Railpenny Tavern might be the ultimate local restaurant. The ingredients are local, the dining room is filled with locals, and the owner is just about as local as you can get.

Kate McGrath – Owner/GM, The Railpenny Tavern: “I’m actually from the area, I grew up five minutes down the road and my family actually still lives there.”

Located in Epping New Hampshire, The Railpenny Tavern is one of those places you just wish you had in your town. Where the menu is filled with the tastiest versions of all the foods you love, the bar is packed with plenty of familiar faces, and the owner treats every customer like friends and family, because a lot of them actually are.

Kate McGrath – Owner/GM, The Railpenny Tavern: “I kind of feel like this is like throwing a party at my house every night.”

After running successful restaurants in Portsmouth for more than a decade, Kate decided to come back home to open the Railpenny about two years ago. And when it came to decorating the dining room, she wanted her love for her home state on full display.

Kate McGrath – Owner/GM, The Railpenny Tavern: “Definitely New Hampshire pride and also Epping pride. We have a lot of pictures that celebrate what Epping was in the 50s and 60s. We have lures in all of these boxes to highlight the river that’s out back behind us. Elliot is our deer who’s in the back. We’re most proud of this New Hampshire that’s on the wall over there that was created by a local man named Andrew Wilson. It’s topographical so it’s all accurate to the local mountains, and there’s also a little dot there where you can see right where Epping is.”

Even the name of the restaurant pays homage to a little local history.

Kate McGrath – Owner/GM, The Railpenny Tavern: “We talked to some locals who have grown up in the area and they reference coming to this spot where the trains would come in and out of town and they’d put their pennies on the tracks and so this is why we’re called the Railpenny.”

When it comes to the food at The Railpenny Tavern, simply put, it’s the kind of stuff you love to eat.

Kate McGrath – Owner/GM, The Railpenny Tavern: “It’s tavern food, we try to take our classics and then twist it and make it a little bit interesting, make it our own.”

So appetizers include PEI Mussels with white wine, butter, garlic, and a spicy serrano chili kick.  Handcut Tavern Fries loaded up with lots of bacon, melted cheddar, and malt vinegar aioli. And Crispy Brussel Sprouts that even the haters will love.

Kate McGrath – Owner/GM, The Railpenny Tavern: “We have amazing brussels sprouts. If you don’t like brussels sprouts, I guarantee you try ours and you will love them. We deep fry them so they have an awesome crisp on them. We then toss them in a garlic vinaigrette and finish them with Parmesan cheese, and they are just delicious.”

If you’re looking for a Fried Chicken Sandwich, this one is big in size and even bigger in flavor, featuring a thick thigh topped with Napa-apple slaw, pepper jelly, and Carolina Barbecue sauce.

Of course a great tavern must serve a great burger, and here, the Farmer’s Burger definitely delivers.

Kate McGrath – Owner/GM, The Railpenny Tavern: “The Farmer’s Burger is phenomenal. It has American cheese, a sunny side up egg, Sriracha and pesto, so you’re getting the clean brightness from the pesto, the Sriracha is really hot and spicy, the egg is creamy and gives you that sort of extra layer to the to the burger itself, and it’s super juicy when you bite into it is just an explosion.”

Entrees at The Railpenny Tavern include upscale options like Pan Seared Sea Scallops atop a butternut squash puree, and perfectly grilled Flank Steak drizzled with chipotle aioli. But what you really ought to try is the Mac and Cheese, available four different ways.

Kate McGrath – Owner/GM, The Railpenny Tavern: “We have our Mom’s Mac and Cheese which really celebrates mom and her good old home cooking. We have our Dad’s Mac and Cheese which is our bacon and scallion added to the Mom’s. We have a Sister’s Mac and Cheese with pesto. And we also have our Brother’s Mac and Cheese with good old Maine lobster.”

And while that Lobster Mac and Cheese may be deliciously decadent, naming it ‘Brother’s’ is a bit deceiving.

Kate McGrath – Owner/GM, The Railpenny Tavern: “I actually don’t even have a brother, but if I did I imagine that’s what he’d like to eat. Maybe a brother from another mother. I don’t know.”

Rounding out the menu are some sweet desserts, like Ricotta Doughnuts, Bananas Foster, and a rich creamy Chocolate Caramel Budino.

And every Sunday, The Railpenny serves brunch where the inventive indulgences include Eggs Benne with thick cut pork belly, an Elvis Burger topped with peanut butter, bananas, and bacon, and something called the “K.F.C.” Waffle Sammie, which happens to be Kate’s favorite.

Kate McGrath – Owner/GM, The Railpenny Tavern: “The KFC Waffle Sammy is amazing. It’s super weird, and it’s definitely worth trying. It’s Korean style chicken that we have fried. It is sandwiched between waffles. There is American cheese, a cabbage slaw, and cilantro on it. So you’re getting this cheesy, crispy, gooey, flavorful, just weirdness. It’s delicious. It’s amazing. It’s actually my favorite dish here, by far the best menu item we have.”

And whether you come for brunch, dinner, or drinks, say hello to Kate, who’s happy you’re here, and happy to be home.

Kate McGrath – Owner/GM, The Railpenny Tavern: “It makes me really proud to be here. I’m so proud to be able to be a part of this community, and to be able to come back and take the skills that I’ve learned and other restaurants and establishments and bring it home. Being able to run into old teachers and friends has really been a remarkable sort of experience.”