Late Post: I always enjoy a unique and fun dinning experience and found this restaurant when I visited NH in early March. I tried a few unique dining experiences in the past and this was one of the memorable dinning experiences I had.Each meal is very creative and deliciously crafted.The dinning room (kitchen) with 6 guest seating. It’s truly fun watching the chef cooking. It feels more like you having a private chef in your house.First, when you come into the restaurant (but it doesn’t feel like a restaurant in a good way) you sit in “the living room”with other guests and enjoy a drink and appetizers, then, when the dinner is ready you finally walk into the chef’s kitchen.At the end of the course meal they provided each guest a giveaway bag. There were the tonight’s menu, honey and chocolate truffles in the bag. The chocolate truffles were amazing as well.I only wish chef had a little more time for interaction with us after dinner. He was already preparing meals for next guests while we were still sitting at the table.Overall, I highly recommend if you look for a unique and amazing dinning experience in NH.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Conor Woelfel
Incredible experience from head to toe. Chef couldn’t have been nicer and the food was a journey of the pallet. Know what you’re singing up for, but if you like this style then you will love it.We’ll be back for sure!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lenny Lagasse
First time dinning at Stages. Everything was amazing nice selection of MocktailsGreat date night
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stefanie Diamond
Food is amazing, layered flavors, uses a lot of mushroom for umami and seafood, pekoe crab, scallops, etc. Only regret is would like more seasonal variation in menu to make repeat dinners more exciting.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mushroom and Beets, Scallops in Spicy Sauce
Giselle V.
Such an amazing experience! Didn't think we would find this level of fine dining in this area, but it definitely took some searching because I think this may be the only one at this level. The whole experience happens in "stages" hence the name. You start out in the living room/lounge and can play table games while you have drinks and wait for the first course. Then they take you into the kitchen to watch the magic and see everything come together. The staff and chef were all super friendly and amazing. Definitely not a stuffy atmosphere which you'd expect with an experience like this. Everyone is very kind and you can interact with the chef during the experience which is really amazing. Definitely on the pricey side so this is somewhere to come for special occasions, but definitely worth it.
Aaron
In one word, Stages is AMAZING!If you appreciate a perfectly crafted experience for your evening out, this is the place for you. From the moment you walk into the living room/entry area, you are transported to a sophisticated yet relaxed environment where each course will excite your senses.Appetizers and drinks while seated on the comfortable and retro couches is followed by a multicourse extravaganza at the intimate kitchen table overlooking the artists as they prepare the meal.Mocktail menu is on point! The best non-alcoholic beverages I have had.Don't worry about deciding what you want to eat, they make all of the decisions for you. All you need to bring is an open mind and a healthy appetite!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sorbet with Columbia River Sturgeon Caviar, Chowder Sort Of, Cookies and Foamed Milk for Final Desert, Scallop and Oyster, Mushroom and Beets, Aerated Brie
Jerron St. Armand
Had a great dining experience here at the 6 person chefs table. With about 9 courses in total each course tasted delicious and unique in their own way. In particular the butter poached scallops and the hen of the woods mushrooms we loved. The latter you could smell and taste to coal it was cooked on. Can’t forget the dessert which was oyster ice cream with caviar (among other flavors) So different but so delicious. It was a cool fall day in New Hampshire the night we went, and the food really complimented that feeling.Drink wise we went the a la carte method, with a mix of wine and cocktails. The sommelier was very knowledgeable and she helped us pair our meals. The group next to us got the wine pairing which also seemed like a nice experience. They also have a cocktail pairing which we might try next time.Overall the chefs table experience is a fun one because we love to see how our food is prepared and crafted. The chefs worked so well together, and carefully explained each course to us. They were happy to answer questions if we had them.This is a fine dining experience, but also casual at the same time. You never feel awkward or like you’ll get yelled at if you use the wrong fork. The staff is easy going, and meanwhile you are tasting some of the best food available in New England. Sometimes the portions might look small, but they add up. We left very full, but wanting more!Note: we missed a few of the courses pictured, we were too excited to eat them.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sorbet with Columbia River Sturgeon Caviar, Mushroom and Beets, Scallops in Spicy Sauce
G Craig Johnson
The experience was amazing with knowledgeable staff and unique mocktales.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Aerated Brie
Zach B.
We ate here last night and we can't praise Evan and his staff highly enough. We have come here every year for our anniversary for the past three years--first we make the trek from our home in RI to our favorite getaway spot in Ogunquit, ME, then on the night of our dinner reservation we drive about 40 minutes from Ogunquit to Stages in Dover, NH. I mention all this to give readers a sense of just how worthwhile the dining experience is. Each course is expertly prepared and thoughtfully presented. Each mouthful from course to course varies in texture, flavor, focus, and ingredients. Everything is of the highest quality. Bernadette is the consummate guide to the wine pairings and is delightfully convivial, warm, and welcoming. Evan is chef and host par excellence: with every dish, I scratch my head wondering how he manages to come up with such unique and flavorful concoctions. I've never had food quite like this anywhere else. Being able to watch the service at the dining counter overlooking the kitchen is thrilling and makes the experience even more remarkable. The entire staff is attentive, adept, and charming. The atmosphere is both cozy and sophisticated. You will not go wrong spending an evening at Stages. We can't wait for next year!
S Randel
It's hard to find enough superlatives to describe the meal we had at Stages and the experience of sitting so close to the chef and his amazing team. The food was so creative, stunningly presented, and delicious. Seriously - the best meal and dining experience we have ever had, anywhere in the world. Combinations we would never have thought of, like pairing oysters with pickled pairs and vanilla, and pairing mushrooms with coffee dashi. Sheep short rib. And the mushroom madeleines to dip into aerated brie cheese and warm honey - speechless! Our sincere gratitude to the chef and his team, and we can't wait to go back.
Food has been a hobby my wife and I have always shared. We came here on our 1 year anniversary looking for a very special food experience with the tasting menu. Beyond that, we had no idea what to expect. We were surprised with the homey, comforting, calm, and casual feel the restaurant and staff showed. It was obvious that making anybody feel welcome is part of the philosophy here. The food and drink was absolutely stunning. Each dish, wine pairing, and cocktail really demanded our attention with flavors and combinations we've never tried. We enjoyed how lovingly the chef focused on vegetables and mushrooms, making them the stars of the meal. The last three courses in particular wowed us, tying together sweet and savory components in shocking ways. My personal favorite was the mushroom madeleines with aerated brie and honey. It was one of the most incredible foods I've ever eaten and I've been craving since the moment I finished it! We can't wait to return and have a few of our favorite dishes again in The Living Room.Vegetarian options: The menu is heavily focused on plants as it is, so this is a great restaurant for vegetarians looking for fine food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cookies and Foamed Milk for Final Desert, Aerated Brie
Krista R.
Seafood forward and seasonal food, relaxed and comfortable space, and impeccable, knowledgeable service. Stages is an absolute gem. We're educators so dining in the kitchen with the prefix menu isn't accessible to us, but small plates and cocktails in The Living Room at Stages was a moderate splurge we look forward to repeating soon!
Peter Proach
We sat in the "living room" area. It is a little pricey, but it is small intimate and they do a great job. It is not a place we might go every week, however it is definitely a place that we will go back to! We are also hoping to get some of the 6 seats in the kitchen for dinner! Definitely a unique space with a staff well suited to the environment and creating a great experience!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cookies and Foamed Milk for Final Desert, Aerated Brie
Issy
One of the best fine-dining restaurants in New Hampshire. The food is comforting yet creative! Caviar and coffee ice cream with candied celery leaves? - it was amazing and so fun! The staff was very welcoming and friendly. I highly recommend the chef's table and if I lived closer I would have cocktails and play games in the Living Room weekly!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Heather B.
Amazing. I cannot say enough great things about our experience. From cocktails and apps in the library to the chef seating in the kitchen. Evan was informative, creative and charming. Of the 6 of us- we had 2 celiac people- who could eat with confidence. The wine pairing is totally worth it.
Late Post: I always enjoy a unique and fun dinning experience and found this restaurant when I visited NH in early March. I tried a few unique dining experiences in the past and this was one of the memorable dinning experiences I had.Each meal is very creative and deliciously crafted.The dinning room (kitchen) with 6 guest seating. It’s truly fun watching the chef cooking. It feels more like you having a private chef in your house.First, when you come into the restaurant (but it doesn’t feel like a restaurant in a good way) you sit in “the living room”with other guests and enjoy a drink and appetizers, then, when the dinner is ready you finally walk into the chef’s kitchen.At the end of the course meal they provided each guest a giveaway bag. There were the tonight’s menu, honey and chocolate truffles in the bag. The chocolate truffles were amazing as well.I only wish chef had a little more time for interaction with us after dinner. He was already preparing meals for next guests while we were still sitting at the table.Overall, I highly recommend if you look for a unique and amazing dinning experience in NH.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Incredible experience from head to toe. Chef couldn’t have been nicer and the food was a journey of the pallet. Know what you’re singing up for, but if you like this style then you will love it.We’ll be back for sure!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
First time dinning at Stages. Everything was amazing nice selection of MocktailsGreat date night
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is amazing, layered flavors, uses a lot of mushroom for umami and seafood, pekoe crab, scallops, etc. Only regret is would like more seasonal variation in menu to make repeat dinners more exciting.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mushroom and Beets, Scallops in Spicy Sauce
Such an amazing experience! Didn't think we would find this level of fine dining in this area, but it definitely took some searching because I think this may be the only one at this level. The whole experience happens in "stages" hence the name. You start out in the living room/lounge and can play table games while you have drinks and wait for the first course. Then they take you into the kitchen to watch the magic and see everything come together. The staff and chef were all super friendly and amazing. Definitely not a stuffy atmosphere which you'd expect with an experience like this. Everyone is very kind and you can interact with the chef during the experience which is really amazing. Definitely on the pricey side so this is somewhere to come for special occasions, but definitely worth it.
In one word, Stages is AMAZING!If you appreciate a perfectly crafted experience for your evening out, this is the place for you. From the moment you walk into the living room/entry area, you are transported to a sophisticated yet relaxed environment where each course will excite your senses.Appetizers and drinks while seated on the comfortable and retro couches is followed by a multicourse extravaganza at the intimate kitchen table overlooking the artists as they prepare the meal.Mocktail menu is on point! The best non-alcoholic beverages I have had.Don't worry about deciding what you want to eat, they make all of the decisions for you. All you need to bring is an open mind and a healthy appetite!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sorbet with Columbia River Sturgeon Caviar, Chowder Sort Of, Cookies and Foamed Milk for Final Desert, Scallop and Oyster, Mushroom and Beets, Aerated Brie
Had a great dining experience here at the 6 person chefs table. With about 9 courses in total each course tasted delicious and unique in their own way. In particular the butter poached scallops and the hen of the woods mushrooms we loved. The latter you could smell and taste to coal it was cooked on. Can’t forget the dessert which was oyster ice cream with caviar (among other flavors) So different but so delicious. It was a cool fall day in New Hampshire the night we went, and the food really complimented that feeling.Drink wise we went the a la carte method, with a mix of wine and cocktails. The sommelier was very knowledgeable and she helped us pair our meals. The group next to us got the wine pairing which also seemed like a nice experience. They also have a cocktail pairing which we might try next time.Overall the chefs table experience is a fun one because we love to see how our food is prepared and crafted. The chefs worked so well together, and carefully explained each course to us. They were happy to answer questions if we had them.This is a fine dining experience, but also casual at the same time. You never feel awkward or like you’ll get yelled at if you use the wrong fork. The staff is easy going, and meanwhile you are tasting some of the best food available in New England. Sometimes the portions might look small, but they add up. We left very full, but wanting more!Note: we missed a few of the courses pictured, we were too excited to eat them.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sorbet with Columbia River Sturgeon Caviar, Mushroom and Beets, Scallops in Spicy Sauce
The experience was amazing with knowledgeable staff and unique mocktales.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Aerated Brie
We ate here last night and we can't praise Evan and his staff highly enough. We have come here every year for our anniversary for the past three years--first we make the trek from our home in RI to our favorite getaway spot in Ogunquit, ME, then on the night of our dinner reservation we drive about 40 minutes from Ogunquit to Stages in Dover, NH. I mention all this to give readers a sense of just how worthwhile the dining experience is. Each course is expertly prepared and thoughtfully presented. Each mouthful from course to course varies in texture, flavor, focus, and ingredients. Everything is of the highest quality. Bernadette is the consummate guide to the wine pairings and is delightfully convivial, warm, and welcoming. Evan is chef and host par excellence: with every dish, I scratch my head wondering how he manages to come up with such unique and flavorful concoctions. I've never had food quite like this anywhere else. Being able to watch the service at the dining counter overlooking the kitchen is thrilling and makes the experience even more remarkable. The entire staff is attentive, adept, and charming. The atmosphere is both cozy and sophisticated. You will not go wrong spending an evening at Stages. We can't wait for next year!
It's hard to find enough superlatives to describe the meal we had at Stages and the experience of sitting so close to the chef and his amazing team. The food was so creative, stunningly presented, and delicious. Seriously - the best meal and dining experience we have ever had, anywhere in the world. Combinations we would never have thought of, like pairing oysters with pickled pairs and vanilla, and pairing mushrooms with coffee dashi. Sheep short rib. And the mushroom madeleines to dip into aerated brie cheese and warm honey - speechless! Our sincere gratitude to the chef and his team, and we can't wait to go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Food has been a hobby my wife and I have always shared. We came here on our 1 year anniversary looking for a very special food experience with the tasting menu. Beyond that, we had no idea what to expect. We were surprised with the homey, comforting, calm, and casual feel the restaurant and staff showed. It was obvious that making anybody feel welcome is part of the philosophy here. The food and drink was absolutely stunning. Each dish, wine pairing, and cocktail really demanded our attention with flavors and combinations we've never tried. We enjoyed how lovingly the chef focused on vegetables and mushrooms, making them the stars of the meal. The last three courses in particular wowed us, tying together sweet and savory components in shocking ways. My personal favorite was the mushroom madeleines with aerated brie and honey. It was one of the most incredible foods I've ever eaten and I've been craving since the moment I finished it! We can't wait to return and have a few of our favorite dishes again in The Living Room.Vegetarian options: The menu is heavily focused on plants as it is, so this is a great restaurant for vegetarians looking for fine food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cookies and Foamed Milk for Final Desert, Aerated Brie
Seafood forward and seasonal food, relaxed and comfortable space, and impeccable, knowledgeable service. Stages is an absolute gem. We're educators so dining in the kitchen with the prefix menu isn't accessible to us, but small plates and cocktails in The Living Room at Stages was a moderate splurge we look forward to repeating soon!
We sat in the "living room" area. It is a little pricey, but it is small intimate and they do a great job. It is not a place we might go every week, however it is definitely a place that we will go back to! We are also hoping to get some of the 6 seats in the kitchen for dinner! Definitely a unique space with a staff well suited to the environment and creating a great experience!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cookies and Foamed Milk for Final Desert, Aerated Brie
One of the best fine-dining restaurants in New Hampshire. The food is comforting yet creative! Caviar and coffee ice cream with candied celery leaves? - it was amazing and so fun! The staff was very welcoming and friendly. I highly recommend the chef's table and if I lived closer I would have cocktails and play games in the Living Room weekly!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing. I cannot say enough great things about our experience. From cocktails and apps in the library to the chef seating in the kitchen. Evan was informative, creative and charming. Of the 6 of us- we had 2 celiac people- who could eat with confidence. The wine pairing is totally worth it.