Common Man comes to Portsmouth

Adding to Portsmouth’s already rich restaurant scene, the Common Man has opened its newest location on State Street. The new dinner destination replaces Victory, which closed in February.

It’s the second small chain restaurant to open in the Port City in the last six months, following Ri Ra Irish Pub and Restaurant, which opened in Market Square in March. The Common Man has seven locations in New Hampshire, plus several other restaurants under the same ownership.

Like other Common Man locations, the restaurant’s menu offers traditional “American fare with New England flair.” But the new business also recognizes its Seacoast site with numerous seafood selections, including pan-seared jumbo scallops, baked stuffed shrimp, fried oysters, sole, salmon, haddock and even baked macaroni and cheese with lobster.

Other regular Common Man dishes include crab cakes, New England pot roast, country meatloaf and white chocolate bread pudding. On draft, the restaurant serves Common Man Ale, brewed by Portsmouth’s own Smuttynose Brewing Company. Plus, there’s free crackers and cheese.    

The spacious location is divided into three main rooms, with a dining room, a bar section, and an entry lounge with couches. There’s also an upstairs dining room that can be rented for large groups.

New Hampshire’s other Common Man restaurants are in Lincoln, Ashland, Concord, Windham, Claremont and Merrimack. The Portsmouth restaurant is at 96 State St., 603-334-6225. It’s open for dinner Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

Fish Festival seeks volunteers

The first ever Fish and Lobster Festival in Portsmouth is seeking volunteers to help out at Prescott Park on Saturday, Sept. 19. An optional volunteer meeting will be held on Thursday, Aug. 27, with identical one-hour sessions at 4 and 6 p.m.
The festival will be filled with local seafood, educational activities and entertainment. Guests will be able to board real fishing boats, examine fishing gear and listen to live music. The free event takes place from noon to 4 p.m.
Volunteers are needed to work shifts throughout the day, including setup and cleanup duties before and after the festival.

Those who attend the volunteer sessions will meet at Prescott Park for a quick walk-through of the festival layout. In case of rain, volunteers will meet at the park’s Sheafe Warehouse.

For more information on the Fish and Lobster Festival, visit www.prescottpark.org. To sign up to volunteer, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it