If you like meat…

Henry Pariseau – Owner, Portsmouth Feed Company: “We have brisket cooked 15 hours.”

Meat…

Henry Pariseau – Owner, Portsmouth Feed Company: “We have beef ribs.”

And more meat…

Henry Pariseau – Owner, Portsmouth Feed Company: “We have sausage, sweet sausage.”

Then boy do we have somewhere for you to eat.

Henry Pariseau – Owner, Portsmouth Feed Company: “You love meat, you’re going to be in the right place.”

And that place, is the Portsmouth Feed Company.  Located the heart of beautiful downtown Portsmouth New Hampshire, the Portsmouth Feed Company is big restaurant serving even bigger flavors, courtesy of owners Lauren and Henry Pariseau.

Henry Pariseau – Owner, Portsmouth Feed Company: “We are a family friendly, barbecue, live music honky-tonk. So we have chalkboard tables, live music entertainment seven days a week, we have a game room, we are here for everyone. We want everyone to have a good time.”

And that good time goes on in a somewhat surprising space, because long before this building was used for smoking meat, it made for was saving money.

Henry Pariseau – Owner, Portsmouth Feed Company: “This building was the First National Bank, built in 1803. It’s the oldest existing bank building in the US. It’s on the National Registry. It’s one of the nicest buildings you’re going to find in New Hampshire, you’re probably gonna find in the US. So when we walked in, we saw we had an opportunity to build a restaurant here we said there was no way we could pass it up.”

The two-story, eleven-thousand square foot space boasts gorgeous tile floors, massive vault doors, and a stunning stained glass dome high above it all.

Henry Pariseau – Owner, Portsmouth Feed Company: “The Grecian dome was added right before the Civil War. Everybody walks in, they immediately look up. And it has the official seal of Portsmouth on the stained glass. As they say, you can’t build them like this anymore. It’s a one of a kind space, until you actually experience it, you’re not really gonna understand it, but it is a beautiful, beautiful room.”

All the barbecue at Portsmouth Feed Company is slow cooked over local oak and apple wood. They use a Southern Pride smoker, high quality meat, and a great house made rub. But according to Lauren, truly outstanding barbecue is more than just its ingredients.

Lauren Pariseau – Owner, Portsmouth Feed Company: “Really great barbecue is kind of like a love story. There’s a lot of effort that goes into it. A lot of emotion, you really got to appreciate the flavors and the time and everything that goes into it to make outstanding barbecue. And that’s what we do here.”

So the St. Louis Ribs smoke for about five hours.

Henry Pariseau – Owner, Portsmouth Feed Company: “We think St. Louis ribs are the best ribs that you could smoke.”

While the Brisket smokes for about fifteen.

Henry Pariseau – Owner, Portsmouth Feed Company: “When it’s smoked just right, it is perfect.”

Then there’s the enormous Beef Rib, available in limited quantities, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only. And this thing is yabba-dabba-delicious.

Henry Pariseau – Owner, Portsmouth Feed Company: “We do a true Texas style beef rib, which some people call a dinosaur rib. You know, Flintstone style. So you get one massive bone, it’s about two and a half pounds. It is all the beef flavors. You’re going to get all that meat it’s just salt and pepper, the bone gives it that extra flavor. It keeps the juices in. And then as soon as you slice it, and it goes onto the tray, it is just ready, and it’s perfect.”

For those who can’t decide what meat they want to eat, just order The Meathead, and get a taste of everything.

Henry Pariseau – Owner, Portsmouth Feed Company: “It’s a little bit of all our smoked meats. You get some ribs, you get some brisket, you get some pulled pork, you get sausage, sweet sausage, you get some vegetables, you get all the mustards put on there. And it’s healthy too because there’s no bread involved so you can eat it on any diet.”

The meat parade continues when it comes to sandwiches at Portsmouth Feed Company. There’s the ‘Mister Hank’, featuring a pile of tender chopped brisket blanketed in melted American cheese. Or opt for the ‘Big Dan Burger’, but come hungry, and don’t tell your mother.

Henry Pariseau – Owner, Portsmouth Feed Company: “The Big Dan is all the things that your mother told you not to do when you were a child. It’s two eight ounce patties, it’s brisket, it’s pulled pork, it’s stacked high. It is one of those things not for the faint of heart, but it has got all the flavors of barbecue, and if you have a big appetite, it’s the sandwich for you.”

If you’re into chicken, there’s the West Coast Chicken Sandwich, with ham and Carolina gold sauce, or order up a pound of house smoked Chicken Wings.

Lauren Pariseau – Owner, Portsmouth Feed Company: “When you come to Portsmouth Feed Company, you’re gonna want to get the chicken wings and I’ll tell you why. We smoke them first, so the flavor is really something different than what you get at any other restaurant. And then we do give them a quick fry in the fryolater so that they’re nice and crispy on the outside. Then you can choose from a sauce or rub to put on them so you can kind of customize the flavor too.”

If you want to try to eat a little lighter here, there are options like Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts, and some really great tacos.

And the nice part about eating light is that there’s room for dessert, like the ever changing Pie Board with sweet slices like Blueberry, Key Lime, and Pecan, or the decadent Donut Ice Cream Sandwich, another healthy option according to Henry.

Henry Pariseau – Owner, Portsmouth Feed Company: “It’s zero calories on weekends. Not sure if that’s true, but it is one of those over the top desserts that it’s gluttonous, but it’s great.”

And that pretty much sums up the Portsmouth Feed Company, a place where you’re encouraged to indulge and have a good time.

Henry Pariseau – Owner, Portsmouth Feed Company: “This place is just a fun restaurant. You know, you walk in, you can feel it. It’s just a place where family can come out, it’s affordable. It’s nice in downtown Portsmouth when things are getting a little more pricey that we’re here for you. And we’re here for the whole family and we’re going to make it fun. You’re going to go home full, and you’re gonna go home with a good value.”