cooked perfectly. The dish itself was the right amount food and I was very content afterwards. I felt the lemon risotto was very bland, there wasn't much flavor in it all. I also ordered their apple cider sangria and that was delicious! Very festive with the cinnamon sugar rim.

I've lived in portsmouth for 6 years now. Everyone told me not to go to Oar House because it isn't very good but it's an understatement. I think tourists are the only ones who keep this place in business. Look at their signature dish it's 90% ritz crackers. I don't think there is even a sauce on it. There are so many better places in town I will give credit to the service. The staff was great.

It was very good. Their house made noodles and the way they cook their fish is incredible! It was the best fish I have ever had!

Better experience than the Yelp Star rating led me to believe. Our waitress was attentive and knowledgeable. Both myself and a colleague had the "best of both worlds" filet and stuffed lobster. The filet was perfect. Stuffed lobster was good - but the breading in the stuffing was a little bit overly sweet. For a 5 person business dinner on a Thursday night - it was good!!!

Alway the best. We almost always are on their deck. River watching is great there. The staff, service, and food are what keep people coming back. A birthday celebration brought us back. This time, we decided that inside dining was best. Lynn had the Haddock Piccata over homemade pasta. Absolutely wonderful. Pasta, excellent. Fish was perfect, especially with the Piccata flavor. I had the Halibut on a bed of Garlic Mash. And Asparagus. My goodness, it's so delicious. Elton took great care of us. Bartender, server, he did it all. Thank you Elton. Great job

While visiting Portsmouth, I had the pleasure of visiting this restaurant and had a lovely chat with the owner Casey Anderson (Around mid August). After making a reservation with him, I was so delighted by their service and delicious swordfish with escargot as an appetizer. I enjoyed a nice Pinot Grigio with the meal and I was in heavenly bliss. This is a place worth visiting every time I visit Portsmouth

I have eaten at the oar house for more than 20 years. Whenever I have to spend time in Portsmouth New Hampshire, it is one of my go to restaurants. Every time I go, I order exactly the same thing - the big stuffed lobster. Today was no exception. I started with a cup of corn and clam chowder and then the baked stuffed 1 1/2 lb lobster. The stuffing is rich with pieces of shrimp and scallops and the based of ritz crackers was moist and delicious.

Had a reservation and they seated us in the bar. Service was slow because he had an entire room full of guests. An hour dinner took 2 and a half hours. Water was not filled and it felt like we were neglected. With that said - food was on point! Short rib dinner was a small portion. Thankfully. Seafood was good. Just took away from the experience. My aunt's birthday was uneventful due to lack of staffing, just glad she enjoyed dinner. PS - had to get the hostess to bring us our checks

STRIKING A SOUR NOTE ! The Oar House is one of the nicest dining settings I've visited. The service and atmosphere were great, but all was undermined by the cost ratio to have lobster added to my Cioppino Pasta. The pitiful portion of lobster that was added to my meal for an additional cost of $30.00, amounted to little more than what one would expect from the legs of the delicacy.

Came here with my parents & husband. The ambiance was cozy and the staff was amiable (our server even put up with my father's corny jokes). The food was tasty but took a while to come out to us. Would come back again for a reliable meal and service.

The food here was awesome! I loved the crispy salmon with lemon risotto. My wife had a rib eye steak that was cooked perfectly. Highly recommend this place!

Elton and Nicholas are great! We sat at the bar and had an appetizer and a seasonal drink- they are true mixologist's and artists- highly recommend!

Food quality is good, nice ambience, good service. My daughter loved her lamb chops.. Everything comes out cold/lukewarm - lobsters, crème Brûlée.

Ambience on a cold windy winters day was cozy and inviting ! The food was excellent !

Jacob was a wonderful server and made our night! Shrimp cocktail, Lobster Mac and cheese, and a pain killer is a must!

The food service and ambiance is exceptional. There are many different types of seafood dishes to choose from whether you like lobster, scallops haddock etc. They are one of the few restaurants in town that I know of that has their own in-house lobster tank; can't get any fresher than that. They also have their own parking lot which has ample amount of parking spaces which is convenient for a town as busy as Portsmouth. If you like great food and service with a smile this is the place to go to. Also if you happen to be in town when the weather is nice be sure to check out the deck. It has an amazing view for you to enjoy while you're having a nice dinner or like to have a beverage on the water.

On vacation with my family and all we wanted was a restaurant on the water with great food. We walked around and found the Oar House and it was exactly what we wanted. Lobster mac and cheese was excellent, and the rest of the apps and the salad hit the spot! Perfect spot a a vacation meal.

Recommend with reservations. The staff was very nice which is why I'm recommending, but I would not re omens the lobster macaroni and cheese. 1. It was under seasoned. 2. The béchamel was flat and pretty "uncheesy." 3. It was a child sized portion. (You could have probably fit it in a measuring cup with room to spare.) I'm sure there are other good things in the menu, but this is not one of them.

Shawna da goat, we had the best yummy yummy food she was awesome couldn't have asked for a better server

We went here because it's where we went on our first date 35 years ago. The hotel told us the food was so so and way overpriced. We should have listened too them. I had the baked stuffed lobster and it was ok. The stuffing was mushy like oatmeal and the lobster was split from the back and hard to get to the inside. Never saw that before, usually split down the underside. My wife had the roasted duck and it was average at best. Just not impressed, would not go back. Better and cheaper places nearby. Ambiance was ok, but not worth the extra $.

We had an amazing meal. All appetizers and entrees were fresh, flavorful and prepared with care.

Second time in and returned for another wild berry mule which we dreamt about since coming in December and having one then. This time trued the calamari which was delicious. Definitely go for Elton's marvelous mixology skills.

very mediocre beet salad. Did not taste fresh. Was not well presented. Definitely room for improvement.

Mimsy and I stopped in for lunch while doing a little Christmas shopping. The atmosphere is elegant and cozy, much the same as it was the first time we went there nearly 40 years ago when we were in our early 20's, when it was a bit out of our price range, but was one of the best restaurants in Portsmouth. It was one of the original restaurants in the rebirth of the Portsmouth restaurant scene in the early 80's, owned and operated by Dick and Jill Gallant, two superb restauranteurs. So, yeah this place brings up nostalgic feelings for me but you know what? It's still gorgeous, and the food and service are still very good. We split some raw local oysters, shucked properly and fresh. We both got a cup of clam chowder. New Englanders are picky about their chowder and this was perfect. Nice seafood stock base, creamy, lots of clams, and not too many diced potatoes. Just right. Mimsy got the beet salad, I got the calamari. Both very good. The cocktail special was a Mai Tai, which was way better than what they serve up at my local Chinese place. I don't get why it only has 3 stars. Give it a try.

Yum! Pleasant surprise Lunch menu offered Lobster BLT and tacos, indulged in the delicious lamb chops as well. Service was fast and Rachel is a very sweet girl. Really beautiful interior excited to come back to see the brand new bar

A great spot with a great selection of food! I got the best of both worlds with the steamed lobster and filet, both cooked to perfection. The staff was very attentive and courteous.

What a great spot in Portsmouth! The location is absolutely stunning right on the water so i had to go, and the food and service was delightful. The fried calamari and bacon wrapped scallops were delicious and so was the filet I will most definitely be back.

Best restaurant in Portsmouth! food, location, and staff! A must go when in Portsmouth

The lobster roll is overpriced and not great at all skimpy portion for 38 dollars scallops in bacon was good overall super overpriced restaurant probably won't return

We went for the raw oysters. They were very salty and sandy. the waitress was attentive at first. Neither my husband or I ordered alcohol. My husband had a coke I had water. a server delivered our food, not the one who took the order. our waitress never came to check on us or offer more water or another soda. we had to go find her to pay our bill after waiting 25 minutes after finishing our meal. our waitress simply said oh sorry which didn't seem like a very heartfelt apology. We will not be returning anytime soon.

The Oar House Thanksgiving Dinner...$65 a plate....mashed potatoes and gravy were good but $65 for pressed and processed sliced turkey turkey breast, not so good. Not sliced turkey off a real roasted turkey as expected but processed and pressed turkey. C'on Man. It does not take a Culinary Institute of America (CIA) graduate (me) to figure that out, and my wife who is not, IMMEDIATELY knew it was not sliced from a real, honest to goodness roasted turkey from the oven. We both knew it as was precooked turkey meat which came to the restaurant in a plastic bag, then reheated, sliced and served as presumably real roasted turkey. As soon as it was placed in front of me, I knew as well. My wife and I have dined there before and thoroughly enjoyed our meal but this Thanksgiving dinner at the Oar House was a bust - and for $65 a plate. I expected more. CIA Class of 1973

We have been here before a few years ago and it was good. Was not impressed this time. First, they put us at a table with spotlights shining right in our eyes. The waitress tried to adjust them but it was still too bright. Get better lighting! Then she serves me burnt scallops. $34 dish. Nope. Why would the chef put those out and why would you serve them? Not worth the money. Won't be going back.?

Great spot, best scallops wrapped in bacon around and one of two or three restaurants in Portsmouth making fresh pasta which is awesome. John is the best server in the world, he always makes dining here memorable. Can't go wrong out on the deck or inside the beautiful historic dining room. Also the bar renovation looks fantastic.

Food wasn't terrible, I'd even say decent, but everything else was bad. Service was very very poor and extremely slow. They were very understaffed. Ambiance isn't great. Decor a bit dated, dark inside. They had an outdoor deck but that was a 90 minute wait. Very much a tourist trap vibe. Wouldn't return unless I felt like having hours wasted by slow service where I could be enjoying the town instead.

I ate at the Oar House on a Friday night for dinner with a group of eight people. Our server handled it like a champ and it was a hot day and a little warm in there. We had some shareable plates to start including the calamari, fried ribs, oysters, and a few chowders. The dinners we had were a Shrimp Scampi special, Children's Pasta, Scallops, Haddock, Several of the burgers, and I ordered the Salmon (creamed corn - fennel - leek & orange agrodolce.) I really wasn't expecting that much but my salmon was perfectly cooked and the creamed corn agrodolce under it was summery and refreshing. It was a perfect dinner. The pacing of the meal was great and our server kept our drinks filled. Nice place on the water in downtown Portsmouth. Very New England.

Watery drinks (clear Bloody Mary), cold chewy seafood, exceptionally poor service. It's a big NO.

Our first "Miss" in Portsmouth! The food was just average. Oysters were the highlight. Pasta was hard, not "al dente ". The main reason for only 2 stars is the horrific waiter! I have severe allergies and his responses to ingredient questions were "I think so?" and "spices and stuff". Unacceptable!! We will never go back!

AWFUL. wouldn't recommend , workers are rude. food is fishy with a gnarly scent:( the only good thing about this place is the parking; which was FULL!!!! i am so upset I was so exited to celebrate my birthday here and now I am crying because my birthday is ruined.

Have eaten at the Oar House dozens of times, both inside, and on the deck, and it never disappoints. Wonderful atmosphere, delicious food, and excellent service. What else is there? I'd like to add, in light of the couple of reviews I've here that are critical of the service, our most recent experience at the Oar House: showed up with a party of 8, thinking we had a reservation (which I had canceled, and forgotten about) -- the woman at the front and the manager both went out of their way to accommodate us, putting us in an upstairs room that they didn't intend to open that night, as they didn't have staff to cover it. Elton, the bartender, was our server, and couldn't have been nicer and more attentive to us, while holding down the bar and the service bar for the entire restaurant. A great customer service experience on top of the typical great meal at the Oar House. The place is an absolute treasure. Not to be missed if you haven't been...

I recommend this restaurant, its lobster is very good, it is very delicious, it is a spectacular place and very beautiful on the outside and inside, the restaurant has many beautiful things to see and enjoy with the family, I highly recommend it.