Toscana Italian Chophouse & Wine Bar — Restaurant in Portsmouth

My husband and I had been wanting to try this place for quite some time but kept pushing it off. Last Saturday night around 9pm we found ourselves walking by and decided to pop in for a drink and a snack as it was too late for dinner. We sat at the bar. Looking at the menu we were surprised at the pricing for what seemed like a pub atmosphere.

My husband ordered his drink but I needed a "quick minute" to decide (after returning from the filthy bathroom). For the next 5+ min I attempted to flag down one of the 3 bartenders. If any of them had been visually scanning the bar they would have seen me watching and waiting. Finally I got someone's attention (barely) and she stood 6 feet away - I asked her to come closer as I had a "custom drink" to order but she refused saying she could hear me as she juggled 6 squeeze bottles - so I had to raise my voice to order my drink. She made it wrong (I watched) and when I questioned her she did not admit it.

We ordered the mussels. When they came out, we were surprised they did not come with bread of any kind and had very little broth. We both popped one into our mouths at the same time and both had to spit them out immediately. They were obviously spoiled. It was disgusting.

The bartender didn't seem too bothered by it and nonchalantly took them back. Upon return, no eye contact, just a faint apology and asked if we wanted something different. We weren't sure if she understood that they were putrid so my husband asked if she mentioned the issue to the cooks and she rolled her eyes and made a sarcastic "of course" comment.

She was clearly disinterested.

If I were a server and had served rotten mussels to a customer I would have notified the manager or owner, and if I were the manager/owner I would be making an appearance and making things right on the spot. In fact, there would be a rule in place making sure these types of things are reported to management.

We left with a bad taste in our mouths, literally and figuratively. I grabbed business cards for 3 managers in the foyer and I emailed them all a couple of days later. I figured I would see what they had to say in lieu of writing a google review.

I heard back from Olivia who seemed quite concerned and asked that I call in so they could "make it right". That was encouraging. But when I did call I got Chris, the GM, who apologized for the filthy bathrooms, but immediately made excuses for the bartenders ignoring me because "the cocktail menu is extensive and they wanted to give me time". Not true. They were casually washing glasses and chatting with other (newer) customers and forgot about me.

And then put me on the defensive about the mussels. He was skeptical because "no one else had complained" that night. He did not believe me!

Talk about pouring salt in the wound.

I told him that any doubt could have easily been erased and that we would not be having this conversation if the bartender or cook had reported it to a manager immediately to come investigate and discuss with us.

He was unapologetic and gave a weak offer to "come give us another chance and to call or email ahead so we are sure to get a...

1/20/2025 update…

Toscana Chophouse in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, delivers a dining experience that impresses on every level. From the moment the house-made focaccia arrived—served with a flavorful blend of olive oil and roasted garlic—it was clear this meal would be memorable. The bread was perfectly airy with just enough crust to satisfy, complemented beautifully by the rich, mellow roasted garlic.

The Tuscan meatballs were a standout starter. Nestled in a bright, tangy pomodoro sauce and paired with creamy burrata and crisp fried basil, each bite was a harmony of texture and flavor. A classic dish elevated by thoughtful execution.

For the main course, the pan-seared diver scallops stole the show. Perfectly caramelized on the outside and tender within, they were accompanied by roasted cauliflower, earthy lentils, and a silky beurre blanc that tied it all together. Every element on the plate felt deliberate, balanced, and satisfying.

Though the dessert menu tempted me, I opted for a classic cappuccino and their house-made biscotti. The biscotti’s crisp texture and delicate sweetness paired wonderfully with the frothy, rich coffee—an understated but delightful finish.

This was an unexpected find, chosen last-minute via OpenTable, and it exceeded expectations. Tuskan Brands is a brand I’ve come to trust, having visited other locations in their portfolio over the years, and this experience was no exception—polished, warm, and impeccably executed. Special thanks to Tara, my server, whose attentiveness made the evening even better. Exactly what I was hoping for, and more.

Tuscan Kitchen- Portsmouth, New Hampshire- 10/23/2017

This is the third of what will soon be four restaurants known as Tuscan Brands. Burlington, Massachusetts, Salem, New Hampshire and coming soon to the harbor in Boston, Massachusetts… Their customer service is exemplary in all locations and they have their own market adjoining the restaurants. It’s something you really need to experience.

First out the Crostini with white bean purée topped with roasted tomatoes. Literally fresh out of the oven.

Second this evening, a half order of lobster ravioli… Local Hampton Harbor Lobster, rock shrimp scampi sugo, crushed red pepper. This is probably one of their best dishes. I’ve had it at all of their locations and have always been happy…

Third out of the kitchen, the Saltimbocca… Pork tenderloin, prosciutto, pickled ramps, mascarpone whipped potatoes with cherry mostrada… Preoared a perfect warm pink center and as pleasing to the eyes as it was to the palate. The prosciutto wraps the pork like a familiar security blanket and oh the flavour! It was delicious.

And to round out this fabulous dinner, a perfectly prepared cappuccino… Large cup, perfect head with a light dusting of cinnamon.

I’ve never had a bad meal at Tuscan… Always great food and customer service. When you come to this location ask for Lori and tell her Paul sent you. Bring the family or come...

The price did not match the service.

Early on, our server seemed friendly. We were optimistic for the evening. Things started to take a turn very quickly, and we all became increasingly uncomfortable each time she returned to the table.

We know that some restaurants in the area don’t serve the restaurant week menus on weekends, so we did not go in with the expectation of ordering off that menu, but restaurant week is what made us think to go to Tuscana. Our server became visibly agitated when we asked about the restaurant week menu. She stated “those are by request. I can get them for you if you want.” Maybe other patrons had given her a hard time about not providing the menu with the regular ones and she was feeling defensive. We felt bad for asking about it, and we opted to stick with regular menu items.

Each time our server returned to the table, it felt as though we were children getting in trouble for talking in-class. It felt like we couldn’t breathe without being listened to… and at one point upon arriving behind me at our table she looked over my shoulder at my phone and asked me a question about the person I was sending a text to.

She proceeded to only call the men “hun” and “sweetie”. She only refilled the men’s water. She handed us utensils by holding them by the end that touches the food. She interrupted conversations abruptly.

When she came to the table after we had finished eating, we said everything was great and asked for the check. She responded with an exasperated “oh… I didn’t know you were in a rush” (we weren’t in a rush… we were just asking for the check). She cleared two plates, and did not return for the rest of the plates. After the passing of some time, we asked the hostess table for boxes for the other plates. She came back a few minutes after that with the check and said “oh, you needed boxes for all of that? I could’ve gotten those.” She then turned to one person in the party and got a bit more aggressive in saying “is everything ok here?” The person in our party said, “oh, yes, why. Is everything okay with you?” And she said “I’m just trying to figure out if everything is ok here.” We apologized to her for whatever made her feel like everything was not ok. She continued to push and we told her that we were very uncomfortable. At this point, she wasn’t going to leave the table until we complained about something. We told her that we were not in a rush and the earlier comment made us feel weird.

The entire experience left us confused and uncomfortable. We felt as though we had failed to cater to our...