An Instant Favorite Restaurant in Nashua, NH

Article and photo by Eric H.

Too many times upon returning from vacation, we have ended up at restaurants with witch-type waitresses, service that could be done better by a turtle, and a kitchen out of everything except water and a toothpick.

Martha's Exchange, in Nashua, NH, served as the antidote to this disturbing dining trend. Located off the wide, brick sidewalks of surprisingly pleasant Main St. in a historic, restored 1872 Victorian building, Martha's Exchange looked immediately inviting. With its outdoor cafe dining, colorful yet relaxing indoor and outdoor mood lighting, interior brick facades, and an amazing "candy shoppe" with virtually every type of chocolate known to mankind, Martha's Exchange set a positive tone for our modest appetites. With the Boston Red Sox on the bar television (and a brewery featuring 25 different brews) across from an old world-type dining room, we sunk into the comfortable booths while receiving some friendly hospitality from the hostess and then our waitress. Service couldn't have been sharper or efficient.

We opted for chicken panini sandwiches with roasted red peppers and swiss cheese on focaccia bread. It was fresh and phenomenal in taste and inspired us to find a way to get back to Nashua again for some more substantial dishes on Martha's Exchange's lunch and dinner menus.

While Nashua wasn't our vacation destination -- and nor it should be as it is largely an industrial and residential city of 79,000 -- Martha's Exchange ended up being our favorite restaurant on this weekend featuring visits to northern Vermont and short stops along the way in Littleton and Concord, NH. We'll be back!

Martha's Exchange
185 Main St, Nashua, NH
Tel. (603) 883-8781