The Kitchen in Portsmouth, NH is a welcoming American restaurant that blends elevated comfort food with a relaxed, stylish atmosphere.
Tucked into 171 Islington St, it offers the kind of dining experience that feels both familiar and fresh: a charming sandwich nook serving thoughtfully prepared burgers, salads, brunch favorites, desserts, and local specialties, all with a cool vibe that makes it easy to linger.
Whether you are stopping in for lunch, settling in for dinner, or enjoying a solo meal, The Kitchen creates a setting that feels approachable yet polished, with the added bonus of outdoor seating, table service, and a bar on site for guests who want to make the most of their visit.
What makes The Kitchen especially appealing is the full range of ways it serves its guests. You can dine in, take away, order delivery, or use on-site services, giving you plenty of flexibility whether you are planning a casual meal or a more complete night out.
The menu goes well beyond the basics, with comfort food, healthy options, coffee, cocktails, beer, and happy-hour drinks and food that fit a variety of tastes and occasions.
The restaurant is also known for fast service, a strong beer selection, great cocktails, and a lively sports-friendly atmosphere, making it a dependable choice for people who want good food without sacrificing energy or convenience. With catering available as well, it is a practical option for gatherings, office events, and celebrations of all sizes.
Customers clearly respond to that balance of quality and ease, reflected in its strong 4.50-star rating from 809 reviews. Guests also appreciate thoughtful accessibility features such as a wheelchair-accessible entrance and wheelchair-accessible seating, along with useful amenities like Wi-Fi, free Wi-Fi, restrooms, and gender-neutral toilets.
Reservations are accepted, and payment is simple with credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments. Casual, cozy, and trendy, The Kitchen is designed to make people feel comfortable while still offering the kind of food, drinks, and service that inspire repeat visits.
For anyone looking for a dependable American restaurant in Portsmouth with personality, variety, and a strong reputation, The Kitchen stands out as a destination worth returning to again and again.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at The Kitchen
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Hear from our valued guests
We were looking for a quick bite around 630pm on a Thursday evening. We stopped at one place in Rye and were turned away with our take out order. Lucky for us they turned us away or we wouldn't have found The Kitchen. I walked in to place an order to go and was quickly greeted by a very friendly crew. My husband waited in the car out front because we were getting takeout. I placed an order of a salad with chicken, a BLT and their potatoes. I was told it would be about 10 minutes. Everyone was so nice and friendly, I called my husband and told him to come on in and let's have a drink. He did and the bartender was wonderful. Very friendly, engaging and made us great drinks. It's a really nice place with good service and great drinks. The food was also really tasty with good portions. If we're ever in the area again, we are definitely going back.
The kitchen crafts one of the best Caesar salad wraps I've ever savored. Great housemade Caesar dressing. Good portion of chicken and the only Caesar salad wrap I've had with bacon on it, which enhanced the overall flavors. However, I recommend this gem primarily on weekdays. I've ordered three times on a weekday and was impressed every time. Unfortunately, when I treated my wife on a weekend, the experience fell short. I discovered that it didn't taste like any of the other three times I've eaten it. Less chicken, more cheese, and much more bacon. It tasted like a bacon and cheese wrap with chicken on the side. It was incredibly disappointing. It is beyond me why the wraps don't have croutons in them, even though the salad does and why the house slaw and a pickle on takeout orders is an up charge, even though dining in offers them as part of the price. It baffles me why the wraps lack croutons, despite the salad including them. Additionally, including the house slaw and a pickle on takeout orders as an extra charge, while they are inclusive for dine-in patrons, raises questions. Parking is a challenge, but it's all worth it on a weekday.
A cozy local restaurant that offers their unique take on classic American cuisine. They are located in a charming building with plenty of street parking available surrounding the establishment. For nicer weather, there is a side patio with tables shaded with umbrellas and their main dining area. The selection of food is perfect for lunch or dinner and not overwhelming, plus they have a full bar. They serve plenty of local beer and cider, which is an excellent way to sample what the area has to offer. The majority of the menu is gluten-free, and they do offer gluten-free substitutions for sandwiches and pasta. The real highlight of the meal are their spudsters - mashed potatoes made into little conical shapes with a piping bag, probably frozen, and then deep fried. They have seasonings and sauces to choose from to create endless tasting combinations. Absolutely my new favorite appetizer, and I would come back just for these. Everyone enjoyed their lunch and we were very happy we decided to stop. We will definitely be by again when in the area.
The Kitchen Portsmouth catered a baby shower for our family. The food was incredible! Everyone raved about the wonderful food. Matt and the rest of the staff were so easy to work with for our event. We had a variety of sandwiches/wraps, several salads, plus chips and beverages. We would highly recommend The Kitchen! (We added the toothpick labels to make selections very clear for everybody.)
Excelent food and drinks. The ribs were delicious, the Brussels were crunchy and the honey mustard sauce perfect for dipping. I didn't try the spuds but my family said they were also tasty. The homemade bloody Mary was also on point. Great stop!
Every bite was a delight from start to finish. I stopped here with my mom and kids while traveling in the area, but if I lived nearby, I'd definitely be a regular. I can get a bit judgmental about bars, but the cocktail I had here was amazing. They infuse their own alcohols in house, and the drink was complex and delicious. They also made a Shirley Temple for my kid who is getting interested in cocktails. I'd perused the menu beforehand, and was torn between the Apu burger and the sweet potato burger. When my mom ordered the sweet potato, I said that was great because we could share. There was no sharing. After the first bite, I devoured the entire thing. Even the coleslaw seemed elevated. We enjoyed patio seating on a sunny day. Inside seemed busy, but our server, Hunter, was attentive and made us feel welcomed. I'd highly recommend this place to anyone in the area.
We stopped for a quick bite on the way to another engagement. We were greeted pretty quickly and given our choice of two options for seating. The place is pretty small, so not ideal for a party of more than 2-4. The server was friendly, and bright water right away. There was a good beer list of 8 local brews on tap and several can options as well as cocktails. We ordered wings with Jamaican Jerk rub that were nice and crispy with plenty of seasoning. I had a BLT, and with my limited carb diet, I can say the bread was worth it! Delicious aioli and the bacon was just the right amount of crispiness. Served with Cole slaw and a pickle. My husband had the brisket grilled cheese. I tried a bite and it was really good. Maybe could have used a little more meat. All in all, very positive experience!
Always look for triple d places to eat when we travel. Stopped by for lunch and we were not disappointed! Food was amazing and the portions are great! The coleslaw was amazing everyone enjoyed it even those who do not like coleslaw!! Met with the chef who was awesome and took a picture with us! When we travel north again we will be back! Only disappointment was they do not do the fried mash potatoes anymore. Also the pickled onions were awesome we ordered a extra side of them!!! And the truffle ketchup was a table favorite.
Stopped in to share a sandwich with my daughter today. We ended up ordering the lamb burger (Apu…..name is too long to remember) and curry wedges. Both were really good. We split the burger and had it cooked based on the menu reco (med). The pistachio nuts gave it a great crunch and love the mango chutney. The curry wedges were the perfect temp and crisp! The curry aioli was on top of the wedges and Love it when they get this right.
The Kirchen was welcoming, comfortable, & delicious! It was nice to see many regular locals (1 with their dog in the outside seating area) & not just out of town visitors like us. Wait staff clearly love their jobs as do the rest of the staff. If we lived near Portsmouth, NH we would also become regulars!
Common questions about The Kitchen
The Kitchen is located at 171 Islington St, Portsmouth, NH 03801, United States, Portsmouth, NH, United States.
You can reach The Kitchen by calling +1 603-319-8630.
The Kitchen has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 809 customer reviews.
The Kitchen features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating.
The Kitchen features the following service options: Outdoor seating, Delivery, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in.
The Kitchen features the following highlights: Fast service, Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Serves local specialty, Sport.
The Kitchen features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
The Kitchen features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Happy-hour drinks, Happy-hour food, Healthy options, Quick bite, Small plates, Spirits, Vegan options, Vegetarian options, Wine.
The Kitchen features the following dining options: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
The Kitchen features the following amenities: Bar on site, Gender-neutral toilets, Restroom, Wi-Fi, Free Wi-Fi.
The Kitchen features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Trendy.
The Kitchen features the following crowd: Family friendly, Groups, LGBTQ+ friendly, Tourists, Transgender safe space, University students.
The Kitchen features the following planning: Accepts reservations.
The Kitchen features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
The Kitchen features the following children: Good for kids, High chairs, Kids' menu.
The Kitchen features the following parking: Free street parking, Paid street parking, Somewhat difficult to find a space.
The Kitchen features the following pets: Dogs allowed outside.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
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