The Shanty Family Tavern — Restaurant in Portsmouth

I wasn’t expecting much because it’s a local tavern. Sat down at bar by myself. Bartender (long light brown hair) didn’t approach me for about 15min, when she did show up, I told her I was going to order food. She said she didn’t have any more menus, she’d have to go look. I sat there and waited, during which time I looked the menu up online. When she was walking down my side of the bar, 20min later, I just called her over and said I’d like to order some food & a beer (told her I found the menu online) She then indicated that she would give me a beer, but she needed to take care of a couple of people first (who had just gotten there!) A regular customer just happened to sit by me and she was right there for him and said do you want your regular white Russian? He said sure. She threw a menu on the bar, (didn’t hand it to me or say anything, like; Hey I found you a menu, or SOMETHING!) She walked away, got the regular his white Russian within seconds!…I had to stop her & ask her again if I could order my food! It was quite disheartening. Because I was nothing but kind and extremely patient! After another server gave me my food, she never returned to see if I needed anything or even asked me how I was doing. YET, she proceeded to ask-then give the “regular” two more drinks (white Russians) & hoped he liked them and hoped she was making them better for him. When I was finally done eating, I flagged someone else down to get my check and a box for my leftovers. The other dark haired waitress was happy to help me. In fact, she was the only one that asked while I was sitting there how I was doing. She quickly got me what I needed. The other server/Bartender sighed and said she needed a break. never saw again and finally called the other Bartender to take my check for me. Kind of disappointed because the situation was totally avoidable. All I wanted was a simple order and a beer. I didn’t dare ask for water. Or even think of a dessert (not sure if they even have any) The “regular” person came in 45 minutes after me, got three drinks, an order to go, paid his bill, and was out a half hour before me. I mean, what the heck?! Wish I could leave a better review, but my experience was not very good. The...

The shanty Came in this place is a really good looking place. First thing I notice was the music is just border line Elevator music ( a sports bar ) Then I meat the bartender. Beautiful looking but really you could tell she was working hard to be nice to me :( I asked why the jukebox wasn’t on by the way it’s 3:30 pm It’s a huge place I sat at the bar. Got no response from her except that it was off so a second time I asked ,is it because it was because it’s a family restaurant that you can’t play it she said yes and it might go on at 5 pm. This whole time I’m watching people eat and leave pretty quickly. All these people would have stay if the music was goin on like Tom petty the weekend county like people are strange. Brooks and Dunn. Dire straits. Such a money loss. !!!! Plenary of room in this restaurant if they don’t wanna hear it. I’m not saying playing hard metal but come on it’s a bar. The same response I had from two guys at the bar. I got the feeling the bar tender is a Tyler Swift Fan which is fine But really. Bartender has no personality blonde She corrected me twice on me ordering a bear Stella I actually said to her stoli instead of Stella. So I was wrong but I had my favorite flavor Yang Ling on my mind. just let it roll off your shoulders and smile would be my way of being ,just saying. I had a cocktail and a second beer Ordered French onion. Soup took forever for it to come out then not cooked crispy on the top and it had a tease of chilly in it that spice dose not belong in onion soup. It should taste like beef. Was really disappointed. Any way take this anyway you want but I am a traveling man happened to be in the area I even tried to offer her a shot to loosen her up and...

Was hoping to get some good fried seafood. Put in an order online which there was a 30 minute wait on a Sunday night. No problem. Curb side delivery was great with a very friendly waitress. Unfortunately the fisherman platter tasted undercooked, rubbery, and very bland. I really wanted to like it and had high expectations as it being in Portsmouth and being fresh seafood. I can see if it was cheap but it was around $28. We also tipped to run the food to our car. Unfortunately I had my doubts when I looked at how many other styles of food they had on the menu. We tried but who is to say the rest of the menu isn't stellar. The seafood was just very disappointing. I am not new at eating out and was a head chef at a restaurant for many years. I know good quality fresh food when I see it and taste it. Perhaps my palate is different but I feel it was sub par. The only saving grace was the tarter sauce that made it some what edible. We ended up throwing most of it away and taking it as a lesson learned. I do hope the rest of the menu is great and the business does well in these...