As the Seacoast's premier fine-dining restaurant, Bonta excels in quality food, impeccable service and an unmatched ambiance. From a specialty martini on the mahogany bar to an intimate dinner in the private dining room, the setting is perfect for any occasion. The fresh seasonal food is prepared simply but elegantly allowing a unique signature to be placed on every dish. The pastry chef's housemade breads, desserts, and gelatos are sure to please even the most discerning palate.
"Mother's day brunch left a lot to be desired, the limited menu was not child friendly, fortunately the kitchen was able to make some accommodations. I find it very dissapointing that, on Monthers day, a definitive family event, this restaurant did nothing to address the younger family members in its "Fixed Price" menu and the one thing the kids did enjoy, the rolls, they ran out of. The eggs in their Eggs Benedict was overcooked (hardbolied), I was surprised by the Lamb dish, as it came pulled, & it was salty. The desserts were ok, but coffee was lukewarm.
On a positive note, the staff was friendly and helpful and the one redeeming quality of this restaurant.
Finally, the price was high & more expensive then it was worth."
Dined on 5/12/2013
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"excellent dining experience, been there before ,took my motherinlaw and my daughter ,my wife and myself. lovely atmosphere ,quiet eating area, nice fireplace. service impeccable. delicious appetizers, recommend calamari and veal meat balls. main entrees we orderd were well prepared, cooked to perfection and very tasty.. dessert was awesome. tiramasu, chocolate tort cake and sorbet. would reccommend in a heart beat."
Dined on 5/10/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for brunch, romantic, special occasion
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"I ordered the spaghetti with meat sauce which was delicious but I had about 1 cup of spaghetti on my plate for @ $16.00- I really think there should have been more- we are talking pasta here- I know it is homemade so it costs a bit more but maybe a cup and a half in the plate would have left a better taste in my mouth- I don't like leaving hungry!!!"
Dined on 5/11/2013
Special Features: special occasion
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"I had passed by Bonta a thousand times on my way to and from work, and I always thought it was a private club. I'm not sure why I thought that, but that was the rumor that has been in town for years.
Well, it's definitely open to the public, and it was a treat.
Food was great. Service was great. Ambiance was great. Prices were very reasonable.
I had the short ribs and my wife had the rigatoni; both excellent.
We'll come back with friends, now that we know that it's open to everyone."
Dined on 5/09/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, vibrant bar scene, romantic, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, hot spot, special occasion, kid-friendly
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"The food at Bonta is really quite good. They have had chef issues in the past, but whoever is putting meals out of the kitchen these days, knows what they are doing. The menu had enough options that all of us were able to find something we liked, but at the same time, the menus didn't overwhelm us with dozens of options. While I don't remember their prices in the past, it seems like prices on their pastas were significantly lower than before.
Service was quite good too, with everyone being attentive, but not intrusive. I'm not sure we needed the white table cloth, but it was a nice touch as well.
Overall, it was a great meal, and we'll be back, both as a couple and with friends.
Will be nice when they get the patio open."
Dined on 04/27/2013
2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, hot spot
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"Great food and wonderful opportunity for a catchup visit with a friend. The service was great and the waitstaff was very patient during our three hour visit. We love to meet at Bonta's as we always feel very comfortable plus the food is great! Looking forward to our next visit!"
Dined on 04/17/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion, great for lunch
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"My girlfriend and I had dinner in the lounge on Friday night, and it was great. The bar was vibrant and busy, but not so much that it was too loud or too crowded. Both the bar and dining room menus were available in the lounge, so you could choose from casual or fine dining. I had the bartender make me the concoction of his choice, which ended up being a very good martini. Al, the bartender, makes you feel that you're on the set of Cheers, as everyone calls him "Coach" from his days coaching Portsmouth high basketball.
In all, it is a warm and friendly environment, where "everyone knows your name"...
Will be nice when they get the outdoor patio open later this spring."
Dined on 04/05/2013
2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, hot spot
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"I've been to Bonta several times over the past years. This most recent visit during restaurant week was by far the best. Delicious food and warm, attentive service. I will be back."
Dined on 04/06/2013
2007
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, romantic, special occasion
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"This place really is one of the best values on the Seacoast. It has a reputation of being fancy and expensive, but the reality is that it's a very nice, but reasonably priced restaurant. The interior is beautiful, and the staff is very attentive. It's also nice to go to an Italian restaurant where you don't feel like you're at an all-you-can-eat pasta bar with sauce of a can.
The menu has an good selection of pastas, seafood, steaks and chicken, and you can tell that everything is made fresh to order and is done from scratch. The pear salad that I had was very good, as was the halibut. I didn't see any desserts that looked interesting to me, so I just opted for a nice glass of port.
Overall, seems like a good find."
Dined on 03/31/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, hot spot
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"Normally Bonta offers a nice setting, but on Easter Sunday there was a big problem with reservation scheduling. By mid-afternoon, everyone was waiting 30 mins or more for their table seating. They also ran out of items on their special menu. My husband ordered his second choice only to find that the braised veal in the pasta dish was extremely salty. My mom had the same dish, and confirmed that there was a big difference. He should have sent it back, but didn't think to do so.Afterwards, we brought this to the attention of our waitress, but she didn't seem overly concerned. With all that was going wrong that day, the restaurant should have offered some small token of good faith, perhaps a small gift cert to return again?"
Dined on 03/31/2013
2007
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"For the price, there are better choices on the Seacoast. Food was okay - but Hagan's Filet is just as good if not better for less money. How can a fine dining restaurant be out of Grey Goose Vodka on a Saturday night?
Service was marginal. Not a busy night, but lot's of Staff moving around doing nothing. Took over 15 minutes for someone to pick-up the check from our table.
Will be a long time before we go back.."
Dined on 03/23/2013
2013
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"My wife and I went to Bonta for brunch on Sunday, and it was terrific. We live in the area, and have tried the Old Salt brunch a couple of times, only to be disappointed by the quality of the food and the zoo-like atmosphere.
Looking for a change, we decided to try Bonta, as we had heard about their brunch, but had never tried it--what a pleasant surprise. Compared to the Old Salt ($16.95), Bonta for $5 more ($21.95) provides a three-course meal of high quality, well-prepared food, served on a white tablecloth by a waiter/waitress that knows what they're doing. The waitstaff was friendly and accommodating, and the restaurant was bright and cheery, with a pleasant ambiance."
Dined on 03/23/2013
2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"This place is a find. My wife and I took friends there this past weekend and we experienced a great meal. The menu offered a variety of interesting dishes, and the wine list was quite extensive. The service was quite friendly, however, very professional and thorough. Inside, Bonta was warm and inviting, and there was enough activity to make the place lively, without being too loud that you couldn't have a quiet conversation at the table.
Perhaps the one aspect of Bonta that really stands out, is the food--the food is just spectacular. I had the short ribs, and I would say that they are the best I've ever had. My wife had the pasta Bolognese, and she loved it."
Dined on 03/16/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"Best meal I have ever had in NH and I have lived here 35 years Party of 5 with a great table by the fireplace, Great drinks at the bar and good wine list with a great Pinot Noir. Each course from appetizer to dessert was just wonderful! The place should be packed year round!! Cant wait to return and I have been there many times before but this was a special meal!!"
Dined on 03/06/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"I took my sister for a special birthday dinner. We sat in front of the fireplace. The room was lovely and the setting lovely and the food and service was fantastic. We really enjoyed a very special evening."
Dined on 02/20/2013
2012
Special Features: special occasion
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"On the first try, the lobster in the risotto was undercooked. On the second try it was overcooked. The manager did the right thing and did not charge for that. The prime rib was more fatty than you expect and delivered slightly warm, just okay. For what they charge, nothing less than perfection is acceptable. Everything but the food was great, but we went there to get food, so we won't go back."
Dined on 02/15/2013
2008
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"The experience was a pleasure from the moment the Host took our jackets. A very respectful Englishman took us to our table close enough to the fireplace to enjoy the view but not too close to be suffocated by the heat. The wine list is amazing, albeit a bit pricy. The menu is also very nice but would have liked to seen a bit more traditional Italian dishes (no parmagiana, piccata etc.). The food was amazing but the portions were very small, which is just fine for the ladies but the big fella needed to indulge in more bread and wine."
Dined on 02/15/2013
2011
Special Features: notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"We were not crazy about the food or experience for the prices. We expected much better. Table was not ready when we arrived. Forced to stand in bar area."
Dined on 02/15/2013
2013
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"Bonta was nice bt expected more. Dinner was average. I had the Prime Rib and it was quit thin and chewy. Waitress was very nice and accomidating but her help seemed a bit strange and table manners were not there. The ambiance was fair but senior staff appeared professional and courteous. Food was fair and a bit expensive for the quality of food. Excellent wine selection. I would have to say I would not visit it again."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2013
Special Features: late-night find, notable wine list
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"Our visit to Bonta on February 14, 2013 was extremely enjoyable. The staff is very professional and attentive and made our experience very enjoyable. The food is outstanding and quality and presentation are exemplary."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2010
Special Features: notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"Very nice "special occasion" spot! Nice Brunch, but may only do that once a season. Been there to have drinks and small plates at the bar as well... very nice."
Dined on 02/03/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, special occasion
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"WE discovered Bonta several years ago and always return for a great dining experience. We had our family together for a very special welcome home and birthday celebration and the experience was great. Having said that, the menu pricing seems to have climbed high enough that the average age of diners is 50+ (that did not appeal to the my 4 20+ children)as the scene was not vibrant enough."
Dined on 02/02/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list
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"A first class dining experience and one of the best in the Seacoast area. Although it was a little pricey, the food was superb, the service was top notch, and the ambiance was cozy. All of this combined to make an very enjoyable evening."
Dined on 01/18/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
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"All the food was great we had the Artichoke Arancini, Chicken Oreganato, Spice Crusted Duck Breast and Tiramisu. I would definitely recommend going here on a date night or for a family gathering."
Dined on 01/19/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, kid-friendly, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"Bonta was excellent. We had a variety of items shared at our table and not one disappointed. Wine list is great and the service is top notch. Exactly what you would expect for the price. Highly recommend."
Dined on 01/19/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"Bonta is a nice local restaurant conveniently located off of Rt 101. We've been here a few times and the food is fresh. The menu items are varied enough and the pasta dishes have been delicious. My wife generally gets the salmon dish and loves it.
There is a veal polpette appetizer on the menu that is delicious. However, for $10, you get 3 meatballs about the size of large gumballs. Although it's premium meat, please Bonta, make these things larger. Side note: this appetizer comes with balsamic reduction that's on the side. I don't remember it being listed in the description so be aware.
The dessert selection was fine and the gelato was delicious although the portions were very small."
Dined on 01/18/2013
2010
Special Features: neighborhood gem, romantic
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