New Eateries: Row 34, La Maison Navarre, Franklin Oyster House, Green Elephant

With every summer comes a bunch of new businesses trying to claim territory in a little town that’s quickly turning into a city we all know as Portsmouth. This year in particular, we have seen a few really neat businesses like Profile Coffee Bar on 15 Portwalk Pl. and Bennett’s Sandwich Shop on 41 Congress Street come in and make their presence known.

Well, there are a few more that have popped up during the summer that are worth noting on Portsmouth Forward. This time we’re presenting you with all new eateries, all located right downtown.

Row 34

No other newcomer has established such a high reputation is so little time as Row 34 has. It is all the buzz in Portsmouth right now. Why? Because it’s… delicious. Located on 5 Portwalk Place, Row 34 is mostly seafood, a raw bar to be exact. Everything from location, concept, interior design, to the whole menu, Row 34 offers a special, unique experience. If you like seafood, it is a must try. “We’re Row 34. If we could eat oysters and drink beer for every meal period, we probably would. Professionals Only.” - row34nh.com

La Maison Navarre

“Stepping into La Maison Navarre is like being transported to a charming pastry shop in Paris.” - La Maison Navarre. These guys are the new bakery in town. What’s different? It’s a French bakery, and they serve delicious, fresh baked macarons: that’s the difference. Located on 121 CONGRESS STREET, La Maison Navarre is not only a dessert bakery, but they also offer sandwiches and freshly baked breads. Presentation and attention to detail is amazing, just wait until you see how your sandwich is wrapped!

Franklin Oyster House

We have one more notable, new joint we have to mention. Also a raw bar, Franklin Oyster House is another new hot spot downtown. Well, what’s the difference between Franklin Oyster House and Row 34 you may ask yourself? Franklin Oyster House is more of a literal oyster bar. Think of Franklin as a casual, yet high quality place where you can drink, order a few appetizers, and eat tons of oysters. One more difference, they have a $1.25 Oyster Happy Hour every weekday from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm, so go check them out, you will not regret it!

Coming Soon: Green Elephant

We have one last bit of exciting news. For all you vegetarians and food lovers in general, there is a “very high end”, all vegetarian restaurant coming to 3 Portwalk place this summer called Green Elephant! They’ve already established themselves and have gained a following for their restaurant in Portland, ME. “It’s all vegetarian food and it’s a mixture of Chinese, Malaysian and Thai,” said Ben Richards, the general manager during an interview with seacoastonline.com. Sounds like a refreshing concept, we’ll have our eyes peeled and stomachs ready for when this finally opens!