Even if the only golfing you like is of the mini variety, the bar and grill at Beaver Meadow Golf Course, 1 Beaver Meadow Road, will still feed you. I was glad to hear this because, although the grill's burgers and fries come highly recommended, the Food Snob does not look good in plaid.
Last week, my dining companion and I stopped in for lunch. Since neither of us had any idea what to expect, we awkwardly stood in front of the grill's entrance, unsure if we were supposed to order at the counter or wait for a server. A nice woman behind the bar picked up on our unease and asked if she could help us. “Could we, uh, get a menu?” my food companion asked with unnecessary trepidation. “Of course!” the woman said and handed us two menus. We took a seat and looked over the offerings.
The menu had all the typical lunch options available like salads, burgers and sandwiches. Breakfast fans will be excited to know that a full breakfast menu is available all day, too. I wasn't feeling bacon and eggs, so I ordered the turkey presto sandwich (turkey, provolone, fresh spinach, tomato and pesto mayonnaise pressed on marble rye for $6.75) and my companion chose the black angus burger ($7). Both our meals came with chips, but my companion opted to upgrade to the grill's famous beer-battered French fries for $1 more.
We grabbed drinks from the beverage cooler – Diet Snapple for me and a root beer for my pal. If I didn't have to return to work after lunch, I would have considered ordering a beer or glass of wine. The grill's bar may be small (there's only a couple of seats available), but there was an impressive selection of hard alcohol for mixed drinks, plus bottled beer, wine and several beers on tap.
While waiting for our food, we enjoyed looking at and commenting on the old photos and golf-related items hanging on the walls. Beaver Meadow is the oldest golf course in New Hampshire, so there's over 100 years of history to share.
It didn't take long for our food to come out, which earned the grill extra bonus points. Dining options are limited near Monitor-land, so it's nice to add another quick lunch option to our Subway, McDonald's and Quality Cash Market rotation.
Most important, the food tasted and looked great. My turkey sandwich had plenty of spinach and tomatoes, which made me feel less guilty about all the pesto mayonnaise I consumed. Even if it was a little heavy on the mayo, I didn't mind because it was savory and added lots of flavor.
I wasn't as interested in my food as I was in my companion's. When The Insider sought out Concord's best burgers in a recent issue, Beaver Meadow got a nod. It didn't end up being a winner, but it's still an impressive feat if you consider all the burgers out there. The fries have been getting buzz, too, and took a win last year (best fries of Concord) in The Hippo's “Best of” issue. I'm happy to report that both burger and fries lived up to the hype. My companion's burger was thick, juicy and flavorful. Her only complaint was that it was too big, which in the Food Snob's mind isn't a valid criticism. We both agreed the fries were crispy, yummy and worth the calorie splurge.
That wasn't the only thing we met eye-to-eye on. Although indoor seating is limited, there's plenty of tables outside. On the day we were there, it was chilly and drizzling but we can't wait to go back in warmer weather. To fit in, we'd even be willing to sport some plaid. If that's not a major endorsement, what is?
The Beaver Meadow Bar and Grill opens at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. on the weekend. Things shut down when it gets dark out, so this time of year that’s usually around 8 p.m. For more information, call 228-5308.
