I am updating my review because I revisited this restaurant a few days ago and was not as satisfied.
The reason I was less satisfied in my second time dining here was simply because after going to River House (which is right down the street from Old Ferry Landing) I was very displeased with not only the prices but the portion sizes at Old Ferry Landing.
For example: I ordered the same fried shrimp meal at River House that I ordered here at Old Ferry Landing. They were the same price and both very good, however, Old Ferry Landing was about half the size. It was such a tiny basket and I ate the entire thing without really even feeling full.. Where at River House I ate until I was full and I still had PLENTY of leftovers.
I still like Old Ferry Landing, the service was good and the outdoor deck is nice. But it seems like it would be smarter just go to River House or another restaurant where I'll get almost double the food for the same price.
Tourists beware. Â Remember one thing. Â Generally the closer to the water a seafood restaurant is, usually affords you a high priced, poor quality meal. Â This restaurant is no exception. Â And, if you are over 50 years of age and it's after 4 p.m. they will favor the younger crowd should you want a drink on their deck.
Review Source:The best part about the Ferry Landing is the view.. and the food... and the bar! Â The open-deck bar is awesome during the summer nights to cool down and meet people. Â I got a date here, one night just hanging outside! Â The food is really good, although mostly all fried. Â It's a very high-volume place (I've never seen it less than half full! Yes, half FULL!!) The staff is all very friendly and knowledgeable about the area. Â Great spot for a tourist or a local!!
Review Source:This place has a very sweet place in my heart. Â It is bar none the place to check out while in Portsmouth, it is a landmark seasonal must do, for both locals and visitors offering the best view available. Â My man worked there many moons ago when living in Portsmouth, and has even claimed that I am to scatter some of his ashes here on Ferrylanding opening day, it's that cool. Â Pretty much anyone from the area already knows about this place, but for those yelpers from out of town, do yourselves a favor and go to the deck, order up a Jimmy Juice and a cup o chowda (see the plate on the back of the wall in the bar which once belonged to my saweety), some fried clams and fried scallops, and enjoy the great view, relaxed atmosphere great service and you too will create your own fond memories.
Review Source:We got a platter of fried haddock to share and it was delicious! I'm very picky about how it's fried, and these pieces had the perfect amount of batter. I also love when the haddock comes in pieces, rather than huge filets. It was amazing. As we read the menu outside a local walked in and said it was his favorite and the best, and I totally agree!
Review Source:I'm going to have to go with the "tourist trap" contingent. Â I mean, the location is really the point, and that's worth a lot. Â I'm trying to eat healthier, so I was looking for something broiled or grilled without a lot of butter. Â There weren't a lot of options. Â Most things were fried, with a few pasta options, and then a few grilled specials.
I got the tuna special, medium rare. Â It was meh. Â It was like they didn't quite get the idea of seared tuna--they just didn't cook it much--no sear on the outside, and it wasn't quite sushi grade. Â Just a big tuna steak (and to their credit, it was BIG, probably nearly 8 oz). Â The flavors were mixed up: "ginger dressing," (meh) and then a mustardy flavor on the salsa. Â Then israeli couscous. Â And raw spinach. Â What? Â
I think if you want a rum drink and a big basket of fried fish and fries while you look out on the water, this place is perfect (though you should be prepared to pay for the view). Â But overall? Â Meh.
I very rarely HAVE to stop by the kitchen before leaving and compliment the chefs.
Sat at a table for two on the water outside.
My girlfriend and I (who are fried food fanatics) had the best clams and scallops EVER!
If you try anything order the scallops. Â Fresh AMAZING flavor and fried perfectly.
Cole Slaw was excellent... dish was also served with french fries and very good traditional New England style tartar sauce.
We also had the clam chowder... again... some of the best chowder we have ever had.
Note: Â It's not the thick style "where are the clams?" chowder that most expect.
Service was above average and the entire staff was pleasant and helpful from start to finish.
NOT a tourist trap!
We'll be back.
Four of us went to Old Ferry Landing yesterday.  The Maître de was very funny I made a request for reservations for 400, she replied in a millisecond ok that will be 5 days.  LOL  We were seated us right away.
We ordered and had a fine meal. Â It was a little hot and crowded, but everyone enjoyed the food and the service. Â The clam chowder was to die for. Â I ordered the Mussels in white wine. Â They were good but very little white wine in the bowl. Â Two of the others had the fried clams and the forth had scallops. Â All of would go back, I just would not try and make my own pasta plate with the mussels. Â But again we have dined here before and the food is good and worth the wait and price. Â I will also note that the price all restaurants charge for alcohol is getting a little absurd. Â Ne, nest time LIMIT one beverage. Â
I left first and when my daughter came out she heard our waitress very loudly state, "WOW a $16.00 tip on a $145.00 bill." Â Well it seems I made a mistake in my haste to get out to some cool air. Â This left a bad taste in my mouth as we have dined here before and no issue. Â I wonder if the waitress could have approached me and asked what the issue was? Â I would have asked why and she would have said "You left me a 10% tip." Â I would have immediately apologized and provided an adequate tip.
This place has the most succulent swordfish I have had maybe ever in my life! I look forward to it every year and it never disappoints. It is situated at the end of a dock. It doesn't look like much when you approach. Which is part of the appeal i think... Like a well kept secret. The seating area is out on a deck that is over the water. Boats are visible out having fun on the water and the sun is bathing you while you eat and drink with your friends. The staff is casual and friendly and seem to really enjoy what they are doing. The owners work there too, doing every single thing that needs to be done equally with the youngest employee. I respect that and I feel that sense of teamwork among them when I am there.
Go for a great meal or just drinks on the deck. The bartenders know how to make excellent drinks that will numb you right up!! Jimmy Juice is a potent primer... I love a frozen mudslide when I am there!
We came here in the pre-Yelp days, when our sons were young teenagers. Â Despite being packed in the indoor dining room, I wouldn't have characterized this place as being overly touristy. Â The setting was as close to the water as you can be, while still being indoors. Â Service was overburdened, but the few brief encounters we had were pleasant. Â Like everybody else, we came here for the lobster, and it was fresh and very good. Â The experience was as-expected, but certainly not unpleasant.
Review Source:went twice this year. Really seems like the kitchen staff didnt have it together. The food used to be good, now not so good and more expensive than previous. I would probably avoid eating here. Getting crammed on to the small bar deck is awesome and you can meet cool people there. Its just the food really needs to improve.
Review Source:Came here for drinks with friends who are locals on a week day afternoon in late August. Â It was such a pleasant atmosphere sitting outside on the deck watching the tugs come and go. Â Didn't try the food but the signature drinks were good and the service very pleasant. Â Definitely worth a visit for drinks in my opinion.
Review Source:WOW, I am stuffed!! Â Don't hate on a "tourist trap" Â STILL GOOD FOOD!! The Lobster Feast is still an amazing dish that will please! Â Looking out over the water, it is a cool place to escape a hot summer day. Â Love the Lobster Roll, OFL use not large chunks of claw meat but through in some tail for good measure.
Review Source:** Tourist Trap Alert ** Small portions of poorly prepared food served in plastic baskets that are too small even for the small portions. Waaayyyy overpriced. Being crammed in like sardines offsets any benefit of being on the water (unless you could wrangle a table on the railing I suppose). Service was adequate but not exactly what I'd call friendly.
If not for the fact that we were enjoying the company of the people we were with, we would have walked out.
This is our "standby" seafood stop any time we're in Portsmouth. Â We discovered it by accident many years ago and we keep coming back because of their consistency. Â I'm a fan of their fried shrimp basket and my husband, their fried haddock basket. Â Â The portions are very generous and the fried seafood and fries are always piping hot and do not taste or appear greasy. Â Wait staff are always friendly and attentive. Â The scenary on the outdoor deck is classic New England. Â We've never experienced a long wait.
Review Source:We were in search of a patio for some al fresco dining on this fine, sunny, summer day and stumbled upon Old Ferry Landing after bypassing the Oar House (too pricey).
Despite the deck being packed, we were seated promptly. The inside is cramped and nothing to look at--and honestly, the deck is not too special either but you're really paying for the privilege of dining outdoors here. It's got an old-school vibe and you can't beat the location--right off the water in historically charming Portsmouth.
The menu consists of your standard New England fried seafood fare (our fried haddock basket featured fresh fish but frozen fries) at the standard mark-up and some less-than-impressive salad offerings. You're not getting a remarkable deal or the best lobster roll you've ever had, but it's just fine for what it is.
Come for the cold beer, some guilty-pleasure grub and kick back for awhile!
They have a great deck, usually packed. Â Beware of the Jimmy Jazz juice. Â A rum drink packed with punch. Â And their dark and stormy with ginger beer...delicious.
Fried oysters and fries are good. Â And I shared a crab cake which was a bit too bready for my tastes.
You can't beat the outdoors seating, and their food is pretty basic. Â Can't really mess up french fries. Â But their drinks are good. Â
Go early if you want to sit or if you want breathing room :)
Except for the fumes from 2 large tugboats docked within 100 yds lunch was very good. I ordered the shrimp ceaser salad but after seeing someone at the next table with the scallop basket, clam basket and haddock basket I knew I made am error. Fortunately I was able to change my order and all worked out! Definitely a place to come to again.
Review Source:This is a good summer restaurant for locals and tourists. The inside is tiny and cramped but the big outdoor deck provides a great view of the harbor. This place can get pretty crowded and it isn't exactly upscale, but the food is decent and not overpriced and the wait staff is usually just fine. Menu selections include the typical burgers and fried fish sandwiches, but their specials are decent and when sworfish or tuna is on the menu they do it well. Â It's the outside deck that sets this place apart, though. Â And it should.
Review Source:Old Ferry Landing is right in Downtown Portsmouth, right off of the Market St exit on 95. Â This place is right on the water, and their bar is an outside deck that hangs over the river. Â We went here for dinner and although the menu was typical coastal New England summer fare (i.e. fried/broiled seafood, burgers/dogs, etc) it was all well done. Â
Quick tip: If you're going to get fried seafood, you really need to only get a basket as opposed to the "platters" they have. Â You'll get plenty of seafood for about $10 less.
Once this place opened for the summer you could find us there. Â It had a small bar (maybe more of a window) and rail seating looking out at my favorite tug boats. Â It was the most relaxing place ever even when people were packed onto this tiny deck. Â
Our favorite dish was the crab stuffed hallibut
One of Portsmouth's restaurants with a deck. Â This one is popular with tourists and locals, and features good but predictable food. Â Burgers, grilled fish sandwiches, fried fish, etc. Â You won't go wrong here but you're not likely to be amazed either. Â The scenery and the atmosphere on a warm sunny day keep this place packed. Â There's also an indoor room, but I've only eaten there when the deck was full. Â Go here, have a burger and a beer, and understand why tourists flock to Portsmouth in the summer.
Review Source:<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.portsmouthnh.com%2Fdining%2Fferrylanding1.html&s=8a38cf426f0b848abdfe8cc51cf82d88c05076c3be65eee671b0d3819732cbb7" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.portsmouthnh.…</a>
Seasonal restaurant. Â Check the site for open times.
I think this is the restaurant I'm thinking of. Â I'm mostly inclined to visit here if hungry in Portsmouth in the summer. Â Strange how I could be at a place about once a year and not pay attention to the name of it. Â If I had to make up a name, though, I'd probably call it the docky place by the boats. Â So maybe this is it.
I like the line of old brick buildings on the one side, and the boats drifting in an out on another. Too crowded during the heat of the day, but nice at night when the harbour lights up. Â
Crab cakes.
If it turns out this isn't the place I'm thinking of, I'll update.
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