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July 28, 2019  

‘The Foothills Of Warner’ — A Quaint, Delightful Eatery In Scenic, Warner, N.H.

by Anura Guruge

Click pictures to ENLARGE.

Attribution WILL be enforced.


Click to access their Facebook page.

We stopped here for lunch, on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, after our very rewarding visit to the nearby ‘Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum‘.

A great place. Very welcoming, airy and cozy feel. Outgoing staff. Extremely friendly patrons. Delightful, satisfying food — and ‘yes’ their 6oz burger is very, very good.

We had a wonderful time. Met some interesting folks.

They don’t take credit cards — and I will readily admit that that irks I. This is now an unnecessary affectation. Not cute, anymore. Jack up the prices or even say 10% surcharge for using credit cards. But, please take my damn card. Yes, they have an ATM on site which charged me $5 to withdraw $40 — though it claims that it only charges $2.50. Cute. Just on principle I called up my bank and had the extra $2.50 reversed! SMILE. Principle. I would have paid $5 if that is what it said. But, do NOT tell me $2.50 and then charge me $5.00. Yes, making the call cost me more than $2.50 BUT it was worth it.

They also don’t have Wi-Fi. I am cool with that. They have a sign saying ‘No Wi-Fi, make believe it is 1985 and talk with each other‘ (or similar). I actually agree with that. But, they, kind of twoface on this DO NOT tell people to NOT use their damn cell phones. One gentleman in particular, much to my amusement and delight, conducted a rather private phone call, to no doubt a client of his, discussing some sensitive legal matters. I knew what they were talking about. Made my day. It was like being in a TV show. But, this did not detract from the meal.

Yes, most likely will go back. Would love to hear more phone calls like that. Well, you too might want to go to check out the burger and see what phone calls you can hear. Try not to use the ATM. SMILE. There is a Market Basket 4-miles down the road. You can withdraw money from them for ‘free’ (which is what I normally do). SMILE.

Anywho … It was good.

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by Anura Guruge

 

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June 30, 2019  

‘Royal Indian’, By Acadia — THE Best Thing To Happen To Bar Harbor, Maine, In Many A Year.

by Anura Guruge

Click images to ENLARGE.

Royal Indian Bar Harbor Maine Acadia restaurant Anura Guruge

Royal Indian Bar Harbor Acadia Maine restaurant Anura Guruge

The well thought out & yummy menu
(click to ENLARGE and savor)

Royal Indian Bar Harbor Acadia Maine restaurant Anura Guruge

Click to access their Facebook page.

That chic, upscale and progressive Bar Harbor, Maine, gateway to Acadia, did not, until last month have an Indian restaurant was incongruous and frustrating. You want variety, specially if you, like so many others, including us, visit Bar Harbor on a regular basis and do so for a number of nights each visit. I truly stumbled upon the ‘Royal Indian’ serendipitously. I was trying to get back to ‘Cottage Street’ from ‘Main’ late Tuesday night, after dinner at a lobster place, when I took the wrong turn (which I habitually do). So, I had to cut across the car parks to get to Cottage. That is when I saw the well-lit and extremely welcoming sign. My heart skipped a beat. WOW. An Indian at long last. I went there for dinner the very next day and just loved it.

Authentic, carefully spiced, well cooked food, at a reasonable price. I, as I do 85% of the time, had the lamb korma and it was as good as I have had it ever. And the extremely congenial (and young) owner saw me looking puzzled at the dessert menu and he knew, without me saying a word, exactly what I was looking for! He magiced me up a kulfi — the only exception I make to my diet when it comes to sweets. Kulfi will be available on a regular basis soon. {SMILE}

The restaurant is spacious, airy and easy on the eye. They have done a brilliant job converting what had been a bakery.

Wonderful dining experience AND they are open till 10pm. That is great. Trust me, late dining can be a real issue in that area.

Not sure how long this will be the policy, but the night I was there it was ‘Happy Hour’ ALL NIGHT! Wine in Bar Harbor at $4 a glass? Good job I can walk back to the ‘Wonder View Inn‘.

Family run. Extremely nice folk. They also own a motel on Route 3 just by ‘Pirates Cove‘. They are going to be a great addition to the Bar Harbor business and social scene.

That there was no Indian restaurant previously baffled I more than once. I invariably do a micro census of Acadia visitors on each trip and this was my 12th time in Acadia since 2013. ‘Indians’ (brown folks like I (rather than Asians in general)) are, by far, the largest minority that you see at the Park. I see ten times more Indians in a day in Acadia than I see in a year in central New Hampshire (where I live)! The word just has to get around and it will.

I already heard, from a Park Ranger, that they like the new Indian! That was good to hear.

So, I am excited. Not sure whether we will be going back in September as we used to do for many years. Maybe Acadia is becoming a once a year destination. Not sure.

But, the next time I am in Bar Harbor this is where I will be having dinner on my first night. Maybe I will see you there. {SMILE}

Enjoy.

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Check Category ‘Restaurants’.

by Anura Guruge

May 22, 2019  

Great Article About Giuseppe’s (Meredith) & The Owner Julie Gnerre-Bourgeois.

by Anura Guruge

Happy 30th Birthday
Giuseppe’s.

Congratulations & THANK YOU!

Click to ENLARGE and enjoy here. Link to original below.

Click here for ‘The Laconia Daily Sun‘ article.

I have been singing their praises for YEARS.

Click image to access my post.

How I met Julie 22-years ago.
In case you are interested. Cute story.

Click to access post. You have to keep on SCROLLING. It is at the END of this post.

This is so, so GREAT. Made my day when I saw it. So, well deserved. By FAR our favorite eatery anywhere on Lake Winnipesaukee. My now 18-year old daughter insists on going there for her birthday for at least the last 10-years. Plus, I have attended at least 22 of the to-date 25 annual JTG musical extravaganzas. I have been going there since 1997, if not 1996 — that been when I discovered Meredith.

Thank YOU, Julie. Thank YOU Michael. Thank YOU the staff.

You have nourished, entertained and treated us, right royally, for so many years.

Here is to the next 30-years. Cheers.

Related posts:
Search on ‘Giuseppe‘ & ‘JTG’.

by Anura Guruge

April 14, 2019  

“Jumpin’ Jack’s Java” The ONLY (& Best) Place To Eat When You Are At ‘Hampton Beach’, New Hampshire.

by Anura Guruge

Jumpin Jack's Java

Jumpin Jack's Java

Click to access their Website … with their MENU.

Click to ENLARGE. You just can’t beat the location. [From Google Maps.]

We discovered this magical place, serendipitously, when we visited ‘Hampton Beach‘ on New Year’s Day 2019. It was open and it looked very welcoming. And you couldn’t beat its ‘Ocean View’ location. We were blown away. Great food. Very nice, helpful couple running it. A great experience. Made our Day — and it was our Wedding Anniversary.

We definitely wanted to go back. And we did, on Saturday, April 13, 2019.

After what has been a lousy, cold and miserable Spring, the temperature was supposed to shoot up to 70°F on Saturday — with blue skies at the coast. We decided to go to Hampton Beach again and eat at “Jumpin Jack’s Java“. Sure glad we did so.

Another outstanding experience. We had salads and Teischan a ham & cheese sandwich. The food was beyond plentiful, well prepared & yummy. Attractively priced too.

As we had done previously we were lucky enough to get a window seat overlooking the beach. It does NOT get any better than that.

The couple that run it (and own it too) are SPECIAL. Very personable and pleasant. They work hard. Judging from the memorabilia on the wall and the flag they fly he is an ex-Marine (or they have a son or sons in the Marines).

Great place. Very warm and welcoming. Bright and airy.

Very generous too. As we were leaving they gave us a container of free muffins! That was awfully nice of them. Made our day again.

It really got up to 70°F. There were people sunbathing in bikinis. It was a nice day at ‘Hampton Beach’.

Please try out “Jumpin Jack’s Java”. You will thank me for telling you about this exceptional place.

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Check Category ‘Restaurants’.

by Anura Guruge

April 6, 2019  

“Rusty Moose” Restaurant In Alton [N.H.] Definitely Closed — Empty Inside; “Dockside”, At The Bay, For Sale.

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE.

Click to access post.

Click to access listing.

I had heard rumors that the ‘Rusty Moose‘ had closed. But, I had to go by, personally, and peer in through the glass door, as i did this morning, to make sure. Yep, they are GONE. It is empty inside as you can see from the 2nd photo.

Shame — though we have never eaten there. Were foiled TWICE and I never gave it a third chance. Plus, to be honest, it always looked a tad on the ‘short-of-headroom’ side for I. I am marginally claustrophobic. I prefer large, open spaces to ones that feel crowded. Though I have never been inside, I drive by it enough. And it always struck me as being ‘minimalistic’. All that said I am sorry to see it go. For a start, I know a few local kids who were given the opportunity to perform their music there. That was good. I feel bad for these kids. Now the only local venue open for them is “JP China“.

Just one other thing I would like to add. So, when I went to check it out. No NOTICE on the door. The roadside sign is still there uncovered. I think that that is a tad churlish. They should give the public an early heads-up that they are CLOSED. Nothing more annoying that driving up to a restaurant, hoping to have a meal, to find it CLOSED — and closed for good. I will be happy to give them — or buy them — a blue tarp. Just tie it over the sign.

Had seen in the paper that the “Dockside” building is for SALE. So, not sure whether they will be opening this Summer.

I have also heard rumblings that the restaurant at ‘Sandy Point’ will not be open this Summer. Yikes.

These restaurants closing in Alton is a SHAME. Not counting McDonald’s, Subway and Dunkin we only now have TWO proper sit down restaurants in Alton: the very dependable JP China and Ackerly’s. Yes, there is that small, joint on the docks BUT they do NOT serve non-whites! So, that is a problem for I. No, they don’t have a sign that says “Whites Only” but when I try to go in they make it very obvious that they would rather not have me there. That is OK. They own it. Plus, to be honest I would rather go to JP China.

So, that is the score. That Alton is not thriving like Meredith or even Wolfeboro bothers I. But, what can I do.

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Check Category ‘Alton‘.

by Anura Guruge

March 29, 2019  

“Sunshine Oriental Restaurant”, Concord (N.H.) — Good Alternative To The “Red Apple” When On A Diet.

by Anura Guruge

Click to access their Website.

Click to ENLARGE.

‘Dim Sum‘ on a par with Boston Chinatown — and we are multi-decade veterans of dim sum.

Extremely friendly & cheery staff — so much so that Teischan (13), who is extremely critical of restaurant service, WANTED me to write this review so that I can say good things about the staff! That is a first. Usual she can always find fault and loves to write comments — though I continually admonish her: ‘Be kind. Be kind.’ So, for her to ask me to write a review, on my blog, to praise the place — is rare and noteworthy praise indeed.

They don’t have an alcohol license! That was incongruous. I like a fancy, sweet cocktail with my Chinese BUT it is good for me to abstain. Chance to prove that my alcoholism isn’t terminal as yet. SMILE.

Yesterday was the 4-week anniversary of my debilitating knee injury, and 3-weeks since my surgery. I realized I had NOT eaten ANY Chinese since my fall. I think the last time I had had Chinese was February 17, 2019, when we did go to Boston Chinatown, for Dim Sum, for Chinese New Year. For I (& Teischan) to go that long without Chinese is atypical. So, I wanted some Chinese while we were in Concord (N.H.) for some appointments. But, I did NOT want to go to the “Red Apple“, hitherto the ONLY Chinese place we have ever eaten at in Concord. I am trying to lose weight. Not running and not shovelling snow is not doing any favors to my ever expanding girth. Hence, “Sunshine Oriental Restaurant”.

It was good. HUGE, ultra-generous portions. Cheap too — and that is the BEST word, i.e., ‘cheap’.

Yes, they are mainly a take-out joint and we were the only diners there, at 6pm, yesterday. But, nice enough place.

The Dim Sum was good. Very good. The sticky rice, per their claim, is authentic — and Teischan is a sticky rice connoisseur.

We will probably go there again. I am not sure I am up to facing the “Red Apple”.

Related posts:
Search “Warren’s”.

by Anura Guruge

March 22, 2019  

“Warren’s Lobster House”, Kittery, Maine — Reflections Of The Sign II.

by Anura Guruge

Click pictures to ENLARGE.

 Attribution will be ENFORCED!

It was raining and snowing all day. So, there were big puddles in the parking lot.

I noticed the reflection in a puddle as soon as I walked out of Warren’s. I had to take a picture.

Then I noticed that I can get the actual sign too. So, I did.

In February 2018 I had taken some other pictures of this sign reflected off car windows. So, this would complement that collection. Enjoy.

Related posts:
Search “Warren’s”.

by Anura Guruge

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