It has somehow already turned into August and I am quite panicked.  Where has the summer gone? I remember spending the endless frigid days of winter dreaming of the sun soaked sandy beaches in Rye, pilgrimages to consume copious amounts of ice cream at Lagos or Golicks, and cruising down the Portsmouth Harbor on the Thomas Laighton. Now it’s August and I haven’t remotely touched upon those summer plans dreamed up earlier in the year.

After the endless weeks of rain in June and early July, I did manage to venture out to a few of the decks that make summer on the Seacoast a true delight.  To make up for lost time, I crammed in four deck dining nights in Portsmouth, Dover, and Newburyport to wrap up an otherwise dismal July.

First up, the deck at Portsmouth Gas Light Co.  Yes, this deck is not located on the water, but you would be foolish to not check out its fabulous ambiance and live music scene.  The tiki torches alone are candy to my beach deprived eyes.  The recent night I went had a great band performing covers of Hootie and the Blowfish, Collective Soul, and other pop rock – perfect for sipping beverages and catching up with friends.  The Gas Light website lists its entertainment schedule, so check it out before heading over to know what your ears will be treated too at this prime deck dining location.

Now, when it came time to enjoy a view of the Portsmouth Harbor while satisfying my hunger, I always looked to the Stockpot for my fix for many years.  However, this favorite restaurant establishment of mine no longer exists and has since been replaced by the River House Restaurant.  After much internal debate, I decided to let go of the past and open myself up to this new waterfront dining establishment.  Besides, it’s not like they can change the view from the deck.

I was not disappointed.  The food was delicious and the service superb, just as the Stockpot before it. It even feels like there is more space now on this prime piece of dining real estate.  And come to find out, the River House Restaurant hosts a weekly concert series in Prescott Park on Wednesday nights at 7:00 pm, so you can enjoy a dinner and a show!

Portsmouth isn’t the only place to enjoy great deck dining.  Kelly’s Row is a Dover establishment and its location on the mighty Cochecho River should not be overlooked in the summer. The deck’s iconic green awnings sell Kelly’s Irish flare, and this deck gives off a great intimate feel.  You can also proceed to wander inside to check on the Red Sox score or enjoy the live music.  Irish sessions are on Monday nights with great music to sing and dance to!

If you venture down the coast into Massachusetts to dine, I highly recommend checking out Michael’s Harborside Restaurant in Newburyport.  Just off Route 1, Michael’s has been voted best outdoor dining by Northshore Magazine two years in a row.  Michael’s has a great “Tiki Deck” with sweeping views of the numerous boats navigating the Merrimac River out towards Plum Island.

There are certainly more deck dining opportunities on the Seacoast than my post could possibly cover, so consider this more as a reminder that when deciding where to dine out in August – keep in mind that fall will be knocking on New England’s door soon.  Don’t miss out on our local restaurants’ efforts to provide a unique outdoor dining experience during our brief window of warmth.

Gas Light: http://www.portsmouthgaslight.com/deck_landing.cfm
River House Restaurant Concert Series: http://www.prescottpark.org/events/weekly_series/index.asp
Kelly’s Row: http://www.kelleysrow.com/
Michael’s Harborside: http://www.michaelsharborside.com/

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Katie Mack is a young professional who lives, works, and plays in greater Seacoast NH. Raised in Dover, educated in Durham, and employed in Newburyport – Katie is also a new resident to downtown Portsmouth! Follow her blog to read up on all the different ways to play on the Seacoast.

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