FIVE81°NE

581 Lafayette Rd unit 3, Portsmouth
(603) 956-5665

Recent Reviews

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Denise Hyer

From the start I felt I was walking into a dream. Beautiful and unexpected decor. Stylish, Upscale, Modern. Not what I'm familiar with in most Asian restaurants. Enchanting and romantic.

As they say, 'you eat with your eyes first', and right off the bat, my eyes were telling me we were about to dive into something flavorful, delicious and satifying.
The Pho noodle bowl with shrimp was steaming and presented with a side of garnishes; basil, mint, jalapeno, bean sprouts, lime wedges and a little dish of the best house made hot sriracha. Wow! Packed a flavor-filled punch. We used every bit of it. (Will take tums later).
The grilled lemongrass chicken thighs were juicy and so, so good. Excellent alongside a perfect bowl of garlic ftied rice.

The servers were so friendly and helpful when we asked questions about origins of some of the dishes.

If I lived anywhere near this place it would be a frequent dining choice.
Or even to come for cocktails. The bar is stunning. We had a 3 hour drive to home ahead of us so we couldn't induge. But, if they put as much care into making a good drink as they do into everything else, I'm certain it's worth a visit to just relax and enjoy a drink while sitting at the gorgeous bar.

I hope we travel this way again soon. Will be a top choice on my list of dining places to enjoy.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Lemongrass Grilled Chicken

Marion Starkey

Just in town for a night before heading back to Boston and happily happened on Five81.NE. What a great surprise. We had Moo Ping and Sukhothai Tom Yum Noodles soup and a Thai Basil warm pumpkin salad and a few other things. Every dish was delicious and unique. Great service and a hip (but comfortable) atmosphere. I didn’t take pictures.Was too busy eating.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Marci Selsberg

Fantastic! We live in NJ and lived in NYC for 15 years so we're used to great Thai food. When my parents, who live in Eliot, suggested we try Five81 Northeast, we were reluctant. Well, the food is fantastic! Our server, Izzy, gave us great suggestions and really knew the menu. The soups were so flavorful, the chicken skewers and the rice and sauces that came with it were amazing! The garlic rice - holy cow. The Thai noodles, sooooo good. The next time we come up, we'll definitely be coming back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Bobbie Hall

Our first visit dining here, everything was impeccable. The attention to detail flawless. The plate presentation was beautiful, the smell, the taste all Devine. We will be back they touch every sense.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Lemongrass Grilled Chicken, Moo Ping Skewer

Jaime Duchscherer

Great experience. The servers and kitchen staff presented us with a culinary experience! Our party entered unfamiliar with the menu and we asked for their favorites and suggestions and they curated a fantastic dinner for us. Absolutely would recommend dining here. The atmosphere was beautiful and their bathrooms were very clean.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Ryan Sullivan

Some of the best Thai food I've had in New England. The fish curry and crying tiger beef were standouts. Japanese and taro basque cheesecakes were both delicious.

Service was good, not exemplary but warm and reasonably accommodating.

Only damper was we were not made aware there would be live music on the night of our reservation. We were hoping for a quiet date night and instead had to be seated near this man singing American classics (Van Morrison, Hootie and the Blowfish, American Pie, etc.) in a Thai fusion restaurant (??). Please let patrons know this will be happening in advance.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 4

Cave Life

Cocktail special was delicious. Every bite of food i have had there has been fresh, flavorful and delicious.

Food: 5

Recommended dishes: Sticky Rice, Moo Ping, Laab Mushroom, Banh Beo

Mihai Popescu

Every single dish we got was spectacular! A must try !

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Malcolm H

Bartender was great. The entree, though the seared white fish was nice and hot, was sitting on top of barely warm vegetables and sauce, which wasn't good. Considering the entree was nearly $30 alone, I would've expected better. The flavor of the curry was good but when it's almost cold really takes away from it. Not likely would go back for a costly less than great meal again.

Food: 2

Chris P

Great food, but wish there was a little more to the servings. Staff was friendly and the restaurant has a bit of a posh vibe. All in all, great experience

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

CJ Castro

Excellent food and service!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

kanit hampitak

The best

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

ReneeEW

We live in the area and have not tried this restaurant that has been open nearly 1 year and oh, the pleasant surprise! The atmosphere is quaint, 17 comfortable bar stools and many cozy booths. We sat at the bar and enjoyed some lovely craft cocktails created and made by a very friendly bartender - Danny. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the Summer Breeze mocktail but added vodka and a Cosmo with fresh lime. The cocktail ingredients had fresh purées juices, dried fruits and were thoughtfully served. For an appetizer we had the BAHN KHOT Vietnamese Mini Crispy Pancake and LAAB MUSHROOMS salad. Both were unique and wonderful. For our entree we enjoyed Shrimp Curry, Chicken Wings and the MOO PING SKEWER with sticky rice. The flavors were spectacular. No room for dessert but the menu was enticing. We look forward to returning soon!

Sarah Ryman

We spent just under 3 hours here this afternoon catching up with a friend we had t seen in years. Food was delicious! Where most Thai places just dump out piles of noodles with unbalanced sauces, these dishes were thoughtful and well-executed. We will be back! Shared 4 appetizers, 3 entrees, and a dessert! Thanks for a memorable meal, we will be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Chive Pancakes, Thai Dessert

Jill Libby (US)

Both food and drink were excellent! I highly recommend Popeyes Princess or the Mayflower as cocktails to start. I can’t wait to go back and try others! For food, the Laab Duck blew us away with how flavorful it was! They did a fabulous job with the atmosphere as well. We are excited to have this new addition to Portsmouth!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

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