Hanover Street Chophouse - Manchester

**The Food:** The food was good, but not extraordinary. The Tempura Shrimp appetizer was decent but didn't stand out, much like the Fried Calamari. I’ve had similar fried seafood at restaurants in Boston’s North End, along the New Hampshire shore, and on Cape Cod—good, but nothing remarkable. However, the entrees were more impressive. I had the New Hampshire sea scallops, which were large, juicy, and perfectly seared with pancetta, served alongside a delicious tomato-zucchini risotto, market vegetables, and basil-garlic oil. At $26, it felt slightly overpriced, but I truly enjoyed it and deemed it worth the cost. My husband went for the Surf and Turf, which included a butter-poached lobster tail, an 8 oz. filet mignon, sour cream mashed potatoes, and a handful of steamed asparagus. It was tasty but at $48, it felt pricey for what it was—not as good as my scallops. **The Wine:** I must say, the wine selection was excellent. We chose a 2003 Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino, an Italian wine priced at $90 a bottle. However, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that on Tuesdays, reserve wines are half price. At $45, this Brunello was a steal—comparable to what you'd find in a liquor store. The wine list is impressive, and if you can, I recommend visiting on a Tuesday! **The Service:** This is where I had some issues. I had mentioned it was a special occasion, and we were promptly seated by a friendly hostess. The manager also welcomed us at the entrance. We ended up at a booth near the bar, unfortunately close to a very loud table of businessmen discussing their bus trip through Italy—quite distracting. Our waiter was mostly friendly and helpful, but I found it rude when he left our table while taking our wine/appetizer order to assist the loud group instead. I had just asked a question about the wine list, and he simply said, "hang on a sec," before attending to them. I was at a loss for words, and my husband remarked on how rude it was. After bringing us our wine, he disappeared again, leaving the bottle unopened on the table for at least five minutes. It was a Tuesday night, so the restaurant wasn’t overly busy. Having worked as a waitress for five years, I understand the challenges, but it felt like we weren’t given the attention we deserved, especially considering it was a special occasion for us. In summary, I would still recommend this restaurant, but perhaps not for a romantic dinner or a significant celebration. I’d return, but mainly for wine at the bar or in a group setting, as it lacked the romantic, quiet atmosphere. Also, even on a Tuesday, the parking lot was completely full, forcing us to search a few blocks away for on-street parking—not a huge deal, but worth noting given New Hampshire’s typical weather challenges. For an exceptional dining experience, I would recommend Unums in Nashua instead; they have an excellent wine list, better food, larger portions, and an incredibly gracious manager. I believe their prices are quite comparable too.

The menu and wine options are varied and feature high-quality selections. Prices are quite reasonable, and in fact, they are somewhat lower than those at similar restaurants. The service was outstanding; our waiter was attentive yet not overly intrusive. The establishment is impressively clean, including the restrooms. While we waited for our table, we sat at the bar and enjoyed excellent drinks and service. Notably, this is the only restaurant we've been to in a long time that offers a coat room, which is much better than piling coats on the chairs! We will definitely return and will also recommend this restaurant to others.

Our reservations were for 7:15, but it took 25 minutes for anyone at the bar to come over to me. After that, we waited an additional 45 minutes to be seated in a nearly empty restaurant because the hostess forgot about us. As a vegetarian, I was mainly there to enjoy the evening with my boyfriend. Before making the reservation, I specifically asked if they had vegetarian options, and the attendant assured me they did and that I just needed to let my server know so the kitchen could prepare something special for me. However, when I inquired about vegetarian options, our server simply replied, "vegetables." I pressed for more details, and he mentioned they only had a sautéed mix of vegetables. Since it wasn't my night, I decided not to make a fuss. It took an eternity to place our order, and the bread only arrived about 25 minutes after we were seated. The salads we ordered were decent, but my main dish was disappointing. I ordered the macaroni and cheese without lobster, and I was shocked to find it was just a cup of pasta shells with a watery, milky cheesy sauce that tasted more like a weak Alfredo rather than true macaroni and cheese. For this, I paid $8, which felt like a poor value. My boyfriend’s meal was no better. He ordered the porterhouse steak for around $40, and to his dismay, it was overcooked, with cold sides and wilted vegetables. He also got a $10 glass of cheap wine that barely filled the glass. The waiter was largely unhelpful and seemed inattentive throughout our visit. Overall, we ended up spending $150, which was absolutely not worth it, and we definitely won't be returning.

This restaurant is fantastic! If you haven't visited, you haven't truly experienced anything. They are very accommodating to customers with disabilities. I often like to stop by after taking a lovely stroll down Hanover Street in the summer.

**Meal Type:** Dinner **Price per Person:** $100+ **Food:** ★★★★★ **Service:** ★★★★★ **Atmosphere:** ★★★★★ If you're looking for a memorable dining experience, this restaurant is a must-visit. The food was impeccable, with standout dishes like the Oysters on the Half Shell and the Bacon Wrapped Scallops stealing the show. The Surf and Turf was cooked to perfection and paired beautifully with their delicious Truffle Butter. I highly recommend trying the Italian Burrata as well; it was incredibly fresh and flavorful. The service was top-notch, with attentive staff who went above and beyond to ensure a delightful evening. The atmosphere was equally impressive, providing a perfect backdrop for a lovely dinner. **Parking Options:** Valet available for your convenience. Overall, this restaurant offers an exquisite dining experience that I highly recommend!