Nope, never been there. I'm sure I'll give it a try someday.

Friends went the other night and raved about the fresh pasta and filet dish.

The new Lavinia's is amazing!
 

I never post on forums like these but had to join and post after my experience at Lavinia’s.

I traveled to the lakes region over the Valentine’s weekend from Pennsylvania. Fortunately, I was able to eat at the new Lavinia’s on Valentine’s Day. Wow! It was a perfect experience. The building is lovely and sophisticated. The staff is friendly. Most importantly, the food was delicious and unforgettable. My husband and I ordered the pork belly side- tender and amazingly addictive. The house salad was perfectly balanced and dressed lightly. The filet main course and chicken confit were delicious and filling. The portions were large and reasonably priced. We ordered drinks and dessert, too. The cheesecake was light and smooth. The crème brule was sinful. Honestly, this was the best meal I have had in a restaurant in years and we eat out at least two times a week. It was so good we went back for Saturday night. We ordered the burger. It was the best burger I have EVER eaten. The meat was juicy and flavorful. The chef knows what he is doing! The best part is that the food is locally sourced and made in house. You can definitely taste it. We cannot wait to visit the area again- solely to visit Lavinia’s!

In 3.....2......1 Let it rip!!!

Welcome to the forum, welowin...
 

Glad you had the a good trip over Valentine's and that you enjoyed Lavinia's.

Come back to the area again, and enjoy.

Welcome welowin we look forward to fitire posts
What part of PA? Do you know blacksheep?

I'm glad they seem to be hitting their stride. There is always a learning curve in any relaunch. My hubby and I are thinking about heading over there tonight for a cocktail and to check out the pub. Welowin - be careful... if you visit NH too much you'll find you like it much better than PA and next thing you know you'll be filling a truck and heading up for good. :) I don't think we know each other, and I'm not sure how belly button biter knows I have a connection to PA...b/c I have no idea who belly button biter is...?...but I'm from New Hope (Bucks County) north of Philly. Gotta say, though, after 14 years I think NH is home for good.

Please Post Your Impressions
 

Please post your impressions. So far there has been one very positive review and one very negative review. Your experience should be interesting.

Jetskier:cool:

Just returned from our first visit to the newly born Lavinia’s. We are happy to report that the lovely atmosphere remains; the old house, with all of her charm; the eclectic décor, the music, vibe, relaxed tone – all intact. We sat at the bar, in the pub, and enjoyed a few appetizers – the scallops were delicious, and the crispy pork belly also very good. Portions were AMPLE! We were stuffed. Drinks were nice, and our glasses were never empty. We were hoping to see Scott, the bartender, but were informed he stays home on Sunday’s during football season (nice, Scooter…), so Amanda took care of us. We spent a lot of time talking to Doug, the general manager. Much of the ‘buzz’ on the streets is inaccurate – the owner is not an electrician, or a plumber… but is actually a successful international business owner from CT, many years spent vacationing in NH, who owns a house on the big lake. He is fortunate enough to be able to offer support to his son, a recent graduate of the CIA – Greystone, who has spent some years busting his chops in some fine, high-volume spots around the globe. This young Executive Chef has talent, drive, enthusiasm and is really interested in hearing what people have to say. He came out, introduced himself, offered us some culinary gifts, and invited us to tour his newly renovated kitchen. It is beautiful! Immaculate, well planned, and we felt completely welcome. One of the highlights of our meal was dessert – maple bread pudding with caramel sauce – which we were told was created by Chef McGuff’s mom. Apparently she comes into the restaurant and makes ALL of the desserts, as well as treats for the staff. Not to diminish the skills of Chef McGuff, but his mamma may give him a run for his money! It was delicious. So, in conclusion, our experience at Lavinia’s was very positive. It was a quiet, off-season night, we spent less than $100, but we were made to feel very welcome, left full, and had a really nice time. Give it a try.

I'm not the brightest bulb on this forum, but HOLY MOLY MAN!!!

There is no way a restaurant can get this much praise...Impossible!!

Below are the accolades that Lavinia’s got from a first time customer...and they can't wait to come back to NH just to eat at the restaurant again.

1. Wow!
2. perfect experience
3. building is lovely and sophisticated
4. staff is friendly
5. food was delicious and unforgettable
6. tender and amazingly addictive
7. salad was perfectly balanced and dressed lightly
8. delicious and filling
9. portions were large and reasonably priced
10. cheesecake was light and smooth
11. crème brule was sinful
12 .Honestly, this was the best meal I have had in a restaurant in years
13. so good we went back for Saturday night
14. best burger I have EVER eaten
15. meat was juicy and flavorful
16. chef knows what he is doing
17. best part is that the food is locally sourced and made in house. You can definitely taste it
18. We cannot wait to visit the area again- solely to visit Lavinia’s

Oh, and we did confirm that the current menu (short) is temporary and a more extensive, seasonal menu is in the works for spring/summer as is a possible rebrand... Time will tell. :)

I agree $176 not unreasonable for a decent meal for three. If i were to count on one hand the number of LR restaurants that can deliver a worthy experience I'd have fingers left over. I once spent $450 on dinner for 3 (drank a lot of wine) at Surf in Portsmouth. Left a generous tip and wrote a rave review.

I would never expect to pay $176 for an experiance reminesent of a junior college culinary project.

We decided to try the new Lavinia's tonight. The ambiance was wonderful, but the menu was limited and the prices quite high, we thought. I was not in the mood for a burger, a pork sandwich, or fish and chips. A yummy seafood casserole would have hit the spot. The place is lovely, but I think they need to work on a more varied and affordable menu. A $16 burger is a bit much.....
we do, however, wish the new folks luck. We'll try it again when the ground thaws.

I had a great meal at Lavinias last week. It was a special.. Triple B. Burger, beer and bourbon, $19! Once again the burger was great!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

lakelivin
 

Went to Lavinias recently to check out the new owners and new chef. The food was good. Unfortunately the appetizer and entree portions were small yet the prices were very high. The mixed drink portions were very small also. The bartender, Scott (great guy), must have been told to serve tiny drinks. Hopefully the new owners will make some quick changes because its a great location.

We like to dine out, it is probably a large area of our recreational spending. Ambience, service, food, the total experience is what we look for.

The early reviews on Lavinia's have been mixed. The place is lovely and IMO the changes that Luke instituted last year with mixed and more affordable menu choices was a positive. The problem was inconsistency in food preparation.

We went last night for the first time under the new owners. It does appear that at least some of the staff is still there. Overall, we had a very enjoyable experience. The criticisms so far on the Forum have revolved around portion size and price.

The new menu , which is online, is kind of a mix of old and new. There are small plates and entrees and enough choices for most people. There were no specials but it wasn't very busy and it was a Thursday.

The drinks were a good "pour" and were 8 and 9 dollars for premium liquor. The bread was excellent and came with grated cheese and a rosemary olive oil. Only one variety of bread was served.

We are not large portion eaters but the plates seemed full. My wife had the burger. Yes $16 is a lot of money for a burger but it does have a lot of good stuff on it and the fries were great. A lot of folks will shell out $16 for a pasta dish with a higher profit margin and not bat an eye. I had the chicken confit ($25) which was a large leg thigh perfectly prepared with herb spaetzles, rain bow carrots, braised cabbage, smoked onions. A full plate and all excellent. Whoever was in the kitchen knows what he/she is doing.

The desserts looked good and were in the 6-8 dollar range. I had a good espresso.

Kim, our server, was efficient ad knowledgable about the menu.

All in all a very pleasant dining experience. We will return. As far as consistency, that remains to be seen as well as performance when it is busy. A few fish/seafood specials would be nice.

At this point Lavinia's seems a good addition to the higher end dining scene.

I have no association with the restaurant but the early reviews have been confusing and many of the comments have been from folks who have not been to the restaurant.

Our family had lunch at Lavinia's on Mother's Day. They had some special choices and the other choices were off the regular menu. Everyone (7 of us) absolutely loved the food. We had scallops, lobster salad, eggs Benedict, and sausage and gravy biscuits. The prices were similar to prices at other restaurants. After previous comments I was hoping we had chosen the right restaurant. We were not disappointed and Lavinia's will certainly one of our go to places for an evening out.

Thanks GBG we will go when we get up next week. Last summer we loved sitting outside when weather was nice

Lavinia's is featured in an article on Center Harbor dining in the current issue of NH Magazine. It is given an excellent recommendation.

If you know of anyone in the area looking for work, apparently Lavinia's has a desperate need. Not sure I would have portrayed that in my ad, but to each his own. Change can be hard - seems the crew didn't weather the transition well. Hopefully they will be able to build a new team that can meet the expectations of the summer clientele and do justice to the beautiful location.

http://nh.craigslist.org/fbh/4478115308.html

I am not sure that the ad is from Lavinias. Who knows what some people may do to discredit another in the anonymous internet world we live in.

It does seem a little strange that someone would ferret out an ad and take the time to post a link in order to cast a business in a bad light. Wonder if there is a motive here.

I have nothing but well wishes for Lavinia's and I am not anonymous to the new owners and chef. I chalked the ad up to youth and inexperience and posted the link here sincerely thinking there might be forum members here who have students home for the summer who are looking for work. It is no secret that they have had some staffing turnover - and that's hardly unusual for the restaurant business, particularly when there is new ownership/leadership. Spread the word to qualified people, if you choose, but please don't allege that I have motives I do not.

Seriously? A business can't place a post on Craiglist and have someone that might be a member of this forum, see it, and then go ahead and try to help out by spreading the message, without being accused of making up a story for some personal gain??!! Really?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

To be clear, I did not mean to imply that anyone on this forum did anything malicious.

My comment about the anonymity of the internet stands. I doubted that the owners of a restaurant would post a classified advertisement worded as it was.

You and blacksheep seem to support each other in defence of some and attacks on others very often.

My gosh... I don't know what you mean, or are implying, with your comment belly-button-biter, but I can assure you - I am the author of my own opinions and perspectives, I'm not working in cahoots with anyone, and I was just trying to spread the word - to people who might actually know people who are looking - that a restaurant I care about is looking for help. Good lord, this forum can be utterly ridiculous sometimes...

Mi Gaud
 

Can't we all take a deep breath. The summer has barely begun.

This isn't the only thread with, ermmmmm.... contentiousness


Breathe: in..... out......in......out....

Omg Blacksheep......they've found us out! I must leave you now. Good luck on your mission..... If you choose to accept it...... :))))


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think Kayleigh liked it.

I have been there several times since my first report. The menu has changed a bit as has the staff; but I do believe they have a potentially winning combination. They are clearly making an effort to do it right. The best indicator is that the dishes have been consistent which has been a bugaboo in the last several incarnations.

It is a lovely restaurant and a good place to take guests, particularly as the Woodshed is no longer an option. Not inexpensive but a good value for a high end restaurant with a number of lower end priced options.

Apparently . . .
 

I need to leave Gilford more as I have never heard of your restaurant and we live up here year round.

I just looked at the menu, and noticed no chicken dishes. Yeah, I know boring chicken . . . do you ever include it on your special menu?

A Big Fan.
 

We're weekend boaters in Moultonborough and always enjoy the good local restaurants (Canoe, Lemongrass, Lago's and others), but lately Lavinias has been our 'go to' spot. We usually eat at the bar and enjoy Scott's lake stories and instant service. The menu is small, but I've enjoyed all I've tried. My fav is the Blackened Salmon on risotto, and my wife loves the lobster salad with a side of the smashed baby potatoes. The panzanella (sp??) bread salad is great. I took advantage of the Bourbon, Burger and Beer for $19 last week and that's an amazing deal for a great gourmet burger and drinks. We usually go on Wed or Thurs so the crowds are light. Also recommend the fish taco's as a bargain ($11 I think), but very good. SO, nice job to the new mgmt. team - keep it up. Tom and Deb.

Dinner Review
 

My wife and I ate dinner at Lavinia's Thursday and really enjoyed it. The clam chowder was interesting and a little different with a heavier bacon flavor than most, but delicious. The Caesar salad was also a slightly different take on the traditional with tomatoes added and the romaine cut lengthwise. My wife loved the ragout and I had the filet with the pappardelle pasta in Alfredo sauce - also an unusual combination but good. My steak was a perfect medium rare.

I think it's great they have such wide price points across the menu and look forward to trying other things.

We all know its tough to make a restaurant successful, particularly in a highly seasonal location. I wish the owners and staff the best of luck and success!

I am very surprised that Scott had any stories to tell, other than how he has tried to intimidate diners when they came to him with legitimate complaints. I have no complaints about the food at any of his restaurants, but he is a very rude owner.

I think you may be confused, Pineedles...
 

I don't think that Scott O. owns Lavinias, and you have the Scott who is the bartender confused.

Sounds like an oops here. :eek:

I tend to refer to people I am closely familiar with, only, by their first name. Why do people feel the need to refer to Scott O by his first name, as if they are bosom buddies ? No offense meant to any poster here, its just why are people acting familiar with people they obviously only "know" in passing.

Yeah, its an old concept and I'm very old :)

Whoa!
 

I've read back to some of the earlier threads to get some context for Pine needle's otherwise non sequitur and nasty comment.

Lost on me why after several polite and constructive reviews by others of the actual restaurant, he lobbed this nasty gram and attempts to drag this thread back down the hole it was in for a while.

I'm all for talking about what we like and don't like about a restaurant (food, atmosphere, and staff) but this is simply a personal attack. One of the reasons I post very infrequently anymore. This is what core members of the forum have allowed and even encouraged the dialogue to become. Sad really.

Now can we bring this back to restaurant reviews?

You are right upthesaukee I did confuse the two. I am sorry, I just get a bit boiling when I hear the name Scott. Sorry. I have no complaints against Lavinia's.

MI, You are so wrong on so many areas of your post.

A group of us had dinner at Lavinia's on Sunday evening. Unfortunately it was not good. We were so very disappointed because the last time we were there it was great. We never received our bread until we were done with our meal. It wasn't that they forgot- they simply ran out. Three of us ordered the House Pasta and none of us liked it. It was overcooked and salty. My husband had duck. He said it was served lukewarm and the portion was small. We asked for three separate checks. We received three separate checks, but all three of them were the same check. They eventually found the other two checks. Maybe we should have waited until after Labor Day when the crowds subside. It is to bad because we live here year round. These restaurants have to survive on a great deal of local business in the off season. We will not return for a very long time and we live close by.

depends on how busy they are
 

I've had my best dinner in the Lakes Region about a year or so ago at this restaurant and I've also had my worst a few months later. The best was during the week when they weren't too busy and the worst was a Friday night when they were busy. Yes, they ran out of bread on us on that busy night, too. So, bottom line, is they are not good at peak load, but are outstanding otherwise, IMHO.