Red Parka Steakhouse & Pub — Restaurant in Bartlett

My date and I made the long drive (1hour 45 minutes) from the Upper Valley to RPP on a friend’s suggestion. It was a rainy Sunday and we were looking for a scenic drive with good food and some live music on the other end.

We nailed it! After winding around on the Kanc we landed at Red Parka Pub where we were greeted warmly by the charming hostess (who we later learned is also the owner) and in spite of the busyness of the place, we were miraculously and immediately seated right near the stage, so we could watch and listen and the lovely young woman performing (Riley Parkhurst).

Our server (Grace) was warm, friendly and personable. Our drinks were great (cranberry margarita and cranberry mule) and our meal (Buffalo cauliflower and ribs) came promptly and was delicious. We’d recommend all of these items.

The entire ambiance was what really made the experience special for us. It’s very clear that a lot of love has gone into building and maintaining the restaurant over the past 40 Years. Intrigued by all the photos and memorabilia on the walls, my date and I left our table at one point to read and look at all the interesting things. That’s when we struck up a conversation with the hostess/owner. She indulged our curiosity and told us the story of RPP, including the “Bent Fork Award”, the Red Parka Challenge Race and where all those license plates came from.

This place is a labor of love and a fixture in the community, and it shows. The vibe in the restaurant was happy, cheerful and dare I say, grateful. This is not always easy to find, especially these days when places are short staffed and the staff is overworked. It was clear great care was taken to preserve the morale of the folks working at RPP, and as someone who’s worked in the service industry for years, I appreciated this very much.

Overall it was one of those experiences you’ll talk about for years. It may be a long while before we make it back that way, but our hope is that we see the crew still doing their thing and making people’s...

I have to say that I have eaten here over the years and have always had a great experience. Came back this year and the menu was much different. Due to new ownership. Same owners of the Stonehurst…explains A LOT. Lots of bbq and “haddock bites”??…a lot less steak. How they can call this a “steak house” is beyond me. I ordered a brisket sandwich and was given a bun covered in what looked like cat food. I took a few bites and was so grossed out by what I was eating that I just couldn’t eat anymore. I ate the typical “Sysco” fries and the corn. The corn. My gosh. To be surrounded by local corn in season and serve this frozen insult to vegetables is just awful. Why can’t these “local businesses” support local farmers? Well, I guess this isn’t a local business anymore. It’s probably under Stonehurst Inc. or whatever. Stonehurst used to be my favorite local lounge. Great pizza, good drinks, comfy chairs, and a fireplace. Now it’s clearly Sysco pizza or some other corporate monster’s excuse for food. I won’t get into the drinks. The wrong “business man/woman gets ahold of a North Conway restaurant and look what happens. DONESO! Now he/she gets their greedy hands on another gem, the Red Parka, and look what they’ve done. A classic MWV restaurant reduced to cheap corporate meat saturated in BBQ, frozen corn, and cookie cutter fries. Thank goodness the drinks were good and our server was wonderful. Otherwise, I would say this place has nothing worth coming for. So sad. The mom and pops...

Red Parka Restaurant: A Disappointing Experience

My experience fell far short of expectations.

The most notable letdown was the steak. While it was certainly edible, it was far from exceptional. The meat was tough and lacked the juicy tenderness I've come to expect from a steakhouse. The seasoning was unremarkable, and the accompanying sides were merely average. Beyond the steak, the entire dining experience felt somewhat deceptive. The restaurant's ambiance was pleasant, and the service was attentive, but these factors were not enough to compensate for the subpar food. It was evident that the restaurant was trying to create a high-end atmosphere, but the quality of the food simply didn't match the pretensions. However, it's important to note that the staff was exceptionally friendly and helpful. They were attentive to our needs and made every effort to ensure we had a pleasant dining experience. Their service was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing evening. In conclusion, while Red Parka Restaurant may be a decent option for a casual meal, it falls short of being a truly memorable dining experience. The steak was disappointing, and the overall experience felt somewhat deceptive. If you're seeking a high-quality steakhouse, I would recommend exploring other options...