29 Ceres Street,
Portsmouth, NH
Phone: 603 431 0887
Email: info@blacktrumpetbistro.com
Highly Recommended
Located on an unassuming alleyway, tucked behind, under and between trendy retail shops, the Black Trumpet Bistro is an intimate, warm and cozy restaurant. Walking in you are immediately faced with the decision of turning right into the dining room or proceeding upstairs to the bar. I chose the bar and was not disappointed. At the head of the stairs you find a small u-shaped bar and table seating for (I would guess) 20 diners. The view is not the greatest; the alley, a chain link fence, construction site and an industrial port but the place still maintains charm. Exposed brick and rough hewn beams, complete with signtures of the builders, make the place relaxing and comfortable.
The menu is divided into four sections:
LITTLE DISHES
Fried Almonds, Olives, and Garlic 5.5, Cauliflower Fritter with curried spinach sauce 5, Albondigas: Three little meatballs served in a warm poblano goat cheese and yoghurt sauce 6, Chef’s Meze Plate: a daily assortment of three little dishes in one 13.
MEDIUM DISHES
Mussels and Mahogany Clams steamed in vermouth 15, Pan-fried Veal Sweetbreads with garlicky Brussels sprouts, 15, Oil-poached yellow fin tuna 14, Cheese Fondue with roasted dipping vegetables and chickpea fries 12, a selection of cheeses [2 ounces], salads, and soups.
MAIN COURSES
Pan-roasted Lentil Galette 17, Cider-braised Pork Osso Buco 27. Seared Marinated Duck Breast 24, Pan-roasted Local Fish 25, NEFF Strip Steak 31, BT Burger 16.
DESSERTS - 8.
Chocolate panna cotta, Carrot and parsnip spice cake. Warm Brown Sugar Cake with butterschotch apples and creme fraiche, Meyer Lemon Cheesecake with pomegranate sauce and mint whipped cream.
Portsmouth has a fairly short list of truely excellent restaurants but the Black Trumpet is certainly at or near the top of that list.
Showing posts with label Portsmouth NH. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Portsmouth NH. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Muddy River Smokehouse
21 Congress Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Phone: (603) 430-9582
Fax: (603) 430-9338
Not Recommended
It was on a brutally cold January afternoon in the quaint New England city of Portsmouth that i stumbled into a small doorway in the heart of the city only to find myself at the beginning of a long hallway that reached invitingly back into the heart of the building. To my right, a large menu painted on the wall advertised the board of fare. To the left, a bar with a large array of taps at the ready. Further down the hallway opened into a barn boarded dining room with a high tinned ceiling and chequered table cloths. I was greeted by a slightly confused owner who did not seem to recognize me as a customer (I think she thought me a vagrant) but quickly passed me off to a waitress when she realized her mistake. I was seated at a table under a faux shed roof and offered a menu and beverage. The beer menu is extensive and included some decent choices. I had a Telluride Ale, but could have easily been satisfied with a half a dozen other options. The menu had a good range of bbq selections. Various types of ribs (St. Louis, baby back, beef) chicken, pulled pork, brisket, sausage. There were also appetizers and salads but no real surprises there either.
I have spent considerable time traveling; I have eaten ribs and brisket in Lockhart, Texas, St. Louis and Kansas City, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama not to mention Boston and I have to admit the ribs at the Muddy River Smokehouse were some of the most forgettable I have ever eaten. Tough and chewy without a hint of smoke, slathered is a sauce so sweet that I felt nauseous by the end. The sausages were also nondescript, suffering from the same lack of attention and finesse. I am not a bbq snob by any stretch of the imagination but the sickly sweet concoction that was passed off for sauce was too much to stand.
I could see going to the Muddy River Smokehouse after work with friends for a few beers and a bit to eat. In all honesty, I will give the place a second chance and try the babyback ribs. Not my favorite ribs but they are less temperamental. My advice to the chef...lay off the sweets.
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Phone: (603) 430-9582
Fax: (603) 430-9338
Not Recommended
It was on a brutally cold January afternoon in the quaint New England city of Portsmouth that i stumbled into a small doorway in the heart of the city only to find myself at the beginning of a long hallway that reached invitingly back into the heart of the building. To my right, a large menu painted on the wall advertised the board of fare. To the left, a bar with a large array of taps at the ready. Further down the hallway opened into a barn boarded dining room with a high tinned ceiling and chequered table cloths. I was greeted by a slightly confused owner who did not seem to recognize me as a customer (I think she thought me a vagrant) but quickly passed me off to a waitress when she realized her mistake. I was seated at a table under a faux shed roof and offered a menu and beverage. The beer menu is extensive and included some decent choices. I had a Telluride Ale, but could have easily been satisfied with a half a dozen other options. The menu had a good range of bbq selections. Various types of ribs (St. Louis, baby back, beef) chicken, pulled pork, brisket, sausage. There were also appetizers and salads but no real surprises there either.
I have spent considerable time traveling; I have eaten ribs and brisket in Lockhart, Texas, St. Louis and Kansas City, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama not to mention Boston and I have to admit the ribs at the Muddy River Smokehouse were some of the most forgettable I have ever eaten. Tough and chewy without a hint of smoke, slathered is a sauce so sweet that I felt nauseous by the end. The sausages were also nondescript, suffering from the same lack of attention and finesse. I am not a bbq snob by any stretch of the imagination but the sickly sweet concoction that was passed off for sauce was too much to stand.
I could see going to the Muddy River Smokehouse after work with friends for a few beers and a bit to eat. In all honesty, I will give the place a second chance and try the babyback ribs. Not my favorite ribs but they are less temperamental. My advice to the chef...lay off the sweets.
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