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10-11-2013, 09:10 AM | #1 | |
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Irish Pub Coming to Laconia
Former Church building to be converted
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10-11-2013, 09:13 AM | #2 |
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Sounds promising- thanks McDude!
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10-11-2013, 09:18 AM | #3 |
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Should be cool once it's open.
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10-11-2013, 11:51 AM | #4 |
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Any "before" pictures of that building?
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10-11-2013, 12:06 PM | #5 | |
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from Wikipedia
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10-11-2013, 02:29 PM | #6 |
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Being part Irish, I was about to say "how appropriate", but I'll hold that back
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10-11-2013, 02:44 PM | #7 |
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We have been to the Holy Grail a bunch of times and find it to be a nice place to hang out have dinner and a few craft beers. The owners are great people and always there and the staff is awesome. Will be a great addition to the lake.
There was also talk of them opening one in Methuen. |
10-11-2013, 02:45 PM | #8 |
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Would this be the same place?
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10-11-2013, 03:39 PM | #9 |
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Love The Holy Grail ! They did a super job with that venue. Would expect the same or better in Laconia .
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10-11-2013, 07:23 PM | #10 |
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Nice
I have also been to the Holy Grail in Epping, good food,good service nice place. I think it will be a nice addition to the area can't wait.
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10-12-2013, 05:07 AM | #11 | |
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The draft beer list at the Holy Grail looks pretty decent:
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10-12-2013, 08:19 AM | #12 |
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Irish pub
Can't wait - wish you the best as you begin this super project! Slainte!
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10-18-2013, 06:27 AM | #13 | |
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From the Laconia Sun
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01-22-2014, 06:01 PM | #14 |
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Haven't heard anything about the Irish pub lately. What's new with the Laconia Holy Grail. Are the renovations under way? Any idea of an opening date ?
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01-22-2014, 11:42 PM | #15 |
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I had a Scottsman work for me many years ago. I had a hard time understanding him when we first met. He'd often end his shift by saying "I've got to go to church now." I thought he was very religious until one day he explained that "church" was a bar.
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02-06-2014, 07:26 PM | #16 |
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They just posted this on Facebook.
Holy Grail Food & Spirits 4 hours ago It's official, the Second Coming of the Holy Grail of the Lakes is opening in Laconia!!! The build out will commence on Monday and take about 7 months to complete. We will keep everyone posted as the Grand Opening approaches in the fall. Tell all your friends about us up North!! Slainte!!! |
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02-07-2014, 11:19 AM | #17 |
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hope it get done faster for some summer rainy days
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03-30-2015, 08:58 AM | #18 |
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Advertisement in the Sun today advertising "HELP WANTED" for all positions! Opening can't be far off!
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04-28-2015, 11:20 AM | #19 |
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Anyone heard when the new Holy Grail will open? I think I saw they were still assembling the bar area on Facebook?
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04-28-2015, 11:38 AM | #20 |
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Its been a looong process.
With the city delaying water access and natural gas access, getting permission to place dumpsters in the parking lot out back, zoning and other regulatory BS. If all goes well they will open in May.
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04-28-2015, 02:08 PM | #21 |
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advertising in the Laconia Sun...
Looking for help, with a May opening expected.
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05-15-2015, 08:44 PM | #22 |
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Had the good fortune to attend a soft opening tonight at the Holy Grail. Grand opening will be 05/19/2015. The food and service was excellent. The diners were asked to hoist their beverages during a moment of silence in commemoration of National Police Week and the officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
My wife hoisting a Black & Tan.
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05-21-2015, 08:38 AM | #23 |
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short of mediocre
stopped in yesterday for lunch. The ambience is amazing. A must visit for everybody. The food was some of the worst I've had so far in the region. tasted like it was right off the back of the truck reheated and put in a plastic basket to serve.
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05-21-2015, 09:44 AM | #24 | |
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I can't wait to check this place out. You might guess that I'm Irish!
Here's their webpage http://www.holygrailrestaurantandpub.com/1003/Page.aspx Laconia Daily Sun Quote:
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05-21-2015, 05:50 PM | #25 |
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Yikes!
Around noon today, the three of us were looking forward to the new Irish pub and a new experience in Laconia dining. Sad to say, the environment and waitstaff were great, but the food was quite poor. The Irish beef stew specialty was all gravy (which tasted canned), in an undercooked bread bowl with (I kid you not) 4 carrots and that was it. Not a single piece of meat or potatoes. House salad for $10.00 was a big bowl of lettuce with grated carrots and onions. They forgot the asaigo cheese, which was brought to the table after a request--no problem, easy to get things a bit mixed up during opening week. But not even a roll or cracker, or an interesting vegetable or crouton in the salad for $10 bucks. A cup of fish chowder was of the thick, "canned soup base" variety, with a single piece of potato and a few slivers of fish. Another diner in our group ordered a Reuben sandwich which was OK, but the accompanying French fries were of room temperature, undercooked, and tasteless.
We love to see restaurants succeed. People were flooding in the doors to check this place out. I understand the Epping Holy Grail is a good restaurant with a good reputation. What gives here? Hope they can quickly make some changes so that the folks checking this out for the first time have a good experience and will return. |
05-22-2015, 07:00 AM | #26 |
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We stopped in about 4 PM on Tuesday, opening day. As expected it was very busy, we got 2 of the last few seats at the large horseshoe shape bar. About 2/3 of the tables were full. Both the service and the food were good.
The menu was a limited selection for the opening period until staff all get trained. So we had sandwich fare; Chicken Caprese and the Reuben both well made. A woman next to us had Guinness Steak Tips which she said was very good. They must have had "all hands on deck" for the opening as there were way too many behind the bar. Sort of comical to watch but that will smooth out and our service was fine. There was a lot of on the job training as to using the computer terminals but that will work out as well. Beer? There are 34 taps so lots of selections. I tried the house English ale, somewhat flat and bland. Brewed to go with English food I guess. Moved on to the predictable Guinness. Wife had Newcastle, very good. Noise? We like a pub with sounds of talking and laughter so it was fine for us. Now the acoustics of that church are meant to carry a voice and that is the case still. So if you are looking for a quiet romantic spot, the bar/tavern area is not for you. |
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05-22-2015, 04:57 PM | #27 |
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My wife & I stopped in at noon yesterday for lunch. Both of us were quite happy with our meals. We both had French Onion Soup which was served in a large crock bowl with lots of cheese on top. Quite tasty and my wife, who gets this soup almost anywhere we eat out, said it was one of the best she has had.
I had the Irish Dip sandwich, which was roast beef on a toasted ciabatta roll with swiss cheese & caramelized onions & au jus for dipping. Excellent sandwich. The sandwich came with french fries & a pickle spear. The fries were also good. Wife had fish & chips which also came with cole slaw. I sampled the fish & found it to be excellent. Beer battered outside, very crispy, & the fish was still flaky. Since my wife doesn't like cole slaw I had that & also enjoyed it. The dining area & bar were busy & it is quite noisy but all in all a good new restaurant in the area. We will be going back. |
05-23-2015, 05:56 AM | #28 |
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Also stopped in for lunch yesterday. We had about a 10 min wait to get seated but no big deal. The staff appeared to go out of their way to ensure things went well. They all put an effort into welcoming folks to the new restaurant. Overall, I thought the Reuben I had was the best I've had so far in the lakes region. But I was expecting that from an Irish Pub, I was not disappointed. We'll be back and will be trying them for dinner soon.
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05-23-2015, 07:15 AM | #29 |
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A correction to my post #26, the woman next to us had the Coulate Steak (not the Guinness Steak Tips) which she said was very good. And it sure looked good. I should have asked my wife before posting my review.
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05-23-2015, 04:14 PM | #30 |
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Last Thurday
My fiancée and I went to the Holy Grail for dinner. First, I loved the setting. The mural above the bar is almost 3 dimensional. Lots of seating available and lots of wait staff to accommodate the opening crowd. We got there at 5:30 and were seated immediately. There is a buzzy noise level which I find part of the "pub" experience and appreciate. However, I noticed something. While the sound is there I found it very easy to converse. Normally, other conversations might crisscross and make it hard to hear each other. But I noticed all the surfaces are pebbled which tend to break up the sound. So you get the busy pub buzz but it's still easy to talk. Neat. Someone thought that out.
We ordered the Irish nacho appetizers which use potato slices instead of chips and corned beef as the meat. We enjoyed them with a German Blufeld Riesling. They were served up quickly as was the wine. My fiancée had the Guiness Beef Stew which she liked although it could have used a bit more beef and vegetables. I had the Coulate Steak with sweet potato fries and onion rings, all very tasty. We finished things off with the Apple Crisp a la Mode which was good but the apple part should have been warmer. I had an Irish coffee as a closer. Very nice. |
05-24-2015, 05:24 PM | #31 |
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Tried it for the first time
We went to the Holy Grail for dinner this evening.
The ambiance is terrific; they preserved much of the church and added a mural of an Irish castle. It does not feel like you are dining in downtown Laconia. Well done! Some of the seating appears to be re-purposed pews. Both the food and the service were exemplary. My wife order the Guinness stew and a salad. She could not finish it; the salad was huge. The combination of caramelized pears and goat cheese is quite interesting. The bar is pretty amazing. They have a huge number of beers on tap and a very large bar. I guess that is expected for an Irish Pub. They are operating with a reduced menu at the moment, but there are still an abundant number of choices. Clearly, we will be back. Jetskier |
05-24-2015, 07:11 PM | #32 |
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We ate at the Holy Grail last night. The church setting was wonderful, even my 16 year old son was impressed. I had the Boiled Dinner, very good and large portions.
Service was a little slow but it was Saturday night in a restaurant that opened a few days ago. |
05-25-2015, 06:40 PM | #33 |
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I went to lunch today at the Holy Grail of the Lakes and I was pleasantly surprised. The setting was unique and filled with lots of beautiful stained glass. The ambiance while loud felt very communal and welcoming as the air was filled with lots of jovial voices which all sounded like they were having a good time. I am happy to report there are plenty of crystal clear flat screen TV's well placed throughout the restaurant and pub for viewing your favorite sporting events while having a pint or enjoying a meal. The staff was friendly and prompt and most importantly the food was good. I myself had the Bangers and Colcannon and the other person with me had the fish & chips. The Bangers (Irish Pork Sausages) were tasty as was the Colcannon (Seasoned Mashed Potatoes), and I just couldn't get enough of the house gravy ladled over everything. The fish from the fish & chips was a and light and flaky Haddock that was fried to perfection as were the French fries. All and all I had a good time and I definitely recommend stopping by the Holy Grail of the Lakes if you are looking for someplace good to eat and would like to form your own opinion.
George in Laconia P.S. It is probably also worth mentioning that they have a really beautiful and large wall mural of an Irish castle that sits directly behind where the pulpit would have originally stood. |
05-27-2015, 03:18 PM | #34 |
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My wife and I ate at the new Holy Grail this past Monday evening. We had been eagerly anticipating a new restaurant in the area, as evidenced by my inquiries on the opening within this very forum string.
We had eaten at the original location in Epping and had enjoyed the atmosphere and novelty of eating within a restored Church. To be honest we were not blown away by the food on that visit which would have been about a year ago now, but we figured we caught it on a bad night. Plus, we had read and heard that many have had good experiences, so we were willing to give the new location a try. The building has been nicely restored and obviously builds on the restored church angle. However, our visit did not get off to a great start when our hostess appeared upset by our request for a booth seat versus a high top. Once seated, our waitress was pleasant and the service was slow. They obviously are still working out the kinks so this was OK with us. However, we were again not blown away by the food once delivered. We had the Irish Nacho Appetizer, and for dinner we had a Caprese Sandwich and a Four Cheese Penne entree. The appetizer was just OK and seemed a little sparse in its flavor and presentment. The same could be said for the other items mentioned. We noted hard and uncooked green beans and the need for salt for flavoring. I had an English Ale that was fresh and good. The beer list was pretty impressive for its variety. Prices were a little on the high side though. Perhaps suitable for the area, but it seemed a bit concerning considering we did not fully enjoy our meal. In all, with the many great eating establishments we have in the area - Fratellos, Patricks, T-Bones, CJ’s just to name a few, we doubt we will give this place another try. Further, we wonder about the long term success of this restaurant given its location. It’s not easily navigated and a bit off the path given attractions and other Restaurants in the area. We wish them luck, and hope it revitalizes the downtown, but we feel they may have to up their game to stay competitive with the other offerings. |
05-27-2015, 09:54 PM | #35 | |
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A bit off the "path"???? Lol! It's in downtown Laconia. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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05-27-2015, 10:26 PM | #36 | |
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05-28-2015, 02:42 PM | #37 | |
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Ordinarily, occupying a downtown area would not be considered “a bit off the path”, but we are talking downtown “Laconia” here. Given its current condition and lack of occupancy by retailers in recent years, it is hardly a place that is well visited. This is what I am referring to. Many of the other restaurants noted are closer to the attractions that still have visitation. As stated previously, I hope the Holy Grail is able to boost visitation to “downtown”. The area sure has potential. |
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05-29-2015, 10:55 AM | #38 |
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Had dinner there last night, Thursday, with four friends. Place was packed when we arrived at 6:45. We had about a 20 minute wait Nd were then seated in the choir loft. Ambience as described by others is great, though very noisy. Entertainment began about 8PM, a singer with guitar, very good but volume much too loud.
Hostess and server were friendly and efficient, but entrees took quite long to arrive. Four of the five of us loved their entrees: shepherd's pie, seafood trio and coulade steak. My baked haddock was dry and flavorless. I would never order it again. All in all it was a fun place and I would go again, especially after a movie in Gilford. I wouldn't travel all the way over there from Wolfeboro just to eat there. Right across the street from it in the railroad station building is one of my favorite Lakes Region restaurants, Local Eatery. Excellent restaurant in every way, food, service and friendliness. Worth the trip. |
06-01-2015, 08:02 AM | #39 |
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Went Saturday evening around 5:30-6, hostess, atmosphere food was great
service not so much, slow and orders were a little mismatched, But wasn't enough to deter from going again. Everyone got a great meal the Boiled dinner, Lamb Shepard's Pie, steak tips, and burger. Kids had the hotdogs. Service does need to improve though
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06-04-2015, 06:26 PM | #40 |
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Holy Graile Bar and Grill
Ate there last night with friend Dot Vaughn. The food was excellent, the atmosphere unique, the place was packed and filling up constantly. The only downside was the noise level. I will go back because it is excellent and the service exceptional.
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06-09-2015, 06:18 AM | #41 |
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Friday evening...
We ate there Friday evening... arriving about 6:15pm and the hostess said "perfect timing, you just got the last table without a wait"... And sure enough... the line started just after we were seated!
Noise was the biggest negative, but it wasn't so loud you couldn't talk across the table. The service for us was pretty good (except for refills on the water), not slow, and after they took the food order, it seemed to come out quickly... we both got the fish & chips... fish was great, well fried, crispy crust, and huge portion (we really should have shared one serving... but we are PIGs haha)... lot's of people around us had the Irish Nachos, which looked yummy, but also very heavy and we definitely wouldn't have had room for a full dinner. Bar was well stocked and the drinks were well made. Definitely not the place to go if you are looking for a light snack or diet dinner... most of the items on the menu were rich and large! The band was arriving about 7pm... and we waited till 7:45pm but no music... unless they were drowned out by the ambient noise... Overall, great experience, good food, reasonably priced, and left very full!! - Paddy O'PIG |
06-09-2015, 11:42 AM | #42 |
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Web Site
For anyone that may be as confused as I was, the web site for the Laconia location is as follows:
http://www.holygraillakes.com/home.aspx It doesn't show up in Google maps yet but I assume it will soon. The address is: 12 Veterans Sq. Laconia, NH |
08-11-2015, 07:54 PM | #43 |
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The Holy Grail
Went to the Holy Grail with Hubby and another couple and enjoyed it very much. We all got something different and no complaints. Menu is huge as is the Bar menu - yikes!
Waitress was terrific (Beth), very helpful and informative. We all Highly recommend it. |
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