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Built in 1887, rich in history and glamour, the Library in the grand Rockingham House is an exquisite venue where art and great food intertwine. Enjoy refined cuisine, craft cocktails, and live jazz in one of New England’s most iconic dining venues. During the summer months dine under the stars in the heart of historic Portsmouth. The Library blends historic elegance with a vibrant lunch and evening service — just steps from Market Square and the waterfront.
An elegant, 1785 mansion sets a clubby backdrop for steakhouse fare, wines & a buzzy bar scene.
Hours
| Friday | 4–10 PM |
| Saturday | 4–10 PM |
| Sunday | 4–9 PM |
| Monday | 4–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 4–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 4–9 PM |
| Thursday | 4–9 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 401 State Street #5, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Phone: (603) 431-5202
Website: http://www.libraryrestaurant.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: resy.com
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
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Book Your Library Restaurant Reservation Now on Resy
The Library Restaurant is an upscale steakhouse and elegant private events space in a historic building in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Last Updates
Reviews
Natasha1534
Lovely experience, from start to finish. Hostess, waitress, busboy, everybody…all fantastic.
My husband has always said he’s “not a steak person,” but we’ve figured out now that he’s just a filet mignon person. We both had the 8 oz. filet and they were both cooked perfectly. My husband wished he had ordered the 12 oz. We had asparagus and mashed potatoes as our sides, both of which were good but definitely not the star of the show. I had the Strawberry Fields cocktail, which was absolutely delicious. My husband had a double Makers and Coke, which he said was good.
For dessert I had the creme brulee, which was very good. My husband had the carrot cake, which he really enjoyed. After tip, we spent $280 total for our meal. Not cheap, for sure, but definitely a lovely experience for special occasions.
We will definitely return!
… moreMy husband has always said he’s “not a steak person,” but we’ve figured out now that he’s just a filet mignon person. We both had the 8 oz. filet and they were both cooked perfectly. My husband wished he had ordered the 12 oz. We had asparagus and mashed potatoes as our sides, both of which were good but definitely not the star of the show. I had the Strawberry Fields cocktail, which was absolutely delicious. My husband had a double Makers and Coke, which he said was good.
For dessert I had the creme brulee, which was very good. My husband had the carrot cake, which he really enjoyed. After tip, we spent $280 total for our meal. Not cheap, for sure, but definitely a lovely experience for special occasions.
We will definitely return!
Kristie Goodwin (Robertson)
We had the wagyu carpaccio to start, the rack of lamb and the porterhouse steak for our mains, with some asparagus. They were all seasoned and cooked perfectly. The atmosphere is interesting with the ornate details in the building’s trim work and the decor. The Strawberry Fields, one of their speciality drinks, had a perfectly balanced blend of flavours. The bourbon infused mousse was very rich, not too sweet, and the bourbon was not overpowering. Overall we had an amazing evening. It’s a bit pricey for us, but worth it as the food is excellent and the service was good too. Would definitely recommend.
… moreTarek Said
My girlfriend and I were in town visiting and wanted to enjoy a romantic, yet cozy holiday meal – it was perfect. From the front of house, to the back of house, everything was spot on. Extremely professional. Melissa was attentive and helpful. The cocktails were mixologist level. The alchemist was spicy and peppery, but really good. The garlic bread was great. The bang bang shrimp was honestly amazing and not what you would typically expect. Lobster Mac and cheese was great and the Australian wagyu steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare with an amazing crust. For dessert, we shared the peanut butter cake and it was super tasty. The library steakhouse is an absolute gem and we can’t wait to return!
… moreViolet K
Absolutely amazing resturant! Expensive, but definitely worth it. The service is top notch- very professional and personable. I put 4 stars for atmosphere only because when it’s crowded- it takes away from the beauty of the dining area. Everyone is seated fairly close and you become privy to alot of off-handed conversations.
… moreRonald Fesko
Beautiful, historic steakhouse in downtown Portsmouth. Tastefully decorated with Christmas charm and Carolers entertaining the guests. Christian M was an absolute pro server for us and provided wonderful recommendations with his knowledge of the menu and the history of building. The Bread!! Amazing. The French onion soup, and the Porterhouse Au Poivre (Christian M top tip) were outstanding along with Dessert! Highly recommend. And ask for Christian M.
… moremark danisewicz
I truly love this place.. Yes it is a bit of a pricy night out, but the food and atmosphere are top notch. There is another ‘chain’ steakhouse that tries to pull off the high end feel, but it does not compare to the Library. My wife and I went for date night, and everything was great. Michael was an amazing bartender, and I tried his cocktail ‘The Natural’ which was a bourbon based drink with hints of root beer from the types of bitters used.. It was an amazing drink.
I started with some oysters, and then for dinner I got the bone in Cowboy cut ribeye, and it was cooked to perfection.. A perfect medium rare, with a side of truffle fries, resulted in an amazing dinner..
The lounge is the best place to sit in my opinion. It is a bit smaller, and you get a great view of the bar.. It was not cold enough for the fireplace to be on, but the atmosphere was great. Looking forward to my next visit!
… moreI started with some oysters, and then for dinner I got the bone in Cowboy cut ribeye, and it was cooked to perfection.. A perfect medium rare, with a side of truffle fries, resulted in an amazing dinner..
The lounge is the best place to sit in my opinion. It is a bit smaller, and you get a great view of the bar.. It was not cold enough for the fireplace to be on, but the atmosphere was great. Looking forward to my next visit!
Johanna Norman
Wow, blown away by the historic, stunning and memorable dining experience. Food was cooked to perfection. Cocktails were on point. Our lovely waitress was so kind and attentive. We will be back!
… moreBrian E.
In general the food was excellent. The steak and pork chop were absolutely top-notch. Service was lacking and was on par with a low tier restaurant. The ice tea was absolutely terrible and I was appalled that I was presented 3 separate glasses of ice tea that appeared like muddy water and tasted equally as bad. The servers saw that his tea was different than the first couple of glasses that had a typical golden hue yet brought it to the table anyway. A manager strolled by and for a routine check in and indicated they were having problems with the tea. The servers never communicated that to us and brought out a slightly less bitter glass in the final act. Moreover the tea was from a gun and not fresh brewed–would you serve coffee not fresh brewed? A restaurant of this quality should cheap out or try to be convenient–be the standard for dining.
Otherwise the bread was great; corn fresh but forgettable; truffle fires were amazing and finally service was disappointing and ruined an otherwise good eating experience.
… moreOtherwise the bread was great; corn fresh but forgettable; truffle fires were amazing and finally service was disappointing and ruined an otherwise good eating experience.
Ang Schuckle
Nov 29 – 2nd visit. Zac took great care of us. Great personality, very good service. Husband had the pork chop again and really enjoyed it. I had the Lobster Mac n chz. It was fine. I was a tad disappointed but it was just my expectation.
We brought dessert home – raspberry swirl cheesecake and the beautiful chocolate cake!
We will be back!
Oct 11, 2025
Oh.my.goodness. I’ve heard the “hype”, I’ve read the reviews. It’s not hype. It’s actually acclamation which is so well deserved. We moved here a few months ago and have been supporting all the local restaurants and businesses we can. We came here last week and sat at the bar, after being greeted warmly at the door of the amazing place. Cameron & Michael were absolutely lovely and skilled beyond! They were busy every single second we were there, moving through their long list of requested libations like ripples in water – smooth and unending. They managed to wait on us and several other patrons sitting at the bar as if we were their priority, not just someone extra to serve. Several of us had dinner at the bar and never waited on a thing. It was amazing how smoothly and professionally they all were. The wait staff was friendly, kind, helpful as they came and asked for their orders from Cameron and Michael. There was a very odd request (to us, not to the staff). The staff had never heard of what was asked but they all eagerly shared it with each other so they would learn something to help other customers in the future. Not ONE of them made a snarky comment or acted as if this was anything other than a simple request and a learning moment. (A customer with strict adherence to gluten free issues asked about their straws. Who knew a straw could contain gluten unless it effected you personally? Now we know. And the staff passed it on as if someone had simple asked for more ice in their drink. It was lovely to see them all work as a team or conscientious, kind, concerned professionals. We decided right then, even BEFORE our amazing dinner came, that this place would be TOPS on our list.
The dinner! We had the ahi tuna appetizer, which was delicious and so nicely done – rare and cold the way my husband loves it and with some great sauces and spices. He was quite happy.
For dinner I had the lobster bisque and husband had the pork chop. The bisque was glorious with nice bits of lobster and very creamy. The pork chop was cooked perfectly, tasted delicious (yep, I stole a bite! Lol) and the asparagus was cooked greatly! We enjoyed it all. We took a piece of chocolate cake and cheese cake home to have later, as we were good and full from the terrific dinner. Dessert was fab!! And the small touches – our dinner bill came inside an actual BOOK! This place is absolutely beautiful and so well done.
We will go again and again!! Thanks, Cameron and Michael for dinner and entertainment! You guys rock!
… moreWe brought dessert home – raspberry swirl cheesecake and the beautiful chocolate cake!
We will be back!
Oct 11, 2025
Oh.my.goodness. I’ve heard the “hype”, I’ve read the reviews. It’s not hype. It’s actually acclamation which is so well deserved. We moved here a few months ago and have been supporting all the local restaurants and businesses we can. We came here last week and sat at the bar, after being greeted warmly at the door of the amazing place. Cameron & Michael were absolutely lovely and skilled beyond! They were busy every single second we were there, moving through their long list of requested libations like ripples in water – smooth and unending. They managed to wait on us and several other patrons sitting at the bar as if we were their priority, not just someone extra to serve. Several of us had dinner at the bar and never waited on a thing. It was amazing how smoothly and professionally they all were. The wait staff was friendly, kind, helpful as they came and asked for their orders from Cameron and Michael. There was a very odd request (to us, not to the staff). The staff had never heard of what was asked but they all eagerly shared it with each other so they would learn something to help other customers in the future. Not ONE of them made a snarky comment or acted as if this was anything other than a simple request and a learning moment. (A customer with strict adherence to gluten free issues asked about their straws. Who knew a straw could contain gluten unless it effected you personally? Now we know. And the staff passed it on as if someone had simple asked for more ice in their drink. It was lovely to see them all work as a team or conscientious, kind, concerned professionals. We decided right then, even BEFORE our amazing dinner came, that this place would be TOPS on our list.
The dinner! We had the ahi tuna appetizer, which was delicious and so nicely done – rare and cold the way my husband loves it and with some great sauces and spices. He was quite happy.
For dinner I had the lobster bisque and husband had the pork chop. The bisque was glorious with nice bits of lobster and very creamy. The pork chop was cooked perfectly, tasted delicious (yep, I stole a bite! Lol) and the asparagus was cooked greatly! We enjoyed it all. We took a piece of chocolate cake and cheese cake home to have later, as we were good and full from the terrific dinner. Dessert was fab!! And the small touches – our dinner bill came inside an actual BOOK! This place is absolutely beautiful and so well done.
We will go again and again!! Thanks, Cameron and Michael for dinner and entertainment! You guys rock!
Bri Maloney
I rarely leave reviews like this, but this experience was genuinely disappointing — especially for a 4.5-star steakhouse in Portsmouth.
From the start, service was inconsistent. It took about 10 minutes just to receive water, and we were never served the complimentary bread until roughly 30 minutes in — only after we tracked down our water and asked about it ourselves. Drink service was also an issue: my espresso martini had to be remade, and my boyfriend’s drink never arrived until he asked again.
What stood out most was the service inconsistency within our immediate area. Every table around us was being served by the same female server, who provided attentive, frequent check-ins and impeccable service. We were the only table assigned a different server, and throughout the meal we were barely acknowledged. The difference in attention was noticeable and contributed to an overall feeling of being overlooked.
As someone who hasn’t eaten red meat in 15 years and eats very little seafood or poultry, I rely on restaurants to offer thoughtful vegetarian options, particularly at this price point. Unfortunately, that was not the case here.
I ordered the saffron rice entrée for $38 — a plate of rice with no protein — which was $4 more than my boyfriend’s salmon dinner. The dish was also incomplete; peas were listed on the menu but missing from the plate. It wasn’t until I pointed this out that the server said they were out and offered a complimentary vegetable side dish.
While the gesture was appreciated, it doesn’t change the lack of attention to detail, the poor value of the entrée, or the overall service experience.
This isn’t about being vegetarian — it’s about value, consistency, and execution. At a restaurant charging luxury prices, guests shouldn’t have to chase basic service, flag missing components, or feel ignored while surrounding tables receive attentive care.
In today’s economy, luxury pricing demands luxury execution. This experience fell short of that standard.
… moreFrom the start, service was inconsistent. It took about 10 minutes just to receive water, and we were never served the complimentary bread until roughly 30 minutes in — only after we tracked down our water and asked about it ourselves. Drink service was also an issue: my espresso martini had to be remade, and my boyfriend’s drink never arrived until he asked again.
What stood out most was the service inconsistency within our immediate area. Every table around us was being served by the same female server, who provided attentive, frequent check-ins and impeccable service. We were the only table assigned a different server, and throughout the meal we were barely acknowledged. The difference in attention was noticeable and contributed to an overall feeling of being overlooked.
As someone who hasn’t eaten red meat in 15 years and eats very little seafood or poultry, I rely on restaurants to offer thoughtful vegetarian options, particularly at this price point. Unfortunately, that was not the case here.
I ordered the saffron rice entrée for $38 — a plate of rice with no protein — which was $4 more than my boyfriend’s salmon dinner. The dish was also incomplete; peas were listed on the menu but missing from the plate. It wasn’t until I pointed this out that the server said they were out and offered a complimentary vegetable side dish.
While the gesture was appreciated, it doesn’t change the lack of attention to detail, the poor value of the entrée, or the overall service experience.
This isn’t about being vegetarian — it’s about value, consistency, and execution. At a restaurant charging luxury prices, guests shouldn’t have to chase basic service, flag missing components, or feel ignored while surrounding tables receive attentive care.
In today’s economy, luxury pricing demands luxury execution. This experience fell short of that standard.