Village Trestle

We will travel just about anywhere for a good meal.  Including, apparently Goffstown, New Hampshire… which is West of Manchester in case you were wondering. Because that’s where we found some tasty food and a good time at s place called The Village Trestle.

This place is all about straight-forward, down home, made from scratch comfort food. And the rustic, come as you are atmosphere matches the theme completely.

The name Village Trestle comes from the old railroad covered bridge nearby that burnt down back in the 70’s.  There are pictures of it up on the wall, along with some other maps and artwork that were made by their regular customers. And they have a lot of regulars here, because the food is consistent, the portions are big, and the prices are more than reasonable.  It’s been open since 2000, but new ownership took over a couple years ago, and the food is as good as ever.

To start things off, the number one selling appetizer is the Chicken Tenders. I know, we’re not exactly breaking new culinary ground here, but come on, who doesn’t love some good Tendies?

These babies are big… almost like mini chicken cutlets. They’re hand-breaded in their signature seasoned Panko mixture.  You can get them oven fried or grilled.  And as for sauces, you have a bunch of good choices including barbecue, Trestle sauce (which is like Teriyaki), and my personal favorite: the Buffalo Garlic Parm.

If you’re going to belly up the bar and get yourself a beer, order the Pretzel Sticks.  These are big too, like little Pretzels loaves basically.  You get three to an order, they’re nice and toasty and buttery on the outside.  They have just the right amount of salt on them. And the honey mustard dipping sauce is the perfect accompaniment.

I bet you didn’t think we’d recommend a salad here, but alas, the Village Trestle Cobb Salad is definitely worth ordering.  First off all, it’s absolutely huge. And they don’t skimp on anything. It’s basically overflowing with chicken, bacon, corn, avocado, hard boiled eggs, feta cheese, and pita bread.  And oh yeah, there’s some lettuce and veggies in there too.. You known, gotta keep it healthy right?

Sandwiches are a specialty here, and there are some really interesting options… including the Haddock Reuben. So you have your classic toasted Marble Rye bread, swiss cheese, cole slaw, and thousand island dressing. And that all works perfectly with the crispy oven fried haddock. You can get a pastrami version as well, but I think the fish is the way to go. And don’t forget some tater tots on the side.

Another popular sandwich is known as Cliffy's Turkey Melt. Sure, we’ve all had a million turkey sandwiches in our lives, but have you ever had one served on garlic bread?  Let me tell you, it’s a game-changer. Especially when they add on some crispy bacon and Swiss cheese that gets all melty in the oven. So Cliffy, whoever you are, you’re a genius.

Now this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but burgers are a go-to item on the Village Trestle menu. The signature burger is known as The Trestle, and this thing is fully loaded.  You have peppers, onions, mushrooms, bacon, Cheese sauce, and their famous “trestle sauce”. And it comes with a side of crispy, thin, skin-on fries.

For something a little different, try the Mac Wrap.  This may or may not have been inspired by a certain famous Fast Food sandwich. But instead of two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun. Here, it’s served inside of a wrap.

They’ve got some interesting looking flatbreads here as well. Basically, personal-sized pizzas. Check out the Margherita with mozzarella, basil and tomatoes. Or my favorite, the chicken bacon ranch. Kinda weird looking, but also pretty addictive.

Entree wise, the top choice is probably the Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese. Gooey macaroni and cheese on the bottom, a pile of spicy Buffalo chicken on top. And you get some garlic bread on the side, because you can never have too many carbs.

And if you’re feeling nostalgic, I’d recommend the Trestle Bowl. It’s a real comfort food classic, with mashed potatoes, corn, gravy, and some of those famous chicken tenders. It reminds me of the bowls you can get at KFC, but just way, way, way better.

For all you steak tip lovers out there, I’m happy to report that the Village Trestle makes some mean tips.  The steak is marinated and tenderized. They’re cut big and juicy, served over some sauteed peppers and onions, and the mashed potatoes and garlic bread make it a very hearty, satisfying meal altogether.

Basically, this is just our kind of place. Not too fancy, not too expensive, nothing but your favorite comfort foods done right. At the Village Trestle is Goffstown, New Hampshire.