Where have all our restaurants gone?
Our current plans are to leave the Portsmouth area, but now we are being prompted by a new reason. Two of our favorite restaurants are closing at the end of the month. Such a shame. Particularly disappointing to me is the impending closure of the Stockpot (although it has been delayed). It really is a Portsmouth institution and I’ve spent a lot of time there. It actually holds a good deal of sentimental value for me. Not only did I spend a lot of time there in general, but my sister worked there for years, and it’s where Liza and I met, in fact it’s where we had our first date too. So we may never get to back to reminisce. Oh, Nostalgia!
Of course, I’ll also miss the restaurant itself. I first started going there in my early 20′s. My friends and I would go 
there because it was cheap. You could get 2 grilled cheeses and a couple PBR’s (on draft mind you) for less than 10 bucks. Plus they have a harborside deck. Easily one of the best places to hang out during the summer, whether on a hot sunny day or a cool late summer night. Dark & Stormy’s and PBR were typical fare for me.
But let’s not forget that they had good food. The Stockpot was one of those consistently good Portsmouth eateries. Their menu was diverse and inexpensive. And it changed just enough to make things interesting and not take the favorites away. It really was a solid restaurant and was part of what you might call the holy trinity of restaurants/bars for me. When all else failed, I could be found at the Stockpot, the Rosa, or the Coat of Arms. Guess that will have to drop down to 2 places now (as long as we’re here that is).
The Victory on the other hand is a more upscale place that I’ve only ever eaten a meal at once (and it was really good too). What made it one of our favorite places was their bar. The little room is as gorgeous as it is cozy. It was our favorite place to grab a fabulous dessert and a swanky drink. It really made us feel like grown-ups. The bartender there was great (it kills me that I can’t remember he name to give her the credit). She made expert suggestions to pair drinks with our desserts. The chocolate terrine was heavenly. It’s really a shame that it’s closing too.
Hopefully someone will reinvent the Stockpot either where it is now or somewhere else down the line, and that Duncan Boyd will do something interesting (in Portsmouth) with a new venture similar, at least in execution, to Victory. Both places hold a special place in my life and will certainly be missed. Cheers.
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Tags: beer, dessert, drinks, local, NH, Portsmouth, Restaurants, Stockpot, Victory
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