Epoch Restaurant & Bar

Reviews 7

A

A Private User

Specializing in fresh local ingredients, Chef Ben Hasty presents New England regional cuisine with current and innovative trends. Everything is always perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned, and attractive. The price is very reasonable for the portion size and high quality of the ingredients. This is Boston haute cuisine in New Hampshire. Ive been for weekday breakfast, where I had 2 eggs, 3 slices of bacon, and 1 piece of toast that came with a half cup each of seasoned homefries and fresh fruit that included pineapple and berries, not just melon, for $5.99 - this is downright CHEAP for a hotel breakfast! At dinner Ive had homemade duck sausage; baked oysters with fried potato and capers; poached cod; a fabulous wild salmon with grapefruit; delectable pork belly from the chefs familys farm; poached salmon with carrot mousseline and roasted fennel; tuna with Parisienne gnocchi and roasted tomato; scallops with smoked bacon and celery root; duck with braised kale; fallen souffle cake, chocolate chip cookies, coconut rice and mango, and pannecotta for dessert. Apps range from ~$6-13 for soup, salad, and seafood; entrees ~$16 (for chicken, and for risotto) to $36 (for filet). Several entrees (fish and lamb) are available in half portions, and with an appetizer, are more than large enough for your meal. One can get 3 oz or 6 oz glasses of wine - they will bring tastings if you are undecided; the wine cellar is robust and impressive, and there is a full bar. We frequently put ourselves in the chefs hands and just order a 4 or 5 course tasting menu. They are doing 5 courses for $55 for New Years Eve Dec 31, 2009 - that includes a champagne toast - VERY reasonable! The hospitality in the restaurant is gracious and attentive and professional, even during functions. The ambiance would be perfect except for the horrid neon orange stairs that lead to very classic dark wood bar, and some mod light fixtures that need to go.

---

DA

David H

Walked into the bar area finding a seat at the more than half empty bar. It was more than 10 minutes before I was acknowledged and then it was "Can I get something in for you?" and then walking away? I dont even know what the question is or how to answer it? Another 5 minutes before an order was taken. 5 minutes to get the drink ordered. When the napkin roll of utensils was put down I actually had to ask for the mess from the previous party be cleaned off the bar. A bar rag dipped into a sink full of water and wrung out was used to wipe the bar down. Took until just about the time my food arrived for it to dry! I ordered the "Smoky Tomato Soup" and "Fried Green Tomatoes". From the time I ordered these 2 starters it took 25 minutes to be delivered. The "fried Green tomatoes were room temp and about as bland as white bread and the Smokey Tomato Soup (with Focaccia Crostini, Shaved Parmesan) was blistering hot. There were 2 postage stamp size pieces of melted Parmesan and a piece of I am not sure what as the crostini. This Smokey Tomato Soup was not much more than a bowl of warmed up Ragu Spaghetti Sauce. Over a bed of penne it may have been tasty. As a Soup? Not close. I had pushed back both the bowl and plate barely touched. The bartender looked at them twice. Finally he says "everything going great over here? Need anything"? I asked for the check so I could end the charade of a dining experience. This was easily the worst service and food I have had in years. YEARS! I am on the road 2-3 nights a week 52 weeks a year. I stayed here at the Exeter Inn as everything else in the area was sold out. Next time I stay at home.

---

AM

Amy Estey

We went for Easter brunch today. Absolutely awful. The only eggs available were in the form of a frittata which was burnt to the bottom of the pan. Limp asparagus. Cheese plate...not exciting. Salad drowned in dressing. Bacon and under cooked sausage. The rest of the options looked disgusting. Went to the coffee station. No cream. When I finally flagged down our server, she told me that she asked her manager to refill the cream. I asked her if she could bring me 3 of them when they were available and she rolled her eyes. Then she vanished. I was completely finished with my lousy meal by the time cream was available. She did not bring any to me. At that point my coffee was cold. When the server finally came to our table after being gone for almost a half hour, my brother in law politely asked for a refill on his water. Another eye roll and a huge sigh. Sorry we inconvenienced you, considering that you only served us juice, plus the attitude, you totally didnt earn the 10% my mother in law left. Im so glad I didnt pay. The bill, including the 10% tip was $250. Break that 4 ways... $62.50 each...for lousy food and a server with an attitude problem. Will NEVER go back. That whole experience was ridiculous.

---

A

A Private User

"Restaurant week" with a fixed price three course dinner seemed like a good reason to check how this place was doing. Unfortunately, all is not well at this eatery. They certainly seem to take themselves seriously considering the excellent wait staff and semi-elegant, if bistro-like atmosphere, and the prices. But the chef and his food offers (very) small portions and fancy or pretty presentation over unique flavors and food quality. Of the appetizers tried, the calamari was excellent, the (two, small) scallops were good; the Boston Bibb Salad was good, if uninspired. Of the entrées - the "Pan Roasted Organic Salmon" was fishy smelling but half raw and accompanied with three fancy, but tasty tator-tots (really), and the "Braised Duck" was not braised, not cooked, tasteless and full of tough ligaments (it went back). Last was an apple cheesecake desert, something we hoped would save the night with a flavorful treat. What arrived looked like three more tator-tots, but in fact was grape sized cheesecake balls. Again, merely average, hardly enough to taste anything. Obviously, were not returning. The place never ever got even half full (on a Friday night), and its painfully obvious why, in retrospect.

---

A.

A.P. G

This place is hugely under-rated! I have no idea why it doesnt have 5 out of 5 stars. I spent 3 nights at the Exeter Inn and every night I had to eat at this place because the food was simply outstanding. Maybe their service slows down when they are busy, but what restaurant doesnt have that issue. I was served the absolute BEST duck I have ever eaten in my life. The green chili soup was out of this world. The Oysters Rockefeller were the best I have ever eaten. And this is all coming from a NYC foodie that has been to the best restaurants in NYC and some amazing restaurants all over the world. The bartenders and servers were incredibly friendly. I think i might make the 5 hour drive from NY just to visit Exeter and this restaurant again! Both the restaurant and the hotel are highly recommended!

---

BI

Bill Tannalfo

Ive been here a few times and I absolutely love this place! the only problem with the bar isnt big enough. It needs more room so that more people can sit at the bar and the bartender can have more room. As far as bartenders concerning ask for Jason he is the best mixologist in this place

---

ST

Steven Lucia

Horrible ...terrible food. And a terrible hotel would not go anywhere near this place. Ive had better stays at model 6. Out of over 500 hotels visits and stays at restaurants and hotels this was by far the absolute worst experience in my entire life BEWARE.. wish I could give them 0/5

---

---