Manchester, NH food guide: Elm Street, the Millyard and Riverwalk

Manchester is a big city by New Hampshire standards, and its food scene reflects its size and its history: a downtown of brick mill buildings along the Merrimack River, French Canadian and Greek roots, a newer set of restaurants from the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa and a steady stream of office workers and students. Here are the main districts and how to use them.

What is Elm Street like at dinner?

Elm Street is the main downtown street, and it is the dinner destination, with a wide range of cuisines and styles. Expect Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Irish pub food, steakhouses and casual restaurants within a few blocks, as well as bars with kitchens. It is a good street to walk, with outdoor tables in summer. Friday and Saturday evenings are busy, and parking on the street fills, so look at the garages. Some restaurants take reservations, while many pubs seat as you arrive.

What is the Millyard?

The Millyard is the historic district of redbrick mill buildings along the Merrimack River, once a great textile mill complex. Today the buildings hold offices, a university campus, a museum and several restaurants. The Millyard is quieter than Elm Street at night, and the setting is the draw. Parking is plentiful, with lots and garages nearby.

What about the West Side?

Across the river, the West Side has older neighborhoods with small restaurants, bakeries and delis. It is a good area to look for Greek, French Canadian and Latin American food, away from the main downtown. Menus are short, hours are limited and many places close on Mondays, so call ahead. The best-value meals in the city are often here.

Is there a farmers market?

Manchester has a weekly farmers market with fresh produce, artisanal food and crafts. The days and location change by season, so check the city or the market for this year's schedule. Markets are a good way to try New Hampshire products such as maple syrup, honey and cheese, and to eat breakfast from food stands.

What is the Riverwalk?

The Riverwalk is a riverside path along the Merrimack where people walk, jog and cycle. It links the Millyard to parks and restaurants, and a stroll before or after a meal is a pleasant way to digest. In summer, events and concerts take place along it. Check the city's calendar.

Where can you eat late?

Manchester has a lively late-night scene on Elm Street, with pubs, pizza by the slice and diners that stay open past midnight on weekends. Weekday hours are shorter. Check the restaurant's page. A late slice of pizza or a diner breakfast is a Manchester tradition for people leaving concerts and hockey games.

What events affect the dining scene?

• Concerts and hockey games at the downtown arena fill restaurants beforehand.
• College graduation weekends bring families into town.
• Summer festivals and holiday markets bring crowds to Elm Street.
• Airport traffic and conferences fill hotel restaurants.

If you are going to an event, eat early and allow extra time for parking.

What are the typical dishes?

New Hampshire is part of New England, so look for chowder, lobster rolls, baked beans and maple desserts on menus. Manchester's Greek and French Canadian communities add dishes such as gyros, spanakopita, tourtiere (a spiced meat pie) and poutine. Newer restaurants add Jamaican patties, Puerto Rican stews and West African soups. Ask your server what the kitchen is proud of.

How do you get around?

A car is easiest in Manchester. Downtown, you can walk between restaurants on Elm Street and the Millyard. Buses run to the West Side, and rideshares are available. The airport is a short drive from downtown and has flights to major cities.

What about tipping and the check?

New Hampshire adds a meals and rooms tax to restaurant checks, so the total is higher than the menu price. A tip of 18 to 20 percent is customary at table service. Counters and cafes often have a tip jar. Some restaurants add a service charge for large parties, so read the check.

What should you try at a Manchester diner?

A New England diner serves breakfast all day, with eggs, home fries, pancakes and corned beef hash, and lunch plates such as American chop suey, a baked macaroni dish with beef and tomato sauce that many New Englanders grew up on. Ask what the cook recommends. Diners are cheap, quick and friendly, and a counter seat is a good way to chat with regulars.

How do you fit Manchester into a trip?

Manchester sits between the Seacoast and the White Mountains, about an hour from Portsmouth and an hour from the Lakes Region. A dinner on Elm Street makes a good stop on the way to or from the airport. If you are in town for a game or concert, check the arena's schedule and plan to eat early. Weekday evenings are the best time to try restaurants without waiting.

How do you remember what you tried?

A city with this many styles of food leaves you with a long list. Mosey is a food-first app where diners find places by dish, mood and neighborhood and rate what they actually ate. Rate each poutine and each slice of pizza, and Mosey shows where to eat first next time. A Late Night tag on the slices worth leaving a concert for makes the list useful at midnight.

For the rest of the state, start at the Food in New Hampshire page.

More guides to read next:

• Nashua, NH food guide: Main Street, Pearl Street and festivals
• Best breakfast and brunch in Portsmouth, NH: waits and the market
• Buffalo food by neighborhood: Elmwood, Allentown, Hertel, Broadway

More in the US food guides and the ranked lists of places.