Raise your hand if you think Nashua’s best grub is all downtown. Raise your other hand if you thought ‘bar & grill’ just meant wings and sports. Now put your hands back on your fork. It’s no secret folks overlook the gems tucked away here, settling for the usual suspects. But from sizzling steaks off the beaten path to neighborhood joints with legendary burgers, Nashua’s bar and grill scene is a hearty surprise waiting to be devoured.
Luk’s Bar and Grill
$$ | (603) 889-9900 | WEBSITE
Can you even call it a proper bar and grill if the steak tips aren’t perfectly charred? That’s why there’s Luk’s – the go-to spot for all things relaxed and satisfying. Technically a standalone restaurant on a spacious lot in Nashua, Luk’s menu has everything from pretzels to Reubens to chicken Florentine that’s definitely worth trying. Not to mention their lengthy beer selection that isn’t lacking in variety.
Related: If you bring a toddler along, they might just get make-your-own sundae fixings on the house.
Platinos Grill
$ | (978) 758-5233 | WEBSITE
Here’s the honest reality about Platinos Grill: It’s in a mall. Yes, a shopping center. They also have plenty of parking. But that doesn’t change the other reality: this spacious yet intimate spot is still serving Latin American flavors better than most places in Nashua. You’re here for their traditional dishes, the Caribbean touches, and any of the reasonably priced drinks. And for your family gathering or date night, they have that pleasant music and friendly waitresses that make it work.
They’re open for dinner every evening, so if you’re looking for an insider tip on how to enjoy the atmosphere, grab a table and settle in.
AJ’s Sports Bar Grill
$ | (603) 718-1102 | WEBSITE
The best late-night spot in Nashua stays open until 1am and one could argue the city doesn’t deserve it. This is not the place you visit after deciding to start a juice cleanse. You go to AJ’s Sports Bar Grill on a Friday or Saturday night to drink a concerning amount of cocktails, give responsible bedtimes the middle finger, and feel like a champion.
The menu is a combination of things like the decent cocktail selection and the Great White pizza with mushrooms, alongside (slightly) more substantial options like the hot and quick pizza that pleasantly surprises everyone.
The Stumble Inn Bar & Grill
$ | (603) 432-3210 | WEBSITE
Dining at The Stumble Inn feels like you’ve wandered into the best kind of neighborhood hangout, the kind where everyone seems to know each other’s names and the laughter flows as freely as the drinks. What we mean by this is that The Stumble Inn has a genuinely friendly atmosphere with great music that’s definitely lively but not at all overwhelming.
The steak tip dishes are just as satisfying as the entertainment almost every night – think perfectly grilled steak tip subs and dinners that keep us coming back, along with gluten-free options we appreciate regularly.
Foundation Kitchen and Bar
$$ | (603) 216-5590 | WEBSITE
If you’re tired of the same old bar food, try visiting Foundation Kitchen and Bar instead. That Nashua’s most versatile bar and grill does a fantastic dinner is a fact overlooked by many, but you can take advantage of that oversight with a table that isn’t booked weeks in advance. You might not be able to sample their full cocktail list until evening, but they do excellent classic bar fare all day, including one of the best steaks in Nashua.
backstreet bar and grill
$ | (603) 578-1811 | WEBSITE
Backstreet Bar and Grill might have a reputation for being just another sports bar, but we prefer to think of it as authentic. Sure, there are plenty of regulars belting out off-key karaoke tunes, and there’s nothing on the menu you wouldn’t find at every other bar and grill, but there’s something about the energy (and still very satisfying food) that keeps us coming back.
Order the steak and cheese calzone inside, put your name down for a pool table, keep your drink in hand, and wait for someone to challenge you to a game.
The Bar Food & Spirits
$ | (603) 943-5250 | WEBSITE
The Bar’s offerings are straightforward: you’ll get your meat lovers pizza, Big Mac pizza, and tasty drinks, and everything will taste good. And you know what? Sometimes that’s all you need, especially at a place where you can always find a seat, the bartenders are actually friendly to you, and they serve some of the best live music in the whole area. On those relaxed evenings when the idea of fighting crowds somewhere sounds exhausting, The Bar always does the trick.
Hare Of The Dawg
$ | (603) 552-3883 | WEBSITE
As popular as this lively bar and grill is for its hot dogs and burgers, you might not know Hare Of The Dawg also serves standout steakhouse classics. But they do, and the perfectly cooked Ribeye, the beloved meatloaf, and those yummy mashed potatoes are all exceptional. Plus, the rest of the menu—pizza, buffalo tenders, and that delicious Steak & Cheese—is consistently praised for quality. And so is that welcoming, positive energy from the friendly staff and wonderful owners.
Stay hungry out there.