(website)
96 State Street Portsmouth, NH 03801 (603) 334-6225
It's probably unfair to review a restaurant based on one visit there. Unfortunately, if a restaurant is horrendous the first time around, there is little chance that I'll be able to be convinced to return - why would I want to give something awful a second chance? Rhetorical question. So starting out by saying that I'm reviewing the fourth visit to the Common Man in Portsmouth probably gives away my general opinion about the place. Oh, and did I mention it's a fourth visit in less than a month? Yeah, I like it...a lot.
The Common Man is a chain. Chain restaurants bother me. They are similar to chain stores of any sort. After a certain number are out there, there is no way the person initially responsible for making sure everything is as terrific as the first one which made people want to open a second in the first place is still around making sure everything runs smoothly. I don't know who that first person is for the Common Man, but either they're a superhero or they get some really smart folks to work for them and teach them well because, even as the newest of over a dozen restaurants, they are all sorts of amazing.
The first visit found us ordering lunch for dinner (even though they didn't give us the menu). They were happy to oblige us with our desire for what we'd seen online and so an Uncommon Burger and a Veggie Burger were on the way. Before they could reach us though, we opted for the butternut squash ravioli and the Camp Crackers as appetizers. The ravioli rivals any entree at the best Italian restaurant I've ever been to and the Camp Crackers (which are really just adorable mini-slices of pizza) were delectable thanks in part to the Gorgonzola cheese and sliced scallions. The burgers too were delicious, mine covered in bleu cheese and caramelized onions (and served with my favorite side - sweet potato fries) and hers ended up with Gorgonzola on it (instead of the lemon basil aioli).
In the three times since we've made concerted efforts to try new things (even though we don't necessarily want to because what we've had already were so wonderful). The Apple Chicken is covered in walnuts is good, the Maple Glazed Pork Tenderloin is incomparable - literally the best piece of pork I have ever had. The Naked Mac and Cheese is as good as any baked mac and cheese out there and the three meat meatloaf is the juiciest giant meatball I've ever tasted. The desserts we've had are great (chestnut eggnog cheesecake, mud pie, carrot cake, and the chocolate cake), the service is excellent (the managers personally check in on you and top off your water regularly without being overbearing), oh and they have the most delicious free crackers and cheese dip to enjoy while you are waiting for a table.
A fine dining experience at affordable prices (as long as you don't go for some of the fancier dinner entrees of course) - this place really is impossible not to love. Will we go back? Of course. Would it be a good idea for every other restaurant owner in the world to take a page out of the book of the Common Man? You better believe it. I know I do.
ADDENDUM
Common Man Claremont - 21 Water St, Claremont, NH - (603) 542-6171
Something peculiar was going on here; everything was way oversalted. I'll have to go back to check to see if that is the case as I'd hate to condemn one of the Common Man's.
Common Man Inn and Spa (and Restaurant) Plymouth - 231 Main Street, Plymouth, NH 03264-1524 - (603) 536-2200
Judging covers works better with CD's than books, although some books could be judged appropriately by their cover (anything by Piers Anthony at the very least...that and trashy romance novels). The cover of the C-Man Inn is an ugly one. Set next to train tracks with a big bare boring parking lot in front of it, I wasn't expecting all that much inside. The room that we stayed in however was absolutely beautiful. The "Squam" is a suite, with an entry room, a main bedroom, and a small reading room. It is also designed like a cabin and they didn't skimp on details. Much quieter lodging than their place in Claremont, and the room really was, once we had all the blinds down and the fireplace on, so similar to a cabin it was actually possible to use only a tiny bit of imagination and be in a cabin.
The restaurant rivaled the Portsmouth C-Man and although the dessert wasn't quite as good, the ribs and sweet potato fries were possibly better than any meal I've ever had at the C-Man in Portsmouth. I say possibly because there have been so many good meals there.
I would highly recommend a visit here, dinner and staying. The area right around the Inn isn't ideal, but we only left the room for dinner (which is in the Inn) and a walk around town (which is the pretty little college town of Plymouth, NH).