The Homestead Restaurant & Tavern — Restaurant in Merrimack

The atmosphere is very nice, and the decor is extremely well done. They even have a real fireplace roaring. However, my visit today leaved a lot to be desired. I am visiting the area for work, and as such I was going out to dinner by myself for a table for 1. I'm not sure if the service is like this for regular parties, but for me it was abysmal. I showed up and no one came by for a good 10 mins at the desk. When I was seated, it was another 15 minutes before anyone asked if I wanted anything to drink. The waitress asked me to order my drink, app, and main course at the same time to "save time". She then placed a plate of 4 crackers on my table. Every other table got the warmed up house bread on the table. It was another 15 minutes before I saw the appetizer, and the crackers didn't last long. This forced me to be the weird creepy guy sitting there staring off into space at the various couples and parties around me. Anyways, I got a delicious beer and was quite pleased with that. The goat cheese bread sticks was a bit iffy, but it's goat cheese so no harm on their side there. Now, I ordered the 9 ounce filet mignon medium rare, with a loaded mashed potato and a ceaser salad. After I ate half the goat cheese bread, I sat there for another 15 minutes or so. No one asked me how the goat cheese sticks were, or how anything was. I just sat there. So, then I was expecting my salad to be brought out. However, I was surprised to find them bring on out the steak and the potato. I was too annoyed to care at this point and figured the delicious steak would cheer me up. This was terrible thinking, despite the man the table over ranting and raving over what a perfect steak his was. My steak was supposed to be medium rare but it was closer to well done, with no pink at all. The crust of the steak (yes there was a crust) was of burnt charcoal. I ate a 1/3 of this before the lady came back about 20 minutes later. The potato by the way was average, but no one goes out to eat a potato. The lady comes back and asks how things were, I told her of my complain and she did offer me a fresh new steak. I declined the offer and asked for an expedited check so that I could leave instead. All in all, this place has great potential and maybe it is a great place to go. However the service I received was crap, and the food was awful too. ...

My family and I have been to this restaurant numerous times in the past. We are regular customers who came repeatedly in the past as they catered to food allergies. However, after today we will never set foot in this place again. We placed our order and received our appetizers. One hour elapsed and others who came after us were finishing their dinners and we still hadn’t eaten. The young woman who was our waitress was no where to be found. Another waiter Josh who is great whom we knew kindly offered to follow up for us. When still no food came we flagged down our waitress who said “it’s coming.” And then walked away. Frustrated I approached two women at the front and said I need to speak to the manager. I had made eye contact with one of the two women and the older woman said “Look at me I am he manager not her she is just a 16 year old girl.” Extremely rude. Then she said what number station are you? As if I would know that. She followed me to the table. Then came back and started to lecture us on how it’s gluten free so it takes a half an hour or longer to prep. We called her out on this blatant lie and said we eat here multiple times a month and our waiters Nate and Josh always put our orders in and our allergen free food arrives correct and in a timely manner every time. The manager was nasty and condescending and continued to argue with us. I told her what she was saying was a lie, a crock. Then the food came out- thanks only to Josh who had checked on it and asked for it to be made. The food when it came was inedible chicken wet and tasteless, asparagus boiled so hard it was shriveled and bitter and my gf pasta was boiled with no taste no oil or garlic as ordered. We expressed our displeasure to our waitress who ignored us. On our way out the manager ignored us and refused to make eye contact. Terrible customer service and management. The manager had zero people skills. We are not the kind of people who complain typically in a restaurant but we had no choice in this instance. Our check came out and it was a bitter pill to swallow paying $120 for vile food and being verbally abused by the manager. This is not an inexpensive restaurant and this type of treatment and food quality are inexcusable. There are plenty of other better options in the neighborhood, do yourself a favor and drive...

On a recent road trip to New Hampshire, my sister and I had the pleasure of finally meeting and dining with a great friend, Deirdre C. I suggested The Homestead Restaurant & Tavern based upon Dee's recommendation. Terrific choice! The interior is rustic, in what appears to be a renovated barn of mostly post and beam construction, and with a beautiful old time stagecoach wayside look and feel. We were seated next to a wood burning fireplace that produced just enough heat to take the winter evening chill out of the air. Matt was our very exuberant (read wired on something) server, who was bound and determined that we have a positive dining experience. We decided on the sampler appetizer, consisting of a crab cake, potato skins, fresh scallops wrapped in bacon, and steak & cheese spring rolls. All were very acceptable, and were mostly gone before our entrees arrived. I started with a cup of seafood chowder that was very flavorful, had lots of nice chunks of potato, and fish, but with a "broth" that, while tasting very good, was at the same time thick as paste. Not my personal favorite way of eating a chowder. Dee asked our server about having a lobster roll, even though not on that night's menu. Matt, who clearly wanted happy patrons, went to the kitchen, and came back with a positive response! So a lobster roll was ordered for Dee. My sister and I both opted for the baked, stuffed haddock. It was very good, indeed, and the surprise was the Cabot cheddar cheese on top. Upon re-checking the menu, it did list the cheese topping. Cooked to perfection, moist and flaky it was delicious. There perhaps could have been a bit more stuffing with the dish however, and the vegetable medley was an odd combination of cooked grape tomatoes and onions, along with the carrots. Broccoli and asparagus may have been better medley choices. Dee was very pleased with her lobster roll that contained a very large mount of claw and tail meat. Dinner and conversation were a delight, and when in the area again, I wouldn't hesitate...