Manchester, NH dinner with 7 y.o.

[bawc]

We want to stop for dinner on our way from Bretton Woods to Providence, RI, and Manchester looks like a good halfway point. DS doesn't eat pizza or grilled cheese, which eliminates pizza places, but loves Jamaican beef patties, chinese food, hamburgers and chicken fingers (quite the ethnic gourmet!). I looked through Chowhound posts, and wondered if any of these were child friendly, and easy on/off I93: Republic, A carribean affair, Cafe Momo, Consuela Taqueria. Any other suggestions? He is well behaved in restaurants, but will be tired after a weekend of skiing, so it can't be a protracted meal...

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Cafe Momo
1065 Hanover St, Manchester, NH 03104

[lexpatti]

if you choose concord, just off the highway is Morimottos for great japanese (sushi & tappenyaki), I keephearing great things about Sunnys Table for asian too. I love Hermanos for great Mexican in concord. Awesome burger place downtown Barley House (has more than burgers but I had awesome bgrs)

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Barley House Restaurant
132 N Main St, Concord, NH 03301

[solargarlic]

Wings Your Way is casual and has quite a large menu for a place that specializes in wings. Any on your list would be child friendly, but Cafe Momo is generally very spicy, but someone will be sure to add their opinion on that spot to let you know.

[bawc]

Thank you for the feedbak.
Puritan Backroom: does it have good adult food as well? It has to have something for all of us, not just the little guy (not to belittle his picky eating...)
Cafe Momo: DH loves spicy, but DS does not...I hoped that the oriental style would appeal to him...

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Cafe Momo
1065 Hanover St, Manchester, NH 03104

Puritan Backroom Restaurant
, Manchester, NH 03101

[whs]

PBR is a glorified Greek diner with middling to awful food. Beloved by all Manchester. If the kid likes Jamaican beef patties, by all means go to Caribbean Affair! Then go to PBR for ice cream--I recommend the baklava.

[bawc]

I mapped the Carribean place, and I need to get on I293, rather than staying on I 93. Anything else right off I93 in Manchester? How is Republic Cafe?

[whs]

A Caribbean Affair and Republic are within a block of each other on Elm Street, both accessible by the Granite St exit (5) off 293. Republic is also very good, more of a gastro pub using locally sourced ingredients. Hip vibe for Manchester.

[Msample]

Most of the better places in Manchester are on the west side of town, off 293. The good news is that 293 goes all the way around the city and connects back to 93S and adds very little to the overall driving distance - 12 miles via 293 vs 7 via 93S.

[bawc]

Thank you, that is very helpful to know. Am I correct that Elm St is just off the highway?

[whs]

5 minutes off 293 via exit 5. From the north, take the ramp, make a left, go across the Granite St bridge. When you reach Elm, make a left and both restaurants are about 4 blocks north.

Another option: there is a good Vietnamese restaurant that serves a hearty pho on Queen City Avenue--Golden Bowl.

[bawc]

Those are great options in manchester. Any suggestions for Concord or Nashua in case the timing of that stop is better?

[solargarlic]

I don't have a specific suggestion for Nashua or Concord (though there are plenty of reviews for Asian in Concord on here), I was going to say you might as well decide on the place you really want to eat at and make the stop that's worth it...Nashua is only about 15 min S of Manch by highway, then another 20 or so to Concord from Manch...to me the time b/t each city seems so minimal, that's the way I'd do it.

[rizzo0904]

These are places in Nashua that we like and take our 1 and 2 year old boys without issue:

Michael Timothy (MT's Local now)
Saffron Bistro
Vietnam Noodle House
Shira Kiku (Korean)
Cucina Toscana - haven't been in over a year so not sure if it's still as good as it used to be

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Michael Timothy's
212 Main St., Nashua, NH 03060

Saffron Bistro
80 Main St, Nashua, NH 03060

Vietnam Noodle House
138 Main St, Nashua, NH 03060

[bawc]

Thank you for the replies about Nashua.
I always try to somewhat flexible about stops, to accomodate unforeseen events. Sometimes he falls asleep in the car, or he needs a bathroom stop and cannot wait another minute, or there is unforeseen traffic or accidents along the way...Backup plans can ofter save an unexpected situation...

[bawc]

BTW, how does Republic compare to MT?

[solargarlic]

MT is a "new" restaurant...same owners, new concept in their former space. Haven't been to the new spot, but the food was always consistently excellent. Both restaurants focus on using local ingredients, but Republic is stronger in that category. Republic has a great concept of being a "community" place.

Seeing as you are heading to Providence, I wouldn't bother with Italian food here. The Vietnam Noodle House is great, but the service is a weak point for them.

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Vietnam Noodle House
138 Main St, Nashua, NH 03060

[gryphonskeeper]

I am with Solar on VNH The food is fantastic, but they are very surly and not child friendly. There is a really good chinese restaurant off 93. exit 9S...(Happy Garden) get off the exit and there is a place in the plaza with Hannafords only a minute off the highway. It has an authentic chinese menu (just ask for it) and they are very family friendly.

[rizzo0904]

What about Puritan Backroom? It'll be casual and family friendly since he's likely to be exhausted. Supposedly they have excellent chicken fingers. And the ice cream is supposed to be good too :)

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Puritan Backroom Restaurant
, Manchester, NH 03101