Morrisey's Front Porch

[Chris Exley]

I am not sure how long ago it was, but we last went to the front porch right after the ownership change and we were very dissapointed in he food and the service.

We (my wife, three children and I) went again last Saturday for breakfast to give them another chance and we were pleasently surprised. The food was good and the service was excellent.

We'll go back (even if it isn't Bailey's).

[camp guy]

I can concur with Chris Exley about the poor start several years ago, but the Morrissey family should be given great credit for their turn around these last three years. The food is now consistently good, the staff is consistently good, and the entire experience is good. My wife and I eat frequently in the back dining room with separate chairs at glass-topped tables - quite nice compared to getting in and out of a booth with our older knees and hips. The ice cream portions are substantial and the choices are many - my suggestion: try the hot bread pudding with penuche sauce and whipped cream (enough for 2).

[WINNOCTURN]

Just thought you may want to let others know where Morrisseys is located. I took it from the Bailey's inference it is on the Wolfeboro town docks?


Winnocturn

[Grant]

I went with my daughter for lunch back in mid-November, and everything was very good -- food, service, cleanliness. So I went again in Feb. and May, and will be back soon.

[KPW]

Originally Posted by WINNOCTURN

Just thought you may want to let others know where Morrisseys is located. I took it from the Bailey's inference it is on the Wolfeboro town docks?


Winnocturn

It is where the old Bailys was up past Huggins on the left side heading south on 28.

[Chris Exley]

Located on Rt 109 just enterring Wolfeboro from Alton.

[camp guy]

The "old Bailey's" at the Town dock in Wolfeboro is now "Dockside Grille & Pub" being run by "Garwoods Restaurant & Pub" over on Main Street in Wolfeboro. These two really good eating establishments are run by two brothers-in-law and an army of friendly, capable, and talanted staff members handling the food.

At one time, several years ago, Bailey's on the Town dock was run by the same family which ran the restaurant on Rt 28 going south out of Wolfeboro. Presently, the only Bailey restaurant operating in Wolfeboro is actually a grand-daughter-in-law operating the "Bubble", a very popular walk-up ice cream store. The husband of this girl runs "Skelley's Market" on Rt 109 almost to the intersection of Rt 109 and Rt 25. He sells the same ice cream and it is great, and he sells it YEAR ROUND, so you can satisfy your ice cream needs 365/yr.

[fpartri497]

Originally Posted by camp guy

I can concur with Chris Exley about the poor start several years ago, but the Morrissey family should be given great credit for their turn around these last three years. The food is now consistently good, the staff is consistently good, and the entire experience is good. My wife and I eat frequently in the back dining room with separate chairs at glass-topped tables - quite nice compared to getting in and out of a booth with our older knees and hips. The ice cream portions are substantial and the choices are many - my suggestion: try the hot bread pudding with penuche sauce and whipped cream (enough for 2).

wife and I ate there a mth. ago, only two other people there eating at the time. the service was so slow, it took 37 mn. to get two clam rolls ate there the mth. before that with friends and the service was even slower. food was O.K. but not great. I wont be going back there.

[rrr]

Hey Camp Guy - thanks for the info on Skelley's! Now I don't have to go through Bubble withdrawl all winter!

[nj2nh]

I know the family that owns Morrissey's including all the sisters, brothers and parents. It is definitely a family affair. Although I miss Bailey's (for sentimental reasons mostly since it was not so great towards the end there), I think the Front Porch is quite good. Buy, why do they call it the Front Porch when there is NO front porch, I ask you.
Jersey Girl

[RI Swamp Yankee]

Originally Posted by Jersey Girl

... why do they call it the Front Porch when there is NO front porch, I ask you.
Jersey Girl

uhh.. because names like The Woodshed and This Old House were already taken ?
wow, was that a lame answer

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by Jersey Girl

I know the family that owns Morrissey's including all the sisters, brothers and parents. It is definitely a family affair. Although I miss Bailey's (for sentimental reasons mostly since it was not so great towards the end there), I think the Front Porch is quite good. Buy, why do they call it the Front Porch when there is NO front porch, I ask you.
Jersey Girl

I always looked at the screened in area at the right side of the building as an "enclosed porch". The area is in the front if you look at the building as running front to back (right to left). Then again, maybe I'm just a crazy ol' galoot!!!!

[nj2nh]

Previously, I posted that I enjoyed Morrissey's, but I have to tell you now that I have changed my mind.

My boys and I went there last week. It took the waitstaff a good five minutes before we were seated. There was no one ahead of us in line and the place was not crowded.

I ordered iced tea. It was dreadful so I sent it back. The owner, Aaron Morrissey, came out and asked me what the problem was. He brewed it fresh this morning, yada, yada, yada. He was very rude and accusatory. The woman behind us also sent hers back. So, apparently, they (the waitstaff? Aaron?) tasted it (well, duh!) and agreed that it was gross. The very nice waitress said the the mix must have been bad. Notice, she said mix when the owner told me he brewed it. So, I was a tad annoyed.

My son ordered a burger which was great, but got a side order of fruit cup which had only melons. That's a melon cup, not a fruit cup. Minor detail, but also annoying.

So, we are kind of inclined not to go back.

Anyone else have a similar experience?

Jersey Gilr

[Puckster]

I am a local and I just came from the front porch. This was my third visit in as many years and third strike. Never again. Food below average and service non existent.

[AltonGuy]

I usually don't make an effort to badmouth a Restaurant where I have a bad experience. Usually I shrug it off and vow to never return. However, I could not refrain from doing so after having dined at Morissey’s Front Porch last night. From reading prior posts it appears my girlfriend and I have suffered some of the same pains. Upon entering the establishment we waited 15 minutes for a table even though there were multiple empty ones available. People were coming in behind us wondering why there was a wait despite the vacancies. This should have been our cue to leave but instead we stayed and eventually got seated. Things progressively went downhill from there. I half expected a slow initial response from our waitress but surprisingly she came right over and took our drink order. We ordered two sodas, one regular one diet and when brought to us a few minutes later they tasted like pure syrup. My diet soda tasted awful but the girlfriend liked the added sugar in hers so I guess that made up for it. Following the soda delivery, the service became sub par. After waiting for several minutes the owner ended up coming over to take our order. One Roast Beef Dinner and one Boiled Dinner was requested and brought over about 25 minutes later. Presentation was awful to say the least. My corned beef looked like two small shards of wood, accompanied by 3 carrot fragments and 4 small slices of potato. It was edible however despite its disappointing arrangement and size. The Roast Beef Dinner was disheartening due to its crunchy mashed potatoes, uncooked vegetables, and overall cold presentation. I realized that they offered “Seconds of Roast Beef on them” with confidence as no one would ever bother ordering a second helping! The Roast Beef was sent back and brought back in a sea of grease. The girlfriend had a bite or two but by then she had lost her appetite. I was planning to tell the owner of our bad experience but lost track of him by the end of our so called meal. We were just happy to leave in the end. Bottom line, we won’t be bothering with the place ever again.

[offmycloud]

Morrisey's is terrible now. It's a shame. My wife had a similar horrible experience this summer and will never return. It was pretty good a few years ago. Too bad, as Baileys was always good. I guess they are just taking advantage of the location and the sucker-tourists who drop in unaware. That won't last. The place will go out of business and will hopefully be replaced by something better.

[nj2nh]

Now that the Morrissey's own the restaurant at the golf course, it seems unlikely that either will go out of business. I would hate to see any business go down the drain, but would be okay with it if something new moved in - something with better service.

I know they try hard there, but they don't try hard enough.

nj2nh

[offmycloud]

They used to try, they don't anymore. All they had to do to mollify your iced tea experience was be nice and apologize but they couldn't do that. Same with my wife, they didn't apologize from bringing everything late and wrong - bad attitude will sink them. I can't stand it when institutions like that go downhill - that's Bailey's as far as I'm concerned! My mother worked there as a teen and I've been going there since I was a one year old and now they ruined it.

[ApS]

While in general agreement with the above reviews, they are having wait staff shortages—with even the restaurant owner waiting on tables. (With great skill, it has been observed).

Their best (IMHO) waitress, Diane, will be absent for a few days, too.

The parking lot was packed Friday evening.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Puckster

I am a local and I just came from the front porch. This was my third visit in as many years and third strike. Never again. Food below average and service non existent.

Things have changed.

With all the complaints about up-scale dining, I've found the courage to actually recommend Morrissey's Front Porch. (After several "tests" ). Ask for their one-page Seniors+Kiddies menu for a decent meal and a free dessert.

The service is greatly improved—plus, I "bump" the improving food quality up to — — AVERAGE!

If you go to dine on a Tuesday, a roll of the dice gets you a discount!

(That discount can be an eye-opener! ).

[Grady223]

I agree APS, food and service is OK, we go a couple of times a season and get a decent meal at a fair price. It is what it is.

[Lakepilot]

Originally Posted by Grady223

I agree APS, food and service is OK, we go a couple of times a season and get a decent meal at a fair price. It is what it is.

I agree. We're also local and like the Front Porch. It's not fine dining, but it's good food at a fair price. We like the hot turkey sandwich. They use real turkey, unlike many places that use deli meat.

[Oakwood]

Visited Morrisey's for a quick dinner a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised after a few tough visits in the past. Our waitress was outstanding and pleasant, and our dinners were very good (especially the sweet potato fries!) It's the perfect place for a reasonably priced, relaxing dinner in an old-fashioned, campy environment. If you want gourmet, go to Mise En Place. This place was just fine!

[Wolfeboro_Baja]

We vacation in Wolfeboro every July for the past 11 years and tried Morrissey's when it first changed from Bailey's back in 2003 (we loved Bailey's!). We weren't impressed. We tried it again in 2004 and didn't notice any improvement in the food so we stopped going. Maybe we can give try them again this year; although, it might take some convincing to get my wife to go!

I'm no expert but I'm kind of surprised that they've managed to stay in business this long if the food and service was that bad.

[camp guy]

I just had supper at Morrisey's this evening with my granddaughter. I have been a customer of Morrisey's since day one, and I, too, took some time off due to poor performance, but I really do think things have improved lately. My meal tonight was very good, well served by a very pleasant server, and the hostess was around to meet and greet and generally keep an eye on the operation.

When you go to Morrissey's you have to remember where you are when you start making comparisons with other restaurants. Morrissey's is not The Woodshed, not Patrick's, and certainly not some roadside greasy joint; it is, as the saying goes, what it is - basic, uncomplicated food within the budget of almost everyone, and very family friendly.

Try it, you'll like it!!

[Winnipesaukee]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

Things have changed.

With all the complaints about up-scale dining, I've found the courage to actually recommend Morrissey's Front Porch. (After several "tests" ). Ask for their one-page Seniors+Kiddies menu for a decent meal and a free dessert.

The service is greatly improved—plus, I "bump" the improving food quality up to — — AVERAGE!

If you go to dine on a Tuesday, a roll of the dice gets you a discount!

(That discount can be an eye-opener! ).

We stopped by after we picked up the T from you (nice big parking lot), and loved it. VERY good lobster bisque (and I'm a snob), clam chowdah (also a snob), and club sandwiches, IIRC.

[riverat]

Noticed today on the way to rehab that their sign is down, are they closed permanately or renovating?

[Argie's Wife]

Originally Posted by riverat

Noticed today on the way to rehab that their sign is down, are they closed permanately or renovating?

They close for the winter, I believe. They take their shingle down, too.