The Mad River Tavern

Drinks, food and service was all top notch! I wasn’t to sure what to expect when my boyfriend and I pulled in on a whim for a late dinner. But the parking lot was packed so we figured it must be a good sign! The have a great beer selection and some cool cocktails too.

I am 100% Irish my mom cooked the best boiled dinner in the world but I have to say mom… Mad River outdid themselves! The classic and the new age corn beef dinners were spectacular. Their brining process has to be second to none as I have never had such a tender corn beef in my life… Good job guys!

After a long day of some fun touristy activities, we cruised the area around Loon Mountain in search of dinner, but unfortunately wait times were pretty outrageous at most local restaurants. We decided to venture a few towns over to dodge the crowds and a quick Unilocal search led us to The Mad River Tavern. It seemed to be the only hot spot in the area, so we gave it a shot.
I had high hopes that we may have made a great discovery. Perhaps it would be a hidden gem to add to my list of favorites that have been accidently stumbled upon while traveling. I could tell my friends, «Hey if you’re ever in Campton, NH be sure to check out this great place… «
Well, not exactly. First impressions were great — I loved the cozy, rustic décor with a black bear theme and country cabin wood paneling. It’s a very small, no frills building with a bar area to the left and a dining wing to the right. The hostess was not at her station when we stepped in the door and I later realized, when I noticed the hostess was serving food, the staff assumes different roles. A man I decided was an owner/​chef seemed to keep appearing with plates to serve and later showed us to our table.
The hostess returned and informed us there was a thirty minute wait. Google had told there weren’t too many nearby options, so we perched ourselves at the bar amongst some of the locals enjoying their Saturday night out. The menu here at Mad River is decent with typical pub grub options including pasta dishes, steak, seafood, salads, sandwiches, and appetizers. I had been craving wings all day and pretty much had my mind made up before browsing the menu. I was glad to see Tavern Wings as an option with a choice of several different marinades.
Our waitress was friendly, as was most of the staff we interacted with. She took our order right away and brought us a basket of bread. I had never been so happy to see bread in my life as I was pretty hungry after a long day of winter fun. Service was painfully slow, however, and I couldn’t understand why wings and a steak wrap were taking so long. The food finally arrived and to my great disappointment the wings were heavily coated in the bourbon sauce I requested-​a little too heavily though and the sauce had a real strong smell to it. My friend made a face and mentioned she could smell the marinade across the table. She bit into her steak wrap and commented «the meat is tough.» We split some onion rings that were really good with a perfect, light batter. I ate the wings because I just could not wait any longer for food and knew I could not return them to the kitchen at this point. They would have been good, if it wasn’t for the strangely heavy and strong smelling/​tasting marinade.
Finding good food while traveling is always hit or miss. If you ever find yourself in Campton, NH this little dive may be your best option. Otherwise, do not go out of your way to dine here.

This place was great. Great food, great selection, nice atmosphere. Huge portions, very reasonable prices. Service (Angelique) was exception. Steak was done perfectly, apps out fast. all around great

I love this place! I’ve been quite a few times now and have never been disappointed. We’ve tried everything from simple French onion soup & side salads to burgers with the works, Cajun haddock bites, many of the appetizers, fried eggplant sandwich, turkey wraps… ALL of it has been delicious!
Great place to go if you’re looking for some hearty delicious food after a day of hiking in the mountains!

Very deceiving from the outside as it looks like a small house that wouldn’t be able to fit many tables inside. This is not true at all as there are about 4 different rooms including the bar with ample amount of seating.
Somewhat of a fancy feeling to the place but not too many people were dressed up; especially in the bar area. Live music in the bar was okay, but you could hear it in the back rooms where people probably don’t want to be hearing it.
Food was decent as was the portion size. Service was good but the jeans and t-​shirts the staff had on didn’t add to the atmosphere. Good local beer list available. The wine selection was limited.
Will return here in the future!

Fantastic meal… I’m up here for a couple days skiing and decided to drive the 10 miles rather than just eat at the mountain. Got seated right away and had a choice of several local beers to choose from. I ordered the onion soup and the prime rib, both were very tasty. My server, Jessica, took very good care of me and answered all my questions. The only draw back is the tavern needs some sprucing up a bit… Interior painting is needed desperately… The room next to me had paint chips on the ceiling ready to fall on the table below. I’m hoping that’s something that’s on their schedule after ski season is over

We normally eat in the Lincoln, NH area when we got up to Loon to ski. We’ve tried all the restaurants in the area, but we asked the locals for a new spot. We were pleasantly surprised.
For starters we got a side salad and french onion soup. My only criticism is that the soup barely had any onions. It was a good flavor, but the broth to onion ratio was a bit off.
For dinner, my boyfriend got the filet mignon with gorgonzola and bacon. I got the crab cakes. Both really delicious. Filet was cooked perfectly and tender. My crab cakes were homemade, and tasted like it, yum! And the garlic green beans were also awesome! Mine was pretty big and I took it home for lunch the next day.
The drink selection was good. Some great beers and wines. There was also live acoustic music playing in the bar and it was great!
Next time we are at Loon, we are definitely coming back.

Great, friendly service — from both the bartender and the waitress. The fish & chips was delicious. They have a nice local craft beer selection too. So, good food, good beer and good service. Great spot.

I came here with my wife and another couple since we were going to the NH Highland Games, and we regretted it.
On the recommendation of our waitress after asking about gluten-​free options, with her asking the cooking staff, I ordered the steak tips, which came with corn and a baked potato. Judging by how sick I was that night, it was not gluten-​free. Strike one.
My wife got the coconut-​encrusted fish, which apparently had good coconut crusting, but the fish was very bland. Not really a strike two, but disappointing.
The other couple we were with split the shrimp, and both were sick that night, so that’s strike three.
Ambiance-​wise, it is a nice looking place, which about the only thing going for this place, with the exception of being one of very few places to eat in Campton. We were sufficiently disappointed by Mad River that we ended up the next evening driving a half hour to North Woodstock to get food we were happy with.

Ok place. Inconsistent at times. Forget the Mexican food! Service is usually good but sometimes a bit off. Ate there a week ago and had a good meal with good service. A couple times in the past the food has been so so. Onion soup is good! The staff is usually friendly and helpful.

We stopped in there for a post-​hike lunch based on recommendations from other hikers. It was quiet on a weekday afternoon; just a few people in the place. Our server was helpful and attentive, and our Super Burger and Turkey Reuben, both with fries, came quickly. I also had a local microbrew, but forget which.
All of it was pretty good. The burger was cooked as requested and the fries were fine. A pickle would have gone well to offset the richness/​grease of the Turkey Reuben.
All-​in-​all a decent, but not (based on this one visit, outstanding) place for après hike chow.

8 of us met tonight for dinner, overall good experience. We had a reservation due to group size, and they were ready for us.
Burgers and fries were excellent. Salads also got good reviews. Not so much for the alfredo pasta or baked shrimp, I’m afraid. pork ribeye was good but slaw was iffy.
Drinks and service were good, prices within reason for what we got. I’d definitely go again, sticking with pub fare.

Came here with a friend since I’m camping in the White Mountains and stopped by here for dinner. The nacho starter order was huge well worth it. It was actually too much of nachos of there’s such a thing as we ordered the chili and salmon and lobster Mac and cheese.
We liked everything especially the chili and salmon, the nachos were good but we weren’t ready for that much of it and wanted just a bit to munch on.
The corn on the cob that came with the salmon on the side wasn’t good though. Maybe it was just bad corn?
Our server was nice and its a cool place in an area out away from everything.
There was live music at the bar too if you like stuff like that!

Good veggie burger and lots of other veggie options and a cute bar.

I came in Friday around 6 or so. It was pretty packed in the bar area but we were able to find an area for our group of six. This is definitely the place where locals hang which I take as a good sign.
Our waitress was very friendly. All of our food was decent. I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich and fries. We split a bunch of apps — calamari, potato skins, mozz stix and something else. Typical pub grub type stuff.
My only complaint is that our table was never bussed. With six of us at the table there were tons of dirty side plates, empty beers, main plates, etc. I had to keep clearing the table by walking everything over to the bar. I hate to do this but after numerous trips to our table the waitress never cleared a single thing away. I will chalk this up to them being slammed at Friday happy hour. I would definitely come back.

Pretty cool pub in the Waterville Valley area.
On our drive up to WV for a weekend of skiing, my friend and I had the hunger. We realized there weren’t too many options for a late night bite for a reasonable price, but the MRT seemed to fit that bill nicely. The place seemed rustic, cozy, and had a large dining area and a bar that seemed quite happening on this particular Friday night. We made our way in to the bar and hopped in to an empty booth.
We were promptly greeted by a friendly server who gave us our menu to peruse. We ordered up some cold, local brews and tried to find something to settle the rumbling in our bellies. I saw the mussels appetizer, which sounded quite tasty. My friend ordered a sandwich with fries. I sipped on my brew and chatted with m friend about the exciting weekend ahead of us. Not too much later, or plates arrived and I grinned from ear to ear with the pleasant surprise of my HUGE plate of salty bivalve goodness. The muscles were in a tasty lemongrass and butter broth that was light and delicious. The appetizer was plenty to make as a meal or to split between two. My friends sandwich looked quite good, although the fries weren’t the best. Our server was attentive and made sure we had everything we needed through out the evening.
The friendly service, healthy portions, and decent selection of local NH beers settles the fact that I will definitely stop in again if I am in the area. I enjoyed the charm and welcoming affect of this local gem.

What we wanted more than life itself after 5 days backpacking in the White Mountains was a warm, cozy place to nurse several beers, down a very large, greasy meal, and be welcomed with open arms in unflattering, flat out dirty, backpacker attire. And Unilocal came through to recommend The Mad River Tavern.
Thank you MRT, for nursing us back to back to health and human interaction with a steady stream of microbrews, free popcorn, cheesy yet appropriate bar décor (old ski signs, dark wood paneling), warm, attentive service, and a «good meal.» Nothing out of the ordinary or gourmet about it — but certifiably good. I shared an order of nachos with chili and opted for the Tavern Burger at the rec of our waiter. The nachos were HUGE. The burger was average. But the service and experience were great.
I appreciated that the tavern had a more formal dining area in addition to the bar area. And I loved the warmth of the locals even though we were clearly out of towners. A woman with bedazzled jeans sauntered right over to our table and announced that we left the light on in the car, but that the door was open so she turned it off for us. In most circumstances I would have been alarmed at the privacy violation. At MRT, I felt honored to have received the treatment the locals give each other. We thanked her for her act of kindness and didn’t bother to stop and ask how she knew it was US that had the out of state plates…
Fond memories, MRT. Great way to end a wonderful vacation.
Ah — I nearly forgot — one complaint. We had a difficult time locating the restaurant, which on Unilocal and their website was listed as just plain old «Rt 49.» Really? Is that all ya got, address?

Good take. It is off Route 49, not 175. This would be exit # 28 off of I 93
I got the Tavern Salad, and GrandMa the wedge salad. Very good both. I think my dressing was homemade (Italian), if it wasn’t, I did not recognize the brand, and it was pretty good. She LOVED her wedge, which really isn’t like her, she is a tough Unilocaler.
The bride tells me that the mural work at the Ladies Room was impressive…(polite cough). I did not see it, but she describes talented work that I wish she had mentioned while we were still there.
Decent draft beer selection. Couple of local brews that I had elsewhere, so I went with a guiness and a Newcastle, not for the Novelty, but because I like them. Both fresh.
Kind of in the middle of nowhere… not too far off I 93, but not within sight or what I would call an easy off and on.
Nice waitress. Good parking. Affordable prices for the buffalo fingers.

I think the reviewer from Florida reviewed the wrong place. «Good tavern food?» «Draft beer choices OK?» I’ve been to Largo and you aren’t getting Chicken Kiev, Scampi w/​New Bedford scallops or Rack of Lamb (for only $ 21.99) or micro brews like Long Trail or Moat at one of the Tampa area’s chain restaurants that dominate the dining scene there. And I don’t see how anyone could quibble with the dinner menu prices given the quality, creativity and quantity of food.
Mad River Tavern (MRT) is a gem. I first went here in the mid-​90s after a long, cold, wet day of skiing at Cannon Mountain. I’d never been so happy to see a wood stove, cold beer and hot plate of Beef Stroganoff. The regular menu hasn’t changed much, but it didn’t need to. And they always have ample specials. All meals come with a crisp salad, a starch and veggie.
Last night it was the Roasted Duck with plum sauce (and did I taste five spice powder?) for me ($ 18.99). The skin on the partially boned duck was crisp and the meat was moist. Way better than any confit I’ve ever had. My wife had the aforementioned Beef Stroganoff ($ 15.99). Amid a rich, brown gravy were lots of large pieces of tender, seasoned steak — which I think was rib eye based on the marbling — and chunky mushrooms. My son had Baked Onion Soup. At $ 4.99 it was a filling, inexpensive meal for a 9-​year-​old tired after a long day in the mountains… and about all he could handle at 8:30 p.m. The soup is nothing to rave about. I’m pretty sure they use the standard restaurant supply stock base, but they dress it up with lots of fresh onion and a nice cheese blend on top.
Service was excellent. Maureen was genuinely friendly and attentive despite the late hour on what was clearly a very busy night.
If you’re in ski country along I-​93 or at one of the areas many lakes, MRT is worth the trip.
If you think my review is «useful,» «funny» or «cool,» I’d appreciate you clicking the button below the review. I’m trying to get on the Elite squad. They haven’t noticed me so far. :(