Row 34 - Portsmouth — Restaurant in Portsmouth

I will open by sharing with you that I returned not once but twice in the course of a week with different family members during our recent vacation. The first visit was a drop in while wandering around downtown Portsmouth with my wife, son, and daughter. The next two involved different combinations of my adult children.

A quick call to the inside to let them know we were interested in a table was answered immediately and we were greeted in person a minute or two later every visit. We were interested in cocktails, oysters, and a light snack each of our visits. This is a seafood place, if your looking for steak keep walking. In fact, this is really an oyster / raw bar with a great accompanying menu to help absorb the fantastic creations from the mixologists behind the bar. Note, I did not refer to them as bartenders. Both house specials and classics were put together and presented with speed and precision. I have become unforgiving now that I am into my fifties. If I am paying good money, I want a good cocktail with good spirits and that is exactly what we received. We ordered and shared several drinks including: The Garden Grove with mezcal, cilantro, and spicy agave. For me, this one was a bit cilantro forward but I’m not a huge cilantro fan. The Botanist’s Dream with gin, coconut, grapefruit. I would never have though to use coconut cream in a gin drink but wow. The coconut cream smooths out and softens the gin. My wife is not fond of gin and loved it. On the flip side my daughter loves gin and was just as enthused. The R&R with bourbon, amaro, cherry is their spin on an old fashioned. Perfect, and that’s from someone who has sent back Old Fashions and Manhattans on a number of occasions The Paint it Red with tequila, mint, cherry heering, agave. Think “Perfect Margarita” with a classic cherry brandy instead of Cointreau. The liquor storage is in cages in the hall back to the bathrooms and sauntering back to my table a bottle bourbon barrel aged hard cider caught my eye. I scanned the menu, nothing. I asked our server and the next thing I knew I had the beverages manager tableside with a chilled bottle. Yes it was really good.

Lest I forget to address the food. Oysters for all you fans are fresh, chilled, and rapidly served. They also have a dollar oyster every day. The balance of them wandering upwards in price to a high of 3.50. They serve them with a trio of accoutrements, but I am a purest and view putting anything on a fresh shucked oyster just short of sacrilege. My son ordered the Shrimp Pimento with w/ grilled bread, pickled onion, crème fraiche. A request for more bread was cheerfully fulfilled. My vegan daughter, who can eat oysters because they are bivalves and closer to a plant than a cow, is also allergic to meat proteins and dairy and gluten. Don’t feel bad for her she eats oysters. Anyway she was thrilled to find out the fried oysters were battered in rice flower, no gluten, no dairy wash, nada. So we also ordered fried oysters, the lettuce cups with crispy oysters, the calamari for my son and I, and a few variations on French fries cooked in fryers free of cross contamination. Everything was hot and super delicious.

The service. If I get a fair server, they get 15% because they have to eat and pay rent. A good server gets 20%. Great servers get more. All our trips to Row 34 cost more than I intended because the service was some of the best I have ever received, hands down. During one visit we sat at the bar and that was a real treat.

Covid, the elephant in the room. The tables were spaced the staff masked and gloved when appropriate. The signs outside the front door clearly stated policy and procedure. The rest rooms were immaculate, and I could see tables being disinfected before guests were seated.

In conclusion, I cannot wait to go back. True it is a limited menu. This falls under the category of doing a few things very well rather than a lot of...

Ridiculously good. Fast service, incredibly kind and humorous staff, finger-licking amazing food, and a classy establishment.

The biggest surprise for me was the oyster bar. I did not know that people farmed oysters like others brew craft beer. My server, Laura, gave me the low down with enthusiasm that was catching. So I tried one of each. And wow! She was right: each oyster truly does have their own unique taste! My personal favorites were the Island Creek and the Savage Blonde. They had such a delightful rainbow of flavors. I honestly didn't know that oysters could taste that good. Never thought I would want to go on an oyster tour before, but Laura sure convinced me otherwise.

I also had the crispy oyster slider. Normally, I don't like pickled things, but the pickled onions added a fantastic sweetness to match the spicy sauce. The crispy oyster was juicy and tender. I could have had three of those for dinner and been thrilled.

Last, I had the lobster roll with butter. Simple, sweet, amazing. The bread was what made it. High quality bread that only emphasized the generous amount of lobster. And the chips that came with it were crunchy and salty and mmmmm, so snackable.

Sometimes, I question going to fancy restaurants and laying down larger sums of money. Too often, I have been ripped off by "fancy" food that is overcooked, tiny, and served by grouchy staff. Not here. Here, every penny is worth the quality of food, of service, and of establishment. Laura made me feel like I was the star of the show and the food made me loosen my belt and waddle home, more than content. One of the best meals I have had in years.

I hope I can replicate even a quarter of their success with The Row 23 Cookbook.

Thank you to Row 23 and Laura for the incredible experience! This is what...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Row 34 in Portsmouth, NH, for a work event—and I can absolutely see why it came highly recommended. Located in a charming part of town, the space itself has a welcoming, modern-industrial vibe that’s both relaxed and upscale. Perfect for a work gathering or a casual night out.

We arrived just before the tail end of happy hour and managed to try a few drinks and bites before the main dinner. I ordered the Mai Tai, which was surprisingly strong (in a good way!) and absolutely delicious—definitely not your typical watered-down happy hour cocktail. We also tried the Purple Rain mocktail and asked for rum to be added. The result was a tropical, coconut-forward drink that gave off serious beach bar vibes.

Several people in our group took advantage of the happy hour oysters, which came highly recommended—and for good reason. They were fresh, well-prepared, and a great deal.

For dinner, the fish and chips got rave reviews around the table. The mussels were also a hit—fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. What stood out most, though, were the sides. The mac and cheese was creamy and rich, and the asparagus had a smoked flavor that made it one of the best versions I’ve ever tasted.

A standout item we didn’t initially want to order but ended up passing around the table was the biscuit. It’s huge—definitely shareable—and served with honey butter that’s absolutely to die for. If you go, do not skip the biscuit.

The 242 fries were disappointing. A bit bland! A few folks also sampled some of the craft beers on tap.

From friendly service to the cozy yet polished ambiance, Row 34 delivered across the board. Whether you’re visiting Portsmouth or a local looking for a solid spot for seafood and drinks, this place is well...