Restaurant Reviews
 

Thanks to everyone on the forum for their personal experiences and critiques of the many restaurants now available in the lakes region. The reviews not only help in choosing a particular restaurant, but also highlight the many new or lesser-known establishments. Eveyone has different standards in what they expect in their dinning experience, whether the occasion calls for fast food or a formal sit down. The reviews help, especially if there are multiple posts that agree with the review. The best thing for the patrons, is the plethora of restaurants to choose from. I am most familar with the Paugus Bay area, and can remember back in the 50's and 60's there were only few choices. The ones that come to mind are Hart's (when the live turkeys were kept in pens outside the resraurant), the Windmill (now closed for many years), and the Boulevard Drive Inn (now a real estate office). My family would say, " What this area needs are a few more good restaurants." Now there are so many restaurants and so little time. Hope some of you can add to the list of old restaurants and what they are today.:liplick:

Melody's Kitchen
 

Twenty years ago we used to love the calzones at Melody's Kitchen in Meredith. We were devastated when it closed. There was also a great sandwich place where Karen and Barry's is now located.

How about the lake shore diner where burger king is now ?

mg2107, that's a good one! forgot about that one. It was located next to the Ice House. Did that same diner get moved down the street and be the current Paugus Diner? Nothing like a old diner for good food, good price and the built in character.

Mmmm
 

How about Captains Table? I think it was on Paugus Bay. There used to be a large container out front near the entrance loaded with live trout that you could feed. I think the Corvette bldg is there now?

I had a graduation dinner date at the Wakatatina restaurant in Meredith.......bet you can't guess what year!

Bil-O-Fare
 

Does anyone remember this little place? It was the best hamburger/hot dog/vanilla frappe/Ice Cream place in the world. It was located on the right at the bottom of Wharf Rd. in Melvin Village. It was owned and run by Priscilla & Burgess Hodges with help from a cast of many locals in the late 1950's into the 1960's. Seating was all outside under the blue corrugated fiberglass roof looking out onto Melvin Bay.

It was there for several years and then the business was sold and moved onto the property of what is now known as the Pine View Motel where it also functioned as a restaurant/ice cream place for a few years. Then, the building was turned into an efficiency apartment and is still there today.

Graduation dinner
 

McDude I'm sure will come up with more than just the date :laugh:

Oh Yes, the Wakatatina on the hill between the Weirs and Hart's. It had a great buffett, then went down hill changed into an oriental restaurant,that went out of business and is now a place that sell docks etc. SAMIAM, I don't know you but I will guess a graduation from high school to be 1965.:confused:

Probably have a picture of Samiam and Ben Franklin going over old time:D .

Bil-O-Fare
 

I agree with it being one of the best. We tried to be there for opening and closing and lots in between. I had custom banana split formula that she kept listed for when I came in. Started with just the ice creams and added the hot dogs and hamburgers after a couple of years if I recall correctly.
Sure do miss that place.
SCG, thanks for the memory.:) :) :)

Remember.....
 

The year is 2015 and the conversation goes like this....."Do you remember when there was only that one McDonalds over in Meredith and now there's one in every village?" "Yup, and now there are 24 Starbucks......I can remember when there were none!!":laugh:

1967
 

I'm figuring 1967 for McDude's graduation from highscrewl.:D

Extinct Restaurants
 

-The Coliseum Restaurant shaped like a big cheese located where JB Scoops Rt 3 Meredith
-The Studio Cafe Meredith
-Gandy Dancer Salon Weirs
-Nashville North Weirs
-Smitty's out on Rt 104 New Hampton
-Thea's out on Rt 104 New Hampton
-For Every Seasons Meredith
-The Meredith Station Meredith
-Jade Island Meredith/Weirs
-Chases Meredith
-Franken Sundae Meredith
-Romano's Rt 104 New Hampton
-RJ's Rt 104 New Hampton
-Summerfields-Laconia
-B. Mae Denny's Gilford
-Club 106 now a church Laconia/Loudon
-Wagon Wheel-Bristol
-Mill Stream-Bristol
-Pasquany Inn-Bristol
-Dick Burhoe's Coverd Bridge-Campton
-The White Hat-Holderness
-Sweet Water Inn-Moultonboro
-The Smoke House Meredith (Formerly Meredith Station)
-The Mills Falls Restaurant Meredith
-C Brothers 3 Meredith
-The Windmill Winnisquam

Restaurants still in Business after 20+ Years!!
 

Harts Meredith
Mames Meredith
The Wood Shed Moultonboro
Georges Meredith
The Mug Meredith
The Manor Holderness
Rossi's Italian Ristorante Rt 104 New Hampton
The Homestead Bristol
Christmas Island Weirs
Oriental Gardens Weirs
Bonanza Laconia
CJ Avery's Laconia (may be closed, not sure)
Rigioni's Galley Laconia (May be closed, not sure)
Top of the Town Winnisquam
The Margate Weirs/Gilford

More Extinct Restaurants
 

Longwood Farms Center Harbor
Chequers Villa Tamworth
Chequers Harbor Center Harbor
Melanie's Kitchen Meredith
Elvio's Pizza Center Harbor & Weirs
Roman's Pizza Weirs Beach
Crossroads Weirs Beach
Nothing Fancy Weirs Beach
Great Escape Restaurant & Lounge Weirs Beach
Chef Jeff at Gunstock Inn
King's Chinese Restaurant Weirs Beach and Downtown Laconia

OLD HUBBARD ROAD... All I can say is WOW! That's quite a list. Many are no longer in business. A few have survived. I would like to know what some are today. Is CJ Avery's on the way out? They are tucked in a side street across the RR tracks in Lakeport. Pretty good pot roast and usually not much of a wait.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...wakitatina.jpg
here's another one for you.....how about the Hickory Stick Farm in Belmont?
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...tickfarmd2.JPG
Close!.....1970!

PS ....and don't forget Dot's Diner in New Durham.

mcdude, great pictures. Yes I can see it now 1970, mcdude and date in the tepee lounge. :look:

Old Hubbard Rd
 

How about Week's Dairy Bar in Laconia - home of the banana splits "Mount Washington" and the "Sissy Splits"

McDude
 

I do remember Hickory Stick Farms. They were a very popular place. I never made it there. Their specialty was Duck.

Wakitatina was before my time. I think they disappeared in the late 70's???

There are so many restaurants that have come and gone. What ever happened to Quan King of Jade Island and King Chinese restaurants. She use to greet people in these really fancy Oriental dresses. She was very nice.

Hockey Puck
 

Let's see:
The Longwood Farms in Centre Harbor was Chequers Harbor and is now Canoe.
Smitty's in New Hampton is now a furniture place
RJ's in New Hampton is now a Auto/Recreation place
Chases is now the Chase House Hotel and shops
Meredith Station a Volvo dealership
For Every Seasons is Karen & Barry's
Rigiones Galley is now The Galley
The Windmill is now a car dealership
The Crossroads has been leveled
The White Hat looks like little shops now.
The Original C Brothers is now a sub shop.
The Mills Fall Restaurant is now Guiseppes


Nashville North,Summerfields,Loves Sweetwater Inn,Gandy Dancer Salon & Meredith Station all burnt to the ground.

New Durham restaurants
 

Good Grief, McDude! I'm Class of '70 also, and we're still alive and kicking. :laugh:

I was going to mention Dot's and another New Durham eatery: Foxy Johnny's. Alton Bay had the Myrtle Ann (now Dockside) and Karen's Kitchen (now a real estate office).

Thanks OLD HUBBARD, from your list, it sure looks like the lakes region, at least in the past, is tough on restaurants. Now with the community becoming more of a year round population it may be a bit easier, but there is more compertion for the same dollars.
JANET, yes, the banana splits at WEEKS. I tried to finish a "Mount Washington" when I was about 12, needless to say I failed.

Couple of more extinctions
 

Hi all,

A couple more for the defunct list:

Crabby Dave's - Now a real estate office
Victorian House - Empty, I beleive

Jetskier:cool:

Hockeypuck...close guess...it was (gulp) 1959. Old Hubbard.....I bow to your incredible memory.What a trip back in time as I remember patronizing nearly all of them over the years.I humbly add these 3 in Moultonborough....
The Stonhearth Tavern
The Chowder Barn
Beggars Banquet
McDude,as usual you are the senior historian,thanks for the pics.

ah, an old personal favorite a little away from the lake:

Salvatore's Italian Restaurant, Tilton, now Eurasion Auto.

Does anyone remember the Edgewater Restaurant in either Gilford or West Alton? If so, where was it located? (not to be confused with Edgewood on Rt. 28 near the Alton traffic circle).

Places I Remember
 

I cant go too far back since I am 26 but I have 3 places

1. B Mae's- I used to stay there when I was young and the breakfast buffet was awesome and the food was great then it went to Wade and Malloy's and then Gilford Steakhouse which both arent close to what Bmae's was.

2. Frankenberry in Meredith or Laconia < I cant remember> - I am not sure was is there now but this place was great for making your own Sundae.

3. C.H.O.P < Colonial House Of Pancakes>- Great for the M&M pancakes and the food was alway good there. This is where Nadia's is today.

Oh yuh,Seaplane...the place used to have to have some of the hottest bands around.There were lines to get in the lounge.....never ate there though

Do you remember:
 

The Windmill Restaurant on Paugus Bay
Keller's Ice Cream Stand on Weirs Blvd.
Maurice's in Moultonboro
The Howard Johnson's in the Weirs

no one has mentioned the recently defunct Coe House

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...ancoehouse.jpg

Interestingly enough.....their web site is still up and running
http://www.coehouse.com/main.html

Mcdude it is strange since when i went by the Coe House in October and looked in it was like they could have opened that night. tables are set for dinner

heres another one
 

What about the Road kill cafe. it was where Shaws is now. right on the boarder of gilford and laconia...

This thread has gone way beyond what I expected. The forum has some real historians that love to eat out. It is amazing how many eateries have gone out of business, even the ones that appear to be our favorites.

I have a Road Kill Cafe T-Shirt! It was either in, or nearby, the old fruitstand called the "Golden Banana" or the "Big Banana" or something like that. (Not to be confused with the strip joint on Rt. 1 in Mass with a similar name:D ) ....across the street was an old plaza, now torn down and being newly developed, that had a Jackston Star Market, State Liquor Store and a K-Mart. Surely many of you have been there!

More Dead Soliders
 

How about Father John's Pub and Cioni's (both in the same building in Wolfeboro at different times). Then there was the L N A (L N & A???) ranch in Wolfeboro that my folks used to go dancing at in the 1970s. Also, Pop's donuts in Wolfeboro was a great eatery until its demise when Dunkin Donuts moved into town ten plus years ago.

McDude, being a longtime northshore dweller and having many ties to that area, I must sadly report that the Golden Bananna in Peabody, that you refrenced above, is no longer among the many fine establishments operating along RTE 1.

That would be the Allen A ranch, and dancing goes back to the 20's and 30's.

http://www.lwa.org/gallery/albums/Postcards/acr.jpg
http://www.lwa.org/gallery/albums/Postcards/ack.jpg

A few more defunct Wolfeboro establishments......Love's Quay is now 51 Mill Street. The restaurant in the barn on Rt. 28 heading towards Ossipee...what was the name of it? (The Bittersweet something or other?)Recently it was resurrected as Grille 28 but I don't think it met with much success. ...and let's not forget Bailey's!
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze3nm2c/s...g.w560h436.jpg

.....and I hear that THE CIDER PRESS has been sold. The new owner plans to refurbish the place and add some more creative dishes to the menu.

Another old timer still open
 

Don't forget Sawyers in Gilford