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Puritan Backroom Restaurant
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
20 reviews for Puritan Backroom Restaurant
Over the years, I've been to the Backroom quite a lot. As a kid I was really impressed by their club sandwiches. As an adult living in Boston with a larger experiences of restaurants, I can say that the Backroom stands out as a quality family establishment in a city with few similar offerings. In the greater scheme of things, however, it is not that impressive.
At my visit last night, I got the broiled chicken tenders in special sauce with a baked potato and side Greek salad, while my friend got the weekend special pan-seared haddock.
The salad was tasty as usual, with a nice chunk of feta, olives with the pit, and a pickled hot pepper. The dressing was also good, but served on the side in a plastic take-out container which was pretty tacky. The warm pita bread is the best pita I've ever had - and I hear they get it straight from a pita baker in MA.
The chicken tenders were fine, but nothing to write home about. They're served in the Special Sauce which was tasty and salty. The baked potato was a bit underdone.
The pan-seared scallops were definitely not pan-seared. I don't know how they were cooked. They were bland.
Our server was wonderful and attentive.
A good place to eat in Manchester since there are few non-chains to eat at.
The drinks are always quite strong. Scoreeeeeeeeeeeeee. Food and how busy it is is still about the same though.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/16/2008
Oh the venerable Puritan Backroom. If you have any close relatives or acquaintances in Manchester… Read more »
My husband and I ate here during our Fall 08 Foliage Tour. Wow...the Puritan Backroom has changed since the late 80s! I came here a few times when I lived in Manchester 1987-90, and it was a tiny thing with a dumpy, dark backroom. Now it's huge and bright. The decor's not quite my style but it's so much better that it was 20 years ago!
On our first evening in Manchester we tried to eat here with one of my old friends. We got to the restaurant shortly after 5 p.m. and the place was packed with lines out the door and over 1 hr wait. I have been away from Manchester for a long time...never had to wait so long to get into any restaurant! So we went elsewhere.
But I wanted to give it a try so we returned in the middle of the day a couple days later and had a huge meal. Since we ordered lunch items, the food itself was not memorable; I'd say the lunch items we ordered were more like a 3.
But for the huge crowds, the bigger brighter look and the outrageously huge Sundae Spectacular (that truly needs 4 hungry mouths to consume it all) made with 3 huges scoops of Puritan-made icecream...that's a 5. Thus the average of 4.
I've eaten here more times than I care to remember. "Backroom Chicken Tenders" are supposedly legendary around here...but I never really bought into the hype. The best part about them is the sauce they come with. Now that's good stuff.
The place itself is typically pretty crowded...you'll almost certainly have a wait on the weekends. Service depends on who you get for a waitress. It's a good place for a big crowed because they have room to put a bunch of tables together, and there is a big selection on the menu.
Personally, I don't go there to eat...I go there to drink. The mudslides are HEAVEN! They only allow you to get 2 b/c of the alcohol in them. Good ice cream too.
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I have been coming to this place for so long. In elementary school I used to go to the front room to get ice cream on hot spring days. I am hooked on this place. It is not about the atmosphere or the service. If you need highly attentiveness then please go somewhere else. Also do not expect to sit right away on a Friday or Saturday night during dinner time there will be a wait however in my opinion it is worth it. In addition your whole party has to be present for you to be seated just to give you all a heads up. I am a fan of the greek salad with the fried chicken tenders on top. The fried chicken tenders are legendary within Manchvegas. It has been said the Adam Sandler gets them Fedexed to him in LA because he loves them so much (He grew up in Manch). I am also a big fan of the spicy fries. My family loves the broiled chicken tenders with special sauce with rice to place the sauce on top of. The ice cream is also really creamy and delish. I love the mud pie which is a huge slab of coffee ice cream atop an oreo cookie crust covered in hot fudge then whipped cream then sprinkled with nuts. (I opt out of the cherry).
The ice cream/takeout restaurant is in the front of the building and the Backroom restaurant is accessed through the back of the building.
I had a good meal at the Puritan Backroom on my last visit. The service was good too. I enjoyed the Breast of Chicken Cacciatore (broiled chicken) over vermicelli with a decent Greek salad (in a wooden bowl). The Cacciatore was served hot and very tasty and the portion was very generous. For dessert, I ordered a Creme de Menthe parfait with vanilla ice cream. The parfait was loaded with Creme de Menthe (there was plenty of green left over at the bottom of the parfait dish).
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Wow, I'm surprised to see the not so good reviews here. I've only been here once and I think I ordered a veggie burger, but I remember that it was delicious. I was also thrilled to be served a salad that wasn't composed of YELLOW LETTUCE like the last three tragic Manchester salads I've had.
All around good food and the service was excellent. I'll be back.
The chicken tenders contain an addicitive chemical that makes you crave them fortnightly.
Mudslides are insane, greek salads are good, as is the flat pita pizza.
They have a large menu, which I think many people (such as myself) have yet to actually experience as a result of how good the chicken tenders are.
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I've been to the Puritan 3 times and each time was a bad experience. Food was mediocre, service was mediocre. I know people love it and it's packed every night so someone must think it's good.
However I will say their ice creams are out of this world. Try the Mocha Swirl.
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I have been here several times with my family, and it gets mixed reviews even amongst us. My cousin, her husband, my aunt & uncle, my brother & my mom, all love it.
The reason: The chicken tenders (as seems to be the case with most people who love this place)
If they tried anything else on the menu, then maybe they wouldn't love it so much.
My father and I... well, neither of us eat chicken tenders, so I guess that shows something too
Because of the addiction to said chicken tenders, my father & I are usually out-numbered when it comes to getting together to eat somewhere in Manchester.
This place is insanely popular, always packed, huge waits (and people do wait).... but I have never been impressed by it. The food is heavy, and not that good, in my opinion. I'm usually pretty good at finding something I like at most places, and suck it up.... but I can't even do that here.
It got to the point where someone would suggest it, and I'd try and offer ANY other alternative that would come to mind.
I simply, don't enjoy meals here.
Really old school, and the decor needs updating badly.
But, Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh the CHICKEN TENDERS ARE EVIL !!!!! Once you've had them, you will never be the same. :)
And their ice cream is awesome too!
Sick. My happiest memory of this place involves glumps of disgustingly thick coleslaw dripping out of my (now dead) grandfather's mouth as he commented on the "Sox". Eh?
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This restaurant is a nice family American food restaurant, but it's nothing particularly special. They do have a gluten-free menu, but it's pretty basic. I will say the mashed potatoes are some of the best I have ever had. Sometimes that I have been there it has been very busy and I felt a little rushed with my meal.
Ah, the Puritan Backroom, one of the most famous amongst the locals and the choice for many teenager's "special" nights out. Their chicken fingers are legendary, and are worth the hype. It's crazy how you wake up the next day craving them. A large menu with everything from Mediterranean to 100% American fried food means there's something for everyone. I've also been at functions here, and the staff did a great job keeping everyone's orders straight and drinks filled.
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This restaurant is a Manchester institution. It has a very large open dining room that is always busy. Their menu is huge with a great selection of anything you could possibly want. The chicken tenders are very addictive. I also suggest the Chicken Breast with special sauce. The mudslides are also great. I have always had great service. I go to the Backroom whenever I go back home to Manchester.
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The Puritan used to be one of the best restaurants in Manchester. What's happened? I don't know but now it's just become stale and overpriced. The food selection is basic as can be, the waitstaff is average, portions are average-to-underwhelming and the prices are entirely too much for for the basic fare you receive. 15 years ago I may have recommended going here, now however I'd suggest almost anything else in the city before I'd suggest The Backroom.
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The mudslides are amazing. Go here for them if nothing else.
I've had decent service, nothing blow-your-mind good and couple not so good times, but nothing that turns me away.
We enjoyed our dinner at the Puritan. We went on a Tuesday evening and was surprised that the place was so packed, but even then the service was quick and efficient. The selection of pita bread or simple basic bread while waiting for your food was nice, along with the friendly and quick service of the staff. Our food came out quickly- chicken tenders and a burger. The chicken tenders honestly we didn't understand why it was such a big deal here in New Hampshire, but we loved how we had a selection of sides and our picking of rice was very nice. The burger was nice and juicy. We would go again without any hesitation.
A great summer experience is the "take-out" window. Buy your chicken tenders and eat outside. Walk across the street to Livingston Park and take the 45minute walk around Dorr's Pond or take your children to the large playground. Go back to the "take-out" window and order ice cream. It's a win-win for your tastebuds and body.
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So after much deliberation on what restaurant in Manchester should satisfy our hunger, we decided to test out the ol Yelp site and we discovered the enchanting Puritan Backroom.....so we went.....long story short the chicken tenders were indeed addicting and the mudslides def screwed us up. That sh*t is tasty.
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