Somersworth, NH

cafe

45 Market Street Bakery and Cafe

Locals crowd into this vibrant cafe for the baked goods and fresh sandwiches turned out by co-owners Celeste Gingras and Cheryl Arsenault. A standout is the turkey meatloaf sandwich held together by two hefty slices of anadama bread baked right on the premises. This homemade creation comes crammed with slabs of turkey meatloaf blanketed in melted provolone cheese and topped with a housemade barbecue sauce. “It’s sturdy as I get dirty,” Guy declared after biting into the massive sandwich.

Portsmouth, NH

restaurants

Vida Cantina

This former fast-food joint dances with vibrant colors and serves bright, beautiful dishes to match. Chef-Owner David Vargas channels the traditional tastes of Mexico, but delivers them in slightly tweaked formats. His pork belly tacos are a popular pick. Housemade tortillas are layered with jicama slaw and crisp slabs of spice-laden pork belly, then topped with mango salsa, Cotija cheese and a flurry of fresh flower petals.

Raymond, NH

restaurants

Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery

The Tuckaway Tavern draws a steady stream of diners, thanks to a stellar menu dreamed up by Chef Bobby Marcotte. He sources many of his ingredients straight from the adjacent butcher shop, which features a dizzying array of housemade sausages, marinated meats and more. Standout menu items include the Chili & Cheese Corn Holes. For this dish, Chef Marcotte reinterprets classic corn dogs as bite-size spheres of house-ground meat doused with spices, studded with melty cheese and covered in a golden crust.

Portsmouth, NH

restaurants

The Kitchen

This spot takes its inspiration from New York-style delis, which means the menu is rife with hefty sandwiches, as expected. So Guy was surprised to discover St. Louis-style spare ribs, which are The Kitchen's sleeper hit. The pork is soaked in a red wine vinegar brine studded with star anise, juniper berries and red pepper flakes, then hit with a smoked paprika rub. The ribs are grilled until beautifully caramelized and come drenched in an agrodolce sauce that adds both sweetness and spice.

Portsmouth, NH

restaurants

Moxy

Moxy is more than just the name of this spot — it also defines the attitude of Chef-Owner Matt Louis. He embraces the notion of risk with his clever dishes that challenge long-held traditions of the New England culinary canon. Take his New England Dinner 2.0, for instance. Hefty slices of corned beef brisket are served with pickled vegetables (which lend a modern touch to the dish) and fresh cabbage leaves, so each diner can create individual lettuce wraps from the components on his or her plate.

Portsmouth, NH

restaurants

STREET eat/drink 360

The husband-and-wife duo behind Street Food 360 share tastes of their world travels with fresh spins on global favorites. For instance, their version of Mexico’s cemita sandwich substitutes a seafood patty for the standard meat fillings. Pollock fish pulled from local waters is combined with shrimp, scallops, shallots and a mix of spices to make the fried patty. It’s placed on a sesame bun, then topped with a hefty slice of griddled cheese, pickled red onions, cilantro and housemade chipotle mayo.

Manchester, NH

restaurants

Red Arrow Diner

Since 1922, Red Arrow Diner has kept open 24 hours a day (except for the 16 hours over Christmas) to serve nearly 500,000 breakfasts a year. On Triple D, Guy took his place in line to sample their iconic dishes: Fried French Toast, American Chop Suey, and their handmade twinkies, Dinah Fingers.