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Click to ENLARGE. Location relative to “Castle in the Clouds”.

Click to ENLARGE. What I HIGHLY recommend.

Click to access their Website.

It was a serendipitous discovery, on Saturday, September 9, 2017, and we are delighted. BEST restaurant we have eaten at over the last few weeks and we have eaten out quite a bit of late. It happened to be the 7th time we were eating out over the last 9 days.

The plan was to eat the restaurant at “Castle in the Clouds” after we meandered about. We had had lunch there in July and had really liked it. We got to the restaurant at 4pm to find that it was CLOSED and that it is only open till 3:30pm — even on weekends in the Summer. Poor show and I have e-mailed the Castle to express my dissatisfaction.

I remembered that there was a restaurant on Rte 109, on the left, not far from ‘the junction’. That is how we ended up at “Buckey’s“.

Initial reaction was a bit ‘mixed’. Deanna, who is not a big meat eater (as I am), was not impressed with their slogan “Where good friends Meat!” They really might want to rethink that given that they have a pretty varied menu. The stuffed Bobcat on the wall did not go down well at all, at all, with Teischan and I. Plus, there was a large table next to us that was rather loud with their inappropriate language.

But, the service and food won us over. We had a male served, Joe, of roughly the same vintage as I — which means he was no spring chicken. But, boy, was he good. Very impressed.

The quality of the food was a revelation. I tend to eat burgers, without a bun — since it fits in best with my diet. There “Big Buck Attack” with very good onion rings and huge side salad (for 50 cents) was amazing. So was the ‘Sampler’. Next time I will have to order two. It was gone in no time. Deanna had a Greek salad and had no complaints. I ordered a chocolate ‘bomb’ for Teischan and she was MOST impressed.

Very decent pricing. Wine by the glass is served in two sizes. 5oz and 8oz. I like that.

Yes, we will be going back.

Very impressed. Very happy.

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by Anura Guruge

August 23, 2017

Facebook ‘Like’ Wall Display (Automated) — At ‘Red Arrow Diner’, Concord, NH.

by Anura Guruge

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I knew what it was as soon as I saw it THOUGH I never even realized that such a thing existed.

How clever. Neato! I love it.

It was NOT hooked up. They hope to have it working ‘tomorrow’. Yes, we did a ‘Like’ to test it. Did not work. It stayed at ‘1’.

Yes, it will be automatic — i.e., no manual input required. It will register all the likes given to their Facebook page.

It was at the recently opened ‘Red Arrow Diner‘, on Loudon Road, Concord, New Hampshire.

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by Anura Guruge

August 23, 2017

‘Red Arrow Diner’, Concord, NH — Should Get Better With Time.

by Anura Guruge

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We had lunch at the recently opened ‘Red Arrow Diner‘, on Loudon Road, in Concord, New Hampshire, around 1:45pm on Wednesday, august 23, 2017.

It was ‘OK’ and overall it was a pleasant experience — though my bowl of oatmeal was stone cold and I had to ask them to microwave it. To I that is a cardinal sin, serving cold oatmeal! They microwaved it in the ‘cup’ and as such it came back with much spilled on the plate below. Wasn’t a pretty sight. However, Tyler, our server (who I gather also works for ‘Red Arrow’ Corporate) was outstanding, saw the problem and rushed back with a bowl and said I could use that. Hhhmmmm!

The food was OK. Nothing to write home about. I had my ‘Red Arrow’ usual — slice of pork pie. It too was a tad cold (and PLEASE remember that it takes a LOT to get me to complain about food (given that I grew up in a poor, 3rd-world country)). Teischan, had her usual too, Whoopie Pie. It was not as moist as it should have been. C’est la vie.

My ardent hope is that these are buy growing pains — since I think the ‘diner’ has only been open for less than 6 weeks. [I could be wrong on that.]

Given that I have been a HUGE fan of the ‘Red Arrow’ in Manchester for the last 5.5 years, I am NOT going to hold today’s lunch against the new diner. Over the years the Manchester diner built-up quite a reserve of GOODWILL with I. So, I am willing to cut slack.

The new Concord diner is NOTHING like the historic & politically FAMED diner in Manchester. For one I did NOT get to sit in a booth that had once sat Obama, Hilary or Al Gore. To be fair it is more like a McDonald’s of Friendly’s rather than a cozy, intimate diner. It is very modern and airy. That is not a bad thing. Just lacks the ambience of a diner. They have, however, paid a lot of attention to details — notice the hooks by the stools at the counter. Neat.

The Concord Diner also lacks all the cool, historic pictures that stud Manchester.

We will go again.

The Concord ‘Red Arrow’ is but 2 minutes from Friendly’s on the same road. We always have great luck with Friendly’s and they always send me discount codes. So, that will be a temptation.

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by Anura Guruge

July 1, 2017

Which Signs Do YOU Like — Poor People’s Pub, NH or Geddy’s, ME?

by Anura Guruge

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Geddy’s, Bar Harbor (Acadia), Maine (Left)

Poor People’s Pub, Sanbornville, NH (Right)

They “Poor People’s Pub” & “Geddy’s” are both fun places to eat at and just visit.

I have been to both of them more than once, and will continue to frequent them.

Very different settings, one in the hustling, bustling heart of Bar Harbor and the other in rural New Hampshire. Yes, the artwork also is slightly different, though I am sure the Pub’s clientele will have no objections to the Bar Harbor flair.

I had seen the signs at Geddy’s a few years back. My first visit to “Poor People’s” was, however, just this April. Their signs reminded me of Geddy’s. Now you can see them side-by-side.

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by Anura Guruge

June 18, 2017

“Poor People’s Pub”, Wakefield (NH): Revisited For Father’s Day — June 18, 2017.

by Anura Guruge

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New Hampshire’s #1 Lobster Roll in 2017!

It was Father’s Day, and as such I could pick — and I picked “Poor People’s Pub“.

I had only been there once before, on April 29, 2017, for their 43rd birthday bash — but, I liked what I had and what I saw. My kind of place given that I am very much a ‘Shake It‘ kind of person. You have to go there to see what that is all about. {SMILE}

I had a good time. It was around 1:30pm and that is a tad too early for I. So, I had just their hot dog special and their roast beef sandwich, sans the bread and chips. Yes, just the meat. I brought all the carbs home for the dogs.

It is a fun place and I like the location. Great place to take pictures.

Jimbo, the ‘Hobo’, nor any of the family was around and that was a shame and a loss. They were, quite rightly, celebrating Father’s Day away from the maddening crowd.

Devanee had the lobster roll, New Hampshire’s BEST per WMUR — with or without Russian help in the voting — and liked it. Deanna, the lobsterman’s daughter, refused to have lobster in New Hampshire on the grounds that we are going to Maine twice and she would rather eat lobster there — close to the ocean! I wanted meat and the hot dog special was right up my alley — as was also the case with Teischan.

The house red was GOOD. Much appreciated.

Well, I will be going back again …

Cheers.

The carbs I brought back for the dogs. It is OK.
They get plenty of exercise, running and swimming.

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by Anura Guruge

June 9, 2017

in Anura Guruge, New Hampshire (NH), Rants, Restaurants, Reviews
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‘Portland Pie Co’ (Manchester, NH) — Do NOT Bother Unless You Just Want Pizza.

by Anura Guruge

‘Riverdance — 20th Anniversary Tour‘, at the SNHU Arena, on June 7, 2017, was at 8pm. We decided to get there early to get some good parking and have dinner before the show.

Since the ‘Portland Pie Co.‘ was just a block away we decided to go there. We had been there, once before, a couple of years ago, with all four kids and it had been ‘OK’.

There was a 20-minute wait, though all the tables were not taken. I think it had to do with staffing.

It is nice enough inside and the house red wine is pretty damn good.

I ordered the ‘Fryeburg Fair Cheeseburger‘ without any bread and opted to UPGRADE with a fruit salad.

The two-patty cheeseburger sans a bun was pathetic. Emaciated and anemic. The burger patties at McDonald’s are twice as thick and ten times more flavorful. NOT IMPRESSED. It was insipid and unappetizing.

The fruit salad was a total bloody JOKE. 9 slices of apple, one grape and a sliver of peach. That was it. 98% apple. I couldn’t believe it.

Deanna had the ‘Steak and Bleu Salad‘ and was not enthused by the salad part!

Devanee had a pizza and that was fine.

Teischan had the ‘Nacho Grande‘ appetizer with the $3.00 beef burger upgrade. A lot of Nachos but, at best, there was probably half of a burger of meat.

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by Anura Guruge

May 23, 2017

Johnnie James Of ‘Sweetrock’ Playing At ‘110 Grill’, Rochester, New Hampshire — Sunday, May 22, 2017.

by Anura Guruge

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We lucked out in that we got to see/hear him, albeit but for a way-too brief, few minutes, when we went for lunch at the ever so impressive, (still relatively new) ‘110 Grill’ in Rochester, New Hampshire. He, ‘Johnnie James‘ of ‘Sweet Rock‘, was the icing on what had already proved to be a very nice cake.

I had never heard of him BUT I intend to rectify that.

He was good, very good and a extremely pleasant gentleman. Lot of class, presence and panache.

He started playing at 3pm when we were just about getting ready to leave. Plus, we were seated in the patio (it being an absolutely gorgeous day) and ‘110 Grill’ for all of its modernity and expense not having a way to pipe the live music from indoors to the patio. I, however, went inside and listened to him for a few minutes — and as is my wont also had a few quick words and exchanged business cards. He has an extensive and varied song book.

Definitely good. Worth seeing and WORTH BOOKING.

Enjoy.

All pictures and video taken with my Sony a7 II.

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