Manchester, NH, Verizon Arena pre-show eat/drink spot?

[solargarlic]

Tues. I'll be heading to the Phish show and figured this would be a good time to see what Manchester has to offer. I am thinking Strange Brew or Milly's Tavern, but I'd love to try Republic. I'm thinking that Republic may just be a little too pricey though for that kind of night. I'm wondering how crowded the other spots get pre-show too? I've only been to Disney on Ice there, so I don't have much to go on lol!

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Milly's Tavern
500 N Commercial St, Manchester, NH

[whs]

OK, the drugs must have worn off by now, how was the food? ;)

[solargarlic]

LOL LOL LOL ... the music has yet to wear off. Good thing the night was really about the music, bc food plans got a little messed up. Couldn't get a foot in the door at SB, headed to XO...too quiet there, but the menu is promising (also there was a pharmaceutical sales meeting there, ironic, no?)...we ended up meeting friends at JD's Tavern at the Radisson and split a typical bar burger. Wings Your Way was disappointingly closed after the show. My expectations were in the wrong place pre-show...last night was only about the music, which totally blew me away. I'll save the food for a quieter night!

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Wings Your Way
13 Jenkins Ct, Durham, NH 03824

[whs]

We stayed at the Radisson for a week during the big ice storm a few years back and the burger at JD's was pretty good (rest of the menu was awful). We've been wanting to try WYW--not too much open in Manchester past 10 pm, though the Backroom serves til 11pm Sun-Thurs and the Red Arrow is open all night.

[gryphonskeeper]

I can't STAND the Red Arrow anymore!!! Especially after 10pm. It is full of drunken and obnoxious 20 somethings, the food STINKS unless you are drunk, yet everyone loves it. Kind of reminds me of my 20 something days when I thought Denny's was the place to go after "clubbin".

[whs]

Have not been there in a long time; it's probably the kids from the Art Institute that you find obnoxious, though I have to say they bring a lot of vitality to downtown. We visited an impromptu art sale they were having in Victory Park and it was like being on St. Mark's Place in New York.

[gryphonskeeper]

90% of Red Arrows clientele are from the local bar scene during the night, and the 55+ government housing community during the day. Not kidding.

[solargarlic]

My sister was really in the mood for eggs so I just took her to the Milford Red Arrow so we could avoid more crowds...we also were not drunk enough to tolerate the clientele you're talking about. Amazing all the publicity and marketing they get from their spot in USA Today, DDD Food Network, best chili...etc.

[purchaser1]

Well, our plans didnt go as well as we had hoped either. We did get into Strangebrew, but it took 20 mins to get a beer and food was out of the question. $2 drafts at stragebrew guaranteed that! At 6pm I ordered nachos for our group, and ending up leaving at 7:20 without getting them...Everyone I know that works in a kitchen on Elm St said that they were way underprepared. They forgot to prepare for the extra hundreds/thousands of people who descend upon what ever city is hosting the band, without a ticket!

[solargarlic]

I probably just missed getting your spot at SB then. We took one look and realized that not only would we not be getting food, but there was no way that we were getting even a beer! Every place was really hopping, a great opportunity for those restaurants...all the nicer places were really empty. Too be expected with that crowd, of course.

[whs]

Next time, try Pappy's Pizza, a Manchester institution a little further up Elm Street. http://www.pappyspizzaonline.com
Avoid the pizza! Good burger. They serve beer. Wine choices are Chablis and White Zin.

[solargarlic]

Thanks for the help. Milly's is a bit farther to the Verizon anyway, so SB is sounding like the best stop. It's been a long time since I've had wings, so that sounds good...Wings Your Way even sounds like a good spot, but that's even farther. I'm still on the fence about Republic, I love SB's beer offerings, and it just seems like they'd have a better vibe for that kind of night.

How about parking? Is the Radisson the best spot...close to the highway and arena? I only worry about leaving, I'd like to have my car in a fairly safe spot when I go back to it.

[gryphonskeeper]

If you are going to Strange Brew you can park on the street, or in the public lot at the top of Market St. It's only .75 cents an hour, with a 6 hour limit I believe, and it is very safe and easy to get out of, unlike parking around the Verizon, which will cost you $10 to park, and is a nightmare to get out of after an event. Just when you leave, go down Market, and take a right, you can reach the highway at the end of that St (Canal St) Have a great time!

[solargarlic]

Great, thanks so much!

[purchaser1]

I don't know how Manch is going to handle all of us, but I suggest getting there eearly...probably heading to Strangebrew as well. Parking at Verizon isnt a bad way to go...u take a right out of the parking lot and you are on 293 in a snap.

[solargarlic]

Ha ha, I know! I think I can be there early enough to park in a good spot...I'd like to finally stay for encore, so thinking to stay away from the main area. I'm also guessing that the younger hardcore head crowd will stay closer to the arena and Irish pubs by there. So yeah, hoping SB will be a better spot...plus for me, it really is all about the beer, and the eats have to be worthy as well. I believe Tues. are the draft specials there.

[purchaser1]

we did the responsible thing and hired a car to pick us up at 1, so I'm definitely staying for the encore and then going to be looking for some late night grub...hopefully the elm st restaurants stay open late!

[solargarlic]

Ok, you got me thinking about that...checked it out, Wings Your Way open til 1am everyday. That's a pretty good spot to fall back on, I'd guess there would be something else on Elm too. Good call on hiring a car, never even considered that!

[ChardonnayQueen]

I like Ignite on Hanover St. Definately SB over Milly's.

[whs]

Well, if you want chicken wings and nachos, go to Strange Brew. Price point is $8.75 to $10.95. Panini at Republic run $5.95 to $9.50. Flatbreads run $6.50 to $8.95. The lamb merguez sausage flatbread with sweet peppers, roasted red onions, and feta is $8.50.

[gryphonskeeper]

I would do Strange Brew over Milly's and get the Burger and a brew. They are much cleaner than Milly's. I am not sure on Republic, but I do know that they have really good drinks at XO and the small plates are nice as well.