New Hampshire casual dining restaurants treat the guest as king

Relax with lunch and a take-your-breath-away view at Castle in the Clouds. The seasonal Carriage House Restaurant, overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee and the mountains beyond, serves a variety of classics, original recipes and new versions of old favorites for lunch from May through October. It also hosts a popular Dinner Music Night series in the summer, offering guests the opportunity to listen to live music while watching dramatic sunsets. Over near The Meadows by Shannon Pond, Cafe in the Clouds serves light lunch items including salads and wraps, beverages and ice cream, which you can eat on picnic and patio tables while the kids run around in the open fields. The cafe also offers wine and beer. It’s a great place to stop after a scenic hike past the property's seven waterfalls.

For more than 130 years, Wolfe’s Tavern at the Wolfeboro Inn on Lake Winnipesaukee has been a popular gathering place for guests and locals – the perfect spot to relax over a casual dinner and creative cocktail or bountiful Sunday brunch. Start your dinner with local artisan cheeses or clam chowder, then feast on fried chicken, fish and chips, a tavern burger or marinated sirloin tips. Sunday brunch features short-rib Benedict, a garden scramble, breakfast tacos and lunch items like a pork belly Cuban or catch-of-the-day tacos. Both dinner and brunch have kids’ menus and lots of gluten-free and vegetarian options. Come see why the tavern is known as the place for good food, good drinks and good company.

With a tempting menu, superior service from a professional wait staff and a soothing waterside atmosphere, the Gazebo Beach Bar at The Margate on Winnipesaukee has been a guest favorite for summertime lunches and dinners for years. Dine on popular seasonal favorites, including Angus beef burgers, fish tacos and a selection of fresh salads. Enjoy specialty cocktails as well as a selection of wines and seasonal and craft beers while you look out over the picturesque lake, perhaps enjoying a spectacular sunset. There’s a kids’ menu – and some delectable desserts. The resort also serves a hot breakfast buffet during the summer season and other high-occupancy periods, and complimentary coffee and fresh fruit in the Courtyard Bistro area adjacent to the main lobby.

The Lakes Region loves to eat! Come join the locals at family-style restaurants, fine-dining establishments, chop houses and old-fashioned diners. You’re sure to leave with a few favorite places you’ll want to revisit next vacation. What are you in the mood for: a candlelit dinner with your significant other? An al fresco feast on a lake patio with your family? Something new, like pan-Asian cuisine or a new twist on great smokehouse barbecue or authentic Mexican fare? Or something tried and true like a sizzling steak, a burger in a sports pub or a turkey dinner with all the fixings? No matter the reason, or season, you’ll find something for everyone in this vibrant region just south of the White Mountains.