Suggestions for dinner in Hampton NH or Salisbury Ma area

[maina]

Looking for recommendation for casual dining in Hampton/Salisbury area. A pre-teen, teenager, and adults in our party of 6. Kids don't like anything too exotic, no sushi, but they do like Italian, tapas, etc. We'll be casually dressed from day at beach, but would still like place with great food -- any suggestions would be appreciated. None of us are familiar with any dining spots in that area. Thanks!

[JimJamie]

We ate at Little Jacks on Hampton Beach north just yesterday. Horrible. Cold, plain mussels, the sole was cod, and watery, even the cole slaw was bitter. The burger way over cooked. What a waste of $$.
Stick with Markey's or Brown's.

[RandyL]

Little Jack's is a tourist trap...i stopped going there years ago when it was consistently bad each and every time.

[pelletman]

Ceals sucks, avoid it like the plague..

[ScubaSteve]

care to expand on that?

[pelletman]

It has been about a year since I went to Ceals. It was just terrible. Packaged slimy turkey in the sub , the clams were TERRIBLE (I like Cooke's and The Clam Box if that helps). My klds wouldn't even eat the food, I could barely eat it. I hated the place and was really pissed I had spent money on the gruel they shoved out the window. My daughter had a burger to replace the turkey and that was terrible too. ANd the woam in charge argued with me about how slimy the turkey was. Just a total disaster. I'm sick thinking about it a year later...

[Infomaniac]

Seeing you are going out of your way to put down Ceal's, I'll stand up for them, and put my 100 plus great visits against your one bad one. Find a new agenda man.

[rizzo0904]

I disagree. My family enjoys Ceals very much. It's not fancy..just a clam shack. But for what it is, the food is good IMO. Nana always get the clam roll, i get the lobster roll. and i love the fries.

[Infomaniac]

Ceal's is still not open on weeknights....I tried stopping last night and they were closed. Ended up at Merrilee's Dockside Dining at Eastman's. It was a perfect night out on their deck. Fish & Chips were good and the beer was ice cold.

[RandyL]

I have yet to have better fried shrimp than Ceal's.

[maina]

Thanks everyone. Ended up going to Hungry Traveler, and enjoyed our meals. It's an old style family restaurant, with basic salad bar (but had field greens instead of iceburg, also had soup) and a varied menu. I had fried clams and scallops (my annual summer fried food festival!), which were very good, crispy coating which wasn't greasy at all. Another had the salmon montreal - basically a broiled salmon with pepper based spices - also very good. Others had pasta mediterrean ( selection of seafood over pasta), and kids had veggie stirfry - even tho it wasn't on the menu, a chicken stir fry was, but server said they would make a veggie stirfry - which was huge and great. Really liked that most selections could be ordered fried, broiled or baked. Also offered a veggie in place of fries or potato (winter squash was terrific). Atmosphere is rather dark and tired, but food was very good, service was excellent, and prices reasonable. Not the place for a romantic dinner, or for innovative or gourmet food preparation, but for a casual family dinner with a varied menu to please everyone (and near the beach) it's perfect. Thanks for the suggestion.

[treb]

They also serve a pretty good lobster roll.

[rizzo0904]

Oh, and for a more laid back, more biker type feel, head to the Tuna Striker for drinks. I know you have kids with you, but they can spend a night at the board walk in Hampton and you can have a drink with the spouse. It's not a classy joint by any means. But it's fun.

[rizzo0904]

I prefer Markey's over Brown's. I always get lobster...prefer to order males so I don't have the eggs in there. Order your lobster and then order your fried food and ask them to be timed to get done at the same time. DH loves the steamers there.

Back on the main drag in Seabrook Beach is a small clam shack called Ceal's. Very good as well. And I think there is an ice cream place next door for dessert.

I've heard great things about Ocean Wok but I've never been myself.

Top of the Harbor is new...maybe 2 years old. Went once and will never go back. RUDE wait staff and crappy drinks.

[sebshezu]

Those of us that live in Seabrook like to go to Browns. It has more of the old time lobster pound flavor. But here it is one or the other. Such as if you like "beach pizza" you either like Tripoli's or Christy's. Not either or will do.

[why_itsme]

LOL. Very true. Tripoli's or nothing for me. Not one bit of interest in Christy's. Both joints have been there for ages so they must have enough customers (especially since they're nearly side by side).

[oceans]

I am a Christy's lover from way back when. I have also been going to Brown's Lobster Pound in Seabrook for approximately 50 years. I love that place, or, should I say, I used to love that place. I get up there as often as I can. However, something is different this year. The lobsters I had were not from Maine and were not that good. Perhaps they were overcooked, but this happened to me last April and again last week (July 2009). We got lobsters in Maine that were sweet and tender and delicious that same week, so I know they were available. Does Brown's have a new supplier or something? Does anyone know if Markey's uses the same lobster supplier as Brown's? I am so disappointed. Going to Brown's always brings back fond memories, but I hesitate to give it a third try after two dry, tough, tasteless lobsters.

[cheerleda25]

actually markeys is WAAYYYY beter! i have been goin since i was little and have grown up with it and i know good sea food!

[terrystu]

Marky's is always great. as is Petey's. I find them both to serve fresh fish and lobsters in a clean environment.Stay away from the Galley Hatch. Its gone way downhill the last couple years since the son took over. Dad used to do it right, now its mainly frozen "portion control" entrees.

[othervoice]

If wanting a little more than pizza or sandwhiches, try the "Old Salt" http://www.oldsaltnh.com/
The prices are a little higher but the food is wonderful, they have a children's menu, and they have a great Sunday brunch.

[three of us]

Coming out of Hampton Beach down the main drag, heading into Seabrook, you'll hook a right and have a choice between Brown's and Marky's. They are fried fish heaven and you can get lobsters, as well. I don't think there's any difference between the two places except they are on different sides of the street but they both do fried seafood very well. You can sit outside, too. Very casual, very family-oriented.

[ScubaSteve]

Markey's is Beer/Wine only and Brown's is BYO. the food is pretty much solid at both.

[treb]

Galley Hatch on rt1 in Hampton or Wida Fletchers also on rt1. Rinaldo's in Hampton Beach, fair Italian.

[why_itsme]

Gee, you have me thinking about all the flavors from that area that I can't get in WA state. A great steak and cheese sub from Papa Gino's, black raspberry ice cream from Friendly's, awesome Chinese from Tiki Lau II, curly fries from Skip's, and the best pizza I've ever had, Tripoli's. (We're able to get the pizza shipped at least.)

I haven't lived in that area in a few years but here's a couple of our favorites. For sit-down inside, in Salisbury, The Hungry Traveler or Sailor Bills. In Seabrook, Master McGrath's, in Hampton, The Galley Hatch. There are also tons of "outdoor" eating places with fantastic local seafood.

Boy, I miss that area so much.

[hipchick47]

My fav in Hampton beach is Ocean Wok. Its across the street from the entrance to Hampton beach State park. Its awsome. Kids will love the juicy chicken wings.

[Infomaniac]

Tried Ocean Wok last night for the first time and thought it was great. Best Egg Foo Young I've had in a long tie.

[MABMAQ]

I definitely second Hungry Traveler on 110 in salisbury - never had a bad meal there - really quick service and huge portions !

[JimJamie]

Sailor Bills has been gone for 10 or 15 years. Tiki Lau II went about 8 years ago. The others are still open. McIntyres in Rowley is now a bank.