SouthPort Kitchen + Bar
There are a lot of restaurants that claim to serve “elevated comfort food”, and this is a place that definitely succeeds at that mission: SouthPort Kitchen and Bar. Southport is located right on Route One in Rye, New Hampshire. It’s actually attached to a boutique hotel called the Inn at Rye Place. And the food is so good here, you might want to book a room so you can take a little nap after dinner. It’s owned by Aaron Jones and his wife Carrie. They spent six months renovating the space, turning into one of the coolest spots on the Seacoast, and it’s been packed with regulars since the day they opened in 2024. “When they come in and they walk in, the first thing they say is just Wow, this place is absolutely beautiful. It's warm, it's dark, it's lively. We've got a big bar so you can come in whether you like to sit at the bar, you like to sit at a table. It's a great space to come and hang out, to have drinks, to eat great food and be around great people.”
Southport’s menu is definitely appetizer heavy, not that I’m complaining. And several of our favorite “shareables” have a bit of an Asian twist. Just check out the Bangkok Shrimp. We’re talking fresh shrimp, with a light, crispy batter, coated in a sweet Thai chili aioli, with some toasted sesame seeds and scallions. Or you could go for the Pan Fried Dumplings. These are hand-made Pork and Chicken dumplings, packed with flavor, and they’re served over a bed of black garlic chili oil. And then there are the signature Sticky Ribs, which are a definite MUST-ORDER. “The sticky ribs, they are fantastic. They're killer. They're a nice, big St Louis style rib that we cook here in house. And then they're slathered with a Korean barbecue sauce, and then they're topped with…crushed peanuts, gremolata, and then scallions. And we actually finished those off in our pizza oven, so when they come out, they're really caramelized on the top and nice and sticky.”
From the “Handhelds” section of the menu, Southport offers one of the best burgers on the Seacoast. It’s actually a double smash burger, so you’re getting two four ounce patties, they get those great crispy edges from the griddle. Topped with melted cheese, grilled onions, housemade pickles, and their signature Smash sauce.
But for something even bigger and better, get a load of the Truffle Shuffle Steak and Cheese sandwich featuring ribeye steak, Cooper’s sharp American cheese, caramelized onions, wild mushrooms, and a housemade truffle aioli. “It's very big. A lot of times when people say, I'm not charging enough for it, because when they get it, it's massive. I don't know exactly how much meat we put in there, but it's probably close to about three quarters of a pound. If you love a great steak and cheese, you're absolutely going to love the Truffle Shuffle.”
You’ll also love Southport’s pizzas, which are cooked in a state of the art clay oven. They add a touch of brown sugar to the dough, so the crust gets a little charred and extra crispy around the edges. There’s a shrimp and garlic pizza studded with marinated tomatoes. The Spicy Fun Guy pie is loaded with pepperoni, wild mushrooms, and hot honey. And the number one seller is the Ricotta Be Killin’ Me Pizza, featuring a combination of crumbled Italian sausage, caramelized onions, and dollops of fresh ricotta. “Ricotta be killing me. I mean, you gotta be killing me, right? It's an awesome pie. And by far, it's our number one seller here at Southport. People come in two, three times a week just to get that pizza.”
Lots of interesting entrees you can choose from, including sliced Steak Frites served with arugula, asparagus, crispy fries, and chimichurri sauce. The Chicken Parm is made with vodka sauce, so it’s very creamy, perfectly compliments the fresh pappardelle pasta. And they use focaccia bread crumbs to coat the chicken. And if you’re a big eater, go for the Braised Short Ribs with whipped mashed potatoes, heirloom carrots, and crispy fried shallots. “So braised short rib is by far one of our biggest selling entrees that we have on the menu. It's like comfort food. It's hearty. It's definitely a meal that I typically hand out to go boxes at the end of the meal, because nobody finishes it.”
Round out your meal with a towering Six Layer Carrot Cake, and you’ll understand why it’s worth a trip North to go to Southport Kitchen and Bar. “This place is really it's just a nice spot. We also have plenty of parking. Right outside of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. So it's easy access, easy to get in, easy to get out. And the best reason is the food's fantastic. And the staff's great too.”
