Southern NH Vibe › Restaurants › Exeter
Where to eat in Exeter, NH
5 local favorites in Exeter, NH, picked from best-of lists, local press and reviews. Updated Fri, Oct 9.
Local favorites in Exeter
New American · $$$
Epoch Gastropub
90 Front St, ExeterWebsite(603) 778-3762
The restaurant inside the Exeter Inn, serving refined pub plates, steaks, and cocktails in a historic brick setting.
Known for upscale pub dinners
Italian · $$$
Il Cornicello
11 Water St, ExeterWebsite(603) 580-4604
A small downtown Italian restaurant on Water Street serving pasta and classic Italian dinners Wednesday through Saturday.
Known for homemade pasta
Cafe · $
Laney & Lu
26 Water St, ExeterWebsite(603) 580-4952
A downtown cafe focused on wholesome, mostly vegetarian food: grain bowls, toasts, smoothies, and coffee.
Known for plant-forward bowls and smoothies
Mexican · $
Las Olas Taqueria
30 Portsmouth Ave, ExeterWebsite(603) 418-8901
A casual counter-service taqueria, part of a small local group that started in Hampton, building burritos, tacos, and bowls to order.
Known for burritos and tacos
Breakfast & lunch · $
The Big Bean
163 Water St, ExeterWebsite(603) 418-7343
A downtown breakfast and lunch cafe with house-baked muffins and biscuits and playfully named sandwiches and wraps.
Known for breakfast sandwiches
Our local-favorite lists are free and picked by us from best-of lists, local press and reviews. Nobody pays to be on them. Hours and seasons change, so check before you go. Know a place we missed, or see one that closed? Tell us.
Nearby favorites
Diner · $ · North Hampton · 6 mi away
The Airfield Cafe
9A Lafayette Rd, North Hampton(603) 964-1654
A breakfast and lunch diner at the Hampton Airfield where you can watch small planes; voted the Seacoast's best breakfast and diner in Best of NH 2026.
Known for breakfast by the runway
Fine dining · $$$ · Kingston · 6 mi away
Kingston 1686 House
127 Main St, Kingston(603) 642-3637
Special-occasion restaurant inside a colonial-era house on Main Street, serving classic dinners like rack of lamb and filet mignon.
Known for rack of lamb, filet mignon
Lebanese & Mediterranean · $ · Hampton Falls · 6 mi away
Martha's Restaurant
153 Lafayette Rd, Hampton Falls(603) 929-5092
Small Route 1 Lebanese spot known for charbroiled lamb kabobs, chicken shawarma wraps, spicy hummus, falafel and baklava.
Known for lamb kabobs and shawarma
American & seafood · $$ · Hampton · 6 mi away
The Galley Hatch
325 Lafayette Rd, HamptonWebsite(603) 926-6152
A family-owned Route 1 restaurant since 1970, serving seafood, steaks, and comfort dishes like lobster mac and cheese.
Known for seafood and comfort classics
BBQ · $$ · Brentwood · 6 mi away
Goody Cole's Smokehouse
374 Route 125, BrentwoodWebsite(603) 679-8898
A Route 125 barbecue joint known for Texas-style brisket, ribs, and pulled pork plates with cornbread and house sauces.
Known for Texas-style brisket
Breakfast & lunch · $ · Greenland · 7 mi away
The Country View Restaurant
692 Portsmouth Ave, GreenlandWebsite(603) 431-7426
A Route 33 breakfast and lunch spot with a woodstove and counter, known for Benedicts, an Irish breakfast, and homestyle comfort food.
Known for Irish Benedict and big breakfasts
American tavern · $$ · Newmarket · 7 mi away
The Riverworks
164 Main St, NewmarketWebsite(603) 659-6119
A Main Street restaurant and tavern by the river with a creative American menu and live local music some nights.
Known for tuna tostadas and pulled pork
Seafood · $$ · Seabrook · 7 mi away
Brown's Lobster PoundDaily mid-Apr to mid-Nov; weekends only Nov 15 to Apr 14
407 NH-286, SeabrookWebsite(603) 474-3331
A lobster pound on the marsh since 1950 where you pick lobsters from tanks and eat on a riverside deck; won the Eagle-Tribune's 2026 best seafood vote.
Known for lobster and fried seafood