The Lakes Region in NH Offers Beautiful Scenery, Wonderful Shopping, and Fine Dining

The lakes region in NH is a wonderful vacation spot that features plenty of outdoor activities, great shopping and fine dining.

The lakes region in NH is a wonderful vacation spot that features plenty of outdoor activities, great shopping and fine dining.

The Lakes Region in NH offers everything a traveler could want. From the relaxing and idyllic views on Lake Winnipesaukee to the energy and fun of Weirs Beach with plenty of beautiful lakefront beaches, shopping, culture, and fine dining, the lakes region truly has something for everyone. All, less than 1 hour from Concord.

In fact, some of the best fine dining in the area can be found around Lake Winnipesaukee. You can find all types of food and all sorts of environments. In the city, upscale dining usually brings to mind, white table cloths, candles, fancy place settings, and a formal ambiance. In the lakes region in NH, upscale dining is typically a more casual affair. While you can dress to the nines and enjoy a fine dining experience, you can also show up in your shorts after a day on the lake and experience a five-star meal.

Dining in the Lakes Region in NH

Here are five of the best restaurants in the lakes region in NH has to offer, and why you should stop in and enjoy a meal on your next trip to Lake Winnipesaukee.

The Inn on Newfound Lake– 1030 Mayhew Turnpike, Bridgewater, NH (603) 744-9111

The Inn on Newfound Lake is a charming, romantic bed and breakfast in Bridgewater, New Hampshire. The inn is a beautifully restored Victorian home decorated in the original Victorian period style, complete with lovely landscaping. But the real gem is the restaurant, formerly called the Pasquaney Restaurant and Wild Hare Tavern located on the premises. Now simply called “The Inn on Newfound Lake,” it is one of the best fine dining restaurants in the area and is becoming one of the best known in the state.

The Inn offers an excellent selection of seafood, chicken and beef dishes like Filet of Beet Au Poivre, as well as some game dishes like Venison O'Hanion, medallions of venison cooked with sun-dried cranberries and walnuts, finished with a maple syrup demi-glace. The restaurant also has several vegetarian choices for the non-meat eaters in the family. Visit the Inn on Newfound Lake and enjoy an incredible dinner while overlooking the lake.

O Steaks and Seafood 62 Doris Ray Court, Laconia, NH (603) 524-9373

O's Steaks and Seafood serves local cuisine, classic American steaks, and seafood in a romantic setting with a beautiful view of Lake Opechee. The restaurant offers a metro-casual dining experience with an open kitchen, marble-top bar, wood floor, and raised chef's table; its both upscale and comfortable.

With a full selection of classic seafood like chilled raw oysters, chilled Maine lobster tail, escargot, and lump crab cake appetizers, a variety of salads, and American steakhouse fare. House specials include lobster mac 'n' cheese and braised beef short ribs. Their menu also includes a selection of delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes. If you're a wine enthusiast, enjoy any one of thirty-two wines by the glass in the wine tasting room, or out on the veranda as you watch another beautiful New Hampshire sunset.

Fratello's Italian Grille– 799 Union Avenue, Laconia, NH (603) 528-2022

Located in a historic former bank building in the heart of Laconia, Fratello's is a casual Italian-American restaurant that features wood-fired brick oven pizza, steaks, seafood, and traditional Italian favorites. The restaurant underwent a significant renovation in 2015 to include an outside deck off the second floor with 30 seats for summer al fresco dining.

The menu features Italian favorites like Arancini, Carpaccio, fried Calamari sauteed with hot cherry peppers, lemon butter and garlic, and Mussels Fratello. With a full selection of pasta sauces and baked pasta dishes, classic chicken dishes like Chicken Marsala, a fantastic selection of veal and beef dishes and an extensive seafood menu there's something to please every palate. Fratello's also offers a variety of vegetarian and gluten-free dishes.

Naswa/ Blue Bistro– 1086 Weirs Blvd., Weirs Beach, NH (603) 366-4341

Featuring delicious American, International, and vegetarian-friendly dishes, Blue Bistro is located at the NASWA Resort on beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee. The Blue Bistro offers guests a brilliantly crafted cuisine. Serving breakfast classics like Caribbean French Toast and Eggs Benedict, it's the perfect way to start the day. But dinner is where the Bistro really shines! The chef is committed to using locally sourced ingredients, and his menu truly creative modern cuisine, including fresh seafood, certified Angus steaks, and a selection of fresh vegetarian dishes.

The Blue Bistro offers an extensive wine list. Make sure to save room for at least on “Hope-made” dessert – made with love in the kitchen of matriarch Hope Makris!

The M/S Mount Washington Dinner Cruise– Route 3, Weirs Beach, NH (603) 366-5531

This one is a little different! There's no more authentic experience than enjoying a delicious dinner onLake Winnipesaukee aboard the M/S Mount Washington. No visit to the lakes region in NH is complete without a cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee aboard the Mount. Along with scenic cruises, The Mount Washington offers breakfast, lunch, and cocktails on board.

Make the Sunset Dinner Dance Cruise the highlight of your trip! The Buffet is spectacular and features a wide selection of appetizers, salads, side dishes, and a rotating variety of main dishes, including a carving station. For a real treat, catch one of their LobsterFest cruises and enjoy a classic New England lobster dinner. After dinner, spend the evening relaxing outside in the fresh Lake Winnipesaukee air, or enjoy a night of dancing and romance with two live bands on board.