Vineyards

nkiar · 05-17-2009, 07:04 PM

Last night my husband and I had a wonderful dinner at Vineyards- near the Belknap mall. We've been there many times and to be honest it hasn't always been a good experience. The problems have been related to the service and long waits- not the food. We keep going back because we want to see the place succeed (we have no personal investment in the restaurant other than wanting a non-chain place to enjoy that is close by) and the food is usually very good. But last night they hit a home run! Beth, our waitress, was friendly and informative. Mona, who we've had in the past, was there and she is great too. I was glad to see the place was full because maybe our past experiences weren't shared by other patrons -although I did hear a waitress thanking a large party for being patient and apologizing for delays that occured. I ordered the special, chicken and shrimp capresse served w/linguine and a pesto cream sauce w/ a balsamic dressing. It was out of this world. I told Beth they need to add this to the regular menu and she agreed it was a great dish. I heard diners at other table make the same comment about adding the dish to the menu. If they did, I'd be there every weekend- it was that good. My husband had a penne dish w/ sausage in a spicy red sauce which he enjoyed but liked mine better. We saved room for dessert and having seen so much written about Love Bites- I asked who did their desserts. They said it was a woman from Mass. that delivers them to the restaurant. I had the red velvet cake and husband had coconut cake and both were wonderful. Bottom line is that I'm glad all the forces aligned and we had a great dinner. Can't wait to dig into the leftovers! nkiar

trfour · 05-18-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkiar

Last night my husband and I had a wonderful dinner at Vineyards- near the Belknap mall. We've been there many times and to be honest it hasn't always been a good experience. The problems have been related to the service and long waits- not the food. We keep going back because we want to see the place succeed (we have no personal investment in the restaurant other than wanting a non-chain place to enjoy that is close by) and the food is usually very good. But last night they hit a home run! Beth, our waitress, was friendly and informative. Mona, who we've had in the past, was there and she is great too. I was glad to see the place was full because maybe our past experiences weren't shared by other patrons -although I did hear a waitress thanking a large party for being patient and apologizing for delays that occured. I ordered the special, chicken and shrimp capresse served w/linguine and a pesto cream sauce w/ a balsamic dressing. It was out of this world. I told Beth they need to add this to the regular menu and she agreed it was a great dish. I heard diners at other table make the same comment about adding the dish to the menu. If they did, I'd be there every weekend- it was that good. My husband had a penne dish w/ sausage in a spicy red sauce which he enjoyed but liked mine better. We saved room for dessert and having seen so much written about Love Bites- I asked who did their desserts. They said it was a woman from Mass. that delivers them to the restaurant. I had the red velvet cake and husband had coconut cake and both were wonderful. Bottom line is that I'm glad all the forces aligned and we had a great dinner. Can't wait to dig into the leftovers! nkiar

"Always heartening to here about a positive exper1ence here! Makes our Lakes Region more enjoyable for all!

Rattlesnake Gal · 05-19-2009, 04:27 PM

Vineyards Family Restaurant

Meredith lady · 05-20-2009, 04:26 AM

I had started a thread back in June 2008 about Vineyards. If you look back at that posting, you'll see my daughter and I had a great dinner there...obviously they are doing something right if people are saying it is still great a year later!

nkiar · 05-20-2009, 12:00 PM

Meredith Lady, I agree with you that they're doing something right and I hope they keep it up for years to come. I did see your thread before I posted but as I'm new here I'm not sure if it would be appropriate to bring up an older post or start a new one. I'm finding the older threads very informative. We've been in the area for 5 years and have fallen into a routine of going to the same places so the old threads are good to troll through for ideas and to see what folks have to say about the places we do frequent.
RS girl- thanks for posting the menu. When we were there I saw they have a Sunday brunch buffet advertised on sign by the street. I think it said $7.99.
nkiar

meredith weekender · 05-20-2009, 12:04 PM

We have been here about a half dozen times in the last three months and have had a great experience every time. The food is always tasty, services are great and the wait is never long. Hopefully they will be around for sometime to come.

Lakelady · 05-23-2009, 11:17 PM

I also agree the food "was" good, but have been back 2 times in the last 2 weeks, things are "off." First, the food was cold, the waitress said "there were issues in the kitchen," and also busy with a party of 14 in the dining area...the place was empty. Also, we went back with friends, and again, barely warm food and our appetizers were delivered wrong. Sorry, but we did like the place, it is beautiful, but it is really also about the food and service.

upthesaukee · 06-18-2009, 09:55 PM

Today was our day to meet with our lawyer and then our financial guru, both in Laconia. After the meetings this afternoon, it was getting a little late and we decided we would do a late lunch / early supper.

With all the motorcycle traffic around, even in the rain, I thought we might try the Vineyards, having heard great things.

We decided to do the lunch menu, and my wife had a grilled chicken sandwich, and I had a turkey and bacon panini. We also ordered onion rings. First of all, the onion rings were very good, a nice size serving and inexpensive at 3.99. The chicken sandwich with FF was very good, per the better half, and my panini with FF was equally very good. My wife had a drink and I had a draft. Then we made the fatal mistake. My wife had the turtle cheesecake, and I had the Death by Chocolate cake. Both servings were big, actually the DBC cake was huge!. A true Chocoholic delight. Both were great, by the way.

Not very busy, greeted by not bartender / waitress, but also the kitchen staff , and a nice experience.

Now we want to go back for supper some night. Hopefully, they will not have the DBC cake...I am still full!!!!!

05-17-2009, 07:04 PM	#1
nkiar Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Silver Lake, Tilton & MA during the week Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Vineyards Last night my husband and I had a wonderful dinner at Vineyards- near the Belknap mall. We've been there many times and to be honest it hasn't always been a good experience. The problems have been related to the service and long waits- not the food. We keep going back because we want to see the place succeed (we have no personal investment in the restaurant other than wanting a non-chain place to enjoy that is close by) and the food is usually very good. But last night they hit a home run! Beth, our waitress, was friendly and informative. Mona, who we've had in the past, was there and she is great too. I was glad to see the place was full because maybe our past experiences weren't shared by other patrons -although I did hear a waitress thanking a large party for being patient and apologizing for delays that occured. I ordered the special, chicken and shrimp capresse served w/linguine and a pesto cream sauce w/ a balsamic dressing. It was out of this world. I told Beth they need to add this to the regular menu and she agreed it was a great dish. I heard diners at other table make the same comment about adding the dish to the menu. If they did, I'd be there every weekend- it was that good. My husband had a penne dish w/ sausage in a spicy red sauce which he enjoyed but liked mine better. We saved room for dessert and having seen so much written about Love Bites- I asked who did their desserts. They said it was a woman from Mass. that delivers them to the restaurant. I had the red velvet cake and husband had coconut cake and both were wonderful. Bottom line is that I'm glad all the forces aligned and we had a great dinner. Can't wait to dig into the leftovers! nkiar

05-19-2009, 04:27 PM	#3
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	They Have a Website Vineyards Family Restaurant

05-20-2009, 04:26 AM	#4
Meredith lady Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 217 Thanks: 290 Thanked 138 Times in 26 Posts	back in June 2008... I had started a thread back in June 2008 about Vineyards. If you look back at that posting, you'll see my daughter and I had a great dinner there...obviously they are doing something right if people are saying it is still great a year later!

05-23-2009, 11:17 PM	#7
Lakelady Junior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Meredith Posts: 6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Food has changed at the Vineyard I also agree the food "was" good, but have been back 2 times in the last 2 weeks, things are "off." First, the food was cold, the waitress said "there were issues in the kitchen," and also busy with a party of 14 in the dining area...the place was empty. Also, we went back with friends, and again, barely warm food and our appetizers were delivered wrong. Sorry, but we did like the place, it is beautiful, but it is really also about the food and service.

06-18-2009, 09:55 PM	#8
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,600 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,462 Thanked 1,983 Times in 1,083 Posts	Lunch today Today was our day to meet with our lawyer and then our financial guru, both in Laconia. After the meetings this afternoon, it was getting a little late and we decided we would do a late lunch / early supper. With all the motorcycle traffic around, even in the rain, I thought we might try the Vineyards, having heard great things. We decided to do the lunch menu, and my wife had a grilled chicken sandwich, and I had a turkey and bacon panini. We also ordered onion rings. First of all, the onion rings were very good, a nice size serving and inexpensive at 3.99. The chicken sandwich with FF was very good, per the better half, and my panini with FF was equally very good. My wife had a drink and I had a draft. Then we made the fatal mistake. My wife had the turtle cheesecake, and I had the Death by Chocolate cake. Both servings were big, actually the DBC cake was huge!. A true Chocoholic delight. Both were great, by the way. Not very busy, greeted by not bartender / waitress, but also the kitchen staff , and a nice experience. Now we want to go back for supper some night. Hopefully, they will not have the DBC cake...I am still full!!!!! __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

05-20-2009, 12:00 PM	#5
nkiar Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Silver Lake, Tilton & MA during the week Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Meredith Lady, I agree with you that they're doing something right and I hope they keep it up for years to come. I did see your thread before I posted but as I'm new here I'm not sure if it would be appropriate to bring up an older post or start a new one. I'm finding the older threads very informative. We've been in the area for 5 years and have fallen into a routine of going to the same places so the old threads are good to troll through for ideas and to see what folks have to say about the places we do frequent. RS girl- thanks for posting the menu. When we were there I saw they have a Sunday brunch buffet advertised on sign by the street. I think it said $7.99. nkiar

05-20-2009, 12:04 PM	#6
meredith weekender Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Meredith / Manchester Posts: 373 Thanks: 87 Thanked 84 Times in 57 Posts	We have been here about a half dozen times in the last three months and have had a great experience every time. The food is always tasty, services are great and the wait is never long. Hopefully they will be around for sometime to come.